Cruise into spring break with CTM’s local music playlist for March
This month’s playlist features the nostalgic pop of Armoire, the experimental electronic music of klurax and the melodically dissonant R&B of Sudan Archives
Sudan Archives poses on a mattress in a furniture store as a part of the music video for her new track “Home Maker” made in collaboration with San Diego producer and sound engineer André Elias. Photo by Tally Rancish, from @sudanarchives Instagram
March 25, 2022
Spring has come. The days are longer, the nights are warmer and, at least for City College students, the coming week of vacation is a much-needed respite from the grind of classes.
The next inevitable wave in our neverending cycle of COVID-19 surges is bound to come soon, so use these precious moments to take a beat. Relax. And try to forget about the first sentence in this paragraph.
From the hook-centric pop rock of Jewelry Girl to the sun-bleached ambience of Fax + Braulio to the wistful twee of Sugar World, City Times Media’s put together some tracks to kick your feet up to.
And as always, if you’re a local musician interested in being included on the playlist, send your stuff to [email protected]. Please don’t forget to let us know if you’re a San Diego City College alum!
Aloe Vera – “Stay The Night”
Apple Music – Instagram – Spotify – Youtube
Aloe Vera is back with its newest single from the forthcoming album “Things Happen The Way They’re Supposed To,” and it demonstrates songwriter Orion Brody’s knack for weaving together vibrant textures into a unified sonic fabric.
The track is anchored by a funky, resonant bassline but layers of ethereal keyboards and distorted guitars beckon you to “please stay the night…”
– Jakob McWhinney
Armoire – “Rochelle”
“Rochelle,” from Armoire’s new self-titled EP, draws on playful, nostalgic pop influences but filters it all through a synthy lo-fi aesthetic.
It’s a catchy, unabashed tune about love and infatuation, and it just might make that cold, dead lump of flesh you call a heart feel something.
– Jakob McWhinney
Fax + Braulio Lam – “Mixed Signals”
Apple Music – Bandcamp – Spotify
This collaboration between electronic musician FAX (Rubén Alonso Tamayo) and guitarist Braulio Lam, recorded in Tijuana and Mexicali under the LA-based label Dragon’s Eye Recordings is a bright, ambient, sun-ridden ten minutes of being gently exposed to the elements.
This music feels geographic, as if the land was watching and singing back to us.
– Philip Salata
Jewelry Girl – “blurr”
“blurr,” the latest from indie rockers Jewelry Girl is a wall of bouncing bass and crunchy guitars.
Hard-hitting, but straightforward, it hearkens back to the hook-centric pop rock of the early aughts.
– Jakob McWhinney
klurax – “ode to girlhood”
Bandcamp – Spotify – Soundcloud
Over an ethereal wash of electronic keys with a solid-footed bass line and an uppity drum track, klurax’s vocals play the role of yet another instrument.
The track “ode to girlhood” could be rock, could be electronic, and is definitely an experiment in mixing genres. Good mood music.
– Philip Salata
The Inflorescence – “Tomorrow Night”
Bandcamp – Instagram – Spotify
Pop-punk group The Inflorescence recently released a music video for their track “Tomorrow Night,” and it’s a moody, yearning number with just enough of an emo tinge to scratch the itch.
The group’s oldest member is just 18, so there’s bound to be plenty more to come.
– Jakob McWhinney
RyRy So Fly – “Bassline”
Apple Music – Soundcloud – Spotify – Youtube
Clean, bold, steady. Music with a pulse. RyRy So Fly’s voice is rooted; this R&B has soul.
Produced by goodboytroy, this collaboration tiene onda. It’s got presence and restraint. And you can sway to it.
– Philip Salata
Sudan Archives – “Home Maker”
Apple Music – Bandcamp – Spotify – Youtube
First of all, watch the music video. “Home Maker” is shot in a furniture store and is layered in humor and glamour.
Sudan Archives, a violinist and singer now based out of LA, creates a unique soundscape drawing upon her background in ethnomusicology. In the case of “Home Maker” we get R&B with sweet melodic dissonance.
Representing the “Finest City,” San Diego producer and music engineer André Elias collaborated on the track.
– Philip Salata
Sugar World – “We Fell In Love”
Apple Music – Bandcamp – Instagram – Spotify – Youtube
“We Fell in Love,” from dream-pop group Sugar World’s new full-length “Lost & Found” is a wistful ode to lost love and the lives we all could have lived if things were just … different. If we were different. It’s a heartfelt and transporting tune that’s unafraid to reminisce.
There are lots of great tracks on “Lost & Found,” so check out “Time To Kill,” for a jaded political exclamation and “Cruise,” for a synthy country-tinged jam.
