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Music Blog for Indie Pop Fans

Bask in the euphoric rays of Ami Leigh’s 80s synth pop allegory of love, You Give Me Such a Feeling

Posted on 22 June 2024

Trying to predict Ami Leigh’s next move is as futile as mapping out a dreamscape; the County Durham-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s perpetually fluid sonic signature is always in flux. Her latest single, You Give Me Such a Feeling, captures the chameleonic songstress at her most unflinchingly amorous.

While her discography may already be an arsenal of hits that play with light and shade, with some tracks that linger in the darkness before locking into the warmth of heartfelt sentiment, You Give Me Such a Feeling swims in ethereal dream pop bliss, leaving you under no illusion of the sincerity of the release.

The Cure’s influence echoes in the opening guitar lines, before the lush with 80s synth-pop nostalgia melodies ebb and flow beneath Ami Leigh’s tender-to-the-heartstrings harmonies. As soon as you slip into the serene escapism of You Give Me Such a Feeling, it will be hard to know where your emotions end and Ami Leigh’s start.

Instead of relying on the British weather to bring sun-soaked serotonin, make this single a playlist staple and get your fill of iridescent euphoria.

You Give Me Such a Feeling was officially released on June 14; stream the single on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spyndycyt entered the industry as a zany indie pop enigma with ‘MysteryBoy’.

Posted on 20 June 2024

Spyndycyt’s seminal single, ‘MysteryBoy‘, kicks off with a short sermonic acapella narration of abstract lyrical poetry before the beat and scintillatingly strobing synths consume the track in true electro-pop style.

Yet, ‘MysteryBoy’ is far from your average pop fare. It fuses Jack White-esque aesthetics with Suicide-reminiscent indietronica and an eccentricity scarcely heard in the contemporary music industry. If Lou Reed lost all sense of restraint and approached his sound with unadulterated expression, you’d undoubtedly be treated to an exhilarant zany hit in the same vein as ‘MysteryBoy’.

Even after this soul-baring release, Spyndycyt remains somewhat of an enigma behind his avant-garde production that’s rampant with infectious zeal. His approach to music is intriguingly unconventional, but don’t get it twisted, though he may blaze through his productions driven by fantasies that far exceed his abilities, the result is a mould-breaking riot of rhythmically-charged euphoria.

His raw, almost naive touch, brings a unique authenticity to his work that seekers of fresh and boundary-pushing hits will want to devour. Break away from the mundane and predictable and hit play.

MysteryBoy was officially released on June 12th; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

CARLOTTA answered existential questions with etherealism in her debut single, Angel

Posted on 16 June 2024

Fans of The Neighbourhood, Lana Del Ray, and boygenius have a brand-new emissary of ethereally-hued indie pop to affix to their radar after CARLOTTA, an openly avowed poetic symphonist to the dreamers and lovers, released her debut single, Angel.

Her artful approach to poignantly reflecting on how love, faith, and self-discovery often intersect as we try to comprehend our intrinsic identity while grappling with external factors capable of knocking our authenticity out of kilter tracks the highs and lows through the juxtaposing transcendent and turbulent tones.

The singer-songwriter’s vocal register is rendered with the same raw evocative power as Angel Olsen as she pours her heartbroken candour on the instrumentals that allow Angel to become so much more than your average lovelorn hit. CARLOTTA existentially questions what it means to believe in something that has dematerialised and how possible it is to find hope in desolation.

“The message behind ‘Angel’ is that even when love is hard or fails to last, it’s important to believe that it exists in the world and most importantly, that you remain a believer in the goodness of people despite your heartbreak. It’s a song about faith and holding onto nothing except this exact moment.”

Angel was officially released on June 6th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Todd Hearon echoed arcane serenity through his folk-pop-meets-alt-country-reverie, Looking Glass

Posted on 15 June 2024

The warmth of 70s folk-pop radiates through the arcane aura of Todd Hearon’s latest alt-country serenade, Looking Glass, taken from his eagerly-anticipated forthcoming album, IMPOSSIBLE MAN. The rendered with holistic resolve release almost seems out of place in the modern era of music; rarely do new singles so organically pure in their sense-awakening and placating catharsis surface, making Hearon a diamond in the digitised rough.

Very few artists can match the rugged-with-emotion soul-exhilarating appeal of Cat Stevens, but the way the melodies in Looking Glass ascend until they touch nirvana gave the Texas-born, North Carolina-raised and New Hampshire-based singer-songwriter almost exclusive access to that affectingly sincere pantheon.

The lush-with-reverie production, with trippy psychedelic aesthetics in all the right places, pairs shimmering organs with evocative piano pop rock progressions, vintage-hued guitar chords and a vocal register so euphonic you can’t help but melt into it.

With the imminence of his third LP, IMPOSSIBLE MAN, due for release in August, you won’t want to tear your attention away from Todd Hearon for too long. Get a taste of what is to come by streaming Looking Glass on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ARCTISKY became the Chris Isaak of his Generation with ‘Unreal Love’

Posted on 14 June 2024
ARCTISKY

ARCTISKY’s latest single, Unreal Love, is the smoothest slice of rock-fervoured seduction your rhythmic pulses have ever wrapped around.

Impassioned in the same vein as The National’s Trouble Will Find Me LP, the single, prised from the Maldives-born, Melbourne-based troubadour of slick soul’s debut album, Roots Vol. 1, is a tapestry of lush tonality, stitched with edges of indie pop, the passion of RnB, funk grooves, and rock roots which puts the singer-songwriter in the same league as Chris Isaak.

Your heartbeat will become the second most important rhythm coursing through you as soon as you immerse yourself in the authenticated hit which exhibits ARCTISKY as one of the most sincere revolutionists on the airwaves. With vocal harmonies that pour as deliciously as the mellifluous melodies that unravel as a confluence of ornate piano keys, reverb-swathed synths and soaring guitar lines over the propulsive rhythm, Unreal Love is as close to heaven as you will get on the airwaves.

Unreal Love will be available to stream on all major platforms with Roots Vol 1, including Spotify, from June 14.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

AFTERDRIVE buried indie landfill under the immensity in their latest anthem, Gold Dust

Posted on 7 June 2024
AFTERDRIVE

The Ipswitch indie-rock breakthrough band, AFTERDRIVE, hit the wheel and blazed beyond contemporary trends with their latest single, leaving outfits in the vein of the 1975, M83, and The Neighbourhood in the ‘Gold Dust’ of their viscerally textured hit.

Ben Watts’ distinctive vocal inflections relentlessly hit raw nerves with the projections of vulnerability in the bitter-sweet release which embodies the band’s determination to bring small-town boredom blues to an international stage.

The instrumental evocative artillery shows little mercy; after showing melodic restraint within the verses, the choruses cascade into augmented alchemic chaos as the alt-indie-rock guitars construct walls of sounds to encase you within the brooding atmosphere of the intense narrative of affliction as the upbeat synths resonate as the last feign of hope in the outpour of ennui.

After their debut single, Stick Around, met critical acclaim and received regular airplay from BBC Introducing and more success was sealed with every subsequent release, we have no doubt that Gold Dust will seal the artist’s fate as one of the biggest names in the UK indie scene.

Gold Dust will be available to stream on all major platforms from June 7th. Discover ways to listen via the official AFTERDRIVE website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Candy Rush debuted with her quirky pop revelation, Don’t Even Wanna Know

Posted on 5 June 2024

Don’t Even Wanna Know is the satirically sweet quirky pop debut from the Romanian London-based artist, songwriter and producer, Candy Rush (Elena Ilie). Play it loud and amplify the voice of this generation that is becoming increasingly tired of plastic pop protagonists who shirk autonomy while rattling a begging bowl for commercial success.

The debut is stylistically saccharine enough to implant a voracious sweet tooth in anyone who swims in its honeyed tides of the single which allows idiosyncrasy and autonomy to ebb and flow throughout the avant-garde mix of alt-pop, neo-jazz, funk and soul.

“It feels like an infection to deal with your perfection” is just one of the introspectively enlightening lyrics which embody the lyricist’s ability to move far past the tired tropes and deliver lines that catch you off-guard with the resonant obscurity. Her playful approach to vocal arrangement and unorthodox grooves resulted in a ground-breaking debut which embodied her desire to exhibit the quirks and contradictions of modern life.

With the accessibility of the proverbial girl next door and a talent that could rival HONEYMOAN, Candy Rush will prove to be a force to be reckoned with as she rises up from the alt-pop underground.

Don’t Even Wanna Know was officially released on May 24; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aveah Green delivered polyphonic pop euphoria in ‘Sunny Days’

Posted on 4 June 2024

For the ultimate sun-soaked serotonin fix, look no further than the standout single, Sunny Days, from the irreplicable one and only indie pop artist, Aveah Green.

While some artists are preoccupied with commercial potential in their productions, others use their creativity as a conduit for their uninhibited expression. The playful polyphonic synth-pop tones, the rejection of traditional song structures, and the quirky reverie in the authentically liberated vocal performance in Sunny Days testify to Aveah Green’s fearlessly originated sonic signature that you’ll want to scribe through your mind every time you want to be reminded of the freedom in embracing your own autonomy.

The Seoul, South Korea bedroom pop singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist made her debut in 2018 and has remained prolific with her releases; with her album, Barrymore Drive, in the pipeline, she is definitely one to watch.

Sunny Days is available to purchase on Apple Music, or you can add the single to your Spotify playlists.

Review by Amelia Vandergast​

Ella Eliza’s Life Without Me Is A Journey Through Heartbreak and Self-Discovery

Posted on 2 June 2024

London’s queen of queer pop Ella Eliza, exhibited the difference between a singer and a soulstress in her latest single, Life Without Me, which firmly puts her in the latter camp.

With spiritual motifs littered through the lush-with-transcendent-textures single that allows the brooding basslines to create a moody atmosphere for the indie jangle pop guitars and glassy synths to explore, Live Without Me breaks new evocative ground as Eliza exhibits her full vocal range from low sonorous reverberations that bring home the gravity of the vulnerable lyricism to the harmonic highs.

Life Without Me reaches the epitome of vulnerability as Eliza navigates the complex landscape of relationships in the context of self-discovery. By sonically visualising the precipice of potential romantic loss, the urgency in the lyrics which were penned in the aftermath of a breakup cuts deep.

Life Without Me will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 31; for the full experience, stream the official music video on YouTube, which was created in collaboration with the multi-award-winning LGBTQ+ filmmaker, Frankie Joe Gommon.

“After speaking with Frankie about making this video, I decided that I was ready to open up about my sexuality for the first time, and let my audience in on some of the most vulnerable parts of myself. I think there’s still a part of me that’s that 13-year-old girl, who’s scared of showing so much of themselves. I am a lot more comfortable with who I am now, but I think the video reflects my past – which is the current reality for a lot of queer people. My biggest hope is that this song and the video resonates with people who are still trapped in that place, and can inspire them to be their most authentic selves.”

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Behind the Music: Out in Front Talks Hits, Heartbreak, and Hopes for the Future

Posted on 1 June 2024

In this exclusive interview with A&R Factory, Out in Front discuss the remarkable success of their debut single “Golden State” and their exciting new release, “Happy Graduation Day.” The band opens up about their unique songwriting process, the emotional inspirations behind their music, and the dynamic energy they bring to their latest track. As they navigate the challenges of adulthood and channel their experiences into their songs, Out in Front is rapidly emerging as a promising force in the music scene.

Out in Front, welcome to A&R Factory! Thanks for the opportunity to sit down with you ahead of the release of your sophomore single, Happy Graduation Day, but firstly, we can’t ignore how much of a worthy phenomenon your debut single, Golden State became. How did it feel to hit the ground running like an Olympian with the single? 

Hi guys! Thank you so much for having us! We are so excited with the response we have received after we released our first song “Golden State” and it makes us so happy to hear people are connecting to it and sharing their stories with us on social media. It is pretty cool to see and knowing this song has already helped people get through some tough situations is amazing to hear. “Golden State” is so special to us and we were so excited to have that one be the first out the gate.

Will Happy Graduation Day show us a different side of out in front? 

We think the “Golden State “fans should get ready for a different side for sure. “Happy Graduation Day” is lyrically similar and incredibly story-driven like “Golden State” but fans should get ready to jump up and down and lose themselves in this song.

What was the writing process like for Happy Graduation Day? 

Crazy enough, “Happy Graduation Day” was the first song we all wrote together as a band. This song came to be after Ryen’s dog sadly passed away and he went home and sat down with his bass and began to play to help him get through. Isaiah and Madie were hanging out when they received a new voice note from Ryen with one of the greatest hooks they had ever heard. In that moment they knew they had to turn it into something. After finishing the song, we took it to the amazing and talented Drew Allsbrook to record and mix and the insanely gifted guitarist Horrace Bray added his incredible touch to the song and “Happy Graduation Day” was born.

What inspired the single? 

After hearing about Ryen’s dog passing away and the incredible bass riff Ryen wrote soon after, the band hit the studio to begin crafting this song together. Isaiah, who is the drummer of the group, had the vision for the layout of the song and instantly knew the energy this song needed as he added heavy and jumpy beats on top of Ryen’s hooky riff.

Madie is the main melody and lyrical writer and wanted to craft lyrics that the whole band could relate to and what better thing to write about than the struggles of growing up.  All three of us are in our mid-twenties and know the pain of losing a dog when you get older, but there are also a lot of things that change as you enter adulthood as well. Student loans kick in after graduation, you experience heartbreak, relatives start passing away, and mental health and anxiety battles begin to kick in as you learn to navigate your way through the challenges that adulthood brings us. “Happy Graduation Day” is the anthem for the people who want to scream and jump around while singing about how growing up isn’t what it was all cracked out to be like we thought when we were younger.

Was Happy Graduation Day an easy choice for your sophomore release? 

Definitely an easy choice for us especially with all of the seniors graduating this June and we really wanted to surprise all of the new fans with a different side to Out in Front.

Clearly, you’re a band with immense synergy; how did you guys meet each other, and how long was it before you were sure you had a sound worth bringing to the airwaves? 

The story of how we all met definitely plays a huge part in our journey together as a band. Isaiah and Ryen met playing college tennis at Cal Lutheran and after graduating Isaiah began his coaching career at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana, CA. Madie went to college in Nashville, TN  studying Songwriting and Music Business and made her move to LA in August of 2022 where she also began working as a tennis coach at Braemar. It took 6 months for Isaiah and Madie to realize they were both musicians and decided one day to put down their rackets and jam in Isaiah’s garage together. They knew they had the start of something special.  Isaiah and Ryen tried forming a band while they were in college and Ryen always told Isaiah “If you can find someone who can actually sing, I’ll join a band”. Nothing stuck for the two of them in college but after graduation -and with us all working together at the same club – Ryen gets a call from Isaiah saying “I found a singer” and Out in Front was officially born.

Which artists are your biggest inspirations? 

All three of us have such different musical inspirations but we think it is what makes our sound so unique. You’ll find Isaiah going crazy on the drums playing along to metalcore band Amity Affliction, Ryen vibing out to Australian rock group Spacey Jane, while Madie grew up heavily inspired by the amazing lyrics and sounds from the English rock group Florence and The Machine.

Aside from other musicians, what inspires Out in Front? 

Besides listening to music, we are all inspired by our everyday life and events that happen in this world. Every lyric Madie writes is something her or the boys have been through and we believe the best songs are about real life situations that we go through. Writing music is therapy and we hope these songs we release into this world can be the listener’s therapy as well.

What else does the future have in store for Out in Front?

We cannot wait for all of the exciting things ahead. We want to play as many shows as we can and we hope to be able to go on tour someday soon to do just that. We have so many songs ready to be released and we cannot wait for this journey to continue! We appreciate all the support we have received so far and can’t wait for what’s next.

Listen to Out in Front on Spotify, and follow their journey on Instagram.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast