Latest Posts

Pynch – “Hanging On A Bassline”

October 3, 2025

“Hanging on a Bassline is about embracing the chaos, euphoria, and ennui of your late 20s”   Yeah, ok Pynch, not sure you could have clocked us even harder… And while this writer is comfortably past his late 20s now (yuck), I still feel 28ish mentally (ennui included), so “Hanging On A Bassline” was pretty much an autoblog. Lying somewhere on the spectrum between post-punk, indie dance, and new wave, “HOAB” shimmers and shines like a cold, wet street lit by neon lights. The inorganic snare and calculated instrumentals here will sound great on your playlist next to your favorite Interpol, Bloc Party, and/or She Wants Revenge singles.   “Hanging On A Bassline” is available on Spotify and Soundcloud (below).   Pynch · Hanging On A Bassline

bugcatcher – “Hurry”

October 3, 2025

bugcatcher is one of our favorite local acts (check out our AOTW feature on Slacker here), so it’s a no-brainer that we’d feature new single, “Hurry.” Jake Denning does it again, nailing this hazy, indie-folk-emo-slacker hybrid with aplomb. Plodding acoustic guitars are layered thick, boosted by tapped drums and a foggy atmosphere, leaving just enough room for Denning’s emotive voice to peek through in a delightfully low register. This one won’t blow your shorts off with sweaty dive bar energy, but it will surely make you question your existence in the way that only a great bedroom-folk song can… And by now, you should know that’s a good thing, as we’re all insufferably existential in our own ways.   “Hurry” is available now on Raincoated Records. You can purchase via Bandcamp (below), or, on Spotify and Apple Music.   Hurry by Bugactcher

Stinkus – “Plastic Blue”

October 3, 2025

Our friend Stinkus (aka Tyler Thompson) is a frequent contributor to the blog. You shouldn’t be too surprised – we’re about to tell you about how much we like “Plastic Blue,” too. Thompson wrote it “about a day with my fiancé from the perspective of my thoughts and not my actions,” and then mentions that they were “weird times,” but those odd, poignant experiences often return the most hard-hitting work. “Plastic Blue” continues Stinkus’ trend of literate indie/emo in the vein of Oso Oso, The Hotelier, and/or Slaughter Beach, Dog – let yourself get sucked in by the sticky hooks; you’ll end up sticking around for the dank emotions.   “Plastic Blue” is available now. Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube (below).  

The Noisy – “Nightshade”

October 3, 2025

Philadelphia-based act The Noisy pair up indie rock and classic pop on their latest offering, “Nightshade.” Led by poet Sara Mae, The Noisy’s “recipe” is a complicated one – think Spaghetti Westerns, Body Horror, drag, literature, queer community, and home cooking – but they bring it together into something palatable that straddles the line between pop songwriting and independent grit. “Nightshade” would slot in nicely on a playlist that features Hop Along, Perfume Genius, or even Chappel Roan.   Peep “Nightshade” via the Bandcamp embed below. You can find it on Spotify too.   The Secret Ingredient Is Even More Meat by The Noisy

Urge Surfer – Misnomers

October 3, 2025

Urge Surfer, the moody electro-pop project of Jordan Maelyn Smith and Chelsea O’Donnell, are back with their third release, a three-song EP they’re calling Misnomers. Continuing their trend of creating literate music with a well-thought-out thesis, Misnomers picks up where previous release Alphabet Archive left off. Where AA dove into themes of language and self-identity, Misnomers explores “how misunderstandings can lead one through the haze of heartache and awe.”   Smith and O’Donnell’s chemistry is on full display right from the get-go, as lead song “Responsible” dissects relationship ennui. Dark instrumentals become an immediate theme – more of a dirge than a melt-your-face single, “Responsible” pairs a gently-plucked acoustic guitar with bitcrushed electronic drums. O’Donnell’s one-of-a-kind vocal is set off by a feature by Sheena Ozzella of Lemuria fame – about as close to a Buffalo legend as you can get.   “Public Exits” gets a lot grittier – a sludgy bass feature takes center-stage[...]

Pablo Eskobear – “Found You”

October 2, 2025

Grand Rapids beatmaker Pablo Eskobear channels his drumming ability with his knack for finding interesting samples on his lovely new instrumental love song “Found You.” Crate digging served the Bear well on this one. “Found You” is built around a vintage soul love song, chopped into a slightly wonky, heavily evocative instrumental. Pablo plays with both the sample and the drums underneath it, adding, subtracting and manipulating them right when you feel settled in. Maybe it’s in the same way that love keeps you on your toes. Press play and listen to what he pulls out of this sample. If you’re interesting in hearing more production from Pablo, be sure to check him out on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our hip hop playlist where we feature interesting artists in the underground scene.

PB Mogul – “Funhouse”

October 2, 2025

Utica’s PB Mogul is a rapper best known for his gruff delivery and Upstate-street sense. He last graced our pages with the gritty trap anthem “20 on the Stove,” seeing a feature from WNY’s 38 Spesh. His latest, “Funhouse” is 100% PB, 2:48 minutes of venom as he chews up fashion posers, weak rappers, and anyone else he finds within his ironsights. The beat features the trappiest trap snares you’ve ever heard, and that subject is well known to PB too as he references the quality of his work by how happy his customers were testing it out. The best storytellers in rap have truth behind their words, and that’s certainly a core feature of the PB Mogul output. If you’re into this new PB track, check out more of his on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Hip Hop playlist a listen, where we feature new and up and[...]

d$hip – “SLID’N THRU”

October 1, 2025

Up and coming rapper d$hip was sent to “take over the underground” on his latest track “SLID’N THRU.” With relentless flow and swagger, d$hip brings a contagious energy that works on any style of instrumental. This time around, producer STUDIO5’s spun up a dance-y, sample-heavy beat with driving pianos and swirling strings that d$hip finds effortless comfort flowing on. As the beat evolves, d$hip digs in. His vocals could be a freestyle with the charisma he brings – impossible to practice or rehearse. Give it a listen for yourself and see what playlist if fits into. If you’re feeling more from d$hip check him out on Spotify where you’ll find a smattering of recent singles. While you’re there, take a look at our Underground and Emerging Hip Hop playlist – it’s updated every single week with exciting new artists.

Jordan Burgett – “bellies of the beast”

September 29, 2025

Listener beware: The griminess of the beat in this latest single from Cedar Rapids rapper Jordan Burgett will rearrange your face for the day. “Bellies of the Beast” is a little bit of “NOSEstalgia” with a war-ready chorus. It’s an instant classic instrumental for your minimalist, gritty, grimy playlists – and Burgett’s game lyrically, too. He’s not impressed with the industry he’s seen in his chase for acclaim, and he matches the energy of the beat in telling you why. If you’re feeling Jordan, give him a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, take our New and Emerging Hip Hop playlist for a spin – it’s updated every single week with fire new tunes from artists like Jordan.

Lucid – “Idk what you expect”

September 28, 2025

Wichita rapper Lucid brings the soul from unlikely places on his latest track “idk what you expect.” Built around pulsing piano and a stirring soul sample, this single is 1:55 of tight, freestyle-flavored hip hop.  Lucid challenges the listener and the person on the other side of his pen to understand his psyche. How do you create artful music without motivation? How can you find love without seeking substance? These are some of the questions Lucid words out in his quick-hitter — perfect to mix into your hip hop head playlists, heavy on bars and poetic verses. If you dig what you’re hearing from Lucid, give him a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our New and Emerging Hip Hop playlist -updated weekly with exciting new rappers like Lucid.

Washing Machina – “Debbie Lost Her Mind”

September 26, 2025

Washing Machina, based out of Stockholm, decided they were gonna tell the whole world about the ever-present Debbie that someone has come across at some point in their latest single, “Debbie Lost Her Mind.” “Everyone knows a Debbie,” says Karl Nordahl, vocalist and guitarist of Washing Machina. “She’s the one who pushes the night past its limits, who flips the switch from fun to madness…. This song is about that energy…”   The track itself is a phuzzy, guitar-forward affair that celebrates (and warns?) about that special person in your life. This fell right into that nice grungy/shoegazy/post-punky vibe that I can never get enough of – think Dinosaur Jr. making out with Sonic Youth while Foo Fighters watch from the closet.   You can see the music video from the band’s YouTube below which is honestly hilarious, or you can opt for the less hilarious, but admirably utilitarian Spotify[...]

Jacqueline Tucci – “Burning Out”

September 26, 2025

The time honored tradition of the burn out has never sounded very nice, but Jacqueline Tucci has changed that with their latest tune “Burning Out.” A stripped down intro gives way to garage-influenced pop punk distortion and continues to oscillate between the two feelings. Tucci commiserates with us, the listener, and plays around with the dual meaning of burning:   I know I’m not the only one who feels like I’m running towards the sun I feel myself burning up, I’ll be burning out in no time Oh, but there must be another way I used to sit in the sun all day I think I used to like the heat I think there’s still some time for me after all   There’s a sliver of hope too, “I think there’s still some time for me after all,” and while it easily could have been some gallows humor, I chose to[...]

Hardbody Jones – “Lariat”

September 25, 2025

Canadian artist/engineer/DJ Hardbody Jones knows what goes into quality tracks, and his latest effort “Lariat” applies the lessons he’s learned to form a silky-smooth, expertly-produced hip hop single. The studio owner brings some production tricks with him, as “Lariat’s” font half is build on a seemingly straightforward sample (I’m sure it’s more complicated than that), before layering in some chops, snares and bass drum that get your head nodding and face scrunching. Lyrically, BODY is honest, earnest and reflective. He’s also frank and funny as fuck. Thoughts like “It’s hard to keep livid” are matched with “if my bitch got a weak fit, then I’m livid.” Personality is packed into each bar and soul swells in each beat of the rhyme. “Lariat” is the first track on Hardbody’s freshly released project I Guess I’ll Be Okay – take that for a spin if you’re digging what you’re hearing. If you want to[...]

Barefoot on Bumblebees – “Breakables”

September 24, 2025

Did you know that bumblebees don’t sting unless you really piss them off? That must be the inspo behind Barefoot on Bumblebees‘ name – we’re assuming that walking on bumblebees would rile them enough to stick a stinger into you (multiple times even, as their stingers are NOT barbed like a traditional honey bee).   Perfect segue into this heart-stinging song from the aforementioned duo, Barefoot on Bumblebees to be exact, made up of bandmates-since-highschool members Christopher Stryker and Gianna Purcell. “Breakables” finds them exploring a relationship past its expiration date, using a Fender Rhodes as a backbone and chiming glockenspiel as some sort of nervous system. The song is minimalist, but crushing (like a bumblebee’s exoskeleton having been stepped on), capturing “the uneasy beauty of holding onto something that should have been let go.” Fans of Copeland, The Bird and the Bee, and/or Slingshot Dakota will find lots to[...]

Fletcher Sides – “Why”

September 24, 2025

What do we know about Fletcher Sides? Nothing, really. A presser for latest single “Why” doesn’t exist. What we do know is that this song/band rips… Hard. A mysterious duo (if they’re even officially a duo?) tears through a post-punk maelstrom on “Why” – expect whirls of guitar noise, whorls of drum wash, and Fletcher (if that’s even the singer’s name?!) belting out a palatable indie-rock vocal that’s both memorable and melodic. Fans of early Walkmen, JAPANDROIDS, and distortion pedals are going to love the energies here.   Check out the vintage (and equally mysterious) music video for “Why” below, or, add it on Spotify. Lots more from Fletcher here, too.