Luminous Kid on “Mountain Crystals,” His Favorite Narratives, and Phoebe Bridgers
It’s difficult to talk about Luminous Kid, the stage name of Swedish singer-songwriter Olof Grind, without talking about Phoebe Bridgers. The indie phenom has a way of catching the audience’s attention (see: the guitar smash on SNL and her subsequent beef with David Crosby), and in his other calling as a photographer Olof shot the […]
“The Sun’s Exploding” by Mellowpunk: Sheer Joyous Energy
“The Sun’s Exploding” is a single off Mellowpunk’s debut album, I Don’t Think Two People Could Have Been Happier Than We Have Been, released last month. It’s exciting, creative indie pop-rock brought to life by excellent performances and some fantastic production choices. The band has described their sound as “somewhere between indie pop and psych […]
“I’ve Changed” by Nora Anna: Beautiful Nostalgic Yearning
She stands straight, her back pressed against a blood-red wall. Snow breathes on the ground around her. Nora Anna has an effortlessly elegant presence in the music video for her new song “I’ve Changed.” Her voice sounds like a crackling fire: warm, sharp, slowly burning. Her jazzy four-minute track is an ode to the power […]
“Turn Me Down” by Nisa: Self-Doubt You Can Dance To
New York based artist Nisa lets loose with “Turn Me Down,” the fourth track off her debut EP Guilt Trip. In response to a culmination of personal and global shifts, Guilt Trip meets us with an electric energy and proves a powerful introduction to Nisa’s artistry. “Turn Me Down” is an infectiously danceable song. With […]
“The Lion of Lonesome Valley” by M.E. Netzke: A Mysterious Love Song
The mysterious M.E Netzke draws us into his dusky world with his newest single “The Lion of Lonesome Valley”. The indie artist pulls his inspiration from the outcast and melancholic, describing himself as “the back half of an album.” As the song title suggests, Netzke steeps us in his loneliness. Amidst washes of sound and […]
Shae Tull on “Bedsit”, Her Influences, and Advice
Picking up and moving on after a hurtful or traumatic experience is never an easy thing. And sometimes, the pain and the damage suffered can be so profound and lasting that reconciling with one’s frail and vulnerable state might feel like the only feasible option. In such instances, regret over past actions can often feel […]
Anna Kathleen’s “Pyromaniac” Burns Fierce and Bright
You can feel a wildfire burning in “Pyromaniac,” Ohio-based artist Anna Kathleen’s fourth single. From the very first line, we hear Kathleen address a lover, telling them, “Don’t start fires you aren’t ready to tame.” Lyrically, this serves as somewhat of a thesis statement, or the first match dropped in the brush, setting the tone […]
“Stepping Stone” by Kelly McMichael: The Pain of Being Used
Kelly McMichael is a producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and, as her Bandcamp puts it, “conductor of great musical forces,” based in Saint John’s, Newfoundland. Her new single “Stepping Stone,” off her upcoming debut album, Waves, has all the cinematic, stadium sing-along drama of a great 70s pop rock anthem. It’s a remarkably ambitious track – multi-phased, […]
“Beggar’s Opera” by Yuma Yamaguchi: An Uncanny Plea for Connection
When John Gay wrote The Beggar’s Opera in the 1720s, its very title was an oxymoron. Opera was an art form for grand, important subjects, and grand, important people. Gods had operas, epic heroes had operas, royalty had operas. Beggars didn’t have operas, in much the same way that dogs didn’t have operas. After all, […]
“Proud” by Sarah Cicero: Searing, Beautiful Honesty
I remember a snow-bent day in February, riding the train back from my friend’s apartment. The windows were flecked with ice and I had a knot in my stomach. My friend, a relentlessly brilliant environmental major, had spent much of the visit agonizing over her work ethic. Despite working multiple jobs, attending class, and tending […]
