Freshly Squeezed, Vol. 72: Brianna Kocka, Leland, Mary Bragg & more

Welcome to Freshly Squeezed, a weekly new music playlist: spanning country, pop, EDM and urban, mainstream and other.

Brianna Kocka wraps us tightly in a fuzzy fleece of Americana with “Wild Child,” off her new album Dreamlife. “I miss being a wild child / I miss feeling bright and new,” she sings, an aching longing seeping into her vocal. She’s world-weary but manages to pull herself through the dirt to deliver a punch, a triumphant act despite the sorrow tearing at her bones. “If I’m being honest, I miss you, too,” she later confesses. The soft glow of acoustic guitar bounces off the shards of glass of lonesomeness in the aftermath of a rather tragic breakup.

Spazz Cardigan brandishes piano in quick jabs and flourishes between the layers of sparkling synths. “I just wanna be enough,” he vows, zeroing in on an inescapable freedom to find his own truth in the world. The crunch of drums tick-tock in time with his self-imposed enlightenment as he learns to accept who he is and climbs to the mountaintops to scream at the top of his lungs. The melody crescendoes like lightning strikes on rock and rapid explosions subsequently set the eardrums on fire.

A trio of players called High South wander through a dreamy, tropical-drenched treaty to make the world a better place. “Make It Better” is smooth to the touch, kicking off the band’s new EP, Change the Wind, and gives the group ample time to illustrate their throwback and tightly-bound harmony work. In the spirit of the ’70s and ’80s, they comb the sunny California country-rock with a sizzling, austere and modern power. “Never thought it could stop / Was it just a dream…,” they consider.

Nashville titan Jaida Dreyer finally, finally, FINALLY releases a song called “I’ve Been Everywhere,” a sterling cover of the No. 1 hit single by Hank Snow (a 1959 Geoff Mack original). It’s her first bit of recorded music since her 2012 studio album, I Am Jaida Dreyer. The singer-songwriter, who has landed cuts with Eric Church, Luke Bryan and others, performed the song recently on USA’s Real Country showcase series, featuring a judges panel of Jake Owen, Travis Tritt and Shania Twain. She was then named the episode winner for “Living Country.” Maybe, just maybe, Dreyer will finally get the credit and superstardom she so deserves. Oh, and release a new album.

Acclaimed pop juggernaut Leland (Troye Sivan, Selena Gomez) makes a bid for pop song of 2018. “Middle of a Heartbreak” marries the eclecticism of his trusty lyrical style with a vibrant-printed production that shocks the brain. “Can’t go dance, don’t make plans / ‘Cause I know that I’ll be looking all around for you / On my worst days, there’s no safe space / ‘Cause everything I do and see reminds me about you,” he sings in a spoken-word pattern, evoking unquenchable pain ripped from his ribcage. Fire.

The playlist also features essentials from RUUMER, Eli Lev, Stealing Sheep, Kim Petras with Cheat Codes, Shy Beast, Luca Chesney, Sophie Simmons, Yola, Mary Bragg, Unknown Caller, Crimson Calamity and many others.

In all, we’ve got 31 new songs spin and spin and spin some more.

Each playlist will be refreshed every Friday morning/afternoon. We reserve the right to update anytime during the week, so make sure you bookmark this page.

Take a spin:

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