Catlea - Someone's Got To
- English (US)
US-born and now based in London, Catlea brings a unique perspective to her music by combining contemporary indie pop influences with timeless singer-songwriter traditions.
Naoko Hiranuma - Sea of Light
There is a timelessness to music by Naoko Hiranuma, and her latest release, Sea of Light, allows you to take a deep dive into everyday heartbreak and resilience.
Flywheel - Stop Looking at Her
Flywheel takes us on an exhilarating, psychedelic alt-pop journey with the impressive 'Stop Looking at Her'! The Irish psychadelic dream pop group from Cork make a stunning return de force with 'Stop Looking at Her'. Being deeply inspired by the works of the My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Gilla Band and others, Flywheel taps into that soul-stirring, roof shaking, aggression-packed sound that the late 80s, early 90s were known for. Combining elements of rock, shoegaze, pop, punk, psychadelic and electronic to deliver something truly special. This feels like it could be a supporting score for 'Requiem For a Dream'. Its that intense and catharsis-inducing. It opens with disorienting distortions, crashing rhythms and deadpan vocals, luring into a daze deeper and deeper. It doesn't seem to have a end in sight and just then, the track explodes to brilliant, vibrant life, the riffs elevating the opus to sky high levels, drenched in epic levels of distortions and reverb. Despite the chaos around, the vocals remain calm and centered as ever. Its this gripping contrast that strikes as particularly brilliant. 'Stop Looking at Her' is brilliantly composed and structured, with the right amount of space and depth to allow for the heaviness to really hit home. Fans of intelligent, intense, shoegaze dream pop will savor this one! We're thrilled to see Flywheel back to doing what they do best after an extended hiatus. While most modern pop group stick to the safe, sanitized, trend-fitting sounds, Flywheel is doing quite the opposite. And we're all for it!
Giulio Risi - The Legend of 1900
In a world that demands that you leave everything behind and function if you are wired and tired, Giulio Risi demands that you slow down.
ReeToxA - You Deserve Better Than Me
ReeToxA make a heart-breaking confession of feeling inadequate in the touching pop rock song, ‘You Deserve Better Than Me’! Kids from the 90s will fondly remember this track by Everclear, ‘She’s So High Above Me’, that told the story of a mismatched couple. A simple guy and a high-street girl who came together, but he always felt that she was way out of his league, and the world around him never missed an opportunity to remind him of that fact. Portrayed brilliantly and humorously in the 2010 rom-com flick 'She's Way Out of My League'. This track by the ever-expressive Aussie rock group ReeToxA reminds us so much of that! The track opens in sublime acoustic fashion. Layers of string arrangements, acoustic strums, electric tones and heavy atmospherics create a sense of anxiety, like you’re bursting to confess something you’ve been holding inside for a while. Yet, the tone is sincere and heart-warming. Opening verse has us treated to the most heart-warming, bittersweet romantic prose. He reminisces, ever so sweetly, on how things played out between them, all thoise beautiful, heart-touching moments and then those other feelings. The message points to how loving someone, however much, and staying together are not a foregone conclusion and more often than not, one of those partners is going to feel otherwise about the whole sitch. ReeToxA ain’t taking sides but simply presenting contrasting points of view and allowing for the listeners to make up their minds as to stay or go. The beauty of ‘You Deserve Better Than Me’ is that doesn’t present a tidy, bow-wrapped solution to all this. Instead, it keeps you rooted in what it means to doubt yourself and coming to terms with letting go, especially when most of your instincts are telling you otherwise. Musically, the track has this timeless, pop love song energy. Propelled by forward-flowing basslines and rhythms, leisurely strings and smart progressions, its a song that keeps you emotionally vested and hanging on the vocalist’s every word as he pleads, ‘You Deserve Better Than Me, I mean it sincerely…..’ It speaks volumes to ReeTox’s excellent range and versatility and how they always seem to be playing from the heart, from love and not for it. That distinction sets them apart from their contemporaries and makes this a group you want to root for!
CBATCH - The Vault 3 - Club/Dance, R&B, Soul/Funk/Pop/Techno/Etc
Disco is making a comeback in the suavest of ways, and C’batch and his latest release, The Vault 3 - Club/Dance, R&B, Soul/Funk/Pop/Techno/Etc.
Anna Thoresen - GROUNDHOG DAY
- English (US)
With GROUNDHOG DAY, Anna Thoresen demonstrates that she is more than a breakout artist riding the momentum of a viral hit.
Finlay Birch - Weight Will Unwind
Finlay Birch has a new album- Weight Will Unwind out, and it is as though he strips out everything between us and whatever is divine in this world.
Ava Valianti - Great Pretender
- English (US)
With Great Pretender, Ava Valianti continues to demonstrate why she is attracting growing attention. The 16-year-old Massachusetts singer-songwriter has already accumulated more than 500,000 streams, earned over 300 radio spins, and finished as the 1st Runner-Up in American Songwriter’s Road Ready contest.
Mark Andrew Hansen - Love Enough
- English (US)
Mark Andrew Hansen brings a unique perspective to his music. Born on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, he draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the coastline and the sounds of the ocean.
Jonathan Lobo - Hero
Indie artist Jonathan Lobo crafts a dreamy, reflective piano-pop opus, 'Hero'! Dubai-based lawyer, singer, and songwriter Jonathan Lobo makes a stirring comeback following his last release a few years ago with a touching, emotional new single, 'Hero'. The track opens with patient beats and slow-burning piano tones. The vibe is immediately intimate and emotive as he begins to sing. “How would you remember me when I die? Would you think I’m brave, or would you cast away memories? And how would you remember me when I’m gone?” Hie soft, emotional delivery makes this feel like a personal conversation with a friend or loved one. We could imagine this being the cinematic score for an inspiring, real-life drama/adventure flick like 'Into the Wild'. That's saying a lot about the quality of this track, since that movie already has an excellent score by Eddie Vedder. Lobo builds through 'Hero' with captivating grace and poise, almost Elton John & John Mayer-esque in the way he sings and softly plays the keys. He croons emotively on questions oft left unanswered, statements of honest confession, and deep vulnerability. It's this acceptance of his flaws and his strengths that he sings about sublimely in the chorus, refusing to label himself a hero or saint. Instead, he asserts 'Im just a man that's lost, but tried all the same....'. He goes on to express that he'd like to be remembered for who he is, a simple man, not a hero. Lobo's gentle humility and grace make him likable and deeply relatable. Musically, 'Hero' serenades you with easygoing soft rock arrangements. The kind that makes you feel like you're drifting away into the sunset on a raft. The sublime symphony created by Lobo's sweet, sweet vocals, wailing guitars, and acoustic strums has us feeling blissed out. It's heartening to know that artists like Lobo bring so much passion and sincerity to their music. It isn't about flashy performance or over-the-top production here. Just a man, a piano, and a softness, a gentleness in the way he expresses himself.
Emerald Park - Lovers in Reverse
- English (US)
Emerald Park’s latest single, “Lovers in Reverse" is a slow-burn track that almost lulls you into a sleepy trance. Read the full review only on IndieMusicFlix!