Is Tropical on “Hummingbird,” Off-Kilter Pop, and Performing in Mongolia

“Alternative pop” has always been difficult to define, mostly because pop itself is difficult to define. Pop, after all, is characterized by what music is popular at a given moment, which means it’s more fluid than most other genres: if a Lingua Ignota song topped the Hot 100, the definition of pop would at least […]

“Indifferent” by Sarah Cicero: Bittersweet Indie Pop

Sarah Cicero pulls some heartstrings that we can all feel in her latest single, “Indifferent.” With the understanding of the pain that comes from someone not only falling out of love with you, but reaching a point where they feel nothing, Cicero harnesses that into a song colored with soft melodies, melancholic tones, a blues-like […]

“Man of Action” by Anguid: A Sax-Laden Take on Privilege

If you haven’t been hiding away from the world, you probably know about privilege politics in the United States. As more people learn about injustice and inequality, many folks from privileged backgrounds are faced with this personal reckoning: how can I hold myself responsible? Anguid’s January release “Man of Action” turns that question over in […]

Flashback: Pinegrove Pulls Us in Deep with “Cadmium”

Pinegrove takes inspiration from a red square in an envelope, and starts a deeper conversation about communication, and the ways in which we share our feelings. This New Jersey band hits hard, both in subject matter and sound. Their Indie rock style is sometimes labeled as “emo” due to their raw, deep reaching lyrics, and […]

Winter Beach’s “When You’re Ready”: Home is Where the Heartache Is

In Chuck Palahniuk’s 2007 novel Rant, there is a scene in which one of the characters voices his opinion on the place that small towns occupy in our collective imagination, particularly in the minds of those born and raised in such locales. He says that “the big reason why folks leave a small town, is […]

Is Songtrust Worth It?

Is Songtrust worth it? Short answer: probably. For the full story, read on. If you’re an independent artist and/or songwriter with music on Spotify and Apple Music, then you’ve probably encountered this scenario: You release your groundbreaking new single, and it gets enough streams to brag on Instagram about. You patiently await the fame and […]

Carly Opacic’s “Luna”: Shimmering Art Pop

Self-proclaimed grunge hippie and California native Carly Opacic continues her journey into the indie domain with a promising release of her song “Luna.” Upon listening, I’m greeted with glittery instrumentals, dreamy lyrics, and the chiming upper register of the Nashville-based artist’s vocals. Collectively, these features create a whimsical and glowing blend of sound. Its trajectory […]

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