Boston based indie rocker Gatch writes paradoxically sad beach music – case in point his catchy new jam, “Time Goes On.” Gatch backs up his simple vox with squiggly keyboards and a drum loop that brings early 90s pop music to mind. It’s a summery song with a retro feel that gave us that beachy feeling while still plucking on our heartstrings a bit – give it a listen below.
If you’re a fan of mad flow and breakneck beats, we recommend the latest from Costa Coast. The New Jersey native caught our ears with “Hereditary” – Costa’s aggressive style and nimble rhymes propel this one forward at maximum intensity. Be sure to stick around for the earworm “da na na na na” (and ras and las) in his choruses.
Feel the burn with the vibrant new visuals for the single, “Alright,” from German indie electronica aces, KYTES. This feel-good dance track will give you a reason to smile with its catchy and bombastic beat wrapped up in a positive and carefree message. This breath of fresh air is one you’ll definitely want to add to your workout mix so watch and enjoy below. For more KYTES, visit their SoundCloud here or Spotify here.
Nashville’s female indie pop duo, The Harmaleighs, swoop in with their sleepy and folky new single, “Don’t Panic.” Off their upcoming and deeply personal concept album, She Won’t Make Sense, this somber bedroom tune strikes a chord with emotionally intimate vocals and Americana instrumentals. Check it out below. She Won’t Make Sense is our August 2nd. Pre-order the album on their official site here and visit their Spotify here for more tracks.
Sleepy Soul is a mysterious duo who mixes a bit of soul, a bit of funk, and a touch of indie into their electronic jams. We’ve been jamming on “Still Can’t Dance,” which is a really cool song on its own (think Sylvan Esso or Phantogram), but it’s truly set off by its inspirational music video… It’s a familiar story, one where a young man learns to dance like a true champion. Stick around till the end for a surprise twist.
Montreal act Bodywash slid their washy brand of indie rock directly into our inboxes… And it worked out for them. “Reverie” starts out with a Radiohead-esque riff layered thick with synth pads but quickly adds a buoyant bass riff and tight drums to give it a feel of their own. This one is a happy juxtaposition of indie pop and mesmerizing soundscape – check it out below or give them some support via Bandcamp.
Jejune Stars ain’t just a Bright Eyes song anymore – it’s actually a gauzy, shoegazy indie rock act from San Antonio, whose “Concrete Bedsheets” has been rubbing us in all the right ways. Pair off-in-the-distance vocals with warbly, swirly guitars; washy drums; a smattering of keyboard; and an omnipresent bass thump. The vaguely lo-fi approach here is what really sends this one into the stratosphere – check it out via Bandcamp. Jejune Stars by Jejune Stars
Indie electropop is the bees knees – especially when it plays with funky time signatures. Halfloves is a quintet from Iowa, and their latest jam, “Small Hours,” kicks right off with a 10 beat rhythm. Beyond that ear-catching switch up in feel, the song is a pulsating, indie rock/synth pop hybrid, pairing a hooky chorus with lots of juicy and crunchy synth tones. The best part – they jam it all in beneath the three minute mark. Check it out below.
There’s something to be said about genuine music made in the comfort and solitude of a bedroom – case in point Neon Guava and the lo-fi chillfest that is “Cloud9.” Neon Guava is actually a 20-year-old broke accountant trying to do something great (aren’t we all?); “Cloud9” is his simple but v-vibey love song about feeling divine while sharing a kiss with that special someone. Fans of Neon Indian, Washed Out, or Still Corners will like his style. Neighborhood Sounds by Neon Guava
There’s something inherently infectious about New Jersey indie rockers The Vaughns and their catchy brand of indie pop. Our suggestion: check out the vibrant bounce of “50%,” which caught our ears with its bubbly, plucky guitar riff and singer Anna Lies’ lilting vocals. If you like what you hear, make sure you check The Vaughns out when they blow through Buffalo on June 18th (with some excellent local support). Till then, be sure to add “50%” to your Spotify playlist so you know the words!
EMAN8 sent us over the infectious vibes of “Stir” and we couldn’t help but share. “Stir” is an inspirational jam about getting out of that proverbial funk – “If you’re stuck in the same place, stir it up, stir it up!” He sends out his uplifting message over funky, urban pop vibes full of hammered piano chords and bounding basslines. Attn fans of Chance The Rapper, Anderson.Paak, or Andy Grammer: put this one on if you want to turn your day around.
Long Island emcee, Alex Russell, drops his latest single, “Shawty,” a bumpin’ break-up track that will make you forget about your ex. Russell pours his heart over genuine and relatable raps with a smooth and silky flow. Complimenting the rhymes is an upbeat, yet faded production composed of a trunk-thumping bass and airy tones. So quit stalking Instagram and move on with this new track below. For more Alex Russell tracks, visit Spotify here.
Plug into the groovy new single, “Capable,” from California indie rockers, The National Debt. Off their debut self-titled album, this talented five-piece craft a robust and unique sounding tune. Bassy undertones, shimmering accents and measured strings will keep your head nodding while frontman Nicholas Crespin’s soothing vocals tie everything together for a track you’ll want to hear over and over again. Give it a listen below. Be sure to check out The National Debt’s debut self-titled album on Spotify here.
Finnish electronica wunderkind, Rony Rex, collabs with London-based siren, Carla Monroe, on the bubbly new dance track, “Milk It.” Distinguishing himself from the dark and dreary Finnish sound, Rex lays down a bright and playful production for Monroe. Her seductive vocals hopscotch across the beat and are enough to turn a 4am warehouse party into a bounce house. Bust a move and spin it below. For more Rony Rex goodness, check out his official site here or Spotify here.
Jamestown, NY’s STCLVR is back with a throbbing new post-industrial single, “Gutterlungs.” Seemingly taken from a DJ set performed by Lucifer Himself, the track combines Hacienda-ready drums and synths harkening New Order and Happy Mondays and pairs them with Helvete-approved guttural screams soaked in fuzz and reverb. George Moore, the mastermind behind STCLVR, laments achingly over its concise three and a half minutes, dragging listeners further down the void with each bone-breaking drum loop and every lung-tearing scream, all melding together in a twisted maelstrom of gut-crushing pulses and thuds: “In a sweat-soaked bed, so old and dead, gutter habitat, expressionless stare.” Like sitting cross-legged without affect staring blankly down the middle of a crowded, sleazy nightclub dance floor in the strangest part of town, the completely polar dichotomy between the track’s danceable backbeat and the hopeless, nihilistic dread within Moore’s wails proves to be the song’s biggest strong suit.[...]