This is fine.
We are getting into the dark days of summer, and what better way to beat the heat inside with some new jams from NYC based outfit Diary. This new track, “Sunday’s Shadow,” leans heavily into a shoegaze sound with some hints of late 80s new wave goth. I’ve hit repeat about three time this morning and I am sure you will find yourself doing the same.
Diary plan to release this track as part of a new EP entitled Speedboat due out later this summer on Kanine Records.
NYC based indie group Been Stellar is coming in hot this year with what might just be one my most anticipated and top releases of the year. Already we heard the jam “Sweet” back in April, now the band return this month with yet another hit called “Pumpkin.” Is it just me, or does this band give off a strong aura of Nada Surf circa the Let Go era? You certainly can hear hints of the inspiration with a delicate take on the vocals mixed in with the slightest hint of folk and a dash of shoegaze. I am here for every ounce of it.
Been Stellar will release new album Scream From New York, NY on June 21st via Dirty Hit.
We are now just one short week away from SXSW and it seems like things are really starting to ramp up in Austin with news of killer day parties and events happening around town. Your ATH team is trying to push out as much preview coverage as we can this week so you feel maybe slightly more prepared to tackle everything. Today we have an interview from NYC based outfit BODEGA. After the jump you can see full interview, confirmed dates, and hear some music.
After years working mostly on the DIY scene in New York City, Sean Henry eventually signed to local label Double Double Whammy and stepped into a proper studio for a short string of impressive releases. No dabbling with some new sounds and playing frantic live shows around the city, Henry is slowly dropping some new tunes our way. This first one, “Everything Breathes,” shows a musician who has expertly learned to polish his sound and sprinkle in some subtle hints of pop sounds amongst the noisy rock. It’s a jam and hopefully just a sampling of more to come.
Brooklyn based group snailosaur hit our radar back in April with the release of their debut self-titled EP. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the brotherly duo until today with the release of yet another stunner with this new single called “Apartment Boxes (nyc poem).” This one hits me as a tune with a very intricate and deliberate instrumentation similar to a band like The National paired with the deepest of deep vocals akin to someone like Bill Callahan. It comes across as something immediately familiar, but also unique to the band and their layered sound.
As we offer more preparation for SXSW week coming soon, I am excited to share one of my top bands to see during the week, Blondshell. I have been jamming the new singles a lot recently and just clicked purchase on my pre-order of the upcoming debut album. Always a pleasure to hear from new and unique perspectives from all over the world. Hit the jump for full deets.
Brooklyn based outfit Slow Fiction stirred up a lot of buzz last year with a slew of singles released after forming at the start of 2021. What originally caught my attention was the absolutely superb rhythm section with badass drum work from Ryan Duffin. After that initial ear grabber, the band can offer a ton to like with repeat listens – restrained, yet a subtle hint of anger in the vocals, expert garage rock guitars, and an overall tightness and poppiness usually only seen in bands with many more years together. I think you’ll find this new single “Jericho” as a prime example of what the group has to offer. It’s part of the debut EP from Slow Fiction which hits the street tomorrow on all platforms.
New York City based artist Brian Desousa and his project known as notbrian came onto our radar towards the end of summer with the release of The No EP, and we’ve been eagerly awaiting new music ever since. Well today he has a new tune for us called “Death of a Salesman” and it’s really solidifying this young artist as one to watch this year and next. It’s rad the way he shows a sort of very slight hip-hop or R&B inspiration and melds it with some lo-fi, yet jangly indie pop sounds. Perfectly unique vibe we are always on the lookout for. Stay tuned for more!
It seems like my posts this week are sticking with the more upbeat, rock n roll vibes. No song truly epitomizes my current tastes better than this new one called “Beat Me to the Punch” from NYC based outfit Oneida. It has a true indie rock theme to start, but then builds into this gnarly and gritty guitar solo which matches the “Punchy” name of the track. I’ve had it on repeat this morning and I’m thinking you may do the same.
This track appears on Oneida’s new album Success due out August 19th on Joyful Noise.
Hey did you know that Levitation Festival starts here in Austin TODAY! You didn’t? Well I guess technically it kicked off last night, but the true shows around downtown start this evening. If you have yet to check the lineup/schedule, you should definitely do so now and consider buying tickets to the few things that are not yet sold out. As we tend to do during festival season, we will try to give you a bit of a preview of things before you head out into the fray. Today we kick things off with a sweet little interview from the NYC based band Moon Kissed. Hit the jump for full interview, set times, and music.
