New Music

Rainbow City Park – “Fruitless”

February 9, 2025

“Fruitless” is the latest single from the Fruitless EP; Rainbow City Park’s latest release as of 2/4/25. Blistering guitars and drums assault the senses while lyricist Danielle Blankenship keeps us hooked with a perfect blanket of vocals. Inspired by the shoegaze greats – namely MBV and DIIV – “Fruitless” is a lovely addition to the overarching shoegaze canon, layered thick with emo-esque melodies that help it to go down just a bit smoother than its spikier contemporaries.   You can check out the track below on YouTube or add it to your Spotify playlist here. Be sure to check out the rest of the EP; well worth the twenty minute time investment. Anyone who enjoys a solid guitar solo that does some (but not all) of the heavy lifting will be in heaven.    

Frog – “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI”

February 4, 2025

“JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” is the latest from Frog off of their upcoming album 1000 Variations on the Same Song due out Valentines Day (February 14). Based out of New York, brothers Daniel and Steve Bateman have come back together for a rousing yet subdued indie album for the first part of the year.   Going with a dandy of a piano medley paired with drums, they play it close to the chest. It just exudes artistry, like your friend Ron’s bachelor apartment of yesteryear – complete with incense from his roommate and some obtuse dinnerware; never rising to ostentatious… but you’re still kinda jealous of that dinnerware. Fans of Bon Iver or Sufjan Stevens would find a lot to enjoy here. Why? Just because. You know I’m right.   You can hear “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” below from Soundcloud. The prior single “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES VAR.[...]

Risley – “World Goes On”

February 4, 2025

Feline-christened four piece Risley brings us their latest downbeat jam with “World Goes On.” Portland based (of the PNW varietal), this four piece meanders at the perfect pace through the track but never leaves you wanting. Clocking in at just under four minutes, it feels like Bauhaus and Dinosaur Jr. had a lovechild with split custody. Bass guitar often gets overlooked for its flashier cousin, but does a lot of heavy lifting here by setting the mood. Don’t let the flashy guitar ruin the mood… Even though in all actuality, the lead guitar riff here is quite captivating.   You can hear “World Goes On” below from the band’s Soundcloud, as well as over on Spotify and YouTube. The rest of the album, Umbra Penumbra (January 24) is worth chomping into and would pair well with a pinot noir or a long drive home from work where you just keep[...]

Captain Brick – “NO BRAKES”

February 3, 2025

Reading, PA rapper Captain Brick is not one to fuck around. His latest track “NO BRAKES” is the soundtrack to his fondness for the best weed, best clothes, best women – all the vices that’ll scratch your itch. Featuring a menacing beat and Brick’s nasty delivery, “NO BRAKES” also flexes a catchy hook perfect for your gangsta rap playlists. New Jersey’s DreArtist also tears his verse up with one liners, warning his listeners “in seconds your life can go from a movie to a TikTok.” Check out more from Captain Brick on Spotify – and peep some more rising hip hop artists on our Underground Hip Hop playlist.    

Akete – “Last House on tha Block”

February 3, 2025

Rapper and multi-instrumentalist Akete finds inspiration with the classics – demonstrating as much on their latest single “Last House on tha Block.” Featuring boisterous horns of Steely Dan’s “Home at Last”, “Last House on tha Block” is bursting with liveliness. The up and coming Akete delivers an effortless freestyle to match that bright production – flexing rap skills,  life wins, and quippy one liners to flow through his freestyle. Hip hop in its purest form: “I’m not crazy, I don’t think I know karate. Can’t nobody stop me.” Take a listen to Akete on Spotify and check out the track on Soundcloud below. Akete · Last House on tha Block

The Feather – “All My Life”

February 2, 2025

Winning the award for one of the most wholesome songs you’ll hear this week, “All My Life” is not a Foo Fighters cover, but rather a song of sibling love by Belgian solo artist The Feather (aka Thomas Medard, of Dan San fame who are also worth a listen). This song is filled to the brim with vibrant synth and *impeccable* bass licks that will leave you in a puddle. Medard’s vocals along with the groovy effects (both electronic and visual in the video below) craft an impossibly catchy track.   You can see the music video for “All My Life” below from YouTube. You can add it to your synth heavy playlist(s) on Spotify. Keep your ears peeled for more after this and 2024’s “Invisible” album; you won’t be left wanting but you’ll certainly be hankerin’ for more.  

KOTE – “To Be Horrified”

February 1, 2025

“To Be Horrified” is the latest from mysterious musician (and possible time traveler and/or vampire/deity) Veronique Bertelle, better known as KOTE. Bertelle’s lyrics mesh well with the tight combo of drums, bass, and rhythm guitar and showcase a story of strength against the patriarchy. Speaking to their experiences, Bertelle had this to say:   “My name is Veronique Bertelle, but I am not me. I don’t live, nor have I ever lived, by your rules of space and time. I was born in the United Kingdom in the ’50s, in an era that already felt the first beats of a musical revolution. In 1984, I was reborn in Italy, a fracture in the timeline that redefined who I was. Until 1990, I lived between 1965 and 1975, moving between Los Angeles and El Cerrito. In those places, immersed in sound and experimentation, I walked alongside artists I intimately knew through[...]

Two-Man Giant Squid – “Weird Recordings (you’ve got some)”

January 29, 2025

Brooklyn post-punk act Two-Man Giant Squid released their driving new song “Weird Recordings (you’ve got some)” earlier this week. The track is the lead single off the band’s forthcoming self-titled album, out March 7, 2025 via Mint 400 Records.   The band started as a faceless solo bedrom project from Mitchell Vonikur, eventually fleshing out to a live fivetet. The new single is about the frustrations of the creative process, letting dead ends take up too much time and effort. Not everything has to be perfect, it’s important to embrace creativity and the voice-in-your-head isn’t always right.   “Weird Recordings (you’ve got some)” has the post-punk rawness of Parquet Courts, the crescendo indie groove of early Modest Mouse, and the franticness of LCD Soundsystem when they are giving Nancy Whang a rest. Check it out below.   Weird Recordings (you’ve got some) by Two-Man Giant Squid

Buddy Wynkoop – “Electric City”

January 29, 2025

Oregon art punk project, Buddy Wynkoop, have a new single that’s bound to get you to the dance floor. The four-piece formed in 2019, surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and seemingly emerging stronger as a project. They are a current staple of the lauded indie scene in Portland. “Electric City” is an amalgamation of some of the most noteworthy art punk acts. Their new single “Electric City” combines IDLES’ punky staccato semi-spoken delivery, with the bleep bloop playfulness of LCD Soundsystem and first wave nods to DEVO. “Electric City” is the first single off the forthcoming album Better Than Botox, set for release February 20, 2025. Mark it in your calendar. In the meantime, get a taste for the band that’s selling out venues in the pacific northwest below. Electric City by Buddy Wynkoop

Errol Eats Everything – “Round N Round”

January 28, 2025

Industry veteran Errol Eats Everything steps back into the booth with a new persona and a cyclical short story to tell on his latest single, “Round N Round.” Channeling Jay Electronica through his deep voice, vivid imagery, and impressive internal rhymes, Errol talks through the cycle of gun violence and its impact on communities – cultural commentary that Errol espouses throughout his releases. “Round N Round” features a dastardly jazz loop on which Errol certainly eats. The Errol Eats Everything character is coupled with a Boondocks/hip hop Boss Baby character to ramp up the interest and immersion in Errol’s performance – Check it out on IG for the full experience. “Round N Round” is the second single from the NYAM! EP with an album to follow in February – follow Errol on Spotify to keep tabs on that and other releases. Listen to “Round N Round” alongside other recently-featured underground[...]

quickly, quickly – “Enything”

January 28, 2025

Portland, Oregon based quickly, quickly is the brainchild of Graham Jonson, and “Enything” is their latest song. I was briefly disappointed as I thought this was going to be a celebration of Enya (jk), but was genuinely very impressed with the lo-fi bedroom pop mouthfeel. The cavalcade of instrumentals, both big and small, reminded me of a lovechild betwixt Elliot Smith and Sufjan Stevens; parts jazzy and folksy, but altogether a most satisfying endeavor. If you aren’t taken in by the music video below, you’ll at least be able to enjoy crescendos that come out of nowhere and fade back.   You can watch the music video for “Enything” below on YouTube. You also have your pick of  Bandcamp and Spotify so you can throw this on your bedroom pop playlist (of which you should have many from us, right?).  

Fright Years – “Do What You Wanna”

January 28, 2025

Edinburgh based Fright Years brings us their latest track with “Do What You Wanna.” The rare, bass-heavy track that celebrates the idea that we can find joy in expressing ourselves without fear or judgement. The intro reminded me of “I Am One” from Smashing Pumpkins first album, Gish, with the heavy emphasis on the bass and drums. The guitar comes in the help carry us through the rest of track just before a minute has elapsed, but, in all honesty, I could listen to this chunky bass riff allllll day long.   You can hear “Do You Wanna” below from YouTube or add it to your punky/psychedelic-adjacent playlist on Spotify. The single also includes “Aftersun” and “Stars” and are also worth your time, showing the true range of the band.  

georgia, georgia – “friends”

January 28, 2025

It’s been a minute since we last heard from Italy-based musician georgia, georgia. We last covered her here back in October and, much like then, we’re quite stoked to hear her latest offering “friends” (back then it was “things you do”).   Other than thumbing her nose at capitalizing, Giorgia Piva has crafted an impeccably catchy dream pop track where the guitar and synth play second fiddle to her vocals. She makes the entire affair sound effortless even with her wispy-yet-strong vocals. Fans of Phoebe Bridgers or Clairo would find a lot to enjoy here, as would anyone who enjoys a well crafted song from start to finish (… so, probably everyone).   You can hear “friends” below from bandcamp or add it to your Spotify playlist of perfect pop songs delivered in a whisper song voice.   friends by georgia, georgia

Label Mou – “Sparkling Lights”

January 28, 2025

Label Mou, Italy-born and based in Germany, brings us her latest track “Sparkling Lights.” Mou’s vocals deftly weave through the house beats that underpin the track. The song was released as a message of support to people impacted by the Los Angeles fires (of 2025). Lyrically, “Sparkling Lights” is “an imaginary story of a devastating natural disaster, inspired by the strength found in love and the transformative power of reconnection, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.” While at first glance this may seem a little on the nose, the track itself was written a few years ago and was purposefully and thoughtfully released.   You can hear “Sparkling Lights” below from YouTube and can throw it on your “chill house around the house” mix on Spotify. I found a few other tracks she was featured on, as well has her past project Might at Night, but this was the[...]

honeygaze – “Heartthrob”

January 28, 2025

“Heartthrob” is the latest single from Philadelphia hyperpop band honeygaze. A combination of EDM, pop, punk, and then some, that comes together better than the sum of its parts (and not some (or perhaps some(?)) Frankenstein mish mash). Encompassing anywhere between Charlie XCX or “scawy monstews and nice spwites :3″ from Fraxiom, it’s quite the gap!   The track itself reminded me a lot of one of my personal favorites: Silversun Pickups – in particular, the fuzzed out guitar which keeps this rooted in indie rock. The synth and voice modulation keep the track interesting but not to the point where the band loses the plot and you’re left wondering what you’re listening to. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! Sometimes you need something so out of pocket that it haunts your dreams. In this case, honeygaze reigns in the wildness of hyperpop to create something left-field, but melodically[...]