Audio File: March Music Madness

Written by Anna Porter, Graphic by Anna Porter

March had its fair share of new music releases, kicking off the seemingly overbooked itinerary of upcoming singles and albums announced this spring. In this article, I’ll overview the most anticipated releases and mention a few others that hit my radar this month. 

SINGLES & EPS

Laufey — Goddess

Pop-jazz phenomenon Laufey is back with a new standalone single following her “Bewitched” album release last fall. “Goddess” is a beautiful piano ballad about the singer’s reactions to fame and how others perceive her. The melody is quite haunting and the lyrics pose questions such as “Were you surprised by me when you took me home? // I’m a goddess on stage // human when we’re alone.” The song ends with a powerful crescendo, as Laufey stands up for herself and reclaims her personhood after seemingly being taken advantage of by a past relationship.

Twenty One Pilots — Next Semester

Twenty One Pilots are back to the forefront after their new hit single, “Overcompensate.” The second installment in their upcoming album “Clancy” is “Next Semester,” a nostalgic song referencing some of their older music. The chorus is extremely catchy and the lyrics remind me of the years I was listening to TOP the most, with lines like, “I remember certain things // What I was wearing, the yellow dashes in the street.” The first two singles of the new album are building up a lot of anticipation. Keep your eye out for a full review in May!

Wallows — Calling After Me 

I won’t lie, I fell off of listening to Wallows after the release of their “Remote” EP, but the new singles from their newly announced album “Model” are getting me excited for this new record! The trio led by Dylan Minnette has returned to their lighthearted indie-pop roots that seemed to make it into everyone’s quarantine playlists in 2020. The lead single “Your Apartment” and “Calling After Me” are both sonically unique with catchy choruses– songs you’ll want to keep handy for a spring break road trip.

Hozier — Unheard

Well, “Too Sweet” may have started off unheard, but this new Hozier song has been making its way into everyone’s ears and will most likely be on repeat for a while. This new EP that follows Hozier’s “Unreal Unearth” album has given listeners four new songs for the warmer months. The song “Wildflower and Barley” featuring Allison Russell is a beautiful song for the spring, with more acoustic instrumentation and natural imagery. “Fare Well” is another one of my favorites, with some unique guitar segments and poetic lyrics. 

Olivia Rodrigo — guts (spilled)

Following the start of her world tour, Olivia Rodrigo is now spilling her guts with five new deluxe album songs, including “Obsessed,” a previously unreleased song that had been on her tour setlist. As a previous Olivia Rodrigo doubter, I now admit that she has grown on me with each release, and I’m really enjoying the heavier pop-rock style she has been leaning toward recently. Sonically, my favorite on this deluxe edition is “girl i’ve always been.” This song honestly blew me away with how Olivia delivers her vocals. There’s a little bit of Taylor Swift twang in there and the song reminds me of some early-2000s style songs. And lyrically, “scared of my guitar” is a very creative song in which I can visualize Olivia leaning over her guitar as she writes, “If I play it, then I’ll think too hard // Once you let the thought in, then it’s already done.”

Albums

Kacey Musgraves — Deeper Well

Kacey Musgraves has returned for her third studio album, “Deeper Well.” This album was the perfect spring release, with a country-folk vibe that feels like a return to the sonics of her first album, “Golden Hour.” My biggest standout on this album is “Cardinal,” a song about nature bringing signs to Musgraves about things that have passed. “Dinner With Friends” is a really beautiful song, as Musgraves lists little things that mean a lot to her such as, “The way that the sun on my floor makes a pattern of light.” This album is very cohesive and reunites the listeners with Musgraves’ effortless take on modern country music.

The Army, The Navy — Fruit For Flies

The Army, The Navy is an acoustic singer-songwriter duo I’ve recently discovered. Their lyrical style is exceptionally compelling, as they bring in unique stories, such as a mouse being tortured by a cat in the song “Vienna (In Memoriam).” The duo harmonizes, ultimately delivering vocals that act as an instrument in and of itself. Their debut album “Fruit For Flies” is one to add to your list.

Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER

The country aesthetic seems to be in full force recently, with Beyoncé’s new album as, perhaps, the cherry on top of the cake. The long-time pop star has released “COWBOY CARTER” as the second act of her “Renaissance” trilogy. I am not as well-versed in Beyoncé’s discography as I should be, but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. The Western references and instrumentation are well thought out, some of my favorite songs being “AMERIICAN REQUIEM” and “AMEN” because of how well they bookended the album.

Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine

Ariana Grande has returned to the front of the pop scene with “eternal sunshine,” a mature yet lighthearted album that has reasserted her confidence despite recent negative press. In typical Ariana Grande fashion, the album has a mix of ballads and instant hits, such as “bye” and “the boy is mine,” a remake of a song by Brandy and Monica. My initial standout on the album is “supernatural,” a catchy song that has some fun electronic production choices.

Yard Act — Where’s My Utopia?

Last, but not least, I’m leaving you off with a band that should definitely be on your radar if you are into post-punk! Yard Act has just released a new album, and their funky and almost unserious style is backed by deep lyrics that question the music industry and other similar topics. The song “We Make Hits” is a catchy song that discusses the cycle many artists get stuck in once signed to a label. Overall, this album is full of gems, and I look forward to diving into it more.

And there you have it, March Music Madness! The month had something for everyone, from long-awaited returns to some new artists who are taking their place in the music scene. Believe it or not, this is just the start of a jam-packed year for new music. So, stay tuned as more Audio File reviews will be out with individual reviews of many of these new releases.