The Best New Music In Dallas, January 2016: Erykah Badu, Jacob Metcalf & More

Six Shooter is a recurring feature where we highlight six new releases by North Texas-based musicians, with some extra ammo to spare. 

New year, new music and, as it's always been, everything Erykah Badu touched turned to gold in January. But don't worry, in this month's edition of the Best New Music in Dallas there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking for hip-hop, punk, folk, electronic or pop, it's all here thanks to the rich and diverse North Texas music scene that is consistently churning out great music each and every month. 

Erykah Badu - "TRILL FRIENDS BADU WHODINI rough mix"

It’s not fair, really. Queen Badu has been on a tear lately, making music by your favorite artists monumentally better as well as producing original music. This month was no different as she hopped on the instrumental to Kanye West’s “Real Friends” and graced it with a melodic, hypnotic tune. As on her “Hotline Bling” rework, Badu takes an opportunity to call out people whom she’d rather not associate with, which adds a biting tone to the track and doubles its charm.




War Party - To Love and Fear It

After teasing us with a few EPs in 2015, Fort Worth punk-ish outfit War Party finally treated us with their sophomore LP, To Love and Fear It. The nine-track release features plenty of variety in the lo-fi garage-punk aesthetic, but War Party are at their best on “Stoned Not Stupid,” a fantastic surf-rock tune rich with reverbed gang vocals and a leisurely tone befitting of your next road trip-inspired playlist. 




Jacob Metcalf - Fjord

As writer Eva Raggio wrote last month, former Fox & the Bird singer Jacob Metcalf’s latest project Fjord is "an instrumentally ambitious album which sparkles with melodic poetry" and "a cinematic, orchestral quality." Metcalf wrote the album about hardships he endured during his travels across the world over the last decade, and its tracks are rife with soothing testimonials and an endearing earnestness. 




Lil Twist - “Fuck ‘Em Up (feat. Fooly Faime)”

This is Lil Twist’s song, but Fooly Faime of Yung Nation is the reason we’re here. From the jump, the rapper’s infectious enthusiasm hooks the listener atop the grand, ominous beat. As he’s always done, Faime’s verse features loads of humorous, over-the-top wordplay delivered with a seriousness that demands respect. As we noted last week, we’re hoping Lil Twist’s inclusion of Fooly Faime on his latest mixtape, The Golden Child 2, leads to greater attention for him on a national scale. He's flown under the radar for too long.




Paris Pershun - "Flow River (Remix)"

A diss track in the Dallas hip-hop scene is a rarity but always welcomed. Unfortunately it came at the expense of one of Dallas’ most prolific acts to date, A.Dd+. Slim Gravy and Paris Pershun have apparently gone their separate ways, according to a wave of Tweets. With his remix of Rikki Blu’s “Flow River,” Pershun makes it official with the line “I’m on my own, bitch” and takes aim at his former collaborator by name. This all may be a little difficult to digest but at least we’re still being treated to great music by these two talents.



Lometa - “Jubilee”

For the low, low price of $713 you can own Lometa’s new single “Jubilee.” The tongue-in-cheek pricing may be a joke, but from the sound of the band’s latest single we’re almost willing to make a down payment. The band’s remarkably polished alt-pop-inspired rock music features dynamic progressions as well as smooth, ranging vocals slightly reminiscent of Muse’s Matt Bellamy. Be on the lookout for an EP to be released soon — and at a slightly discounted price, hopefully.



Mind Spiders - “Cold”



The Outfit, TX - “Already Knowing”



tnght/tmrw - “Silence”


$kaduf - Free Francais EP