I feel like tunes that sound like this wouldn’t have happened if music/band development didn’t happen exactly the way it did. This alt band from down under makes the best of so many influences. Rock, indie, lo-fi, EDM and a bunch of jam feels come together in a cinematic way. This really does make me hope there’s a One Tree Hill or Daria inspired network show that can pick up this mix to use at least a couple of times a season. The “triumph” vibe from it is strong, with the composition & synth chops to match. This is great work, with a great remix, Midnight, layering on top of it even more competence. (via Stoney Roads)
Tag Archives: Indie
Playlist: Thanksgiving, 1999 [Indie Rock/ Lo-Fi]
This is wonderful. Brian Jonestown Massacre, Superchunk, Elf Power, Quasi and so much teenage angst it may drip from you speakers. I really will just let the playlist speak for itself.
Imagine you’re a college freshman in 1999, home for Thanksgiving, and you run into a cute girl from your class while out buying smokes at the 7-11, you two talk and hang out, and you put this mix on in the car while you both bitch about how lame your parents are. You might make out, but probably won’t because you’re kind of full from gross Thanksgiving food and so not in the mood, but you’ll call her the next day and probably will make out then.
If you’re not at least 29, this playlist probably sounds horrible and you have no idea what I’m talking about, but don’t worry, it’s all good. You’ll get there one day 😀
Midnight Music: Ryan Hemsworth – Snow In Newark (ft. Dawn Golden) [Soulful Indietronica]
I gotta give it up to Ryan Hemsworth. He got into my head a few years back, and has kept popping back in at all the right times. While I can’t say I’m a fan of every single thing he’s ever done, when he nails it, it’s fucking perfection. This soulful original is a perfect example. Ryan & Dawn (I know, I can’t call them that. Yet) hit all the right chords & resonance harmonies to make for something wonderful. There’s a quiet wistfulness in the song that makes for perfect Autumn music. Hit up Ryan Hemsworth if this is the first time you’re hearing of him, Dawn Golden too. Check the amazing video below. It’s so good there’s a monkey in it. Also Nepal.
Midnight Music: Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat [She’s Back!]
You thought she was a one hit wonder, and talked shit about her during her ascent to super-stardom. When you didn’t hear anything, you told your friends she was a one hit wonder and that you never really liked “Heroine” anyway. Guess what, she’s back bitches! Yellow Flicker Beat straddles the line between indie & electronica in a way only she can. This track is the lead single off of the upcoming Hunger Games Mockingjay Part I movie, just in case you didn’t think you were going to hear it a thousand times over the next couple of months. I am unabashedly a fan of her sound and her “zero fucks, do good art” attitude. I hope you’ll join me in getting excited for her next album, while bomping this to your hater friends.
Ten Questions With Terry Gotham: Hank & Cupcakes!
(I first saw Hank & Cupcakes at an underground warehouse off the N train way a while back. They’ve since gotten a kickstarter fully funded, an album released and are about to launch into a massive tour! I caught up with them as they were packing…)
1. It’s been a long road for you both since the underground festival at Wonderland in Queens when I first saw you, how have you been?!
Long road is right and winding too! With obstacles surprises & uphills. But we understand that as long as we keep walking that road…
Midnight Music: ODESZA – Say My Name (ft. Zyra)
One of the things I take great pleasure in is watching artists rise from obscurity to eventually blow minds of thousands at a time. I’ve been lovingly stalking ODESZA for a year or so now, and each time the pair from out West put something out, it makes my day. In Return is no exception. ODESZA exists in this delightful space between chill trap, UK garage, deep house & indie. The vocals of Zyra add to the glittering bass work that they’ve come up with. The 2014 tour is already starting to sell out in the big cities like NYC, DC, SF and Boston, so check out the tour info here and get those tickets fast if you’re in a lucky city that hasn’t discovered this awesome sound yet. New stuff coming 9/9.14 so get excited for me to yell about how awesome they are even more 😀
Midnight Music: Kito & Reija Lee ft. Zebra Katz – WORD$ (DJ Slink Remix) [Sick Jersey Club]
Jersey Club is evolving right in front of us. The genre that is best known for bed squeak noises and confusing R&B sample usage has begun to mature & blossom. This DJ Slink remix of WORD$ is a potent turn of events when it comes to the use of irregular beats, as we’ve seen in the genre. Vocal work on point, balanced against an evolving soundscape, it almost seems like an indie infusion into the genre, which is a fantastic development. The almost-rock beats push against a rhythm that smells of R&B, but only just so. DJ Slink has my attention & kudos to Kito, Reija Lee & Zebra Katz for an amazing original track. (via Stoney Roads)
Arcade Fire Gets Andrew Garfield To Teach Us About Being Trans.
Arcade Fire is back and they’re not settling for just pushing into your ear drums. They’re using their significant fame & stage presence to push the idea of Trans acceptance into your universe. The music video for their new track “We Exist” features Amazing Spiderman star Andrew Garfield, which is a huge pick up considering how big the movie is right now. The video shows him on his quest to become a her. There’s a lot of touching work on the part of Garfield in this video, with the track throbbing with energy but in that restrained, indie way that only the Arcade Fire could produce. The video crescendos into fame and confused acceptance, and is a lot more smartly done than your average PSA, especially when dudes are kicking ass wearing heels in the dance number a little over halfway in. I hope this starts a conversation for you. Kudos to Arcade Fire & Peter Parker for making this happen.
EP Of The Week: The Blancos – Heartless Romantic
I can’t say I’ve ever heard of these guys before, but I’m a serious fan. Fresh New Tracks pushed this EP this week the day after 420, and I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. I’ve not heard quality grunge in years, and the combination of indie vibes, hip hop lyrics, a dash of blues and some competent/inventive beat work really got my attention. Check it out, and make sure to hit The Blancos up, because any band claiming to rock out from Gotham City will get infinite props from me.
Midnight Music: Max Frost – White Lies (Tune In Crew Remix) [Indie + Drum & Bass]
Tonight, I’m bringing you a remix of a Max Frost track entitled “White Lies.” The Tune In Crew are a funky duo of brothers from Strasbourg with a penchant for reworking tracks in surprisingly interesting ways. They’ve taken the indie tune and given it what could be liberally described as a drum & bass backbeat. The combination of the modified vocals, the bomping beat under the tune & their willingness to come to a complete stop at around 2.10 to emphasize just how much they’ve done to make the track their own make for a very fun four minutes. Put it into your ear holes and groove on it while you’re dancing around in your underwear getting ready for something.
Terry Gotham 