Tag: Alternative

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Michael Lane – Good Times

Artist: Michael Lane

Song: Good Times

Genres: #indiefolk #singersongwriter

Location: Germany

Release date: April, 2021.

Comment: Good Times may sound optimistic and upbeat with its acoustic folk vibes and catchy melody, but it has a serious and deep message: having a nice house or a nice car does not necessarily make you happier in the long run. German-American artist Michael Lane has transited the road less traveled to get to where he is today as an artist, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a US soldier during his twenties. He’s had two top 50 songs in the German charts already, so he’s well-known as a musician in some European countries. It is time for him to get noticed in other latitudes too.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Montrell – Simpler in the Dark

Artist: Montrell

Song: Simpler In The Dark

Genres: #indierock

Location: London, United Kingdom

Release date: April, 2021.

Comment: This band –and particularly this song– reminds me of the softer side of fellow British band JET. Despite talking about the desire to sleep with other people when you are in a serious relationship, Simpler in the Dark is honest and delicate. It has been played by Elton John in his radio show, which shows that Montrell have been turning heads in the UK. The band has just released a 3-track EP called Angel, which includes Simpler in the Dark, and is getting ready to start playing live shows again next week across the south of England. Something tells me we will be hearing from them quite a lot pretty soon.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Said The Whale – 99 to the Moon

Artist: Said The Whale

Song: 99 to the Moon

Genres: #indierock

Location: Vancouver, Canada

Release date: July, 2021.

Comment: The song that introduced me to Said The Whale, one of Canada’s most successful indie acts, was 2013’s I Love You, which remains one of my favorite tracks from that decade. I’ve been following them closely since then and I’m happy to report that they will release their seventh full-length album, Dandelion, in October. 99 to the Moon is one of the lead singles and it is the perfect love song for a band like Said The Whale: charming and quirky at the same time. According to the press release, “the song title can either be interpreted as the year 1999, until forever or as the 99 B-Line (a bus that runs east-west in Vancouver) to wherever you are going“. I have to say as well that the music video below is the perfect companion for such a sweet song.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Holly Humberstone – The Walls Are Way Too Thin

Artist: Holly Humberstone

Song: The Walls Are Way Too Thin

Genres: #indiepop

Location: United Kingdom

Release date: May, 2021

Influences: Phoebe Bridgers, Damien Rice

Comment: Holly Humberstone is a young and immensely talented British artist who in just over one year has managed to make a name for herself in the alternative pop scene. She’s preparing to release her sophomore EP in November, whose lead single is the eponymously titled The Walls Are Way Too Thin. She wrote this song after moving to a small flat in London and it is a catchy piece of “dark pop”. If you were not aware of Holly Humberstone before, write her name down. This won’t be the last time you hear it.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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M.A.G.S. – Wait

Artist: M.A.G.S.

Song: Wait

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Los Angeles, California

Release date: August, 2021

Comment: Buffalo-bred and L.A.-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Elliott Douglas, aka M.A.G.S., has just released his debut LP: Say Things That Matter, which consists of fourteen tracks with different shades of alternative rock. Wait is one of its lead singles and it is an upbeat track full of energy and rhythm. It comes accompanied by a cool video that you can watch below. Despite being a song about connecting with each other through our flaws, Wait does not have any.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Naked Next Door – Reset

Artist: Naked Next Door

Song: Reset

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

Release date: April, 2021

Influences: Stereophonics, Oasis, Catfish and the Bottlemen

Comment: I love Reset‘s chorus, particularly during the intro. A song about wanting to break out of routine, it is a great piece of indie rock. If you like any of the artists listed above or just want honest rock songs, definitely check this young band from Milton Keynes out.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Volts – Glass Walls

Artist: Volts

Song: Glass Walls

Genres: #AlternativeRock

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Release date: April, 2021.

Comment: Possibly the first Kiwi band to be featured here, Volts are ready to be heard globally. Glass Walls, a fast-paced, hook-ridden alternative rock track about Imposter Syndrome, is their second single off their forthcoming debut album, to be released later this year. Unless you hate radio-friendly tunes, do check them out. They’re really good.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Illicit Ghost – Higher

Artist: Illicit Ghost

Song: Higher

Genres: #indiepop #indierock

Location: New York City, United States

Release date: April, 2021.

Influences: St. Vincent, Hole, The Killers.

Comment: Higher is a bright and infectious indie pop-rock song from New York-based artist Illicit Ghost, who also play the violin here. This track could become a big hit if it received enough promotion. Quality-wise, it does not lack anything. Higher is quite a refreshing tune.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Indie
  • Pop

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DR!FTWOOD – 4:45

Artist: DR!FTWOOD

Song: 4:45

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Manchester, UK

Release date: April, 2021.

Comment: 4:45 is one of those songs that become instant earworms right away. It reminds me of the style of Go Radio, in case you’re familiar with that other band. I admit I wasn’t aware of DR!FTWOOD at all before I heard 4:45, but they have been active since 2015 and had big plans for 2020 that they had to suspend because of… you know. After a brief hibernation period, they returned this year better than ever with this great tune. Enjoy 4:45!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Evan Blair – Survive Myself

Artist: Evan Blair

Song: Survive Myself

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Toronto, Canada

Release date: April, 2021.

Influences: Weezer, The Strokes, The 1975.

Comment: If you miss alternative rock songs from the early 2000s, then this song is for you. I have no idea if Evan Blair did it on purpose or not if you told me that Survive Myself was a hit from those years, I would totally believe you (in fact, it reminds me of a little known band called Diffuser). What I do know is that Evan wrote this song about the time of his life just before he got sober (he’s 3.5 years sober now). He’s cut his teeth writing and producing tracks for quite a few artists, such as Tessa Violet and Gnash, so he knows one thing or two about making music. Check his work out.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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