Kate Teague - The Temporary
On her new single “The Temporary," Kate Teague deals with impactful changes, self-doubt, and uncertainty. The first offering since her 2019 debut EP has the singer-songwriter somewhat diverting from her folksy foundation to an experimental, dreamy lane with the new addition of synths and drum loops. A task that she began after exploring some new influences, “I wrote this song when I first started to listen to a lot of experimental artists like Colleen and Jenny Hval.” Lyrically though, Teague doesn’t abandon her heartfelt and honest sensibility. She takes aim at the questions: where is truly the best place for me and what is next? Her clear-cut, rich vocals coast along as she proclaims, “Sink into my couch and think about a place I'd rather be / But would it mother me / And will I ever feel exactly where I ought to be.” The instrumentation circles around her and acts as a reliable companion as she ponders what’s to follow.
Her concerns for what else might be out there and if she is sitting at the end of the line speak to this exact, poignant moment—where she isn’t alone in the slightest. Maybe now is the time to take stock of what might actually be the correct direction for each of us. Maybe then we'll feel more alive and able when life actively resumes. The single is out now via Muscle Beach Records.
— Meredith Vance on July 24, 2020dielines - Chasing Rabbits
dielines, the California-based indie-folk duo consisting of Daniel Berkman and Trevor O’Neill, prepare us for their upcoming album with their newest track "Chasing Rabbits." Though self-described as curators of "psych folk," this single lends itself to a softer, warmer acoustic sound that most people do not associate with the genre. Reminiscent of early Fleet Foxes, this track has the lyrical implication of an anxiety attack, but harmonically makes you feel like taking a drive on a winding mountain road. True to that analogy, "Chasing Rabbits" is full of twists and turns—Berkman's eccentric vocalization providing the majority of the intrigue and emotional gravitas.
— Hannah Lupas on October 29, 2019Garçons - Ladybug
Playful and fresh, “Ladybug” by Ottawa duo Deelo Avery and Julian Strangelove, otherwise known as Garçons, is a breezy, genre-busting jam. The leading track on their sophomore EP, Be Human, features a psychedelic rock guitar blending seamlessly with a funky, r&b-inspired beat, while muffled percussion offers a fluid, lazy groove. The instrumentation feels nostalgic and effortlessly untouchable, like that mixtape your cool older sister listened to in the 90s that you always coveted—though notes of soul, particularly in the vocal, make it more accessible. Avery’s voice, reminiscent of a more laid-back Moses Sumney, is bright and dynamic, and adds dimension to the cozy, chill vibe conjured up by the production. Catchy and cool, “Ladybug” is the perfect mid-tempo bop for your commute.
— Britnee Meiser on October 28, 2019Bombay Bicycle Club - Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)
At the beginning of 2016, English indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club announced their hiatus after nearly a decade of making music together. Cue side projects, soul searching, and a lot of wishing from fans and now five years after their last album release they've returned with their newest song together. "Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)" maintains their trademark sound with lyrics that evoke a sense of yearning. The opening fades in like the title sequence of a movie—buzzing with energy on the brink of being unleashed. Over the even bassline and bright, repeating guitar riff, Jack Steadman croons to us once again with a voice that speaks like a friend you haven't seen in a long time. The band is currently on tour in the UK and will finally release their long-awaited fifth studio album, Everything Else Has Gone Wrong, on January 17.
— Julie Gentile on October 28, 2019Maria Kelly - i leave early
“i leave early” by Maria Kelly is soft, tender, and a little bit heartbreaking. Backed by gentle strings, Kelly’s voice begs to be listened to. Her lyrics are full of self-doubt and worry, yet still, maintain a certain beauty and gentle acceptance. The song begins with Kelly’s delicate singing of “I am drowning at a party,” voicing the sentiments that so many of us can commiserate with. Through her thoughtful and honest lyrics, velvety vocals, and poignant instrumentals, Kelly’s “i leave early” creates a sense of intimacy with the listener. Though her vibe is reminiscent of Daughter, she maintains a uniquely captivating sound that stands on its own. Kelly communicates a tenderness that heightens the sense of isolation and yearning that so closely defines the track. Everything about "i leave early" is subtle and graceful. Having created a lullaby of insecurities and anxieties, Maria Kelly brings to light the many difficulties of self-doubt and does so in a stunningly beautiful way.
— Caroline Peacock on October 25, 2019Future Generations - Just Pretend
Remember going through a funhouse as a kid? The endless rows of disorienting mirrors—making you shorter or taller, fatter or thinner, appear dozens of times or disappear all at once? As we grow up we tend to forget the sense of wonder we felt the first time we looked at ourselves through funhouse mirrors—but it’s never truly gone. BK-based, indie-pop quartet, Future Generations embody that childlike sentiment of wonder and escapism we often leave behind in their new single, “Just Pretend.” The group has long since possessed a keen ability to lift listeners’ moods with their vibrant, breezy production, engaging vocal melodies and inventive lyricism. With “Just Pretend,” they take these elements a step further, becoming the medicine for the doubt they are trying to overcome. The track is a carefree hodgepodge of different sounds and influences, uninhibited by what it thinks it’s supposed to be as it shifts from one sound to another. Frontman Eddie Gore sings, “Life is easy if you just pretend,” reminding us of the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously. As we get older and life gets a little harder, we have to try to retain the sense of childlike wonder we felt the very first time we walked through the funhouse mirrors.
— Andrea de Varona on October 25, 2019The Marías - Loverboy (Live)
Earlier this October, The Marías put out an extended version of their song "Loverboy" (alongside a live performance video) from their album Superclean, Vol. II. Now instead of having the same one minute track on loop, you can get caught up in four minutes of lead singer María's flittering murmurs of adoration. "Loverboy" is flushed with wistful production and sway-worthy vocals that are as dangerously sweet as they are hypnotic. The band founded by María and Josh Conway woo their listeners with a plush fusion of hazy jazz and bedroom pop—perfectly starry-eyed and trance-inducing. The song transports the listener to a long summer night that they wish would never end. You can transcend with them at one of their three residency shows in the Bay Area, all culminating with a New Years' Eve performance at the Swedish American Hall.
— Julie Gentile on October 24, 2019Paper Fairy - We Laugh
The Wild Honey Pie is proud to premiere “We Laugh,” the first single from Paper Fairy’s upcoming Tautology EP. Following up the 2018 full-length horror concept album Haunter Haunted is a lofty goal, but “We Laugh” skillfully highlights singer Chris Gaskell’s dedication to the unexpected at every turn. It takes only seconds for a song reminiscent of Seu Jorge’s Bowie covers to something much more haunting. Gaskell’s voice soars like Michael Angelakos' but, like the rest of the arrangement, is unsettling in ways the pristine electronic indie-pop of Passion Pit would never be. Aiming to “redraw the line between what is and what appears to be,” the track “poses an inner dialogue in which the internal self and the mediated self struggle to find coherence in a single identity,” says Gaskell. The entity that is Paper Fairy often speaks in such lofty language, ruminating on the concept of the self, but the lyrics meander more simply through “just another day I won’t remember.”
— Daniel Shanker on October 23, 2019Berhana - I Been (feat. Crush)
Berhana, aka Amain Berhane, teams up with South Korean artist Crush, on "I Been," a smooth-sailing track off Berhane's debut album HAN. The track bumps along easily as Berhane's voice paints a picture of someone that's been improving themselves to try and make things work with an estranged partner. He sings, "Give me a little time / And you can see that / That I been / Working on me / For you." Even though the terms of the end of the relationship are never stated directly, the universal desire for reconnection and starting fresh is apparent. An optimistic tone floods the sunny production of the track as both Berhana and Crush try to convince their ex-lover that they've changed for the better. "I Been" is an exciting multi-genre taste of what the Atlanta-born artist is capable of and can be experienced first-hand when the artist begins his US tour this November.
— Julie Gentile on October 23, 2019maye - Tú
Maye delivers effortlessly gorgeous vocals and combines them with silky Bossa nova styled production on her new single "Tú." This is the Venezuelan-born artist's second single release following the drop of "My Love" earlier this year. "Tú" explores someone entirely wrapped up in the object of their affection—wanting only to be encompassed in the other person's universe and the timelessness they radiate. And while many love songs share similar sentiments, maye and producers, Pat Howard and Fernando Belisario, create a world that feels both nostalgic and experimentally enticing. Soft guitar plucks and gentle, slow drum hits materialize the perfect backdrop for the singer's leisurely, fluid vocals as sweet romance comes to fruition. "Tú" is a must-listen track that you'll have on repeat in anticipation of the rising star's debut LP.
— Julie Gentile on October 22, 2019SYML - Symmetry
Indie folk artist SYML, otherwise known as Washington-based Brian Fennell, has released the hauntingly atmospheric single “Symmetry.” Intricate guitar and lovely strings beckon you into the arrangement’s dark, dreamy soundscape, while Fennell’s gentle voice croons a hypnotic and lovely melody. His honest, poetic lyrics speak of comfort and acceptance: “Come now child, the day is long / Hide not yourself from me.” What begins as a mellow, simple arrangement builds into something grand and gripping—evocative brass, emotional strings, and thrashing percussion let you lose yourself in the surprising and rewarding instrumentation. “Symmetry” bends genres and defies expectations. It’s a nice follow-up to Fennell’s debut album, SYML, which came out earlier this year via Nettwork.
— Britnee Meiser on October 22, 2019