If more bands made unrelenting rock ‘n roll like New York City’s Native Sun, no one would be mentioning the genre as one being on its last legs. The quartet of Dany Gomez (vocals/guitar), Jake Pflum (lead guitar), Alexis Castro (drums), and Mo Martinez (bass) are throwbacks, as their music features one hyper-drive guitar riff and explosive rhythm after another. […]

Twelve years ago, Linn Koch-Emmery brought her first electric guitar and with it came visions of sharing her music with the rest of the world. Throughout high school and into her twenties, she played in a host of bands, but she found her voice and sound in 2016 when she went solo. Her debut single, “Come Back”, opened eyes while […]

 Two years ago when IAN SWEET released their debut album, Shapeshifter, the band effortlessly moved from edgy rockers to lo-fi, blissful tunes. It showcased the then trio’s refusal to be pigeonholed into a specific genre, yet at the same time it revealed their continuing journey to define themselves. Since its release, IAN SWEET has once again become the solo […]

 Following their phenomenal LP, Otherworld, Holy Golden have released an immersive, 7-track EP, Sleepwalkers in the Milky Way. For the uninitiated, Holy Golden is the combo of the ethereal voice of Leslie Schott and the immense, sharp guitar work of Andrew Valenti. They also radiate this carefully-crafted aesthetic between their music, videos, and photographs, and Sleepwalkers in the Milky […]

Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink have been partners in crime for over two decades. As young teenagers, they launched the band Little Red Rocket, which blossomed into Azure Ray. For nearly a decade, the two would become the standard to which all dream-pop would be compared. Following the release of the lovely As Above So Below EP in 2012, though, […]

Future by Eliza Shaddad Nearly seven years ago, Eliza Shaddad introduced herself to the music world armed with just an acoustic guitar and a set of intimate songs. The woman with the Master’s in Philosophy was heading down the well-worn path traveled by hundreds of thousands before – trying to maneuver her way through the swell of similar, folk-driven singer-songwriters. […]

 Stardom has been in Miya Folick‘s future since she released her debut single, “Talking With Strangers”, which revealed her awe-striking, wide-ranging vocals and poignant and gut-wrenching songwriting. Over the past three years through the release of more than dozen singles and two outstanding EPs – 2015’s Strange Darling and 2017’s Give It To Me, which was one of last […]

 In the three short years since Johanneke Kranendonk unveiled her project Jo Marches, she has proven to be unpredictable. At one moment, she weaves a synth-driven, disco-punk tune that echoes the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She then quickly she spins a psychedelic-pop trip a la Tame Impala. Suddenly, she concocts an industrial-driven, krautrock-infused number. One trait, however, is common to […]

 Some collaborations are created instantaneously while others percolate for a few years before fully blossoming. In the case of Lights On Moscow, Hazel Wilde of Lanterns On The Lake and Justin Lockey of Editors, Minor Victories, and Mastersystem have worked together for years, but they only made the project official this year. The wait, however, has been worth it, […]

Since Belle Mare‘s birth in 2012, Amelia Bushell (vocals) and Thomas Servidone (guitar) have perfected the art of turning dream-pop into an ethereal experience. Their debut EP, The Boat Of The Fragile Mind, and album, Heaven Forget, were blissful marvels, filled with breathtaking moments. The pair along with Rob Walbourne (drums) and Sam Bartos (bass) extend their boundaries on their equally stunning […]

 Back in the ’70s and ’80s, children would create a time capsule and bury it in their background. In this tin box, they would add their favorite toy, maybe an award they won, a letter they’ve written to their older self, and a mix tape. Names like Talking Heads, David Bowie, Thompson Twins, Human League, Bananarama, Pat Benatar, New […]

Peaced and Slightly Pulverized by David Nance Despite releasing albums for nearly a decade, the eclectic David Nance remains one of America’s most underrated and unheralded singer-songwriters. He is also one of the country’s most prolific, as he is constantly releasing LPs, EPs, and singles. Eventually, people will recognize the Omaha, Nebraska-based artist’s talents much like the folks at Trouble […]

First Flower by Molly Burch A year ago, Molly Burch released her captivating debut album, Please Be Mine, which showcased Burch’s smokey alto, her vast musical range, and storytelling talents. Twenty months later, the LA-born, Austin-based singer-songwriter returns with a sophomore effort that is equally enchanting, more engaging, and incredibly clever. Whereas her first LP focused on love through nine […]

Darkness Rains by Death Valley Girls Two years ago when Glow In The Dark was released, we commented how Death Valley Girls are “living in the wrong era”. Their brand of a rock ‘n roll – or witch rock or a really chilling version of psychedelic rock – would have won them massive battalions of fans in the ’70s and […]

 Five years ago, Matthew Houck unveiled Muchacho, which not only would be his breakthrough album as Phosphorescent but also one of the decade’s most remarkable efforts. Within the bold and sweeping soundscapes were stories of restlessness, unhappiness, and remorse, and yet it still felt triumphant. Since 2013, Houck moved from Brooklyn to Nashville with is wife and daughter, built […]

Keeping Up With Miss World [LP] by MISS WORLD Whether performing with Red Blood Shoes’ Laura May-Carter as Shit Girlfriend or in the various punk outfits from her youth, Natalie Chahal has always mixed sugary sass with observant and often biting commentary about the world. Her past efforts were more direct in their message, but through her solo project Miss […]

“And I swear that I’m immortal / No one can prove it wrong”, Lillie West, the woman behind Lala Lala, sings on the somber “Scary Movie”. Despite the assertion, these lines are not a rebellious proclamation, but rather they reveal her vulnerable mindset in the midst of the turmoil inflicting her and those within her inner circles. They are also […]

A year ago, Malmö-based quartet Hater went on a songwriting storm, which resulted in the release of two records. Their debut album, You Tried, was filled with dreamy numbers while the follow-up EP, Red Blinders, was emotionally stunning. Apparently, Måns Leonartsson, Adam Agace, Lukas Thomasson, and Caroline Landahl had plenty of songs left, as less than a year later they […]

Always busy and rarely settling down, Black Honey have taken an incremental approach to build their portfolio and, thus, their popularity. Instead of releasing full-length albums, they’ve given music fans bite-size morsels in the form of numerous singles and a handful of singles (and it’s approach replicated by other bands like YONAKA). Consequently, the Brighton-based quartet have enough material to […]

Lingering Pt. II by Sleep Party People Fifteen months ago, Brian Batz – the multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and songwriter behind Sleep Party People – took us through the rabbit hole and into a world of unearthly psychedelic dream-pop with Lingering. The album, which was one of the year’s most outstanding records, was an extraordinary experience into the cosmos and a journey […]