Attn: Fleetwood Mac fans – bubblegum popper Winslow Newman recently recorded his personal interpretation of this classic jam. The 28-year-old Nashville native is no stranger to the music industry, and has recently been using his powers for his own good. Let the singer’s light vocal delivery and bubbly synths uplift your spirit. Keep in touch with Newman via IG – check it out here.
Scottish fuzz-punks We Were Promised Jetpacks are back with a triumphant return – this time in the form of a music video for “Repeating Patterns.” We find a puppet protagonist in some sort of bizarre hell which not-so-ironically matches WWPJ’s gritty and noisy delivery. The disgusting bass tone alone should be a major selling point, but in all reality, this song/album represents a return to form for the original quartet. Check it out below and enjoy the fantastic visuals while you’re at it.
Netherlands artist Jo Marches has certainly become a buffaBLOG favorite over the past few years. Yet again, we’re taken with her latest offering, “Monsters.” Wielding an effervescent bass line and layered thick with lush synth work, “Monsters” is Marches at her finest. Marches has a unique way to inject dark vibes into her otherwise lively synth-pop – click play on the widget below and have a listen for yourself. Jo is on Spotify – add her to your library.
We really dig the debut single from LA-based drummer Baby Bulldog (aka Steph Barker). Having cut her teeth playing with Coast Modern, Kate Nash, and Your Smith, the kitschy “I Rly Rly Like U” is the first time Bulldog has struck out on her own. If you’re looking for a light-hearted bedroom-pop joint with tongue-and-cheek lyrics, you’ve come to the right place. Put this one on and enjoy the lighthearted vibes. Put a smile on your face? Don’t forget to add it to your Spotify playlist.
Heavy indie-pop act CREO appeared mysteriously in our inbox with their thunderous and noisy new single, “In The Red.” CREO is a Sydney-based quartet that create bombastic guitar-based anthems, bolstered by a gigantic rhythm section and hard-pop sensibilities. “In the Red” would be right at home on your local alt station. Fans of Young The Giant, Mute Math, or Manchester Orchestra will dig this. Be sure to give CREO some love on Spotify.
Zamaera hit us up with an incredibly vulnerable song, the introspective “Z vs Z.” Acting as a letter penned to her younger self, “Z vs Z” finds the Malaysian rapper warming up to a beautiful orchestra before snapping into something a little more badass. After securing over a million views for her appearance on MTV Asia’s Yo! MTV Raps Cypher, we think Zamaera is worth keeping an eye on – check out the classy black and white music vid below. “Z vs Z” is on Spotify. Get on it.
Bay Area quartet Same Girls likes to keep things fresh, especially evident on their latest single, “Young Minded.” Pairing a talk-speak vocal approach (think Tokyo Police Club, Bombay Bicycle Club, etc.) with discordant indie-pop guitar lines, “Young Minded” is an eccentric ditty that brings a new approach to a well-established genre. There are some lovely harmonies and lyrics here – be sure to check it out below. Be sure to visit the Same Girls Spotify page to add some new jams to your playlist.
Norwegian singer Tuvaband (aka Tuva Hellum Marschhäuser) surprised us with the thoughtful metaphor in her video for “Wolfpack.” Pairing nicely with her introspective and existential approach to pop music, Tuvaband finds herself wandering around wearing a large papier-mâché mask. She sheds it at the end of the video in an act of joyous rebellion. Check this out if you’re into The Antlers, Bon Iver, or Lana Del Rey.
Experimental-pop solo-act Airhead DC teamed up with members from Cherry Glazerr for his latest offering, the interestingly-named “Honey-Colored Flame Blown Off My Candle.” The song explores the manic infatuation he (aka Vishal Narang) felt during the first year of a romantic relationship. We dig the overall ethereal vibes and smart pop melodies on this one. His latest release, Crush Hi, is set for an October 26th release date – till then, get your fill with “Honey” below. Airhead DC is also on Bandcamp if you’d like to pick up any of their discography.
Curtsy is a lovely indie rock quintet from California. We loved the lush aesthetic of their latest single, “A Better Pet,” which has also just recently received the music video treatment. In the video, two fun-loving ladies hitch a ride on a stranger’s truck in a night of unbridled debauchery. Curtsy’s wistful indie pop is the perfect accompaniment to their mirth. Be sure to watch the video below to see for yourself. “A Better Pet” is live on Bandcamp. Be sure to check it out.
The multi-talented San Holo (not to be confused with Star Wars alum Han Solo) teamed up with fellow producer Bipolar Sunshine to release the infectious “Brighter Days.” It has the sunny message that despite the trials and hardships that comes along with being alive, better days are always on the horizon. Fun fact: Holo and Sunshine met up in an airbnb and tracked most of the song in one session. Check out their shared virtuosity below. San Holo has lots of different listening options – check them out here.
Toronto duo Teen Ravine have a hot new single on their hands with their latest jam, “Friend of a Friend.” Inspired by a soul-crushing break up and a debilitating concussion respectively, Teen Ravine pooled their collective misery to create their debut LP, released this past August. We were drawn to “Friend of a Friend” by its ethereal pop vibes – pairing electric piano with tight 80’s drum and synth tones. Their entire debut is currently on Spotify – check it out.
California Cousins have been kicking around their native Rochester (and far beyond) for a while now… If you’re not familiar, they wield the most noodly riffs known to man stuffed into time signatures that will make your head spin. Distant Relatives (out now on Chatterbot Records and Deep Sea Records) is their debut LP, a ten-song lesson in emo and skramz virtuosity. There are elements here of heartfelt-emo (The Hotelier) and heavier, vocal-cord-shredding hardcore (Touché Amoré), all wrapped up in a nearly impossible math rock (Tera Melos) package. “Aspirin” is an apt opener; the Cousins opt for a quick-tempo screamer to start things off with a bang. The real treat here (and throughout the rest of the LP) is the attention paid to sheer guitar acrobatics. In general, their songs are packed full of ingenious guitar tricks – squealing harmonics, swelling feedback, nimble bends, and quick licks that will make any musician nod with approval. Lead single “Extendo Weekend”[...]
Beloved Melbourne quintet DIET. sent over the effervescent “Game Plan” and we’ve been hooked ever since. Finding a nice balance between the fervent punk of Cloud Nothings and a vague 80s Smiths vibe, “Game Plan” pairs frantic drums with equally peppy guitar riffs and airy synth flourishes. Have a listen for yourself via the Bandcamp widget below. “Game Plan” is on Spotify – add it to the playlist of your choice. Sundown EP by DIET
The 1984 Draft tugged on our heartstrings with the frank, figurative thank you note of “Honest.” Driven by good-old-fashioned guitars and heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics, “Honest” finds singer/songwriter Joe Anderl thanking his audience for giving him a reason to go on. It’s a touching tribute to the reason musicians exist in the first place… Fans of Beach Slang, The Appleseed Cast, or The Gaslight Anthem will find common ground here. Makes Good Choices is available now via Poptek Records. Check it out here.