Latest Posts

CATBEAR – “Who Cares?”

May 29, 2025

“Who Cares?” Well, you should. CATBEAR? Not so much (but they really do, just listen). Their latest single, named, you guessed it, “Who Cares?” is their third release off of a single I’ll let you guess the name of.   Crafting 80’s tinged indie pop tracks is apparently Zoe and Sarah’s specialty – it will make you feel right at home, what with the drum machine and synth. If the lyrics remind you of a certain feeling that you can’t quite a finger on, there’s an explanation for that! Speaking to the track, Zoe had this to say:   “It’s that quiet panic before you’ve even left the house… you want to go out and be part of things, but you’re already working out how long you have to stay before it’s okay to leave.”   You can hear “Who Cares?” below from Soundcloud as well as on Spotify. The[...]

feeling it fearing it – “i hate he left you”

May 29, 2025

Arkansas based feeling it fearing it brings us their latest “i hate he left you,” an impeccable mix of shoegaze and sadcore that will reel you in and break your heart… but we love it for that. The brains behind the act, Rupert Lange, also produced the track (making him the second triple threat this week, so far).   Lange uses some nifty effects to make his voice sound like it’s under water (and therefore more heartfelt, weird how that works) along with that phuzzy shoegaze phuzz we know and love.   You can hear it below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify and Apple Music. If you like what you hear, be sure to keep your ears open for the band’s forthcoming six track release. He has a couple other tracks out that are well worth the listen, especially “when times were simpler.”   feeling it fearing it ·[...]

Alannah Moar – “Sandpaper”

May 29, 2025

Triple threat (singer, songwriter, producer) Alannah Moar brings us her latest single “Sandpaper.” This is a nice slow burn of a pop rock track that takes you on a *journey*. Some tempo changes while maintaining the chill vibe of synth/bass/drums while still being introspective AND crafting a pop song is no small feat. Speaking to the track, Moar had this to say:   “The narrative is about realising you’re the problem in a relationship, which sounds depressing, but I think it’s actually quite optimistic—because it’s acknowledging that you have to do better, and that’s hopeful.”   You can hear the track below from YouTube or over on Spotify. If you’re left wanting for moar (sorry), she has a smattering of singles to sate your appetite on the aforementioned platforms. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for some….moar (sorry again).    

Stephen Babcock – “Drunk”

May 28, 2025

Have you ever had a few too many Labatt Blues and not-so-accidentally told your friend off? Yeah, us too, and so has Stephen Babcock & co. It comes with being Buffalo-born.   “Drunk” is his latest offering, a natural continuation of his acoustic-driven indie folk that’s been building up buzz around town this spring. Gentle piano plinks in the background while a tasteful drumbeat taps out a perfectly-driven rhythm. Overtop it all is Babcock’s warm and inviting vocals – even if they are singing about being berated by a drunk bud. The chorus of “Why do you have to get drunk to say what’s wrong? Why can’t you just shoot straight for once?” hits like a Jägerbomb after a day at the Bills game – always remember folks, the truth will set you free.   Check out “Drunk” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify playlist.[...]

Fortitude Valley – “Sunshine State”

May 28, 2025

The latest from Fortitude Valley is a chippy little tune called “Sunshine State.” Other than being really good at picking an awesome sounding band name, the foursome has managed to craft a hook laden punk pop gem.   The guitars aren’t just catchy as fuck, but power this track forward wire to wire. Inside of all this, vocalist Laura Kovic is super chill yet manages to perfectly match the frenetic energy of the instrumentals. If you can get through all three minutes and not crack a smile or bop your head, you need more help than this humble blog writer is equipped to give you.   You can hear “Sunshine State” below from the band’s Soundcloud or over on Spotify. If you’re more of a visual listener, the music video can be found on YouTube. This is their latest since their self titled 2021 album, and hopefully a harbinger of[...]

Jason Isaac and flapslaps – “Out of Sight”

May 25, 2025

Chicago artists Jason Isaac and flapslaps are two fresh faces in the local lo-fi scene. Jason’s floating vocal deliveries cut through flapslaps’ dreamscape production style to create hypnotic heady sounds with their latest display “Out of Sight.” The new single from the artists is equal parts starry and grounded – the yin and yang intentional when Isaac raps lines like “I’m a paradox, I care a lot and I don’t.” slaps’ twinkling production takes you to another realm, one guided by Isaac’s confident delivery. “Out of Sight” slots in amongst your favorite lo-fi tracks – transport to the clouds in which these two artists reside. Listen to both of their output on Spotify, and if you like this track, catch our Emerging Hip Hop playlist where we compile our favorite new tracks on a weekly basis.

MK Zulu and Harry Gray – “Passport Baby”

May 25, 2025

DMV area artists and frequent collaborators Harry Gray and MK Zulu bring forth a soulful, suave single just in time for the summer. Their latest track “Passport Baby” combines accessible, R+B influenced rapping styles with a bouncy house influenced beat – complete with live instrumentation. Zulu’s a Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, notable for his talent on the trumpet. Gray’s a genre-bender known for mixing sound potions in a winning formula for his audience. Their specialties are on display with “Passport Baby,” which boasts a big chorus, a driving groove and that horn breakdown that’s gonna have you fluttering your fingers when you drive oceanside. Or wherever your passport takes you – maybe it’s a sea or a lake. Check out more from Harry Gray or MK Zulu on Spotify and if you’re into this sound, then hit up our Emerging Hip Hop playlist for new music posted each week!

Slow Joy – “Te Amo”

May 23, 2025

Fresh off a hot gig in Buffalo last month, Slow Joy say “I love you” with latest single, “Te Amo.” With trademark grungy guitars and emotive vocals, “Te Amo” continues Slow Joy’s trend of emo-flavored singles that have melody, sincerity, and energy in spades. Fans of Citizen, Balance and Composure, and the like will love the heavy-hitting vibes found here.   Check out the video for “Te Amo” below, or, add it to your emo-adjacent Spotify playlists.  

MarMar – “Walking On Water (feat. SMOORIBA)”

May 23, 2025

MarMar brings us their latest spacy track, “Walking On Water” featuring SMOORIBA. It’s an absolute dreamscape of a trip that you’ll have to pack plenty of socks for. It feels like the calm before the storm if that calm came with a healthy dose of synth and effects. Unabashedly an EDMer’s bedroom-pop track, you’ll find this either a fun comedown or ramp up track, depending where you’re at in the night.   You can hear “Walking on Water” below from Soundcloud. There’s also a trippy vintage tinged music vid you can find over on YouTube. You can find it and a slew of other tracks on their full length The Other Side.   MarMar · MarMar – Walking On Water (feat. SMOORIBA)      

Heatwavers – “My Friends”

May 23, 2025

BFFs James Parker and Nigel Gamage of the UK and New Zealand respectively didn’t let distance prevent them from combing their pop chops to form Heatwavers. Their latest track, “My Friends” is a throwback to their camaraderie together during simpler times -think open door parties and being amongst friends.   A shared love of indie rock and vintage pop drives this duo forward, an interesting amalgamation that you can hear in all of their currently released tracks. “My Friends” has fun tempo changes coupled with a nasty beat that you can feel in your chest and I can picture listening to on the beach with my three or so friends who would ever go to the beach with me.   You can check out the music video for “My Friends” below on YouTube or hop over to Spotify and add it to your summer jams list. They have a couple[...]

Digital Crush – “What We Could’ve Been”

May 22, 2025

“What We Could’ve Been,” something everyone has thought about at least once in their lives, gets the dreampop treatment from resident sad girls Ashley Garcia and Dane Rivera of Digital Crush. Turning a phrase is kind of something I do, so I won’t bury the lede – their album is called Sad Girl Hour. Dripping with delectable synth and drum machines, Rivera and Garcia will draw you in with their pop power and you’ll definitely wanna “crush” the whole album. If you don’t, you should probably get your ears checked. Or don’t, your loss!   You can hear “What We Could’ve Been” as well as the rest of “Sad Girl Hour” on your favorite streaming service -we found it on Soundcloud and Spotify – the former of which you can stream below!   Digital Crush · What We Could’ve Been      

Tuxis Giant – “Last Laugh”

May 22, 2025

Tuxis Giant, the brainchild of Matt O’Connor, brings us their latest single with “Last Laugh.” Based out of Boston, O’Connor’s brand of indie rock tinged country tends lends a refreshing feel but still remains approachable and listenable; can’t deny that a sub-two-minute song is a big pop/punk green flag too. Dueling rhythm and lead guitars push this song forward while keeping a lowkey feel – though not wasting a single note.   Speaking to the track, specifically on the theme of self medication, O’Connor says: “There comes a point when you realize you could numb yourself forever.”   You can hear it on Soundcloud, YouTube, and Spotify. The album, You Won’t Remember This will be available August 15 – so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that if you’re diggin’ the vibes of “Last Laugh.”   TLDR, FFO: Kurt Vile, grown up slacker rock with a country mouthfeel.[...]

Jayrad ft. Dalton Witt – “Type Shit”

May 21, 2025

Your head might knock off your body when the beat kicks in on this latest track from Arkansas rappers Dalton Witt and Jayrad. Their new single “Type Shit” features a vintage horn loop, knocking drums, and menacing flows that are perfectly timed for maximum damage. Dalton and Jayrad trade verses packed with threats, flexes, and one-liners that’ll quickly gain your allegiance. Close your eyes and you can picture yourself alongside these dudes drag-racing through the streets of Conway, AR on lines like “Skrt wanna race? Come and jump in the Hell Cat. New bitch is evil, she might got the hell cat.” The verses and beat go hard as hell and it’s a great song to crank the bass up on. Check out more from the guys on Spotify and listen to them another other up and comers in the scene on our Underground Hip Hop playlist. 

Fear Of Sleep – “Quirks”

May 19, 2025

Fear Of Sleep combine the flashiness of math rock with a penchant for punk rock energy on their first two singles – “Quirks” and “Crimes.” Fans of previous Buffalo-born stalwarts Feverbox may recognize a few members, and while those super-tight and familiar aspects return with Fear Of Sleep, the group is forging new ground with blistering fretwork, super-sweet melodies, and a fun guitar-driven energy. “Quirks,” with it’s sub-two-minute run time, is packed with nimble riffs, packaged up neatly in a pop rock package, complete with big choruses and overall anthemic vibes. “Crimes” leans more into their punk rock energies, leaning more into riff-rock territory, without sacrificing any of the tasty riffs that make “Quirks” so fun.   Check out “Quirks” via the YouTube embed below – you can find both available songs on Spotify if that’s more your speed.  

Don’t Worry – “Unbelievable”

May 18, 2025

Don’t Worry are about to jangle their way into your hearts with their new song, “Unbelievable.” It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about COVID-era songs in 2025, but that’s when it was conceived – after months of feeling uninspired, DW broke the spell with this lovely gem. It’s a guitar-forward indie rocker, certainly inspired by the ’90s greats like Oasis, Pavement, and the like, warm with both crunchy and acoustic guitar strumming.   “Unbelievable” is available to stream via Soundcloud (below). There’s always the trusty streaming services too – Apple Music and Spotify.   specialistsubject · Unbelievable