Latest Posts

Our Violet Room – “Run”

June 22, 2026

Our Violet Room goes for the heart on latest single, “Run.” Evoking early Death Cab For Cutie, Mansions, and even The Cure, “Run” feels organic and cathartic – a must-have in our current era of AI slop. Nimble bass and neurotic drums add to an overall sense of urgency – the clangorous guitars in the background are the coup-de-grace, ringing out like discordant sirens among this otherwise tightly-wound offering.   You can find “Run” via Soundcloud (below), or, on Spotify.   Our Violet Room · Run

Cafe – “Radio Head”

June 22, 2026

Cafe just put out a chill house track called “Radio Head,” and while we’re pretty sure it’s not about coffee or the esteemed ’90s and ’00s band, it’s still worth your time. Bleeting and bleeping synths work together with a gently driven beat to give this a groovy, but understated feel. Passionate and heartfelt vocals sing vaguely nostalgic songs about flip cup and hanging out in the woods with your friends. It’s a uniquely heartwarming experience – give it a listen and experience for yourself.   You can find “Radio Head” on Spotify (embedded below).  

SAOL – “Lines”

June 19, 2026

SAOL, aka Zoë Gough, brings her flavor of the Irish 90’s grunge aesthetic with her latest single, “Lines.” Do you like guitars? Good. Because there’s at least three or four layered up and fuzzed out throughout. The gradual buildup pays off so well lyrically and musically, with Gough escalating things to breakdown and absolutely slaying on geetar. Speaking to the track, Gough had this to say:   “…I realized I was subconsciously exploring feelings of pain and grief that I hadn’t fully realized were there. The throbbing kick drum at the end, representing a heartbeat, is intended to tap into the universality of what Lines is exploring- the pain of being alive and not being alive…”   “Lines” is listenable below from YouTube below, as well as Spotify. With this being her first single of the year with three released last year, here’s hoping for more before 2026 is done![...]

TÁVOL – “MÁV M41”

June 18, 2026

Bence Nebehaj is the brains behind TÁVOL and “MÁV M41” is their latest single off of the Metanoia EP. Interestingly, TÁVOL translates to far/away or absent while MÁV M41 is a type of Hungarian diesel locomotive. The intro borrows heavily from trains/train tracks (could be feedback, could be actual train, maybe a bit of both).   Other than being named Bence and being from Hungary, I couldn’t find much else out though – which I respect because an air of mystery is almost always chic. You won’t find any lyrics here, only vibes (which I’m also a huge fan of).   You can hear “MÁV M41” below from Bandcamp below, as well as Spotify. The rest of the EP, Metanoia, delivers on the dark atmospheric vibes with some spots of sunshine -particularly with the second track, “Citra.”     Metanoia by TÁVOL

nazire – “leech”

June 18, 2026

Istanbul-based nazire brings us her latest with “leech;” a fun gem of indie ingenuity that does some interetings things with layering and playing back pieces of guitar recordings. We last covered nazire and her prior single, “junebug,” here. Both tracks clearly are stamped her MO, with “leech” leaning into her electronica roots a bit more. Speaking to the lyrics of the track, nazire had this to say about it:   “‘leech’ is about the slow realization that someone pretending to be a close friend has actually been draining and mistreating you for years…”   You can hear (and watch) “leech” below from YouTube and Spotify. Much like a long engagement, nazire’s album glitchfolk is due to come out soon. How soon? Only the record label knows!          

Canalss – “Shave The World”

June 18, 2026

“Shave the World” is the latest from Canalss (the extra “s” is not a typo and a great way to separate yourself from “canals” or “canal”). As per Canalss (I think Spotify said his name was Jeremy), this track was written with the current US political climate in mind. It has a nice hopeful tone but lines like the following show you where the song’s voice is:   I smell just like sepsis and I’ll never get old Though this shining cross necklace burned a hole in my chest Evangelical Christians still think I am the best   You can hear the track below from Soundcloud as well as over on Spotify. It’s the first single off of the upcoming full length, “What Every Girl Should Know” (Zerowell Records). If the witticisms and voice are any indication of the rest of the record, we’re in for some more good music[...]

D-NiAL and TrippyThaKid – “Pac-Man!”

June 18, 2026

The soundtrack to PAC-MAN! is a lot more experimental than I remember. This collaborative effort from rappers D-NiAL (Canada) and TrippyThaKid (New Jersey) is built off sugary electronic synth line and bumbling bass that feels like PAC-MAN! might have been hitting up the carnival for a plug. D-NiAL’s crafted an earworm of a hook, expertly airbrushed with some autotune to hack its way into your ear drums. Trippy has some awesome subversive lines, parlaying the neverending war coverage on the news with a hankering to play some Call of Duty. It’s a bit of a ridiculous sounding track, and it’s expertly delivered by two rising artists in the genre. If you’re feeling the dark arcade vibes of D-NiAL and TrippyThaKid, check them out on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best Underground of 2026 Playlist a spin. Tons of dope new artists to discover on there and we update it every[...]

Kimi – “Make Up”

June 18, 2026

Dutch rapper Kimi proves that modern drill isn’t limited to the UK on his latest effort, “Make Up.” The track’s title is essentially the only English in the track, and it’s additive to its charm. Kimi hits all the marks of a hit drill track – an infectious loop that drives the entire beat, snappy drums and a relentless on the microphone. The rim hits on this percussion also set the track apart from others in the genre. KIMI finds his groove alongside it, adding a relentless that pairs well with the production. Give this a listen and add it to your gym playlist – drill knows no boundaries! Check out Kimi on Spotify – he’s on a run of great new tracks. While you’re there, peep our Best Underground Hip Hop playlist, updated for the best new tracks of 2026.

Jerré – “Bread”

June 15, 2026

If you’re ready for a kick in the ass, but in like a chill way, this new one from NYC rapper Jerré is worth checking out. Jerré’s lyrics serve to separate the dreamers from the doers. No time for scrolling — rent’s gotta get paid, and there’s work to be done if you’re going to get what you want in this life. The beat is punctuated by hand drum sounds, a walking standup bass line and zappy guitar that slithers in and out of the instrumental.His message is incisive, but his flow remains mellow and synchronized with the steady grooves offered by production. “Bread” is the latest single from the upcoming project Working HeadsCheck out more from the NYC artist on Spotify. You’ll also find “Bread” on our Best Hip Hop of 2026 playlist, updated every single week.

Ava Trepeck – “Wolves”

June 15, 2026

Ava Trepeck is here to soothe you with her potent brand of indie folk. “Wolves” is as relaxing as it comes – new age drums, gauzy synths, and twinkling string instruments paint an ethereal picture for Ava to paint with her stunning vocals. This is one of those songs that reminds you there’s more to life than just a heady hook (although I think this is pretty catchy, ngl) – instead, “Wolves” is more of a meditation… A chance to take a step back and appreciate a little slice of beauty. Put this one on and bliss out – you deserve it.   You can find “Wolves” on YouTube (embedded below), or, on Spotify.    

Irish Hip Hop Shy MAscot

Shy Mascot – “Prince Lotor Flow”

June 10, 2026

Irish Hip Hop continues to have a moment. Though sonically it’s more Roots than Kneecap, “Prince Lotor Flow” from Shy Mascot is another reminder of the rapping prowess steadily present on the the Emerald Isle. The latest single from the jazzy hip hop group is built on a bedrock of gaudy bass. Its smooth line saunters up and down the track while the emcee brings a grounding presence with his gruff, assured flow. The group leans into their jazzy roots with backing vocals as well, as he’s met with a female counterpart on the hook to elevate the evocative lyrics. They also drop some great NBA references (Celtics of course), which will always get a pop out of me. If you’re feeling Shy Mascot, give them a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, scope out our Best of Underground Rap 2026 playlist – we update it every week.

Supermilk – “Muscle Top”

June 10, 2026

We’ve been keeping an eye on Supermilk ever since they dropped the banger “Pelican Pete” way back in 2021. Just in time for Pride Month, the four piece led by Jake Popyura put out “Muscle Top,” an ode to secretly exploring sexuality during a time when it’s forbidden. June might actually be the time when it is most acceptable to broaden your horizons, but regardless, the band manages to tackle a not-so-sexy topic with their typical indie punk fervor. It’s raw in all the right ways, and regular readers should know by now we can’t resist a guitar-driven hookfest like this.   “Muscle Top” can be found on Soundcloud (below) and also on Spotify.   specialistsubject · Muscle Top

Vansire – “Rinkside”

June 10, 2026

“Rinkside” or “Poolside” could be used interchangeably when referring to the latest single from Vansire. We’re not quite in the dog days of summer yet, but it’s certainly warming up (yes, even here in Buffalo), and Vansire are capitalizing on the upcoming lounging weather. Expect stabs of watery piano, smooth af vocals, and a Saturday-at-the-pool vibe that’s simply unignorable. We expect you to put this on your next beach party/pool party and if you don’t… Well, that’s on you.   “Rinkside” can be found on both Spotify and Apple Music.    

Leah Callahan – “Our Lady of the Sad Adventure”

June 6, 2026

Leah Callahan nailed it on her latest release, “Our Lady of the Sad Adventure” – from the driving bass of the opening few seconds, it becomes pretty obvious why this is the title-track of her latest release. Callahan’s vocals lay overtop of a funky, indie-pop jam that’s layered thick with jittery, jangly guitars; swirling synths; and even an impactful piano slam. This is an all-encompassing experience from a seasoned songwriter, and even though the song has a near six-minute runtime, it still flies by… Begging for repeat listens. If only we could time travel back to the early 2010s to hear this one in the club between LCD Soundsystem and Two Door Cinema Club… Even though this is slapping just as hard in 2026.   Check out “Our Lady of the Sad Adventure” on YouTube (below), or, on Spotify.    

Kevin J.B. O’Connor – “Spin”

June 6, 2026

Kevin J.B. O’Connor might sound familiar to you – probably because we’ve been featuring his music for the better part of 10 years. Whether it was the delightfully lo-fi jangle of his Buffalo-based band Coral Collapse or his more recent solo output, we’ve been following the now Lexington-based songwriter for as long as we can remember. We’re featuring his newest single, “Spin,” for obvious reasons… His bedroom-produced, folk-tinged songwriting is very pleasant on the ears and feels strikingly sincere in an era of increasingly-insincere offerings.   You can find “Spin” via the Soundcloud embed below, or, on Spotify.   Kevin J.B. O’Connor · Spin