Latest Posts

Roller Derby – “Lights Out”

April 16, 2025

Roller Derby, a band we’ve written about before here, have a new track out – a dream pop affair entitled “Lights Out.” Clocking in at just under three minutes, organ flavored synth (or maybe actually an organ, who can say) and a slick bass line dance along with fitful bouts of guitar. I got some Beach House vibes here and there, but this isn’t just another cookie cutter dreamy track – the warmth and speaking to the complexities of love feel truly heartfelt.   You can hear “Lights Out” below from Soundcloud or Spotify. An AI music video also exists over on YouTube. As per the band this was done purposefully to “mirror the song’s dreamlike quality – blurring the lines between reality and illusion…” You can hear the rest of the album, When The Night Comes, on a streaming device near you.   Roller Derby · Lights Out  [...]

Elle Belle – “Train to Kyoto”

April 14, 2025

Written in an entirely surprising location, Elle Belle put together his latest single, “Train to Kyoto” in the last place you’d expect. That’s right – on a train to Kyoto. Can you believe it? Us either.   That being said, the gentle electronica here is top notch, with a spicy, lightly-autotuned vocal presence. The composition is purposely bare in nature and the song breathes with both digital and organic lungs. Pleasant guitar plunks, gauzy synths, and project mastermind Christopher Pappas’ airy vocals are all highlights – here’s a little more (quite profound) diatribe about the song from Pappas himself:   ‘Train to Kyoto’ is a nearly lyric-less song I wrote while on, well, a train to Kyoto. I recorded a scratch vocal that started with the only lyric I had at the time: ‘I took the train to Kyoto and I never woke up.’ I improvised the rest of the vocals,[...]

Color Palette – “Anywhere at All”

April 14, 2025

“Anywhere at All” is the latest single from DC based Color Palette and wow, is it just chock full of sound. A self described “indie dream-pop band,” “Anywhere at All” takes some rhythmic cues from industrial and shoegaze music that incorporates the synth – an approach I found intriguing and refreshing. I even felt some moments of “is this almost an EDM track?” Like I said: this track packs a lot of sound.   The band’s last major release was 2023’s Pacing Like a Lion EP with some singles here and there. Keep your ears out for more, because bands that keep up this long (since ~2017) certainly tend to have some staying power. Their other single of 2025, “Grateful,” is worth the listen too especially if you’re looking for a good example of the depth of the band.   You can hear “Anywhere at All” below from the band’s Soundcloud[...]

The Feather – BB

April 14, 2025

Solo act, The Feather, the brainchild of Thomas Medard, has a new single “BB.” It’s the latest single from his forthcoming album and, straight from his mouth on how important it is:   “It shaped the entire project: it’s the heart and soul of it. It speaks about daily life in a relationship, that routine that sometimes scares but also reassures. ‘BB’ is a song to remind the other person that some connections can grow endlessly. A song simply to say: I know you.”   The track itself is a smoooooth af synth and drum track that really sucks you in with how earnest and soulful it is. Aquatic FM piano tones lure in your ears with that quasi yacht rock sound. When you hear it, you’ll understand where the extra three o’s came from.   You can hear it below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. An easy shoe-in[...]

Club 8 – Let It All Fly

April 14, 2025

Swedish twosome Club 8 bring us their latest single “Let It All Fly,” a languid and dreamy affair teaming with immensely satisfying effects and instrumentals (and vocals, of course!). I wouldn’t quite go so far as to call it ASMR, but damn if it isn’t toeing the line. Whatever they used for the *wooshing* effect was spot on and as close as I’ve gotten to actually flying while sitting down.   We most recently covered them here for their track “Free Falling” off of their 2024 album “A Year With Club 8.” They’ve been around the block a couple times and, if you click on the Club 8 label below (or here), you can see we’ve featured them more than once. With a catalogue stretching back into the late 90’s you’re certainly in for a treat and “Let It Fly” is the perfect jumping off point.   You can hear[...]

Reedus 3m – “Boss’d Up”

April 13, 2025

Boston-based rapper Reedus 3m channels classic soul sounds into his modern rap delivery on his latest single, “Boss’d Up.” A warm, eager vocal sample paces Reedus‘ braggadocios stream of thought, acknowledging “it might sound fake or like a tall tale.” His penmanship comes from the J.Cole school of writing – evoking real emotions and knowingly leaning into the persona Reedus builds with each line. Even though the track clocks in under 2 minutes, Reedus gives plenty of love to the nostalgic, thumping beat as it bookends the track. If you dig soul samples in hip hop, you’re gonna be hooked on this one. Check out more from him on Spotify, and discover more up and coming artists on our Spotify playlist. 

Keli – “Meant to Be”

April 13, 2025

German singer-rapper Keli calls out her ex for ghosting on her latest single “Meant to Be,” but on this track at least, the ethereal otherworldliness comes from her side. At times, Keli’s murmurs sound like Portishead and make “Meant to Be” feel like trip-hop. But significant sections of the song are Keli offering up her grievances in more traditional rap form. Producer Benji.Cares  creates a sparse, dour landscape for Keli to fill with her relieved rumination, finding solace in the idea that she no longer needs to watch “fake fires on tv screens.” Add this one to your atmospheric, nighttime playlists. “Meant to Be” is Keli’s first single of 2025 – give her a follow on Spotify to check out her upcoming output.

Bullet Brak – “Eating Good”

April 11, 2025

Hip hop veteran and Maryland native Bullet Brak raps with an intensity that makes you want to avoid eye contact at best, and duck and cover at worst. “There’s no need for low speed” for the rapper on his latest single “Eating Good,” where he takes the form of an urban legend – and not one we’re trying to cross over here at the blog. Sending shooters on mopeds, Belgian waffling peoples’ faces, things of that nature. His streetwise authenticity spits out of every word, and it’s combined with some icy, choral, bell heavy production that feels a bit like both ends of the 2000s. “Roll me a bag of green crack and purple haze.” Now we’re talking. “Eating Good’s” a highlight off of Brak’s latest project, World Traveler.  Give it some spins on Spotify and while you’re there check out our emerging hip hop playlist.

Navah Sea x Low Hum – Cinnamon

April 10, 2025

It took me a few listens to figure out what to say about “Cinnamon,” the latest collab between Navah Sea (aka Phill Simmonds, now of LA but formerly of Great Britain) and Low Hum (whose nationality I’m not positive on, but could be of British or American descent). The two combine forces to blast out a slick indie electronic track – dope beats and instrumentals slide through your brain waves to the point where you’re not even sure you’re listening or experiencing it. I particularly enjoyed the hazy, echoey vocals and underpinning synth.   You can hear “Cinnamon” below from YouTube or over on Spotify and Apple Music. Their EP, Dreams, is due out 4/18 and well worth the listen if you’re digging these phat jams. No tariffs here, just sweet sweet tunes that’ll get stuck in your soul.  

Cleo Handler – rules

April 10, 2025

Cleo Handler made an album and, while I’m not reviewing the *album,* I did give it a listen (though I’m focusing on the track “rules”). It’s important to point out though that she made a 13 track concept album around dating and about being yourself (but left out dating yourself).   The track itself is is a lowkey affair in a minor key that manages to be a major earworm. Clean guitar and vibrant drums mesh well with Handler’s vocals, delivering a no-nonsense take on compromise in a relationship:   “This song is about compromise and rigidity, and how, when you try to find common ground with someone quite stuck in their ways, a small offer of wiggle room can mean a lot… even if it’s not ultimately enough.”   You can hear “rules” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. The rest of the album, compare & contrast is out[...]

The Spins – “It’s Me”

April 10, 2025

The Spins are gearing up to release a new album and they’ve teased the world with their latest single, “It’s Me.” It’s shiny, it’s fun, and most of all… It’s me. Just kidding – it’s actually super catchy. Produced by Ayad Al Adhamy (of Passion Pit fame), this one has omni-relatable appeal, taking that The 1975 shimmer and shine and refining it into this fun little nugget of alt rock glory.   You know the drill – check it out via YouTube (below) or on Spotify.  

Altalune – “Fragments”

April 10, 2025

It’s been a few years since we last checked in with Altalune, but they’re still out here crushing the indie/emo realm. Their latest song, “Fragments,” channels the more upbeat era of contemporaries Movements and Citizen with its impassioned vocal delivery and chunky (but nimble) instrumental work. The particularly woofy bass tone in this song is ear catching in a delightful way, twisting and turning beneath heart-on-your-sleeve vocals in mind-bending ways. Just like a good emo song should – this one reminds you of the folks in your life who bring you comfort, even when you’re at your lowest.   Check out “Fragments” via the YouTube embed below, or, find it on Spotify and Apple Music.  

Francis Kelly – “Calcium, Unlikely (feat. Morphia Slow)”

April 10, 2025

As soon as the first vocal notes of “Calcium, Unlikely” wafted into my ears, I said to myself, “That’s that guy from Herbert Walker.” I was right. And then I found $5.   If anything, it’s testament to the unique timbre of Francis Kelly‘s voice on his first foray into solo territory. He’s teamed up with fellow vocalist Morphia Slow for this odd, creepy, and stripped-back slice of folksy Americana. A rambling acoustic guitar fumbles in the background; gently tapped drums carry an uncertain beat; and a moaning organ peeks out between the cracks… It’s all a part of the vibe, but the real appeal here is the duet between Francis and Morphia, who truly nail the dark and dreary vibe embodied here.   Check out “Calcium, Unlikely” via the YouTube embed below.  

Blase – “Middle of Nowhere”

April 10, 2025

North Carolina multi-instrumentalist Blase is coming at us with the indie-pop pulse of latest single, “Middle of Nowhere.” Leaning heavy into ethereal vibes, “Middle of Nowhere” channels Tame Impala with its far-off vocal presence, bell-tone guitar riffs, and bevy of atmospheric synths. Just barely psyched-out, “MoN” sounds like it’s in between every genre and also every genre at once. Blase’s super pleasant almost-falsetto vocals are the cherry-on-top here, bringing all the elements together into this cloud scraping new single.   Check out “Middle of Nowhere” via the YouTube embed below.  

Ben DSP – “BTF”

April 9, 2025

UK rapper Ben DSP takes the catchiness in his UK Garage roots and combines it with some tasteful boom bap with his newest single, “BTF.” The bilingual artist opts out of Italian and keeps it strictly English as he travels back and forth from “Brixton to Finsbury (BTF)” to court his potential mate. Ben relents that he’s got an inclination to ditch when times get tough, but he seems to have met his match, commenting “I don’t know how you can tell, I guess it takes one to know one.” “BTF’s” chorus is the shining star, countering Ben’s storytelling on the verses with a deep melodic hook. Brixton’s Nate Dogg, they’re calling him. Or Finsbury’s. Depends on the day. Check out more from Ben on Spotify and check out more rising rappers on our Spotify playlist.