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WATCH: 5 Tracks That Inspired mehro

His new single "Dopamine" is out now

Interview and Photos by Jordan Edwards

With his raw, vivid lyrics and moody aesthetics, mehro has become one of the most popular young singer-songwriters.

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Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent by Lewis Capaldi

LEWIS CAPALDI / CAPITOL RECORDS

Aannnnddd we're back with another weekend playlist curated by yours truly. Luckily enough for all of us, this time of year is a hotspot for releasing new music. As I mentioned last week, we are now witnessing the competition for Song Of The Summer, and honestly I don't know if we've heard it yet.

So this week I'm feeling extra hopeful that more music is here to get us through these next few hot months. Nothing complements those days spent roasting on the beach quite like having a playlist to get you through. It's almost as essential as staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen - almost.

Every week, I'm scouring Spotify New Music Friday playlists, I'm taking in recommendations, and I'm listening to the songs myself. I'm specifically choosing songs that will stand out to you and your friends as you pack your schedule with weekend getaways and parties on rooftops.

This week, we have new music from the lovely Lewis Capaldi, Popdust favorite Austin Millz, and more...so it's turning out to be one of my fave playlists yet. Here's my new playlist of songs that came out around today, May 19.

Lewis Capaldi - Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent



The thing about Lewis Capaldi is that he will never disappoint. His voice is unmatched, leaving nothing to be desired and everything on the table. It's what got him chart-topping records like "Someone You Loved" and "Before You Go", and this new album is no exception. After a raw documentary and vulnerable, triumphant singles like "Wish You The Best" and "Haven't You Ever Been In Love Before?", this album is classic Capaldi, but with a new glimpse inside.

Austin Millz & Alina Baraz - "Breathless"



It's been a big year so far for Austin Millz, who we've covered releasing "Inhale/Exhale" with Sabrina Claudio and "Freeway" with Estelle. He's performed at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and in Coachella's Heineken House, and now he's here releasing "Breathless" alongside Alina Baraz. Pair Millz' ability to make a catchy beat and Baraz' smooth, summery vocals and your transported into another world with "Breathless".

Bad Bunny - "Where She Goes"



You already know you will be hearing this at every bar and club you enter for the foreseeable future. "Where She Goes" sends you right to the club with a punchy beat and his silky voice gliding throughout the whole track. The shocking part is that this music video features Frank Ocean, who has barely been seen the last decade. The video is riddled with other stars like Lil Uzi Vert and soccer star Ronaldinho.

Lana Del Rey - "Say Yes To Heaven"



It only made sense for Lana Del Rey to finally release "Say Yes To Heaven" after the unreleased version blew up on TikTok. It's an essential Lana song, with her unique tone and crooning sound that sends you back to sometime far in the past. Her voice is like the summer, and this single is just what you need alongside you at the beach.

Post Malone - "Mourning"



With a new album coming soon and more live performances on deck, Post Malone is constantly showing us how a hit record is made. It's his classic tone, a little sprinkling of vulnerability, and a must-listen. If it's any indication of what the rest of the album sounds like, you won't want to miss it.

Coachella has always been the mecca of music festivals. Yes, it’s known for its celeb spottings and boho-chic crochet outfits. But it’s also a bucketlist festival for artists. It’s a capstone show that many performers use to flex their best stuff — whether it be unreleased music or a surprise guest. Why wouldn’t you? The crowd of 100,000 people per weekend is sometimes the biggest stage these artists have seen.

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CULTURE

Sell Your Weekend 2 Ticket — Coachella Has Fallen Off

Is Coachella even worth it anymore? Apparently, the once-must-go music experience has fallen off and 2023’s Weekend 1 proves it.

Is Coachella worth it?

Photo by Andrew Ruiz on Unsplash

On Wednesday, April 19th Frank Ocean announced that he would not appear for his scheduled Weekend 2 set at the Coachella music festival, fans everywhere lost their minds. But after his controversial Weekend 1 performance, most Frank Ocean devotees were not surprised. And given the festival’s declining attention, many claims this is the final nail in the Coachella coffin. So sell your ticket and spend your weekend doing literally anything else — Coachella is dead and Frank Ocean buried it.

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Frank Ocean

The final line of Frank Ocean's Blonde asks, "How far is a light year?"

It's the closing line of "Futura Free," the song's slow-burning final track, which is ostensibly an ode to Ocean's own growth as an artist. But as with all things on Blonde, the line grows more complex the closer you listen.

How far is a light year? Light travels a distance of around 9.4×1012 km in a year. "Futura Free" is 9.4 minutes long. That fact is a tribute to Ocean's exacting preciseness, to the mathematical perfection that underlies the artistic triumph that is Blonde.

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Staff Picks

​How Frank Ocean’s "Nostalgia, Ultra" Changed Music

In creating Nostalgia, Ultra, songwriter and producer Christopher Breaux became Frank Ocean and started on the path to icon status

Nostalgia, Ultra Cover

Don't play "Hotel California" by the Eagles around me unless you want to hear Frank Ocean's "American Wedding" sung over the original lyrics.

On his 2011 mixtape, nostalgia,ULTRA, Frank Ocean famously sampled, covered, and remade everything from video game clips (notably from Street Fighter, which is referenced ubiquitously in his work) to films, to songs by Coldplay, MGMT, and, yes, the Eagles.

The rock band was not too happy about the uncredited, unapproved sample, but there was nothing they could do. Despite the fame and success of the mixtape, it was released for free, outside of any label affiliations, and Frank Ocean wasn't making money from it.

"Why sue the new guy? I didn't make a dime off that song. I released it for free. If anything I'm paying homage," Frank Ocean said on his Tumblr page in response.

The short-lived controversy is barely a footnote in the album's legacy, though the idea of Don Henley referring to Frank Ocean as "talentless" is laughable now. Today, the drama is mostly forgotten, while the album was an instrumental factor in launching Frank Ocean from unknown producer/songwriter to the icon who has changed the sound of music that he is today.

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