Max's Music Mondays with Highnoon and SuperJazzClub
Good news, I found more songs and I think you'll like them.
Wow, what a week!!! Last week I was in the thick of it. My (still-lingering :/) leg injury putting a damper on things, pushing myself to appreciate what I have when I have it, because otherwise, what’s the point?
And I’m glad that was the mindset I was striving for. Because this week… I enjoyed every moment. If I didn’t already show you, which I probably did because I showed it to everyone in the world, I got a great shoutout from one of my favorite music curators, Carla - https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdkdRuNA/
A simple shoutout but drove a lot of new people my way, getting the inspiration flowing for another week (and then some). At MMM’s core, the reason I do this and show up tail between my legs asking to plz share the playlist and newsletter every week is pretty simple. I love all these songs and just want more people to hear them and this week Carla blessed us with a lot of new people who want to listen!!! And it means the dang world coming from her. All of her playlists are incredible. Specific and intentional playlists, making meaningful impact for these artists. What I aspire to do!
So add that joy on top of the excitement I already had for these two songs, and folks, we’re in for a good week!! I hope you enjoy these two songs. They’ve held my attention and earned my admiration, and I hope they can do the same for you.
This Week’s Songs
Please please follow along here ^^ for this week’s and every week’s songs. They’re all really good I swear!!! <3 Please like and enjoy and send to someone you like and enjoy!!
Highnoon - Back to You
Grateful to another one of my favorite playlists, Jordan’s Top 10 of the Week, for this one. Love at first listen, I’ve been coming back to this one endlessly already. Those first strums on guitar, the low end intimate, those top notes floating out forever. It has me entranced. And if that wasn’t enough, this charming recycling lyric delivered so well as it takes an unexpected route across the beat. When the drums show up, it ties everything together, the groove making it all make sense. It’s a great opening verse, graciously sending us to a wonderful ‘oooh’ moment. The vocals here are stunning, which I don’t have to say, because it is obvious. But they deserve the compliment anyways. It’s such a comforting moment - the lead vocal sliding in and out of each note with a dash of Caroline Polachek, that gentle harmony patiently waiting to support the moment each run lands. The combo feeling special over the full band. Great songwriting continues in the second verse, the gorgeous “Every morning peeling back the rind / Tryna like whatever me I find”. Our singer trying to navigate changing circumstances and their own personal change. Before ya know it we’re back to the oooh’s and I am smiling and swaying in the dang sun. Brining a calm sense of confidence that everything is going to be ok, even through choppy waters. As we cross two mins, the song unveils a delightful surprise. A twinkle of a turnaround, a friendly four notes to send us rocketing onwards. Vocals soaring as the band hits their fullest size and sound. The bass really making its mark for me here too. In this moment, Highnoon’s lead vocalist, Kennedy Freeman, just belting it out, declaring some hard truths. Hard to hear, hard to realize, hard to say. It’s messy and it’s confusing but it’s all honest and I love the emotional punch of it all. As we settle back in, nothing gets any easier… feeling like this person is the only one but knowing it’s time to keep moving. And yet, even amidst all this internal struggle, the band still feels light. The song, and all its pieces floating through it, basking in the sunlight. A tough subject to grapple with but somehow I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy the whole way through. It’s a tasteful fade, this moment extending out for who knows how long. As it closes it is full and beautiful, and makes me appreciate the simple start that much more. Or maybe I’m just making up excuses to hit play on this again and again and again.
Follow Highnoon on IG / Spotify
SuperJazzClub - Jungle
SuperJazzClub is pretty clear in their IG bio, “Please Do Not Tell Your Friends About Us”. Which is really hard because that’s kind of my whole deal… and their music is so good. So the only workaround is right now, as much as it hurts to say, I refuse to be any of your friends (but also as soon as you’re done reading this, I pledge to be your friend again, no hard feelings please). I have to share this one, it’s such a treat. An unassuming intro, vocals popping over warm chords. That first vocal feeling so personal and warm, the whispers pulling me in deeper with ever line. Crossing thirty seconds it starts to grow, more singers helping shape the song, its groove slowly appearing. And when it appears, it’s an undeniable groove that falls right into place. The percussion is bright and direct, framing these vocals so well. Meanwhile that deep bass and the synth’s quick runs keep the whole thing feeling mysterious, almost devious. And it’s in this mystery that SJC thrives, a collective of some incredible Ghanaian artists. The song’s form leaves plenty of space for each to step in and shine, its mystery allowing these members to come and go, tagging in for each other from moment to moment. The chorus itself is simple and memorable, and oh look I am singing along almost instantly. I keep finding it stuck in my head (and grateful that it is). Things mellow, adding a smooth set of keys under this new verse. Another voice bringing a fun contrast to the chorus, offering their great tone too. The way they almost withhold each lyric in that “Lullabye/a bunch of lies” keeps me on edge and keeps the song full of life. From there, things swell back up, a new flow and approach to the moment. Hammering home their clear message - don’t trust anything They are saying, whoever this They is. And you better believe I’m taking SJC’s word for it, happy to trust anyone making something this beautiful. It falls naturally into the chorus again, still simple, this time that synth, slowly rising and falling to meet the bass, catches my ear. It almost has a Flume-like texture, really filling out the whole arrangement. There’s some added percussion here too, a drum fill that grounds the track back in this moment. The band hands things off to another vocalist, completely unique from anything we’ve heard yet, it’s a captivating end. And live it feels even more special. Just such a rich collection of voices and artists blending so well as a group, I can’t stop listening!!!
Follow SuperJazzClub on IG / Spotify
Thanks for a fun week, I hope you enjoy these two songs and artists! And just to follow up on the whole me being your friend, just don’t tell SuperJazzClub ok? I don’t want them upset with me and also do want to be your friend.
Anyways, still riding the high of my tiktok shoutout, so I hate to get greedy. Buuuuuut if you enjoy MMM please share it with your friends, boss, parents, barista, favorite NBA player Jimmy Butler, or whomever else you think might enjoy. I sincerely appreciate it.
With love,
Max
Congrats on the shoutout!