Riya Mahesh, known as Quiet Light, creates a unique blend of dazed ambient production and pop melody. Her seventh project in six years, Blue Angel Sparkling Silver 2, feels like it's stitched together from samples of her own memories. Tracks like Berlin feature moony breakbeats and IDM glitches, with a spoken-word lecture floating in the background. Star100 begins with whispers and laughter before her multitracked harmonies take over. Mahesh also delivers catchy choruses, as heard in Dealerz, her collaboration with Danish band A Good Year.
Her music is distinctly feminine, using samples to deconstruct and reconstruct fantasies and memories. Blue Angel Sparkling Silver 2 is moody and magical, reminiscent of Samia and Pinegrove, with production akin to Grimes and Desire. Raised in Texas, Mahesh played piano from a young age, encouraged by her sitar-playing mother. She describes herself as an "insanely Texas girl" and was prom queen in high school. After failing to get into Juilliard, she pivoted to medical school while pursuing music.
This Week's Best New Tracks
Chat Pile – Deep Blue
A funky howl of frustration about technology poisoning our lives.
Wishy – Lovesick
Scuzzy indiepop perfection from 1993, with Nina Pitchkites' vocals capturing romantic yearning.
Debit – Encasadelciegoeltuerco
Galloping distortion-laced beats from the Mexican producer's new album Potpourri.
Rose Gray – Club to Your Arms
Electro-pop about a nightclub to bedroom tryst, reminiscent of Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
RealYungPhil – 2x
Connecticut rapper's woozy yet uptempo beat rejecting rivals.
Daisy* – Punch
Formerly Babii, now with whispery vocals and whomping speed garage.
Interpol – This Mirror Weighs a Ton
Gothic trip-hop from their forthcoming eighth album, with Paul Banks' poetic angst.
