ListenUp

Nashville's Hotel War, Lianne La Havas for Converse and a classic '80s #PrivateJam in our look at music this week

Lianne La Havas: Twice (Little Dragon cover) South London songstress Lianne La Havas is known for heartfelt songwriting as much as her soulful voice, but it turns out she can breathe new life into other artists’ work too—as evidenced by her cover of Swedish electropop outfit Little Dragon’s “Twice.” With just a bassist accompanying La Havas’ rich but mellow voice, there is a certain intimacy …

Connan Mockasin: Caramel

An emo anthem #PrivateJam, the latest Arcade Fire video from Spike Jonze and more in this week's music recap

Take a psychedelic journey through New Zealand native Connan Mockasin’s second album Caramel, which he recorded entirely in a Tokyo hotel room and has made available for streaming on Soundcloud. Pitch shifting, guitar slides and carefully controlled reverb create the ambience of a softly babbling, cosmic brook. Within the waters, you’ll find echoes of those sex-filled songs of the ’70s and ’80s, heard in “I’m …

Arcade Fire: Afterlife

An emo anthem #PrivateJam, the latest Arcade Fire video from Spike Jonze and more in this week's music recap

No longer a little band from Montreal, Arcade Fire has earned enough respect to do almost anything in recent years, all the while holding strong to their humble beginnings and keeping their independent credibility alive. They’ve maintained that spirit with a totally original live music video of “Afterlife,” directed by Spike Jonze, performed at this past week’s YouTube Music Awards. Actress Greta Gerwig starred in …