Tag: indie pop

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Tessa Violet ft. chloe moriondo – Words Ain’t Enough

Tessa Violet ft. chloe moriondo

Have you had a close friend who’s in a bad relationship but you cannot tell them anything because they’re still in love and won’t listen to you? I think that’s a feeling we can all relate to and that’s exactly what motivated Tessa Violet to write Words Ain’t Enough, which is a heartfelt and melancholic song about being with someone who doesn’t really love you back. As the chorus says: “You can say you love me but words ain’t enough“. It’s not a complicated piece of music, with just a guitar supporting the vocals, but it doesn’t need anything else. It’s a beautiful piece and that’s what matters.

Tessa Violet, who is an American singer-songwriter who started as a successful blogger on Youtube before focusing on her career in music, originally released this song last year on her second full album: Bad Ideas. This year, she re-released it featuring vocals from chloe moriondo, who is a 18-year-old indie/bedroom pop artist who has been garnering quite a following on her own. I’m sure we will be hearing about both artists for years to come. Check this beautiful tune out below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Stumble Steady – Coming To An End

Stumble Steady

Garrett Kealer got OCD and does not try to hide it. Instead, he write songs from the unusual perspective of somebody living with that mental condition. Under the moniker Stumble Steady, Garrett wants to tear down untrue stereotypes usually associated to OCD while also creating upbeat music that people can relate to. His music is pretty contagious indie pop that might remind you of the likes of The 1975 and Grouplove.

Stumble Steady‘s latest single, Coming To An End, is a perfect example of all of the upbeat. A really infectious song with colorful soundscapes that deals with the subject of ending a relationship through the lens of a person with OCD. In particular, the thought patterns someone like Garrett experiences in that situation, from thinking about everything that led to the breakup to worrying about what friends will say, often at the expense of his own feelings. Without a doubt, this is a catchy and interesting tune. Definitely check it out below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Indie
  • Pop

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We Wander – Can’t Save You

We Wander

Maddie Little got a really nice and sweet voice and given how much she loves music, it came naturally for her to pick up a guitar in 2017 and start a band: We Wander. Eventually, she recruited Camilo on bass, Jacob on drums, and Christian on violin, resulting in a sound they call lush and explorative. It’s basically their own brand of indie folk.

Can’t Save You is one of their latest singles. It showcases all of the above, from Maddie‘s beautiful vocals to the contribution of each one of the band’s members and the overall style. The song is a letter that Maddie wrote to herself to be reminded that fighting her own battles is sometimes more important than the actual outcome. If you like indie folk, then make sure to check We Wander out. You’ll be glad you did.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Cristóvam – Setting Sun

I’ve had Setting Sun sitting in my queue for a while now, and during that time, my pal Jeff from Eclectic Music Lover wrote a flawless review of this single. I’m not a fan of repeating what has already been said, and even less so when what has been said is so good. The only thing I can add to what Jeff wrote is that Cristóvam, a singer/songwriter from Portugal, won first prize in the ‘Unsigned Only’ category for the International Songwriting Competition 2018, which had the likes of Keane, Bastille and Lorde, amongst the judges. And then, this year, he won ‘Pop Performance’ and ‘Song of the Year’ in the International Portuguese Music Awards. At this pace, by this time next year, he will be complaining about The Grammy Awards being corrupt.

The bottom line is that Setting Sun is a great, uplifting tune, and a great addition to T.A.M. Check it out below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Jimkata – Bonfires

I didn’t know this but there is a martial arts film from 1985 called Gymkata that became one of those movies that is so bad that becomes good, or -at the very least–, a cult film. The band Jimkata, a three-piece act from California and Ithaca, was named after such a great example of the seventh art and that should give you a hint of the fact that they just want to have fun. Self-described as an anthemic, synth-washed, electro-rock band; Jimkata‘s songs are hook-ridden and colorful.

Bonfires, which was released recently but will be part of Jimkata‘s anticipated new album of the same name, set for release early next year, is just exhibit A of what I said above. A song about feeling vulnerable in uncertain times, this tune will manage to make you

feel comfortable anyway. It’s the musical equivalent of a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly night. Simply enjoy it!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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Elina – Remember

I discovered Swedish singer/songwriter Elina Stridh, who goes simply by Elina as her stage name, earlier this year when her song Blue was included in an AI-generated playlist on a streaming platform. I kind of fell in love instantly with her sweet voice. Then, more recently, I got an email from a PR agency informing me of the release of her sophomore EP, titled Remember, and of course I had to check it out. The theme of the album is embracing change and it consists of 6 songs, including Blue, but the crown jewel is undoubtedly its title track. Elina is a remarkable songwriter and before she embarked into a career as a singer as well last year, she used to write pieces for other artists such as Zara Larsson and Neiked, so she knows one thing or two about writing hits.

However, when some of the songs Elina had written and loved weren’t picked up by any artist, she decided to release them herself and I’m really glad she did. With a series of stripped-back, folk-inspired tunes, she is showing us her real self in a vulnerable way. Remember, a song about seeing someone you love hurt and letting them know they will always be worthy of love and affection, is just an example. Elina’s beautiful voice and honest lyrics make the listening experience a really enjoyable one. She’s not breaking any ground with sounds you had never heard before, but when the music is this good, who cares?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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We Meet As Strangers – Everyone betrayed me, I’m fed up with this world

If you visit the instagram page of We Meet As Strangers, you will see that they’re now a four-piece act. It all started, however, when two school friends from Stuttgart, Germany, decided to start a band in 2015. Since then, they have released and produced themselves an album, an EP and two singles, always trying to merge different musical styles and instruments, including those typical of traditional German music like brass and strings. With influences that go from Neck Deep to Sufjan Stevens, you can see they have trouble getting defined by a single genre.

Their latest single, which for simplicity I’ll refer to as Everyone betrayed me (the full name is in the title of this entry), is the most 1980s song composed by someone who wasn’t even alive in the same century. Filled with analog synths and lush sounds, the track is about not being the one for the person you love and being OK with that. Something nice about We Meet as Strangers and this song is that they will donate all earnings from it to Doctors Without Borders in order to help those in the Moria camp on Lesbos. Listening to a good track is always nice but, if on top of that, you are going to contribute to such a good cause, it becomes a no-brainer. Check it out below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Johnny Ashby – In Bloom

You’d be surprised by the amount of people who think Mumford & Sons are an American band just because of the type of music they used to make (at least their first couple of albums). I think the same will happen to British artist Johnny Ashby if he becomes that famous (he should). Based in Los Angeles, this singer/songwriter composes radio-friendly, folk pop anthems with an Americana ting. He recently released a five-track EP called In Bloom, co-written and produced with members of the brand Grizfolk, that is really good. I honestly liked all 5 songs.

I decided to feature the title track just because it’s the only one with an official music video so far. I could have chosen any other song (they’re all that good). When he writes a song, Johnny gives considerable importance to how it would be like live, and In Bloom was no exception. With sparkling guitar riffs (especially during the outro) and such a melodious chrorus, it should be a blast to hear this song live. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance soon.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Grouplove – Deleter

Grouplove - Deleter

Deleter was released early this year but it is so good and fun that I had to find a way to squeeze it here. At the time, it was Grouplove‘s first single since 2016 and expectations were pretty high. I think it’s safe to say that Deleter didn’t disappoint the band’s fans. With hooks all over the place, you’ll find the song’s energy to be highly infectious. It is impossible to remain quiet while this great track is playing.

In case you hadn’t heard about Grouplove before, this band was formed in 2009 in California. They’ve had a number of hits since then, with the most popular one being the outstanding Tongue Tied. They don’t seem to be tormented artists trying to leave a mark in the world. Instead, they seem to be a group of friends enjoying what they do and having fun. That’s precisely what you’ll get from them. Isn’t that perfect for a Friday night?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Luc Rushmere – Alive (Acoustic)

Now that election day in the US is over and while we wait for the official results, check this up-and-coming artist from South Africa out: Luc Rushmere. Having recently moved to Europe to pursue his career in music, he just released an EP, Wings, that is mainstream enough to really take off. His style is an amalgamation of diverse influences, including hip hop and rap, that often is too mainstream to my taste, but sometimes it has just the right amount of those urban styles to remind me of acts such as The Neighbourhood. One example of that is this acoustic version of a song Luc had released last year called Alive.

With its appealing melody, urban vibes and great pop vocals that complement very well the acoustic guitar, this track is interesting enough to keep your attention from beginning to end. If you like songs like Sweater Weather, you will definitely enjoy Alive. Give it a chance below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop