Latest Posts

Becoming Bristol – “Staring Into The Sun”

June 15, 2023

If you’ve been looking to get your anthemic fix, “Staring Into The Sun” by Becoming Bristol (BB) might be your next obsession. With enough riffs to keep any guitar nerd occupied without ever losing sight of their big, modern rock radio energy, BB seems to have found the best of both worlds, and that energy is straight-up undeniable. The Seattle, WA quartet will appeal to fans of Switchfoot, .moneen., or COIN, who will all surely find lots to love here. Looking a bit below the surface, “Sun” actually has an incredibly deep and profound meaning – check out what they have to say below: “During my father’s battle with cancer, I found solace in the pages of Victor Frankl’s profound work, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, delved into the psychological aspects of surviving the atrocities of the concentration camps. His words resonated deeply with me[...]

The Moving Stills – “Westside”

June 15, 2023

We’re just drawn to the jaunty indie rock coming from Aussie quartet The Moving Stills (don’t believe me? Check out our previous features here and here). They’re back to tickle your garage rockin’ ’00s heartstrings with another lovely offering, the genuinely upbeat vibes of “Westside.” Uber-positive vibes are never our main MO, but the super uplifting feels found here on “Westside” have us feeling like we might turn over a new leaf… Maybe. Here’s what they had to say about their new jam: “Westside is about celebrating the positive aspects of life, so we wanted it to be a feel good upbeat track. It’s also about being able to slow down without feeling guilty about taking a break. It came after a holiday in WA and also reflects on all the time we have spent on the East Coast, playing shows and hanging out with the people that matter. It’s[...]

Sea Glass X Sky Adler – “Weekend”

June 15, 2023

Last time we checked in with Sea Glass, we were waxing poetic about singles “Pinecone Alley” and “I Have Jokes (If You Wanna Hear One).” There’s a reason we keep coming back to Sea Glass (and frequent collaborator Sky Adler), and one listen through their most recent tune will explain why… “Weekend” is a ’90s-reminiscent slice of slacker-pop that brings to mind early Weezer, Pavement, and even a hint of Viagara Boys – expect plunky guitar riffs, spicy melodies, and a uniquely beeping metronome sound keeping constant time. Adler remarked about his time in the studio with Sea Glass: “We discussed how much we missed high school and also how scared we were for kids still going through it. ‘Weekend’ was born pretty quickly in that reminiscent yet somewhat dark state.” Check out “Weekend” on Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp. Weekend by Sea Glass, Sky Adler

Famous Friend – “Prism (Better Than This)”

June 14, 2023

Famous Friend (aka Zachariah Carlson) is an LA-based writer/producer/artist specializing in surfy bedroom-pop songwriting. We’re recommending “Prism (Better Than This)” for its upbeat vibes – expect twinkly guitar textures that are washed-out with love; punchy Casio-beat drums; and Carlson’s omni-pleasant vocal delivery. Fans of Day Wave, CASTLEBEAT, and Still Woozy will find lots to dig into here. “Prism” is the first single off of Famous Friend’s debut LP, Garbage King… Be sure to check it out on Spotify.

Stereosity – “Manny, Manny!”

June 14, 2023

Stereosity is a four piece from Orange County, California consisting of four friends (two of which are brothers) who love “warm tones and silly words.” Self-described as “calculus rock” (surely a play on words of the popular math rock genre), Stereosity memorializes a beloved (and weird) family dog in “Manny, Manny!” You’ll hear lots of genre hallmarks here – wailing and passionate vocals; start-stop guitar work; and more emotion than you could shake a stick at (there’s a pun on playing fetch here somewhere, but we’ll just leave it at that for now). Fans of Tiny Moving Parts, Macseal, and Delta Sleep will love this one. You can find “Manny, Manny!” on Spotify and Soundcloud or via their Linktree. Stereosity · Manny, Manny!

Anya Baghina – “It’s Clear To Me”

June 14, 2023

Anya Baghina (whom you may recognize as a member of Soviet Girls) is here with an alt-folk-dream-pop song she’s calling “It’s Clear to Me.” In the best way, “Clear” is straightforward and sentimental – lightly chorus-laden guitars and gentle fuzz elements power this jangly gem forward while Baghina’s ultra-sincere delivery adds a healthy midwestern emo flavor. This one has appeal across multiple genres – if you’re a fan of Beach Bunny, Alvvays, or Petal, Anya’s work is definitely up your alley. Anya’s album is due out June 23rd – until then, make sure you check out “Clear” on Spotify and Apple Music, too.

Mirrorball – “Red Hot Dust”

June 4, 2023

LA-based duo Mirrorball are here to lull you into a haze with their latest single, “Red Hot Dust.” Singer/songwriter Alexandra Johnstone and multi-instrumentalist and composer Scott Watson have crafted something stunning here, driven by somber piano plunking and Johnstone’s ghostly vocal presence. Big hooks and morose moodiness will remind you of Lana Del Rey or Beach House with a hint of the rawness of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (indie rock producer Chris Coady, who has also worked with the YYYs and Beach House also produced this track). The hard hitting melodies of lines like “red wine it’s a thriller/ it’s a god damn killer” cut right through you – as they explain it: “[‘Red Hot Dust’ is] a dreamy drive up the foggy, west tree-covered coast before the sun comes up arriving to the pink open desert.” Be sure to add “Red Hot Dust” to your favorite Spotify playlist.

mid – “Dirty Blonde”

June 1, 2023

Is it surfy? Is it shoegazy? We’re not sure, but we’re loving the energy coming from mid. The trio, based in Alexandra, VA is high school aged(!) (with one outsider named Throb), and they are making an incredible amount of washy noise with latest single “Dirty Blonde.” Big, bombastic, fuzzed-out choruses are sandwiched by wailing guitar noise and reverbed-out vocals. It’s youthful, it’s loud, and its fun… And it’s also something best experienced for yourself – make sure you check it out below. Mysterious. Check it out on Spotify and/or Apple Music if you’re as intrigued as we are. mid · Dirty Blonde

Madge – “notss”

June 1, 2023

Every now and then we need our hyperpop fix, and non-binary artist Madge is the artist to do it for us most recently. Having written for/collaborated with artists as varied as Pussy Riot and Portugal. The Man, it’s no surprise that “notss” is a hyped-up banger that sounds like a waterfall of candy probably tastes… Probably. Helium vocals and pulsating bass electronics will keep your body moving and grooving at speeds previously unknown to mankind. Madge wears many hats (literally), as they are also a fashion darling (aka model) – even their description of “notss” is artistic af: “The soft torture of mixed signals and the excitement of captivity. I can’t help but think that getting strung along like this is just keeping me strung out on something I like.” Check out “notss” on YouTube (below) or on Spotify.

Ali Dellas – “Chasing You”

June 1, 2023

Rising Aussie singer/songwriter Ali Dellas is back with another sugary-sweet indie-pop track called “Chasing You.” In case you’ missed it, Ali’s been on our radar for a while – here’s her previous love song, “Heart Eyes.” She continues her trend of perfectly upbeat songs that somehow never stray into that oh-so-familiar lovey-dovey cheese. With a punchy drumbeat and jangly acoustic guitar strumming, Ali zeroes in on a unique aspect of being in love – here’s what she says about “Chasing You” below: “Chasing You is about having a surprising sense of peace about being in love with someone else because you’re confident that you’ll still end up together.” You can find “Chasing You” on Spotify.

Mise en Scene – “Burn Out”

May 27, 2023

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Winnipeg-based act Mise en Scene (ICYMI, we covered them all the way back in 2017). Don’t be fooled by their Canadian roots – this duo pumps out sugary surf-pop that blends vintage Beach Boys roots with a modern day sassiness a la Best Coast or Beach Bunny. “Burn Out” is their latest offering – a perfect encapsulation of what surf-inspired indie rock is meant to be. An upbeat and boppy good time, layered heavy with reverb and borderline doo-wop lyrics with simple rhyme schemes that anyone can relate to. You can find “Burn Out” below via YouTube or on Spotify.

The Rocket Summer – “M4U”

May 27, 2023

If you’re a millennial of a certain age like me, you might remember the mid-00s… More specifically, the sun-soaked emo-pop coming from Bryce Avery, aka The Rocket Summer. Those were good times, but like any good artist, Avery refuses to sit still, and that’s evident in his latest offering, the genre-bending “M4U” (which, I have gleaned, is short for “made for you”). The cornerstone of his 8th(!) full-length album, SHADOWKASTERS, “M4U” is built around a dizzy acoustic guitar, a blippy drum machine, and Avery’s unmistakable voice. It’s gritty, it’s catchy, and its unmistakably Avery, and we can’t help but love to see/hear that he’s still making great music 15+ years later. You can find “M4U” on YouTube (below) or on Spotify.

Jake Minch – “Handgun”

May 26, 2023

20-year-old Connecticut native Jake Minch embodies our misspent youth here on latest single, “handgun.” With nothing more than a voice, an acoustic guitar, and some atmospherics, Jake brings us back to our college days (not that we’re too OLD to relate… or something) – drunk and hungover and coming into our own as adults. Striking imagery and charming lyrics reminiscent of The Front Bottoms or Modern Baseball really help to paint us a picture of Jake’s wonderfully youthful world view. With deeply narrative songs like this one, sometimes it’s best just to hear from the artist themselves – here’s what Jake had to say: “The song takes place right before ‘doing music’ was on my mind. It lives in the morning, waking up after my first big party-weekend at a new school. My head hurt too much to move, so I skipped my Econ class to lay with my thoughts[...]

Thavoron – “Why”

May 26, 2023

Get ready to be inexplicably crushed by Seattle-based artist Thavoron – the 22-year-old has crafted a slice of indie/folk/emo called “Why” that is goosebump-inducing. Reminiscent of emo acts like The Hotelier or indie-folksters like Alex G, “Why” pairs a spiraling guitar twinkle with strikingly gentle falsetto to create an odd amount of beautiful tension. Just when you think you can cut through the mood with a knife, Thavoron adds a booming drum sample or a smattering of woodwind energy to root you back to earth. It’s a song you need to truly experience for yourself… But only if you’re ready to feel heartbroken (and not be 100% sure why). Check out “Why” on Spotify Thavoron · Why

Salarymen – “Echoes”

May 26, 2023

Sydney’s Salarymen strike a perfect balance between retro and contemporary on their latest dream-pop track, “Echoes.” At the forefront is vocalist Renee de la Motte’s beautiful vocal delivery – it lays overtop a bed of warbly guitar energy and otherwise reverbed-out instrumentals, giving the song an expansive and atmospheric vibe. A trip past the three-minute-mark will reward you with an emotionally soaring outro that will put you into a heavenly trance. Fans of Alvvays, Beach House, or Still Corners will like what “Echoes” has to offer. Check out the YouTube video below or peep “Echoes” on Spotify.