Yo, we’re digging the warbly vibes from new slacker-rock duo Spring Breakers. “Shaking Hands” switches from a Mac Demarco-inspired verse to a dreamy chorus without flinching, which isn’t an easy task. What’s more exciting – this is the first song these dudes have written together. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next. For fans of Kurt Vile, Mac Demarco, or Beach House. Add it to your Spotify playlist too.
Melbourne dream pop duo Bleach Dream sets the season aglow with their song “Fifth & Mainview.” After bonding over a love of music, friends Marty Greensill and Dave O’Kane combined their efforts to pursue the musical effigy they’d always dreamed of. Inspired by artists like The Cure, Wild Nothing, and DIIV, the two gradually honed in on their sound, using spare weekends to construct their album. Debut track “Fifth & Mainview” is pure wistfulness, wrapped up in hazy vocals, echoing guitars, and a prevailing bass line to convey a desire to be elsewhere. This is the first single off of Bleach Dream’s upcoming debut album Saudade, out later this month. Until then, hang in there with “Fifth & Mainview” below as we count the days. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/322263517″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
European experimental folk artist Lorenzo Clerici has the kind of voice that takes you back to a softer, simpler time. Under the pseudonym Barack, he conjures up soaring melodies with delicate instrumentation. Barack’s latest single “Last” is no exception, funneling in saccharine falsetto with rolling acoustic guitar that grows in intensity. Somewhere on the emo-folk spectrum between Sufjan Stevens and Told Slant, this track is a refreshing sip of serenity with a bit of a bite, and he seems to have hit the sweet spot. Check out the video for “Lines” below for a more immersive experience, and be on the look out for Barack’s upcoming full-length album.
Dang Clēts find us at that sweet transition from spring to summer with their new single, “Lines.” The trio seems to siphon breezy rays of sunshine right into the track, highlighting velvety falsetto, golden guitar lines, and sparkling synths, all tied together with a light groove. This is feel good alt rock at its finest, marrying the laidback vibes of Beach Fossils with the neat and tidy refinery of Ra Ra Riot. It’s easy to see this isn’t their first rodeo. The band formed in 2013 at Tufts University where they cultivated their sound, and are making a resurgence with a debut single under their new moniker Dang Clēts. If “Lines” is any indication of what’s to come, we’re hoping for a speedy follow up. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/315749948″ 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. quartet Beachwood Coyotes has quite a unique story of how they came to be. After a trippy midnight experience involving coyotes on the outskirts of Hollywood, lead singer Jason Nott found his musical muse. Known for their infectious brand of indie rock, the band is currently preparing for their upcoming EP with the release of their single “Face to Face.” Centering on sunny topics as stashing negativity for growth, this track acknowledges challenges while choosing to rise above. Right from the start the melody swoops in, accompanied tasteful harmonies, luminous guitar lines, and relentless percussion. If you’re hungry for more, be sure to check out their EP Scrubby, out later this summer. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/319314159″ 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. duo isle&fever funnel feel-good vibes through an energetic beat in their track “Keep Workin.” The band has made their mark on the Echo Park scene as a funk-fueled basement enterprise, blending vintage instrumentals with buoyant electronic elements. Members Donald Eley and Tiger Smith chalk up their inspiration to the hearty grooves of the 70’s and 80’s, while venturing into the new soundscapes of today. With the first of three single releases of the summer, isle&fever is gearing up for their upcoming debut EP, to be released later this year. Get your first taste with “Keep Workin” below.
Belfast’s latest indie pop sensation, Beauty Sleep, jolts us from our weekday slumber with their track “All In.” The song wades through deep currents of synth, where echoing percussion, shiny keys and astral guitar lines swoop in to pack a punch. The trio shows off their ability to captivate with a hook-ridden melody that doesn’t let up, supported by layers of instrumentation that swell overhead just to calmly settle back in. “All In” is at the forefront of the band’s upcoming debut EP Nature Will Eat Me, set for release this summer. With Beauty Sleep already attracting notice from notable sources like BBC Radio, this is definitely a band you don’t want to sleep on. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/323042454″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
In lieu of the approaching millennium and all of its uncertainties, Chicago’s Wingtips draw up a pastel goth rager for the ages in the video for their track “Last Minute.” The plot centers on the unavoidable cyborg takeover and a teenage, hormone-fueled dash to live it up as if there’s no tomorrow. Triumphant waves of 80’s synthpop set the scene with the band front and center, keeping the party alive. It’s all very energetic, playful, and a little spooky, reminiscing an age that the duo was too young to partake in. Their sound revels in souped up synths, waves of guitar, and expressive vocals, all while sporting a soft grunge-meets-Tim-Burton aesthetic. If you, too, can’t get enough of Wingtips, be sure to check out their latest EP GREYAREA, available on Feeltrip Records on limited edition cassette.
Los Angeles trio DWNTWN just released the first single “Bloodshot Eyes” off the outfit’s upcoming debut album, Racing Time. “Bloodshot Eyes” goes into depth about making the same mistakes over and over, but wanting change without knowing how to do it. In the song, lead vocalist Jamie Leffler shies away from the somber nature of the song with her bright vocals. The harmonies between Leffler and guitarist Robert Cepeda work well with the pop direction the song goes in. Check out the music video for “Bloodshot Eyes” below.
Los Angeles-based group The Seige, dropped a music video for “Boing Boing,” the first track off their EP Act III: Atomic, which came out on March 8th. The Seige features Taz Conley on vocals and Riley Taylor on production. Conley tackles thought-provoking topics like money issues and political figures including Hilary Clinton. Taylor creates a darker sound with the deep bass and reverb in the vocal samples on the beat. In the video, the duo mocks the style of early 2000s rappers, decked out in grills, chains and baggy clothes, which makes quite the video. Check out the music video for “Boing Boing” below.
Faintly melancholic, Linn Koch-Emmery’s single “Forever Sounds” taps into human nature’s nearsightedness over a bedrock of driving guitars and pounding percussion. Cheery pop melodies give the track a sense of buoyancy, while the lyrics are wrapped up in the all-encompassing present. “Forever Sounds” is the premiere single off Koch-Emmery’s debut EP, and sets the tone for HAIM-meets-Courtney Barnett-like breezy, rock-centered vibes. There’s a slow burning element to it; a deep intensity that can be masked by a chirpy chorus or spirited drum beat. But this track shows it can do both, bringing the heat with emotional depth and still sounding anthemically upbeat. Stay tuned for more alt rock vitality on Linn Koch-Emmery’s upcoming EP, out via Welfare Sound & Records later this year. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/324480151″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Rochester indie powerhouse Joywave dropped their second single “It’s a Trip!” earlier this month from their new album Content due out July 28th via Hollywood Records/Cultco Music. The album will be a major followup to the band’s 2015 breakout release How Do You Feel Now? “It’s a Trip!” taps into the roots of psychedelia with a groovy guitar riff and a smooth synth to back everything up. Lead singer Daniel Armbruster cracks out the falsetto, which gains some twinges of analog sound embedded in the chorus. Check out the music video for the new single below.
Two days may not seem like a lot of time to cut an EP, but Dutch artist Amber Arcades (aka Annelotte de Graaf) finished the Cannonball EP during her time off in New York from touring supporting Nada Surf. The EP follows the release of de Graaf’s debut album Fading Lines last year, which featured members of Real Estate, Quilt, and The Men. Nick Drake’s “Which Will” gets a new twist from de Graaf, trading Drake’s acoustics for an electric punch through the guitars. While it is a different interpretation sonically, the cover still pays homage to the message of the song, carrying a strong feeling of somberness as de Graaf’s vocals light the way through the hazy Krautrock instrumentals. On the third track “Wouldn’t Even Know,” Bill Ryder-Jones adds depth to the track with his somber crooning, which pairs well with the contrast of de Graaf’s lighter voice. The[...]
We’re into this song from Brisbane solo artist Hobart Curtis… “Want Me” is a cascading nugget of sweet indie pop, combining washy guitars, groovy basslines, and gauzy synth pads. “Want Me” is a simple song about wanting to be wanted, something we can all relate to. Match that sentiment with solid vocal hooks and Hobart’s unique delivery, and you have a buffaBLOG favorite. Check it out on iTunes if you’re feeling it.
Pet Symmetry, a veritable emo supergroup featuring members of Into It. Over It. Kittyhawk, and Dowsing, is swinging through Buffalo this Memorial Day eve. They are fresh off of the release of their latest LP, an 11-song offering called Vision, which is full of angular emo and punk with plenty of pop hooks. Rounding out the lineup tonight are Chicago Topshelfers Ratboys, Buffalo Topshelfers Del Paxton, and the haunting emo trio Honey Coma. Doors are at 7pm tonight. The show is at the Modeling Factory with a $5 donation. Vision by Pet Symmetry