Local Music Singles Roundup: October 2026

Do you think SLUG knows music? Well, we should — we’ve been covering the best in local bands and musicians since 1988. We’ve seen the crowds of rockin’ devil horns, the streets of underground hip-hop and the thrashiness of any punk show. So yeah, take our advice and check out these singles.

Gavanni
“Jo Mi Jo”
Gavanni LLC
Street: 07.21.2026
Gavanni = Tyla + Drake

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Gavanni is bringing some much needed cultural diversity to the local Utah music scene. His new single, “Jo Mi Jo,” which translates to “dance with me,” was released on July 21 in the height of summer. The consistent afro-beat rhythm transports us from the desert heat of Utah to the refreshing breeze of a Nigerian beach. I could see this being used as the background music for a 2026 Summer Vlog or the perfect pregame music for a balmy night out. It’s the kind of music where the lyrics are unimportant as long as it makes you get up and move. This needs to be played immediately at Sky SLC or Ibiza after a few tequila sodas. Regardless of whether you’d catch me in the club personally, I think Gavanni’s sound is the perfect way to expand Salt Lake’s nightlife. —Sophie Wood

I’d Rather Be
“Greedy”
Self-Released
Street: 01.30.2026
I’d Rather Be = Shinedown + Linkin Park

If you stop and listen, you can hear the call of the early 2000s beckoning you home, and many have already begun their return to the days of old. From the restoration of analog media and preference for productions predating subscription-exclusives to the rise of customizable webpages and Y2K nights at every club — a return to this rhinestone-riddled era is imminent. I’d Rather Be prepares Salt Lake City’s pop-punk scene for this homecoming with their most recent release, “Greedy.” Described as “heavy Tate McRae,” I’d Rather Be reimagines McRae’s own “greedy” with a twist: neckties and trucker hats. It may be odd to imagine headbanging to Tate McRae, but arguably her composition flows well with heavy vocals alongside smashing cymbals and the eruption of an electric guitar. Some may say the band ruined McRae, although far more have adored this grungy take on “Greedy” since its release in January. —Juno Mckell

Mary Kate Walton
“Butterfly Effect”
Self-Released
Street: 01.30.2026
Mary Kate Walton = This Is The Kit + Gregory Alan Isakov

Mary Kate Walton’s “Butterfly Effect” is the perfect track to play while you’re driving in the mountains at dusk, squinting for signs of the leaves turning red. Opening with a gentle guitar that sounds like it’s right beside you, Walton sings low in vibrato before she takes off into a spell of earnest melody. I enjoy how she breathes her own unique style and warmth into the classic folk sound — it adds even more to the dynamic and vibrant feel of the song. The lyrics are poetic, weaving layers of immersive imagery into the backdrop of heartbeat-like rhythm and acoustic guitar. Walton’s voice has a strong center that holds the song steady as she ventures from quiet and intimate to cresting soulful heights and back again. Let “Butterfly Effect” carry you from the harsh summer months into the gentler air of autumn. —Rebekah Bowman

NOISEVEIN
“WATER”
RockSalt Records
Street: 08.07.2026
NOISEVEIN = TOOL x Ghost K + blunt rotation with your humanities professor

As unpredictable as leaving a 20-sided die to chance, the nerd power of NOISEVEIN has been conjuring a melody medley from Earth’s basic elements. Tracks like “FIRE” are heavy, brutish and fast-paced like flames devouring a mountainside, whereas “ICE” is stoic and foreboding with a frosty outer shell. However, “WATER” puts aside these theatrics to deliver a calm stream of cymbals and strums, letting the track drip into a slow and bendy stream. It’s the type of air-bending lude that’s an easy listen after “being one with nature” — with such activities like camping or off-trail exploration. Although I do think the lyrics are a bit “element”-ary (wink-wink) to grapple with, “WATER” is the necessary component to create NOISEVEIN’s rise as a professional band. I just wonder what their next track will be called… “WOOD”? Oh, maybe “BONE” or “RUST”! Yeah, that’s metal as fuck! —Alton Barnhart

Tampa Chess Club
“Schrödinger’s Cat”
Self-Released
Street: 06.23.2026
Tampa Chess Club = Camping In Alaska + Foxing

“Schrödinger’s Cat” was the lead single from Tampa Chess Club ahead of the release of their debut album All But If Not All, Subject To Change. The track is immediately attention-grabbing with a simple but effective intro of guitar strumming and solid drums that elevate the lyrics within. Lyrics such as “I don’t really wanna know why ‘cause I don’t understand it / I don’t really think that you care enough to make amends / These things that you say to your friends that I don’t comprehend / Tell them why that you hate me I guess I just won’t understand” are offered quickly, sounding timid, almost afraid — solidifying the perspective the song is written from. “Schrödinger’s Cat” stands on its own enough to get those familiar with emo excited, but Tampa Chess Club outdoes themselves and I believe the band delivers a very accessible and catchy track. —Hans Magleby

The Mellons
“From The Vine”
Earth Libraries
Street: 11.13.2025
The Mellons = The Beatles + The Beach Boys

I have not once, in my 22 years of being alive, chosen to listen to The Beatles. I simply have never had the desire. It’s not that I don’t like The Beatles or respect them; I just do what I do, and apparently The Beatles aren’t a part of that. However, if I wanted to listen to a local Beach Boys-meets-Beatles, feel-good guitar band, I certainly would choose The Mellons and their 2025 single, “From The Vine.” The band’s ability to capture the sound of the late ’60s in both a musical and production aspect is astonishing and deserves to be recognized. I am, however, wondering why the lyrics on Apple Music are just the lyrics to “All Star” by Smash Mouth: “Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me / I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed.” Maybe that’s a question for another day, but for today, go and listen to “From The Vine” by The Mellons! —Teddy P

Discover more local music and read past Local Music Singles Roundup:
Local Music Singles Roundup: May 2026
Local Music Singles Roundup: September 2026

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