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Ka$h Route and Boldy James – “Gassed Up (Sinners Remix)”

September 24, 2026

A pair of veteran rappers turn a retro sample on its head on this new track “Gassed Up.” Ka$h Route’s been in the game for over 20 years, working all aspects from writing to engineering to recording. On the Sinner remix of “Gassed Up,” his gritty delivery is an extra compliment to a pen that gets sharper the harder you listen.  Sharing the mic, we have the ever-prolific Boldy James. The frequent Griselda collaborator kicks off the track with his slick baritone delivery, expertly grounding the smooth, lofty feel of the throwback production. If you’re feeling the Sinners remix, definitely give both of these artists a listen on Spotify – you’re going to find a massive back catalog of quality tracks. While you’re there… check out our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist that we update with tracks like this every single week.

Chuck 2 – ” Doomed”

September 24, 2026

We love a band that lets the music do the talking, mostly because Cincinnati’s Chuck 2 sent over their brand-new single “Doomed” with a grand total of zero background details. Luckily, we already know the drill with these guys: catchy, energetic 90s indie rock packed with razor-sharp guitar riffs and a slacker, college radio atmosphere. Fusing the fuzzy, DIY spirit of Guided By Voices with smart, heart-on-sleeve songwriting a la Pedro the Lion, “Doomed” is a burst of indie rock that hooks you within the first ten seconds. “Doomed” is the first track of Chuck 2’s new full-length Back 2 U, which came out September 18th. Stream “Doomed” now on Bandcamp — or better yet grab a tape via Let’s Pretend Records. Back 2 U by Chuck 2

Wet World – “Hokas”

September 24, 2026

Los Angeles alt-pop duo Wet World released their new single “Hokas” last week. The track’s subject matter is pretty straight forward and easy to understand (love that): “Hokas” is all about being bad and just giving into life’s indulgences. Shotgunning a beer in the backseat of your friend’s car? Sure. Bumming six ciggies on the back porch at a party even though you are getting over Bronchitis and haven’t smoked since living in the dorms? You do you. #YOLO. Fans of Dehd, Caroline Rose, or Broncho would be into the band’s approachable flavor of indie. Wet World reminds us to make room between multi-vitamins and getting 10,000 steps to order a Jagerbomb at dinner — and that’s important.   Wet World · Hokas

Letter to Elise – the five stages of grief

September 24, 2026

Team Reba! Never in my life did I think I’d be typing that for any reason, but here we are.   This week, we’re celebrating Letter to Elise, who is fresh off an appearance on NBC’s The Voice – a really, really cool opportunity, especially for an independent rock band from our neck of the woods. The Buffalo-based five-piece tout themselves as a “Rust Belt Rock ‘n Roll” band who write their songs with their blue collar hearts… I think that’s fair enough and technically true, but to my ears, this quintet is writing smartly-crafted pop rock, polished far past rust into a mirror-finish shine. Their latest album, the five stages of grief (which I will henceforth be referring to as grief), is razor-sharp and unapologetically glossy, taking cues from indie-pop luminaries like Neon Trees and Walk the Moon, and/or Heartland-esque rockers like The Killers to make a legit run[...]

Munan – “Disco in My Room”

September 23, 2026

South Korean / Australian psych-pop extraordinaire Munan has a new single perfect for the phased-out days of late summer. The sun-soaked track “Disco in My Room” has an unmistakeable cassette-warm haze to it that fans of Tame Impala or Mac DeMarco will immediately sink into. Built on an infectious, soft-disco groove, the single is all about being alone in your house and feeling the vibe, letting go of all social faux pas and just immersing yourself in a song. It’s a quiet ode to low-stakes bliss. When the lights are off and you’re by yourself, you’re always the best dancer in the room.       Munan · Disco In My Room

The Rainlamps – “You Wrote My Favorite Song”

September 22, 2026

Indie-folksters The Rainlamps are gearing up to release a new album and they’re teasing us with the release of lead single, “You Wrote My Favorite Song.” Taking cues from bands like The Decemberists, Pavement, Belle & Sebastian, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, “You Wrote My Favorite Song” details the act of “holding music like private treasure.” Stabs of guitar and breathy vocals burst out overtop jangly acoustic guitar and a trembling mandolin. It’s warm, fuzzy, and genuinely uplifting sounding… and if you’re a fan of “feeling sad at first and feeling happier 31 minutes later” (their words not ours), we think this one’s a dead ringer for you.   Down In The Bush Leagues comes out October 16th, 2026. Until then, get hyped on “You Wrote My Favorite Song,” embedded below via Bandcamp. Down In The Bush Leagues by The Rainlamps

skyve – “Stuck This Way”

September 18, 2026

skyve does a lot of things well. The genre-fluid performer combines elements of indie pop rock with a cloudier hip hop feel for an experience that I think can appeal to pretty much everyone. His latest track “Stuck This Way” is a guitar-laden vibe that feels almost as power-pop as it is cloud rap.That guitar is plodding but steadfast, as its catchiness persists underneath skyve’s open-hearted lyricism. There’s a lot of magic in the subtler notes of this too. A radio-ready synth line paces the track and skyve’s backing vocals punctuate the emotional tone of his words. Its hook is its “biggest” moment, as everything comes together to a great resolution. The whole thing is easy on the ears. If you’re feeling skyve, make sure you give him a follow on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist to discover more exciting indie[...]

San Gabriel – “All My Time”

September 18, 2026

San Gabriel turns the portamento up to 10 on his latest song, “All My Time.” You gotta love that super-glide-y synth – so sugary sweet that you can feel it coat your teeth… It sets off the almost-psychedelic chillwave that San Gabriel crafts so perfectly. Created mostly while working at a liquor store (getting paid to synth and to stock shelves, nice), “All My Time” would fit comfortably on a playlist next to JW Francis or MGMT.   Peep “All My Time” on bandcamp (embedded below), or, on Spotify.   Adult Onset Goth by San Gabriel

Nik Dandelion – “GLOW”

September 18, 2026

Berlin-based producer/songwriter Nik Dandelion exists at the chillest of intersections – the crossroads between indie rock, lo-fi bedroom pop, and hip-hop inspired grooves. “GLOW” is a wonderful example of this amalgamation – christened as the “pop heart” of Dandelion’s new EP, “GLOW” captures one of those profound early-adulthood moments where you’re crushing on someone HARD, even though you know (even if it’s in hindsight) that the moment is fleeting. Expect buoyant guitars, wood-blocky percussion, and good vibes all around.   “GLOW” is available everywhere – try Spotify or Apple Music.    

Grady Ramsey ft. Avo Droc – “green”

September 17, 2026

We’re hopping west on the 90 for this new track from rising Northeast Ohio rapper Grady Ramsey. It’s a silky-smooth, timeless hip-hop track with a twinkly piano and enough bang to get your head bobbing. Featured artist Avo Droc actually opens up the track, offering a melodic approach to his verse that is countered by a gruffer delivery from Grady. Each artist boasts clever, approachable wordplay with plenty of memorable lines. I particularly dig when Grady says he doesn’t like good girls or bad girls, but girls in the middle. The claims aren’t bombastic but they have the right amount of swagger and are held down by a beat that you can play on its own. “Green” serves as the second single from Grady’s freshly released EP, GRANDSLAM. Peep the DIY artwork. If you’re feeling “green,” check out more from Grady on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best Underground[...]

maxime. – “fear of missing out”

September 13, 2026

maxime. feels like an artist who is always reinventing themselves (see here and here and here). “fear of missing out” is another eclectic jam from the Montreal solo-act, this time, combining a laid-back groove and tasty melodies into a polished, slacker-pop gem. Taking notes from Porches and Oliver Tree, “fear of missing out” gives off “I barely care” vibes while still sounding like a masterpiece. Good stuff.   “fear of missing out” is on both Spotify and Apple Music.    

Bizou – “Deep REM”

September 13, 2026

Bizou is a verified supergroup – but they rely more on chemistry than pedigree. “Deep REM” is a perfect showcase of that – a shimmery blast of post-punk that swells with synthwave energies. Sludgy bass guitar work provides a dark night-sky backbone for the rest of the song to sparkle across. They’ve been described as “Industrial Enya” (which we kind of fuck with, tbh), but fans of CHVRCHES, Purity Ring, and The XX should consider slotting this into their gothier playlists.   “Deep REM” is available on bandcamp – it’s also on Spotify. Check out absolutely everything they have to offer here.   Deep REM by Bizou

airhockey – “nice day”

September 13, 2026

airhockey urges you to have a nice day on new single, “nice day.” For those of us that prefer to be negative because nothing good ever happens and life is meaningless – that can be a tough message to receive. But hey – for us musicians, we’ve always got our drum machines, our DAWs, and our fancy guitars. airhockey utilizes all three to create the lo-fi goodness of “nice day,” and it’s a nice reminder that next time you feel like sitting around and doom scrolling, you could probably just dust off your instrument of choice and make a cool little song instead. Fans of CASTLEBEAT, The Cure, and Molchat Doma should check this one out.   We’ve embedded “nice day” via Soundcloud below, but it can also be found on Spotify and Apple Music.   airhockey · nice day

Run Along – “Serves You Right”

September 13, 2026

Run Along is a mysterious band – “Serves You Right” appears to be the their one-and-only song. But if this is in fact their debut, it’s one hell of an intro. The band bridges the gap between 2005 emo and modern day pop punk, offering passionate vocals, loud guitars, and a blood-pumping tempo. Sure, they aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but good songwriting is good songwriting, and if this is evidence of what Run Along have in store, we’re along for the ride.   “Serves You Right” can be found on Spotify and Apple Music.    

Sweatbeads – “STAY AWAKE”

September 13, 2026

Who is Sweatbeads? We don’t know. We’re not even sure that Sweatbeads knows. He doesn’t even know if he’s ready to perform – “Here we go – are you ready for my song? Am I ready for my song? Let’s find out.”   We hope we eventually learn who Sweatbeads is because “Stay Awake” is an absolute banger of a song. Chime-y guitars, do-do-do singalongs, and sticky earworm melodies are aplenty here… The songwriting is just absolutely rock solid. This sure to appeal to fans of The Strokes, especially, you know, before the autotune.   You know the drill – “STAY AWAKE” is on YouTube and Spotify.