“Only One” by Georgia Hoareau

"Only One" by Georgia Hoareau

Artist: Georgia Hoareau

Song: Only One

Genres: #indie

Influences: Amy Winehouse, Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine

Location: Queensland, Australia

Release date: November, 2023

Comment:  Emerging from the Gold Coast, Australia, 19-year-old singer-songwriter Georgia Hoareau is a name to add to our radar. With her latest single “Only One”, released this month, it becomes obvious that Georgia knows how to craft and deliver a catchy indie tune. I think this skill is what truly sets talented artists apart from those who merely have a nice voice.

Georgia’s musical odyssey commenced with her debut single ’17’ in 2021, when she was, you guessed it, just 17 years old. Since then, she has made waves in her local scene, garnering media recognition and leaving a lasting impression with her compelling live band performances. As the young artist gears up to share more new music, her journey is undoubtedly one to watch closely.

If you like indie pop tunes with folksy vibes, ‘Only One’ will be right up your alley.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

“Worse Than This” by Me Nd Adam

"Worse Than This" by Me Nd Adam

Artist: Me Nd Adam

Song: Worse Than This

Genres: #indierock #altrock

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Release date: July, 2023

Comment: Me Nd Adam, the dynamic duo hailing from Austin, Texas, has carved an impressive path through the music industry, captivating audiences with their heartfelt anthems, engaging accessibility, generous merch giveaways, and their spirited, unapologetic demeanor. They’ve earned the moniker of pioneering trailblazers in the genre they call trash-wave.

Their latest offering, “Worse Than This,” is a standout track from their album “American Drip Part II (ADP2).” This sophomore release marks a significant evolution in their musical journey, weaving a tapestry of influences into a sound that’s unmistakably their own. The duo deliberately shifted towards a more organic instrumental approach, toning down the electro-pop elements that adorned their debut album, obviously: “American Drip Pt. I (ADP1).”

Back in November 2020, Me Nd Adam caught our attention with the release of “The More I Grow Up,” a single that swiftly amassed over two million streams. It also piqued the interest of the underdog indie label, Handwritten Records, based in Las Vegas. Since then, they’ve continued to garner acclaim and support from devoted fans and even rock icons like The Killers.

I highly recommend giving “Worse Than This” a listen. If you want to check out their new album afterwards, you can find it here.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

“Egyptian Summer” by Good Strangers

"Egyptian Summer" by Good Strangers

Artist: Good Strangers

Song: Egyptian Summer

Genres: #indie #indiefolk

Influences: boygenius, Wolf Alice, The Cure

Location: Mullingar, Ireland

Release date: August, 2023

Comment: Some songs are truly special. From the moment you hear them for the first time, you know that they will become a fixture of your daily soundtrack for months to come. That was the case when I listened to “Egyptian Summer” by Good Strangers. The mind-blowing thing is that this is the band’s first ever single, released ahead of their forthcoming debut EP, ‘Adult Teenage Novels’, coming out this fall.


Good Strangers came into existence as a collaboration of Irish musician friends, united by their shared passion for music and a history of playing together in various bands and projects. The band’s two lead singers, Niamh Kirby and Conor Quinn, who are best friends since they were 3, formed the group in 2022 after returning from Berlin, where they were inspired by the vibrant indie folk scene in the German capital. They chose the act’s name as a celebration of community and the many good strangers the band has met throughout their time touring, travelling and attending festivals.

In “Egyptian Summer,” the Irish band paints a raw and poetic portrayal of the moment when a beautiful relationship begins to unravel. Connor wrote it after going through a tough breakup, reminiscing about a summer in Egypt and searching for signs that everything would go downhill afterwards. Musically, the track has a similar vibe to Of Monsters And Men‘s debut album, without sounding exactly the same. What it really sets it apart for me are two things: first, how well Connor and Niamh’s voices fit together, and second, the emotion that they are able to transmit with their heartfelt vocals.

In conclusion, “Egyptian Summer” by Good Strangers is a sublime testament to the power of storytelling through music. It delves into the complexities of love, loss, and self-discovery, wrapped in an indie soundscape that feels both familiar and fresh. I honestly can’t wait for the debut EP!

“Remember that Egyptian Summer
The fork lightning over the bay
When we forgot everything
We forgot our troubles
When love was kind
And the silence was noise
But Underneath a marble sky
I never seen you look so happy
In your life.

And you were always cracking jokes
And laughing at my funny ways
And as the thunder rolled
Well so did my sorrow
We told lies
We told them all the time
But underneath a marble sky
Nothing mattered.

I need a thunderstorm
To distract from the pain
Cause tomorrow might be the same damn sorrow
I need something to happen
The heavens to burst
The sky to tear open
The passion to run and flow like a river
Out of my eyes
Once it’s out of my heart
It’s such a cold and desolate
Happy ever when
It’s such a cold and desolate
Happiness never came.

We sat at the bar and we talked
about the things we used to like
And romanticised the pain
Always remember it’s a crying shame
Like reaching for the heavens
but the heavens never came
And I’ve played the victim long before you arrived
These are not my people
It’s not my scene
not my style
So I’m going back
I’m going back to the city
Please forgive me”

Good Strangers, Egyptian Summer

Featured on the following mixtapes:

“Hey My Love” by Evermore

"Hey My Love" by Evermore

Artist: Evermore

Song: Hey My Love

Genres: #indierock

Location: Feilding, New Zealand

Release date: October, 2012

Comment: Today is #ThrowbackThursday, and we’re featuring Evermore’s song “Hey My Love.” For those who may not be familiar, Evermore was a New Zealand band that was relatively popular in their home country and Australia but not as well-known in Europe or America. They released their last album, Follow the Sun, in 2012. It was full of excellent tracks, including “Hey My Love,” a beautiful ballad that showcases the band’s ability to create emotional and heartfelt music. The song’s lyrics tell the story of longing and love, and the melody is both haunting and captivating. If you haven’t heard of Evermore before, “Hey My Love” is a great introduction to their music. It’s how I was introduced to their catalog. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Evermore consisted of three brothers: Jon, Peter, and Dann Hume. All three of them pursued their own careers after breaking up the band in 2014, mainly as songwriters and music producers. For example, Jon co-wrote the award-winning song “Hurtless,” performed by Dean Lewis. Evermore was a truly talented band.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

“Get To Know You Game” by Chloé Sautereau

"Get To Know You Game" by Chloé Sautereau

Artist: Chloé Sautereau

Song: Get To Know You Game

Genres: #indie #acoustic

Influences: Amy Allen, FINNEAS, Julia Michaels

Location: New York, United States

Release date: May, 2023

Comment:  “Get To Know You Game” by Chloé Sautereau is a refreshing and authentic take on the modern dating landscape. Sautereau’s robust vocals and clever lyrics aptly portray the frustration and weariness that come with searching for love in the digital age. Despite her struggles, the Swiss artist remains hopeful, singing about not giving up and holding out for something better.

This powerful and poignant acoustic ballad showcases Chloé’s gorgeous voice and marks her first release under her full name, after previously releasing music under the monikers “Cee” and “sautereau” in 2019 and after she moved to New York, respectively. It’s clear that Chloé is quite talented, and “Get To Know You Game” is a testament to that.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

Gracie Abrams – Amelie

Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams

Artist: Gracie Abrams

Song: Amelie

Genres: #indie #acoustic

Location: Los Angeles, United States

Release date: February, 2023

Comment: Gracie is the daughter of successful movie director J.J. Abrams, and she’s currently supporting Taylor Swift on her ERAS tour; so she’s not the kind of artist who would need any help promoting her music. However, she’s so genuinely talented and got such a beautiful voice, that I had to feature Gracie on this humble website. If you like folksy indie music, you are going to love “Amelie”, which is part of Gracie’s debut LP “Good Riddance”.

The track is stripped down to its bare essentials, featuring only an acoustic guitar and an occasional piano melody playing delicately in the background. However, what sets it apart is Gracie’s vulnerable vocals, which convey the emotional depth of the lyrics. “Amelie” centers around the familiar subject of falling for someone you’ve just met, and Gracie’s delivery captures the intensity of that experience. The gorgeous track, which was co-written and produced by Aaron Dessner from The National, is a true gem that should not be missed.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

Daniel Etherton – Mona Lisa

Daniel Etherton - Mona Lisa

Artist: Daniel Etherton

Song: Mona Lisa

Genres: #indiepop #singersongwriter

Influences:  Daughter, Lorde, The xx

Location: London, United Kingdom

Release date: February, 2023

Comment: Almost two years ago, I wrote about the debut single of talented London-based artist Daniel Etherton, “Foundations”, where I mentioned that the sky was the limit for him after such an outstanding debut. I think Daniel’s new single, “Mona Lisa”, proves that I was right about him. It’s just as good as “Foundations”, but quite different in style, which shows his range as a songwriter.

“Mona Lisa” is a delightful, upbeat song with a catchy melody and engaging lyrics. The metaphorical references to the iconic painting and its enigmatic subject create a lyrical narrative that is both poetic and playful. The song’s instrumentation is simple yet effective, featuring a bright acoustic guitar and infectious drums that give the track a sense of energy and movement. It’s a track that’s sure to leave listeners humming its melody long after it’s ended.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

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.

.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

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:

Angela Sclafani – Bell Jar

Photo: Jules Miranda

Artist: Angela Sclafani

Song: Bell Jar

Genres: #indie #indiefolk

Location: New York City, United States

Influences: Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones

Release date: February, 2022.

CommentAngela Sclafani is an independent #singersongwriter from New York City who has released three EPs so far and won numerous accolades as a songwriter. Her new single, Bell Jar, was inspired by Sylvia Plath‘s 1963 novel and is full of evocative lyrics that encourage listeners to challenge those social conventions that keep them down. Melodically, the track reminds me not only of the artists listed as Angela’s influences but also Lisa Loeb and even Sarah McLachlan. If you like sweet melodies with great lyrics, you’re in for a treat.

Featured on the following mixtapes: