Local Music Spotlight September 2023 

• Matisse McMullin
• Cactus Tree

It's always good to have a steady stream of fresh tunes in your music library. You never know when you'll get a hankering for something new, or are in the mood for something specific. The local music scene is constantly bursting with incredible original work that's fit for any library. Here are a few more entries to add—not all brand-new, but possibly new to you.

The Band Gooch, "Unwind": It would be pretty obvious to say that this is a great track to listen to when you need to unwind, but hey, I'm going to say it anyway. The Band Gooch's late 2021 release is the perfect sendoff to summer. Released in August of that year, it's still a great listen even though we're well into fall (even though the weather won't let us feel it). It starts out with a lively, cheerful bass track before guitar and drums are layered on top, creating this perfect music sandwich that you don't want to stop eating. Eventually it turns into a full-on beach bop that has reggae vibes and will have you bobbing your head the whole time. Kick your feet up, grab your favorite beverage and throw this one on, you'll be chilling in no time.

Cactus Tree, "Sunstone": Singer/songwriter Tori Smith creates beautiful, longing tracks that feel like you're looking into the window of your own soul. She has a way of putting tough feelings into words that also feel comfortably relatable. Her 2022 single "Sunstone" is a song full of alluring lyrics that will pop out at you each time you listen. Perhaps in one playthrough you hear the lines, "I want to begin in Oregon / Those waves won't demand my tears / This desert pries open my eyes and says / We need more water here." Then the second or third time you'll be pulled in by the lines "What it is it that you dream of my love / Who it is you'll become / And when the storm clouds come / Tell me / What is your sunstone," and you can't think about anything else. This is a great song for when you're in your "sad girl" phase or are feeling extra introspective.

Cera Gibson, "Mad Dog": SLC pop artist Cera Gibson has been pumping out hit after hit—from her cover of the iconic Britney Spears track "Oops!.. I Did It Again," to her huge 2022 release "Daddy," Gibson isn't afraid to embrace the sexy and the taboo while blowing audiences away with her larger-than-life pop sound. While "Daddy" was a beautiful, dreamy, romantic ballad, her most recent single, "Mad Dog," is a more dramatic tune that is part surf-punk/part blues, and evokes a story of jealousness, possessiveness and lust, according to her website. "This may cause some confusion among fans, given her public practice of polyamory, but 'Mad Dog' is not a new song—just new to the public," the site adds. This is a perfect party track; it's got deep bass, climactic vocals and a catchy-as-hell chorus that will easily be stuck in your head for days. Definitely don't skip this one.

Resonomics, "Living in a Moment": O-Town's resident hip-hop king is back at it with a lively new single that will make you want to carpe a little diem. "Living in a Moment" opens strong with dope electronic elements that get the song off to an energetic start. We all like to pretend that we're too cool to need a pep talk or a few words of affirmation to get us feeling energized and excited about life, but singing/rapping along to Resonomics here might just be the boost you need to keep it going. "Like a champion / Like a star in the sky above me / Find me at the end / Really nothing can take it from me," the song starts. How could you possibly not feel pumped singing that over and over? Hop in the car, grab your friends, crank this one up and sing at the top of your lungs—trust me, you'll feel so much better.

RIP Cassette, "Dog On a Leash": RIP Cassette have been putting out some of the best indie synth-rock sounds you've heard in the local scene since their debut in 2021. They hit the ground running with their first single "Jumper Cable," and have been evolving splendidly since that time. "Dog On a Leash" is their most recent electrifying single. I'm a sucker for a great chugging bassline, and there's plenty to be had for the duration of this song. It's expertly layered with rad synths, the aforementioned bass and crunchy guitar. RIP Cassette is most definitely a band to watch, even if you hear "synth-rock" and are unsure you'll like it; trust me, you will.

Don't let your music collection start to feel stale; add these to the growing list of must-haves from local musicians. If you're a Spotify user, I have an ongoing playlist (featuring the songs in the "Local Music Spotlight" series. Search me up on Spotify (Emilee Atkinson) and you'll find the playlist with the same title. Fire it up when you're feeling like discovering something new.

Click here for the Spotify playlist