Tiny Habits – Wishes

Boston-based trio Tiny Habits wowed Australian audiences earlier this year with their intimate stylings when they supported Gracie Abrams on her sold out tour. One of the clear standouts in their set was an unreleased song called “Wishes”, which captivated with its stunning lyricism. They’ve finally released the track alongside the announcement of their debut album “All For Something” which will out May 24. The studio version of “Wishes” lives up to all the expectations as it captures the raw intimacy and vulnerable warmth their live performance of it evoked. Their harmonies are soothing and heartbreaking at the same time and will take you on this emotional ride. Accompanied by just a soft guitar and strings, their vocals haunt the listener with every word creeping under your skin and hitting you right in the chest. The true centre-piece of this song is the lyrics, and it’s unfortunately one of the most relatable songs I’ve heard in a long time. Capturing their inner-most vulnerabilities they open up about family dynamics, body image, anxiety and people-pleasing. It touches on so many things that are deeply personal and specific to them, but also so relatable. It’s a song that makes you feel not-so alone in your own situation. Here’s are some of my favourite lyrical moments from the song; 

– “And I wish that I was smaller, or I wish I was better at being kind to the one body that I’ve got. After all, it keeps me breathin’ ’til the day it just cannot”. 

– “Wish I was in my body ‘stead of hoverin’ above”

– “I’m just used to people pleasin’, yeah, I’ve gotten way too good. I think I have become the person that I said I never would”

– “I wish I didn’t feel like a burden, all the time”

Lauv – Potential

Lauv is in a confident and unapologetic new era where he’s embracing himself and celebrating growth in an honest way. “Potential” is his first single of 2024, and it sonically closely follows last years anthem “Love U Like That”. Beginning with a guitar riff the song builds with pop beats that elevate the sonic, he will have you immediately dancing along with him. Reflecting on unrequited love, the song hears him explaining that he has feelings for someone and dreaming what the potential could be. But the twist is the other person isn’t emotionally available as they are already in a relationship, so for right now he just has to keep on dreaming of what it could be one day if the universe aligns. “I know you’re with somebody, but your body shouldn’t settle. Like, damn, I think we got p—, I think we got p—, I think we got potential” he sings. But my favourite lyric from the song hears him singing, “I’ll see you on the vision, but this heart is not for rental”. What a lyric! “Potential” immediately feels like a classic Lauv song, and is one that will be screamed a little extra loud in his future live shows. 

Foley – Miss You All The Time

Foley’s debut album “Crowd Pleaser” last year, was a lush indie-pop collection that impressed with its infectious hooks and smooth melodies, and now they’ve backed it up with their first single of 2024. “Miss You All the Time” might just be one of their best written songs yet, as it’s an impressive pop serving that hits you hard in the chest but also makes you want to dance. Reflecting on the reality of missing the ones you love when you’re chasing your dreams, it’s a long distance anthem that a lot of people can relate to. Sometimes your dreams or work can take you away from the ones you love, and while there is a bittersweet happiness involved, you can’t help but miss them quite heavily. “Miss you on the sidewalk. Hear you on the radio. Talking on the drive home. All I want to say to you right now, I miss you all the time” lead vocalist Ash Wallace poignantly sings. It’s a song you could listen to over and over again and not get sick of. It’s a warm pop song with a lot of feelings that will have you floating with every listen.