Volume 2 is here!! Who’s missing?! Let us know on the graaammm @thecityroot

Devon Gilfillian — “ALL I Really Wanna Do”

Top 5 singalong chorus in recent memory, easily. The sunny groove of energy it’s dipped in is just so goddamn scrumptious.

I’m pretty sure this is actually getting solid radio play, as it should. Not Devon’s first big song and far from his last. Hoping an album follows!

RUBBER — “Cloudy”

Gettin’ cloudy in my…. a p a r t M E N T

You may be humming that bit before you’ve even finished the song. Somehow it’s a depressing and lovely song at the same time. Synth dream pop, I guess you could call it?

Love this bit from the YouTube description from Andrew & Nick:

Cloudy is a haphazard amalgamation of vocal acrobatics and bass-driven grooves. Never meant to see the light of day, this song represents the type of music we make when no one’s looking. It's fun, somber, hopeful and frank. Enjoy this lyric video created by Luke O’Brien in his basement with Andrew’s grandmother’s old fabric, meant one day to be curtains, clipped to the walls. Learn the words, cover it maybe! The song is not only ours now, it’s yours too, to do with what you wish, live with it.

Kayleigh Goldsworthy - “Keep The Light On”

Ms. Goldsworthy does a great job of shifting between piano ballads and punk rock. Naturally, excitedly, honestly.

She’s already an up-and-comer with a committed audience and the 2022 album, Learning To Be Happy is, unsurprisingly, another exceptional project from an artist that focuses on quality rather than quantity. Both her 2018 EP, All These Miles, and her debut Burrower in 2013 shows a timeline of slow build —> musical growth —> big release.

Hassiem The Dream — “She Say”

New school hip-hop that whiny oldhead haters might even appreciate. The punchlines are memorable, some are even funny.

I AIN’T NO SOULJAH

Night Bloom — “Ghost From Your Past”

This song is the slowest on the list by far. Lo-fi and relaxing indie reverb vocals over snappy hip-hop drums sounds more nighttime LA then it does Philly, but that’s the beauty of music.

Alyssa Garcia — “Running” / “Better Life”

Of these pop songs, “Better Life” is the piano ballad. It’s Disney on Ice. These are two very different love songs with a very different appeal. “Running” is cocktail jazz w/ a lil angst about connecting with a distant lover.

“Isn’t It Lonely” brings more bite and a solid video to boot.

BARNEY CORTEZ — “Dracula’s Wedding” / “Drink Hard” / “Star Kids”

I don’t know the stipulation on covers getting played on radio stations, but Dracula’s Wedding is awesome and people will love it.

The only thing holding “Drink Hard” back from being an actual radio hit is the word between “drink” and “hard” and that word is “fuckin.”

I could be off on the “Star Kids” proclamation, but it’s probably one of my three favorite songs from the philly scene in the last couple years, so it’s here.

Moses Mosima — “Pretty”

Moses Mosima’s love song to longevity puts a melodic flow over big, boom bap-esque drums to create a new school nostalgic feel. “Pretty” touches on the strength it takes to withstand the valleys, rather than the peaks of a relationship, and affirms a committed stance in the process that a partner can count on.

Lady HD — “Whatever Comes Next (NOCANDO)”

One of the most lo-fi, understated songs mentioned thus far, but potentially the most gripping. You don’t realize how much you’re enjoying it until you look at your phone wondering when Tame Impala put it out. It’s as smooth as they come, but more down to earth than Tame Impala. A strong guitar surprising the audience while drawing them in further to the hypnotic rhythm.

Mo lowda & The Humble — “Restive” / “O.O.Y.O”

Mo Lowda is destined for a true radio hit sooner or later. Their star continues to grow with each release and it just feels like they’re on the cusp of something big. They’re too talented a band. This album showcases that in a mini, spacey “departure” of an album, they do a phenomenal job isolating vocals and instrumentation, and bringing them back together for a seismic collision.

“Restive” being a good example of that.

“O.O.Y.O” is so so SO good.

It’s a captivating build, slow but never settled. By choice it never explodes. Instead it expands and breathes life into whatever part of your music soul is buoyed by this salacious and gripping version of psychedelic rock n’ roll.

Brendan G. — “Different Strokes”

As a classic, boastful, playa persona hip-hop track, “Different Strokes” works in a few ways. The verses go hard and the chorus is catchy, but it’s the confidence that takes it to another level.

House Plant — “Colors”

Another favorite of mine from the early days of The City Root. This is fun, funky rock n’ roll. Not overly complicated or over produced. It could be a touch more polished but that’s also what people would love about it.

Miles Ramone — “Let’s Take Tonight”

The intro is such a dope blend of old school hip hop production on a submarine trip into the new school. Then Miles drops in on it with such a perfect melodic rap entry, it was only a matter of maintaining the quality after that, and that he does. The chorus is original and the harmony ending is fitting. A quick hitter that leaves you wanting more.