There are a dozen reasons Orla Gartland’s "Pretending" might resonate with you. It might be the closing introverted plea to go home after spending too long at a house party you don’t wanna be at. It might be the disconnect between the face you paint on to catch in a mirror from the one you know best. Or it might be the hook, begging you to admit that you’re pretending too. For me, the line that hit hardest was the final question of the chorus, “Who are you so afraid to be?” It spoke to me for the very simple reason that it’s a question I’ve never thought to ask. I’ve asked why I’m afraid, I’ve asked how not to be. I’ve never bothered to tease out who I am that it feels so uncomfortable to peel back all the layers and expose. I know there’s a dozen facets I could lean into or out of at any given time, almost comfortably. As long as I can remember, I’ve co-existed in a virtually infinite number of spheres — some organic and others forced. However, the person sitting at the center of them all, fluidly weaving them together, is an absolute mystery to me. "Pretending" held up a mirror with a question mark, and it utterly gripped me. The track opens with ethereal harmonies that remind me of the Grouper album that my friend recommended, which I listened to until I understood why he likes it. Next, gentle rhythm math rock guitars layer in, reminding me of the Tessa Violet concert I brought my dad to, where he had so much fun he bought a pin to remember it. The guitar texture morphs into shoegaze that reminds me of the first time I ventured to a living room full of amps, kids and beer. Abruptly the track collapses into itself. Gartland's voice stands alone aside from some empty echoes from pizzicato strings. I’m back in a recital hall with a cello between my knees, my breath matching someone else’s. Suddenly everything returns: bass, drums, guitars, all slam onto the scene. It’s a game changer. From then on, all the pieces effortlessly flow and twist together, only existing completely once they’re all together. It makes sense. It resonates. Photo by Karina Barberis and Greta Isaac.

British trio Our Girl recently released a self-titled single that scores points in spunk, quality and relevance. In a world addressing the "Me Too" and "Time's Up" movements, this song seems to be the simple reminder to all women: "Don't be so kind" if it means sacrificing your own comfortability. In a plea for honesty and openness, ("I'm fine, are you okay?/ You promised to tell me how you were") "Our Girl" seems to be written for those of us who would rather not vocalize how we actually feel. While making it sound easy, Our Girl mixes both big rock and roll vibes and a tough theme to make a song that voices frustration. Nevertheless, it ends in a somber and gentle way, making us remember that sometimes these conversations occur in the quiet moments, away from the campaigns and the headlines, with the comfort of a friend who will listen.

"Absent" is the kind of song you'd hope to find in your favorite indie movie. This single by Fox Academy came out last month in preparation for their new album. The band consists of Michael Todd Berland and Christian Novelli and they released an album just last April called Saint Molly that you can find wherever music is sold. "Absent" sits in a beautiful place that is both absent-minded and fully self-aware all at the same time. And while it's full of juxtaposed thoughts ("Possibly live again/ Mad at the wind again.") and ("I'm not here/I'm not there") somehow it makes complete sense, in a way only a song can convey. Opening with gentle guitar picking and layered vocals, the warm texture of the song is felt from the very beginning and carries through the rest of it. While I can't pinpoint exactly where "Absent" takes you to, I do know it's a place you'll want to stay and rest a while.

With a sound hearkening back to the 90s alternative-rock of yesteryear, “Afterglow” is the latest single released in advance of The Lonely Biscuits’ debut album The Universe In You. Polished off by Nick Bockrath of Cage the Elephant, it is no surprise the song stays true to the genre with a simple bass, electric guitar and drum kit, topped by Grady Wenrich’s gritty tenor. Together they’ve created this ode to that moment when you crush too hard and they choose the other guy. With lines like “I guess I didn’t think you’d lead me on, I guess I read it wrong, I’m stupid. / He isn’t funny, he can’t write songs,” they keep the vibe light and energetic making this a great summer jam for all those who can’t seem to find a love that sticks around. The Universe In You is set to be released March 30.

A few weeks ago, Canadian singer-songwriter Haley Blais released "Small Foreign Faction," a single that is so well-crafted both musically and lyrically that it'll definitely put this new artist on your radar. It's a beautiful and intriguing ode to what happens when you take a reflective and honest look at who you are and what you're doing. "I never wanted anything / And I never got it," Haley repeats in the chorus. While these words are sung with ease, we can't help but wonder how Haley feels about these epiphanies. The song evolves musically, starting off with just Haley's voice, an electric guitar and a faint hi-hat, and then slowly builds up a to full band enveloped by synths and harmonies that are so in the pocket. Mixed with both light and heavy thoughts and motifs, Haley makes us realize that it's more than just okay to be exactly where you are right now, and so while "Small Foreign Faction" is a song about Haley, it easily seems like it could be about you or me. 

Swedish-based Greta and Raimond come together for the creative endeavor DUETS AND STUFF, to make indie "music, art, video and so on" (as stated on their Facebook). Their debut single, "Serve Somebody" is sweet and pop-y without being overly saccharine. It's easy, breezy and light, giving just the right amount of brightness to get our senses tingling. If this song is any indication of what's to come, we'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this new Swedish duo.

We're into Helena Deland. So when she released her most recent track, "Take it All", we took a listen without a moment's notice. Darker than her previous productions, Deland gets broody on "Take it All". Minimal, yet haunting beats draw out the mercurial and unforeseeable nature of love. Deland questions how much we give when we fall, and in turn, how much the other person takes. "It isn't easy / it isn't easy," she repeats, her voice descending unpredictably as she comes to these realizations. With such a wide range of talent in just two songs, we're itching to hear more.  

Swedish singer-songwriter Sarah Klang let out a chillingly beautiful single called "Mind" last month. With its slow-tempo and simplicity, the listener is able to enter the dark and lonely world that she creates within her soothingly sultry voice and her melancholy lyrics. "Mind" speaks to the difficulty of constantly having that special someone on your mind and how much harder that becomes when you're loving them from far away. The repetition of the words "He's on mind / He's on mind / All of the time / All of time," create the personal and introspective effect of feeling as if you hear the constant loop of the thoughts of him that play in Sarah's head. Take a listen and see how in the most effortless and humble way, "Mind" bears the make-up of a classic.

“Shift” by electronic artist and producer Henry Green is a sonic plunge into the unknown. With his breathy vocals always on top of a light ambient beat, Green pulls us in and out of the track, keeping us on edge one moment while throwing us over the cliff in the next. It is in this action of falling that he sings about throughout the track where the production truly shines; where the music captures us and holds us in a moment of stasis during the lapse of verse. His debut album Shift comes out March 30, and I expect we will be seeing much more of this Bristol-based artist in the months to come.

A jack of all trades, Benjamin Lazar Davis is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, arranger, composer and producer. In fewer words, Davis is a well-rounded musician. Widely known for being a member of the band Cuddle Magic and for his collaborative albums with other reputable artists, Davis is flying solo with the release of his debut (solo) album, NOTHING MATTERS, set to drop May 4th.

The first single off the album, “A Love Song Seven Ways,” is an indie-pop reverie. A soliloquy of sorts, David paints falling in love as a refuge of hope in a tattered, less-than-ideal world. His voice is soothing and sweet, and makes us feel like all will be okay. 

"Echo," the newest single from French-American dream-pop artist Sydney Wayser aka CLARA-NOVA is one of those songs containing the words that you didn't know you needed to hear. "Echo" speaks to the fact that when past ghosts come back, you must resolve to stay true to yourself and fight. Having her own share of struggles and changes such as moving across the country after experiencing the damage of Hurricane Sandy while also moving away from her roots as a singer-songwriter to a more electronic pop artist, we can believe Sydney knows what she's talking about when she says, "Don't forget who you are / Don't dissolve / Don't deny it." With trippy synths and Wayser's ebbing voice dynamically increasing with each beckon of bravery, "Echo" is the modern day anthem that isn't trying to be in your face, but rather in your head and maybe even your heart.