Australian artist Akurei has just released his most exciting EP of the year, ‘CLOVER’.
Lucky for Akurei, venues have now opened up in Australia, which has promoted him to recollect about those nights out where you drink to feel comfortable.
So with all that social anxiety in mind, whack on his dreamy and nostalgic playlist and drift off into a state of bliss.
Hovvdy – Runner
Most of the people I’ve spent time with over the last few months could attest to the fact that I’ve been humming this daily. I’ve made it a goal to write a song that makes people feel the way this one makes me feel – light, hopeful and nostalgic.
Hether – Twinkle
Obsessed with this song, and everything Hether has done really. It all sounds like falling in love.
The Nicholas, Odessa – Rockshow
I’m lucky to be friends with The Nicholas, I’m so inspired by his song writing and production. This songs been on repeat since its release, the melodies are so so catchy.
Buddy Ross, Gabriel Delicious – Bored Again!
This one just feels so good, it’s hard to have a bad time while it’s on.
Porches – I Miss That
I’m a new Porches fan. The drum loop pulled me in and I stayed for the lyrics and the melodies, so infectious. Also the synth parts are really interesting.
Huron John – Why Do People Grow (Long for the Day When I Had That Flip Phone)
This one hits the sweet spot between fun and self deprecating.
Billy Lemos, Tati – Midlife Crisis
I’m new to Billy Lemos. This song is wild, along with the album he dropped this year.
A. G. Cook – Being Harsh
I could just listen to the first 30 seconds of this song all day, that alone is so captivating. It’s just a really beautiful and simple song.
Dijon – alley-oop
Pretty much every time Dijon drops a song I think “Damn I wish I wrote this” and this song is no exception. He has the most expressive voice and melodies, and the lyrics to this song are so nice.
Golden Daze – Blue Bell
This song will probably be in my Spotify ‘Top Songs of 20__” for the rest of my life.
The ‘CLOVER’ EP is out now on sumoclic records.
Sounds like: LA Bouquet, LANY, The 1975, Golden Vessel, Joji, No Rome, Kevin Abstract, Emerson Leif
Our fav Australian artist Golden Vessel has just released his wonderful 11-track “road-trip” album, ‘colt’.
Led by a bass guitar, it’s a collection of genres and collabs spanning from indie, alternative, electro and pop, influenced by some songs shared in his playlist below:
Alex G – Gretel
This song blew my mind when it came out. I love the video too, it’s so sweet. It’s this really clever mix of light and dark, electronic and acoustic.
Big Thief – Black diamonds
I started listening to big thief just as I started making my album and they instantly became my favourite band. I got to see them play in Cambridge, UK and I had the worst hay fever but it was the best night.
Blood Orange – Smoke (Remix)
I love the mix of hip hop / guitar / sound design on this song. And the vocals are so dry and bolt it’s great.
Porches – Country
It’s such a sparse simple song but it also feels so powerful and that really intrigued me.
Mount Kimbie – Marilyn
A beautiful song, I love how it flows and evolves. Mount Kimbie’s recent use of bass guitar was influential on me, even just to see the way they incorporate it into an electronic composition.
The Nicholas – Addict
I found this song on a Spotify playlist and hit him up to see whether he would want to do a songwriting session. He quickly became one of my closest friends and really influenced the direction of colt (contributing to 6/11 of the songs).
Frank Ocean – Close To You
Blonde was so influential on me when I was making my first record but I found I kept coming back to listen through his entire catalogue whilst making colt.
Ross From Friends – Pale Blue Dot
This was actually my most listened to song of 2018. On colt I finally found ways to implement my love of house music into what I do (on midwest & blinker) and I love the sound design that Ross From Friends brings.
Toro Y Moi – New House
On tour in America we played this album on repeat and so it really feels like long drives and that period of time.
Adrianne Lenker – 10 miles
This is the lead singer from Big Thief (who I’ve already included) but Adrianne’s songwriting really shaped me and so I love her solo music also which is just to focus on the songs.
Rising Australian artist LOVER has just released his genre-bending EP, ‘It’s A Wild World’.
A body of work he’s been working on since late 2019, it reflects the time in LOVER’s life, as well as in the world around us.
To coincide with the release, LOVER has kindly put together a “Headrush” themed playlist for us. Listen below.
“Headrush” – Like a rush of blood
Dijon – CRYBABY :*(
Damn. I really wish I wrote this song. The video is beautiful too – one of my favourite songs of ALL TIME.
Jean Dawson – BRUISEBOY
My parents had me when they were young, so I remember my Dad mainly listening to early 90’s music – The Smashing Pumpkins, Third Eye Blind etc. This has the perfect combo of the influence of this generation of music w a modern twist.
Porches – PFB
I love short songs. Looking around, it is all “Pretty Fucking Bad” too. Thank you Porches and thank you Golden Vessel for showing me this song.
daste. – Telephone (What’s Your Name?)
These guys are my mates from Australia, who I met from being a fan of their music and now we’re indie label mates! They have a lot of versatility and all three of them are great songwriters. I’m a big fan of this track from their latest EP ‘Same As It Ever Was’.
Ryan Beatty – Evergreen
Dreaming Of David, the second album by RyanBeatty at the start of this year is the most slept on record. I cannot believe that after his HIT ‘Sugar’ with Brockhampton it doesn’t have as many streams as his older work. The songwriting is strong, his voice is something else and the production on this album, and particularly Evergreen, is fresh and inventive. Ryan, if you’re out there, I’m sorry they’re sleeping on this !!!
Phoebe Bridgers – Garden Song Phoebe Bridgers is a phenomenon. Her lyricism across her catalogue is inspiring. Love the production on this track particular track, definitely was a big influence for the ending of my own track ‘Last Puzzle Piece’. I’ve read that down-tuned sounding voice in the chorus is actually her tour managers real voice haha.
Jon Brion – Phone Call – Score
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is one of my favourite movies. The soundtrack is immaculate too, and once I learned more about JonBrion I realised he scored multiple of my favourite 90’s / early 00’s movies as well as the latest MacMiller records (RIP). This track is a short lofi dream, about 20 years ahead of its time!
Oneohtrix Point Never, (Sandy) Alex G – Babylon
This song is what happens when you get a versatile producer in the room with a legendary songwriter. It transcends your usual soft acoustic track with the electronic elements, strings and the vocal layering. I really want to see (Sandy) Alex G live with a band someday and cry quietly in the back corner.
Kllo – Insomnia
Really tight, lush production paired with the singer Chloe’s glass vocals. I love them and they’re from Melbourne – basically my backyard! (if my backyard was a 10 and a half-hour drive away).
18YOMAN – Fireflies
Another Aussie. When I first heard this song on Triple J Unearthed I was like, fuck, ok, do I still release my EP? lol. It’s sooo good and the songwriting / production (which I believe he did himself) raised the bar for all Australian acts releasing in 2020 .. in my opinion!
Dijon – Rock n Roll
Had to put two Dijon songs in, I’m sorry! He’s too good. This is from his new project, the breakdown at the end takes me somewhere else.
Roland Faunte – Happy Life
One of the only songs I legit cry to. Roland Faunte’s story over the whole ‘Sewing Kit’ project is cohesive, honest, raw, poetic. It has a classic sound that I think is above ageing All the lyrics are perfect but I lose it at:
“Give me heartache if that means a reason That I would continue; Please, I need them Because you mattered, when nothing mattered If I need something let me have her”
Radiohead – True Love Waits
I tried to keep this playlist as new as I could, but I couldn’t resist putting a Radiohead song in there. They’re probably my favourite band and different eras of their music has been in consistent rotation since day dot. This track was actually written in the mid-90’s, and from the live versions from that time that I’ve watched it was originally kind of uptempo and pop leaning like “High and Dry”. It didn’t get released until 2016, in a very different form. Imagine sitting and reworking a song for TWENTY years lmao. It’s that good.
‘It’s A Wild World’ is available everywhere now via Mammal Sounds Records.
Sounds like: Golden Vessel, daste., Emerson Leif, Akurei, JVLY, CLN, George Gretton, Luna Pines
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.
“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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
San Diego-based dream-pop band Inspired & The Sleep shares new single, ‘Getting Through’.
With an addictive piano-led melody throughout, ‘Getting Through’ tackles the moment when two formerly close individuals become disassociated and detached from each other.
Swedish feminist and LGBTQ advocate, Ellen Krauss shares her bright video for the country-tinged pop song, ‘On The Bus’; a story full of heartbreak that has a kind of teenage nostalgia to it.
Since the age of four, Ellen has been secretly writing songs in her room in Stockholm, or in South Africa where her family occasionally lived. This is the first song released via BMG Recorded Music through a new partnership with the indie label, Tiller Inc..
Taking cues from modern pop bands The 1975 and Pale Waves, Irish four-piece Milk. creates music that considers many genres, ranging from RnB, to electronic and pop.
The band’s new single ‘Temperature’, does exactly what it says on the tin – raises the heat in a reflection about the unity that’s felt between two people during sex.
Songwriter, producer, vocalist and budding-polymath Bevan shares ‘P.T.L’ featuring the luscious vocals of Holly Moore.
His experimental, disco-infused electronic project seems a far cry from teaching in the coastal town of Bournemouth. Inspired by track catchphrases in 80’s tunes, Bevan decided to create his own catchy number…’Part Time Lover’.
Sounds like: Friendly Fires, Midnight Pool Party, Ok Go, Roosevelt
Introducing super chilled out indie synth-pop trio, Couch Prints.
Originating in various apartments across the world and finally finding a home in Queens, New York, the song ‘Tell U’ reflects a feeling of transience and movement and leaving the past behind; whether that’s moving homes or ending a relationship or just changing yourself day by day.
So stop for a minute. Recline, listen, enjoy.
Sounds like: Porches, Men I Trust, Beach House, The Knife
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.
Having just signed to Terrible Records (Blood Orange, Porches, Le1f), Norwegian producer and artist Gundelach shares the imaginative ‘Control’.
It is taken from the forth-coming ‘Baltus’ LP, and showcases Gundelach’s Nordic-noir sensibilities, using delicate synths, pulsating beats and his effortless falsetto voice to tell a story of deep personal depression.
Sound like: Ásgeir, Bon Iver, Honne, Boxed In, RY X, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, The Presets
Time for something to lighten the mood from our favourite band of 2018, Great News.
‘You’re Mine’ is a shoe-gazer fan’s dream, a super colourful sonic nod to the 80’s and 90’s, a theme that runs throughout their debut LP ‘Wonderfault’.
Sounds like: Ten Fé, Bruce Springsteen, Sea Girls, SWIMM, Lean, Tame Impala, DIIV
We are excited about Benjamin’s Brother – an interesting indie-pop band from Tel Aviv.
Discussing topics such as violence, death, desire and love, and citing influences across several genres including Arabic, American folk and techno, it’s no surprise that their sound is expansive, yet tender.
Watch their video below, which was shot by Indy Hait, at the Tel Aviv Museum Of Art, on a 16mm film.
Sounds like: Tame Impala, SAMA, Mumford & Sons, Solomon Grey, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Aquilo
Dutch electronic duo CUT_ share ‘It’s On’, a song about the denial towards the demise of a relationship.
But they don’t just write about internal issues found in human nature, but also discuss topics on mass psychology and by analysing these aspects of our society, CUT_ attempts to find a way of coping with the messed up world we’re living in.
JOHN.K‘s electronic driven pop always catches our attention and ‘Best Of Me’ is no exception.
‘Best Of Me’ is JOHN.K’s fourth single and demonstrates another layer of maturity and artistry. Speaking of the track, he explains,
“‘Best of Me’ is about evolving through young love, admitting to past mistakes and committing to giving someone the best possible version of yourself.”
We don’t know a great deal about Swedish singer/songwriter Timothy, but have really enjoyed listening to his second single, ‘Fly’.
Timothy explains, “The song is a long battle with a ghost of his, he interpreters his own song with a self-written poem. Wanting the listener to create their own story, rather than giving it all away.”
Sounds like: Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, Ry X, The xx, Keaton Henson, Matt Corby
Ohio based psychedelic pop quartet Captain Kidd share their new single called ‘Wild’, which is a blissful tune full of calming harmonies and shining production.
Lucky for you lot, Captain Kidd put together a playlist for us.
Blood Orange – Best to You
The hardest part about making this list might have been picking the right Dev Hynes track, but we would be lying if we said we’ve been jamming any other more than this one. The man truly is a genius, especially when it comes to writing parts for female vocalists, which is clearly shown in “Best to You.”
McFabulous – I Live Above the Hobby Shop
We were shuffling through discover weekly once and came across this track and thought maybe this was a live version of Glass Animals. We looked it up and realized they had sampled McFabulous for “Season 2 Episode 3,” and we absolutely loved this jam. Plus, McFabulous is an incredible name.
Ariel Pink – Another Weekend
Ariel Pink is the epitome of an artist pushing the boundaries of their sound. In fact, he has no boundaries. He does whatever he wants. Not many people can make experimental music catchy. This track off his new album is no different.
Porches – Find Me
One of our favorite current artists, still unknown to some. We fell in love with his last album Pool. It’s such a progression from his debut release. His latest, “Find Me,” combines that retro 90s house sound with modern day indie pop. We can’t wait for more from his upcoming full length.
TENDER – Machine
We discovered this U.K. based duo on a sub Reddit a few years back. They had one track out called “Armour.” We immediately fell in love with their production and the low and high vocal melody combo, which seems to have become their signature sound. Nate and Eric had a chance to see them live a few months back in Philadelphia.
La Poré – Sad Girl
La Poré is the fast rising solo project of our drummer, Nick Samson, started about a year ago now. If you’re into anything 80s or Foster the People then check out this track, and keep a look out for more of this tasteful pop coming from our percussionist!
Kanye West – Lost in the World
Kanye has been a favorite artist of ours for a long time, and has accompanied us on many road trips back and forth to Cleveland, so a playlist without him just wouldn’t feel right. Between the Bon Iver intro sample and the heavy driving beat, we have always felt this epic album closer is an underrated banger.
Frank Ocean – Self Control
Frank Ocean released Blonde in August 2016, and we instantly fell in love. His raw, emotive vocal style and minimalistic production caught our attention, and the album as a whole continues to get better with every listen. We like this track in particular because it starts out small and simple, but slowly transforms into one of the most moving songs on the album.
Jamie XX – Girl
Jamie XX has been a huge influence on us as self producers, especially with our percussion. We were obsessed with his album In Colour our last year of college. We lived in this enormous house with 9 people total, constantly jamming “Girl” and other accompanying tracks. The people we lived with that year are still some of our best friends, so the combination of nostalgia and the mark Jamie XX has had on us with our production makes this an important track.
Miguel – waves (Tame Impala Remix)
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala continues to amaze us with his progression as a producer and song writer. I mean, who saw Currents coming when Parker first released Innerspeaker? It seams as though he gets poppier with each release, but somehow still maintains that other worldly psychedelic goodness that many fans initially fell in love with. The “waves” remix isn’t what one would normally think of when thinking about a “remix.” It sounds like Miguel and Parker just teamed up to make a banger psych pop track, with those warm drum tones, luscious synths, and of course, lots of flanger.
Singer Georgi Kay is warning us about guilty pleasures in her new single.
Quintessentially indietronica-based, ‘Guilty Pleasures’ is a song about falling in love with someone who, despite the deep emotional connection being mutual, is romantically tied down by another.
The story goes something like “when we’re good, we’re good. And when we’re low, we’re low”. Sound familiar?
Satin Jackets is tapping into our relationship insecurities with a strangely upbeat melody in ‘Mirage’. I guess that’s kind of the definition of a mirage!
It’s out now via Eskimo Recordings.
Sounds like: Goldroom, RAC, Le Youth, Pink Feathers
We have been huge fans of Brooklyn-based artist Von Sell for a long time, and we are extremely happy he is back well and singing again after a six month break due to vocal chord issues.
Von Sell takes more of a funky attitude in the production techniques of ‘Hell No’ but we dig it – we’re gonna call it his come-back track!
Sounds like: Summer Heart, Hazel English, Teen Daze
Singer/songwriter/producer Jayce Cantor shares his radio-ready single ‘Done For Now’.
The song has elements of catchy R&B blended with modern indietronica-influenced production that works brilliantly with Jayce’s soulful vocals as he sings about love and heartbreak.
