independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
Gabrielle Wortman and Jason Rosen, also known as Los Angeles-based electro-soul duo Smoke Season, want to tell a different story this Valentine’s Day. “There are two-person love stories being told all the time, we wanted to tell a one-person love story,” says Wortman. The pair chose to reimagine Lionel Richie’s 1984 classic hit “Hello,” and... Continue Reading →
Los Angeles-based indie rockers Trapdoor Social, makers of shimmering pop anthems, have released a heart-wrenching new video for "Never Stop Listening," a track from their self-titled full length record released last year. Filmed at the center of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, the video beautifully captures the unquenchable spirit and united struggle of the water protectors... Continue Reading →
Twenty-one year old SoCal musician Danny McCook, who, at a young age, suffered from a rare disease and endured countless hospitalizations, embraced his forced isolation to sketch the ideas that would eventually become the foundational vision for his moniker Saint Mesa and his spiritual debut EP, Jungle, out now on Interscope Records. The EP is fueled by lyrics of hardship and personal... Continue Reading →
New York City-based artist Ian Mellencamp has his bases covered—from songwriting, audio/visual production, making art, and modeling, he does it all. “I get bored easily!” he says with a laugh. “I try to be creative in everything I do, in any way I can.” Mellencamp began his musical adventures at an early age, playing music... Continue Reading →
Have you ever felt aimless, stuck in a dead-end job, but yet you know in your gut that you're destined for more? That's the story of Christine Fink, who, along with her sister, notable singer songwriter Orenda Fink, formed punk-tinged funky soul outfit High Up. Christine, known to regularly slay at weekend karaoke nights in Muscle... Continue Reading →
Detroit-based folk-pop outfit Frontier Ruckus, who will unleash their fifth album, Enter The Kingdom, on February 17th, have released the first video and single from the record, "27 Dollars." The video depicts a pair who have apparently consciously uncoupled, as the poor guy mopes around the city sending texts to his former lady friend, who is busy at her fancy job... Continue Reading →
Los Angeles-based matching vintage formalwear-sporting foursome, Chicano Batman, cut their teeth making Brazilian Tropicália blended with early ’70s psychedelic soul and romantic pop, and their reputation grew exponentially. The band will make their boldest statement yet with the release of their third album, Freedom Is Free, out March 3rd via ATO Records. While I questioned whether I was cool enough to... Continue Reading →
"This song means a great deal to me and was one of the first songs I wrote that I was really proud of lyrically, emotively, and musically," says Nashville's Tim McNary of the title track to his latest EP, released earlier this year. The video, filmed and directed by CRFT/SVCS is a stunning interpretation of... Continue Reading →
"Did I come to your flat with a sign on my back saying 'screw me over'?" snarls British artist Georgie, in her 60s-tinged debut single, "Company Of Thieves." The recently-released video features our heroine roaming a city's night time streets like a badass as conflict ensues around her. Nothing fazes Georgie. Over the last decade, the... Continue Reading →
Folk-pop sister duo Lily & Madeleine, who recently finished a nationwide tour supporting Brett Dennen and accompanied Dawes for several shows in the United Kingdom, released their acclaimed record Keep It Together earlier this year via New West Records. Keep It Together, the pair's third full-length album, makes a dynamic statement, one that is the sound of Lily and Madeleine asserting themselves as... Continue Reading →
