Tunes for U - April 2025
Hey there, here's a "song review" and more music I enjoyed in the month of April!
Live music is a bit of a theme this month.
About my experience with live shows, I've always been hesitant. As a kid, dangerously loud shows with bad front-of-house mixing and awful sound systems really put me off from going to live concerts. Aside from the shows I attended or participated in during my music college years, I haven't gone to concerts just for fun. I preferred listening to carefully recorded and crafted tracks on my nice headphones and speakers, enjoying the comfort of my favorite chair at home.
I used to think, "Why bother with being so far from the stage that I can't see a thing, with screaming crowds drowning out the music, or with a mixer who has no idea what's going on?" Sure, there's the unique concert experience, but if I go to a show for a specific artist, I want to actually hear the artist.
Over the past year, I've been actively challenging that mindset by seeking out shows that resonate on a personal level, whether drawn by the artist or by a friend’s involvement in the production. Every show I've attended recently has broadened my perspective. It became clear that placing limits on my experiences was as arbitrary as choosing friends based on convenience instead of shared interests; the right choices in both cases carry a level of mutual respect and values that lead to shared experiences that are more likely to be positive. Ultimately, it is about the people you share the experience with and the unique moments that make each show unforgettable.
TLDR: Know good people, discover good things.
This post is continuously edited and added to throughout the month.
Conversations on the Carpet - Charlie Archer
Charlie Archer’s debut single, Conversations on the Carpet, is exactly what it sounds like: intimate, unhurried, and thoughtful. I first heard it live almost a year ago in May of 2024 , sitting cross-legged on the floor of a packed Los Angeles living room. I had come to the show to listen to and reconnect with another singer-songwriter I knew from high school, Sayaka, who was also performing that night, and whose music is also featured in this month's post.
Charlie is not only a skilled songwriter from everything I’ve heard him perform live, but a poet too. His stage presence is giant in a gentle way, plus he's got jokes. One of the songs played that night a year ago marked the first time I felt deeply connected to a live performance, not because of nostalgia or familiarity with the performer (this was my first time hearing him), but purely because of the music itself. That song isn’t "Conversations on the Carpet," but I know it’s coming soon.
The arrangement is minimal, and the production is stellar, acoustic guitar, vocals, what sounds like a single subtle note looping in the background, and drums that are present but softly tucked in the back as if too shy to introduce themselves. But what truly carries the weight here is Charlie’s voice and what he says.
Production-wise, it’s lo-fi without being murky. There’s space to breathe while being intimate, and everything feels purposeful. It’s a deeply personal song from an artist who clearly cares and reflects on the past often. The result is a cathartic listening experience.
This past week, I had the pleasure of seeing Charlie perform a few of the songs I heard previously and a couple new ones live at a show in Hollywood, opened by another performance by Sayaka. It felt like everything came full circle that night with the release of Charlie’s first single that night. The experience made this track even more special. I know more singles will be released throughout the year leading up to an album, and I can’t wait to hear what’s next from Charlie Archer.
Charlie Archer at The Hotel Cafe - Hollywood
Bittersweet - Sayaka
Mentioned earlier in the section about Charlie’s show and new single, Sayaka is a singer/songwriter I met in high school. Last year, I reconnected with her while looking for more live performances to go to. Her voice is truly beautiful. There's a depth to her music that feels both personal and universal, and it’s clear from her performances she pours her heart into every note. One of her recent singles "Bittersweet" captures that emotion perfectly. I’m excited to see how her music continues to evolve, and I know that there’s so much more to come soon.
Minor Casio - Kenny Ueda
I was watching this fantastic video by one of my favorite creators, Eddy Burback, and was struck by the background music. Some incredible work by Kenny Ueda. It’s a real treat. This kind of minimalistic, electronic, nostalgic style often veers into cliché or just ends up feeling bland, but somehow Kenny completely avoids that. Instead, he’s crafted a genuinely sweet album that feels fresh and sincere.Check out the whole album "Pasadena Garden" for getting some work done or going for a walk.My favorite track is "Minor Casio".
porthole - Emmerson Kitamura
Chill + fun synthy stuff
Common Side Effects - OST - Nicholas Snyder
The soundtrack for my recent favorite animated series released this month. I'm so excited for season two.
The Morning - Ian Snyder
I love this track from the game The Floor is Jelly. It's a bit nostalgic for me, an album I would listen to while waiting for the train home during my first two years of college. (The same train that's in the album art on Sayaka's "Bittersweet" single.)
Simulation Swarm - Big Thief
Another band I just got back into listening to since I listened to them back in college.