Latest Posts

Urge Surfer Releases Debut EP, Music Video for “Cursed”

August 18, 2022

Urge Surfer is a brand new Buffalo-based project created by former coworkers Chelsea O’Donnell (Stress Dolls) and Jordan Smith. The duo used the itchiness of pandemic-era angst to inspire their new musical brew – a blippy and hazy blend of modular synth sighs and squelches with hints of guitar. O’Donnell’s distinct vocals lay on top of the music, often sassy and angsty, offering a unique counterpoint to Smith’s dark and calculated creations. The duo exchanged hundreds of emails with no real intention other than to write music… Telling, as their music could fit comfortably next to any Postal Service song (who pioneered this email-based approach back in the early aughts). Fans of Purity Ring, Phantogram, and even Grimes will find lots to like here, as well as synth-heads who can appreciate a tasteful use of arpeggiation and custom-curated patches. They’ve just released a video to accompany lead single, “Cursed.” O’Donnell[...]

Conflict at Serenity Pools – “Other Love”

August 16, 2022

Venice, CA-based act Conflict at Serenity Pools caught our ears with the noisy goodness of their latest single, “Other Love.” Featuring elements of shoegaze, kraut, and straight-up noise (with a healthy dose of DIY production value), “Other Love” sounds like the meandering creations of your local, loud-as-hell shoegazers ripping a phat set in the basement venue next door. This one is truly one-of-a-kind – though there are elements of traditional indie rock throughout, upon first listen, you’re sure to discover something you’ve never quite heard before. Lyrically, CASP explains: “Content and inspiration centers around isolation, self-review in isolation, contemplation, and the yearning for touch and tactile reality.” You can also find “Other Love” on Spotify.

Human Barbie – “Wait”

August 13, 2022

It’s been a minute since we last heard from Human Barbie – we loved (and still love!) the crushing melancholy of “Be Careful What You Wish For” back in 2019. They’re back again with a song called “Wait,” a beautiful and unique song with bedroom vibes and a downbeat tempo that is sure to get your emotions swirling. We particularly love the musical transition from the hopeful verse melodies to a borderline haunting chorus; it swims from gently swung guitar chords into an almost menacing feel. It’s crushing… And if you haven’t figured it out by now, our black hearts here at buffaBLOG are particularly vulnerable to heartbreakers like this one. “Wait” is out now on Poor Man Records. You can find “Wait” on both Bandcamp (below) and Spotify. wait by Human Barbie

Foyer Red – “Pickles”

August 13, 2022

There’s something intangibly amazing about the chaotic indie rock coming out of Foyer Red. Their music, in this case, “Pickles,” exists at the apex of indie punk, math rock, and sweetly-sung indie rock – midwestern twinkles, ebullient bass, and dueling vocal parts come together in a sort of perfectly-imperfect way. To put it bluntly, it’s weird and it’s truly one-of-a-kind… And that’s what makes it so amazing. About the song, they say: “The lyrics are about depressive episodes trapping you in your own home, turning physical space into dungeon space. Everything feels stale; the air gets too warm but you can’t get up to fix it. You’re relying on external factors to make a difference in your world and there’s a sort of intersection of comfort and discomfort.” P.S. ICYMI, you should also check out our previous features of the World of Warcraft-inspired “Slander” and woodwind-laced “Flipper.” You can also[...]

Jet City Sports Club – “Green Thumb”

August 13, 2022

Last time we checked in with Sydney’s Jet City Sports Club, we were waxing poetic about the sparkly beach-pop of their single, “She Don’t Need No One.” They’re back with another shimmering indie-pop gem, this time called “Green Thumb.” If you liked “No One,” you’re sure to like “Green Thumb,” as JCSC is savvy enough to know what works well for them – sun-soaked guitar leads, fun energy, and a lilting vocal presence that’s as pristine as it is pleasant on the ears. You can find “Green Thumb” on Spotify and Apple Music.

Woodlock – “Bermuda Sea”

August 13, 2022

New Zealand/Australian hybrid act Woodlock caught our ears with the mid-tempo groove of their latest single, “Bermuda Sea.” A plodding bassline and chuggy guitar chords provide the backbone for longing keyboard textures and passionate vocals about feeling not-quite-good-enough. Artists will surely relate to the lyrics here – Woodlock touch on the feelings of inadequacy on what it’s like to be “just another band” in a sea of great music… But chin up guys, you made it onto buffaBLOG! A little bit more bout the song from Woodlock themselves: “It’s about feeling lost amongst your peers after listening to so much great music and struggling with the idea that we couldn’t measure up or stand out, it’s about being intimidated by the process of creation and the place we hold within the wider musical narrative. But the chorus is where we find our focus and says, “I refuse to give up[...]

Winsome – “Entertain Us – Live Session”

August 12, 2022

We’re obviously fans of live music, but when a live session catches our ears, you know it’s truly got to be magical. Sacramento indie/emo act Winsome decided to capture some live footage of a new song they’ve been working on by setting up a few cameras in their living room. With plucky guitars lush with reverb, male/female harmonies, and an urgent undercurrent of emotion, “Entertain Us” has us feeling some type of way… We think their brooding live presence will hit you in the feels the way it did for us. Check out the live session below on YouTube.

PLANT – “Lucid Dreams”

August 12, 2022

It’s one thing to make a dancefloor banger, but we always appreciate when synthpop has an urgent feel to it. The latest from PLANT, “Lucid Dreams,” nails that vibe, taking the listener through an intangible dream state lush with buzzing synth flavors and ethereal vocal melodies. The real gem here is the super-catchy chorus hook, but perhaps unsurprisingly, “Dreams” was inspired by a real-life dream – check out how PLANT came up with the concept of the song below: “’Lucid Dreams’ is about an actual dream that I had. I love dreams, I have pretty wild dreams frequently, and hearing about other people’s dreams is one of my favourite things. In the dream that inspired ‘Lucid Dreams’, I was following this stunning, ethereal elf woman through a magical emerald forest. The lyrics of the song detail all the interesting things we encountered, as well as the emotional journey I experienced,[...]

Glom – “I Wanted The Real Thing”

August 12, 2022

We’ve been keeping a close eye on Glom – ICYMI, we’ve previously featured their songs “Fungus,” “Gre[a]y,” and “Again,” because they are genuinely an excellent act. They’re back with yet another banger, this time called “I Wanted The Real Thing.” The Brooklyn alt-rockers sure know how to write a guitar riff – with touches of psychedelia and synth pop and carried by a strong falsetto croon, “Real Thing” fits in perfectly with their technicolor brand of indie rock. They get existential here – here’s a quote from the band explaining their approach: “The line ‘I want to talk with god…’ It speaks to this sense of wanting to figure out, especially right now, what the hell is really going on. Why are things so messed up? Like, who’s the manager here? Who can we talk to to figure things out on a metaphysical level?’ You can also find “I Wanted[...]

young friend – “ENDLESS”

August 12, 2022

Bedroom-pop act young friend (aka songwriter Drew Tarves) knows how to blend genre to his advantage. Whether it’s the grungy guitars, squiggly keyboard textures, or smartly-composed 2022-flavored percussion, “ENDLESS” could fit on just about any playlist. At only 22-years-old, the wunderkind uses the age old topic of lost young love to his advantage – about the song, he says: “ENDLESS is a song that reflects on a past relationship. It is about feeling nostalgic for what you once had, like you would do anything to return to that time in your life.” Follow along to the lyrics via the music video for “Endless” below – you can also find it on Spotify and Apple Music.

Tender Glue – “Simple Boys”

August 12, 2022

Tender Glue, the clever moniker for songwriter Tom Gluewicki, captured our hearts with the fun indie rock energy of latest single, “Simple Boys.” A not-so-secret nod to ALL kinds of love (including self), “Boys” bounces along with it’s playful guitar riff and surprisingly longing vocal performance. About the song, Tom says: “This one is kind of a funny take on the immaturity of some men – not in a derogatory way. At the end of the day, all we ever need is love, even ‘Simple Boys’” You can also find “Simple Boys” on Bandcamp (below) and Spotify. Simple Boys by Tender Glue

Spill, Dance, Refine – “Wide Awake”

August 12, 2022

The mysterious act Spill, Dance, Refine is a breath of fresh air… Or maybe a deep inhale on a fresh cigarette. One listen to the gravely vocals on latest single “Wide Awake” will have you knowing exactly what we mean – they sing about trying to sleep amid a circus in your head; jabberjaws scaring off the ladies; and a host of other mile-a-minute intrusive thoughts that we deal with on the daily. It’s all delivered over just-as-gravely guitar tones – fuzzed out to perfection, especially when the first big chorus hits. You can also find “Wide Awake” on Spotify. Spill, Dance, Refine · Wide Awake

Bo Milli – “How It Is”

August 12, 2022

Bergen, Norway-based indie rocker Bo Milli caught our ears with this not-so-lighthearted jam. The upbeat instrumentals belie the ennui that powers the song lyrically – see the line about those ever-pervasive Strokes hits that seem to have powered the rest of indie rock composition since 2001… Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to you to decide. Further confirming our hypothesis, about the song, Bo says: “Originally the chorus was this tiny bit where I say “you know how it is” — a sort of anti-chorus undermining the idea of a thesis statement. This song is mainly made up of lines gesturing towards a vague dissatisfaction everyone seems to relate to, without really saying much outright.” You can also find “How It Is” on Bandcamp (below) and Spotify. How it is by Bo Milli

Berry & Balloon Twister – “Dream Tangerine”

August 7, 2022

Berry & Balloon Twister teamed up for this blissful, psyched-out take on jangle pop that they’re calling “Dream Tangerine.” There’s something that reminds us of the late 90s on this one (think New Radicals or The Sundays) – sparkly guitar leads and nimble bass flourishes pair well with Berry’s soaring and airy vocal presence. Fun fact, XTC’s Andy Partridge arranged the hiatus on this track. An even MORE fun fact comes straight from Berry herself – see below: “This song was partially inspired by picking up a hitchhiker in the snowy winter who was a porn channel presenter (Babe Station) late for work. Her mum flagged down the car, she was cold (not enough clothes on). We liked her, she was nice.” You can also find this collab on Bandcamp. Balloon Twister Records · Berry & Balloon Twister – Dream Tangerine

MAYA LUCIA – “numb or something”

August 7, 2022

MAYA LUCIA walks the line between beauty and cacophony on her latest, “numb or something.” There’s no ignoring that big “ugly” chord in the progression here (we use that term lightly), but the commitment to beauty-in-ugliness is what makes “numb” truly magical. Bringing to mind bands like Speedy Ortiz and Great Grandpa, “numb” twists and turns in unexpected ways that keep you on your toes as MAYA weaves in directions that barely even seem possible. About the song, she says: “This is the song you scream in your room after a long day. It’s melodrama at its core — the feeling of the world ending only to realize you’re crying over nothing. The track is a journey of self-soothing, and convincing yourself you’re okay (for better or worse).” You can find “numb or something” on Spotify too. MAYA LUCIA · numb or something