New Music

Slow Coast – “Double Vision”

Bay Area based Slow Coast brings us their latest track “Double Vision.” Not to be confused with fellow Californians Best Coast (based on the name alone). The track itself is a layered guitar leaning affair in a similar vein to Arctic Monkeys with boss vocals to match. The instrumental breakdown is something purely of beauty and well worth the experiencing as a whole with the rest of the track.  Speaking to the track, the band said: ” This song explores the paradox of feeling on top of the world one moment and worthless the next; and the internal battle of overcoming this feeling.” All completely valid feelings and easy to communicate.  The up tempo lyrics contrast starkly with the deeply inward lyrics and play hard into the experience Slow Coast is working toward. You can hear “Double Vision” over on YouTube or add to your Soundcloud/Spotify playlist of hook laden[...]

Beach Tower – Another Beach Tower EP

Readers of buffaBLOG – by now, you should already know that when a Fredonia local band releases new music, it’s bound to be noteworthy. Coming off a short hiatus, Beach Tower has large shoes to fill (or should I say, fuzzy crocs), after their intriguing first album If We Make It To May. It’s safe to say that you should slip on some of your own fuzzy footwear and prepare yourself for a surfy, pop punk sensation with their long awaited follow up, simply and wonderfully titled, Another Beach Tower EP.    Before we even dive into this album, for fans of other Fredonia locals such as HitGRL and Ryan Terry Family Band, I suggest you drop everything and go listen to this latest release IMMEDIATELY!  Fun fact, Ryan Terry of Beach Tower is also in both bands making for an extremely recognizable sound that screams “this is Ryan Terry[...]

Niall Summerton – “Tear Me Apart”

North-Yorkshire based Niall Summerton roughs up the smooth edges of his debut on his latest single, “Tear Me Apart.” The indie crooner plays with simmering vibes that still somehow feature blown-out instrumentals. It makes for a low key experience that still capture sthe best bits of of urgency and anxiousness that post-punk is typically known for. Perfect for folks who at one point loved their Big Muff (TM) to death, but now enjoy a calming (but still cool) playlist during their 9-5. Check out “Tear Me Apart” via Soundcloud (below), or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist. Niall Summerton · Tear Me Apart

mani zuko – “NeedNeedNeed”

“Australia’s underground rapper” mani zuko shows off more than just a hip hop pen on his latest single “NeedNeedNeed.” With a soft, melodic voice, mani hovers between singing and rapping as he pleads with his love interest to be “real” with him on this R&B-flavored track. Channeling Sampha, but with a pop-friendly hook, mani is a manic man holding onto his dream girl for dear life – how mutual is this interest, how unrequited is this love? Zuko’s rapping pen makes his verses tight, but his vocals and its accompanying production shine most as he wails to an audience of perhaps none. Boasting a tight 2 minute runtime and an earworm hook ready to latch on after one listen, “NeedNeedNeed” is needed on your R&B and pop rap playlists. Get a taste for more indie R+B and neo soul on mani zucko’s Spotify page.  

Matilda Schyborger – “Overthinking”

“Overthinking” is the latest from Swedish based Matilda Schyborger and it’s one of our favorites this week at The Blog. Synth and guitar feature prominently – with the former popping off within the first minute. Clever lyrics delivered smartly are a big thing for me and I’ll always tip my cap to word play (I think I overthink again/questioning whether I’m relevant). The slow parts really make this song and help it stand out from an otherwise oversaturated market of phuzzy synth based pop goodness. Musically, this reminded me a lot of Courtney Barnett as far as general sound – fans of Wet Leg and Soccer Mommy will be pleased as well. You can hear “Overthinking” below from YouTube over add it to your introspective pop mix on Spotify. Let us know how you feel about it so we can        

Caleb L’Etoile – “Tick (feat. Jessy Leigh)”

Fresh off of the I’m Always Haunted EP, “Tick” is the latest from Caleb L’Etoile and it’s here just in time for spooky season! Using everyone’s favorite insect arachnid (the tick, who knew?) the song becomes an extended metaphor for obsessive love but stops short of mentioning Lyme disease by name (thank you). The track itself features dueling vocals between L’Etoile and Jessy Leigh and a cavalcade of chillwave-ish sounds and effects which create a fun juxtaposition with the gross subject matter. Also, mad props to Jessy Leigh’s Twtter background (it’s from Junji Ito’s Uzumaki). You can hear “Tick” below from YouTube or add it to your spoopy season mix on Spotify or Soundcloud (or main playlist if you’re spooky all the time). The rest of the EP is available now as well, so be sure to check out the rest -including a couple punk covers!    

Teefa – “Confess”

Chicago emcee Teefa channels Lauryn Hill and the Fugees both in lyrics and production on her latest single “Confess.” Sampling some elements of the “Ready or Not,” beat, and most notably Lauryn Hill’s lyric “I must confess, my destiny’s manifest,” Teefa discusses the journey and pressures to be the best version of one’s self. Growth, motivation and drive are lyrical themes in a lot of Teefa’s projects as she works to bring excellence to her day-to-day. With a tight flow and sharp lyrics, Teefa delivers a smooth, inspiring single that will be at home on your conscious rap and alternative hip hop playlists. Take a deeper dive into Teefa’s previous releases ahead of her debut project, “The Making.”

Melo Griffith & seantommy – “READY YET”

Toronto-based artists Melo Griffith and seantommy join forces for a short and sweet track with elements of hip house and traditional rap on “READY YET.” Rapper/singer Melo carefully navigates a tight 1:33 runtime, taking advantage of every second to flex his quick flow, tight songwriting, and catchy interplay with the groovy beat. seantommy on production delivers a thumping, drum heavy, club ready beat that gets the head bobbing and feet moving. Melo’s mic E-N-E-R-G-Y and seantommy’s beat switchups ensure both artists get to shine equally on a really tight track that will fit in nicely with your higher energy party playlists. Both Melo Griffith and seantommy have a variety of sounds in their back catalog – take a look at their Spotify to learn more about these exciting artists up North.

Pekoe Cat – “The Down and Outers”

High energy indie project Pekoe Cat has a new single called “The Down and Outers” that is blaring from the office speakers today. Pekoe Cat is the recording name for multi-instrumentalist comedian Kyle Woolven. Hailing from Belleville, Ontario, Woolven’s Pekoe Cat project displays his more serious side and is a counter balance to his comedy work. The track “The Down and Outers” is an upbeat indie pop song that goes hard on the tempo. Fans of The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, or The Drums would be into this one. Check it out.

Idaho Green – “Studs Up at the Suds Hut”

Idaho Green’s single “Studs Up at the Suds Hut” may hold the record for the shortest song we’ve covered at the blog. In fact, you may even linger longer on this page than listening to the song, which is pretty good for our backend stats so I would encourage you to do so. The band originates from Huntley Project, Montana and has been creating fuzzy diddies since 2008. In 2015, Idaho Green relocated to Brooklyn where they found themselves in a weird dichotomy, they were too artsy for Montana, but too redneck for Brooklyn. The single, “Studs Up at the Suds Hut” is a 40 second track that fans of Rozwell Kid, Sleeping Bag, or Diarrhea Planet would appreciate. Check it out below and give them a follow on Instagram.  Gems of the High Plains by Idaho Green

Genra – “Insecure”

You know that feeling when you see a particularly tough picture of yourself? “Is that what I really look like – this is what people see?” That will put a hole in your soul. Bay Area rapper Genra digs into this how crippling this experience can be on his latest single “Insecure.” Genra runs through the checklist of things he’s done instead of rapping: got a new job, paid his taxes, trips to Costco, watching UFC – anything besides releasing music. The hiatus isn’t out of laziness. Genra admits his procrastinations come from self-doubt after he caught an unflattering glimpse of himself, tying the track title into the hook. It’s a highly relatable track from the alternative hip hop artist. In Genra’s hands, this idea is a catchy off-my-chest track featuring an evolving, sparkling, keyboard loop for a beat. You can find more from Genra on Spotify – check out[...]

soft siren – “Almost Crying”

California based soft siren, a project between Sidewalks and Skeletons, Count the Clock, and CASHFORGOLD, brings us their latest single “Almost Crying.” I have no idea how three different bands come together like that, but the results are far more than satisfactory and indeed kick ass. The gentle yet deliberate instrumentals do a reverse shoegaze to dreampop parabolic arc mix. More specifically, it starts in the dream pop-verse (watch out MCU) and gradually shifts gears into a hazy shoegaze romp. The vocals from Jacqueline Torgerson (of CASHFORGOLD) are appropriately wispy-yet-very-much-grounded-and-present. The 90’s influences of bands like Cocteau Twins and Slowdive are unmistakable and purposeful yet are simply the same chords with a fresh coat of paint. Anyone who came of age in the 90’s will have a ball here, as well as anyone with even a passing enjoyment of the less is more approach. You can hear “Almost Crying” below[...]

MANA – “Nauseating Me”

Irish-bred (but Berlin-based) three piece MANA brings us their second single “Nauseating Me.” I got some Kings of Leon vibes in the best way possible – the passionate vocals were reminiscent of singer Caleb Followill. The guitars are immediate and in your face, but then pull back a little bit for the bridge, combining jangly and at times more effects laden shoegazy antics (that lends itself to a post-punk feel). As per the band: “The lyrics allude to defiance and hope in the face of polarization, cynicism and displacement.” I’m personally awful at hearing the lyrics without them written down in front of me, but based on the instrumentals, that seems to track! You can watch the music video below on YouTube or add it to your “Irish Bands Other Than Dropkick” Spotify playlist. No hate, people just assume it’s just them and Sinead O’Connor who came out of Ireland[...]

Optometry – “Comets”

Los Angeles based duo Optometry has a new track out called “Comets” and it’s the next juicy synth track you’ve been looking for. Made up of John Tejada and March Adstrum, they absolutely obliterate your ear drums in all of the best ways with a delightfully rhythmic thump (apparently made possible by vintage drum machines…which begs the question…are vintage drum machines just drummers from the 80’s imprisoned inside a drum kit?) Synth and drums combine forces with vocals from March Adstrum (who has performance and writing credits), and she does a wonderful job bringing depth and warmth to an otherwise mechanized affair. Fans of Tame Impala (who I still refuse to believe is one person) will find a lot to enjoy here, especially those with an appreciation of the use of vintage equipment. You can hear it below from YouTube or add it to your Spotify playlist of dark drum and[...]

Clover County – “Ultraviolet”

Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Clover Country brings us her latest single “Ultraviolet.” The track is beautifully produced with a steady acoustic guitar leading the charge that meshes well with CC’s vocals. The gentler parts are tenderly picked, but never lose their luster, along with horn interludes and little bits of what sounds like xylophone thrown in for fun. The strongest part is undoubtedly the vocals, as Clover Country ebbs and flows with the instrumentals with her strong set of pipes. Fans of indie country pop crossovers like Band of Horses would find a lot to enjoy here, as would anyone who secretly enjoys Taylor Swift but is too embarrassed to say so. You can hear “Ultraviolet” below from Soundcloud or add to your indie pop playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. The other two tracks on the single are well worth your time, and skew toward a more country mouthfeel[...]