underscores’s “Unlimited Love” Showcases Her Sonic Evolution

Madonna, Britney Spears, SOPHIE, and Charli xcx are just a few of the influences that informed underscores' latest album U. Some of those influences I hear clearly, like on "Innuendo" where her breathy gasps, which act more like a percussive device, feel super "Toxic"-coded. Others are more ambiently dispersed, only detected through underscores' technical skill or melodic instincts.

On her new song "Unlimited Love," a scrapped cut from U, however, her devotion to her musical heroes is right there, out in the open. The track opens on what sounds like a sample from Madonna's "Vogue" before diving into the electronic depths of metallic clashes and walloping smacks—chaos that could live right alongside SOPHIE's "Ponyboy." It is a scintillating and textural delight and one of the boldest and most expansive examples of underscores' greatest talent: taking sounds that are familiar and twisting them into completely new musical sentences.

Marie Davidson Shares Two Poetic Excerpts from ‘Traveler’s Faith’

As anticipation builds for the September 1 release of Traveler’s Faith, electronic artist Marie Davidson is providing fans with a unique look into her creative process by sharing two evocative poems from the collection. These pieces, titled “SAUL & THE COFFEE MACHINE” and “YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT,” highlight the intimate, observational style that defines her latest work.

SAUL & THE COFFEE MACHINE

We gathered
First to scan our bags
And when that was done
Around the coffee machine

The Starbucks joint
Was under repair
Good for them
I thought to myself

The man stood there
Cooler than anything you’d ever seen
My husband
Already knew who he was

Anyhow
We all gathered
Around what we thought
Was the only machine

As he struggled
To tap his phone
He mentioned a Costa
Just down the hall

I said great
Let’s do it then
He said no
We don’t do that one

I said oh no
Already getting it
He said oh yeah
They are Zionists

I yelled through the hall
In my Quebec French
Pierre! Wait!
I’ve got bad news

So the 5 of us
Drank shitty coffee
Before getting
On the Eurostar

YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT

I saw you had seen
A picture of my ass
When all I really wanted
Was you to hear about the poems
The shape of a heart
Combined with your name
Seal of approval
Granted by a star
I must admit
It felt a bit silly
To think that maybe
It could lead you to the poems
Cuz if we get
To the bottom of it
I couldn’t help thinking
That you’d like my poetry

The Sound Chalk Makes: Sculpting Dance Music from Found Sound

Between a bedroom studio in London and the high-energy warehouse parties of his youth in Mumbai, 20-year-old producer Kabir Parekh—better known as the sound chalk makes—is crafting a unique space in the electronic music landscape. His approach is rooted in a philosophy of shared human experience, viewing his work not just as a collection of tracks, but as a mirror for the collective lives of his listeners.

“I fundamentally believe that all of us live the same life,” Parekh explains. “And when you’re living the same life, whatever experience you have is essentially somebody else’s experience in a mirror.”

The Art of Sonic Assemblage

Parekh’s production process is deeply tactile. He describes his method as “sonic assemblage,” a technique borrowed from the visual arts where found objects are repurposed into a cohesive sculpture. “I have however many samples just saved on my laptop, random shit on my hard drive, that it’s a mix-and-match kind of thing,” he says. “It’s like weaving a strip onto a carpet. You’re to weave this pattern, and you’re borrowing threads from every single place you can find them.”

This method allows him to connect disparate influences, from the traditional Indian music he heard growing up in Mumbai to the modern indie-tronica wave currently sweeping the algorithms. His February 2026 EP Re: serves as a testament to this, blending infectious, danceable bridges with devastatingly honest lyrical content.

Finding Honesty in Discomfort

For Parekh, the creative process is rarely about comfort. Instead, he leans into the vulnerability required to be truly honest about his life, whether he is writing about the bittersweet nature of home or the complexities of modern relationships. “There’s the most comfort for me in trying to be the most myself I can be, and that in itself is an uncomfortable process,” he notes.

This commitment to authenticity is what propelled his single “Manmade Manmaid” to viral success. By focusing on the raw, unfiltered reality of his own experiences, he has managed to resonate with a generation of listeners who are also navigating the rush of a rapidly changing world. As he continues to evolve, both through his own releases and his upcoming remix projects for artists like Tommy Fleece and Veronica Everheart, the sound chalk makes remains a vital voice in the future of electronic music.

Wargasm Sign to Hopeless Records and Share Frenetic New Single ‘Get Down’

The electronic-rock duo Wargasm have officially announced their signing to Hopeless Records, signaling an exciting new chapter for the band. To celebrate the partnership, they have shared their latest single, ‘Get Down’—a track that perfectly encapsulates their signature blend of aggressive energy and infectious electronic production.

This release marks the first offering from the duo, comprised of Milkie Way and Sam Matlock, under their new label home. It follows their previous single, the dystopian-themed ‘Small World Syndrome’, which arrived in July of last year. ‘Get Down’ leans heavily into the band’s penchant for pulsing, hyperactive electronic beats, layered with distorted guitars and a massive, anthemic chorus. According to the band, the track explores complex themes of isolation, mortality, and the human desire for escapism.

Check out the official audio for ‘Get Down’ below:

In addition to the new music, the duo is preparing for a busy autumn. They are set to support Scene Queen on a North American tour throughout September and October, bringing their high-octane live show to stages across the continent.

The band’s momentum continues to build following their 2023 debut album, ‘Venom’, which featured a notable collaboration with Fred Durst on ‘Bang Ya Head’. Their recent output, including the collaborative track ‘Cannibal’ with Pendulum and the 2024 single ‘70% Dead’ featuring Corey Taylor, has solidified their reputation as one of the most dynamic acts in the modern rock scene.

Arca’s ‘XXXXX’ is an Ecstatic Return to Mixtape-Era Form

Arca’s first album in five years is both a pivot and a return. In 2020, she expanded her world-building into epic, multi-part terrain with her KICK pentalogy. Those albums unfurled with lullaby-like compositional works, strobe-lit reggaeton, noise music, ambient, and more. The series undoubtedly spelled a new era of ambition for Arca, but its epic scope meant that it didn’t necessarily have the whirlwind momentum of her earlier mixtapes, namely 2013’s &&&&&, which remains a definitive project in her discography.

On her latest album, XXXXX, out today, Arca straddles both cinematic atmosphere and pure noise, creating an environment and ethos that is equal parts organic, bloodied, and machine. Songs like “Willow” see her pairing a Clams Casino-like ambiance with an 8-bit counterpoint, an electric fuzz floating through a misty wind. My favorite track, “Fxck,” features glittering percussion and epic bass stabs, its neat compassion informed by a classic pop progression. On it she sings, “Kill the father,” a line that takes on epic resonance as the song builds into a full pop-inflected symphony, crushing patriarchy and power with bass and drums.

A Study in Multi-Polarity

Overall, the album is less a journey than a study in multi-polarity, a psychedelic tumble through sounds, genres, and expression. The string-laden “Finisher” recalls her magisterial work on Björk’s Vulnicura. The spacious and huge “Throb” drowns the listener in dense layers of reverb. “Everything”—glitchy, breathing, gasping—sounds like a sonic birth, a slow-moving becoming as its stutters slow into phrases. Album closer, “Sueño,” picks up the glitched pants of “Throb” and stretches it into a sustained scream.

In 2013, Arca explored similar varied landscapes on &&&&&. There were songs, like “Mother,” that sounded like a detuned piano revelry in the vein of Aphex Twin. There was the chopped, screwed, and melted dance piece “Pinch,” and the serene, quasi-IDM of “Obelisk.” The unpredictability and sense of intuition that haunted &&&&& made it a thrilling, often surprising listen, and showed a younger me how one artist could display their multitudes without being flashy or frenzied, but bold.

After five years of relative musical quiet, XXXXX comes back as a nimble and varied show of force from Arca, less a total musical world than a piece of free expression. There’s an energy and ease to it. An X-factor, if you will. I’m glad to have Arca back releasing solo albums in any way, but especially like this.

Boy Harsher Announces New Album ‘GET MEAN’

Boy Harsher have announced their major label debut GET MEAN (via Atlantic). The darkwave duo composed of Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller have also shared their new song “Hard Beat” alongside a self-directed music video. The song continues to explore the group’s minimalist, bouncing sound, juxtaposing a bleary danceability with an industrial sonic palette. The Gregg Araki-esque video shows a “deviant” couple speeding down a highway as a series of surreal symbols and characters enter the frame.

The duo had previously released their up-tempo single “Jeans,” which will also be on the forthcoming record. Notably, the new album announcement comes alongside further details about the duo’s arduous past few years. Having formed and grown the band as a couple, Matthews and Muller broke off their romantic partnership in early 2024, putting the future of Boy Harsher in question. Following a period of travel and isolation from Matthews, the new record began to take shape. Subsequently, the duo were able to complete the next chapter in their ever-expanding visual and sonic world with GET MEAN, recorded in eight locations across the U.S., Mexico, and Italy.

Release Details and Album Art

GET MEAN will be released on September 18. The album is currently available for pre-order and pre-save. The tracklist features 12 songs, including “Hard Beat” and “Jeans.”

Tour Information

Boy Harsher will be supporting the release of GET MEAN with a headlining fall tour that begins on September 25 in Hudson, New York and concludes in November at New York City’s Knock Down Center. The duo will be supported by Choir Boy, Evanora Unlimited, True Blue, and Kassie Krut on select dates.

Arca Announces New Album ‘XXXXX:’ Everything We Know So Far

Arca is officially returning with her first studio album in five years. Today, July 20, the pioneering Venezuelan-born artist, DJ, producer, and vocalist has shared key details about her ambitious forthcoming era, which includes a livestream experience and an expansion of her ever-evolving sonic and visual world. The news comes on the heels of a busy, collaborative period in the artist’s work, having produced remixes for Addison Rae, Robyn, and Hikaru Utada, as well as contributing production to Madonna’s CONFESSIONS II.

Here is everything we know about Arca’s new album so far.

What is Arca’s new album titled?

Arca’s new album is titled XXXXX. The name serves as a deliberate nod to past mixtapes, also named after four repeating symbols: 2020’s @@@@@ and 2013’s seminal &&&&&—both of which are widely considered among her most experimental and audacious works.

When is XXXXX being released?

XXXXX is scheduled for release on July 31. It is currently available for pre-save.

What is Arca’s Diva.Experimental livestream?

Alongside the album announcement, Arca has shared details for a forthcoming livestream titled “Diva.Experimental.” The two-hour performance will stream on July 23 live from Barcelona on Twitch and YouTube at 9:30 p.m. CEST. A press release notes that the livestream will provide a window into the world of the album and feature unreleased tracks across seven distinct locations. The visual is directed by German photographer Daniel Sannwald, who previously photographed the cover to Rosalía’s MOTOMAMI and directed music videos for Billie Eilish, Kali Uchis, and M.I.A. It was styled by artist Akeem Smith, known for his work with Hood By Air.

XXXXX album art:

Album Artwork by Kaan Ulgener.

XXXXX tracklist:

1. No End
2. Willow
3. Eidolon
4. Heart
5. Syncope
6. Raver
7. Cinch
8. Fxck
9. Finisher
10. Taconeando
11. Futurality
12. Grip
13. Enraptured
14. Throb
15. Everything
16. Sueño

AlphaTheta’s New XDJ-AN Revolutionizes Music Streaming for DJs

AlphaTheta has introduced a new all-in-one DJ system, the XDJ-AN, which prioritizes seamless integration over mere hardware specifications. In an era where a DJ’s library is often fragmented across various platforms, the XDJ-AN supports music streaming now by consolidating diverse sources into a single, cohesive setup.

The system features built-in Wi-Fi, providing direct access to Apple Music, Beatport Streaming, and TIDAL. By utilizing a simple QR code login, DJs can search for and load tracks instantly, bypassing the need to route audio through a laptop. This functionality addresses the modern reality of music discovery, which frequently spans group chats, cloud drives, and various streaming platforms.

Beyond its streaming capabilities, the XDJ-AN includes an intuitive Info Search feature that suggests tracks related to the artist or album currently playing. For those deeply embedded in the rekordbox ecosystem, the device allows for library management via Dropbox or Google Drive, enabling users to edit playlists, add Hot Cues, and sync changes directly from the touchscreen.

The hardware design remains familiar to those accustomed to industry-standard club equipment, featuring a seven-inch screen, a two-channel mixer, and compact jog wheels. This design choice ensures that professionals can transition to the new system without a steep learning curve.

Furthermore, the XDJ-AN is the company’s first all-in-one system capable of running directly with mobile DJ apps, including rekordbox for iOS and djay for iOS. It also maintains compatibility with laptops running Serato DJ or rekordbox. Positioned as an accessible alternative to expensive club setups, the XDJ-AN offers a professional-grade experience for DJs looking to upgrade their performance capabilities.

Octo Octa Channels the Ecstatic Energy of ’90s Chicago Radio

A Sonic Journey Through Chicago Radio

Even though Octo Octa (Maya Bouldry-Morrison) recorded her latest FADER Mix within the quiet confines of her New Hampshire cabin, the set vibrates with the frenetic, high-octane energy of 1990s Chicago radio. The globally renowned producer cites the legendary B96 street mixes—often shared with her by her partner in life and creativity, Eris Drew—as the primary inspiration for this collection. “The Street mix is a ‘Saturday night dance party’ mix that the hosts put together,” Bouldry-Morrison explains. “It has lots of radio versions, tons of quick mixing from one track to another, and hard cuts that would make me yell with delight.”

That ecstatic energy is a hallmark of Bouldry-Morrison’s expansive practice. As a co-founder of T4T LUV NRG, she has helped cultivate a label and party series that serves as a beacon for dance floor-based healing. Her commitment to vinyl is not merely aesthetic; it is a physical, hand-guided discipline that allows her to connect deeply with her audiences. Her work remains central to the global queer and trans dance community, a space she notes is increasingly making room for itself.

The Evolution of a Vinyl Artist

Reflecting on her journey, Bouldry-Morrison recalls her early days as a teenager with Numark belt-drive turntables and a Korg Electribe. While she initially struggled to source 12-inch singles in her hometown, her move to Brooklyn in 2010 provided the access she needed to refine her craft. Her first major DJ experiences in venues like Bossa Nova Civic Club and a memorable 2013 set at Melbourne’s Mercat solidified her path. Today, she remains a staunch advocate for the art of vinyl mixing, encouraging a new generation of DJs to master the medium.

Looking toward the future, Bouldry-Morrison finds hope in the growing number of young, queer DJs who are eager to learn the technical nuances of playing records. For her, the creative process is about community and shared history. Whether she is performing at a residency like “Frendzone” or recording in her lofted studio overlooking the forest, her music remains a testament to the power of connection and the enduring legacy of the sounds that shaped her.

Ableton Empowers Producers with New Extensions SDK

Ableton is fundamentally changing how users interact with its flagship software, Live. On June 2, 2026, the Berlin-based company officially launched the public beta of its Extensions SDK, a powerful, free JavaScript toolkit designed to empower producers to build their own custom add-ons for Ableton Live Suite.

This development marks a significant shift in the platform’s ecosystem. Rather than waiting for official updates to introduce specific features, producers can now engineer their own solutions to meet their unique creative needs. By leveraging JavaScript and familiar web technologies, the SDK aims to be accessible to a wide range of users, from professional developers to technically curious artists.

Customizing the Live Experience

Extensions operate directly within the Live environment and are easily accessible via a right-click menu within a Set. Once active, these tools gain the capability to read and manipulate various elements of a project, including tracks, clips, parameters, and automation data. This opens the door for a variety of utility-focused applications, such as tools that automate session cleanup, color-code tracks, analyze complex arrangements, or even bridge the gap between Live and external services.

Ableton views this beta as a foundational step. As the company noted in its announcement, the goal is to provide tools that help producers move faster, or in some cases, “slow you down in just the right way” to encourage experimentation.

Expanding Beyond Max for Live

While deep customization in Ableton has traditionally been the domain of Max for Live, the Extensions SDK offers a new, more approachable pathway for shaping the software. By utilizing standard web technologies, Ableton is lowering the barrier to entry for those looking to build bespoke workflows.

Early examples of these extensions range from the practical to the playful. Tools like RNMR, created by Stéphane Roulliere, allow for automated clip renaming and versioning, while Federico Pepe’s Bird Game gamifies MIDI note generation. Other notable examples include Oli Larkin’s PaulStretch for Live, which brings extreme time-stretching capabilities to the DAW, and Tom Cameron’s Photo MIDI, which converts images into MIDI data.

Getting Started with the Beta

The Extensions SDK is available as a free download for Live 12 Suite users, who can access the beta by downloading version 12.4.5. While the SDK allows for the creation of unofficial tools that Ableton has not reviewed, the company emphasizes that users should install third-party extensions at their own risk.

To foster community growth, Ableton has established a dedicated Discord space where users can share, test, and collaborate on their creations. Early examples and documentation are currently available through the Explore section of the official Extensions page.

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