Category: Indie

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Cigarettes After Sex – Heavenly

Cigarettes After Sex

Artist: Cigarettes After Sex

Song: Heavenly

Genres: #indierock

Location: El Paso, Texas, United States

Release date: August, 2019

Comment: Cigarettes After Sex has been around since 2008, but I admit I hadn’t heard of them until I listened to “Heavenly” on @indie.verses‘s excellent Spotify playlist a couple of years ago. It was love at first sight, and after hearing recently that the band is coming to London this year, I thought it was time to feature this magnetic song on a #ThrowbackThursday entry.

The band’s sound is characterized by its dreamy, ethereal quality, with slow, hypnotic melodies and soft, whispery vocals, and that’s exactly what you get here as well. What I love most about “Heavenly” is how it creates a relaxing, almost hypnotic atmosphere that transports you to another world. The track’s lush production and frontman Greg Gonzalez’s soothing vocals create a sense of intimacy that feels like a warm embrace. It’s the kind of song that you can put on repeat and just let yourself get lost in.

“Heavenly” is a timeless masterpiece that showcases Cigarettes After Sex’s signature sound at its best. It’s a must-listen for anyone who appreciates beautiful, introspective music such as Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Circa Waves – Carry You Home

Circa Waves - Carry You Home

Artist: Circa Waves

Song: Carry You Home

Genres: #indierock

Location: Liverpool, United Kingdom

Release date: November, 2022

Comment: Circa Waves is a British indie rock band formed in Liverpool in 2013. The band consists of Kieran Shudall (vocals, guitar), Joe Falconer (guitar), Sam Rourke (bass), and Colin Jones (drums). They burst onto the scene with their debut single “Get Away” in 2014 and have since released several albums and gained a loyal following.

On that note, their latest single “Carry You Home” showcases their ability to deliver catchy indie rock tunes with meaningful lyrics. With dreamy guitars, smooth melodies, and offbeat vocal emphasis, the track is a charming indie track that explores themes of masculinity and fatherhood with lyrics such as “And I’m supposed to be Superman, But I just cried in my hands”.

“Carry You Home” may not break new ground, but it’s still a solid addition to Circa Waves‘ discography and a must-listen for fans of indie rock.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Benjamin Brett – In My Head

Benjamin Brett - In My Head

Artist: Benjamin Brett

Song: In My Head

Genres: #indiefolk

Location: Brighton, United Kingdom

Influences: Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, Fleetwood Mac

Release date: January, 2023

Comment: Some singers are lucky enough to have a vocal style that is nuanced and distinctive enough to be easily recognizable whenever you hear it. I think that could be the case with Brighton-based artist, Benjamin Brett, who has just released a hauntingly beautiful debut track called “In My Head”. This song reminded me a bit of David Gray‘s 1998 hit: “This Year’s Love”, probably because both tracks got gorgeous melodies and unmistakable vocals.

The emotive and raw vocals perfectly capture the vulnerability and honesty of the song’s subject matter, which delves into mental health struggles and the fear of losing touch with one’s real self. With delicate guitar work and touching harmonies, “In My Head” will stay with the listener long after it has ended, and that, my friends, is the best kind of music. Certified #musicalcrush.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Phoebe Go – Birthday

Phoebe Go

Artist: Phoebe Go

Song: Birthday

Genres: #indierock #singersongwriter

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Release date: November, 2022

Comment:  “Birthday” is the last track on Phoebe Go‘s debut EP, “Player,” and even though this is her first solo project, Phoebe has experience as a member of a couple of bands, making her a seasoned performer in the Australian indie scene.

Birthday is my favorite song on the EP, in no small part because of how vulnerable the Australian artist sounds here. The lyrics, paired with the soft instrumentation and sweet melody, create a touching and intimate atmosphere that is both captivating and heartwarming. If you’re a fan of indie music and artists who pour their heart into their work, this track is a must-listen.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Young Ritual – Ages

Young Ritual - Ages

Artist: Young Ritual

Song: Ages

Genres: #indierock

Location: Nashville, United States

Release date: November, 2022

Comment: Indie/alternative artist Dylan Grantham, aka Young Ritual, is back after having been featured on T.A.M. a while ago with a new track called Ages, which is a noteworthy departure from the artist’s previous style of soft, folk rock tracks. This song was the product of the artist’s attempt at writing rock music and it starts off strong with a powerful guitar riff that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the track. Overall, “Ages” is a strong showing of Dylan’s versatility and a promising glimpse into the future of Young Ritual‘s musical journey.

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Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Gabriel Paris – I Cried

Gabriel Paris - I Cried

Artist: Gabriel Paris

Song: I Cried

Genres: #indie

Location: Sydney, Australia

Influences: Coldplay, Vance Joy

Release date: October, 2022

Comment: Australia-based artist Gabriel Paris is no stranger to T.A.M., having been featured here in November 2020. This time, he’s back with a terrific song that is meant to feel “like a warm hug on a rainy day”. Gabriel won a competition whose prize was to work with a fame production company in Australia, who helped him write and record “I Cried”. Highly recommended!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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New Friends – Doomed

New Friends - Doomed
Photo credits: Steph Montani

Artist: New Friends

Song: Doomed

Genres: #altpop #indiepop

Location:  London, Canada

Release date: August, 2022

Comment: I hadn’t heard of New Friends before they released “Doomed” in August, but what a great song it is! This is not based on scientific evidence, but I think it is impossible to listen to this tune without feeling elated. The fact that it comes with a hilarious music video is also a plus. Considering the fact that the band members (Stefan Boulineau, Ayden Miller, Cole Wilson, and Conrad Galecki) met each other barely 4 years ago, the fact that they were able to make such a great song so soon is quite impressive. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with next!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Indie
  • Pop

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The Wombats – Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This

The Wombats - Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This

Artist: The Wombats

Song: Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This

Genres: #indierock #altrock

Location: Liverpool, United Kingdom

Release date: September, 2022

Comment:  The eponymous track of The Wombat‘s next EP, Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This, might not reach the heights of their mega hit Cheetah Tongue, but that does not mean it isn’t a superb track anyway. In fact, I’ve been listening to it on repeat for the past month or so. If you hadn’t heard of it until now, check it out. It has the potential to become your next #musicalcrush.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Sløtface – Come hell or whatever

Sløtface - Come hell or whatever

Artist: Sløtface

Song: Come hell or whatever

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Influences: Caroline Polachek, Haim, Taylor Swift

Location: Stavanger, Norway

Release date: June, 2022.

Comment: Sløtface used to be a Norwegian punk band with certain notoriety in some music circles, but earlier this year they announced that it was becoming the solo project of frontwoman Haley Shea after the amicable departure of the other band members. With this change, came as well a transition to a slower and moodier sound, inspired by those artists mentioned above. I have to say that I hadn’t listened to Sløtface before, so I cannot comment much on the band’s previous releases, but I’m digging this new sound.

Back in June, Haley/Sløtface released two new singles co-written between her and producer Mikhael Paskalev: Beta and Come hell or whatever. Both are really good but the latter is the one I’ve been playing on repeat. Check it out

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Metric – Paths In The Sky

Metric - Paths In The Sky

Artist: Metric

Song: Paths In The Sky

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Toronto, Canada

Release date: July, 2022.

Comment: When I featured Metric‘s Black Sheep about two weeks ago, I mentioned that they had a new album (Formentera, named after the Spanish island where the band recorded it) that was quite good. I also said that I was going to feature one of their new songs soon and here I am making good on that promise. Paths In The Sky is Formentera’s closing track and even though it hasn’t been released as a single yet, I think it is quite possibly the best song in that record. It is a flawless tune.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie