Gabriel Black has been on the rise ever since he made waves with ‘sad boy’, which first opened our ears to his iconic mix of emo rock, hip-hop and alternative pop. Over time, the Pensylvanian artist has become more refined, both in production and the accompanying visuals, all of which are created by Gabriel Black himself. Now based in Los Angeles, things may have changed dramatically for the artist, but he still pines for the colder climes of his home state whilst simultaneously wishing for greater career propulsion as we hear in unmissable EP track ‘snow in LA’. Set over a minimalist soundscape built on simple piano, each of Black’s lyrics possesses a poetic directness, such as the opening line, “lay my matches on the floor, / I don’t need a frame I’m not a door.” These verses build to the anthemic sing-a-long chorus of the singularly powerful line, “I’m not moving quick enough, but still faster than I ever been.” It’s this surge of immense emotion that you the listener will ride upon; once again relaying Gabriel Black’s rare authenticity. Be sure to check out the full help me, i’m flying EP, which features other List Picks ‘Dead Yet’ and ‘Blue Skies’. - Hannah Thacker