Carlos Cabello
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The whisper of spring in Texas is coming to a close, the weather is heating up, and a likely unforgiving summer is on the horizon. Whether you plan on spending it posted up with your friends at White Rock Lake, taking scenic drives up to Broken Bow for weekend getaways, or just throwing back a couple of cold ones at a Dallas brewery, you’ll need a killer soundtrack to tie to the memories you’re making.
Sure, Drake dropped three very mid albums on one night that can keep you busy for a while, but why not go for something a little more bespoke and a lot more local? To assist, we have compiled a list of 10 tracks, all from local artists, in no particular order, that you should have on rotation this summer. Give them a listen and show some much-deserved love to homegrown musicians.
“Girl on the Run” by Vandoliers
If you’re ready to soak up some sun far away from Texas, the Vandoliers’ newest release should be blasting from your speakers when you cross the county line. Frontwoman Jenni Rose is never afraid of making big, anthemic declarations in her music, and “Girl on the Run” is no exception. It’s all about living in (and leaving) a state that contests your right to exist; a sonic shot of adrenaline if you’re an ally and a defiant slap in the face if you’re not.
“2005” by Sunrise Academy
Yakob Dye and Julian Sol Jordan’s Sunrise Academy project has been dropping dreamy, hypnotic tracks you can lose yourself in from day one. Perhaps more than any other band or artist spotlighted on this list, their music feels like summer. “2005” is their latest effort and one of their best to date, offering an easy-listening tune for Gen Z and carefully calibrated to feel like falling in love with poppy, warm and effortless sensibilities.
“Deep Ellum Blues” by Carson Lewis
If you’re looking for something a little livelier to get you in the mood for a night out, Carson Lewis’ ode to Dallas’ most famous neighborhood is a can’t-miss, must-listen piece of work. Funky and soulful, it celebrates the way that a night out in Deep Ellum can help you find a new favorite band or bar. His claim that it’s a “no drama” zone is debatable, but what’s not debatable is how effectively Lewis has synthesized everything he loves about Deep Ellum into one rocking track.
“27” by The Blue Line
Michael and John Rodriguez’s The Blue Line is one of the most exciting talents on the local scene today. “27” plays in the tradition of 2010s alternative hip-hop, calling to mind artists like iLoveMakonnen. If you do a deep dive into recent releases from independent artists, you’ll find a lot about being in love, but none that do a better job capturing the euphoric high of being in perfect sync with another human being.
“Keepin’ On” by McKenzie Brown
You’d be hard-pressed to find a new release with more personality and more attitude than McKenzie Brown’s “Keepin On.” The song is funny and refreshingly raw, all about the struggle to make ends meet when you feel like the cosmos is in opposition to you. “I don’t know about you, but it’s my first time on Earth, And I’m tired of feeling like an amateur,” she sings. Independent songwriting at its most relatable, this should be in regular rotation when you need to feel a little less alone this summer.
“Another Life” by Shea Ferrara (feat. TUNDE)
A boozy R&B-infused song that harkens back to the music of the early 2000s, the kind you should listen to at dusk with a glass of wine in hand, Shea Ferrara’s “Another Life” is a sensual, melancholic reflection on a relationship gone wrong. Ferrara’s smooth vocals are complemented by TUNDE’s guest appearance on the track, as she runs through her own verses and harmonizes with him.
“Shoot Me Straight” by Joshua Ray Walker
Beloved local musician Joshua Ray Walker is dropping his latest album, “Ain’t Dead Yet,” on May 29. He’s already released several advance tracks, but “Shoot Me Straight” feels special. It’s a bouncy, energetic declaration that there’s nothing he can’t take on, as long as you give it to him straight. After his well-publicized battle with cancer, it’s hard to argue with him on that point. And as with the best of his music, “Shoot Me Straight” is a catchy country tune that keeps the lyrics simple and focuses its experimentation on the underlying instrumentation.
“Part 2” by Zillionaire Doe
Zillionaire Doe has been a Dallas rapper to watch for some time now. He’s on a steady ascent, and his latest is an out-and-out flex of his lyrical chops. “Tapped in everywhere, I got long reach,” he raps in “Part 2.” It’s more than just bravado; he’s something special, and it’s easy to imagine a world where his influence is made manifest. The artist’s breathy delivery, smooth flow and clubby beats combine to make “Part 2” the ultimate summer hype song.
“Crazy Love” by Dev Wulf
Dev Wulf’s songwriting chops and pristine guitarwork carry “Crazy Love” through from beginning to end. It’s an invitation to take comfort in love, literally “wrap yourself in a blanket” of it, and feel secure. It has shades of Jack Johnson’s sunnier tracks fused with something more atmospheric; a song for warm summer evenings surrounded by your favorite people, and yet another taste of the talent on display in Dallas’ music scene.
“Flowers” by Gracen Wynn
Indie darling Gracen Wynn is dropping this track June 2, but the Observer got to check it out slightly ahead of schedule. It’s a worthy addition to Wynn’s ever-expanding repertoire and perhaps the most confident she has ever been on the microphone. A lot of songs on this list are about love found or love lost, but none tap into quite the same emotional undercurrent Wynn draws on in her songwriting, and her ethereal vocals are one-of-one. You can check out a preview of the song now on her Instagram and pre-save it wherever you listen to music.
