This is fine.
Oxen, out of Sweden, is the name under which longtime pals Stefan and Erik are making jangly rock tunes that are perfect for fans of The Vaccines and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. They just dropped a new track called “Matrix Moves,” which comes riding in hot on crisp jangly guitar riffs, while the vocals drip in swagger. The track is a killer tune for a Friday–it’s the perfect high energy, amp up song to get your toes tapping and your hips shaking.
Soft Streak are a duo out of LA making experimental indie pop, and we recently interviewed them before they swung through ATX for that SXSW thing. They’ve just dropped the video for their track, “Reasonable Lie,” which is about as catchy of an indie rock track as you’ll hear these days. I’m over the moon for the vocals of Tori Schachneon this number, as they strike that key balance between glossy pop on the choruses and a bit more gritty lo fi on the verses. Instrumentally, the song is bathed in waves of synths, snaps, and drum machine beats. As if the song wasn’t solid enough, the video is an artistic statement in its own right. Make sure you take a peek and add Soft Streak to your playlists and list of artists to spend more time with.
You may know Grace Gillespie, currently based out of London, from her work with 4AD’s Pixx, but if not, get ready for the bluesy sounds of her newest single, “I’m Your Man.” This track unfolds slowly, which is perfect for sleepy starts to the week on this Monday. Gillespie’s vocals walk the line between falsetto and crooner, which compliments the doo-wop, vintage feel of the track. There’s a lovely balance between slow-burn in the verses and a bit of a bite in the choruses and it feels like Gillespie will soon be taking her spot amongst the ranks of her contemporaries and fellow psych pop crooners Molly Burch and Angel Olsen. Take a listen below and fall for Grace Gillespie.
Yum! hail from Montreal, and the proclaim to be “making the kind of groovy jams that Lando Calrissian would get down to at his private island’s cabana bar.” After listening to “Haha I’ve Been Here Before,” I can second that sentiment, as it’s a delightfully light and airy new wave / synth bop that calls to mind a folksier, chilled out version of Dirty Projectors. Starting out with bubbling synths, we’re then eased into the track with slide guitar and a jazzy beat. The vocals hit this casual lukewarm stride, but you get the playfulness of group harmonies and backing vocals. It’s a lovely laid back tune with enough sonic energy to hold your attention. Take a listen and fall in love with Yum!
Another week, another track from Sid Steppes, apparently! Last week, Nathan shared this number from the SoCal artist, and this new one, “Keep in Touch,” has me grooving along as well, so I figured we’d keep the love going. This track is all at once to simple and yet so vastly layered that you’ll find yourself lost in the bedroom psych as you zone out watching the changing landscape of the video. The drums ground you in the tune while the guitar and Steppes’ hazy vocals duel for the spotlight. Make sure Sid Steppes is on your radar for the future and lookout for his new album,Trails, which will be out on May 31.
Rose Hotel is the moniker for the project of Jordan Reynolds, who is currently based out of Atlanta. On her way to releasing her debut LP, I Will Only Come When It’s A Yes, she’s most recently dropped the tune “Write Home,” which I have for you below. What awaits you is a lush dream pop track that vocally kind of reminds me a bit of Angel Olsen–that kind of smoky yet delightfully honeyed in moments. Reynold’s voice is perfectly accompanied by a horn, distorted guitars and lax percussion that makes you feel like you’re floating on a cloud. It’s a solid tune, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more tracks from Rose Hotel in the future. The debut LP will be out at the end of the month on May 31.
This track may have dropped yesterday, but we’re big fans of pretty much everything Stef Chura has done and is doing, so we’d be remiss not to share another hit from the artist. “Sweet Sweet Midnight” features another familiar voice in the form of Car Seat Headrest‘s Will Toledo, which compliments Chura’s dry yelp so well, you’ll be wishing for a supergroup from the two. Instrumentally, the track is kind of minimalist at times before it ramps up to its killer and somewhat violent ending. Chura’s new album,Midnight, will be out on June 7th via Saddle Creek and apparently Toledo’s influence is on the rest of the album as well. Be sure to pre-order your copy of what will surely be a smash LP.
Last weekend, we welcomed a new comer to the Red River Cultural District in the form of KVRX Fest. While KVRX has long been a staple in our Austin music scene, this was their first go round of a festival of sorts and they came in hot, booking 40 bands across two stages to tout the title of largest College Radio music festival. Brian and I served as emissaries for the ATH crew and ventured out for both Friday and Saturday of the festival. Follow the jump to see some excellent (as always) photos from B.Gray and some general thoughts on the first run of the fest.
Nathan’s been a fan of Seattle’s Mega Bog for a long long time, but with this new track/video for “For The Old World,” they’ve definitely earned a new fan over here. This video is medieval inspired, and the grainy, strange happenings that go on in the duration match the jazzy, eclectic pop of Mega Bog. The vocals are both breathy and soft and then soaring and full– I love the smoothness of the percussion that remains throughout the whole track, even when it’s coming to its epic climax towards the end. If you were somehow like me and slept on Mega Bog till now, remedy the error of your ways with this rad video below and get ready for the upcoming LP,Dolphine, which will be out on June 28 via Paradise of Bachelors.
JW Francis was born in Tulsa, raised in Paris, and is now based out of New York, so it’s safe to say he’s got a wide range of musical influences and styles to pull from. On the bedroom pop of “Too Fast,” you get a little taste of these widespread influences. I hear a bit of Mac Demarco in those twangy guitars, a bit of French pop in the fuzzy percussion, and a bit of doo-wop in the vocals. As he puts it the track is about life going too fast, and perhaps the blatant irony here is that this track is only a minute and a half. Take a listen to the small cut of groovy chillwave and start your work week off right.
