Tag Archives: Cassia

Weekly Gems 104

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Crush – All My Plants Are Dead

Crush

Ambient grunge-pop band Crush will be your latest just that.

Their latest single, ‘All My Plants Are Dead’ exhales Millenial dilemmas, of struggling to look after your houseplants, and yourselves in a bittersweet yet discordant offering.

Sounds like: Diiv, The Cure, Alvvays

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Alex Porat – Only Hanging Out Cause I’m Lonely

Alex Porat - Only Hanging Out Cause I'm Lonely

Alex Porat – Only Hanging Out Cause I’m Lonely

Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Porat draws us in with her new single about dating for the sake of dating.

It’s another slice of lighthearted bubblegum pop with an irresistible indifference about the opposite sex.

Sounds like: RALPH, Anna Of The North

SoundCloud

Sarpa Salpa – Lost Time

Sarpa Salpa

Alt-pop band Sarpa Salpa always strive to create upbeat, danceable tracks with unexpected changes and hidden meanings. The new video for their single ‘Lost Time’ aptly features a selection of tour clips showing this.

With support from Jack Saunders and Bombay Bicycle Club, definitely tune into these guys.

Sounds like: Island Club, Larkins, FEET, Two Door Cinema Club

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Cassia – Do Right

Cassia - Do Right

Very much up to date with indie-pop trends, UK based trio Cassia, shares latest jam, ‘Do Right’, which talks about waking up to what’s happening in the world and making a conscious decision of wanting to make a positive change.

The video is set in sunny isolation. We love their all round positivity and sun drenched calypso sound.

Sounds like: Dancing on Tables, Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, Still Woozy

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Chloe Tang – Fanning The Flame

Chloe Tang

R&B artist Chloe Tang shares her latest single, offering a less rosy-colored side of love and youth.

Full of angst, she tells us how it is in ‘Fanning The Flame’. This isn’t a romantic gesture, this is a slow burn about knowing you’re trapped in a bad romance and knowing you’re powerless to escape it.

Sounds like: Banks, LeyeT

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LEV – It Was U

LEV by Helen Jade

LEV by Helen Jade

Dallas pop artist Holly Peyton – aka LEV – shares the driving force that is ‘It Was U’.

Echoes of HAIM meets Erasure, this breezy 80’s inspired powerful story of triumph. Listen below.

Sounds like: Christine & The Queens, HAIM, RALPH, Erasure

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Magnus Bechmann – What Do You Know

Magnus Bechmann

Magnus Bechmann‘s new release, ‘What Do You Know’ is the first single out from his upcoming album, which chronicles nine awkward situations from everyday life.

Considering a situation where you find yourself in a relationship that is better to get out of than to stay in, this is glistening indie pop that marks a bright new chapter in Magnus’ career.

Sounds like: Two Door Cinema Club, Bombay Bicycle Club

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This Boy – Heart Is Broken

This Boy

We know very little about experimental pop newcomer, This Boy from Denmark.

The duo’s first single, ‘Heart Is Broken’ drops just a few weeks ahead of their debut album – an unusual and bold move in a single release-dominated pop landscape.

Sounds like: The 1975, Becky Hill

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Cap’n Marble – Come 2 California

Cap'n Marble - Come 2 California

Cap’n Marble – Come 2 California

Cap’n Marble is a group led by frontmen, John Dasilva and Ryan Arshonsky.

Seamlessly blending breezy psych-pop with hand-crafted indie sounds, they invite you to sit back, relax, and dream of California.

Sounds like: The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bad Sounds

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Runrummer – I Like Getting High (But Not All The Time)

Runrummer

Whilt growing up, 25-year old East London-based singer-songwriter Runrummer (real name Livi Morris) faced a struggle to find herself as she came to terms with her sexuality and gender identity.

Addressing serious issues in the juxtaposed context of upbeat, electronic-pop anthems, she aims to inspire and strives to work with other creators in the LGBTQ+ space.

Sounds like: Shura, Lilly Allen, Georgia

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Weekly Gems 102

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Dancing on Tables – Not to Need You

Dancing on Tables

Scottish band, Dancing on Tables, explores a more melancholic side in ‘Not To Need You’.

Written in Nashville alongside legendary songwriter Liz Rose (Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood), the hopeful song encapsulates the uphill battles everyone goes through in life but reminds us that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sounds like: Sea Girls, Biffy Clyro, Circa Waves, The 1975, Rat Boy, Circa Waves, The Amazons, Blossoms, Wild Nothing, Cassia, Catfish and the Bottlemen

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Stellie – How Do We Look So Good?

Stellie by Jackson Thornbury

Stellie by Jackson Thornbury

Like an early Billie Eilish, Australian artist Stellie is transforming our take on pop.

Inspired by strong female voices, her tender and personal tales are indie-pop slow-burners that cut straight to the heart. Listen to her hazy new single, ‘How Do We Look So Good?’ below.

Sounds like: Billie Eilish

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Lila Drew – Locket

Lila Drew

We continue to eagerly turn the pages in Lila Drew‘s magical scrapbook full of uncertainty and confessions, both positive and negative.

The next chapter from the rising 19-year-old London born and LA based independent singer/songwriter is the souful and dreamy, ‘Locket’.

Sounds like: Ariana Grande, Caswell, Billie Eilish

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Cat Ryan – Mannerism

Cat Ryan

Newcastle-based trio Cat Ryan is no ordinary modern shoegaze band. Oh no. These guys are paving way for a new era of British dreamy indie-pop.

Their new single ‘Mannerism’ is a self-conscious spin on mesmerising music and is out now via Pillar Artists.

Sounds like: Wolf Alice, Sundara Karma, Alvvays, Bombay Bicycle Club, Youth Sector, Tranqua Lite

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GusGus – Out Of Place

GusGus - Out of Place

It’s great to see GusGus back with another stellar release.

The electronic innovators have released ‘Out Of Place’, highlighting the duo’s affinity for rolling synth-lines and sharp, pop-driven vocals. Listen below.

Sounds like: Simian Mobile Disco, Tears For Fears, Simple Minds, Röyksopp, Goldfrapp, Orbital, Roisin Murphy

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Llovers – Feeling Sound

Llovers

Another Newcastle band for us this week – Llovers.

Releasing the infectious new cut, ‘Feeling Sound’, it’s clear that anyone listening to the track will be enamoured by their immense potential, thanks to their irresistible anthemic tendencies with sparkling riffs, sing-along choruses and playful songwriting.

Sounds like: Alt-J, Foals, Blossoms, Larkins

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Weird Milk – Is That Love?

Weird Milk

London baroque pop band Weird Milk shares ‘Is That Love?’.

Having already supported indie risers Alfie Templeman and Pip Blom, and about to support APRE on their UK tour, their latest offering doesn’t disappoint.

Songwriter and drummer Charlie Glover-Wright explains, “The song itself is about a relationship turning sour as a lemon and the main character realising that they don’t need it anymore and they’ll be better off on their own.”

Sounds like: FEET, Sports Team, The Magic Gang, Genghar, The Last Shadow Puppets

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Kelli-Leigh – Cotton Clouds

Kelli-Leigh - Cotton Clouds

You may recognise Kelli-Leigh’s vocals from such hits as ‘More Than Friends’ by Jame Hype, ‘I Got U’ by Duke Dumont and Second City‘s ‘I Wanna Feel’, but it’s time for the British singer/songwriter to step out into the light and reveal her first solo music of the decade.

The uptempo pop song, ‘Cotton Clouds’ describes a blissed out relationship. Lovely.

Sounds like: Jessie Ware, Karen Harding, Harlee

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The Day – Tenderfoot

The Day

Dutch DIY duo The Day are Laura Loeters from from Antwerp/Belgium and Hamburg based Gregor Sonnenberg.

Sharing the fancy-free video for their cover of ‘Tenderfoot’ by The Lemonheads / Smudge, the latest release is inspired by their youth, as the dream-pop band continue their tasteful take on original classics.

Sounds like: Eliza Shaddard, Ilgen-Nur

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Talii – Good To Be Bad

Talii - Good To Be Bad

Orlando-based 25 year old Talii has a wicked streak, as can be witnessed in her sultry and dark pop song, ‘Good To Be Bad’.

Born into a musically gifted and diversely talented family of musicians and performers, she began singing at age 3 and was playing the piano and writing songs by age 7. There is no denying her talent.

Sounds like: Banks

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Make Friends – When Nothing’s Said

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Make Friends

Bristol-bred quartet Make Friends sure knows how to appease, with their dispensing progressive indie-pop.

Their fourth-ever single ‘When Nothing’s Said’, is ever so slightly more direct than their former releases, about experiencing and not being able to shake intense paranoia from the idea that your partner is being unfaithful to you.

It’s out now via Funnel Music.

Sounds like: Foals, Maribou State, Cassia, Bombay Bicycle Club

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Weekly Gems 99

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Alfie Neale – Vices

Alfie Neale

Brighton-based singer/songwriter Alfie Neale shares his latest laid back and soul sweeping single, ‘Vices’.

It’s a song that describes the importance of the little things in life and a support network to help you through the fun times, and the more serious.

Sounds like: Yakul, Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei

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JupiterMoon – The Reason

JupiterMoon

Young Midlands-based quartet JupiterMoon is causing a bit of a ruckus.

Their energetic choruses and Asian influenced guitar hooks are written for sweaty, intimate venues. Conjuring up homegrown rock anthems at Blank Studios in Nercastle, their strongest track to date ‘The Reason’ is all the justification you need.

Sounds like: Foals, Blossoms

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A Is For Arrows – Roses

A Is For Arrows

Toronto electro-pop duo A Is For Arrows shares the lush new single, ‘Roses’.

Echoes of heartbreak glistened with a retro glow, this is easy listening electronica at its best. Listen below.

Sounds like: Lights, Jocelyn Alice, Goldroom, RAC, Le Youth, Broods

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Mokita – colorblind

Mokita

Nashville’s John-Luke Carter, aka Mokita, is a singer/songwriter/producer known for his lyrical and buoyant electronic-based pop.

Classically trained in piano in his youth, he later taught himself to play guitar and eventually transitioned into electronic music production. Taking a rewind to his classical routes, Mokita shares an orchestral version of ‘colorblind’ and it’s spellbounding.

Sounds like: Nirob Islam, EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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Tsar B – Unpaintable

Tsar B

Effortless and majestic with a highly cinematic yet vulnerable approach, Tsar B‘s single, ‘Unpaintable’, sees her functioning as a one-woman orchestra, songwriter, producer and singer.

An ode to the muddled emotions people that are too intelligent to just live a normal life feel; ‘They are uncatchable. They are unpaintable.”

Sounds like: GRAACE, Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs, ÄTNA

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Seafret – Magnetic

Seafret - Magnetic

The coastal town of Bridlington isn’t the first place in the UK that you think has a buzzing music scene, but we’ve stumbled upon the brilliant Seafret, who have proved us wrong.

Made up of Jack Sedman and Harry Draper, their new single ‘Magnetic’ is an indie-pop anthem at it’s finest – addictive vocal harmonies and commercial riffs, complete with a killer pop chorus

Sounds like: Kodaline, Amber Run, Imagine Dragons, Lewis Capaldi

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Luna Li – Trying

Luna Li - Trying

Luna Li (fka VEINS) shares the brooding new single, ‘Trying’.

A undeniable strong presence in the alt-pop world, Luna Li uses and blends her 14 years of classical piano and violin training with dreamy rock, to create a vulnerable and distorted sound.

Sounds like: Lykki Li, Niki & The Dove, Oh Land, Perfume Genius

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Matt Simons – Cold

Matt Simons

L.A Songwriter Matt Simons shares ‘Cold’ – a powerful piece of electronic pop that blends nostalgia and melancholic sentiment.

Speaking about the track, which has been released in time for any Valentine’s Day pessimist, he explains,

“People change, and change in any relationship is inevitable. The only question is, can the two people change together and adapt? Cold is about a relationship where they did not.”

Sounds like: Ruel, JP Cooper, Zak Abel

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Dräger – New Life

Dräger

An introvert at heart, Dräger creates unabashed synth pop bangers born from a modern heartbreak.

Co-produced by House producer LEFTI, the single ‘New Life’ marks a fresh start for the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Spencer Draeger, as he uses sounds of the past to channel themes of the modern age, taking a satirical approach to the narcissisms and anxiety illuminated through technology.

Sounds like: New Order, Soft Cell, Holy Ghost!, Dansu, The Cure, White Lies, Cocteau Twins

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Dancing On Tables – Stay

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Dancing on Tables

Scottish band Dancing On Tables shares their effervescent new single, ‘Stay’.

The topic of the song talks about the over-reliance on the other half of a relationship. Usually a subject of heartbreak, the track builds towards the desperate and angry situation the left behind half finds themselves in.

Listen below.

It’s out now via LV Music.

Sounds like: Sea Girls, Biffy Clyro, Circa Waves, The 1975, Rat Boy, Circa Waves, The Amazons, Blossoms, Wild Nothing, Cassia

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Dancing on Tables – Black

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Dancing on Tables

Hot off supporting Cassia on a UK tour, old school friends and bandmates, Dancing On Tables share their new ballad, ‘Black’.

Using their youthful energy and determination to fuel the fire within their music, Dancing on Tables highlight the importance of their roots, as well as raising awareness about the musical talent in the North of the UK.

Sounds like: Sea Girls, Biffy Clyro, Circa Waves, The 1975, Rat Boy, Circa Waves, The Amazons, Blossoms, Wild Nothing, Cassia

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Dancing on Tables – Stereo

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Dancing on Tables

It’s Sunday, so time for a bit of indie rock from the North courtesy of Scottish five-piece, Dancing on Tables.

The band named themselves after arriving at a gig with no band name and noticing that people were dancing on tables, and we’re sure that there will be plenty more opportunities for this to happen again with their rousing anthemic tunes.

Listen to their new single, ‘Stereo’ below:

Live

King Tuts Wah Wah Hut , Glasgow – 18th January
Live at Leeds, Leeds – 4th May

Sounds like: Sea Girls, Biffy Clyro, Circa Waves, The 1975, Rat Boy, Circa Waves, The Amazons

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Weekly Submithub Gems 6

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LCAW – Staring at the Sun

LCAW

LCAW (aka 22 year old Leon Weber) is sharing an interesting message in his new track ‘Staring at the Sun’, which features the lush vocal tones of New York City-based singer/songwriter, Sophie Hintze.

LCAW says,

“‘Staring At The Sun’ has a clear message – If you feel trapped in a place or a situation you need to break free, pack up your things and just go. The Sun is quite symbolic in this picture, on the one hand it stands for hope, a better future, adventure; and on the other hand it is a burden. Staring directly at the sun for too long blinds you, leaving you on a path without navigation. The lyrics embrace a loss of direction. Hypnotised by yellow lines, moving faster than the speed of light, renegades without a plan. In the end it’ll be worth it.”

It’s out now via Ultra Records / Columbia Records.

Sounds like: Claire Ridgley, Lorde

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Magdalena Bay – Move Slow

Magdalena Bay - Move Slow

Magdalena Bay is a duo comprised of Mica Tenenbaum (Singer/Songwriter) and Matthew Lewin (Songwriter/Producer).

Kylie-esq pop melodies combine with modern disco-infused guitar riffs create a song that will make you up your game on the dance floor.

Sounds like: Kylie, Robyn, Tame Impala, Miami Horror

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Cassia – Sink

Cassia by Niall Lea

Manchester indie band Cassia share the uplifting ‘Sink’.

Despite shows at Reading and Leeds Festivals, the trio’s agenda is to make their fans dance and not mosh, and it’s quite understandable that this would happen with their calypso-infused offerings.

The new song will form part of the band’s debut EP ‘Movers & Shapers’ which is due out later this year.

Sounds like: Two Door Cinema Club, Jake Bugg

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Derrival – Ice Cream

Derrival

Vancouver-based five-piece Derrival share new track ‘Ice Cream’.

Despite the two year hiatus, the band are very much up to facing the challenges thrown at them from the music industry.

Sounds like: Youngr, Young the Giant

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Temptress – What I Want

Temptress - What I Want

South London duo Temptress have just dropped the awesome ‘What I Want’, which has been produced by Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Friendly Fires, Holy Ghost!)

It very much has a nu-disco vibe throughout, which works well with Jess’ soulful vocals and the retro basslines.

Sounds like: Pat Lok, Goldroom, Jessie Ware

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