There’s just something about the Swedish siblings in Strandels. Their latest single “Breathe It In” is rubbing us in just the right ways. Maybe it’s the breathy harmonies, maybe it’s the lo-fi-and-chill hip-hop beats, or maybe it’s that spiraling acoustic guitar riff… But regardless of what sucks you in, we think this one is full of reasons to listen. Kick back and let this one wash over you – check it out below and give them a follow on their IG.
Get ready to feel funky – we’re digging this new one from Palavas, a mysterious French duo whose latest instrumental offering, “Giorgio Baroudeur,” got our heads bobbing. It’s not often an instrumental jam gets you feeling some-type-of-way, but this one is full of perfectly retro drum machines and hypnotic techno rhythms. There’s not much left to do but click play on the widget below and groove for ~6 mins. Enjoy.
Cover inception! We’re digging this take on “Tenderfoot” – a classic cover from The Lemonheads who put their own spin on Smudge’s original take. Dreamy, Netherlands dream-pop duo The Day made this one their own with an ethereal vocal track and a simple, but incredibly tasteful electric/acoustic guitar backbone. This one is beautifully jangly, just the right amount punky, with a tinge of emo greatness – amazing all around. Listen for yourself below.
“I don’t care if you don’t care – no, I don’t care at all…” We certainly care, and we think more than just nihilists will enjoy this light-hearted, carefree jam from Taiwanese act Violet Lens. Pairing spindly guitar leads with bright, jangly power pop, “I Don’t Care” showcases the band’s English-lyric’d work (take a deeper dive and you’ll find a bunch of songs in Mandarin). This one is a good time – check it out below. I Don’t Care by Violet Lens
Rival Cavves is more than just a bedroom-pop act – on any given night, you might catch them performing on the edge of a cliff, recreating a bedroom on stage, or handing out free swag to the audience. While they certainly put on an engaging show, we’ve definitely been jamming on their latest release, “Flower Bud.” Pairing haunting and moody indie-electro instrumentals with catchy “ay-ee-ay-ee-ay” refrains, this one would be the perfect soundtrack for a chill, evening drive. Check it out below and stay up to date with their Insta.
Check out the music video for “Leith,” the latest offering from Swedish duo Alphabats. “Leith” is an interesting song that combines aspects of The National, Frightened Rabbit, and modern indie-electro-pop… There’s also a splash of 80s flavor in there for added aesthetic. This one is an effervescent and sunny breath of fresh air, full of throaty synths, spindly guitar leads, and frantic electronic drums. Check out the mysterious duo’s joyride in the music video below.
WOLFJAY is an indie pop act hailing from Adelaide, Australia. “In Memory Of” has become one of our favs as of late – it combines aspects of indie pop, emo, and electronica into an interestingly overblown, hook-laden tune. This one is jammed full of strong melodies, blasts of guitars and drums, and even a tasteful guitar solo. Fans of 2003-era Blink-182 and smart indie pop a la Generationals will like this one. Check it out below – if you dig it (and we know you will), make sure you add it to your Spotify playlist.
Oh man – ICYMI, we were recently jazzed on Floral‘s previous release, “This Year.” If you dug that one, we recommend “The Good Song,” which is just as (if not even more) spicy. There’s no doubt about it – this one is an instrumental math rock jam pairing the Palo Alto duo’s drumming and guitar virtuosity into something collectively mind blowing. Our favorite part is from 3:50 on. If your jaw isn’t left hanging, it’s time to check your headphones. Peep the Bandcamp link below – this one’s available for stream in a few days. The Good Song — Single by Floral
This is a cool one – Leeds act The Golden Age of TV whipped up a rip-roaring single that they’ve titled “Me, You, And a Dog.” Big guitar riffs and a tight, compressed mix give this one a big, bombastic sound. There’s a bit of Los Campesinos! in this one, a bit of Hop Along, and a whole lot of loud, indie rock energy. Better yet – “Dog” is about the joy of getting a new pet with someone special… A subtle way to say you want to spend the next 10+ years together. Check it out below for sure.
We can’t help but be smitten by teen-sibling act Chasing Daze. Helmed by bro/sis combo Julia and Ryan Noble, the duo have been crafting smart indie-pop in their small-town Oregon hometown. “Teenager” is their latest – a chill jam built around squiggly, melodic samples. This one really captures the innocence of the teen psyche – imagery of Polaroid pictures, after parties, and garage hangouts are scattered throughout this short, but sweet tune. Check it out below – we think you’ll dig it.
Last time we checked in with Norwegian act Great News, we were jamming on their fantastic, synthy debut, “TV.” Their next offering is “Greedy Little Thing,” an equally-raucous good-time full of thick guitar goodness and phat pop melodies. Where “TV” embraced the best of the 80s, “Greedy Little Thing” opts for crunchy guitar leads and soaring falsetto. Give it a listen below.
argonaut&wasp and buffaBLOG go way back – we’ve featured them multiple times before (for obvious reasons). This time around, we’re digging the impeccable synth-pop of “TVs.” This one is a super contemporary indie rock jam with hints of retro synth flavor, jammed full of sunny pop melodies and a dance-able pulse… All wrapped up in a succinct 2:30 package. Check this one out below, you won’t regret it.
Indiana act Hex Smokers got us feeling rowdy with their latest offering, “From Beyond.” A retro organ laces this one with hints of creepy 70s horror punk… But there’s more to this jam than meets the eye. Some blistering guitar leads and mysterious vocals really help to bring this one home. Fans of The Denzels, The Stooges, and even The Strokes will find something to dig here. Check it out below via Bandcamp. Hex Smokers by Hex Smokers
Soobie is a 21-year-old singer/songwriter from Chennai, India. Her latest earworm is “Tell Me What,” a squiggly synthy bedroom-pop jam about the inner workings of her mind. The chorus of “don’t tell me what to do” pairs perfectly with the quasi-clavi riffing that comes afterward. This one is full of sugary, bubblegum melodies – check it out below and give Soobie a follow on the ‘gram.
Floral is a California-based math-rock duo whose “This Year” blew us away with its sheer demonstration of musicianship. Pairing math-rock riffing with the sentimentality of midwest emo is a genius move by these two musicians. Hints of American Football can be heard among the otherwise blistering riffing that is reminiscent of Topshelf heroes Toe, Maps & Atlases at their most shreddy, or even post-hardcore greats The Fall of Troy. Despite its lyricless nature, this one has palpable emotion – check it out below.