sundayclub • Sad Summer • 2026

Winnipeg dream-pop outfit sundayclub unpack the emotions tied to the warmer months on "Sad Summer", a wistful anthem about the struggle to live in the moment. bestfit

“...dramatically twinkling” - Exclaim!  “Camera Shy”

 

“With its swirl of warm synths and guitars, Camera Shy gently reminds us to just put down our devices and bask in the glow of the moment instead” - CBC MUSIC

 

“[‘Camera Shy’ is] bringing in the shoegaze vibes…with a ‘90s rock sparkle”  

- Guitar World (Editor's Picks) 

“Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre’s forthcoming self-titled debut revels in the chaos of youth” - FLOOD 

https://ffm.to/sundayclub

ifitbeyourwill Podcast #178 • Second Body

Montreal’s Second Body returns with up and coming release Gift Horse, a record born from curiosity, confidence, and the willingness to let songs become something unexpected. In this conversation, songwriter and former drummer Yann explores the leap from the back of the stage to the front, the creative freedom found in surrendering control, and the balancing act of music, family, and everyday life. We dive into songwriting as discovery, the vibrant Montreal music community, and why some of the best songs arrive when you simply keep showing up and listening.

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Young Lovers • Mourning Routine • 2026

 

For Los Angeles-based post-rock/shoegaze band Young Lovers, love has always been a hard thing to write about. As Baldwin notes, love is inherently tied to growth – it is growth. And this growth can only ever be found within the inevitable, mysterious, and painful process of maturation, a process that can only ever be completed if one is ready to go through it. For Young Lovers, this process, with all its uncertainties, dead ends, and unbreakable cycles became the band’s own portrait in 2026, crystallized in their upcoming LP, The Circle’s End.

"balancing emotional weight with expansive instrumental storytelling"
-The Daily Music Report

"‘Back Again’ arrives as a striking instrumental piece, moving from hazy, atmospheric passages into a powerful crescendo of layered guitars and percussion. The track reflects a more expansive and emotionally direct direction for the group as they move toward their second full-length release."
-Psychedelic Baby Mag

https://youngloversla.com/

ifitbeyourwill Podcast #177 • zzzahara

On this episode of ifitbeyourwill, zzzahara talks about the new album Distant Lands — a record shaped by distance, emotional drift, and the search for connection inside everyday uncertainty. The conversation moves through formative musical memories, relationships, identity, and the comfort of making songs that don’t try to hide their bruises. From discovering emotion through the Selena soundtrack to embracing vulnerability in their songwriting, zzzahara reflects on creating music that feels lived-in, intimate, and deeply human. A thoughtful conversation about longing, memory, and finding clarity inside the noise. 

Zzzahara’s latest album came to them in a dream. Despite being born and raised in Los Angeles, Zahara had never really gotten into David Lynch. When he died at the start of 2025, they dove into his archive of films and interviews. “He's so weird,” they laugh. “Always talking about how ‘everything's a dream!’ And you know what? At that moment, I couldn’t remember the last time I dreamed. I thought, that’s fucked up. So I started taking magnesium and shit, trying to see what it was like to dream again.”

ifitbeyourwill Podcast #176 • Sungaze

Cincinnati's Sungaze make the kind of shoegaze where the haze finally lifts. On this episode, married duo Ivory Snow and Ian Hilvert trace the unlikely arc from death-metal speed runs to restraint—the notes you don't play—and the slow build toward a sound with intent. They talk Slowdive and Tame Impala, a homemade guitar gifted for a 26th birthday, and the quiet domestic alchemy of writing as a couple. Their new record, I Am No Longer Afraid of Heights, lands May 22nd, ahead of a June tour through New York and Boston.

https://www.sungazemusic.com/

ifitbeyourwill Podcast #173 • Should

Marc Ostermeier and Tanya Maus of the cult shoegaze duo Should stop by for their first ever podcast interview to celebrate the deluxe reissue of Feed Like Fishes, out now via Numero Group.

From basement 8-tracks in early 90s Austin to a new generation of fans discovering their music on Instagram — Should's story is one worth hearing. Marc breaks down his obsessive approach to crafting atmospheric sound, Tanya reflects on finding her voice in unexpected places, and both drop a tantalizing hint about new music.

Thirty years later, Should still sounds like nothing else.

Available on Bandcamp. Go give it a listen. 

http://www.words-on-music.com/should/

Magic Castles • Hey Alright • 2026

 

Magic Castles are back with new album ‘Realized’, a set of lush psych-rock reveries from Minneapolis songwriter Jason Edmonds, blending late-60s folk-rock warmth with shoegaze shimmer. Newly signed to Fuzz Club, ‘Realized’ takes Magic Castles’ music to a newfound level of clarity, whilst still retaining that same, long-harboured analogue warmth only made possible through an array of vintage amps, guitars and transistor organs. Released April 24th 2026, ‘Realized’ consists of nine dreamlike, melody-led trips that unfold in waves. Equal parts hazy nostalgia and widescreen modern psychedelia, centring dreamy, heavily-layered arrangements and floating vocal harmonies.

Sister Ray Davie • Big Ships (Live Guitar Armada Version) • 2026

 

https://linktr.ee/sisterraydavies

Holy Island Baby plays around with the original tracks in fascinating ways. Pye Corner Audio has made new shapes out of both ‘Aidan’ and ‘Morning Bell’; the former with a harder, Suicide-style approach, the latter elevating the almost ambient nature of the original.

“This version of ‘Aidan’ found new space, new depths, new melodies and new rhythms,” enthuses Adam. “While the mix of ‘Morning Bell’ carries the song into a whole new, mythic place.

“The EP adds extra layers to the original album. We’re aware that it’s a short record, so having some additional tracks to dive into feels like a way to extend your stay in that space as a listener. There is more down the rabbit hole. Genre collapses a bit, too, which is great.”

Sungaze • I'm No Longer Afraid of Heights • 2026

https://www.sungazemusic.com/

Helmed by songwriters Ian Hilvert and Ivory Snow, Sungaze examine nostalgia without rose-colored glasses on their fullest exploration of Midwest emo, shoegaze, and alt-rock to date. "I'm No Longer Afraid of Heights" opens with slide guitar floating atop acoustic guitar and a steady drum beat, immediately invoking those long summer days of childhood when the world felt full of possibility, before the first chorus quietly shifts the emotional weight from comfort toward resigned hopelessness, even as Snow's vocal delivery barely changes. 

A poignant bridge confronts time's indifference head-on, propelling the song away from resignation and toward something more urgent. The music video, shot over three days in the small Ohio town that inspired the song, uses water, movement, and live performance as parallel paths toward release, with a dual ending cutting between Snow floating serenely in a childhood river spot in office attire, and crowd-surfing at a Sungaze show in a white lace dress.

above me • Soften The Blows • 2026

above me is the main songwriting vehicle for SF based artist Rick Altieri, formerly of Blue Ocean and drummer in Aluminum. A project defined by guitar driven pop songs reinforced with drum machines, sampled beats, dreamy synths and strange sound design treats.

Equally rooted in the realms of shoegaze and sample based electronica, above me doesn’t set out to reinvent any particular sound but pays homage to a wide variety of influences from mbv and Chapterhouse to Autechre and OPN.

ifitbeyourwill #167 • Sister Ray Davies

ifitbeyourwill Podcast sits down with Adam Morrow of Sister Ray Davies — a shoegaze duo based in the legendary music town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They dig into the making of their debut record Holy Island, the duo's deep love of ambient and post-punk sounds, and an upcoming remix EP dropping April 20, 2026. Plus, a  track from Holy Island closes out the episode. Essential listening for fans of atmospheric, genre-defying music.

 

https://www.instagram.com/sisterraydavies/

Sister Ray Davies • Holy Island Baby • 2026

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Holy Island is a rare debut. Thoughtful, melodic and full of intent without ever becoming heavy handed. The lads have built something that feels as if it has always existed. You sense the fun they had making it and the meaning they found inside it. I really struggled to find musical parallels to help you understand who they are and the noise they make. I can only think of the Beachy Head project for a couple of the songs. Other than that, this is very much its own thing and if you let it, it might very well become yours too. SSClub

Second Body • Gift Horse • 2025

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Seko • Say Hi to the Sun • 2026

https://www.instagram.com/seko.band/

ifitbeyourwill S06 E21 • Highschool

HighSchool came together during Melbourne’s lockdowns, when time felt strange and options were limited. Instead of overthinking it, they focused on what they could control: making songs, working quickly, and trusting their taste. From the start, they weren’t chasing big arrangements or studio tricks. The songs came from a mood first — images, colours, a general feeling — and the music followed. Tempos stayed high. Parts stayed tight. If something didn’t serve the song, it didn’t stay. That approach runs through their self-titled debut.

A lot of that clarity comes from how the band works as a duo. Both are multi-instrumentalists, but roles matter. Lily, who began on drums before moving to synth, brings a strong sense of taste that keeps things from getting too clean or overworked. Sometimes the “right” part isn’t the most emotional one, and she’s often the voice pushing the song back toward feel instead of finish. When they moved to London, the process stayed the same. Writing became routine — like showing up to work — without forcing outcomes. They spent months in South Bermondsey, using a small studio as a shelter from the weather and the noise of the city. Melodies showed up when they were ready, sometimes half-asleep, sometimes all at once.

The album itself pulls from different moments. Some tracks took shape slowly. Others happened fast. Sony Ericsson is a good example — nearly scrapped, then rebuilt from scratch in a single day. That urgency is part of what makes it work. Mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer, the record keeps its rough edges while sounding focused. You can hear traces of shoegaze, post-punk, and dream-pop, but nothing feels overstated. It’s music that leaves space, but still moves.

Since release, the response has grown steadily. Radio support in Australia, the US, and the UK has brought new listeners back through the catalogue, song by song. There’s no big reset — just forward motion. The plan is simple: tour, write, release often, and don’t wait around for perfect.

HighSchool’s story isn’t about hype or reinvention. It’s about trusting your instincts, keeping the process lean, and letting the song do what it needs to do.

linktr.ee/High_School

direct link MP3

ifitbeyourwill S06E18 • sundayclub

A happy mistake at a concert.

A guitar rediscovered in the back of a closet.

Two students on totally different paths who somehow found the same sound.

That’s the origin story of sundayclub, a rural Manitoba duo whose music feels like it was pulled from an ’80s Polaroid—warm, hazy, and quietly intentional. Their new EP, Bannatyne, captures that balance perfectly: pop instincts wrapped in dream-pop atmosphere, four tracks that melt into one continuous mood.

When you talk to Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre, you get the sense that their process is equal parts chaos and craft. Courtney writes with a diarist’s honesty, often chasing the feeling a moment left behind. Nick builds the sonic world around those words, leaning on production chops and an obsession with tone. A simple tuning shift to open C cracked something open—suddenly, new harmonies and melodies started falling out of the guitar.

They work fast to capture the spark, then slow down for the final stretch, refusing to rush a lyric or sand off a rough edge just to be “done.” That patience shows. Banatine isn’t a playlist of singles—it’s a short film in sound, one that breathes and unfolds with intention.

Their path to Paper Bag Records came with its own lucky breaks—a well-timed mastering grant, a few key community ties, and a lot of persistence. Listeners have already gravitated toward Nuclear Fallout, a track that wasn’t meant to be the standout but hit something unexpected. Courtney and Nick say that kind of connection means more than any genre label could.

Looking ahead, they’re teasing a reimagined “Last Christmas”, a run of Canadian shows, and new singles that stretch their sound without losing its heart.

If you’re into indie pop, dream pop, odd guitar tunings, and the craft behind a cohesive EP, this one’s for you. Stream the episode, spin Banatine front to back, and see which moment sticks. And if you love what you hear, share it with a friend—because that’s how good music travels.

 

https://www.sundayclub.band/

Constant Smiles • Moonflowers • 2025

Much like the night-blooming flora the album takes its name from, Constant Smiles’ Felte debut Moonflowers is the product of slow, largely unseen patterns of growth. The New York-based band forged a strange and fascinating path all their own on the way here, one that has traipsed through various home bases, an exceptionally fluid lineup, and wild changes to their sound on almost every entry in a small kingdom of stylistically restless releases. Though the band gradually grew from existing as an amorphous collection of highly conceptual ideas and experiments into something easier to grasp, every step of their unlikely route has led to Moonflowers, a subtle masterpiece of internally-born ambient pop.

https://constantsmilesmusic.com/category/blog/

ifitbeyourwill S06E09 • Living Hour

The first spark was private: long walks, headphones on, and albums that asked for total attention. From there, Living Hour grew into a band that treats dynamics like storytelling—opening with noise that dissolves into hush, letting melodies carry both weight and warmth, and trusting listeners to lean in. We sit down with Sam and Gil to trace the arc from university jams in Winnipeg’s DIY rooms to a studio session that captured the bold confidence of Internal Drone Infinity, their new record dropping October 17.

We unpack how ambient influences—Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Explosions in the Sky, and the Social Network score—shaped a patient, spacious approach to songwriting. Sam explains how ideas begin as fragments and vowel sounds, how a riff earns its place by refusing to fade, and how lyrics stepped forward across albums until the new songs felt fully owned. Gil maps the shift from guitar‑forward interplay to arrangements built around Sam’s melodies, and what happens when a new drummer changes the band’s gait in the best way. Touring comes to life here too: the van routines, modular setlists that fit quiet rooms and rock clubs, and the small onstage transitions that make the show breathe.

You’ll hear why release season feels like nesting and training, how social media becomes part amplifier, part chore, and why November’s run is designed like a marathon. We also look ahead: February dates on the West Coast, hopes for Europe and Australia, and a folder of demos that might become an EP. Sam’s ambient side project, Pure Pulp, threads back to the beginning—proof that the private room where songs start remains the core of the band’s voice. If you love indie rock steeped in ambient textures, slow‑core dynamics, and heartfelt vocals, this conversation will lock you in. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs new music, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

livinghourband.com

On Internal Drone Infinity, Winnipeg’s Living Hour transforms the passage of time into something both urgent and sacred. Anchored by Sam Sarty’s vivid lyricism, shaped by years as a projectionist conjuring stories in a dark theater, the band explores the quiet magic hidden in everyday life. Their fourth album drifts between dreamy noise rock, folky slowcore, and fuzzy indie-pop, coining a genre all their own:“yearn-core.”With wistful vocals, textural distortion, and poetic detail, Living Hour capture the ache of memory, the mess of feeling, and the beauty in what remains.

THIS HOUSE IS CREAKING • 2 LAMP (lava lamp) • 2025

 Today, Chicago band This House is Creaking (THiC) share their new single “2 LAMP (lava lamp).” Characterized by THiC’s sticky, catchy sound, this new track comes out swinging with distortion, knotty, fuzzed-out guitar, and, true to THiC form, unexpected left turns. Written last year after bandmates Ehmed Nauman and Micah Miller moved into a new apartment together, the song marked a moment of change, both in their living situations and in their creative collaboration. Through this shift, they found a shared creative space to consistently work through ideas together, finding themes that they wanted to keep exploring. The track pins down that moment of rebirth, of reflection — of when you find yourself yelling questions you didn’t know you had.

The wave breaks

Let the water wash over my body

Cleanse me I’m making a change

‘Cause when I see you my head gets heavy

I have to close my eyes I don’t think that I’m ready

Living Hour • Best I Did It • 2025

“Some of the most heartsick synth-pop since Cocteau Twins. We're talking sweeping casios, massive hooks, and lovey-dovey feelings big enough to float on.”

- Noisey

 

“a piece of hooky, delicately-noisy indie rock that maintains their reputation as one of the better contemporary bands doing the shoegaze thing right now.”

- Stereogum

“Living Hour combine fuzzy, melodic, psych-rock riffs with washed-out textures and powerful, stirring vocals to create a sound that pours over the space and engulfs its audience.”

- The Underground

 

“Like your favorite sweater or a bowl of cacio e pepe, “Wheel” is warm and comforting, with perfect fuzzy guitar tone, a whispery descending chord progression, and a verse melody that gives way to a soaring, gloriously noisy chorus with twin leads. This really, really hits the spot.”

- Brooklyn Vegan

"Slowdive just returned, but shoegaze music was already in good hands with Living Hour."

- NPR

https://tellallyourfriendspr.us