From the Inbox: New Look, Who Dis? (08/17/20)
So, what do you think?
From the Inbox has gotten a bit of a makeover thanks to the very talented Brian “Good Luck Brian” Butler! I’m excited to share the new hairdo with you all across our social media.
You can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. Also, you can find these tracks and more on From the Inbox Spotify playlist or with our Monthly Spotify playlist.
Of course, this segment is all about the music so enough about me. This week, we’ve got some exciting indie artists to share that are on the verge of breaking out and hopefully you can get in with them on the ground floor. From Ottawa emo-rock duo Growing Fires to Danish producer Galimatias and Richmond, VA funk troupe Butcher Brown, there’s a lot of big moves happening.
Let us know your favourite and more importantly, if there’s something you love, remember to share it around!
Growing Fires – Strange Nights
Hailing from the quiet capital Ottawa, Growing Fires are making some noise with their latest single “Strange Nights”. The trio of lead singer/guitarist Jeremy Farkas, bassist Travis Alguire, and drummer Connor Kingston are on the rise with their latest addition and probably best single to date. You can hear their upbringing on bands like Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, and All American Rejects on the new track, combining melodramatic lyrics and energy with repeat-button smashing hooks.
Butcher Brown – Cabbage
From the opening note of “Cabbage”, you can feel the cohesive energy of Richmond, Virginia 5-piece Butcher Brown. The young funk group are giving their predecessors a run for their money by taking ownership of the timeless style with their own spirit and swagger. Sly & The Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, and even dashes of old school hip-hop course through the new single as the band take turns jamming out over the cycling funk hook. Keep an eye out for their upcoming album #KingButch out on September 18th.
Galimatias – Let Go
Danish producer Galimatias now calls Los Angeles home. His refreshing and dreamy ambient style is fresh with West Coast vibes and late-night nostalgia, bringing out his North American influences like Bob Moses and Louis the Child and with the downtempo haze of Dream Koala and XXYYXX. On his new single “Let Go”, Galimatias has the starry-eyed aesthetic down with its glossy underlying melody and crisp lo-fi hip-hop beats. Written about being stuck in the past, it’s the perfect catalyst to lead you down memory lane.
Fuller – Yr So Retro
If you’ve ever asked yourself “what would it sound like if Interpol and the Killers had a music-baby” I’ve got the guy for you. Making his debut on September 25th with his Crush Me EP, Los Angeles alternative rock artist Fuller has shared his latest single “Yr So Retro” ahead of the release. With it’s driving hook and irresistible alt-rock energy, Fuller brings out the brightness of ’80s pop with the post-punk stability of Interpol and the desert-rock guitars of The Killers.
Helena Deland – Someone New
“Someone New” is the title track of Montreal singer-songwriter Helana Deland‘s upcoming album. Her delicate and angelic voice helps focus the listener on her introspective lyrics, as she explores the time-sensitive fate of a woman’s “prime”. Her fuzzy guitars and washed-out vocals create a dreamy haze that is both comforting and weighted.
No Joy – Dream Rats
Jasamine White-Gluz, the frontwoman of synth/shoegaze group No Joy, brought her sister Alissa along to collaborate on the new single “Dream Rats”. Unlike anything No Joy has put out, “Dream Rats” has a certain edge to it because of Alissa’s deathcore influence. As the lead singer of Arch Enemy, she tacks on her screaming vocals to the dense shoegaze track, colliding worlds for the family affair.
No Joy will be releasing their new album Motherhood this Friday.
0171 – Change Nothing
Hackney, UK duo 0171 have officially released their new Change Nothing EP this past weekend. The dark-electronic act once again capture the density of acts like Purity Ring and 100 gecs, but with their own futuristic style of more melody-forward songs. “Change Nothing” is a glitchy, synth-dripping track that has the electronic production battling for the forefront with the melodic voice of co-producer/vocalist Joe Bedell-Brill.
Burry – Yellow Paint
Halifax singer-songwriter Burry has faced her share of struggles in the music industry as a lesbian and as someone with dyslexia. For her new single “Yellow Paint”, she was inspired to write it as a way to deal with being marginalized and doubted her entire career, drawing comparison to Vincent Van Gogh’s struggle with mental health and finding fame after his passing. “He worked hard to be a successful artist while fighting mental illness, addiction and the doubts of the people around him…It wasn’t until long after he died that his artwork was appreciated by others, and in a way I think that is beautifully sad and relatable for a lot of artists and musicians.”
Her down-to-earth songwriting is elevated with her indie pop sound, keeping things simple and poetic on the new single.
Omar Apollo – Stayback
There’s a reason why Omar Apollo continues to be one of the most talked abotu new artists. His music is built on a foundation of pop, but manages to blend together genres seamlessly. His new single “Stayback” has a soulful funk vibe that feels like a repurposed Childish Gambino sound, contemporizing the effect-laden guitar sounds of the ’70s with modern production and drama.
Mav Karlo – Dig A Hole
A lot of people don’t like to talk about the end of the Hollerado era. Fortunately, the former frontman Menno Versteeg has changed gears to work on a new solo project as Mav Karlo, providing longtime fans a little taste of their past. His debut album Strangers Like Us will be out October 16th and he has shared the new single “Dig A Hole” ahead of the release. As a tribute to the legendary Toronto superstore Honest Ed’s, “Dig A Hole” is an uplifting goodbye to the landmark with a tinge of cynicism as its replaced by condos. You might wonder why the musician was inspired to write a song about it, but this anecdote helps provide some context:
“When my dad was a teenager he lost his mom and went through a rough patch where it seemed like he was headed for jail, or worse. During that time he got caught stealing at Honest Ed’s, but Honest Ed just gave him a stern talking-to and let him go. I’ve always wondered how his life might’ve taken a turn if it hadn’t worked out that way—if I’d even be here now if he’d ended up going to jail.”
Amaara – Desert Storm
Kaelen Ohm is a powerhouse. As a multi-instrumentalist, dancer, filmmaker, and actor, the multidisciplinary artist spent five years as the touring keyboardist for Reuben & the Dark, but is now embarking on a solo effort as Amaara. Her upcoming album Heartspeak is out this Friday and includes her latest single “Desert Storm”. Ahead of the release, she has shared her self-directed/produced/edited music video featuring choreography from the legendary Tatiana Parker (Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj). The song’s gradual build and atmospheric synth-rock sound collides with the entrancing choreography for a stunning performance.
Jeen – Deep End
Toronto indie pop artist Jeen was working on finishing her new self-titled album when she realized she needed another song or two to round it out. Feeling frustrated, tired, and defeated with running out of ideas, she ended up channeling those emotions to draw out her new single “Deep End”. Fans of Little Dragon, Carly Rae-Jepsen and Beabadoobee will fall in love with the new track’s catchy hook and contrasting bright sound and emotional inspiration.
Wesley Attew – Where Do We Go From Here?
Fresh on my radar is Vancouver singer-songwriter Wesley Attew. His new single “Where Do We Go From Here?” is a compelling indie folk-rock tune with the spirit of The Lumineers, Said the Whale, and Donovan Woods. His rich voice and slow-burning instrumentation brings out the power of the song’s meaning, as he explores the enigma of truly making the “right decision”. It’s warmhearted, spirited, and uplifting, and it hopefully won’t be long before Attew becomes a household name in Canadian music.
