Tag: Great songs

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Ólafur Arnalds feat. JFDR – Back To The Sky

Icelandic artist Ólafur Arnalds is one of my favorite composers still active. His last album, re:member (2018), was outstanding, for which he even invented a ground-breaking musical system called Stratus. If you have seen the British TV show, Broadchurch, then you are familiar with Ólafur’s work because he composed its gorgeous soundtrack. He started to get noticed when he supported Sigur Rós during one of their tours in 2008. All in all, I think it is safe to say that he is a brilliant multi-instrumentalist.

Ólafur is preparing a new album for November but he has already delighted us with a couple of new tracks. Back To The Sky is one of them but the peculiar thing about it is that it is closer to an indie song than to anything else. To begin with, it is a collaboration with Icelandic singer, JFDR, so it got lyrics and beautiful vocals. Listening to this song is similar to floating in the air. From the flawless instrumentation to JFDR‘s hypnotic voice, everything in it feels like part of a dream. Please don’t wake me up.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Freedom of the City – Turn It Up

In the same way not all bands from Liverpool sound like The Beatles, not all bands from Manchester sound like Oasis. That being said, I can’t help but get a Gallagher brothers vibe in Turn It Up, the latest single from Manchester-based band, Freedom Of The City. Mind you, it’s just a vibe, but that’s enough to result in an anthemic, alternative rock track full of energy that is ideal for live shows, whenever live music happens to be a thing again.

Freedom Of The City are a four-piece band founded by lead vocalist, George Brown. They have been playing together for a few years now, hitting the music festivals circuit all around the UK and getting a lot of attention and a fan base in the process. FOTC‘s debut album should drop anytime now, and if it is full of bangers just as Turn It Up, it will be a massive success.

I dare you to listen to this track and remain quiet. Can you do it?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Bea Bitter – Serpent

Bea Bitter is the stage name of Brenna Kassis as a solo artist, given that she’s also part of indie-rock band, Ill Spector. This prolific singer/songwriter hails from Nashville, TN; is preparing her debut EP, which will be titled The Lull Before The End Of The World; and has released two singles so far this year. Serpent, the most recent one, dropped just two weeks ago.

Brenna got a sweet voice that is perfect for indie folk songs just like Serpent. With a playful melody driven by a solid bass line, this single talks about wanting that person you are infatuated with to have the same feelings about you, something we can all relate to. Overall, Bea Bitter got the talent to write and perform entrancing songs that can crawl through your mind like a real snake. This gorgeous tune is just exhibit A. You’ll see.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Diarmuid J Kennedy – The Piano Tide

The Piano Tide is a beautiful composition that soothes your spirit whenever you listen to it. It got traces of Erik Satie on it and a subtle elegance that takes the piece to another level. This piano solo is as charming as it can get. Give it a chance and you’ll see what I mean.

The composer, Diarmuid J Kennedy, is a classically trained pianist from Ireland. His debut single was released just last year and back in January he performed a sold-out gig in Dublin. Diarmuid describes his style as indie classical (I like that) and he can’t wait to play live again once it’s safe to do so. If he keeps composing pieces as delightful as The Piano Tide, he’s have plenty of chances to do that.

Listen to this wonderful piece below. Isn’t it the perfect soundtrack for your lazy Sunday afternoon?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Relax

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Paul van Dyk ft. Sue McLaren – Guiding Light

Paul van Dyk ft. Sue McLaren - Guiding Light

I didn’t know Paul van Dyk was about to release a new album when I featured him here back in June, but he did just that last week with Guiding Light. Its lead single is also the title track, a collaboration with Sue McLaren, and I have to say that it is pretty good. McLaren is an UK-based vocalist, DJ and songwriter who started as an indie rock artist but eventually and almost by chance ended up focusing on electronic music.

This track, Guiding Light, is a typical uplifting trance tune from PVD, but there is nothing wrong with that. Its enthralling melody and sweet vocals will draw you in and make you have a blast for the duration of the song. If you are looking for music that can cheer you up this weekend, this is a good start.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Electronic

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Maro – Carsick

Today’s song lies in the gray area between alternative/bedroom pop and groovy, mainstream music, the kind you can find in any popular radio station. In this case, that is not a bad thing. Carsick is so catchy and Maro‘s vocals are so good, that you simply won’t be able to help enjoy this tune. The impressive thing is that this talented Lebanese artist is just 19 years old.

As is commonplace nowadays, Maro started with a Youtube channel, uploading covers of popular tracks. Before long, he started to get noticed to the point that last year alone, he got over 28 million views. Carsick is his first original track and I wouldn’t be even remotely surprised if it became a big hit. It depends on a bit of luck as well, but I like his chances.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979

The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

In case you missed it, The Smashing Pumpkins released two new singles this week. While they may not reach the heights of their legendary hits from the MTV era, it’s time for a Throwback Thursday feature. Selecting a song was tough with their impressive back catalogue.

I recently binge-watched all 3 seasons of Netflix’s brilliant sci-fi series, Dark (loved it). The recurring phrase, ‘The beginning is the end and the end is the beginning,’ reminded me of The Smashing Pumpkins’ single, ‘The End is The Beginning Is The End,’ from the 1997 film Batman & Robin. Unfortunately, the original version isn’t available on major streaming platforms, just a lackluster remix.

That brought me back to square one, torn between featuring my all-time favorite song from Billy Corgan & Co, despite its popularity, other renowned tracks like “Disarm” or “Tonight, Tonight,” or a hidden gem like “Stand Inside Your Love” or “Untitled.” In the end, “1979” emerged as the clear winner. This remarkable track, the second single from “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” is simply exceptional and a must-have on my mixtapes. Don’t miss the fantastic music video below.”

There’s nothing more I can say about this #musicalcrush. Simply savor this nostalgic stroll down memory lane.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Jacko Hooper – Beg, Steal or Borrow

Jacko Hooper

Not all artists are able to transmit their raw emotions when they sing, but those who can make the whole listening experience a thousand times better. Jacko Hooper is one of them and Beg, Steal or Borrow, which is one of the singles he has released so far in 2020, a great example of that. You can almost feel the sense of despair Jacko would go through if anything bad happened to the person he wrote this beautiful indie folk song for.

This musician from Brighton, UK, started out in 2012 when he released his debut EP and started a Youtube channel, which today has close to 7k subscribers. After more EPs and tours, including performances with the likes of James Blunt and James Bay, Jacko got successful enough to even run one of the leading independent promotions companies and boutique record labels of Southern England, Folklore Sessions.

If you like artist like Damien Rice or Glen Hansard, please do check Jacko Hooper out. It will be right up your alley.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Coopertheband – Stuck

Some bands can’t hide how much fun they have playing music and Coopertheband is one of them. Made up of 5 self-proclaimed “music nerds”, this indie rock band from Tennessee has released two full-length albums, two EPs, and a bunch of singles already, with Stuck being the most recent one, released a couple of weeks ago.

This great song got top-notch production and a stunning bridge that elevates it to a whole new level. With a blend of indie rock and some electronic elements, the tune got the right ingredients to make you want to put it on repeat. The band wrote Stuck inspired by the current climate and it talks about that feeling we might get sometimes when we really want to do something but we get trapped by our own thoughts. Luckily for us, that wasn’t the feeling Coopertheband experienced when working on this magnetic track.

Stuck may very well be your next musical crush.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Lachlan – Lax

Indie songs produced and recorded pretty much on your own are not supposed to sound this good. There’s usually something that would give it away, but that’s not the case with Lax, the second single of singer/songwriter Lachlan, released last Friday. The song is a radio-friendly tune with nice guitar riffs and an infectious chorus. Lachlan’s voice is a perfect fit as well.

After being part of several Edinburgh-based bands such as Lost In Vancouver, Lachlan decided to try a career solo. Earlier this year he put his debut single, Too Bad, out. Now with Lax, a song about overcoming your own insecurities, he is letting us know that he’s here to stay. Give this song a listen on the mixtapes below and keep him on your radar. He absolutely deserves it.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie