This update of Fresh Finds From East of 8th highlights six new releases that stretch across alt-pop, indie rock, shoegaze, and dark dream-pop. From Nashville to Los Angeles and beyond, these selections showcase artists who are pushing at the edges of their genres while staying true to their unique voices. Each track featured below is streaming now on our Fresh Finds From East of 8th playlist, where you can hear this roundup’s discoveries in full.
Charlotte Sands – “Afterlife”
Charlotte Sands continues her alt-pop ascent with “Afterlife,” a single that channels both euphoria and melancholy into an anthem about timeless connection. The track builds on the momentum of her recent releases, layering soaring hooks and electrified production around lyrics that explore love as something that transcends lifetimes. Sands has long turned vulnerability into empowerment, and “Afterlife” captures that balance with precision — equal parts haunting and hopeful. Already a proven force on stage and in the studio, she’s once again reminding listeners why her blend of honesty and high-gloss pop has resonated across genres and audiences.
Common People – “Propaganda”
Los Angeles newcomers Common People follow their breakout debut with “Propaganda,” a sun-drenched alt-rock anthem co-written with Cage The Elephant’s Matt Shultz. The single blends garage grit with festival-ready hooks while unpacking the blurred lines between perception and reality in the social media age. Already turning heads with high-profile live slots — including a Lollapalooza aftershow and upcoming tour dates with Cage The Elephant — the band is proving that their basement-born chemistry translates to bigger stages.
Magic Wands – “Time To Dream”
Dark dreampop duo Magic Wands preview their upcoming album Cascades (out October 24 via Metropolis Records) with “Time To Dream,” a track that leans into their trademark blend of shimmering guitars, synth drones, and ethereal vocals. Formed in Nashville and now based in Los Angeles, Dexy and Chris Valentine have spent over a decade crafting atmospheric songs that balance gothic undertones with shoegaze-inspired textures. “Time To Dream” extends that lineage, offering a hazy, otherworldly escape that sets the tone for the full record to come.
Ferguson – “New Love (Oh So Wrong)”
Nashville singer-songwriter Ferguson delivers a kaleidoscopic collection on his new album Never In My Life, with “New Love (Oh So Wrong)” as its acoustic-driven focus track. Written and performed entirely by Ferguson, the song carries a feel-good groove that nods to ‘60s and ‘70s experimental pop while keeping its footing in modern indie rock. The track reflects his determination to capture lighthearted joy without losing sincerity, ultimately settling on percussion and acoustic textures to carry the rhythm.
Friendship Commanders – “FOUND”
Nashville duo Friendship Commanders lean into raw heaviness on “FOUND,” a centerpiece from their new album BEAR, out now on Magnetic Eye Records. Co-produced with Kurt Ballou, the track balances sludgy riffs with an undercurrent of hope, reflecting on the idea of belonging in moments of displacement. Guitarist and vocalist Buick Audra describes it as “a love letter to the work, and to the parts of us that generate it,” while drummer Jerry Roe highlights its dynamic extremes — quiet introspection crashing into walls of sound. The result is one of the band’s most direct and emotional singles to date.
Scarlet Nicole – “Cry Baby Cry”
Florida-born, Los Angeles-based artist Scarlet Nicole makes her debut with “Cry Baby Cry,” a track she describes as “a lullaby to my inner child.” Co-written with Ally Bakst and produced by Derek Coburn (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Chelsea Wolfe, The Armed), the single transforms from a quiet prayer into something orchestral and alive. Known for her viral cover of Pink Floyd’s “Great Gig in the Sky,” Scarlet now steps into her own cinematic world, blending dream-pop textures with ritualistic intensity. Accompanied by a 16mm video filmed in Big Sur, “Cry Baby Cry” introduces an artist whose music feels both fragile and powerful — a spell-like beginning to what promises to be a transformative body of work.
These six tracks showcase a wide spectrum of sounds — from alt-pop anthems to dream-pop meditations, festival-ready indie rock to heavy melodic catharsis. Hear them all (and more) on our Fresh Finds From East of 8th playlist, updated as often as we can with the latest discoveries.
What hearing protection do we use at concerts? The Loop Switch2:
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