Tag: 80s music

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“NEED U HERE” by Airports

"NEED U HERE" by AIRPORTS

Artist: Airports

Song: NEED U HERE

Genres: #altpop

Location:  Brisbane, Australia

Release date: May, 2023

Comment: “NEED U HERE” by Airports is a profoundly moving song that delves into themes of loss and grief. The lyrics, raw and honest, vividly depict the pain of losing someone dear.

As the song progresses, it steadily builds in intensity, drawing you deeper into the artist’s emotional journey. That is partially thanks to some skilful production carried out on this track . The simplicity allows his voice to shine, further emphasizing the raw emotion behind each lyric. The vocal styles are different but I think it would be fair to compare “Need You Here” with the work of artists such as YUNGBLUD.

Airports, led by Brisbane-based singer, writer, and producer Aaron Lee, has gained recognition for his unique fusion of punk, drum n bass, and EDM. Beyond his solo endeavors, Aaron has demonstrated his songwriting and production skills working with other artists and collaborating with global brands such as Coca-Cola and Fanta.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Sea Girls – Falling Apart

Artist: Sea Girls

Song: Falling Apart

Genres: #altpop #indierock

Location:  London, United Kingdom

Release date: September, 2022

Comment: When I started this blog, we were in the early phases of the pandemic with plenty of spare time and no kids. It’s safe to say now that whether we are working from home or in an office environment, the work load has gone back to pre-COVID levels, and between that and parenting a soon-to-be 1-year-old, time is getting scarcer by the day. This is why I’ve been so absent this month, as maintaining this website takes considerable time, not just writing the actual posts but also listening to plenty of submissions and new music every week.

I wish I could say this is all about to change in the new year but, in truth, I simply don’t know. In fact, like many bands in the past, I may even go on an indefinite hiatus. Anyway, while I ponder the future of T.A.M., I’ll leave you here one of my favorite tracks from the last quarter of 2022: Falling Apart by British band Sea Girls. Enjoy and have a wonderful New Year!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Indie
  • Pop

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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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Emarosa – Attention

Emarosa - Attention

Artist: Emarosa

Song: Attention

Genres: #altpop #indiepop

Location:  Los Angeles, United States

Release date: July, 2022

Comment: Emarosa is a band originally formed in Kentucky in 2006, but they have transformed themselves in such a way that they sound today like a completely different band, and I don’t mean simply the fact that they got a new lead vocalist, Bradley Scott, circa 2012. They went from being a post-hardcore act to an indie pop marvel with some synth-wave and 80’s music influence. Their last full album, Peach Club (2019), charted on the U.S. Billboard charts and led them to a successful nationwide tour.

Last month, Emarosa released a new indie pop song, “Attention”, that is incredibly catchy. The best way I have to describe it is: I guess this is how the child of George Michael’s “Freedom” and Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose” would sound. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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YUNGBLUD- The Funeral

YUNGBLUD- The Funeral

Artist: YUNGBLUD

Song: The Funeral

Genres: #altrock

Location: London, United Kingdom

Release date: March, 2022

Comment: I don’t know much about British artist YUNGBLUD. In fact, when I started hearing his name here and there, I thought he was just another rapper, until I heard his song mars and realized how wrong I was. I know he’s massively popular these days but that should not distract you from the fact that he’s actually good at what he does. Exhibit A is one of his latest singles, The Funeral, which is so catchy I just cannot get enough of it. Drawing heavily, in my opinion, from Billy Idol‘s Dancing With Myself, this 1980s-infused track got a really memorable chorus. The music video, which you can watch below, features fun cameos from Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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The Break Plans – Fashionably Late

The Break Plans - Fashionably Late

Artist: The Break Plans

Song: Fashionably Late

Genres: #altpop #indiepop

Location:  New Jersey, United States

Release date: March, 2022

Comment: Colton (vocals), Mikey (guitar), Dan (drums) and Chris (Bass), aka The Break Plans, are four talented musicians who definitely enjoy what they do. Just watch the music video for their brand new single, Fashionably Late, and you’ll definitely agree with me here. The track, which they wrote about the importance of being comfortable on your own skin, no matter how long it takes you to get there, sounds just as fun, with a very contagious melody and the right amounts of 1980s music influence. Well worth a listen.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Paradise86 – The Darkness

Artist: Paradise86

Song: The Darkness

Genres: #electronicmusic #synthwave

Location: Virginia, United States

Release date: January, 2022.

Comment: If I told you that The Darkness was an entirely self-produced, electronic track by an independent artist who got inspired by nightlife and the 1980s, you would probably assume it was a terrible song and, most of the time, you would be right. Well… not today. The Darkness sounds incredibly well, evoking all kinds of emotions from nostalgia to goosebumps. I could listen to it all day on repeat.

Originally from Honduras, Carlos Caballero, aka Paradise86, makes all his music mostly at night from his home in Manassas, Virginia. He’s seriously talented and deserves to be listened to.

  • Everything
  • Electronic

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The Break Plans – Sad Sometimes

Artist: The Break Plans

Song: Sad Sometimes

Genres: #altpop #indiepop

Location:  New Jersey, United States

Release date: November, 2021

Comment: Last December, New Jersey band The Break Plans was featured here with their catchy single Crossroads. They’re back now with an introspective song about battling your own demons and the fact that it is absolutely OK to feel sad from time to time. It is the first track self-produced by them and even though Sad Sometimes got a slightly different vibe to their previous songs, it still manages to keep The Break Plans‘ essence intact. Writing honest and authentic songs is always the way to go, even if that means getting out of your comfort zone. I got no doubt The Break Plans are headed in the right direction.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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The Break Plans – Crossroads

If you visit The Break Plans Facebook page, you will find that they describe their music as “Rock n’ roll with an EDM soul” or “indie pop music you can dance to — with an alternative rock vibe”. After listening to some of the singles they’ve released so far, it’s fair to say that both descriptions are pretty accurate. This band from Freehold, New Jersey, started in 2018 when lead singer Colton Braun replied to an add the other two band members, Mike Jahoda and Phil E. Eichinger, posted on Craig’s List. Getting inspiration from bands like Walk The Moon, Coldplay, and The Killers, their songs are certainly catchy and fun.

Their latest single, Crossroads, is exhibit A of everything mentioned above. It is an indie pop track with hints of alternative rock, some cool synths and even some EDM vibes. A song about feeling incomplete without that person who complements you, Crossroads is one of those tunes you could easily play on repeat. If you don’t have an aversion to radio-friendly songs, don’t lose sight of The Break Plans and check their back catalogue out. You won’t be disappointed.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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College feat. Electric Youth – A Real Hero

College feat. Electric Youth

I can’t claim to know much about the work of electronic music composer and producer David Grellier, aka College, because, unfortunately, that’s not the case. His goal is to “synthetize into [his] music the emotions of [his] childhood”, reason for which his music is heavily influenced by ’80s pop culture. If you watched the movie Drive (2011), you should have heard his most widely known song, A Real Hero, co-written with Austin Garrick from Canadian synth-pop duo Electric Youth, duo that also features on the track. If you just listen to this song, you’ll quickly notice two things: a) It certainly has an 80s vibe, and b) It is a mesmerizing track.

Despite getting nominated to an MTV Music Award for ‘Best Music’ and becoming an underground hit, A Real Hero is still relatively unknown to the casual music fan. Even then, it has been covered multiple times by established and not so established artists (and I’m planning to feature one of those covers here soon). In fact, a fun anecdote is that a few years ago, while I was on holiday in Malta, one night there was a really good guitar player performing some music at the hotel we were staying. Near the end, he started playing a song that instantly reminded me of A Real Hero. I quickly dismissed that thought because surely that song wasn’t popular enough to be played randomly by a guitar player in a small island on the Mediterranean Sea. Well, it was A Real Hero and it was one of the highlights of that trip. Enjoy this tune as this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry.