Our Favorite Singles of May 2026

Hello! I am genuinely sorry this is coming out literally in the middle of June, but don’t worry, because June’s monthly round-up will be on time and coming in two weeks. Anyways, another month, another monthly single round-up! May was full of great rock songs, with a little pop mixed in. We got some great songs from both previously covered artists and new ones! I think this might be my favorite mix of songs. Even though I say this often, these are truly some of the strongest tracks from these artists! Hope you enjoy :P

Album cover artwork by @tvv.tyler & photographed by @briannabalducci

Rerun - TVOD

post-punk 

I associate TVOD with their outlandish, satirical, party-like-there’s-no-tomorrow attitude, especially with their debut album Party Time and our interview with them last year for our last issue. They have returned with the same satirical edge, more seriousness, yet upbeat sensibilities, on the newest single from their upcoming sophomore album, The Farm. “Rerun” is our introduction to their concept album based on George Orwell’s Animal Farm, which speaks to the absurdity of contemporary American life and society. The track opens with a funky bass line that drives the song throughout, recalling their previous danceable tracks. It’s more refined, feels cleaner, yet still has the angst and grit of post-punk. The first line, lead-singer Tyler Wright sings, “What the fuck am I still doing here?” grabs the listener’s attention. It is then followed by lyrics about feeling stuck, trying to escape the broken social order, yet it seems to be in every crevice of society. It also touches on the decay of individuals in this society, as the chorus starts with “I don’t really care who I am/As long as I’m not a business man,” reiterating how people don’t feel much like anyone outside of their job and how Wright would rather be anyone other than a greedy business man, which is a common sentiment these days amongst younger generations. These lyrics feel much more direct than their previous work, and I am curious to see if they continue this in the rest of the album. Wright's vocal performance is great, as you can hear the true frustration in his voice, especially towards the end, where he gets more coarse. The guitar riff and piano add to the song's catchiness, masking the darker meaning of the lyrics with an entertaining melody to dance to. I am so excited for The Farm, which will be released on October 16th, 2026. You can presave the album here, find “Rerun” here, and follow TVOD to keep up with shows and more releases @televisionoverdose!

The Conquest of Apocalypse - FOCO

hardcore, latin punk, nu-metal 

FOCO is a Latin anti-colonial band that has been one of my favorites in the New York City hardcore scene lately. Their latest single, “The Conquest of Apocalypse,” speaks to how resistance to cruel institutions has endured for generations in Mexican culture and serves as a tribute to all those who fought before them. The track opens with a deep, growling bass and an apocalyptic atmosphere created by the guitars. Lead singer Nachi Conde-Farley begins by speaking to the listener about fearing that these systems of oppression will only lead to more chaos, yet no one will do anything about it. But then he remembers that his ancestors have fought and come back, even during the most “apocalyptic” times, and with that connection, he knows that he, his generation, and his community will conquer it, too. It’s inspiring and makes listeners think about their own histories and ancestors and how they, too, can learn lessons from them to make the world a better place. The beat builds to a rougher, angrier, grittier vocal sequence, where you can feel the desperation and frustration in Conde-Farley’s voice as he repeats “we conquer apocalypse.” The heavy, guttural guitars truly add to this feeling. Toward the end, the pace shifts, and we are struck by a more urgent melody that calls listeners to defend their futures. The outro slows it down again, and there is more speaking, grounding the listener to think again after moshing their anger out during their live shows. Again, this is a great anthem for moving people to get up and fight with their communities. You can find this song on their Bandcamp and follow @focoizm to stay up to date on releases and upcoming shows. They’ve got many benefit shows and events coming up that you should definitely go to! 

Single cover art by @jaymay.mp3

You Lie To Yr Therapist (feat. briar patch) - Cat Crash

alternative, pop punk, riot grrl

New York City-based artists Cat Crash and briar patch kicked off the month with a powerful song about their experiences as trans people. “You Lie To Yr Therapist” is packed with punchy guitars that grab listeners’ attention, paired with a pop-punk groove that will get people moving in the pit. It's angsty, poppy, and overall a fun track. The song starts with briar patch taking the lead, with Cat Crash’s lead singer, Cecil, handling backup vocals. It’s softer on the beat and guitars during the verses, letting listeners really hear what the artists are saying. It then shifts to Cecil taking the lead while briar patch provides backup. I think my favorite part of this song is the harmonies and adlibs; their voices are so satisfying together, which really completes the entire soundscape. I especially love the overlapping vocals in the bridge, since they create a shift in sound. The choruses are more upbeat and faster-paced, letting the frustration leak through the instrumentation. Listeners can truly feel these emotions about trying so hard to be accepted into someone's life through a relationship and never truly fitting because they hide their love for you and even your existence from their loved ones. I like the idea of lying to their therapist, as it underscores not even being able to open up to someone you’re supposed to confide your deepest secrets in. Overall, this is an amazing collaboration between the two. You can listen to “You Lie To Yr Therapist” on Bandcamp or any major streaming platform, and follow both @catcrashband and @briarofpatch!!! Cat Crash is doing a ton of shows over the summer along the East Coast, so catch them live if you can!

In Hindsight - Static. 

metal, hardcore, emo

Washington is currently experiencing a renaissance in their music scene. There are so many bands from there pushing the boundaries of genre. Seattle band Static. exemplifies this experimentation in their newest single, “In Hindsight.” Splitting the song into Pt. I and Pt. II, Static. is able to truly experiment with metal sounds and draw inspiration from other hard rock genres. There are heavy guitars, similar to those on their self-titled EP released earlier this year. It starts with high-pitched screams from previous work, then goes into a call-and-response with super-deep, gravelly vocals and regular singing, which I think is an interesting addition to their sound, and I’m excited to see where they take this. It’s definitely more metalcore and hardcore-sounding. A gnarly breakdown emerges with these deeper vocals. It’s fun that the guitar pitches match the vocals, because I realized there are higher-pitched guitar riffs with the more high-screamy vocals. Part I of the song ends with another chunky guitar breakdown and smoothly transitions into Part II, with a more emo-sounding riff closing the track on a softer note before it builds right back up to a more metalcore-sounding outro, with both deeper and higher-pitched vocals layered on top of one another. With both vocal performances, you can truly hear the devotion the singers are singing about towards someone they would die for. You can find “In Hindsight” on most streaming platforms and keep up with Static. @staticnoisemachine on Instagram! 

She Wrote Murder Again - The Dallas Cowboys

synth-punk, pop

Ever since I saw The Dallas Cowboys at the Holidays in United States Album release show in December, I’ve been obsessed with them. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw that the best-friend duo released a new single, “She Wrote Murder Again.” This song captures their party-sense attitude, ironic self-righteousness, and self-awareness in just over two minutes. The instrumental, entirely made on a Nintendo DS, is infectious and will get stuck in your head for weeks. The chant of “Go Cowboys!” adds to the song’s catchiness. It’s fun, bouncy, and will have you dancing in the pit nonstop. There are so many small sound bites you’ll notice on repeat listens, like the different synths and an almost dog-bark sample that repeats throughout the song, adding a grungy texture to the instrumental. The autotune on the voices matches the video game sound they’re going for, which completes the song. Another great single from the duo, and I’m so excited for more releases to hopefully come out soon. You can find “She Wrote Murder Again” on all streaming platforms and keep up with them @thecowboysfromdallas. 

i said it enough - charlie lomonaco

alternative rock, emo 

In just under two minutes, artist charlie lomonaco sings, or maybe more accurately, screams, about regret in his debut single from his upcoming EP, born to suffer forced todie. “i said it enough” is packed with punchy drums, overdriven guitars, and rough vocals that truly make you feel the anger and grief lomonaco writes about. It starts with a robotic voice that grabs the listener's attention, stating, “I don’t want to get out of bed/What’s the point?” to set the stage. It goes straight into the song, with lomonaco’s voice hidden in the mix, “I said it enough/is that enough,” creating a feeling of being lost in a mess of emotions. There’s grit in every part of the song that adds to this angst, as he screams, making this single one of his angriest songs to date. The beat drives the song, almost like it’s hitting you over the head repeatedly, emulating the song’s emotions. “i said it enough” makes me so excited to hear the rest of the EP, which will be released June 30th. If you can’t wait until then, he just released another single last week, “that’s just how it goes.” You can listen to “i said it enough” on Bandcamp or other major streaming platforms. You can keep up with charlie lomonaco on Instagram @charlielomonaco. 

Single cover art by @benjoslez

what could have been and what was not - girl // interrupted 

shoegaze

Ever listen to a song for the first time and it immediately gives you chills? “what could have been and what was not” by the upcoming LA shoegaze band girl // interrupted did exactly that for me. The song opens with a chorus of guitars, echo effects, and a heavily overdriven bass, setting a moody, melancholy ambiance. Even with the guitar chorus, the track feels stripped down, almost bare, letting the vulnerability of the lyrics shine through. When Sarah Pierce’s vocals come in, they’re whispery, adding to the haunting sound. She reflects on how much she cared for someone who didn’t seem to care about her, and how used she feels. The song builds toward greater anger as Pierce’s vocals grow more powerful, deeper, and angrier, effortlessly switching between screaming and singing. You can feel the apathy, disappointment, and betrayal she feels toward someone from her past. The ending of the song is truly powerful: the outro opens with a guttural scream from Pierce that conveys her desperation, with the lyrics following the instrumental. You can listen to this masterpiece on all streaming platforms and keep up with girl // interrupted on Instagram @girl_interrupted_band.

Gold Sounds - Jackson Sadinsky 

alternative

Jackson Sadinsky is an artist in every sense of the word, as shown in his ability to capture feeling, no matter what sound he uses to express it. It’s so hard to try to place him in a genre, whether as an artist or on any of his songs. “Gold Sounds” is no exception and is one of his best examples. As part of his upcoming project, thank you, New York, which reflects on his time in the city and is set to come out this summer, this track exudes nostalgia in a more lo-fi hip-hop and alternative sound. The bass starts off and drives the song along, with these synths cut up in a way that feels like a memory fading in and out. The hi-hats come in, adding texture and grounding the bass and synths’ fuzziness. His vocals come in, speaking about how New York helped shape who he is today and how his experience here saved his life. Sadinsky feels grateful for his life and the community he built here, and looks back on the city as something he can never forget. The flow and performance of the vocals are so satisfying; it’s definitely one of my favorites by Sadinsky. The outro features a reprise of the chorus with a really trippy, multi-layered, echoey vocal effect that further heightens the sense of nostalgia. I’m truly excited to hear more from thank you, New York. You can find the song on all major streaming platforms and follow @jsadinsky on Instagram to keep updated with his releases!

Single cover art by @stompingplastic

nervous breakdown (feat. everlof) - cat fight 

alternative

One of my favorite things about running Uncharted Music is randomly checking out the artists who follow the Instagram account. cat fight was one of those artists and definitely did not disappoint. His newest single, “nervous breakdown,” featuring everlof, is a charmingly relatable track about learning to fail. The guitars that open the song and guide listeners through it are soft and calming at first. cat fight’s vocals are almost angelic and frail, illustrating his fear of losing himself. The production is atmospheric; it makes me feel like it's a late night and I’m staring at the stars, contemplating my life and where to go from here. It’s almost sparkly. Toward the middle of the song, it gets grungier. The guitars are louder and fuzzier, while the bass gets heavier. As he repeatedly yells, “‘cause I want it all,” listeners hear the desperation to get out of this period of struggle in his voice, and the urgency is felt in the instrumentation. There’s a reprise of the opening verse that showcases beautiful harmonies. Then everlof comes in with soulful vocals, singing about becoming a new person after facing so much adversity, to close out the song. Truly a stunning performance from both artists, and I am excited to dive into both of their discographies. “nervous breakdown” is available on all major streaming platforms, and you can follow both artists @catfight5533 and @everythingeverlof!!!

Nightcore girl - julia casablancas 

pop, electronic

I try to avoid featuring an artist twice in a row in monthly recaps to spotlight new artists, but I just had to add julia casablancas again because her newest single, “Nighcore girl,” is just that great. This track is immediately super upbeat, infectious, and fast-paced, with a hyper-electronic sound, unlike the last single we covered, “Kneehighs.” It builds to a crazy, speaker-is-going-to-blow-out bass that makes this a rave classic. It will keep you dancing all night with its hyper-pop, nightcore, and scene influences that mesh so well with casablancas’ voice. She sings of this wild “nighcore girl” who’s essentially a party girl and how she takes her on a crazy night out. The song's entire chaos mirrors the craziness of the girl she sings about, which is brilliant. The vocal performance, as always, is ethereal, adding to this infatuation with the “nightcore girl.” The beautiful harmonies at the end especially truly tie the track together. There’s so much going on with this song, in the best way possible. You can listen to the song and the rest of casablancas’ discography here and find her on Instagram @xjuliacasablancas.

Single cover art by @sarasalami & @carleeahart

Forget - twomoonsaway

alternative rock

New Jersey alternative rock band twomoonsaway never shies away from getting grungy and emo, and their most recent single, “Forget,” is no exception. Smooth, fuzzy riffs open the song and explode into heavier, grittier guitars. It shifts into a more reserved verse, where vocalist Waverly Panarese sings in an almost whispery tone. Then they burst into more powerful vocals in the chorus, where you can truly hear the sadness and frustration in their tone. They almost sound like Bert McCracken from The Used, which makes the whole song feel like it came from that wave of emo. The lyrics are a bit heavy and demanding, speaking to the sentiment of never being understood and never doing or saying anything right. There’s a guitar solo that adds surprising texture, completing the song. The entire song feels more haunting and almost post-punkish compared to previous work, and I’m excited to see where they go with this direction! You can stream “Forget” here and follow them on Instagram @twomoonsaway to keep up with other releases and shows!

Single cover art by @ver0.works

Current - RODERIK

emo, alternative

New-age emo band RODERIK from Long Island and New Jersey released a potent single that emulates the sounds of early- to mid-2010s alternative rock in the best ways possible. “Current” starts off slow and almost haunted, with muffled vocals, then explodes into heavy guitars reminiscent of nu-metal/metalcore sounds from the 2010s, almost like Bring Me The Horizon’s Sempiternal era. The vocals provided by Jake Salazar are perfect, as he sounds great in both cleaner and rougher/screamy vocals. There’s a feeling of suffocation in the instrumental as Salazar sings about being drowned in the current of someone’s “love.” The song is about feeling suffocated in a relationship, where the other participant is overbearing and manipulates the singer into believing they deserve it. You truly hear the frustration and hurt in the vocalist's voice. You can listen to the song here and follow them on Instagram @roderikmusic to keep up with them!

I hope you found something that you fell in love with! As always, please send me artists, songs, and albums you’re interested in or would like covered, whether you're a band, an artist, or just a music lover! The DM’s on Instagram are always open, @unchartedmusicmag, and the email is sofia@unchartedmusicmag.com :P