Ben Khan has been quietly collecting praise from tastemakers across the music scene. The highly talented, multi-instrumentalist has just released the visuals for ‘Ruby’, his favourite track of the recent self-entitled album, out now via Dirty Hit.
Directed and produced entirely by Khan himself, the visuals perfectly marry the track’s synthetic and futuristic themes with his undemanding vocals, silently driven by anger and sadness.
A year ago, he travelled to Kashmir, the home of his father (who works in textiles, and whose floral art inspired some of the album’s artwork), “and I just walked around and took sounds on my daily rituals, and tried to put that in there somehow, so it felt like a journey through places.” The result, he hopes, is a work of “magical realism.”
Sounds like: Leo Kalyan, Twin Shadow, Jai Paul, JUNGLE, Disclosure, Prince, Blood Orange, Harts, Oyinda, Shy Girls
We do like a good festival, and after hearing that NOS Alive in Lisbon, Portugal is up there as one the world’s best music festivals, we decided to plan a trip in July to find out what all the fuss is about!
In the mean time, buckle up and check out our ones to watch within the indietronica genres (looks like we’ll mainly see you at the Sagres Stage then!).
THURSDAY 12 JULY
Friendly Fires, Sagres Stage
Energetic Brit boys Friendly Fires return to the festival circuit after a hiatus.
Having already had massive success with hits such as ‘Paris’, ‘Jump In The Pool’ and ‘Skeleton Boy’, their new single ‘Love Like Waves’ doesn’t disappoint and continues the theme of tropical-tinged synth sounds.
Expect a highly fun and bold performance at NOS Alive.
Jain is a multi-cultural singer/songwriter and self confessed beat-maker, originally from France, but who has also spent time in Dubai and The Congo.
Jain means achieving liberation of the soul, and that’s exactly what this music embodies with its flecked sounds of African rhythms with simple, yet vibrant vocals.
Watch the video for highly recognised song ‘Makeba’ below and catch Jain at the Sagres Stage on Thursday.
One artist we are super stoked to check out live is Khalid.
The American singer/songwriter originally started writing music during his college years, where he was also declared prom king. Amalgamating an array of sounds from classical, pop to hip hop, Khalid shows a real sense of urgency in his music.
We can’t get enough of his track with Billie Eilish, and can’t wait to see him perform at NOS Alive.
Sounds like: Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Father John Misty, Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Lorde, James Blake, Billie Eilish
Indie rockers Wolf Alice have been our firm favourites from the UK for some time now. They never disappoint at a live show, fronted by a fresh-faced Ellie Rowsell’s seemingly blasé but endearingly nervous attitude.
Expect a set full of their most brilliant tunes…so that’s all of them then!
Sounds like: Black Honey, Peace, Superfood, Foals, Circa Waves, Harry
Sampha is to be one of the UK’s best musical exports in 2018.
He has a knack for writing songs with deep and personal lyrics of pain and reflection, some of which have unfortunately has stemmed from health hardships suffered with his family at home, and we can’t help but think we are supporting him on this journey.
Truly thought-provoking stuff, definitely worthy of a slot at NOS Alive.
Sounds like: Jessie Ware, Frank Ocean, Solange, Moses Sumney, James Blake, Chet Faker, SBTRKT, Dallas Green
Future Islands‘ front man Samuel T Herring’s dancing is reason enough to go watch these guys at NOS Alive. And of course, the US synthpop band are wildly brilliant in as many unique, refreshing and inspiration ways possible.
Feisty feminist attitudes and catchy lyrics is what CHVRCHES brings to the table.
Lauren Mayberry has faced her fair share of trolls online, but to her testament, the Scottish trio continue to go from strength to strength. We are very much looking forward to this show!
Sounds like: Kate Boy, Avec Sans, Purity Ring, Vogue Dots, R.A.B.B.I.I., Kaleida, Gems, IYES, For Esmé, ALMA, Pale Hands, Acre Tarn, Prinze George, Leitbur, Monogem, PALMEDO, NONONO, Still Corners, MUNA
Imagine if M83 and Joanna Newsom met one day and decided to make some music. The result would be the quirky and ambient tones of Portuguese Surma (aka Débora Umbelino).
Working with loop pedals, the solo artist works with analogue and digital sounds creating a primal yet sonic environment.
Kicking off Saturday’s ones to watch are Lisbon natives, Lotus Fever.
They fit somewhere in-between Alt-J and Pink Floyd and it’s really refreshing to hear. We are expecting a super tight performance, thanks to their longstanding stint together since 2011 and it being their local city.
Their music has tendencies to sway in the 60’s, psychedelic market – imagine riding on a surfboard in space. However, we expect their set at NOS Alive to be a relaxed affair, where you can chill out and have a cider…or ride a surfboard in space, whatever takes your fancy!
Less under the radar than the counterparts in this piece, but still worthy of a slot on one’s to watch at this year’s NOS Alive. The mighty MGMT!
The eclectic US-based duo are known for their otherworldly take on modern indie rock music, often combining psychedelic synths, crunchy guitars and stodgy vocals with fun videos.
Sounds like: Empire of the Sun, Foster the People, Tame Impala, Portugal. The Man
Covering topics such as sexual abuse, suicide and alcohol abuse, Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) is one such musical role model we want to be more involved with.
His music represents such struggles and recoveries in a camp but delightfully magnificent way.
Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent, Kate Bush, M83, David Bowie, Future Islands, Fever Ray
With a warming lo-fi sound, Brooklyn-based dream team, Real Estate is our last act to consider watching at NOS Alive.
Run by childhood friends who played in their backyards during the summer months, Real Estate write simple and endearing songs full of luminous guitar riffs and delicate synths.
We envisage this show to be a perfect end to a perfect weekend.
Big news. Ben Khan returns with the announcement of his debut album (hurrah!) and a self-directed dystopian video for spine-tingling new single ‘2000 Angels’.
The album – set for release in the summer – was produced alongside Flood (PJHarvey, DepecheMode, Nine Inch Nails) and mixed by Spike Stent (Björk, Frank Ocean), with Ben playing every instrument on the record.
Always with a creative hands-on approach, Ben also plans to launch his new interactive website, The Foundation, which offers an insight into the richness and depth of the album’s story.
Sounds like: Leo Kalyan, Twin Shadow, Jai Paul, JUNGLE, Disclosure, Prince, Blood Orange, Harts, Oyinda, Shy Girls
OTR manages to get the chilled but tense vibe just right with his latest single, ‘Close’, which includes the soulful vocals by Kai Straw.
The 25-year old aerospace engineer-turned-producer uses his mathematical mind as a key component when it comes to his music, producing off-kilter melodies and electronic sounds.
Sounds like: Hotel Garuda, Gryffin, ODESZA, Petit Biscuit, Porter Robinson
NAVA is the highly energetic project of Persian songwriter Nava Golchini and three other Italian musicians. Visually, NAVA is a mix of horror and fashion inspired by the works of visionary designer Gareth Pugh.
The debut single ‘Ritual’ gives us a glimpse into the NAVA world – full of electro arrangements, tribal instruments and dark metropolitan landscapes.
It could be 2014 again, and boy it feels good! During your visit, expect luscious vocals, addictive synth drops and and nu-disco undertone. All this, courtesy of Betablock3r and the new single ‘Make You Happy’.
It is the first single off their debut EP Monolith, out now.
It wouldn’t be a decent weekly gems feature without some pop in there. This week Tanners is the chosen one.
Tanners is the moniker of New York City-based songwriter and producer Tanner Peterson. Leading the way for women in creative music tech, Tanners has also spoken at TEDxTeen.
Inspired by her childhood love for the beach, ‘Holy Water’ celebrates the beauty and electricity born from allowing yourself to be completely vulnerable and enveloped by the ocean. “It’s a thank you song to the ocean for teaching me to embrace vulnerability,” Tanners says of the track.
Meet emerging alt-pop trio Young Sierra, who were born from a school friendship, and bonded “over a shared love of low bit-rate Drake mp3s, eighties pop and hot-sauce”.
They have the kind of frantic energy of ArcadeFire and the cheeky nature of The1975. Naughty.
Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Electric Youth, The 1975, Night Panther, Bad Sounds
Always the ones to make heart-wrenching pop songs for ‘Good Girls’, your favourite boy band LANY share a new video and release their debut, self-titled album.
The video for ‘Good Girls’ focuses on lead singer and songwriter Paul Klein’s hunt for his girl in a bittersweet manner, one that LANY are becoming all too well known for.
‘LANY’ is out now on Polydor Records.
Sounds like: Crozet, Pistol Shrimp, Brotherun, Goldroom, Scavenger Hunt, Still Corners, Paperwhite, Pawws, Sykes, Washed Out, New Navy, X Priest X, Roosevelt, Great Good Fine Ok, Lostboycrow, MOTHXR, X Ambassadors, Halsey, Tove Stryke, Twin Shadow, The 1975
We have just been transported straight back to The Mighty Boosh days, where dark synth rock was cool. Well, we’ll let you into a secret. It still is cool and Night Drive would agree, having just dropped ‘Trapeze Artist Regrets’.
The Austin-based duo – comprised of Rodney Connell and Brandon Duhon – combine lo-fi sounds with sci-fi sensibilities,
“Trapeze Artist Regrets was never suppose to happen. We were writing something else for a short film and became bored, so we changed the bpm, started shifting things around and all of the sudden we had this groove we liked. We just started working backwards from there. The title came first, a sorta metaphor for disaster; it’s about watching someone you care about make the same mistake over and over again and not being able to do anything about it. Just hoping they pull through.”
Night Drive’s debut album is out June 16th via Roll Call Records.
Sounds like: M83, Neon Indian, Twin Shadow, Son Lux, Interpol
Devastating pop trio, LANY, have cheered us right up with the new video for ‘ILYSB’ (I love you so bad), probably our favourite LANY song to date.
Speaking of the video, lead singer, Paul Klein, says, “I turned ‘ILYSB’ into a tragedy of unhealthy obsession and unrequited love that ultimately led to psychotic behavior and total derailment.” We’ve all been there, Paul.
LANY create new wave electronica with heart melting lyrics and pop riffs, and you can catch them at one of their shows below.
Tour Dates
Feb 28th Sydney, Oxford Art Factory
Mar 1st Melbourne, Howler
Mar 4th Manilla, Wanderland Festival
Mar 6th Birmingham, O2 Institute
Mar 7th Manchester, Gorilla
Mar 8th London, KOKO
Mar 10th Brussels, AB Club
Mar 11th Cologne, Artheater
Mar 12th Utrecht, Tivoli Vrendenburg – Pandora
Mar 13th Amsterdam, Melkweg (Old Hall)
Mar 15th Copenhagen, Vega Small Hall
Mar 16th Stockholm, Kagelbanan
Mar 17th Oslo, Parkteatret
Mar 19th Hamburg, Nochtspeicher
Mar 20th Berlin, Privatclub
Mar 21st Warsaw, Hydrozagadka
Mar 23rd Milan, Tunnel Club
Mar 24th Zurich, Exil
Mar 25th Paris, Nouveau Casino
Sounds like: Crozet, Pistol Shrimp, Brotherun, Goldroom, Scavenger Hunt, Still Corners, Paperwhite, Pawws, Sykes, Washed Out, New Navy, X Priest X, Roosevelt, Great Good Fine Ok, Lostboycrow, MOTHXR, X Ambassadors, Halsey, Tove Stryke, Twin Shadow
Musical talent and synthologist, Cassicus makes a surprising return to our stereos with his debut EP, ‘Baby’s Coming Back’, and to celebrate he has put together a playlist for the readers of Indietronica.
Shura – White Light
There are so many things I love about her sound. In particular this tune. It’s the way she hooks you in with melodies that snap between short Haim-y bursts and dreamier, slower lines. Super clever writing.
Photay – Reconstruct (feat. Seafloor)
Nothing beats when you just get recommended something by a mate at a party and end up totally digging it. The groove in this tune kills me.
Honne – Gone Are The Days
I’ve known these boys for a long time and they’re two of the hardest working musicians I know. The quality of their songs reflects this – writing & production at it’s most refined.
Twin Shadow – Golden Light
That chorus melody. My friend put this on the stereo when we were driving through LA at 1am and the match seemed perfect.
Todd Terje – Johnny and Mary
As if the Robert Palmer original wasn’t beautiful enough, turning the song on its head and making it a slow jam AND with a Brian Ferry vocal; one of my favourite ever reinterpretations.
Kendrick Lamar – King Kunta
This song builds in a way that cuts deep. The tension is mad. He uses his voice like a drum, the rhythm of his phrasing makes my head swing like crazy.
Blood Orange – You’re not Good Enough
This guy makes the most beautifully intricate pop songs and this is just one example of many.
Alex Winston – Velvet Elvis
I had the great pleasure of being her touring drummer back in 2011/12, and during our time in studio I helped write this song. A massive part of my musical roots.
Jessie Ware – Running
It was through this record I discovered the production of Dave Okumu, who I learned a lot from listening to. The vocals on this record get me every time – she’s incredible.
The Cure – Close To Me
My Mum and Dad used to play them all the time when I was a kid. Listening to this record was the first time I remember understanding what a hook was.
Getting all emo on us, the LANY boys return with ‘Where The Hell Are My Friends’.
A reflective number about the loneliness of a big city, and the immense pressure to go out at the weekends. It all gets too much sometimes. Watch the result below!
Sounds like: Crozet, Pistol Shrimp, Brotherun, Goldroom, Scavenger Hunt, Still Corners, Paperwhite, Pawws, Sykes, Washed Out, New Navy, X Priest X, Roosevelt, Great Good Fine Ok, Lostboycrow, MOTHXR, X Ambassadors, Halsey, Tove Stryke, Twin Shadow
