Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1523410
104 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2024 T H R O N E Royal Jelly With their second album, indie duo T H R O N E (artists YVHIKV and Hayatheus) prove that when music is impactful, there's no need to define it. Their 2024 album fuses social commentary with poetry and lyrics over layered beats, soundbites, and musical stylings. If their last album was a reminder of 90s hip-hop and neo- soul artists like Erykah Badu, then Royal Jelly is pure art. From influencer culture to AI's impact on artistic expression, this album has something to say. Funk-forward dance numbers like "The War is Yours" balance harder-hitting, punk-fueled tracks like "I Need to Go Viral." In "The Choking Truth," Yvhikv's honey-smooth voice haunts in acapella. On the duo's first album, Lionfish, Yvhikv, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, sang half of the title track in the Muscogee language. On Royal Jelly, her voice ties the album together, adding texture and depth to both the sound and the message. —H.A. (Editor's note: T H R O N E is not Macon-based, but our city is built on Muscogee (Creek) land.) T I E R B L U E Relearning Old Tricks Tier Blue writes infectious songs that straddle the gap between pop and rock. On "Relearning Old Tricks," the group expertly cultivates an accessible sound that oozes good times, but it isn't dumbed down for the masses. Gorgeous melodies give way to synth stabs and washes, creating a lush bed for soaring guitar lines driven forward to anthemic proportions by powerful yet intricate rhythms. "Relearning Old Tricks" is proof that intelligent music, made carefully, can still be fun. — J.C. T R A V I S D E N N I N G Roads That Go Nowhere This one's for the country lovers with a whole lot of mud on their tires or those who love a little bit of heartbreak. The 31-year-old Warner Robins native headed Tennessee in 2014. The Nashville gloss goes down smooth, but the real satisfaction waits in the rasp underneath. While this is his debut full-length album, Denning has cut his teeth in mainstream country radio with hits co-written for the likes of Jason Aldean and Morgan Wallen. His fellow Central Georgians will appreciate the sense of place in "Southern Rock," a snarling anthem, and "Ocmulgee River," a sweetly yearning love note home. — S.S.S. Z A C H W I L S O N The Introduction A young man with an old soul making new jazz in the heart of Georgia. Perry-born, Atlanta-based Zach Wilson presents himself to the world with this first studio album. Recorded at Capricorn with a band of other young artists, including Real Talk Hip Hop Summit producer and trumpeter Vinson Muhammad, Wilson takes the listener down a trail of jazz fusion that harkens to Herbie Hancock and modern groups like Snarky Puppy. "Maiden Voyage" is a must-listen, featuring a beautiful intro by Howard High grad and Berklee-trained violinist Ashley Pointer, followed by momentum- building percussion and horns. The covers, like "Message in a Bottle," hold true but allow the vibrant artists to breathe creatively. Jazz-lovers will find reason to appreciate "The Introduction" to Wilson's musical career. – I.M. 1 0 H O T S I N G L E S 2 W I N Handling Business B O B L E N N O N x A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N A Stranger Things (remix) C H A R L E S D A V I S & T H E V E LV E T S O U N D Wanderer M I K E C L A R K , J R . Got It Going On S I S T E R S A N D O Z Runaway S E A N S O L O Nothing New Under the Sun S H Y C O M PA N Y In Love B L A K 9 E A R L & C M D S T Y L E Z Southern Soul Party T H E W A R A N D T R E AT Y feat. Charles Davis on background vocals Lead Me Home W A S H E D O U T The Hardest Part SCAN THE QR CODE FOR THE FULL HOMESPUN PLAYLIST.