May Music Wrap-Up

Happy June! Before diving into all the summer releases coming up this month, here are a couple of tunes I really loved from May. They’re all perfect to get you into a summer mood, so get your headphones (or speakers) ready, and let’s have some fun. You can listen to my playlist with all of these songs and more here!

“What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?” by Blossoms

Released May 1

Blossoms started the month off strong with “What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?” It’s a groovy song, and has the characteristic Blossoms sound that I love, times ten. Part of what I love about Blossoms are their easy yet thoughtful lyrics and upbeat tunes. It’s hard not to nod your head along and whip out some dance moves.

This is Blossom’s first release since last year’s “To Do List (After The Breakup)” which featured Findlay. It feels like the band are returning to their earlier sounds with these tracks, especially after their most recent album, 2022’s Ribbon Around The Bomb. The band really leans into their disco sound on “What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?” which makes me excited to hear what this upcoming project is going to sound like.

If you haven’t yet, I highly encourage you to watch the accompanying music video. Shot on film, it features an orange VW minivan, an 8-foot fiber glass gorilla, hijinks, and Everton Football Club’s manager Sean Dyche. Directed by Ewan Ogden and the band’s own Tom Ogden, it’s a fun video. You can watch the music video here, and the band put out a “behind the scenes” video later in the month that you can watch here.

“What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?” has another twist – in addition to long-time producer James Skelly who you may know from The Coral, the song features J Lloyd from Jungle as a producer. “We’ve always been big fans of Jungle so we reached out to them last year about working together. This was the first song we worked on, it came together in a couple of hours and we absolutely love it. Sonically, it feels like a new avenue for the band but it still retains the core Blossoms DNA,” the band have said, expressing their enthusiasm and perhaps hinting towards more such collaborations.

The music video ends on a “to be continued…” assuring listeners that there’s more to come from the band as they head into a busy summer. They will be playing a couple of festivals and will be hosting a Blossoms Big Bank Holiday show on August 25 with support from Inhaler, Shed Seven, The K’s, Seb Lowe, and Ttrruuces. You can find more info about their live shows here.

“Doesn’t Matter” by Caroline Romano

Released May 3

Personal is the perfect word to describe “Doesn’t Matter” by Caroline Romano. Her dreamy vocals float over the rhythmic instruments, painting a story that is all too relatable for some of us. At only 22 years old, Romano is an artist to watch. Although I’d broadly categorize her as an alt-pop singer/songwriter, her songs range from intimate, melodic tracks such as “Doesn’t Matter,” to rockier ones to scream along with. Throughout all of her songs, there’s a genuine feel as she chronicles early adulthood with honesty and passion.

“’Doesn’t Matter’ is a sort of a ‘choose your own storyline’ song,” sharedRomano in a press release, “I wrote it about a relationship that felt like a double-edged sword; a relationship that had me thinking that maybe the inevitable heartbreak would be worth it. It’s a song about falling, all too carelessly, for someone on a rainy evening with the car radio playing. It’s simple and convoluted and all too accurate, at least from my personal experience.”

She just wrapped up touring with Small Pools and Grayscale and will be playing in Nashville at the end of June. You can find more info here!

“Boom Boom Back” by Hinds feat. Beck

Released May 7

If Hinds isn’t on your radar yet, they should be. Formed in Madrid, the band have been rocking out for the better part of a decade. Their sound is a distinct blend of garage punk and pop, resulting in edgy songs with catchy lyrics and beats.

I was initially surprised to see Beck as a feature on a Hinds song, but after listening to “Boom Boom Back,” it just made sense, and I’ve had it on repeat since the song came out. “How we met @beck is the most LA story we’ve ever lived. back in 2022 we were playing some shows in the US and happened to go to an indie documentary premiere of how much japanese men work (salarymen). we went to the afterparty and guess who was at the bar… the day after, on a day off, we wrote Boom Boom Back. we met Beck again that night and we played it to him. the rest my friends…is history,” wrote Hinds in an Instagram post.

Along with the release of the single this month, Hinds announced their new album, VIVA HINDS, which is set to release on September 6. The new single and album announcement signifies the continuation of the band after their bass and guitar player left back in the summer of 2023. The two remaining founding members, Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote first reemerged with the single “Coffee,” earlier this year. Needless to say, I’m super excited to see how the band will continue to grow and sound on their upcoming album.

Hinds will be going on tour this year, playing ­­­­in the United States, Canada and Mexico in October. Check out their list of dates here, and watch the music video for “Boom Boom Back” here!

“Sexy to Someone” by Clairo

Released May 23

Your favorite bedroom pop artist is back, and arguably better than ever. “Sexy to Soneone,” is Clairo’s first release since her sophomore album Sling (not counting the remixes she hopped on with Phoenix and beabadoobee last year), and if that wasn’t enough, she also announced her third album, Charm. Produced by Leon Michels, the album is set to release on July 12 via Clairo Records, LLC.

“Sexy to Someone” offers a comforting blend of the laid-back sound and intimate lyrics Clairo is known for. It’s the energetic sibling to Sling, providing a bouncier sound reminiscent of Clairo’s first album, Immunity. A collection of woodwinds accompanies the piano and drum in the song, uplifting Clairo’s breathy, soothing vocals and furthering her indie-folk and jazz sound.

If this new single is anything to show, we’re in for a treat with the new album. “Sexy to Someone” shows a maturing Clairo, incorporating her traditional sounds while shifting into a fresh direction.

“Summer Driving Fast” by tenderhooks

Released May 24

I’m not exaggerating when I say “Summer Driving Fast” is the perfect song to close this month’s list with. The title itself is enough to evoke excitement for summer, and as soon as you play the song, you’ll get the urge to hop in a car and blast it with the windows rolled down. There’s a pumping rhythm and an electric undercurrent, which makes me feel nostalgic and hopeful at the same time – think soundtrack to a coming-of-age film.

“Summer Driving Fast” is only her third release, and it’s one that has been floating around on social media for a while. Last summer, tenderhooks shared part of this song on TikTok, where it racked up over one million plays. “This song taught me a lot. It’s an easy carefree vibe that’s light-footed and living in the moment,” wrote tenderhooks in an Instagram post, “It was written in my bedroom. One of the first songs I ever finished. It came about the summer after the first lockdown when we were on a high making up for lost time and laughs with friends. We didn’t know when we would be separated again so we made it count.”

London-based tenderhooks came on my radar earlier this year, when she released “Anything You Felt,” which is a wholly different vibe from “Summer Driving Fast.” She only has three songs released as of yet, and although each manage to convey a completely different story, all of them are wholly immersive, and her enchanting vocals sweep you away each time. Get excited for her debut EP, which is anticipated to be released later this year.

You can listen to all these songs, and some other releases that I loved but didn’t make it into the list, at my playlist below.

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