Sultry jewel tones fill the room as East Sussex-raised FØNX floods the space with his gorgeous vocals. The simple contrast of black with those tones increases the soulfulness of the track itself, and make it feel a little more like a scene from a boy band video from the 90s.
Keep up with FØNX here.
17-year-old musician Akine is gaining traction, now with her new track “Money In Your Mouth”, where she brings us an incredibly vulnerable side of herself. The intense lyrics paint a picture that will leave a bad taste in your mouth on behalf of Akine – or, the protagonist in the song -, but the vocals themselves are simultaneously edgy and smooth. The song is light enough to feel perfect for an autumn get together, bundled in hoodies and rocking vintage boots.
Keep up with Akine here.
San Francisco-based dark indie pop duo New Spell – comprised of Leanne Kelly and Jacob Frautschi – dropped their 4-track EP Of Time, Part II today, and we’ve got your exclusive sneak peek at the release in its entirety. While aspects of “You Win” feel electronic – the song oozes quirky instrumentals that mirror our favorite video games – Kelly’s light as a feather vocals carry it into a more ethereal soundscape. The duo took the time to add fluid-sounding instrumentals to second track “Like Water”, and brought the entire tone of the album down for third track “Merely Mortal”. “Of Time” maintains this darker demeanor, while still leaving its listener feeling uplifted and – at times – breathless as it winds the release down.
Keep up with New Spell here.
London-based alt musician Charlene Soraia produced her new single “Where’s My Tribe” in its entirety in her London flat. The song – which is the title track from her upcoming EP – sets the tone for what’s to come by establishing a wide-ranging, ballad-like feel within her vocals. The instrumentals are simple, peaceful, and raw, and realizing that all of the layers that comprise this piece were delivered by a single human is heart-wrenching in the most beautiful way. Check out “Where’s My Tribe” below!
Keep up with Charlene Soraia here.
Los Angeles-based electro-soul duo Smoke Season – comprised of Gabrielle Wortman and Jason Rosen – is at it again with their new single “Hot Damn”, a hard-hitting, sultry dream of a song. Filled to the brim with pop culture references, the song tracks an infatuation – and perhaps a blooming romance – in a way that you can feel deep in your bones. The percussion brings a real badass sensation to it all, heightened only by Gabrielle’s raspy, gorgeous vocals. Check it out below!
Keep up with Smoke Season here.
Seattle-based musical duo Glass Heart String Choir – expertly comprised of Katie Mosehaur and Ian Williams – is ready and revving to release the brand new visual for their single “Wildfires”. Filled with twinkling lights and a magical feeling induced by Williams’ ethereal, wide-ranging vocals, the music video was shot in low light that adds a lustrous, beautiful quality to it all. We’ve got the exclusive premiere of this gorgeous video, and we’d love to share it with you below!
Tour Dates
September 20th // Seattle, WA // Columbia City Theater
September 22nd // Tacoma, WA // Alma Mater
October 5th // Bellingham, WA // Alternative Library
October 25th // Eugene, OR // Sam Bond’s Garage
November 17th // Seattle, WA // Gallery 1412
November 18th // Seattle, WA // Gallery 1412
November 30th // Portland, OR // Artichoke Music
Keep up with Glass Heart String Choir here.
Are you into quirky, emotional, indie rock music? Because Active Bird Community – and their brand new album Amends, out today – could really do the trick for you. The Brooklyn-based collective has been creating their brand of alternative music together since 2005 when the guys were in middle school, and the evolution has been impeccable, as they hone their sound into something 90’s babies will cherish, perhaps, more than anyone else. Amends is direct evidence of that.
Beginning with the title track, Amends establishes that slacker sound to a T while it meanders through with rough guitars, perfectly sometimes-whiny vocals, and a robust, head-bobbing energy. This carries well into second track “Holier”, though third track “Sweaty Lake” – as memorable as that name is – picks up the pace immensely, and understandably so. (See: the title “Sweaty Lake”.) Things slow again in “Unwind With Me”, which is, again, a direct reflection of the song title.
Once we get to “Baby It’s You”, I don’t think anyone is expecting a horns section. But there it is, an intro that wakes you back up with its differentiation from its predecessors. The pace takes that of a Weezer track, and we’re on board with the energy again. .”Virginia” feels more 90s grunge than others thus far, ragging on people for being “just a cliche” and challenging the object of their attention. “Blame” slows down to a ballad-like crawl, emotional in its disposition, while “Downstairs” adds some more quirk back into the feel of the album with light percussion and a rough, beautiful bass line.
“Metrics” starts with a toe-tapping, pop-like feel, and then delves back into the whirring guitars, hard percussion, and upbeat attitude of the majority of Amends. “Silver Screen” begins slow, simple, and then bursts into this kaleidoscope of sound that we didn’t necessarily see coming. “Lighthouse” rounds it all out quite beautifully, performed on acoustic guitar to really enhance the lovely, soft feeling of the lyrics.
You know, until it gets a little rowdy toward the end. But we really couldn’t have hoped for anything different.
Keep up with Active Bird Community here.
After being crowned by Apple Music as their Best New Artist in 2016, with a million-plus plays of her music, Pyra has gone from strength to strength. For her latest outing the self confessed ‘solar soul’ has teamed up with indie label Absent Mind. Together they bring you the single “Regret Me.”
A soulful, stripped back cut – which was not only written but produced by the lady herself – it’s a downtempo mix of R&B vocals and crisp electronic production. The single showcases Pyra’s ability to deliver a soothing, dream-like vocal tone set to pitch perfect production: strings, synths and suitable percussion set the mood.
“Regret Me” is out now so go check it out here.
It’s mid-week and we need a mood boosting song. Fear not, as self-proclaimed “midnight pop” musician Unknown Caller‘s new track “Sayonara” fits the bill exactly. Light as air, synth-fueled melodies dance around his high ranging vocals to make your heart melt in only the way Unknown Caller will eventually become known for. All we know is this track is perfect for a low key end of summer party, and would be absolutely gorgeous played over a dimly lit dance floor.
Who’s in?
Keep up with Unknown Caller here.