Despite the ease of access that streaming has brought to the distribution of music, the volume that's released can make it a daunting task to find unique new stuff every week. In this recurring weekly feature we put together a short list of new songs from the past week that stand out amongst all the noise and deserve a spot in your rotation.
All songs featured in this recurring series can be found in our scrmbl selection 2025 playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
maya ongaku — “Maybe Psychic”
“Maybe Psychic,” definitely hypnotic. Trio maya ongaku creates a wispy sound that hangs in the air like incense on its latest track, using minimalism and touches of cinema-ready instrumentation to create a slightly unnerving, fully absorbing number. It helps a lot that the vocals similarly drift over the sound, adding a charm to it. Listen above.
Sam is Ohm ft. Rachel & YonYon — “STARLIGHT”
Sam is Ohm’s low-key R&B production has been a stylish meeting place for a number of great duos this year. For this hangout between YonYon and chelmico’s Rachel, he switches into a UK garage mode. As he spices it up with the drums, the shuffling rhythm inspires some acrobatic rapping from Rachel. YonYon’s feeling the glowing beat, too, adding some sense of anticipation to this preview of an exciting night to come.
Satoko Shibata & Elle Teresa ft. Le Makeup — “Tokimeki Tantei”
Patrick: Singer-songwriter Satoko Shibata and rapper Elle Teresa come together for a mellow funk number allowing both to showcase their melodic charms. “Tokimeki Tantei” practically glows around the edges, especially the way the duo's vocals hang over the song. Helping out immensely is the presence of producer Le Makeup, who creates a grooveable track topped off by some guitar lines giving an extra tingle to it all.
Ryo: Premiered last Monday, Synanthrope begins with a robbery at a late-night burger joint and ends with talks of a rumor about an underground crime organization. Satoko Shibata and Elle Teresa’s song for the TV Tokyo drama is similarly chic in sound, led by an after-hours R&B arrangement assisted by Le Makeup, with an unsettling feeling that something’s afoot. Whatever catches the two’s attention, there’s a subtle hint of danger that makes it too tantalizing to ignore.
Suichu Spica — “MATHRHYTHM”
Whatever their choice of metaphor, Suichu Spica aim to reach a satisfying moment of clarity as they let their math rock unreel. The band’s new track borders on the literal as vocalist and guitarist Chiaki wonders aloud about theorems and algorithms in tune to the restless music. She seems to eventually settle on an answer to her musical word problem about her life purpose, though following their search for proof excites as much as the solution itself.
Toaka — “GRAY”
Toaka's voice has always been her most powerful artistic tool. Newest single “GRAY” showcases it in all its range. It starts off as something soft and inviting, but as the song slowly swells — helped by the space allowed via its construction — she shows off a more dynamic, emotional punch that helps it to soar. Listen above.
