This September was rich with highly anticipated releases, spanning from Kacey Musgraves’ post-breakup album, “star-crossed,” to Lil Nas X’s debut full-length release, “MONTERO.” Interested in finding a new indie-rock band to obsess over? Or maybe just need to hear some godly vocal riffs? Whether it’s new releases from musicians you know or an artist completely new to you, here’s what you might’ve missed this September.  

“A Beginner’s Mind” — Sufjan Stevens and Angelo de Augustine

Sufjan Stevens has had quite a few songs with multiple millions of streams — “To Be Alone With You” was always a favorite of mine. You may recognize him from his multiple tracks on the soundtrack for the film “Call Me by Your Name,” specifically for the song “Mystery of Love.” “A Beginner’s Mind” is a collaborative project between Stevens and indie-folk artist Angelo de Augustine. The opening track, “Reach Out,” is reminiscent of a vibe that can be described as “Fantastic Mr. Fox”-esque: something about it feels so bright but soothing. “Olympus” is one of my favorites from the album; I love the combination of intricate finger-picking style that Stevens’ music often features with the echo of the line “there’s no place like home” for much of the song. An honorable mention is “Fictional California,” which feels as if 72 degrees and sunny was a song. 

“In The Meantime” — Alessia Cara

You may remember Alessia Cara from some viral tracks off of her 2015 album, “Know-It-All: Scars To Your Beautiful” and “Here” were on repeat when I was in high school, but that might have just been because I was feeling angsty and misunderstood. Cara’s newest release, “In The Meantime,” is a full-length album with something for everyone. “Box In The Ocean” has incredible lyricism describing Cara’s tendency to internalize her struggles, but it’s simultaneously perfect for a daytime drive. “I Miss You, Don’t Call Me” perfectly illustrates the melancholic feeling of losing a person you want to stay gone; if you loved Olivia Rodrigo’s “SOUR”, you’d love this track. Cara is just asking for a quick break from the fast pace of reality with her track “Sweet Dream”. Every track on this album is incredibly well-written and perfectly produced — not to mention there’s a song for every person and every mood. 

“Dawn” — Yebba

Yebba’s talent has not been lost on the music scene: released in 2017, her single “Evergreen” has racked up more than 23 million streams on Spotify alone. Known for her incomparable vocal talent and jazzy chord progressions, Yebba is no stranger to creating heart-wrenchingly beautiful songs. Prior to the release of her full-length album, “Dawn,” Yebba has been featured on tracks from Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and Drake. “Distance,” the most streamed track so far off of “Dawn” at 11 million streams on Spotify, can be best described as intimate and cozy. Yebba’s voice sounds delightfully soft, but still, she manages to body some rather difficult riffs. My favorite from the release, “Stand,” has a genuinely addictive melody and incorporates influences from folk and soul. 

“Rotten Tomatoes” — Colony House

This one may be a bit biased because I’ve been following Colony House since they released their debut album, “When I Was Younger,” in 2014. They’ve been releasing consistently incredible music since then, with “You Know It” going viral on TikTok last year. Their most recent release, “Rotten Tomatoes,” is a five-track EP. I’ve been obsessed with “Lights On” since the EP came out: it feels mischievous and daring in the lyrics and very scream-able in the car — I tested it myself to make sure. I also love “Natural,” primarily because it makes me want to buy a pair of aviators but also because the indie-rock genre in general deserves some happy love songs. Colony House could single-handedly get me excited for the return of live music because everything they release makes me crave being in the audience of a concert again. 

“Dandelion” — The Greeting Committee

I discovered The Greeting Committee a few years ago through their song “Hands Down” hooking me with a tambourine and keeping me around with a great bass line. “Dandelion” is their second full-length release, already having hundreds of thousands of streams. The most popular song so far, “Can I Leave Me Too?” reads like an anthem for people with codependent tendencies. The lyrics describe how the protagonist of the song is scared of being left: “if you leave me, can I leave me too?” My favorite track from the album, “How Long?” starts off very airy and abruptly adds distorted electric guitar — which, in my opinion, is exactly what it needed. As a chronic overthinker, it really hits home singing this song in the car when I get to the line “all I do is second guess.”