Chatting with Travis Rue of The Satellite Station about “Brand New”
The first thing that I think is important to mention about The Satellite Station’s new single “Brand New” is just how appropriate the cover art for the song is. The soft guitars and even softer piano work amazingly well with the images of time-lapsed night skies and watching the moon slip below the horizon. […]
Let’s Talk About Castle Finn’s Fresh Start to Indie Stardom
Shine for Me by Castle Finn What makes a good driving song? There are entire playlists and CD mixtapes dedicated to catering the perfect experience as you wind your way through the sea cliffs on the coast or cruise for hours on the highways spanning the Midwest United States – or even just driving to […]
Meet the Songwriting Nomad – Jacksonport
There’s something powerful about the way sparse vocals can paint powerful sensory experiences. I can practically taste the apple pie in this verse from “Time to Dream” by Jacksonport: monumental skies reflecting in the eyes of my father’s home the spirits flying high the smell of apple pie and packing foam John Fatum is […]
Joel Ansett – The Story of “Through”
I think it’s Joel Ansett’s vulnerability that makes his music special. True thing: it’s impossible to tell good stories without being vulnerable. Vulnerability is the lifeblood of a storyteller, because stories need weakness and brokenness to give them stakes. If you can’t admit those things in yourself, it’s hard to paint them accurately anywhere else. […]
Dan Edmonds Discusses “beside you” from New Album, ‘softie’
Last week, Dan Edmonds released his new album, softie. After a three-year period between releases, Edmonds is back with his best work yet. It is clear that he has grown and evolved, bringing new perspectives to songwriting and style. Not only has he created a new landscape of sound, but he’s also refined and perfected […]
The Story of Jack Gray’s “Fools”
In 2025, someone will be reading this article, and be thinking “wow, this was from before Jack Gray was huge.” After hearing his second-latest single “Fools,” I knew it would be inevitable; Jack Gray is going to be making music for a long time, and people are going to start realizing how ridiculously talented he […]
Breaking Down “Rising” and More Thoughts from Reuben Bullock
“Rising” by Reuben and the Dark is the uplifting first track of un | love, out October 25. The record follows Arms of a Dream from 2018, which is 4 years younger than his debut album, Funeral Sky. In midst of the upcoming release, the highly anticipated Breaking Bad film chose “Black Water” for the musical […]
Catching Up with Field Guides, Featuring Benedict Kupstas
Sonically ambitious and creatively raw, we get “Lucky Star in the A.M.” by Field Guides. The song is an enjoyable dose of indie rock that lends it’s solemn lyrics to the fans that appreciate something thoughtful. The arrangement itself is a wild, precise, mix of instrumentation with a bright energy. If anybody asks for something […]
The Story of RYLY’s “Enough”
Living in Nashville has *almost* ruined indie-pop for me. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the best music comes from a place of honesty and authenticity. It isn’t too hard to make indie-pop that sounds okay; just buy a telecaster and drag the drums to weird subdivision spots on the grid. But […]
Discussing the Aimless Angst of “Emiko” by Tom West
Emiko by Tom West The voice is perhaps the most important tool a folk singer has. If it’s particularly beautiful, it can be the main attraction, as with Bon Iver’s gossamer falsetto or Vashti Bunyan’s break-of-dawn coo. An unusual voice can become part of the artist’s identity; Bob Dylan is an obvious example, but […]
