New Music

SAMSARA – “Piece of Me”

January 29, 2024

Five piece rock outfit SAMSARA are a young group but have quickly become a loved piece of the Queens/Long Island music scene. The band has cut their chops by playing local festivals and winning battle and the bands, and continue to elevate their craft by working with acclaimed producers. Their latest single, “Piece of Me,” is exemplary of the melodic alt-rock sound they have been nurturing over the past few years. The new song has bombastic drums that pound your chest, incendiary dueling guitar melodies, and vocals that are soulful and impassioned. Listening to the fat wails of guitar will make you want to see their high energy live show to witness the young rockers hypnotize you with their big rock sound. Fans of Kings of Leon, The Kooks, and JAPANDROIDS with find lots to love on this one. Listen to SAMSARA’s new single “Piece of Me” on Spotify, and[...]

Ballsy – “Joe Millionaire”

January 27, 2024

Montreal native and musician/producer Isabelle Banos has an impressive resume so far with credits for music on several shows (Orange is the New Black, The Sex Lives of College Girls) as well as some commercials and the upcoming Sony Spider-Man spin-off Madam Web. Ballsy is her latest project, with a smattering of singles due in 2024 and her latest, “Joe Millionaire.” A vibrant composition showcasing her synth work and vocal skills, “Millionaire” is a great way to kick off the new year and to introduce yourself to Banos’ music if you’re unfamiliar. With lyrics that touch on our climate emergency, the somber mantra of the song is offset by its otherwise crunchy and upbeat disposition. Fans of fellow Canadians Metric would find a lot to enjoy here, or, if you like the rowdy tunes from Yeah Yeah Yeahs or The Linda Lindas. You can hear “Joe Millionaire” over on Spotify, along[...]

Memorial – “Corduroy”

January 27, 2024

Released January 26, “Corduroy” is the latest single from Jack and Ollie – the two halves of indie folk duo Memorial. A long distance affair in England, they’ve put out a steady stream of music since 2021 with the last being 2022’s self-titled album. “Corduroy” is a light track but chock full of sound; I heard piano, a brief string melody with a steady drum beat and strumming acoustic guitar. The lyrics are tinged with malaise and it hit me in the right spot, and I think it will with you too! Fans of Big Thief and their ilk, as well as Elliott Smith (rip) would find a lot to enjoy here. While numbers aren’t everything, nearly 100k monthly listeners is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Be sure to check out “Corduroy” wherever you find your music, but here’s the Spotify and Apple Music links for good measure. FriendsOfMemorial ·[...]

CHUCK – “Nothing Matters To Me Now”

January 22, 2024

Brooklyn/Oslo based artist Charles Griffin Gibson, AKA CHUCK, had his final full length released in 2017 with Frankenstein Song for the Grocery Store, but Gibson’s catalog of unreleased songs started to tug on his creative spirit (check our previous features on him HERE and HERE). Gibson is putting back on the mantle of the cult favorite CHUCK, and bringing us new music to drop out and fade in to. The simultaneously breezy and acrid “Nothing Matters To Me Now” is the first jam Gibson chose to start this new slew of releases. “Nothing Matters To Me Now” blends classic pop hooks, irreverent 90’s guitar lines and lyricism, New Wave synths, and creates a crushing wall of blissed out sounds reminiscent of shogaze and emo. The chorus boils over with pop energy as retro synths ring out with the lushness of kazoos giving the whole track a haze of nostalgia and[...]

Tamar Berk – “Permanent Vacation”

January 22, 2024

This past August, Tamar Berk released her third album, tiny injuries, a warm cathartic journey through her grief that shows how to accept a thousand tiny cuts, heal, and make their scars a part of you (Check of previous feature on her HERE). Berk has just released her new single off that LP, the indie rock jammer “Permanent Vacation.” Berk’s songcraft and lyricism are adeptly wielded as ear worm guitar lines buzz and jangle with a Wurlitzer melody and brass blasts bringing a warm radiance of sunshine to melancholic lyrics. “Permanent Vacation” has a dynamic range of tones that burst and blossom like exotic fruits on your taste buds, all while staying grounded in the indie-rock 90’s palette that she has such reverence for. Fans of Liz Phair, Pavement, and Ween will find lots to love on the new single. Here is Berk talking about her new single; “Permanent Vacation”[...]

Naive Nature – “The Weight of the World”

January 22, 2024

The rare duo act in a sea of quartets and three pieces, Naive Nature is vocalist and guitarist Jackson Vincent with Jim Lorino (of Scoopsi) on drums. “The Weight of the World,” released January 19, is their debut single and it’s quite the noisy banger. I’m always hesitant when I see only two members for bands, for lack of sound or boring arrangement, but I’m usually proven wrong (as I was here). Leaning heavily into shoegaze and post-emo guitar flavors (if that’s a thing), “TWotW” lays into fuzzy distortion and and Vincent’s pitch perfect vocals waxing poetic about a friendship sputtering out and ultimately ending on bad terms. Fans of heart on your sleeve (or stomped on the pavement) emo of yesteryear (or today) would find a lot to enjoy with this track; same goes for fans of The Airborne Toxic Event, The Dirty Nil, and Placebo. For now, check[...]

Lunison – “Name 3 Songs”

January 22, 2024

Lunison is a three piece from Philadelphia made up of two Matts and a Greg, with the name being a portmanteau of lunacy and unison. “Name 3 Songs” is their latest track – a rockin’ play on the over asked gatekeeper vibe of “Oh, u like X band?” With a guitar riff you can’t help but sway your hips to with one hand in your pocket, “3 Songs” is infectiously catchy and well worth a listen to indie pop and garage rock aficionados. Fans of the of Spoon, Geese, or New Pornographers would find appreciation with Lunison’s pop hooks, as well as the dry wit that permeates through their songs. You can hear “Name 3 Songs” on Soundcloud, Apple Music, or Spotify. We’ve also included the YouTube music video below (yes, it’s an actual music video too).

JEEN – “So What”

January 20, 2024

Toronto-based musician JEEN brings us her latest, “So What,” released January 17 in anticipation of her February 2 album Gold Control. It’s a rollicking alt-rock track showcasing her warm vocals and a swirly, almost shoegazy blending of punchy sounds. It’s an interesting change from her previous effort we wrote about, 2021’s “Maybe I’ll Be Gone,” (which we also enjoyed). It shows growth into a more subtle approach to pop writing, whereas “Maybe…” leaned into the equally effective (as Nick put it) “rip-roaring guitars and a melancholy mood.” Fans of Bully, boygenius, or HAIM looking for a different take on pop would find enjoyment with JEEN. She doesn’t pigeonhole herself to one specific genre and isn’t afraid to try different sounds, so you’re sure to find more to enjoy (unless you literally only like *one* particular sound). Be sure to check out “So What” on Spotify or the handy dandy YouTube[...]

Snavs – Want Me Back (feat. Karl Boëthius)

January 20, 2024

Danish DJ and producer Snavs has a catalog full of enticing and unusual collaborations, and his latest continues that trend of potent pairings by featuring the killer vocals of Swedish artist Karl Boëthius. Together they bring us the new chill-dance release “Want Me Back,” a vivacious and alluring track with sumptuous vocals and coiled, rubbery synth wizardry. The song feels like cruising through a glistening, neon lit metropolis with brief moments, when the pace slows before the breakdown, that feel like a night’s breeze cooling the sweat on the back of your neck, just before the night life wraps around you, thrilling your senses, filling you with punch drunk momentum. Fans of Lookas, Diplo, or Major Lazer will find lots to love in this alt-pop banger from Snavs. Here he is talking about the new song: “I got this brilliant vocal from Karl and wanted to create a tight, bouncy[...]

Hipsy Gap – “Uno”

January 17, 2024

Brooklyn-based five piece, Hipsy Gap‘s latest single is “Uno,” and for us at the blog it’s a certifiable banger. Oozing with guitar feedback and what I can only describe as “NY hutzpah,” Hipsy Gap sound like they’re ready to take over the world. There’s a particularly impressive guitar solo toward the end of the track that evokes 90’s era Smashing Pumpkins that I couldn’t get enough of. As per the band, the chord progression is an ode to “Only Shallow” from My Bloody Valentine, firmly cementing this as a 90’s shoegaze love letter, but of the fresh assortment and certainly not dated. Be sure to check out “Uno” over on Spotify, or the YouTube link embedded below and let us know if you want more shoegaze or shoegaze-adjacent tracks reviewed here!

Thea Dora – “Collected”

January 17, 2024

Danish musician and producer Thea Dora brings a fun indie pop gem with her debut single, “Collected,” released January 12. Evoking a sense of wonder and whimsy between the drum machines and her absolute dream of a voice, you’ll feel comfortable boppin’ along to this with headphones or on the dance floor. The closest comparison I can think of is Grimes, but fans of hyperpop or light electronica will find a lot to enjoy here. Speaking to the track, Dora had this to say: “I wanted to make something that was immediate, and made me want to dance and sing along. ‘Collected’ is in many ways an ode to letting people in and stop overthinking.” She surely hits on all marks, and you can hear it on Spotify or Soundcloud. Be sure to let us know if you’d like to hear more like Thea Dora! Thea Dora · Collected

Rangleklods – “Breathe In, Breathe Out”

January 16, 2024

Esben Nørskov Andersen is the electronic wizard from Copenhagen, AKA Rangleklods, (check our previous features on him HERE and HERE) and he’s released the title track from his latest album Breathe In, Breathe Out. It’s an undeniably groovy and heady synth track which will mesmerize you with inventive soundscapes and varied timbres. Andersen has impeccable pacing in “Breathe In, Breathe Out,” using pauses and breaths in his melodies that create tension. This jilts the groovy flow before releasing the tension with a big blooming refrain that gets your shuffling your feet, bobbing your head, and swaying your hips. No moment inside of Andersen’s tracks are standard – he crafts and fixates over every tone and structure until the sounds you hear have been worked and warped into something utterly original, custom tailored to express his vision. He here is talking about the new track and how life shapes his craft:[...]

Asha Wells – “The Carousel”

January 16, 2024

Asha Wells is an indie-folk artist from the Bay Area and is releasing their anticipated new EP, Tears of a Clown, on Friday, February 10th, 2024 via Anxiety Blanket Records. Tears of a Clown features the resonant, intimate track “The Carousel” that features nuanced dynamics that braid like a double helix made of smoke as the song unfurls. The encircling music wraps around you, gently constricting you with each loop of the proverbial carousel. Every lap winds the bittersweet revelation of what first was a heart-swelling immersion, involuntarily transmuted to detached nostalgia. Wells has explored new orchestrations and has implemented tones that ring and linger like a water harp or synths that travel backwards like they are reminiscing. You will cherish Wells’ use of layered guitar lines that take turns being delicately tapped with stiletto styling or strummed with a warm vibrato. Wells’ vocals are haunting and expressive, ethereal while[...]

Loose Buttons – “I Saw Jon Hamm At The Beach”

January 15, 2024

NY based indie rockers Loose Buttons brings us a new track, “I Saw Jon Hamm at the Beach” released January 11. Based on an actual story of seeing Jon Hamm swimming, in what could easily turn into an extended phallic joke, instead turns into a surprisingly introspective track. Speaking to the fortuitous sighting, front man Eric Nizgretsky had this to say: “It was one of those idyllic beach days — the sky blue, the air just right. And then, out of the corner of my eye, the man himself Jon Hamm. There he was, a perfect ‘symbol of the ideal man’ who, in reality, was just simply another beachgoer, casually playing kadima and sharing the day with his loved ones. As a huge fan of his work, seeing him out there, just being a regular dude, felt wonderfully refreshing. The whole experience debunked the ‘leading man’ facade I’ve often attributed[...]

Kai Bosch – “Tulips”

January 15, 2024

“Tulips” is the newest from London based Kai Bosch, and at just 21 years old, he’s already done quite well for himself. With a high production value featuring Bosch’s vocals with drum machine and effects mixed in, the whole track feels like a swirling dream. Falling in under the alt pop umbrella, “Tulips” is simmering banger tinged with sadness – having been written towards the end of a relationship. Specifically speaking to that, Bosch had this to say: “The song was inspired by the idea of flower pressings and how you can preserve the colour and beauty of something that is still dead nonetheless – and how I wish I could do that to the relationship I had with my ex.” Having been produced by Charlie Andrew of Alt-J, fans of that group will find some common interest. Followers of fellow UK group Foals would also find a lot to[...]