The Spins are gearing up to release a new album and they’ve teased the world with their latest single, “It’s Me.” It’s shiny, it’s fun, and most of all… It’s me. Just kidding – it’s actually super catchy. Produced by Ayad Al Adhamy (of Passion Pit fame), this one has omni-relatable appeal, taking that The 1975 shimmer and shine and refining it into this fun little nugget of alt rock glory. You know the drill – check it out via YouTube (below) or on Spotify.
It’s been a few years since we last checked in with Altalune, but they’re still out here crushing the indie/emo realm. Their latest song, “Fragments,” channels the more upbeat era of contemporaries Movements and Citizen with its impassioned vocal delivery and chunky (but nimble) instrumental work. The particularly woofy bass tone in this song is ear catching in a delightful way, twisting and turning beneath heart-on-your-sleeve vocals in mind-bending ways. Just like a good emo song should – this one reminds you of the folks in your life who bring you comfort, even when you’re at your lowest. Check out “Fragments” via the YouTube embed below, or, find it on Spotify and Apple Music.
As soon as the first vocal notes of “Calcium, Unlikely” wafted into my ears, I said to myself, “That’s that guy from Herbert Walker.” I was right. And then I found $5. If anything, it’s testament to the unique timbre of Francis Kelly‘s voice on his first foray into solo territory. He’s teamed up with fellow vocalist Morphia Slow for this odd, creepy, and stripped-back slice of folksy Americana. A rambling acoustic guitar fumbles in the background; gently tapped drums carry an uncertain beat; and a moaning organ peeks out between the cracks… It’s all a part of the vibe, but the real appeal here is the duet between Francis and Morphia, who truly nail the dark and dreary vibe embodied here. Check out “Calcium, Unlikely” via the YouTube embed below.
North Carolina multi-instrumentalist Blase is coming at us with the indie-pop pulse of latest single, “Middle of Nowhere.” Leaning heavy into ethereal vibes, “Middle of Nowhere” channels Tame Impala with its far-off vocal presence, bell-tone guitar riffs, and bevy of atmospheric synths. Just barely psyched-out, “MoN” sounds like it’s in between every genre and also every genre at once. Blase’s super pleasant almost-falsetto vocals are the cherry-on-top here, bringing all the elements together into this cloud scraping new single. Check out “Middle of Nowhere” via the YouTube embed below.
UK rapper Ben DSP takes the catchiness in his UK Garage roots and combines it with some tasteful boom bap with his newest single, “BTF.” The bilingual artist opts out of Italian and keeps it strictly English as he travels back and forth from “Brixton to Finsbury (BTF)” to court his potential mate. Ben relents that he’s got an inclination to ditch when times get tough, but he seems to have met his match, commenting “I don’t know how you can tell, I guess it takes one to know one.” “BTF’s” chorus is the shining star, countering Ben’s storytelling on the verses with a deep melodic hook. Brixton’s Nate Dogg, they’re calling him. Or Finsbury’s. Depends on the day. Check out more from Ben on Spotify and check out more rising rappers on our Spotify playlist.
Listen, we’re no strangers to unique genres here at the blog, but “bargain-basement psych” is a new one for us… At least that’s the self-described qualifier that Rochester singer/songwriter Alex Northrup gives to his unique brand of chamber pop. “Mutually Assured Distraction” is the first single from Northrup’s upcoming LP, Victory Lapse, and it’s a great highlight of what we can expect from this eclectic songwriter. Tweaked harpsichord madness powers this retro-coded tune, fleshed out with strange organ tones, vintage drum machines, and Northrup’s pleasant tenor. Certainly sounding like a mashup of Goodwill-sourced instruments (in a good way!), “Mutually Assured Distraction” feels like a harbinger of a wildly inventive album to come. “Mutually Assured Distractionis” out now via Raincoated Records. Check it out via bandcamp below. Mutually Assured Distraction by Alex Northrup
Cali rappers Nevi Outlyr and Hiram Torres begin their villain arc with a bang on their newest single, “Golden Ticket!” Over a menacing, wonky beat, Hiram and Nevi take turns spitting in your face channeling Samual L and Travolta. Hiram kicks off the track with bar after bar of triplet swagger, before Nevi tags in sounding like Andre 3k wanted to punch you in the face. Together the duo ooze personality in between their threats of violence and ridicule. I’d say it’s good for a summer driving playlist but don’t wanna be legally liable for your actions on the road. Good for shadowboxing. Watch the trouble unfold in the must see music video for Golden Ticket! and check out more from the artists on Spotify. You can find them and more on our New and Emerging Hip Hop playlist.
Being a Buffalonian, I’ll tell you something: we always get excited when we see the word Buffalo. “Buffalo Blades” is the latest from Mating Ritual, and while I don’t think these two brothers from Central Cali are talking about Buffalo, NY, it’s nonetheless a groovetastic track. It feels super fleshed out and I *swear* I heard some steel geetar, with some synth mixed in for good measure. You can hear “Buffalo Blades” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. The rest of the EP is worth a listen too, as the tracks show off their range – going from a country mouthfeel of Blades (steel geetar, hello) to a more amped up, punkier sounding “Shangri-Blah.” Speaking of….Shangri-Blah juuuust happens to be the title of the band’s upcoming album (where you can find “Buffalo Blades” as well). Mating Ritual · Buffalo Blades
“Stay” is the latest track from Natalie Lew, the brains behind Sea Lemon. Coming in like a promise of a pleasantly lazy weekend, Lew’s vocals combined with the gentle guitar/bass/drums feel idyllic and warm. Speaking as to how she wrote the song: “This older guy, probably in his 70s or 80s, was acting as a security guard at this thrift store near my house…I couldn’t stop thinking about him after I left, and wrote ‘Stay’ as a reaction to seeing this guy who I felt deserved to take a break…” You can hear “Stay” below from Sea Lemon’s Bandcamp. Fans of physical media can pre-order a slice of vinyl with the upcoming album “Diving For A Prize” due out June 13. You can pre-save the album on Spotify as well. Diving For A Prize by Sea Lemon
There are different emotions associated with day drinking. Mimosas when you’re feeling cute, bloody maries when you feel like dirt, sidewalk slammers when you’re a goblin, etc. When Fort Worth’s WACHO! takes a sunbaked sip of Gin and Juice, it’s because heartbreak’s on the brain. Despite WACHO!’s playful, sing-songy delivery, “Day Drinking” is a soundtrack to coping with alcohol, replacing one vice with another, “Your ass is gone so now it’s this bottle that I smack.” He’s got an ear for the poppy melodies and memorable bars, but sharp songwriting on lines like “you left me brokenhearted, liquor’s leaking through the cracks” elevates this track into a layered, complicated spotlight of substance issues. Give it a listen and check out other artists like WACHO! on our Spotify playlist.
Nashville artist Jack Vinoy took a look at blues rocker Afton Wolfe 2022 track “So Purple” and saw a couple more hues. Vinoy takes a floating flute melody from OG track, adds some spacey guitar, his own vocals and some hip hop drums and puts a whole new tint on the track. Afton remains center stage, opening the track with “Red and blue just a simple combination but a different radiation” forecasting the dynamic he, Vinoy and rising rapper Brian Brown bring to the remix. Brown contribute slick, slotted rhymes that somehow feel right at home countering Afton’s gruff, bluesy, space cowboy aesthetic. There’s a lot on the palette here to enjoy – give a listen to paint the picture, and check out other experimental hip hop on our 2025 playlist.
I have no idea if Jamie Cameron is actually a Life Coach, but I would say that any musician worth their salt could probably find a way into that life. Regardless of credentials (the name is apparently an ironic statement), their chosen moniker is Life Coach and “Cringe” is his latest single. Based out of Glasgow, Cameron started off as a solo act but has moved into a four piece outfit, further enhancing their sound. I got some really good vibes with the vibrant choruses and the underlying synth with bombastic guitar hooks and squelchy synths (gave a similar mouthfeel to one of my personal favorite bands, Diet Cig, but Scottish). You can hear “Cringe” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. If you’re a “Cringe” or cringe fan well… so is Jamie. 2023’s Scottish Cringe EP is well worth the listen (and everything in between). Life Coach ·[...]
Some of us become ruffians through a tragic backstory, some of us are simply Born Ruffians. I’m speaking of course, of the Toronto bred four piece and, unless you skipped the title, you’d know that we’re checking out their latest single “Supersonic Man.” It’s delightfully morose yet… somehow uplifting? Clean acoustic guitars with what sounds like a theremin (or synth, who can say?) somehow combine together for a Bob Dylan-esque ramble that will surely tickle your bramble (and ears). But like… if Bob Dylan was Canadian and a modern-day indie band that keeps churning out hits. You can watch the music/lyric video below from YouTube (I won’t spoil it but it’s two legs on a bike). I am surprisingly atrocious with picking out lyrics 98% of the time, so seeing them in a visualizer is always incredibly helpful to help me connect more closely with music. It’s also available[...]
néomí, who we haven’t heard from since last year’s single”talk shit” (here), has a new track that really showcases her pop chops. “Do You Want To Be Honest?” differs a bit from “talk shit” as it doesn’t quite hit the folksy notes as much (and we’re all about dynamic artists here at the Blog). Drum machines (or is it just one?) and synth feature heavily, giving a nice 80’s pop vibe (eat your heart out Madonna), with plenty of acoustic guitar to keep things feeling organic and in the alt pop/indie pop lane. Speaking to the track, néomí had this to say: “This song is about trying to find middle/solid ground when you can’t control the movements and actions of the people/world around you…” You can hear “Do You Want To Be Honest?” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. Be sure to check out her 2024 album[...]
“I’ve got a sharp katana deep in my back…” is how a John Wick movie could start, but it’s instead a line pulled from Phantom Sugar‘s newest track (you guessed it) “KATANA.” The title and subject matter; “getting stabbed in the back by a trusted ally and the conversation post betrayal” could go in any direction musically, but Stefano Zita et al stick with their tried-and-true brand of lo-fi pop rock (and golly, does it work!). The guitar work is impressive but not overwrought, which is refreshing to hear. While there is a time and place for 45 layers of guitar on a track, sometimes the straightforward method is the best delivery. Coupled with earnest lyrics laying bare the feelings associated with swords in your back, you’re in for quite the treat… If being stabbed in the back is your thing. You can hear “Katana” below from Soundcloud[...]