Our Favorite Singles of August 2026
Jeez, sorry this took so long; life is truly putting me through the wringer. I decided to put this list out anyway, even though many of these artists already have new songs and projects out, because I think they’re so good they deserve to be talked about. I’m hoping nothing crazy happens to me in the next week or so so I can deliver the September list in a timely manner… I guess we’ll see. BUT there will be an exciting announcement tomorrow, October 6th, so stay tuned… Anyways, here are 10 awesome singles from all different genres. I steered clear of harder emo/screamo this month and added more indie, folky, and alternative songs that helped me keep at ease during this rough time. Of course, there’s still some punk stuff because I cannot resist. I hope you enjoy and find something you like :)
Cover photo: @billbillbillbill.bill
Berlin - Jerry Big’s World Famous Band
indie rock
I love finding artists and bands from pockets of New York State, since I sometimes focus too much on the city because there’s so much music coming out of here. Jerry Big’s World Famous Band proves that I need to pay more attention to other parts of the state with their newest single “Berlin,” their first off an upcoming EP, Champion. This track is a refreshing take on indie rock, drawing on early-2000s dance-punk sounds. The song starts off with a strong, catchy bass rhythm. It has a moody vibe, especially as the sharp drums kick in. It’s gritty and angsty. The build-up to the chorus is perfect. It’s exciting every time I listen. The vocals are my favorite part of the song; singer Jared Effman is incredibly talented. He kind of sounds like Julian Casablancas, especially with the attitude he brings, but grittier and screamier. Especially in the outro. There’s a great balance between the smoother, softer verse vocals and the rough, textured chorus vocals. This is a great song to mosh or dance to and is one of my favorites of the year. You can find the single on all major streaming platforms, and you can follow the band @worldfamousband on Instagram. If you’re in Rochester, you should definitely catch their upcoming EP release show on October 16th at The Bug Jar! You can find tickets here.
You want it?/We got it! - HOT SEAT
punk
HOT SEAT is at it again with a fiery single from their recently released debut, YOU WANT IT? WE GOT IT!! (yes, I know how late this is, since they already released their album). The double single is a punchy punk melody that’ll get you off your feet and jumping — a sound that’s very much of the moment in Philly punk and post-punk. The intro, “You want it?” steadily leads into “We got it!” It feels like you’re spiraling into it, with an anticipatory, spooky vibe driven by a great guitar riff and tone. Once we’re thrown into “We got it!”, the rhythm speeds up and gets more exciting. Singer Molly Bearden is super expressive on this track, with a lot of attitude in her singing. Her evilish laugh at the beginning of the track and the continuation of a spooky riff make it perfect for Halloween. The chorus is infectious, and the repetition of “cut cut cut, cut it out!” is super satisfying to the ear. I also love the chant at the end. It’s such a powerful single and will definitely make you want to listen to the album. You can find the song on YOU WANT IT? WE GOT IT!! here and follow the band on Instagram @hotseatbandphl.
Have Your Kids And Eat Them Too - Wonny Jane
indie, alternative
Ever have a song hit you like a truck? When I listened to “Have Your Kids And Eat Them Too” on the A train, I immediately got emotional. It’s a raw, personal song about big-shot men fucking up the world for their own profit and entertainment. In an Instagram post, Wonny Jane explained that the song was a big “fuck you” to the label guys he'd been connected with earlier in his career. The repetition of “What can a man do for the world/Fucking and fucking up” underscores his frustrations with the industry and society. Sonically, it has an almost beach-rock, indie vibe mixed with grit, with grungy guitar throughout the choruses. It’s catchy, almost like a pop song, as if it's ironically giving label executives what they want. His vocals in this track are gritty and angsty, sounding like Djo in his earlier Twenty Twenty era. It’s a perfect closer for his debut record, Pith, which you should also check out, as the project is a great blend of genre experimentation and personal stories. You can find the single and the record on all major streaming platforms and on Bandcamp. Follow Wonny Jane on Instagram @wonnyjangg!
Cover art: @202yipyap
Girl Problems - Holidays in United States
emo
One of my favorite emo bands of all time dropped HEAT! As the first single from their amazing debut album, How to Count to Five, Holidays in United States introduces us to their new era, including a new addition to the band: lead singer Annika Haakonsen. I’ve heard this song a couple of times at their shows and finally got to listen to it, and I love it even more than before. This track starts off with a list of “girl problems” that are stereotypical “stupid” problems men think women have. The lyrics hinge on irony and self-awareness, which previous Holidays tracks do very well. We are thrown into a hard-hitting chorus about a common feeling I think every woman has felt: feeling stupid for falling for a guy. The second verse gets a bit more serious, speaking to the real problems women face. The track is a bit different sonically, more mellow, with what feels like sharper guitar tones. The overlapping riffs are fun, and the short drum sequences between verses add energy. The change in pace and rhythm for the second verse is perfect for moshing at their shows. The opening chants from the guys are not only fun but also emblematic of the band’s previous work. Haankonsen’s vocals are amazing, with that perfect voice for the “second wave emo revival” sound. I love their scream at the end, stating “I have problems/Fuck you.” It's a genuinely great introduction to the album, which is out now! You can find “Girl Problems” on How to Count to Five here and follow them on Instagram @holidays.in.united.states to keep up with them!
Cover photo: @askaboutmyfilms
GLASS HALF EMPTY MAN - Friend
indie punk
Philadelphia’s best indie-punk band Friend brings us another amazing single from their upcoming album THIS MACHINE MAKES FRIENDS. “GLASS HALF EMPTY MAN” outlines the pessimism of most politically aware Americans about the state of the world. It captures the unfortunate feeling that nothing will get better, a miserable, overbearing sense that can’t be turned off. This is reflected sonically: the guitar tone almost feels whiny, the rhythm is steady and conveys numbness, Josh Turner’s vocals are riddled with sarcasm, and the lyrics are potent and raw. There’s a lot of fun stuff vocally, too: the “ahs” in the back of the verses are satisfying, the prechorus has awesome layered vocals, and the scream built up after the bridge creates an amazing listening experience. Although the choruses are bursts of energy, I gotta say that the prechorus is my favorite part; I just love the build-up. It’s garage rock with punk sensibilities, and I just love it! This is one of my favorites from the upcoming record, but trust me, it has plenty of amazing tracks. You can find the song on all major streaming platforms and pre-save the album here; it comes out on November 13th! You can keep up with Friend at @friend.phl. They are doing an album pre-release show on October 30th at the 6th annual Tunaween show at the Ukie Club in Philly; tickets are available here!
I’M A MESS! - nomillionaires
pop
I’ve been waiting for another awesome single from the “people’s pop star” and community organizer nomillionaires ever since their debut in February. Their newest single, “I’M A MESS!”, exceeds expectations. With nomillionaires’ conscious pop tendencies, the track explores their struggles with OCD. The lyrics convey a constant sense of disorder and the urge to fix it, even though it feels like it can never be fully resolved. The song features dreamy guitars reminiscent of 2020/2021 bedroom pop. There’s a nice, groovy bass line that’ll make you want to dance, even with the underlying heaviness of the lyrics. Their voice is smooth throughout the track and sounds amazing. I truly love the little harmonies and soundbites in the background; they create an atmospheric soundscape. The production of this track is amazing. I’m so excited to see what nomillionaires has in store for us next, as they’ve been working on an EP titled THIS CALL MAY BE RECORDED! about coming of age in the current digital era and all the problems that come along with it. You can find the single here, and please follow them on Instagram at @nomillionaires_music, as they always post very interesting and informative pieces about their music, culture, and organizing!
In the Gold Room - Superfan
alternative
NYC-based artist Superfan is finally back, drawing us into his world of beautifully arranged, sad autumn music. He introduces us to his upcoming album, My Piledriver Heart, with “In the Gold Room,” a fierce acoustic cello arrangement about revisiting a past relationship and realizing why it was left behind – it wasn’t a true, fulfilling love. You feel the ache within the first note. His lyrics are incredibly poetic (as always), leaving you emotionally wrecked. Even without the beautiful vocals, the instrumentation alone is powerfully moving. During the outro, the string arrangement becomes chaotic and almost deconstructs itself. Steady percussion drives the track along. This song has so many layers to peel back, which fits perfectly with Superfan’s discography. His voice is beautiful, as always, with a contrast between smooth vocals and raw cracks. This track makes me so excited for the upcoming album. You can find “In the Gold Room” on all major streaming platforms and pre-save the album here; it comes out on October 16th. Follow @kaliflanagan to keep up with his project!
For Comrades And Lovers - Rookie Mistake
alternative folk
My Fall playlists will be full of alternative folk songs, and “For Comrades And Lovers” by Brooklyn-based band Rookie Mistake will be in constant rotation. This heartbreaking, emotionally raw single from their latest album, Fields Of Plenty, speaks to letting someone go, no matter how painful it is. The acoustic fingerpicking is beautiful and drives the song. The melody scratches my brain in such a satisfying way. A whistle tone overlaps the guitar, adding to the world-crashing-down-on-you feeling. The track builds as instruments slowly layer on top of one another. There’s a pause in the layering, with beautiful vocal runs, before returning to a fuller sound. It’s such a stunning, poetic track that made me want to dive into their album. Listening to this reminded me of those folky early-2010s songs I would’ve let ruin me even as a teen, even though I never experienced heartbreak. You can find “For Comrades And Lovers” on Fields Of Plenty on all major streaming platforms and on Bandcamp. Follow Rookie Mistake on Instagram @rookiemistakeny to keep up with them!
Cover photo: @jerseywallphl
growing pains - GUTTER PEARL
grunge
As I always say, Philly bands know how to experiment with genres, and GUTTER PEARL is no exception. Their single “growing pains” is mostly grunge with a hint of shoegaze, blending the two in a way I haven’t heard before. It starts enchantingly, with a dirty guitar that pulls you in and leads into a clean-sounding verse. The guitars and vocals sound very inspired by the 90s, with a bit of Hole. Lead singer Chelsea Testa has an amazing voice, with a soft, warm tone and a little edge. The choruses are loud, energetic, and fun. The bridge is the most fun, with an amazing build-up and the best vocals on the song. Testa’s rougher vocals shine here. It’s followed by a gnarly guitar solo. This track is a headbanger and makes me excited to dive into their discography. You can find “growing pains” on all major streaming platforms and on Bandcamp, and follow them @gutterpearlband!
Car Chase - yell at god
folk punk
Folk punk duo yell at god released one of their strongest singles yet, “Car Chase,” a fun, optimistic tune about persevering through the bleakness of the modern world. It’s super stripped down, featuring only vocals, banjo, and bass, which lets the lyrics' message truly shine through. Although it speaks to the troubles of staying optimistic, sonically it's a very enjoyable song. The instrumentation helps you maintain hope for the future. Despite being stripped down, the song still features complicated banjo fingerpicking, and the overlapping bass and beautiful background harmonies make it feel full. The harmonies make the song feel magical. It’s also super fast-paced, making it feel like the duo is trying their very best to fight to stay alive and hopeful. They have a new project out called days of awe 5787, a collection of improvisational, one-take recordings between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, inspired by selected psalms. You can find the project and “Car Chase” on all streaming platforms and on Bandcamp. Follow @yell_at_god to keep up with them!
Hope you enjoyed reading through this!!! I truly love these songs, and I hope you do too <3
