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Slowly but surely, the live-music economy is starting back up in a limited capacity â and in enough places that artists are planning tours! But musicians across Nashvilleâs constellation of music scenes continue to release great records at a brisk pace, and our writers have seven new titles to recommend. Add âem to your streaming queue or get a physical copy from your favorite record store. Or drop them on your wishlist for #BandcampFriday â the promotion in which the platform waives its cut of artist fees â coming up on May 7.
Also check out our previous lists for even more recommendations:
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Photo: Andre Shipp
Too often, we find ourselves praising those we admire only after theyâre no longer with us. Whether that takes the form of a âlong-liveâ post on Instagram, remembering someone in conversation with others or something else, the people we love sometimes donât get to hear these kind words in person.Â
Nashville native Quez Cantrell, who we recognized as Best Hip-Hop Newcomer in Best of Nashville 2020, explores this idea in âFlowers,â a track released last week. The song is a collective effort from Cantrell, fellow local rapper D.O.U.G.H., producer Chris King, and Houston singer Bee Honey, who contributes ethereal and melodic vocals.
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Rendering courtesy National Museum of African American Music
For many musicians, fans and music-biz folk, 2021 began with a sigh of relief â COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out, and Congress approved federal aid for independent music venues that havenât been able to conduct business as usual since March. But itâs clear that weâre far from out of the woods. Thereâs still an indeterminate span of time before itâs safe to fully reopen venues large and small, making it all but impossible to plan a tour. All the same, thereâs plenty of music across a broad spectrum that youâll be able to enjoy â from home or in public at a safe social distance â while we wait.
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Gee SlabPhoto: Laiken Joy
For native Nashville rapper Gee Slab, years of outstanding work led to a big payoff in 2020 in terms of visibility and he brought a lot of folks along for the ride. His professional relationship with
Vibe editor-in-chief Datwon Thomas led to the creation of Tenn Toes Down, a handpicked playlist of Music City hip-hop that highlights the diversity of sounds and approaches in the local scene.Â
As we head into an uncertain 2021, Slab is beginning to roll out a new suite of projects, beginning with a single called âSpread Game.â The track is a production of DJ Pain 1 thatâs slow and melancholy but is constantly moving forward, emphasizing the feeling that the progression of events is inevitable.