“Saving Face,” the latest single by Brooklyn-based indie-rock band Mustardmind, jumps head first into a rhythmic pattern of guitars and drums, before softening down to a strumming of a guitar. Then enters the raw voice of lead singer, Bobby Lewis, which serenades alongside the purposeful clashing of instruments. Together, they rise and fall throughout the entirety of the song. “Saving Face” moves through moments of quiet, acoustic melancholy, followed by an almost-brash aching and then back again, giving the listener a sense of being in two places at once. Mustardmind will be playing in Brooklyn this month, you can catch their performance at Our Wicked Lady on October 24.

Seven-piece indie-pop band Wild Child has put out a handful of singles in preparations for their fourth studio album Expectations set to release this Friday. Known for their skillful harmonies, heart-warming melodies and genre-bending tunes, "Sinking Ships" shows us a more intimate side of the group. The lyrics of this gorgeous song sound like they were taken off the page of a journal entry, and the combination of the gentle guitar picking along with the tender harmonies make it seem like you're listening in on the private and introspective thoughts that roam in all of our heads from time to time about doubt, fear and hardships. 

New York-based Olden Yolk (Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer) share "Vital Sign," the second single off of their self-titled debut album. Collaborating with drummer Dan Drohan and guitarist Jesse DeFrancesco, Olden Yolk creates a dreamy "dystopian folk" (Trouble in Mind) soundscape that's brought to life on their latest track. In the band's own words, "'Vital Sign' represents two sides of a coin. It references feelings of isolation and paranoia during periods of illness and confinement, as well as the emergence from such an experience, in recognition of the trials that bind us ('it could have been you too')." Communicating the good and the bad, Olden Yolk shares a genuine experience that we can all relate to.

Brooklyn-based indie-pop band Daisy the Great recently released their debut EP “I’ve Got a Few Friends and I Wish They Were Mine” and we can’t get enough of these contagious melodies. The band consists of two female lead singers, Mina Walker and Kelley Dugan, who share a unique and quirky perspective on life — one that is especially highlighted in "Built My Home On Hollow Ground." Mina states that this track "is about reinventing yourself in a new place free from the entanglements of the past." We feel more free just listening to the funk-inspired bass riffs and the shimmering voices of this dynamic duo.  Their solid harmonies mixed with invigorating percussion will definitely leave you dancing and wanting more. 

The newest single by Friendship Park, "Growing Boy" is a wonderfully enchanting departure from the sound of their self-titled 2016 EP. Where the duo once relied on vocal effects to blend with their dancy synth-pop, the authentic vocals and plucky strings immediately brings you into this picturesque folk track. Though they’ve switched up their sound, the two have lost none of their charm and this single immediately has you wanting to grab a partner and go dancing around the room in pure exuberance. You would think that a song about convincing someone to stay with you because of the pure potential would be sadder, but they’ve turned that trope upside down and created a song worthy of a Zooey Deschanel indie rom-com. With a debut LP on the horizon, “Growing Boy” gives listeners a tantalizing taste of what is to come.

Portland singer-songwriter Matt Dorrien takes us back to the days of crooners singing in dimly lit nightclubs with his new single "Baby I'm So Lost". With a jazz-infused piano playing, muted horns and a soft confessional voice, Matt tells us how without his lover he's "moping the hours away." The beauty of this song is seen in the mixing of a universal feeling with a classic sound in a world that hasn't shown much appreciation for this style in recent times. "Baby I'm So Lost" shows us that these songs are more than just backing tracks in the montage scenes of our favorite rom-coms, they're living and breathing works of art by themselves. So if you're already starting to feel the "I'm single on Valentine's Day blues," just trust that Matt Dorrien gets it. 

Jersey native indie-pop singer Sidney Gish put out a quirky and expressive new album in December displaying her killer musicianship and crafty songwriting. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" takes us back the days of Juno and The Moldy Peaches. While happy-go-lucky and euphoric, “Where the Sidewalk Ends” has some attitude to it which is probably one of the reasons why we love it so much. Make sure to check out the entirety of No Dogs Allowed on all music platforms.

If you're a fan of Daughter you definitely need to check out UK singer-songwriter Fenne Lily. At just 21 years old, she has self-released a collection of gorgeous songs on Spotify that gained her a ton of fans and millions of plays. Her latest release "For A While" features mellow guitar tones tangled with her whisper-like voice and lonesome lyrics making it a perfect go-to for the days when you're missing someone or somewhere. Look out for her debut album due this year!

Early on in the music video for “Beige,” a faceless stagehand rips Adrian Galvin’s (aka Yoke Lore) banjo from his hands. Shy Girls’ “Beige” remix jettisons the banjo from the song entirely. Whereas the original version lingers in ballad-zone until the one-minute mark, this remix (the single off a six-song Goodpain Remix EP) pumps and climbs from the gun.

In true fashion, The Oh Hellos' new single is one that you’ll want to have on repeat for a while. But while this song falls in line with their typical repetoire of great music, it’s also a new kind of song for them. This anthem urges its listeners to choose growth over stagnancy, bravery over fear and resistance over complacency, but in a different way than most songs. The message in this song makes it a new kind of anthem, one that focuses on the need for inaction instead of action. “If you let it alone it will surely grow.” This song is a passionate call to be still and a recognition of how much strength that actually requires. 

Sjowgren, the band whose Scandinavian-esque name and music belies its Bay Area origins, has an enigmatic and insular online presence. Since releasing Demos in 2015, the band’s members remain anonymous. Likely, the sleight of hand means to plop your ears and attention fully into the music. So let’s get to it: rhythmically throbbing and vocally delicate, “Stubborn Forces” struts evolving production choices, but reinforces the simple fact that this band exudes incredibly tender pop refrains.