Ivy S. Fowler

Anastasia Hera: “Wild” [PREMIERE]

Lavender Scare: “Prom Queen” [PREMIERE]

T-minus not nearly enough time to prep for end-of-year holiday chaos. I mean, family time. Meal prepping, gift buying, paraphernalia hiding – the end of the year comes with an abundance to do. Enter Anastasia Hera, Austin-born rapper, songwriter, founder of Creativity Abundance Knowledge Elevation (CAKE), a nonprofit supporting women and girls in music, and CEO of HERA Tropical Rum. If any to-do list could send me into an ADHD-induced freeze, it would be hers. That leads us to “Wild.”

The third track from Hera’s new full-length Way Outside, out on Dec. 13, is an “ode to rebellious and free spirits.” Hera’s smooth raspy flow complements her alto vocals and endearing lyrics of cherishing the wild side in others and herself. Opening with heavy dreamscapes, Hera professes “I just wanna let you know that I see you / beyond what the world be on.” Layered with jungle-esque backing and beats by Martinz Beats, “Wild” is a roller skating through-traffic with a Dairy Queen dip-cone and rainbow socks up to your-eyebrows kind of song. RAH, RAH! You’ll know it when you hear it.

“Way Outside” hails from Spaceflight Records who reps some KUTX familiars like Die Spitz, Nemegata, Lesly Reynaga and Deezie Brown. As is the point of “Wild,” you’ll be hard-pressed to find two sounds that are the same.

Suppose you could turn back time and redo high school with all the knowledge you have now; would you do it? Would you rig the elections and declare yourself prom royalty? Not get that haircut? Become the most well-adjusted and emotionally mature high schooler in history? Maybe…not. No bribe could ever convince me to take gym again. And in their new single “Prom Queen,” Lavender Scare agrees. Inspired by Buddy Holly and Weezer, “Prom Queen” is like if surf rock was the closeted quarterback, bubblegum pop punk was the secretly-emo head cheerleader, and together they christened the throwback-chic prom dance floor to Blink-182.

Lead singer and self-proclaimed vampire punk Ruby Del Mar is quintessential punk. Their logo and cover art for debut EP Bites is inspired by Del Mar’s actual mouth, fangs and all. The “Weezer-esque guitar” is brought to you by Lo Gomez, Jake Nunis bumps the bass and Vincent Milazzo percusses profusely. The band is hosting a punk prom themed single-release show tomorrow night at Drinks Backyard with Shysters and Fifi Knifefight. Music starts at 8 p.m. Consider this your official invitation to dress for the occasion. Time to bust out the skinny ties and Converse, y’all.

Holy Islands: “Happier Before”

The one that got away. No, you didn’t accidentally click away to an AI generated Hallmark script. Stay with me here. You’re the lone survivor on the last CapMetro of the night, rain peddling down your reflection in the window. Headphones in, pining for happier days. Something about the holiday blues that takes you back to words never said, fights you wish you could take back. Cathartic? Chris Evans hopes so. The former Black Books drummer has come home to Austin as solo project Holy Islands. Happier Before, Holy Islands’ debut EP, hits the shelves Jan. 17, but not before we get to taste test his introspective musical independence. The title track drops as a single today, and if you can’t wait a month for the full project, your encore single Angels is waiting for you patiently.

“Happier Before” took me through the five stages of grief in four-and-a-half minutes, so, mission accomplished? With his soft guitar picking and slow building percussion Evans urges listeners and himself to reflect, to feel understood and let go. Isn’t that a little what we all need right now? The soft voice of Holy Islands swaying us into a soul-searching lullaby. And a female president. Yeah, that sounds nice. Evans puts it best: “We are all Holy Islands. Sovereign. Sacred. Independent but fundamentally connected to one another. In a constant state of growth and change.”