London-based musician Plastic Flowers‘ “How Can I” is a swimmy, borderline retro tune that caught our ears immediately. We’re especially impressed with their juxtaposition of chorus-laden guitars and tight retro drums with a noisy, wall-of-sound approach. PF’s particular brand of dream-pop is peppered with flavors of shoegaze and indie rock – Fans of Slowdive, Mac Demarco, or the 1980s will definitely enjoy this one. Add it to your Spotify playlist too.
Nothing wrong with an endearing indie rock jam with tinges of emo and grunge. Goodnight House, aka Joel Lane, sent us “Can’t Go Back” and we like it a lot. Falling somewhere on the spectrum between 90s grunge (like Hum) and mid-2000s emo (like Copeland), “Can’t Go Back” is a straightforward, guitar-driven jam. Put it on and reminisce, this one’s pleasant as all get out and a true anxiety-reducer. If you like “Can’t Go Back,” it’s up on Bandcamp for a “pay what you want” rate. Analog Echoes by Goodnight House
We’ve been following Honey Lung for some time now – their brand of post-grunge goodness just speaks to us. We last checked in with them this April with the fuzzy goodness of “Sophomore.” Our new recommendation, “Stuttering Mind,” is a slightly “cleaner” departure, but surely continues their tradition of angsty, emo-tinged tunes. A beautiful, clean guitar riff propels this track forward, bolstered by an atmospheric keyboard and a particularly jangly chorus. This one is def worth a listen – check it out via Soundcloud below.
The song, “Living in the Movies” serves as the latest single from the three-piece band and producer collective, Champyons. The single offers a glimpse into the band’s first full-length album, to be released early 2018 via Embassy of Music. Drifting toward the psychedelic side of music, the wobbly synths and bass kicks mesh with the off textures of the autotuned vocals. Check out “Living in the Movies” below via YouTube.
Buffalo musician Emily Finlan has released her first EP via bandcamp. Recording under the name heave, the self-titled EP is a quick three-song debut. Here, she acts as lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, with accompaniment from Jake Galenski on drums, slide guitar and organ. Having been recorded in an attic, the EP has deep DIY indie vibes, which lends itself to the laid back nature of these tunes. The smooth reverberant tone of the electric guitar provides a gliding effect that coasts throughout the not quite 8 minute release. The lightest organ and second guitar flourishes ebb and flow at just the right moments to bring each track to life. For being only three songs long, there is quite a bit of range here. Opening track, “beveled,” has a loose jazz groove to it, with a slide guitar refrain that teases a lazy beach afternoon. The second track, “cape squad,”[...]
Courtship. have released their single “Tell Me Tell Me” to close out the summer season with warm jams. The release of “Tell Me Tell Me” comes while the Los Angeles based pair embarks on their West Coast tour with Saint Mesa. With features on Sirius Alt Nation, Los Angeles’ ALT 98.7 and Minneapolis’ Go 96.3, courtship. has made waves within indie alt. The buoyant synths and positive lyrics about letting love out grasp for a happier feeling. The song wants the listener to let all of their feelings out about love. Check out “Tell Me Tell Me” below via SoundCloud.
Australian producer/musician Mike Dotch aka The Artful Force recently presented his latest low-key banger, “What Would You Do For Me.” With a heady mix of rhythmic piano, sparkling synths, and a buoyant bass line, this song captures the uplifting spirit of nudisco with a splash of 80’s synthpop flare. Each instrumental track has its time to shine as it creeps out of the groove-driven texture, all while the vocals loop back into a ceaseless mantra. Get a hypnotic dose of electropop with “What Would You Do For Me” below, and find more house-inspired dance tracks from The Artful Force here.
CHUCK (aka Charles Griffin Gibson) is a NYC (via Massachusetts) bedroom pop artist whose lo-fi single “Happy Birthday” has us feeling all tingly inside. Through use of piano, Casio drum samples, and unique harmonies, CHUCK evokes feelings of nostalgia and longing. The cryptic imagery in the music video certainly adds to the feelings of longing… Check it out below. CHUCK is offering “Happy Birthday” for a “name your price” rate. Check it out on Bandcamp.
Buzzing Melbourne quartet Neighbourhood Youth recently hit us up with their video for “Lately” and we dug it a lot. The video gets the vintage-filter-treatment and shows a montage of the band at their best, touring the country and having fun both on and off stage. Beyond the official video, their particular brand of indie rock is loud, brash, swimmy, and most importantly, fun. Give it a look-see below. “Lately” is also available on Bandcamp for a very reasonable “pay what you want” rate.
Sego are an art-punk duo from LA who are currently on tour with El Ten Eleven… If you’re a millennial (or really anyone alive/existing in 2017), we’re sure you can find some common ground with the apathy found in their latest jam, “Whatever Forever.” Singer/guitarist Spencer Petersen finds himself numb to the world and laments about the varying extremes he’s willing to take to find feeling again… All the while pumping out minimalist, yet frantic indie-punk. “WF” is from a yet-to-be-announced LP, so stay tuned. If you’re picking up what Sego is putting down, add “Whatever Forever” to your Spotify playlist.
Rochester’s Barbarosa are a talented duo who craft beautiful indie-pop tunes laced with synthesizers and well-thought-out male/female harmonies. Their new, self-titled release is no exception; fans of mid 2000’s emo like Lydia, Copeland, or MAE will find this lush EP hitting close to their heart. We recommend starting with opening track “A Step Back,” which combines the sentimental twang of late 90’s emo with atmospheric synth swells and cavernous reverb. Barbarosa’s pop songwriting is best demonstrated here, especially in the chorus, where they expertly expand a typical four-chord structure into something atmospheric and beautiful. Their male/female harmonies shine through strongest here, pairing a strong, catchy melody with inventive and jazzy drumming. Track two, “Pervitin,” might be the best juxtaposition of their Bandcamp bio – “loud and pretty.” Here, we find Barbarosa at their darkest… Bordering on menacing and mysterious, the duo have crafted a song more energetic than “A Step Back,” but no less beautiful.[...]
Brooding indie-folk artist Daniel Pope takes a page out of Iron & Wine/Sufjan Stevens’ book with his song “Terrible King.” Filtering in blanketing vocals and nimble guitar lines, this track smoothes out the edges while experimenting with unique chord progressions and cavernous vocal harmonies. Despite not having a multitude of instrumental tracks, “Terrible King” still manages to capture a full sound that’s both tender and moving. The track comes straight from his recent EP entitled Sad Zoo, the second album release for Daniel Pope. Test the waters with “Terrible King” below.
Singer-songwriter Max García Conover’s latest album was penned in true acoustic-folk fashion – while traveling across the US via vintage motorhome. With a goal to pen one song a week, his album motorhome was born, and with it his lead single “fire on i-295.” There’s a distinctly homey feel to the track, almost as if reminiscing over an old story with a close friend. He opens the door and invites you in, urging you to stay a while. It’s warm and it’s comforting, filled with anecdotes that act as much to set the scene as to bare his soul. With compelling phrases like “I’m gonna love you till my body burns,” García Conover’s lyricism has a way of surfacing to the forefront just when it’s most affecting. On the album, he states “motorhome is an autobiographical album about longing — for revelation, for a place to call home on our[...]
Oslo’s indie-folk troubadour Simen Mitlid features his delicately crafted single “St. Hanshaugen,” fresh off his recently released album, Everything is the Same. Channeling the instrospective acousticism of Sufjan Stevens and Broken Social Scene, Mitlid ties in subdued vocal layering with growing instrumentals and tender technicality. The track is equal parts soothing and invigorating, drawing in the breath of life with the building anticipation of a massive crescendo. Take in Simen Mitlid’s serene crooning in “St. Hanshaugen” below, and indulge more fully with the entire album here.
L.A. five-piece Fellow Bohemian draw up breezy indie rock at its finest with their track “Get Away.” The single hits its stride with the help of ethereal vocals, sun-soaked guitar lines, an energetic bass line, and intricate drum work. It’s the kind of track that comes off as genuinely carefree without trying too hard, where underlying dance rhythms meet weightless and hazy instrumentation. This type of textured sonic experience is what Fellow Bohemian have come to be known for, rivaled only by their spirited live shows. “Get Away” comes from the band’s recently released EP, Calm & Modern, aptly named from key traits of their sound. Catch the single below, and be sure to check out the full EP if you’re hungry for more.