Anyone who reads Indietronica on the regular knows we are suckers for French disco. That’s why we couldn’t refuse to support Mel Blue‘s ‘Yesterday’.
Whilst the six-piece might be based across the other side of the world, in Sydney, the track is a sweet and summery breath of electronica that pays homage to Daft Punk, Zimmer, and Phoenix.
Sounds like: Daft Punk, Zimmer, Phoenix, L’lmpératrice, Stardust, Hot Chip, CAPYAC
The new song from Paco Versailles is anything but ‘Black and White’.
Echoes of Andalusia can be heard within its instrumental interludes and chorus, while a Parisian French Touch provides the foundation that carries the story.
The name Paco Versailles was conceived while imagining a collaboration between the duo’s biggest influences – the legendary Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia and French electronic artists Daft Punk and Air, both products of the Parisian suburb of Versailles.
Full of fruity disco flair and tropical licks – aka “Dancemenco” – the luminous duo, led by Vahagni and Ryan Merchant (of Capital Cities), have spent the last year creating and establishing their original sound.
Sounds like: Friendly Fires, Capital Cities, LUXXURY, French Horn Rebellion, Miami Horror, Poolside
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Berklee graduate NASAYA teams up with The Voice’s Tim Atlas for effortlessly cool new single, ‘Plastic Straw’.
Ironing out the issues with someone you want to part ways with, but they keep sticking around, the song is heavily influenced by classic 2000-2010’s records such as Phoenix, Daft Punk and Jungle.
Sounds like: RAC, Goldroom, Autograf, Pat Lok, Kaytranada, Shay Lia, Tame Impala
ROE – GIRLS
Derry-based ROE releases ‘GIRLS’, a call out out to the unrealistic expectations on social media and loving yourself for who you are.
Things seem to be going pretty well for ROE, having supported SNow Patrol on tour and playing SXSW and The Great Escape festivals this year.
Sounds like: Emma McGrath, Soak, Gabrielle Aplin
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Harry Nathan – Blue Eyed Girl
Dream-pop story teller Harry Nathan has just shared his debut EP, ‘Songs About Dreams About Her’, a piece of work true to himself.
A complete DIY project, the Australian producer/singer/songwriter/DJ ends the five-track EP with ‘Blue Eyed Girl,’ a closing and contemplation on the relationship as well as a little peek into the sound and direction of Harry’s production evolution on his next project.
Sounds like: Moby
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M w S – Too Young to Know
M w S are a songwriting duo from a small town in Italy, that have made London their home for creating their distinctive, soulful-pop sound.
So the saying goes, you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. And that’s exactly what ‘Too Young to Know’ discusses – a bittersweet nostalgia of love lost.
Sounds like: Marie Dahlstrom, Tom Misch, Oscar Jerome, Honne, Blood Orange
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Naah – Wake Up Feat. C. Gold
Introducing 22 year old Swedish songwriter Naah, who has dropped an absolute banger with C. Gold, called ‘Wake Up’.
A background in the indie rock and pop world, Naah’s release is refreshingly catchy. Not wanting to be pigeonholed as pop or electro, Naah has born a love child of modern dance-music and old-fashion disco.
Sounds like: Whethan, Daft Punk, Tove Lo, Terror JR, Ninajirachi
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Aaron Taos – Bloom
Aaron Taos by Dave Krugman
Aaron Taos‘ new single is about forbidden fruit, more specifically about him having a crush on his friend’s sister.
The video shows Aaron and his beau in a typical Sunday morning scene, set in a not so typical field of flowers, one that represent the fanasty of letting their love blossom.
Sounds like: Yoke Lore, MP The Kid
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Ayelle – Obvious
Mellow music-maker Ayelle shares her self-reflecting new single ‘Obvious’.
The Swedish-Iranian R&B singer-songwriter teamed up with producer Jonah Stevens, to delve furhter into her lyrical clarity and sultry vocals.
Listen below.
Sounds like: Banks, 4AM, Wet, IYES, The XX, SOHN
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Jinka – Ghost 2 U
Jinka’s track ‘Ghost 2 U’ is glitchy trip-pop at its finest.
Ghost 2 U” is the Transylvanian artist‘s most emotionally dynamic track to date.
It juxtaposes a heavy, industrial half-time drop reminiscent of acts like Cashmere Cat, Amnesia Scanner or Tommy Cash with touchingly fragile and intimate tale-telling verses.
Jinka’s vocals evolve over a loop of pluck-sounds that unavoidably take your imagination to an underground stalactite cave hidden in the souterrains of Berlin.
Sounds like: Kate Boy, I BREAK HORSES
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daste. – SOBER
Australian trio daste. is comprised of Callum MacDonald, Braxton Tahi & Tyler Harden.
Focusing on the smaller details (with the ‘d’ in daste. standing for detail), their new track, ‘SOBER’ is a summery lo-fi number showcasing simple, yet effective songwriting, and shares the idea that a clear head is always better than a mediocre, intoxicated one.
It’s out now via Mammal Sounds Records.
Sounds like: RÜFÜS DU SOL
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Malihini – Delusional Boy
There is always an air of romanticism with Italian culture and Italian duo Malihini are no exception to this rule.
Their new single ‘Delusional Boy’ has upbeat drums, neatly undercut by its recurring vocal refrain, “Delusional Boy/Delusional Girl” – the downbeat rejoinder conveyed with a typically euphonious duo vocal melody that juxtaposes between a falsetto male part with baratone-esq female vocals, which all in all, creates an extremely easy-to-listen-to pop track.
Expect their debut album ‘Hopefully, Again’, out on 8 March via Memphis Industries.
Sounds like: SAMA, Beach House, Tennis, Chairlift, Au Revoir Simone
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HighSchool Jacob – Cant Get Enough
Highschool Jacob is an indie pop artist who has a serious way with words, so don’t mess.
Based out of Los Angeles, this nu-funk extraordinaire weaves catchy and retro melodies and engrossing stories to make head-nod worthy and heartwarming music.
Listen to ‘Can’t Get Enough’ below.
Sounds like: Daft Punk, Du Tonc
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Jesse Hite – When It All Comes Down
There is a definite lo-fi, funk theme in this week’s gems. Introducing Jesse Hite – an exciting solo artist who has just shared his debut ‘When It All Comes Down’.
An American artist living in France, Hite effortless blends sounds thanks to this move across the Atlantic, as well as travels through Asia.
‘When It All Comes Down’ is the first single of a three-song EP to be released. The song is full of character, soulful lyrics, in which Mite manages to create as much blooming sound as music troop, Jungle between a large number of them!
Sounds like: Shy Girls, YAKUL, Jungle, LCD Soundsystem
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youthxx – New Frontier
Taking on the challenge of a new anthem for millennials is youthxx (also one half of Golden Coast).
‘New Frontier’ achieves anthemic territory with an inspiring, unforgettable vocal and sharp contemporary production that mixes synthetic and organic sounds with finesse.
Sounds like: Imagine Dragons, Golden Coast
Lay down some vocals, come up with a great disco sound, and party all night long. Jobs a gooden right? Sure, if we are talking about Exmag, as things seem to be super breezy at the moment with this funky hip-hop trio.
In their new video for ‘In This’, which features vocalist Ehiorobo, things are just that. Chilled with celestial harmonies and nostalgic guitar riffs that take you somewhere. You’re not entirely sure where this place is, but you know it’s good.
Speaking of the track, Exmag explains,
“We’re really stoked about this release. We had a great time getting to know Ehiorobo, and producing the track and video for “In This” was a really effortless, communal process…‘In This’ came together really naturally. Ehiorobo was a perfect fit. Everyone came together and we actually had the great party that is being depicted in the video. A big thanks to Ehi, Nesmith Films, and our awesome friends who made this whole production happen so effortlessly.”
It’s part of a two-track release called ‘Glimpses of a Vision’, out now via Majestic Casual Records.
Sounds like: Chromeo, Daft Punk, Yuksek, Blood Orange, Miami Horror
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Sugarcane – Bethnal Green Blues
Comprised of Robin French (Cuckoo) and Antonia Thomas (Misfits, Lovesick), these two creatives write seductive bossa nova music paired with calypso pop sensibilities that would fit well on the soundtrack of ‘The End of the F***ing World’.
On the motivation behind Bethnal Green Blues, Robin states,
“Sometimes you write a sad song from a happy moment. This came to me while I was flying to South America to see a girl I’d fallen for. It’s about the emotional ice age after a romance fails, but it was written as that ice melted under the Argentine sun..”
Sounds like: Nouvelle Vague, Men I Trust
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Dancing On Tables – Colour Me Good
We love an indie anthem, so thank you to five-piece pop-rock, Dancing On Tables.
The band, school friends from school in Dunfermline, a small town just outside Edinburgh, have released ‘Colour Me Good’ – a groove-laced, vintage indie-pop track that encapsulates sun-drenched, dance-able songwriting with a distinct Scottish charm.
Sounds like: Sea Girls, Biffy Clyro, Circa Waves, The 1975
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Slenderbodies – The One
Slenderbodies is a California-bred duo who write forward-thinking, dreamy synth-pop.
Their new single ‘The One’ is intricately subtle musical medication, shared in preparation of their upcoming EP, ‘SORAYA’, to be released through Los Angeles indie label Avant Garden, which is also home to Emotional Oranges.
Sounds like: Glass Animals, Alt-J, Milky Chance, Mura Masa, Passion Pit, PVRIS
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Dirty Nice – Always Summer
Forget those summer blues.
Mysterious UK-based duo, Dirty Nice, make a positive point in new single – it’s always summer, somewhere.
Released on Kitsuné, the single is an antidote to holiday blues, and the “optimistic twin” to their track ‘Zero Summer’.
Sounds like: Shy Luv, Phoenix, Daft Punk, Jai Paul, Sylvan Esso
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Gavin Haley – Sad Season
From summer season to ‘Sad Season’ with former professional cyclist Gavin Haley‘s latest single.
While competing with the national cycling team, Haley suffered an injury that resulted in a collapsed lung, setting back his travel by several months. During his recovery, he explored and found inspiration in Europe’s underground music scene, becoming enamored with energetic live performances filled with a grit and energy.
Starting with a simple West Coast-inspired guitar riff, ‘Sad Season’ soon picks up and exposes determined pop and R&B.
Sounds like: Zayn Malik, Frank Ocean, Ed Sheeran
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ROYAL – Vessel
Canadian songstress ROYAL debuts with ‘Vessel’, the first of six new tracks that appear on her upcoming album, ‘Heart of Shadows’.
Covering the topic of heartbreak, loss of identity and raw self-reflection, this is electro-pop at its finest in 2018.
Speaking about ‘Vessel,’ ROYAL says,
“This song is about heartbreak – having to let go of someone you love, and then realizing the emptiness and loss of identity that ensues. I wrote this song it while trying to find myself after getting lost within a relationship for many years and then feeling shattered by the loss of a love I thought would last a lifetime.”
Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Lana Del Rey, Evvy, Noosa, Dominique, The xx
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Von Sell – Scene Of A Crime
Last but not least, our favourite breakthrough act – self-taught producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Von Sell.
After a bout of vocal pain and subsequent treatment, we are pleased to say that Von Sell is on the mend and returning to our stereos with ‘Scene OF A Crime’.
Taken from his forthcoming sophomore EP, ‘Digital Sleep’, the song reflects on unrequited love, but, due to its uptempo nature, it will ultimately leave a taste of confusion in your mouth because you can’t help but dance despite the disconcerting subject matter.
Sounds like: Summer Heart, Hazel English, Teen Daze, Peter Gabriel, Alt-J, Thomas Azier
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Saavan – Slow
Alt-dream pop duo Saavan share their heavenly new single ‘Slow’, taken from their new EP.
‘Slow’ sounds more like a poem with its spiritual lyrics that Saavan wrote during a coming of age road trip. Listen below.
Sounds like: Mome, Petit Biscuit
Kinship – It’s You
Kinship is the project of North London twosome Tom Butler and Dave Crawford.
Seeking inspiration from past and present electronic spheres, their debut release has a dance energy that works in contrast with its chilled out, minimalist production.
Sounds like: Elderbrook, Caribou, Odesza, Ry X, Kllo, Four Tet, Maribou State
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Kazy Lambist – Be Yourself
French newcomer Kazy Lambist shares the video to his motivational track ‘Be Yourself’.
The chic video follows Lambist in two worlds, where blissed out fantasies crash into an intergalactic land full of luxury and excess.
Watch below.
Sounds like: RÜFÜS, Joe Goddard, RAC, Ghost Beach, Goldroom, Zimmer, Jape, Penguin Prison, Hot Chip, Friendly Fires, Calvin Harris
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SUMif – Drifting
Time to drift away from the dark and wintery nights onto a sun kissed sandy beach in Calfironia.
SUMif‘s goal with this track is to make you dance, regardless of whether you are at a desk or live show. She’s certainly done that – we can’t stop spinning around on our seats!
Sounds like: REMMI, Cappa, Monogem, Evvy, Noosa, Sizzy Rocket
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Icarus – Machine Heart
Icarus is Swedish producer whose futuristic sound reaches to us from the universe where he originates from.
The dark synth-wave track, ‘Machine Heart’, may well resemble Daft Punk and Lady Gaga but is firmly set out of this world.
Sounds like: Daft Punk, Lady Gaga
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Youngr made his name putting together bootlegs, so guess what, it’s bootleg time ladies and gents!
Check out his bootleg hitlist below.
Ramblin
Simply Red is my favourite band ever. I was listening to his Stars Deluxe album on the plane, and it had these amazing acapellas of old blues songs on the end that I’d never heard. Decided to make a bootleg with one of them.
Silence
Always loved this tune. Used to cover it in an old band. Decided to do it with Youngr.
London Grammar – Hey Now
I was super drunk one night on the night tube in London and had a part of this vocal in my head but had NO idea what the words or song was. So I was just singing it to strangers untill someone told me what they thought it might be … Next day I found the stems and made a bootleg.
Gorillaz – Feel Good and Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Because it’s the greatest beat in pop, and one of the greatest basslines in pop. It was almost too obvious, I had to check if someone had done it before!
Jungle – The Heat
Always liked Jungle‘s vibe. Actually did a remix with an old band I was in that never turned into anything, so revisited the vocal and made a new mix!
Zhu – Faded
Again, dope vocal. Remember the first time I heard it. Instantly wanted to do my own thing with it.
Daft Punk – One More Time
What an amazing message. And the fact it just repeats it’s self so many times. It’s brilliant.
Craig David – Fill Me In
Cause he’s a UK legend! Grew up with his music. And his vocal style suited mine, so it worked really easily for me.
The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
I had made a bootleg with a Marvin Gaye sample, and the guitar line I wrote kept reminding me of The Temper Trap song (which I also fucking loved) .. decided last minute to put The Temper Trap vocal over Marvin Gaye and it instantly found its magic.
All Saints – Pure Shores
Pure shores was one of the first CDs I ever bought. Bought it from Woolworths in Manchester and it cost £6.99! I was trying to write a dance song in 3/4 and the chords I was using gave me the same emotion that lure shores did.
Check Youngr’s latest single below:
Sounds like: Phoenix, Miike Snow, Flight Facilities
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In case you haven’t met French producer Kazy Lambist before, let us introduce him to you again.
At just 20, Kazy Lambist is already doing what Joe Goddard has spent years perfecting. Now we are in no way dissing Joe (we are huge fans), but youth is definitely on Kazy’s side, helping him create some insane floor fillers in his (short) time on this planet (see below for his current release ‘Be Yourself’).
We asked Kazy Lambist to put together a playlist for us. Watch out, this one has serious positive vibes.
Charlotte Adigéry – 1,618
Rich sound textures produced by the Dewaele brothers on Soulwax’s label DEEWEE. I love Charlotte Adigéry’s maternal yet malicious voice! The whole EP is amazing.
Bergheim 34 – Random Access Memory
This song’s name sounds familiar today! Although this came out in 2003, it has a lot in common with Daft Punk as they both pay beautiful tributes to analog instruments and devices. I love the wistful vibe on this one.
Mount Kimbie – Delta
I’ve been a Mount Kimbie fan since their “Crooks & Lovers” EP. To me, that was one of the most beautiful electronica EPs ever made. They always stay true to their need to mix acoustic sounds with unexpected synthetic sounds and drum machines – therefore they create a creepy and peaceful mood that goes directly through your heart. When I start listening to Mount Kimbie, it just goes on repeat all day because I never want to get out of that deep atmosphere.
Jean Leloup – I Lost My Baby
I remember my parents listening to this track when we were living in Montreal, Canada. I was 9 at the time, but this song still moves me.
Anna Kova – Believe
Beautiful beat with simple and clean voice melodies. The verses don’t have much meaning, they are just there to lead us to the wonderful chorus – “Believe in yourself.” This chorus is just so touching. Those three words keep me captivated and it seems like her voice is about to crack at the end of every sentence. It is so simple and still it evokes so much. I love this track.
Bonobo – Silver
I’ve loved Bonobo’s music for at least 10 years and think I’ll never get bored of it. He is just the best at what is tastelessly called “lounge music” or “chill music.” So many artists have tried to copy his work, yet none of them have succeeded. His music is full of truth and kindness; he’s the most peaceful musician without having to sing a word.
Ian Pooley – Chord Memory (Daft Punk Remix)
My music engineer Julien Delfaud showed me this remix one day because we were looking for a big, electro-bass sound. I fell in love with this bass line. Daft Punk efficiency!
James Tillman – Missed Encounters
His voice is just so soft it’s unbelievable. Perfect to wake up and start a lazy sunday with a hangover
Sounds like: RÜFÜS, Joe Goddard, RAC, Ghost Beach, Goldroom, Zimmer, Jape, Penguin Prison, Hot Chip, Friendly Fires