From the 'gram to the 'gramophone

How’s your mid-week going,

Lately I’ve been reading cool science stories and I sometimes wonder, how would music sound like in another dimension, or better yet, in an alternate universe? I always hear music every time I go to sleep, and I wonder if it’s from another time or another dimension.

Anyway, this week’s sounds come from a different time and space too. Or at least, it’s from a time before I was born, or a dance I’ve never witnessed in its prime, and yet I am so familiarly acquainted with. I guess you could say that music transcends time and space beyond what we usually see or experience in this plane.

Do you have a song recommendation that’s out of this world? I’d love to hear it 💫

See you next week,

Val ♫

(P.S If you are reading this in your email, please click “Read Online” at the top-right corner next to the date for a better reading experience!)

In this week's setlist:

• 🎧 Alluring Choruses

• 🎤 Artist of the Week: The Ink Spots

• 🩰 Three-Timed Serenades

• 🎶 New Music This Week

🎧 Alluring Choruses

Before the Sweet Valley Girl accent became the norm in pop culture, it was the transatlantic accent that dominated the early 20th century. Especially in music, this blend of American and British enunciation created a sound that felt like it belonged to another realm. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be elegant.

Take a peek into another moment in history with these timeless melodies:

• I Fall To Pieces by Patsy Cline

• Moonlight Becomes You by Bing Crosby

• Losing You by Brenda Lee

🎤 Artist of the Week: The Ink Spots

In celebration of Juneteenth tomorrow and African-American Music Appreciation Month, let’s take a moment to honor the unsung heroes of 20th-century music — the pioneering Black artists who paved the way for legends like Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Billie Holiday, and of course, the inimitable Michael Jackson.

Modern Black music is known for being vibrant, disruptive, and unapologetically bold, whether through fire rap verses or unbeatable beat mixes. But let’s swing (pun intended) to a different corner of Black music history and tune into the early foundations of rhythm and blues.

Meet The Ink Spots — a groundbreaking vocal quartet formed in New York City in the 1930s, widely credited as one of the key influences behind the doo-wop genre. Their music is instantly recognisable by its gentle guitar strums, high-tenor leads, low-talking bass parts, and that timeless sense of longing we might now call yearning in modern times.

At a time when the music industry was far from equitable, The Ink Spots were one of the rare African-American groups to achieve crossover success with white audiences. Your grandparents might remember their sound, and in the age before music videos and digital media, most listeners couldn't even tell their race by voice alone. But now, we know the faces behind those feather-light vocals and soulful harmonies.

To me, The Ink Spots are among the most articulate vocal groups I’ve heard from the 1930s. Their songs feel like a warm breeze: soft on the ears, light on the soul, and soothing for any quiet evening. This is the kind of music you’d want to play through your reed diffusers and air purifiers, if only they came with Bluetooth-enabled speakers.

My top picks:

• I’ll Never Smile Again: This love confession sounds like a Paul Anka spinoff. It’s sure to get your loved one putting their head on your shoulder.

• Truck Stop: Their distinct doo-wop style is very evident here. I love how it immediately puts a spring to your step.

Listen to The Ink Spots here.

🩰 Three-Timed Serenades

I’m back with my next series of ¾ time signature picks, because it’s always sounds like it’s from the vintage era, no matter which genre you play it in.

Let’s fast-forward to the present day with some olden-days inspired sounds:

• rises the moon by Liana Flores

• Pretty Baby by Alex Sampson

• Angelina by Lizzy McAlpine

🎶 New Music This Week

The Little Mess You Made by The Favors, FINNEAS and Ashe: I love how this song grows on you. It starts off with a beat to tap your shoes to the floor to, and then transforms into a rock symphony.

Talk Nice by No Rome: Looking for a sound similar to Owl City's signature style? This artist brings that iconic, fairy-like piano vibe into the track, turning a simple beach stroll into a Vanilla Twilight-lit, reflective walk by the shore.

云和雨 by WiFi歪歪: Speaking of rhythm and blues, here’s an incredibly vibey track that fuses the soul of Black R&B with the delicate tones of traditional Chinese instruments, creating a satisfying sountrip that’ll light up your music brain. Oh, how I love globalisation.

Inspired by this week’s music picks?

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