It wasn’t long ago – about two decades – when the southern US was the place to find the hottest, upcoming indie band. From Louisville to Athens, Georgia to Austin, outfits such as My Morning Jacket, Drive-by Truckers, Okkervil River, and Shearwater were transforming rock ‘n roll. Or more accurately, they were re-defining southern rock, bringing the music of Lynyrd […]

 Approximately a year ago, Sam Valdez quietly launched her career, introducing herself with two dazzling singles – “Hours” and “Don’t Want To Be Yours Anymore”. Comparisons to Angel Olsen, The War On Drugs, and Hope Sandoval were inevitable and unsurprising since they are three of her influences. She is not, however, an imitator nor a follower, but rather she […]

Jesse Jo Stark‘s life since her infancy. Her parents are the founders of high-end fashion and furniture brand Chrome Hearts, whose clients included bands like the Sex Pistols and Hollywood film studios. Her godmother is none other than Cher, and she grew up in a household where music was as much a part of the family’s life as were costume […]

Since 2015, we have asked independent artists to share their favorite memories from their time at SXSW. In just three years, this project has become one of our most popular features thanks to the growing interests of bands and singers from around the world. These memories are from Freedom Fry. The project of Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll has been […]

Sleepless Dreamer by Pearl Charles “It all feels familiar / Like we’ve lived this life before”, sings Pearl Charles on “All the Boys”, the shimmering opening single of Sleepless Dreamer. Those lines encapsulate the entire album, as a wonderfully familiar feeling streams across the album. In each of the LP’s ten songs, the warm and sunny disposition of the Laurel […]

Kiwi ingenuity is a term probably only known by New Zealanders. The phrase essentially means making the most out of something no matter how big or small or how many resources one has. Musically, it also refers to going against the grain and doing something different without completely alienating the masses. So while trio Santa Barbara may currently call Los […]

Omeara is a sprawling arts venue near London Bridge. The building was renovated just over a year ago by Mumford and Sons‘ Ben Lovett (although I suspect he got some builders to help him). The main hall, which is currently hosting a series of sold-out gigs, is a throwback to days gone past. It looks like the ballroom of The […]

Seventeen years ago, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club announced themselves with their fantastic debut, B.R.M.C. It wasn’t just a celebrated album – it had some critics calling the band “revolutionaries” because they were making psychedelic and garage rock relevant once again. Maybe the term was unfairly applied to the Los Angeles-based trio, but it was clear Peter Hayes (vocals/guitar), Robert Levon Been […]

 Once upon a time – and not that long ago actually – many within the music industry and even fans held the belief that “girls can’t rock”. The notion that a group of women could unleash explosive rock ‘n roll was unthinkable to many. It has been only a little over forty years since The Runaways changed the music […]

Courage is often associated with physical strength and daring feats. It can, however, be displayed in many other ways, such as persevering through fear, danger, or difficulty, or revealing your naked self for the world to see, hear, and critique. For Kat Leon – née Katherine Pawlak – her courage is revealed on the debut EP from her new project, Holy […]

Few artists today can consistently and simultaneously devastate and challenge listeners. These artists’ stories elicit such strong emotions that after the songs end you need to collect yourself. PJ Harvey, Angel Olsen, Feist, Sharon Van Etten, TORRES, and Julien Baker are just some of the examples. Miya Folick is another one. While she has yet to achieve the fame of […]

When we were introduced last month to Paper Pilots, they had released their “Playing Games” single – and it was a sheepish moment. We pride ourselves on unearthing hidden gems, yet Paper Pilots have been around since 2012. It took us over five years to discover the alt-pop brilliance of one of Los Angeles’ finest groups, the project headed by Justin David […]

Annie Clark’s appeal extends across multiple borders. For the better part of the past ten years and under the moniker St. Vincent, she is recognized as one of the most innovative voices and artists in music. She has been featured in Q magazine while gracing the covers of NME, Guitar World, and Nylon. She is a fashion trendsetter with more […]

Thirteen months ago, we debuted Cuesta Loeb‘s second single, “Dive”. The edgy but dreamy number introduced the world to a young woman who had the songwriting chops of Fiona Apple, the artistic brilliance of Emma Ruth Rundle, and a voice akin to Hope Sandoval. In the past year, she released a couple of more singles, including the enrapturing indie folk-rocker, […]

Set aside all expectations when listening to Wand‘s fourth studio album, Plum. It isn’t the raucous wrecking ball that was Golem or the hurtling garage-rock meteor of Ganglion Reef. The record isn’t even the blistering bleakness heard on 1000 Days. Instead, the Los Angeles-based quintet have reinvented themselves with an expansive record, though the band’s intelligent and observant songwriting remains. Musically, […]

Is it some sort of magic to conjure a brand new song out of the air? To cast a spell over an audience that keeps them mesmerized from opening chords to the final, clamouring crescendo? Despite the name, L.A. Witch claim not to partake in any sort of witchcraft, though they do admit to their Los Angeles heritage. Yet their […]

Shelita Burke is an indie music DIY success story. Instead of waiting for a major label to sign her or for Pitchfork and NME to share her songs to the global community, she took her music directly to the people. With little fanfare, she traveled the globe for two years, performing more than 150 shows across Europe, Asia, Africa, and […]

The American Dream may be a fleeting ideal, as the income divide grows and the US’s borders are increasingly more difficult to cross. For people who immigrated before 2017, however, many have flourished and embraced America as their homeland, such as Azniv Korkejian. Her story is one made for novels and Netflix mini-series. Born in Aleppo, Syria to Armenian parents, […]

In times of uncertainty, it’s good to be reminded of what really matters in life. Josh Dooley, the creative force behind Los Angeles-based MAP, is better qualified than most to understand this, having been paralyzed from the neck down by the West Nile Virus in 2014. As he recalls from his recovery: Life is too short to be afraid of […]

One of our favourites made her way over the pond, giving us the first opportunity to see Miya Folick in person. The Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter didn’t disappoint, treating the audience at The Lexington in London to a wonderful set. Armed with a film camera, she urged the crowd to pass it around and get some shots for her to get […]