Tag: Recommendation

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Angela Sclafani – Bell Jar

Photo: Jules Miranda

Artist: Angela Sclafani

Song: Bell Jar

Genres: #indie #indiefolk

Location: New York City, United States

Influences: Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones

Release date: February, 2022.

Comment: Angela Sclafani is an independent #singersongwriter from New York City who has released three EPs so far and won numerous accolades as a songwriter. Her new single, Bell Jar, was inspired by Sylvia Plath‘s 1963 novel and is full of evocative lyrics that encourage listeners to challenge those social conventions that keep them down. Melodically, the track reminds me not only of the artists listed as Angela’s influences but also Lisa Loeb and even Sarah McLachlan. If you like sweet melodies with great lyrics, you’re in for a treat.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Fan Theories – Kids In Heatwaves

Fan Theories - Kids In Heatwaves

Artist: Fan Theories

Song: Kids In Heatwaves

Genres: #alternativerock #indierock

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Release date: January, 2022

Comment: Perhaps you remember Fan Theories‘ debut single, Next Great Holiday, which was featured here almost 2 years ago. If you do, then you’ll be happy to hear that they’re back with a new single, their third one so far. The Finnish band drew inspiration from the world’s “miserable state of affairs” to write Kids In Heatwaves, an infectious song with a refreshing sound that is quickly becoming their defining attribute.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Seamus O’Muineachain – Vltava/Shannon

Jana Talířová

Artist: Seamus O’Muineachain

Song: Vltava/Shannon

Genres: #Instrumental, #Ambient, #Relaxing

Location: Belmullet, Ireland

Release date: January, 2022.

Influences: Brian Eno

Comment: I discovered a few years ago that listening to ambient music while studying or working did wonders to your ability to focus (trust me, give it a try if you haven’t done it), which is why I’m always keen to discover more ambient pieces. Unfortunately, the vast majority of ambient music sounds exactly the same, and that makes finding great tracks that also sound unique all the more remarkable. Seamus O’Muineachain‘s latest album, his fifth one, is full of such tracks, with the closing piece, Vltava/Shannon, being my preferred one.

The Irish musician named this record Different Timezones because it was written and recorded between the Czech Republic (CET) and Ireland (GMT) last year. The atmospheric songs highlight simple melodies and textures in a delicate but very fulfilling way. In Vlatva/Shannon, for example, you can listen to some birdsong in the background, but just enough of it to enhance the track without letting it become too distracting. If you enjoy this piece, I recommend that you check Seamus’ back catalogue as well. You won’t be disappointed.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Hatchie – Quicksand

Artist: Hatchie

Song: Quicksand

Genres: #indiepop #altpop

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Release date: January, 2022

Comment: Harriette Pilbeam, aka Hatchie, is a 28-year-old Australian #singersongwriter whose debut album, Keepsake (2019), was a huge success. She has announced a new album for April this year, for which she has released two singles already (This Enchanted and Quicksand) and they both sound even better than any of her previous songs. I particularly liked Quicksand, which she wrote after realizing that she will never be satisfied no matter what. There’s always something else to achieve.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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Yon Idy – In Time

Artist: Yon Idy

Song: In Time

Genres: #indierock #indiefolk

Location: Skopje, North Macedonia

Release date: January, 2022

Comment:  Yon Idy is a young musician in a country with no music industry whatsoever, according to the artist himself. He grew up listening to The Beatles and Leonard Cohen, but his latest single, In Time, sounds closer to artists such as Jason Mraz and Vance Joy. This poignant track talks about the hardships of moving on at the end of relationship you didn’t want to end. You won’t want In Time to end either but the good news is that Yon Idy is releasing his full-length debut later this year.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Atlas For Home – Keep Going

Artist: Atlas For Home

Song: Keep Going

Genres: #poppunk #punkrock

Location: Paris, France

Influences: Blink-182, Alkaline Trio, Neck Deep

Release date: January, 2022

Comment: The punk-rock genre is having some kind of renaissance in France with talented bands like Back On Earth and today’s featured band: Atlas For Home. This quartet has been around since at least 2014 but “Keep Going” is their first single in four years, so don’t feel bad if you’re into this type of music and hadn’t heard of them. The good news is that they’re planning to release a new EP this year, with this catchy single being just an appetizer. The band’s new leitmotiv is to create the perfect blend between mid-2000s pop-punk, like Blink, and modern pop-punk, like Neck Deep. It’s an ambitious goal, but judging by “Keep Going”, they know what they’re doing. Give them a chance.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Punk-Rock

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renforshort – moshpit

Artist: renforshort

Song: moshpit

Genres: #indiepop #altpop

Location: Toronto, Canada

Release date: January, 2022

Comment: renfortshort is the moniker of 19-year-old #singersongwriter, Lauren Isenberg, who debuted independently in 2019 and has quickly made a name for herself. The talented Canadian artist entered my radar last year several months after the release of her last EP, which is why I didn’t feature her then. The good news is that renforshort is back with a new single, moshpit, that is even better than what she had released before. The song, which is about staying in a bad relationship for way longer than its due date, got a great melody with a chorus impossible to get out of your head.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Pop

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DBMK – Chains

Artist: DBMK

Song: Chains

Genres: #alternativerock #altpop

Location: Nashville, United States

Release date: January, 2022

Comment: DBMK is a Nashville-based alt-pop duo that consists of Kyle Knudsen (vocals) and Colton Ward (drums). They have sold out numerous shows in their home state of Florida and managed their own DIY tours all across the States, amassing a dedicated fanbase denominated the “KULT“. That being said, I hadn’t heard of them until I listened to Chains, their latest single released last month, and came out impressed. From the inviting guitar-based intro to the infectious chorus, the whole song got everything it needs to become a staple of your music library in 2022.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Pop

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almost sex – Lucille

Artist: almost sex

Song: Lucille

Genres: #indierock

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Release date: January, 2022

Comment: I’m sorry for being away for so long but, as I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been on parental leave and, unsurprisingly, had other priorities. I’m still catching up with plenty of submissions, emails and any music released during that time, but I thought it fitting to return with the latest single from almost sex, a duo that has become a staple of T.A.M. Their consistency releasing great music is truly off the charts!

Lucille is the lead single off their forthcoming debut EP and our good friend Jeff wrote already a great review that you should absolutely check out. It’s a moody and soothing track that you are going to love if you liked any of their previous songs featured here before.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Better Than Ezra – Closer

Artist: Better Than Ezra

Song: Closer

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: New Orleans, United States

Release date: August, 2001

Comment: I think Kevin Griffin from Better Than Ezra is one of the best lyricists around. BTE are best known for their singles released during alternative rock’s heyday in the 1990s, but Closer was the album that introduced me to them. A Lifetime is one of my favorite songs ever and a great example of how talented Kevin is as a songwriter. However, the song I want to feature today is the title track from that underrated album, a song that always resonated with me even though it I couldn’t really relate to it before.

Closer is a beautiful song Griffin wrote after having his first child. In it, he wonderfully describes the excitement, pride, bewilderment and fear he felt all at once as a new dad. I hadn’t mentioned it here before but I’m about to become a dad as well in the next 24 hours or so, and I’m finally starting to understand what Kevin Griffin meant word by word. Incredibly, I can now say that Closer is even better than I thought.

Hope you enjoy this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry, and please bear with me while I adapt to my new routine.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative