ListenUp
An ode to self-care by Raveena, new tunes from Feist, Ela Minus, Exhibition and more
Feist: The Stranger (Gord Downie Tribute)
Hauntingly beautiful, Feist’s cover of “The Stranger” was her tribute to fellow Canadian and Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, who died this week from brain cancer. The track was drawn from Downie’s 2016 solo album Secret Path. Feist explains, “I send out this song with love, respect and gratitude in honor of Gord’s generosity of spirit. I admired so much his honest way of communicating what he saw and the courage and conviction he searched with.”
Raveena: Sweet Time
A wholesome, sparkling song about self-care and self-love, “Sweet Time” by Brooklyn-based musician and singer Raveena is a luminous piece of soul/R&B. The accompanying video (which she also directed) sees Raveena sitting in a blossom tree, hanging out with friends and treating herself right. Dreamlike and gorgeously empowering—and all about taking one’s sweet time—the track certainly makes us excited for what else Raveena has in store.
Exhibition feat. Julian Casablancas: No One There
New York-based director Charles Billot and art director Piera Wolf have united to dress an ’80s-saturated grit and glamour atop “No One There,” a single from Hammarsing Kharhmar’s band Exhibition. Julian Casablancas lends his signature vocal stylings to the track, which—video included—feels like a fuzzy, melodic and neon-lit trip.
Ela Minus: a.r.p.
In one improvisational take, Colombian singer and electronic musician Ela Minus (aka Gabriela Jimeno) filmed the video for “a.r.p,” out today. Minus used Critter & Guitari’s ETC video synthesizer and created a series of lo-fi imagery “live.” The shifting digital palette accompanies the warm, undulating track—which appears on her EP Adapt, released earlier this year. Minus is presently touring the world.
Pale Grey: Seasons
Belgium-based band Pale Grey recently released a warm piece of indie-pop: “Seasons.” The track is just over two minutes, but its combination of synths, gentle drum machine and sweet lyrics gives it depth. The three-piece is currently on a European tour.
Charlotte Gainsbourg: Ring-A-Ring O’ Roses
Breathy, beautiful and cinematic, “Ring-A-Ring O’ Roses,” which released this week, will be the opening track on French singer Charlotte Gainsbourg’s latest album, Rest. Gainsbourg co-wrote the song, which is partially sung in French, with Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo and production was helmed by French dance producer SebastiAn. An accompanying video, starring Gainsbourg’s son, was released on Apple Music exclusively. The album, her first in seven years, will be available on 17 November.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week, also found in Listen. Hear the year so far via Cool Hunting Spotify.
