Lo-fi rhythms and hazy bass, clean keys and catchy melodies – a dreamy indie ambiance and dynamic vocals guide us into a deeply introspective, relatable and comforting realm. Jordi and Sophie Woodhouse join forces, for the blissful earworm Think Too Much.
USA
Talking sacrifice and self preservation, Faith and prospects in the face of struggle and disappointment in friendships and life, Dead Wrong is incredibly catchy, and achieves a likeable fusion of rap and pop akin to the breakthrough hits from acts like Black Eyed Peas. The FarGoneWorld sound has its own truthful core though, and the music feels timeless in this setting, honest and unaffected by the expectations of the current scene, and this integrity stands tall.
Clean contemporary production with catchy hooks and programmed vocals – a familiar sound with a brightness and story-central progression that meanders from genre to genre. Lawyer and family-man Beatzler has been producing music for over 15 years, and this year, he delivers a boldly eclectic album of high-quality original songs, as the aptly-titled new project FutureBreaker.
Smooth soul vocals and long-form RnB melodies meet with a minimalist production and clean, clear mixing, for the natural fluidity, romance, and impeccable storytelling, of Sir Symphony Da Dark Knight.
Carving out a unique and honest lane, as alternative indie rockers with stories and tunes for days – Izzie’s Caravan have built an impressive repertoire of engaging garage rock tracks in their time as a band, culminating last year with the launch of their fiercely original five-track EP Dorian’s Requiem.
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.
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.