Local Music Singles Roundup: January 2026
Local Music Reviews
Howdy there, smooth skin! What are you in the market for? I’ve got a one-of-everything arsenal ready for whatever goose to give its gander. We’ve got punk-ish punches to lay you out, slow-mo lofi to take you away, even vein-injected industrial for your withdrawal. Come find your high on this edition of SLUG’s Local Music Singles Roundup!
Alex Unger
“Made In The East”
Self-Released
Street: 09.19.2025
Alex Unger = DJ Shadow + Sven Wunder + Nightmares on Wax
Alex Unger coined the term “Sound System Sensuality” to describe his vibey brand of laid-back, bass-heavy electronic music, saying in a recent interview that he tries to move away from the “hype-party” standard of mainstream EDM into a more “introspective” domain. This ethos reveals itself on “Made In The East,” Unger’s smoky remix of London rapper dialE’s 2021 single of the same name. Unger keeps only dialE’s voice on the track, using his deep tone in a manner that clarifies and accentuates its heft while layering it over a more worldly beat. With the sprinkling of a snake charmer’s flute and jazzy keys providing contrast to the song’s otherwise urban feel, “Made In The East” acts as a genre-bent ride along the dividing line between tangled tropical forests and the bastardized modern world of concrete, glass and LED lights, leaving you with a liminal space to ponder. —Kyle Forbush
Collin Kirk
“Stop Motion”
Self-Released
Street: 09.28.2025
Collin Kirk = Magic Bronson + Pet Shop Boys
Under no circumstances should you allow this single’s crunchy cover art deter you from listening to it. In fact, if you imagine the clay dude as the singer, I find it makes the experience better. “Stop Motion” is clean: no bells or whistles. It’s made up almost entirely of Collin Kirk’s rhythmic voice and a mesmerizing beat, and you don’t need much more than that. Here is a song that can be the soundtrack to an afternoon walk when you need a little swagger to boost your confidence, or a night drive when the world is quiet and you want to feel like the main character in a coming-of-age movie. “Stop Motion” makes you want to bob your head, tap your foot and maybe even get a little groovy with it. I hope you blow up on TikTok, Collin Kirk! —Grace Simpson
jandro
“GAS IN AN AIRFRYER”
Self-Released
Street: 11.05.2025
jandro = SPFDJ + DJ Bountyhunter
There’s something to be said about music like jandro’s “GAS IN AN AIRFRYER” and the way that it arrests you. It’s the kind of sound you hear at raves or in slimy storage units filled to the brim with sweaty bodies. Electronic music serves a unique purpose as it reconnects you with a forgotten animality, forcing you to surrender. The song instantly grabs you with a fast-paced synth that seems to chase you towards desperation. With a primal bass, creating an impression of all things carnal and volatile. “GAS IN AN AIRFRYER” is explosive… literally. Filled with atmospheric sounds chasing towards a satisfying bassy climax, it’s a delightfully dirty treat that provides an escape from the rat wheel. I encourage all of you Utahns to seek out the storage unit once in a while. It’s music that reminds us of our human desire to dance through chaos. Experience a techno catharsis and connect with your body. It’s all you’ve got, after all. —Gabriella R.W.
Lauren Sum
“Woman”
Self-Released
Street: 09.25.2025
Lauren Sum = Florist + Julien Baker
Lauren Sum is a girls’ girl through and through. Her latest single, “Woman,”touches on the same themes reflected in her other projects — a close examination of what it means to be a woman, a wife and a mother. The song follows a woman grappling with her role in society. Is motherhood and marriage all there is to being, or is there more? Soft and acoustic, the instrumentals of “Woman”transport you to a whole other world of sound. The gentle guitar creates a unique juxtaposition with the anger seeping out of what Sum is actually saying. The resentment of expectations placed upon her is palpable, and the expression of the rage itself falls in line with how much of the world still expects women to express their emotions: meekly, sing-songy and without any aggression. By the end, you feel the same frustration and longing for something else that the singer feels.“Woman” is a great exploration of what womanhood often feels like. —Elle Cowley
Midnite Rollercoaster
“Joyride”
Self-Released
Street: 10.31.2025
Midnite Rollercoaster = Queens of the Stone Age + Fu Manchu
“Joyride” definitely feels like going on a high-octane, headbanging joyride. From its opening percussive riff, you are strapped in and then it’s pedal to the metal once the guitar comes shredding in. Only a few lyrics lace this song; the rest is just a rocking instrumental journey! The song is all about creating an experience that is over far too soon — thanks to its two-minute duration. It keeps the excitement up until the middle of the song, where we are treated to a truly amazing electric guitar solo. It’s the kind of track that would score over a scene of wild, slightly psychotic teenagers driving around completely out of control, speeding over speed bumps and doing donuts, half their bodies out the windows and cheering as they put their lives at risk. “Joyride” commands you to get on your feet and get energized. Pure rock goodness! —Angela Garcia
Sindar
“Eclipse”
Belogg Records
Street: 09.26.2025
Sindar = Death + System of a Down
This song makes me feel like something bad is going to happen, but in a way that I enjoy. It’s like the gates of hell are about to open up, and I’m here for the ride. The best word I can use to describe the opening instrumental is “epic.” The track is six whole minutes long, but it doesn’t feel like it drags on since there’s so much variation within it. The lyrics don’t even start for a full minute, but once they do, it’s that classic death metal growl that scares your grandma. You only have to listen to these aggressive vocals for so long, as you’re soon given a break with something slower and smoother that makes you feel like you’re soaring. These two voices seamlessly take turns, forming a conversation that makes this song feel so heavy yet so light. —Bratyn Birrell
Read more Local Music Single Roundups:
Local Music Singles Roundup: December 2025
Local Music Singles Roundup: November 2025
