“The Great American Dusk” by Jeremy Ratib: Dreamy, Surreal Alt-Country
The music of Jeremy Ratib is hard to describe – I wasn’t familiar with their songs before listening to “The Great American Dusk.” The lyrics of all the songs on We, Sacred are a bit tough to parse, increasingly so from the leading song “Salt of a Dream”, but “The Great American Dusk” descends into […]
“Not Alone” by Emily Elbert: Sweet, Poetic Indie Music
With three albums under her belt, Emily Elbert is no stranger to the music industry. The folk singer has shared her music across the world, doing shows from Peru, all the way to Palestine. No stage fright here, as she has even played in bands accompanying artists such as Lorde, Gwen Stefani, and Sara Bareilles. […]
Francis Karel on “Small Talk,” Jakarta-to-L.A., and Song-Stitching
I never thought I’d utter the following words: Thank God for TikTok. But the platform is indeed helping many worthy artists catapult to fame that might otherwise elude them. One such artist is Indonesian-born, L.A.-based Francis Karel, whose new single “Small Talk” is an extraordinary song. “Small Talk” is a textbook example of an impeccably […]
The Lovelines on “Steadily,” Avoiding AutoTune, and the Legacy of 50s Jazz
The Lovelines are a brother-sister band that make great music across six time zones. “Tessa D” is the band’s singer and resides in Berlin. Her half-brother Todd Goings lives in Orlando, Florida and is the duo’s songwriter. Earlier this year, their debut single “Strange Kind Of Love” reached the #1 spot on SubmitHub’s pop charts. […]
Harrison Lipton on “Speedracer,” Bittersweet Endings, and R&B Osmosis
Even though “Speedracer” by Brooklyn-based artist Harrison Lipton is about a relationship that ultimately ended, it’s so smooth and melodic that I’m going to play this R&B gem all summer. Lipton started his career as an indie rocker, but he’s an absolute natural in the R&B realm. “Speedracer” is actually a triple treat, with features […]
“Rosalita” by Oliver Proudfoot: Lovely Indie Folk Warmth
Indie folk artist Oliver Proudfoot is a British singer-songwriter known for his country infused sound. Giving us the As I Wait by My Windowside EP in 2018 and the single “Oregon Grey” just two years later, he is no newbie to the folk genre. More recently however, Proudfoot shared his newest single “Rosalita” and we’re […]
“Nine Lives” by Odie Leigh: Reflecting on the Cost of Love
“Nine Lives” revolves around a central metaphor that makes the song uniquely charming, while also perfectly capturing the melancholy of heartbreak. In the song, Odie Leigh reflects on the progression of a relationship – the stages of falling in love and then falling apart. As the song opens, she is fully entranced, ready to share […]
“Justinian” by Moon Hound: An Open-Hearted Love Letter
Unlike what you may expect from its title, “Justinian” isn’t about ancient Roman history. Or is it? The Moon Hound song, off brand-new EP, Wait for Nothing, uses analogous historical imagery to share a personal experience. It’s not quite historic, but it’s broad enough to apply to just about everything, so it’s pretty neat. This […]
Ari Tibi on Finding “Shelter” and Leading the Singer-Songwriter Renaissance
We’ve found the Emmylou Harris of the 2020s: L.A.-based singer-songwriter Ari Tibi. Her magical voice has an uplifting quality, like she’s beckoning us to be true to ourselves and compassionate to each other. When you’ve had your fill of glitch-pop and gimmicky songs, listen to Ari’s “Shelter.” It’s a beautiful song that illuminates and inspires, […]
“Better Way” by Lindsay Clark: Indie Folk About Loving Yourself and Others
Speaking from personal experience, before you can love others or let others love you, it’s important to love yourself first. I think Lindsay Clark would agree with me. Her song, “Better Way,” serves as a proponent for self-love through a reflection on experiences of self-destruction and toxicity. The first word that comes to mind is […]
