New Music Round‑Up for a memorable weekend listening experience
This weekend’s playlist spans the map: raw country grit, guitar-driven anthems, surf-soaked indie, soulful R&B, and even a full-scale big band revival. Each of these releases feels alive in its own way—grounded in craft, powered by conviction, and built to last beyond a single listen. Consider this your guide to the sounds worth turning up right now, curated by RIVAL with love.
Aaron McBee - “Numb”
Aaron McBee’s “Numb” offers a raw snapshot of heartbreak and the ways people try to numb it. The song leans into a country-rock haze of late nights and bad decisions, but rather than glamorizing the spiral, it faces it head-on. The guitars bite, the rhythm drives forward, and McBee’s voice carries the weight of lived experience.
The single also serves as the lead single from his debut album, “Who I Am,” out December 5, a twelve‑song collection written entirely by McBee that promises to expand on the same mix of grit and vulnerability
DAME - “Get Tough”
DAME’s debut single, “Get Tough,” is loud in the best way, like a remedy for anyone craving guitars that actually sound like guitars. Veronica Swift’s voice doesn’t just ride the riffs; it pushes them further. Co‑produced by Sean Beavan, the track shines with polish without losing its edge.
The lyrics work as a straight-up pep talk: get up, keep going, fight through it, but what really matters is the conviction behind them. With Brian Viglione on drums, the band delivers drama, though it’s the kind that feels earned rather than staged.
Ray and Paul - “Fading” EP
Bay Area brothers Ray and Paul have been making music together since their teens, and their new EP “Fading” feels like a chronicle of those years when everything hits at once: love, confusion, heartbreak, the whole mess.
The six-track album includes fan favorite “Pelican” and live staple “Blue,” alongside new songs that stretch their surf-garage roots without breaking them. Produced by Jarvis Taveniere and John Goodmanson, the record carries a lived-in looseness, even as the duo’s schedule fills with festivals and tours.
Coline Creuzot - “Walk Away”
Coline Creuzot’s “Walk Away” is an R&B track about the moment you finally decide you’ve had enough, though the way she sings it makes it feel less like a rupture and more like a release. Her voice carries both the weight of the decision and the relief that follows, and the retro‑leaning production gives it a timeless feel without sounding dated.
Its intimacy is what gives the single its power. It’s the sound of someone reclaiming space, both in life and in music.
Meegan & Tobin - “Keep On Movin’”
“Keep On Movin,” the new big band release from Jeff Meegan and David Tobin, was recorded live at Abbey Road, a detail that might sound like trivia until you hear it. The brass glows, the swing feels effortless, and the whole project serves as a reminder that joy can take real work.
With arrangers like Callum Au and vocalists such as Sara Niemietz and Steve Memmolo in the mix, the album balances nostalgia with immediacy. It’s not about recreating an era; it’s about proving that the energy of Ella, Sinatra, or Connick still hits when performed with full commitment.