Welks Mice is Buffalo’s premier vibraphone – vocal DIY pop duo. Songwriter Max Weiss and vibraphonist Andre Welks-Fabretti explore themes of openness, positivity, and hope. The anxious and incessant edges of the duo’s sound give way to softer song forms while maintaining their signature stark and minimalist pop aesthetic that keeps Max’s lyrics central for the listener.
Addisyn Logan has been another one of our post-COVID favorites. A mix between Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers, this singer/songwriter truly delivers with her iconic sad girl energy. If you’re going to break up with someone, double check that it’s not Addisyn Logan with an alias, because she will make a biting song about it… And worst of all, it will have a really pretty melody.
Straight out of Sweden; ESTHERLIVIA is the the project of Esther Ribbstedt Österman. “TICKLE” is equal parts sultry and brooding with some fabulous hooks that fans of Grimes or Perfume Genius would surely enjoy. Österman’s strong production background shines with tightly wound pop bass and drums that flow like a kaleidoscope over a vast cityscape. ESTHERLIVIA’s command of sound and knack for crafting infectious ear worms is second-to-none. My only complaint is that there isn’t more to listen to, but with a talent such as Esther, it’s only matter of time until we’re graced with another sick track. You can find more of Esther on Spotify or Apple Music. Please let me know what you think over on our Twitter handle @buffablog.
The Fire And Things Forgotten, the celestial debut full-length from Buffalo born electronic musician Suzanne Bonifacio (who records as Space Cubs), is the result of what the artist refers to as a “journey of creative reflection and change” that included a move to Chicago before settling in Charlotte, North Carolina. Drawing comparisons to experimental pop artists like Bjork, Grimes, and Jessy Lanza, Bonifacio’s strength as a songwriter lies in her ability to forge melodic, blissful sounds from underneath an uneasy, murky veil of reverb and restless percussion. Mostly recorded during a period where the artist found herself living in the middle of Pisgah National Forest, the album successfully conjures the remote, ruminative circumstances of its creation, as is apparent from the atmospheric opening cut, “Back Lies,” with its siren-like vocals and inviting melodic elements. The following track and lead single, “The Eye,” is perhaps the strongest display of Bonifacio’s classically trained vocal[...]
Lewis Watson may have millions of views as a YouTube star and a rising social media presence at only 21 years old, but he’s unlike many of his other youthful counterparts on the cusps of fame. Instead of spiraling out of control since he’s gotten famous, Watson has preserved a down-to-earth authenticity that’s kept him grounded and even helped to maintain his uniqueness while others his age have sacrificed creativity for mainstream trends. In the vein of other singer-songwriting guitarists like Jake Bugg and Ed Sheeran, Watson’s debut album, The Morning, delivers maturity far beyond his age and a distinct musical style that will without a doubt find its niche somewhere in the alternative market. Over the last two years, fans of Lewis Watson have gotten a plethora of insights on what his debut album would sound like due to five highly successful EPs that featured a mix of originals and[...]