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.[...]
Take the gnarliest trip of your life with LA art-rockers, The Manx, and the visuals for their surreal new single, “Hateful Goo.” Off the outfit’s upcoming album, Malibu Slime, this track is a total head rush with its thrashing punk beat and cult-like vocals. Each band member, playing an eclectic mix of instruments ranging from an electric banjo to an accordion, worked double duty to bring this wild video to life by tapping into their animation backgrounds. Prepare yourself for something you’ve never seen before and watch it below. Be on the look out for The Manx’s Malibu Slime dropping July 12th via their Bandcamp here.
Brooklyn dance-punk duo, Detective Logan, share their latest catchy cut, “The Line.” Consisting of Kate Garfield and Michael Hanf, the former lends her confident and defiant vocals to an irresistibly punchy garage rhythm that will swirl around your head for days. Crank it up and give this bold track a listen below. For more Detective Logan, check out their Spotify here or official site here.
Oakland-based indie rockers, Same Girls, drop off their wistful and catchy new single, “Wait.” What started off as a jam quickly took on a life of its own when vocalist Taifa Nia stretched his nostalgic aught-like vocals over a jangly and kinetic melody. Give it a listen below for a killer track that will hook you from start to finish. Check out more Same Girls on SoundCloud here and Spotify here.
Take your life back from the grips of Mark Zuckerberg and social media with the authentic new single, “I’ve Been Waiting My Whole Life for It to Begin,” from NY singer, producer and songwriter, Llavz. Pronounced “jazz,” the Dominican American artist pulls from a variety of influences, including alt-rock, hip-hop, Latin American accents for a soulful rendition that will make you feel human again. Check it out below. For more Llavz, visit his Spotify here or follow him on Instagram here.
Indie rocker, Lauren Ruth Ward, gets a lot off her chest in her awesome new release, “We Are Grown Ups.” Letting go of relationship frustrations and stresses, Ward lets her powerful voice rip over a wonderfully emotive melody grounded with folk, 60’s and garage rock influences. Flip your worries and problems the bird with this cathartic single below. For more Lauren Ruth Ward, check her out on SoundCloud here and Facebook here.
Dance along to the funky debut track, “Hey! I Don’t Want That Anyway,” from electro-funk newcomer, AKA Lui. The Aussie producer mixes airy vocals with a retro-sounding beat that’s filled with bassy undertones, catchy handclaps and sexy strings. Dust off those platform shoes and get yourself on the dance floor with this intoxicating track below. Keep an eye on this upcoming talent through his SoundCloud here and Facebook here.