Indie Round-up: From the Inbox – Feb 22, 2021
This week’s Indie Round-up features 24 must-hear singles from around the world of new music!
Good news: It’s the final Monday of February!
Don’t worry, there is no bad news. Welcome to this week’s From the Inbox round-up! I’ve got 24 of the week’s best new tracks to share with you in this curated playlist. From folk to jazz to hip-hop, to pop punk, there is plenty to enjoy.
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Find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. You can listen to the entire collection with our handy From the Inbox Spotify playlist (it’s also embedded at the bottom of the post).
Most importantly, if you enjoy something, share it around!
McKinley Dixon – Make A Poet Black
Flying under the radar is Richmond, VA artist McKinley Dixon. His upcoming album For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her is a powerful collection of songs about his experience as a Black man in America, and moving forward from a past of trauma and grief. His new single “Make A Poet Black” is a hard-hitting and fierce track in line with the likes of Kendrick Lamar with its lyricism and cinematic production, and is a wonderful first taste of what is yet to come.
Denzel Curry x Kenny Beats – So.Incredible (Robert Glasper Version ft. Smino)
Revamping their stellar 2020 release Unlocked, Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats have shared the Robert Glasper re-imagination of “So.Incredible” featuring Smino. It’s the first taste of an upcoming re-imagination of Unlocked, titled Unlocked 1.5. With Glasper’s familiar jazz-flavoured production blanketed over the track, Curry’s original verse is added to by Smino for a snappy, neo-jazz rendition.
Devy Quills ft. Sonny Miles – Gravy
Poet-turned rapper Devy Quills is keeping things positive on his new single “Gravy”. An uplifting mix of soul, R&B, and rap, the song is a reminder to keep your head up and treat yourself with respect. Quills, along with a featured verse from Sonny Miles, keeps things funky and groovy on this feel-good track.
Jon Hope ft. Jim Jones & Israel Wusu – Where We Come From / THS
Providence, R.I. native Jon Hope has spent his whole life trying to find a balance between his direct roots to his African upbringing and growing up as a Black American. Finding both success and trouble at a seemingly even pace throughout his life, he has turned his persistence and self-growth into flowing rap verses.
For his new two-part track “Where We Come From” & “THS”, Hope brings along Jim Jones for a powerful opening prologue before sharing own narrative on “THS” (That Hope Shit), showcasing his status as an exciting, yet wildly underrated performer.
Paris Texas – HEAVY METAL
As the lines between genres and worlds continue to blur, Los Angeles duo Paris Texas are merging the world of hip-hop and punk on their debut track “HEAVY METAL”. The pair of Louie Pastel and Felix mash together West Coast rap with crunching guitar riffs and crashing drum machines for an exciting and adrenaline-pumping mix.
Midwxst – Final Breath
On the topic of the future shifts in hip-hop, 17 year old Indiana native Midwxst has been apart of the next Soundcloud generation of music. His new single “Final Breath” is a fitting song for that description, combining the bass-heavy distortion of underground future-pop and the melodic new wave of emo-hip-hop. His new EP Summer03 is out March 26th.
Cadence Weapon ft. Jacques Greene – SENNA
Edmonton-born, Toronto-based Polaris Music Prize nominated rapper Cadence Weapon was inspired by the late Brazilian F1 driver Ayrton Senna and the documentary for the new single “SENNA”. Produced by Montreal’s Jacques Greene, the track is an exciting blend of UK grime, garage, and club-ready hooks. Cadence has also officially announced his new album Parallel World will be out April 30th.
The music video, produced by Toronto-based production studio Pique, who also worked on Cadence’s High Rise, was created with the generous support of the MVP Project, a joint initiative of RBCxMusic and the Prism Prize (administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television).
Danny Quest & Cheat Codes ft. Hayley May – That Feeling
EDM acts Danny Quest and Cheat Codes have grabbed Hayley May for their new vocal house banger “That Feeling”. Keeping things sweet and simple, the track is an easy to love combination of warm piano chords and budding vocal melodies that hit its peak on a club-ready drop.
Jackie Hayes – eye 2 eye
Like many people, Chicago alt-pop artist Jackie Hayes was feeling lost back in March 2020. Her new single “eye 2 eye” is a charming and self-destructive interpretation of how she was feeling, matched with a music video that depicts Hayes going head to head with a fake version of herself.
Manchester Orchestra – Bed Head
Alternative rock mainstays Manchester Orchestra have announced their new album The Million Masks of God will be out April 30th. It has the potential to be one of the band’s strongest releases to date, with their intention to make it a collection of “movie albums” as they take on different stories that weave together into one larger picture. Their lead single “Bed Head” is the first taste, as they explore the afterlife in the powerful song and its matching supernatural music video.
Out of Love – Play Pretend
London punk outfit Out of Love are dropping their new EP Funny Feeling on April 16th. Their new single “Play Pretend” is a colourful, upbeat pop-punk tune drenched with early ’00s spirit with a grittier, grunge tenacity written about wanting to start a new life but having to deal with the problems that are pushing you away first.
The Blossom – Hardcore Happy
The Blossom, the moniker of L.A. based non-binary artist Lily Lizotte, has announced the release of their upcoming debut EP 97 Blossom on April 6th. From the release is the anthemic lead single “Hardcore Happy”. Mixing together shoegaze, alternative, grunge, and a bright dose of west coast hip-hop, Lizotte channels their emotions into a lo-fi, 2001-style hit.
Scott Quinn – Better For Me
London-based artist Scott Quinn has found success writing international hits with the likes of Zara Larsson, Keith Urban, and BTS, among others. He has officially embarked on a solo journey and will be releasing his debut EP Better For Me, out this spring. Putting together the genres of his prior releases, including R&B, pop, and electro-pop, the new title track is a warm-spirited appreciate for the people that bring joy to your life.
Mimoza – Young Queen
Los Angeles pop artist Mimoza wanted to celebrate the strong women in her life with her new single “Young Queen”. The anthemic pop hit was inspired by her upbringing in war-torn Kosovo before taking refuge in Sweden and Germany, and her family’s resilience. The strength and power of the song is brought out by her rich pop vocals and towering confidence as a performer.
Alice Phoebe Lou – Dirty Mouth
South African singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou turned 2020 into a rebirth of sorts. Explaining her experience, she says, “I spent more time alone than I ever had. I shaved my head. Had an ego death. Fell in love. Had my heartbroken. I was a raw little mess. And that was what I wrote about.”
Her new single “Dirty Mouth” was part of that process, as she came to terms with her bad experiences with men and came out the other side with a grin and a punk attitude. Unapologetic, but simultaneously inviting, “Dirty Mouth” is a spirited affair.
Mob Rich – Everything and Nothing
Bringing to life the excitement and nervousness of first dates, alt-pop duo Mob Rich have some fun with the spectrum of possibilities on their new single “Everything and Nothing”. Will it be a one-night stand or will this person be the one you spend the rest of your life with? Only time will tell.
Jessica Wilde – Wasted / F U I’m Sober Now
R&B/Soul MC Jessica Wilde has gone full circle on her new double-side hit “Wasted / FU I’m Sober Now”. Candidly sharing her experience with substance abuse, toxic relationships, and addiction on the opening half “Wasted”, before slipping into a punchy, lively resurgence on “F U I’m Sober Now”. Her London swagger weaves in and out from soulful R&B to rhyming hip-hop verses on the second half, building herself back up with self-love and self-empowerment.
Greywind – Am I Asleep?
Irish sibling duo Steph and Paul O’Sullivan find a heap of success with their 2017 debut album Afterthoughts. Performing as Greywind, they’ve made their return with the alternative pop hit “Am I Asleep”. It’s slow burning verses eventually crash into a stadium-sized finish, showcasing the powerful range of the alt-pop rock act.
Couchsleepers – All the Worst Things
Indie rock group Couchsleepers first stepped into the scene in February 2020, as an outlet for a group of friends in grad school navigating the world. Despite their recent beginnings, their sound is a polished mix of folk and indie rock, forefronted by personal and relatable experiences. Their first single of 2021, “All The Worst Things”, was written following a close friend’s breakup and the introspective realization that self-destruction isn’t the answer.
Bealby Point – I’m So Bummed Out Right Now
While the last year or so has brought on a different type of FOMO, missing out on adventures with your best friends will always be a bit of a bummer. Vancouver indie rock quartet and best friends Bealby Point turned that experience into a summery, moody tune aptly titled “I’m So Bummed Out Right Now”. Rich with warm guitar tones and a melancholic demeanour, the indie rock tune is a perfect fit for days of music festivals and cottage weekends – that you may or may not be invited to.
The Strumbellas – Greatest Enemy
JUNO award-winning group The Strumbellas are back in with their single “Greatest Enemy”. After taking some time away at the start of the pandemic, the group came together in November 2020 to record the new track, and to continue the conversation around mental health. The colourful music video, animated by Toronto artist Luca Tarantini, plays into the uplifting spirit of the song.
Lord Huron – Not Dead Yet
Alternative folk rock group Lord Huron have been teasing some new music with their eerie Alive From Whispering Pines clips. Their new single and video “Not Dead Yet” combines the ’50s-style inspired aesthetic and sound with their modern folk rock.
Radical Face – Under The Same Sun
Radical Face, the brainchild of singer-songwriter Ben Cooper, recently put out his new EP Hidden Howel – Vol 1. The album’s closing track “Under the Same Sun” is a mesmerizing and lush folk tune that will be a welcomed addition for fans of S. Carey, The Tallest Man on Earth, and Gregory Alan Isakov.
Kishi Bashi – Laughing With
Regina Spektor celebrated her birthday last week, and her touring violinist/indie folk artist Kishi Bashi shared a twang-filled cover of her song “Laughing With”, swapping a piano for a plucking banjo.
Zoon – Was & Always Will Be
After taking the Canadian music scene by storm with his stellar debut Bleached Wavves, moccasin-gaze artist Zoongide’ewin (Zoon) is continuing his momentum with the psychedelic and colourful music video for “Was & Always Will Be”. Inspired by the Ojibway tradition to show gratitude after the Creator has been good or blessed one’s life by being mindful or helping others, “Was & Always Will Be” is a warm and hypnotic track filled with positivity.
