Latest Posts

charlø – “Lemon”

May 5, 2023

LA’s charlø (aka songwriter, vocalist, and producer Charlotte Reed) is here with a tape-aged bedroom-pop banger called “Lemon.” Synths that warp in and out of a vintage warble power this one forth, giving “Lemon” an indie rocker feel without losing sight of top 40-quality melodies. Complimenting the smooth production and pop-minded songwriting approach, “Lemon” is a song with a much deeper meaning – charlø uses her songwriting chops to diatribe about the challenges of being a female in the music industry, ultimately fantasizing about flipping the bird to her haters from the top. Here’s what Charlotte has to say about “Lemon” below: “Lemon came about from a general frustration around being written off by people in the music industry and just wishing that I could tell people to shut the fuck up sometimes. I hate feeling like you can’t risk burning bridges by speaking up for yourself in relationships where[...]

girlhouse – “gen x boyfriend!!”

May 5, 2023

Sugar and spice for sure – emphasis on the spice. We’ve been digging the latest from girlhouse (aka Lauren Luiz), a one-two punch of honeyed melodies and blistering guitar energy called “gen x boyfriend!!.” Relationships (especially ones full of love bombs) can often feel explosive in both good and bad ways and “boyfriend” certainly takes that sentiment to heart. With the raw intensity of Hole (think “Celebrity Skin”) working against girlhouse’s saccharine vocal chops, “boyfriend” feels like an outpouring of anger from someone sweet who’s been constantly keeping themselves in check. Check out what Lauren has to say about this one below: “Basically we wanted to tell the story of someone who is in the very beginning ‘they can do no wrong’ phase of a relationship, where all the red flags are ignored and all the abuse is somehow super endearing and ‘real.” I used to be super into older[...]

Idle Riot – “Happy Thoughts”

May 5, 2023

Idle Riot’s debut single, “Happy Thoughts,” was actually influenced by… Avoiding some not so happy thoughts. See below: “Happy thoughts was written shortly after Russia invaded the Ukraine and California was experiencing wildfires. It is a demonstration of our collective passiveness to a lot of the really dark things going on right now, which is ironic given the technology we have available.” With dreams of just sitting back and ripping some Mario Kart, Idle Riot acknowledges our collective ability to ignore what’s going on in the world and pacify ourselves with some sweet, sweet technology. It’s an omni-relatable sentiment in our increasingly digital existence, but Idle Riot executes it with such surfy brilliance that it really doesn’t seem so bad. Stabby guitars and slacker-esque vocals are the highlight here, bringing to mind elements of The Strokes, Beach Fossils, and FIDLAR. Check it out below via Soundcloud, on YouTube, and also[...]

Futureheaven – “Coldgaze”

April 25, 2023

Coming to us all the way from Sydney, Australia, shoegazers Futureheaven caught our ears with the icy brilliance of their latest single, “Coldgaze.” Immediately, lovelorn guitars soaked in bell-tone ambiance pierce through your speakers, swirling around your head with a surprising amount of clarity for an otherwise shoegaze-y track. There’s (of course) a wall of fuzzed-out guitar backbones to appease any MBV stans out there, but fans of fuzzlords like Pity Sex all the way to surfy dream-poppers like Alvvays will also find lots to sink their teeth into here… Just be sure not to get a brain freeze (you know, because it’s cold). “Coldgaze” is available now on lots of streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp – you can also preview it via the YouTube link below.

Hana McCartney – “Dope”

April 24, 2023

“The Gen-Z love child of Sky Ferreira and Lana from the Ultraviolence era? That’s Hana McCartney.” Their words, not ours… But we think it’s an apt description of this exciting young talent. We’re here to share Hana McCartney’s latest offering, the 90s tinged (but still 2023-flavored) indie pop of “Dope.” Thick with plenty of guitar texture, dramatic synth ambiance, and Hana’s forlorn vocal presence, “Dope’s” indie pop vibe has the feel of a song that could comfortably exist in any of the past 2.5 decades. Hana had a specific vision for this song before it was penned – here’s what she shared with us: “The idea of each song having a drug reference or innuendo was already in my mind when I started writing this album. Taking taboo topics like abusive relationships, substance abuse, addiction, and mental health and personifying them into stories that are relevant to me and others[...]

luvliminall – “4.186”

January 4, 2023

Coming at us all the way from Japan, luvliminall hit our inboxes with the fiery energy of latest single, “4.186.” With shoegazy guitars and an explosively noisy sound reminiscent of Japandroids or your favorite midwest emo-punks, “4.186” makes full use of its guitar-driven backbone. The bass and drums bring a lot of flavor to the song as well, bolstering the guitar’s spastic urgency with a much-appreciated rooting. Overtop the blasts of instrumental chaos is a gentle-but-poignant vocal, delivering just the right amount of sugary sweetness to this otherwise spicy track. Check it out via the YouTube widget below – you can also find “4.186” on Spotify too.

Luka James – “Shake Free”

January 4, 2023

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Luka James wants you to shake off your worries with the release of his his latest jam, “Shake Free.” A gentle intro (complete with chirping birds) lulls you into a relaxed daze before picking up into the surfy indie pop that comprises most of the song. Luka’s soothing vocals give off an upbeat mood that pairs perfectly with the upbeat, guitar-driven instrumentals here… It really is a mood booster – so throw it on your morning playlist if you’ve been finding it a little hard to peel yourself out of bed. The official video for “Shake Free” is embedded below – you can also find the song on Spotify.

Blair Gun – “Pound Sand”

January 4, 2023

San Diego-based act Blair Gun are gearing up for the release of their upcoming album (March 3rd, 2023) with latest single, “Pound Sand.” The quartet specialize in a 90s-esque brand of indie rock, utilizing crunchy guitars, slightly-unhinged vocals, and big guitar riffs. Our favorite part of the song kicks in around the :40 mark, where the band pair a bouncy rhythm with a super tasty guitar lick before ripping into something a little more aggressive. Fans of Built to Spill, Nirvana, and even Parquet Courts will find lots to love here. You can also find “Pound Sand” on Spotify.

Peäsänt – “Wounds”

January 4, 2023

Peäsänt don’t shy away from hard partying and that raucousness comes out in their music – “Wounds” their latest single, has the same grungy, mid-aughts garage rock aesthetic that made stars out of The Strokes. Full of gravely-voiced lyrics, tasty guitar licks, and an overarching don’t-give-a-fuck energy, “Wounds” would be the perfect soundtrack to jumping through a table or smashing beer bottles against the wall… Just don’t tell your landlord. Check out “Wounds” and the rest of Peäsänt’s discography on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Foyer Red – “Etc”

January 3, 2023

One-of-a-kind indie rock act Foyer Red is back with another stellar single called “Etc.” Call it freak-punk, call it avant-garde, or just straight up indie rock, “Etc.” is full of wonky guitar riffs, nimble bass licks, and unique harmonies that are sure to strike you in a way you’ve never felt/heard before. Between the unique, jaunty rhythms and the overall carefree vibes, “Etc” sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a fun house (that’s a genuine compliment… Somehow). About the song, singer Elana Riordan says: “My character in ‘Etc’ finds themselves in a dysfunctional relationship in which gender informs internal struggles of power and control.” We’re Foyer Red stans – in case you missed it, check out our previous features of “Slander,” “Pickles,” and “Flipper.” “Etc” is out now on Carpark Records – it can be found on Apple Music and Spotify, along with the rest of Foyer Red’s[...]

Mounder – “Lake Town”

January 3, 2023

Minneapolis-based act Mounder hit us with this short-and-sweet ballad they’re calling “Lake Town.” Written during the mandated curfew way back in 2020, “Lake Town” embodies feelings of stir craziness and boredom with this acoustic-guitar driven composition. Bolstered by keyboards and even a trombone, the sad-but-sweet flavors of “Lake Town” would fit comfortably on any playlist next to Bon Iver, Iron & Wine, and Sufjan Stevens. You can find “Lake Town” on Spotify and Apple Music as well.

Person – “Win Win Win”

January 3, 2023

Person is utterly anonymous – from the un-googlable project name to the mask they don during their performances… But their latest single, “Win Win Win,” is anything but. With a bright and surfy vibe, big melodies, and a warm production quality, “Win” is a pretty surprising composition coming from someone who looks like they belong in a Freddy vs. Jason reboot. These aren’t digs at all, we love Person’s persona – but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t chuffed at the sight of Person frolicking on the beach. Great song, great video – we think you’ll enjoy this one. “Win Win Win” is also on Spotify.

Creek Violence – “Waste”

January 3, 2023

Pittsburgh act Creek Violence are fresh off the release of their latest single, “Waste.” The song begins with a sparse and morose intro reminiscent of Pile or Attic Abasement before evolving (devolving?) into a wall of passionate, scream-filled noise. We’re suckers for bands that sound like they’d fit on the perfect basement show lineup, and Creek Violence absolutely fits that bill. Sit back and crack open a nice warm PBR as CV brings you back to your damp basement show glory days. “Waste” is available on Creek Violence’s newest release, Screwdriver Man. You can find “Waste” and the rest of the EP on Spotify and Apple Music as well.

Margrete – “Senses”

January 2, 2023

All the way from Norway, our friend Margrete recently released her newest single, “Senses.” “Senses” is Margrete’s “letter to herself – exploring themes of rejection, ethics, loneliness and self-sabotage – all through the lens of vulnerability (her words, not ours).” We were drawn to the track for its light and airy bedroom-pop sensibilities with a big, bombastic drum & bass beat backing it up. Fans of Robyn, Zero 7, or Massive Attack will like what Margrete has to offer here. You can find “Senses” on Spotify as well.

Sundried Whales – “Always”

December 30, 2022

Brace yourselves! “Always” by Hamilton, Ontario-based act Sundried Whales is about to figuratively punch you in the face. At first listen, an absolutely insane drum presence will blow your mind (pull out your air drumsticks and try to keep up with the insane tempo for a minute… We sure couldn’t), but this talented act has lots to offer. With a surfy disposition, tasty guitar licks, and hooks-aplenty, “Always” is a sure-fire way to get your blood pumping no matter what mood you’re in. Fans of PUP, Jeff Rosenstock, and Hollerado are gonna love this one. You can find “Always” on Spotify and Apple Music as well.