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Garet Camella – “Balance”

LA based Garet Camella is a solo act of (you’ll never guess the name) Garet Joseph Camella. His latest, “Balance” is a clean guitar track through and through that leans into the indie pop feels. Dude clearly knows how to slay with that axe but he keeps it measured and controlled with this track; giving his vocals room to breathe and the groovy bass licks shine too.   You can hear “Balance” below on YouTube as well as Apple Music and Spotify. Camella’s upcoming EP Just Passing Through is coming in the first half of May (no specific date given). That’s fine though, if you wanna hear more be sure to pop a follow on Garet Camella’s socials or streaming. Don’t worry, music Mommy or Daddy will tell you if you ask.        

Frog – “Best Buy”

New York based Frog brings us their latest single, “Best Buy.” Just a week past the release of their new album Frog For Sale, we realize we haven’t written about them since last year’s “WHERE DO I SIGN VAR. III.”   Honestly, the intro of “Best Buy” feels the closest to frog-like I’ve heard so far. The “ba-dum, ba-do” gave me “couple of frogs hanging out on lily pads” vibes and I can’t unhear/unsee this head canon. It’s a little jazzy and laid back with a rambling bass couple with geetar pluckings with background synth. I also associate frogs with jazz because of some book or acid trip (or both) so this really just makes 1000% sense to me.   You can hear “Frog for Sale” below from Bandcamp, as well as over on Spotify. The rest of their album, Frog For Sale, is available in both spots as well. Welcome back Frog, glad[...]

southpaw + Dope TAF – “Book of Genesis”

Hinted by their name, rising Bay Area hip hop producer southpaw brings power from unexpected angles on their latest single “Book of Genesis.” Classic boom bap drums set the tone, but the haunting “Joanna” vocal sample and whimpering saxophone pack the hardest punch on southpaw’s board. The track gets an assist from rapper Dope TAF, who counters the melancholic production with a bit of gusto, asserting his status in the scene. As a complete package, “Book of Genesis” offers the levity of hip hop bravado with the anchoring southpaw production, making for a really well-rounded listen. Add this one to your boom bap playlists. If you’re feeling “Book of Genesis,” make sure you check out southpaw on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best Underground Hip Hop playlist a spin – you’ll hear from southpaw and other talented emcees making waves in 2026.

Personal Style – Garbage Can E.P.

It’s not often we’re met with a release that has everyone standing up from their figurative seats, but Buffalo-based band Personal Style continues to exhibit the kind of skill that only builds on their hype with their new four-song Garbage Can E.P. – a pulsating post-punk serenade that scratches all the right itches and further cements the group as one of the most exciting outfits in the region.   Formed in the fall of 2019, the project brings together Bryan Johnson, Evan Wachowski, and Stephen Floyd, a trio of local scene stalwarts. With a collective 15+ years spent cutting their teeth in Buffalo’s DIY circuit under various monikers (Mapmaker, Patchwork, Bryan Johnson and Family, Mallwalkers, many more), these veterans have traded their individual histories for a cohesive new chapter with the project. Garbage Can E.P. was recorded with Jay Zubricky (GCR Recording Studio) and Justin John Smith (Mammoth Recording Studio),[...]

2ŁØT – “Tread”

Rising band 2ŁØT is forging a new sound that they’ve labeled “electronic jam music” or EJM. Their latest single, “Tread” jams the hypnotic rhythms that you’d usually hear in those more free-flowing and long-form tracks into a tight two minutes. It brings the jam to the study beats structure. Led by a magnetic trumpet line and supported with piano, flute, and an enchanting vocal line, this one’s easy on the ears. 2ŁØT’s off to a strong start in 2026 with “Tread” and other highlight releases like “Come Together” and “Favorite Star.” Give “Tread” a listen on Spotify — while you’re there, check out our new Study Beats and Instrumentals playlist. We wanna drive you through with the fuzzy glow of traffic lights, the moon, or your computer screen.

Jay Dutch and BiiG Dreams – “the fires we repent”

New York hip hop artists Jay Dutch and BiiG Dreams embrace temptation even if it’s just for the night, on their sharp new track “the night before we repent.” There’s something to be said about living in the moment. Dutch and Dreams explore why this happens, whether it’s romantic partners, substances or other vices. Sharp lines assess what succumbing to those feelings means, and whether or not this impacts good graces later on. “I see a bit of heaven outside of my window.” Production-wise, we’re super smooth to match the polished delivery of both artists, and there’s a great little vibe shift for the back half of the track. Some cool visuals are available here too. If you’re feeling this track, give these artists a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, check out buffaBLOG’s Best Hip Hop of 2026 playlist – you’ll find a great list of underground rappers there.

Чернобыль – “The Day Death Overtakes”

Чернобыль, which translates to “Chernobyl” brings us their latest self-produced track “The Day Death Overtakes.” The brainchild of Daniil Zotov, this ties into a narrative arc that is in his forthcoming album Slow & Dreary. Interestingly enough, he claims this is at the end of everything, which feels a bit spoilery, but I suppose it’s all about the journey, right?   The track itself is devastatingly great – a thought provoking and mood-setting piece of music that sounds like the end of the world. Heavy, but contemplative, this could be an apocalyptic soundscape or something to ponder to while you’re contemplating something morose.   You can hear it below on YouTube, as well as Spotify. Slow & Dreary will be out April 24th.      

Brightmoon – “First Light”

Brightmoon is both the brainchild of Becca Mohler and husband Billy Mohler and “First Light” is their latest. I’m not a huge Thundercats fan because one dude sucked all of the fun out of it way back in the day, but Brightmoon is also the name of the setting for the land in She-Ra and the Princess of Power. If you’re not a nerd or live under a rock, 5/6 of that probably didn’t make any sense (sorry, Google it).   Musically, it feels like a great, slow-mo underwater song – for some reason that I can’t eloquently explain. That 90’s shoegaze aesthetic is strong here, but it manages to feel like something new, as opposed to a retread. It’s a great guitar-forward track that somehow feels like four seconds and also four years. I literally got lost in it as I was listening the first go around and I[...]

Violet UltraRay – “graceland”

Feels like just yesterday we featured Violet UltraRay, but it was actually way back in November here! Where the hell does the time go? Luckily, we have been graced by “graceland” this month and we’re here for it now, just as we were then. Shoegaze is their specialty and they lean into it here. I definitely dug the bass riff throughout the track which, as per the band, was what the song started and grew from.   You can see the music vid for the track below via YouTube. It’s a little avant garde but not ostentatious and it has Elvis in it, which is both appropriate and funny. Speaking to the track, the band said that   “…graceland felt like the right metaphor – myth, aspiration, somewhere just out of reach…”        

sssiv – “All the Time”

“All the Time” is the latest single from Copenhagen based sssiv – itself a clever amalgamation of the three band members (Sara, Stephen, and Sasha). Falling into the dream pop realm with hints of post-punk, I particularly enjoyed how everything meshed together – you can hear how connected the entire band is. On top of all of that, they construct most of their songs with improv, so you KNOW they must secretly be conjoined at the hips.   You can hear the track below from YouTube as well as Spotify. If you felt the beautiful connection betwixt the three SSS’s, you’ll enjoy their smattering of singles they’ve released over the past couple years. (I particularly enjoyed “sea salt”).          

Robbery Club – “Never Better”

Robbery Club can add breaking and entering (and probably trespassing) to their list of crimes – the evidence is clear in their new video for single “Never Better.” In the video, the sharply-dressed band plays a squiggly, Joyce-Manor-meets-Weezer brand of indie punk on some random Buffalo rooftop. Crunchy guitars and melodies aplenty, the song isn’t so much a departure for them – moreso an evolution. Lyrics like “I’m not a child anymore” and “everything is okay” offset the more angsty material from their past, with just enough vagueness to keep you guessing on whether they’re tongue-in-cheek. The visual motifs in the video are cheeky, but cool – keep your eyes peeled for an omnipresent smiley balloon, cowboy hats, and… chickens?   Check out the music video for “Never Better” embedded below. While you’re at it, check out our previous features of Robbery Club here and here.    

Already Legends – “Up the Smooth Water”

Our Great Lakes compadres over in Detroit are cooking up something smooth and fierce with this hip hop collective Already Legends.  The group, made up of SavageSpitFlames, Sam Tate, Squad and L.O.E Boog, bring a eclectic mix of styles that round out to feel very Detroit. Their latest single, “Up the Smooth Water” is a great barometer for the sound over there, and it’s exciting to see shine getting brighter for a legendary city for hip hop. The first thing you’ll notice about this track is it’s appropriately smooth, and the sample is front and center. A lot of Detroit and Rust Belt rappers in general have a conversational flow, with lines very casually moving into the next, and I love that about this track. Between the 80s soul-feel of the beat, and each of these dudes shining with unique, charisma and conversational-driven flows, you can chew on a lot[...]

Lukka – “TomboI”

Here’s a reverb-soaked, synth-driven jam for you – our latest recommendation is “Tombol” from NYC-based psychedelic-synth band Lukka. Expect tasteful riffing, a heady groove, arpeggiated synths, and glassy-eyed vocals; perfect for blissing out, but catchy enough to become deeply ingrained in your head. For all the songwriters out there, “Tombol” is one of those songs that you have to derive meaning from once it’s already done… But Lukka have done a fine job explaining it otherwise – see below:   ” I guess ‘Tomboi’ is about tapping into both your masculine and feminine sides—and actually loving that mix. I feel it’s also a self-celebration of my Gemini energy, leaning into that duality and just owning it.”   “Tombol” is available on Spotify (and Soundcloud, below).   lukka · TomboI

Tomdahomie – “Ego”

Tomdahomie is the new solo moniker for producer/songwriter/mastermind Tom Hitchcock – we’d like to think we’d be homies after hearing his latest bedroom-pop jammer, “Ego.” Expect lots of jangling guitars, offset by a neurotic drum-machine beat and Tom’s endearing vocal delivery. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this song tackles the complex issue of the “male ego,” and the ways it can affect the way us menfolk move through the world. We could all use an ego check every now and then, so let your new homie Tom do it through song – a shimmery one at that.   “Ego” is on Soundcloud, embedded below. You can also find it on Spotify and Apple Music.   tomdahomie · Ego

COLO – “9to5”

Rising rapper COLO has a slick pen for singles and his latest, “9to5” is a perfect addition to your playlist as the temperature clears up. This track is an ode to earning the paycheck. “9to5” has a summery, light hook that takes you right back to the blog era of rap. The production is silky smooth, and COLO’s delivery is the perfect match. Lyrically, COLO finds his sanctity in his time away from the grind. What’s life without living? This is a feel good track that’ll fit in with with best of summer rap. If you’re feeling COLO’s latest, check him out on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best of 2026 Hip Hop playlist a listen – you’ll find some great artists to get your summer sets rocking.