Note that the Killers have become much smarter about feeling the room. In 2023, the Killers concert in Tblisi, Georgia was abandoned after inviting a concertgoer onstage to play the drums, who just happened to be a Russian draft-dodger and the crowd boo’ed.  Flowers tried to quiet the boos by expressing that they were all brothers despite country borders, which unknowingly parroted Putin’s rationale for invading Ukraine and further ignited the situation..............

Song Thumbnails are:

• Zedd & Bea Miller, Out of Time (Alternative)- For the July 1 playlist winner “Out of Time”, the classically trained Russian-born, naturalized German DJ Zedd teams with former X Factor contestant and pop singer, Bea Miller.   Zedd’s pristine, but complex arrangement raises “Out of Time” beyond just being a well-crafted pop song. 

• John Summitt & Paige Cavell, Tears (Dance)- Not unlike “Out of Time”, “Tears” pairs Chicago’s House DJ with emerging singer songwriter Paige Cavell.  Summitt’s production supercharges “Tears” dramatic melody and Ms. Cavell’s distinctive voice into a trance triumph.

• Artemas, I always know you’d be the death of me (Alternative)- 24-year-old rookie Artemas splashed onto the scene in Spring 2024, with “i like the way you kiss me”, which was a Global #1 hit.  “I always know….” is from Artemas’ July 2024 LP, “Yustyna” and features a fatalistic love story that would make Joy Division proud, backed by Artemas’ signature Darkwave sound.

• YUNGBLD, breakdown (Alternative)- “breakdown” is the new single from Mr. Blud’s forthcoming 4th album, after his most recent two LPs charted #1 in the UK and most of Western Europe.  Ever the chameleon, YUNG tries on his Britpop-balladeer persona for “breakdown” sharing his own mental health struggles, while donating song proceeds to mental health charity.  Despite the song’s trite (but genuine) rap verse and a melody a bit too reminiscent of “Bittersweet Symphony” or Coldplay’s “Clocks”, I’m sold.  

• Prodbycpkshawn & Ugly Andz, Yo Bunny (Cheat Codes Remix) (Dance)- Prodbycpkshawn, a 19-year-old NY DJ released “Yo Bunny”, in May- and the infectious “swerve and a dip” has since inspired a dance mega-trend on TikTok (example- https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRo1XMuW/) .  According to Spotify, prodbycpkshawn calls his unique sound, which mixes dancehall/reggaeton rhythms with sharply cut club samples, “Zest Music”. 

For those of you who prefer clean lyrics, last week, a house remix (by LA DJ’s Cheat Codes) of “Yo Bunny” was released, which has a clean version- and oddly, I think the censor cuts enhance the dancehall syncopation of Ugly Andz’ vocal. Feel free to listen to or vote for either song version.

• Karan Aujla, Tauba Tauba (Indian/Bollywood)- Currently #1 in India, “Tauba Tauba” continues the domination of the Indian music charts by Bollywood songs, as it will be featured in the blockbuster release “Bad Newz”.  However, “Tauba Tauba” breaks form in that it sports a salsa beat and is the first #1 song in India, by Indian-born, Canadian resident Aujla.

Aujla was the subject of controversy in 2023 when his longtime rival, Punjabi rapper and politician Sidhu Moose Wala was assassinated.  Prior to the murder, Aujla and Wala (who holds the record for most Indian #1 songs) exchanged songs with violent threats, yet the Wala assassination was not related to Aujla.

• Remi Wolf, Soup (Alternative/Pop)- The Palo Alto native and USC graduate, Wolf released her much-awaited 2nd LP, “Big Ideas” this week.  “Soup” from “Big Ideas” is already Wolf’s most streamed song ever and features shimmering 80’s production and a soaring earworm chorus.  Oh- and speaking of USC Trojans (since they are well represented in Neuphoria), what does a USC Football recruit get on his SAT exam? 

Drool…..

• Teddy Swims, Funeral (Pop/R&B)- “Funeral” is the follow up single to the unlikely popstar, Teddy Swims, global #1 “Lose Control”.  Swims (Jaten Dimsdale) is a face-tatted 5’6” stocky former high school football player from Georgia- who became famous singing on YouTube- and like his other hits, “Funeral” provides a platform for his rich baritone blue-eyed soul vocal.

• Dasha, Didn’t I (Pop/Country)- “Didn’t I” is the follow up to Dasha’s first single “Austin” which was #3 globally- and more importantly, #1 in March 24 Neuphoria.  With the TikTok-ready, “Didn’t I”, San Luis Obispo’s Dasha sings about “backsliding” after a break-up, backed by an instrumental track that channels “Mean” by Taylor Swift.  

• Peso Pluma & Ivan Cornejo, Reloj (Latin)- Full disclosure- since I’m presently in Mexico City, I’m particularly drawn to the rueful requinto guitar of “Reloj” which is the most streamed song from Mr. Pluma’s #1 Latin chart album, “Exodo”.  For "Reloj", Pluma, who Meg and I are excited to see in August in SF, collaborates with relative newcomer, Ivan Cornejo, a 20-year-old from Riverside, CA.

• Morgan Wallen, Lies Lies Lies (Country)- Charting at #3 on Apple Music streaming, Country bad boy Wallen’s new single “Lies Lies Lies” shows a greater vulnerability than usual.  With a melancholy lyric and melody, “Lies Lies Lies” does justice to the long country tradition of singing about keeping up appearances in the face of a painful split-ups.

• Zach Bryan, 28 (Country/Americana)- It was so difficult to pick just one song from Bryan’s new LP “The Great American Bar Scene”, which should be in consideration for 2024 album of the year honors.  After consulting with Neuphorian Zach Bryan enthusiasts, I chose his latest single “28”, which despite the heartfelt lyric inferring that its taken 28 years for him to feel loved, was actually inspired by counting his blessings after his dog’s successful surgery (according to an interview with Bryan)- can you say “Buzzkill”?

• Clairo, Thank You (Pop/Alternative)- Bedroom popster, Clairo released her 3rd LP, “Charm” this week and I can’t resist the Carole King/Carly Simon vibe of “Thank You”. While “Thank You” may share the creative chord progressions of an early 70’s easy pop hit, Clairo makes it her own with her feather-light vocal and unguarded lyrics.

Happy Listening!

D