Tag Archives: SUMif

Weekly Gems 101

fakelife – Drugs All Night

fakelife by Dillon Couchois

Matt Couchois of atmospheric indie-pop project, fakelife, releases invigorating new single, ‘Drugs All Night’.

You can almost sense the energetic tension as Matt sings about a tumultuously toxic romantic relationship – what more could you want from a nightclub pop anthem?

Sounds like: The Knocks, Great Good Fine Ok, RAC, La Poré

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BLOODHYPE – Violent Heart

BLOODHYPE - Violent Heart

Born from a simple plan – make music friends in a flatshare in former East Berlin, BLOODHYPE is a Berlin-based, independent gang of four that demand to be noticed.

Masterminded by frontman Weyland and UK producer John “P Nut” Harrison (Amy Winehouse, Alice Merton), their new single ‘Violent Heart’ caught us from the get-go. It’s an addictive slice of modern indie pop full of 80’s inspired self-pity.

Sounds like: Ten Fé, Larkins, Dancing On Tables

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Limón Limón – Normal Now

Limón Limón - Normal Now

Los Angeles duo Limón Limón offer a zesty take on the past and the future with their captivating nostalgic soundscape sound.

The new single, ‘Normal Now’ is about being yourself in a world that is always trying to turn you into someone else.

Sounds like: Midnight Pool Party, La Felix, All The Rest, argonaut & wasp, Goldroom, Pastel, 90’s Kids

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Tina Boonstra – Out of my depth

Tina Boonstra

Churchgoer-turned-open mic singer Tina Boonstra has shared her interesting new track, ‘Out of my depth’.

With a sharp emotional intensity, you can feel the angst bubbling underneath as the track progresses into a crushingly honest rage against the universe, God and insomnia.

Sounds like: Regina Spektor

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SUMif – Collide

SUMif - Collide

SUMif shares her sensual new single, ‘Collide’.

Written after an enlightening, whirlwind romance, it’s a heady mixture of naivete, recklessness, seduction, and soulful connection.

Sounds like: REMMI, Cappa, Monogem, Evvy, Noosa, Sizzy Rocket

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NoMBe – HEELS

NoMBe - HEELS

German-born, Los Angeles-based indie artist NoMBe shares ‘HEELS’, a catchy AF funk-laden jam.

Oozing sass upon sass, it’s taken from his upcoming concept album, ‘CHROMATOPIA’ which is built upon the spectrum of colour and the spectrum of sexuality.

Sounds like: The Knocks, Jungle

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Foreign Fields – Rose Colored

Foreign Fields

Foreign Fields is US-based Eric Hillman and Brian Holl, who create a bewitching melting pot of acoustic sounds.

As with all promising folk contenders, the duo wrote and recorded their upcoming album, ‘The Beauty of Survival’ in the winter in a back-to-basics cabin with no heating built by a two-man father-and-son team in Western Wisconsin.

Listen to ‘Rose Colored’ below.

Sounds like: Bon Iver, Billie Eilish

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Bronze Whale – Let’s Go Walk

Bronze Whale - Let's Go Walk

Bronze Whale like to walk a lot. During this time, they talk about things they want to accomplish, music stuff and dinner.

This where the lyrical inspiration came for ‘Let’s Go Walk’, a resonating and atmospheric electronic piece about love, loss and learning. It’s out now on their own label, Magic Magic.

Sounds like: Glass Animals, Alt-j, OTR, CLN, Golden Vessel, Autograf

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The Policy Feat. CUT_ – NLYU

Dutch-based The Policy teams up with CUT_ to create the looping, synth-based, and nostalgic ‘NLYU’.

Looping lyrics reflect a DIY attitude, after all it’s only you who can make it come true.

Sounds like: Joe Goddard, Todd Terje, Jessie Ware, Disclosure, Kylie Minogue

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Zoë Phillips – Love Is Gone

Zoë Phillips - Love Is Gone

Multi-instrumentalist Zoë Phillips combines country with beautiful folktronica. Think Dolly Parton meets Bombay Bicycle Club.

Set for the same level of fandom, Phillips has already seen plenty of support from the BBC, and her new single ‘Love Is Gone’ is going to propel her closer.

Sounds like: Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Bombay Bicycle Club, Lucy Rose, Maggie Rogers, Birdy

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HUMANS – Beggin

HUMANS

Looking like they are having the best time, the video footage was taken from many of their past videos plus some extra shots from 2010 to 2019.

HUMANS is a Canadian indie-electronic duo made up of musicians Robbie Slade and Peter Ricq. Focusing on performance and production styles of both the past and present, HUMANS have consistently impressed upon audiophiles with their technical and compositional skills.

Sounds like: Madcon, Digitalism, Rudimental

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Fí – all i have

Fí - all i have

Dublin-based self-taught musician, drops ‘all i have’.

Written and intended as a diary entry, the electro-pop number holds a collection of emotions following a break up. Listen below.

Sounds like: Halsey, Låpsley, VERITE

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Mannequin Online – I Do

Mannequin Online - I Do

Introducing Zach DeGaetano and Bridget Boltz – aka Mannequin Online.

Pushing sonic and ideational barriers with gritty, yet refreshing off-kilter pop, may their sound forever remain bright, gritty, and unapologetic. Listen to ‘I Do’ and check out the glorious Gorgeous guitar solo.

Sounds like: Goldroom, Poolside, VHS Collection, The Knocks, Miami Horror

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Weekly Gems 56

STRUAN – Awake

STRUAN

We’ve been desperately searching for some sweet, nostalgic heartbreak songs to play on the radio during our late night drives and we’ve just found one – ‘Awake’ by STRUAN.

Surprisingly written with this in mind, STRUAN explains he created ‘Awake’ because he was out in Los Angeles and couldn’t sleep thinking about his ex.

Sounds like: LANY, Great Good Fine Ok, Joan, The 1975

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Beauty Sleep – The Dark

Beauty Sleep

Rising Belfast dream-pop trio Beauty Sleep creates magical, synth-driven music. The three met at a friend’s party and bonded over a mutual love of G&Ts and music.

They are gearing to release their debut LP, ‘Be Kind’ is set for release on 17th May on Quiet Arch records. Listen to ‘The Dark’ below.

Sounds like: All Tvvins, Pleasure Beach

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Caswell – Surface

Caswell

Following a stint of live shows last year, including Latitude Festival, Caswell releases ‘Surface’, a song of self-discovery and re-empowerment to reach a potential she didn’t realise she had the whole time.

It’s a crisp and clear rendition with definite musical intentions, and sets the tone for her second EP, to be released in April.

Sounds like: Låpsley, Skott, Lorde, Charlotte Cardin, Jorja Smith, JONES, Ray BLK, Sigrid, Maggie Rogers

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O Future – VOYEUR

O Future

Meet O Future (fka OOFJ), an electronic duo mixing electronics with symphony orchestra and voice consisting of Jens Bjornkjaer originally from Denmark and Katherine Mills Rymer from South Africa, now located in Los Angeles.

O Future’s new single ‘VOYEUR’ gains pleasure in watching other people’s vanity from afar in what the duo calls a “global turn on”, and with a gorgeously, exciting looping bass line throughout, what’s not to enjoy?

Sounds like: Grimes, Georgia, Santigold

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Sea Girls – Open Up Your Head

Sea Girls

Current favs, Sea Girls, share their latest single, ‘Open Your Head’ – it’s about unconditional love and is another brilliant addition to their stellar back catalogue

Can’t wait for their album? In the mean time you can catch them at one of their live dates in the UK this February and March…

Sounds like: The Kooks, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club

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Leaone – Prairie Fires

Leaone

Meet Leaone (pronounced ‘Lee-own’).

After landing support from the Arts Council England’s International Development fund, Leaone found himself working from Transmitter Park Studios in Brooklyn New York, alongside multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Marsh (of Lana Del Rey’s band) and Abe Seiferth (Yeasayer, Bears In Heaven, James Murphy), on a body of new material.

The result is ‘Prairie Fires’, a deeply devastatingly emotive song that Leaone wrote at a time when he had to leave behind a blossoming romance.

Sounds like: The National

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Girl Crush – Baby Steps

Girl Crush

Last but definitely not least is Girl Crush, the music and fashion project of Swedish/British duo, Ottilia Kjulsten and David Sugar.

These two have a special interest in lost youth, lust-stricken heartbreak and a future that never arrived, which they define as “promcore”. Their new single ‘Baby Steps’ is out now via Brilliance Records.

p.s. Want to be as cool as these guys? Then buy one of their limited edition pieces of merchandise which they offer with every track release.

Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, LOVE SICK, So Below, Ralph, Anna of the North, Call Me Loop, SUMif

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Weekly Gems 25

LKA – I’m Fallin’

LKA

Finnish artist LKA has teamed up with HANNAH on her new single, ‘I’m Fallin”. It’s a welcome retreat from the cold weather.

Written about a crush, the stripped-back song showcases LKA’s fruitful vocals, and swirling, tropical production.

Sounds like: MØ, Grimez, Paperwhite, Calypso

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Nat Reed – Flow

Nat Reed - Flow

Boston-based Nat Reed is an exciting new R&B artist.

Her ethereal sensuality works magic with the minimal electronic production used in her music, which creates an otherworldly experience for the listener.

Listen to ‘Flow’ below.

Sounds like: Beyonce, Solange, Banks, Jorja Smith, FKA Twigs, Mabel

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SUMif – In With Me

SUMif

San Francisco-based electro pop up-and-comer SUMif sets off 2018 alight with her new EP called ‘Pretty Cage’.

SUMif has already opened for indie and electro-pop darlings such as VÉRITÉ, Lauv, Ella Vos, Kučka, and Little Boots, and hopefully a headline slot will be hers very shortly.

‘In With Me’ is the lead single.

Sounds like: REMMI, CAPPA, Monogem, Evvy, Noosa, Sizzy Rocket

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namaka – Cellophane

namaka - Cellophane

We don’t hear very much Swiss indietronica, but namaka‘s new song ‘Cellophane’ proves we should be listening to more.

Their music is both feminine and masculine; production both analogical and digital, as the band tackle the conflict of man vs machine in the most delicate and rough ways possible.

Sounds like: Bat For Lashes, Daughter

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Western Scene – Strange But True

Western Scene

Do not be deceived, ‘Strange But True’ by Western Scene is not a Christmas song, despite the countless bells and chimes in the song. Instead, it is a call for decent music.

Formed by front man Tom Pritchard in Los Angeles, Western Scene is an indie rock band through and through, spending years self-producing music that has been written and recorded in bedrooms and studios across the coast.

‘Strange but True’ is out now via Grand Jury Music.

Sounds like: Band Of Horses, Midlake, Lake Jons

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Weekly Gems 19

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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Emma Gatsby – 2 Steps

Emma Gatsby - 2 Steps

Emma Gatsby – 2 Steps

Sassy 19 year old Emma Gatsby knows what the deal is, and she isn’t letting anyone get in her way.

Hailing from New York, Emma learned to play the piano and cello at the tender age of four, with her mother teaching her, until she sadly passed away when Emma was aged nine. Following this, Emma picked up a guitar and decided to teach herself to play. She was writing songs by aged eleven, but was using music as a way to distract herself from the realities that she found herself in, especially after her father passed away.

Of her latest song, Emma says, “‘2 Steps’ is a song I wrote about a relationship or should I say several relationships. As much as it’s based on my real life experience with an ex, it was more so, my realization that I was always the one doing the damage first that inspired the song.”

Sounds like: Violet Days, Dominique, Kissy, Amy Guess, Harper, Sizzy Rocket, SUMif, Sibling

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SUMif – Malaga

SUMif by Lauren Marquardt

SUMif by Lauren Marquardt

Meet SUMif, a San Francisco-based electro pop producer and singer.

After studying music business at NYU, SUMif moved to Nashville to write country music. However, it turns out that music that producing electronic music was more her forte.

One of the results is ‘Malaga’.

Of the track, SUMif explains;

“Malaga” is about my favorite thing in the world – dancing my face off at music festivals with my favorite friends. I wrote this song about those magical moments, an ode to everyone who I’ve ever danced with, in the desert, in a French-Canadian rainstorm, in the fields of Golden Gate Park, on the Isle of Wight, or while watching a rainbow meet the sunset over The Gorge. Those are among my favorite memories, so I tried to capture those feelings in a song.”

Sounds like: REMMI, Cappa, Monogem, Evvy, Noosa, Sizzy Rocket

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