Latest Posts

The Slashes – “Dead Majesty”

August 3, 2023

Hailing from So-Cal, self-described “borderland post punk” group The Slashes brings us a goth-tinged delight with “Dead Majesty.” The bass does much of the heavy lifting with some sick riffs, but singer Esteban Rene keeps things spooky with his haunting voice and ethereal sounding guitar. Fans of Interpol, She Wants Revenge, or The Cure will find lots to dig into on this one… Evoking the usual Cure and Interpol comparisons is easy to do, and even accurate to a point, but The Slashes put forth a good case with enough to differentiate them from contemporaries in the genre. You can hear “Dead Majesty” and more of the band’s tracks over on Spotify or Bandcamp. Be sure to let us know if you’d like to hear more from this band or post punk in general! Dead Majesty by The Slashes

Bogan Via – “Everything’s Ok”

July 30, 2023

Bogan Via is an Arizona-based duo comprised of Bret Bender and Madeleine Miller and “Everything’s Ok” is their latest single (and synth pop is their game). Delightfully twee upon the first listen, “Everything’s Ok” has a bit more bite as you pull it apart and reveals a bittersweet song dealing with grief, goodbyes, and eventually healing. Bender and Miller harmonize together seamlessly and drift apart as they trade verses and play off of gossamer synth repeating throughout, reminiscent of Beach House or Still Corners. This contrasts nicely with past works which include some tracks with less emotional oomph and more musical oomph, along with light hip hop influences. Bogan Via honestly looks like a riot to hang out with, a quick perusal of their Insta has everything from brooding album cover looking filtered pics, to Eric Andre, to fun live shots. Be sure to check out “Everything’s Ok” over on[...]

MÒZÂMBÎQÚE x Destiny Molina x The Philharmonik – “Embrace”

July 30, 2023

Laden with effects, gratuitous synth, and collaborating with Destiny Molina and The Philharmonik, “Embrace” is the glitzy, impeccably produced single off of artist MÒZÂMBÎQÚE’s EP Peril 1998. There is a lot to unpack here and multiple listens are rewarding, so I would definitely recommend using that repeat button for a few takes. Born Andrew Smith, MÒZÂMBÎQÚE came about after a post-college backpacking trip to Africa. Drawing from that experience and his love of the outdoors, MÒZÂMBÎQÚE likes to translate that for his listeners; “It’s like passing on a nostalgic experience or good memories.” If you’re reading this and thinking “Well Chris, I only like the freshest indie music with guitars and stuff, why this?”  I’d probably say something like “Give it a listen, it has great beats and a fantastic jumping off point, even if you’re not much of an electronic music listener. You should go to Spotify or Apple Music and[...]

Mali Velasquez – “Tore”

July 30, 2023

“Tore” is lead single off of Mali Velasquez‘s forthcoming debut album Green, which drops October 13. Introspective but not to the point of excess, “Tore” is Velasquez’s ode to her own self-sabotage and, as she put it: “… I have no idea how to combat being embarrassed all the time still, but explaining it some has helped…I put a lot of my ideas of not knowing how to feel or what to do or eat or wear into this song.” The understated instrumentals enhance Valasquez’s strong vocals throughout the track and invite comparisons to sad-girl indie darlings Phoebe Bridgers or Lomelda without being a carbon copy. We’ll hopefully see another single before October 13, but for now feel free to check out “Tore” over on Spotify or the 90’s vibe music video available on Youtube.

Rilo Wye – “Cold Front”

July 30, 2023

“Cold Front” is the latest single from LA artist Riley Sieverts and his newest project, Rilo Wye, and it is anything but cold. A diddly of a guitar intro gives way to a tight bass line and Sieverts’ relaxed vocals; the latter certainly informed growing up around Rastafarian and surf culture in Honolulu. As he put it, “Surfing was my first passion. As a kid I spent hours watching old surf videos, and that vibe hovers in the background of every track I make.” His straightforward yet relaxed style is reminiscent of Rex Orange County, Crumb, or a slightly less whispery/depressing Sufjan Stevens. Fans of all three and everything in between would certainly find something to enjoy with “Cold Front,” which you can find on Spotify along with his 2022 EP Better for Whatever Reason. Be sure to let us know your thoughts on “Cold Front” and if you’d like more[...]

Coyle Girelli – “Museum Day”

July 21, 2023

I’m not quite sure how karaoke, museums, and surfing have any semblance of a cohesive date night, but Coyle Girelli finds the links (and the hooks) in his newest single “Museum Day.” “I want to go out/ anywhere with you,” he croons in this post-punk infused banger; ostensibly describing the perfect partner and how it doesn’t matter what they’re doing, as long as it’s together. The subtle bass riffs help carry the guitar licks throughout, occasionally giving way to understated drum beats that allow Girelli’s crooning voice to shine frame by frame. If you told Interpol that they were allowed to be happy sometimes and gave Paul Banks a puppy and sent him to the beach, you’d come close to the vibe of “Museum Day.” Be sure to give that and Coyle Girelli’s other tracks a listen over on Spotify, and let us know what you think over on our[...]

Ava Earl – “Jealous of Her”

July 20, 2023

Alaskan-based songstress Ava Earl brings us a folk-tinged, twee sounding melody in “Jealous of Her” off of her forthcoming album Too Much. Speaking to the track, Earl had this to say: “‘Jealous of Her’ is about coping with unrequited feelings. In many of my songs, I like to take real life inspiration, and elevate it to a place somewhat outside of reality, and that’s what I did with this song.” Impeccably produced tracks combining Earl’s incredible voice with guitar and background effects that resonate throughout make “Jealous” stand out through a sea of indie-country adjacent crossovers. Listeners looking for (or listening for) something less mainstream than the almighty Taylor Swift yet still palatable to your indie sensibilities (a la Phoebe Bridgers) would find a lot to enjoy with Ava Earl. You can find “Jealous of Her” over on Spotify, along with a strong backlog of well crafted songs and albums.

Late Guest At The Party – “Strapped To The Rhythm”

July 20, 2023

Brooklyn based indie electronic group Late Guest At The Party (henceforth LGATP) brings us a fun effects-laden ballad for you here in “Strapped to the Rhythm.” If you’re more of an indie person but are looking for that crossover that sways you ,look no further than “Strapped to the Rhythm;” a superbly fun beat to bop around or dance to and infinitely catchy. Taking a page from fellow NYC indie darlings LCD Soundsystem, (::cough:: James Murphy ::cough::) LGATP plays around with composition and finds fun ways to subvert the genre. Speaking to that, the band said: “Usually, we go for strong beats and dance rhythms but this time we decided to leave all that behind and write a “no-beat-ballad.” Be sure to check out “Strapped to the Rhythm” on Spotify and Bandcamp as well as the recently remixed version “Strapped To The Rhythm (Drums of Death Version).” DoDV takes the[...]

Midnight Granger – “Hey Now”

July 20, 2023

“Hey Now” is the newest single from mysterious indie artist Nicholas Levenson under the guise of Midnight Granger (can I call you Nick or do you prefer Midnight?). Looking for dulcet, folk-adjacent guitar with light drums and bass with a smattering of piano (and harmonica)? Say no more fam. Better than the sum of its parts, “Hey Now” shines brightest with Levenson’s understated lyrics that pair nicely with the aforementioned accompaniment. As a whole, this is roughly the equivalent of a stripped down Randy Newman (of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” fame), giving him a magical indie artist serum without the use of his zany arsenal of sound. You can find “Hey Now” over on Spotify, along with his previous songs. Best listened to when winding down after a long day or going for a contemplative drive before making a major life decision (or if you enjoy indie folk[...]

Family Man – “CONVICTION”

July 16, 2023

“CONVICTION” is the unapologetic, in your FACE single from alt-punk four piece Family Man off of their upcoming album Iconoclast. Bombastic bass and non-stop guitar start off right off the bat and only fade for a brief interlude, but pick up to bring home the last 1:20 of the track. Family Man has a feel somewhere between newer, angular indie rock and a touch of old school, falling somewhere between Parquet Courts, Fontaines D.C., and Black Flag. Front man Conner Root says regarding “CONVICTION:” “There have always been members of Family Man who openly identify as being LGBTQ+, but the band adopts an ‘I am who I am, and if you don’t like that, I couldn’t care less’ mentality. ‘CONVICTION’’ is the first time we touch on that publicly.” You can hear “CONVICTION” and their prior tracks over on Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to let us know how[...]

Goodman – “Requiem For Schrödinger’s Cat”

July 16, 2023

Goodman is the project of NYC based musician Michael Goodman and “Requiem For Schrödinger’s Cat” is his latest single. Switching between mournful and contemplative, “Requiem…” is definitely a lyric-forward track with light instrumentals. This could easily turn into a milquetoast affair with other artists, but the subtleties of Goodman’s picking and warm vocals really push this song forward – definitely an understated banger. Fans of that sort of nouveaux classic rock revival vibe would find enjoyment with this track and many others Goodman has to offer. You can hear “Requiem For Schrödinger’s Cat” and the rest of his extensive catalogue (six albums and counting!) on Spotify or  Soundcloud. Goodman · Requiem For Schrödinger’s Cat

Tapeworms – “Puzzle”

July 16, 2023

Tapeworms is a three piece indie electronica act hailing from Lille, France. Synth and effects galore abound in this delightful romp that I can best describe as a tasty cloud with a 16-bit aftertaste. Fans of Purity Ring, MGMT, or lo-fi indie beats would be right at home with Tapeworms and their whimsical vibe. “Puzzle” doesn’t fall into the trap of being overproduced and is easily accessible for someone who is looking to expand their horizons beyond the usual three or five piece with guitars/bass/drums. Speaking to “Puzzles” (from the band’s Facebook) they had this to say: “This one is pretty special to us. We wrote it together, over an afternoon, during last summer and it felt truly soothing. It’s a hymn to lazy, boring days, longing for connection and personal completeness.” You can hear “Puzzles” on Spotify or the embedded Bandcamp link below. You can also catch the band[...]

Daisy The Great – “Looking U Up”

July 16, 2023

New York based indie-pop duo Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker are the two halves that make up Daisy the Great, and “Looking U Up” is their latest single. If you’ve ever opened up Tik Tok, you may have heard their single “The Record Player Song” off of their debut EP I’ve Got a Few Friends and I Wish they Were Mine; this led to some success clocking in with over five million streams since 2019. “Looking U Up” is a fun romp with crooning guitars and cheeky lyrics about dating in the social media age and (as you may have guessed) getting stuck on someone. Fans of Lucy Dacus and Wet Leg (with less sex puns) would find a lot to enjoy here, and with work progressing on a new album happening now, you shouldn’t have to wait too much longer! You can hear “Looking U Up” on Bandcamp,[...]

Far Caspian – “Pet Architect”

July 5, 2023

Far Caspian is the moniker under which Irishman Joel Johnson produces music and “Pet Architect” is his latest single. Tight drums along with subdued, stripped down guitars move this track along at a steady clip, but you thoroughly enjoy the journey. His vocals walk the line between an almost whisper yet maintain a warm, melancholy tone throughout. If you’ve never heard him before or you’re looking for a similar sound, you wouldn’t go amiss with Sparklehorse, Autolux, or The Radio Dept. Johnson speaks to the nature of the of the song: “I wrote ‘Pet Architect’ after a Crohn’s flare up I had on tour that made me feel alienated from the rest of the group… I was reading about Japanese architecture and how they filled in tiny spaces on the street between buildings with condensed buildings and I felt like that worked as a metaphor for how I felt being[...]

His Old Chain – “Out In The Sun”

July 5, 2023

“Out in the Sun” is the latest single from cowboys cum songwriters Christian Lyles and Stefan J. Selbert, the two members of His Old Chain. We’ve written about the band previously here – what we dug up there is about all there is to find about this mysterious duo online. Their soothing vocals and chillwave-esque guitar effects kept me listening, but also also paired really well with a relaxing strain of “green tea.” As far as vibes go, if you like Voxtrot but wanted to somehow make them more chill you would get something resembling His Old Chain. Bonus points if you can figure out what is said within the first 10 seconds of the track; I will literally buy you a beer because I pretty much peaked in high school with basic French (poorly, I might add). You can hear “Out in the Sun” along with a growing collection[...]