Icarus Phoenix • “Feel” • 2024

 

The more you experience in life, the more opportunity for growth and understanding. Empathy. Confidence. Boundaries. Self awareness. 

Nothing is sexier to me than communicating through difficulties. To listen and be heard. To come to a common understanding. To work together. 

We encapsulate light and love in our actions and we express that physically. That's what wisdom and growth brings to the bedroom. 

Garlen Lo • 'Pretty Baby’ • 2024

garlenlo.com

Pretty Baby' is Garlen Lo's eighth single. A love song he wrote when he was 17. After 20 years of playing it at family gatherings (it’s everyone’s favourite), it’s finally released to the world. It's twee indie pop. A mix between Sam Cooke and The Moldy Peaches. 

Tiny Leaves • Anthropocene • 2024

Website

Critically acclaimed soundscape artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Joel Pike, known as Tiny Leaves, returns with a compelling two-part suite, Anthropocene & Above/below. Following his widely celebrated 2023 album Mynd, recorded during a residency with the National Trust at Long Mynd and lauded by Electronic Sound, Countryfile, BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio 3, Clash, Headphone Commute, A Closer Listen, Bandcamp, and more, Tiny Leaves continues his journey into the intersection of music and nature. With this new release, Pike explores the fragility and resilience of the natural world, crafting evocative soundscapes that speak directly to the times we live in.Twenty percent of the royalties from each track will be donated to EarthPercent, a charity dedicated to addressing the climate and nature crisis.

Dopamine • Angela • 2024

“Fleshed out like a latter-day Strokes cut but with a clean UK indie finish. Dopamine doing it right!” TRIPLE J UNEARTHED, DAVE RUBY HOWE

 Instagram

Of the new single, Dopamine say:

“It's about coming back to a place that has a lot of memories for you. I don’t think “Angela” represents a person but more a place. A place that encapsulated your life at a certain point but now is just a memory.”

“We’ve just finished building our own studio and this was the first track that we recorded and mixed there. We were working on an old song of ours and it just wasn’t coming together. We were trying to get excited about it, but we were just sick of listening to it. We were probably a bit drunk and overconfident and had the idea to just write and record a new song that night and this is the song that came out of it. All the songs were recorded in our studio that night, it sounds amazing!”

NO MUSEUMS • Lowways • 2024

The Lighter Dark Age (December 2023)
"They’ve crafted these intimate listening situations, continuously evolving and continuously releasing great LPs"
Austin Town Hall, December 2023

"Slathered with whirring, melodic, Guided By Voices-style beauty...Edmonton’s No Museums remain one of the most enduring and under-rated indie secrets around."
Janglepop, November 2023

Folk Terrors (October 2022)
"Too busy to be haunting, too whirring to be melodic, these tracks prosper in the ultimately cool musical hinterland between"
Janglepophub, November 2022

Pale Blue Eyes (February 2022)
"...evoke the moderate, chord-wrangling hangover of Sebadoh and New Radiant Storm King"
The Big Takeover, issue 91, Autumn 2022

The Cure • Songs Of A Lost World • 2024

After 16 years of waiting, the Cure have finally returned with their 14th studio album, Songs Of A Lost World, a perfectly Smith-ian blend of melancholy and wistfulness. As with just about every new Cure release, this is more than just a normal album - it’s a bridge to a time before, filled with the signature Cure moodiness that only Robert Smith and band can bring to life. At a time when the world feels adrift, Smith and company somehow sound timeless and even more eerily relevant.

Songs Of A Lost World was born from sessions dating back to 2019, with the album’s recording at Rockfield Studios in Wales, a fittingly isolated landscape for Smith's introspective musings. While pandemic delays held up the release, Smith worked alongside Paul Corkett, who previously worked with the band on Bloodflowers, to shape the record's sound. The result is a darkly atmospheric production, with Smith layering ghostly vocals, his iconic six-string bass, and keyboards. Longtime bassist Simon Gallup, drummer Jason Cooper, keyboardist Roger O’Donnell, and guitarist Reeves Gabrels, in his first full album appearance since joining in 2012, have created a record that’s both densely textured and quintessentially Cure.

 https://thecure.lnk.to/SongsOfALostWorldYT

Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom • "Snow Is Falling in Manhattan” • 2024

Dean Wareham believes Purple Mountains’ “Snow Is Falling in Manhattan” is destined to be a holiday classic. Certainly, that wasn’t David Berman’s intention when writing—on the contrary, the lyrics reveal its real purpose: a farewell. Recorded shortly after Berman’s tragic death, its beautiful, yet sparse production has a solitary feeling to it. Its inclusion on Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom’s A Peace of Us allows us to feel the bittersweet amongst all the holiday cheer.  

Magana • Dreams • 2024

 

Magana is the solo-project of acclaimed LA-based multi-instrumentalist and photographer Jeni Magaña, who is presently touring the world on bass and backing vocals for Mitski (she also recently played on Mitski’s “Coyote, My Little Brother” / “Buffalo Replaced” single), and is also one-half of the pen pin pop duo.

In March she returned from a three year-absence with the acclaimed ‘Teeth’ LP, which was released via Audio Antihero. While that return album boasted a “Witchy Rock” sound that combined Acid Folk, Synth Pop, and Indie Rock, her new project is something quite different.

‘DREAMS’ is a peaceful stroll through the inner workings of our minds at sleep. It is a collection of Jeni Magaña's dreams, recorded upon waking over a period of six months, and then set to music. Each dream is woven in between ambient instrumentals related to the various stages of sleep. It is recommended to listen to ‘DREAMS’ out in the world with headphones that are not noise cancelling, so that the ambient sounds of the world around you is able to blend with the sounds of the record. The album was released as a limited-edition cassette by the UK-based Hand Drawn Hand experimental record label, and it’s accompanied by an A5 book of Magaña's photography.

Artist Quote:

“There is a space between fully asleep and fully awake that I want to explore. This is represented in some of the ambient tracks, which I think of largely as that space between being awake and falling asleep, while the dreams more represent the transition between being asleep and waking up. This mental dusk is beautiful, and deserves its own exploration.” – Jeni Magaña (October 2024)

A collection of dreams recorded over 6 months and set to music, then weaved into ambient instrumentals all themed around sleep. Light a candle, get under the covers and explore the inner maze of DREAMS.

ifitbeyourwill S04E13 • Ben Lee

Ben Lee joins us for a fascinating journey through his life and career, offering insights into his musical beginnings and creative evolution. From the formation of Noise Addict as a teenager to the crafting of his solo debut album "Grandpaw Would". Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for Ben's knack for creating catchy pop gems and his unwavering commitment to genuine artistic expression.

The podcast delves into the crucial support of Ben's father, who played an instrumental role in his early music career. His father's unwavering dedication opened unexpected doors, including opportunities with Sonic Youth and Grand Royal, the label established by the Beastie Boys. Ben reflects candidly on the challenges he faced, balancing ambition with reality, and important career milestones, such as his experiences recording "Breathing Tornadoes."

Finally, we explore Ben's perspective on the ever-evolving music industry and the impact of emerging platforms on modern creativity. Embracing change while staying true to his indie rock roots, Ben discusses the creative freedom streaming platforms provide and the influence of 90s music on his new projects. From upcoming singles to exciting ventures like a children's TV show pitch, Ben's positive energy and passion for exploring creativity across diverse mediums shine through, offering inspiration for both artists and fans alike.

 

https://www.ben-lee.com/

“Weirder Together with Ben Lee & Ione Skye" is a weekly, 30 min podcast that gives an insight into the marriage of two offbeat creative artists who somehow make it work. It has bee called "comforting", "cozy" and "disarmingly funny”.

https://www.weirdertogether.com/gallery

John Frum Cargo Cult • Sing Sing • 2024

On Tanna island in Vanuatu people believe in a mythical man called John Frum (possibly a corruption of 'from' since he was reputed to be from Amercia) who appeared in 1937. He told the islanders that they should abandoned Western habits including money, western education and Christianity, and go back to their old traditions, living by their 'kastom' (Pidgin English for 'custom'). In exchange for this they would receive 'cargo', or wealth and prosperity. Every day in Lamakara village, followers of the cult raise an American flag which symbolises the power and material wealth which they see as still being monopolised by Westerners.

Cargo cults are religious practices in Melanesia, the Pacific region stretching from Fiji in the East to Papua New Guinea in the West, which focus on obtaining the 'cargo' (or material wealth) from the Western World through magic, religious rituals and practices. Cargo cult followers believe that their ancestors bequeathed them the cargo but crafty westerners took possession of it and deprived them of their inheritance. At the beginning of the 20th century, cargo cult devotees were constructing big wooden aircraft, landing strips and bamboo control towers, duplicating some of 'white man's rituals' in the hope they would attract real airplanes with cargo to the island. Nowadays these traditions have declined but older followers of some of the cults still remember the good old times when they would imitate the behaviour of American soldiers who came to their islands during the World War.” By @lens_pacific

https://www.vladsokhin.com/

ifitbeyourwill S04E12 • Namra Beatrix Saleem of Crybaby Claire

Namra Saleem, better known as Crybaby Claire, shares her inspiring journey from a small Norwegian town to the bustling streets of Oslo, and how a spontaneous moment at a "nachspiel" with the Talking Heads blaring sparked her passion for music. Without formal training, Namra's determination led her to pick up the guitar and bass, form a band, and explore the energetic realms of punk and Riot Grrrl music. Her story is a testament to the power of DIY artistry as she eventually took an Ableton course to create music on her own, crafting a distinct sound that combines nostalgic elements with raw emotion.

Immerse yourself in the colorful world of Crybaby Claire, where deeply personal lyrics meet upbeat, danceable rhythms. Namra shares how her influences, from Le Tigre to the DIY spirit of Molly Nilsson, shape her music-making process, which often begins with the beat before the melody finds its place. We explore her creative journey, focusing on the authenticity and simplicity that drive her art, and how she captures the raw essence of her first vocal takes to preserve genuine emotion.

The path to a solo career is paved with challenges, but Namra's story is about overcoming fears and finding joy in self-expression. A turning point came when life circumstances prompted her to embark on a solo project, using a cassette player for her first gig's backing tracks and planning to incorporate her cultural heritage into future works. As we anticipate her upcoming EP and live performances, this episode celebrates the courage of a DIY artist stepping into the spotlight, marking the start of an exciting new chapter that promises to resonate with listeners and music lovers alike.

 

With "Baby You Can Hold Me", Crybaby Claire delivers a track that perfectly strikes the balance between melancholy and playful electro pop. The song captivates with its atmospheric synths and carefree vocals, reminiscent of the lightness of the 80s. The minimalist structure and the simple but effective lyrics make the song catchy and ensure that it gets stuck in your head. electrozombies

CRYBABY CLAIRE (@crybaby_claire)Instagram

Abbie Ozard • you're like the sun • 2024

INSTAGRAM

On ‘you’re like the sun’ - the new single which leads the package, Abbie says:

“'you’re like the sun’ was an idea that I had started while I was writing the album, but I only got around to finishing it recently and I really wanted to get it out there. It’s an anthem for all of those people who don’t realise how special they are, who lift us up and make life feel a little bit better.  I hope this track can also bring a bit of light and warmth right now.”

And on the acoustic versions, she continues:

“I’m super happy to have the acoustic versions of some of my favourite songs from the album included in this package too.  A lot of the songs on the record were written acoustically so it only made sense to strip them back to the bare bones so they can be explored in a totally different way.”

Denison Witmer • "Older and Free” • 2024

Website

“One of the benefits of getting older and knowing yourself is being able to seek out the things that reset you in times when things feel off balance,” said Witmer. “For me, alone time is very important. Nature is very important. Moving my body and getting lost in my thoughts has become a must - whether it be running or, in the case of this song, hiking. I wrote this song when I was solo camping for a night at French Creek State Park not far from my home in PA. During Covid lockdown, my wife and I realized that we would burn out in the responsibilities of our day-to-day life if we didn't take time to ourselves. The melody and lyrics came to me as I was hiking the Lenape Trail back to my campsite. I have a little classical guitar that goes with me most places, and I wrote the song in completion that evening. I got so attached to the sound that the little guitar ended up being the instrument we recorded the basic tracks with.”

Anyone Awake • Late Night Driver • 2024

Website

Hailing from Rigby, Idaho, Anyone Awake is an alternative indie band comprised of Cassius Coleman (17), Rylan Sager (22), Sam Butterfield (17) and Seth Chamberlain (22). Since their inception in late 2022, the band has released a series of singles and a couple EPs. Today, Anyone Awake is sharing their debut full length LP, Bushel And A Peck.

Bushel And A Peck is a nine track project that outlines the story of co-founder Cassius (Cash) Coleman’s grandparents, from their relationship's start to end regarding the passing of his grandfather in February 2024. "Each song reflects not only their love story but also pieces of my own life and personal experiences," Cash says. He began writing the songs when he was 13, and since then has been developing his ability to compose chord progressions and vocal melodies.

Tele Novella • Vampire Cowgirl • 2024

https://pocp.co/poets-tooth

We’ve been dying to share Tele Novella’s new video for "Vampire Cowgirl," directed by the talented Vanessa Pla. Check out some behind-the-scenes shots from the making of this hauntingly captivating video, and grab a copy of Poet's Tooth on the newly announced blood-red vinyl variant—shipping in January 2025!

Hotgirl • In Your Head • 2024

https://lnk.fuga.com/hotgirl_inyourhead

Bursting beyond DIY origins in the bedroom of lead vocalist Ashley Abbedeen - Hotgirl have quickly established themselves as one of the most buzzed about acts on Dublin’s music scene. Bolstered by the angular lead guitar lines of Sophie Boxwell, the booming breakbeats of Nick Stanley and the low-end thump of Jake Hurley (Local Boy) - the quartet’s idiosyncratic take on alternative rock has seen them play at sold-out events in venues such as Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and Brixton’s Windmill, earning them supports with veterans (The Libertines) and contemporaries (Sprints, Pillow Queens, Fat Dog) alike. 

Having spent 2024 honing new material with producer Neil Kennedy (Milk Teeth, Creeper) and playing festivals at home and internationally with their typically raucous live energy; Hotgirl are gearing up for the release of their forthcoming EP out early next year, showcasing the eccentricities that set the band aside from their peers. 

On the EP’s lead single ‘In Your Head’, the group oscillates manically between sweetly melodic verses and hard, explosive hooks before shifting into an entirely new sonic backdrop for the track’s outro section. Detailing its origins, Abbedeen explained:

“This is a song about a boy I loved that really wanted me to write a song about him. I found it hard during our two years together to feel inspired enough to do it in any truly meaningful way, as I was actively suppressing what I thought of our relationship. The truth was that as much as we were in love, we were too dependent on each other to feel good about ourselves and ultimately needed to break up. It took us a long time to realise that the only thing that hurt more than being apart was being together. I am grateful for our relationship as it taught me a lot about myself. Finally giving up on it once and for all and trusting my gut gave me a newfound confidence in myself that had been dormant for way too long”

ifitbeyourwill S04E11 • Maria Maita-Keppeler of MAITA

Join us as Maria Maita-Keppeler of MAITA takes us on her remarkable journey of musical evolution and personal growth. Discover how she transitioned from playing complex violin pieces to crafting heartfelt songs with guitar and lyrics that cut straight to the heart. Learn how Maria's songwriting style has evolved over the years, moving toward a balance of figurative language and concise impact that resonates with her growing fanbase.

Maria offers a behind-the-scenes look at maintaining creative control during the production of her album "Want," especially in the midst of a global pandemic. Experience the emotional depth and introspection that shaped this collection of songs, each standing strong as a single while together forming a cohesive narrative. From discussing the aesthetics of music video production to the artistic decisions that keep her work authentic, Maria shares insights into navigating the modern music landscape with creativity and vision.

She opens up about the shift from inviting friends to her gigs to witnessing the growth of a dedicated audience eager to attend her shows. Listen as Maria explores the nuanced dynamics of relationships, emphasizing the power of clear communication and understanding each other's unspoken desires. Whether you’re a musician, music lover, or someone intrigued by the art of storytelling, Maria's journey offers a rich tapestry of insights and inspiration.

MAITA uses her songs -- bursting, overflowing with language and sharp turns of phrase -- as a forum for unvarnished expression."- KEXP

https://www.maitamusic.com/

Metal Bubble Trio • Cucumber • 2024

www.metalbubbletrio.com

Discussing the “Cucumber” single, Dost notes, "I knew the album would be called ‘Cucumber’ and that there would be a title track long before I knew what that meant. It just felt right - Cucumber. It kept percolating in my head, lyrics gradually formed, and I worked with Chris Hatfield to help bring it to life. The song kind of brings the themes of the album full-circle. It’s about the bits of information that get lost when people die, get divorced, or otherwise lose touch. The recipe only your grandma could make, that’s impossible to replicate. The breakfast spot you went to in Brooklyn that you don’t want to trouble an ex to ask about.

The Routes • Surfin’ Pleasures • 2024

The unstoppable surf-rock innovators The Routes return with their latest release, Surfin’ Pleasures, out on November 8th via Topsy-Turvy Records. Known for their "beat-you-to-death surf music" (as described by Iggy Pop), the band takes a bold new direction by reimagining the iconic music of Joy Division.

Following their successful surf interpretations of Kraftwerk and Buzzcocks, Surfin’ Pleasures is not a typical tribute album. Instead of straightforward cover versions, The Routes have carefully deconstructed 12 of Joy Division’s classic tracks—drawing subtle inspiration from the original melodies and rhythms to craft something wholly unique. The result? A head-spinning collection of 60s surf guitar instrumentals that pay homage to the post-punk legends while transforming their songs into a sonic wave of reverb-drenched, retro surf rock.

Fans can expect beloved Joy Division tracks like "A Means to an End" and "Ice Age" to get a full-on 60s drag race soundtrack treatment, while "Transmission" channels The Astronauts’ timeless sound, and "Digital" morphs into a beach party anthem. Whether you’re a surf rock aficionado or a die-hard Joy Division fan, Surfin’ Pleasures offers something fresh and exciting for all music lovers.

The album cover is a standout in itself, featuring a reimagined design from British design icons Peter Saville and Malcolm Garrett. A playful take on Saville’s iconic Unknown Pleasures artwork, the pulsar lines are reworked into the sound wave of a reverb tank, echoing the album’s retro surf vibe with a nod to Bridget Riley-inspired op art.

Is this project blasphemy or musical alchemy? You decide. One thing is certain—The Routes have delivered another future cult classic that will either delight or disturb for years to come.

https://theroutesjp.bandcamp.com/

The Bluetones • Drive Thru EP • 2024

The Bluetones, the legendary British indie rock band hailing from West London, have officially announced the release of their highly anticipated new EP, marking their first new music since 2010. This fresh release, which also inaugurates the band's very own label, Brainhole Records, is the first of a trilogy set to roll out over the next 6-8 months.

Formed in 1993, The Bluetones quickly established themselves as a force in the UK music scene with thirteen Top 40 singles and three Top 10 albums. Although the band first rose to prominence during the Britpop era, their influence and artistry have never wavered. After years of successful tours and revisiting their iconic back catalogue, the band is ready to share their next chapter with the world.

“For the first time since we formed the music isn’t driven by an outside agenda, or a need to fill somebody else’s schedule. It feels like the purest thing we’ve done since we were a signed band” says frontman Mark Morriss.