The NACC Chart highlights the most popular and up-and-coming artists gaining momentum on college and community radio stations across North America, offering a glimpse into the dynamic and ever-evolving tastes of college students and young adults who value authentic and innovative sounds. This past week’s list features a blend of new and emerging artists, each pushing musical boundaries with experimental genres, deep themes and thought-provoking lyrics. From Gothic New Wave to lo-fi post-punk or soulful experimentalism, these albums represent a diverse range of sounds that are resonating with listeners today.
1. Saya Gray – SAYA
At No. 1 on the NACC Chart, Saya Gray and her newest album SAYA, makes its mark on the music industry with her unconventional approach to production and lyricism. This Japanese-Canadian artist is best known for her collaborations with artists like Willow Smith and Daniel Caesar, but it’s her solo work that truly showcases her unique and genre-defying style. Released on Feb. 21, “SAYA” simultaneously blends electronic elements with soulful R&B-like melodies, producing an album that is innovative and deeply emotive. Touching on the complexities of modern relationships, with tracks like “10 WAYS ( TO LOSE A CROWN )” and “CATS CRADLE!,” she navigates themes of love, longing and self-reflection with an experimental edge.
2. Deep Sea Diver – Billboard Heart
Led by Jessica Dobson, Deep Sea Diver and its fourth studio album “Billboard Heart,” emerged from a period of creative struggle in the recording studio. As many of the album’s lyrics reveal, the band faced a standstill, feeling uninspired and creatively stuck. However, Dobson and the band found their way out of this rut by returning to their artistic roots, revisiting previously written songs and letting go of the fear that the music industry often creates in artists. From the lead track “Billboard Heart,” to “Always Waving Goodbye,” the lyricism in the indie pop tracks touch upon the journey of creative struggles and renewal, with powerful guitar riffs and layered harmonies that create emotional soundscapes.
3. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – Self-Titled
With Sharon Van Etten’s departure from her solo career, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory released its self-titled album on Feb. 7, and is guided by Sharon Van Etten, Devra Hoff, Kristina “Teeny” Lieberson and Jorge Balbi. If you’re familiar with bands such as The Cure or New Order, Etten and her band embrace a similar post-punk sound, characterized by distinct sonic textures and driving basslines woven throughout the tracks. The album explores themes of mortality, parenthood and the complexities of life and relationships, offering a deeply introspective and emotionally resonant listening experience. With “Afterlife” and “Idiot Box” being stand out tracks, they exemplify the band’s ability to balance haunting lyricism with dynamic instrumentation.
4. Squid – Cowards
Squid, an alternative, post-punk rock band originating from the UK, showcases a unique view of society and an exploration of dark subjects with its newest album “Cowards.” Lyrically, it created an album that portrays a grim dystopia, touching on cannibalism and societal fascinations with true crime. Musically, the production of the album is groovy, with layered harmonies reaching into both a jazzy and electronic sound that leaves listeners a little unsettled yet entranced. Squid’s ability to blend post-punk urgency with jazz-inspired rhythms and electronic textures makes “Cowards” a compelling listen.
5. Horsegirl – Phonetics On And On
Coming down to the No. 5 spot on the NACC Chart, Horsegirl, an indie band from Chicago, is composed of singer-guitarists Nora Cheng and Penelope Lowenstein, along with drummer Gigi Reece. Its second studio album, “Phonetics On and On,” follows its 2022 record “Versions of Modern Performance” and showcases the band’s growth in both sound and songwriting. Producing interesting sounds and toying with different musical compositions, this indie group has heavy influence from underground bands and creates a very unique and consistent sound. Listeners who enjoy bands such as Modest Mouse or Cavetown may find this release particularly engaging.
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