Browsing Tag

Midwest Emo

billon dailey is set to make his hook-filled alt-indie-pop debut with ‘Pull on My Heartstrings’

Posted on 3 December 2021

If the Beach Boys made their debut in 2021 and picked up some Midwest Emo tendencies, their bright and instantly infectious melodies would have plenty in common with the ones found in singer-songwriter, billion daily’s triumph of a debut single, Pull on My Heartstrings.

The intricately and anthemically layered single breezes through the whole tonal spectrum as it runs through the frenetic choruses and verses where you can drink in the lush accordance of shimmering notes. It is anything but your average debut, which has plenty to do with the artist cutting his teeth as a songwriter under the moniker, iamsleepless, for years. After turning away from music to explore faith, having an existential crisis from that decision and returning to music armed with weed and a guitar, he started work on his debut release; we’re beyond glad that he did.

Pull on My Heartstrings is available to stream from December 3rd 2021. You can catch it for yourself on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt-Indie solo artist Bent 290 has released his psychotropic sophomore single, Minds and Makers.

Posted on 22 October 2021

‘Minds and Makers’ is the psychotropic sophomore release from alt-indie solo artist Bent 290 (Dakota Schilling). With hints of Midwest Emo in the vocals, nuances of reggae in anthemic guitars and lashings of electronic psych euphoria, it’s impossible not to warm to the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter’s instantly enamouring expressionism.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Muse, All American Rejects, and Tame Impala aurally met in the middle, you’ll get an idea of the kind of bitter-sweet soul on offer here.

The project, Bent 290, was born during the 2020 lockdown when Dakota locked himself away in a cabin in North-Eastern Indiana. His debut release broke onto the airwaves to critical acclaim in 2020. After the release of his power-pop hit, we’re sure that only good things will follow.

Minds and Makers is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MX Strong brings in the future of pop-punk with his single, Too Far.

Posted on 23 September 2021

MX Strong’s latest single, Too Far, is full of angsty, hooky, pop-punk energy. Anyone who grew up with their iPods full of Blink 182 will want to pay attention.

The up and coming artist takes plenty of inspiration from Machine Gun Kelly, Jack Harlow and SuicideBoys, which you will note through the lyrics; for his sonic palette, MX Strong relied on his authenticity to set himself apart.

As someone who grew up in the 90s, a time when there was little overlap between alt genres and urban artists, there’s nothing better than seeing the outliers of society converging around unifying sound. MX Strong has been an integral part of that cultural coalescence. His ability to appeal to a wide audience is reflected in his streaming stats and the loyalty of his fans.

Too Far was officially released on September 17th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Progressive pioneer, Junkhouse Bones, has released his latest single, Only a Name.

Posted on 17 September 2021

Elements of prog rock, Midwest emo, indie, garage rock, and pop all feed into the latest single from the genre-melding self-taught solo artist Junkhouse Bones (Dominic Orteza). After starting with a trashy garage rock prelude, Only a Name loses its discordant textures as the melodies get sweeter and the vocals provide even more nectar to make sure that the earworm sticks to your synapses like superglue.

With riffs that allow Orteza to show his rock and roll stripes and the cleverly formulated instrumental breakdowns, it’s impossible not to be hooked by the release that consistently piques your interest with clever motifs and aural curveballs.

Only a Name will be released on September 17th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NIKU – Float Away: Inhibition-Stripping Garage Rock

Posted on 14 July 2021

‘Float Away’ is the latest inhibition-stripping garage rock anthem from the Calgary, Alberta based outfit NIKU they formed just before the pandemic hit and discernibly, none of their infectious aural energy was dampened at the time of working on their forthcoming album with the legendary producer, Casey Lewis.

Float Away is the first single released from their upcoming album; I can safely say that I haven’t been as excited by rockabilly guitars since I heard the Brains cover Lovesong by the Cure. The frantic punchy guitar progressions deliver gorgeously rich tones in Float Away while the vocals raucously exude a Jim Jones-style roguish charm. And based on Float Away, If NIKU started a cult, I wouldn’t hesitate in joining it.

NIKU deliver everything that you would want from a breaking luminary alt-rock outfit. The tones are nostalgic, while the energy is a firestorm of optimism despite existential inclination.

Float Away is due for release on July 15th. Check out NIKU via their website and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Send Me Giants has made their debut with the driving, despondent alt-rock single, ‘Figure Something Out.

Posted on 27 May 2021

Nashville-born, Chicago-based Musician and producer, Send Me Giants (John Remp) has made his debut with the evocative alt-rock track, ‘Figure Something Out’ which paints a poignant picture of despondence and confusion. If you can’t relate to that, are you even human?

As someone who has invested plenty of their time sinking into reverb-swathed choral indie shoegaze, I can assuredly say that few new artists manage to pull something new out of that tonal ilk, but Figure Something Out, with its math-rock Midwest emo elements, delivers a brand-new angular aural experience as the cutting notes ring across the discordance.

After such a promising and authentic debut, we can’t wait to hear what he has in store for his sophomore single.

Figure Something Out is now available to stream via Spotify.

Connect with Send Me Giants via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast