Out of the ashes of Ascot Royals comes Kadeema – the longtime songwriting partnership of Jimmy Chauveau and Tal Vaisman have come together to create “Gotta Get It.” Inspired by the underwhelming monotony of the day-to-day grind, “Gotta Get It” is more about dancing away your problems than letting them get the best of you. This one is certainly full of danceable energy – check out the music video below and see for yourself.
Last time we checked in with Mint Julep, we were jazzed on the lovely synth-pop of “Blinded.” Their latest offering, “Stray Fantasies” is the title track from their upcoming LP – it stays on-trend with pulsing synth textures, ethereal vocals, and a hint of wintry energy. “Fantasies” and “Blinded” are both going to be included on Stray Fantasies, out later this month (1/31/2020). Stay up to date with the married duo via their Instagram.
If you’re an avid buffaBLOGGER, you know we’ve been paying close attention to shoegazy VA act Stray Fossa for at least a few years now. Their latest jam is “Are you Gonna Be Okay” – continuing their trend of bedroom-pop greatness, the trio pairs hush-hush vocals with blasts of synth, warbled out guitar twinkling, and big snazzy basslines. Stick around for the end of the song for an exceptionally cool aural treat – check it out below or snag it from Bandcamp.
Brooklyn based trio Valentin Marx aren’t messing around – their latest banger is “Fair,” a big indie rock jam that owes as much to Wilco as it does Sufjan Stevens. A rip roaring electric piano opener leads into impassioned, wistful vocals before finally breaking into a guitar-based chorus. Full of surprisingly melodic moments, “Fair” is an excellent listen start-to-finish – check it out below or give them a little lovin’ via Bandcamp.
We think Florida indie pop duo Future Ghost are onto something – their debut single “Took My Chance” is full of sugary melodies and a beautifully sunny disposition. Powered by bursts of crunchy guitar and squiggly synth flourishes, “Took My Chance” is reminiscent of Charly Bliss, Diet Cig, or even Speedy Ortiz with a delightful sheen of shiny pop-minded greatness. Check it out below and then add it to your Spotify playlist.
Buffalo bedroom pop newcomers Olmsted have emerged onto the Buffalo DIY scene with their first single, “The Storm.” The duo, composed of bassist/vocalist Lydia Beinhauer and former Halo Nellie guitarist Nathaniel Miller, co-write dreamy, raw pop music with contemplative lyrics. “The Storm” is a building, ethereal waltz. It starts out simple, with a guitar track and Beinhauer’s lone voice. The song becomes more fleshed-out as it continues, with gossamer synth, a drum machine, experimental noise sampling, and vocals from Miller as well. Beinhauer and Miller’s pleasant voices complement each other, which we also see on the single’s B-side, “The Eye.” The songs are approachable and calming, even though the words suggest a little more unease. From both tracks, we get a good idea of what to expect from Olmsted in the future: relaxed, organic, and endearing lo-fi pop. Olmsted plays January 31st with Modest Mouse tribute act Pompous Rat on[...]
Eastern Exit‘s “More Than I Could Know” is a lovely indie rock song that has been rubbing us the right way. It’s washy with just the right amount of ambiance, but still makes you want to dance with it’s funky bass lines and dreamy vocals. Fans of Tame Impala, Phoenix, or Death Cab for Cutie are certainly going to dig this one. Check it out below.
Fanclub caught our attention with the airy, synth-filled vibes of “Tresspassing.” Utilizing a gauzy, almost-shoegaze approach with tight, electronic drums, this one wormed its way into our hearts by fully embracing its simplicity. Fans of Charly Bliss or Girlpool will definitely dig this one – check it out below and give them a follow on the ‘Gram.
Heart Bones is a unique duo whose home base is split between Texas and Minnesota. This unique partnership has produced one of our new favs, “Open Relations.” This one is a nu-disco-ish pop tune about needing a bit of extra lovin’ outside the confines of monogamy. Fans of Daft Punk, Scissor Sisters, or the 1975 are gonna dig this one – check it out below.
John Moore and Missing Star‘s latest single “Work It Out” recently caught our ears in a lovely way. Moore has been hanging around Buffalo for a while – previously fronting the WNY-based act 53 Days. This time around, he and the Missing Star has pairing a twinkly guitar riff with spacey keys and haunting vocals, revolving around a haunting but catchy refrain of “Gonna work it out, gonna work it out again.” Check it out below and pick it up his latest album on Bandcamp if you’re feeling this jam as much as we are. All In Your Head by John Moore And Missing Star
Leo & The Maydays (a.k.a. singer/songwriter Hannah Ruttle) is based out of Ithaca, NY. Her latest offering, “Leaves and Trees and…” is a meandering folksy pop tune – it finds Leo and her band wandering the scenic countryside, hanging out and singing their song amid cemeteries and long winding roads. Beyond that, her music is super clean and has a sense of longing – perfect for this cold winter weather. Fans of Petal, Fleet Foxes, or First Aid Kit will like this one – check it out below.
Human Barbie are here to crush your optimism with the minimalist heartbreak of “Be Careful What You Wish For.” This one is so beautifully melancholy; it pairs a dragging tempo with a unique juxtaposition between icy cold guitars and a warm analog mix. MOst poignant is their astonishingly frank assessment of reality – any song that starts with “Be careful what you wish for, cause you’re gonna get fucked eventually” is alright in our book. Head on over to Bandcamp to pick this up or add this one to your Spotify playlist.
Yo, Richard Frenneaux‘s “Arcades” has really caught our ears. Despite his cool mystique, “Arcades” is an unabashed indie pop jam. Frenneaux pairs big synthy vibes with dreamy guitar parts and hypnotic drums. This is all bolstered by his upbeat indie rock vocals. Fans of Phoenix, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, or Foster the People are gonna dig this one for sure – have a listen for yourself via the Soundcloud widget below.
First, a science lesson: Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter. They’re made up of only three basic subatomic particles – electrons, protons and neutrons, as you probably remember from sixth grade. Their dance, multiplied across the 1080 or so atoms in the universe, makes up existence in all its wild, varied forms. The songs on I.T.T.I.P., the new album from Koko Neetz (Andrew Kothen, who you may also know for his guitar work in dreambeaches) are atomic in the sense that they start from almost nothing and put the same few components into motion with each other to propel melodies forward. While the atom has electrons, protons and neutrons, Kothen has an acoustic guitar, a drumset, a quiet piano, a shimmer, the hint of a Mellotron, and his own wispy voice with which to create. And create he does – I.T.T.I.P is both a showcase of Kothen’s[...]
We’re digging the synth-tinged post-punk of LA act Cold Violets. “Set Me Up” exists somewhere between cold 80s post-punk and the sentiment of 50s American folk music, using the energy of the current indie-rock crowd to really propel it forward. Squiggly synths and electronic drums help bolster this one – our favorite part is the left-field manic drum fill that occurs mid song. Check it out below and give them a follow via IG.