Latest Posts

Snavs – Want Me Back (feat. Karl Boëthius)

January 20, 2024

Danish DJ and producer Snavs has a catalog full of enticing and unusual collaborations, and his latest continues that trend of potent pairings by featuring the killer vocals of Swedish artist Karl Boëthius. Together they bring us the new chill-dance release “Want Me Back,” a vivacious and alluring track with sumptuous vocals and coiled, rubbery synth wizardry. The song feels like cruising through a glistening, neon lit metropolis with brief moments, when the pace slows before the breakdown, that feel like a night’s breeze cooling the sweat on the back of your neck, just before the night life wraps around you, thrilling your senses, filling you with punch drunk momentum. Fans of Lookas, Diplo, or Major Lazer will find lots to love in this alt-pop banger from Snavs. Here he is talking about the new song: “I got this brilliant vocal from Karl and wanted to create a tight, bouncy[...]

Hipsy Gap – “Uno”

January 17, 2024

Brooklyn-based five piece, Hipsy Gap‘s latest single is “Uno,” and for us at the blog it’s a certifiable banger. Oozing with guitar feedback and what I can only describe as “NY hutzpah,” Hipsy Gap sound like they’re ready to take over the world. There’s a particularly impressive guitar solo toward the end of the track that evokes 90’s era Smashing Pumpkins that I couldn’t get enough of. As per the band, the chord progression is an ode to “Only Shallow” from My Bloody Valentine, firmly cementing this as a 90’s shoegaze love letter, but of the fresh assortment and certainly not dated. Be sure to check out “Uno” over on Spotify, or the YouTube link embedded below and let us know if you want more shoegaze or shoegaze-adjacent tracks reviewed here!

Thea Dora – “Collected”

January 17, 2024

Danish musician and producer Thea Dora brings a fun indie pop gem with her debut single, “Collected,” released January 12. Evoking a sense of wonder and whimsy between the drum machines and her absolute dream of a voice, you’ll feel comfortable boppin’ along to this with headphones or on the dance floor. The closest comparison I can think of is Grimes, but fans of hyperpop or light electronica will find a lot to enjoy here. Speaking to the track, Dora had this to say: “I wanted to make something that was immediate, and made me want to dance and sing along. ‘Collected’ is in many ways an ode to letting people in and stop overthinking.” She surely hits on all marks, and you can hear it on Spotify or Soundcloud. Be sure to let us know if you’d like to hear more like Thea Dora! Thea Dora · Collected

Rangleklods – “Breathe In, Breathe Out”

January 16, 2024

Esben Nørskov Andersen is the electronic wizard from Copenhagen, AKA Rangleklods, (check our previous features on him HERE and HERE) and he’s released the title track from his latest album Breathe In, Breathe Out. It’s an undeniably groovy and heady synth track which will mesmerize you with inventive soundscapes and varied timbres. Andersen has impeccable pacing in “Breathe In, Breathe Out,” using pauses and breaths in his melodies that create tension. This jilts the groovy flow before releasing the tension with a big blooming refrain that gets your shuffling your feet, bobbing your head, and swaying your hips. No moment inside of Andersen’s tracks are standard – he crafts and fixates over every tone and structure until the sounds you hear have been worked and warped into something utterly original, custom tailored to express his vision. He here is talking about the new track and how life shapes his craft:[...]

Asha Wells – “The Carousel”

January 16, 2024

Asha Wells is an indie-folk artist from the Bay Area and is releasing their anticipated new EP, Tears of a Clown, on Friday, February 10th, 2024 via Anxiety Blanket Records. Tears of a Clown features the resonant, intimate track “The Carousel” that features nuanced dynamics that braid like a double helix made of smoke as the song unfurls. The encircling music wraps around you, gently constricting you with each loop of the proverbial carousel. Every lap winds the bittersweet revelation of what first was a heart-swelling immersion, involuntarily transmuted to detached nostalgia. Wells has explored new orchestrations and has implemented tones that ring and linger like a water harp or synths that travel backwards like they are reminiscing. You will cherish Wells’ use of layered guitar lines that take turns being delicately tapped with stiletto styling or strummed with a warm vibrato. Wells’ vocals are haunting and expressive, ethereal while[...]

Loose Buttons – “I Saw Jon Hamm At The Beach”

January 15, 2024

NY based indie rockers Loose Buttons brings us a new track, “I Saw Jon Hamm at the Beach” released January 11. Based on an actual story of seeing Jon Hamm swimming, in what could easily turn into an extended phallic joke, instead turns into a surprisingly introspective track. Speaking to the fortuitous sighting, front man Eric Nizgretsky had this to say: “It was one of those idyllic beach days — the sky blue, the air just right. And then, out of the corner of my eye, the man himself Jon Hamm. There he was, a perfect ‘symbol of the ideal man’ who, in reality, was just simply another beachgoer, casually playing kadima and sharing the day with his loved ones. As a huge fan of his work, seeing him out there, just being a regular dude, felt wonderfully refreshing. The whole experience debunked the ‘leading man’ facade I’ve often attributed[...]

Kai Bosch – “Tulips”

January 15, 2024

“Tulips” is the newest from London based Kai Bosch, and at just 21 years old, he’s already done quite well for himself. With a high production value featuring Bosch’s vocals with drum machine and effects mixed in, the whole track feels like a swirling dream. Falling in under the alt pop umbrella, “Tulips” is simmering banger tinged with sadness – having been written towards the end of a relationship. Specifically speaking to that, Bosch had this to say: “The song was inspired by the idea of flower pressings and how you can preserve the colour and beauty of something that is still dead nonetheless – and how I wish I could do that to the relationship I had with my ex.” Having been produced by Charlie Andrew of Alt-J, fans of that group will find some common interest. Followers of fellow UK group Foals would also find a lot to[...]

SAVAK – “Leash Biter”

January 6, 2024

SAVAK just released the first single from their upcoming LP, Flavors Of Paradise. Notably, they’ve indicated that FoP has “no guests, no edits, no country, and definitely no funk—the record is lean, spacious and lively.” Brilliant. “Leash Biter” is a perfect demonstration of that aforementioned explanation – its cold, angular energy; bouncing bass backbone; and stabby guitar back-and-forth have us feeling urgent and unsettled while simultaneously bobbing our heads along to the janky rhythms. Fans of PLOSIVS, Pinback, or The Dismemberment Plan will love what they hear here. You can find “Leash Biter” on YouTube (below) and Spotify.

Lucy McWilliams – “Follow Me”

January 6, 2024

Dublin-born London-based singer/songwriter Lucy McWilliams knows how to tell a great story, as evidenced by her latest single, “Follow Me.” With her sweet, cooing vocal stylings and nebulous grasp on genre (falling somewhere between indie pop, adult contemporary, and alt-pop), Lucy weaves a web of mysterious pop that leaves you both dazed and wanting more. About the song, Lucy says: “‘Follow Me’ at its core is just a straightforward love song. It’s about being excited about someone, and feeling all the possibilities of the world in that person. At a time, that was a different kind of love that I hadn’t experienced. I think it’s a weird feeling, going through different relationships, but never really feeling loved. But then stumbling upon someone and within a small window of time, suddenly feeling at ease.” You can find “Follow Me” on both YouTube (below) or Spotify.

Balloon Snake – “Warsaw”

January 6, 2024

Bushwick-formed, Brooklyn-based trio Balloon Snake turn up the fuzz angst on latest single, “Warsaw.” With ripsaw guitar tones and impassioned vocals, “Warsaw” takes influence from late 90s luminaries like Sunny Day Real Estate or Hum and pairs it with the gritty emo and punk from the early ’00s. The result is this great, overblown jam that’s just at home on your headphones as it would be at some sweaty, dank NYC basement show. Preview “Warsaw” via YouTube below – then add it to your favorite Spotify or Apple Music playlist.

Suburban Queens – “U & I”

January 6, 2024

For their third song ever (!), Suburban Queens turn up the post-punky quirkiness for latest single, “U & I.” With energy that would make both Clairo and New Order eat their hearts out simultaneously (somehow), “U & I” pairs neurotic drumming and nimble basslines with big vocal hooks and an indescribably sassy energy. About the song, SQ says: “This song is about being in love and being isolated with you and your person. Its also questioning whether or not this isolation is healthy and asks questions about commitment issues that in the end eventually ruin the relationship you tried so hard to build. But it’s also me just saying sorry for hurting anyone because of my hubris and my lack of foresight.” You can find “U & I” on YouTube (below) or on Spotify.

Garden Station – “Losing My Head”

January 6, 2024

Philly’s Garden Station don’t care much for the trappings of adulthood, as evidenced by the bratty, blown-out punk rock of latest single, “Losing My Head.” With a sense of humor and a much-needed ebullient approach, “Losing My Head” makes use of blown-out guitar distortion; na-na-na singalongs; and a big, major-key guitar progression to keep things upbeat and raucous. To me, this sounds like a beer-soaked Friday night in someone’s basement – fans of Hot Mulligan, Dropkick Murphys, and Sex Pistols will probably agree. If you like what you hear below via YouTube, add “Losing My Head” to your favorite Spotify playlist.

Sun Wave Mountain Cave – “Bones”

December 26, 2023

Sun Wave Mountain Cave hail from Minneapolis and their sound is a mixture of surfy goodness with a hint of both Midwest emo and Midwest twang. “Bones” is their latest single, a guitar-soaked romp in front of a grain silo… And as Buffalonians, you know how we feel about our grain silos. With plenty of lush harmonies and guitar solos (and an intangible sense of Minnesota humility), fans of Car Seat Headrest, My Morning Jacket, or Prawn are absolutely going to love what they hear. You can find “Bones” via the YouTube embed below, or, on Spotify.

Crab x RXKNephew – “On My Way To The Bronx”

December 26, 2023

Crab is a brand new Brooklyn-based band whose interesting collab with RXKNephew caught our ears. “On My Way To The Bronx” evokes Superheaven and/or Lil Peep with it’s swimmy, shoegazy instrumentation – the twist here, of course, comes from RXKNephew’s smooth rap flow. It’s a left-field choice but one that feels immediately fresh, unique, and surprising. While Nephew is going off, Crab holds it down with sludgy instrumentation, with chorus pedals and fuzz pedals roaring in unison. You can find “On My Way To The Bronx” on both Spotify and Apple Music – be sure to check out their Linktree as well.

Club 8 – “Sunny”

December 20, 2023

Swedish duo Club 8 are back with a string of new singles, starting with “Sunny.” Their particular brand of lo-fi seems to be influenced by cold and mathematical post-punk, with its jittery percussive presence and driven basslines. Overall however, the song has an upbeat, airy, and warm disposition, lush with male/female call-and-response and melodies reminiscent of its namesake. Fans of CASTLEBEAT or shoegaze like Slowdive will find lots to love about this one. You can find “Sunny” on Spotify and Apple Music.