We know you know that XPN staffers are listening to the radio, of course. But behind the curation of what gets played on-air or gets featured on our website, is the music discovery stage. In this feature, we’re sharing the music our team is digging into before it gets to the point of being featured online or on-air. This month, we begin with our interns from Drexel University have discovered, and loved.
Their musical minds inform the commentary on most XPN Music News pieces you read on our website, like this review of The Felice Brothers concert at World Cafe by Emma Zoe Polyak; this review of delicate, bossa-folk artist Liana Flores’ EP Recently by Maeve Zeleniak; and this analysis of Portishead fontwoman Beth Gibbons’ new record Lives Outgrown by Claire Brown, plus many more.
Get to know the personal tastes of XPN’s digital content interns in the following playlist, broken up into five prompts: a song from a local band, a song from pop culture, an under-the-radar pick, an oldie, and a song from an artist you predict will blow up.
A song from a local band
“The Man With No Grip” by Small Head Big Torso Vicious Grip
A brittle noise rock track that whirrs and clicks and pops under the weight of its impossibly danceable groove. Sounds like Schlagenheim-era black midi if they didn’t go to art school and spent their college funds on weird pedals. – Claire Brown
“Layla” by Moustapha Noumbissi
If you haven’t listened to Moustapha Noumbissi, you’re missing out. Although I’ve heard his music make the rounds on XPN before, it wasn’t until I saw him live at XPN’s NON-COMM that I really started to listen to his music in earnest. “Layla” is a yearning, soulful, and, in my experience, perfect for warm summer-night drives. – Emma Zoe Polyak
“Acolyte” by Slaughter, Beach Dog
Slaughter Beach, Dog just does not miss. “Acolyte” has been my favorite for a long long time; its cozy warmth has made it a repeat offender on all of my Spotify-generated playlists. Wait. Definitely not an offender. Repeat gratifier? Repeat delight? You be the judge. – Maeve Zeleniak
A song from pop culture you’re digging
“COLE PIMP (with Ty Dolla $ign & Juicy J)” by Denzel Curry
The jazziest cut from Denzel Curry’s King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2, a sequel to his breakout tape and a love letter to southern hip-hop. Despite the Juicy J feature, this is the least Memphis-y cut on this tape; still, those choppy snare fills are undeniably Three 6. – Claire Brown
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
It’s catchy, it’s fun, it’s diabolical. In addition to being an example of Kendrick’s impressive lyricism, “Not Like Us” has become one of the cultural music moments in 2024. From Kendrick’s Juneteenth concert (where he performed the song no less than six times) to the music video released on the 4th of July (full of easter eggs and double entendres), to the iconic memes that have arisen out of it, I think it’s safe to say “Not Like Us” won the infamous rap beef. – Emma Zoe Polyak
“Guess featuring Billie Eilish” by Charli XCX, Billie Eilish
It may seem unlikely that we, too, have come down with brat fever, but we just can’t help it. As the Barbie movie defined girlhood in summer 2023, so too has Charli XCX’s latest defined this one. “Guess” has been the pump-up song for to getting ready to. No matter what we’re getting ready for, it’s classically trashy and so much fun. – Maeve Zeleniak
An under-the-radar pick
“Dance With Me” by The Children’s Hour
It took Drag City twenty-one years to release The Children’s Hour’s 2003 sophomore record, a quaint little folk album featuring David Pajo of Slint on drums. This adorable duet for the socially anxious had to have been the lead single – two decades later, it still feels timeless. – Claire Brown
“I Am So Far” by Grian Chatten
While Grian Chatten’s band Fontaines D.C. isn’t exactly under the radar right now, Chatten’s solo work is sorely underrated. Chaos For The Fly was one of my favorite releases from 2023, and it offers a more melodic, acoustic side to the Irish singer. “I Am So Far” leans into some beautiful harmonies, and has been on repeat! – Emma Zoe Polyak
“Everybody Loves Me But You” by Juliana Hatfield
Does Juliana Hatfield’s 1992 track “Everybody Loves Me But You” count as underground? In 2024, it’s definitely under the radar. Regardless, that early ’90s girl-rock sound is still just as fun to scream with friends or in the car. Trust me – it makes everyday life sound like the opening of a cult-classic teen flick. – Maeve Zeleniak
An oldie
“Cool in the Pool” by Holger Czukay
What’s better for the hot weather than this avant-garde funk pastiche from CAN co-founder Holger Czukay? You can really tell this track was made before people figured out how to make the samples in key with the rest of the song. – Claire Brown
“No Ordinary Love” by Sade
I grew up listening to Sade. Her music is timeless, stirring, and oh-so-expressive. It’s no wonder that every once in a while (especially during the summer!) I return to her songs. “No Ordinary Love” is one of my favorites from her for its simple lyrics and velvety repetition of “Keep trying for you” throughout the song. – Emma Zoe Polyak
“I Still Do” by The Cranberries
I’m nothing if not dramatic. If it were possible to pick the entirety of Everybody Else is Doing It that would be my choice, but since we’re going with one song I’m going to go with “I Still Do”. Between crashing percussion and haunting vocals, the Cranberries will never not be incredible. – Maeve Zeleniak
A song from an artist you see blowing up
“Taste of You” by Go For A Punch
The chugging mess of guitars and harrowed scream-singing prime this song to be a hit in the sadder corners of the internet, but what separates this Philly duo from every other bedroom emo band is that they seem to actually have access to a live drum kit. Sell-outs. – Claire Brown
“Definition of Love” by Naomi Sharon
Can you tell I’m on an RnB kick this week? I was first introduced to Naomi Sharon by a friend, and her voice has been stuck in my head ever since. Sharon has an old, soulful voice and some of the smoothest vocals I’ve heard in a while. “Definition of Love” is the gorgeous, sultry opening track from Sharon’s debut album Obsidian. Sharon will be opening for Tems on the North American leg of her Born in the Wild World Tour, and while Naomi Sharon already has a dedicated fan base, I definitely see her blowing up after this tour. – Emma Zoe Polyak
“Butterflies (feat. Tim Bernardes)” by Liana Flores
Even though her single “Rises the moon” already blew up on TikTok a few years ago, when I say I want Liana Flores’ work to blow up, I mean Chappell Roan-level fame. The bossa-folk (is that a word?) artist released her debut album late last month and it was nothing short of stunning. Since we can only recommend one song at a time, go check out “Butterflies (feat. Tim Bernardes)”. It’s incredible, I promise. – Maeve Zeleniak
