The Matinee April 26th

With April coming to a close and 2016 already being an eventful year, there isn’t a better way to cope with all the sadness than to spin some great new music. On The Matinee April 26th edition, we forward to look back, as each of the seven artists below will hopefully remind you of some great artists past and present, those who created hit singles, and others who are among indie music’s gems.

Bad Channels – “Stars” (Toronto, Canada)

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For nearly seven years, Nick Grottick and Jess Gierusz have been tantalizing Toronto’s underground scene as Band Channels. Their combination of synth-pop, electronic, and – as they call it – “sentimental drone” can be anthemic or lush or all of the above. Their latest single, “Stars”, is all of the above. The production work of Grottick is rich and mesmerizing, akin to the cosmic sounds created by Purity Ring and Electric Youth. Gierusz’s vocals, meanwhile, are intoxicating. Similar to the power and beauty of Misun Wojcik of Misun, each word Gierusz sings is stunning and breathtaking, where every delicate, whispery note swells your chest. With a single like “Stars”, it’s only a matter of time before there will be a legion of fans waiting to experience the dreamy soundscapes of this talented duo.

“Stars” has been released via Toronto indie label Buzz Records.

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Fling – “Welcome To The City” (Bradford, England)

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It might be 2016, but Bradford, England quartet Fling are re-creating the brilliant rock ‘n roll of the 1960s. Their new single, “Welcome To The City”, is a melodic and dazzling gem. It echoes The Rolling Stones in their days when the iconic UK band was creating breezy but anthemic rock. For those with more modern tastes, Foxygen would be their contemporaries. Like their 21st Century, American cousins, Fling are crafting clever and entertaining stories as oppose to singing about the usual things. On this tune, the story follows an extraterrestial who crashes on Earth to escape a war on his planet. What says sci-fi better than Rolling Stones-esque stoner rock? By the way, these guys are still teenagers.

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Jesse Mac Cormack – “Repeat” (Montreal, Canada)

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After releasing a terrific album earlier this year with After The Glow, it might be time to anoint Jesse Mac Cormack as Montreal’s preeminent, contemporary, singer-songwriter, which is saying a lot consider the city is home to great artists like Jesse Marchant, Patrick Watson, Coeur de Pirate, and, of course, Arcade Fire. His brand new single, “Repeat”, is spectacular. It is an organized chaos of guitars, cymbals, drums, keys, and bass, but the collision of sound takes a backseat to Mac Cormack’s urgent vocals. The intensity of the song and the creativity involved evoke images of St. Vincent and Wolf Parade. What does Jesse Mac Cormack have in store for us next? “Repeat” is out now via Secret City Records.

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Krista Polvere – “Devil In Me” (Melbourne, Australia)

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Krista Polvere may not be a familiar name, but she’s already released two albums and is working on a third. The Melbourne, Australia native’s smooth vocals and stylish combination of indie rock, indie-folk, Americana, and country would automatically lead one to compare her to fellow Australian, Hayley Mary of The Jezebels. When listening to her latest single, “Devil Me”, a different artist comes to mind – the legendary Stevie Nicks. The single has the same, driving urgency of Nicks’ music yet there is a romantic undertone that draws you in. With a song like this, 2016 could be Polvere’s breakout, particularly when her self-titled, new album drops later this year. With the backing of stars like Ryan Adams behind her, who are we to argue?

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The Slumdogs – “Lost And Found” (Blackpool, England)

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For those who followed Arctic Monkeys early in their careers will remember they created quirky disco-punk music. Resurrecting that sound are newcomers The Slumdogs, who recently released their debut single, “Lost and Found” The quartet from the English coastal city of Blackpool don’t quite have the “politically incorrect” lyrics of their more famous compatriots, but they do have their knack for creating catchy and writing lyrics that have multiple meanings in order to mirror life’s complexity. “Lost and Found”, for instance, references winning and losing love, trust and dishonesty, hope and bewilderment. Sure, it’s a song about youthful lust, but it’s cleverly written and the hook on this song is awesome.

This single was released on boutique label Hartfield Records. The Slumdogs are Bobby Glaister (vocals/guitar), Elliot Gaspar (drums/backing vocals), Cameron Redfern (lead guitar), and Will Easton (bass).

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Stranded Mermaid – “Scream from the Wilderness” (Växjö, Sweden)

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There is little doubt that Sweden is home to some of the most innovative artists in the business. Another name to remember is Stranded Mermaid, who blend dream-folk with mythical goth-rock. This isn’t your ordinary band but rather they’re a small symphony, which explains why they’re able to create mystical and stirring tones, as demonstrated on their new single “Scream from the Wilderness”. The song is wild and edgy, dark yet brilliant, and hypnotic yet breathtaking. Imagine Björk, Annie Lennox, and underrated Swedish band Vulkano coming together to create a song for the series Vikings, and “Scream from the Wilderness” would be the end product.

This single is the lead song from the band’s forthcoming EP, Pagan Rituals I: Animal Worship.

Stranded Mermaid are Louise Lindenger (vocals), Håkan Persson (vocals/guitar) Nathanaël Bartolo (drums), Gustav Magnusson (bass), Andreas Bohlin (guitar), Veronika Jönebratt (violin), Matilda Westergren (vocals), and Jens Torvaldsson (producer).

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Tiny Ruins – “Dream Wave” (Auckland, New Zealand)

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We’ve long been immersed in Hollie Fullbrook’s – a.k.a. Tiny Ruins – interpretation of indie-folk, dating back to the release of her debut album, which was one of our favorite albums of 2014, to her single “Hurtling Through”, which was released last year. It appears her fanbase has expanded with the addition of acclaimed television and movie director, producer, and screenwriter David Lynch, who produced her latest single “Dream Wave”. The song is not what you would expect from something that Lynch has touched. Instead, the song is beautifully haunting and enchanting, where Lynch focuses the entire song around Fullbrook’s delicate and angelic vocals. The song has the feel of the day following a storm, where the “alluring sun” offers the hope of a new day and where one’s dreams may come true.