Having grown up in Jersey City, Juan Marcos Nieves – known to the scene as ROCKY – notes an eclectic background, immersed in music since just twelve years old. His passions for dancing and rapping alike led him towards an artistic identity that’s unquestionable, and as such, his original music reaches tens of thousands of listeners every month.
Singles
Self-described as ‘another unstable depressed artist’, the songwriting and voice of Afro Dope in topic and tone rings loudly as authentic and impassioned. The performance style is playful but also grounded by its own emotional integrity, and this stand tall throughout his colourful, unpredictable, and fast-growing indie catalogue.
His latest single Written In The Stars is an impassioned, catchy and heartfelt soul-rock single, with Bob’s iconic raspy vocals and guitar tone riding shotgun, alongside a timeless rock groove that’s impassioned and equally soulful.
Next we get a raspy and snappy vocal lead, short lines of poetic images, further encapsulating the story and location of our Dry River experience. Then the melody rises, the energy shifts, things are catchier, more satisfying in their resolve, and the lyrics pierce through with inescapable suffering and pain; most notably, ‘a trail of genocide’ rings out and lingers in the space.
From a fierce wall of nostalgic grunge distortion, to spacious and characterful, snappy and melodic vocal verses, After Halloween is quick to assert a sense of songwriting prowess and creative charm, with the uniquely lyrical and impactful alternative anthem of Please Don’t Shake My Hand.
Fallout is ideal as a starting point, a trap rhythm and dreamy keys and synths laying down a haunting, thoughtful aura, as the beat follows a mellow stop-and-start arrangement that naturally gets the mind wandering. The style is cinematic, finely built, with central melodies that feel fresh, and a kind of impending intensity that always lingers amidst these panned, sweeping sounds and effects.
Back to basics in a way, but a much needed return if so. Santa Fe captures a moment that’s comforting and awakening all at once, with the raw materials, original melodies, and brilliantly intriguing writing, of Undercut.
Kentucky country rock blends stories of personal turmoil, addiction, and family values, as producer and songwriter Trail Hawk delivers the evocative to uplifting country anthem My Rearview Mirror.
If you play this track in Spotify, you’re likely to find yourself immersed in an indie realm of algorithmic joy. The song fits beautifully amidst the likes of The Libertines, James, St. Jimi Sebastian Cricket Club, and it also blends pop and rock quite seamlessly, with snappy rhymes and a fully-loaded rock and vocal arrangement letting the music naturally uplift.
Everything is subtle but effective – the production and vocal shifts, the central contrast from one section to the next. It’s modesty and artistry intertwined, and it speaks volumes on behalf of the intentions and values of Aaron Lerer and 1526 Records.
UK acoustic vibes blending long riffs and summertime world-music rhythms with conceptual depth. Akiva Zneimer takes us back to the lightness of the warmer seasons, with a song fusing rap and melody to that alt-folk bounce of a style once made underground famous by the likes of Will and the People.
Inspired by his love for the children of his close friends, Follow You highlights the heartfelt nice-guy style of J.C. Maru as a songwriter and performer. The natural acoustic ambiance is inviting, softly paired vocals bringing a kind of warmth and depth that’s immersive, and the melodies and lyrics remind us of the beauty and wonder of connection and learning.