# Top DIY Singles from Rare Monk, Suzerain, The Rosy Shades, Action Jets, Moths & Locusts, Silicon, Unknown Components

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2012/10/top-diy-singles-from-rare-monk-suzerain-the-rosy-shades-action-jets-dan-molino-moths-and-locusts-silicon-eden-warsaw-unknown-components/
- Published: 2012-10-30T16:00:50-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

[[
 It never ceases to amaze us. That is, the number of DIY singles and albums that
are dropped each month by unsigned artists and bands that get little to no coverage
on popular indie rock blogs and music sites. As our long-time readers and listeners
know well, IRC constantly publishes impressive music from talented musicians and
bands that even die-hard fans of indie rock have never heard before. The past week’s
DIY releases are a clear example of that.

Even though they’ve opened for bands like **Yeasayer, Starfucker** and **Mt. St.
Helens Vietnam Band**, and been featured in a number of publications and blogs, 
mainly in Oregon, **Portland** psych pop quintet **Rare Monk** remain an unsigned,
and largely under the radar, band since starting out in 2009. Their eclectic style
of music, covering genres such as indie, rock, pop, and psych, is experimental and
compelling, adding violins to the forefront of their songs surrounded by swirling
guitars and a solid rhythm section. This week the band dropped their new EP, _Death
By Proxy_, which they’ll be going on the road to promote in a couple of weeks. Rare
Monk plans to drop a full length release in February, followed by a nationwide tour.
Their major musical influences include **Modest Mouse, Phoenix, Of Montreal, Bjork,
Sigur Ros**, and **Bosnian Rainbows**.

“Death By Proxy” – **Rare Monk** from _Death By Proxy_ EP

“Underground” – **Rare Monk** from _Death By Proxy_ EP

#### London Band Suzerain Record with Grammy-Winning Producer on New EP

**Suzerain** is a five-piece **London** alternative rock band formed in 2004. Earlier
this year, Suzerain entered the studio to record new material under the keen direction
of Grammy-winning producer **Steve Lyon** (The Cure, Depeche Mode). The result is
the impressive five-track EP, _ A Mirror Now_, released earlier this week. The EP
includes the standout single, “Frenzy,” a song that exemplifies the band’s well-
honed blend of electro, indie and punk music. The release of their critically-acclaimed
2008 debut LP, _Midnight In The Drawn City_, received significant airplay in the
U.K., which led to the band winning the **Indie Award** for **Best Alternative Act**.
Even though the band have yet to make waves in the U.S., we predict it’s only a 
matter of time before they do, and cross the pond to tour across America. The band’s
musical influences include Gary Numan, Franz Ferdinand, The Alarm, Hadouken, David
Bowie, Placebo, Muse, and Bloc Party.

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“Frenzy” – **Suzerain** from _A Mirror Now_

“Down To The Sea” – **Suzerain** from _A Mirror Now_

![rosyshades](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/600x600.jpg)

#### Tallahassee Band The Rosy Shades Premiere on Indie Rock Cafe

The members of the unsigned indie rock band, **The Rosy Shades**, originally met
at an open mic night **Tallahassee**, Florida. For many weeks, all four members 
of the newly formed band performed individually until last year when two of the 
members, Tim Rock (vocals/guitar) and Nathan Louis (drums), decided to jam together
in a local park. The chemistry between the two musicians was so strong that they
set out to recruit two additional open mic performers, Jon Little (lead guitar) 
and Jason Borntreger (bass), and The Rosy Shades was born. Louis told IRC that he
would go to open mic night ever week and play a drum solo, Rock would play guitar
and sing a few songs, and Borntreger “angrily stomped the stage while strumming 
a ukelele.” Little was recruited later on from his home in nearby Jacksonville.

For a band that is only a year in the making, The Rosy Shades, sound like they’ve
been playing together for much longer, and we believe demonstrate great potential.
They’ve made a splash in the Tallahassee/Jacksonville alternative rock scene thanks
to their unique, tight knit, energetic songs featuring Little’s electrifying guitar
riffs, the perfectly fitting lead vocals and rhythm guitar of Rock, impressive drumming
by Louis and precise timing of Borntreger’s bass playing. As we were reviewing DIY
releases dropped in the past week, it became apparent to us, after listening a number
of times to the two tracks they sent in, that this was more than just a new rock
band on our admittedly gigantic radar of artists, but rather a band that is poised
to break out nationally. Both songs featured below are from the band’s self-released
EP, _Morning Spirit_, that officially dropped last week. The band’s major musical
influences include Led Zeppelin, Kings of Leon, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers,
and The Ataris.

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“The Existentialist” – **The Rosy Shades** from _Morning Spirit_ EP

“Melissa” – **The Rosy Shades** from _Morning Spirit_ EP

Listen to other songs from the EP, like “Supersonic” and “High Again” via [The Rosy Shades Soundcloud page](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/therosyshades)

**Action Jets** is a garage rock/power pop band from **Phoenix**, Arizona. We really
dig their new single, “Rock Like Rollard,” which pays homage to the frontman of 
the popular indie rock band **Guided By Voices**. The AZ trio claims to “exploit
weaknesses in its rivals, spews energy, spit and vigor and renounces cool, detached
irony all in one go.” **Dani Molino** is an Spanish born alternative americana, 
folk, rock singer/songwriter based in **London** who, along with his band, has performed
at some of the most legendary venues in London, and placed second at the 2012 International
Emergenza Festival. If you enjoy, long psychedelic jams, Immerse yourself in **Moths
and Locusts**‘ 8-minute sprawling, guitar rock epic, “Nero’s Eulogy.”

** Silicon** is an 18-year-old **Ottawa** resident who has been experimenting with
genre-blending electronic, dance, hip hop, house and chillwave music for a couple
of years now, and he, **Landan Brawley**, sent us in a couple of tracks from his
latest EP. Silicon is known for his remix work for major artists’ tracks such as**
SBTRKT, Justice, Grizzly Bear** and **Skrillex**. Below is his track for “Lush” 
from _Relax_. You can also check out some of his other work via the Silicon Soundcloud.
Plus, listen to new singles from new releases out in the past week by Eden Warsaw
and Unknown Component.

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[“Rock Like Pollard”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Action%20Jets%20-%20Rock%20Like%20Pollard.mp3)–**
Action Jets** from _Make Time for the Action Jets_

“Ain’t Got No Home” – **Dani Molino** from_ Ain’t Got No Home_

“Nero’s Surgery” – **Moths and Locusts** from _Escape from Sector C_

“Lush” – **Silicon** from _Relax_ EP

“Diamonds” – **Eden Warsaw** from _Diamonds_ EP

“The Invisible Line” – **Unknown Components **from _Blood vs. Electricity _