Whether you're turning to music for comfort, entertainment, or reflection, this list from our Mass Mix contributors has you covered. This month, we asked them to share new songs they’re grateful for that they've been playing on repeat. Here’s what they said.
Ten Gram Tang, “Walk Me Home”
“Walk Me Home” is the exciting debut single by rock group Ten Gram Tang. The track caught me instantly with its bluesy guitar riff and singer and rhythm guitarist Paige Lee’s powerful vocals. It’s about needing someone by your side, and it’s expressed beautifully right from the start with the line, “I recall the last time/ you made me the bad guy/ oh, baby, won’t you just stay.” It’s a mood fit for nearly any occasion and one that definitely speaks to me right now. The whole thing has a great undercurrent of nuanced emotion that I can’t find in many songs today. I’d say that it’s in the vein of hard rock pioneered in the mid-60s and early 70s, but the track is hard to pin down. It’s not one thing, and I think that’s great. “Walk Me Home” is a great debut for Ten Gram Tang. -Michael Parke, writer for The Lowell Spin
Lance Jackson ft. Latrell James, Benjy Ali, “Black Therapy”
While 2020 has taken a toll on many people's mental health, it's no secret that the pandemic has disproportionately affected people of color. Lance Jackson's "Black Therapy" shares the pressure he's facing in a clever way. He admits it's not something he reveals to others, but in doing so, is honest about his struggles: "But I never show that I got a lot of weight on me," he raps. The warmth of the instrumentals—faint static, vinyl pops, and hazy keys—reinforce the sense that he's having a personal conversation with the listener, carefully disclosing his truth. For Jackson, faith is a way through hard times. For others, music is our therapy. - Knar Bedian, Editor in Chief at Sound of Boston
Sam Moss, "Fever Dreams"
Spending time outdoors in New England in October is a trip: bright sunshine, blue skies, crisp air, leaves of many colors. Then November comes, and those leaves of many colors are now brown and down on the ground. Tree limbs are bare. The crisp air is now frigid and biting. Local singer-songwriter Sam Moss captures these many moods of fall on his new album Shapes. His arrangements are stark and simple, his voice a gentle whisper, his guitar like shoes shuffling through autumn leaves. It's been a welcome companion of mine this season; may it be the same for you. -Adam 12, Weekdays 11a-4p, ROCK 92.9
SuperSmashBroz ft. Caliph & Siete, “Link Up”
You can almost see the steam rising off the beat of “Link Up.” SuperSmashBroz bring us a warm-weather party track that rings of a movie-esque late-night tryst at a sweltering after-hours club. With ethereal, multilingual vocals by New Bedford rapper Caliph and local artist Siete paired with an irresistible afrobeat produced by SuperSmashBroz—a Roxbury-born duo comprised of DJ Fresco and DJ Nomz. So, put the kids to bed, dim the lights, and pour out a drink with someone special; SuperSmashBroz will “get your vibes right” with this sizzling track. - Jared Steinberg, Staff Writer, Sound of Boston
Jesus Vio, “Landscape Collage”
Jesus Vio is a musician and songwriter from Miami, now based in Western Massachusetts. "Landscape Collage" is the single off his forthcoming record Sin Paco that was released on November 21st. Consider this song to be a sneak preview of what is an amazing record filled with collaborations. The single "Landscape Collage" and the album Sin Paco also features Wendy Eisenberg on bass and Carinae's Kasey Greene on the keys. Hear more in Jesus' words: "It uses landscape to explore new themes and aesthetics for the general global consciousness by using multimedia collage, contemporary transcendental/spiritual reflections of nature, and titles with themes of science." -Chris Hues, Associate Editor, bostonhassle.com
Chris Stapleton, “Starting Over”
In a time when many people are starting over and making major life adjustments, this song from Chris Stapleton is comforting, like relaxing by the fire at the end of the day with your favorite cocktail. It's a sweet and simple country song from his new album of the same, about embracing adventure and looking for sunshine in the dark: "This might not be an easy time / There's rivers to cross and hills to climb… Some day we'll look back and smile / And know it was worth every mile." Singing backup on the track is his wife, Morgane. - Meghan Smith, Digital Producer, GBH
Nana Adjoa, "She's Stronger"
In a normal year, Nana Adjoa would be the perfect sort of artist to go see at Great Scott, or maybe The Sinclair. Whether you were an anxious fan ready to catch one of her first American shows or someone who's stepped in for a drink and decided to snag a ticket just to see what's going on, you'd be in one of the most exciting rooms in the city that night. Adjoa leads with bass, her instrument of choice, which she studied at conservatory in Amsterdam after a childhood in Ghana. "She's Stronger" is one of the biggest tracks on her debut record Big Dreaming Ants. Her vocals sound like she's keeping a secret that's suddenly blown open in the chorus. She's talented, awesome, and one of many new artists we'll need to catch up with in 2022 or something. -Phil Jones, Afternoon Host, 88.9 WERS