Mysterious Brooklyn chillwave artist DJ ST THOMAS caught our attention with his equally mysterious debut jam, “Fodder.” Pairing funk and electronica vibes with distant vocals seems to be working out well for ST THOMAS – we’re excited to hear more when he comes out with his full EP in October. Till then, bide your time with “Fodder,” embedded below.
Arche is a French pop act whose “My Only” caught our eye. The video is full of kitschy, 90s-esque windbreaker vibes (despite what otherwise seems to be a youthful group of musicians). Beyond their music video’s impeccable aesthetic, “My Only” is a super cool pop track – full of far-off vocals and wild synthscapes you’ll have to just hear for yourself. Give it a watch below.
“September Second” is an interesting song – dancy like an 80s pop song but delicate and morose a la reverb-drenched indie rock. Either way – we’re digging the sounds coming out of Brooklyn’s Plastic Picnic. By pairing vintage synth twinkles and jangly guitars with a warm and fuzzy mix, we think PP has created something truly special here. Check it out below.
“So Real” is so, so good. On “So Real,” The Young Punx have crafted a bumping house tune with sincere, retro flair. Live strings and real grand piano truly bring this one to life, not to mention the soulful vocals from Sharlene Hector. This one could be already be a standard if it was a 70s disco smash, but it also sounds fresh and contemporary with true house pizzazz. Check it out via the widget below.
Japanincolor is the solo project from Hundred Plus Club bassist Rafi Bloomberg. Daydreams is a simple, four-song EP that finds the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Bloomberg flexing his songwriter muscles via interesting collaborations with other Buffalo-based musicians. Intro track “The Theme” is a piano composition by Zekeriya Spoth. Bloomberg seems to revel in collaborations with other artists, using his own knowledge of music theory and musicianship to bolster their contributions. “The Theme” is short but sweet, a beautiful way to start this EP. Song two is “High Shelf,” which features vocals from Carmen & Lizzy’s Carmen O’Keefe. This might be the stand out track on the EP – O’Keefe’s vocals ride perfectly atop Bloomberg’s instrumentals, fleshed out tastefully with lush harmonies, jangly guitars, and a simple guitar solo. If you’ve ever seen Bloomberg perform live, you know how insanely talented he is… The simplicity of Daydreams points to how reserved he can be, resisting the temptation to fill these songs[...]
We think you should check out Anoraak’s latest remix – His latest is for Portugal sensation Pongo on her song “Quero Mais.” Anoraak went with a funky instrumental take, full of nu-disco vibes and distant, siren synths. This one was made for a thumping, throbbing, high-intensity night at the club, perfect for your next DJ set. Get acquainted below and be sure to check out both Pongo and the fantastic label, Kitsune.
A blast of lighthearted indie rock for a sunny, summer day. We’re recommending Damé‘s latest track, “It’s All Over Now” for it’s bright disposition and upbeat vibes. This Netherlands act has packed their music full of jangly guitars, frantic tambourine, and incredible vocals from singer Daphne Felipie… Check it out via the widget below.
We’re loving the slacker vibes from this warbly jam from Nolan Garrett. “Better Weather” pair’s Garrett’s low-key drawl with woozy synths and a sloshing tempo that helps you sink right back into your chair. Fans of Tame Impala or Mac Demarco would love this one – check it out below or add it to your Spotify playlist.
You may recognize Generationals from their absolute bangers, “When They Fight, They Fight,” or “Put a Light On,” but we’d like to direct your attention to their newest offering, “Gatekeeper.” This one is full of bombastic drum samples, tape-aged synth glitches, and Generational’s pleasantly distinct vocal delivery. Reader as Detective comes out today via Polyvinyl. Certainly worth a listen – add it to your Spotify playlist or check it out via the widget below.
There’s something to be said about an understated indie-rock song, and Slowcoaching seem to be the masters of it. “Between The Walls” is a perfectly swimmy indie-rock song, soaked in reverb and carried by a bubbly bass riff. A perfect song to put on in any mood – we especially love the slight crescendo in the bridge. Check it out below.
German synth pop duo Fye & Fennek really know how to write a synth pop banger. “Better Lover” is sure to get your head nodding – full of a driven synth bass and curiously sexy vocals dripping with desire. “You treat me like a yo-yo” will be replaying in your head all day. Check it out below.
We can’t help but love this warbly synthpop nugget from Anchorage, AK synth wizard Paul Jacks. “In Other Words” is padded with flickering synth waves, vaguely distant vocals, and drums with a lite 80s flair. Def a good one for a twilight summer drive with the windows rolled down. Check out “In Other Words” via the Soundcloud widget below.
Falling somewhere on the spectrum between post-punk and shoegaze, gauzy act Stray Fossa happened to catch our attention with their latest offering, “Eyze.” A hush-hush vibe really sets this one apart from the pack. Despite it’s understated sensibility, it’s actually a pretty driven track. Certainly worth a listen – check it out via the widget below and swing by their Bandcamp for a download. Eyze by Stray Fossa
Great News is a fantastic Norwegian act making upbeat, synthy indie music. “TV” is a super peppy jam, full of synth blasts, driving bass, and more than enough 80s neon influence. Great News manages to capture the campy, big-hair vibes of the 80s and smash it together with modern indie rock sensibility. Check it out below.
We’re not sure whether to be more smitten by the dreamy synth pop of “It’s Not True Love” or the incredibly provocative music video… But either way, we’re taken by Bye Beneco on her latest jam. Full of soaring vocal melodies and impressive synth work, “True Love” is sexy in every sense of the word. Check out the vid below… just try not to get too hot ‘n bothered.