by Madi Toman | Feb 5, 2020 | videos, wolf tracks
Musical newcomer Finlay has just released “Evolution”, an unflinchingly honest track that comes just in time for my second quarter-life crisis of the week. The song is the young artist’s second release following his debut single, “A Million Places” and premieres alongside a refreshingly simple music video. The song itself navigates the tricky gray area that many (and by many I mean all) feel as they try to transition from childhood to adulthood and the struggles that accompany that.
The video starts out with a shaky shot of Finlay himself laughing candidly before the music starts, at which point he appears to have a sobering moment. Twinkly piano reminiscent of childhood lullabies opens the track and, accompanied alongside the visual of the young artist laughing, serve to provide us with both auditory and visual evidence of what being young and carefree feels like.
Right off the bat Finlay’s voice is aching and the piano is thoughtful. The Yorkshire-based singer is both raw and genuine and possesses an encapsulating quality that listeners are sure to immediately feel. We witness the young artist experience a rollercoaster of emotions as he does something that most artists these days wouldn’t dream of attempting for a music video; He just stands there and sings to the camera. I know, I know. Crazy. The simplicity and honesty of the whole thing in a time where music videos are more often than not expected to be highly-produced, over-the-top artistic feats is a breath of fresh air. As the song progresses, Finlay backs away from the camera and into metaphorical uncertainty, and as the shot widens we start to see the vast (and might I add, stunning) landscape that is waiting beyond him. When he finishes singing, he walks off into the unknown, fading out of focus as his voice echoes behind him. He might be new to the scene, but what Finlay lacks in experience, he makes up for with his brave vulnerability and raw talent.
by Madi Toman | Feb 4, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based Electro-pop artist Stefan T has just released an electric new single by the name of “Keep Me Guessing”. The Berklee College of Music alum is responsible for the vocals, instrumentation, and production of his new track, and it precedes the release of his upcoming album Night Shift.
The song explores love and relationships, specifically being caught in an endlessly toxic and manipulative cycle. Of the inspiration for the song, Stefan says, “ The song follows a conversation between two characters in a twisted relationship. In both verses, it’s character one looking for attention and wanting to give affection but in reality, they never follow through. In the pre-chorus and chorus, character two is calling out character one on their manipulation of the relationship and they’re tired of the games. In the end, both parties just keep playing the same game, because they’re too afraid to fall out of love. “The electro-pop track employs bluesy guitars and passionate and soulful vocals courtesy of Stefan T himself. Recording artist Kaylie Foster adds depth and feeling to the already soulful track with backing vocals that are simultaneously haunting and pure.
Stefan T’s new album, Night Shift, is set to be released this spring. Keep up with Stefan T. here.
by Kendal Chandler | Feb 4, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Indie-pop/alt-rock act Cannibal Kids announce their new track “Voicemail”. This release is in anticipation of the band’s upcoming album deadheads, set to be released Feb. 21, 2020.
“Voicemail” brings back some youthful energy to the indie scene. The surf rock influenced sounds come heavily from the band’s hometown of Florida. They channel the feelings of bright, sunny, and face-paced Florida to create songs like “Voicemail” with sensuous guitar lines and pulsating baselines.
Cannibal Kids write songs about love, heartbreak, and their reality. Most times the lyrical context is a juxtaposition to the beachy vibes of the instrumentation.
Keep up with Cannibal Kids here.
by Kendal Chandler | Jan 31, 2020 | videos, wolf tracks
Indie group Hello Forever release video for newest track “I Want to Marry You”. Hailing from hippie-esque Topanga County, Calif., those same vibes are present in the song and the video.
Hello Forever, are shot at multiple locations in Topanga County. The look of the video is an off-shoot of their hippie style, seemingly recorded or mimicked to look like it was recorded on 35mm film.
“I Want to Marry You” is lead by ukulele with percussion used to keep the steady rhythm. The ukulele created melody give the song a light feeling. A feeling a listener can find themselves relaxing to or dancing along with.
Hello Forever’s style of music falls somewhere between the indie-rock powerhouse Vampire Weekend and psychedelic POND. This varied marker gives them the space to create and innovate in spaces that seem far apart. What Hello Forever are able to create in this space is a warped indie style that is highly enjoyable.
Keep up with Hello Forever here.
by Madi Toman | Jan 30, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Singer-songwriter Cayley Thomas has just released “Blue Jean Baby”, the newest single from her upcoming album How Else Can I Tell You?, a “collection of songs that reflect upon a period of subconscious overwhelm and the subsequent shift into conscious thought and awareness”.
Before any lyrics are even heard, the track feels romantic. The guitars are hopeful and the drums seem as though they could be keeping time to a heartbeat, and that’s all before Thomas even opens her mouth. As soon as she does, the transportation to another time is inevitable; you’re wrapped up in her world in the first thirty seconds.
Echoing harmonies and dreamy bass pull the listener into the warm and hazy fever dream of the land that Thomas’ music lives in, a land almost as enticing as her purely enchanting vocals themselves. Despite the simplicity of it all, Thomas quickly and smoothly draws her audience in with ringing guitars and hypnotic production from another time and traps them in her honey-drenched web, and she doesn’t release her grip until it’s all over. The instrumentation takes its time for the first two-and-a-half minutes of the track, but perfection cannot be rushed, and the build is slow and sweet. It’s impossible to hear Thomas and not think of Lana del Ray, and not just because of their similar affinity for men in blue jeans; the singers share that sweetly monotonous quality in their voice that’s just so damn charming in a cool, detached sort of way.
How Else Can I Tell You? premiers November 21st, 2020. Keep up with Cayley here.
by Kendal Chandler | Jan 29, 2020 | videos, wolf tracks
North London indie-pop band WEIRD MILK release video for newest track “Time Machine”. The video was released in the U.S through Austin, TX label Big Indie. The band consisting of Zach Campbell (guitar, vocals), Alex Griffiths (guitar, vocals), Charlie Glover Wright (drums), Joe ‘Blue’ Moyle (keys), and Harry Zwaig (bass), are moving their way to the front of the indie scene.
The pulsating new track pulls listeners back to the style of Beach Boys in harmonies, and The Strokes in guitar composition. This simple visual of the band standing in the backroom of some establishment while they harmonize, enhances the simplicity and influence of this track. This simplicity is helping them stand out in scene of acts trying to be different, WEIRD MILK strip the indie sound to it’s basic form and elevate it in a way that seems nostalgic.
Keep up with WEIRD MILK here.
by Kendal Chandler | Jan 28, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Emerging singer-songwriter Mae Muller releases her newest track “Therapist”. Muller says the song comes from her inner feelings of what is means to be a ‘good’ girlfriend. Specifically emphasizing the notion that “We are not here to teach men how to behave, we are not their mothers, or their therapists, and we shouldn’t have to take on that pressure! Especially when we receive nothing in return.”
She continues by talking about the song specifically saying, “In this particular song, it was about a situation where I really wanted to make it work but realized that this person did not need a relationship, and I couldn’t give him what he needed no matter how hard I tried.”
Muller’s sound is influenced by artists like H.E.R and Julia Michaels. She considers her songs are “emotion-based,” a concept she believes people have a hard time understanding. Muller’s music talks about what people are actually thinking or feeling, not metaphorically covering the topic. “Therapist” is no stranger to this style, pulling in listeners emotionally into a topic many can connect with.
Keep up with Mae Muller here.
by Kendal Chandler | Jan 27, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Brighton, UK act CIEL released the lead single “The Shore” off their upcoming album Movement, set to be released this Spring. “The Shore” gives the first glimpse of their dreamy alt-pop world with interwoven guitars, pulsing bass-lines, and intriguing vocal harmonies.
Lead singer Michelle Hindriks describes the song as “feeling stuck in your life and waiting for it to ‘really’ begin; yet at the same time, your realize it’s just an illusion and your life has already begun and you’re living it right now”. Continuing “losing the connection with that essence can feel extremely frustrating”.
Overall, CIEL’s sound is one that feels nostalgic while also being innovative. Bringing both these things together only adds to their mystique.
Keep up with CIEL here.
by Madi Toman | Jan 27, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Psychedelic rock outfit The Lazy Eyes have just released the lead single from their debut EP. While it’s entitled “Cheesy Love Song,” it feels like anything but.
The four-piece Sydney-based group are just 18 and 19 years old but met at a young age at their performing arts high school and have already been playing together for 4 years. The group gained national buzz after coming onto Australia’s scene at the 2019 Bigsound festival. They present themselves as part of the “the second generation of Australia’s burgeoning psych-rock scene” and they left Bigsound as one of the breakout acts of the festival.
>While admittedly cleverly named, “Cheesy Love Song” feels like anything but. Gentle piano melodies dance around Beatles-esque guitar riffs and sighing harmonies before exploding into a warmly-textured pedal and synth-filled trip. It is psychedelic rock in its tenderest and purest form, but it still harnesses unpredictability and skillful execution and leaves the listener wondering what The Lazy Eyes will do next.
The Lazy Eyes are set to perform at Laneway Festival next month and plan to announce 2020 U.S. dates soon.
