While the verdict is still out on what the “song of the summer” might be — Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso,’ Charli XCX’s ‘Von Dutch’ and Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ are top contenders — the Philadelphia-area’s best rappers, rockers, jazz heads and pop stars are already planning for fall.
Here is a roundup at new Philly-born-and-bred songs and albums for summer’s end and autumn’s intro.
Old City – ‘Hollaback’ and the Old City album
It’s not often a young Philadelphia band named after a famed Philly neighborhood makes new music stitched together from vintage samples. Yet, that’s the modus operandi behind Old City, the local band that creates big hip hop out of punk and new wave samples from the past. Think of Old City’s ‘Hollaback‘ and its samples from Citizen Fish and Le Tigre, and you’re reminded of The Avalanches or the Beastie Boys’ classic Paul’s Boutique album. Only now, such Technicolor hip hop comes with a radical feminism and gender equality perspective courtesy Tr38cho Old City’s MC. And while ‘Hollaback’ is Old City’s first single, its self-titled debut album is also as vivid lyrically as it is sonically, with nicely orchestrated tracks such as “Prey” to show for its efforts.
Lauren Mendelsohn – ‘Falling Awake’
Signed to the Winding Way Records label since 2022, we haven’t heard quite enough of the warm, Philly-based cosmopolitan folkie save for records such as ‘Jet Plane.’ Starting next week, however, that will change with the release of her sparkly new mid-tempo single, ‘Falling Awake.’ If you’re looking for that lost-in-love lyrical track (lyrics like “I seem to forget who I am as if I’m in a trance”) and a Natalie Merchant-like vibe, listen no further than Lady Mendelson.
Karl Blau – ‘Who’
Speaking of contemplative, even existential songs, Washington native-turned- Philadelphia neighbor Karl Blau has just dropped the first fresh single, ‘Who‘ in preparation of his upcoming new ‘Vultures of Love’ album, and it’s a deathly-ruminating doozy. On top of a slow slithering horn section, some noisy guitar and an askew skittering beat, the lonely, deep voiced Blau questions the things that go bump in the night in a manner you’ve never quite heard before (and with a surprisingly upbeat bridge). Along with many extra points for originality, give Blau credit for always putting a good word in for Philly wherever his travels may take him.
PAKT – No Steps Left to Trace and Live (Limited Edition)
I bring up Philadelphia’s most eccentrically eclectic and nearly uncategorizable guitarist-composer Tim Motzer because he dropped two albums with his fellow avant-guards in PAKT (the legendary king of fretless bass Percy Jones, along with the always masterful Alex Skolnick and Kenny Grohowski) in 2024. And because the post-prog PAKT quartet is playing the Sellersville Theatre on Aug. 30 en route to Sept. 7’s internationally-renowned ProgStock in Rutherford, New Jersey.
Ot7 Quanny – ‘I Did It’
Though Philadelphia trap rapper Ot7 Quanny has been successfully banging around the local hip hop scene for several years with tracks such as ‘Dog Talk’ and ‘New Money’ to show for his success, it has taken the shimmering contagious pop tones and wildly witty of ‘I Did It’ to reach 50 million+ streams and rap media outlets like OVO Sound Radio, Fader and Audiomack’s 10 Rappers You Should Know list.
David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket featuring Adam Weiner: ‘Sally Sayin’ Somethin’
This new single from Hooters drummer and In the Pocket band leader Uosikkinen – an ensemble he’s dedicated to the classics of Philly and New Jersey R&B, rock and pop – kills off more than a few local birds with one big stone soul picnic of a song. This grooving pop selection, ‘Sally Sayin’ Somethin‘ was written by Jersey’s own Billy Harner, the legendary “rock and roll barber” (also nicknamed “the Human Perk-u-lator”), and features, as its lead vocalist, Adam Weiner from the South Philly-based Low Cut Connie. Between Uosikkinen, Weiner and Harner – to say nothing of local session players such as Cliff Hillis, Matt Cappy, Kenny Aaronson, Jay Davidson and Mike Hood – there’s a lot of Philly blood, sweat and tears in that track. Uosikkinen, Weiner and the rest of In The Pocket will celebrate the release of ‘Sally Sayin Somethin’ on Sept. 28 at the Ardmore Music Hall. Make it a night. Bring your dancing shoes.
Dejhha – ‘Us’
Recently signed to Atlantic and arriving after “the viral rap battle heard around the world” on The Take Over Files at YouTube, North Philadelphia’s mistress of fun, compact freestyle rap – 18-year-old Dejhha – just dropped her coolest banger to date, ‘Us.’ Produced by DougieOnTheBeat, Dejhha’s newest single has an irresistibly hummable melody and an anthemic set of bars such as “They don’t get litty, get pretty like us,” guaranteed to keep you shouting ‘Us’ from now through late October.
