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Music Blog for Indie Pop Fans

Robin Shaw borrowed from Bright Eyes in his acoustic indie single, Bus 2 Nowhere

Posted on 16 September 2024

From the first effervescent notes of the acoustic guitar chord progressions in Robin Shaw’s latest single ‘Bus 2 Nowhere (Acoustic Version)’, your soul sets alight and your senses scintillate to the timbre of the euphonically rugged rhythms. Equally sweet are Shaw’s folk-leaning indie pop vocals, which synergise with the summery melodies.

As a true troubadour to the diehard romantics, Shaw knows exactly how to pull you into his panoramic narrative of infatuation that rings with hints of 00s indie pop nostalgia. If you’re a big fan of bands in the vein of Bright Eyes and The Shins, you’ll be downright sycophantic for ‘Bus 2 Nowhere’.

Before making waves in the music industry, Robin started off as a street dancer at age 16, which included appearances on Britain’s Got Talent. He established himself as a singer-songwriter after an audition in Soho, and began his career with Regent Street Artists, eventually moving to work independently. Now, he records across a variety of studios in West/Central London with his producer, Chris Hall.

Robin Shaw has been a hit with music lovers and critics alike after his tracks have been transmitted on BBC Introducing Norfolk and Suffolk, South Devon Sounds, Islington Radio, Watford VIBE FM as well as reaching Global stations in Ireland, Ohio, Toronto, Helsinki, Canberra, Los Angeles and many more.

With his new release, he’s one step closer to sealing his fate as one of the most accoladed singer-songwriters of his generation.

Stream the Acoustic Version of Bus 2 Nowhere on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lie awake in the illusory land of Mindless Crowd’s new wave seminal release,  ‘Dreamscape’

Posted on 15 September 2024

With their desperately anticipated LP, Wanderlust, released on 30th August, Mindless Crowd stand as innovative new-wave indie architects; if you’re always looking for new ways to explore this vain of sonic nostalgia, let Mindless Crowd be your guide with the standout single, ‘Dreamscape’.

‘Dreamscape’ may not deliver your quintessential dreamy ambient aesthetic, but who decided dreamscapes are unanimous in tonality anyway? Mindless Crowd orchestrated their own chimaera with the reverie of angular jangle pop guitars that resonate with the perpetually influential rhythms of Johnny Marr and echoes of Iggy Pop through gruff, spoken-word style vocals that strikingly juxtapose the vibrant tones of the instrumentals.

As the track evolves, the guitars transition in the middle eight, creatively adorning the track in veritable rock n’ roll stripes. The vintage-toned lead work ascends to what can only be described as guitar porn, embodying the perfect melodic narrative switch for indie fans always on the lookout for boundary-pushing new-wave indie sounds.

Emerging from Geneva, Mindless Crowd has evolved from covering rock titans like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to crafting their original material. Formed in 2012 by school friends and driven by a blend of nostalgia and innovation, the band—comprising Alex, Julien, Gaël, and Lucas—has grown a significant following, propelling them forward with over 150,000 listens on Spotify.

The album ‘Wanderlust’ encapsulates this growth and exploration, offering a mix of motivation, disillusionment, success, and failure, reflecting the winding journey of introspection the band describes.

Mindless Crowd’s LP, Wanderlust, is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jake Marshall allowed the anxiously attached to unite in his retro synth-pop hit, TOO MUCH!

Posted on 14 September 2024

We may be in an era of throwaway pop hits but if any track is worth holding onto it is Jake Marshall’s sad-boy synth pop sophomore release, TOO MUCH! Marshall and his 5-octave range set the bar high with his titularly ironic debut single, Bad Singer, and transcended it with the 80s aesthetics and indie hyper-pop nuances in TOO MUCH.

The candidly riotous track finds an earwormy way to articulate the trials and tribulations of contending with an insecure attachment style and battling with the inner monologue which constantly gnaws with crushing self-reflections of overbearingness. Even if you don’t have bags of childhood trauma attached to your attachment style, we can all relate to some degree to how it feels to feel too much as we try and seek assurance and affection.

Safe to say, Jake Marshall is the queer icon we never knew we needed; his discography is shaping up to be far more than just outpours of pained introspection, it’s a safe space where outliers, the heartbroken and the LGBT+ community can find swathes of consoling resonance.

With his upcoming EP, love(s) of my life, in the pipeline, the future looks iridescently bright for Jake Marshall.

TOO MUCH! Dropped on September 6th; stream the track on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DanFromUpstairs & Luke Matthews shifted the tides of alt-pop with ‘Love’

Posted on 13 September 2024

With his boy-next-door moniker which fully synergises with his genre-fluid sonic identity, DanFromUpstairs is easy to adore. The Brighton-based artist’s latest single, Love, featuring Luke Matthews is a veritable exposition of how much of a forte orchestrating authentic alt-pop earworms is to him. I can safely guarantee you won’t find a more deadpan love song on the airwaves, and that is just scratching the surface of the ingenuity in Love.

As the pseudo-hip-hop beat slaps, the pop melodies stroke with their lush 90s-tinged aesthetic creating an expansive contrast with the intersections of scuzzy synths and raw indie rock guitars which rough the smooth edges of the polished production that you’ll need a serious concussion to forget.

As a true conduit of sonic experimentation who knows exactly which textures, tones and stylistic elements to synthesise into his narratives to ensure innovation doesn’t deviate into obscurity and veers towards commercial potential instead, DanFromUpstairs is standing at the vanguard of the modern genre-bending trend.

The official music video for Love will premiere on September 13; stream it on YouTube.

To connect with DanFromUpstairs and keep up to date with news of his forthcoming debut album, Hopeless Fables, which promises to deliver a continuous fever dream as the track grooves between electronica, funk, hip-hop, jungle and rock, follow the artist on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

maxhauer – fifteen: Cerebrally Melodic Indie Pop

Posted on 12 September 2024

Maxhauer’s sophomore single, ‘fifteen’, sweeps listeners into an indie pop sphere of celestial fluidity and exhibits how the innovative artist has honed his sound after a promising 2023 debut to re-emerge with a melodically cerebral piece that cradles his vocals which are so light they become the oxygen you breathe as you follow the diaphanous progressions as they lead to gentle, ambient crescendos.

Positioned somewhere between the evocative expressions of Death Cab for Cutie and Elliott Smith, maxhauer channels the introspective spirit of these indie legends while marking his territory as the boygenius of a new era. His sophomore single reveals an artful orchestration, seamlessly weaving expansive, lush harmonies that paint a vivid scene of emotional intensity, satisfying those yearning for a more complex, emotionally dense soundscape.

Maxhauer, as a multi-talented producer and vocalist, will undoubtedly become revered for his unique ability to infuse the nuanced longing of adolescence into his music. His compositions are both a revolution and an evolution in the indie music scene, where plaintive vocals and expansive harmonies intertwine to create a sound that gnaws at the listener with its raw, poignant beauty.

After one hit, your rhythmic pulses will crave the emotive journey for the catharsis in the candour. Safe to say, he’s one for every indie fan’s radar.

Stream fifteen on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

La Need Machine signed, sealed and delivered unsurmountable scintillation with their indie power pop hit, The Mountain

Posted on 9 September 2024

La Need Machine’s latest hit, The Mountain, is sharp enough to etch its melodies into the soul and sweet enough in its indie power pop proclivities to give you a sugar rush.

With roots deeply embedded in the fertile grounds of Seattle’s eclectic music scene, the band fuses the raw energy of new-wave punk with the introspective depth of indie rock and the soulful rhythms of Americana, resulting in a major indie paradigm shift that you will want to be a part of.

At the core of The Mountain are the emotionally ethereal vocal lines, crafted to strike at the heart in synergy with orchestral crescendos that allow the lyrics to come alive as a sonic narrative which you will want to read time and time again.

Behind the music, La Need Machine stands committed to making a social impact by channelling significant portions of their proceeds to causes like The Trevor Project and Doctors Without Borders. This blend of activism and artistry is reflective of their influences, drawing parallels with the societal contributions of bands like U2 and The Clash.

With members like Elise and Brian sharing lead vocals, supported by a full ensemble La Need Machine’s sound is as layered as their influences. From Eddie Cochran’s early rock to the defiant chords of Generation X, each influence stitches into The Mountain.

With over 15,000 Spotify listeners and climbing, La Need Machine isn’t just on the rise; they’re crafting a legacy that will prove to be as timeless as their sound; hit play and be a part of it.

The Mountain hit the airwaves on August 16th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mars Playground carried an arsenal of earworm potential in his alt-pop hit, ‘S.O.S.’

Posted on 9 September 2024

Mars Playground, helmed by Chris Dixon, embarked on a bitter-sweet alt-pop exploration of angst and existential rumination with his latest track, “S.O.S.” The South Florida native melded the nostalgic beats of mid-2000s hip-hop with the crisp innovation of modern bedroom pop, set to the pace of hyper-pop while touching the raw nerve of pop-punk to craft a boldly original sonic profile worthy of drawing comparisons to the likes of Dominic Fike and Post Malone.

The icon of genre fusion synthesised trap’s rhythmic dynamism and indie’s subtle introspection to create a masterpiece of modern sound which oozes commercial potential. After initiating with percussive breaks that nod to the likes of Alexisonfire, the song subverts expectations with its euphonic pop aesthetics which envelop an emotional upheaval wrapped in a veneer of sticky-sweet melodies that cling relentlessly to memory.

As Mars Playground continues to chart a course towards critical acclaim, S.O.S. is yet another testament to the resonance of his boldly candid sound. The universal plea for solace amidst chaos sends a lifeline, woven with the threads of his vibrant, varied influences and the unvarnished truths of his journey.

S.O.S. hit the airwaves on August 28th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Revel in the artfully crafted resonance of J.MYSTERY’s indie pop exploration of heartbreak, Reverie

Posted on 8 September 2024

The ethereal indie pop enigma, J.MYSTERY, struck again with the sublimity in his latest single, Reverie, which launched on August 9th and sonically delivered exactly what it says on the titular tin.

Diaphanous notes of the finger-picked guitars lead you into a séance of melancholic reflection which builds into a soundscape that crescendos through swells of reverb-drenched synths, enveloping the evocative Elbow-esque timbre of J.MYSTERY’s weighted with aching emotion harmonies.

The meditation on the heartache which follows a connection fraying at the seams epitomises hopeless romanticism while revolutionising the heartfelt indie ballad with a depiction of how yearning often entwines with fantasy as you attempt to reconcile with the isolation.

The Portuguese singer-songwriter’s cultivated approach to synthesising alt-rock, electronica and atmospheric pop has culminated in a loyal army of fans who revel in the artfully crafted resonance. In an oversaturated scene, he’s reigning supreme by weaving his heartstrings through his melodies. Even more reverence undoubtedly awaits the alt-indie pioneer as he charts a path through innovative, authentic expression.

Stream Reverie on Spotify now and follow J.MYSTERY on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dean Abbott – Walk that Line: A Folk Pop Fusion that Will Fuse to Your Soul

Posted on 6 September 2024

Dean Abbott’s latest single, ‘Walk that Line’, dismantles folk-pop boundaries with its empowering sound and healing aura.

Since stepping onto the music scene in 2020, Abbott has consistently delivered tracks that cathartically scratch far beneath the surface. ‘Walk that Line’ continues this tradition, presenting itself as a corridor of sonic salvation crafted to ignite the spirit and soothe the soul. By blending the nostalgic warmth of tape deck recordings with the crisp clarity of contemporary production, the intimacy rings through with crystal-clear resonance.

Echoing influences from the ’90s indie scene reminiscent of Kula Shaker and Dodgy, ‘Walk that Line’ is bolstered by a trappy, pulse-quickening beat that adds a modern twist to its mellow melody. With a plethora of frequency shifts, Abbott sonically visualised the often tumultuous pace of modernity while the lyrics and smoothed with sincerity Jack Johnson-esque vocal harmonies consolingly tempt listeners to relinquish the past and embrace the unknown. If you ever want to know how much love a single is capable of harbouring, hit play.

Walk that Line is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Silver Magpie’s alt-indie single ‘Dickens’ is the perfect package of style, substance, and scintillation

Posted on 3 September 2024

Forget about the Oasis reunion, Silver Magpie’s return to the airwaves following a two-year hiatus with the single, Dickens, is infinitely more laudable. The trippy in all the right places alt-indie art-pop single, which embodies the classic songwriting of epochs gone by, is a tonal triumph. The glistening piano keys and angular guitar notes against the moody reverberations create an evocative platform for the singer-songwriter to pour candour across as he covers the pain of coming to terms with externally and internally concealed truths.

The consistently in flux vocal presence delivers everything from punchy cadences that punctuate the track as much as the percussion to resigned yearning to fiery swaggering outpours of unfeigned emotion to ethereal harmonies which endlessly ascend through the production.

Jesus Gutierrez hit pause on the Silver Magpie project after his 2022 single, Cartoon Hero, to refine his sound; given the kaleidoscopic gravity which pulls you into the poetic cosmos of Dickens, it is safe to say that the singer-songwriter has got his sonic signature down to a fine art.

The way Dickens implores you to swim with the thematic currents establishes Silver Magpie as so much more than an artist paying homage to the alt 80s and 90s; he’s a 21st-century pioneer, filtering his evocative narrative through lenses of textural nostalgia, resulting in a sound that you can sink into and instantly feel at home while prising new-found resonance from his eloquently penned productions.

Dickens was officially released on August 22nd; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast