Category: Mixtapes

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Metric – Black Sheep

Metric - Black Sheep

Artist: Metric

Song: Black Sheep

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Toronto, Canada

Release date: August, 2010.

Comment: Metric is as close to being indie-royalty as you will find in the world, and this electronic-leaning band from Toronto is back with a new album, Formentera, that is really good (spoiler alert: I will feature one of its songs in the near future). While we wait for that, as a #ThrowbackThursday post, we could listen again to one of their most popular songs: Black Sheep. Even though it wasn’t included in any of Metric’s studio albums, the song became popular when it was featured heavily on the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World movie, which became a cult hit.

As an interesting tidbit, actress Brie Larson is the actual singer in the version you hear in the movie (which you can listen to in one of the clips below), not Emily Haines (Metric’s lead singer). There’s some debate on the internet about which version is better. Both of them are pretty good.


Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Eighty Ninety – The Night Sky

Artist: Eighty Ninety

Song: The Night Sky

Genres: #indiepop

Location: New York City, United States

Release date: June, 2022.

Comment: NYC indie-pop duo Eighty Ninety was featured here first in March 2021 with their single Forever. They continued releasing singles during this time and last month they finally dropped an EP that contains not only those singles, including Forever, but also three brand new ones: “Walking You Home“, “Thinking of You” and the title track “The Night Sky“. The latter is my favorite one even though all songs got infectious hooks and superb production.

The Night Sky is a sweet and romantic song about seeing your whole future in the eyes of the person you fell for. In fact, if you’d like to make a mixtape for a loved one, this would be an ideal first track.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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The Dares – Pain

Artist: The Dares

Song: Pain

Genres: #poprock #alternativerock

Location: Santa Ana, United States

Release date: April, 2022.

Comment: As a band, The Dares current lineup has been performing together since 2010. During this time, they have had the chance to work with both established and up-and-coming producers. While getting help from professionals is always nice, it is also pretty expensive with pricey hourly rates, which is not good for artistic freedom when you got a limited budget. For example, you may have to settle for a less than perfect option just because you cannot afford another recording session. The pandemic gave The Dares the opportunity to set up a home studio on an unused conference room, which allowed them to self-produce a few songs. The band enjoyed having the opportunity to pursue their own vision and that shows in tracks like Pain, from the use of synths to the layered vocals on the bridge and outro.

Despite having a relatively happy melody, Pain got a deep meaning with lyrics that criticise those who prey on vulnerable people (which, sadly, seems to happen more and more these days). It is a track full of contrasts and definitely worthy of our attention. Please check The Dares out!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Punk-rock

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The Faim – Me Because of You

Artist: The Faim

Song: Me Because of You

Genres: #indiepop

Location: Perth, Australia

Release date: May, 2022

Comment:  To say that Me Because of You is catchy does not make this jam justice. With an incredibly infectious rhythm and lead singerJosh Raven’s flawless falsetto vocals, this synthpop tune will hook you up from the moment it starts playing. It is part of Talk Talk, the Australian four-piece band’s brand new album, but it is also the first song the band has ever self-produced. It’s safe to say that they did a remarkable job at it.

The Faim achieved international recognition with their debut album State of Mind. Talk Talk will probably make them stars.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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MIRRORS – Heading Home

MIRRORS - Heading Home

Artist: MIRRORS

Song: Heading Home

Genres: #chillout #ambient

Location: Indianapolis, United States

Release date: April, 2022.

Comment: Here’s another chill-out gem. At one point or another in our lives, we have all had to leave the place we considered home in order to start a new life somewhere else, whether it’s going away to college or moving to a new city or country because life happens. In the process, we feel homesick for the place we’re leaving behind and, at the same time, excited in anticipation of the environment that will become our new home. How will it be? Will we get used to it? That’s the feeling that young and extremely talented music producer Joe Morgan, aka MIRRORS, wanted to convey with the fascinating “Heading Home“. This spellbinding track is simply gorgeous.

The scary part – in a good way – is that MIRRORS, a name chosen based on the project’s main catchphrase, “We reflect what we surround ourselves with,” is just getting started.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Chill Out
  • Relax

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MOONWOOD – Slow Down

Artist: MOONWOOD

Song: Slow Down

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Sydney, Australia

Influences: U2, The 1975, Kings of Leon

Release date: April, 2022

Comment: MOONWOOD is a Sydney-based alternative rock band that released their debut EP, Everything We Once Knew, less than three months ago. If the band’s name sounds familiar to you, that’s because I featured one of the EP’s lead singles , Sydney Lights, back in December. When I did that, even though I hadn’t listened to the full EP yet, I was convinced that Sydney Lights was going to be hands down my favorite song off that record. I might have been wrong though because now I think that Slow Down might be even better. I lost track of how many times I’ve listened to this song the past couple of months. I just love how it goes in crescendo twice: at the beginning and then after the song switches gears at the 03:10 mark. This represents the increasing tension between two lovers trying to resolve their unspoken issues and differences.

All in all, this is an outstanding alternative rock track. By all means, check it out.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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The Head & The Heart – Hurts (But It Goes Away)

Hurts (But It Goes Away)

Artist: The Head & The Heart

Song: Hurts (But It Goes Away)

Genres: #indiefolk

Location: Seattle, United States

Release date: April, 2022

Comment: They’re not The Lumineers famous, but with 5 pretty successful studio albums, The Head & The Heart are definitely a well-known band. Named after the dichotomy of doing what your head says or following your heart, the band recently released their fifth studio album: Every Shade of Blue, which includes today’s recommended track: “Hurts (But It Goes Away)“. It’s perhaps the most upbeat track in that record and also a perfect piece of folk-pop. I particularly like the following lyrics that they sing in the chorus: ““tell me that I’m going to be okay, tell me that life’s going to find a way…”.

Unfortunately, this earworm doesn’t have an official video (yet) but here’s a live version they performed on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Gallipoli – Blurry Mess

Artist: Gallipoli

Song: Blurry Mess

Genres: #indiefolk

Location: Los Angeles, United States

Release date: April, 2022

Comment: Gallipoli means “beautiful city” in Greek. It is also the name of a region in Turkey as well as a military campaign during World War I. In fact, it was the ‘Battle of Gallipoli’ which inspired Aman Sheriff and Lucas McCone to name their LA-based indie folk act: Gallipoli, as a homage to their family history. Both musicians got several years of experience as music producers and film composers, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that they decided to make music together.

Back in April, they released On Vondo, their debut EP, which consists of four beautiful tracks and was written during the 2020 lockdown when the pair lived in North Macedonia for six months. All four tracks are really nice but my favourite, Blurry Mess, is simply special. I just love the switch in gears around the 2:30 mark. The song, which talks about an out of sync couple full of doubts, will remind you of artists such as Bon Iver and Lord Huron.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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The Trusted – Millennium

Artist: The Trusted

Song: Millennium

Genres: #indierock #altrock

Influences: Catfish and the Bottlemen, The 1975, Elvis Costello

Location:  Southend on Sea, United Kingdom

Release date: April, 2022

Comment: Continuing with the theme of T.A.M. regulars, we have today what could be The Trusted‘s best single to date: Millennium. A song about coming of age in the 21st century, this vibrant indie rock track combines traditional rock instruments with synths and other subtle electronic elements, giving it a sound that’s both modern and classic.

The Southend-on-Sea natives recorded Millennium in SS2 Studios and got help from producer Rees Broomfield and Grammy-nominated Andy Bradfield (Elbow, David Gray, Rufus Wainwright), who mixed the single. As you can see, this is a pristine and well-rounded track. Below you can find its lyrics video and, as a bonus, an acoustic rendition of this song that The Trusted performed flawlessly. Enjoy!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Indie

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The 93 – Ascension

Artist: The 93

Song: Ascension

Genres: #dreamrock #alternativerock

Location: Cardiff, Wales

Release date: June, 2022

Comment: I love guitar-driven atmospheric tracks and that’s exactly what T.A.M. regulars, The 93, bring us with their brand new single: Ascension. Continuing with their usual space travel theme, this song is about what must be felt when your spaceship is rising up towards unknown and beautiful galaxies: that conflicting feeling of falling down while the ship is going up.

Enjoy this gorgeous soundscape and support these talented brothers!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative