hazey eyes, “scares” (ft. yoke lore)

hazey eyes, “scares” (ft. yoke lore)

In a beautiful, seemingly-hazy atmosphere is where director Simon Dymond placed the wonderfully nostalgic video for “Scars” by Hazey Eyes and Yoke Lore. With dark tones and a simple feel to it all, “Scars” features the talents of actors Erin Kellyman, tom Blyth, and Bradley Badder in a way that allows their pure acting talent to evolve over the course of the video. It all starts out simple enough, but eventually some crazy things happen… and we’ve got to admit, it gets pretty intense.

But isn’t that the case with most scars?

Keep up with Hazey Eyes here.

lasso spells, “be what you want”

lasso spells, “be what you want”

Nashville-based “dessert rock” collective Lasso Spells – comprised of Brett Dudash, Teddy Nabozny, Eric Melton, and Justin Lock – is making a bold statement in their new track “Be What You Want”, a fact that is palpable with even just a glance at the track name. Never mind that they have brought their quintessential psychedelic, carefree feel to the song, the lyrics are just as compelling.

“Be What You Want” is the perfect self love situation for us all as we continue into a season of productivity and luck. We’re looking forward to keeping this gem on repeat through it all.

Keep up with Lasso Spells here.

emily jackson, “oh mother”

emily jackson, “oh mother”

Indie pop musician Emily Jackson may have taken a decade off of creating music to pursue her acting career, but her new single “Oh Mother” throws her right back into the magic of it all. A recent move from the sunny coast of California to the bustling streets of NYC pulled her back into her music creation sphere. And, even though she’s not acting in the song itself, there is a big, theatrical feel to the song that is absolutely gorgeous. Sounds of crashing waves and a robust feel brought on by reverb in the vocals brings this track into ballad territory, and we are all about it.

“Oh Mother” is out now. Keep up with Emily Jackson here.

panda$, “love after war”

panda$, “love after war”

The first lines of PANDA$ new track “Love After War” feature Anastasia Elliot‘s vocals as she sings of a love/hate relationship. Smooth as honey, the rap verses pick the pace up over simplified instrumentals, a combination that makes the track feel soulful and whole. At times morbid (“cleaning blood stains off the floor”), the song is still incredibly relatable and introspective. Plus, all NBA fans will appreciate that beautiful reference to being “perfect like Jordan and Pippin,” no questions asked.

Keep up with PANDA$ here.

skela, “what’s wrong with me”

skela, “what’s wrong with me”

Looking for a soundscape to give you a break from sticky sweet pop records for a hot second? Craving a voice that is far-reaching, robust, and has just a hint of a scratch to it? Queens-based indie artist Skela is giving us just enough of that uptempo, catchy beat underneath her gorgeous, tranquil vocals with her track “What’s Wrong With Me” and its corresponding, brilliant lyric video. Her vibrant personality comes alive in the visual, the accompanying artistic aspects give it the quirk and rebellion we were hoping for.

So “What’s Wrong With Me”? We’re struggling to figure that out as well (Nothing. There’s nothing wrong with any of this.)

Keep up with Skela here.

cream with a k, “terrible voices”

cream with a k, “terrible voices”

Unsettling noise, and then the introduction of the artist’s whispery, light as a feather vocals over contrasting instrumentals mark the beginning of Cream with a K‘s “Terrible Voices”. While the song itself seems to touch on mental health to some capacity – whether the “terrible voices” in her head are symptoms of issues, whether she struggles with anxiety, or whether she is letting peoples’ actual thoughts rotate throughout the day – it’s also eery in its disposition, and perhaps the perfect autumn start for us all.

Keep up with Cream with a K here.

so below, “drive”

so below, “drive”

Goth pop musician So Below has recently released new song “Drive” that includes a splash of upbeat indie pop. This song has a calm/mellow beat with smooth vocals sounding similar to the vocals of singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson. Madeline North, the sole creator of So Below, uses her unique vocals in each song to draw in listeners from any genre. You can also hear her vocal similarities to ‘Drive’ in her other tracks ‘Visions’ and ‘Close’. ‘Drive’ not only is the perfect song to play with your windows rolled down, but also the perfect song to play on a rainy day!

Make sure you check out all of So Below’s present and past music because you will not be disappointed!

cristabelle braden, “light in the dark”

cristabelle braden, “light in the dark”

The first single from singer/songwriter Cristabelle Braden‘s upcoming EP is revving up for release, and we’ve got the exclusive premiere right here! The catchy pop track highlights the importance of beacons of light during dark times. “Light in the Dark” was inspired by Cristabelle’s own struggle with a severe head injury, and the time following that, during which she began her own organization called Hope After Head Injury. Though the song itself is sticky sweet at times, the lyrics bring out the melancholic tone and moments of self-evaluation that we all have at one time or another.

Allow yourself to get lost in a different world for a bit, and try “Light in the Dark” on for size.

“Light in the Dark” is available for pre-order now via iTunes and Amazon.  For more about Cristabelle’s work with brain injury, visit hopeafterheadinjury.com. Keep up with Cristabelle Braden here.

deal casino, “french blonde”

deal casino, “french blonde”

New Jersey band Deal Casino’s latest single is cool and crazy and presents the band’s ability to diversify their sound. Before listening to the track, the title led me to believe that this would be a romantic ballad about an unrequited love for a beautiful girl with blonde hair. But, the grating instrumentals and twisted lyrics said otherwise. Speaking of the lyrics, they are quite jarring. They tend to paint a detailed and gruesome picture. The song opens up with a bit of gore:
I’m a dead animal.
You’re used to seeing my guts.
“You see me lying on the street,
Just drive right over me,
While you’re putting on your makeup.”
The opening, as well as some of the other verses in the song, are spoken rather than sung, showing a contrast that results in a layered track with a unique vibe that still feels like a solid and cohesive track. “French Blonde” has shown that Deal Casino is the real deal when it comes to a band that can showcase their talent in the coolest of ways, and that way is gritty pop-rock.

Be sure to check out Deal Casino’s upcoming full-length album “LLC,” which is due out soon. Keep up with them here.