Tag Archives: Phoria

Weekly Gems 107

Posted on April 12, 2020 by Indietronica Staff

Alara – Demons

Alara

Accomplished singer Alara shares the beautiful, ‘Demons’, a perfect antidote to current times.

Despite being heavily influenced by the power of Grimes, Alara’s music is also soft and hazy, with a soul-healing quality. Her new single is about finding solace in the idea that everyone is going through something, and we’re not so different after all.

Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Skott, Ryn Weaver

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Chris Wills – Pyro

Chris Wills - Pyro

Los Angeles-based artist Chris Wills shares the addictive ‘Pyro’.

Finally in a place to accept himself, Wills decided to write music and just give it a go. The result is a quirky inner reflective track, which he uses to find the answers he’s been craving.

Sounds like: Myylo, Michael Medrano

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GRAE – Slow Down

GRAE - Slow Down

Introducing Toronto artist GRAE.

Delivering powerful and mystical R&B leaning pop, her new single ‘Slow Down’ touches on the topic of feminism and empowerment, and considers the topic of women finding difficulty in expressing their wants and desires.

Sounds like: RALPH, Willa, ASHS, Louise Burns

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Mt. Wolf – Tayrona

Mt. Wolf

After a long hiatus, dream pop band Mt. Wolf returns with their misty new single ‘Tayrona’ featuring Tamsin Wilson from Wilsen.

This is the first single from a forthcoming collaborative project, to be released via Akira Records, and is complete with hazy, layered soundscapes that ebb and flow into a folktronica masterpiece.

Sounds like: Daughter, Phoria, Still Parade, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Active Child, Bon Iver

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Ernest – Never Leaving

Ernest - Never Leaving

Despite the inflicted isolation, Copenhagen-based Ernest keeps us moving with their smooth and funk-tinged single, ‘Never Leaving’.

A story conjured up following the band’s encounter with a beautiful cashier during a recent visit to the supermarket, the guys manage to dig up and present big emotions from everyday situations.

Sounds like: Liss, School of X, Frank Ocean, SILQUE

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Aaron Smith – Brother

Aaron Smith

Scottish singer/songwriter Aaron Smith shares his new single ‘Brother’, which touches on the topic of addiction.

A subject close to his heart, this release once again penetrates to the core of your emotions, fuled by experiences of both love and trauma.

Sounds like: Frightened Rabbit, Ed Prosek, Amber Run, Novo Amor, Talos

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Love You Later – Blindfolded

Love You Later

Love You Later is the brainchild of US-based 21-year-old singer/songwriter Lexi Aviles.

‘Blindfolded’, the final song on her latest EP, ‘Heaven Is Without You’, is the perfect crescendo to the lush and dreamy collection of songs, and pushes for self-realisation and liberation after shedding old skin from a recent breakup.

Sounds like: Imogen Heap, Broods, The Japanese House

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Syd Silvair – The Moth

Syd Silvair - The Moth

Syd Silvair is endlessly inspired by the rich visual narratives of the deck, and the ways in which their divine messages manifest in our physical realm.

Using The Magician tarot card as her guide, her single ‘Moth’ encourages to reclaim the power on your own terms, and is equally as fierce in its presentation.

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Harry, Stevie Nicks

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Raven Artson – Notice Me

Raven Artson

Ever-evolving LA-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Raven Artson releases his single, ‘Notice Me’.

It’s a lofty not-so-classic love song that takes an otherworldly opinion with eerily sweet vocals and piano-led composition.

Sounds like: How To Dress Well, ANOHNI

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OCTAVIO – Nineteen (Sad For No Reason)

OCTAVIO

Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Octavio Herrera aka OCTAVIO is a 19-year-old artist making a unique concoction of hip-hop and indie music.

Whilst in his new song ‘Nineteen (Sad For No Reason)’, there are plenty of reasons to be feeling glum at this moment in time (and he’s by no means alone), we should join Octavio in celebrating his past year.

Sounds like: Rex Orange County, Mac Demarco

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Jillian Steele – New Orleans

Jillian Steele - New Orleans

Nashville-based pop artist Jillian Steele‘s new single is written about unexpectedly falling in love in New Orleans.

But this isn’t her first crush, Steele has been performing from a young age, having formed an early love for performing, including singing and acting in commercials. Listen below.

Sounds like: Savannah Sgro, Violet Skies, Charlotte Sands

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Vaarwell – False Promises

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Indietronica Staff

Vaarwell

Re-introducing Lisbon-based indie pop band, Vaarwell.

Formed in 2014, the band consists of Margarida Falcão (vocals, keyboards) – who is also a Xinobi (producer and DJ) collaborator – Ricardo Nagy (guitar, keys, production) and Luís Monteiro (bass, sampler).

With varying music genre backgrounds from indie rock to folk and electronic music, ‘False Promises’ is a wonderful return for Vaarwell, as the new song seesaws between denial about a relationship ending and absolute denial.

Sounds like: IYES, Daughter, Frances, Phoria

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Playlist: POLO

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Indietronica Staff

POLO

POLO is an exciting new band comprised of Luke Lount, Kat McHugh and Daniel Edgell.

The trio base themselves out of “a total dive” town in Leeds, and use this rough’n’ready surrounding as inspiration for their music, which is full of heart and substance.

We asked POLO to put together a few of their favourite songs, and here they are!

Porches – Country

A song written like no other.

Baloji – Soleil de Volt

Got this on repeat at the moment… There are so many hooks throughout and there’s heaps of energy and life in the recording. Probably the funkiest song of the year so far

Patrice Rushen – Remind me

The slowest of slow jams.

Phoria – Red

Sonic bliss! These guys are super talented, and seem to always hit you right in the feels with their song writing ability.

Young Fathers – In My View

LOVE LOVE LOVE the sound young fathers are putting out at the moment. They’re nailing it for me with experimental lyrics through rap and spoken word and combining that with a big bodyshaking production. Also well worth a youtube for the music vid.

Olympia – Smoke Signals

A party favourite for the band. Feel good, fun and really damn catchy.

SZA – The Weekend

We all absolutely love SZA and this is just one of the many bangers from her amazing debut.

Amandla Sternberg – Let Me Stay Baby

Silky, smooth, sexy. A feast for the soul and ears.

Nils Frahm – Sunson

Beautiful and serene from start to finish. We had the pleasure of seeing him live recently and it was breathtaking.

Jon Hopkins – Emerald Rush

1 word: Cathartic.

Catch them live on one of their UK tour dates.

Sounds like: Kudu Blue, Jinka

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Talos – Odyssey

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Indietronica Staff

Talos by Brendan Canty

We want to push the new breed of indietronica music in Europe and beyond. Helping us succeed in this quest is Cork based Talos, the musical project of Eoin French.

His new track, ‘Odyssey’ is enticing in nature with ethereal vocals and divine production.

Talos explains about ‘Odyssey’, “In any endeavour we find ourselves at that point of doubt. Those moments where you question yourself. That’s what the line, ‘In this odyssey, it’s hard to leave…’ refers to. It’s a beautiful and testing cycle. “I was asking myself some pretty big questions. Am I doing the right thing? Is this worth it? Am I deluding myself?! And I think in the end, the answer is yes to all three. These feelings come and go. The thoughts pass. Sometimes the delusions get realised. And we move on.”

Talos’s debut album, ‘Wild Alee’ will be out on 21 April.

Sounds like: Broadhurst, Phoria, James Blake, Bon Iver, Aquilo,

Talos – Reborn

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

Talos

Nature-loving, Talos (aka Eoin French), shares his new track, ‘Reborn’.

It maybe a slow burner, but the result is a highly atmospheric track that showcases an emotional intensity in Eoin’s vocals and electronic production that we initially weren’t expecting upon first play.

Of the track, Eoin explains,

“‘Reborn’ embodies the feeling of a release. I think there are times when you have to allow yourself space from looking inward and instead expose something more instinctual, more impulsive… This is about a desire to get ‘lost’ in a way, and to let any attachments fall away in that escape.”

‘Reborn’ has been taken from his debut EP, ‘O Sanctum’, out tomorrow via Feel Good Lost, and includes remixes from the MAPS and Sin Fang.

Sounds like: Broadhurst, Phoria, James Blake, Bon Iver

Matthew and Me – Figure

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

Matthew and Me

South Devon duo, Matthew and Me is comprised of lead vocalist/songwriter Matthew Board, and drummer Lucy Fawcett.

They have just shared ‘Figure’, a slightly more robust track than ‘Joy’ (which drew comparisons to Mogwai and Sigur Rós), with its 90’s indie rock sensibilities that offers immediate “light relief”.

‘Figure’ has been taken from their new EP, ‘Startpoint’, which is has been produced by Chris Bond (Ben Howard, Eliza Shaddad) and is due for release on 18 November via Beatnik Creative.

Tour Dates

27 Aug – Sea Change Festival
21 Oct – The Barrel House, Totnes
15 Nov – Rialto Theatre, Brighton
16 Nov – The Louisiana, Bristol
18 Nov – The Lexington, London

Sounds like: Foals, Phoria, Sigur Rós, Mogwai

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube

SYML – Where’s My Love

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

SYML

Spine tingling stuff now from SYML, the project of Seattle native Brian Fennell (also a founding member of Barcelona).

SYML means ‘simple’ in Welsh, but ‘Where’s My Love’ is anything but.

Written with cinematic use in mind, SYML likes to weave together bare piano, minimalist synth, string-scapes and soaring vocal melodies into a textured, emotive soundtrack, evoking movement and visual imagery with sound.

SYML’s new EP ‘Hurt For Me’ is out on 9 September.

Sounds like: Phoria, Radiohead, Nordic Giants

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Sykoya – The Wolf

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

Sykoya

London dream pop trio, Sykoya, create atmospheric indietronica.

Their new track ‘The Wolf’ will hunt down and cast a spell on any listener. Whether that spell is to make you dance or sit in soft reflection, the rhythmic electronics, melodic synths and brooding vocals of Anna Marcella will immediately captivate.

‘The Wolf’ is taken from their debut EP ‘Strange Night’, out now via Lost People Records and available on iTunes.

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Phoria, London Grammar, Massive Attack, The Knife, LOWES, The xx

Altamina – Under The Black Sea

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

Altamina

Altamina was originally a side project from US-based, Francois Graham and French-Canadian, Marco Gervais of Montreal’s Surface of Atlantic, but it soon developed into a fully-fledged, international band, following the enlistment of Australian, Matt Davis on drums and French-Canadian, Roxanne Miller on bass in 2014.

Sincere lyrics touched with baritone vocals, steady drum beats, and ambient riffs make ‘Under The Black Sea’ a stand out track from an equally as impressive band.

Their album, ‘Tomorrow Morning Will Be Tonight’ is out now.

Sounds like: The National, War On Drugs, Nick Cave, Joy Division, Phoria

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Playlist: Leena Ojala

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Indietronica Staff

Leena Ojala

Disclosure: I am Leena Ojala’s publicist at the time of writing.

London-based alternative electro pop singer, Leena Ojala, has put together a playlist for us of ten tracks she has come across when listening to new music.

Of the playlist, Leena says, “I have gone for tracks that use varying influences and mix different styles in production.”

Oh Wonder: All We Do

I like the repetitive piano riff and the vocal melody. They create a sad yet beautiful feel for the song. The minimalistic approach makes the song memorable – it’s a case of less is more.

Dominique: Good Girl

I like the guitar hook she uses throughout the track. The hip hop beat underneath and the interesting distortion she uses are interesting giving the track a nice character. Big up for Dominique for creating her own lovely production!

Anevo: Electric Heart feat. Ameria

The unique sound of the different instruments used in the track come across nicely. Every section has different influences: the verse is more electronic and dance-like whereas the chorus is chilled. The different styles used give the track a nice vibe.

KINGDM: Say It Again

I like the use of drums with African influences. There is a soulful vibe going on with the vocals, melody and the piano which give the song a romantic feel.

MRGD: Skin Deep

I like the use of call and response mixed with the nice vocal hooks. The chorus incorporates different feels i.e. reggae rhythm and drum sound, synth piano and vocal hooks. This gives the track an unusual but unique crossover of styles.

XY&O: Low Tide

The minimal strumming and picking of the guitar in the verses gives the track a nice relaxed feel. I like the four to the floor drums in the chorus giving it kind of dancing in the summertime vibe. The vocals with an echo and a delay effect finish the track off nicely.

Phoria: Undone

I like the use of unusual blending of styles and rhythmic influences – the type you find with FKA Twigs. The track has a nice atmosphere, delivered by whispery vocals, hooks, dark piano tones and reverb effects.

Tess: Love Gun

I like the use of middle eastern feel in the track created by the vocal movement and the acoustic guitar. I can see influences of “Inna” here, but there are also elements of R&B, Pop and Hip Hop.

Sounds like: Låpsley, Adele, Rae Morris, YUAR, Micky Blue, London Grammar, Dominique, Amanda Merdzan

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