Tag Archives: Empress Of

Weekly Gems 135

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milk. – I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)

milk.

Hot on the heels of The 1975 is Dublin-born alt-pop quartet, milk.. Their bright new offering, ‘I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)’ is full of looping synths, catchy riffs and lulling vocals that immediately lure you in for more.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Japanese House, No Rome

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Benji Lewis – Stay Around

Benji Lewis

Benji Lewis has been busy songwriting during 2020. Written with his new friend Tom Eggert and bonding over their love of home-made smoothies, ‘Stay Around’ is about the progression of love in every subsequent relationship.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Kite String Tangle, Antony Hegarty, Active Child, Gallant, Sam Smith, Solomon Grey, James Blake, Yazz, Jack Garratt, Disclosure, Lauv, Boy In Space, Zachary Knowles

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Asha Gold – Oscar

Asha Gold

UK R&B artist Asha Gold shares new single ‘Oscar’. It’s written about award-winning liars and cheats who deserve to be called out for their deception and good-for-nothing behaviour.

Sounds like: Nakala, Frank Ocean, Rosalia

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Solå – B Mine

Solå

Norwegian songwriter Solå strongly encourages us to value ourselves in new single ‘B Mine’. It’s a hazy piece of electro-pop that perfectly showcases her talent as both a intricate songwriter and performer.

Sounds like: Shura, Dagny, Chvrches, Empress Of, MUNA

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whatshisface – Magic Disaster

whatshisface

Intriguing newcomer whatshisface is on the precipice of jumping into our hearts. His new single ‘Magic Disaster’ is a gloriously melancholic invitation, brimming with dense and warming aesthetics, creating an altogether sweeping atmosphere.

Sounds like: James Blake, George Gretton, Billie Eilish

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Mungbean – Slow Motion

Mungbean

Introducing eclectic Ohio-based outfit Mungbean. Performed as only seasoned performers would, new single ‘Slow Motion’ has layered and heavy synths to accelerate the track’s dreamy and kaleidoscopic intention.

Sounds like: Snarls, The Naked And Famous

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Playlist: Phil Good

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Phil Good

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Phil Good has unveiled an official remix of his latest single ‘Everything’s Good’ from DJ and producer Slow Magic.

He’s kindly taken time out of his busy schedule and put together an ace playlist, which you can listen to below.

Charli XCX, BJ Burton – 7 years
I’ve been falling hard for Charli’s music in the last few years. It’s so aggressively pop and so aggressively experimental, and I feel like no one can do it like she does. This song blows my mind.

Sylvan Esso – Ferris Wheel
Sylvan Esso is one of my favorite bands. I loved their last record “what now?” and was so excited to hear this song “Ferris Wheel” as their first single off the upcoming album. its everything I love about them wrapped into 2:58.

Deaton Chris Anthony – I love all my friends
This song gives me Francis and the Lights vibes but in such a cool and youthful way. I think Deaton Chris Anthony is such a creative force and I love this song.

Flume, Toro Y Moi – The Difference
This song makes me feel all of my feelings and memories from this life and my past 236 lives combined. Something about the sounds and Toro’s voice just gets me goin’.

Phil Good – Everything’s Good (Slow Magic Remix)
This is my song remixed by Slow Magic. I love how he took the previously upbeat and guitar-driven song to a totally new world. makes it a bit sadder and I love me a sad song.

Dijon – rock n roll
I’ve never heard anything like this before and every time I listen there’s something new and fresh for me to discover. The guitar is amazing and his vocals melt my soul.

Toro Y Moi – Who I Am
This is one of my favs on Toro’s latest album “Outer Peace”. I love that this song is so upbeat and simple but the closer you listen to it, the more that gets revealed. It makes me want to party.

Caribou – like I loved you
Another sad bop with the craziest production. I love the synthesized bass/guitar sound and the drums hit harder than a 20-foot bong.

Jim-E Stack, Empress Of – Note To Self
I found Jim-E Stack less than a year ago and then proceeded to listen to his whole discography non-stop for a few weeks. This song embodies everything I love about his production and sound. Makes me feel like going on a road trip.

The 1975 – I Like America & America Likes Me
I love The 1975. I didn’t really care for this song when listening to their album “a brief inquiry..” the first few times, but then I saw them play this live and watched him scream his soul into autotune and it made me cry. Now this song is one of my all-time favs.

Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’, San Holo

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Blanche – Till We Collide

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BLANCHE

Belgium alt-pop starlet Blanche releases her new single, ‘Till We Collide’, taken from her debut album, ‘EMPIRE’, both out now.

The album is a collection of thoughts and feelings, prepared whilst working alongside the best in the business. All the tracks on ‘EMPIRE’ have been written or co-written by Ellie Delvaux, recorded between London and Brussels and co-produced by Rich Cooper (Banks, Mystery Jets, Lucy Rose) and François Gustin (Girls In Hawaii).

So, take some time out, listen and digest the album in order, in one sitting, from start to finish.

Sounds like: Aurora, Elohim, BANK, Rhye, FKA Twigs, Abra, Oscar And The Wolf, Empress Of

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Weekly Gems 100

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TESSA – Bad Bad Love

TESSA

Australian artist Tessa Neale (fka Hoodlem) wants to leave her ego at the door whilst making music. Unfiltered and full of sass, this is TESSA at her core.

Produced with Jeff Hazin and featuring Toronto rapper Terrell Morris, her new single ‘Bad Bad Love’ is an upbeat anti-love song sending a message to the game-playing lovers everywhere…we see you.

Sounds like: Mahalia, Empress Of, Nao, Jessie Ware

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Francis Novotny – Someone I Wanted To Be

Francis Novotny

Young Swedish songwriter Francis Novotny shares the beautiful ‘Someone I Wanted To Be’.

With modern rings of The Cinematic Orchestra‘s ‘To Build A Home’, the cinematic approach to this stripped-back song – about love, regret, and new perspectives – is delicately composed with an emotional piano progression, whilst his vocals take centre stage.

Sounds like: The Cinematic Orchestra

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STRØM – Blurred Out

STRØM

After months of anticipation, Swedish artist STRØM finally unveils his earnest chops, whilst, ironically sharing his new single called ‘Blurred Out’, taken from his debut album, ‘Immortal’ out now via This is Scandinavia / Sony Music.

With a cascading beat of drums and vocal loops, the track gives us an intriguing glimpse into the album.

Sounds like: Ben Khan, TENDER, Solomon Grey, James Blake

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Benji Lewis – No Alibi

Benji Lewis

Sounds like: The 1975, The Kite String Tangle, Antony Hegarty, Active Child, Gallant, Sam Smith, Solomon Grey, James Blake, Yazz, Jack Garratt, Disclosure

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Christian Cohle – Breathe

Christian Cohle by Adrian Wojtas

Christian Cohle by Adrian Wojtas

Dublin-born Christian Cohle shares his haunting and melancholic debut single, ‘Breathe’.

Mixing majestic synthesizers and driving rhythms, ‘Breathe’ explores the emotional struggle of feeling interlinked with something that turns out to be artificial. Discussing the inspiration behind his new record, Cohle says: “Breathe was predominantly informed by experiences I was going through at the time, but also very much influenced by the neo-noir science fiction film, Blade Runner 2049.”

Sounds like: James Blake, Sampha, Jai Paul, Solomon Grey

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Matthew Scott Ragland – Here and Now

Matthew Scott Ragland by Holly Peyton

Matthew Scott Ragland by Holly Peyton

Dallas-based songwriter, producer, recording artist and former band member of Austin based Nelo, Matthew Scott Ragland finds solace in a new project.

His double single, ‘Here and Now / Now is Here’ was written by Ragland from a purist point of view, where synthesizers, drum machines and string samples take the place of his trusted guitar.

Sounds like: The Stone Roses, Ulrich Schnauss, Jon Hopkins, Joe Goddard

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Pastel – Let You (Feat. Haoting)

Pastel - Let You (Feat. Haoting)

French-Polynesian singer and multi-instrumentalist Pastel unveils his impossibly smooth new single, ‘Let You’.

It’s a blissed out neo-jazz Bossa Nova fusion compiled alongside long-time friend and Taiwanese artist, Haoting.

Sounds like: FKJ, Miller Blue, Yakul, Easy Life, Hers, Tom Misch

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Christine and the Queens – People, I’ve been sad

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Christine and the Queens

Christine and the Queens shares the beautiful ‘People, I’ve been sad’.

A minimalistic and melancholic rendition, sung in both English and French, it’s a true piece of Letessier’s still vulnerable heart about teenage sorrow, an inward approach and yet a sad unity.

Watch the COLORS session below.

Sounds like: HAIM, MUNA, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Robyn, Empress Of, Roisin Murphy, St. Vincent, ÄTNA

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Playlist: Illyin Pipes

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Illyin Pipes

Introducing Illyin Pipes, a blissed-out pop duo from Toronto.

Their mutual affinity for textured soundscapes, layered harmonies and heavy electronic synths, fully presents itself in their melancholic debut EP, ‘Waking Up’.

We asked Illyin Pipes to put together a playlist for Indietronica to coincide with the EP release.

Little Dragon – Feather
Have always loved Little Dragon and Feather feels like a dreamy modern take on 80s synth-pop meets 90s trip-hop. I love a vibey vocal and airy synth over a driving bass line.

Arthur Russel – That’s Us/Wild Combination
I heard this song for the first time two years ago and fell deeply in love with it. I had a challenging couple of months shortly after finding it and truly couldn’t listen to any other song. Just this over and over. And it’s still my very top favourite.

Radiohead – House of Cards
Everything Thom Yorke touches is a dream to me. His solo releases are beautiful and I love his contemporary dance music videos. House of Cards is on this list because it’s so perfectly vulnerable, and my top pick from “In Rainbow’s” which I come back to all the time.

Brian Eno – The Big Ship
I usually listen to Brian Eno’s hour-long tracks, but Big Ship is a cinematic, emotional shorty.

10CC – I’m Not In Love
I discovered this song in high school and burned it onto a CD with a bunch of my other favourites at the time. Still playlisting it a decade later! It’s so soft and I love the weird whisper section partway through.

Hundred Waters – Murmurs
I love Hundred Waters’ quiet vocals and acoustic piano over bold drum choices/effects.

Solange – Losing You
Such a sweet pop song. Dev Hyne’s nails the writing/production.

Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place/Naive Melody
David Byrne’s lyrics are amazing and the repetitive bass line makes me want to listen to it forever. The live version from “Stop Making Sense” is so good.

Jon Hopkins – Open Eye Signal
This song transports me to a dark club fantasy in my mind. I have closed my eyes and danced to this song many times.

Aphex Twin – #3 (Rhubarb)
This song is what got me into ambient music. Airy/calming/sweet/meditative. I often listen to it when I’m writing.

Blood Orange – Best to You Feat. Empress Of
Another Dev Hynes track but a duet with Empress of. So dancy!

Beach House – Sparks
I love the steady shoegaze-y guitar and alto vocals. I’m also a sucker for songs that don’t change chords at the bridge: altering the melody of the vocal for a moment, or going to an interlude is always my songwriting instinct.

Massive Attack – Teardrop
The vocals are an inspiration: so close they’re almost whispered, then building dynamically at all the right times.

Washed Out – Feel it All Around
Dreamy, lo-fi, psychedelic, synth-pop <3

The Cars – Drive
Total 80s heaven. I love the subtle and emotional lyrics. We’ve covered this live a couple of times and it feels really nice to play.

You can listen to the EP below.

Sounds like: Susanne Sundfør, Lykke Li, RALPH, Vera Blue, BANKS, Washed Out

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Playlist: Viigo

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Viigo

Viigo

Viigo are used to fully documenting their emotions through vocalist, MJ Hancock’s lyrics.

Like so many musicians, Viigo use music to explore anxiety, despite there still being a taboo about the subject, and nothing says it better than their new single ‘Paranoia’, which we are sharing today along with an excellent playlist.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – First World Problem

This dude just keeps getting better and better. The horns on this new one are awesome and the hook is truly clever.

Tabu Ley Rochereau – Hafi Deo

I put this on at pretty much any family get together I attend. The backup vocal hook is super catchy, nice airy track with a sweet bridge a little over 3 minutes in.

Nohelani Cypriano – Lihue

The intro to this track gets me every time. Sweet dreamy vibes throughout.

Janet Jackson – Got ’Til It’s Gone

The descending bass line on this is perfect and outside the box. J Dilla ghost-produced this track, if by ghost-produced you mean he got his credit snaked by the powers that be.

Empress Of – Woman Is A Word

This one is hard as hard gets. Empress Of is our collective favorite going right now.

Nite-Funk – Let Me Be Me

Our new summer jam. Let’s you be you.

Neon Indian – News from the Sun

The whole album feels like a tape of a radio show passed from hand to hand, this closer is the Parade era Prince moment.

OutKast – Da Art Of Storytellin’

One of the most haunting tracks from the Dungeon Family, one of our biggest influences when we make Viigo tracks.

serpentwithfeet – flickering

This is just plain beautiful. The vocal is out of the park.

Viigo’s single, ‘Paranoia’ is out now via 10K Islands.

Sounds like: Leo Islo

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Playlist: Dominique

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Dominique

Dominique

NYC-based songstress and producer, Dominique is back on our radar with a new track called ‘Good Girl’.

Proving just this, Dominique has put together a playlist for Indietronica. Watch out, this one is exploding with synths!

Treez Lowkey x Take a Daytrip – “Listen”

I love this new one from two of my favorite producers, and Treez’s hook in the chorus is infectious.

Terror Jr – “Trippin”

I really look up to Felix Snow’s production and I think his signature sound is going to majorly influence the music world. He is the master of creating hooks out of chopped up vocals and placing them in this addicting, ambient atmosphere.

Abra – “Crybaby”

I saw Abra when she opened up for Empress Of in NYC last year. This new one from her reminds me a bit of Jesse Lanza. I love her voice and could watch her videos for days.

Mat Zo – “Sinful (feat. I See MONSTAS)”

Mat Zo is another producer I really look up to. I find his technical genius really inspiring. This is one of my favorite songs off his new album.

Wolkoff – “The Rules You Know”

I’m such a fan of Wolkoff’s style, lyrics, and hooks. It’s paired perfectly with productions from Icarus Moth. This is such a feel-good song to me.

Miike Snow – “My Trigger”

I have to give a shout out to my all-time favorites. I think the new direction they took with their recent LP is fantastic, and this song is one of my favorites from them.

Sofi De La Torre – “Sit Down”

I seriously love everything this girl puts out. It really is–as she puts it–pop done right. I wish more people knew about her.

Ofelia K – “Cinco”

I freaked out when I first heard this song. It’s so inventive and catchy, and the engineering is really good too. It’s crystal clear and the string instruments sound incredible.

Allie X – “Too Much To Dream”

Allie X is seriously such a genius when it comes to lyrical/topical content in her music. Not to mention her incomparable songwriting, vocal, and performance abilities. She’s the total package.

Kiiara – “Tennessee”

This is a throwback, but this is hands down my favorite track from Kiiara. I can’t wait to hear new music and see how far she goes this year.

Sounds like: Fyfe, Goldroom, Monogem, VÉRITÉ, Broods, Mr Little Jeans, Kate Boy, Lorde, Lykke Li

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