Debut act Coach & Ref is the project of longtime studio partners, BLEU and Daple.
Both music graduates, between them they have had huge musical successes across the film and music board including SpiderMan, Wonder Woman and Friends with Benefits.
Their debut single ‘3-D’ is here to push and confuse genre boundaries with a potent fusion of nostalgic soundscapes, lo-fi tones and melodies. Brooke Tomlinson is on vocals.
Sounds like: Sofi Tukker, Taylor Swift
Beacon – On Ice
Beacon is NYC-based duo Thomas Mullarney III and Jacob Gossett.
The new single, ‘On Ice’ showcases Beacon’s signature sound of melodic yet mysterious pop music with a cathartic edge.
Like a beacon of light, the duo use multiple instruments to portray a journey from darker places to those of colour and spirituality.
‘On Ice’ is out now on Ghostly International.
Sounds like: Matthew Dear, Nimmo, Solomon Grey, Junior Boys, Kyson, Hot Chip, Cut Copy, Aquilo
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The Rungs – King of Books
The Rungs is a female-fronted, alt-pop, bedroom-based project from Brooklyn NY.
Their new single, ‘King of Books’, is a dreamy, melancholic indie synth song that explores a toxic relationship, capturing that moment when the rose tinted glasses are lifted.
Sounds like: Men I Trust
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ORKID – NoNoh
ORKID shares ‘NoNoh’ and it’s every bit of tuned electro-pop you’d expect from a young Swedish act.
Offering sweet fragiity with commanding vocals, it’s beauty will instantly captivate you.
Speaking about the track, ORKID says,
“”NoNoh” is about that moment when you feel you’ve had enough of someone’s bullshit. Singing this song is literally a release for me. It’s an aggressive yet awesome feeling of strength. The song kind of speaks for itself; with the melodies and track combined, “NoNoh” gives you exactly that sense of self-empowerment”
Sounds like: Rihanna, Rita Ora, Harlee
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Tanjier – Lights
Irish trio, Tanjier create perfectly crafted indie pop with a sophisticated attitude about modern day pressures on Generation Y.
Their new single, ‘Lights’ explores the challenges of breaking the typical parental expectations of going to college, getting a 9-5 job, and making enough money to buy a house. It tells the story of someone who has gone through all of these so-called life goals successfully but, ultimately, isn’t happy.
Sounds like: Dead Ceremony, The Kite String Tangle, Foals, George Michael
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ANNALIA – Cycles
Los Angeles-born singer/songwriter ANNALIA has some serious talent.
Described as “organic pop”, she distinguishes herself from the crowd by discussing important topics and using real instrumentation over catchy beats. In her new single, ANNALIA considers the cycles of emotional abuse in a relationship.
If anyone can help you through this, it’s ANNALIA, her killer pipes and “You’ve Got This!” attitude.
Sounds like: Linney, VÉRITÉ, Carly Rae Jepsen
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Twin XL – Good
Meet five kids who go by the name of Twin XL.
Their glistening and gorgeously retro single ‘Good’ maybe a debut, but between the lads, the three have written and produced for artists such as All Time Low, Lindsey Stirling, and Life of Dillon, and have had their music featured in commercials and trailers like Disney’s Christopher Robin and ABC’s Lucifer
Sounds like: Portugal, The Man, Titanics
Hydromag – P.J.R
Hydromag is the dream-pop project of Falmouth-based producer and multi instrumentalist Josh Best-Shaw.
He has just released an uplifting and almost freeing track called ‘P.J.R’, which unfortunately covers the sad topic of suicide.
Speaking on the release, Hydromag says “It was not easy task to write this song, it took a lot out of me and I spent far longer on it than any other song I’ve written. I’m still not sure that I’m fully happy with it, but it was a good way to address the issues I had locked away.”
Sounds like: Summer Heart, Washed Out
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Gregory Dillon – Painted Blue
We’ve had a lot of NYC-based artists on this week’s gems, however each of them have something unique to offer us.
Last but not least is Gregory Dillon and his new single, ‘Painted Blue’.
With a driving 80’s backbeat, considering a backdrop of the New York skyline, Gregory explores the city and all its musings.
Sounds like: Du Tonc, Captain Kidd
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Daniella Mason – Emotional Rollercoaster
Surprisingly, we’d not heard of Nashville-based singer/songwriter, Daniella Mason, before today, and quite frankly, we are blown away by her talent for crafting beautiful and intelligent pop music.
A journey of loss, Mason’s new record stands as one of four EPs that she’ll be releasing over the course of the next year as part of her State of Mine sound series. Each album — Emotional State, Physical State, Mental State, and Spiritual State — will explore the different parts of our humanity that we tend to suppress and have difficulty embracing.
Sounds like: Imogen Heap, The Japanese House, Robyn, Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish
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Charlee Remitz – Forever Like This
Charlee Remitz creates synth pop full of big dreams.
Having recently moved from Nashville to Los Angeles, the singer/songwriter’s music shines. Her new single ‘Forever Like This’ has lashings of 80’s inspired synths and breakaway vocals that tell a story of the first flashes of love.
It is the third single from her upcoming sophomore album, ‘Sad Girl Music’, out on 9 November.
Sounds like: Dominique, CAPPA
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CUB – Obsessed Feat. Clara Hurtado
CUB by Matt Stephens
CUB blends pop and dance sounds.
We featured his new single, ‘Obsessed’ featuring Clara Hurtado, not that long ago and he’s come back with a lively new video for it. These two don’t take themselves too seriously, which is pretty refreshing.
If you follow CUB’s Twitter you will see more videos of him and Clara goofing around.
Sounds like: Jake Alder, Diplo, Mura Masa, Zedd
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Cool Sounds – Cassandra
Australian band Cool Sounds ooze a breezy swagger, with a tad of fun awkwardness.
The video for their new single, ‘Cassandra’, is an uncomplicated, rollicking riff-driven track, with a distinctly live feel.
Watch it below.
Sounds like: Kurt Vile, Washed Out, Whitney, Mac DeMarco
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LCMDF – Waterfalls
Finnish sister duo LCMDF release ‘Waterfalls’, taken from their ‘Sad Bangers’ album, out now.
Don’t be misled by the ironically positive pop keys and resulting euphoric climax in ‘Waterfalls’, as this is an ode to Generation Y, the modern day “baby boom” generation who were born in the 1980s and 1990s…and the ones who struggle in today’s society.
Sounds like: Icona Pop, NONONO
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YOUTH – Fire
Newcomer YOUTH (aka songwriter and producer Steven Mudd) is also one half of the critically acclaimed indie-pop duo, Golden Coast.
His debut single ‘Fire’ is energetic from the get go, with a steady drum beat and finger clicks throughout, perfectly blending with the anthemic feel of the song.
Sounds like: Imagine Dragons, Golden Coast
Sugarcane – Bethnal Green Blues
Comprised of Robin French (Cuckoo) and Antonia Thomas (Misfits, Lovesick), these two creatives write seductive bossa nova music paired with calypso pop sensibilities that would fit well on the soundtrack of ‘The End of the F***ing World’.
On the motivation behind Bethnal Green Blues, Robin states,
“Sometimes you write a sad song from a happy moment. This came to me while I was flying to South America to see a girl I’d fallen for. It’s about the emotional ice age after a romance fails, but it was written as that ice melted under the Argentine sun..”
Sounds like: Nouvelle Vague, Men I Trust
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Dancing On Tables – Colour Me Good
We love an indie anthem, so thank you to five-piece pop-rock, Dancing On Tables.
The band, school friends from school in Dunfermline, a small town just outside Edinburgh, have released ‘Colour Me Good’ – a groove-laced, vintage indie-pop track that encapsulates sun-drenched, dance-able songwriting with a distinct Scottish charm.
Sounds like: Sea Girls, Biffy Clyro, Circa Waves, The 1975
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Slenderbodies – The One
Slenderbodies is a California-bred duo who write forward-thinking, dreamy synth-pop.
Their new single ‘The One’ is intricately subtle musical medication, shared in preparation of their upcoming EP, ‘SORAYA’, to be released through Los Angeles indie label Avant Garden, which is also home to Emotional Oranges.
Sounds like: Glass Animals, Alt-J, Milky Chance, Mura Masa, Passion Pit, PVRIS
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Dirty Nice – Always Summer
Forget those summer blues.
Mysterious UK-based duo, Dirty Nice, make a positive point in new single – it’s always summer, somewhere.
Released on Kitsuné, the single is an antidote to holiday blues, and the “optimistic twin” to their track ‘Zero Summer’.
Sounds like: Shy Luv, Phoenix, Daft Punk, Jai Paul, Sylvan Esso
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Gavin Haley – Sad Season
From summer season to ‘Sad Season’ with former professional cyclist Gavin Haley‘s latest single.
While competing with the national cycling team, Haley suffered an injury that resulted in a collapsed lung, setting back his travel by several months. During his recovery, he explored and found inspiration in Europe’s underground music scene, becoming enamored with energetic live performances filled with a grit and energy.
Starting with a simple West Coast-inspired guitar riff, ‘Sad Season’ soon picks up and exposes determined pop and R&B.
Sounds like: Zayn Malik, Frank Ocean, Ed Sheeran
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ROYAL – Vessel
Canadian songstress ROYAL debuts with ‘Vessel’, the first of six new tracks that appear on her upcoming album, ‘Heart of Shadows’.
Covering the topic of heartbreak, loss of identity and raw self-reflection, this is electro-pop at its finest in 2018.
Speaking about ‘Vessel,’ ROYAL says,
“This song is about heartbreak – having to let go of someone you love, and then realizing the emptiness and loss of identity that ensues. I wrote this song it while trying to find myself after getting lost within a relationship for many years and then feeling shattered by the loss of a love I thought would last a lifetime.”
Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Lana Del Rey, Evvy, Noosa, Dominique, The xx
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Von Sell – Scene Of A Crime
Last but not least, our favourite breakthrough act – self-taught producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Von Sell.
After a bout of vocal pain and subsequent treatment, we are pleased to say that Von Sell is on the mend and returning to our stereos with ‘Scene OF A Crime’.
Taken from his forthcoming sophomore EP, ‘Digital Sleep’, the song reflects on unrequited love, but, due to its uptempo nature, it will ultimately leave a taste of confusion in your mouth because you can’t help but dance despite the disconcerting subject matter.
Sounds like: Summer Heart, Hazel English, Teen Daze, Peter Gabriel, Alt-J, Thomas Azier
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Brika is the alternative pop project of Cuban-American, Briana Martinez, who has been a musician since the tender age of three.
Whilst her music maybe lyrically mature, it has a profound pop swagger, which envelopes you immediately upon first listen until you reach the end and don’t quite remember how you got there, much like a taxi ride (which incidentally ties in nicely with her current release, ‘Taxi Man’).
Brika has kindly put together a playlist for Indietronica. Check it out below.
Steve Lacy – Some
Music is a very visual art form that constantly draws pictures from moments of your past. I generally believe that one of the many elements that determine if a song is good, is its ability to make you instantly daydream. The first time I heard this song, it was very early in the morning as I was driving, and it instantly provoked exactly that. Since I’ve been hooked.
Beach House – Space Song
I love this song because there is something very bittersweet about it. It reminds me of the general music I would listen to a lot in high school.
A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean – Purity
One of my recent late-night “what is life” songs for me. I think the structure of this song is very unique and refreshing. Frank Ocean’s voice makes me instantly nostalgic.
Thom Yorke – The Eraser
This… I mean, Thom Yorke is everything. Although this song isn’t in one of my more recent plays, it is definitely a song I always go back to. The production is timeless and Yorke is anexcellent lyricist I have spent several nights just analyzing his ability to make one song perfectly summarize so many emotions.
Demo – Sunshine Girl
The song you blast in your apartment with a bottle of wine as you’re cooking a delicious meal. I am a sucker for excessive harmonies that feel effortless, old-school elements, and wavy sounding tracks.
TOPS – Easier Said
Tops is a very underrated artist.
ROSALÍA – Catalina
Rosalía embodies what the future of music is. She mixes Spanish Flamenco with modern Pop and Hip-Hop beat elements. The music she releases is extremely innovative and her lyrics are also very tasteful. Even in her attempt to do a more commercial sounding track with J Balvin in Brillo, her unique palate of influences thrive.
Feist – A Man Is Not His Song
A Man Is Not His Song is special to me. I love how she uses ‘song’ as a kind of metaphor for saying, just because an artist sings or a person portrays a certain image, doesn’t necessarily mean that is their reality. Her message can be interpreted further to say, that no one can live up to first impressions forever, in the same way, that writers of beautiful songs often create things beyond them. I think this song analyzes and embodies perfectly, what is found often in the music industry, when an artist plays the role of something they are not. Every track in album Pleasure by Feist, had a lot of interesting insights in the lyrics, and inspired me in the creation of my new EP.
Rhye – Song For You
This is a great song to drive to. I saw them live, and was extremely shocked to find the singer was actually a male and sounded exactly as the record!
Lykke Li – I Never Learn
Although this album has been around for a very long time, these are one of the songs I’ve only more recently discovered.
Moses Sumney – Plastic
I think Moses Sumney is incredible and very underrated. Everything that this artist puts out is real music. I love the soft Jazz guitar, the distant reverbed harmonies, and subtle use of strings at the end. He never disappoints in creating beautiful arrangements that are topped by tasteful lyrics.
Sounds like: Frank Ocean, Beyonce, Macy Gray
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Australian artist Max Byrne, aka Golden Vessel, is charming us with his hip-hop led latest called ‘BIGBRIGHT’, featuring Elkkle, E^ST and DUCKWRTH.
Merging the worlds of pop, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic, the foursome tell a story of a love fantasy from four different points and sounds of view.
The accompanying visuals are fun-filled, ambitious and spacey, courtesy of Harry Deadman.
Sounds like: MØ, Brolin, The National, Gang of Youths, Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, TENDER, Kanyon, REFS
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kidsun – Keep It To Yourself
kidsun (aka Ben Kidson) is a vibrant young electro-pop producer from the UK.
Going against the grain of his peers, kidsun decided he would forge his own musical path, by skipping class to teach himself drums and write music in a similar vain to Sigrid and Twenty One Pilots.
His latest result is ‘Keep It To Yourself’. Listen below.
Sounds like: Twenty One Pilots
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Madge – How To Play
Who is Madge? Well, you’re about to find out. Possibly.
Madge is a DIY-pop project from L.A, who creates candy-licked songs about dark emotional matter. her single ‘How To Play’ is more literal and fun than her usual endeavours, “something simple, repetitive, and literal.”
Sounds like: LCMDF, Annie
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CUB – Obsessed
CUB by Matt Stephens
Wow, we cannot get enough of CUB‘s new single, ‘Obsessed’ featuring Clara Hurtado.
Naturally slotting into the pop and electronic dance realms, Clara’s smooth vocals float between a quirky guitar hook and pounding bass line to create a club-infused pop cocktail.
Sounds like: Jake Alder, Diplo, Mura Masa, Zedd
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Country Line Runner – Wide Eyes
Country Line Runner writes ballads with heart and meaning.
‘Wide Eyes’ is about that pivotal moment when you realise going back is harder than moving forward. The pain, but also the revelation.
Sounds like: Bruce Springsteen, Ten Fe, War On Drugs
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New Spell – Like Water
New Spell is an electronic duo comprised of singer-songwriter and trainee therapist, Leanne Kelly, and drummer Jacob Frautschi.
They enjoy using music to heal whilst they discuss topics such as relationship challenges, mental health, and the digital age.
Sounds like: Phantogram, Portishead, Hundred Waters
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Deliah – Infinite
Deliah, is the collective name for a group of four musicians and producers from Liverpool and London with a unique and distinctive fusion of cinematic, almost musical sounds, taken from influences within soul, electronica, funk and indie.
Speaking of their new single ‘Infinite’, the band say,
“Infinite: focuses on the next part of the journey – mastering a craft. The time and effort put into creating, and achieving, potential can be lost through a struggle and ambition that can have no definitive end point.Who defines something as ‘good’, or a success? Who defines someone as ‘good’, or a success? When is the artist, or craftsman, finished in this endeavour? And, was the finished product worth the struggle.”
Sounds like: Madonna
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The music of Evalyn is not the usual sound you hear from Los Angeles of late. It’s playlist, seductive and all together sinful.
‘A Pill to Crush’ is track three on her ‘Salvation’ EP, which examines the seven deadly sins with each song, and explores the sin of wrath in a grungy and hazy pop pit.
The ‘Salvation’ EP is out next week.
Sounds like: Garbage, Lilies on Mars
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Following his awesome collab with Broods and still buzzing from a second Coachella appearance, Whethan shares news single ‘Superlove’ featuring London-based alt-pop duo Oh Wonder.
It is essentially an extremely happy love song with delicate tropical rhythms. Expect no sullen vocals and sultry tones here!
It’s out now on Big Beat Records.
Sounds like: Fickle Friends, Bastille, Kid Astray, Banks, Paperwhite, Years & Years, Bipolar Sunshine, Broods, Draper
Whethan
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OH Wonder
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OTR and Blondage
We are super excited to share OTR‘s new single in which he has teamed up with Blondage.
Despite what the name suggests, ‘Cold Facts’ is a sensitive and positive piece of work, written about shedding toxic relationships, just as the snow melts and hearts thaw.
Sounds like: Charli XCX, Hotel Garuda, Gryffin, ODESZA, Petit Biscuit, Porter Robinson
OTR
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Blondage
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Anna Pancaldi – What I’ve Become
Luxury gin brand owner, Anna Pancaldi releases her new single ‘What I’ve Become’.
Much like it takes time to create a distinguished bottle of gin, Anna finely tunes her music, and constantly evolves as a singer/songwriter. This time round she gives the electric guitar a go.
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RAINDEAR – Coins
One by one the coins fall by the wayside. RAINDEAR‘s latest jam continues the theme of authentic, experimental melodic pop.
It’s written about “the last efforts you give to someone before you (not a day too soon) give them up completely. Just like when you pay your last coins to something, you don’t really care where they go anymore cause you’re so exhausted and broke and have zero fucks left to give.” Damn right girl!
Sounds like: Little Dragon, Ballet School, Kate Boy, Lykke Li, Phantogram, Santigold, SBTRKT, CSS
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Fred Nicholas – C’est la vie
From one pop-loaded self-examining Swede to another. Singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Fred Nicholas shares new single ‘C’est la vie’.
The track is lyric-driven and pop-loaded, and perfect for chilling out to with a nice glass of vino. Cheers!
Sounds like: Rationale, Seinabo Sey
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SHE Major – Quiet House
Let’s slow it down a bit. Belgium-based artist SHE Major shows her quiet and more mature side in ‘Quiet House’.
Listen out for sultry vocals and R&B-infused electronica.
‘Quiet House’ will be part of SHE Major debut ‘Music In’ EP, which will be released on 6 July via [PIAS].
Sounds like: Banks
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Louis Fulton – Kevin’s Heart Feat. Bellah, BXRBER & Armani White
Finally this week is ‘Kevin’s Heart’ by LA-based producer Louis Fulton.
We have no idea who Kevin is, but one thing this song does do is showcase Louis’s ability as a smooth talker and beat-maker, effortlessly flipping the J. Cole cover.
Sounds like: Ariana Grande
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