all under heaven makes magic on ‘What Lies Ahead Of Me’
all under heaven's debut album What Lies Ahead Of Me, highlights the band’s evolution. The New Jersey band is Nick DeFabritus, Michael Cucci, Aaron Brenner, and Jake Rubin. Their new album blends old and new tracks, showcasing themes of loneliness, growth, and introspection through emotive shoegaze music. With contributions from band members and collaborator Wyatt Oberholzer, the album introduces new elements like synths and electronic drums. The spontaneous creation of "Believing," influenced by "Just Like Heaven," adds an energetic touch. The shift towards a more collaborative recording process revitalized their approach, leading to a renewed creative spirit. Read our interview with Nick DeFabritus and Michael Cucci in which we discuss collaboration, X-files, and making magic in the studio.
Polevaulter’s ‘Hang Wave’ is a sonic doomsday
Polevaulter's debut album "Hang Wave" is a raw, intense fusion of jagged electronic synths and dance-punk influences. UK duo Jon Franz and Daniel Wearmouth, with producer Shaene Hunter, recorded the album live to capture its gritty authenticity. Tracks like "Mia Goth Made Me Do It" and "Pissed in the Baths" evoke sonic anxiety and turmoil, combining aggressive beats and noise. In our Q&A with Jon Franz, we discuss their creative process, political themes, and the struggles of independent artists in today's music industry.
Operator Music Band becomes one with house
Operator Music Band, known for its experimental approach and diverse soundscapes, has evolved from its krautrock roots to embrace house music. The trio, which features Dara Hirsch, Jared Hiller, and Daniel Siles, released their latest EP Four Singles, which showcases dance and acid-house tracks. This transition allows them to explore improvisation and spontaneity, in live performances and studio recordings. In our Q&A, Hirsch and Hiller discussed their creative processes, emphasizing a shift towards programming gear for live shows and collaborative songwriting.
Speedrun knights her inner hero
New York indie artist Speedrun, also known as Nina Lüders, found solace and expression in music during the COVID lockdown. Her debut EP "Love’s Latest News," influenced by early to mid-aughts indie rock, explores various facets of love and draws inspiration from French poet Jean-Michel Maulpoix. In our Q&A with Speedrun, we talk about her DIY journey, evolving the project into a multi-dimensional creative endeavor, balancing social media and mental health, and more.
Jade. reaches for familiarity on Autumn Electric
New York indie Jade. debuted their album Autumn Electric last year. The band, fronted by William States Langham, formed after Langham turned to music for solace. Drawing on influences like Tame Impala and The Smashing Pumpkins, the album melds crunchy distortion with introspective lyrics. Read our Q&A with Langham where we discuss new music, live shows and nostalgia.
daarling dives into the deep within
Chicago-based trio daarling has emerged onto the music scene with their debut album, "The Deep Within." Recorded in the basement of their old practice space with CJ Melton, the album showcases a mix of alt-rock and shoegaze, tinged with elements of noise and grunge. Tracks like "Metamorphosis" and "Out of Greed" offer introspective lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, highlighting daarling's ability to craft emotive and compelling music. As they embark on a spring tour to promote their album, daarling promises to continue pushing creative boundaries while staying true to their evocative sound. Read our Q&A with the band.
Checking In: The New Colossus Festival (New York)
New York’s indie music festival The New Colossus took over lower Manhattan earlier this month. Spread over eight venues across the city’s East Village and Lower East Side, the lineup featured more than 150 independent artists. That’s in addition to daytime panels from music distribution platform Ditto Music on publishing, touring, Spotify for Artists, Chartmetric, and more.
Its fifth edition had everything from psych rock to electronic punk. We connected with some of our favorite performers to talk songwriting, gear, and festival highlights.
NADEZHDA on hope in a time of despair
Salt Lake City band NADEZHDA released their debut EP Battery in January. The release explores the social ramifications of capitalism and the effects of the illusory “American Dream.” Through the darkness, the band remains optimistic. Described as "hardcore's Fleetwood Mac," they merge influences from punk, grunge, and alt-rock. In our Q&A with the 5-piece, we discuss the band’s origin story, their approach to recording, influences, and more.
The Narcotix bends time and space on Dying
On their debut album Dying, Brooklyn art-rock band The Narcotix takes you on a journey exploring time, personal transformation, and life after death. Led by Esther Quansah and Becky Foinchas, their choral arrangements over psychedelic folk and West African polyrhythms, turn music into a sonic wonderland. From haunting to ebullient, Dying captures the band's deep bond as they tap into a visceral energy fueled by personal breakthroughs. In our interview with Quansah and Foinchas we talk vocal arrangements, songwriting, exorcisms in the studio, the birth of the album, and more.
Hot Mud searches for truth on Rehab Rock
Ottawa artist Hot Mud confronts addiction on his debut album Rehab Rock. The album is a raw and honest portrayal of addiction and recovery. Influenced by indie rock, stoner rock, art rock, and psych-pop, Hot Mud blends harsh truths with humor, addressing the emotional journey of healing. Hot Mud, who turned to creative pursuits during recovery, discusses art as therapy, mental toughness, and influences in our Q&A.
ILTON finds comfort on the dancefloor
Influenced by acts like Dirty Vegas, ATB, and Real Lies, New York electronic artist ILTON makes bangers. His latest EP ‘SAD BOY RAVE’ culminates house, dance-pop, and electronic beats. On the surface, these are dance songs, but dig deeper and you’ll find heartbreak. We connected with ILTON to discuss headlining Coachella, feeling connected to the SAD BOY RAVE brand, sampling as a form of artistic expression, and more
Photo Credit: Bo Apitz
ELI fits the pieces together on Full Form
London artist ELI released her debut EP Full Form late last year. The EP showcases her songwriting and production mastery across genres like soul, trip-hop, and electronic. The four-song project explores themes of frustration, doubt, and alienation, creating an elaborate sonic landscape that mirrors its lyrical content. ELI, influenced by diverse musical genres, discusses her musical journey, genre-bending aspirations, and the evolution of her sound in our Q&A.
Exploring love and loss in ‘The New Romantics’
The New Romantics, spearheaded by multi-instrumentalist Brandon Biondo, has delved into a spectrum of genres. Since 2013, his solo project has unveiled numerous singles and EPs. However, it wasn't until Biondo experienced the profound loss of his mother that he turned to the album format as a form of solace and distraction. The New Romantics stands as a harmonious collection of sounds, reflecting Biondo's diverse set of influences. In our Q&A with the talented artist, we discuss loss, musical taste, the ability to disconnect from music, and more.
With ‘GOOD TIME,’ DAIISTAR Bolts to the Top
Austin noise pop band DAIISTAR experienced a sudden rise with their debut album GOOD TIME. The album, conceptualized by vocalist/guitarist Alex Capistran, was released by London indie Fuzz Club Records. In our interview, Capistran highlights the collaborative process with the band and producer Alex Maas. We talk about process, performance, the band’s ambition, and more.
Photo Credit: Janelle Abad
Dead Leaf Echo digs into The Mercy of Women
Dead Leaf Echo has been an integral part of New York’s shoegaze scene for over a decade. On their latest album ‘The Mercy of Women,’ Dead Leaf Echo experiments with song structure and genre further developing their craft. Delays stemming from the pandemic resulted in the album taking over six years from start to finish. We connected with the band’s vocalist LG Galleon to discuss the album’s evolution, concept, and more.
Best Songs of 2023
This year we compiled a list of our favorite releases from 2023. Our picks for best songs include poetic hip-hop from LPTHERAPPER and psychedelic rock from Holy Wave. Check out our full list!
Best EPs of 2023
This year we compiled a list of our favorite releases from 2023. Our EP picks include post-punk/industrial duo Polevaulter and London indie rock act Peter Xan. Check out our full list!
Best Albums of 2023
This year we compiled a list of our favorite releases from 2023. Our pick include shoegaze sounds of DAIISTAR to the bewitching rhythms of Karen y Los Remedios. Check out our full list!
La Prave - La Demo(s)
Houston’s La Prave is releasing their debut EP. The post-genre band creates music that pulls from various sounds, from new wave, grunge, pop, and electronic. In our Q&A with the duo, we talk about parallels between different creative outlets, the freedom stemming from being self-taught, the double-edged sword that is social media, and more.
Checking In: Fat Llama, Vol. 6 (London)
In our new series “Checking In,” we explore the local scenes created and fostered by emerging artists. First up is the London label and collective Fat Llama. Known for its pop-up shops, podcast series, and events, the label is fronted by experimental Hip Hop artist JoeJas. Each year, Fat Llama throws a party that highlights up-and-coming indie artists, with ranging influences from punk to electronic to grime. This year’s event included Cheray, Paris Yves, Michael Ekow, retropxssy, and JoeJas. Read our interviews with the artists and check out photos from the event!