Brother James – The Story of “I Had to Dig”
You have to dig to make good art. You have to dig to appreciate it, too. I’ll be honest, the first time I listened to Brother James – the monastically inspired (yeah, really) solo project from LA-based songwriter Justin Sinclair – I didn’t do much digging. I’m naturally lazy. So I pressed play and I […]
“Don’t Give Up” by Foreign Fields, A Warm Lo-fi Buzz
I’m pretty sure that’s a tape deck at the beginning of “Don’t Give Up” by Foreign Fields, so my lofi-centric brain was buzzing from the get-go. And then–and then!- they bring in that soft guitar. If anyone knows how to get an underground softie hook, that’s how you do it. I think the vibes of […]
Daydreaming with Christiana Zollner, “Big Field”
Big Field by Christiana ZollnerHailing from Willamette Valley, Oregon (which students of history in fifth grade may remember as the final destination of the Oregon Trail games), Christiana Zollner was immersed in music from a young age. Along with the rest of her family, she was a member of Z Musikmakers, a German folk group […]
Howlin’ Circus “Run the Wrong Way” is a Heart-Throbbing Ride
Is it taboo to want to compare indie artists with more mainstream ones? Howlin’ Circus reminds me of the lovechild between Neon Trees and Arctic Monkeys–at least, from my impression of “Run the Wrong Way”. The airy, raspy vocals pair nicely with their music video, taking us on the journey into the grunge of a […]
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. […]
Borrowed Sparks Releases New Single – “Are You Listening”
This may or may not surprise you, but I was what I call a “Hot Topic” kid growing up. If there was a band featured in Hot Topic, I probably listened to them. I never dressed the part, but I always loved punk and rock music. Borrowed Sparks’ “Are You Listening” takes me right back […]
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 […]
“Gentleman” by Cooler, a Coming of Age Jam
You’re almost thrown into a memory you don’t remember having listened to “Gentleman” by Cooler. I can almost see it in my mind–driving down a highway when the stars are out, looking at the empty air from a sunroof or the bed of a truck, listening to the hum of the stereo, bracing for […]
Play It Loud – “Desolation” by Dead Lucid
For as long as there’s been alternative music, there has been the Guitar Freakout: a noisy, cathartic, sprawling song that’s perfect to close a set or an album. It provides a chance for a band to let loose, throw caution to the wind and, if you’ll pardon the technical jargon, really go to town on […]
