Benny Sings feat. Mac DeMarco: Rolled Up

Benny Sings and Mac DeMarco’s duet “Rolled Up” rides along a piano-led instrumental. The two vocalists begin the track by wondering “why my life turned south.” Strings fall into place with falsetto provided by Benny Sings (aka Tim van Berkestijn) and the duo soon trades optimistic verses. “Finally see the sun through all of those clouds / holed up, locked out, shut in, held down,” …

Mac Demarco: Here Comes The Cowboy

Sparse and repetitive, though tender and altogether pretty, “Here Comes The Cowboy,” the first track off Mac Demarco’s album of the same name, ambles along, lulling the listener. The track’s sole lyrics, “Here comes the cowboy,” are repeated a dozen or so times, but viewers lose count when entranced by the song’s music video. Cole Kush directed and animated the absurdist visuals, wherein a misfit …

ListenUp

A surreal offering from Perfume Genius, Amandla Stenberg's Mac DeMarco cover, a sparkly tune by Phoenix and more in our musical round-up

Perfume Genius: Die 4 U Last week, Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) released his fourth record No Shape and now, the video for “Die 4 U”—directed by the remarkably talented Floria Sigismondi. The song alone is a slinky, dark and minimal tune that Hadreas’s sultry voice teeters over. Subtle erotic asphyxiation, the lyrics don’t give much away. The music video is equally full of contrasts: …