Tag Archives: Penguin Prison

Weekly Gems 72

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Indietronica Staff

Hunkpapa – Cappuccino

Northern Irish four-piece Hunkpapa have been kicking up a storm in their native country, as well as across Europe.

Their new single ‘Cappuccino’ is as addictive and energetic as a caffeine high and encapsulates the band’s personal journey from paths of conventional careers to where they find themselves now.

Expect them to play a town near you in the Autumn.

Sounds like: Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol

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Julietta – Stripes + Squares (Penguin Prison Remix)

Meet indie pop alchemist, Julietta.

Her latest single, ‘Stripes + Squares’ has received the remix treatment from producer veteran Penguin Prison (Chris Glover).

Further highlighting Julietta’s independent and spontaneous spirit, the percussive rework from the fellow NYC native injects body-shaking bass and warm tones from marimbas to turn the original rock-influenced bop into a truly anthemic tune.

Sounds like: Sofi Tukker, Ralph, Mating Ritual, Morgan Saint, NVDES

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Sacred Animals – Maya Liminal

Reintroducing the music world to producer Darragh Nolan (aka Sacred Animals).

As the visuals for his new single, ‘Maya Liminal’ build into an electronic-fused, dream-like state, he draws the listener into an intense world, where one is asked to consider what it means to be a spirit living a human existence.

Expect the forthcoming LP, ‘Odin’s Wain’, out later in the year.

Sounds like: Thom Yorke, James Blake, Son Lux, Ry X & Chromatics

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Felix Sandman – Middle Of Nowhere

Swedish 20 year old singer/songwriter/actor Felix Sandman shares his catchy new single ‘Middle Of Nowhere’.

The track is a delicious slice of pop that describes being stuck in the limbo of love.

It’s out now via TEN Music Group.

Sounds like: Troye Sivan, Charlie Puth, Khalid, Lauv, ALEXINA, Tove Lo

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Fly By Midnight – You Belong

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Indietronica Staff

Fly By Midnight

New York-based retro-pop duo Fly By Midnight like to blend indie synth sounds with dance melodies.

Skimming through their back catalogue on SoundCloud, every track is a banger, full of hug yourself vocals, retro riffs and foot twitching electro claps.

Their new single, ‘You Belong’ is the lead single taken from their upcoming album, ‘Rerunning’, released on 16 November, and is no exception.

Listen below.

Sounds like: Great Good Fine Ok, LANY, The 1975, Joan, Ghost Beach, Passion Pit, Pistol Shrimp, Penguin Prison, Futurecop!, The Chain Gang of 1974, Paperwhite

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Weekly Gems 34

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Indietronica Staff

Sam Frankl – Patina

Sam Frankl

Brixton-based Sam Frankl is making waves with his groovy new number ‘Patina’.

Also a thin layer that forms on various metals due to oxidisation, ‘Patina’ is a song about a girl inconspicuously enquiring about her ex-boyfriend’s new relationship, scraping away at the surface to discover the boy’s true emotional state.

Sounds like: Alt-J, ISLAND

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Bit Funk – Getting Worse Feat. Oktavian

Bit Funk - Getting Worse Feat. Oktavian

We’ve all been there, minding our own business listening to a hot new nu-disco track, then suddenly bam! It happens. We fall. Hard.

Well, that’s what happened to us when we first played ‘Getting Worse’ by Bit Funk featuring Oktavian. Listen below!

Sounds like: The Him, Le Youth, Pat Lok, Goldroom, Penguin Prison

Bit Funk
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Oktavian
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Brett Castro – Much About Sadness

Wow, does this 21 year old have natural soul or what!

Brett Castro fuses folk music and timeless R&B to tell stories about growing up in a small town. His new single ‘Much About Sadness’ is written to a girl in his hometown who was diagnosed with depression, letting her know she is never alone.

Sounds like: Fleet Foxes, Tame Impala, Bon Iver, Prince

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Mountain Bird – The Wolf

Mountain Bird by Gustav Wiking

Swedish project Mountain Bird (aka Adam Öhman) shares his interpretation of speaking to a lover suffering with mental illness.

Taking a very different musical approach to Brett Castro, Mountain Bird draws on Scandinavian melancholy with synth heavy melodies.

Sounds like: Dead Ceremony, The Kite String Tangle

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LANNDS – Legends

LANNDS - Legends

Time to listen to the soothing vocals of LANNDS on their new single ‘Legends’.

Proving to be legends themselves, Memphis-born artist Rania Woodard and producer/songwriter Brian Squillace have racked up over 2 million streams to date under the project.

“We’re all legends in this town, we don’t sleep through the night,” Woodard slurs over a serene, buoyant synth bed, before teasing, “oh we’ll burn this city down, make room for the fire.”

Sounds like: Björk, Vök, Låpsley, The Japanese House, Daughter, TENDER

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Pizzagirl – Coffee Shop

Bedroom pop producer Pizzagirl (aka Liam Brown from Liverpool) shares his floozy track ‘Coffee Shop’, ahead of the release of his debut EP, titled ‘An Extended Play’, set for release on 13 April.

Ironically, Liam doesn’t have any affiliations with pizza, but this pizzaboy likes it that way – quirky, introspective electronica with a DIY atttitude.

Oh and his best mate shoots his videos and his mum takes his press shots.

Sounds like: Roosevelt, Summer Heart

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CAPYAC x MOONZz – Afterhours

CAPYAC

A lot of exciting things happen ‘Afterhours’ and that includes the creation of quirky musical project, CAPYAC, featuring P. Sugz and Potion.

Their new single is a story of unrequited love bouncing around an array of pulsating electronics and percussion rhythms, and features the soulful vocals of MOONZz.

Sounds like: Kudu Blue, Jorja Smith, Flume, Hotel Garuda

CAPYAC
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MOONZz
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Weekly Gems 19

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Indietronica Staff

Saavan – Slow

Saavan

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

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Kinship – It’s You

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

Kazy Lambist by Grégoire Alexandre

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

SUMif

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 - 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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Playlist: Kazy Lambist

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Indietronica Staff

Kazy Lambist by Grégoire Alexandre

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

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The Knocks – Trouble Feat. Absofacto

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Indietronica Staff

The Knocks – Trouble

Noisy New York electronic dance duo and remix gurus, The Knocks, have shared their summery track ‘Trouble’, featuring Absofacto.

Of the track, The Knocks say,

“We originally wrote “Trouble” with Abso in NYC at our studio as a slow, piano ballad, at 90 bpm. The idea was to write something that felt melancholy and classic. After we laid down the original idea, he left and we started experimenting with it – treating it like a sample – totally chopping it up and flipping it. This is the same way we approach some of our earlier songs like “Dancing With The DJ” and “Make it Better” so it was cool to go back to that formula while making a sound that was new and fresh.”

‘Trouble’ is out on Big Beat/Neon Gold and is the first single from their forthcoming EP ‘TESTIFY’, released on 3 February.

Sounds like: RAC, St. Lucia, Cut Copy, Flight Facilities, Passion Pit, Pink Feathers, Chromeo, Holy Ghost!, Penguin Prison

The Knocks
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Absofacto
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Van Bobbi – Morro Bay

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

Van Bobbi

Van Bobbi is a Californian gentleman who enjoys coffees and coconuts, and we’re pretty sure he likes a sunset too.

Van Bobbi’s smooth and enticing vocals taste delicious alongside near-perfect production on his latest release, ‘Morro Bay’. What else is there to like during these dark months?

Head over to his SoundCloud for a free download of the track.

Sounds like: Autograf, Goldroom, Le Youth, Figgy, Prince, Chromeo, Penguin Prison

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Premiere: Clyde Hill – Cascade (feat. Lyon Hart)

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

Clyde Hill by Andria Lindquist

This track is enough to put anyone in a great mood.

It’s called ‘Cascade’ by Seattle DJ/producer, Clyde Hill, and features the opulent vocals of New York resident and house vocalist, Lyon Hart.

A smooth and alluring entrance lead to an outpour of spine tingling vocals full of positivity, alongside some highly uplifting production. Love!

Sounds like: Keljet, RAC, Goldroom, Le Youth, Viceroy, Penguin Prison, Ghost Beach, Great Good Fine Ok, Ayer

Clyde Hill

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Lyon Hart

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Playlist: Great Good Fine Ok

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

GGFO

Jon Sandler and Luke Moellman are Great Good Fine Ok (or GGFO for regular listeners of their synth-laden music).

They’ve teamed up with Indietronica once again and put together a playlist for us.

Breakbot – Arrested

LUKE: Love the groove on this one. Drums and percussion are sparse and simple but the complexity and funk comes from the synth and guitar rhythms. Lyrics are kind of hilarious to me — likening a romantic encounter to a legal offense? — but it works somehow.

One Republic – Wherever I Go

JON: As a crazy person with a car in NYC, I end up listening to a ton of top 40 radio. When you are suffocated with same 20 songs over and over again, you develop a unique ability to differentiate the “hits” from the HITS. I am not sure what category this song falls into yet, because I’ve only heard it twice, once when they performed it on Jimmy Fallon and once when I just looked it up on Spotify, but I do know one thing, it will soon be on the radio ALL THE TIME. Ryan Tedder is considered one of the best pop songwriters for a reason. From One Republic’s hit “Apologize” in 2006 to their hit “Counting Stars” in 2013 to songs for Beyonce and everyone one else you can think of, this dude never stops killing it. Soon we’ll all be sick of this song and it won’t be cool to talk about it, but for now, enjoy!

Porches – Mood

LUKE: As a producer one of the first things that grabs me about a track is the combination of sounds. The way the elements on this track contrast with themselves in how they give the illusion of space is great. The drums, guitars, bass, and percussion are all super dry, groovy, and right in the front, but the vocals and especially the keyboards are dramatically spacious. The writing is incredibly beautiful as well. Kind of sounds like if Midlake and Prefab Sprout collaborated on a song and James Murphy produced it.

Sia – Cheap Thrills

JON: While I’ve got radio and pop songwriters on the mind, i’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Sia’s latest banger “Cheap Thrills”. Something about a choir of kids singing “I love cheap thrills!” makes me very happy.

Steve Reich – Mallet Quartet: III. Fast

LUKE: Steve Reich has had a huge influence on the music I write. The muted piano part that plays at the beginning of “Always” and continues throughout the track is very Steve Reich to me (although he’d never swing the rhythm quite like that). I grew up playing a lot of mallet percussion, so that’s something that always seems to work its way into my music as well.

Their single, ‘Always’ is out now.

Sounds like: Fenech Soler, Ghost Beach, Yeasayer, Phoenix, Passion Pit, Pistol Shrimp, Penguin Prison, Futurecop!, The Chain Gang of 1974, LANY, Paperwhite

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Great Good Fine Ok – Already Love

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

GGFO

Possibly their poppiest track to date, Great Good Fine Ok return with ‘Already Love’.

It’s a confessional number, written to a new lover who frontman, Jon Sandler, is already in love with.

GGFO will be touring with Handsome Ghost.

Tour Dates

3.1 – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 (TICKETS)
3.3 – Houston, TX @ Rudyard’s British Pub (TICKETS)
3.4 – Austin, TX @ The Sidewinder (TICKETS)
3.5 – Norman, OK @ Opolis Prod (TICKETS)
3.7 – Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room (TICKETS)
3.8 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry (TICKETS)
3.9 – Chicago, IL -@Schubas Tavern (TICKETS)
3.10 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake (TICKETS)
3.12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (TICKETS)

Sounds like: Fenech Soler, Ghost Beach, Yeasayer, Phoenix, Passion Pit, Pistol Shrimp, Penguin Prison, Futurecop!, The Chain Gang of 1974, LANY, Paperwhite

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