🎧 Songs of the Week #28: You better know you've got the good times right here.
🎧 Songs of the Week #28: You better know you've got the good times right here.
📅 March 25-31, 2023: Featuring Nonô, Diorange, Recue, Heyz, and Direct & CloudNone
Welcome to week #28 of the Steel Orca Songs of the Week.
I’m sick with a sinus infection this week, but it’s essential for me not to miss the weekly post, so this will be a shorter issue.
One thing to note, I broke my Lenten sacrifice of not drinking on Monday night. I had a buddy in town, so I went out and had a couple of drinks. While fun at the time, I’m pretty sure this was also one of the key reasons my sinus infection flared up, causing me to go down for the rest of the week. It doesn’t seem worth it. It emphasized the importance of reducing my alcohol consumption as a lifestyle choice. Don’t worry. I’m no saint. I’ve got another vice (🌿) to take its spot.
Here are a few of my reasons for going easier on drinking:
I’m objectively angrier and less patient with people around me when I’ve drunk the night before.
Anxiety (hangxiety) ramps up significantly over the next few days after a night of drinking.
I do and say stupid things I inevitably regret while drinking (see number 2).
My skin breaks out (this is a common side effect of drinking because it dries your skin out).
I’m significantly less happy for days (even weeks) after a night of drinking. Research indicates it takes up to 2 weeks for your brain to return to equilibrium, though unless you’re an alcoholic, your body (liver) is supposed to recover in about five days.
The most helpful information I found for this was the Andrew Huberman podcast episode #86: What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health. I’m pretty sure that single podcast did more to enlighten people on the dangers of alcohol than anything else in the last 50 years. It seemed to affect people. It definitely affected me. I can’t recommend it enough.
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Playlist Breakdown
Here are the songs for the week of March 31st, 2023 💵.
▶️ Youtube Music: Songs of the Week #28
Update on last week’s post - I still haven’t purchased my DJ setup, but I’m getting closer and closer. It will probably happen this week (we’ll see what next week’s post contains and if I have an update then), but it’s happening. I’ve also budgeted for a DJ headset and monitors, so that’s another ~$300, approximately. I think total in CAD, I plan on spending just under $800 altogether. I have the money, but I’m a frugal guy, so dropping $800 on anything, even if it’s something I know I am really into, is a giant leap for me. But I will probably bite the bullet and order it this week, as I think it will likely take a few weeks to arrive.
In terms of the songs this week, because I was sick, I had more trouble finding the time to listen and dig through tracks, so a couple of these (Lift Me Up and Good Times) are songs from previous weeks that almost made a previous post but didn’t. As such, I’ve included them here.
You’ll also notice (this will become a theme) that some songs aren’t available on Beatport. That’s not unexpected. Many good songs won’t make it to Beatport either because they’re more indie or for many reasons, I am not familiar with (this newsletter is the closest connection I have to the music industry proper). In those cases, I’ve listed the likely best part to find the track (mostly Amazon or Apple). If you’ve found a better version of the tracks than I’ve linked below, please let me know in the comments below.
Nonô - Good Times
Beatport: Good Times (Original Mix) - $1.29
Release Date: December 9, 2022
Spotify Plays: 828,985
Plays Per Day: 7,468
Label: Helix Records
Genre: Dance | Electro Pop
Origin: London 🇬🇧
Instagram: @nonoofficial
Twitter: @NONOmusic
Nonô, a London-based singer-songwriter with Brazilian roots, has made a name for herself with her fresh take on pop music. Blending R&B, electronic, and pop elements, her sound is captivating and engaging. Nonô's unique voice and honest songwriting have garnered her a dedicated fan base, and her music has been featured on numerous playlists and tastemakers' radars.
Good Times is a lively pop anthem that showcases Nonô's ability to create catchy hooks and memorable melodies. With its uplifting lyrics and upbeat production, the track captures the essence of enjoying life's simple pleasures and embracing the good times. Nonô's expressive vocals and relatable storytelling make Good Times a feel-good anthem that resonates with listeners and encourages them to let go of their worries and enjoy the moment.
Nonô is focused on creating new music and further developing her unique sound. While there are no immediate plans for a tour, fans can expect to see more exciting releases, collaborations, and live performances from this promising artist soon. Follow her on social media to stay updated on her latest projects and announcements.
Diorange - Lift Me Up
Release Date: April 29, 2021
Spotify Plays: 491,877
Plays Per Day: 704
Label: Wyde Records
Genre: House
Origin: Stockholm 🇸🇪
Instagram: @itsdiorange
Twitter: @itsdiorange
Diorange, a Stockholm-based indie producer, has been steadily gaining attention for his captivating sound that blends pop, electronic, and indie music elements. With evocative lyrics and heartfelt melodies encapsulated within a house framework, Diorange has built a dedicated fan base that eagerly anticipates each new release.
Lift Me Up is an inspiring electro-pop track that showcases Diorange's talent for crafting catchy melodies and meaningful lyrics. Diorange's expressive vocals and the song's soaring chorus create an atmosphere of hope and resilience that resonates with fans and serves as a reminder of the power of human connection.
Currently, Diorange is working on new music and honing his signature sound. Although he has no tour dates listed, he does maintain a weekly public playlist on Spotify that’s worth checking out. You can also follow him on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest projects and announcements.
Recue - Tensegrity
Bandcamp: Tensegrity (Original Mix) - €1.50
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Spotify Plays: 24,482
Plays Per Day: 395
Label: Signal Life
Genre: Electronica
Origin: Helsinki 🇫🇮
Instagram: @recueofficial
Twitter: @recueofficial
Recue, a talented electronic music producer from Helsinki, has gained a reputation for crafting engaging sonic experiences that captivate listeners. Combining ambient, IDM, and experimental music elements, Recue's work showcases their ability to explore new territories within electronic music while maintaining a solid emotional core.
Tensegrity is a mesmerizing track demonstrating Recue's knack for creating intricate sonic layers and hypnotic rhythms. The song's atmosphere draws listeners into a world of tension and release, showcasing the artist's skill in building a rich, textured auditory environment. It is a testament to Recue's talent for blending innovative production techniques with deeply emotional themes, making it a compelling listening experience.
From Recue’s Bandcamp profile:
“Tensegrity structures are seemingly frail and look to be on the verge of collapse while sustaining a strong and rigid structure.
Recue delves into the concept of musical tensegrity by dismantling static tempo in vanguard mode. The resulting pieces treat this approach in a variety of ways from looping-yet-stretching tempo structures to endless acceleration and manifest into audible similes to tensegrity structures seemingly on the verge of collapsing while retaining a rigid structure held together by mere tension. The tracks bend and stretch not only tempo, but club tropes from classic breakbeat snippets to euphoric acceleration.”
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, I could not find any live dates listed for Recue on either his website, Bandcamp, or elsewhere. So, like the artists above, your best bet to keep updated on future announcements is to follow him on social media.
Heyz - Anyway
Beatport: Anyway (Original Mix) - $1.29
Release Date: April 23, 2021
Spotify Plays: 345,339
Plays Per Day: 489
Label: Deadbeats
Genre: Dubstep
Origin: Greensboro, NC 🇺🇸
Instagram: @heyzmsc
Twitter: @heyzmsc
Heyz, an up-and-coming electronic music producer from Greensboro, has quickly garnered attention for his distinctive style that melds bass, techno, and electro elements. With a keen ear for crafting memorable melodies and engaging rhythms, Heyz has established a dedicated following eager for each new release.
Anyway is a captivating track highlighting Heyz's ability to blend driving beats with infectious hooks. The song's energetic production and catchy melody create a stimulating atmosphere that keeps listeners enthralled from start to finish. Anyway showcases Heyz's talent for fusing innovative production methods with emotionally resonant themes, delivering a listening experience that leaves a lasting impression.
According to Songkick, Heyz has two upcoming festival appearances: the first at the Ubbi Dubbi festival in Fort Worth on April 22 and the second on June 9 at the Forbidden Kingdom festival in Orlando. For any additional dates, check social media.
Song of the Week 🙌
Direct & CloudNone - Bring Me Back
Beatport: Bring Me Back (Original Mix) - $1.29
Release Date: January 20, 2023
Spotify Plays: 96,003
Plays Per Day: 1,391
Label: bitbird
Genre: Mainstage | Future House
Origin: United States 🇺🇸
Instagram: @directofficial | @cloudnonemusic
Twitter: @directofficial | @cloudnonemusic
Direct (Joseph Lyncheski), a talented electronic music producer from the United States, has been making waves in the industry with his captivating compositions that blend elements of chillout, downtempo, and ambient genres. His distinct style has garnered him a loyal following, eagerly anticipating every release.
CloudNone, also hailing from the United States, has quickly gained a reputation for crafting soothing melodies and atmospheric soundscapes within electronic and chillout music. Together, these artists bring their unique talents to create tracks that resonate with passionate and relaxing electronic music fans.
Bring Me Back is one of several collaborations between Direct and CloudNone that showcases their combined abilities to create a lush sonic environment filled with mesmerizing melodies and driving house beats. Bring Me Back is a testament to the prowess of both artists, delivering a listening experience that is both profoundly expressive and beautifully crafted.
At the time of writing, I couldn’t find any tour dates for Direct or CloudNone, but based on the frequent collaborations between these artists, if they do play live at any point, there’s a significant chance you’ll see them together.
That’s it for this week from all of us here at the Steel Orca.✔️👋
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