For the 44th installment of my Fresh New Tracks series, I’m featuring new songs by an array of international artists I’m particularly fond of, including, in alphabetical order – Canadian artist dwi, French producer E-Klozion and English singer-songwriter Liam Croker, Welsh band Set the Tone, and Canadian artist Western Jaguar. I’ve previously featured all of them on this blog, with the exception of E-Klozion who is new to me.

dwi – “Doom Scroll’n”

Based in the suburbs of Vancouver, British Columbia, dwi is the music project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dwight Abell, who’s also the longtime bassist for Canadian alternative/power pop band The Zolas. He’s an immensely creative, talented and imaginative guy, with a totally original sound and an endearingly quirky vocal style that make his music so uniquely distinctive. I think he’s one of the brightest stars today in the Canadian music scene, or anywhere really, and I’m quite fond of him. He’s released two outstanding albums – Mild Fantasy Violence in 2021 and Zoo Life in 2023, both of which I reviewed, as well as numerous singles. Three of this songs – “Good Friend” (2021), “Party4One” (2022) and “Overrated” (2023) – reached #1 on my personal Top 30 chart.

Today dwi’s back with a wonderful new single “Doom Scroll’n“, a nostalgic, melancholy song he calls his “sappiest” yet. It was recorded, engineered and produced by James Younger and Jeffrey Innes, who are both members of Canadian indie rock band Yukon Blonde and also played on the track. In an Instagram post about the the song, Dwight noted “Originally the post chorus hook was played using this mutilated digital synth midi sound but James was like ‘fuck that I’m playing guitar’, and it was a very correct choice.” James also mixed the track, which was mastered by Montano Mastering. The song starts off with a twangy guitar line, then settles into an exuberant melodic tune with a strong, head-bopping groove overlain with lots of marvelous and quirky musical textures. The lyrics speak of missing a woman he was once romantically involved with but no longer sees, and how he tortures himself by scrolling through her social media posts on his mobile phone: “And there’s a ghost, she’s living in my phone. And I can’t look away from her, so instead I’m doom scroll’n“

The photo used for the cover art is of Dwight’s wife Caitlin taken on one of their date nights.

 

E-Klozion x Liam Croker – “Never Coming Down”

E-Klozion is an electronic music producer and self-described “intergalactic DJ” based in Montpellier, France. Composing music with strong emotions drawn from various influences (ethnic, oriental, bass music, psychedelic, techno, house and organic), his mission is “to sow groove on the dancefloor”. He’s played alongside many internationally renowned artists such as Boris Brejcha, Nto, Extrawelt, Ann Clue and Arjuna. Liam Croker is frontman and lead vocalist of Manchester, England-based electro-funk/soul collective WINACHI, who’ve been releasing infectious sexy grooves – which they describe as “swaggering Mancunian tenacity spliced with smooth Californian G-Funk soul” – since forming in 2015. I’ve featured them and their music numerous times, most recently in March 2023 when I reviewed their single “FOR YOU I’D KILL” featuring Natalie Wilde. I had the pleasure of meeting Liam and his fellow WINACHI band members Antony Egerton and Inder Goldfinger in 2022 when they played at the landmark club The Mint in Los Angeles.

Now E-Klozion and Liam Croker have teamed up to create a new electronic dance/funk single “Never Coming Down“, which drops today. The track was co-written by them both, and produced by E-Klozion, who programmed the cool synths. Liam sang lead vocals on the track, Antony Egerton played guitar, and English singer-songwriter Christie Bellis sang backing vocals. The song is a seductive celebration of the hedonistic joys of partying with beautiful people at the dance club: “You’ll never hear me ask for just a touch, because just a touch won’t ever do much for me. You’ll see. I’m never coming down, never coming down, never coming down, cause it’s too low. Once your lost is found, where do you go?/ I’m a professional sinner, this is what I do. I ain’t no beginner baby, and I ain’t through with you.” I like the song’s funky groove and the interplay between Liam’s sassy playful croons and Christie’s teasing backing vocals. The entertaining video for the single was filmed “during an extremely hot sweaty night” at The Black Sheep music venue in Montpellier.

Set the Tone – “All for Nothing”

Hailing from Pontypridd, Wales (the birthplace of legendary singer Tom Jones) is Set the Tone, a pop/rock band comprised of Liam Richards on acoustic guitar and vocals, Nate Jones on electric guitar, Dan Hayman on electric guitar and backing vocals, and Rob Williams, who recently replaced outgoing member Kage Jones on bass. With their winning combination of intelligent songwriting, an infectious and pleasing sound melding elements of classic and contemporary rock, folk and pop, and charismatic stage presence, the guys have quickly built a loyal following in South Wales. Almost a year ago to the day, they released their first singles “Happy” and “Take This Chance” on April 26, followed by “Do You Really Wanna Know?” on July 5th and “Here We Go Again” on November 29th. I reviewed “Here We Go Again” last December, and the song ended up spending eight weeks on my Top 30 chart earlier this year.

The guys returned on April 4th with their fifth single “All for Nothing“, a rousing kiss off song with a harder-rocking feel than their previous releases. Over a hard-charging galloping beat fueled by a throbbing bassline and aggressive drums, the guys layer a hearty blend of melodic and grungy guitar riffs that create a thunderous backdrop for Liam’s fervent vocals. The lyrics touch on a relationship that’s run its course and is now broken beyond repair. Liam proclaims his antipathy toward his former romantic partner, while still retaining enough grace to wish her well: “I can’t wait to get over you. Now our time is done, it’s through. Take good care of your life. Not coming home to you tonight. Now it’s done, it was all for nothing. A complete waste of time.” “All for Nothing” is another fine effort by Set the Tone, keeping their record for putting out excellent songs fully intact.

Western Jaguar – “Flower Box”

Another personal favorite artist of mine is Western Jaguar, the music project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Trainor, Like dwi, he’s from the Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, and has been releasing music since 2013 as both a band comprised of an evolving lineup of musicians and more recently as a solo artist. Skillfully blending indie rock, dream pop and shoegaze, he writes songs exploring common themes of life, love, emotional well-being and loss, expressed through poetic, relatable lyrics which he delivers with pleasing vocals. I’ve been following him for nearly seven years, and have featured him four times on this blog, most recently last May (2024) when I reviewed his single “Repossess”, which was later included on his fourth album Vacationland. Two of his songs, “Disappear” (2019) and “Darling” (2023) have reached #1 on my Top 30 chart.

On April 18th, he released his latest single “Flower Box“, a rather melancholy but poignant song about someone who keeps making bad relationship choices. Jeff has this to say about the song: “‘Flower Box’ looks at a broken relationship, but viewed from a caring outsider’s perspective. It’s clear to the narrator that this person whom this friend is engaged with is a bad fit for them, and the narrator attempts to sway them to see the truth. The repeating line, ‘Are we doing this again?’ hints that this is not the first time they have felt the need to interject about the poor circle of partners this person has chosen.” With a sense of sad resignation in his voice, Western Jaguar laments “She thinks that he can be a good man. I think that he’s a good salesman. All she wants is for him to fully love her, but he’s too busy playing games on servers with her brother./ I just don’t know what you see in him.“