New Music

Samantha Clemons – “Spectacle”

February 13, 2024

“Spectacle” is the latest from St. Louis based singer/songwriter Samantha Clemons, a supremely talented musician whose influences include (but are not limited to) gospel, jazz, Caribbean, and soul music. “Spectacle” starts with a stunning strumming guitar with keys, with Clemons’ voice quickly taking the lead. Her words are heartfelt and dripping with emotion, always at the edge or muscling out the instrumentals but finds a way back to equilibrium without being overwhelming. As NPR’s Pilar Fitzgerald noted of her 2021 Tiny Desk submission: “Clemons’ voice is striking: secured in deep depths in one moment, then bursting like wildfire in the next. And just as complex as her range are her lyrics — the story she tells… is so beautifully imagined.” Be sure to give “Spectacle” a listen over on Spotify or Soundcloud, we think you’ll be impressed with the depth and feel of her songwriting.

BIRDWAR – “Tiny Door”

February 12, 2024

Portland Oregon based four piece, BIRDWAR, brings us their first single “Tiny Door” off of their upcoming full length due out this summer. The band describes their sound as a “Dinosaur Jr. meets Elliot Smith” and is certainly accurate in all of the best ways. Much like Dinosaur Jr., the guitars are the strongest suit in “Tiny Door” with plenty of layers and that gruff grunge fuzz that pervades throughout. Singer Matthew Holland’s voice is harmonious and measured; deftly weaving between the bass and guitars but still with plenty of emotion. Fans of the aforementioned bands or perhaps Pixies or Yuck will obviously find a lot to enjoy here – as will casual grunge/post grunge fans. You can hear “Tiny Door” on Apple Music or Spotify, as well as their as yet-unnamed album later this year.

Club 8 – “Just Like Heaven”

February 8, 2024

A duo based out of Sweden, Club 8 brings us their newest track “Just Like Heaven” – a follow-up to 2023’s “Sunny“ (that we covered here). Not to be confused with The Cure’s seminal hit sharing the same name, this is a slow jam more so in the realm of bedroom pop and we’re loving it. Formed in 1995, Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård have made their rounds through indie pop, bossa nova, and dancier tunes (with a hiatus or two thrown in). Komstedt’s voice is given plenty of room to spread it’s wings throughout the track with subdued guitar and drums – not unlike a dream-pop reimagining of The White Stripes. I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never heard of this band before today, but this really scratched an itch for something that’s pure and not overproduced. It also goes to show you that you can follow your[...]

meija x JAWNY – “Magic”

February 8, 2024

LA based Jamie Sierota, aka meija (“it’s pronounced “meija” per his social media) drops his latest “Magic” with fellow artist JAWNY. The track itself is absolutely one of the chillest tracks I’ve heard so far this year – driven by guitar and a simple-yet-effective drum beat that keeps the lo-fi groove going. You’ll also find a fun synth effect that shows up every few stanzas along with a bumpin’ bass riff. As per meija, “Magic” is very much a biographical one; the entire first verse a quick summation of the last ten years of his life. He goes on to say: “At its core, it’s a song about trying to find the beauty in the everyday. Even in my hardest times, there’s always been something good.” Between the grooviness, effects, and meija’s vocals, the way this song was put together gave me Talking Heads vibes (“Once in a Lifetime,” to be more[...]

False Corners – “Where Is My Blood (feat. Emily Backus)”

February 8, 2024

Atlanta based False Corners is the culmination of mutual love and admiration, their debut EP Shoobie shows that in each cut. The group is centered on the duo of songwriter Jack Shaw and artist-producer Damon Moon, then each of their songs features a different guest singer. The first single of the project has just released – it is the stunningly beautiful “Where Is My Blood” that features Emily Backus’ mellifluous singing which pierces the heart with radiant clarity. The songcraft on the new song is apparent and Backus’ dynamic vocal performance highlights the songwriting gift that Shaw has. The song opens with an arresting couplet from Backus with only acoustic backing, reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel, then lets Backus’s voice soar like a lark’s song. After the opening grips you, the verse’s sound thickens by bringing in organ, bass, and a backbeat drum rhythm. Then, Shaw seamlessly drops into the[...]

Cameron Sonnier – “Burning To Death”

February 5, 2024

“Burning To Death” is a dense, rich, rhythmic exploration of the inner self, and it marks the second single from promising Houston-based artist Cameron Sonnier‘s sophomore album Synchronicity.  Sonnier creates a reflective space with layers of textures that lay over one other, all following a rhythmic pulse that pushes its meditative beat into your subconscious. The new song’s use of guitar dynamics is irrestible – high-toned picked melodies shift into strummed percussive rhythms that create a hypnotic space that swirls into the song’s production. Thick synths buzz and burn creating an incendiary quality that seems to ignite the next slow burning tone as Sonnier’s singing echoes into the chasm of your mind, which is now unfurling in a blossoming shape due to Sonnier’s wizardry. Fans of Boards of Canada, Emeralds, Animal Collective, and Aphex Twin will find lots to love on this new track. Listen to Cameron Sonnier’s new single[...]

Pretty Bitter – “Roadkill”

February 5, 2024

Grab those ear huggers and let the D.C. based Pretty Bitter catapult you into a joyous scorcher of a new song they are calling “Roadkill.” The new indie-rock single is an ecstatic blend of break neck rock a la Charly Bliss and Marnie Stern mixed with the pop sensibilities of Hole or The Cranberries. Drummer Jason Hayes will make your chest sweat with a frenetic rock beat jammed with tongue wagging fills while Chris Hayes bites into that ceaseless rhythm like a pitbull with fraying guitar work that ignites and sizzles as it flies by. The lead songwriters Em Bleker and Miriam Tyler harness that electric impressionist energy and bend it to their wills, creating verses that flip the sonics from contrasting gut punches to a sumptuous neon tangerine that carry their joyous spirit and feminist-bent lyrics. Fans of Julia Jacklin, Sylvan Esso, and Passion Pit should let these indie[...]

SAVAK – “Will Get Fooled Again”

February 5, 2024

“Will Get Fooled Again” is the latest single from SAVAK‘s upcoming March 1 album Flavors of Paradise. We wrote about this Brooklyn group back in January here and obviously haven’t changed our mind much. The track itself is packed with a ton of sound; I heard dark and moody synths; pounding drums; rollicking guitar; and thudding bass masterfully mixed together into something inexplicably catchy. Fans of Pinback, The Dismemberment Plan, or REM would find a lot to enjoy here – very guitar forward indie rock. The song itself speaks to a quote attributed to The Who about “never getting fooled again” and addresses the insecurity and inevitability that we probably will. More on that (and some interesting facts about seahorses) below: “Despite the complexity of our interconnections, maybe there’s something we can learn from the simple and beautiful behaviors of seahorses (mentioned in the last verse). They go through a long and[...]

JEEN – “Pour Your Heart”

February 5, 2024

“Pour Your Heart” is the newest single off of JEEN‘s newest album, Gold Control. Based out of Toronto, she has been on an absolute warpath with this being her fourth album within the past ten years. Practically being neighbors and having some real bangers, it should come as no surprise we’ve written about her a few times –including the lead single off Gold Control, “So What.” We enjoyed her then and the continue to do so. My initial comparison to Bully or boygenius stands true – with “Pour Your Heart” JEEN leans into the grunge-tinged vibe that has slowly been gaining in popularity again. This is a well-crafted track showcasing JEEN’s vocal range and some awesome layering of guitars that veers into delightful dream pop territory. Be sure to check out “So What” and the rest of Gold Control on Spotify or Soundcloud.

Joyer – “Star”

February 3, 2024

NYC/Boston based Joyer is the combined talents of brothers Nick & Shane Sullivan, and they just released their new indie/slowcore single, “Star.” The new cut has a wash of layered guitars that shift the tint of the track, each wash feeling like a filter that the song is passing through to get to your ears. Those layers work like sliding wave forms that align for a moment of clarity before passing back into dissonant relation with one another, creating that dispersed guitar sound that feels like wandering in a memory. “Star” uses that slowcore sound adeptly, with the Sullivan brothers pairing their sound with nostalgic daydreams. Here is Joyer talking about their new song; “Star is kind of a slice of life of the summer I was having when I wrote it. It has small fragments of different days. Some boring days at home mixed with bits about camping on[...]

amph. – “Engraved”

February 2, 2024

Artist Anthony Carl Fritz has been dropping new music under the his moniker amph. over the last year and the latest, “Engraved,” is a guitar driven alt-rock melodic jam that is sliced from modern life. Fritz writes about love’s ability to break the slow strangle of modernity, and how far one goes to keep their other half from sinking into that miasma. Fritz’s lyrics resonate with the shared experiences we have while his fuzzy warm guitar melodies manifest that fulfilling love with full guitar tones. The picked guitar phrases in the verses merge into a churning bloom of layered big guitar sound in the refrain effortlessly. The chorus is well crafted hook that plays into the light composition of the verses, letting it roll over you like a swell of a rolling tide. Listen to “Engraved” from amph. now on Spotify and Apple Music. amph. · Engraved

Bathe Alone – “Blame Me”

February 2, 2024

“Blame Me” is the newest from Atlantan musician Bailey Crone along with producer Damon Moon, performing under the moniker Bathe Alone. Starting off as a delightful synth riff that permeates the rest of the track, “Blame Me” showcases Crone’s mellifluous vocals, drawing comparisons to The xx or M83. The pop beat is infinitely catchy and you’ll soon find yourself bopping and singing along. Synth and drum machines have certainly made a comeback from the 80’s and it really seems like they’re here to stay, so be sure to strap in. The rest of the EP is equally catchy and well worth checking out, especially the second track “Call Me Back.” Just when you think you’ve gotten Bathe Alone pegged you get a hot new take that’s truly exciting to unpack. If you enjoy “Blame Me” be sure to check out 2023’s double LP Fall With The Lights Down (we did here[...]

Extra Space – “Toothpaste”

January 31, 2024

Brooklyn based duo Extra Space brings us their latest with “Toothpaste.” Made up of Joey Puleio and Chris Kyle, who started playing together in 2023, they’ve been working toward an as-yet-to-be-released album Green Season. “Toothpaste”  is a fun, meandering piece that leans toward sparkly indie folk territory with hints of math rock twinkling sprinkled throughout. Country-adjacent guitars guide us through the brunt here, with the vocals sounding distinctly Oberst-esque – certainly not a terrible comparison. I couldn’t find much else on Extra Space, but definitely keep your eyes peeled. Folksy indie is definitely in vogue lately, but based on what I’ve heard so far, these guys seem to know what they’re doing musically and could certainly go the distance. In the meantime check out the twangy “Toothpaste” (and “Pace”) over on Soundcloud or Spotify.

James Wyatt Crosby – “Same Dream Every Night”

January 31, 2024

“Same Dream Every Night” is the latest single off of James Wyatt Crosby‘s January 26 album, Happy Memories. We’ve previously covered a different song off of this album, “Ashamed” and liked what we heard back in October (and that hasn’t changed with his latest). A piano focused track, “Same Dream Every Night” is a perfect intro song for Happy Memories with a gradual crescendo throughout – building and adding in tasty drums, guitar and bass. JWC’s vocals are ethereal on their own, but with an added effect, they real turn into a dreamy motif. Falling somewhere betwixt dream pop and chillwave (with a dash of electronica), you’ll find a lot to enjoy here if you’re a fan of LCD Soundsystem, Men I Trust, or Spoon. You can hear “Same Dream Every Night” over on Spotify and you can let us know your thoughts on the track over on our socials.

The Juniper Berries – “Online”

January 29, 2024

Austin based multi-instrumentalist Josh Stirm is the architect of The Juniper Berries and has formed the tracks for his upcoming album, Death and Taxes, by distilling grief and dissonance into melancholic yet cathartic tunes that simultaneously breaks your heart and mends you with each note. Stirm had his Grandfather and brother pass away in 2020 and that experience has defined this stage in his life and his music, filling it with harrowing pain and world tilting revelations. The poignant and masterfully-paced new single “Online” is a thrilling taste of his upcoming album that is due out this April. Stirm weaves textures and tones with his delicately harmonized vocals with an ingenious skill. He places tantalizing spaces between words and notes that creates a irresistible pacing that will enrapture you. Stirm has the capacity to illuminate dark venerable corners of human experience, as he sings “I found my baby online, next[...]