{"id":192990,"date":"2025-12-31T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/?p=192990"},"modified":"2026-01-02T12:59:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T19:59:26","slug":"local-music-singles-roundup-january-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/music\/local-music-singles-roundup-january-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Music Singles Roundup: January 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Howdy there, smooth skin! What are you in the market for? I\u2019ve got a one-of-everything arsenal ready for whatever goose to give its gander. We\u2019ve got punk-ish punches to lay you out, slow-mo lofi to take you away, even vein-injected industrial for your withdrawal. Come find your high on this edition of <em>SLUG<\/em>\u2019s Local Music Singles Roundup!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-193151 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/443-Ed-Alex-Unger-400x400.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/443-Ed-Alex-Unger-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/443-Ed-Alex-Unger-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/443-Ed-Alex-Unger-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/443-Ed-Alex-Unger-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/443-Ed-Alex-Unger.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Alex Unger<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u201cMade In The East\u201d<br \/>\nSelf-Released<br \/>\nStreet: 09.19.2025<br \/>\nAlex Unger = DJ Shadow + Sven Wunder + Nightmares on Wax<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alex Unger coined the term \u201cSound System Sensuality\u201d to describe his vibey brand of laid-back, bass-heavy electronic music, saying in a recent interview that he tries to move away from the \u201chype-party\u201d standard of mainstream EDM into a more \u201cintrospective\u201d domain. This ethos reveals itself on \u201cMade In The East,\u201d Unger\u2019s smoky remix of London rapper <strong>dialE<\/strong>\u2019s 2021 single of the same name. Unger keeps only dialE\u2019s voice on the track, using his deep tone in a manner that clarifies and accentuates its heft while layering it over a more worldly beat. With the sprinkling of a snake charmer\u2019s flute and jazzy keys providing contrast to the song\u2019s otherwise urban feel, \u201cMade In The East\u201d acts as a genre-bent ride along the dividing line between tangled tropical forests and the bastardized modern world of concrete, glass and LED lights, leaving you with a liminal space to ponder. \u2014<em>Kyle Forbush<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/track=1215302980\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\" seamless=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alexunger.bandcamp.com\/track\/made-in-the-east\">Made In The East by Alex Unger<\/a><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-193152 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Collin-Kirk-400x400.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Collin-Kirk-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Collin-Kirk-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Collin-Kirk.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Collin Kirk<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u201cStop Motion\u201d<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Self-Released<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Street: 09.28.2025<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Collin Kirk = Magic Bronson + Pet Shop Boys <\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under no circumstances should you allow this single\u2019s crunchy cover art deter you from listening to it. In fact, if you imagine the clay dude as the singer, I find it makes the experience better. \u201cStop Motion\u201d is clean: no bells or whistles. It\u2019s made up almost entirely of Collin Kirk\u2019s rhythmic voice and a mesmerizing beat, and you don\u2019t need much more than that. Here is a song that can be the soundtrack to an afternoon walk when you need a little swagger to boost your confidence, or a night drive when the world is quiet and you want to feel like the main character in a coming-of-age movie. \u201cStop Motion\u201d makes you want to bob your head, tap your foot and maybe even get a little groovy with it. I hope you blow up on TikTok, Collin Kirk! \u2014<em>Grace Simpson<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0tAvk0bYgERwZWSay65ful?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-testid=\"embed-iframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-193153 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-jandro-400x400.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-jandro-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-jandro-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-jandro.webp 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>jandro<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u201cGAS IN AN AIRFRYER\u201d<br \/>\nSelf-Released<br \/>\nStreet: 11.05.2025<br \/>\njandro = SPFDJ + DJ Bountyhunter<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There\u2019s something to be said about music like jandro\u2019s \u201cGAS IN AN AIRFRYER\u201d and the way that it arrests you. It\u2019s the kind of sound you hear at raves or in slimy storage units filled to the brim with sweaty bodies. Electronic music serves a unique purpose as it reconnects you with a forgotten animality, forcing you to surrender. The song instantly grabs you with a fast-paced synth that seems to chase you towards desperation. With a primal bass, creating an impression of all things carnal and volatile. \u201cGAS IN AN AIRFRYER\u201d is explosive\u2026 literally. Filled with atmospheric sounds chasing towards a satisfying bassy climax, it\u2019s a delightfully dirty treat that provides an escape from the rat wheel. I encourage all of you Utahns to seek out the storage unit once in a while. It\u2019s music that reminds us of our human desire to dance through chaos. Experience a techno catharsis and connect with your body. It\u2019s all you\u2019ve got, after all. \u2014<em>Gabriella R.W.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 400px; position: relative;\"><iframe style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2Fsoundcloud%253Atracks%253A2207497507&amp;auto_play=false&amp;show_artwork=true&amp;visual=true&amp;origin=iframely\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-193154 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Lauren-Sum-400x400.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Lauren-Sum-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Lauren-Sum-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Lauren-Sum-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Lauren-Sum-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Lauren-Sum.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Lauren Sum<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u201cWoman\u201d<br \/>\nSelf-Released<br \/>\nStreet: 09.25.2025<br \/>\nLauren Sum = Florist + Julien Baker<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lauren Sum is a girls\u2019 girl through and through. Her latest single, \u201cWoman,\u201dtouches on the same themes reflected in her other projects \u2014 a close examination of what it means to be a woman, a wife and a mother. The song follows a woman grappling with her role in society. Is motherhood and marriage all there is to being, or is there more? Soft and acoustic, the instrumentals of \u201cWoman\u201dtransport you to a whole other world of sound. The gentle guitar creates a unique juxtaposition with the anger seeping out of what Sum is actually saying. The resentment of expectations placed upon her is palpable, and the expression of the rage itself falls in line with how much of the world still expects women to express their emotions: meekly, sing-songy and without any aggression. By the end, you feel the same frustration and longing for something else that the singer feels.\u201cWoman\u201d is a great exploration of what womanhood often feels like. \u2014<em>Elle Cowley<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/album=178662361\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\" seamless=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/laurensum.bandcamp.com\/album\/woman\">Woman by Lauren Sum<\/a><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-193155 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Midnite-Rollercoaster-400x400.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Midnite-Rollercoaster-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Midnite-Rollercoaster-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Midnite-Rollercoaster.webp 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Midnite Rollercoaster<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u201cJoyride\u201d<br \/>\nSelf-Released<br \/>\nStreet: 10.31.2025<br \/>\nMidnite Rollercoaster = Queens of the Stone Age + Fu Manchu<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cJoyride\u201d definitely feels like going on a high-octane, headbanging joyride. From its opening percussive riff, you are strapped in and then it\u2019s pedal to the metal once the guitar comes shredding in. Only a few lyrics lace this song; the rest is just a rocking instrumental journey! The song is all about creating an experience that is over far too soon \u2014 thanks to its two-minute duration. It keeps the excitement up until the middle of the song, where we are treated to a truly amazing electric guitar solo. It\u2019s the kind of track that would score over a scene of wild, slightly psychotic teenagers driving around completely out of control, speeding over speed bumps and doing donuts, half their bodies out the windows and cheering as they put their lives at risk. \u201cJoyride\u201d commands you to get on your feet and get energized. Pure rock goodness! \u2014<em>Angela Garcia<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/track=4220396105\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\" seamless=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midniterollercoaster.bandcamp.com\/track\/joyride\">Joyride by Midnite Rollercoaster<\/a><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-193156 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Sindar-400x400.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Sindar-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Sindar-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/445-Ed-Sindar.webp 630w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Sindar<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u201cEclipse\u201d<br \/>\nBelogg Records<br \/>\nStreet: 09.26.2025<br \/>\nSindar = Death + System of a Down<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This song makes me feel like something bad is going to happen, but in a way that I enjoy. It\u2019s like the gates of hell are about to open up, and I\u2019m here for the ride. The best word I can use to describe the opening instrumental is \u201cepic.\u201d The track is six whole minutes long, but it doesn\u2019t feel like it drags on since there\u2019s so much variation within it. The lyrics don\u2019t even start for a full minute, but once they do, it\u2019s that classic death metal growl that scares your grandma. You only have to listen to these aggressive vocals for so long, as you\u2019re soon given a break with something slower and smoother that makes you feel like you\u2019re soaring. These two voices seamlessly take turns, forming a conversation that makes this song feel so heavy yet so light. \u2014<em>Braxtyn Birrell<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/album=1252923116\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\" seamless=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sindar.bandcamp.com\/album\/eclipse\">Eclipse by Sindar<\/a><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Read more Local Music Single Roundups:<\/strong><br \/>\n<em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/music\/local-music-singles-roundup-december-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Local Music Singles Roundup: December 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/music\/local-music-singles-roundup-november-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Local Music Singles Roundup: November 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019ve got punk-ish punches to lay you out, even vein-injected industrial for your withdrawal. Come find your high on this edition of SLUG\u2019s Local Music Singles Roundup! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/music\/local-music-singles-roundup-january-2026\/\" title=\"Local Music Singles Roundup: January 2026\" class=\"read-more\">&hellip;&nbsp;read&nbsp;more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":193149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[],"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[357,355],"tags":[30833,30835,30843,30838,30837,30841,30839,16207,30834,26736,30842,30836,30840],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192990"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192990"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192990\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}