New Music

Sleepy Kitty – “Do It Without Me”

May 14, 2023

“Grimy meets shiny” is a perfect way to self-describe the music coming from New York-based act Sleepy Kitty. Their latest single, “Do It Without Me” caught our ears with its tried and true formula of chugging guitars, bouncing drum bombast, and upbeat but heartfelt vocals reminiscent of Best Coast or Beach Bunny. With sonic influences ranging anywhere from 60s girl groups to Weezer to the aforementioned acts, “Do It” starts with a bit of restraint before launching into an emotionally cathartic ending – perfect to get you amped up if you’re ever in the need for some angst. If you like “Do It Without Me” as much as we do, be sure to check them out via Bandcamp (below) or Spotify. Do It Without Me by Sleepy Kitty

Babe Rainbow – “Super Ego”

May 12, 2023

Today we have the joy of bringing you the latest single from Australia’s stoner-pop group Babe Rainbow, with the eccentric and wonderful “Super Ego” off their upcoming EP Fresh As A Head Of Lettuce, due for release on June 16th.  These psychedelic, permaculture farming, surf-cultists plant blurred, neon guitar lines and other worldly vocals in your ears while a joyous, groovy head trip blossoms. A sound evocative of Mort Garson’s Plantasia, Devendra Banhart’s freak folk, Junior Murvin’s reggae, and surf rock culminate in a singular and wholly lovable sound. Employing impeccable production, the song is a headphone trip that tickles the psyche while an effortless cool oozes into your chakras and wraps you in a psychedelic pop calm. Don’t deny yourself the joy of this trip. Listen to “Super Ego” by Babe Rainbow on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Find more from Babe Rainbow on Instagram.

Flora Summers – “Obsessions”

May 12, 2023

The entrancing new pop single “Obsessions” has just been released by songwriter and producer Ida Johansson AKA Flora Summers. “Obsessions” is the first single from Flora Summers’ upcoming debut EP and will be Ida’s first foray into solo work after finding successes with pop duo Isle of You and contributing to the Grammy winning band Ghost’s latest album. Listen as the sun-soaked pop phrases swirl together with evaporating guitar lines that shimmer in the heat of obsessive love that burns hot and consumes you. Infectious rhythms from the bass and drum creates the head bopping root that Flora’s pop sonics flower from. Flora’s peerless vocals take center stage with evocative imagery and luscious delivery that will give you chills as you join her in finding your latest obsession. Here is Ida talking about the song’s creation: “Obsessions is the kind of song that fell from the sky. All of a[...]

Ellur – “Anywhere”

May 9, 2023

Halifax’s Ellur is here with a guitar-pop jam that encapsulates an entire coming-of-age story. With soaring melodies, a driving beat, galactic synth plunks, and Ellur’s passionate vocals, “Anywhere” brings to mind indie luminaries like Angel Olsen, Lorde, and HAIM. We’ve all been enthralled with people that are no longer in our lives at one point or another and Ellur zeroes in on those feelings of regret and longing with pinpoint accuracy – further explaining the song, Ellur explains: “Anywhere is a song written for your ex (the one that you’re not over). Set on a summer night, at dusk, after a day of drinking in a park somewhere with your friends. Your skin is warm, your head is dizzy and your recent ex is walking towards you. A song about a feeling I think everybody has felt. The building tension between you both; your past relationship and all the feelings[...]

STARRY EYES – “No Show”

May 9, 2023

The emotion is tangible in the newest single from Californian duo STARRY EYES. “No Show” is a grunge-pop ode to a heroin-addicted father – with a guitar-driven backbone and somber melodies aplenty, the ennui comes pouring out over the course of this song’s 4:46 runtime. With plenty of 90s alt-rock energy (think “The Freshman” from The Verve Pipe or “Stars” by Hum) and a pinch of emo revival energy, “No Show” checks all our emotional boxes with a healthy dose of starry-eyed (pun intended) nostalgia. About the EP, singer guitarist John Shippey adds: “These songs are for people who’ve been through some shit — music is our catharsis. Many of the songs on ‘Ciao Bella’ wrestle with the issues of addiction and loss, but we always try to balance the negative with the positive and keep looking toward the future.” “No Show” is available on the band’s new EP, Ciao[...]

charlø – “Lemon”

May 5, 2023

LA’s charlø (aka songwriter, vocalist, and producer Charlotte Reed) is here with a tape-aged bedroom-pop banger called “Lemon.” Synths that warp in and out of a vintage warble power this one forth, giving “Lemon” an indie rocker feel without losing sight of top 40-quality melodies. Complimenting the smooth production and pop-minded songwriting approach, “Lemon” is a song with a much deeper meaning – charlø uses her songwriting chops to diatribe about the challenges of being a female in the music industry, ultimately fantasizing about flipping the bird to her haters from the top. Here’s what Charlotte has to say about “Lemon” below: “Lemon came about from a general frustration around being written off by people in the music industry and just wishing that I could tell people to shut the fuck up sometimes. I hate feeling like you can’t risk burning bridges by speaking up for yourself in relationships where[...]

girlhouse – “gen x boyfriend!!”

May 5, 2023

Sugar and spice for sure – emphasis on the spice. We’ve been digging the latest from girlhouse (aka Lauren Luiz), a one-two punch of honeyed melodies and blistering guitar energy called “gen x boyfriend!!.” Relationships (especially ones full of love bombs) can often feel explosive in both good and bad ways and “boyfriend” certainly takes that sentiment to heart. With the raw intensity of Hole (think “Celebrity Skin”) working against girlhouse’s saccharine vocal chops, “boyfriend” feels like an outpouring of anger from someone sweet who’s been constantly keeping themselves in check. Check out what Lauren has to say about this one below: “Basically we wanted to tell the story of someone who is in the very beginning ‘they can do no wrong’ phase of a relationship, where all the red flags are ignored and all the abuse is somehow super endearing and ‘real.” I used to be super into older[...]

Idle Riot – “Happy Thoughts”

May 5, 2023

Idle Riot’s debut single, “Happy Thoughts,” was actually influenced by… Avoiding some not so happy thoughts. See below: “Happy thoughts was written shortly after Russia invaded the Ukraine and California was experiencing wildfires. It is a demonstration of our collective passiveness to a lot of the really dark things going on right now, which is ironic given the technology we have available.” With dreams of just sitting back and ripping some Mario Kart, Idle Riot acknowledges our collective ability to ignore what’s going on in the world and pacify ourselves with some sweet, sweet technology. It’s an omni-relatable sentiment in our increasingly digital existence, but Idle Riot executes it with such surfy brilliance that it really doesn’t seem so bad. Stabby guitars and slacker-esque vocals are the highlight here, bringing to mind elements of The Strokes, Beach Fossils, and FIDLAR. Check it out below via Soundcloud, on YouTube, and also[...]

Far Caspian – “The Last Remaining Light”

May 2, 2023

Irish songwriter/producer Joel Johnston aka Far Caspian (check out our previous feature on them here) brings his magnetic and ineffable sonics to you with his latest single, “The Last Remaining Light,” the title track of his upcoming LP, due out July 14th. Let the textured and layered atmospherics and soft harmonized vocals wash over you as the warmly strummed guitar lines shift and evolve, wrapping around you as the enigmatic track develops. Patient but entrancing like a full moon on a clear autumn night, the song will calm you while giving you access to expanses for you to explore. Here is Johnston discussing the genesis of the newly released single: “I had a nightmare that my mum passed away and when I woke up I felt terrible. It made me think of what life would be like if she wasn’t here and I wrote this song to symbolize how much she[...]

Life In Vacuum – “Hugo”

May 2, 2023

Toronto-based three piece Life in Vacuum deliver a punk-infused dark-rock banger with new single “Hugo.”  A driving drum beat and unrelenting guitar and bass are locked in step with a breathless vocal delivery that will leave you gasping for repose as this menacingly magnetic track pummels you with a calculated chaos. The guitar, vocals and drums of the Ukraine-born brothers Ross and Sasha Chornyy, who moved to Canada in 2004, found the perfect alchemical addition of current bassist Geoff Albrecht. Here is Sasha talking about the sonic shift with the new addition to the band: “We’re very rigid, my brother and I, so it was good to have a new voice in the fold… It’s not so much a new sound as a new dynamic; the chemistry really works.” The band’s latest release is off their latest LP All You Can Quit where you can find more crushingly gorgeous sonics[...]

Amos The Kid – “World Burn”

May 1, 2023

Rising Canadian star Amos The Kid‘s debut album is almost here and the second single of the highly anticipated project is out now. “World Burn” is a catchy alt-country rocker that is anthemic, big, and beautiful. Amos deftly pulls from the indie rock and country worlds to create a track that exudes earnestness and optimism. Amos’ vocals are powerful and dynamic and finds a perfect home on a bed of shining guitar licks, banjo lines and fills performed by Boy Golden. The swelling backing vocals overtop a thick and sticky four-chord progression helps to truly drive this one home. Here is Amos The Kid talking about the new single: “World burn to the cynic, world burn to the worry wart, world burn to the hopeful and the full of hope, I hope it just stays sunny… This song is my favourite on the record. It’s one I’ve been looking forward[...]

Sfven – “like that”

May 1, 2023

UK based artist Sfven has a new anthemic alt-pop banger called “like that” out now.  Disarming, masterfully crafted, and vibrating with a cosmic bittersweet energy, “like that” is a multi-layered pop jam that you will love. Unassuming drum machine tempo and synths bleet and build as Sfven croons to begin the song – soon the energetic chorus shoots starbursts of pop exuberance through the ceiling of the bedroom-pop world. With muted warm synths and a disarmingly relaxed pop growl, Sfven creates a thickness of beautifully layered instrumentals. Sfven couples the lyrics and musical tonality so successfully, it almost makes you inhabit that striking moment when a love’s gaze hits you and the world feels perfect and euphoric while simultaneously feeling the potential to lose such a thing. Here is Sfven discussing what the song means to him: “i guess ‘like that’ is about a conflicted feeling. when maybe you can[...]

DiRTY RADiO – “Jet Fuel”

April 30, 2023

Many of my DJ friends are probably much more well versed with Canada-based DiRTY RADiO. I could try to bullshit my way through knowing everything about turntables and mixes, but I admittedly have only basic novice knowledge… However, I can confidently say that musically, DR absolutely knows what he’s doing. From what I listened to, the mixing between vocals and beats are top notch club fare, and will certainly get your bodies moving as intended. “Jet Fuel” is one of those fire tracks that is exactly as advertised: a masterfully produced electronica song that begs you to let loose on the dance floor and try not to clench your teeth (ifkyk). If you’ve ever been to a party (or after party) north of the border, you’d expect a song like “Jet Fuel” to be bumping through the speakers. Find more of DiRTY RADiO over on Spotify or his artist page.[...]

Matthew Danger Lippman – “Set Up”

April 30, 2023

Matthew Danger Lippman (henceforth MDL), currently residing in NYC but also an erstwhile Buffalonian (anyone still around from 2014? You may remember Brimstone Blondes) and buffaBLOG contributor, brings his single “Set Up” from his upcoming full length Once You Get Low You’ve Gotta Start Flying Baby for your listening pleasure. MDL has previously opened for such artists as Foxygen (a personal favorite of mine), Shonen Knife, and Active Bird Community. We tried to get him to write this review himself but he threw a guitar at the editor when asked. [Editor’s note: this is actually not true, it was a snare drum.] “Set Up” is soulful fucking (soulfucking?) pop-rock ear worm that rewards multiple listens. Carefully curated guitar and a rollicking bass track give way to fun synth interludes and backing vocals a la a gospel revival choir. MDL, ever the enigmatic frontman, opens up his thesaurus and points out the[...]

Millionyoung – “Lost”

April 30, 2023

Based out of Miami, Millionyoung is the project of Mike Diaz and “Lost” is both the name of his newest single that, coincidentally, shares the name of one of the most overrated TV shows of all time (seriously, I tried, plz don’t @ me). That’s where the comparisons end though; “Lost” (the song) feels like a pleasant Sunday drive with your foot hanging out the window on a warm-but-overcast day, whereas the TV show was overhyped and couldn’t stick the landing. Like a tasty, chillwave blooming onion served by Panda Bear (of Animal Collective fame), you’ll find layers aplenty that Diaz has obviously taken great care with laying down here. The thick guitars meld well with the heavy synth treatment while his whisper voice vocals guide you along, lest your fragile mind becomes lost in the (dipping) sauce. Fans of Washed Out or Cocteau Twins will find a kindred spirit[...]