The Faves Playlist - November 2023
New music from Max Fry, Glitterer, Betty, Jespfur and more. Check out our faves below:
Welcome Strawberry - Scared To Look
Oakland-based shoegaze project Welcome Strawberry, led by Cyrus VandenBerghe, has released the excellent EP Scared To Look. The title track calls out our tendency to evade aspects of ourselves that we don’t want to accept. VandenBerghe comments on the track, “It’s about avoiding your reflection because you are afraid to face something–whether it be aging, not taking care of yourself, regret, or any combination of those.” Scared To Look is out now and is available for purchase on a Limited Edition Smudge Colored Vinyl here.
Maria Rosenberg - Slow Dancing
On her new single “Slow Dancing,” London-based artist singer/songwriter Maria Rosenberg looks at addiction. “It's a reflection on how we often replace our emotional needs with substances, ultimately searching for something more meaningful,” she says of the song. Co-produced by Rosenberg and Stuart Matthewman (Sade), the minimalist sound on the track works to highglight Rosenberg casual cool vocals and storytelling abilities. Calling it now, keep your eyes on Maria Rosenberg!
Double Grave - Country Radio
Minnesota alt-rock/shoegaze trio Double Grave has just released their new album What Else. On the slow-burning and mostly instrumental “Country Radio,” vocalist Jeremy Warden reveals his emotions with just four lines. “The song is about being in love with someone for a very long time,” the band explains. Cassettes are available now from Disposable America.
Baby Candy - What’s Worse
Adelaide garage rock band Baby Candy has released their first single for P.A.K. Records “What’s Worse.” On the track the comments, “The song is about an undying curiosity of another, yet fearing that you might learn more than you wanted.” The track was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jarred Nettle, who has worked with Teenage Joans and Colourblind, and features a sick guitar solo.
Storm Franklin - The Knife
UK duo Storm Franklin has released their debut album Loneliness In The Modern World. In the song “The Knife,” the pair uses a cutting guitar riff to explore feelings of dread. Storm Franklin, the collaboration between Juanita Stein (Howling Bells) and producer Ben Hillier (Blur/Depeche Mode) calls the track, “A jagged musical homage to anxiety and panic.” They explain, “‘The Knife’ referenced in the chorus is that sharp sensation you might get when feeling completely overwhelmed by something. Lyrically, I’m trying to find a place where I’m at one with the sensation.” Loneliness In The Modern World is out now via Agricultural Audio.
Meagre Martin - Amerika
Meagre Martin, the Berlin-based trio made up of American ex-pats, has released the last single off their debut album Gut Punch. As the band explains, “‘Amerika’ is a song that expresses our experience living in the US, and outlines some of the reasons we now live in Berlin. We really wrestled with this song, trying to capture the correct feeling while also navigating the context of our debut album." Gut Punch is out now on Mansions and Millions. The band is currently on tour across the Western US supporting alt-J.
Soft & Dumb - wolf
Chicago indie rock duo Soft & Dumb are back with their new EP Heaven. On the lead single “wolf,” Elena Buenrostro and Travis Newgren get nostalgic. Buenrostro explains, “Initially heard in a dream as an imaginary Magnetic Fields song, “wolf” is about a love gone stale. Lovesick and tender, the song mourns the end to a relationship before it even happened.” Heaven is out Friday, November 17th. There’s a limited "Angel" Edition 7" available on Soft and Dumb’s Bandcamp.
Amiture - Billy’s Dream
New York duo Amiture, made up of Jack Whitescarver and Coco Goupil, are getting ready to release their new album Mother Engine. On the first single, “Billy’s Dream,” the band uses noise, guitar textures and elements of trip-hop to create a sonic landscape evocative of a city up in smoke. Whitescarver comments, “Coco basically made it what it is by infusing guitar textures into it - building a really complex field of sound. Lyrically, it’s a story we all know: a man wants to destroy everything he has, he can’t control himself and he doesn’t know why." Mother Engine is out February 9th on Dots Per Inch Music.
Wych Elm - Virgin Mary
On their latest song “Virgin Mary,” Bristol indie rock band wych elm takes on our society’s misogynistic tendencies. As the band explains,“‘Virgin Mary’ is about the objectification and sexualization of ‘virgins’ in today's society, and men projecting their fantasies onto women unprovoked.” The band’s EP Field Crow is out now and is available on vinyl.
Wotts - ALLO!
Ottawa indie pop duo Wotts have released their new single “ALLO!” On the track’s sound band member Ricky 100 comments, “For most of the year, we really focused on getting out of our comfort zone and making songs that were more mellow and indie sounding. So it was a lot of fun flipping the script with “ALLO!” and making an energetic synth-heavy track.” The track is off the band’s upcoming EP Petals.
Eden J Howells - ordinary
Eden J Howells, the London alt-folk artist, has released their new EP the fool. The opening track “ordinary,” deals with the emotional pain that stems from yearning to be like others. On the 4-track release, Howells touches on mental health, breakups and more. Howells comments, “I feel like I am very much stepping out into the unknown with this EP. This is the start of something big, and I can feel it.” We feel it too.
Vick Vapors - Give it Time
LA synthpop / electronic project Vick Vapors has released their new single “Give It Time.” The track’s strobe light synths and pounding drum kick sit well underneath the song’s theme of leaving behind dead weight. As Vick Vapors explains, “The track is basically a message to myself to keep me grounded within the times I feel things get difficult. In life we go thru tough times and sometimes we don’t know how to handle it since we face these trials of life for the first time. Give It Time is basically a song about letting go of your sadness that holds onto you, live in the moment and know that better times are coming. Time heals all.”
Forest Circles - Shadow
Philadeliphia’s Forest Circles has released their new project Aurora. The 3-track release opens with the dark art-rock track “Shadow.” The guitar work and synths slowly unravel before the track fades out. Angel Ocana, aka Forest Circles, comments, “The song is about growth. It’s also about a deteriorating relationship, trying to find understanding.” Excited to see what’s next for Forest Circles!
On their debut album Ambivert, Houston-based duo Blemishes—comprised of Julienne Ceron and Jessie Huntington—defies easy categorization by blending diverse musical influences and styles. This 50-minute album showcases a spectrum of sounds, from frantic rhythms to gentle instrumentation, reflecting their view of albums as cohesive narratives rather than mere collections of songs. To highlight its various influences, Ceron curated a playlist for us. Read our Q&A with the writer/producer and listen to the playlist.