Latest Posts

Ailbhe Reddy – “Shitshow”

November 29, 2022

Ailbhe Reddy sure knows how to party! Whether that’s a good thing is up to you (and her) to decide. “Shitshow” is tellingly named on all fronts except musical – it’s actually quite the banger. Crunchy guitar stabs and Reddy’s forlorn vocals soundtrack this tale of overindulgence, regret, and bad habits. “Shitshow” even has the perfect visual accompaniment; a hard-partying group brings Reddy’s words to life – check it out below.. You can also find “Shitshow” on Apple Music and Spotify.

Hazlett – “Tell Me What You Dream About”

November 29, 2022

Indie-folkster Hazlett hit our inboxes with his latest single, “Tell Me What you Dream About,” and we’ve been hooked ever since. Walking the line between smart bedroom pop and nostalgic folk, “Dream” is a deceivingly low-key song that packs a big punch. When the infectious chorus comes around, it’s a sharp but fitting break from the comforting indie-folk of the intro. About the song, Hazlett explains: “I think you need to step out of your own self to see things clearly sometimes. Life becomes pretty heavy when you can’t brush by a little inconvenience or the fear of failing… So, I tried to picture what my future self would be telling me if we were friends. Waiting for me, cheering me on and reminding me of everything I’ve done so far. I think we forget that we need to encourage ourselves from time to time.” You can find “Dream” on[...]

Numcha – “in my white dress”

November 29, 2022

Coming all the way from Thailand, Numcha caught our ears with the airy dream-pop of her latest single, “in my white dress.” With an ever-so-slight tinge of vintage 80s energy, “dress” sparkles and shimmers with a fun and lighthearted indie pop aura. This one reminds us of Jay Som with a little extra happiness sprinkled into the mix. You can also find “in my white dress” on Spotify and Apple Music. Numcha · in my white dress

Phoebe Willo – “Yesterdays Mistake”

November 28, 2022

Phoebe Willo flexes her indie-pop muscles on her latest single, “Yesterdays Mistake.” The songs starts out with a forlorn guitar/vocal passage before launching into what you’d expect from an indie pop gem – punchy drums, bass bumping down low, and twinkly textures that highlight the gentleness of Phoebe’s delivery. About the song, Phoebe further explains: “This song is about dwelling on mistakes, wanting to move on, I sing: ‘I’m stuck with my thoughts, there is no room to think.’ I’ve had my own battles, loving things that aren’t good for you and worrying about what people will think. However, I wanted this to be an upbeat song conveying optimism and hope too.” Check out “Mistake” on Spotify and Apple Music as well. Phoebe Willo · Yesterdays Mistake (new mix)

Bea Kadri – “Poison”

November 28, 2022

Our Lebanese friend Bea Kadri hit us up with this infectious pop song she’s calling “Poison.” Reminiscent of genre luminaries like H.E.R. or SZA, “Poison” bubbles and lurches with strong pop energy, delivering big hooks and an even bigger meaning. “Poison’s” narrative is focused on around a previous long distance relationship with an ex-partner in which the duo alternated between victim and villain. Relationships can be toxic, sure… But at least we (and Bea!) get this alt-pop gem out of her suffering. You can also find “Poison” on Spotify and Apple Music. BEA KADRI · Poison

Orchid Mantis – “I Could Live In Sleep”

November 22, 2022

Orchid Mantis is back with another dreamy bedroom-pop soundscape – we’d say they’ve accomplished their mission statement of combining pop songwriting with ambient field recording on this latest offering, “I Could Live In Sleep.” With a tight, neurotic beat propelling the song forward, “Sleep” pairs plucky guitars and introspective vocals with an intangible etherealness. It’s ghostly and sincere – two adjectives we can always stand behind. You can also read up on our previous features of Orchid Mantis here and here. “I Could Live In Sleep” is out now via Spirit Goth Records. You can also find it on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music. orchid mantis · I Could Live In Sleep

Small Town Sci-Fi – “Couldn’t Talk Right”

November 22, 2022

There’s something delightfully quirky about the latest jam from Small Town Sci-Fi – “Couldn’t Talk Right” is a mile-a-minute exclamation of mental health issues, pain, and an eclectic sincerity that can only come from a song this personal. It’s done up in a warm, lo-fi recording, a true bedroom-pop (with a hint of psychedelic rock) exploration of one’s self. ICYMI, here’s our writeup of a previous SMSF single, “Methadone.” You can also find “Couldn’t Talk Right” on Spotify and Soundcloud. Make it Over by Small Town Sci-Fi

Dream Prescription – “Status Quo”

November 20, 2022

Dream Prescription are a NYC-based duo that craft a unique blend of synth-pop and post-punk; we think you should start with their latest song, “Status Quo.” Between the laser precision of their icy synth stabs and and obvious ear for melody, “Status Quo” sounds like an amalgamation of the 80s and early 2000s with a spicy, contemporary mix. Be sure to stick around for the chorus for a bit of an Interpolesque vocal hook. About the song, the band states: “In ‘Status Quo’, we’re exploring the tension between a deep desire for change and the security of having things stay the way they are. The vignettes in the song’s verse lyrics evoke disconnection and distance within a relationship, while the chorus looks for way out of this stuck place by asking questions that are not easily answered.” You can find “Status Quo” on both Spotify and Apple Music.

GRLwood – “Keep It Average”

November 20, 2022

Louisville, KY-based act GRLwood get anxious and raucous on their latest offering, “Keep It Average.” With a gut-wrenching howl, singer Rej Forester teams up with the thundering drums from drummer Mia Morris for this soul-searching indie rocker. The duo uses their screaming guitars and big percussion vibes to ponder the meaning of life – it’s a song about wanting to pursue things that might make your life better, but being held back by a potential risk. Rej more eloquently explains below: “To be able to love fully, you have to risk being hurt fully. To be able to take hold of success completely, you have to take the risk to fail fully. The world is a beautiful and bright place for those looking for that, as it is dismal and sad for those looking for that. Reflect back to the world what you want, no matter what it’s given you[...]

Seven Layer Piano Cakes – “Holy Water”

November 20, 2022

Seven Layer Piano Cakes is the alter ego of Justin Hoyt, a musician and college professor (!) whose latest offering, “Holy Water,” caught our ears. In line with his gothy-meets-pop-punk disposition, “Holy Water” is a song about the apocalypse. When you’re discussing the end of the world, tight industrial drums and heavily autotuned vocals seem appropriate… But SLPC is more of a musical amalgamation, aiming for broad strokes across genres rather than one pigeonhole. Sure, society may be crumbling, but at least we have songs like “Holy Water” to help us cope. You can also find “Holy Water” on Spotify. Seven Layer Piano Cakes · Holy Water

Altalune – “October”

November 19, 2022

Altalune gets introspective on their latest offering, “October.” Pairing gentle vocals with twinkling guitar and a heartfelt lyrical subject is never a bad formula, and Altalune executes it to perfection here. It’s a warm, but somber affair – the whole song goes down very smooth, but never pulls back when it comes to meaningful revelations about the importance of loved ones. About the song, Altalune says: “I lost my grandfather back in October of 2021 and after a year of not having him around, family gatherings don’t feel quite the same. This song is about missing someone special in your life that you cherish and admire.” You can also listen to Altalune on Spotify and Apple Music.

Dead Patrons – “Lover”

November 19, 2022

Are South East London act Dead Patrons heavy, pretty, or pretty heavy? It’s probably some combination of the three, but we digress – their latest offering, “Lover,” is our latest recommendation. Built around a roiling tom beat; noisy, wall-of-sound guitar theatrics, and singer Paul Killengray’s eclectic vocal presence, “Lover” twists and turns with searing indie rock energy that brings to mind Sonic Youth, IDLES, and a hint of post-punkiness a la Joy Division. As they put it, “‘Lover’ is a song about being dominated,” and you can certainly hear that struggle weaved throughout the dark vibes here. You can also find “Lover” on Spotify.

Kevin Dorff – “Family Friend”

November 16, 2022

Iowan musician Kevin Dorff knows how to tell a story – he sucked us deep into the narrative of his latest offering, “Family Friend.” Bringing to mind the endearing indie/emo of Front Bottoms; Modern Baseball; and Slaughter Beach, Dog with a hint of folksy Americana twang, “Friend” is about a friend of Kevin’s who passed away. The song is upbeat as a whole, but that somber subject matter creeps in and sticks, especially with Kevin’s thesaurus-level rhymes… This one is as sincere as they come and we can’t help but love that. Check out “Family Friend” on Spotify too. kevindorff · Family Friend

Kai Bosch – “Title”

November 16, 2022

London’s Kai Bosch knows a thing or two about heartbreak and he evokes that brutal feeling in the alt-pop of his latest offering, “Title.” Channeling his love for Lorde, Kai pairs a dark, dancy beat with his devastating lyrics for truly poignant results. Kai has a pretty eloquent explanation of where “Title” came from – check it out below: “’Title’ represents a month of blurring nights, tears, and intoxication all culminating into an explosive breakup. Coming out the other side when the dust had settled, I saw our time together for what it was: one-sided. Title explores the feeling that there is a “winner” in a relationship. I’m a very emotional person and in the past this has left me feeling like the “loser” in a lot of situations, but as I grow in myself and continue to experience love in its many forms I’ve come to find that there[...]

Merchant – “Feel Nice”

November 16, 2022

If you’re in a bit of a rut and you need a tune to pull you out of your blues, you can always count on Merchant to lift your spirits. “Feel Nice” is the archetypal feel-good song – it’s full of chirping birds, squiggly synths, and enough la-la-las to feel like you know the song upon first listen. Perhaps not too surprisingly, the song explains “I just wanna feel nice” over and over, which is something pretty much anyone can relate to. We’re more of a doom-and-gloom blog over here at buffaBLOG, but every now and then one of these chipper songs sneaks its way onto our playlists. ICYMI – you can also find our writeup on Merchant’s previous single, “Staying in California.” You can also find “Feel Nice” on Spotify. MERCHANT · Feel Nice