🐦✈️ The Next Wave

Your weekly dose of music discovery from Pigeons & Planes has landed. [Pigeons Planes ](#) In the music world of 2020 there is no shortage of content, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to get context. We're seeing chart-topping songs birthed from 15-second social media clips and a shift away from long-form writing and meaningful substance around artists and what they stand for. It's not all bad—plenty of great acts have figured out how to take advantage of new platforms and adapt to the times. But we do miss the storytelling that used to be more of a priority, and that's what we're focusing on with our video series [Making It](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UBMUT_aHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTEzOGVjM2RjY2EtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9YmI2Mjk3OTBhYmJhMzQwJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS9wbGF5bGlzdCUzRmxpc3QlM0RQTGFRaVlBUWJ5clRkQmxUX0VfMm9lenFlZVBManhpTE1NJTI2dXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzU3ODI2VwNzcGNCCgAhCmipXw6SVEJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). We're in the middle of a new season now, and we've got a few more episodes on the way featuring some rising artists that we're really excited about. [Check it out on YouTube](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UBMkT_aHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTEzOGVjM2RjY2EtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9YmI2Mjk3OTBhYmJhMzQwJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS9wbGF5bGlzdCUzRmxpc3QlM0RQTGFRaVlBUWJ5clRkQmxUX0VfMm9lenFlZVBManhpTE1NJTI2dXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzU3ODI2VwNzcGNCCgAhCmipXw6SVEJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). [Image](#) [Image](#) Smino - “Donny Outhaway” Smino doesn't miss. On his latest song "Donny Outhaway," Smino weaves through lines about love, confidence, and politics, and he does it all effortlessly, pouring out ideas through a delivery that flows like conversation. The production hits like a classic soul sample, but as Smino points out, it's not—it's just "[good ol Phoelix.](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UBNUTnaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTEzOGVjM2RjY2EtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9YmI2Mjk3OTBhYmJhMzQwJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL3NtaW5vL3N0YXR1cy8xMzIyMzUyMjkzNTkzNzk2NjEwJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzU3ODI2VwNzcGNCCgAhCmipXw6SVEJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)" Smino's been one of the most consistent artists since 2015, and we've heard plenty of weak imitations over the years. Meanwhile, Smino is out here being the perfect version of Smino every time. That's the advantage of an artist who's being themselves—it all sounds so natural. [LISTEN NOW](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UBNkTPaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTEzOGVjM2RjY2EtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9YmI2Mjk3OTBhYmJhMzQwJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3lvdXR1LmJlL05KaUpseTZsZHBJJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzU3ODI2VwNzcGNCCgAhCmipXw6SVEJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) [Image](#) Bennett Coast Recommended If You Like: Dominic Fike, Omar Apollo, Kevin Abstract Bennett Coast makes music straight out of a coming-of-age movie. Now based in LA, the 19-year-old artist grew up in the small town of Danville, California. At age 7, he picked up a camera and fell in love with filmmaking. Bennett wanted to make music videos, but with few artists in his town he took the DIY route, deciding to make his own music so he could film his own videos. It didn’t take long before he fell in love with making music, too. The result was 2019’s Brookside EP, which he describes as, “a goodbye to my hometown and the places I grew up in.” After film school in LA was cut short by the pandemic, he moved back home and released fan-favorite “Moonboy,” a dreamy indie rock cut filled to the brim with hazy guitar riffs and spacey vocals. What really makes the song special, though, is the music video that accompanies it—directed, shot and edited entirely by Bennett Coast during quarantine. Since “Moonboy,” he has dropped out of film school and is focusing his energy entirely on music and other creative projects. Bennett Coast is just getting started, but the pieces are falling into place. [LISTEN TO: "Sunsick"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UBOUTPaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTEzOGVjM2RjY2EtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9YmI2Mjk3OTBhYmJhMzQwJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3lvdXR1LmJlLzJxNjhiQjJvZFYwJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzU3ODI2VwNzcGNCCgAhCmipXw6SVEJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) Photo by @badboyrory LOWERLIPDRIP Recommended If You Like: JPEGMAFIA, Ratking, Danny Brown Chicago-based duo LOWERLIPDRIP has been releasing their songs in packs of two since their debut in 2019, jumping between sounds and approaches, sometimes multiple times in the course of one track. 19-year-old MC Dew Haydn and 22-year-old rapper/producer blackrobeBLACKROBES are a formidable duo, equally at home rapping over sample-driven hip-hop beats or finding pockets in experimental, electronic production ("Auto Save"). "We met through just seeing each other a lot at DIY /underground shows in Chicago. Then we eventually linked up and started really working together," LOWERLIPDRIP explains. The duo tackles topics like identity, mental health, the internet, and injustice head on, and it feels natural throughout—the honest expressions of two young people growing up online and under pressure. "V [the latest release of "FLAWLESS" and "SCANDALOUS"] is a concise statement on the duality of man and the power of self-affirmation. We want our fans to be empowered by how they look instead of burdened so that they don’t look to material objects and false ideals for validation. Being yourself is always the most fashionable choice,” LOWERLIPDRIP says. It's an inspiring message, and the level of artistry on display is inspiring too, especially in the "FLAWLESS" video. [LISTEN TO: “FLAWLESS”](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UCMTFEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0xMzhlYzNkY2NhLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWJiNjI5NzkwYWJiYTM0MCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9ld01yRWYwbWR6VSUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NzgyNlcDc3BjQgoAIQpoqV8OklRCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Image](#) [Image](#) Ambar Lucid Dominican/Mexican-American singer Ambar Lucid emerged in 2018 with stunning folk/indie rock songs like “Eyes” and “A letter to my younger self.” With her rich, timeless voice and heartfelt lyrics in English and Spanish, it was clear immediately that she had something special. That early potential was realized on her debut album Garden of Lucid, released this year. Here are three songs to get you started if you're not already an Ambar Lucid fan. ["Eyes"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UCMTRE_Gh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0xMzhlYzNkY2NhLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWJiNjI5NzkwYWJiYTM0MCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2glM0Z2JTNELTA2STdCY3phX1ElMjZhYl9jaGFubmVsJTNEQW1iYXJMdWNpZCUyNnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NzgyNlcDc3BjQgoAIQpoqV8OklRCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) ["Garden"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UCMTVEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0xMzhlYzNkY2NhLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWJiNjI5NzkwYWJiYTM0MCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9VakstTVBENHZKOCUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NzgyNlcDc3BjQgoAIQpoqV8OklRCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) ["Universe"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhi-0JP0UCMTZEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0xMzhlYzNkY2NhLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWJiNjI5NzkwYWJiYTM0MCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9mZFp2RzlvU2ZVWSUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NzgyNlcDc3BjQgoAIQpoqV8OklRCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Image](#) [Image](#) The P&P playlist is updated with songs from BENEE, SAINt JHN, and Wizkid, alongside some of our favorite rising artists across all genres. The Pigeons & Planes playlist is updated constantly, with an emphasis on music discovery and human curation, not algorithms. 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