A Day in the Life of…
A Day in the Life of…Caleborate
Love, heartbreak, weed smoke, college loans: 27-year-old rapper Caleborate turns it all into soulful, moving poetry. Nothing the Berkeley, California native has accomplished is by accident—it’s through pure, raw talent—including his 75 million streams, and coveted spots on Spotify and Apple Music playlists. With a solid reputation for kick-ass live shows, his fans will be thrilled to hear he’s planning to release a new album early this year. For now, he teases with the newly released “What U Want“. His recent single “We Make”, featuring R&B vocalist Samaria and producer Ian McKee’s hypnotic beat. It’s a sultry, sentimental reflection on youth, authenticity, and blackness. “It’s an anthem for anyone who has been underappreciated,” he tells us, “For the youth whose culture has been explo...
A Day in the Life of…Merk
“The challenge was to find the balance of humor, darkness and sincerity,” says Auckland, New Zealand artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mark Perkins (a.k.a. Merk) of his new single/video “GOD,” premiering today, here on SPIN. “It had to come across as, not ironic, but playfully self-aware of the weirdness of this song while also being profoundly heartfelt. Fun but touching was the goal!” Perkins honed his producing skills under the mentorship of Crowded House’s (now Fleetwood Mac’s) Neil Finn while working at Auckland’s Roundhead Studios. His 2017 debut album Swordfish went on to win Best Debut Album at the Taite Music Prize (New Zealand’s equivalent of the Mercury or Polaris Prize) and led to tours with Cub Sport, Marlon Williams and Julia Jacklin in both Australia and New Zealand...
A Day in the Life of… Charlie Houston
“I just want my songs to be super authentic and address shit that all young people deal with,” says 19-year-old genre-bending singer and songwriter Charlie Houston. Her five-track EP I Hate Spring (April 2021) is an irresistible blend of melodic guitar and pop-R&B vocals, mixed with a touch of electronica and poetic lyrics (intentionally sans pronouns). It’s a striking debut, an unguarded, ultra-personal tapestry—stories of heartbreak and struggle, sung in her soothing, signature voice. Her song “Calls,” tells the all-too-relatable tale of unwanted dissolution of a long-distance relationship; “19” was inspired by her battle with severe anxiety, the very issue that cut her studies at the Clive Davis Institute short. The result is living proof that braving your soul (combined with ...
