New music from Phoebe Bridgers, Hot Chip, The Smile, Daniel Villarreal, Fontaines D.C., and Why Not
by Jade
April 21, 2022
This week, we bring you the latest music from Phoebe Bridgers, Hot Chip, and Fontaines D.C., as well as from The Smile, a side project of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. Plus, Dos Santos drummer Daniel Villarreal has a new solo project on the way, and Minnesota-based Why Not give us a new, catchy, indie-rock song.
Phoebe Bridgers, “Sidelines”
Phoebe Bridgers fans take note: "Sidelines" was released with the warning that it will be the only original new song from Bridgers this year. The song was written for the new Hulu adaptation of Sally Rooney's "Conversations with Friends."
Hot Chip, “Down”
Bringing some funk into the mix on their first album in three years, "Down" is a welcome return from Hot Chip. Sampling Universal Togetherness Band's "More Than Enough," the song talks about things breaking down, and Joe Goddard of the band said, "There's a darkness that runs through a lot of [the album] tracks." Freakout/Release will be out August 19.
The Smile, “Free in the Knowledge”
The latest project from Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, The Smile, have been slowly teasing out songs this year. Now they've announced it will be a full album, A Light for Attracting Attention, and it'll be out May 13. While the previous songs have leaned industrial or post-punk, "Free in the Knowledge" is something for Radiohead fans, with Yorke's vocals crisp and clear out front.
Daniel Villarreal, “In/On”
Chicago-based drummer, Daniel Villarreal (of Dos Santos), has a solo project on the way that brings in some traditional Latin percussion, mixed with some funk and rock. As he said, “For me, the song is about how we are all IN and ON. As if we are about to start something so you walk in and turn an ON switch. No one knows what's going to happen after that but we are all into it. We are all IN. I also think it’s a fun reference because in Spanish there is only one word — en — for both of those English words ‘in’ and ‘on’.”
Fontaines D.C., “Roman Holiday”
Some of the best songs are about the enjoying the simple moments in life, and that seems to be the inspiration for the latest single from Fontaines D.C.'s album Skinty Fia, "Roman Holiday." Grian Chatten of the band said, “‘Roman Holiday’ makes me think of the wide streets of north London in the summer and the urge to discover them at nighttime. The thrill of being a gang of Irish people in London with a bit of a secret language and my first flat with my girlfriend.”
Why Not, “Take a Minute”
After several EPs, the Minnesota-based band Why Not are releasing a self-titled album May 13. The trio of Henry Breen, Isaac Dell, and Joshua MacGregor worked with producer Caleb Hinz (Hippo Campus, Samia, Miloe) to continue making catchy indie rock with a hazy edge of fuzz.