'Tenderness,' one of two singles currently released from Anak Ko, is a lo-fi dream. With her upcoming album Anak Ko ('my child” in Tagalog), LA-based Melina Duterte, better known by the moniker Jay Som, has reinforced her title of queen of bedroom pop. Bollinger wonders, “So what if it's all / My decisions / Or my indecision / Oh, I just can't pick one.” Amidst all the chaos and stress, she realizes she has something or someone really good in her life and she wants to hold on to the feeling that brings-“There is so damn much that I'm afraid of / You give me so much to be afraid of / But I don't wanna lose.” While the lyrics are heavy, the song is light and breezy and almost makes you forget whatever you were worried about. If you’ve ever been paralyzed by the fear of realizing you’re a real adult person who is responsible for the rest of your own life, “I Don’t Wanna Lose” pretty much sums up that feeling. Her honey-dipped voice nearly hides the struggles of a person trying to adjust to adulthood, while still feeling like a child at the same time-“I was a child once / I still am one / I know it / But I just turned twenty / And I feel time slipping by.” Bollinger's voice is soothing, and her words are relatable. Kate Bollinger’sbouncy title track from her most recent EP I Don’t Wanna Lose is an anthem for indecision. Little Ghost, which Moonchild calls their “most thoughtfully crafted and complete work to date,” is set to release on September 6. “Is it too much to ask for you to love me like that? / Is it too much to ask?” Hopeful and mature, “Too Much to Ask” is easy listening for the digital age that sways to a perfect summer beat.

Similarly, lead singer Amber Navran’s vocals are like smokey honey sung barely above a whisper, her lyrics about unreciprocated love seep into you like a love spell. Nice, 90s-inspired electro keys, bursting synths and a faint guitar round out the instrumentation, invoking a sound that’s part soul, part jazz, and entirely immersive. Clicking and snapping work together with a drum pad to create a tight percussive beat that feels close-knit, like you’re right there in the room while it’s being recorded. Crisp and clear, the arrangement, reminiscent of Noname, exemplifies a fun and seamless blending of sounds. With its thoughtful lyricism and delicate, sharp production, the track marks the beginning of a new era for the group, as it’s the first single from their upcoming album, Little Ghost. Smooth R&B meets plucky indie-soul on “Too Much to Ask,” a laid-back new groove from LA-based trio Moonchild.

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