Utah’s Krooked Kings teamed up with Day Wave for this spicy amalgamation of both acts’ strengths. “Carbon Monoxide” is a perfect hybrid of KK’s fuzzed-out garage-y sound and Day Wave’s penchant for woozy and surfy compositions. Expect a laid back bass-and-drum groove upon which aloof vocals and jangly guitars lay. “Carbon Monoxide” is out now on Nobody Gets It Records. You can also find it on Spotify.
“There’s really no point to any of this, so please enjoy.” Wise words from recent Rochester native Virtual Perfection Cowboy – they caught our ears with the unique synthwave textures found on their latest single, “Stoned Ape.” Reminiscent of a late 90s video game soundtrack, “Ape” is both soothing and invigorating; it’s full of futuristic synth swoops; ethereal swells; and a neurotic drum beat. With its unique influences, it’s best to hear from VPC themselves – here’s a little bit about the song in their words: “A liquid drum n bass track inspired by the soundtrack of Ape Escape by Soichi Terada and Terrence McKenna’s Stoned Ape Theory. The soft, ethereal sounds and cute animated music video will make you nostalgic for the old PS1 games of the 90’s, while also bringing you into the modern day of psychedelic experimentation. We are an ape with a symbiotic relationship to a[...]
Buffalo’s Eugene Palmer is prepping for their debut record, Rut, and they’ve shared first single with us, a song they are calling “2014.” Showcasing their wide range of influences from 60s baroque pop, to psychedelic rock, to 90s slowcore, “2014” is a guitar-soaked barnburner full of heavy riffing; soaring falsetto; rollicking drum solos; and an angsty 90s vibe. About the song, singer Matt Distasio explains that he penned the song on a long drive from Buffalo to Montana back in the winter of 2014 – take us back! You can also find “2014” on Spotify.
Ailbhe Reddy sure knows how to party! Whether that’s a good thing is up to you (and her) to decide. “Shitshow” is tellingly named on all fronts except musical – it’s actually quite the banger. Crunchy guitar stabs and Reddy’s forlorn vocals soundtrack this tale of overindulgence, regret, and bad habits. “Shitshow” even has the perfect visual accompaniment; a hard-partying group brings Reddy’s words to life – check it out below.. You can also find “Shitshow” on Apple Music and Spotify.
Indie-folkster Hazlett hit our inboxes with his latest single, “Tell Me What you Dream About,” and we’ve been hooked ever since. Walking the line between smart bedroom pop and nostalgic folk, “Dream” is a deceivingly low-key song that packs a big punch. When the infectious chorus comes around, it’s a sharp but fitting break from the comforting indie-folk of the intro. About the song, Hazlett explains: “I think you need to step out of your own self to see things clearly sometimes. Life becomes pretty heavy when you can’t brush by a little inconvenience or the fear of failing… So, I tried to picture what my future self would be telling me if we were friends. Waiting for me, cheering me on and reminding me of everything I’ve done so far. I think we forget that we need to encourage ourselves from time to time.” You can find “Dream” on[...]
Coming all the way from Thailand, Numcha caught our ears with the airy dream-pop of her latest single, “in my white dress.” With an ever-so-slight tinge of vintage 80s energy, “dress” sparkles and shimmers with a fun and lighthearted indie pop aura. This one reminds us of Jay Som with a little extra happiness sprinkled into the mix. You can also find “in my white dress” on Spotify and Apple Music. Numcha · in my white dress
Phoebe Willo flexes her indie-pop muscles on her latest single, “Yesterdays Mistake.” The songs starts out with a forlorn guitar/vocal passage before launching into what you’d expect from an indie pop gem – punchy drums, bass bumping down low, and twinkly textures that highlight the gentleness of Phoebe’s delivery. About the song, Phoebe further explains: “This song is about dwelling on mistakes, wanting to move on, I sing: ‘I’m stuck with my thoughts, there is no room to think.’ I’ve had my own battles, loving things that aren’t good for you and worrying about what people will think. However, I wanted this to be an upbeat song conveying optimism and hope too.” Check out “Mistake” on Spotify and Apple Music as well. Phoebe Willo · Yesterdays Mistake (new mix)
Our Lebanese friend Bea Kadri hit us up with this infectious pop song she’s calling “Poison.” Reminiscent of genre luminaries like H.E.R. or SZA, “Poison” bubbles and lurches with strong pop energy, delivering big hooks and an even bigger meaning. “Poison’s” narrative is focused on around a previous long distance relationship with an ex-partner in which the duo alternated between victim and villain. Relationships can be toxic, sure… But at least we (and Bea!) get this alt-pop gem out of her suffering. You can also find “Poison” on Spotify and Apple Music. BEA KADRI · Poison
Orchid Mantis is back with another dreamy bedroom-pop soundscape – we’d say they’ve accomplished their mission statement of combining pop songwriting with ambient field recording on this latest offering, “I Could Live In Sleep.” With a tight, neurotic beat propelling the song forward, “Sleep” pairs plucky guitars and introspective vocals with an intangible etherealness. It’s ghostly and sincere – two adjectives we can always stand behind. You can also read up on our previous features of Orchid Mantis here and here. “I Could Live In Sleep” is out now via Spirit Goth Records. You can also find it on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music. orchid mantis · I Could Live In Sleep
There’s something delightfully quirky about the latest jam from Small Town Sci-Fi – “Couldn’t Talk Right” is a mile-a-minute exclamation of mental health issues, pain, and an eclectic sincerity that can only come from a song this personal. It’s done up in a warm, lo-fi recording, a true bedroom-pop (with a hint of psychedelic rock) exploration of one’s self. ICYMI, here’s our writeup of a previous SMSF single, “Methadone.” You can also find “Couldn’t Talk Right” on Spotify and Soundcloud. Make it Over by Small Town Sci-Fi
Dream Prescription are a NYC-based duo that craft a unique blend of synth-pop and post-punk; we think you should start with their latest song, “Status Quo.” Between the laser precision of their icy synth stabs and and obvious ear for melody, “Status Quo” sounds like an amalgamation of the 80s and early 2000s with a spicy, contemporary mix. Be sure to stick around for the chorus for a bit of an Interpolesque vocal hook. About the song, the band states: “In ‘Status Quo’, we’re exploring the tension between a deep desire for change and the security of having things stay the way they are. The vignettes in the song’s verse lyrics evoke disconnection and distance within a relationship, while the chorus looks for way out of this stuck place by asking questions that are not easily answered.” You can find “Status Quo” on both Spotify and Apple Music.
Louisville, KY-based act GRLwood get anxious and raucous on their latest offering, “Keep It Average.” With a gut-wrenching howl, singer Rej Forester teams up with the thundering drums from drummer Mia Morris for this soul-searching indie rocker. The duo uses their screaming guitars and big percussion vibes to ponder the meaning of life – it’s a song about wanting to pursue things that might make your life better, but being held back by a potential risk. Rej more eloquently explains below: “To be able to love fully, you have to risk being hurt fully. To be able to take hold of success completely, you have to take the risk to fail fully. The world is a beautiful and bright place for those looking for that, as it is dismal and sad for those looking for that. Reflect back to the world what you want, no matter what it’s given you[...]
Seven Layer Piano Cakes is the alter ego of Justin Hoyt, a musician and college professor (!) whose latest offering, “Holy Water,” caught our ears. In line with his gothy-meets-pop-punk disposition, “Holy Water” is a song about the apocalypse. When you’re discussing the end of the world, tight industrial drums and heavily autotuned vocals seem appropriate… But SLPC is more of a musical amalgamation, aiming for broad strokes across genres rather than one pigeonhole. Sure, society may be crumbling, but at least we have songs like “Holy Water” to help us cope. You can also find “Holy Water” on Spotify. Seven Layer Piano Cakes · Holy Water
Altalune gets introspective on their latest offering, “October.” Pairing gentle vocals with twinkling guitar and a heartfelt lyrical subject is never a bad formula, and Altalune executes it to perfection here. It’s a warm, but somber affair – the whole song goes down very smooth, but never pulls back when it comes to meaningful revelations about the importance of loved ones. About the song, Altalune says: “I lost my grandfather back in October of 2021 and after a year of not having him around, family gatherings don’t feel quite the same. This song is about missing someone special in your life that you cherish and admire.” You can also listen to Altalune on Spotify and Apple Music.
Are South East London act Dead Patrons heavy, pretty, or pretty heavy? It’s probably some combination of the three, but we digress – their latest offering, “Lover,” is our latest recommendation. Built around a roiling tom beat; noisy, wall-of-sound guitar theatrics, and singer Paul Killengray’s eclectic vocal presence, “Lover” twists and turns with searing indie rock energy that brings to mind Sonic Youth, IDLES, and a hint of post-punkiness a la Joy Division. As they put it, “‘Lover’ is a song about being dominated,” and you can certainly hear that struggle weaved throughout the dark vibes here. You can also find “Lover” on Spotify.