Tag: Indie

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Evaride – What’s It All For?

I feel like I should have known about American band Evaride for a while now. Formed by the former guitar player on Glee and one of the stars in Billy Joe Armstrong’s Broadway musical “American Idiot”, their debut single got over 4 million streams on Spotify and then the band got songs featured in video games and some tv shows. Their debut EP Vol. 1 got several heavyweight producers and sound-mixers involved such as Chris Lord-Alge. I mean, there was certainly some buzz about them. That being said, I only know about Evaride because they liked one of my posts on Instagram and it caught my attention because they had the verified badge.

What’s It All For? was the first song from Evaride that I played and it blew me away how well it sounded. The top-notch production made sense once I saw who had been involved, but besides that, it was a high-energy, catchy and fun pop-rock song like those from yesteryear that are not common anymore. Even better, the lyrics had a deeper meaning than what you would expect from such a fun song (and music video, see below), basically talking about all those little stupid things we tend to do or give importance to that are essentially meaningless, like people doing whatever it takes to get more likes on social media. What could be better than songs with great melodies and good lyrics?

It will be interesting to see how far Evaride will go in the next few years.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Pop

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Everything In Waves – Colors Return

New York-based Everything In Waves is a band with indie, emo, folk, and electronic influences. In fact, they have come up with their own genre, ‘emotronic‘, which is a mix of all those influences. The band, which is signed to Deep Elm Records (just as Lights & Motion and U137, among others), recently released a new single, Colours Return, which aims to provide some comfort to those deeply affected by the pandemic.

It is a nice and soothing track with different layers that add depth to it. Unfortunately, it is not available on Youtube yet, so you will have to visit one of the mixtapes below to hear this message of hope. I don’t have an emotronic mixtape but I think Colors Return will fit in nicely with the other songs in the Indie Mixtape. Hope you like it!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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The Echelon Effect – Your Memory Feels Like Home To Me

There are plenty of musicians out there who have been studying and playing music for decades and can play and compose the most challenging pieces, which usually sound every bit as complicated as they are supposed to be. I dislike that type of music. I think the true musical geniuses, like The Beatles, are those who are able to make even intricate compositions sound simple. Do you know what’s hard? Making music that sounds beautiful and original using the same four chords everybody have been using for ages. Yet, it happens from time to time, and when it does, you wonder why no one was able to come up with that idea before. Well, that’s because it isn’t easy.

All this preamble is just to say that I think David Walters, the man behind The Echelon Effect, got that talent. His songs, which dance on the border between ambient music and cinematic/post rock, are beautiful yet sound incredibly simple, until you start noticing all the different layers and textures revealing just a wonderful entanglement. The Echelon Effect started in 2009 and I fell in love with its 2019 track, Goodbye My Friend (a really emotional song despite having no lyrics). Now, David is back with a new single, Your Memory Feels Like Home To Me, that is just as good. What could be a better song to “chillax” to on a Sunday afternoon?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Alanis Morissette – Smiling

In case you missed it because it didn’t receive the same level of attention as Folklore, Alanis released last week her first album in 8 years: Such Pretty Forks In the Road, and I have to say that it’s possibly her best work since at least Under Rug Swept (2002). Rolling Stone criticised the album because it’s not as edgy and rebellious as Jagged Little Pill, but after 25 years, you cannot expect her to be exactly the same person. People change. Alanis got three kids now as well, and that changes your priorities too. This does not mean that she has lost her knack for great lyrics, she hasn’t. It’s just that she aims it differently know.

The album has several good tracks, including Reasons I Drink and Ablaze. Its first and third singles so far, respectively. My favourite, however, is Smiling, which is one of two new songs written for the Broadway adaptation of Jagged Little Pill (I’m not a fan of musicals but that’s one I’d be interested in watching), and also released as the second single off this new album. It showcases Alanis‘ great vocals and got a similar vibe to Uninvited. You can find it below in the Alternative mixtape.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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The Mynabirds – Shake Your Head Yes

I’m almost cheating with this week’s Throwback Thursday. Yes, this song is certainly not new (2015), but I just discovered it (well, my lovely wife did) this year. What matters, anyway, is that it is a really good song and deserves to be on the mixtapes.

The Mynabirds, is the moniker under which American singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn has been working since 2010, who had also been part of different indie bands in the past. Her music as The Mynabirds can be catalogued as indie pop or altpop and Shake Your Head Yes is no exception to that. This earworm is a simple song consisting basically of a drums machine, a synth and Laura’s hypnotic vocals, but that’s enough to make you listen it on repeat for a good while, as the musical crush this tune is. You can find it in the Pop Mixtape below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Semisonic – All It Would Take

Semisonic - All It Would Take

One month ago, when news broke of Semisonic’s reunion and their release of a new song, I wrote about DND as a Throwback Thursday post. Back then, I mentioned that the song was decent but not exceptional. However, this time around, they’ve released another track, “All it Would Take,” and I genuinely enjoy it. Thank you.

Now, I’m not saying it’s on par with Semisonic’s classics from “Feeling Strangely Fine” like “Closing Time,” “DND,” or “Secret Smile,” but “All it Would Take” has become my favorite song from them since that album. Personally, I’ve missed Dan Wilson’s voice, and despite his solo releases (with “Breathless” being a standout), there’s something truly special about Semisonic.

“In each of our lives, there is the possibility of meeting that one person who will change the way we see everything, a person who will give us a sense of new meaning, a mission, a passion. ‘All it Would Take‘ is our song for that moment, that person, that one voice that can change the world within you. Then you can turn outward and begin to change the world around you, too.“

Dan Wilson, Semisonic

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Picture This – Unconditional

Picture This - Unconditional

I discovered Picture This over a year ago on Youtube, where their video for the highly recommended track, “Modern Love” appeared in my feed. Since then, I have closely followed this Irish band known for their catchy alternative pop-rock songs. They have been incredibly prolific, releasing 1 EP, 2 studio albums, and over 20 singles since their debut in 2015. Recently, Picture This unveiled their latest single, “Unconditional,” a romantic altpop song filled with infectious hooks and heartfelt lyrics that strike the perfect balance.

If you like radio-friendly songs, then you will surely enjoy this potential hit from Picture This.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Pop

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Ellinor – By The Seaside

Ellinor - By The Seaside

I don’t know what to write about Ellinor‘s music. It’s not that there’s nothing to say about her, quite the opposite. I could write about how, being the child of deaf parents and discovering music relatively late at 15, she developed such a talent for music so quickly. Or I could talk about the powerful voice this young singer/songwriter has. I could mention as well how she’s been influenced by Joan Baez, the Kooks and Johnny Cash, or how, being French, she released her first EP, River Lee, with all 4 songs written and performed in English. Or I could simply say that I think she’s immensely talented.

Instead, I think I’ll just let her music do the talking. It is that good.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Neon Trees – Used To Like

Neon Trees

Unfortunately, I don’t have much time to write anything today, so this entry will be an easy and short one. Neon Trees released a new album last week, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me, and even though its lead single debuted much earlier this year, I still think it’s the best track in the album. The band had a few hits in the early 2010s, like Animal, but hadn’t released any new material in 5 years. They came back with their trademark alt-pop sound but with a bigger 80s influence. Used to Like is a perfect example of that. Enjoy!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Kids In Glass Houses – Peace

Kids In Glass Houses - Peace

After a series of mellow songs, it’s time to crank up the volume for this week’s Throwback Thursday entry. This song was released not that far ago (2013) by a band that, unfortunately, broke up one year later. KIGH, in case you never heard of them, were a rock/punk-rock band from Wales that were active for 8 years, releasing 4 studio albums in total. Despite achieving success in the UK, they unfortunately disbanded after just one year, possibly due to the lack of international recognition.

“Peace” served as the lead single from their eponymous final album. While the entire record was fantastic, the standout track was undoubtedly its opening title song—a high-energy, guitar-driven rock anthem with punk-rock elements and an irresistibly catchy chorus. It’s nearly impossible to listen to it without joining in and singing along. I challenge you to give it a try!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Punk-Rock