Ryan Douglas Michelsen – Dark Clouds

Artist: Ryan Douglas Michelsen

Song: Dark Clouds

Genres: #Instrumental, #cinematic

Location: Arizona, United States

Release date: June, 2021.

Comment: Dark Clouds was released last June but I hadn’t discovered this captivating piece until recently. Sadly, it didn’t receive the recognition it deserved but I can assure you few tracks feel as magical as this one from Phoenix-based artist Ryan Douglas Michelsen. Surprisingly, he started performing in a metal band but after founding his own business called Pombrah Music Publishing, he started exploring pretty much all other genres. I seriously hope he persists in writing enchanting tunes like Dark Clouds. The world needs it.

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Old Currents – Here, You Throw This Away

Artist: Old Currents

Song: Here, You Throw This Away

Genres:  #punkrock

Location: New Jersey, United States

Release date: December, 2021.

Comment: Fans of The Gaslight Anthem will love this tune because Old Currents‘ vocalist, Jake Novak, does sound a lot like Brian Fallon. The energetic Here, You Through This Away is the band’s first release since their debut album in 2017, and will be featured in their new album: The Glory, The Defeat, to be released in April. If it is full of songs such as this one, we won’t want to miss that release. It could be one of the highlights of 2022.

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Eleanor and the Dream – Kissing Her Goodnight

Artist: Eleanor and the Dream

Song: Kissing Her Goodnight

Genres: #indierock #singersongwriter

Location: London, United Kingdom

Influences: The Cure, Elliott Smith, Hatchie

Release date: November, 2021

Comment:  Some people are said to have older souls because they behave like much older people, with similar tastes and hobbies. I deeply believe Kissing Her Goodnight, a soothing new track from London-based artist Eleanor Neish-Melling, aka Eleanor and the Dream, is the musical representation of that concept, as it feels like an indie track from the 1990s. The Blackpool native wrote this song in an attempt to come to terms with a former lover who is now with somebody else. I don’t know if she succeeded at that, but, at the very least, she got a really good song out of that ordeal.

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WALK THE MOON – Win Anyway

Artist: WALK THE MOON

Song: Win Anyway

Genres: #electropop #indiepop

Location: Ohio, United States

Release date: December, 2021.

Comment: Cincinnati-based band WALK THE MOON dropped a new single over the Christmas break and it is pretty good. Sure, it’s not as catchy as their mega-hit Shut Up And Dance but that does not mean it’s not enjoyable. In fact, it’s a pretty good song for us to start the new year with. Enjoy!

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The 93 – Welcome

ArtistThe 93

Song: Welcome

Genres: #dreamrock #alternativerock

Location: Cardiff, Wales

Release date: December, 2021

Comment: It’s been a while –fourteen months, to be precise– since the last time incredibly talented band The 93 released new music, so I’m happy to report that they are back with a superb new track that certainly ticks all the boxes. Their sound is evolving without changing too much either. They still have their dreamy guitar lines and distinctive soundscapes we enjoy so much, but Welcome got full lyrics now delivered via muffled vocals that make you feel as if you were listening to the song in the middle of a dream. A dream about space travel.

Enjoy this Christmas present we got from brothers Mazur: The 93.

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MOONWOOD – Sydney Lights

Artist: MOONWOOD

Song: Sydney Lights

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: Sydney, Australia

Influences: U2, The 1975, Kings of Leon

Release date: November, 2021

CommentSydney Lights is a beautiful love song to MOONWOOD‘s hometown, as the lockdown made the band members, even those not originally from there, fall in love with Sydney all over again. The five-piece band started in 2016 and as you can notice here, they clearly know what they’re doing. Sydney Lights got a clean delivery with dreamy guitars that set the right vibe and great vocals from lead singer, Jake. If you are looking for quality alternative rock, you can stop looking right now. Their previous tracks are really outstanding as well.

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Delafaye – Dog Day

Artist: Delafaye

Song: Dog Day

Genres: #indiefolk #singersongwriter

Location: Indiana, United States

Release date: October, 2021

CommentDelafaye‘s music is not innovative, groundbreaking or even particularly catchy. Dog Day, in particular, is just a guy, Andrew Shockley, and his guitar singing his heart out from his home studio in Indiana. Yet, there’s something about it that keeps getting me drawn to this song over and over again. I don’t know if it is Andrew’s heartfelt vocals, the sweet melody, or the honest lyrics about a relationship coming to an end, but I can’t seem to get enough of it. I highly recommend that you check this talented artist as well.

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Eliza & the Bear – Friends

Artist: Eliza & the Bear

Song: Friends

Genres: #indierock #alternativerock

Location: London, United Kingdom

Release date: February, 2016

Comment: I’m excited to see this little British band tomorrow as I haven’t attended a live rock concert in a long, long time (and it sounds like it might be the only one in a while too). Named after the title of a collection of poems by Eleanor Rees, Eliza & the Bear are not well-known to the casual music fan but if there is one song of theirs that even them are likely to have heard before is Friends, which became an indie hit when it was released five years ago. Other songs I would recommend are Cruel and I’m On Your Side.

As this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, let’s honor Eliza & the Bear.

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Grand Alpaca – Julia

Artist: Grand Alpaca

Song: Julia

Genres: #indierock #indiefolk

Location: Oslo, Norway

Release date: August, 2021

Comment: Norway is not a country you would normally associate with alpacas, but perhaps Grand Alpaca will change that by himself. Last week, he dropped his debut album, Staying Quiet Is An Easy Young Thing To Do, which includes eight solid tracks ranging from indie folk to Americana. Case in point, Julia, one of its lead singles, got a really engaging chorus that makes you feel like driving through the American midwest. It also encapsulates very well what this Norwegian singer-songwriter is all about. Give him a chance.

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Yehra – Resonate

Artist: Yehra

Song: Resonate

Genres: #indierock #neosoul

Location: Canada/Denmark

Release date: August, 2021

Comment: This is possibly first time I add the same song to both the indie and the relaxing mixtapes. That sums up Resonate very well. Yehra is an interesting duo that combines the soothing vocals of Barbadian/Canadian singer Jen Mahon with the chilled arrangements of Danish producer Rasmus Liebst. They have been working together, one way or another, for almost a decade without ever meeting in real life (at least so far). I’m glad we live in a time when that is possible. Otherwise, we would miss plenty of little gems just like Resonate.

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