Tag: indie pop

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Daniel Etherton – Foundations

Foundations is the debut single of London-based British artist Daniel Etherton, and as far as debut singles go, it cannot get much better than this. Released back in February, Foundations is a sweet tune with an acoustic guitar-based melody that really does sound great. One of the reasons for that is Daniel’s voice, which is perfect for an #indiefolk track such as this one. When he sings the lyrics, which reflect on internal struggles and real friendships from a hopeful perspective, it feels like he really means every single word. The song is long enough to make you appreciate how talented Daniel is as singer-songwriter, but at 2:41, it is also short enough to leave you wanting more.

I do hope Foundations gets enough success and recognition to encourage Daniel Etherton to keep writing and recording music. If this is what he did as a new music artist, just imagine what he will be able to do with more experience and confidence. The sky is really the limit for him.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Lost In Japan – Lonely

Lost In Japan - Lonely

Lost In Japan is a Canadian band whose members have never actually being lost in that Asian country. That being said, I dig that band’s name and, more importantly, their indie rock music. With a sound reminiscing of Arkells and My Favorite Highway (obscure reference), Lost In Japan have received plenty of support in their hometown of London, Ontario, and even amassed over 500k streams for their debut album (2018). They’re getting ready to release a sophomore EP and Lonely is its latest leading single.

Frontman Addison Johnson wrote Lonely three years ago while he was on tour. He wanted to channel the loneliness he was feeling while away from his family. Eventually, after other band members added their input to it, the tune morphed into the version we can listen to now. What I really love about Lonely is the infectious chorus that Addison delivers flawlessly. It’s a really catchy tune that I’m sure you will enjoy.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Mike Robert – Cold

After completing his service time in the army and travelling across Europe and North America for 5 months, American #singersongwriter Mike Robert decided to write a music album as well as record it and produce it from home while playing all the instruments himself. You would think it was recorded and produced in a high-end music studio by the way Cold, one of its lead singles, sounds. This debut album will be quite good.

Cold is one of those songs that sound pretty uplifting while the lyrics tell a different story. In this case, the song is about feeling trapped and ‘underwater’, unable to feel excitement about anything. The happy energy in the tune’s arrangement represents Mike’s desire for happiness and feeling love. It starts with an acoustic guitar that gives the track a #folkpop vibe, followed by an infections beat that will get you to tap your feet right away. By the time the rest of the instruments come into play, you are already hooked. Listen to this earworm at your own peril.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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Wolf Alice – Bros

Two days ago, on my post about Moon Museum, I compared their single to Bros from Wolf Alice, so, naturally, it makes sense to feature that track as this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry. Bros was released initially as a demo in 2013 but the British band included a reworked version in their debut album, My Love Is Cool, in 2015, and re-released Bros as its second single. A tribute to childhood friendships –as evidenced by its music video, which you can watch below–, it was the only song from that album to enter the main UK Singles chart. With its soft guitar riffs and lead singer’s Ellie Rowsell‘s sweet vocals, Bros is, without a doubt, a great indie track.

Formed originally as an acoustic duo in 2010, Wolf Alice quickly became a fully-fledged alternative rock band. They have released two studio albums since then and are about to drop their third one in June. Three of the new songs are available already and they sound really nice. While we wait for the rest of the new album to drop, let’s enjoy Bros again.

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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YumeMike – Dream Out Loud

YumeMike

Yume means ‘dream’ in Japanese and that is the reason why YumeMike chose that moniker, even though he’s actually Italian. He grew up playing bass in multiple #punkrock bands but, as a solo artist, he traded the bass for synths, creating an interesting variant of #indiepop with a strong #poppunk flavour. He cites The Naked And Famous and The Killers as influences, but if you want to have an idea of what he sounds like, think Owl City meets Angels & Airwaves. YumeMike’s ‘dream’ is to inspire and elicit warm feelings through his music. If you like positive messages, this is the artist for you.

Dream Out Loud is part of YumeMike‘s debut album, Light In The Mirror, released in February but that he started working on back in 2019. The track is perfectly on-brand with the artist’s style of uplifting synthpop music but I have to say that the overall production/musical arrangement is really impressive considering he worked on it alone. In fact, YumeMike just released an instrumental version of his debut album that is just as good too. This Italian artist is seriously talented and deserves to be on our radars. Check him out.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Jackfruit – stuck in ohio

Jackfruit is the moniker of Jack Braun, a 19 year old musician from NYC. He plays mostly piano and writes all of his music, getting help from Zach Benson on the mixing and production fronts. Jack’s musical style is basically bedroom pop –literally recorded in his childhood bedroom–, which may or may not be your cup of tea, but you’ll surely find his lyrics very interesting. Jack started making music during the start of the pandemic and released his debut EP earlier this year: when they find your body, which consists of four tracks, out of which the most popular one is gas leak with 4 times as many streams as the one in second place. That being said, the song that really stood out for me was stuck in ohio.

The thing that really attracted me to stuck in ohio was how vulnerable Jack’s delivery is on it. A song about an unrequited love, it feels like Jack really means every word coming out of his mouth. This is not a track to dance to or for karaoke night. It is a song to be felt and that’s the beauty in this piece from Jackfruit. I don’t know what the future holds for this talented artist, but it will be fascinating to find out.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Paris Youth Foundation – Tired Of Loving You

Unfortunately, I was unable to post anything in the past two days but I hope to make it up to you by featuring the latest single from one of the best indie bands out there today: Paris Youth Foundation. Despite what the band’s name might lead you to think, they are actually from Liverpool, UK, and if you are not familiar with their music, you’ve been missing out. Frontman Kevin Potter chose their name just before the release of their debut single in 2016 after a graffiti he saw in the French capital when he was a child. They have never released a full-length album but they have quite a few singles and I’m yet to find one I dislike. They know how to write a good hook and a catchy chorus.

Tired Of Loving You is no exception. A perfect indie rock song that is anthemic and nostalgic at the same time. Potter explains that the tune is about being in a relationship that lasts longer than it should just because people are too scared to admit that it might be over. As is to be expected from a Paris Youth Foundation song, Tired Of Loving You got a really captivating chorus that gets stuck in your head. Do check it out below and enjoy!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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Police Car Collective – Mine

Police Car Collective

If you like The 1975 or Neon Trees, you will love Mine then because it got the same vibes. And if that’s not enough to convince you, perhaps knowing that it was inspired by The Perks of Being a Wallflower (the book, but if you only know the movie, that’s close enough) will do the trick. It is just Police Car Collective‘s second single, which clearly indicates the potential this young band has, and will be part of the band’s upcoming debut EP.

Police Car Collective was formed in Liverpool a little over a year ago by two friends: Tyler Plazio and Simon Quigley. However, Tyler, the lead singer, is originally from Washington and moved across the pond after graduating high school while trying to figure out his next step. It was during that point in time that he wrote Mine, reflecting on the life he was leaving behind and the one he was just starting. Fortunately, that decision to move to the UK led to meting Simon and form this band, because I’m sure we will keep getting more great tunes from Police Car Collective. Bring them on!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Flawes – What’s A Boy To Do

British #altpop band Flawes have been around since 2016 but they didn’t release their debut album until early last year. Then the pandemic hit the world and changed everything. Rather than complaining about their tough luck, they embraced lockdown and went back to work, which resulted in a six-track EP called Reverie, which includes What’s A Boy To Do. Quite simply, this single is a stunning piece of uplifting indie pop.

After a brief acoustic intro, Flawes keeps things relatively quiet during the first verse before erupting into one of the catchiest choruses you will find in an alt-pop song this year. It could become a huge hit with proper airplay. What’s A Boy To Do is that good. Don’t miss it!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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We Wander – Rock And A Hard Place

I talked about Canadian #indiefolk act We Wander back in November (time flies), and they are back now with a new single, Rock And A Hard Place, that’s just as good, if not better. Drums and strings take a more prominent place on this song, which is nice, but just as with Can’t Save You, the secret weapon here is Maddie Little‘s vocals. She’s able to transmit emotions of longing, anger or despair in line with the lyrics, which are about a relationship falling apart. I particularly like the chorus because that’s where the songwriter is coming to terms with what is going on and, in some way, that’s exactly how that section of the tune makes you feel.

I would also say Rock And A Hard Place is a grower: a song that you enjoy more and more each time you listen to it. And if you needed further proof that We Wander was going places, watch the song’s music video below . It’s really well made and worth watching.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie