New Music

Tiberius – “Sag”

August 5, 2025

“Sag” is certainly an interesting name for a track and I’m willing to bet you’ll be into the latest from Tiberius. It’s a well-developed treatise on self reflection filled to the brim with brilliantly layered guitar that leans into a poppier so-called “farm emo” that adherents of the ole Midwest sound will appreciate. Speaking to the track songwriter Brendan Write had this to say:   “I wrote ‘Sag’ when I was really playing the ‘comparison game’ in my head and asking myself what role I wanted music to play in my life. It was the first in a batch about looking at yourself in relation to the others around you and trying to decipher who you are without that context.”   You can hear “Sag” below from the band’s Soundcloud. You can add it to your playlists on Bandcamp and Spotify. The new album, Troubadour will be available November 14.  [...]

Foot Ox – “Bleached Yellow”

August 5, 2025

Missing your dose of indie folk this week like my buddy Ronald? Look no further! Foot Ox brings us their latest track “Bleached Yellow” released in anticipation of their August 11 album A Lighthouse with Silver Dog Eyes.   Teague Cullen is the brains behind Foot Ox, but in the spirit of folk/country, there is a load of different musicians who step in makes for a very wholesome vibe. Written and inspired by/about Cullen’s travels through the American West, Foot Ox clearly plays with themes of nostalgia, playing around with multiple genres without ever pigeonholing themselves into one. The front loaded guitar will fill your soul proper while the nails from the drum and bass will keep things pinned solidly in place.   You can hear “Bleached Yellow” below from Bandcamp and of course on Spotify! You can find the new album, A Lighthouse with Silver Dog Eyes, in those[...]

Doter Sweetly – “sundown”

August 5, 2025

“sundown” is the latest single from Doter Sweetly, based out of Memphis. Writing under the name of Elijah Poston, to avoid any confusion with his non-human persona, Doter Sweetly/Poston have crafted a soothing jazzy infused lil number.   Somehow simultaneously slapping harder than most but not melting our eardrums with their awesomeness, the combination of perfectly picked guitar and offbeat drums really make you get into a *groove*. This is a perfect bath and cannabis track and I triple dog dare you to prove me wrong.   You can hear “sundown” below from Doter Sweetly’s YouTube as well as Apple Music and Spotify. I’m no meteorologist, but two singles after an almost ten year hiatus are hopefully a harbinger of things to come. Stayed tuned for more and all hail our new musical overlord Doter Sweetly.  

Men Without Hats – “I ❤️ the ’80s”

August 4, 2025

Men Without Hats – yes, that Men Without Hats – the electro-pop pioneers you might recognize from “The Safety Dance” or “Pop Goes The World,” are back with a brand new single. “I ❤️ the ’80s” takes us on a nostalgic journey, a self-aware homage to the deep love that folks have for the big-hair-era… And beyond the references to Terminator, “Just Like Heaven,” and The Fixx, Doroschuk & co. have written something genuinely catchy. The band never abandons their roots (there’s an actual vintage Prophet 5 synth on this particular recording) with more than a couple cheeky nods to their hits and an undeniable synth lead, but the modern day production helps keep this one rooted in our current zeitgeist. Queue this one up at your next family get together – we bet your mom’s going to love it too.   Check out the official music video for “I ❤️[...]

IAMJALEO – “Call Out”

August 4, 2025

Alternative hip hop artist IAMJALEO knows his worth. His latest release “Call Out” narrates the all-too-familiar sense of feeling undervalued. Through the lens of his less-than-satisfactory 9-5, IAMJALEO discusses how the time and energy suck away valuable time from creating art. Despite the temptation of calling out (as hinted in the song name and hook), paying rent and actually funding artistic passions keeps IAMJALEO and countless others clocking in when their heart and mind couldn’t be elsewhere. Their outlet becomes venting through art, which does benefit us listeners when it’s this well done and creative. “Call Out” boasts a backdrop of jazzy guitar runs and a chorus way more engaging than the job IAMJAELO likely crafted it during. If you’re digging, take a listen to more of his work on Spotify and check him out on our New and Emerging Hip Hop playlist, updated every single week with dope new[...]

khi – “star ignite”

August 1, 2025

What I dig the most about Atlanta rapper khi is the attention to detail within his bars. His latest track, “star ignite” is jam packed with internal rhymes schemes and seamless transitions to new lines and thoughts. ITs smoothness feels like a stream of conscious but it’s way too technically sound for that. khi’s nonchalant delivery and expert use of assonance position “star ignite” as a track you could throw right into the queue alongside Earl Sweatshirt. Lyrically, khi uses this track to discuss the isolationism tactics that have fueled his skills and his rise. When there’s limited time in the day to pursue your dreams, sometimes answering the phone moves down the list of priorities.  Get a better idea of khi by taking a quick stop on YouTube to check out this track’s visual. Stay up to speed with khi on Spotify, and while you’re there check out our[...]

Statz – “SATURDAYS WITH JOE” ft. Dez Luciano

August 1, 2025

Harlem’s Statz builds on his family legacy with his latest effort, “SATURDAYS WITH JOE.” The grandson of a 1950s doo-wop singer, Statz has an ear for soulful melodies and certainly put them to use with the production on this cut. “JOE” is built off of lovely simple sunburst vintage loop, sounding like something Party Supplies or Harry Fraud would have dropped closer to the mid 2010s. Statz and featured artist Dez Luciano offer their philosophical advice on the way people should approach life. Take this one for a spin and pick up some streetwise musings while you cruise through an orange summer evening. IF you’re digging Statz, check out more from him on Spotify. While you’re there, take our Underground and Emerging Hip Hop playlist for a spin – it’s updated with new artist every single week.

iced – “oh, you mad?”

August 1, 2025

Canada rapper iced stays cool in the face of bombastic bass – creating a memorable new single up north with his recent release “oh, you mad?” Built on a meth-fueled xylophone synth line and heavily distorted bottom half, iced brings suitably unpredictable balance. His flows run from frenetic to nonchalant and playful to menacing. Take “oh, you mad” for a spin and add this to your car playlists to test out those speakers your parents got you for Christmas. If you’re interested in more from iced, take a look at his Spotify page, where you’ll find a few other 2025 highlights from the artist, including the singles “LIL BOY” and “EXPOSED.” While you’re there, take a listen to our New and Emerging Hip Hop playlist, where you’ll find more exciting new artists every single week.

SWOLL – “The Wind At Night”

July 30, 2025

Baltimore based Matthew Dowling is the brains behind SWOLL and “The Wind At Night” is their latest single… and WOW does it leave it all on the turntable. The heavy bass layered breakdowns give a prog rock vibe, but don’t let that scare you away, as this is a track that defies any attempt at pigeonholing. You can feel some electronica, shoegaze, and post-punk vibes throughout, as well as good ole fashioned rock ‘n roll. I personally enjoyed the the high falsetto/synth/whatever the HECK was going on in the choruses (you can hear around 1:45 mark). It reminded me of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but I liked it.   The music video (with lyrics) is available on YouTube embedded below or over on Spotify. Fans of bands like Death From Above 1979 would find a lot to enjoy here, especially with the layers and layers of[...]

Altalune – “Dead Weight”

July 25, 2025

“Dead Weight” is Altalune‘s latest track and the second one we’ve covered this year (with “Fragments” being the last we covered back in April). This hefty, almost proggish (not a word but it is now) track is *beautifully* composed and leans heavily into melodic guitar riffs and steady bass riffs that just… friggin’ gel! Emo and screamo aficionados will find a lot to enjoy here, as well as the prog… heads? Prog heads. Here’s a little snippet from the band about what the song means to them:   “This song is about recognizing that we all have our part to play in all aspects of a relationship. We’re all quick to point the finger at someone else but it’s much harder to reflect on what you’ve done wrong… I’m getting over myself, meaning I’m putting away the flawed perceptions I might have of myself and accepting my own impact, but[...]

Caleb L’Etoile – “Fireball”

July 25, 2025

“Fireball” can mean a lot of things. It’s the go-to sorcery spell in D&D for mass destruction, the go-to alcoholic beverage for lovers of cinnamon destruction, and the latest track from Caleb L’Etoile. Written as a tip of the cap and a tongue of the cheek to the sock hop anthems of yesteryear, it is impossibly catchy and if you still have your shoes on and aren’t boppin’ along – please get your ears checked.   My mother always spoke fondly of sock hops and desperately wanted to us to relive that dream for her – whether her own idealized version of what they were or from actual experience, I’ll never know (I was like 8). I’ll probably just ask her tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can live Babs’ fever dream of sock hoppin’ in the safety of your own living room right now.   You can hear “Fireball”[...]

Mikey Demilio – “Explain”

July 25, 2025

Mikey Demilio is exactly what you’d expect to get from a Jersey boy with an album titled Billionaire’s Club and a single called “Explain.” Really fun, controlled chaos-pop-rock that will assuredly find easy access through your ear canal to get stuck in your brain. I couldn’t find too much of a bio about Mikey, but a strong tip of the hat to anyone who can put together a cohesive 13-track album in this day and age of singles and soundbites. *shakes fist at cloud*   You can hear “Explain” below from YouTube or over on Spotify. Be sure to check out the rest of the album, Billionaire’s Club, in particular the title track – which I found an interesting juxtaposition to “Explain” and gives a better idea of Demilio’s depth. The rest of the album is also worth a listen to if you’ve liked what you’ve heard.  

Chris Combs – “Can’t Stop”

July 25, 2025

Tulsa based Chris Combs, other than obviously being a real cool guy based on name alone (check the by-line), is a man of many talents enmeshed in a smorgasbord of (excellent) sounds. His latest, “Can’t Stop” is a romp of a track that has a 90’s grunge/post grunge/Gregorian chant vibe that fits together beautifully. You might wonder how Gregorian chant fits into contemporary indie rock so well? Ask your nerdy music friend to explain time signatures or scales or keys… Or just listen to the track and judge for yourself.   You can hear “Can’t Stop” below from Soundcloud, or add it to your trippy playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. If you’re looking for even more proof of Combs’ depth of talent, give the other half of the single, “Historicity” a gander too.   Chris Combs · Can’t Stop

ZooDeVille – “Get it Tatted” ft. Adam Flowers, Pistol Mcfly, and Jonah Levine

July 23, 2025

ZooDeVille channels early 2010s blog rap to create a fresh, commercial-ready sound on their latest single “Get It Tatted.” Some of my favorite days spent circa 2013 were crawling the pages of DJBooth.net hoping I’d see one of the era’s mainstays repackaging a hot indie rock crossover into the hook for their next single. But in 2025, ZooDeVille, Adam Flowers, Pistol Mcfly, and Jonah Levine don’t need Empire of the Sun or Darwin Deez to drop an indelible single to build a pop rap single around. An earworm chorus that could have been Fueled by Ramen is generated in house by Zoo, and each artist adds in something accessible that makes “Get It Tatted” one of those feel good tracks you can mix in with a running playlist or a pregame and greet either inclusion with a smile. Some of the references are a little too new age for me[...]

MooreBeats – “Upside Down” (ft. LONG LIVE PHOENIX + O.H. BAGS + RealTime + The Commissioner + Z U L U + THEREALMFDOT)

July 23, 2025

MooreBeats is an up and coming old school hip hop producer who’s soulful beats give him more of an architect feel than your conventional beatmaker. His latest single, “Upside Down,” is a timeless, soulful boom-bap cut with such an approachable sound that he got 6 emcees itching to hop on it. Between LONG LIVE PHOENIX, O.H. BAGS, RealTime, The Commissioner, Z U L U, and the THEREALMFDOT, we get a full spectrum of rappers with conscious bars, charismatic deliveries and flows that don’t stop evolving. Give this track an add to your playlists that prioritize the art of sampling and the art of pure unadulterated bars. “Upside Down” appears on MooreBeats Team2025 project, featuring original instrumentals from MooreBeats and a full roster of exciting underground hip hop artists. Take it for a deep dive and come out with a couple new artists in your rotation. Check out MooreBeats on Spotify and[...]