In the latest iteration of The Big Baltimore Playlist, we found five local songs to listen to right now, ranging from psychedelic folk-rock and Grammy-nominated hip-hop to avant-garde instrumental music. Check back each month for new top tracks, and follow our Spotify playlist as we continue to build a soundtrack for our city.

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“A Prism In Reverse” by Arbouretum

Over the course of the last nearly two decades, Arbouretum has garnered a local and national cult following for its experimental folk-rock, and this first single off the band’s new album, Let It All In, due out late March, is a perfect example of that magnetic, mystical sound. Harking back to classic song structures in a fusion of English folk and 1970s psychedelia, it’s a slow, steady march, always trudging forward, leading the listener through a vivid dream world from times gone by. A delicate but persistent melody,frontman Dave Heumann’s prosaic lyrics ride on undulating waves of reverberating guitar and resolute drums with the occasional windswept woodwind. In the end, he follows a mysterious maiden into the woods, perhaps a metaphor for finding solace in the natural world.

“Fanfare for Effective Freedom” by Horse Lords

It’s been four years since the last full-length release from Horse Lords, and with The Common Task, also due out in March, the avant-garde quartet returns with a potent first single that bottles all the unbridled energy that inspired their loyal fanbase over the last decade. Not shy about their self-described radical politics, the record points to a “utopian, modernist ideal,” with this first single tipping its hat to an early 20th-century progressive philosophy on individual freedom. Across seven minutes, both singular sounds and stratified polyrhythms oscillate between tight, insistent melodies and wide, unwieldly soundscapes. Whatever your leanings, it’s an intricate groove filled with inertia and possibility, continuing the band’s quest of making music for “the liberation of mind and body.”

“Sway Me, Sway Me Into the Arms of the Lord” by Infinity Knives

Infinity Knives is a project that welcomes us into the mind and myriad inspirations of Tariq Ravelomanana. Each of the artist’s eclectic tracks are a singular sound collage, mingling moods, from light and airy to murky and otherworldly, as well as musical genres like hip-hop, electronic, and classical. On his second album, Dear, Sudan—a full-length part-two to his spring 2019 debut—his production excels at both minimalist and complex. In the midst arrives this gorgeous seventh song. A raw, sparse, poignant piano melody builds up and fans out with digital flourishes and the layered vibrato vocals of local musician and Mind On Fire member Allison Clendaniel. Together, they float, then soar, like a bird in flight.

“You Can’t Put My Fire Out” by Letitia VanSant

Make this second single off Letitia VanSant’s new album an anthem for 2020. Circadian, out late next month, reflects on our natural rhythms, and this holy roller single is a waking moment, and one of reckoning. Known for fusing personal and political, the singer embraces both on this fiery, fearless new track, penned during the Supreme Court hearings of Brett Kavanaugh. “This song came out of reclaiming my narrative and sense of self-worth,” wrote VanSant, a survivor of sexual abuse herself, and the aftermath is the songwriter at her strongest yet. Building on the growth of her 2018 debut, Gut It to the Studs, her robust melody-making is on full display, and her rich vocal command roars to new heights. Letitia arrives ready to take on the world, and show it what she’s made of.

“Bad Idea” by YBN Cordae

One big takeaway from this year’s Grammy Awards? YBN Cordae. Nominated for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song, the 22-year-old rapper and Prince George’s County native has emerged as a rising star for his playful yet reflective approach to hip-hop. On his debut, The Lost Boy, the former Towson University student has recorded with such big names as Anderson .Paak, Pusha T, Meek Mill, and Chance the Rapper, as on this nominated single. Combining nimble verses with a bright, bouncy sample of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s “Be Real Black For Me,” Cordae tells his come-up story, speaking on humble beginnings, big dreams, and found success. Be on the lookout for more to come from this promising artist.

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

 EAT

December 16: S’mores, Stars, & the Winter Solstice

Lake Roland, 1000 Lakeside Dr. 6-8 p.m. $3-5. 410-887-4156.

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, we’re reminded of how quickly we’re approaching the next solstice and the official start of winter. Despite drop in temperature, celebrate this astronomical phenomenon with lessons about the night sky and folklore of holiday traditions. While you’re huddled beneath thick blankets, you can warm up by the bonfire at Lake Roland, roast some marshmallows, and assemble your own s’mores. This campfire classic—toasted mallow and melted chocolate sandwiched between crunchy graham crackers—will keep you cozy all night.

 DRINK

December 15: Comedy & Cocktails

Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N. Howard St. 8-9:30 p.m. $10. 443-844-9253.

They say that laughter is the best medicine, and with 2017 going out in such a successfully stressful bang, we have to admit: We could really use a strong prescription. This Friday, Single Carrot is bringing us some relief with an evening of standup comedy with the added bonus of cocktails. Throw back some laughs with Baltimore’s up-and-coming comedians, including Peter Muth, Bryan Preston, and headliner Chelsea Shorte, at the intimate local theater located in Remington. And if you need help loosening up, take advantage of a free drink—be it spiked apple cider, special cocktails, Natty Boh, or wine. 

 SEE

December 16: Post Typography Print & Poster Sale

Post Typography, 2219 St. Paul St. 12-4 p.m. Free. 410-889-7469.

We don’t know about you, but we gush over beautiful typography and clean designs, especially those of concert-poster principal Post Typography. If you feel the same way, stop by the press’s Old Goucher studio this Saturday for its annual print and poster sale. Whether you’re looking to complete your office aesthetic or hunting for a reasonably priced gift, you’ll stumble upon a smorgasbord of artwork packed with personality, color, and fantastic fonts on everything from paper products to ephemera and apparel. They’ll certainly have the classic Bill Murray Groundhog Day movie poster (an oversized image of Murray made from thousands of pixelated Bills). But keep your eyes out for some specials, including a special Future Islands touring poster that doubles as a giant constellation chart, signed posters from the Maryland Film Festival, and out-of-print Double Dagger vinyl. Items can’t be reserved ahead of time, so make sure you’re one of the first to get there. 

 HEAR

December 16: 15 Years of Arbouretum

Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 9 p.m. $10-12. 410-662-0069. 

Since 2002, this legendary quartet has captured local audiences with their intricate jams, profound and poetic lyrics, and distinctive brand of alternative rock. Even after a years-long hiatus, fans remained loyal and hoped for a comeback, which, luckily, they got. In March, the band unveiled Song of the Rose, an album comprised of eight tracks displaying their compelling sound. It led to star reviews and a jam-packed show at the Ottobar with listeners young and old. This Saturday, hear them live in celebration of 15 years of success, along with guests Television Hill and Stephen Strohmeier. While you’re there, don’t forget to pick up a limited-edition vinyl of their new record.

 DO

December 16: Holiday Heap

Space 2640, 2640 St. Paul St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Choosing the right gift for someone can be a difficult task, but with everything being mass-produced these days, the answer is kind of obvious. There’s nothing better than giving or getting a one-of-a-kind gift, especially one that’s made right here in Baltimore. On Saturday, check things off your holiday with a medley of handmade goods crafted by more than 50 local and regional artists. If you need suggestions, check out the repurposed china necklaces made by The Broken Plate, vinegar-infused wellness tonics by Red Root & Co., popsicle-shaped crayons by A Childhood Store, and waxed Army duck canvas bags by Stitch & Rivet. You can even test out your own DIY skills and make your own gift at the Artists and Craftsman Supply’s craft demo. 

Arbouretum

Song of the Rose (Thrill Jockey)

All hail Arbouretum. The nearly 15-year-old Baltimore rock band is back after a four-year hiatus, and this new album only adds to the group’s celebrated canon of sound. Across eight tracks, the local quartet carries on its trademark mix of classic rock, elaborate jams, and baroque folk founded in sludgy tempos and searing guitar. Be it a thunderous anthem or low, lilting ballad, each song winds its way through the labyrinthine lyrics of frontman Dave Heumann (with an assist from unofficial bandmate Rob Wilson), who ruminates like a poet philosopher. Tackling heady topics like mythology and nature, the album is a sort of psychedelic meditation, pushing and pulling you through the motion of its heavy, hypnotic melodies. Listen, contemplate, explore—each song is a thick forest worthy of getting lost in.

Michael Nau

Some Twist (Suicide Squeeze)

Dreamy and introspective, this music is made for the hazy days of summer. Cumberland native Michael Nau follows up his 2016 solo debut with a velvety suite of vintage-tinged tunes that radiate like a reverie. The indie songwriter, formerly of local bands Page France and Cotton Jones, is known for his tender vocals and nostalgic folk sound, infused with a gentle country twang and the golden shimmer of ’60s soul and pop. Lush and layered, these 12 tracks are simple and lovely at their core—a jangle of tambourine here, a swell of steel guitar there, the perfect heart-punch of piano. At times, he even sounds like the luminous lovechild of Kurt Vile and Harvest Moon Neil Young. Add him to your warm weather playlist and spread good vibes all dog-day afternoon.