Deer Scout – “Holy Ghost”
Deer Scout is the moniker for NY/Philly college sophomore Dena Miller. Her latest LP, Customs, is full of introspective and emotionally fragile songs delivered on subtle acoustic guitar. Her compositions are delicate, so much so that you might want to hold your breath...
Yoko-Zuna – “Yes”
The squelching electronics on Yoko-Zuna's new track "Yes" are enough to set this progressive hip hop group apart from an increasingly saturated pack. Sounding like a mixture between Kreashawn and Missy Elliott (and maybe toss in some of the swamp-gas synth tones that...
Me And My Drummer – “Gun”
Vintage looking beach scenes permeate the new video for Me and My Drummer's song, "Gun." If you're into La Roux, Lykki Li, or Bat for Lashes, you're sure to enjoy the sounds of this particular duo from Berlin. An atmospheric-heavy beat lays a perfect foundation for...
Valaska – “Spring”
Valaska is a group of Chicagoans making intelligent indie rock. Fans of Death Cab for Cutie, Young The Giant, or The Shins would dig Valaska's swimmy indie rock swagger. The band is fresh off releasing their newest LP, Inchoate, which came out earlier this month. The...
Dream Cult – “Convince Me”
"Convince Me" is a catchy new dream pop track from Mississippi act Dream Cult. Full of sparkly synth bells and space-case guitars, "Convince Me" tackles the disappointment of screwing up a good relationship. In fact, most of Dream Cult's canon acknowledges the tough...
Cuddle Party – “Assumption”
Cali sadboyz Cuddle Party have been pulling at our heartstrings with their new jam "Assumption." Mixing a Tigers Jaw-style vocal delivery with a lo-fi recording technique, the fresh faced duo deliver an intimacy that belies their years. The song is about challenging...
Pope – “Dance The Night Away”
House act Pope is back with another EP, this one containing the infectious "Dance The Night Away." A straight up ABBA-inspired "how can I resist you" is one of the many hooks that permeate this particular track. Pope is a one man show, mixing synth-funk with heavy...
Cadence Kid – “Hold on Me”
In the new music video for "Hold On Me," Cadence Kid (Jason Turbin) teams up with 3x Grammy award winning producer (and brother) Cassidy Turbin. The video plays out much like a summer road trip; a bunch of profound and beautiful sights and images that one might see as...
Bad Wave – “Extraordinary”
Miami/LA hybrid duo Bad Wave recently dropped "Extraordinary," an exhilarating Phoenix-esque banger. Despite living in the same building, the dudes in Bad Wave create music via email, just like synth legends The Postal Service. The duo claims the song is about...
Delagoon – “Somehow”
Swedish new wave punks Delagoon mix the fervor of 80s post-punk with a more contemporary brand of dream pop. "Somehow" is their latest offering, an urgent and nostalgic offering which could sit comfortably on the shelf next to your Joy Division, DIIV, and Ceremony...
Mountain of Youth – “Poetry”
Mountain of Youth's new jam "Poetry" is a blend of deep and progressive house with a tropical flavor, true to form for the rising solo act. It's easy to see why MOY recently performed an acclaimed set at Coachella - the song fuses a sophisticated atmosphere with a...
Tonight: Herd Fest Day Three
Herd Fest day three - another full day of banging musical acts highlighting the best of the best in the WNY region and beyond. Today's programming spans six of Buffalo's finest venues. Right about now, you should be lacing up your converse and smoothing your hair to...
Rathborne – “So Long NYC”
It's no secret that NYC is a place where artists and musicians flock. Rathborne is here to point out that it's okay to acknowledge the NYC fatigue that inevitably sets in. We dig it because Rathborne has sculpted 70s vibes (think Tom Petty) into an upbeat number about...
Chase The Jaguar – “Kiss Me (If You Wanna)”
Chase The Jaguar's poppy new tune "Kiss Me (If You Wanna)" has been bouncing around in our heads since it graced our inbox. The simplicity of the chorus makes this Hellogoodbye-esque song a true earworm. Toss in some neon synth tones and nimble guitar work from this...
Kent Odessa – “Palms Motel”
Brooklyn-based artist Kent Odessa is influenced by the funk and r&b greats - MJ, Prince, Rick James, and even Pharrell. Their influence can be heard through an indie rock lens on his new track "Palms Motel." The song was inspired by a seedy motel that Odessa...
Great Good Fine Ok – “Always”
Brooklyn synth-pop duo Great Good Fine Ok have done it again with their distinctive brand of pure pop gold. Beyond the thumping, disco-tinged instrumentals, the pseudo-boy band's use of smooth falsetto is more than enough to anchor this confessional tune. The duo is...
Cold Boys – “You Used To Be Alright”
Cold Boys have just released a hot (see what we did there?) new track called "You Used To Be Alright." After debuting last year with the imaginatively titled EP, EP, they are back with a shimmering slice of hazy guitar-pop. "You Used To Be Alright" is chill like its...
BD & The Jackrabbits – “Robbery/Galaxy”
Chicagoans BD & The Jackrabbits caught our attention this week with the stuttering "Robbery/Galaxy," a 90s-flavored emo/rock jam. Fans of The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die would surely enjoy the quasi-shouted catharsis from this...
IDE – “Flight Patterns”
Brooklyn's IDE lays down some ferocious lyricism on his new track "Flight Patterns." Produced by Lucky Loopiani, "Flight Patterns" has a wonderful, classic hip hop beat centered around some plucked Asian strings. It sounds heavily influenced by the work of Wu Tang...
The Dead Ships – “First Mistakes”
Coming off the high of a coveted Coachella slot, The Dead Ships are winding up to release their highly anticipated debut LP, CITYSIDE. We were lucky enough to stumble upon "First Mistakes," a fantastic sneak peak of what's to come. "First Mistakes" is an upbeat jangle...
Titanics – “Close Enough”
Albany electro-pop duo Titanics just released the beguiling single "Close Enough" a few weeks before their performance at Herd Fest, and it's safe to say that we should start getting stoked for this show sooner rather than later. Consisting of Mark Lombardo and Derek...
LIF – “It Ain’t Over”
LIF, AKA Felipe Cea, is a sound designer/singer-songwriter from Sydney, Australia who specializes in mixing indie-pop and funk. "It Ain't Over" is a true summer jam that continues his trend of thumping, indie funk bolstered by sounds of eras past. Late 80s electric...
Frith – “L’Amour C’est La Vie”
I admit that I can't speak French, but Frith's "L'Amour C'est La Vie" transcends all language barriers. "L'Amour C'est La Vie" is a smooth, jazzy tune about a universal truth - losing your woman to another man (and hoping she comes back). Lady problems aside, we are...
The Well Rested – “Neeas”
The Well Rested are a group of British rockers whose music is in the vein of The Growlers, Connan Mockasin, or Allah-las. Their campy new video for "Neeas" had us chuckling and grooving at the same time, mixing randomized imagery with floating, dismembered body...
Plastic Picnic – “Nausea In Paradise”
Plastic Picnic really pulled out all the stops on this one. The Brooklyn-based band is actually a group of Seattle transplants, which explains a lot about their sound. On their new single, "Nausea in Paradise," the band brought in Producer/Engineer Ted Young (Sonic...
The Hazy Seas – “Kite Dodging”
The Hazy Seas are a spry quartet from the upper peninsula of Michigan. Their new song, "Kite Dodging," is a tightly wound number about a 1980's-era sport kite. The playful nature of the song is paired with a set of ominous lyrics, juxtaposed with what can only be...
Smashing Lads – “Easier Said Than Done”
Smashing Lads is a group of English men who just don't want to go to work anymore (and neither do we). Their new video for "Easier Said Than Done" tackles the simple, age-old question of: "Why the hell do I have to go to work today?" Despite the lyrical content, the...
Luke August – “One Heart”
Look out Miike Snow! Luke August is a promising solo act from Perth who decided to take an electronic approach on his new song "One Heart." The song is about an unfaithful relationship; the lyrical content compliments August's yearning vocal approach. Textured synths...
Tigertown – “Lonely Cities”
Tigertown is a Sydney-based quartet whose Lonely Cities EP recently found its way into our inbox. We were more than pleasantly surprised with the title track and the snappy accompanying video. Tigertown has been picked up by prestigious tastemakers Neon Gold, and for...
Lost Coast – “This Is Water”
"This Is Water" is the result of having one foot planted firmly in the club and the other in melodic pop music. Lost Coast has created a sonic landscape with "This Is Water," a track full of swelling, growing, ebbing, and flowing. The result is a track that is hard...
Lukr – “Fucked Up Summer”
Disclaimer: we're about to let a few f-words loose. Nashville crooner Luke Foley (aka Lukr) is riding the waves of his new summer-themed banger, "Fucked Up Summer." In the video for the new tune, we see the impressively-bearded Lukr splitting time between his music...
Novi Nov – “Thinkin’ Bout Ya”
Pop-rap, or rap produced with commercial intent is a relatively polarizing genre. Everybody has heard a joke about Pitbull or Flo Rida sucking (even though "My House" bangs). In that same vein though, it's hard to ignore the catchiness and charisma that an artist like...
partycat9000 & awkward island & bimyo – “Hyperdrive”
Talk about a slice of TRAP heaven! partycat9000, awkward island, and bimyo. all found each other over the internet (what a glorious time to be alive, right?). Their collective electronica skills turned into a fantastic collaboration titled "Hyperdrive," a hyper catchy...
2ndly – “Ionic Wind”
2ndly is a post-EDM act out of NYC whose "Ionic Wind" gets us feeling pumped up. The lyricless track has a very cinematic feel, almost as if a hero is in his preparation montage, ready to take down the evil villain. Dramatic? Maybe on our part... But 2ndly's dancewave...
Go Periscope – “Solar Flares”
Seattle and Buffalo may be on the opposite sides of the country, but our brutal winters are surely the same. "Solar Flares" from Go Periscope is the result of a few, frigid indie rockers yearning for warmer days. As it turns out, blurring genres out of winter boredom...
Rokenri – “Sullied Tide”
Rokenri is a Brooklyn-based band whose laid-back aesthetic is both haunting and intriguing. Their song "Sullied Tide" caught our ears this week, and for good reason. The tune is about trying to relax despite knowing there is an insane amount of chaos happening in the...
Swimming Tapes – “Set the Fire”
Swimming Tapes are a group of London newcomers making sun-drenched indie rock along the lines of Real Estate, The War on Drugs, or Smith Westerns. If our comparisons weren't enough, "Set The Fire" sounds like woozy nonchalance on a summer day. Seeing as how this is...
Sunday – “Waiting For You”
"Waiting For You" is Sunday's first cut, inspired by the heat of the Californian desert. In reality, Sunday is the brainchild of Aaron Shanahan who has spent half a decade performing and composing music. "Waiting For You" could be a subdued club hit - a skittering...
Crystal Shipsss – “Holly”
Crystal Shipsss is one of those bands that can mix bubblegum pop and weird, lo-fi indie and get away with it flawlessly. "Holly" is a breathy number reminiscent of Galaxie 500, Slowdive, or even Of Montreal. What's more is that "Holly" is a high-quality bedroom...
Masasolo – “Really Thought She Loved Me”
Denmark's Masasolo has a new video that has been really tugging at our heartstrings. For their debut single, the band hoped to capture the bittersweetness of looking back on a happy memory that involves a lost lover (and they did an incredible job). As if that weren't...
The Wild Reeds – “Everything Looks Better (In Hindsight)”
Great singers are hard to come by, so when you find a band with three incredible singers, it's worth a second glance. The Wild Reeds are a California trio/occasional quintet who write exceptionally beautiful folk music with a tangible Cali twist. "Everything Looks...
Kato Dox – “Gone”
Austin, Texas' Kato Dox' ambitious mindset is the thesis for his new single "Gone."Dox analyzes his come-up's causation and effects over some hard-hitting production. He likens his sacrifices and desperation to his conviction in lines like "When God is asleep then...
The Faint – “Young and Realistic”
Omaha dance-punk act The Faint are back yet again with a new song "Young and Realistic." The indie scene vets has been a staple of the scene since their critically acclaimed debut album Danse Macabre close to fifteen years ago on Saddle Creek Records."Young and...
Mookie Morris – “Fools”
Mookie Morris is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter specializing in retro indie rock that sparkles with hints of 1970s rock n' roll and soul. Morris records his quasi-demos entirely alone out of his apartment. Mookie's blend of retro and contemporary recording...
Ross Nicol – “Slipping Away”
Ross Nicol is a multi-talented musician from Nashville. Nicol's music is inspired by the creative depth of songwriting greats like Radiohead and Vampire Weekend and takes influence from timeless artists like David Bowie and The Beatles. "Slipping Away" is a gentle,...
BURROWING – “Will You Want Me”
BURROWING is a half-Norwegian, half-Australian act based in Oslo. The video for "Will You Want Me" caught our attention for perfectly personifying BURROWING's sound - beachy, airy, and fun. Vintage surf footage accompanies the lightness of this catchy track which...
Francis Moon – “Anchor”
Francis Moon is a restless 28 year old swede with a knack for writing dreamy indie-pop. His latest album, Onwards, is full of introspective dark pop like his contemporaries in Now Now, Mew, or Sigur Ros. "Anchor" gets our vote for album spotlight - a soaring...
Rudy & the Dunk Reactions – “Fixation”
Seattle-based nu-disco producer, Rudy & The Dunk Reactions have released their debut track that is (fire emoji). Rudy has made his way around the Seattle-scene over the past five years, throwing dance parties at roller rinks and laser tag arenas, as well as...
Petite League – “Zookeeper”
Bursting out from the Syracuse scene is Petite League with some new, noisy music. "Zookeeper" fronts zipping guitar leads on top of a dense block of jangly indie rock. The drums find themselves at the forefront, with hissing cymbals and a woody snare. The chorus...
Kristoffer & The Harbour Heads – “When You Say Stay”
I first heard Swedish musician Kristoffer Ragnstam nearly a decade ago when I came across his album Sweet BIlls while working at my college radio station. I found Ragnstam's charmingly descriptive and honest songwriting style coupled with his gentle indie-rock...