Here’s a cool indietronica jam from Broad Valley – instrumental jams are tough to put into words, but we’ll do our best! This one follows the bedroom-pop aesthetic with a hypnotic, triplet-based acoustic guitar. It’s full of atmospheric noises and static ambiance, all of which add to its overall nuanced feel. As with all music, this one is best heard for yourself – set the mood via the YouTube link below. It’s available lots of other places here.
Here’s a poignant one from LA-based singer/songwriter carolesdaughter. This 18-year-old (colloquially known as Thea Taylor) put her heart on her sleeve when writing “Violent,” an obvious ode to a toxic relationship. With a trap-esque beat and guitars that sound like they’re about to fall apart, this one could find fans in people who like Clairo, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, or even Cursive. Check out the music video below – it will break your heart – then find it on your favorite music streaming service here.
Berlin’s Dodo Origami here with a fun guitar rocker called “Wonderland.” Propelled by a fast tempo, a driven bassline, and guitar riffing, “Wonderland” has the fun of pop punk energy without the brattiness of the genre as a whole. Instead, “Wonderland” could sit comfortably on a shelf next to The Gaslight Anthem or Weezer. Check it out below – they also have a Spotify. Say No To Art by Dodo Origami
Loving this slow burn jam from Swiss act Frederik – reminiscent of Porches with a hint of Slowdive, “Portraits” is an ambient and ethereal indie rocker with a haunting vocal take from frontman Rolf Laureijs. The refrain of “and I wonder where have you been” has been swirling around our heads for days. It’s one of those bedroom-pop productions that is lo-fi at heart, but has an accidental (or intentional) perfect mix – check out the video below or swing by Spotify to add it to your playlist.
Here’s a new jam from some familiar faces… Rochester’s Full Body has fully-evolved into their final(?) form: Full Body 2. They’re now creating wall-of-sound shoegaze with glitchy IDM textures. Their first offering is “keygen memory,” full of brutal guitar fuzz, digital keyboard imprints, and trademark far-off shoegaze vocals. Fans of MBV or Ovlov will love the guitar tone here – check it out below. demo 01 by full body 2
The Rising Waters is an indielectro quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine whose “Lqd” caught our attention. “Lqd” brings to mind A Perfect Circle, Portishead, or even Nine Inch Nails with it’s dark and moody atmosphere and borderline industrial influences… It’s a pretty, moody song throughout, but the big moment here for us is the chorus – a simple statement of “Freezes” is surrounded by a haunting guitar riff, one that’s been stuck in our head for days. If you’re feeling it, it’s on Bandcamp below, but you can also find it on Spotify. Trust Issues by The Rising Waters
Winnipeg’s Julien’s Daughter recently caught our ears with the rhythmic indie rock pulse of “Barb 217.” This one starts out as an angular jam with a fuzzy, bedroom-pop-esque mix… But “Barb” eventually evolves into something dance-y and energetic, before finally slowing down the tempo down to a near-crawl. It’s a unique journey that you don’t expect until the song nears that two-minute-mark, but it’s a truly pleasant surprise once that drop hits. Fans of Alvvays or TOPS will dig this a lot. Check it out below and see for yourself – or check out their Linktree here. House of Wonders · Julien’s Daughter – Barb 217
Here’s a dope, R&B tinged, indie pop-jam from Emma Rena – the Grammy-nominated songwriter finally struck out on her own with the fantastic “Sidebar.” It’s a groovy, mid-tempo trudge that shows off Rena’s sassy vocals perfectly – coupled with a set of vague, troubled-relationship lyrics, “Sidebar” sounds contemporary, smooth, and timeless all at once. Give it a listen below – it’s on Spotify too. Emma Rena · sidebar
Here’s a cool collab between MVCO and Casey Shirin – “Tiny Little Thing” shows off Shirin’s unique vocal stylings on top of a tight, indie pop ditty from MVCO. It’s a super-upbeat jam full of warbly guitar magic, tight drums, and Shirin’s sunny vocal melodies. Think Clairo-meets-Mac Demarco with a bit more pep in their step. Check out the music vid below – it’s on Spotify too.
Here’s a nice, gauzy one from Australian native Harry Nathan. “High” is an 80s tinged synthpop jam with hints of indie-dance and nu-disco flavor. Blippy drums, zippy synth squiggles, and pleasant synth pads make up the backbone of this song – Nathan’s vocals are the cherry-on-top, as he croons gently about being high on love. This one is perfect for a sexy night drive or winding down at the end of a long day. Check it out below or via Harry’s linktree – here. Harry Nathan · High
Cool indie pop vibes here from Modern Leisure – “Rita” is an upbeat number that rides a canned drum beat, buzzy synth leads, and fuzzy guitars into territories of simmering indie rock. It feels sparkly, but lo-fi… Well-produced, but effervescent. It’s just one of those songs you can’t quite put your finger on, but you’re not sure why. Either way, we think you’re gonna like “Rita” too. Check it out below, and if you like it, be sure to swing by Spotify too. Rita by Modern Leisure
Oakland act Same Girls are melting a few faces here with their latest offering, “Diamonds.” A little bit post-punk, a little bit nu-disco, and a whole lot of sass, “Diamonds” is a flaming ball of indie-something energy. Effect-soaked guitar leads squeal over nimble bass theatrics while a vocal style similar to Interpol, Ceremony, or Bombay Bicycle Club croons overtop it all. We think this one is full of all the right energy – check it out below; it’s on Spotify too. Same Girls · Diamonds
So… Is this song about witchcraft or what? Paul McCartney & Wings wrote a love-it-or-hate-it classic with “Wonderful Christmastime;” we think JW Francis‘ bedroom-pop take makes it feel like a bit less of a guilty pleasure. Full of jaunty guitar stabs, smarmy vocals, and a surprising amount of horns, Francis’ version of “Christmastime” feels a lot less late-70s and a lot more 2020. Looks like their crew had a lot of fun making the music video – check it out below or swing by Bandcamp to peep the whole Christmas EP.
Ugh, what we wouldn’t give to step (safely) into our local dive bar once again. Parlour Magic have aurally achieved the sound of a late-night bar crawl with their latest jam, “Copa Club.” A sticky, funky groove pushes this indietronica slow-burn along, reminiscent of a drunken slog through a dimly lit hallway. It’s dark and sexy in all the right ways – bringing us back while sounding very 2020 all the same. Check it out for yourself below – it’s on Spotify too. Parlour Magic · Parlour Magic – Copa Club
Here’s another dream pop gem from buffaBLOG mainstay Goldmyth. “Isn’t It Easy” certainly lives up to its name – it’s an easy, breezy slice of indie pop that brings to mind genre heavyweights like Jay Som, TOPS, or Alvvays. The video itself is also relaxing, done in stop-motion style that harkens back to the more carefree summer days that have now long since passed. Goldmyth sneaks a bit of her trademark harp here – check out the video below for more visual confirmation… It’s on Spotify too.