It’s hard these days to find singers who sing in their natural accents, so imagine our surprise and delight within seconds of tuning into ‘is your bedroom ceiling bored?’.
Sody’s stunning vocals greet us and lock in the attention of the listener with her unmistakable tone and talent. The track is not a completely fresh song however, the song previously released as a solo track called ‘Bedroom Ceiling’ earlier in 2020, before the more production heavy rendition featuring Cavetown, accompanied by a brand new music video.
Not only is it an absolute joy to see these two linking up and creating such a marvellous track, but this is the first proper music video that we have seen since the beginning of lockdown. Not only is this song moving to the core, ‘is your bedroom ceiling bored?’ is a visual reminder that we may soon be returning to normal.
““Is Your Bedroom Ceiling Bored?” is for my fellow overthinkers,” Sody explains. “It’s when you’re staring at your ceiling at 4am looking for answers and wondering what someone is thinking. It’s when you write paragraphs to someone over text but then delete it and respond ‘I’m okay’. I imagine so many of us are experiencing this in isolation which unites us all!”
Emerging songwriter Gracie Abrams shares the video for ‘Friend’, to coincide with her ‘minor’ EP release.
Softly sung, the beautifully shot visual follows the 20-year-old artist as she rides around Los Angeles alone, journeying through the city’s enchanted outskirts, chaotic freeways, and lonesome streets while candidly sharing her story of betrayal and loss.
Abrams is now gearing up for a six-date virtual tour, each delivering an extraordinarily intimate performance straight from her bedroom. Kicking off on 20 July in Los Angeles, the Minor Bedroom Shows tour will continue through to 31 July in Sydney.
Remaining dates for the Minor Bedroom Shows virtual tour:
25 July – Chicago
29 July – Berlin
31 July – Sydney
Lauv is a name that’s known worldwide, and for good reason, hit after hit has left the young artist on a meteoric rise leading him to over 26 million monthly listeners.
His latest offering ‘Dishes’ is the first track of the brand new EP ‘Without You’ – unbelievably his seventh EP of 2020. In keeping with his chill pop vibe, ‘Dishes’ opens with a slow acoustic guitar, and a rare showing of Lauv’s lower vocal range shortly before the dulcet tones we all know and love, to take over on a hypnotising chorus line.
Having surpassed the majestic and almost unheard of five Billion stream mark, need we say more to encourage you to join us in some Lauv love.
Sounds like: gnash, John K, SHY Martin, FINNEAS, Ruel
20-year-old songwriter/producer/instrumentalist Max Leone is The Darkroom‘s newest addition.
He shares his new single ‘First Grade’, which deals with disappointment. It’s a stunning debut, defined by his acoustic-driven songwriting combined with electronic-tinged, urban-pop production.
After attending Berklee College Of Music for one year, Leone headed to the bright lights of Los Angeles to pursue his dream of music full time, and it’s clearly paying off.
Sounds like: The Neighbourhood, LANY, Bring Me The Horizon, Billie Eilish, SHY Martin, Khalid
Welsh musician, Ani Glass (also a former member of indie-pop group The Pipettes) shares the visuals for her new single, ‘Mirores’ – the title track from her forthcoming debut album, released in March.
The quirky and illuminating visuals wouldn’t go amiss in a Petit Meller or Yelle music video, as she shares a journey from dark desperation to motivation and inspiration.
Sounds like: Petite Meller, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis
We’re very excited to share ‘Stay Fantasties’ by wife and husband duo, Hollie and Keith Kenniff aka Mint Julep, an expertly manicured electric-pop venture that stands in stark contrast to the nebulous and experimental Helios and Goldmund outputs for which the latter member is known.
The vulnerable track shimmers underneath an amalgamation of textures and is out now on Western Vinyl.
Sounds like: Beauty Sleep, Tame Impala, Electric Youth, The Naked And Famous, Cocteau Twins, Helios
From one lonely artist to another…introducing transatlantic duo FARR (by way of Los Angeles and London) vocalist Roméo and producer Linden Jay (who has also produced for Rejjie Snow, LION SNOW, RITUAL and more).
Born from London loneliness, the soulful new track, ‘Heal Me’, was written with Carl Barat and Olly Burden and is full of heartfelt longing for missed loved ones.
Sounds like: RKCB, Jadu Heart, Dan D’Lion, James Vickery
Renowned songwriter SHY Martin (Bebe Rexha, Astrid S, Kygo, Ellie Goulding, ALMA, Jess Glynne) picks up her beloved guitar again and shares the delicate, stripped back ballad, ‘Slow’.
Rich and organic, it shows another side to the popstar-in-the-making.
Los Angeles-based pop artist Steph Sandor is quite frankly over this shit.
Her pulsing new single ‘Circles’ is a straightforward pop statement shared from a place of vulnerability and frustration. It’s out now on BonFire Records
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.
Norwegian newcomer iris today releases the first track from her upcoming ‘femme florale’ EP. Cotton Candy and its accompanying visual signal a huge step up from this fascinating young talent. A long way from the gentle, pastoral feel of her previous work, Cotton Candy is a slinky detour, with its shuddering, infectious trap beat.
The track and its video both tell a story of a romantic encounter iris had long fantasized about, but never quite believed she’d have or had been ready to reveal “I’ve never been a fan of putting labels on my own sexuality,” she says, “but with this song I kind of have. It’s a song about a different kind of love”.
Sounds Like: SHY Martin, Arif, Dagny, Anna of the north, Brenn.
Berklee grad Noé shares her blissed-out new single, ‘Rabbit Hole’.
Whilst the song still contains a glimpse of her limitless energy, the main focus is a more raw and free flowing vibe than we are used to. Call it her Frankenstein song.
Noé’s forthcoming debut EP ‘ibynoé’ is set for release on 21 May.
At just under three minutes long, you’ll be easily forgiven for pressing repeat on SHY Nodi‘s new track, ‘Snakes’.
SHY Nodi, aka Nirob Islam, was born in Stockholm in 1993 after his family emigrated to Sweden from Bangladesh. Since then, he has penned some incredible tracks with his songwriting partner, SHY Martin, and won a number of native music awards.
His new single – out now via BLNK Music – is a frank call out to relationship snakes. You know the ones…
Rising electro-pop duo The Bliss share new single ‘Happier’.
Comprised of pop songstress TYSM (Chelsea Davenport) and hip-hop/electronic producer and guitarist Felix Snow (SZA, Kiiara, Gallant, IconaPop, RitaOra, TerrorJr.), their third single is a funky bop number, that effotlessly trailblazes new age synth-pop.
Curated within a minimal electronic soundscape that includes adventurous songwriting, densely layered harmonies and neo-soul guitar riffs, Myo is on a quest to add a human touch in the world of programmed dance music.
Folk singer/songwriter Ed Prosek is a musician that has come to our particular attention and we suggest you take note too.
Using songwriting as a crux, to tap into the things he is too afraid to say to himself, Ed has an array of heartfelt talent that has culminated in millions of streams.
His classically-infused single ‘So Beautiful’ is out now and comes from forthcoming EP ‘Light As A Feather’.
Sounds like: Mumford & Sons, James Vincent McMorrow, Vance Joy, Richard Walters
Austin-native Kae Astra shares her effervescent alt-pop debut, ‘Dreams’.
One would be forgiven to thinking this is an ode to Kate Bush and Grimes, with it’s wonderfully expressive and falsetto vocals and painstaking melodies crowned in a lush dream pop soundscape.
Sounds like: CILVR, Kate Bush, Grimes, Beach House
Jinka is carving the way for female-led electronic pop from Germany.
Her new single, ‘Bare to the Bone’ features fellow Berlin-based artist, BLVTH and perfectly blends BLVTH’s grungy future bass and Jinka’s happy trip pop.
The singlewill be featured on Jinka’s debut EP ‘Dr. Ara’, which will be released on 8 March.
Sounds like: Kate Boy, I BREAK HORSES, Billie Eilish
We all know many people head to Los Angeles and only a handful make it to stardom, but it doesn’t prevent the never-ending quest by actors, artists and musicians alike.
Chelsea Effect – the music/art/fashion project of Canadian born Emerald Isabella – discusses this such topic in her new single ‘Tinseltown’.
It’s a reflective message about trying to make it in L.A, “the land of almost stars.” It’s out now.
Dan Crossley is calling out an ex-lover in his new single ‘Mind Games’.
It’s a R&B pop anthem from the artist who has a knack of writing honest music written from personal experiences, which has rightfully landed him the BBC Introducing’s One To Watch for 2018.
Listen below.
Sounds like: Charley Stride, Cat Burns, Years & Years
Swedish artist Fred Daniels shares the gorgeously addictive pop number, ‘Wetlands’ – “an anthem for oral sex”!
After learning to play drums at nine and writing his first song at 11, it’s clear a successful career in music has always been in Fred’s destiny, which has included being a member of Södra Station with Shy Martin and collaborations with Andrew Taggart from The Chainsmokers.
Sounds like: SKOTT, The Weeknd, Years & Years, Lane 8, La Bouquet
It’s been a heavy week for us so time to breathe slow and get some bright emotion back in our lives ahead of the weekend.
Broken Back is a singer, songwriter, producer, and creator…as well as of course an advocate of tropical and uplifting sounds. His new single ‘Breathe Slow’ is “a liberating invitation to focus on the glass half full rather than on the half empty one” and is out now via Ultra Records.
