Latest Posts

Fortitude Valley – “Video (Right There With You)”

June 29, 2025

Gotta love a little slice of upbeat jangle-pop. Fortitude Valley is going to appeal to fans of The Beths, Alvvays, and Pavement’s lighter side, especially on their latest single, “Video (Right There With You).” Shimmery guitars and lilting vocals lay overtop a jauntily-played drumbeat, sounding summery and winsome with only a hint of pensiveness. Singer Laura Kovic elaborates more eloquently than we ever could below:   “The song is about trying to get inside the head of someone you love, and how hard it can be surviving together in what feels like an increasingly hostile and scary world. It also plays into the central theme of the album, which is about feeling distant from people you care about, both literally and figuratively”   Check out the clandestine link to watch the video for “Video” below. It’s also on Spotify.  

Glassio – “Heartstrings”

June 29, 2025

Awful pun incoming – we’re thinking the tellingly-named Sam R. Known should be more… well-known. We’re talking specifically about his latest offering via his synthpop project Glassio, a tune he’s calling “Heartstrings.” Perfect for a summer pool party or a windows-down drive through the countryside, “Heartstrings” is infectious, upbeat, and light like a refreshing mimosa (or a freshly-cracked seltzer, if you don’t drink). This one is super catchy and super digestible AND super relatable; as Known puts it:   “[‘Heartstrings’ is] a sun-kissed Indie-Pop goodbye to an era of naivety and innocence.”   Check out the visualizer for “Heartstrings” below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.  

Meagher – “Shake”

June 29, 2025

Baltimore-based songwriter/producer Meagher is hitting the ground running the summer, with over four singles released in the month of June already. This isn’t your average “musician releases a song once a week” thing that many in the industry are doing – these songs are bops. Three of these singles have already landed with Spotify playlist gurus who featured the tracks on their Discovery Weekly picks Meagher is the moniker for producer/songwriter Christopher Meagher, who has been a creative since childhood. On June 26th, Meagher released his new indie-pop single “Shake” which is already turning heads and nestling in playlists.  “Shake” is upbeat indie-pop track with deep emotional undertones, inspired by rejection and self-reflection. Fans of Emily Haines / Metric, Tegan and Sarah, or Rilo Kiley would be into this one. Check it out. Meagher · Shake

garbagepink – “danish design”

June 27, 2025

Swedish electro-pop one-woman act garbagepink has a fresh new single released this morning titled “danish design.” The Swedish songstress is no newcomer to the blogosphere, as she has had stints in I don’t speak french, Swedish Red Elephant, and Stranded Mermaid. In her latest single “danish design,” garbagepink gives directions to a potential suitor, listing all the checks needed in order to get on her good side which includes bringing snacks over flowers, not smoking inside, and not touching her playlist. Seems simple enough. Fans of Joywave, Metric, or Phantogram would be into garbagepink’s accessible electro-pop melodies. Check it out below.

Babsy. – “Gorgeous”

June 27, 2025

We’re less than a week into the summer, and we already have an early contender for pool-side bop of the season. Enter Babsy., an electro producer who just dropped the buzzing new single “Gorgeous” earlier this morning. Babsy. has been around the block, producing from Thousand Oaks, California for close to a decade. He has gained notoriety from his viral remixes for Fleetwood Mac, Ellie Goulding, and Louis the Child. “Gorgeous” continues the trajectory with a chill electronica EDM groove complete with swelling synths and a heavy 4/4 beat coupled pleasant bounce. Lyrics wise this song is all about appreciation and admiration for a significant other. Put it on your bluetooth and jump in the pool.   Lost In Dreams · Babsy. – Gorgeous

Brandon Mitchell – “TGBNU”

June 26, 2025

LA-based, Kansas City-born hip hop artist Brandon Mitchell brings a hooper’s mentality and a close knit family to his rap output. His latest single “TGBNU” appears on his Gametime album and discusses the tenacity, joy, and balance that come from family. “TGBNU” boasts a heartfelt, catchy chorus where Brandon sings about the support he receives from his people, and how they empower him to support them right back. Production wise, delicate piano and orchestral strings the track, matching Mitchell’s narrative lyrics. You can hear the influence and inspiration Mitchell gets from his family in nearly every line – dropping anecdotes and reflections on his girlfriend, father, uncle and cousin all in the first verse. He also mixes in some hoops references that connect the song back to the EP. Check out more from Brandon on Spotify, where you can catch him on our new and emerging hip hop playlist that[...]

RAIZHELL – “Jump” (RAIZHELL Remix)

June 22, 2025

French phonk pioneer RAIZHELL emerges from the demonic underworld to drop a remix of “Jump,” the genre classic from MNDLB5 This version taps into the darker depths of your soul, with heavier drum and bass sounds to add a sludginess to the original track. RAIZHELL also builds off of the “load up my big nine” vocal sample first made from $uicideboy$. This placement has a different darkness to it – truly tapping into HELL’s artistic proclivities to create a soundtrack to your trip down. RAIZHELL’s driving drums will take you there. Add this to your late night, devilish playlists. While you’re there, check out the rest of RAIZHELL’s output on Spotify. 

Don’t Worry – “This Time”

June 22, 2025

With a name like theirs, do you think Don’t Worry worry about anything? Maybe they worry about SEO.   Now that I got that out… “This Time” is another lovely jam from the Essex-based quartet. Taking inspiration from Smashing Pumpkins and other 90s/00s band of that ilk (not unlike their previous feature here), Don’t Worry squeeze a powerful and emotional lyrical message into this alternative-coded jam. Here’s a little bit about the tune from the band themselves:   “‘This Time’ is a song about learning from bad experiences and making sure you don’t make the same mistakes again. It’s about growing as a person and coming out of a rough period into a better time”   Check out “This Time” via Soundcloud (below) or Spotify.   specialistsubject · This Time

Grave Secrets – “BLUFFSIDE”

June 22, 2025

Sometimes you just need a well-written punk banger to get your blood pumping, and we think the latest from Grave Secrets might scratch that itch for you. In their Bayside-name-dropping new single, “BLUFFSIDE,” the band channels hard-hitting indie punks like PUP while nodding to the genre’s roots (Think Blink-182 or MCR) with catchy na-na-na singalongs. This is full of rip-roaring guitars, ruthlessly catchy melodies, snotty vocals, and even some tempo changes – a subtle (or maybe not-so-subtle?) nuance that you might not typically expect from a punkish act, but it fits oh-so-perfectly here.   Check out the music video for “BLUFFSIDE” below. It’s on Spotify too.  

JayWood – “ASSUMPTIONS”

June 20, 2025

JayWood is a man of many influences. The genre bender swirls together the neo-soul and alternative hip hop sounds of Tyler the Creator, with the dream/indie pop stylings of Men I Trust to create soundscapes that take you on a different trip with each passing minute. His latest track, “ASSUMPTIONS” boasts some singalong guitar strums to couple in with those soulful vocal flavors, creating a accessible alt single just in time summer. You’ll be singing along with the chorus here too, as Jay leads with a relatable “I make assumptions, I think of something….” Been there! Make sure you check out the trippy visuals for “ASSUMPTIONS” on YouTube. You should also take look at the rest of JayWood’s output on Spotify, and while you’re there take a look at our Underground and Emerging Hip Hop playlist where you can find. more exciting new artists.

Bryson Cole – “OUTTA POCKET”

June 18, 2025

North Texas rapper Bryson Cole showcases his deep drawl and ear for cinematic production on his latest track, “OUTTA POCKET.” Cole’s tracks work because he believes in the legend he’s building. On this track, he mixes in one-liners with more narrative lyrics, reminding the audience that it’s all within his skillset: “I don’t do features, I carry.” “OUTTA POCKET’S” beat is schizophrenic, flipping between subdued and speaker-knocking within the verses. You can toss “OUTTA POCKET” on any of your southern hip hop playlists – it definitely will play well in the car. If you’re into Bryson Cole’s sound, check him out and Spotify and give our Underground and Emerging Hip Hop playlist a spin. It’s updated every week with new artists you’ll wanna know about.  

Nuovo Testamento – “Picture Perfect”

June 18, 2025

Get on your high tops, acid washed jeans, and find one of those purple/turquoise “jazz” cups, because Nuovo Testamento is about to transport you back to the early ’90s dance craze with their latest jam, “Picture Perfect.” With infectious, club-ready beats; bombastic snare hits; and a perfectly effected vocal performance, you could squeeze Nuovo Testamento on any playlist next to hits from La Bouche, SNAP!, or Technotronic. This one is infectious as all get out – the trio seems to be drilling into a yet un-tapped nostalgic sound while still cranking out catchy melodies and danceable rhythms.   Check out “Picture Perfect” via the clandestine YouTube link below, or, add it to your Spotify playlist. Trouble, the EP upon which “Picture Perfect” will inevitably reside, is out July 25th, 2025.  

Atomic Lights – “Cheated”

June 16, 2025

Atomic Lights released their latest jam on June 6th, a high-energy punk jam called “Cheated.” An ode to getting the “short end of the stick out of life,” this one feels like it could have been on any of the THPS soundtracks. With bass work that feels like Mark Hoppus on Cheshire Cat combined with buzzsaw guitars and blistering punk tempos, this one is sure to bring you back to your late ’90s/early ’00s heyday. This Minneapolis three-piece pumps out an incredible amount of noise for a trio – fans of Lagwagon, Alkaline Trio, and the aforementioned early Blink will dig this a lot.   Check out “Cheated” on YouTube below. You can also find it on Spotify and Apple Music.  

Channo – “The Interview”

June 14, 2025

Channo‘s latest single, “The Interview,” is fresh off of their LP Shades of the Midnight Sun. The brainchild of Australia-based Luciano Mercieca, “The Interview” is a sublime slice of sounds carefully layered with a healthy dose of acoustic guitar. Mercieca’s vocals sound like they’re bubbling up from a dark pool in the best way possible; haunting, yet inviting.   No audio track sounds out of place and this could fit in well with a chill wave study track or the music for the second zone in a JRPG game.   The track is available below from YouTube, as well as Spotify. As of press time, the track had been removed from Soundcloud, but you can find the rest of Channo’s work there in the meantime. Be sure to check out the rest of the album if you’re diggin’ this, you won’t be disappointed.              

Club 8 – “Stay Together”

June 14, 2025

Club 8 is one of our perennial favorites who refuse to stop putting out bangers. Their first album (as far as I can find) came out in 19 NINETY friggin’ 8. Two people, Swedish, look both chill and unapproachably awesome looking, just refusing to stop it with the bangers! We’ve covered them more than once here and instead of linking individual tracks, I just linked their tag.   The track, “Stay Together,” has the funkiest bass underpinning the dulcet guitar vibes and Karolina Komstedt’s vocals. It veers into a dream pop-esque feel… So a funky dreampop track… yes. Final answer. Give it a listen, let us know what you think!   You can hear “Stay Together” below from Bandcamp as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Their entire catalogue is numerous and varied, so give it a spin (anywhere will do, with such a broad spectrum).   Stay Together by[...]