IT'S ALL INDIE

January may be the bleakest part of the year: full of post-Christmas dejection, wet and windy weather, sometimes snow and ice, and in 2016, the devastating loss of some of the world’s most innovative geniuses. With the bleak days of winter in mind, many would argue that it is the perfect month for a Daughter resurgence. Debut If You Leave went hand-in-hand with a permeating dark, fragile, and ghostly nature about the arrangements. However, despite the obvious continuation of the underlying sense of sadness, the subtlety and serenity of the first album is not brought through to 2016. Rather, new album Not To Disappear is much bigger; bringing with it extra dynamism and ambition. Nestling away after touring their 2013 debut, the indie folk trio have certainly taken their time about this, their second and superior record. Whilst cleverly maintaining the gripping melancholy and gossamer constructions that we fell in love with, the band have pushed away from the “frozen hearts” Elena Tonra ...

Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew reveals the strong new track, "The Work Makes Me"

Based out of Riverview, Canada, "Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew" return with "The Work Makes Me". The new cut from the Canadian outfit is an absolute powerhouse, as you might be able to hear within the first three seconds. You're greeted into the track with a deep and brooding guitar line, with some tight percussion in the back, and then not too long after, Chris's stunning vocals come in, and that's it. You're hooked. 20 seconds, you're done. ... a high-octane, guitar-driven roots-rock powerhouse packed with bluesy soul and retro grit. There is an incredible Americana feel to this, with plenty of blues and roots influences swirling around this rock-driven song. I loved the breakdowns, with the backing vocals especially helping me lean into the track more. As every minute went by, you get treated to something different. Especially at the two-minute mark, you are deep in a guitar solo that honestly reminded me of music in the 80s. Overall, th...

FAKE SUEDE shares their new tune, "Speak Up"

Based out of Los Angeles, "FAKE SUEDE" - the brainchild of Nashville-to-LA singer-songwriter Jeffrey James - has released the new cut, "Speak Up". ... a warm, soulful blend of bedroom pop and neo-soul made for sunny days and road trips. The brand new song is a great example of everything he is about. It's got gorgeous vocal hooks with plenty of warmth surrounding it, thanks to the keyboard tones and the smooth basslines. I really enjoyed the chorus, and during that point it felt like a proper summer anthem that you could play whenever the sun is shining on a hot summer's day. Also rather perfect for a road trip, might I add. I did also really appreciate how organic the track sounds, with the percussion breathing life into this incredibly soulful offering. It's got that bedroom pop undertone with a neo-soul sheen, with plenty of nostalgic vibes that will help listeners of any age to get stuck in. Let's do that: get stuck in. Give it a spin, enjoy. FAK...

Nat James shares the dreamy new single, "Fly to LA"

Based out of Los Angeles, Mexican-born artist "Nat James" has recently revealed her brand new track, "Fly to LA". The dreamy new offering was written after someone flew from Norway to meet her unprompted - which you might be able to tell from the title of the track, "Fly to LA". ... a sublime, atmospheric dream-pop track rich with cinematic vocal layers and emotional drama. It is a cinematic indie-pop track that is all about that fine line between a seemingly movie-esque moment and the chaos that comes with the emotions. Vocally, Nat is sublime here with some incredible backing vocals that are electronically driven, helping to give it extra depth. If you like layered-up dream pop, then this is certainly something you'll like from the first play. Even in my initial notes, I had written down how beautiful it was and how I was listening intently to the instrumentation and backing vocals buried within. With just a trio of tracks released to her name going ...

Paul Martin returns with the epic new single, "A Beautiful Thing."

Based out of New Plymouth, New Zealand, singer-songwriter "Paul Martin" delivers a rush of pure optimism on "A Beautiful Thing". It's a truly beautiful track with a bright opening filled with Americana and country-leaning guitars and banjo strings. It is so vibrant right from the get-go, and well within the first minute I knew that I'd be delving into his previous tracks. ... an uplifting, vibrant folk-rock anthem bursting with warm Americana textures and pure optimism. This new offering is his first since his EP "Carousel" came out in 2025 and is a shining example of Paul's skills as a musician and vocalist. Filled with honest storytelling and an upbeat folk-driven undertone and plenty of Americana textures, this is certainly the kind of song that will make you all warm and fuzzy inside. He is a shining beacon in the New Plymouth scene, and as far as I'm concerned, he is one of the best hidden gems on the New Zealand music scene. So please...

Untold Jukebox reveals the retro new cut, "Rehnskiölds Fraustadt Strategy"

Based in Lund, Sweden, Untold Jukebox takes an impressively unusual route into AOR, with the artist blending 18th-century military history with the smooth, polished sounds of late-70s and 80s West Coast rock. ... a nostalgic, soulful AOR journey packed with smooth vocals and 70s-inspired grooves. "Rehnskiölds Fraustadt Strategy" is a six-and-a-half-minute-long track with some breezy 70s and 80s tones that almost remind me of Dire Straits in places. I also loved how smooth the vocals were and how this felt like a step back in time for me, as I grew up with this kind of music in the mid-90s whilst sitting in the back of my parents' car. With influences from Eagles, Lionel Richie and Little River Band, there's no denying that this song is very much written in a way that can grip your attention well within the first minute. With plenty of replayability, this is a song that is going to be stuck in your mind from the get-go, especially with that soulful chorus. If you like ...

SAMSARA. drop their big new tune, "IN TOO DEEP"

Coming out of New York is the brilliant and stunning SAMSARA., and the band have recently dropped their big new tune, "IN TOO DEEP". The quintet have a sound that can rival any of the big alt-rock bands that are currently dominating the worldwide music scene, and based off this track they're going to be the next big guitar band to emerge from NY since the likes of The Strokes and Interpol. ... based off this track they're going to be the next big guitar band to emerge from NY since the likes of The Strokes and Interpol The pacing of the track is great, and even from the get-go there is a somewhat danceable backline that'll no doubt have you tapping your feet. The guitar sounds on "IN TOO DEEP" are so infectious, a blend of post-punk and alt-rock with the perfect amount of fuzz to give it more depth. Vocally strong too, you have to admire this emerging band for the smooth vocal approach to the track and its clean melodies.

Barndancer releases the debut single, "Open Season"

Hailing from York, England, singer-songwriter Barny Skinner debuts his solo project Barndancer with the strong alternative rock single "Open Season." ... a brilliantly raw and honest lo-fi debut, seamlessly blending jangly indie nostalgia with warm Americana vibes. The single is also the lead track from his upcoming debut album, and I honestly find this track rather brilliant considering it is a debut offering. He is a DIY artist, and you can easily hear that in the track, but not in a way that makes it sound terrible. It's in a way that makes it sound raw and honest, with his vocals especially sounding almost fragile in places, but backed up with a strong backline of instrumentation. It almost reminds me of Pavement in places and those lo-fi rock bands from the late 90s and early 2000s, with a sense of upbeat optimism bubbling away underneath it all. It's perfectly layered, with a smattering of subgenres flowing throughout it, featuring jangly sounds that remind me...

Land Mass drops their stunning debut release, "Fading EP"

Hailing from his East London flat, solo artist Greg Zucker delivers the Fading EP under the moniker Land Mass. The EP release doubles up as the first-ever release of any sort under the name Land Mass, and you are greeted with the opener titled "Green Parakeet". It's a very melodic and moving track, focusing a lot on his vocals and a moody acoustic guitar, before you are greeted with a bursting, almost Brit rock guitar at the 40-second point. ... a stunning debut with a genre-spanning EP packed with moody vocals, soaring guitars, and memorable melodies. Following on from the leading track is the really fast-paced offering titled "Trojan Horses". It's a clear-cut winner for me and is a solid indie rock cut with moody vocals and high-toned guitars that fans of Interpol, Bloc Party, and Franz Ferdinand will all appreciate. It's got a lot of rushing guitar moments and drum patterns that will have you tapping along in no time. The track that sandwiches everyth...

Desmond Walks returns with the stunning new cut, "Daybreak"

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and producer Desmond Walks returns with "Daybreak". From the opening sequence of a gentle guitar, you'd think that this would be a laid-back affair, but as soon as his vocals come in, it feels more like a breezy indie summer bop. ... a breezy indie rock belter with R&B touches and a chorus that instantly demands attention. There is a sense of R&B injected into this indie rock track, but for me, it's when the chorus comes in that the track honestly comes alive. At the 48-second mark, you'll be treated to a sensational chorus that is surely going to grip you from the very first play. How Desmond has only got less than 4,000 monthly listeners is beyond me, but I feel like that number is only going to increase day by day, as the sound he is currently producing is something that has worldwide appeal. This is an absolute indie rock belter with plenty of melodies that can gain him plenty of followers who dabble in other genres....

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