The Identity Tampa Bay’s music editor riffs on songs from local recording artists worthy of a few spins in your latest playlist. As always, there will be new releases, recollections from standout musicians, and songs specifically tailored to prop up our alliance of talented artists throughout the bay area. Keep a lookout for these acts to put on a show at a venue near you.
“Design” | Scxtt Aye feat. Stoney Hoop
On “Design,” Aye layers keys that sound like a Tony Soprano fever dream under a fantastical orchestral arrangement before thundering in the required 808s. It’s easy to coast through its rises and falls as he high-fives Stoney Hoop in for a no-brainer guest verse. It’s even easier to click repeat after the song’s contemplative, barebones outro. You can catch Scxtt Aye and company at Sam E Hues’s “When Tigers Used to Smoke” experience at the end of August.
“What I Want” | AYAM
Stop what you’re doing. Close your eyes. Press play AYAM’s hypnotic “What I Want.” Raise both your hands into the air and just see what happens when the drums hit on this song. Odds are, you’ll be doing it again come the weekend.
“Chasing Smoke” | Evan Koteles
A songwriter’s songwriter, Evan Koteles can crank out full-fledged tracks like you and I send out e-mails. I’ll be hard-pressed to get three of those out today. But it’s Monday and I’m becoming increasingly old and senile. That’s why “Chasing Smoke” is some especially infectious, easy, necessary listening. You can catch Evan live at FLocale in Seminole Heights this Saturday.