Tag Archives: Cold War Kids

Playlist: daysormay

daysormay by Jeff Bassett

daysormay by Jeff Bassett

Meet Vancouver-based three-piece daysormay comprised of twin brothers Carson and Nolan Bassett and Aidan Andrews. Their name is taken from the English phonetic of the French word “désormais,” meaning “from now on”.

They’ve put together a playlist for us, check it out below.

Charli XCX – enemy
Carson: The chords and the melody along with the production of this song really all work
together to elevate each other, one of our favourites right now. It was so mind-blowing to hear
that this whole album was made in a month.

Ricky Reed, Terrace Martin, St. Panther – Real Magic
Carson: This song just brings the mood from wherever it is to a happier place, a feel-good song.

Toro y Moi – Lissoms (Instrumental)
Nolan: Love how this song is chill but manages to still make you groove. Even though this song
is 10 years old, it still feels fresh.

Mk.gee – Isn’t It So Convenient
Nolan: The drums on this song sound SO good. It’s just full of really cool and organic sounds
and I love how straight up and honest the lyrics are.

Grady – Let’s Stay Inside
Carson: The beat switch at the end is legendary.

Post-Modern Connection – Drowning
Carson: Glad to call these guys our friends, from just outside our hometown. Great chords,
beautiful vocals and keeps you interested all the way through.

Gia Ford – Waterslide
Nolan: So funky and kind of sinister-sounding at the same time. Whoever played bass on this
song killed it.

HAIM – 3AM
Nolan: The chords are SO good and the chorus bangs. Rostam is also one of my favourite
producers at the moment so I was stoked to find out he worked on this album.

CHIKA – DESIGNER
Nolan: It drops in hard and not in a way you would expect and I love how this song just plays
with your expectations the whole time. CHIKA also has such a good voice.

The 1975 – I Like America & America Likes Me
Aidan: The 1975 helped me realize that you could be in a band and not make “band music”.
Realizing that I could make a song with whatever sounds I wanted, that it didn’t have to be
based around guitar, drums, bass, typical “band instruments”, that was a big deal for me. I love
how they used the hard autotune in this, and the production and lyrics are so good.

Baby Keem – MOSHPIT
Aidan: A legend. I’m always drawn towards artists that have a unique vocal style/delivery, and
almost every line of a Baby Keem song is quotable. So good.

Charli XCX – claws
Aidan: this song’s been in my head for weeks now. Charli is so cool, and I’ve been trying to find
the snare sample Dylan Brady used on this ever since I heard it. It’s currently my favourite
song.

Watch their energetic video for ‘Role Model’ with Tessa Violet below, which happened after she brought the band on tour and was blown away, signing them up to her label, T∆G Music.

Sounds like: Passion Pit, Sea Girls, Cold War Kids, Peach Pit, Walk Off The Earth, Chloe Lilac, Tessa Violet, Local Natives, Phoenix, Tokyo Police Club

Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram

Weekly Gems 98

Franky – Follow My Lead

Franky - Follow My Lead

Yorkshire isn’t particularly known for his pop heritage. That is until now. Meet singer/songwriter Franky.

Her influences range from funk, disco and R&B, and her new single ‘Follow My Lead’ will urge you to do just that, with its fizzy attitude and feisty pop sensibilities.

Sounds like: Icona Pop, Harlee, Charli XCX

Soundcloud

Estereomance – Crimson Queen

Estereomance

Estereomance is a trio from El Paso/Juarez comprised of Manu, Paulina and Adria.

The three artists may come from different experiences and backgrounds but they share one common goal – artistic fearlessness that invokes sensitivities of emotional fibres reachable through consciousness.

In a gentle nod to 70’s French dream pop, the single ‘Crimson Queen’ explores the themes of vanity, obsession, insecurity, gender and beauty through surreal and metaphoric music.

Sounds like: Men I Trust

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

CHERITON – Parallel

CHERITON

Kent-born, London-based indie-pop newcomer CHERITON (aka Nick Harrison) shares his catchy new single ‘Parallel’, out now So Good So Good.

The infectious single, full of guitar-pop and vibrant melodies, is produced by Andy Hall (Bastille, Fickle Friends, James Gillespie) and reflects on social media and the damaging effects it can have on mental health.

Sounds like: Vampire Weekend, HAIM, Blossoms

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

Overcoats – Fire & Fury

Overcoats

Overcoats is made up of critically acclaimed Brooklyn duo, Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell.

Channeling punk emergy with vulnerable vitality, their champion new single ‘Fire & Fury’ is equal parts dark and brooding as well as hopeful and anthemic – a dichotomy which is mirrored in the its soaring chorus “there’s a fire, there’s a fury, the sky is falling, but we’ll get through it.”

Watch the her Productions-directed video below.

Sounds like: The Magnettes, HAIM, First Aid Kit, Cold War Kids, The Violent Femmes

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

Jesse Merineau – Honey

Jesse Merineau

Jesse Merineau shares his energetic new single ‘Honey’.

A sweet rendition of a simple track that hits you in all the right places. New, but not unfamiliar. Like a warm hug on a cold evening.

Sounds like: Viola Beach, King No-One, High Tyde

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

Marina Kaye – The Whole 9

Marina Kaye

21 year old multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Marina Kaye continues to heal wounds with her music.

Her twisted piece of alt-pop single ‘The Whole 9’ is a sultry rebirth with a superb vocal range and lush key changes throughout.

Sounds like: Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

Reva Devito – Bet You Stay

Reva Devito - Bet You Stay

We are super excited about Reva Devito‘s fresh hustle on soul and R&B.

The Portland native has already featured on some of the most recognizable tracks of KAYTRANADA, Young Franco, Chuck Inglish, and B.Bravo, as well and as the live vocalist for Australian indie-pop rising musicians Miami Horror.

Produced by longtime collaborator B.Bravo, ‘Bet You Stay’ is a nostalgic, slower jam. Smother this over your ears right now.

Sounds like: Janet Jackson, Aaliyah

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

LeyeT – Here For You (Labit + LeyeT)

LeyeT

LeyeT (pronounced “light”) channels emotional vulnerability into alternative-pop songs with a solid heartbeat.

She’s teamed up her friend Labit on new single, ‘Here For You’ – a song about friendship, being there for each other through the highs and lows of life, and sticking together through it all. The song was written with the Make Sure Your Friends Are Okay initiative in mind, a community that encourages you to have meaningful discussions with people you care about – answering truthfully the question of ‘how are you?’.

Sounds like: Halsey, Imogen Heap

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

dekleyn – See Right Through Me

dekleyn

The Sydney duo dekleyn shares new single ‘See Right Through Me’.

Writing infectious heartbreakers, their songs have meaningful influences throughout. Speaking about the new one – a lesson about love and forgiveness – they explain,

“The song is about giving so much to a person and becoming so close with them that they know everything about you, even more than you know about yourself. As the relationship begins to break down, it begins to become obvious that the two could never be without each other, “I don’t plan on leaving this feeling at all, this is all I have.”

Sounds like: LANY, joan, LAUV

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

Ruben Dawnson – FYALMA

Ruben Dawnson

Phew! This is what we’ve been waiting for. A big “Fuck You!” to anxiety anthem!

Cue Norweigan artist/producer Ruben Dawnson and his emotionally expressive tuneage, namely ‘FYALMA’. Speaking about the track some more, he explains,

“It’s a big fuck you anthem to anxiety! Like many others I’ve been struggling with it for a long time… hopefully this can lift people’s spirit and I hope people will connect with it and scream out the lyrics!! I really want it to reach as many as possible and help create a big “fuck you” wave towards anxiety!!”

Sounds like: Day Wave, Hazel English, Summer Heart

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

Small Talk – Alarm

Small Talk

Connecting at a music school in the Netherlands, the now duo Small Talk is making music to the standard of industry veterans, as it’s clear the understand what it takes to put together a hit, and have achieved that with ‘Alarm’.

Running the length between upbeat indie-pop and melancholic EDM, the pair masterfully play with different shades and moods. Expect much more from the youthful duo in 2020.

Sounds like: The Him, Bastille, The Chainsmokers, Imagine Dragons

Facebook | SoundCloud | Instagram

Playlist: Step Rockets

Step Rockets

Step Rockets

Step Rockets are a band from Minneapolis, who like to blend pop melodies with rock-inducing riffs.

They put together an incredible playlist for us. Check it out below.

Miike Snow – For U (Feat. Charli XCX)

Always a big fan of this group. Loving the non-traditional song structure here.

M83 – Go! (Feat. Mai Lan)

This song is a smash! The guitar solo is killing!

Tuxedo – Do It

Could listen to that funky synth bass all night long.

Yeasayer – I Am Chemistry

Their production is always spot on! Pushing the pop envelope by keeping it weird.

What So Not – High You Are (Branchez Remix)

Spicy future bass remix that keeps ya smilin’.

Autograf – Heartbeat

Summertime vibes.

Step Rockets – Love Is Just A Chemical

One of our favorite cuts to play live!

Tora – Latp

Super forward thinking electro-pop.

Chairlift – Ch-Ching

Just one of the many dope dance cuts off their new album. Go check the whole thing out.

Robert DeLong – Jealousy

Can’t argue with the stellar arrangement and production on this track.

Big Grams, Skrillex – Drum Machine

puts his magic touch on this crazy collab. Had to include one trap banger.

The Chemical Brothers – Wide Open

Digging Beck’s vibey vox and understated production from the Chem Bros.

Neon Indian – Polish Girl

More acid please!

Cut Copy – Lights & Music

These Aussies know how to keep the dance floor interesting.

J Dilla – Shake It Down

Wouldn’t be a Step Rockets playlist without at least one big flow cut.

The Step Rockets’ EP, ‘Future Nature’, is out now via Harbour / Caroline Records.

Sounds like: Atlas Genius, Mainland, Cold War Kids

Website | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter

Continue reading

Maudlin Strangers – Gingerale

Maudlin Strangers

Maudlin Strangers

Meet dark-disco electro-pop advocate, Maudlin Strangers (aka Jake Hays).

The bedroom songwriter and multi-instrumentalist produces his music in his Agoura Hills bedroom, but despite this, his music would easily resonate in a decent sized venue.

When asked what influenced the first new batch of Maudlin Strangers music since the Overdose EP, Hays cited that it was created by being constantly immersed in a world of his own songs, growing and developing the sound based on the progression of the demos and coined this new phase of Maudlin Strangers as “dark disco”.

Tour Dates

10/18/15 – Beachland Tavern – Cleveland, OH #
10/19/15 – Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre – Montreal, Canada *
10/20/15 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, Canada *
10/23/15 – Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT *
10/24/15 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY *
10/25/15 – 9:30 Club – Washington DC *
10/27/15 – Spirit – Pittsburgh, PA #
10/28/15 – The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA *
10/29/15 – House of Blues – Boston, MA *
11/4/15 – Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC #
11/5/15 – Drunken Unicorn – Atlanta, GA #
11/10/15 – Fitzgerald’s Downstairs – Houston, TX #
11/11/15 – The Sidewinder – Austin, TX #
11/12/15 – Dada – Dallas, TX #
11/15/15 – Pub Rock – Phoenix, AZ # With Strange Names #

Supporting Cold War Kids *

Sounds like: Great Good Fine Ok, The Knocks, Ghost Beach, Phoenix, Bad Suns, Cold War Kids, Arctic Monkeys

Continue reading

New Navy – Heaven

New Navy

New Navy

Indietronica are big fans of Australian indie group New Navy.

They have finally released some new material and we are excited to share it with you now!

New track ‘Heaven’ was written at a lakeside cottage on the South Coast of New South Wales and showcases singer O’Loughlin’s smooth tones.

The track still has snippets of the band’s favourite tropical synths and dreamy riffs, but it is more than usually mellow.

The effortlessly romantic video follows a couple in a roller disco dream.

‘Heaven’ is the first single taken from the upcoming EP. Purchase the single on iTunes via themusicconnection.

Whilst we have your attention, you may as well listen to ‘Zimbabwe’ because its a killer track.

Sounds like: The Foals, The Whitest Boy Alive, Phoenix, Cold War Kids, The Klaxons, The Editors, I Know Leopard

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Youtube | Instagram

Continue reading