Biz Markie: Make The Music

Internationally renowned and beloved, the Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, Biz Markie (born Marcel Theo Hall) has passed away at 57 years old. Best known for his massive hit “Just a Friend,” Biz Markie was a talented beatboxer (a talent he honed during his teens) and rapper, but embraced his goofiness with playful, self-deprecating lyrics and off-tune singing: “I’d rather have a smile than to be …

Clairo: Amoeba

Singer-songwriter Clairo (aka Claire Elizabeth Cottrill) has released her second full-length, Sling, the follow-up her 2019 debut, Immunity. The album—produced by Cottrill and Jack Antonoff—was made in Upstate New York, and inspired by the landscapes and atmosphere there. From the album, “Amoeba” certainly stands out as a vintage-sounding pop song, carried by Cottrill’s gentle vocals. 

Inhaler: Slide Out The Window

A dreamy track from Dublin-based indie-rock act Inhaler, “Slide Out The Window” endears with its bright, bold and thoughtful sonic layers and the way they coalesce from start to finish. The four-piece band released their debut full-length this July, and it’s a trove of energized ear-worms and intricate pop-rock numbers like this one.