The Newest Sound on the Block

Hey there,

So glad to have you in my very first volume! This newsletter has been an idea of mine that’s been brewing in my head for about a year now, and I’m so excited to share it with everyone at last 😊

As a new reader, you may still be wondering, what is Music Musings? Well, think of it like a mixtape of songs, complete with music notes, that I send to your email inbox every Wednesday. I’ve also compiled a neat summary so you can get to know this space a little better.

Once again, thanks for being here. I’m truly grateful for your support, and I can’t wait to share more music and musings with you every week.

Now, shall we tune in? You’ll have a great time with this week’s music picks ✨

From your newest music pal,

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!)

💿 Album of the Week: life update by Arash Buana

I’ve been waiting for Arash Buana’s album release since listening to his song teasers on Tiktok, and the wait was so worth it.

From the first few songs, you might think this is another album about romance and relationships – wait until it turns into a therapy session. Each song has their own distinct flavour, and coupled with Arash’s soothing voice, the entire album feels like a warm hug.

Here are my favourites:

• hey, i’m tired: If you’re looking for a song that sounds similar to Breakeven by The Script, this is it.

• al: When Arash said “‘Cause humans tend to not apologize over something they don't truly understand”, that hit right in the feels.

Stream life update now.

🥁 Who’s That Opening Act?

There’s a new band in the region, and they’re currently opening for LANY in their Asia tour.

It’s Culture Wars, an alt-rock band hailing from Austin, Texas. Their songs have lots of big beats and vocals, and as a concert-goer pointed out, “The singer (Alex Dugan) sounds like the main vocalist from Journey (Steve Perry)”.

Check out their latest singles:

• Slowly by Culture Wars

• Miley by Culture Wars

🔁 This Week’s Song on Repeat: Toro by Remi Wolf

Up-and-coming alt-pop singer Remi Wolf also dropped their newest album, Big Ideas, a few months back, and I can’t get enough of this bop. It’s fun, it’s edgy, and it makes you wanna dance with somebody (and also feel the heat with somebody, if you read the lyrics carefully).

🎶 New Music This Week

Emergency Exit by Heleina Zara: It’s like an 80s arcade machine mixed with girl pop. An interesting combination, but it works!

Cherry by Jordan Susanto: If you’re like me and have listened to your fair share of jazzy rock love songs, you know that the serenading can feel a bit over the top. Well, this one won’t give you the cringe, and the groove is contagious.