Dr. Doctor ain’t no newbie – the project helmed by mastermind Ralph Torrefranca has been in the works for years. Originally born from heartache and pain, Dr. Doctor has evolved into a one man journey to embrace poetic storytelling with chorus-laden guitars and low-key vibes. “Turbulence” is a perfect example, a simmering indie-rock jam that showcases Dr. Doctor’s unique lyrical delivery. Learn more about Dr. Doctor here.
“Beholden” is the worldly new jam from Canon Blue, the solo project from Nashville-based writer producer Daniel James. We dig the simmering, rolling drums and left-field instrumentals, but we’ll let Daniel sell you on this one with a direct quote: “‘[Beholden]’ was one of the first songs I wrote for the record and is a song of reconciling the ideals and dreams of my youth with my adult reality – the idea of being forced into one direction in life where you can either accept the reality and truth of your life or you can live in denial in a futile fight against it.” Deep… But oh, so relatable. We know you’ll like this one, so preorder it here.
Like the curiously-named Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Portugal. The Man before them, Finnish garage-pop band Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? are here with an effervescent and surreal single in the form of “Magic Swimming Pants.” Squiggly Keyboards and buzzing bass guitars propel this one-of-a-kind track that truly needs to be heard to be fully understood. These guys’ brand of sunshine-and-rainbows grunge falls somewhere on the spectrum between Horse The Band, Garbage, and Death From Above… Wherever that is. “Magic Swimming Pants” is out now via VILD Music.
Alt rock four-piece Almost Kennedy gear up for an upcoming EP with the release of their single “Silver & Gold.” The Ottawa natives joined forces after the split of another project, with currently just over a year under their belt. “Silver & Gold” is a surge of refined energy, meeting powerful vocals with lulling backing harmonies. Their fondness for British indie rock acts shines through by way of unwavering guitar lines and a healthy dose of grit. Dig into the track below, and stay tuned for the band’s EP Heard Them Talk, set for release this September. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/336103055″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Electropop duo TENDER touch on the at times destructive nature of relationships in their latest single “Machine.” Flatmates Dan Cobb and James Cullen found their start in 2015 as a London bedroom pop experiment designed to fight the inorganic structure of big name artists. Two years and hundreds of thousands of streams later, TENDER is counting the days until their debut album release. “Machine” is just one component of the work, all revolving around the lifecycle of temporary love. The track takes on waves of synths, whispered vocals, and a relentless groove, all while lyrically relating codependency to roboticism. If “Machine” has you hooked, be on the look out for TENDER’s debut full-length Modern Addiction, out September 1st via Partisan Records. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/336089572″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
London alt-pop duo Astrothrone take on brooding psychedelia with the video for their track “All Sun No Summer.” Contrary to some of their previous discography, this latest work delves into the infirmity of electropop while still maintaining some of their patented edge. True to form, this single brings in techno-esque syncopation, brash synths, and layers of robust vocals. The video moves it a step further, taking a simple lip-synching recording and building on its complexity with fluorescent negatives and eclipsed visuals. “All Sun No Summer” is fresh off Astrothrone’s latest album, Summoner, released this past July.
Cape Francis released his second song “Olly,” in between work on his debut album Falling Into Pieces, due out on September 22nd via Sleep Well Records. Cape Francis’ first song “Iditarod,” has experience success reaching #7 on HypeMachine’s Popular Chart and is currently featured on Spotify’s New Indie Mix. “Olly” thrives on its subdued vocals from Kevin Olken Henthorn. The vocals alongside the gentle guitar create a light feeling throughout the song. Check out “Olly” below via SoundCloud.
Indie rock/punk trio Divorce Rate dropped their new single “#1 Fan” off their debut self-titled EP. “1# Fan” is the first song the Minneapolis-based group wrote together. The song pertains to someone cutting off all communication to a loved one and never offering any explanation for the actions. Divorce Rate brings a combination of high and low energy to the track. It peaks with the heavy heart in the vocals and mellows out with the strumming of the guitar. Check out “1# Fan” below.
Houston-based Teenage Wildlife released “You,” coinciding with the release of their self-titled EP, which came out in August. The band serves as a collaboration between artists Derek Silva and Nader Ibrahim. “You” dives deep into the realm of indie dream-pop, with guitars that roll long and a light vocal pairing into the mix. Combating the losses of loves’ past, “You” brings out the somberness of remembering old loves and where they could have gone while trying to move on from it all. Listen to “You” below via SoundCloud.
The 80s have never been dead, and NOTNO is proving it. Conjuring images of pink and teal windbreakers, neon signs, and big hair, “Body” is all 80s, combining blown-out percussion samples, swirly reverb, and retro synth pads. Freda James adds a flirty, female touch to this already sexy song. Put it on and roll your windows down. If you’re diggin’ it, NOTNO is offering “Body” here.
Brewing up a sweet blend of moody alt rock and groove-driven nudisco, London trio White Kite set the scene for their new single “Past Life.” The track brings in a whole host of influences from blues guitar lines to house electronics, leaving an impression that’s as striking as it is danceable. Lyrically, it centers on the idea of having to hide away parts of yourself until the next opportunity to embrace them without fear of ridicule. Definitely a weighty concept, but the sense of liberation that follows with the first drop of the chorus is what it’s all about. This is White Kite’s second single to date, and if “Past Life” is any indication, we can’t wait to see what comes next. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/335942735″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
L.A. indie rock trio The Nanos blend height of punk vigor with pop adaptability in their single “Two For You One For Me.” The track takes shape with bright synth lines, nimble drum tracks, animated vocals, and clear-cut rhythm guitar to hold it all together. Their sound is spirited and uncomplicated, bringing something new to the table while revealing a nostalgia for jam bands past and the industriousness of Britpop. While The Nanos are churning out singles left and right, their video for “Two For You One For Me” stands as their visual pride and joy. Watch the guys get crafty while bringing a politically-charged manifesto against inequality to life.
Brisbane-based Born Joy Dead released the first single Sinkhole Holiday,” off their sophomore EP, Throw us in the Fire, due out in October of 2017. The band is planning on a Fall headline run of eastern Australia with performances in Brisbane, Wollongong, Sydney and Melbourne. Taking influences from garage rock, the band brings grit to its guitars. Ben Dalton’s vocals bring a lighter twist to the song, giving a balance between rough and soft. Listen to “Sinkhole Holiday” below via SoundCloud.
Portland’s Rare Monk recently released their debut full-length album this summer, with their single “Devil’s Trill” at the forefront. After some significant lineup changes and an evolving band ethos, the four indie rockers stand ready to pour their hearts out with this latest release. “Devil’s Trill” fits this new mold, using imagery-driven commentary to brood over death, life, and the passage of time. The track filters in dexterous guitar lines and tranquil vocals, meeting crass with serene and driving their salient lyricism home. If this single has sparked your interest, check out Rare Monk’s new album The Future for the full effect. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/332069338″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Psych rock rising stars The Vryll Society keep the good times rolling with their new single “Shadow Of A Wave.” The Liverpool five-piece have gotten a lot of buzz from the BBC and beyond in the UK, and it seems to be as good a time as ever to make their big break across the pond. This track could be the one to do it, with subtle synths, dueling guitar tracks, and feathery vocals to get wrapped up in. The band is currently gearing up for a UK headlining tour, with a debut album release looming on the horizon. Until then, get a taste of what’s to come with “Shadow Of A Wave” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/335919626″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]