Tag Archives: Imagine Dragons

Weekly Gems 108

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Ant Antic – Good News

Ant Antic - Good News

We’re all dealing with the overload of impressions and information we’re all exposed to, which often leaves us numb.

Woozy-R&B auteur, Ant Antic interrogates the onslaught of clickbait in his Rupert Höller-directed visuals for ‘Good News’

Sounds like: Ben Khan, Moderat, Jai Paul, 5K HD, Sega Bodega

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Beth Duck – Nomophobia

Beth Duck - Nomophobia

British pop singer Beth Duck shares her cyber-inspired electro-pop single, ‘Nomophobia’, inspired by a realisation of our generation’s phone obsession.

With a clear European influence – the track is produced and co-written by One by One, a songwriter and producer duo from Berlin.

Sounds like: Ralph, Dagny, Tove Lo, ALMA

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Opus Vitae – Carry The Weight

Opus Vitae - Carry The Weight

“Love isn’t perfect, and neither is life, and that’s the real fairy tale” says Los Angeles-based songwriter Banah Winn, aka Opus Vitae. Ain’t that the truth.

His new single ‘Carry The Weight’ is driven by the fired up angst about the current political climate of the world.

Sounds like: Empire Of The Sun, Sufjan Stevens, Porches

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Future Jr. – Back To You

Future Jr.

Inspired by missing home, Australian-born, pizza-loving, Los Angeles-based Future Jr. shares ‘Back To You’.

Conjuring all the nu-disco, dream-pop vibes one could ever wish for, the song was written by Future Jr. and a friend after attending a cliche house party in the Hollywood Hills.

Sounds like: joan, XY&O, Colouring, EXES, Akurei, Nightly

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School of X – Bad Love

School of X

Following the extremely well-received release with Lord Silva, School of X releases ‘Bad Love’.

Inspired by Eks-skolen – an anti-establishment art collective that was based in Copenhagen in the 1960s – the emo-tinged song by School of X’s Rasmus Littauer (MØ, Liss, Clairo) is about the loss of trust or faith.

Sounds like: MØ, Máni Orrason, Soleima, Goss, Mura Masa, Clairo, Röyksopp, Lo Moon, Mew

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Tigerpunsh – Shade

Tigerpunsh

Born from a remote connection via Instagram and a mutual love of big cats, London-based Welsh/Finnish electro-pop duo Rochelle and Vee are Tigerpunsh.

Brand new onto the scene, their single ‘Shade’ holds a bursting energy throughout, with delicate Eastern synths and experimental pop elements. A great start to what could be a very exciting future for the girls!

Sounds like: Broods, EXES, MS MR, Vera Blue, RAINDEAR, Nova Club, Georgia

Instagram

Alex O’aiza – Out Of My Mind

Alex O'aiza

Alt-pop whizzkid Alex O’aiza shares the Instagram video for ‘Out Of My Mind’, produced by Austin Bello from Dallas pop-punks Forever The Sickest Kids.

Combining snappy pop melodies with gritty rock riffs and layered samples, the visuals show a fun side to O’aiza, whilst still conveying a timely message of pushing through adversity and hard times.

Sounds like: Kasabian

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juuku – healing Feat. wilo wilde

juuku - healing (ft. wilo wilde)

Commencing with delicate piano keys and leading to chill electronic production, juuku‘s new single ‘healing’ does just that.

Raw and unfiltered – like the body of his work – his collaborative single with wilo wilde is both angelic and moody.

Sounds like: Madnap, yetep

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Olivia Lunny – Think of Me

Olivia Lunny

Canadian singer/songwriter Olivia Lunny shares the catchy and radio-ready ‘Think of Me’.

Channelling pure pop vibes with vibrant electronic production, this post breakup anthem is one for all the broken hearts out there.

Sounds like: Halsey, TESSA

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HUDSUN – Shutdown

Hudson

Having entered the music scene from the early age of 17, this rising star has already received national recognition within the UK.

In his signature soul-infused, pop sound, HUDSUN’s latest offering ‘Shutdown’ speaks of the frustration in attempting to break someone out of an emotional prison they have created for themselves wrapped up.

Sounds like: Imagine Dragons

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Last Youth – Violent Ends

Last Youth

Last Youth has returned following their debut album release with new single ‘Violent Ends’ – an array of genre-bending vibrant pop and alt-rock.

Full of emotional angst, the track portrays the violent ends that the human race faces.

Sounds like: Imagine Draons, Bring Me The Horizon, Thirty Seconds To Mars

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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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Weekly Gems 98

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Whosah – Chemicals

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Whosah

Mental health is a hot topic at the moment, but we’ve never come across a musician exploring the science behind mental health. That is, until now.

Produced by Aaron Anktum at Ariel Studios, ‘Chemicals’ by Whosah is another slice of bold and refreshing indie-pop.

Speaking to the motivation behind Chemicals, lead singer Spencer Grimes shares,

“Chemicals is about trying to understand each other. It explores the mystery about how our mental wellness is an emotional and spiritual experience, while simultaneously being a physical and scientific one. Chemicals digs into the uncomfortable space between how our thoughts can be both explainable and unexplainable at the same time and pushes us to draw together in the midst of that loneliness and find our shared humanity, our “beautiful soul” “Call it science or magic, I need to know your heart, and be whatever it is.”

Sounds like: Imagine Dragons, Interpol, Walk On The Moon, Bleachers, MUNA, Chappo

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Weekly Gems 17

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Shoos Off – Future Heartbreak

ShoosOff

Time to kick your shoes off and get down with this week’s favourite tunes.

First up is Los Angeles-based bedroom collective, Shoos Off.

Led by singer Patrick Killeen, these guys amalgamate synth sounds with delicate, upbeat vocals, in a modest manner.

Listen to ‘Future Heartbreak’ below.

Sounds like: The Knocks, Smallpools, St. Lucia

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Sonata Kay Feat. Novo – Reach

Sonata Kay ft. Novo - Reach

Meet Sonata Kay, a London-based artist with a bright future.

Citing various influences from around the world, Sonata Kay likes to combine the ethos of a traditional singer/songwriter with electro-pop production.

Listen to dramatic ‘Reach’ below, featuring Novo.

Sounds like: Melis, Amethysts

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ARIA – You Got Me Good

ARIA

Continuing to share her desire for electronic, pop and R&B, London-based ARIA shares her latest single called ‘You Got Me Good’.

The track is about a darker realisation of relationship hardships, portrayed through atmospheric guitar riffs and vocal belt-outs.

Sounds like: Emile Sande

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Margot Polo – Turn You, Baby

Margot Polo

Halloween has passed, but we are still jamming to Margot Polo‘s spooky new single, ‘Turn You, Baby’.

Margot says that the throw-back number “is for self-professed werewolves and fans of Michael Jackson, Foster the People, Justin Timberlake, and The Killers” and we couldn’t agree more.

Sounds like: April Towers, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, CHAPPO, The Beatles

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Kastrup – Try It All

Kastrup

You can really see why Kastrup‘s music has been described as creating arena pop.

The Swedish duo’s new single ‘Try It All’ definitely encompasses this, with its longing vocals and an uplifting children’s choir of a chorus to match.

It’s out now via Strandberg/ Westberg Music.

Sounds like: Imagine Dragons, OneRepublic, Twenty One Pilots

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Weekly SubmitHub Gems 11

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Marble Empire – OMEGA

Marble Empire

UK artist Marble Empire (aka Matt Berry) has been making music since 13. You’d therefore expect his new single ‘OMEGA’ to be relatively complex, despite Marble Empire being reasonably new to the music scene, and you wouldn’t be wrong.

The song – written about progressing from adolescence into adulthood and the future of young people – was actually written two years ago, but despite the nostalgia, it is evermore relevant today than ever.

Omega by Marble Empire on VEVO.

Sounds like: Ben Khan

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Teen Ravine – Hall of Horrors

Teen Ravine

Toronto’s Teen Ravine (Nick Rose and Dan Griffin) share ‘Hall Of Horrors’, a melancholic track about feeling lost and reaching out for someone who’s no longer there.

Running around in circles, trapped in a “mirrored hall of horrors”, the song is highly dramatic, yet magnificent in both its vocal and production techniques.

‘Hall Of Horrors’ is the first single release from their upcoming album, out in October.

Sounds like: The Carpenters, The Avalanches, Chet Faker, The Japanese House

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MILKK – IDWK

MILKK

MILKK is the latest project from Nashville singer/songwriter Pat Kiloran, Minneapolis producer/musician Jack Vondrachek, and touring/session drummer John Ogelby.

Hot on the toes of LANY and The 1975, MILKK offer catchy pop hooks and bittersweet lyrics about lost love.

Listen to ‘IDWK’ below.

It’s out now via Good Time Records.

Sounds like: The 1975, LANY

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Wilderness Shout – For Another Night

Wilderness Shout

Wilderness Shout share ‘For Another Night’.

It’s a ballsy debut from the Australian-based four-piece – brooding soulful vocals and guitar riffs with a rock edge.

Listen below.

Sounds like: ASTR, Imagine Dragons

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Belle Mt. – Hollow

Mt Belle.

The sad tone continues in this SubmitHub feature with Belle Mt.‘s new single ‘Hollow’.

Belle Mt. (pronounced ‘Belle Mont’) will definitely tug at your heartstrings with this one – sky-high vocals and scene-setting strings.

Belle Mt. explain, “There’s the impression of a fork in the road for this woman and ultimately she takes the tragic path, as she can’t accept the intimacy or love that this man is committed to giving. Hollow is as much about her loneliness as his eventual emptiness…”

‘Hollow’ is out now on LV Music.

Sounds like: Local Natives, Ray LaMontagne

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Sorcha Richardson – Waking Life

Sorcha Richardson

Sorcha Richardson shares the reflective ‘Waking Life’, as she considers how reality is often different to dreams you hold onto in your head.

Sorcha’s clever lyrics really do shine through here.

Sounds like: Poema, Bo Rocha, First Aid Kit

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Culpriit – Driveway

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Culpriit

Remember when you were young and you had nothing to do? Culpritt‘s new single has a sense of nostalgia as they look back to this time, playing in their ‘Driveway’.

Culpritt is the exciting new project by Los Angeles-based Colin Dieden (lead singer of The Mowgli’s) and London-based producer and songwriter Rob Ellmore.

It’s out now via Spinnin’ Records’ latest imprint Congo Records.

Sounds like: Imagine Dragons, Youngr, Draper

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The New Coast – Sleeptalk

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The New Coast

Tunbridge Wells (UK) locals The New Coast share ‘Sleeptalk’.

The addictive indie pop number swirls with heavy synths and echoey riffs, adding to The New Coast’s collection of distinct Southern sounds.

Speaking about the track the guys say,

“Writing ‘Sleeptalk’ felt massively cathartic for us and allowed us to explore a really personal moment in a cinematic, 3 minute pop song. Lyrically, for me, it pin points a delicate moment between two people, people who are just starting to get to know each other, but also notice these colourful and intense emotions in a very short period of time.

Even though the song is reliving a specific moment from last summer, I love the way that someone can take whatever personal vision and meaning they like from the lyrics. It almost feels necessary. I don’t think anyone is going to have the exact same sentiment sonically and lyrically, but thats the best part, its so expressive to create your own idealistic story from thewords. However, we like to make everything in our music feel cinematic and infectious, so we want to set the scene in peoples minds and hopefully it’ll take you to that place. Like you’re watching a cool movie with a soundtrack that sounds like your life.”

Sounds like: Bastille, To Kill A King, Imagine Dragons, Kodaline, KYKO, Draper

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Polarcode – Crossfire Feat. Will Champlin

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Polarcode - Crossfire Feat. Will Champlin

Los Angeles duo, Polarcode met at DePaul University’s Music School in Chicago where they both studied jazz and classical percussion.

Fast forward many years, and Polarcode are releasing ‘Crossfire’, featuring Will Champlin, a finalist from The Voice.

‘Crossfire’ is a fighting song, but with the ultimate goal of peace. Listen below.

Sounds like: Imagine Dragons, X Ambassadors, Mutemath

Polarcode
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Will Champlin
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TOLMAN – Chaperone

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TOLMAN

TOLMAN

Musicians, Brittany and Andrew Tolman, met in college. They soon formed a jazz band, but their relationship went further than jazz music.

After marrying, the duo performed with the band, Imagine Dragons, but sometimes less is more, and the couple decided to work on their very own, intimate project, aptly going by the name of TOLMAN.

TOLMAN have shared ‘Chaperone’; a track that effortlessly combines retro synths and lush vocals.

Of the track, Brittany explains,

“‘Chaperone’ is about being independent and recognizing your own worth, even when somebody else can’t. One afternoon, we had an intense conference call and I stuck up for myself and it felt really empowering. We were both fired up and needed a way to express our frustration so we immediately went to our Moog synthesizer and wrote the song’s bass line and chorus vocals. It was very cathartic.”

Sounds like: Monogem, Scavenger Hunt, Phantogram, Broods, Imagine Dragons, Pistol Shrimp, Passion Pit

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