Get Some Tunes for the Spring!
Get ahead of Spotify’s algorithm with Hummingbird’s Music Feeder, a bi-monthly dose of invigorating and soul-pleasing tunes
With this Feeder, we feature a smooth album from Sunni Colón, some words from Goose, and new releases from Joyce Wrice, BROCKHAMPTON, Kiefer, Ric Wilson, and Your Friend Ben. Make sure to subscribe, forward, or share if you’re enjoying the music. And shoutout to fellow Hummingbird Oliver Panlibuton for the lovely new banner!
Sunni Colón — Satin Psicodelic
This album is the best YouTube recommendation I’ve ever received. The video Colón created alongside Satin Psicodelic is an epic expression of beautiful color combinations, people, and musical arrangements.
Vocally, Colón appears to be inspired by the neo-soul stylings of D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and other classically sultry singers that don’t have to sing above a whisper to display the depth of their romance.
Satin Psicodelic is as cohesive of an album as they come. Running just under 30 minutes, Colón keeps the mood intimate over a variety of instrumentals that verge on psychedelic R&B. His voice and beats are a match made in heaven, as Colón floats all over this album with passion; the bright, psychedelic tone colors of “Technicolor” give way to the foot-tapping charisma of “Mornin Dew.”
This album is an interesting follow-up to his first album, Thierry Disko, which sees Colón experiment with a much wider array of sounds. Over instrumentals that range from rock to disco to R&B, it’s clear he found his strength on Satin Psicodelic, as it allows ample space for his sensual delivery and intimate lyricism.
What could be viewed as predictable might be more accurately described as dedicated. Colón knows he’s really got this sound down, and creates an album with emotions deeper than the mariana trench with it.
Tune in to this album if you simply can’t stop thinking about that special someone — Sunni Colón might just provide the soundtrack to give you some clarity. However, the album is certainly worth more than its romantic value: breezy chords and lighthearted lyrics make for perfect listening on sunny summer days.
And as a bonus, he just dropped another song last weekend, “Provide.” If we’re lucky, this could mean another project is on the way!
Hear from Hummingbird’s Nest: Goose
Goose, one of the most exciting jam bands on the scene, didn’t allow the pandemic to halt their creative momentum. They’ve been turning to livestreams and an expansive virtual marketing approach to spread their exhilarating music to the masses. We recently had the honor of speaking with band member Peter Anspach, who juggles the triple duty of vocals, keys, and guitar.
To describe Goose’s music, the multi-instrumentalist with the Magnum-P.I. stache responds, “Goose is like a warm hug before jumping out of a plane.”
“I just love the diversity of where we can go,” says Anspach. “I feel lucky to be in a band that can rage a jam but then also pull your heart strings inside the same set.”
“We’re really excited for what’s next. There’s just a lot that we’ve worked on over the last year that nobody’s seen and nobody’s heard,” says Anspach with a cheeky grin. “Which is really exciting because we get to showcase a lot more different things than people are going to be expecting.”
Big ol’ thanks to Goose for the interview.
Tune In: Best Drops of the Past Few Weeks
MARSELA ~ Dark Days
Over a silky & soulful instrumental, British-Albanian songstress, MARSELA, released a smooth ballad titled “Dark Days” on Feb. 26. Her bassy delivery romanticizes the climbing out of phases of emotional and spiritual pain. MARSELA is a newcomer in the world of soul and R&B, but that is no indication of her musical quality. A mature voice and strong instrumentals tell us we can anticipate a soon-to-be heavyweight. Look out for what she has in store:
Joyce Wrice ~ Overgrown
As a new contender for album of the year, Overgrown by Joyce Wrice is evocative, beautiful, and pop-inspired without feeling derivative. With an array of ultra-talented feature artists like KAYTRANADA, Freddie Gibbs, Lucky Daye, and UMI, among others, the album is easy to listen to on repeat without becoming stale. Get to know Wrice’s name because if she can create this as a debut, there’s no telling how expansive her potential is.
Best songs: “On One,” “So So Sick,” “That’s On You”
BROCKHAMPTON ~ ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE
The boy band’s seventh album is a refreshing effort, bringing many of the group’s beloved members back into the limelight after an extended drought. High-profile features like Danny Brown, JPEGMAFIA, and A$AP Rocky are compelling but don’t add much to BROCKHAMPTON’s portfolio. It feels like they serve more as a crutch than an addition.
Best songs: “COUNT ON ME,” “I’LL TAKE YOU ON,” “WHAT’S THE OCCASION”
Your Friend Ben ~ Sneakers
“Sneakers” is a spacious and gentle track from Your Friend Ben, with a guitar-driven instrumental and an ethereal production style. Give it a listen if you feel like laying back and giving your sneakers a rest for a little while.
Ric Wilson — Woo Woo Woo & Everybody Red in the Face
Disco Ric resurfaces for a pair of hip-shakers. Combining to last fewer than three minutes, these songs are a bite-sized taste of what our favorite Chicago boogie-rapper has been up to.
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Having trouble leaving the hibernation of the pandemic? Get ready to face the anxieties of an open world with this playlist, which will hold your hand as we get back to a new kind of normal.
The Salt Lick Denver
Founded with the goal to more effectively market Denver and Colorado music to the nation and world, The Salt Lick was recently established as a music collective and studio.
The Salt Lick's concert series, Songs from the Pond, aims to highlight the amazing and diverse talent found within the Denver music scene. These intimate studio sessions, inspired by KEXP and NPR's Tiny Desk, premiere the 1st of every month at 7:00PM.
The team behind the collective includes Edelstein (audiovisual-production), Chris Voss (audio engineer), Andrea Hoang (marketing/set designer), Maya Bennett (talent-discovery person) and John Baldwin (audiovisual-production assistant).
The Salt Lick hosted local band, Mlady, for the month of April. Band members Hannah (Vocals/Piano), Karina (Bass), Syd (Drummer), Austin (Vocals/Guitar), and Ian (Guitar) delivered a captivating performance with songs that will be playing on repeat in your heads long after you've finished watching the session. Self described as "emotionally indulgent, dreamy pop," Hannah's songwriting is vulnerable, authentic, and emotionally raw; it'll make you feel all sorts of feelings and keep you coming back for more. Mlady released their latest album, Maladaptive Daydreaming, on March 31st.
Click here to subscribe to The Salt Lick's Youtube Channel for more content and to stay up to date or check out www.thesaltlickdenver.com.