Latest Posts

Boy Ferguson – “Grown Man”

June 12, 2024

London-based Boy Ferguson is the brainchild of Oliver Gale, and “Grown Man” is their latest and FIRST single. Per his bio, he composes music for commercials but enjoys making music for himself as a creative outlet. His strength as a composer really shines with this track with a fine layering of guitar, synth, and bass. Small details emerge on subsequent listens; particularly how well he treats his voice like another instrument to push the track forward with his impressive vocal range. This feels very much like an homage to the pop acts of yesteryear, particularly Sting and the Police or maybe Peter Gabriel, but does enough to stand on it’s own and forge forward with his own take on the pop genre. Be sure to give “Grown Man” a listen and keep your eyes peeled for more if you like what you hear! We’ve included the track below from Soundcloud[...]

Eliza & The Delusionals – “Falling For You”

June 12, 2024

Australia based Eliza Klatt, the “Eliza” in the three piece Eliza & The Delusionals, brings us their latest single “Falling for You.” Sure to give you the warm and fuzzies, this pop bop is filled to the brim with Eliza’s impressive vocals and strong bass licks carrying the beat. I’m sure you’ll hear guitar and drums along with an impressive horn solo, but this is all second fiddle to Klatt’s pipes. Fans of artists like Mitski and Lana Del Rey will find some common ground with this track, as well as other highlights from the band like “Just Exist” and “Motion Sickness.” If you’ve been swayed by my words, be sure to give “Falling for You” a listen over on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube down below. For those of you distrustful: you can’t trust me so what makes you think you could trust you?

Great Klons – “Twilight Gardener”

June 11, 2024

The newest from Great Klons is “Twilight Gardener.” The project is band helmed by Scott Klon as a solo effort, but certainly doesn’t sacrifice any sound. Klon is almost certainly a child of the 90’s and he’s got the chops to show it; the guitar feedback and straightforward hooks would have been at home in any liberal arts college that I’m familiar with. That isn’t to say Great Klons are copy cats or just rehashing old ideas, nay! Building on and growing what has come around before is how we get great new music. The low-fi aesthetic employed here, along with the chill abandon, is most welcome in a time where music can often sound overproduced. Obviously a guitar guy by trade, listen to the layers and the simple brilliance of the bass and drums keeping beat – a novice effort this is not. Fans of Parquet courts, Guided by[...]

Flamy Grant – “S.P.R.K.L.”

June 6, 2024

Just in time for pride month, songwriter and acclaimed drag queen Flamy Grant hits us with the divine pop-funk of “S.P.R.K.L.” Full of uplifting messages and anchored by a fun funky vibe reminiscent of Bruno Mars or The Bee Gees, “S.P.R.K.L.” urges us to be our true selves and rub it proudly in the faces of all of our haters. The lyrics here perfectly embody the ebullient vibes that Flamy so perfectly encapsulates – their powerhouse vocals carry this song, which is saying something, as there is also a true in-the-pocket groove to be found here. Check out “S.P.R.K.L.” via Soundcloud below or add it to your favorite feel-good Spotify playlist. Flamy Grant · S.P.R.K.L. feat. Ricky Braddy

Maria Køhnke – “State of Confusion”

June 5, 2024

Maria Køhnke is a Danish based musician is back with her latest track “State of Confusion;” her first since 2023’s “Sportscar.” At it’s core, “State of Confusion” delves into the pitfalls and meaninglessness of dating these days (for those of you who DON’T know it’s a lot of ghosting and gaslighting). Musically, the production value is quite strong with Køhnke’s vocals melding together with the synth and guitar; wispy and ethereal yet still managing to catch you with impressive hooks. The measure and control shown are equally impressive, as the track simmers but never boils over and makes you wonder what the rest of the EP will look like (kinda like a good single should). You can hear state of confusion on Spotify, Apple Music, or down below from YouTube. Can confirm that this is a great track to listen to both while sitting pensively or driving on the expressway[...]

Snoozer – “Love’s Permission”

June 5, 2024

Based out of Pennsylvania, Snoozer (aka SNZR) is brother/brother duo Mike and Tom Kelly, and “Love’s Permission” is their latest. Chock full of that excellent guitar “phuzz,” you’re treated to a solid three-plus minutes of delightfully rambling shoegaze. Understated and chill for the first third of the track, things start to open up and get loud and weird in the middle and end. Fans of bands like Slowdive, Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, or anything in that fine line between shoegaze and slacker rock will find a lot to enjoy with the brothers Kelly. You can watch the music video (yes, an actual music vid!) for “Love’s Permission” down below, or listen to the track on Spotify. If you like what you hear, their full album Mid-Earth is out on Friday the 13th in September. With the band forging forward in earnest with a second major release in as many years,[...]

The Gold Watch – “What Do I Do”

June 5, 2024

The Gold Watch is a project by Spencer Pope and “What Do I Do” is their latest single released from their album Missing. Right off the bat, I’m hooked by the heavy synth presence that sticks with you throughout the track. The rest of the 3:43 is chill vibes all the way with some light background drums and Pope’s dulcet tones dancing harmoniously with the synth. As per the artist, the track is: “…about feeling powerless to help someone in a relationship…” Certainly something many of us can find relatable on some level. You can hear “What Do I Do” on Spotify or down below from YouTube. If you enjoy this, the rest of the album is well worth a listen (Look Out Mars was another favorite of mine). Fans of Arcade Fire would find a lot to enjoy here, with the rest of tracks being varied so you won’t[...]

Lean Tee – “bad dream/lethargy”

June 4, 2024

Baltimore based Lean Tee‘s new single, “bad dream/lethargy,” is not only spot on with describing my morning, but also managed to help freshen my day with their unique brand of “emo-eclectic.” The intro guitar riff is simple yet perfect and could easily find work with a supporting role on the next Wes Anderson film. The shoegaziness of the track slides over a bit for a fun drum beat that sounds lifted from a 90’s hip hop track, which was what really sealed the deal for me. You’ll find yourself boppin’ along in no time and, like many morose sounding songs, find yourself a bit better off after a listen. Fans of Alex G or Pinegrove would find a lot to enjoy here, with a new layer unlocked on each listen. You can hear “bad dream/lethargy” down below from YouTube or over on Apple Music and Spotify. If you enjoyed it[...]

Rupe – “My Friends”

June 4, 2024

LA based (that is, Louisiana) Rupert Lange, better known under his stage name of Rupe brings us his newest track “My Friends,” a lovingly crafted bedroom pop song. Rupe brings the Day Wave vibe with his DIY work ethic – having written, recorded, AND engineered all of his music. While the full accompaniment of bass and drums adds plenty, make no mistake: this is a guitar track through and through (and we’re not mad about that). You’ll find a lot to enjoy with Rupe, especially for fans of Real Estate or the aforementioned Day Wave. At only 25 and still making music, there’s hopefully a lot more to come from Lange as he continues to share his craft with the world. You can hear “My Friends” below from SoundCloud, as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to check out his slew of other singles as well; including “goodbye,[...]

otsyuda – “drift”

May 28, 2024

otsyuda, a five piece hailing from somewhere, North America (TM), brings us their latest and seemingly first track “drift.” Clocking in just shy of four minutes, “drift” has plenty of time to percolate and build up lyrically and instrumentally. Ebbing and flowing along with singer Annie Mo’s vocals, you get an explosive crescendo every thirty to sixty seconds – keeping things dynamic and interesting. Mo’s voice dances with the wailing guitars during these explosions and is a perfect example of how the shoegazy sound pioneered by My Bloody Valentine has grown and continues to dominate today. I hope we can hear more from this band soon! If you’re in otsyuda and wanna drop us a line we’d love to know more about you (and when to expect more music). In the meantime, you can hear “drift” over on Apple Music, Spotify, or embedded below from the band’s YouTube channel.

Bleary Eyed – “Shimmer Away”

May 28, 2024

Bleary Eyed, a band based out of the fine city of Philadelphia, brings us their latest with “Shimmer Away.” Hitting us with a nifty, bitcrushed synth intro right off the bat AND sustaining glitchy energies throughout the track is a difficult feat, but it’s a challenge Bleary Eyed rises to. Between the synth, crunchy 8-bit tones, and duetting vocals of Nate Salfi and an unknown female singer (we think?), you’ll easily find yourself loss in the ins and outs of the track. Releasing in anticipation of a self titled EP, lead singer Nate Salfi says that he wanted to “…create a poppy, sample heavy EP that takes people out of their regular headspace they find themselves in.” If “Shimmer Away” is any indication for the rest of the EP, I think I can say mission accomplished. Fans of the “loud” indie sound from bands like feeble little horse or Full[...]

papa mybe – “CPU”

May 28, 2024

“CPU” is the latest from rapper papa mybe, shortened from Papaneneh Mybe and a transplant from the African country of The Gambia. “CPU” has a solid, glitched-out beat throughout that mostly stays toward the background to give Mybe’s voice to breathe, though it punches through at appropriate moments with some cool effects and organic flavors thrown in that give the track an impressive depth. The song itself reflects on the importance of disconnecting from our devices so that we can appreciate the world around us and reconnect with our true selves. Citing influences like drum and bass, 80’s alt rock, 2000’s pop, and underground rap, you can hear all of these seemingly disparate genres mesh together in his music. For someone who is looking to get their feet wet with rap from a crossover artist or who already enjoy the genre, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here. You can[...]

Holding Hour – “Come Undone”

May 28, 2024

“Come Undone” is the newest track from Iowa-based duo Holding Hour – made up of Marissa Kephart and Scott Yoshimura. We previously covered the other side of this single, “Parallel Lines” back in April here, and liked what we heard then (just as we do now). Kephart’s vocals really shine through in this guitar-heavy track, doubling down on the guitar and drums while leaving the synth in the backseat. It’s complete with a set of yearning lyrics that set off the dreamy flavors here perfectly – see below: “Say something sweet to me, I wanna hear my name inside your mouth, before you chew and spit it out” I really enjoyed how this track managed to feel straightforward yet intricate, with the guitars building over each stanza in a steady simmer but never boiling over. Fans of Slowdive or Snail Mail would find a lot to enjoy here, with the[...]

Niamh Regan – “Music”

May 22, 2024

Niamh Regan has been cementing her place as one of the most captivating Irish songwriters around, clearly evident on latest single, “Music.” Bolstered by a shuffling drumbeat, plunking piano ambiance, and Niamh’s soulful vocals, “Music” is reminiscing of the mid-90s Lilith Fair crowd while still feeling distinctly 2024-flavored. The emotion here is palpable, enveloping you in a warm aether that refuses to let go. About the song, she says: “Music is one of my favourite songs on the record. I was listening to a lot of Wilco while making this record and this song is like a nod to that with regards to production. It’s the first song that I wrote where I thought this might be an ear worm, and just had lots of fun with the lyrics and melody and I hope that comes across in the recording now.” Check out the video for “Music” via the YouTube[...]

B. Miles – “Emergency Contact”

May 22, 2024

New York based Brenna Miles, better known as B. Miles, brings us her latest pop gem with “Emergency Contact,” and even after being done listening it’s still stuck in my head. You’ll hear a lot of drum machine and whispers of bass guitar but the focus is undoubtedly on Miles’ vocals; her range isn’t tested too much but every note is flawless. We’ve written about B. Miles before here, and love what she’s doing now just as much as a year ago! Fans of St. Vincent or Sharon Von Etten would find a lot to enjoy here, as well as someone looking to expand their horizons from the usual male lead act. Speaking to the track, Miles had this to say: “I moved across the country from my family many years ago and depended on my significant other during my 20s to be my emergency contact. When we split up[...]