Latest Posts

chris portka – trash music

July 6, 2023

California bay area-based artist Chris Portka has always dreamt of being a musician. With his roots dating back to the dirty, blistering grunge of the ’90s, a young portka followed his heart… He fought past crippling stage fright; anxiety attacks during Elliot Smith covers; and a voice that sounds like a “Rhinoceros fighting to befriend an Elephant” (his words not ours) to get where he is today. It’s safe to say that portka has devoted a fair amount of blood, sweat, and tears to make this whole music thing work. And while he makes himself at home in any jam session (whether it be on an acoustic guitar or a synth or a piano), there’s a deeper, stranger fire burning within him. As he puts it: “my roots burrow in this impressionistic improv that reflects a fierce internal conflict.” Enter trash music, portka’s latest offering. It’s a twelve song album[...]

Disco Sam – American Nightlife

July 5, 2023

In this infinite void of new music, few acts have the ability to transport your mind to a world of infectious rhythms, cheeky melodies, and fun bedroom-pop quirkiness quite like Disco Sam. He’s about to release a brand new EP, his 7th (!), one he’s calling American Nightlife. Upon listening, it’s evident that this ain’t Sam’s first rodeo, and the enigmatic frontman once again shows his irresistible appeal in this brand new batch of charming, disco-flavored bedroom-pop compositions. The EP opens with “Draws Me Inside,” and the hallmarks of Sam’s songwriting go-tos start to shine through immediately. The basslines on American Nightlife are absolutely the backbone of these tunes, bobbing and weaving around the fretboard with an itchy sort of bounce. Sam’s vocals also shine through here, a characteristic baritone that sounds like it belongs at a sweaty, sexy basement show. There’s something seductive about Disco Sam, and “Draws” is[...]

Oh Land – “My Freak”

July 4, 2023

Danish stunner Oh Land (aka songwriter/singer Nanna Øland Fabricius) specializes in genre-bending pop wizardry as evidenced by latest offering, “My Freak.” The disco-forward track has a lovely energy that makes use of a bubbling bass undercurrent; twinkles of warm Rhodes; and, of course, Fabricius’ silky-smooth vocals. With super-hooky rhythms and a retro-but-modernized approach, “Freak” has a sort of cosmic mass appeal, at least to our alien-esque ears. About the song, Nanna explains: “‘My Freak’ is a celebration of the deep love you find with someone as weird as yourself.” Stream “My Freak” via Spotify and Apple Music.

ROREY – “Apt 7d”

July 3, 2023

There’s no shortage of NYC-based acts that have changed music… The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol – basically any band you’d have seen or read about in the semi-recent Meet Me In The Bathroom documentary. With The Strokes having won a Grammy for The New Abnormal; Yeah Yeah Yeahs riding high on the success of their new album; and Interpol touring the world and playing stadiums with The Smashing Pumpkins, there’s no doubt the world is ready and willing to hear more NYC-bred, guitar-driven music. Enter wunderkind ROREY, the 23 year old grunge-popper who is turning heads with her palatable blend of ’90s influenced nostalgia triggers. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing her latest album, Apt 7d, and it itches that deep-rooted scratching that exists in our tired millennial brains for good times (i.e. the aughts) now long past. EP opener “Burned Your Letter” introduces us to the hallmarks of ROREY’s sound –[...]

Worriers – “Trust Your Gut”

June 29, 2023

Brooklyn-based act Worriers has been crushing it for close to a decade, and if newest single “Trust Your Gut” is any indication, they’re still in their prime songwriting years. Packed full of peppy indie rock energy, blasts of vintage synth bliss, and singer Lauren Denitzio’s words of encouragement, “Trust Your Gut” could appeal to fans of anywhere from Bruce Springsteen to Against Me!. Their delivery on “Trust Your Gut” is approachable and surprisingly upbeat, especially when you consider the political-punk nature of their earlier work. Sometimes it’s best to hear from the artist themselves – check out what Worriers has to say about the song/video below: “The song is meant to celebrate learning to trust your intuition and advocate for yourself and your own time, even in the face of being told that everything is fine. I thought it would be a good match for the video to be an[...]

The Blues And Greys – “Black Spring”

June 29, 2023

Santa Barbara-based act The Blues And Greys recently hit our inboxes with this huge alt pop jam they’re calling “Black Spring.” Singer Lindsey Waldon absolutely explodes in the anthemic chorus here, letting loose with an undeniable hook – even better, she hits you with it before the thirty second mark, sucking you in before you even have a chance to think twice. With a grumbling bass presence, tasty guitar work, and an epic percussion presence, this one will appeal to fans of Phantogram, Still Corners, and Shiny Toy Guns. You can listen to “Black Spring” now on Spotify and Apple Music.

Constant Care – “Everything To Lose”

June 29, 2023

Constant Care (aka Oxford/Madrid songwriter Fergus Brady) is here to rile you up with his personal blend of indie jangle and midwestern emo flavors. Our latest recommendation is “Everything To Lose,” which finds Brady seamlessly blending the aforementioned genres with lightly crunchy guitars and impassioned vocals in tow. Fans of 90s indie-slacker stuff like Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr., or Superchunk are gonna love this one. About the song, Fergus says: “I was coming out of a dark period in my life and the lyrics are my attempt to articulate some of the things that kept me going during that time. It’s a song that welcomes the dawning of a new morning.” You can find “Everything To Lose” on Bandcamp, Apple Music, and Spotify. Constant Care · Everything to Lose

Eva Snyder – “war”

June 29, 2023

“Massachusetts roots and Nashville based by way of San Francisco” – what a pedigree coming from singer/songwriter Eva Snyder. She caught our ears with the beautiful vibes coming from her latest single, “war.” As the first single off of her debut album seventeen, “war” is a low-key but beautifully haunting slice of electronica-laced indie pop. Bonus fact: “war” is 100% made by women from the production all the way to the master You can find “war” on Spotify or Apple Music – be sure to check out the YouTube video below.

Anya Baghina – Anya Baghina

June 28, 2023

Anya Baghina, who you may know as a member of the Detroit-based act, Soviet Girls, has called many different places home – Moscow, New Jersey, nearby Ithaca, Detroit, Brooklyn, and then Russia again. Longtime collaborator Jonathan Franco has been accompanying Baghina live and in the studio since their Brooklyn days (and fellow SG bandmate Devin Poisson recorded her first three singles to cassette). Despite being halfway across the world, somehow, someway, Baghina has managed to stay in touch with her OG Detroit crew. She’s now located in Kazakhstan, and since her collaborators are so far away, we couldn’t help but be drawn to Anya’s story. Her latest offering, a self-titled album packed full of eleven jangly, indie-pop songs that highlight Baghina’s skill as a songwriter. It’s clear Baghina has put a lot of herself into these songs, so a title of Anya Baghina feels fitting to say the least. Album opener[...]

Roscoe Tripp – A Cage Made of Tin

June 26, 2023

On Roscoe Tripp’s upcoming offering, the five-song A Cage Made of Tin, the band dives deep into a refreshing indie rocking sound, leaning heavily into moody expressions of guitar, synth, and other ambiance. Lead singer Greg Fine has relinquished the reins of one-and-only songwriter, eschewing his lone wolf status for thoughtful collaboration among his bandmates. Fine’s often baritone drawl (when he’s not belting it out, of course) is reminiscent of M. Ward mixed with Thom Yorke, and it powers the songs found here with a mixture of sincere emotion and grit. Opening track, title track, and album highlight “A Cage Made of Tin” exists in the first slot for a reason… The band is clearly highlighting their evolving sound. Throughout the song, a mechanized drum roll keeps perfect time while the rest of RT crunches, moans, and wails their way through the song. Spindly guitar leads twist and twirl through dark[...]

Babe Rainbow – Fresh As A Head of Lettuce

June 25, 2023

Psychedelic. Permaculture-farming. Surf-cultists. These are just a few of the self-described terms that Babe Rainbow uses to self-identify, and they are a perfect encapsulation of their sun-soaked, indie-psych sound. The quartet is here with their latest EP, Fresh As A Head of Lettuce, a four-song offering that figuratively surfs the far reaches of your mind with otherworldly textures – like a self-actualizing acid trip without any of the mind-altering anxiety. In case you missed it, we’ve already featured the opening track “Super Ego” in a previous write up (that you can read here), and for good reason… The song is laced with whistle-tone synths that glide through your speakers and into your mind like a sweet and salty sea breeze. Warped vocal textures help you escape the boring realities of your life while the tasteful bassline bobs and weaves in a way that’s impossible not to inspire bodily movement. Follow[...]

Bad Lori – “happysad”

June 25, 2023

All the way from Slovenia, Bad Lori hit us with the happy/sad vibes of latest single… “happysad.” The song is a bittersweet and nostalgic track that is built around a shimmering guitar riff that will have you teetering between a sense of relaxation and that nagging yearning of better times long past. Ostensibly, Bad Lori is “bad” in the sense of being a baddie and not her/their skills as songwriters, because this one cuts straight to the bone. Fans of Now, Now; Rilo Kiley; and/or Lydia will find lots of feels to dive into here. You can find “happysad” on YouTube (below) or stream it via Spotify and Apple Music.

Aleesha Dibbs – Paradise Lost

June 25, 2023

Aleesha Dibbs might be one of the hardest-working musicians in the world… At the very least in the top 5%. Having cut her teeth in a ton of different bands, (Dive Bell, Prudence, Lorelei, Double Vision, Mvlholland, Lisa Mitchell, and Angus and Julia Stone just to name some), she’s ready to spread her wings and release her debut solo EP. She’s titled it Paradise Lost and it’s a collection of gauzy, airy, and pleasantly-haunting electropop. It’s clear that this has been a transformational experience for Aleesha – over the course of Paradise Lost, you hear an already talented musician/songwriter coming into their own. EP opener “Batallion” is a slow burn that introduces the listener to the hallmarks of Aleesha’s work – expect ethereal synth work; splashes of electronic percussion; industrial ambiance; and, of course, Aleesha’s dark and lilting vocal presence. “Batallion” has abandoned factory vibes – with its bass drum beating mechanically[...]

Mermaid – “Boundaries”

June 22, 2023

Mermaid is a duo of besties, who became a band, who became lovers… And if that’s not an inspiring origin story, I’m not sure what is. Their latest offering is the bratty indie-punk jam “Boundaries,” and it’s full of enough ’90s energy to satisfy any grunge fan while staying true to 2023 aesthetics. With a sly nod to Jagged Little Pill, there’s no doubt Alanis fans will love this one (along with fans of L7, Garbage, or Veruca Salt) – but the sugary melodies and fuzzed-out background screams make it so fans of any guitar-driven music will love this tune. About the song, the duo simply says: “crush song” ‘Nuff said. Be sure to add “Boundaries” to your favorite Spotify playlist.

Rare Monk – “Missing Forever”

June 22, 2023

Portland, Oregon based act Rare Monk caught our ears with the crescendoing indie rock majesty of latest single, “Missing Forever.” While initially playing with some unique time signatures, the band eventually explodes into a cathartic close, running the gamut of indie rocking flavors in-between. Crunchy guitars and snappy production will have fans of Manchester Orchestra, Beach Fossils, and Real Estate adding this one to their daily playlists. With the quality of their songwriting in mind, it’s not surprising that this band acts their an outlet for the ennui of the daily rat race – check out what they have to say about “Missing” below. “‘Missing Forever’ is about feeling overworked and burned out. Tethered to work and bills in a society that increasingly idolizes ‘grinding.’ What if we just quit everything and disappeared into the wilderness instead?” ICYMI, we’ve written about Rare Monk in the past – check our previous[...]