Controversial producer LUXXURY has been banned from many streaming platforms… YouTube isn’t involved – so we’re happy to write about his new jam, “What Do Ya Really Want?.” The song is a slow-disco jam with a hint of malaise, reminding us all that summer always has to come to an end. Fans of Holy Ghost or Empire of the Sun will dig LUXXURY. LUXXURY has lots of music for sale – check it out on Bandcamp.
Rainsford a.k.a. Rainey Qualley is an LA songstress making intimate pop-soul songs. “Too Close” has a monster chorus and a deep, driving beat – let’s just say we’re feeling it. “Too Close” has a vintage feel, falling somewhere between the 80s and 90s, but boasts a modern production style. Fans of Sade or Aluna George will dig Rainsford. Check out Rainsford on the ‘gram if you want to stay up to date. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/284071205″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
London quintet Swimming Tapes sure know how to write a perfect dream-pop song. “Tides” is a woozy, reverb-drenched jam full of swimmy guitars and a thumping bassline. About the song, the band says, “Some memories are perfected by the passing of time, become dreamlike, intensified by the imagination. ‘Tides’ is about those kind of memories, a plea to somehow go back in time and live in their magic.” If you dig “Tides,” it is purchasable via iTunes. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/283592523″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Skinny Dipp hit us up with the gentle electronica of “Keep Chasing Stars” and we’re into it. About the song, Skinny Dipp says, “Think summer, sunshine, beach, chill, and good vibes.” Don’t wait until the leaves fall – you can continue savor the last few weeks of summer as you jam on “Keep Chasing Stars.” Fans of Empire of the Sun or Holy Ghost will vibe with this tune. “Keep Chasing Stars” is available for free download. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/282802444″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Swedish act Indiia is all about the good vibes, as evidenced by their new indie-pop track “Sunny Day.” The duo considers the song a “psychological experiment,” as they both had just started taking anti-depressants before getting down to work. The duo was pleased with the results, as “Sunny Day” came out sounding airy and carefree. Fans of Foster the People or Grouplove would dig this jam. Let your worries go while you stream “Sunny Day” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/283068447″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
London duo Fenech-Soler have a snappy new song on their hands with “Kaleidoscope.” Brothers Ben and Ross Duffy are the creative masterminds behind Fenech-Soler, combining sunny synth instrumentals with a peppy drumbeat and pop-minded vocals. “Kaleidoscope” is an ode to true love and would appeal to fans of DNCE, The Chainsmokers, or Pharrell. If you dig “Kaleidoscope,” you can purchase it here. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/282875824″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
No Middle Name is a.k.a. David Bailey who is creating just about the most pleasant indie rock we’ve ever heard. His style brings to mind Whitest Boy Alive, Sea Wolf, or Say Hi. We recommend his latest jam, “Fading Photo,” which comes with an equally pleasant music video. It also features some impressive choreography – def worth a watch. If you want to learn more about No Middle Name, check out his Tumblr.
Australian folkster Rod Ladgrove hit us hard with the emotive vibes in “Home Is Just A State Of Mind.” Coupled with a scenic music video, Rod’s gentle crooning and simmering instrumentals give the song a deep, introspective vibe, almost to the point of being meditative. Fans of M. Ward, The Antlers, or Elliott Smith would love this jam. Rod has had over two million spins on Spotify this calendar year – give him some more love here.
Drawing inspiration from bands like Beach Fossils, DIIV, and Told Slant, it isn’t difficult to figure out the hometown of new Broken Circles signees Hypoluxo. Further building on “that Brooklyn sound,” Hypoluxo’s new record, If Language, takes atmospheric dream pop and jangly post-punk guitar work to the next level with Sam Cogen’s captivating baritone. Comparisons to Matt Berninger are obvious; however, Hypoluxo prove themselves to be much more than “what it’d sound like if that guy from the National sang for Beach Fossils.” On first listen, songs like “Winter” and “Name Game” drift and lilt along as soundtracks to sleepy, freezing days indoors, while quicker paced songs such as the single “Directions” and album opener “Fronts” seem to hazily speed by like a cannabis-fueled summer road trip. What’s special about these moods, though, is their malleability. While those tracks appear as such at surface level, the band’s penchant for both[...]
In 2012, Justin Vernon announced he was putting his musical brainchild, the beloved and acclaimed Bon Iver, to rest on an indefinite hiatus. In the years since, he has been essentially in hiding. There were occasional collaborative efforts with the likes of Kanye West and James Blake, a blues-rock record with The Shouting Matches, and other odd appearances. Now, the silence has been officially broken with Bon Iver’s third record, 22, A Million, a huge leap forward both sonically and creatively for his group. For many die hard fans, the first listen through may be quite jarring, and feel as if Vernon has lost his mind. In some ways, he has. There are many similarities between the events that led to his debut For Emma, Forever Ago, and what led to this new record. The world had broken him down, and he retreated inward. Out of the anxiety and depression[...]
Norwegian quartet SLØTFACE caught our ears with the impossibly catchy “Bright Lights” Fans of Bully, Interpol, Death Cab For Cutie, or a perfect combination of all three would dig SLØTFACE – “Bright Lights” combines a calculated, spiraling riff with a pulsating bassline and signature female vocals. Lyrical highlight: “There are about five people I can sit this close to.” SLØTFACE has an impressive catalog – check it all out here. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/283604523″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
SOCO recently spit out a gnarly band known otherwise as Glass Spells. “Without Your Laws” is a dirty little number that emphasizes an extremely funky bass line and the anarchical sprechgesang of their vocalists. GS’s punk/funk is raucous and fun, reminiscent of Metz, Screaming Females, or Mallwalkers. Pump your fists while you jam out to “Without Your Laws” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/278739986″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Promises Ltd. is the creative union ofJeremy Malvin from Chrome Sparks and Charlie Brand from Miniature Tigers. Their side-project specializes in whirly electronica tunes. Gigamesh offered his hand at a remix and we’ve been jiving on it all day. Fans of Holy Ghost or Cut Copy will dig this one. If you’re into this remix of “Days of Lavender,” download it for free here. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/283148352″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Bird Child, the debut album of Buffalo producer Father Glamor offers a wide array of emotive, synth-driven instrumentals that range from ambient to more pop leaning arrangements. The hook heavy “PFTRLN” leads the release off as a buoyant melody sits atop frenetic percussion. Beginning with a groove laden synth melody, “I Keep Hallucinating Bugs” builds to a mid tempo jam with an infectious, evolving rhythm. The latter portion of the album explores interesting synth textures as the producer delivers a notably cinematic synth atmosphere on tracks like “Expanse,” “Pit,” and “Forest Survey.” Whether by focusing on interesting textures or strong rhythmic elements, the tracks on Bird Child make for a thoughtful listen by way of the producer’s ability to create strong melodies consistently throughout the album. Listen to Bird Child below.
Armed with a beat that prime Lil Wayne would love to take on, Maryland’s Deshon Hodges aka Dreemy Sinatra has a sound ripe with commercial appeal and the lyricism of a true wordsmith. “Money Up” begins with an epic build into a rich beat that mashes Mannie Fresh with Hit-Boy. Sinatra’s flow is on display with creative rhyme schemes (“Whispered when we had change but they holler since we got a dollar”), and the charismatic Nell comes through with a great feature, rich with energy and floetry. “Money Up” comes off of Hodges’ The G.O.A.T. EP, give it a listen below.