Tag Archives: Nirob Islam

Weekly Gems 99

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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Interview: Nirob Islam

Nirob Islam

A while back we shared Nirob Islam‘s single ‘Snakes’, under the guise of SHY Nodi. Since then, he’s officially reverted his stage name to his birth name.

We decided to chat with Nirob about the reason for the name change and also about his new single ‘Busy Making Plans’, out now via BLNK Music.

1. Describe your sound in three words.

That’s really hard as I always try to push myself to try different things with every song I release, but if I had to use only three words I’d say: smooth, different and moody.

2. Why music?

Music has always been part of my life since very early on in my childhood. My Bengali and Swedish upbringing has given me an environment where music and other aesthetic forms have been ever-present. Music was just something that came naturally to me, and it’s always been the most expressive way to convey my emotions.

3. You’ve recently changed your stage name from SHY Nodi to your birth name, Nirob Islam. Explain some more about the decision.

There’s been a lot of things leading up to this decision. It’s been very difficult for me to navigate living in Sweden with my Bengali heritage. I’ve always felt as if I’m in between two very different cultures, which makes it difficult for me to navigate my identity. In the eyes of people from Bangladesh, I’m Swedish, but in Sweden, I’m seen as a foreigner. So who am I? SHY Nodi was a persona that tried to fit into the mainstream media. I hid my roots and who I really am. I’m the guy in the middle, a third-generation kid stood at a crossroads. Being that person is all I’ve ever needed to be, nothing else. That’s why I decided to change my artist name to my real name, Nirob Islam. Hopefully, I can inspire people to be themselves, and push the industry in a direction where you don’t have to look or act a certain way to be successful.

4. Tell us about your new single ‘Busy Making Plans’.

‘Busy Making Plans’ is a song about the distance that’s created by a lack of communication. Not talking about the issues you have with a partner can make you feel misunderstood. I’ve always had a hard time expressing what I’m feeling when I’m down, or if there’s something’s bothering me. It’s even harder when you’re constantly travelling and not getting the chance to talk things through face-to-face.

5. We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?

Right now I’m listening to artists like Hazlett, Billy Raffoul, Domenic Fike, Summer Walker and Snoh Aalegra.

Sounds like: SHY Martin, KIDDO

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