Tag: Indie Rock

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The 93 – 03

The 93 - 03

I love listening to cinematic rock –also known as post-rock, although I dislike that name– when I need to focus or relax. Something about the atmospheric sounds and the different acoustic textures that cinematic rock artists often use elicit joyful yet peaceful emotions in me. Unfortunately, it is not a massively popular genre yet, so the number of artists creating this kind of music is still somewhat small (and the best ones all seem to be signed by Deep Elm Records), but the good news is that this seems to be changing with a number of new “post-rock” bands that have been popping up lately.

The 93 is one such band. Based in Cardiff, the group is formed by two talented brothers from Poland and started in 2017. I discovered them on Instagram when they liked one of my posts and started following me (I love to discover new music that I like this way). They got some samples of their songs on their profile there that got me interested and then I listened to their EPs, which are available on most streaming platforms. They say in their official website that they were originally rooted in punk-rock and you can definitely sense some Angels & Airwaves influence in their songs, which can never be bad. 03 is their latest single, which was released earlier this year, and it encapsulates perfectly the gorgeous kind of music they make.

There is no video available yet but you can listen to this song in the playlists below. Give this band a chance. You won’t regret it.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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U137 – Have Hope

U137 - Have Hope

U137 was a “cinematic post-rock” duo from Sweeden formed by Adam Tornbland and Oscar Gullbrandsen in 2013. Unfortunately, Adam passed away at age 27 in 2017 (and I strongly urge you to listen to the beautiful “Adam Forever”, which Oscar released as a tribute to him), so nowadays Oscar is the sole member of U137.

Back in April this year, Oscar released U137‘s latest single, Have Hope, which he wrote as a message of optimism during these uncertain times. The song has the rich textures and layers for which U137 is known for within the genre enthusiasts and makes you want to hear it again and again. As other U137 songs, it evokes feelings of euphoria and has a calming effect. I find this kind of music ideal to listen to while I work or have to focus on something. I guess the best adjective for Have Hope is, quite simply, beautiful.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher

Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

Phoebe Bridgers is the world’s favorite indie/folk artist right now. In fact, when she released her second album, Punisher, one day earlier yesterday, she became a trending topic on Twitter. So, I don’t think you need me to tell you who she is. You probably know that already.

Anyway, that a true singer/songwriter singing this type of music is having so much success in this day and age, is something that I think should be celebrated. It’s pretty rare nowadays. Besides, despite being the song after which the whole album was named, the song I’m recommending here today, Punisher, has not been released a single so far (those have been Garden Song and Kyoto). I cannot say was a huge fan of Phoebe. I mean, I do like her but not in a cannot-stop-listening-to-her kind of way. That being said, I loved the ethereal mood of this song from the first time I heard it. Ms. Bridgers has a soft and delicate voice that pulls you in in a hypnotic way. As a curious side note, musicians use the term punisher to refer –in kind of a condescending way– to super fans that linger at the merch booth in live shows a little too long. Phoebe wrote this song as if she would have been Elliot Smith’s punisher.

Maybe I’ll become a big fan after all. What about you?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition

Sweet Disposition

Last week, we recommended the marvellous instrumental cover that Kirsten Agresta Copely did of this classic, so for the #ThrowbackThursday of this week, the obvious choice has to be the original song, which –as mentioned in that post– is considered an indie anthem. It was released in 2008 as the lead single of The Temper Trap‘s debut album, Conditions, and became a top 10 single in multiple countries, including the UK. Something curious about The Temper Trap is that the lead singer, Dougy Mandagi, was born in Indonesia and worked a busker in Melbourne when he met some of the other members of the band.

¿Who doesn’t sing along with the song’s bridge?

“A moment, a love

A dream aloud

A kiss, a cry

Our rights, our wrongs

A moment, a love

A dream aloud

A moment, a love

A dream, aloud“

The Temper Trap, Sweet Disposition

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Shallou, Daya – Older

Shallou, Daya

Shallou is the stage name of Los Angeles-based electronic music producer and climate change activist, Joe Boston. He debuted in 2017 with his first EP but has just issued his first full-length album in 2020, Magical Thinking. He collaborated with the singer Daya for the 10th track on that record: Older, which is today’s addition to The Alternative Mixtapes.

Older is a beautifully melancholic ambient track ideal for drifting away and forgetting about the world. The song’s lyrics are also deeper than you would imagine, with a stunningly morose bridge in which Daya sings: “Maybe one day when I’m older, I might understand why love just doesn’t happen to everyone who wants it.”All in all, this is a musical gem.

What do you think of this track?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Chill Out

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The Strumbellas – I’ll Wait

The Strumbellas - I'll Wait

Canadian band The Strumbellas had a moderate hit a few years ago with their song, Spirits, yet they remained relatively unknown to the casual listener. Last year, they returned with their fourth album, Rattlesnakes, which included the anthemic folk single you can find below. If you haven’t listened to it yet, you must do it now because its infectiously uplifting melody will put a smile on your face and make you sing-along.

I’ll wait became an instant musical crush for me the first time I heard it. I hope it does the same for you.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Hazey Eyes feat. Panama – Emotion

Hazey Eyes

I got my lovely wife to thank for this discovery, as it showed up while she was listening to a playlist with recommendations from one streaming platform. Hazey Eyes is the moniker of 22-year-old Philadelphia-based electronic artist Thomas Michel, who released in 2019 his latest EP, Love Lost. For its lead single, Emotion, the classically trained multi-instrumentalist collaborated with Panama, the well-known electronic/Indie project by Australian songwriter/producer Jarrah McCleary, and the result was this emotional blend of electronic and indie music with a catchy yet vulnerable melody.

Emotion got serious potential to become your next musical crush and you can stream it below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

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Kirsten Agresta Copely – Sweet Disposition

Kirsten Agresta Copely - Sweet Disposition

If you are into Indie Rock, then I’m pretty sure you are also into “Sweet Disposition” –the song released in 2008 by the Australian band The Temper Trap– which has been described as an “indie anthem“. Besides being a great song, it also became popular after being featured in the soundtrack of one of my favorite movies, 500 Days of Summer. Needless to say, I love this song.

It should come as no surprise, then, that when I heard the first chords of this sublime cover of “Sweet Disposition” by classically trained harpist, composer, and arranger Kirsten Agresta Copely, I was simply blown away. The song’s distinctive intro is beautifully emulated by Kirsten’s harp, and the rest of the song is just as charming. Copely has had a successful career performing for heads of state and alongside a wide array of top artists, ranging from Andrea Bocelli and Beyoncé to Evanescence.

Listen to the song below, and later, visit Kirsten’s channel on YouTube or the usual streaming platforms to hear her original compositions and other covers. You’ll thank me later.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Kodaline – Sometimes

Kodaline - Sometimes

Who doesn’t remember Kodaline‘s All I Want? That single and their whole debut album were a massive hit for the Irish band, and even though their two subsequent efforts had moderate success, they haven’t come close to the magic of their first release.

The band will be back with a new album, One Day at a Time, two days from now (the 12th) and one of its lead singles is the song featured here, Sometimes, which has a perfect Indie vibe with an upbeat melody, despite deep lyrics talking about the subject of anxiety. Hope you enjoy it (please let me know)!

“Sometimes is a song I wrote while on tour in Asia last year. I had a really bad day dealing with my own anxiety issues and I kind of let it get the better of me. I started writing the song in my hotel room to help me calm down, music has always helped me in that way. For me It’s a song about accepting the bad days and trying to stay positive. We all get lost sometimes…”

Steve Garrigan, Kodaline’s lead singer

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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The Naked And Famous – Blinding Lights

The Naked And Famous - Blinding Lights

The Naked And Famous are releasing a new album, Recover, next month and to support it, they have recorded a flawless cover of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights. That being said, this cover will not be part of the new album.

While we wait for the album to drop, let’s enjoy this tune from probably my favorite band from New Zealand.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop