The Faves: 100 Songs of 2024
It’s here. Our list of 100 Songs of the Year. From sharp observations on masculinity to 80s film soundtrack inspired songs and emotional pleas for friendship, our list has it all.
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Dogwood
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
Indie rock band Dogwood shares their list of most-liked releases of the year. Their selections range from dream pop artist Fazerdaze to Atlanta locals Indy Grab.
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Book/Spirit
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
Today we highlight releases chosen by Pete Ferrari of the indie rock band Book/Spirit. From Been Stellar to Uncle Skunk, we get all New York-based bands.
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Iceblynk
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
In this edition, we hear from Iceblynk’s Martin Newman. The guitarist for the New York-based shoegaze project selected music from the unclassifiable duo Tremours and Icelandic goth trio Kælan Mikla.
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: lucidlüc
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
Next up in our Best of 2024: Artist Picks, we hear from lucidlüc. The Atlanta-based artist blends psych-pop, punk and hip-hop. Lucidlüc’s curated list includes the diverse sounds of Tyler Jackson and Alli Cat.
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Theo Vandenhoff
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
For this edition of our Best of 2024: Artist Picks, we collaborated with Toronto-based post-punk/synth pop trio, Theo Vandenhoff. The band’s picks range from the black metal sounds of Nächtlich to indie folk tunes from Little Kid.
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Navel Grazr
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
We’re thrilled to feature Anjali Nair, of the dreamy and genre-blurring New York band Navel Grazr to kick off this series!
6 Things W/Ex Monarch
Miami alternative band Ex Monarch blends 90s grunge with modern rock. Their most recent single “Rotten,” which we featured as one of our faves back in October, the band calls “an honest expression of grief.”
“We want our music to create a sense of empathy, and a space to expand the conversation and destigmatize topics that are hard to talk about,” says vocalist Amanda Pasler.
In our “6 Things W/Ex Monarch” the band touches on sonic influences, creating a balance on social media, guilty pleasures and more.
Blous3 dials into the noise on ‘Synchronized Swimming’
Sacramento-based art punk band Blous3 has released their third album Synchronized Swimming, showcasing their evolving sound and songwriting. The album features a mix of noise, distortion, and experimental elements. In our Q&A, the band discussed their creative growth, collaborative writing process, working with Cherub Dream Records, and shoutout their favorite Sacramento bands.
Capturing the NYC indie music spirit on VHS
Bands Do BK Presents The Music Matters festival, held at Arlene's Grocery earlier this year, captured the spirit of the city's vibrant indie scene through performances by fourteen diverse bands. Curated by Marc Seligman, a fixture of New York's music world since the ‘70s, and Sam Sumpter of Bands Do BK, the event celebrated both emerging talent and the deep sense of community that defines the indie scene. Documented on VHS by the video crew I Know We Should, Bands Do BK Presents The Music Matters preserves a unique moment in time, capturing not just the music, but the unbreakable bond that connects artists and fans in the city's ever-evolving underground scene. Read our interview with Seligman.
Docile Bodies go with their gut
Dutch post-punk band Docile Bodies’ debut album, Light Will Come Our Way, is a powerful, emotionally-driven release that showcases their intuitive approach to songwriting. The album explores themes of art, nature, and family, while delving into hope and possibilities. We spoke with vocalist Sjoerd Aarden about the band moving in unison, turning gut feeling and indecisiveness into creativity, and their plans to experiment even further in the future.
Cosmopaark switches things up on ‘Backyard’
Bordeaux shoegaze band Cosmopaark has released their latest EP, Backyard, which features five tracks that blend classic shoegaze with modern noise pop. The EP was recorded in a studio, allowing the band to experiment with new production techniques. Backyard explores themes of resilience and introspection while showcasing their evolving sound. With a limited-edition release that quickly sold out, Cosmopaark's creative journey continues to captivate fans. Read our interview with vocalist Clément Pelofy.
6 Things W/The Noir Dalis
The Noir Dalis is a Los Angeles-based duo featuring vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Carlos Bojorquez and drummer Linda Ventura. The pair is known for their collaborative songwriting, blending influences from psychedelic, garage, and post-punk. Their debut single, "Strawberry Jones," was recorded at Joshua Tree Studios with producer Tommy Dietrick and Jared Artaud (The Vacant Lots). Their self-titled debut album was released earlier this year, followed by additional singles, including the new 7” Rise. In "6 Things W/The Noir Dalis," they share insights about their favorite gear, creative exercises and more.
November 2024 Best Releases
Bandcamp Friday is on a break until December. We rounded up a list of October releases any way.
Phantom Handshakes on instinct, mood and success
Phantom Handshakes explores themes of twilight and emotional depth in their latest album Sirens at Golden Hour. The dream pop duo is Matt Sklar and Federica Tassano. They perform live as a 5-piece alongside Meghan Seeberg, Matt Billington, and Brian Alvarez. Sonically, the release expands on their lo-fi soundscapes, while they touch on themes of hope, despair and the climate crisis. We connected with the pair to discuss instinctual songwriting, measuring success and more.
Pop Music Fever Dream gets serious
New York’s Pop Music Fever Dream is set to release its new EP, Songs For Emotion, tomorrow. The EP follows their debut, Songs for Promoters, and presents a shift to a more serious and intense tone. The new tracks delve into themes including personal struggle and technological obsession. In an interview with frontperson T. Seeberger, we discuss pay phones, vulnerability in songwriting, and tapping into their visceral energy.
Photo Credit: Sydney Tate
6 Things W/Valleyview
Pittsburgh post-punk band Valleyview recently released their debut album Still Life. The band, consisting of Jesse Farine, Jared Anderson, Ben Volk, and Ethan Herring, draws inspiration from both contemporary and classic post-punk acts, including Protomartyr and Joy Division.
In our "6 Things W/Valleyview" Farine talks the band's evolving guitar sound, stepping away from music to defeat writer's block, their approach to visual work and the importance of supporting others in the independent music scene.
FOSS on the transformational act of a creative reset
In the Winter of 2020, Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Romain Collin traveled to Iceland for a creative reset. Due to COVID lockdowns, Collin spent six months in a remote cabin writing music. Upon his return, Collin and multi-Grammy award-winning producer Jeremy Loucas worked for a month. Together, as FOSS, they finished the album Shapeless. Read our Q&A with Collin, where we chat about audio & visual work, working in isolation, being inspired by nature and circumstances, and more.
Rontronik on ‘Zero Eight’
In July, New York producer/DJ/creative director Rontronik (Ron Croudy) released his latest album, Zero Eight. Recorded live, the 40-minute project reflects on the period following the COVID lockdown with its experimental, ambient, and noise-driven sound. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Croudy was influenced by the Detroit techno and Chicago house scenes, as well as industrial and jazz music. Those sounds would shape his eclectic musical style. After experimenting with electronic music in college and co-founding the label Töshöklabs, Croudy began releasing his own work. Zero Eight, conceived during the transition out of quarantine and initially performed live via streaming, captures the uncertainty and anticipation of a world reopening. We spoke with Rontronik to discuss growing up in Flint, his influences, and more.