In these trying times wherein every club and bar this side of the Hudson is shuttered indefinitely, we need a bop, a slapper, a two-step inducing jam to keep the party-in-place going. Thankfully, a champion emerges in the form of producer-songwriter-multihpyhenate Tatum Gale, whose new track “Joanna” provides the necessary downtempo vibe for a socially responsible indoor kickback. Vocalist Laura Jinn takes centerstage, with a sultry performance unraveling an indoor tale of unrequited love, soft-spoken both in its narrative and supporting production; shimmering keys and a chilled percussive beat make for a hazy instrumental that evokes feelings past, consistently minimalist yet always present and grooving. Reminiscent of the scaled-back atmospheric instrumentals heard on Yaeji’s EP2 and the progressive, dance-forward chillstep of Toro y Moi, it’s required listening for those among us with restless feet, seeking some necessary motion-inducing music — stream our premiere below, and keep an eye out for Gale’s sophomore EP Both dropping May 1st.

“Blue Haze” is the latest “end-of-summer glassy groove” from New York synth outsider Tatum Gale, and while billed as a seasonally-apt slow jam when it came out in September, it’s spooky, dark drops resonate just as closely during these sub-30 November nights. Between its hazy chords and spacey percussive backbone, the track endows the listeners with a sense of distance, making it perfect listening for a small kickback among close friends or a dissociative episode in the club. Gale’s additional ability to inject indietronica into a future-funk bop gives “Blue Haze” a sound that’s accessible as it is groovy; stream it below to get your weekend started right. —Connor Beckett McInerney

It’s hard not to smile when listening to “Crocodilian,” a self-described “little indie bop” by Brooklyn synthpop artist Tatum Gale. It’s an accurate descriptor, given the track’s shuffling measure, it’s kitschy, bright keys, and Gale’s honest lyricism about relationships and, well, crocodiles. The track is accompanied by a music video that’s equally heartfelt, with the artist hitchhiking his way around the city with the help of a friendly anthropomorphized croc; while the visual is silly, it demonstrates Gale’s willingness to bare his soul in a way that’s truly genuine and unabashedly fun. Watch it below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)