NME’s latest stars of The Cover, Chanel Beads, have created an exclusive playlist to accompany the story’s launch – check it out below.
The rising New York band are on this week’s (July 27) edition of The Cover, a manifestation of NME’s commitment to supporting emerging talent across the globe on a weekly basis. Every week, a rising artist will feature on The Cover – you can read Chanel Beads’ profile here, written by Priya Elan and featuring photography by Eve Alpert.
Alongside their The Cover story, Chanel Beads have curated an exclusive playlist, titled ‘Eternal Music’. The eclectic collection includes tracks by director Hal Hartley, Puerto Rican rapper Don Omar and Scottish rock band Cocteau Twins, among others. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify below and on Apple Music.
It’s hard not to fall under the spell of Chanel Beads. Their dreamlike sound is an amalgam of melancholic new age, ’80s new wave, hypnagogic psychedelia, nursery-rhyme sweetness and ‘found sounds’. It’s a sonic hybrid that feels wholly otherworldly, located in a liminal zone beyond space and time. There’s a surreal cinematic quality to it, echoing the meta-filmscape of I Saw The TV Glow.
Over two albums, both called ‘Your Day Will Come’, Chanel Beads have, sonically at least, created a universe of chill-waved ghost pop. They may have antecedents in the likes of Broken Social Scene, Ariel Pink and Alex G, but what they’ve made is uniquely theirs. That individual streak has been present since they released their first EP, ‘Zut Alors’, in 2018, and coursed through 2022 breakout single ‘Ef’. It’s also what’s attracted a swell of fans, including fellow musicians Billie Eilish, Lorde and Frank Ocean.
Read Chanel Beads’ full Cover story here and find out who else has been on The Cover here.
Every year, NME produces 50 Cover stories, showcasing the future of music via in-depth profiles and exclusive photoshoots. Check out our coffee table book NME The Cover 2024-2025, which features the likes of Kneecap, Lola Young, Amaarae, LE SSERAFIM, Oklou and many more.