Indie Round-Up – From The Inbox: Apr 12, 2020

There’s a surprisingly large number of artists from Salt Lake City this week.

Don’t ask me why.

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Brother. – EZ

Salt Lake City alt-pop outfit Brother. converted the stress and anxiety from the initial effects of COVID lockdown into a hazy and honesty track “EZ”. The glowing synthesizers and hushed vocals combine for a senses-deprivation fit of The Neighbourhood meets M83 with one of the most soothing hooks of the year.

Forrest Run – Dream

Australian dream-pop trio Forrest Run are especially new to the scene since emerging back in 2019, but that doesn’t relate to their captivating style. Lush synthesizers and dreamy vocals form their aptly named new single “Dream”. Fans of London Grammar and Sylvan Esso will find a sweet spot for these three pals.

ILY & Pat Lok – Doing It Better

Swedish dance pop artist ILY (eye-lee) has shared the title track from her debut EP, the first taste of her upcoming full-length out this summer. With high pitched vocals and warm dance energy reminiscent of Mausi and Robyn, “Doing It Better” is a spirited intro as summer inches closer.

slenderbodies – heartbeat

Indie pop duo slenderbodies have returned with their latest single “heartbeat”. The electro-pop tune revolves around a catchy, ’90s-pop hook masterfully produced with warm tones and ear-catching harmonies.

L E A – Anyone

Indie pop artist L E A has been making the most of her time since moving to LA back in 2018, working with handfuls of producers and artists alike to build her discography. Her latest single “Anyone” is a four-to-the-floor pop rock anthem about reliving the fantasy of being with your high school crush.

Eadie – Slowly

Toronto-based alt-R&B singer-songwriter Eadie has shared her temptation-filled single “Slowly”. Thick bass lines and groovy riffs mix in with her velvety vocals as she contemplates the consequences for giving into love’s vices.

Cait – Genius

Madison, WI born, L.A.-based indie pop singer-songwriter Cait explores the imperfections of being human and celebrates the people who accept those flaws with her glowing new single “Genius”.

Raven – Bergamot & Heartbreak

Montreal-based R&B artist Raven went viral on TikTok with her new single “Bergamot & Heartbreak”. Fortunately, outside of the 15 second clip, the track is a glossy alt-R&B song about the tough conversations at the end of a relationship.

Jared Alto – Not The One

East London-based singer-songwriter Jared Alto has shared his sophomore release “Not The One”. The sombre ballad has his vocals floating overtop a echoing piano, as he works through the challenge of a breakup.

KiNG MALA – she calls me daddy

Alt-pop artist KiNG MALA is holding her ground on her latest single “she calls me daddy”. After numerous occurrences of having men blatantly hitting on her female partners in front of her, the L.A. based artist is calling them out in her confident new single “she calls me daddy”.

Read the full article here.

Ritt Momney ft. Claud – Set the Table

21 year old producer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ritt Momney has shared his “problem child” anthem “Set the Table” featuring newcomer singer Claud.

Personal Igloo – Shades of Blue

Hamish Nixon, the Auckland, New Zealand based musician who performs as Personal Igloo recently dropped his bedroom-pop single “Shades of Blue”. The psych-funk tune is an anthem for those who shadow their dreams and ambitions with self-doubt and overthinking.

Unusual Demont – Purple

Heavily inspired by Prince’s music, R&B artist Unusual Demont has shared his new single “Purple”. Written about the bittersweet emotions of being with someone who is only with you to not hurt you, the track’s hazy style keeps the demons at bay.

Crumb – BNR

Since returning to the music world earlier this year after two years, Boston psych-R&B group Crumb have dropped a handful of singles, including their latest pair “BNR” and “Balloon”. The stand-out of the two, “BNR” is also paired with an artistic black and white music video that eventually unravels into a colourful and symbolism-filled display.

Gayance – Fruta Gogoia

Montreal-based artist Gayance has reimagined the Brazilian folk song “Fruta Gogoia” into a colourful, neo-house hit serving as a mantra that calls Black Indigenous & Woman of colour, especially Black Femme, to take all the space they need to take without any compromise. With Haitian roots and having spent summers in Sao Paolo and Salvador, Bahia, Gayance’s inspiration comes from her travels and experiences, translating into captivating music and mixes.

Moonshine – Ginseng

Montreal-founded and globally based collective Moonshine have shared their artistic new music video for “Ginseng”. The energizing track brings together a range of Afrobeat and house influences, as the look to create an Afro-utopia.

The music video was filmed with Congolese artist collective FARATA in a township of Kinshasa, and directed by award-winning Congolese director Nizar Saleh Mohamed, with co-direction by Moonshine’s Pierre Kwenders and Hervé “Coltan” Kalongo. It was filmed in one of the artist’s neighbourhoods to depict the reality Kinshasa life in Kinshasa, capturing the local response as the crew walk through the city donning vibrant costumes that weave together transformation and tradition.

Cupidon ft. KALLITECHNIS & Ric Wilson – Wake Up, Get Down

German production duo Cupidon have teamed up with Montrealer KALLITECHNIS and Chicago rapper Ric Wilson for the sensational summer club neo-house track “Wake Up, Get Down”.

French Fries and Margarita – Crimes Against Nature

French Fries and Margarita is the mysterious moniker for the unknown hyperpop artist. The androgynous musician has made their debut with the haunting synth-pop song “Crimes Against Nature”, inspired by the outdated laws set out to strip human sexuality from the natural freedoms.

Hildegard – Jour 1

Montreal singer-songwriter Helena Deland and producer/multi-instrumentalist Ouri have joined forces to become Hildegard. The experimental dance-pop duo have shared their second taste of the project with the underground party track “Jour 1”. Purity Ring-esque production and vocals give an otherworldly feel as the black-out music video encompasses the track’s theme of the post-party clarity.

Sam Valdez – Palms Casino

Las Vegas-bred indie shoegaze-pop artist Sam Valdez has shared her new single “Palms Casino” from her upcoming album Take Care. The hazy, glowing track is about letting yourself act on impulse and dealing with the consequences later, and instead encouraging growth and evolution through trial and error.

BERWYN – 100,000,000

UK rapper BERWYN found a place as one of the top artists of 2020 with his phenomenal debut mixtape DEMOTAPE/VEGA. Hoping to build off that momentum, the Romford-based artist has shared his new music video for “100,000,000”, opening up about the journey of how to got to where he is now.

McKinley Dixon – Chain Sooo Heavy

Richmond, VA-based rapper McKinley Dixon is undoubtably “one to watch” in 2021. His upcoming album For My Mama and Anybody Who Look Like Her is out May 7th, and he has shared another stellar jazz-infused track from the collection. For McKinley, “Chain Sooo Heavy” is “my view on the commodification of the black experience by an outside audience. The way that trauma can be made palatable and marketable without consent, and how because of capitalism, it’s hard to escape the consolidating parts of you for an audience. It’s a self reflection on how I’m susceptible to that.”

Tony Allen ft. Sampa the Great – Stumbling Down

In honour of the late Tony Allen, Blue Note Records will be releasing a post-humous album There Is No End for the Afrobeat drummer on April 30th. From the release is the second single “Stumbling Down” featuring Zambian-Australian rapper Sampa the Great.

The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer – Father’s Son Pt. 1

Four years since their album Apocalipstick, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer are re-imagining their sound for the upcoming release of Post Apocalipstick. Part remix record, part out-of-the-box creativity, the latest single “Father’s Son Pt. 1” is a reconfiguration of the original with psychedelic and unpredictable shifts in details. As added insurance, the accompanying music video features trippy CGI animations and otherworldly shapes.

Kultures – Favorite Number

Cleveland, OH singer-songwriter Kultures will be releasing his debut self-titled album on June 4th. His tranquil, folktronica style comes to life on his new single “Favorite Number”. Fans of S. Carey and early-day Bon Iver will find a more pop-forward likeness with Kultures.

Michael Cormier – Degradation

Philadelphia-based Dear Life Records label head/singer-songwriter Michael Cormier will be releasing his new album More Light! on June 24th. His lead single “Degradation” is a lush and swelling composition about the moments when you realize existence is temporary. Providing a more cyclical outlook, the accompanying music video is a collection of VHS tapes from Cormier’s childhood.

Trade Wind – DIE! DIE! DIE!

If you’re ever had moments where you’ve realized capitalism is slowly killing everything and everyone, then you’re not alone. Genre-bending emo-folk outfit Trade Wind have shared their new video for “DIE! DIE! DIE!”, serving as their anti-capitalism anthem.

Vocalist/guitarist Jesse Barnett shares:

“To put simply, ‘DIE! DIE! DIE!’ is about the choices being faced by every person who’s living through this current hellscape that we call ‘civilized society.’ With the video we wanted to try and visualize how the capitalist system can’t be stopped without people coming together. Are we brave enough to stop this system and its programming? AND are we creative, thoughtful and loving enough to put something more productive in its place? Not productive in terms of output but productive in terms of making something that better suits and serves the people and the planet. I’m a sucker for a love story as well as an underdog story so I believe it’s possible. I have to. If the choice for me is to decide between this homicidal capitalist power structure that does nothing but turn people, communities, our friends and families into high outputting robots, or freedom for working people—then there’s nothing else to talk about. To the capitalist system I say: DIE! DIE! DIE!”

Read the full article here.

Cinders – Afternoon

Salt Lake City trio Cinders have shared their second single from their upcoming album due later this year. Following their colourful lead single “Growing Up”, the latest taste “Afternoon” is equally uplifting and charming. Written about becoming aware of the fleeting happiness of a moment, the spirited track keeps things bright as things continue to fade.

WRTHLESS – Dislike

Glasgow-based pop punk group WRTHLESS have shared their new music video and single “Dislike”, giving listeners an insight on the band’s self-deprecating personality as a whole. The self-doubt anthem is given a lighthearted music video as the band play through the song while goofing off.

But don’t be fooled, the 5 friends can still get feisty.

408 – Undertow

After a breakup during the early days in the initial COVID lockdowns, 408 frontman Mark Faroudi turned his depressive state into the emo-punk tune “Undertow”. The Orlando-based group worked with acclaimed producer Andrew Wade to bring out the fury and angst of the track, making for the perfect new favourite for fans of the The Story So Far and A Day To Remember.