Local Music Singles Roundup: June 2026
Local Music Reviews
June is the month for self-independence, self-appreciation and above all, self-motherfucking-love! If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you going to love anyone else? (Thanks, Mama Ru) So to express eternal pride, SLUG has got you covered with an array of slow jams, headbangs and an overall musical good time.
Bree Famina
“Tika”
IKO World
Street: 11.08.2025
Bree Famina = Sade + Aya Nakamura + Tems
Bree Famina surprises all of us with the release of her latest single, “Tika,” in which she demonstrates impeccable production that blends the smooth, lush vocal arrangements typical of contemporary R&B with rhythmic influences from her Congolese roots. The single is proof of her versatility as a composer and vocalist, delivering exactly what she promises: “A smooth Afro-fusion love record celebrating soft life, princess treatment, and intentional love.” The song’s most captivating aspect is how her transition between English and French flows seamlessly within clean and modern production, showcasing the warmth of her voice and creating a lyrical journey from Zanzibar to Miami. This mixture of sounds and vocal arrangements conveys freshness without falling into commercial pop clichés, all while maintaining a glamorous aesthetic. That balance is very much appreciated. Famina proves she is an artist with a sophisticated ear for international appeal and a voice that demands attention. —Guillermo Pino Cruz
Charcoal Lemonade
“Chronically Human”
Self-Released
Street: 04.06.2026
Charcoal Lemonade = The Runaways + Blondie + Hole
As the rhinestone-layered, steel-toe position in a full crane kick stance, “Chronically Human” is that punchy score that can get even the most tired of sleepy heads on their feet. It’s your traditional punk rock mosh that throws both body and soul into back-and-forth, spine-breaking thrusts. Sarah Ottino channels a cheerleading Joan Jett with an enthusiastic “Hey!” meshed well between a beefy chug and steel pan splash, courtesy of composer Remy Williams. Although its roots grow to the rawest meat of high-caffeinated rock, there is a whang to their sound that keeps it relevantly fresh. It’s that “catch me if you can” chase rhythm that makes me want to charge into a battle against the undead with nothing more than a half-singed Maduro and a highly-modified jackhammer. It might be a bit repetitive regarding overall stylings, but there’s no denying you’ll be setting any garage session ablaze if this filters through your blown-out speakers. —Alton Barnhart
McCovey
“Gabe”
Island Park Records
Street: 01.17.2025
McCovey = The 1975 + Black Country, New Road
Picture this: you just finished your daily Tumblr enrichment, clad in your black denim outfit to match your troubled heart (stay with me here)… What’s next on the agenda? Rewatching The Perks of Being a Wallflower, of course! Oh, and it’s 2014 by the way. Upon first listen, McCovey’s “Gabe” presents itself as a perfect indie rock addition to any hipster’s playlist, with a hint of twang, but you will eventually find an old soul at the center of it all through a sense of storytelling that is often lost in modern music. With a low strumming bass grounding the song and deep vocals in the foreground, twinkles of lighter string instruments carry you through a hopeful and reflective listening journey. “Gabe” is a walk on a spring day and the feeling of sunlight peering through trees onto your skin. Tune in. —Madi Madrid
Shecock
“Rock Jail”
Self-Released
Street: 06.27.2025
Shecock = Nine Inch Nails + Nirvana
Shecock’s “Rock Jail” is a lot of fun. Its fast pace and kick-ass guitar solo have great forward momentum, while the singer’s energy is palpable. There’s never a dull moment in the song’s composition. Great aesthetics, a semi-industrial sound and lyrics that almost parody popular hard rock make this song a riot. That parody makes it sort of stereotypical, though. It rests between rock and hard rock. I wish they leaned more into the industrial sound. “Rock Jail” is absolutely worth a listen, and I’d love to see them further define their sound and find a space for themselves in the independent scene. A question: What’s with the album cover? I love the main composition of it: Bloody stitches on flesh are evocative and metal by nature. But why are the year and social media symbols in the bottom corners? It’s distracting. —B. Allan Johnson
Tariq Abou-Bakr
“Folk Music Man”
Self-Released
Street: 07.11.2025
Tariq Abou-Bakr = Noah Kahan + The Milk Carton Kids
Who said “millennial optimism” had to die when Donald Trump came down the escalator in 2015? I’d assumed multiple wars, a global pandemic and the apocalyptic rise of artificial intelligence had crushed the collective spirit of America’s artistic youth, but Tariq Abou-Bakr’s latest single “Folk Music Man” gives me a shred of hope. This is a well-developed love song with streaks of the “stomp clap hey” genre that ushered in the 2010s, but Abou-Bakr’s gentle guitar work and tender vocals are the highlight for me on this track. I like the sentiment in the chorus: “I won’t be a lonely folk music man / I’ll always need you in my band.” It’s giving me a bit of hope, nostalgia and a whisper of sadness, while also invoking mad “national park in a Sprinter van” energy. I could see this song being a great anchor track for the summer camping playlist. —Cole Stocker
The/Theys (ft. Ryan Arnold)
“Float Away – Birds Eye”
Recording Club
Street: 01.23.2026
The/Theys = Dave Brubek + Cortex
“Float Away – Birds Eye” is a two-part song. “Float Away” is a drowsy 4/4 melancholy piece that is enough to put the listener to sleep. A snare drum, some light guitar and atmospheric keyboard provide an underwater ambience while soulful vocals sing lyrics that could only have come from a high schooler’s journal. “Birds Eye” changes it up, if only fractionally. The cymbals get some love, the snare keeps getting hit with one stick at a time, the guitar wakes back up and the lyrics remain self-serving, albeit well sung. Even the separated parts are too similar to provide any realized movement or imprint any of the lyrics’ obvious emotion onto the listener. This sleepy low frequency is best shown in The/Theys’ song “Greenwich,” which is akin to late night jazz. While remaining mellow, it carries movement which “Float Away” sorely lacks. —Jacob Kay
Read more Local Music Singles Roundups:
Local Music Singles Roundup: May 2026
Local Music Singles Roundup: April 2026
To help SLUG continue to support local music, consider becoming one of our donors!
