Throughout the end of May and the entirety of June, Wallflower Music took a bit of a hiatus while I was finishing up my Bachelor’s Degree, working on getting this new website up and running, and recovering from some gnarly burnout. Even though I was less active in the local scene during this time, I did my best to keep up with my favorite artists, as well as continue checking out new music from other bands I hadn’t listened to before.
I wanted to shout out and celebrate the various songs that I’ve been enjoying over the past couple months, so I made this short list! This list will include both singles that have recently been released, as well as a few songs from my current favorite albums.
The Only Thing – Judcody Limon
I have fallen more and more in love with this song the longer I’ve listened to it. Originally released in its acoustic version in Judcody Limon’s 2024 “Songs to Lick Your Wounds to: A Compilation of Love Sounds Released Between 2019-2024,” the song was released earlier this year as a single, now with a full-fledged production behind it. I’m so grateful that this song was eventually released again on its own, as it is a stunning masterpiece that deserves its flowers. The song’s instrumental captures a beautiful sense of nostalgia and longing that pairs perfectly with its thoughtful lyrics, which make me feel like I’m in a scene of a coming-of-age movie. My life’s become a lot more chill since I’ve started listening to this song on repeat to relax before and after stressful shifts at work.
Where Do We Go – Chloe Antoinette
In addition to being a talented musician, Chloe Antoinette is also a dedicated filmmaker who debuted their documentary “Where Do We Go” about queer musicians in the Inland Empire’s local music scene. They also released the documentary’s theme to enjoy outside of the film, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing while hoping and waiting to catch an upcoming screening. This song does a great job of illustrating the challenges that queer people face in prejudiced society that is becoming increasingly destructive to those it deems undesirable. The lyric “I’m starting to think this world isn’t for us” is devastating and captures why queer people find so much solace in the DIY scene. “Where Do We Go” is a deeply touching and powerful queer anthem that is highly reflective of the dark times we are living in now.
Silver Lining – Sundae Best
I absolutely love Sundae Best and have been regularly keeping up with the band since first listening to their debut album. In May, Sundae Best released a new single that I was ecstatic to listen to, and “Silver Lining” definitely lived up to the hype.
“Silver Lining” has everything that I enjoy about Sundae Best’s music, from the gorgeous vocals, impressive lyricism, and extremely satisfying musical choices from each instrument. In addition to this, the song has a large emotional depth that I was hoping to hear in future projects from the band. When I previously reviewed their “Assorted Flavors” album, I wrote that I would love to see more sides of Sundae Best that changed the tone from their mostly upbeat sound by leaning into heavier (dare I say angstier) emotions, since they had done such a great job with “Spumoni Blues.” Sundae Best succeed in creating a new flavor of the band’s sound that illustrates feelings of being lost, misguided, and disconnected that are all too common in the world today.
WHATEVER YOU SAY GORGEOUS – Alex Andre & Samson Oats, ft. Mahealane
I have been obsessed with this song since it came out a few months ago. I was immediately pulled in by the song’s opening drums, before being entranced by the rest of the song. Everything in this track is INCREDIBLE and so satisfying to listen to. Mahealane’s trumpet solos add so much to this, elevating the already solid city pop sound into something more jazzy. I also love the song’s lyrics and enjoy both verses that Alex Andre and Samson Oats respectively bring together. I absolutely adore the line “You’re not a want, you are a need,” both for its romantic sentiment, but also how it’s phrased; the entire second verse is sung in a way that is so creatively nourishing, I can’t help but repeat certain lines over and over to fully appreciate where each syllable lands. If this song taught me one thing, it’s that I’m missing out by not listening to more city pop and I need to get on that STAT!
Salton Sea – Porkboii
“Salton Sea” is an absolutely gorgeous masterpiece that speaks to the lyrical genius of Porkboii. This song explores an intimate relationship between lovers and its lyrics capture the sweet sensuality and passion that can be found in these moments of affection. The entire chorus is so stunning and beautiful on every layer of the song, but especially its vocals. As the song progresses, the chorus is sung with more and more passion until the climactic final chorus. I am absolutely in love with this perfect song and am always amazed by the art that Porkboii creates.
get a license! – Soup & Sandwich
“get a license!” is the first song released by the new band, Soup & Sandwich, who are an indie pop duo who aim to make whimsical music. Their debut song definitely achieves this, as “get a license!” is suuuuper catchy and fun to listen to. This track presents an upbeat melody that you can’t help but get stuck in your head. I also love the bright and clear tone of the vocals, which are my favorite part of the song. This pop banger is great to blast in the car with your windows down as we wait for more from Soup & Sandwich.
Ketamine – The Paper Cutouts
This has been the first release from The Paper Cutouts that has been available on Qobuz, so I’ve finally been getting my Paper Cutouts fix. (Thank you for releasing this on there!) As soon as “Ketamine” starts, I feel a kick of dopamine hit my system as if I’m taking the actual drug. Once again, The Paper Cutouts demonstrate their prowess in songwriting, as this song is ear candy in every way. I particularly love the way that The Paper Cutouts mix their vocals, which makes their sound feel a bit more retro in a way that perfectly suits the band. “Ketamine” once again reminds me of how awesome The Paper Cutouts are as an indie pop band and (in my extremely subjective opinion) are one of the strongest artists within that genre that I’ve heard for a while.
Just for Me – Kiss the Scientist
I will always enjoy a unique cover of a song that transforms the original into a completely different and unique piece that sounds like an original. Kiss the Scientist totally achieves this with their midwest emo-style cover of PinkPantheress’s “Just for Me.” Kiss the Scientist has been going viral recently after sharing covers on their social media of popular songs in the style of midwest emo. I first saw their cover of Addison Rae’s “Fame is a Gun,” before listening to their rendition of PinkPantheress’s “Just for Me.” I was ecstatic to see that Kiss the Scientist had decided to release their “Just for Me” cover on streaming services. I’ve regularly been listening to this song on repeat and greatly enjoy how they transformed this iconic pop hit into an emo masterpiece.
Outside of just this song, the band’s recent EP “Better in My Head” is great; I’ve been enjoying all of it, especially “Afterglow.” I’m glad that their covers introduced me to a band with an exciting future ahead of them.
Nena – The Offtrax
The Offtrax recently dropped an album called “Bloom Like You’re Expected To” and this entire album is INCREDIBLE! More people need to check out The Offtrax, because they are severely underrated for the quality of music they are putting out into the world. “Nena” was released as part of this album, and I immediately fell in love with it. Even though I speak very little Spanish, I became enamored with the heartfelt tone the singer holds and the song’s overall softer acoustic sound. This is an absolutely gorgeous song that motivates me to finally lock in and learn more Spanish.
sincere – The Band Cope
The Band Cope is an incredibly talented and unique band that I just recently stumbled upon after listening to the masterpiece that is their 2025 album, “Dress Up.” “sincere” is definitely my favorite song from the album, thanks to its relaxed jazzy sound that evolves into one of resounding defiance. The singer’s voice on this track is hypnotic and I adore the range (both technically and emotionally) they demonstrate in the song. The tempo change about two-thirds through “sincere” is so cool, and the shift back and forth between this faster portion is done in a way that feels so natural and fitting. I am seriously impressed by The Band Cope and hope to get a chance to see them live in the near future!
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