Rising hitmaker Billy Vena has just dropped a scintillating brand-new single titled ‘Retro Religion‘.
A synth-pop banger, full of nostalgic textures and ultra sticky melodies.
Speaking about it, he explains: “‘Retro Religion” is about how no matter the amount of devotion I could possibly have for someone, it was never going to be enough for them to love me in the same way or in general.”
The Panama native (now based in Converse – Texas) has spent the last few months showing his dance skills on Tik Tok (where he has now amassed +70k followers and duetted with Lil Nas X on the rapper’s own page). His fanbase is constantly growing and he’s now at +300k monthly listeners on Spotify only. Keep an eye on him !
Texas based – Panama native rising artist Billy Vena really knows how to craft irresistible pop tunes.
His brand-new single ‘Rabbit Hole (love is what you make it)‘ combines 80s reminiscences with a modern approach, especially lyrics-wise (“queen in my sheets, but king by noon?“). It’s a playful, colorful track enriched by a killer guitar solo curtesy of rising act Nana Lourdes (Fresh Finds / Lorem).
In Billy’s own words: “‘Rabbit Hole’ is about a sexual awakening and how confusing it can be when you realize it’s happening. I wasn’t necessarily writing about my Teenage rejections but my teenage regrets and how the back and forths in my head, kept me in a “what if” scenario till this day. We may never know what the other person truly feels but maybe love is what you make it.”
Indie pop quartet OKKAH share their new single called ‘Body of a Swan’.
Elegant and melodic in nature, and much like the animal itself, ‘Body of a Swan’ takes you on a dream-like journey full of delicate vocals and gentle keys.
It’s the lead track from the EP of the same title.
Let’s take things nice and slow with Steven Bamidele‘s ever-optimistic new single, ‘Things Could Be Better’.
It’s a stripped-back production with well-timed jazz percussion and emotive, soulful vocals, courtesy of the 23 year old London-based songwriter and producer.
Kasbo is an exciting Swedish producer whose music fits nicely alongside the likes of ODESZA and Aquilo.
His current release ‘Aldrig Mer’ (translating to ‘No More’ in English) combines organic elements including real instrument recordings and electronic synths, as well as the boundless vocals of rising UK duo TENDER.
Expect Kasbo’s debut album to come out on Foreign Family Collective/Counter Records on 23 March.
Cub Sport‘s new single ‘Good Guys Go’, questions just that – unreciprocated love, unfortunately a common theme in a lot of relationships.
The neon video, directed by Joe Agius is shot in real time with one roaming camera, and tries to capture an intense feeling of loss, inspired by images from fashion magazines and music videos by Michael Jackson, TLC, and Perfume Genius.
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 MichaelJackson, FosterthePeople, JustinTimberlake, and TheKillers” and we couldn’t agree more.
Sounds like: April Towers, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, CHAPPO, The Beatles
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.
Stockholm artist, VioletDays (aka Lina Hansson) has been busy collaborating of late (HotelGaruda, TheChainsmokers, FraserT Smith), so we thought it was only fair to catch up with her.
The result is a playlist of Violet Days’ current favourites for inducing feels.
Lesley Gore – You Don’t Own Me Perfect key change, and perfect cheese.
Sufjan Stevens – For The Widows In Paradise This is my evergreen. Always.
Tame Impala – Let It Happen Latest obsession.. Love the soundscape
Kavinsky – Nightcall Genius song from a genius movie.
Troy Sivan – FOOLS Love the whole idea of Blue neighborhood, it’s beautiful and honest.
The Ronettes – Be My Baby I’m never getting over this song, it had me ever since Dirty Dancing.
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations Well, Brian Wilson…
Miike Snow – Bavarian #1 (Say You Will) The melodies and lyrics are so playful and instantly has my interest.
Moby – When It’s Cold I’d Like To Die Melancholy perfection.
Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension This track has all the pieces for all types of modes.
Brandi Carlile – The Story Her storytelling is stunning.
Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana Nothing feels like that verse.
Vienna is a hotpot for dance-led indietronica, and one particular artist who has come to our attention (along with 15 million others, as shown by his Spotify figures) is James Hersey.
Growing up on a recipe of guitars and Michael Jackson, it comes at quite a surprise that James would produce music with such balearic vibes.
James is not afraid of mixing genres, or getting his hands dirty, either; the video for ‘Miss You’ has been co-edited by Hersey himself and directed/shot by Schall & Schnabel in Berlin.
‘Miss You’ was produced with Will Hicks (EdSheeran) and mixed by StephenFitzmaurice (SamSmith, Disclosure), with and is out via Glassnote Records.
Honne have also given the track some remix treatment, which you can listen to below.
On a seaside coast far far away from Brighton, are a band called Bad Pony. They may offer similar sounds to those of Brighton-based bands, but will no doubt have better tans.
We caught up with the boys.
For those of you who don’t know you, tell us a bit more about Bad Pony and how you all got into music and where the name came from.
We are a 5 piece from Sydney, Australia. Sam and I (Jarred) used to play in a bluesy rock band. I was the drummer and we started writing songs as a side-project so I could have a fang at singing. We sent the tunes around and got asked to do a 20 date tour so we put together a band of former lead singers and multi-instrumentalists to cover all the parts. That was in 2013, so since then we’ve lost a drummer and cover our percussion parts by splitting a drum kit amongst us.
The name came from our guitarist Cron. Back in his motherland of South Africa he was a Shetland trainer. The night we met him he told us this really long winded joke that won us over. I can’t really remember it but the punchline was ‘Bad Pony’.
Describe your sound in three words.
Hurdling. Gyration. Jiu-jitsu.
What’s your current single, ‘Sideways’ all about?
Sideways is about celebrating the diffusion a potentially volatile situation.
Are there any plans to tour further afield than Australia, in the near future?
Not at the moment. We’re pretty keen to get something happening in New Zealand and the UK next year.
Where do you cite your musical influences from?
We’re all over the place. I grew up listening to a lot of Michael Jackson but I think I’ve learned a lot & taken on influences playing with different bands in different genres over the years. In recent times my favourite artists have been ManchesterOrchestra, ClosureinMoscow & SwimSeason. As a collective I think we lean towards music that is clever, catchy and interesting.
We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?
Middle Kids ‘Edge of Town’ Swim Season ‘Gold Cloak City’
Sounds like: High Tyde, Dive In, Two Door Cinema Club, The Island Club, Ivy Nations, Swim Season, Local Natives, Phoenix, Prides
Guns is 24 year old, Norwegian Gunhild Jarwson Tekle, who is now based in Denmark.
She’s lovingly prepared a chilled pop playlist for us.
See the track list below:
1) Nico – These days
Reminds me of a sort of summery boredom.
2) Texas – Inner Smile
Oh I have been dancing so much to this song, I’m in love with it. I did a terrible version of it in a karaoke bar in Berlin over Christmas.
3) Kylie Minogue – Slow
For some reason this song reminds me of summer. Maybe because of the music video with Kylie by the pool, surrounded by a bunch of men.
4) Sean Nicolas Savage – Promises
I just discovered this artist playing a small concert in ideal bar in Copenhagen, he was so crazy good and charismatic on stage!
5) Blood Orange – Chamakay
I think i just love music that sounds like a jungle.
6) Enya – Boadicea
Think it’s so great how there’s just her vocals and keys, and its so mysterious sounding too. And that there are no lyrics at all.
7) David Lynch – The Line It Curves
Makes me wanna get a drivers license so i can drive around listening to this at night. That goes for the whole album by the way.
8) Michael Jackson – Stranger in Moscow
It’s Michael walking around in bad weather.
9) Burial – Hiders
I’ve just been listening a lot to this this winter.
10) Tame Impala – Yes I’m Changing
I find this track so beautiful, and weirdly motivating. (Listened a lot to it while walking to school in the morning).
Like Guns’s vibe? Listen to ‘I Know Exactly How It Feels’ below.
It was released on 22nd January via Tigerspring / +1 Records.
Hertfordshire four-piece The Hunna is causing quite a stir in the music world.
We caught up with the guys following their recent tour with Coasts, and discussed hip hop and rock influences, as well as what it was like working with Tim Larcombe (Lana Del Rey, Halsey) and Dan Grech (Wolf Alice, Circa Waves).
How did you meet and why did you start making music together?
We’ve all been close friends and brothers for a while now. Daniel Dorney (Bandana Dan) and Ryan Potter (Valentino) met in music college 6 years ago pursuing the goal of making great music. Jack Metcalfe (Insta King) also went to the same college a few years before. Jermaine Angin (The Prince) has known Bandana Dan since primary school and learnt how to play the guitar together since secondary school. There’s always been a connection between us even though we all met at different times in our lives. After our first rehearsal together 2 years ago we all knew that this was something really special and almost like it was meant to be. Our love and appreciation for music is something that we can’t put into words, the feeling that we have when playing together is the reason why we started and why we will continue making music together!
Where did the name The Hunna come from?
We all have a big hip hop / rap influence so it originated from that. We believe in keeping it 1hunna in everything we do.
Describe your sound in three words.
Turn Up Rock.
You worked with Tim Larcombe and Dan Grech on ‘Bonfire’. What was it like working with them?
It was a privilege to work with Tim Larcombe. He understood our vision and got to know us on a personal level really quickly which helped in the work environment and was a big reason why ‘Bonfire’ sounds like it does. We can safely say that Tim is a 1hunna guy and a true professional at what he does. He’s a true Hunna squad member! We admire Dan Grech’s roster and the work that he has produced. He was a pleasure to work with and brought a unique element to the track
Where do you cite your musical influences from?
Kings Of Leon
Foals
Kanye West
Marvin Gaye
Queen
Michael Jackson
Bob Marley
Prince
Drake
We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?
Rae Sremmurd
Kendrick Lamar
Wiz Khalifa
Yung Simmie
Dr Dre
Led Zeppelin
AC-DC
The Weeknd
Willow and Jaden Smith
Frank Ocean
Chief Keef
