Latest Posts

Phantom Sugar – KATANA

March 31, 2025

“I’ve got a sharp katana deep in my back…” is how a John Wick movie could start, but it’s instead a line pulled from Phantom Sugar‘s newest track (you guessed it) “KATANA.” The title and subject matter; “getting stabbed in the back by a trusted ally and the conversation post betrayal” could go in any direction musically, but Stefano Zita et al stick with their tried-and-true brand of lo-fi pop rock (and golly, does it work!).   The guitar work is impressive but not overwrought, which is refreshing to hear. While there is a time and place for 45 layers of guitar on a track, sometimes the straightforward method is the best delivery. Coupled with earnest lyrics laying bare the feelings associated with swords in your back, you’re in for quite the treat… If being stabbed in the back is your thing.   You can hear “Katana” below from Soundcloud[...]

Honey I’m Home – Wishful Thinking

March 31, 2025

Amsterdam based Honey I’m Home brings us their latest and *checks notes* first single. Apparently putting the cart before the horse, the band has toured extensively since their inception in 2024 and then released their initial single “Wishful Thinking” in 2025.   The track itself is a delicious slice of shoegazy goodness with the haze turned up to 11. Layers of dirty guitar coalesce around a message of “…the longing to reconnect with people no longer in your life, whether it’s a lost love or a departed family member” (as per guitarist Thom Schotanus). Dreampop effects with the vocals and instrumentals give it that patented ethereal feel that you can’t go wrong with.   Hopefully we don’t have to wait a whole year for another single and more music is on the way long before! Until then, you can listen below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. Drop the band an IG follow[...]

Baang – “Back Around”

March 31, 2025

Rising artist Baang (Believe, Aspire, Achieve, Now Go) is the face of the Arkansas rap scene, and a curator of refreshing, effortless hip hop tracks. His latest single “Back Around” captures the emotions of returning to your hometown, bringing your new experiences back to rekindling relationships. It’s also a love song. Baang nonchalantly discusses the differences in his upbringing with his interest, comparing their families; “I heard your daddy’s a doctor writing prescription, you know my brother is a doctor, he sell pills.” Baang also explores their partnership, how intertwined their emotions have become and quelling doubts over if he’s actually “back around.” Even with a mellow, composed delivery, the track’s hook sticks in your ears and its beat pairs well with a late night car ride. Toss it on when you’re thinking of someone. Check out more from Baang on Spotify and discover more artists like him on our[...]

Bryan Dubay – “Call Your Mother”

March 31, 2025

Man of many talents/genres Bryan Dubay is back with another song – this one called “Call Your Mother.” Not known to pigeonhole himself into one genre, Bryan’s latest is folk-forward, showcasing sighing steel guitars and acoustic strumming as the buttresses for his pleasant vocal timbre. His influences, think Elliott Smith and Fleet Foxes, come together perfectly here, melding the former’s intimate singer/songwriter presence with the modern-day folksy sensibilities of the latter. “Call Your Mother” is more for an evening spent fireside (since we’re all still freezing up here in Buffalo) rather than a dive bar barnburner, so brew yourself a nice cup of cocoa, bundle up, and enjoy Dubay’s latest this evening.   “Call Your Mother” is available now via your preferred streaming service.  

SAADI – “Hollow Body”

March 30, 2025

LA based Boshra AlSaadi, better known as SAADI brings us her latest single, “Hollow Body.” An artist and musician several times over, this is her first solo release since her 2020 self-titled album. Written with friend Chris Coady, it was, of all things, inspired by… Cyndi Lauper? SAADI had this to say:   “The initial inspiration was Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” but it soon took on a life of its own, especially after I added the Stratocaster guitar rhythm track.”   The track itself is a synth and/or bass affair (I’ll explain later), with the occasional rhythm guitar popping up for some added zest. I’m really bad (or synths are really good) at picking out string vs. synth sometimes, but there’s a particular tone that’s littered throughout (you can hear it most in the first 45 seconds of track). That one? Yeah you can hear it. Love that. I’m[...]

Bedolina – “We Are the Clock Ourselves Again”

March 30, 2025

“We Are the Clock Ourselves Again” manages to raise interesting philosophical considerations, like, what does that even mean? It also happens to be Ken Gould’s latest single – playing under the guise of his latest act Bedolina. There’s no other way to describe it, but this track friggin’ sets an incredible groove and just runs with it, but in the chillest way possible. I felt some whispers of Tom Petty; not only how Gould carries himself lyrically but the way guitar intersects with the ever-present bass.   You might think effortlessly rocking this hard and making it sound easy is the hallmark of a strong musician… and you’re almost there. Bedolina feels more like a force (kids these days might call it a “vibe”) and you’ll surely not be disappointed for letting your ears reckon with it (works better calling it a “force” because it sounds weird to reckon with[...]

Devantier Rain – “PHANTOM OF THE DRAMA”

March 27, 2025

German-Cameroonian artist Devantier Rain infuses his roots into an eclectic new single with his latest release “PHANTOM OF THE DRAMA.” Anchored by a Cameroonian choir and immaculately produced electronic elements, “PHANTOM” is a track that bends between hip hop and R+B. The choir sample murmurs and echoes behind Devantier’s thoughts about life and love in a potential relationship. Is his perceived Lois Lane genuine, or a phantom that he’s conjured? “PHANTOM” poses the questions; Devantier might have the answers – we’ll leave it up to you to decide. Cameroon choir chants take this to another dimension sonically, regardless of the legitimacy of Devantier’s phantom love. Check out more from Devantier on YouTube and Spotify and make sure to check out our emerging hip hop playlist on Spotify.

Transmission Lost – “Hometown Zeroes for 2”

March 26, 2025

“Hometown Zeroes for 2” is the latest single from five piece alt rockers Transmission Lost. I was disappointed that there isn’t a Hometown Zeroes for 1, but I canceled my disappointment when I saw they had a track called “Smashing Pumpkins” that was honestly hilarious (check that out after you listen to HTZF2 though).   I could try to tell you “yo, these guitars rip” or “man this track slaps” (which, honestly, true)… BUT, just listen for the first minute and tell me you don’t feel something right around the :36 mark. Felt that in my soul.   You can hear “Hometown Zeroes for 2” below on the band’s SoundCloud or throw it on your latter aughts alt rock playlist. These guys seriously know how to rock and do it in *style*.   Transmission Lost · Hometown Zeroes for 2

Eric Gabriel – “Long Gone”

March 26, 2025

Reverb and effects with synth (or guitar, hard to tell sometimes) your thing? Buddy, do I have the thing for you! Eric Gabriel’s latest single “Long Gone,” off of his March 21st album Samara, is that thing for you… In case you forgot what we were talking about.   It fits perfectly between your ears for a pensive evening drive, or, for addition to your indie-electronica adjacent playlist (or both). This is also great for people who think music needs more syncopated beats. The rest of the album is a fun listen too, especially if you enjoy a *whole* album and not just the singles and you’re looking for tonal shifts in abundance.   You can hear “Long Gone” and the rest from Samara below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify.  

Love Ghost – “Just Another Sunday”

March 26, 2025

“Just Another Sunday” or another new track from Love Ghost? Well, it’s both… Even though it’s another Wednesday (currently). It’s also a collab with Jazz Moon, an Austrian musician! While I couldn’t find much info on her, she nonetheless has a magnificent set of pipes and we’ll hopefully hear more from her soon. Love Ghost, on the other hand, is Finnegan Seeker Bell, whom we’ve written about previously here and here (a fun album to bite into, also a collab).   The track itself is a hazy IPA with indie rock hops with notes of grunge malt adding to the sound (flavor?). Straight out of the bottle, the guitar is initially subdued but ebbs and flows with extra layers becoming evident, especially with the finish that fades out just over the three minute mark. IPAs aren’t for everyone, (and neither is beer, as my editor will attest) but this is[...]

Freddy Printz – “Father Figures Freestyle”

March 25, 2025

Ottawa emcee Freddy Printz crosses off all the checkboxes of a tight freestyle on his newest track “Father Figures Freestyle.” Let’s get into it: First off, Freddy wastes no time. 1:48 minutes of no filler, no chorus needed, just bars. Secondly the bars are tight too. Freddy floats through one liners while effortlessly teasing his skills with the pen – “I was just one of them ones. Couldn’t be bothered – Freddy just followed the funds.” And like all good freestyles, the beat is one we wanna hear again. “Father Figures Freestyle” prominently features a sax effort that might fit in just as well on a deep house track. If you’ve got a playlist for freestyles and rap tracks with short runtimes, toss this in the mix. Check out Freddy on our Underground Hip Hop playlist and listen to more from him on Spotify and Soundcloud.

ProleteR & Napoleon Da Legend – “First Love”

March 23, 2025

French beatmaker ProleteR joins forces with buzzy DC emcee Napoleon Da Legend to write a love letter to hip hop on their newest track “First Love.” Napoleon snatches the mic and transports us here – both with his golden era-influenced rapping delivery and his vivid lyrics. “First Love” sounds like a journal entry to an adolescent crush but evolves into capturing the emotions and opportunities Da Legend associates with hip hop, which “turned this introvert into a virtuoso.” ProleteR cooks up a classic 90s boom bap beat with some soul samples chopped in, teasing his specialty electro-swing production style. Napoleon also has French roots – rapping in English on “First Love” but known for his bilingual lyrics on other tracks. “First Love” appears on ProleteR’s newest project Temperamental Cats – an LP that puts his full production chops on display, and one that released just last week. Listen to more[...]

Drew Drake – “Holy”

March 22, 2025

Multi-hyphenate artist Drew Drake uses a chipmunk soul sample to hit a higher power with some hard question on his latest track “Holy.” The actor, poet and hip hop artist’s new effort questions the intersection of his faith and life’s hardships. An Alvin-pitched chorus beckons for something “Holy” throughout the production, as Drew references calls, letters and prayers to God that have gone unanswered. The “lost solider” ponders where their relationship currently is, what it ever was, and calls himself a “seed that didn’t grow.” Drew also takes on hook duties with a vulnerable singing delivery, layered carefully with more voices trying to unwrap their relationship with holiness. Check out more from Drew on YouTube and check out more exciting new artists on our Spotify playlist. 

Goat Farm – “Down the Spine”

March 21, 2025

We recently stumbled upon Rochester-based quartet Goat Farm in our inbox and couldn’t believe they hadn’t been on our radar until now. The “alternative metal” act sure makes a ton of noise with their guitar-forward, shoegaze-adjacent sound. They are hot off releasing their debut, three-song offering, Nature Takes Its Course – but our first introduction to this unit was actually the b-side to said EP, “Down the Spine.”   After a trippy, phaser-laden intro, bassist/vocalist Mimi Snyder launches in with a vocal presence that ranges from lilting, to pained, to ferocious (see the screaming around the 4:30 mark). Guitarists Sage Alice and Molly Mink conjure a maelstrom of guitar noise, often layered thick with swirling effects or heady fuzz – while drummer Stephen Coleman keeps the song pounding with hammering intensities. Shoegazers will love the quiet/loud dynamics found throughout this six+ minute journey, while metalheads and/or punks will appreciate the[...]

Moon Age – “Time is Running Out”

March 20, 2025

Clear some space and pump this one up because it’s groovy baby. “Time is Running Out” is the chillest vibe I’ve felt in awhile because, I’ll tell you what: I do know a chill vibe when I hear it. UK based duo Moon Age are clearly products of the 80’s or really really really love working that [metaphorical] thang. Bass licks marinating in pools of synth with the softest, slickest vocals you could ever hope to find could have easily found their way to the GTA: Vice City soundtrack.   You can hear “Time is Running Out” below from Soundcloud, or over on Spotify. Their first single “Lie to Me” is equally groovetacular and well worth the listen on the aforementioned music sites. I’m not saying you should throw these on your sexytimes playlist, but you’d be a fool if you did not.   Moon Age · Moon Age –[...]