Latest Posts

Fool Nelson – “Forget It”

October 25, 2025

Perth’s Fool Nelson have been filling a The Get Up Kids-sized hole in our hearts – one listen to “Forget It” might help you understand why. They’re already popping off in Australia, and we’re betting they’re gonna connect with audiences worldwide with their ready-made hooks, crunchy guitar, and accessible emo punk vibes. The trio of brothers/best friend have an undeniable chemistry, writing songs that reflect their upbringing in 90s/00s surf/skate culture down under… If you know us, that’s right up our alley. Check it out – you’re gonna love it.   Check out “Forget It” via the forbidden YouTube embed below, or, click this link to get to their Spotify.  

Ian McFarland – “Every Days a Saturday”

October 25, 2025

Pop punk has a funny way of bridging existential dread and breezy joy – take Ian McFarland‘s latest offering for example. “Every Days a Saturday” is a unique take on burnout (which we’re all feeling on some level, let’s be honest) – but it’s explored with upbeat, jangly guitars; quirky Motion City Soundtrack-esque lyrics; and McFarland’s uplifting vocals. If you want to harken back to the late 90s when SR-71 was ruling the airwaves, this might be a good place to start.   “Every Days a Saturday” is the first track on McFarland’s latest EP, Midnight Surgery, out now, (October 17th, 2025). Check out the forbidden YouTube embed below, or, peep it on Spotify.  

Karlmer – “Blackout”

October 24, 2025

“Blackout” is the newest track from Australian artist formerly known as Fly Trap, but now goes by Karlmer. They made the move to Germany at the beginning of the year. Other than not being an island, I guess Germany helps with expanding your reach, so good on them!   “Blackout” is a LOT of guitar – like almost nonstop; the first thirty seconds feature some particularly blistering licks. When saying that they played “Rock” music with a capital ‘R’ I assumed it was a typo because we don’t generally capitalize common nouns. *buzzer* Wrong! This definitely falls under Rock and deserves the gravitas of a capital. Serving a twofer of alarm and a call to action, the band had this to say about the meaning behind the song:   “The song is about a blackout in the modern day. We don’t have survival skills anymore like direction and find what[...]

NoMoniker Dev – “Mine”

October 23, 2025

If you’re interested in hearing some of the crispest drum sounds of 2025, you gotta tune into the latest track from Brooklyn hip hop artist NoMoniker Dev.  “Mine,” paced by those tight snares and kicks, tasty trumpet and sax parts, touchy keys and a warm vocal sample, is an ode to owning your shit. In NoMoniker’s case, it’s the rap artistry that he’s honed through years of experimentation in other genres and FL Studio. “It’s mine. Don’t play with it.” Dev folds his vocals in really nicely with the driving beat, bringing energy to match the horns and dropping down to a whisper to mix into the drum-first sections. This production needs to be heard, so stop reading and press play. If you’re digging NoMoniker Dev, give him a visit on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our Rising Rappers 2025 playlist that we give a polish every single week.

The Mookies – “Grocery Store”

October 22, 2025

Sporting an updated lineup and a slight rebrand, The Mookies (formerly Mookie) have dropped their latest single, “Grocery Store,” a track that gives the Buffalo five-piece a solid launchpad for their jangle-pop trajectory. Recorded at Watchmen Studios and mixed/mastered by Nathaniel Weiss (of Rom Com Victims), the track is a quick, boppy earworm that has surf-punk leanings, showing a bit more teeth than their previous work. The instrumentation is tight and energetic, a fitting foundation for a song that’s all about the dizzying internal monologue of spotting a potential crush in the produce aisle.   The concept is relatable enough–letting your imagination run wild with “what-ifs” in the context of an alluring stranger–but it’s the execution that makes the song shine. Giuliana Bauman’s vocals are sweet and disarming, offering a counterpoint to the song’s blazing pace and jangly, overdriven guitars. It’s bubblegum punk of the highest degree–accessible enough for a[...]

H_ngm_n – “Three Hours Sleep”

October 21, 2025

Listen. Emo isn’t dead. Emo will never die. And, despite their name, H_ngm_n are one of the many bands keeping the genre alive and well. “Three Hours Sleep” is sharp, emotional, and strikes the perfect balance between dirty and polished. Fans of mid-aughts style emo will love the readily-accessible hooks, while fans of deeper cuts can appreciate that well-constructed emo is still being made. With lyrics that touch on anxiety and guilt, this one’s a dead ringer for all us steadfast emos.   Check out the band’s most recent LP, Paper Street, upon which “Three Hours Sleep” resides, via the Bandcamp embed below. You can also find it on Spotify and Apple Music. Paper Street by H_ngm_n

The Tin Can Collective – “Knot With Threads”

October 20, 2025

The Tin Can Collective specialize in beer-soaked indie/emo that your older brother probably loved, specifically the good stuff from the late 90s. We’re talking Rainer Maria, The Get Up Kids… Even Tigers Jaw. You get the idea. Throw “Knot With Threads” on your favorite, sweaty basement show emo playlist. The big, guitar-forward energy here would be perfect for a DIY venue or a VFW hall, with a particularly sweet vocal performance from singer/guitarist Jess Warren.   Check out “Knot With Threads” via the Bandcamp embed below – Spotify too. If you like what you hear, they have a whole album called The Thrill Is Gone And I Can’t Get It Back   The Thrill Is Gone And I Can’t Get It Back by The Tin Can Collective

BILLY WHITE – “Mama”

October 20, 2025

West Dallas emcee BILLY WHITE isn’t going to be put in a box. He draws on eclectic tastes and backgrounds to bend genres with his latest single, “Mama.” Built on a crackling retro beat, this track keeps throwing different vocal styles at you, each one more interesting than the last.  His rapped verses are deconstructed, flipping between conversational and melodic. On the hook, he belts a sing-songy chorus, complete with contrasting backing vocals and some Bone Thugs-style triplet singing that plants this track squarely in your memory. “Mama” touches on growing up, being compared to your parents, and creating your own legacy. If you’re digging BILLY here, make sure to give more of his music a listen on Spotify. While you;’re there, take a look at our Rising Hip Hop 2025 playlist, updated every single week.

SUMiT, Method Man and Termanology – “Ammunition”

October 20, 2025

Massachusetts rappers SUMiT and Termanology take a quick trip over to Shaolin for their latest Method Man-assisted single “Ammunition.” The Wu Tang legend’s opening verse sets the stage with its sharp wordplay and gruff delivery, as Meth trades in his swords for a ruger to blast through one-liners and double entendres. Termanology and SUMiT bring the grime of Lawrence and Worcester, MA to their verses. Termanology’s command of consonance kicks off his verse, as his word play using the letter “m” really needs to be heard to be appreciated. SUMiT closes the track down with a patient delivery, calmly carving up the beat with vivid imagery and references to the streets. Celebratory trumpets pace “Ammunition’s” beat, giving each emcee plenty of brass to support their braggadocious claims. The track appears on the newest collaborative project from the Mass rappers – check it out here.  Take a listen on Spotify, where[...]

Nikmoody and Blvff – “explain it all later”

October 17, 2025

Nikmoody and Producer Blvff are two rising Long Island artists are putting the area on the map for hip hop. Their latest collaboration “explain it all later” boasts a driving rhythm from Blvff, taking influence from Arabic music in a similar manner to the excellent work Clipse did earlier this year. Nikmoody is relentless on the microphone, as the track features a spree of one-liners as he weaves between sports, LI and pop culture references. On the chorus, he’s tapping into his wiseguy Italian roots on the cheeky chorus where he asks (and expects) his listeners to trust him while he handles business. “Explain it all later” appears on Nik’s latest EP It’s not done yet, freshly available where you listen to music. If you’re digging “explain it all later” take a peek at these artists on Spotify. You’ll also find them on our Rising Hip Hop 2025 playlist — updated every[...]

Mirrorball – “Story of the Ice”

October 17, 2025

“Story of the Ice” is an apropos name for a track that I’m surprised isn’t about Buffalo (because no one else gets ice and no one ever used ice in the non-literal sense for a song). I’m never going to be mad about another dream pop band to add to my repertoire and Mirrorball is no exception; they pulled me in hook line and sinker with super slick bass licks and the perfect amount of synth (if you look back at some of my previous articles, you’ll see I hate it when synth is misused). Made up of Alexandra Johnstone and Scott Watson, the duo plays around Johnstone’s super soft vocals – managing to throw in a LOT of sound while doing it quietly (if that makes sense).   From what I could tell Johnstone and Watson haven’t put out an album as Mirrorball, but have a smattering of singles[...]

Pocket Full of Crumbs – “Heaven Take Me”

October 17, 2025

“Heaven Take Me” is the latest single from San Francisco based Pocket Full of Crumbs. It’s the first track off of the split single shared with fellow Californians Kan Kan. It’s a delightfully phuzzed-out affair that, like a perfect season of television, doesn’t overstay its welcome and sticks the landing. At just over two minutes it gives off punk vibes, but this is a shoegazer’s shoegaze song.   You can hear the track below on Bandcamp, as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to check out the other three tracks on the split with Kan Kan via Cherub Dream Records. I’m always *surprised_Pikachu.gif* when an artist I enjoy is on the same label as another that I enjoy, but I’m sure that’s no accident. If you’re feeling the vibe with PFoC, I KAN say without a doubt you’ll have the similar warm and fuzzies for KAN KAN.  [...]

Stephen Babcock – “Hockey Town”

October 14, 2025

The Bab-man strikes yet again – the latest in a series of Buffalo-adjacent singles, “Hockey Town” trades Buffalo Bills mania for the quiet and stoic life of a Buffalo Sabres fan. Sure, the Sabes have become a long-struggling team that are now essentially a farm team for the rest of the league (e.g. Eichel, O’Reilly, Okposo, Reinhart etc.)… Bit I digress – if you were around in the late aughts, the Sabres were an absolutely electrifying team that brought honor and glory to our Rust Belt locale. Babcock brings a similar prestige with his understated, almost folksy approach to “Hockey Town,” evoking small-town nostalgia with an approach not unlike Sam Fender or Catfish and the Bottlemen a la his signature twang and ultra-clean production.   Check out “Hockey Town” via the YouTube embed below. Spotify and Apple Music exist too.  

flycatcher – “Down”

October 14, 2025

Flycatcher has a vice-like, Venus-fly-trap-grip on who they are:   “… Twangy indie-rock, worn-in emo revival, and road ready anthems.”   Case in point, “Down,” the latest single from their upcoming release, due out October 24th. “Down” echoes the noisy, guitar-driven approach of contemporaries like Hotline TNT or Microwave while nodding to ’90s greats like Nada Surf. Slamming chords at a mid-tempo grind while repeating a catchy refrain always does wonders to make a song singleworthy, and the band doesn’t alter that tried-and-true formula here… Expect big emotions with misty-eyed sentimentality which makes sense given the song’s subject matter – here’s a little bit more from them about the song’s meaning:   “It’s a nod to past friends and watching them slip into their old ways.”   “Down” is available everywhere. Soundcloud is embedded below, but you can find it on Spotify and Apple Music too.   flycatcher · Down

Son of Jacob – “Friends”

October 14, 2025

Montclair, NJ-based act Son of Jacob, brainchild of singer/songwriter Will Jacobson, is here with his latest single, “Friends.” A warm-and-fuzzy throwback jam that recalls Pavement, Built to Spill, or what Heatmiser would have probably sounded like if Elliott Smith never went solo, “Friends” is laced with jangly guitars and squiggly keyboards in that iconic, ’90s way. A song about “the joys of awkward happy hours,” “Friends” will make you smile with its charming mix, but also make you nod your head in approval – see the pleasantly symphonic outro.   This one appears to be a Spotify exclusive – check it out below.