The April 2024 New Music Mix Tape can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day! Welcome to the April 2024 New Music Mix Tape. I’m your host, DJ Ponyboy, and I. AM. STOKED. for all the great new music this month.
We have a fantastic lineup of tunes for you today. Rock, rap, country, pop, it’s all here. I consider these twenty hand-curated songs to be the best 5% of new music on the Spotify New Music Friday playlists for the month of April 2024.
Listen to all these songs and I dare you to tell me there is no good new music! Comment lines are open at MixTapeJourney.com and on our Facebook page.
Active since 2017, Amber Mark is an American singer and songwriter whose unique sound is influenced by hip-hop, R&B, soul, and bossa nova.
Her new release “Comin’ Around Again” is a sultry pop song with a definite 1990’s R&B/pop vibe and I am lovin’ it.
I’m DJ Ponyboy and this is Amber Mark on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
“Boy I ain’t got high hopes but damn you’re kinda fine though, so let’s see where the night goes.” Yes, ma’am! Amber Mark starting off the New Music Mix Tape for April 2024.
Earl Simmons was an influential American rapper and actor known professionally as DMX, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 50 from complications after a suspected drug overdose.
Five Finger Death Punch, formed in 2005, is an American heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their most recent album was 2022’s AfterLife.
Last month, Five Finger Death Punch released the digital deluxe version of AfterLife, featuring four new bonus tracks, including this collab with the late DMX. Here is “This Is the Way” on KMTJ-DB Denver.
That was the late DMX collaborating with Five Finger Death Punch; they (sans DMX) will be at Ball Arena August 22.
Also performing at Ball Arena – Friday, May 31 – as part of the Brooks & Dunn: Reboot 2024 tour is Nashville artist ERNEST.
We heard a song from him on last month’s New Music Mix Tape, but I like this one even better, written by songwriting heavyweights Dean Dillon and Skip Ewing.
I am living for this line: “I love you enough that I’m letting you go. I love you so much that I’m telling you no. I would if I could, but I can’t so I won’t, but I want to.”
Featuring the lovely Lainey Wilson, it’s ERNEST on the April New Music Mix Tape.
Armand Darius Anders Jakobsson, known professionally as DJ Seinfeld, is a Swedish electronic music DJ and record producer who also performs under the stage names Birds Of Sweden and Rimbaudian.
Samuel George (or SG) Lewis is a British singer-songwriter known primarily for his many collaborations with other artists.
These two artists come together to produce this delightful Electronic Dance Music (or EDM) track with modern witchy vibes: “Simple Times” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, CO. Blessed be!
“Simple Times”. Great track from SG Lewis and DJ Seinfeld.
Up next, a new track from a well-established band that succeeds in nailing their sound while still managing to sound fresh AND sneaking in some Emerson, Lake, and Palmer vibes.
If you’re not familiar with the band, Wikipedia describes Emerson, Lake & Palmer (or ELP) as a 1970 London-based progressive rock supergroup, consisting of Keith Emerson of the Nice, Greg Lake of King Crimson, and Carl Palmer of Atomic Rooster.
Credited by name as composer of 152 original songs, “Trey” Anastasio is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Phish, which he co-founded in 1983.
The new Phish album Evolve is their first in two years – here is the title track “Evolve”.
Phish will be performing at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO, August 29,30, and 31. Get your tickets now.
Heading now across the pond to Tottenham, London, England to hear a new track from a new British rapper.
Born Irving Ampofo Adjei , he performs as Headie One, a childhood nickname comparing his head to a 50p coin.
I’m DJ Ponyboy on KMTJ-DB, Denver, CO and this is Headie One with “Cry No More”.
“Cry No More” – Headie One featuring Stormzy and Tay Keith.
Every Friday, Spotify releases a playlist of 100 newly-released tracks and I – DJ Ponyboy – listen to every single one (between 400 and 500 every month).
I save the most interesting tunes to a monthly New Music Fire Hose playlist, then whittle that down to between 30 and 60 songs I think are the best. Ultimately, I select the best 5% of the songs (20 or 25) to include in the monthly New Music Mix Tape.
Those tunes that made it to the penultimate level but did not make it on the show are Honorable Mentions and are added to a monthly playlist as well.
Access to the monthly New Music Fire Hose playlists can be had for as little as $7 per month through our Patreon tiers of Songbird Superfan and above.
Access to our Honorable Mentions playlists can be had for as little as $17 per month through our Patreon tiers of Beat Backer and above.
You will find a song from our last artist – Headie One – on the Honorable Mentions playlist for March, with 36 other great tracks.
Active since the early 2000’s, Kacey Musgraves is known for a country career that features her songwriting talents and beautiful voice, but I’m thrilled to hear her expanding by lending her voice to a song that is much more rock and pop than her usual efforts.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS for short) is an indie alternative rock band from North Carolina, influenced by artists like Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean, and Schoolboy Q.
Put them together and you get “Overtime” from Rainbow Kitten Surprise featuring Kacey Musgraves.
RKS will be at Mission Ballroom three nights – May 30th and 31st, and June 1st.
Our next artist learned to play the organ by drawing a keyboard on the ground in charcoal. Her father taught her this way, as it was taught to him by his father, who taught himself organ.
A first-generation Indian-American singer from the Midwest, Debbii Dawson impresses with what appears to be her debut effort.
Giving 70’s vibes with a modern feel this next song conjures up the spectre of classic ABBA while remaining entirely original.
Here is Debbii Dawson with “Happy World”.
Debbii Dawson on KMTJ-DB, Denver, CO. She is on tour, but unfortunately will not be making it to Colorado.
Next, a cheeky bubble gum pop song with a solid guitar underlayer that reminds of early 2000’s Superchic[k].
Peggy is a young new artist from Michigan. I was not able to find a lot of information online; I hope we continue to hear more from her!
“Ophelia was driven mad – no shit – her lover killed her dad. Just so you know, I’d probably do the same. And you wonder why there’s so much feminine rage.”
Peggy On KMTJ-DB.
New artist Peggy.
Judith Hill started her career as a backup singer before becoming duet partners with both Prince and Michael Jackson.
With a Japanese mother and African-American father, and fluent in Japanese, English, French, and Spanish, Hill brings a unique perspective to her music. Her debut album was recorded at Prince’s Paisley Park, with Prince as co-producer.
This fascinating and unique truth track addresses her being called a “black widow” since two male artists she worked with (Jackson and Prince) both passed away.
Her diverse style gives Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes vibes; if you haven’t heard Howard’s work I highly recommend it. Like some of Gary Clark Jr.’s music, much of hers is not easy to listen to, but is powerful and well worth the investment of time, energy, and soul required.
Wow. Judith Hill. “Black Widow”.
I am DJ Ponyboy; thank you for joining me today. We are halfway through the twenty best new tunes from April 2024 – so much great new music. If you want to hear even more great music, check out the other hand-curated mix tapes on mixtapejourney.com.
Lily Fitts is a 23-year-old singer from Massachusetts who first gained popularity on TikTok and Instagram.
Her beautiful new song “Lose You Now” has one of the best opening lyrics I’ve heard in a while, followed up with even more, like, “You pull the plug when the light’s on me, and worst of all while you watched me sleep you were makin’ friends out of my enemies.” Absolutely chilling.
The track talks about needing to leave a toxic relationship for one’s own sanity.
Drawing us in with the opening line, “You’re not dead to me, but I hope you change,” it’s Lily Fitts on KMTJ-DB, Denver, CO.
Lily Fitts – coming to Denver’s Globe Hall May 13th.
Jermain Cole (J. Cole) is an American rapper from Fayetteville, North Carolina who has been releasing music since 2007 and has built up quite the collection of material worth checking out.
Our next number is his new single Crocodile Tearz (with a ‘z’), and while it starts off slow, it continues to build, and by the end, this track goes hard.
J. Cole. KMTJ-DB.
One of my favourite things about a good rap track is a dope rhyme. On this track, I like, “The boys kiss ring when they see the king come in. They know I run things like the police comin’”. J. Cole.
The newest album from New York City rock band Vampire Weekend, Only God Was Above Us, is their fifth studio album and the first in five years. One of the singles off that album is Prep-School Gangsters.
New single from Vampire Weekend. They will be performing two nights near Denver – at Red Rocks July 19th, and Dillon Amphitheatre July 20th.
From an established artist with a new album, we move to a new artist with a new album
Benson Boone is a 22-year-old American singer-songwriter and instrumentalist from Monroe, Washington. Beginning his music career on TikTok, he had a brief stint on American Idol, and released several singles before releasing his debut studio album Fireworks and Rollerblades.
From that just-released album, here is “Cry” by Benson Boone on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver.
That was brand-new song “Cry” by brand new artist Benson Boone.
Another brand-new artist I am loving hails from Bend, Oregon. Max McNown just released his first album, Wandering and this track is powerful. Honest and raw lyrics give strong deconstruction vibes and could honestly describe my twenties.
“I wonder if I turned out how you wanted. I wonder if it keeps you up at night. I wonder if you worry about my wandering, ‘cause I can’t help but worry all the time.”
Max McNown.
Max McNown, on tour with Trampled by Turtles; unfortunately, they already came through Colorado last month.
Continuing to keep it fresh with another newer artist. Coming to Red Rocks May 25th, queer artist Marie Ulven Ringheim is a 25-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter and producer, known for her indie pop project girl in red (stylized in all lowercase).
I am loving her honest and upbeat track “I’m Back”, which champions taking care of your mental health. With lines like, “I’m back, I feel like myself. I was gone for a minute ‘cause I went to get help,” she makes it clear there is no shame in finding support to improve your health.
Girl in red – “I’m Back” on KMTJ-DB, Denver, CO.
“Living life in grey did something to my brain, but hey, I took a shower today.” Girl in red, celebrating the small wins.
I’m DJ Ponyboy and whatever you have been able to accomplish today, I am proud of you for it! Whether it was repainting an entire house or simply brushing your teeth, you are a winner in my book.
Bullion is a solo project from Nathan Jenkins, an established producer and songwriter used to working behind the scenes of other artists.
In this new track “World_train”, I love the unique multi-part instrumentation that gives subtle train vibes.
Bouncy and with fun esoteric lyrics like, “Hat stands and watches city shapes and river banks,” here is Bullion with “World_train”.
Bullion on KMTJ-DB, Denver, CO.
At ten years old, first-generation Nigerian-American singer-songwriter from Arizona, Joy Oladokun was inspired to learn guitar after watching a video of Tracy Chapman.
Influenced by country and folk music, as well as Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill, Joy’s music spans folk, R&B, rock, and pop, and is influenced by her identity as a queer woman of color.
Here is “Questions, Chaos & Faith”.
Giving strong deconstruction vibes with her song “Questions, Chaos & Faith” – Joy Oladokun.
Only two more tracks left on the April 2024 New Music Mix Tape on KMTJ-DB. Join me on the first Sunday of every month to hear the very best new music from the previous month.
Haiden Henderson is a fun young new artist who originally gained attention on TikTok. His tune “Bleachers” is a fun catchy unique modern song.
I like this line: “I’ve started drinkin. Tough sport when you’re kinda broke, but I’m a pro regardless.”
I’m DJ Ponyboy. With his new track “Bleachers”, here is Haiden Henderson.
I’m DJ Ponyboy. Thank you for spending your time with me today. You being here has brightened my day and I hope I was able to brighten yours in a small way too.
Closing out this month’s New Music Mix Tape is one of my favourites. From 25-year-old Kentucky artist MaKenzie, it’s her new track “Cashmere”.
I love the melty, funky, slidey beat of this track – it makes me want to wear socks on a wood floor and sliiide. The vibe is simultaneously soft and hard, like a big buff dude wearing cashmere.
I will see you next week on KMTJ-DB – your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, CO.
With “Cashmere”, it’s MaKenzie.
I’m DJ Ponyboy. Stay gold.