• @mirandagoodwont
• Riley H-P

The new music is rolling in faster than I can keep up with. Here are even more new local releases you'll want to get your hands on.

Riley H-P, i gave up on imagination: Many of us probably remember that point in life when using one's imagination became a little tougher. You stopped playing with toys, the stories you made up in your head were no longer as vivid. I remember it almost like a switch being flipped—suddenly playing with Barbies just wasn't fun anymore. Local singer/songwriter Riley H-P explores these feelings on his new EP i gave up on imagination. "As a kid, imagination came easy—entire worlds built in seconds, colors brighter, everything bigger," he says of the EP. "But growing up, it fades. It gets taken from us, or maybe it just gets harder to reach. Life flattens out, and suddenly, the impossible doesn't seem possible anymore." This EP is Riley chasing that feeling and trying to get it back, as elusive as it is. The alt/pop you'll find on this collection of songs is both upbeat and slow; amusing and melancholy; thought-provoking but easy to get lost in. If you've felt that pull to get some of that childlike wonder back in your life, this music will speak to you.

Electric Outlaws, Brain Eating Amoeba: Brand-new band Electric Outlaws are hitting the ground running with their first release being a full-length album. Brain Eating Amoeba is a delightful mixture of '80s-inspired electronic sound with a modern sensibility. While the subject matter here isn't as serious as your Depeche Modes or New Orders, its whacky and otherworldly lyrics will make for an insanely fun night. "It lies in wait / It needs a home / There the bug will roam / Boys took the risk / That soak did serve / Bad bug did penetrate / The olfactory nerve," they sing on "BEA." These lyrics and singing style give off "Monster Mash" vibes, and would be so fun to have on at a party. Also, these lyrics are definitely giving Baldur's Gate III vibes (shout out to the gamers). If you're needing top-notch electronic sound with some fun and whacky themes, check out Brain Eating Amoeba.

The/Theys, Corduroy Fantasy: You don't see too many improv bands around, so when you find one, you gotta jump on that train. Psychedelic/soul/funk/jazz/rock group The/Theys is a group that's bonded over their shared love of music, fueling their creative process, resulting in a unique and authentic style. As we get closer to May, we get closer to The/They's debut album release—Corduroy Fantasy is a live album featuring improvised jams from 2023, according to the band's website. "No talk of what key we were in, what genre we were about to play, what 'vibe' to look for," they said. "Just start playing and see what happens. We would hit record, and play. That's been our motto for a long time and it's led us down some interesting paths and opened up a lot of opportunities having a 'no one knows' mentality about the whole process." Watching/listening to jam bands come up with something on the fly is insane, awesome and incredibly entertaining. The/Theys do a great job of coming together and mixing the aforementioned genres into something uniquely theirs. If you want to listen to a jam band create some awesome musical fusion, check out Corduroy Fantasy when it drops this Friday, May 2.

Sean Marshall, "Begging For a Change": Summer is a great time to get out and catch your favorite locals at festivals. Singer/songwriter Sean Marshall was born and raised outside of New York and has lived at the Jersey Shore, in the Midwest and now hangs out with us here in SLC. His sound is a delightful blend of classic folk, indie rock and country. His catalog is full of cozy and contemplative songs to comfort and soothe you. His new single "Begging For a Change" offers much of the same, with a tinge of sadness this time around. This track is all about that relationship that isn't quite working, but there's still a hope that it can. Marshall's lulling voice will pull you in, and the beautiful acoustic instrumentation, with a slide guitar that fades in and out, will immerse you in the folk/country vibes Marshall excels at delivering. "Begging For a Change" comes out this Friday, May 2, and you'll be able to hear it live for yourself at the Utah Arts Festival this June in SLC. There will be tons of great local talent there, so don't skip out on the festival as a whole, and definitely stop by to see Marshall while you're there.

We're creeping up on the halfway mark of 2025, and there's been so much incredible local music released. It will be exciting to see what the rest of the year has in store for the local scene.