Living Singles: Must Hear Songs from Salamanda, Enumclaw, and Toro y Moi

In KEXP's new weekly series Living Singles, the KEXP staff contributors highlight three brand new singles that are resonating with them right now. Listen to Janice Headley talk about her picks alongside Sound & Vision's Rachel Stevens or read about the songs below. 

Salamanda - “Truffles Sprinkles” 

Salamanda is a duo comprised of two producers from Seoul, South Korea. They perform under the moniker “Sala” and “Manda.” Their music takes inspiration from Studio Ghibli films, PC games, NASA and space, and the “fantasy genre” in general. I’ve read that their music is meant to be a conduit for the duo to create their own fantasy worlds and tap into their childhood imaginations, which is a headspace I’m personally always eager to get back to as well. 

I think I first found their music digging through Bandcamp, as I am wont to do. Becoming a parent last year, I’ve had to be really intentional about music discovery. I worry a lot about getting “out of the loop” (more on that later) and getting too complacent. I love a good throwback, but I never want to fall back on just listening to the same records over and over while missing out on exciting new music that’s coming out every day. There’s always a need to balance both, but sometimes I just want to challenge myself with something new and Salamanda does that for me in the best way. 

I love how vivid their music is and especially their latest single “Truffles Sprinkles.” Even when I can’t describe exactly what I’m feeling, I can feel my imagination reeling like a DALL-E AI generator. This song also reminds me of the Akira soundtrack, which is always a great thing. If you like this song, definitely check out Salamanda’s album ashbalkum that they released earlier this year on Human Pitch Records. 

Enumclaw - “Cowboy Bepop” 

I grew up on heavier “indie rock” or “alternative” music, but in the past few years I feel like I’d started to drift away from it - particularly during the pandemic when so much of what I wanted to listen to was to try and quell anxiety or find some piece. But when Enumclaw came out last year with their first single “Fast N All” it just hit me like a ton of bricks. 

Enumclaw is based out of Tacoma and lead singer Aramis has been a fixture of the Tacoma and Seattle hip-hop scene for years. I’ve been aware of his work mostly with the Toe Jam parties and secret shows he’s put on as well as his work with the always excellent Bujemane. It was a shock to see Aramis suddenly fronting a band but I was also so psyched. Apparently, most of the members hadn’t played their instruments prior to starting Enumclaw, which just makes it all the more amazing. They came out of the gate calling themselves “the best band since Oasis.” While I’m all for humility, it’s refreshing to see a band be so transparent with their ambitions. 

I saw Enumclaw perform just as live music was starting to come back last year and then saw them again at KEXP 50. It’s startling to see how quickly they’ve risen to arena-ready performance. I had my daughter strapped to my chest in the baby carrier and she kept clapping along through their set – I can think of no higher form of praise. 

I’ve been loving all the new singles from their upcoming album Save the Baby and “Cowboy Bepop” is just continuing their streak. It has a nostalgic quality to it – doesn’t hurt that the song borrows its name from the great ‘90s anime (though I’m still wondering why the song is called “Bepop” instead of “Bebop”). 

Toro y Moi - “The Loop” 

Toro y Moi’s MAHAL has already been out for a couple of months, but I was really struck by this single from the record. To be honest, when MAHAL first came out I wasn’t connecting with it. But I’ve come to know when something just isn’t for me or when it’s just not the right time. Like it might’ve been a grey day or I was in a bad mood. Then that heat wave hit the other week when it was like 90 degrees every day and I put the album on and it clicked. I’ve always dug Toro y Moi but this is the first record that I’ve felt really connected with. 

“The Loop” was a standout for me immediately. The lyrics I find really relatable. This desire to be “in the loop” on what’s going on that competes with this even bigger desire to “not be in the loop.  Now being a parent, I find myself worried about not being aware of what’s happening in pop culture, but also really enjoy the bliss of being disconnected and just being with my daughter. I think it’s comparable to him singing about riding horses, being off the grid, and finding his bliss away from the “online cringe” Also, this song is just so funky. How could you not love it?