Laney Tripp - La La
Our final Quadio song of the week is “La La” by Florida-based, up-and-coming indie darling Laney Tripp. With drowsy, meditative sounds and smooth, balmy vocals, Tripp takes you on a walk along a breezy seashore. As the track progresses, you look around and realize that, even though this uncharted beach is desolate and wild, you can’t help but feel a deep sense of comfort and security. It feels like home. “La La” hits your ears in the same way: it feels effortless yet purposeful. Laney succeeds in combining the rich inner monologue that she carefully dissects within the four walls of her childhood bedroom and recording space with the overwhelming dynamics of the outside world. All of this combined with her drowned-out yet crisp, twirling production and surprising compositional choices make for an infectious tune. “La La” is a chilled-out bop, and we’re so thankful to Quadio, the new college student-driven streaming service, for introducing us to such a promising artist that will likely be on our radar for years to come.
— Andrea de Varona on May 1, 2020Delilah Montagu - Next to Me
You may recognize British singer-songwriter Delilah Montagu’s crystal clear voice from Black Coffee and David Guetta’s single “Drive.” While her personal style is in a completely different vein of music, Delilah’s debut EP In Gold showcases the same distinguishable voice. The EP is a beautiful collection of songwriting—showing a person discovering more about themselves, reminiscing on past loves, and taking the journey of self-discovery that comes with falling in love, heartbreak, and loss. The third track, “Next to Me,” has a mournful air of melancholy that somehow also feels light and breezy. With striking vocals, a funky prominent bass line and a more jazzy feel, the song chronicles someone reminiscing on simple memories with a past lover, as they’ve moved on and are reliving similar experiences with a new person. The chorus ruminates on old memories and questions, “Now I’m driving through the tall trees / Someone else is in the front seat / But only for a minute / Only for a minute / Why can’t you be? / Next to me.” Only for a minute, she wonders what it would feel like to have her old flame by her side but ultimately knows that the past is in the past. She’s resigned that everything is how it’s meant to be. She continues with a definitive jab, “If I were you / I would have begged me to stay / Well you’re too late.” This killer track is a haunting and impressive display of lyricism and showcases amazing things to come from Delilah Montagu. “Next to Me” leaves you wishing there were more than four songs to keep playing on repeat.
— Anastasia Philabaum on July 2, 2019Ashe - In Disguise
With the inviting sway of twangy guitar, Ashe urges listeners into a zestful anthem advocating for self-awareness and pleading for the recognition of true friends with her latest single “In Disguise.” Ashe is a gleaming, down-to-earth California dream queen with the humble aspiration to remind us that our truest self is the one that will be loved and truly known by those that are genuine. She sings with vibrancy—“I’d rather be hated for who I am / Than to waste it all giving a damn”—reminding listeners that the noblest thing that can be done in a human life is to elevate your truest self, and steer clear of those who want to harm the sacrality of self. “In Disguise” is the self-aware summer anthem with a classic-sounding melody that will fuel your freedom— giving you space and strength to fight insincerity.
— Laney Esper on July 2, 2019Snail Mail - 2nd Most Beautiful Girl In the World
Snail Mail's debut EP Habit was re-released on Spotify last week, featuring a cover of Courtney Love's "2nd Most Beautiful Girl In the World." Rereleasing Habit might almost seem inessential, considering that the 20-year-old indie rocker has been making crashing waves in the female-led tide of melancholia rock in recent years. A pluckier and spunkier Phoebe Bridgers or Liza Anne, Snail Mail holds her own as a rock authority. Studying guitar from a young age, Jordan released Habit at the age of 16. Though a few years younger than the other artists mentioned prior, her music is as mature as it is listenable (and it's frankly fantastic). Lush, her first full-length album and sophomore release, claims your attention from start to finish without it ever feeling like the artist is trying hard to do so. Track-by-track, Snail Mail is unstoppable. I can't wait to hear more from this artist.
— Hannah Lupas on July 1, 2019Kaycie Satterfield - Women's Fiction
Kaycie Satterfield is a lot of things: a curly blonde, an indie darling, an all-around badass, but most of all, a rock'n'roller. Her latest release, "Women's Fiction," which premiered today, is everything we love about evocative, female punk(ish) rock: it's melodic, lyrically driven and honest as hell. While her vocals are very reminiscent of Canada's indie sweetheart Alvvays, her musicality is less silky and more brash and garage rock, like Snail Mail or Soccer Mommy. "Women's Fiction" addresses an undeniable and poignant feminist dilemma: "I don't need you to listen to me, but I really want you to" (i.e. "I keep telling my stories and begging someone to listen"). It's a tough balance, empowering yourself AND being vulnerable enough to admit that you don't feel powerful all the time. But Satterfield seems to strike this balance beautifully through the texture and phrasing of this song. It's a headbanger that makes you stop and consider your own desperation, insecurity and listening skills, and that's all us weirdos are ever really seeking from indie rock.
— Hannah Lupas on June 28, 2019Bridal Party - Jukebox Cutie
“Jukebox Cutie” is the soundtrack to a daydream. Victoria, British Columbia’s Bridal Party, helmed by the collaborative songwriting pair of Suzannah Raudaschl and Joseph Leroux, has been blessing the provinces with their soulful summer jangle since 2015’s Hot Daze EP, but their debut album, Too Much, is finally due out August 23rd. The second single, “Jukebox Cutie,” follows the imagination of the lovestruck Leroux as he thinks up the life inhabited by the enchanting person requesting classics from the DJ. The nonchalant airiness of the arrangement hides how meticulous the singer’s thoughts are, allowing an offhand comment to spark a whole world of imagined possibility. “He says that you sing / And when you do are you an alto?” wonders Leroux. “Jukebox cutie hanging around / Silver necklace in her mouth,” he sings, noticing the tiniest details. The ending of this love story isn’t particularly important, and Bridal Party leaves the question open with a beautiful instrumental vamp right where a resolution might go—choosing instead to focus on the endless possibility that comes before.
— Daniel Shanker on June 28, 2019Photo Ops - Time for an Innocent Song
Soft, swinging percussion and warm soundscapes welcome you with open arms into the ethereal daydream that is “Time for an Innocent Song,” the newest single from the LA-based solo project Photo Ops. After overcoming several personal hardships and making the move from Nashville to LA, singer/songwriter Terry Price’s priorities began to shift. “It’s a matter of survival to know that there is beauty in the world,” he says. This idea is at the center of “Time for an Innocent Song,” which is a soft jam where sunny dream-pop meets chill, lo-fi folk. Warm guitar tones and his signature muffled snare float through the arrangement like a warm breeze. His light, relaxed vocal has a summery sheen—reminiscent of The Beach Boys—it nicely compliments the laid-back yet hopeful arrangement. His lyrics are deeply thoughtful and refreshingly raw as he sings about the importance of living in the moment and not fretting over things you can’t control. “Time that you’re missing will come when you’re older / The time for an innocent song isn’t over.” Perfect for an afternoon driving with the windows down, “Time for an Innocent Song” is breezy and atmospheric. Look out for Photo Ops’ third album, Pure at Heart, later this year.
— Britnee Meiser on June 28, 2019Fruit Bats - Ocean
Eric D. Johnson, one-time member of The Shins and current member of the supergroup Bonny Light Horseman with Anais Mitchell, has been at it for more than 20 years under his Fruit Bats moniker, and Gold Past Life may be his finest work yet. The new album largely adds his characteristic funky edge to his folk-rock influences, but “Ocean” is the soothing acoustic product of a seasoned songwriter. A love song that could soundtrack the closing scene of even the most heartfelt Scrubs episode, the track opens with a delightful hammer-on riff reminiscent of Vampire Weekend’s “Harmony Hall” as Johnson recognizes his immaturity, that he’s “still waiting around for some mystical shift in the winds.” Johnson was quick to admit that “Ocean” is a sappy song dedicated to a love that helped him grow up but its heart is so big that its authenticity is never called into question. The song is littered with pleasant little nuggets—surprising chord changes and his momentary lapse into falsetto as he sings the title lyric, to name a few—like pearls in the ocean.
— Daniel Shanker on June 27, 2019Noah Gundersen - Robin Williams
Singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen touches on life’s impermanence in his newest single “Robin Williams.” The Seattle artist makes a return to his folk roots with a nod to the alt-rock sound of his last album White Noise—combining sentimentality with tasteful production. The simplicity of the instrumentals allows the focus to land on the message that “nothing lasts forever / and every other trope.” It leads with buzzing electric guitar, creating an atmosphere before paring down to just an acoustic guitar and Gundersen’s signature ardent vocals. “Robin Williams” is about love, life, and the difficulty of making art in a consumerist society ending with the self-aware and almost dismissive line “Who the hell are we fooling / no one buys records anymore.” The track is the first single from his upcoming fourth solo album Lover due out via Cooking Vinyl on August 28.
— Corey Bates on June 27, 2019Magic City Hippies - Modern Animal
Lush with psychedelic soundscapes and infectious grooves, “Modern Animal” is an electro party anthem for hot summer nights. The newest single from Miami’s masters of indie funk, Magic City Hippies, “Modern Animal” defies moods and genres. The arrangement encourages you to lose yourself in it, seamlessly weaving together jazz, soul, EDM and indie influences over a pulsing beat. The instrumentation is colorful and surprising. A funky bass line and horn solo add vibrancy, while the effervescent scale of the bridge emits power and carefree abandon, like a casual prowl through Miami’s streets at night. There's confidence in vocalist Robby Hunter’s croon as he sings “I'm just another modern animal” repeatedly throughout the chorus, a line meant to celebrate letting go of reservations and giving into intuitions—at least until the sun comes up. Bold and intricate, “Modern Animal” proves Magic City Hippies knows how to keep the party going. Look out for the group’s debut album, Modern Animal, out August 16.
— Britnee Meiser on June 26, 2019Grady - Lemon Sun
Grady Wenrich aka Grady is one of indie rock’s most lovable goofballs, and unabashedly so. His onstage dance moves and hair flips do nothing to distract from his clever lyrics and thoughtful composition, but instead, highlight just how much he loves his craft. Known to fans of Nashville-based band The Lonely Biscuits as the charismatic frontman with a penchant for Modest Mouse-inspired guitar lines and a sing-spoken hip-hop cadence, Grady’s recent move to Los Angeles saw him shift his focus to a solo project. His most recent single, “Lemon Sun,” is a windows-down, last-day-of-class summer jam with all of the existential uncertainty fans have come to expect. Recorded to a tape machine once owned by the founder of the legendary punk-rock club CBGB and discovered at a garage sale for pennies, the song has a glimmering retro fidelity and features guest vocals and guitar work from The Wild Reeds’ Mackenzie Howe. Together, in life as in music, the two of them navigate “this confusing, scary, dumb place under the perfect lemon sun.” It just takes support, perspective, and a little sunlight.
— Daniel Shanker on June 26, 2019