Latest Posts

In Search Of – Alice and the Wonderland

July 12, 2023

Our latest feature comes from Los Angeles-based act In Search Of. The eclectic duo is here with a unique take on a literature staple, re-told through the lens of pop rock. It’s called Alice and the Wonderland, and you can listen to it on Spotify right now. You may recognize half of In Search Of from The Voice (team Blake, woo!)… But Michelle Ray’s beautiful voice has been heard all over, including in commercial placements (Bloomingdales, Nickelodeon, Mastercard, Maybellene, just to name a few); on film and television placements; in theatre productions (Alanis Morissette – The Album Project: Jagged Little Pill and American Idiot); as well as live performances throughout her hometown of LA. She’s teamed up with a very special guest, her father and virtuoso guitarist Michael Raitzin, to bring you Alice and the Wonderland, and their unique (but undoubtedly strong) background makes for a wild ride through 13 unforgettable tracks. There’s an[...]

Shanf x Waxamilion – “Wipelash”

July 8, 2023

We’re digging this mathy/inexplicable collab between Shanf and Waxamilion that they’ve entitled “Wipelash.” With bumbling synth flavors; an airy, vocoded vocal presence; and a shuffling percussive presence, “Wipelash” sounds like your favorite, twinkly emo band run through a very pleasant 8-bit filter. In case you needed any extra inspo to like this one, be sure to stick around for the dueling synth/guitar solo around the 1:55 mark – it’s exquisite. Check out “Wipelash” now via Bandcamp (below) and/or Spotify. MEATBALL by Shanf

sheep eyes – “Should Be Blood”

July 8, 2023

LA-based band sheep eyes was born out of a desire to create danceable garage rock/post-punk. We think they’ve hit the mark on their latest single, “Should Be Blood,” which has all the energy of the ’00s rock revival without ever sounding a pastiche. A meandering guitar grind powers this one forth while punctuated vocals create a catchy and groovy rhythm. Fans of Parquet Courts, The Strokes, and Viagara Boys will find lots to love about this. PS: if you need inspiration (and a visual represenation of how WE danced to “Should Be Blood”), give the music video a whirl. Check out the YouTube video for “Should Be Blood,” purchase it via Bandcamp, or add it to your Spotify playlist.

chris portka – trash music

July 6, 2023

California bay area-based artist Chris Portka has always dreamt of being a musician. With his roots dating back to the dirty, blistering grunge of the ’90s, a young portka followed his heart… He fought past crippling stage fright; anxiety attacks during Elliot Smith covers; and a voice that sounds like a “Rhinoceros fighting to befriend an Elephant” (his words not ours) to get where he is today. It’s safe to say that portka has devoted a fair amount of blood, sweat, and tears to make this whole music thing work. And while he makes himself at home in any jam session (whether it be on an acoustic guitar or a synth or a piano), there’s a deeper, stranger fire burning within him. As he puts it: “my roots burrow in this impressionistic improv that reflects a fierce internal conflict.” Enter trash music, portka’s latest offering. It’s a twelve song album[...]

Disco Sam – American Nightlife

July 5, 2023

In this infinite void of new music, few acts have the ability to transport your mind to a world of infectious rhythms, cheeky melodies, and fun bedroom-pop quirkiness quite like Disco Sam. He’s about to release a brand new EP, his 7th (!), one he’s calling American Nightlife. Upon listening, it’s evident that this ain’t Sam’s first rodeo, and the enigmatic frontman once again shows his irresistible appeal in this brand new batch of charming, disco-flavored bedroom-pop compositions. The EP opens with “Draws Me Inside,” and the hallmarks of Sam’s songwriting go-tos start to shine through immediately. The basslines on American Nightlife are absolutely the backbone of these tunes, bobbing and weaving around the fretboard with an itchy sort of bounce. Sam’s vocals also shine through here, a characteristic baritone that sounds like it belongs at a sweaty, sexy basement show. There’s something seductive about Disco Sam, and “Draws” is[...]

Oh Land – “My Freak”

July 4, 2023

Danish stunner Oh Land (aka songwriter/singer Nanna Øland Fabricius) specializes in genre-bending pop wizardry as evidenced by latest offering, “My Freak.” The disco-forward track has a lovely energy that makes use of a bubbling bass undercurrent; twinkles of warm Rhodes; and, of course, Fabricius’ silky-smooth vocals. With super-hooky rhythms and a retro-but-modernized approach, “Freak” has a sort of cosmic mass appeal, at least to our alien-esque ears. About the song, Nanna explains: “‘My Freak’ is a celebration of the deep love you find with someone as weird as yourself.” Stream “My Freak” via Spotify and Apple Music.

ROREY – “Apt 7d”

July 3, 2023

There’s no shortage of NYC-based acts that have changed music… The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol – basically any band you’d have seen or read about in the semi-recent Meet Me In The Bathroom documentary. With The Strokes having won a Grammy for The New Abnormal; Yeah Yeah Yeahs riding high on the success of their new album; and Interpol touring the world and playing stadiums with The Smashing Pumpkins, there’s no doubt the world is ready and willing to hear more NYC-bred, guitar-driven music. Enter wunderkind ROREY, the 23 year old grunge-popper who is turning heads with her palatable blend of ’90s influenced nostalgia triggers. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing her latest album, Apt 7d, and it itches that deep-rooted scratching that exists in our tired millennial brains for good times (i.e. the aughts) now long past. EP opener “Burned Your Letter” introduces us to the hallmarks of ROREY’s sound –[...]

Worriers – “Trust Your Gut”

June 29, 2023

Brooklyn-based act Worriers has been crushing it for close to a decade, and if newest single “Trust Your Gut” is any indication, they’re still in their prime songwriting years. Packed full of peppy indie rock energy, blasts of vintage synth bliss, and singer Lauren Denitzio’s words of encouragement, “Trust Your Gut” could appeal to fans of anywhere from Bruce Springsteen to Against Me!. Their delivery on “Trust Your Gut” is approachable and surprisingly upbeat, especially when you consider the political-punk nature of their earlier work. Sometimes it’s best to hear from the artist themselves – check out what Worriers has to say about the song/video below: “The song is meant to celebrate learning to trust your intuition and advocate for yourself and your own time, even in the face of being told that everything is fine. I thought it would be a good match for the video to be an[...]

The Blues And Greys – “Black Spring”

June 29, 2023

Santa Barbara-based act The Blues And Greys recently hit our inboxes with this huge alt pop jam they’re calling “Black Spring.” Singer Lindsey Waldon absolutely explodes in the anthemic chorus here, letting loose with an undeniable hook – even better, she hits you with it before the thirty second mark, sucking you in before you even have a chance to think twice. With a grumbling bass presence, tasty guitar work, and an epic percussion presence, this one will appeal to fans of Phantogram, Still Corners, and Shiny Toy Guns. You can listen to “Black Spring” now on Spotify and Apple Music.

Constant Care – “Everything To Lose”

June 29, 2023

Constant Care (aka Oxford/Madrid songwriter Fergus Brady) is here to rile you up with his personal blend of indie jangle and midwestern emo flavors. Our latest recommendation is “Everything To Lose,” which finds Brady seamlessly blending the aforementioned genres with lightly crunchy guitars and impassioned vocals in tow. Fans of 90s indie-slacker stuff like Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr., or Superchunk are gonna love this one. About the song, Fergus says: “I was coming out of a dark period in my life and the lyrics are my attempt to articulate some of the things that kept me going during that time. It’s a song that welcomes the dawning of a new morning.” You can find “Everything To Lose” on Bandcamp, Apple Music, and Spotify. Constant Care · Everything to Lose

Eva Snyder – “war”

June 29, 2023

“Massachusetts roots and Nashville based by way of San Francisco” – what a pedigree coming from singer/songwriter Eva Snyder. She caught our ears with the beautiful vibes coming from her latest single, “war.” As the first single off of her debut album seventeen, “war” is a low-key but beautifully haunting slice of electronica-laced indie pop. Bonus fact: “war” is 100% made by women from the production all the way to the master You can find “war” on Spotify or Apple Music – be sure to check out the YouTube video below.

Anya Baghina – Anya Baghina

June 28, 2023

Anya Baghina, who you may know as a member of the Detroit-based act, Soviet Girls, has called many different places home – Moscow, New Jersey, nearby Ithaca, Detroit, Brooklyn, and then Russia again. Longtime collaborator Jonathan Franco has been accompanying Baghina live and in the studio since their Brooklyn days (and fellow SG bandmate Devin Poisson recorded her first three singles to cassette). Despite being halfway across the world, somehow, someway, Baghina has managed to stay in touch with her OG Detroit crew. She’s now located in Kazakhstan, and since her collaborators are so far away, we couldn’t help but be drawn to Anya’s story. Her latest offering, a self-titled album packed full of eleven jangly, indie-pop songs that highlight Baghina’s skill as a songwriter. It’s clear Baghina has put a lot of herself into these songs, so a title of Anya Baghina feels fitting to say the least. Album opener[...]

Roscoe Tripp – A Cage Made of Tin

June 26, 2023

On Roscoe Tripp’s upcoming offering, the five-song A Cage Made of Tin, the band dives deep into a refreshing indie rocking sound, leaning heavily into moody expressions of guitar, synth, and other ambiance. Lead singer Greg Fine has relinquished the reins of one-and-only songwriter, eschewing his lone wolf status for thoughtful collaboration among his bandmates. Fine’s often baritone drawl (when he’s not belting it out, of course) is reminiscent of M. Ward mixed with Thom Yorke, and it powers the songs found here with a mixture of sincere emotion and grit. Opening track, title track, and album highlight “A Cage Made of Tin” exists in the first slot for a reason… The band is clearly highlighting their evolving sound. Throughout the song, a mechanized drum roll keeps perfect time while the rest of RT crunches, moans, and wails their way through the song. Spindly guitar leads twist and twirl through dark[...]

Babe Rainbow – Fresh As A Head of Lettuce

June 25, 2023

Psychedelic. Permaculture-farming. Surf-cultists. These are just a few of the self-described terms that Babe Rainbow uses to self-identify, and they are a perfect encapsulation of their sun-soaked, indie-psych sound. The quartet is here with their latest EP, Fresh As A Head of Lettuce, a four-song offering that figuratively surfs the far reaches of your mind with otherworldly textures – like a self-actualizing acid trip without any of the mind-altering anxiety. In case you missed it, we’ve already featured the opening track “Super Ego” in a previous write up (that you can read here), and for good reason… The song is laced with whistle-tone synths that glide through your speakers and into your mind like a sweet and salty sea breeze. Warped vocal textures help you escape the boring realities of your life while the tasteful bassline bobs and weaves in a way that’s impossible not to inspire bodily movement. Follow[...]

Bad Lori – “happysad”

June 25, 2023

All the way from Slovenia, Bad Lori hit us with the happy/sad vibes of latest single… “happysad.” The song is a bittersweet and nostalgic track that is built around a shimmering guitar riff that will have you teetering between a sense of relaxation and that nagging yearning of better times long past. Ostensibly, Bad Lori is “bad” in the sense of being a baddie and not her/their skills as songwriters, because this one cuts straight to the bone. Fans of Now, Now; Rilo Kiley; and/or Lydia will find lots of feels to dive into here. You can find “happysad” on YouTube (below) or stream it via Spotify and Apple Music.