Memphis, TN act Harlan is a fresh new indie act with a bright debut single in “Sunny.” Lead singer Harlan Hutton’s voice conjures images of fellow indie-rock queens like Lauren Mayberry (CHVRCHES) or Molly Rankin (Alvvays). The rest of the band is a perfect compliment, running the gamut between peppy indie-pop and swimmy psych-tinged guitar rock. Their debut is due out in early 2018 – till then, get your fill of “Sunny” below.
Every now and then, a dank remix hits our inbox and we know we have to share… The latest is from Chicago act Autograf with their heady EDM remix of Juke Ross’ “Colour Me.” Between the exquisite, bouncy bass lines and Ross’ sultry voice, this particular remix is sure to get you feeling froggy. If you’re into it, add it to your Spotify playlist.
Nashville solo-artist YØUTH (aka Julian Denté) hit us up with the warm indie rock of his latest single, “Alright, Kid.” About the song, Julian explains that it is slightly tongue-in-cheek, about two star-crossed lovers clinging to a connection no matter how dysfunctional the relationship. Either way, his longing vocals and guitar-based crunch is reminiscent of bands like Manchester Orchestra, Phantom Planet, or Kings of Leon. If you’re feeling “Alright, Kid,” add it to your Spotify playlist.
It’s here, it’s French, it’s The French Amor Fati with their superior new pop jam “My Superhero.” Reminiscent of great pop songwriting of the 1990s with flavors of disco and contemporary electronica, “My Superhero” is a true pop banger from this French duo. Slam that play button below. There’s a music video for “My Superhero” as well – check it out here.
Falling somewhere on the spectrum between moody west coast pop like Lana Del Rey and the introspective R&B flavor of James Blake, LA solo-act TRACE has us feeling some type of way after hearing “You Don’t Know Me.” Her earworm chorus of, “You don’t know me, I fall in love with everyone” is both hooky and relatable and is bound to bounce around your head all day. “You Don’t Know Me” would make a perfect addition to your Spotify playlist.
Yo, check out this fresh track from our friend Jacob Faurholt. Jacob is one of Denmark’s most prolific songwriters, and his latest single, “Go,” caught our attention. Faurholt combines a tight drumbeat with quirky vocals and fuzz-pop guitar stylings, perfect for any fan of bedroom pop or 90s fuzz sentiment. Fans of Daniel Johnston, (Sandy) Alex G, or The Front Bottoms will like this one. Pick it up on Bandcamp if you like what you hear.
Lately, buffaBLOG has been digging the exuberant pop-rock of NYC quartet Shiffley. We’re suggesting their latest song, “Up & Down,” which is sure to get your booty swangin’ with its synth-peppered pop rock. This jam was tailor made for fans of Jr. Jr., Two Door Cinema Club, or The Killers – check it out below. Freshen up your Spotify playlist with a little “Up & Down”
We’re happy to share MIDDLESPOON‘s latest music video “LightningBug,” which premiered at the Austin Music Video Festival earlier this year. Besides the party atmosphere (full of cowboy hats, dancing bears, and sparkles), MIDDLESPOON specializes in hooky pop music meant to get you dancing. We dare you to listen and not hum, “You could be my girlfriend, you could be my queen” all day long… Give it a watch below. “LightningBug” is available via iTunes.
SoCal rock outfit HAWAI bridge the gap between 1980s sentiment and 2000s radio rock. This juxtaposition is super evident in their latest single, “Alive.” Having survived some major personnel changes (an accomplishment for any band), they were able to take a new approach to songwriting on this newest effort (and it shows). Fans of Bear Hands, Young The Giant, and Neon Trees will definitely like this one. If you want to know more about HAWAI, look here.
French dance-pop duo YELLE inspired us with their creative lyric video for “Romeo.” Non-French speakers fear not, the song is infectious and catchy even if you can’t understand the lyrics contextually… The karaoke-style words at the bottom might even inspire you to learn a bit. Either way, this sparkly nugget of pop greatness reminds us of Le Colour or Safari Disco Club – check it out if you like earworms. YELLE is on Bandcamp as well.
Rochester’s Cavalcade has been around for a decade plus, an impressive tenure for any band. In that time, they’ve released a handful of LPs, with songs that combine the intellectual indie-rock of The Dismemberment Plan with the profound rock n’ roll vibes of Frank Zappa. Their latest offering, The Switch, is no exception, a six-song offering full of unconventional musicianship with a next-level mindset. On previous releases, Cavalcade took a much looser approach to songcrafting, peppering their songs with worldly percussion and extended, mind-altering jams. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a free-spirited approach, but The Switch sounds incredibly cohesive in comparison. A lush, ever-present organ provides a backbone to these songs, which have transformed from six-minute prog-rock epics into four minute pop songs with an equally unique approach. One of Cavalcade’s strongest assets comes from vocalist Michael Munn’s distinctive croon; his unique timbre makes him the perfect narrator to these delightfully profound rock[...]
If you’ve got the jitters or are feeling anxious, have we got the perfect song for you. Cuesta Loeb specializes in super chill electronica, perhaps best demonstrated by her latest single, “Festival 2017.” Combining curiously hushed vocal samples, blippy keyboards, and an ever-so-subtle beat, this is the perfect song for laying back with eyes closed and blissing out. Fans of Still Corners, Phantogram, or The XX should definitely check this one out. Add Cuesta Loeb to your Spotify playlist if you’re diggin’ it.
Sometimes all you need is a feel-good electropop song to groove along to, and today, we’re recommending JNNA‘s “Waking Up With You.” Produced by Tyzo Bloom (who we’ve also covered in the past), “With You” is an ode to young love and the feeling you get when you find “your person.” We are especially digging the left-field instrumentation and JNNA’s lilting presence – check it out. Learn more about JNNA from her website.
Buzzing post-punk act FEHM shot us the moody goodness of “Last Breath” and we’ve been hooked ever since. If you have any interest in Interpol, Ceremony, or Joy Division, you need to give this one a shot… This quintet specializes in abrasive and spacious post-punk, with an emphasis on song crafting and arrangement. FEHM has a website where you can purchase anything of theirs – here it is.
By now, you should know that we here at buffaBLOG are suckers for achingly personal songs… Well, Magnets has penned our newest favorite with the simmering indie-pop of “Dear.” About the song, Magnets (aka Siobhan McGinnity) explains, “[it is] an apology song to the ones I love for every time I’ve burned too bright.” Beyond that, any fan of St. Vincent, Now, Now, or Broken Social Scene could get down to this one… Give it a shot below. Magnets is on Bandcamp. If you like this song, head over there immediately and smash that buy it now button.