Simple but striking, nostalgic country folk with lush vocals and short lines rising through the joys of romance and wonder. Joshua Jamison ignites the modern country flame, with this raspy and catchy acoustic gem.
USA
Gentle lo-fi synth notes and the quiet strum of an acoustic guitar, an intimate vocal and writing style that feels diary-like in its tentative expression and longing. Chris Pannella delivers the closing song from his EP The Four Seasons of Her, and its a sleepy to euphoric and heartbroken story of love lost and fading passion.
Good songwriting stands tall, something authentic and well-built – a strong acoustic backdrop, a lush groove and lush vocals, a sense of meaning at its core. Wyoki delivers an alternative earworm on that front, with the strangely enthralling, imperfect but beautifully addictive Hotel.
Unconfined by expectation nor style, mortez let the songwriting and performance process guide, and the result is a massive track like The Crossing, and a band who will no doubt captivate immensely from the stage.
COOL REBEL TUESDAY continues, another epic indie hit from the American rap force SC4REAL. The Interview brings a quirky old-school bassline and hi-hat combination, with tripped rhythms and that clean-cut vocal depth again drawing you in to the centre of a creative free-flow that’s grounded but playful.
“The main values I want to represent in the indie folk music world are authenticity, integrity, and kindness.”
Easily one of the most entertaining and original takes on gamer music in recent years. Raspy metal vocals with a touch of soul, a rhythmic delivery and a heavy stomp of a techno beat – Bored gamer dude takes his passion for playful creativity to the bigger platforms, with Pacmania and the full-length album Game songs 1.
Dreamy indie pop arrangements with surprisingly bold and energising vocals – Nia Perez pours her heart into soul into both the writing and performance process, and the result is a compelling and intimate yet often euphoric, personal EP.
Pure creative freedom and diversity built from the need to overcome struggles and encourage better mental health. HOUNDS & JACKALS is a musical project blending sound, games, magic, and interactive media, and the artistic powerhouse has released an extensive amount of albums and videos over recent years. Collaborating directly with other artists – vocalists, musicians, … Continued
Personally a highlight for its slick riff work, overall distortion, two tones of guitar, and the throwback style akin to the mighty Smashing Pumpkins – Matt Cruz delivers depth and darkness, with the stylish alt-rock weight and poetry of Throne.
If you’ve lost someone, a partner in particular, this one will hurt, but is almost certainly still worth the listen. The raw humanity and heart of I Still Say We is cordially genuine.
Lush riffs, an old-school pop-rock warmth that’s organic and immersive, with vocals and storytelling that again lean towards the softer rock tones of the nineties and early noughties. US songwriter Zach Outman captures a sense of groove and emotional refrain that’s beautifully uplifting, memorable, and just distinct enough to stand out right now.