Indie Round-Up: From the Inbox – May 17, 2021
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Drelli – Forreal
Minnesota-raised, Los-Angeles-based rapper Drelli dropped what should be one of the biggest hits of the summer. “Forreal” is a boost of confidence wrapped in bounce-heavy hip-hop and energizing flow. Read the full post here.
Fredi x INGA – It’s Not Me (It’s U)
Estonian guitarist, producer and songwriter Fredi teamed up with fellow Estonian RnB-pop princess INGA for “It’s Not Me (It’s U)”. The funky track is a middle finger to the cheaters of the world, as the pair have a fun time getting back at toxic exes with an exuberant amount of energy.
Telemarkk – Bloom
U.K. electro-pop duo Telemarkk have shared their phenomenal new single “Bloom”. Inspired by nu-disco and ’80s synth-pop, the new track is an exciting undiscovered gem. Learn more about the single here.
Glass Animals – Space Ghost Coast to Coast
UK indie trip-pop act Glass Animals are still riding the high of their chart-topping LP Dreamland. Their new video and single comes from the release, as frontman Dave Bayley goes CGI for the trippy-as-hell “Space Ghost Coast To Coast” music video.
Islands – Carpenter
Nick Thorburn and his indie rock project Islands are releasing their new album Islomania on June 11th. Having already dropped a handful of singles over the last few months, “Carpenter” is the latest offering, slipping into a ’80s guitar-pop style with plenty of synthesizers to even it out. Listen to more Islands here.
Soon – Soda
Danish indie pop duo Soon have shared their bubbly new single “Soda”. Fitted with warm pop hooks and glowing vocals, the new single is a fun, summer-ready hit, leading the way for their forthcoming debut full-length.
CJ Pandit – Right Person, Wrong Time
Leicester-based singer Cj Pandit’s debut EP Just Before You Disappear hit shelves this past weekend. His lead single “Right Person, Wrong Time” is an excellent introduction to the young breakout artist; his 1975-inspired guitar pop and upbeat melancholy make for an enjoyable combination.
joe p – Off My Mind
New Jersey-based singer-songwriter joe p found his footing as an ascending talent thanks to TikTok. With just a few tracks on Spotify, he’s already cleared the 1 million mark and his latest single “Off My Mind” is sure to match it. His “happiest sad song” yet, “Off My Mind” is a charming and feel-good song about moving on from a break-up.
Paul Babe – Poley Boneparte (Your Feeling)
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Evans wrote his new single “Poley Boneparte” during a period of significant loss in his life. Capturing the positivity of moving forward and the healing powers of time, the glitchy soundscape that he creates as Paul Babe is a combination of catchy melodies and experimental tones, fuelling the emotive presence of the track.
Rowan – Everybody Talks
Irish indie rock trio Rowan have announced their new EP Everybody Talks will be out July 23rd. The title track and lead single is a rollercoaster of emotion, as the band take on the emotional instability of a bad day with fluttering guitars and double time percussion. Two Day Cinema Club and The Strokes come to mind almost instantly.
JAKL – Hear
For UK indie alt-pop singer/songwriter JAKL (aka Hughie Gavin), the origin of his powerful new single “Hear” is a bit unexpected. In January, Hughie’s father was admitted to hospital suddenly with Covid. Within hours he was unable to breathe and put on a ventilator and into a coma. The doctors were unable to wake him from the coma and suggested playing him recordings of his own past operatic performances that might help trigger a response. Whilst putting these links together to play him Hughie wrote a song for him, ‘Hear’. This was played to him constantly and after a few days he woke up and went on to make a full recovery. When he spoke to his Dad for the first time after leaving hospital, he sang Hughie back the melody of the song and said that the music was the one thing he remembered from his time in hospital.
Robert John Hope – Plasticine Heart
Irish-born, Berlin-based singer-songwriter Robert John Hope has shared his touching and heartfelt new single “Plasticine Heart” alongside its new music video. With his towering vocals and gentle guitar strumming, Hope provides the endearing soundtrack for the visuals, as he tells the story of a man who goes back in time to 1966 to relive his 9th birthday and be with his parents once more.
Datcha – Collapse
During the first few weeks of quarantine in 2020, Boston-based bedroom-pop duo DATCHA recorded their debut self-titled record. A year later, the full-length has been released, including their new single “Collapse”. Comprised of friends ThatOneEyedKid and Julie Friedman, DATCHA use their lush, minimalistic instrumentation to build a foundation of sombre musicality for their compelling harmonies on the new track. Fans of Bon Iver and Novo Amor will fall in love with their endearing, narrative-driven style.
Andy Shauf – Living Room
With one of 2020’s best albums, singer-songwriter Andy Shauf is continuing the momentum of The Neon Skyline with the animated music video for the single “Living Room”. His hazy, mysterious style is recreated in the dream-like clip, as he explores the entanglement of adulthood that looms throughout childhood.
Beryl – Bite The Hand
Sydney indie-folk duo Beryl shared their new single “Bite The Hand”. Their alluring and melancholic songwriting style instantly captures the listener’s attention with their glowing vocals and swelling instrumentals as woodwind instruments float over top a steady guitar strumming.
Wolf Alice – No Hard Feelings
Alternative four-piece Wolf Alice are releasing their new album Blue Weekend on June 4th. From the release is the U2-style piece “No Hard Feelings”. Written about being comfortable once again following a break-up, the delicate guitars are ushered through by frontwoman Ellie Rowsell’s angelic vocals.
Kings of Convenience – Rocky Trail
The indie folk duo of Eirik Glambek Bøe and Erlend Øye – better known as Kings of Convenience, have announced their fourth studio album Peace or Love will be out June 18th, their first new full-length work since releasing Declaration of Dependence back in 2009. Despite the time that has passed, the pair have still kept to their lush and relaxing style on the lead single “Rocky Trail”. Adding to their minimalist aesthetic, the accompanying music video is a eye-pleasing clip from a European getaway bedroom.
Xiu Xiu – OH NO
While this is not the TikTok sound “Oh no…”, the new music video is a perfect montage of clips that would fit the description. Indie duo Xiu Xiu have shared the fail video for their latest album’s title track, using their experimental indie rock style for a quirky soundtrack for a disastrous music video.
Ida Mae – Little Liars
Nashville-based duo Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean have been travelling across the US as Ida Mae. Their new single “Little Liars” is from their forthcoming sophomore album Click Click Domino, inspired by their time touring. The band’s slow-burning desert-folk sound is matched with the layered animated visualizer that travels through strange, dream-like places.
Versa the Band – PEARL
Long Island-based hip-hop collective Versa The Band, lead by Ethan Felizzari, have shared their languid anthem “PEARL”. The conscious hip-hop track explores the numbness of going through an unhappy existence, propelled forward by the mantra of “everything will be okay”.
Anushka – You Mine
Future soul and electronica duo Anushka have shared their new single “You Mine” from their forthcoming album Yemaya, out June 25th. The UK-based pair combine ethereal keyboard melodies with R&B-inspired bass lines, topped with vocalist Victoria Port’s dreamy delivery. Challenging the fairytale expectations of “happily ever after”, “You Mine” adds an honest and raw approach to the struggles of real relationships.
Tóke – Own Lane
From his new EP The Art of Letting Go, Berlin based Indonesian soul-pop singer-songwriter TÓKE has shared the new video for the single “Own Lane”. The head-bobbing, indie pop tune takes the bright, uplifting aspects of Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz and repurposes them with TÓKE’s own relaxed personality.
The Eiffels – Collide
With a more optimistic future of live music in sight, indie pop act The Eiffels are looking forward to the excitement of late-night dance parties with their new single “Collide”. Arena-sized rock choruses bring up the energy with each refrain as the duo keep up the BPM and the dance-rock flare.
Frank Turner – The Gathering
Folk-punk artist Frank Turner is looking forward to touring again with his anthemic new single “The Gathering”. His energizing stage presence comes through on the recording with its foot-stomping rhythm and crowd-drawing optimism as he sings about the rush from being back in front of a live crowd.
Rexxx – Lost Cause
Formed as a supergroup coming out of the Milwaukee punk scene, REXXX released their debut album Pure Pleasure II last year. From the album is the skate punk-inspired tune “Lost Cause”, livened up with an indie rock charm.
Deadhead Daisies – Nothin’ Like You
Toronto-based genre-bending outfit Deadhead Daisies put out their debut, self-titled EP recently. The brainchild of Jordan Kahn, the new single “Nothin’ Like You” combines the intensity of hip-hop and electronica with the arena-sized influences of indie rock.
Martyr for Madison – Heliocentric
On their new single “Heliocentric”, Grand Rapids-based post-hardcore/pop punk act Martyr For Madison combine the ’00s style of Silverstein and Taking Back Sunday with the next generation of pop-punk. The pop-hook chorus and slamming musicality make for an catchy yet tenacious effort.
Calling All Captains – Tailspin
Originating from small towns outside of Edmonton, Alberta, pop-punk/post-hardcore band Calling All Captains has just shared their new song, “Tailspin”. Straddling the line between post-hardcore and pop-punk, the rhythm-heavy musicality of the group keeps things elevated and aggressive while also poppy and catchy for sing-along-ready choruses.
The Ruddy Ruckus – Hold On My Love
Starting out as a folk-punk alter ego for frontman Rob Brown, the Ruckus has evolved into an alt-rock phenom with the gradual additions of lead guitar player Jackson Dorie, bassist Giordano Modesto and drummer Patrick Brown. Their new single “Hold On My Love” was produced by The Dirty Nil’s Luke Bentham and combines the earlier folk-punk influences with gritty garage rock and punk spirit.
Jayli Wolf – Hush
With her new EP Wild Whisper out June 18th, Indigenous alt-pop artist/producer Jayli Wolf has shared her new single “Hush”. Acting as an LGTBQ+ anthem for those who have been living in fear or secrecy because of their sexuality, “Hush” is a dreamy and hyper-produced single that has Jayli opening up about her past experiences with living in a religious cult. Listen to her previous single “Child of the Government” here.
SoundQ – Disco Turista Antifascista
Polish producer Kuba Kubica, performing as SoundQ, wanted to highlight the non-tourist views of his home country in the new music video for “Disco Turista Antifascista” The Euro-disco club anthem is given a moody and isolated visual clip that contrasts against its colourful electronica musicality.
Scooby Jones – How The Hell You Make A Man
Veteran producer Scooby Jones has spent most of his career writing songs for other people. He’s trying his hand with his own music, having dropped his debut single “How The Hell You Make A Man” this year. WIth a debut full-length in the works, Jones has shared the lead single’s live music video, featuring mini versions of himself dancing along to the nu-house hit.
Felix Cartal ft. Karen Harding – Only One
Vancouver-based producer Felix Cartal has announced the release of his upcoming album Expensive Sounds For Nice People on the 25th of June. Ahead of the album release, the producer teams up with British pop icon Karen Harding on the stunning single “Only One”. The romance-filled EDM hit is the perfect anthem for a summer-time fling. Accompanied by a karaoke-performance music video in an empty bar, the new single is filled with confidence-boosting energy and late-night intentions.
Pushing Daizies – I Want To Know
Aiming to create positive and inspiring house music, mysterious production duo Pushing Daizies are doing just that with their new single “I Want To Know”. Written with the goal of evoking the urge to dance like no one is watching, the bass-heavy hit opens up with a dancefloor shaking drop before returning to glistening EDM pop.
Related posts:
“Why Do I Have to Pay For That?” – From the Inbox: The Podcast, EP.014 (Mar 1, 2021)
Montreal Indie Pop Artist Ormiston Prepares New LP With Latest Single “Step From The Limelight”
From the Inbox: The Podcast – EP 9 “Who The Hell Is That Guy?” – Jan 25, 2021
From the Inbox: The Podcast – Same Thing For Breakfast? (Jan 11, 2021)
