Tag Archives: Arcade Fire

Playlist: Máni Orrason

Máni Orrason

Self-confessed emo kid Máni Orrason shares his latest ruminatory offering that captures his vulnerabilities through a frivolous lens in which he recounts the fascination of molding a new identity and the idea of erasing yourself to create something better: an untouchable Romeo wrapped in leather or a ghostly fabrication of effervescent cool.

We asked Máni to put together a playlist, which you can listen to below:

Francis and The Lights – You Still Take Me To The Light

A couple days ago I read this NYT interview with him from 2020. It’s a really moving article that gave me a new window into his music. I’ve been listening a lot to him the last few days. I love this song with Kanye, Bon Iver, Chance The Rapper and him.

Nicholas Britell – Agape

I always say that it’s really difficult to be anxious floating in the ocean. That’s kind of how I feel about listening this song. It forces me to breathe. It’s like dawn in spring. I listen to this all the time

Björk – I Remember You

I don’t need to fall in love as long as this song exists. Björk transcended the physical realm with this one. I get goosebumps every time. I feel one step closer to god when Björk belts like that.

Madlib – Slim’s Return

This song is on the “Shades Of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note” album. I found it randomly a couple weeks ago. Madlib was given access to the whole Blue Note discography and he made this album. It’s really brilliant. I just want to play chess and drink cognac by a fireplace when I hear it.

Yeat – Sorry Bout That

My 16 year old brother has been trying to get me into Yeat for a while. I kind of just got into him but it’s so good. Stylistically so on point. Insane heat.

Black Country, New Road – Good Will Hunting

An amazing song from an amazing album. This song feels like if Funeral and Arcade Fire made an album in 2022. Also feels like Cap’ n Jazz and those emo bands a bit.

Moondog – Pastoral II

I think most of the music I’ve been listening to has just been to get me through the winter. This song is so soothing. Harp music. Listen to this and tell me you don’t feel a bit better.

Clairo – Bambi

I think first of all this album sounds so incredible. These songs, the arrangements, the production is just so inspiring to me. I really love it.

Samaris – Góða Tungl

Samaris is an amazing Icelandic band. I bought the EP this song is on when it came out almost 10 years ago. I was recently going through my records at my parents house a few days ago and put this on. It’s so interesting listening to something you haven’t heard for 10 years and how differently you respond to it. It such a good song.

A$AP NAST, D33J – Designer Boi

I listen to this song on loop all the time. It’s perfect.

Overmono – Bby

I was in a trance with this song for a few days. I didn’t listen to anything else.

FKA twigs – meta angel

This new FKA twigs album fills the void of PC music Charli XCX. It feels like Pop 2 in some ways. This song is great.

George Jones – I’ve Aged Twenty Years In Five

I recently finished listening to season 2 of Cocaine and Rhinestones. It’s a podcast about country music and the new season focuses on George Jones. I really recommend it wether you like country or not. When you hear George Jones sing “I’ve seen the dark side of life”, he means it. It’s really heartbreaking music.

The Smile – The Smoke

I love that the most subversive thing Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke could do right now is start a rock band. I also love this song cause it fills the void of the Sault album not being on streaming platforms anymore.

Död Mark – Paranoid schizofren

I love Yung Lean. His project as jonatan leandoer96 is really inspiring to me. I really like this album too from his punk band.

Elliot Smith – Ballad Of Big Nothing

I was always scared of Elliot Smith, when I was young I heard how he died and it made me really scared of his music. Like there was a darkness to it I couldn’t handle. But I don’t think there’s an album I’ve listened to more the last year than Either/Or.

The Weeknd feat. Tyler, The Creator – Here We Go… Again

I get really emotional every time I hear the weekend sing “my new girl, she a movie star”. Don’t know why. Love this song.

Sounds like: Jesse, SUM41, The 1975, Neon Indian, Toro y Moi

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CHERITON – Say Hey Feat. Lydia Clowes

CHERITON & Lydia Clowes by Tom Greenwood

CHERITON & Lydia Clowes by Tom Greenwood

CHERITON and Lydia Clowes of Bad Honey want to ‘Say Hey’ with bright new single. Communication and reconnection is the song’s key message, as it floats between breezy and playful.

Sounds like: Vampire Weekend, HAIM, Blossoms, Metronomy, Gaspard Eden

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Seraphina Simone – Blue Devil

Seraphina Simone by Marc Sethi

Seraphina Simone by Marc Sethi

Seraphina Simone shares the rich and velvety ‘Blue Devil’, as part of a double release, also featuring a track called ‘Skin’. It’s another passionate and 80s-dipped alt-pop number from the rising artist.

Sounds like: Celeste, Lana Del Rey, Laurel, Chløe Black, VÉRITE, Blondie

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Matilda Eyre – Let Me Be

Matilda Eyre

German-born singer-songwriter and producer Matilda Eyre returns with her newest offering, the raw and emotionally vulnerable indie-pop single, ‘Let Me Be’.

Sounds like: Birdy, Emma McGrath

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YASSiN – Take My Time

YASSiN

Introducing Toronto-based singer, songwriter and producer YASSiN, who invites us to escape with his uplifting new offering ‘Take My Time’. Teaming up with Sean Terrio, the track effortlessly blends folktronica, indie-pop, soul, and classic disco.

Sounds like: First Aid Kit, Arcade Fire

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Lars and The Magic Mountain – Invincible

Lars and the Magic Mountain by Sanja Marusiç

Lars and the Magic Mountain by Sanja Marusiç

All-round creative, Dutch musician Lars Kroon has been making music for years in the Yacht punk band St. Tropez.

He now turns his ideas to a new project, a self-described cult-like art band called Lars and The Magic Mountain.

Reminiscent of spacey and symphonic bands such as Arcade Fire, The Velvet Underground, and The Jesus and Mary Chain, his music is full of hope, devotion, sincerity and love. You can watch the kaleidoscopic and cosmic visuals for his new single, ‘Invincible’.

His album, ‘Everything Looks Good From Here’ will be presented is out on 2 October.

Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Velvet Underground, Beck

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Richard Orofino – Rather Die

Richard Orofino by Nicolas Bruno

Richard Orofino by Nicolas Bruno

Sought after co-writer and collaborator Richard Orofino shares the pictorial visuals for his new single, ‘Rather Die’.

Effortless vocals and subtle 80’s synths dominate the song as Orofino declares a love song for the end of the world.

In discussing the song, Richard says, “You would expect it to be a fairly dark tune by its title, but the story describes imagining a world without the person you hold closest to your heart. Being able to say you would ‘rather die’ than live in this fictional reality is super dramatic, which is kind of the point of the song. The premise screams ultra-romance to a point of it being almost silly. I felt a natural inspiration from the ‘new romantic’ genre of the 80’s, alongside some modern Indie/pop anthemic landscapes. My vision was to create a love letter that feels like you’re driving into a black hole but still filled with hope.”

Expect his ‘Spell’ EP, due later in the year.

Sounds like: Gotye, Val Astaire, Ghostly Kisses, Arctic Lake, Arcade Fire, Future Islands

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Childe – Just Me

Childe by Scarlett Anderson

Childe by Scarlett Anderson

Childe releases his new single ‘Just Me’, about loneliness in a modern world. It’s a groovy whirl of eclectic synths and darker kaleidoscopic sounds within the chill-pop genres.

Sounds like: MK.Gee, Two Feet, FVLCRVM

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Dugong Jr – Float Feat. Rromarin

Dugong Jr - Float Feat. Rromarin

Chinese/Australian multidisciplinary creative Dugong Jr shares the dreamy new single ‘Float’ featuring Rromarin. Inspired by the UK garage scene, the electronic producer creates a refreshing take on a classic sound.

Sounds like: Jai Wolf, Qrion, Pat Lok, Rome in Silver, Robotaki, Cabu, Thor Rixon, Salt Ashes

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Matt Maltese – madhouse

Matt Maltese by Lainy Black

Matt Maltese by Lainy Black

Kid of the moment, Matt Maltese, is making waves with his soft take on 2020 indie. With a DIY aesthetic and scarily accurate prediction of current times, despite his continuous daydreaming, you can watch his cinematic video for ‘madhouse’ below.

Sounds like: Beach Boys, Oscar Lang, Glass Animals, Rex Orange County, The Last Shadow Puppets

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Hoofa – How Do We Know

Hoofa

Indie duo Hoofa considers the true cost of being a musician in 2020 in new single ‘How Do We Know’. A little more of a slow-burner than their usual ambi-pop take on indie, but this perfectly represents their abilities to consider aptly express real emotions.

Sounds like: Kodaline, Larkins, Sea Girls, PEACE, The Beautiful South, Little Comets

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The Bright Light Social Hour – Ouroborous 20

The Bright Light Social Hour by Jaycee Grover

The Bright Light Social Hour by Jaycee Grover

Austin’s premiere psychedelic-rock connoisseurs The Bright Light Social Hour return with their cosmic, uniquely brilliant new single ‘Ouroboros’. It’s a transcendent journey through psychedelic, distorted guitar licks and spaced out vocal parts.

Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Jagwar Ma, Jungle, Tame Impala, Pond, Unknown Mortal Orchestra

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JYLDA – Impulse

JYLDA by Sophia Payne

JYLDA by Sophia Payne

London-based leftfield alt-pop artist JYLDA shares new single ‘Impulse’. Written about a dark romance, the track rouses in JYLDA’s trademark future-electronica style.

Sounds like: FKA Twigs, Arca, ÄTNA

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Moxley Rey & Jeff Carl – Garden

Moxley Rey

Burgeoning Aussie newcomer Moxley Rey returns with his triumphant sophomore single, a sun-soaked collaboration with Nashville-based alt-pop savant Jeff Carl. A kaleidoscopic cohesion of soothing indietronica, left-of-centre pop and euphoric EDM, it perfectly encapsulates boundless energy perfectly befitting any summer mood.

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Mathew V – Don’t Let Me Go

Mathew V

Canadian born popstar Mathew V releases his enigmatic single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’.

A bold, unabashed pop track, Mathew V is using his strong roots within the LGBTQ+ community to express himself and let the music do the talking. Listen below.

Sounds like: Shawn Mendes, Dagny

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MΛD FVN – Skeletons

MΛD FVN

Debut act MΛD FVN has a lot to say, about a lot of things, including the light hearted topic of life, which she so nearly lost in two separate accidents.

A call to arms, this is emotional, raw and powerful.

Sounds like: Gia Woods, Broods

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kauf – Am I Crazy Feat. Overjoy (Kauf Rework)

Rising Los Angeles vocalist kauf is offering a rework of his first original track featuring another vocalist Overjoy – one of three artists on his burgeoning label ONE / HALF.

Taking a more “pop” approach to his music, he has added a UK garage style beat and some looped vocal samples, giving it more energy and bringing it into the dance world.

Sounds like: Kllo, James Blake, Nordic Giants, Bicep, Jon Hopkins, Caribou, Talos, Bonobo

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Francis On My Mind – Never Be The Same

Francis On My Mind - Never Be The Same

Only on her second release, 16 year old Romanian electro-pop act Francis On My Mind is proving that “Euro pop” is very much a thing of the past.

Sparing synth, melodic drums and fragile but still powerful vocals, this new song comes as a breath of fresh air in a saturated industry of overproduced singles.

Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, Jessie Ware, Monogem, Goldroom, Melis

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ELBA – 700 Angels

ELBA - 700 Angels

Danish pop newcomer ELBA is 25-year-old singer and songwriter Ellen Bathum. She tells stories about the loss of control and the many nuances of love.

Her new single ‘700 Angels’ has a catchy pop hook, but it almost feels like it splits in two directions – experimental electronic music and indie that ultimately culminates into a fiery explosion.

Sounds like: Lady Gaga, Blondage, Jinka

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Cloudy June – Psycho

Cloudy June

Former death metal singer, Cloudy June, takes a proud new step into the world of pop.

Expect her new ‘Psycho’ to be an exhilarating ride of rock and pop. It proves once again how young self-made independent talent can make a real impact.

Sounds like: Ava Max, Halsey, Girl Wilde

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Lex Low – Feel More

Lex Low

London-based Lex Low shares new single ‘Feel More. Ultimately questioning moments in his early life, should he be feeling less or more?

After seeking therapy this year, Lex has used this as a catalyst to tap into emotions from the past and create music. Listen below.

Sounds like: Easy Life, The Night Café

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Mokita – Over You

Mokita

Mokita shares the stripped back ‘Over You’.

With a modern twist on an emo/pop-punk ballad, the song was initially written in the format of a love letter to an ex, and shows a more sentimental perspective to Mokita’s music.

Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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Creature Comfort – Arcade Fire

Creature Comfort

Nashville bootgaze/indie-rock outfit Creature Comfort share the fuzzy ‘Arcade Fire’.

Not to be confused with the track ‘Creature’ Comfort’ by the band Arcade Fire (a cheeky nod to Arcade Fire unexpectedly releasing ‘Creature Comfort on the same day Clark and his bandmates performed at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2017), this is a psychedelic explosion with wavy electric guitar and unrelenting percussion.

Sounds like: Jagwar Ma, Pond, Liily, Future Thieves, The Weeks, Kurt Vile, Fleet Foxes

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All Tvvins – Divine

All Tvvins - Divine

Irish duo All Tvvins (aka Conor Adams and Lar Kaye) shares their ‘Divine’ new single.

In a mild existential crisis, the delightful indie-pop banger is a real repeat treat and considers taking into account how others might view you.

They begin their Irish tour in October, with support from Somebody’s Child.

Sounds like: APRE, Foals, The Editors, White Lies, Jungle, Arcade Fire, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective

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Inspired & The Sleep – Getting Through

Inspired & The Sleep

San Diego-based dream-pop band Inspired & The Sleep shares new single, ‘Getting Through’.

With an addictive piano-led melody throughout, ‘Getting Through’ tackles the moment when two formerly close individuals become disassociated and detached from each other.

This one will definitely tug on the heartstrings.

Sounds like: Beauty Sleep, CHAPPO, Lucy Rose, Arcade Fire, Mating Ritual, James Supercave, Arms Akimbo, Sure Sure

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Ellen Krauss – On The Bus

Ellen Krauss

Swedish feminist and LGBTQ advocate, Ellen Krauss shares her bright video for the country-tinged pop song, ‘On The Bus’; a story full of heartbreak that has a kind of teenage nostalgia to it.

Since the age of four, Ellen has been secretly writing songs in her room in Stockholm, or in South Africa where her family occasionally lived. This is the first song released via BMG Recorded Music through a new partnership with the indie label, Tiller Inc..

Sounds like: Carly Rae Jepsen, Tove Lo

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Milk. – Temperature

milk.

Taking cues from modern pop bands The 1975 and Pale Waves, Irish four-piece Milk. creates music that considers many genres, ranging from RnB, to electronic and pop.

The band’s new single ‘Temperature’, does exactly what it says on the tin – raises the heat in a reflection about the unity that’s felt between two people during sex.

Sounds like: Pale Wales, The 1975, Japanese House

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Baker Grace – Sad Summer

Baker Grace - Sad Summer

18-year-old singer/songwriter Baker Grace shares her anti-social media anthem for the summer.

Content with being alone, or with friends, whatever. Baker Grace wants you to spend your time not giving a f*** and embodying her distinct mindset.

Sounds like: CAPPA, Stalking Gia, Charli XCX, The 1975, Cher Lloyd

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Bevan – P.T.L Feat. Holly Moore

Bevan - P.T.L Feat. Holly Moor

Songwriter, producer, vocalist and budding-polymath Bevan shares ‘P.T.L’ featuring the luscious vocals of Holly Moore.

His experimental, disco-infused electronic project seems a far cry from teaching in the coastal town of Bournemouth. Inspired by track catchphrases in 80’s tunes, Bevan decided to create his own catchy number…’Part Time Lover’.

Sounds like: Friendly Fires, Midnight Pool Party, Ok Go, Roosevelt

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Couch Prints – Tell U

Couch Prints

Introducing super chilled out indie synth-pop trio, Couch Prints.

Originating in various apartments across the world and finally finding a home in Queens, New York, the song ‘Tell U’ reflects a feeling of transience and movement and leaving the past behind; whether that’s moving homes or ending a relationship or just changing yourself day by day.

So stop for a minute. Recline, listen, enjoy.

Sounds like: Porches, Men I Trust, Beach House, The Knife

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Cattle & Cane – Mexico

Cattle & Cane by Junior Ayub

Teeside-based sibling duo Cattle & Cane are back with a corker of a tune.

Their new single, ‘Mexico’ is as sun-drenched as it can get. Produced by Pete Hammerton (Kylie Minogue, The Shires, Wandering Hearts, Tom Gregory), the duo have made a real statement with the direction of their sound – this is ambitious, radio-friendly pop for the modern ear.

Watch their enticing black & white visuals below:

Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Monogem, Tom Odell

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Satellite Mode – Kissing In Photographs

Satellite Mode

NYC-based indie outfit Satellite Mode seeks inspiration from afro-disco grooves in ‘Kissing In Photographs’.

Founding members Jessica Carvo and Alex Marko first met in a songwriting session where they quickly found mutual confidence from experimenting with each other’s strengths; Jessica flourished as a powerhouse singer, whereas Alex’s classically trained ear brought structure to the off-kilter soundscapes that the band was creating.

‘Kissing In Photographs’ is laid back but at the same time has an underlying energy that will make you want to get up and dance, pleasantly expecting a big blow out (which comes in at around two minutes).

Sounds like: Like Swimming, Arcade Fire, Jinka

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