April 2017 – INDIE ROCK CAFE

In Dee Mail, Vol. XXIX – NIHILS, Famous Unknown USA, The Ineloquent, Geoffrey J, Nick Shattuck and Others

Posted on 04/22/201712/18/2019 by Max Hammer

For those of you who have followed us over these many years, you know that In Dee Mail is a long-running, popular and special series that simply highlights artists and songs we have been digging for some time; therefore, the songs themselves are not necessarily new, but definitely noteworthy. Enjoy.

NIHILS – Triol, Austria
Famous Unknown USA – Chicago, Illinois
The Ineloquent – Boulder, Colorado
Nick Shattuck – Los Angeles, California
Geoffrey J Band – Los Angeles, California
Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes – Nashville, Tennessee
Robyn Cage – Park City, Utah
Weepikes – Helsinki, Finland

https://soundcloud.com/nihils/help-our-souls

NIHILS – Triol, Austria

When four lads from the Tyrolean Alps region of Austria decided a few years ago to stop building “lethal ski jumps and plummeting down the Alps” and redirect that energy to create a band, they did just that. They spent the ensuing years, in the words of bassist Dominik Brunner, “refining our indie electronic soul-infused sound,” as found on the funky-laced indie dance track, “Lovers On The Run”, with is memorable hook, chorus and grooves. This was the band’s breakthrough track, garnering over 67,000 plays and 1,200 likes on Soundcloud alone, and attracting a new swell of fans.

The band’s next single, “Help Our Souls”, dropped in the summer of 2015, really put them on the map, wracking up 1.3 million plays and over 21,000 likes just on Soundcloud. The song was performed extensively at gigs in Austria and Germany, including several music festivals (Donauinselfest; Alternative Escape), as well as opening for artists like Nena and Friska Viljor. Because of the Austrian Music Fund, the band was able to record and release their debut album.

https://soundcloud.com/christopher-reyes-183097685/canvas

Famous Unknown USA – Chicago, Illinois

Based in the Chicago-area, the musical trio, the Famous Unknown USA, is comprised of experienced and accomplished veteran musicians who came together with similar interests in 2010 to combine their skills and creativity to piece together a range of influences that include classic rock, folk, pop, alt. rock and blues – all evident on the 90’s-like alt. rock tracks like, “Canvas,” or the bluegrass-folk single, “Stain Glass Window,” which was named as a semi-finalist in last year’s International Songwriting Contest.

Collectively, band members – Gary Reyes, Bob Hauck, and Chris Reyes – offer more than 25 years of stage and studio experience, with influences that include classic rock, alt. rock, folk and blues.

https://soundcloud.com/theineloquent/verge-of-a-breakthrough

The Ineloquent – Boulder, Colorado

Admittedly nomadic yet hailing primarily from Boulder, Colorado, indie rock band The Ineloquent deliver contemplative and meaningful piano driven pop rock with catchy melodies, layered vocal harmonies and honest lyrics featuring messages of hope.

The trio’s melodic and engaging musical style draws comparisons to artists like Coldplay, The Fray, Keane, and One Republic, while the band’s frontwoman, Georgiana Eakins, is often compared to vocalists like Ellie Goulding, Regina Spektor, Nora Jones, and probably most often, Leigh Nash from Sixpence None the Richer.

The Ineloquent’s writing style is sincere and straightforward, giving language to the inner struggles that many of us wrestle with. With lyrics that are revealing and deeply personal on the 2015 EP, ‘E Is for Emergency,’ the band weaves together themes of love, brokenness, fear, hope, and restoration.

The track “Verge of a Breakthrough” is a synth dance pop track that is more laid back and sensual than most; in fact, it’s a terrific bedroom chill song.

MP3: “Emergency“ – The Ineloquent from E is for Emergency

“These are songs that are meant to do more than just spill sound into silence,” says vocalist and keyboardist Georgiana Eakins. “They are meant to challenge and inspire while bringing something musically fresh to the table.” This is also apparent on the semi-title track, “Emergency,” a track for which to put the headphones on and fade away with the dreamy keys and vocals.

The other band members include Daniel Eakins (vocals, guitar) and Pablo Calderon (bass, drums). The band’s top influences include Coldplay, Future of Forestry, Imogen Heap, Keane, and Snow Patrol.

https://soundcloud.com/nicholasshattuck/nick-shattuck-your-heart

Nick Shattuck – Los Angeles, California

Born and raised in the Midwest, singer/songwriter Nick Shattuck moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 2011 for the sun-soaked life of the west coast and to “surround myself in a competitive music environment.” Right away, Shattuck went to work, exploring the environs of southern California and writing songs.

Those songs, featured on his 2013 album Up Late, Dreaming, are wholesome, heartfelt, introspective, woodsy, and at times, celebratory, as standout tracks like “Your Heart” demonstrate.

Shattuck has opened for artists like Howie Day, Ben Taylor, Rhett Miller, Sea Wolf, Meiko, and Tyler Hilton. He lists his top musical influences as Ray LaMontagne, Joe Purdy, Ben Howard, James Vincent McMorrow, and Bon Iver.

Geoffrey J – Los Angeles, California

They are an anomaly in today’s world of pop driven rock. With influences like Aretha Franklin and The Beatles, the boy who grew up on doo-wop is now a singer-songwriter that reflects the styles of Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, and Lyle Lovett.

Both as a solo and band performer, Geoffrey J, has played at many of the prestigious Los Angeles music venues including the iconic Whiskey A Go Go, Room 5 Lounge, The Mint, and The Viper Room. His other musical influences include Macy Gray, INXS, and The Black Keys.

We were first introduced to his music thanks to the amazing track, “Merry Go-Round” – a gold nugget; not many DIY bands can write and record an amazing song like this. But Geoffrey certainly has; don’t be surprised if you play this song over and over.

Another track, the uptempo song, “Here I Am,” was a grower song for us. J’s vocals are very professional and evoke a sense of fun with happy groove and catchy rhythm guitar.

https://soundcloud.com/de-tgl/sun-goes-out

Daniel Ellsworth and The Great Lakes – Nashville, Tennessee

On their sophomore album, Kid Tiger, released in March of 2014, indie rock band Daniel Ellsworth and The Great Lakes fuse raw energy with crisp melodies and danceable beats on standout songs like “Phantoms” and “Sun Goes Down.” Kid Tiger was produced at Nashville’s Sputnik Sound Studios by Grammy award-winner Vance Powell, who has produced albums for Jack White, The Whigs, Kings of Leon, and The White Stripes.

Formed in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee, Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes released their first full-length studio album, Civilized Man, in 2011. Recorded and co-produced with Mark Nevers (Andrew Bird, Yo La Tengo, Silver Jews), Civilized Man went on to be listed in the top 100 albums of 2011 by Amazon, with songs like the pop-rock single “Shoe Fits,” which debuted at No.7 on Amazon’s Top 100 Songs of 2011.

Band members include Daniel Ellsworth, Timon Lance, Joel Wren, and Marshall Skinner. The band considers among their influences Local Natives, Haim, Phoenix, Buddy Holly, Tom Waits, and Dr.Dog.

MP3: “Phantoms“ – Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes from Kid Tiger

https://soundcloud.com/robyncage/sets/born-in-the-desert

Robyn Cage – Park City, Utah

Robyn Cage’s ethereal yet powerful soprano and impassioned live performances have dazzled audiences from Boston’s Symphony Hall, to thousands at outdoor festivals, and the prestigious and intimate singer-songwriter circuit in New York City.

Born in the Utah desert as Robyn Kemp, she went on to study at The Boston Conservatory and became an accomplished actress in NYC. Recently, she migrated back to her Park City, Utah birthplace and was creatively and soulfully reawakened.

For her debut album, Born In The Desert, which dropped on Oct. 2 of last year, Cage teamed up with two-time Grammy-nominated producer Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case, Sarah McLachlan) and Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning producer Dan Burns (Rachael Yamagata, Lenka, Michelle Branch). Her biggest musical influences include Susanne Sundfor, St. Vincent, PJ Harvey, Lana Del Rey, among others.

MP3: “Born In The Desert“

https://soundcloud.com/weepikes/nothing-but-a-soar

Weepikes – Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki alternative rockers, Weepikes are, according to the band, a ‘time machine’ band that gained a sizable following in the mid-1990’s in North America and Europe, but burned out, and disbanded, in 1997, after less than four years together.

Then, in early 2013, after 15 years apart, the band re-emerged with the release of a new EP, which introduced them for the first time to many music lovers on IRC who were either toddlers or babies (in some cases, not even born yet) when the band broke up, and also rekindled interest among long-time fans, many of who probably forgot about them over all of the years.

Weepikes, despite their name, rock! And if you like what you hear on “Nothing But A Soar,” check out another track from the EP and read more about the band from the original post published in February of 2013.

Fresh Tracks – New Indie Rock Songs from Earth Spun Occupants, déCollage, The Secret Things, Glen Spardello, Scotch Hollow, OTTAWA

Posted on 04/15/201707/22/2021 by Kate Stevens

This week’s Fresh Tracks come from all across the United States – from the northeast to the Pacific coast; from the Rockies to the Plains, and from the Rust Belt to the northwestern Badlands.

Earth Spun Occupants – Kansas City, Kansas
déCollage – Denver, Colorado
The Secret Things – Los Angeles, California
Glen Spardello – West Warwick, Rhode Island
Scotch Hollow – Kansas City, Kansas
Lounge On Fire – Boise, Idaho
SHPR – Los Angeles, California
OTTAWA – Cleveland, Ohio

[zbplayer]

Earth Spun Occupants – “Freezing and Melting”

Another Kansas City outfit worthy of recognition is the multi-instrumentalist recording duo of Matt Wargin and Garrett Murdock, otherwise known as Earth Spun Occupants.

On April 20th, the duo will drop their sophomore album, Sober Thoughtfulness. Similar to bands like The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala, but then not quite, the swirling psychedelic keys and peddle-fed guitars, as well as layered dreamy vocals, on the new single, “Freezing and Melting,” metamorphosize together to create a semi-chaotic blend of space and psychedelic rock signals and sounds.

In fact, Wargin tells us that the duo experiment with sounds: “Our music is spun from the eclectic fibers of the music of Midwest to create new soundscapes using rock, folk, classical, hip-hop, and electronic.” The album was produced by Bret Liber of Red Roof Productions in Kansas City and the cover art was painted by a close friend who died a couple of years ago.

Earth Spun Occupants on Facebook

déCollage – “Magnetize”

The electrifying new video, “Magnetize,” from the Denver psych art pop project, déCollage, was written and recorded by 15 musicians attending the city’s Underground Music Showcase, which is sometimes referred to as the ‘SXSW of Denver.’

By the next day, the track was mixed and finalized. Recorded and mixed by noon the next day, the track was well distributed, and well received, which spurred the making of the video.

With its funky mechanical beats and grooves; sexy, sultry vocals; sax interludes; wavy synths bubbling beneath the surface, and colorful psychedelic overtones, “Magnetize” retains an original and hypnotic verve.

The single was recorded at Moon Magnet Studios and co-written by musicians such as Man Mantis, Sean Culliton (Rose Quartz/The Other Black), Turner Jackson, Derrick Bozich (Sound of Ceres/Candy Claws), and members of Ancient Elk.

The collective’s third full length album was released on Misra Records/Sub Pop and charted for five weeks, peaking at #16, on the CMJ Electronic charts, partly led by the popularity of “Magnetize.” The video was directed with Visual Phenomena by Remi Velezand and Fractals by Damon DuPont.

The collective has shared the stage with indie artists like Of Montreal, Animal Collective, Deerhoof and Dan Deacon.

déCollage on Facebook

The Secret Things – “Down By The Water”

Landing spins on CBC Radio in Canada for its cover of P.J. Harvey’s, “Down By The Water,” the Los Angeles indie rock band The Secret Things are avid fans of the band. Since starting a year ago, the band has played a number of shows and released the debut EP, Shock Diary.

The trio – featuring of vocalist Cynthia Catania and guitarist Steve Giles (formerly members of Saucy Monky) and band founder drummer Dan Nelles – are all accomplished musicians, having played for huge audiences of tens of thousands, touring and recording hit singles.

In fact, all of the members have toured in the U.S., Canada, and overseas, including sharing the stage with bands like Metric, Wilco, The Bangles, Pink and even PJ Harvey herself.

Basic tracks for the band’s EP were recorded at New Monkey Studio in Van Nuys, California, originally . Elliott Smith’s studio, who is a big influence for the band. Giles also released a solo album recently that is a favorite with SoCal deejays.

The band’s first gig in Temecula, California, took place on a festival stage shared with Jimmy Eat World and Neon Trees, among others. The band had one the slot via an iHeart Radio contest. The Secret Things are currently working on a new video for “Down By The Water.”

The Secret Things on Facebook

Glen Spardello – “Beauty Loves”

Having recently self-released his debut album, 5IVE 29NE (Five Two Nine) West Warwick, Rhode Island singer and songwriter, Glen Spardello, melds haunting, smoky vocals and lo-fi acoustic folk guitar notes to craft a spooky atmosphere around the lead track, “Beauty Loves,” the sparse and soulful, “Evil Dangerous” and the Dave Matthews-like “I Ain’t No Rolling Stone.”

Spardello wrote and recorded most of the songs over the past couple of years drawing from musical influences lik Love Bone, Eric Clapton, Queensryche, Layne Staley, and Brian Wilson.

MP3: “Beauty Loves“ – Glen Spardello from 5IVE 29NE

Glen Spardello on Facebook

Scotch Hollow – “Hocus Pocus”

In one of the historic bastions of intersecting musical styles, Kansas City, the genre-mixing band Scotch Hollow blends acoustic roots, down-home delta blues, and some country twang and rock on tracks like “Hocus Pocus” and “Nobody But You” from the sophomore album, Little Tortuga.

Songwriter and guitarist Mark Verbeck wrote and recorded almost the entire album on a farm in Kansas. Verbeck met fellow student and vocalist Carley Martin while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston.

MP3: “Hocus Pocus“ – Scotch Hollow from Little Tortuga

Not long after meeting, they brought together bassist JD Linn; drummer and percussionist Benjamin Scholz; harmonica Brody Buster and pianist Joel Schuman to form the complete band. The album also features three intriguing cover songs from Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf and Blind Willie Johnson.

Over the past few years, Scotch Hollow has opened for bands like Left Lane Cruiser, Reverend Peyton and the Big Damn Band and count among its biggest influences Big Mama Thornton, Blind Will McTell, Chet Atkins, and Susan Tedeschi.

Bonus Track: “Nobody But You“ – Scotch Hollow from Little Tortuga

Lounge On Fire – “Huff”

With a hot new single, “Huff,” Boise multi-genre band Lounge On Fire is heating things up in Idaho’s biggest city with its unique sound that fuses rock with funk – or as the band calls it ‘sexyadelic’ and ‘freakfunk’ – mixing horns like trombone, sax and trumpet with traditional rock band instruments like guitars, bass, keys and drums. The band new album, Lips of Calypso, was dropped in January.

Formed in 2013, the band describes itself as “Northwest music scene; steel cut; blackened and peppered; rock-hopped, hip-dipped, cock-eyed funk-trunked, flat-on-your-back, pants-off-dance-off machine music.” The members are Nathan Norton (guitar/vocals); Josh Gilmore (bass); Wade Ronsse (drums); Alan Schwaderer (keys/guitar); Matt Patterson (sax); Seth Hoffman (trumpet) and Kevan Ash (trombone).

LOF has opened for bands like St Paul & The Broken Bones, The Suffers, Turquaz, Polyrhythmics and their musical influences include Modest Mouse, Gogol Bordello, Snarky Puppy, and Sharon Jones.

MP3: “Huff“ – Lounge On Fire from Lips of Calypso

Lounge on Fire on Facebook

SHPR – “Tell Me”

The spatial sonic landscapes created by Los Angeles duo, SHPR, featuring Fabian Munguia and Alexander Ochoa, are mesmerizing.

SHPR weaves emotive, reverb-heavy vocals together with ambient, chill electronic effects, sharp, echoey beats, and plenty of space on tracks like the representative single, “Tell Me.”

MP3: “Tell Me“ – SHPR

OTTAWA – “Fever”

Covering the space between garage rock and indie pop, the Cleveland band OTTAWA first formed in 2014 after some high school friends, and other musicians via CL, started jamming together, cycling through the traditional trial and error that bands inevitably go through.

Now, some three years later, and a growing following in the region, the band has released the new track, “Fever,” with its tepid intro that builds into a soaring rocker (think Spoon meets The Killers) with ringing guitars and pop-influenced melodic riffs, vigorous drumming, and summertime-like choruses.

The band members include Dale DeLong (vocals); Will Hooper (guitar); Tim Czajka (guitar); Jeremy Barnes (bass) and Ed Planisek (drums). They’ve opened for artists like The Wombats and the Young Rising Sons, among others, and are majorly influenced by bands like The Killers, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, and Velvet Underground. OTTAWA’s new release, Small Talk, due out on May 5th.

MP3: “Fever“ – OTTAWA from Small Talk

Best New Indie Rock of 2017, Vol. II – We Govern We, The Outer Vibe, Alabama Deathwalk, Zach Cannella, Ruby Bones, DOTE, Bobo & The Demeraras

Posted on 04/06/201712/18/2019 by August W. Zander

Now that it is finally spring, it’s time to start highlighting just a few of the new DIY indie music releases from this year so far that we are digging, featuring bands from California, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, New York and overseas from Scotland and Germany.

We Govern We – Ventura, California
The Outer Vibe – Nashville, Tennessee
Alabama Deathwalk – El Paso, Texas
Zach Cannella – Nashville, Tennessee
Ruby Bones – Brooklyn, New York
DOTE – Essen, Germany
Bobo and The Demeraras – Glasgow, Scotland

[zbplayer]

We Govern We – Zano

Just beyond the boundaries of the Los Angeles city limits, and situated along the 101, is the coastal city of Ventura, California where the alternative rock band, We Govern We, has taken root in recent years. Busy with adult lives of paying bills and raising families, the members of the band find time to continue to nurse their project.

Now, the new sophomore album, Zano, has already produced one single, “Red Rover,” which received over 6K plays on SC alone in just a few weeks after its release in January.

With whip-like beats, sultry vocals, pensive lyrics and sonar-like sounding electro vibes and grinds, “Red Rover” is hard not to listen to; it draws you in, and it’s just one of a number of standout tracks on the album – WGW’s follow-up to the celebrated 2011 debut, Reznor’s Child.

The No Doubt-like verve on the band’s cover of “Punk Rocker,” plus the cinematic rock of “Mulligan’s Island” (the video for which came out years ago and received various nominations), the uplifting verve of “Sunshine,” and the brooding, slow burn rocker, “Grey Sea,” all lend their own unique contributions to the EP as a whole. There is a sense of mystery and even mysticism in the sounds and vocals throughout the EP – one its numerous allures.

MP3: ”Red Rover” – We Govern We from Zano

WGW’s sophomore EP demonstrates the band’s musical and lyrical maturation process just since their debut. As founders, and husband and wife, Panos Scourtis (guitar) and Anna Karakalos (vocalist, songwriter), like to say that WGW was “born in Greece and raised in California.”

The other experienced and talented members of the band include guitarist Alexis Cohen, bassist Adrian Burke and drummer John Boutin to solidify the band’s percussion.

Album Stream: Listen to Zano via the band’s official website

WGW dropped its acclaimed debut album, Reznor’s Child, produced by Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets), in 2010. Previously in the popular Greek rock band, Sigmatropic, Scourtis and Karakalos have toured Europe and opened for artists like Moby, Sonic Youth and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

We Govern We on Facebook

https://soundcloud.com/theoutervibe/why-dont-you-listen

The Outer Vibe – “Sweet to the Rind”

The five-piece indie pop band The Outer Vibe from the music city of Nashville are self-described as “cinematic surf disco (think Clint Eastwood drinking a pina colada at a Dick Dale concert).”

After recently signing a publishing deal, the band dropped a collection of new tracks, including singles like “Why Don’t You Listen” and “Sweet to the Rind.”

As demonstrated on the riveting “Sweet to The Rind,” the band’s style is based on diverse genre-mixing format, in this case featuring R&B and funk rhythms and grooves, shimmering rock guitars and an awesome horn solo.

The Outer Vibe has been putting its talents to hard work over the years, gaining each fan deservedly . The band members – Sean Zuidgeest (vocals); Nick Hosford (guitar); Lisa Kacos (trumpet); Wunder Dornoff (bass); and Noah Snyder (drums) – have carved out and honed their own sound.

They’ve opened for a bunch of alt. and indie bands, including Train, Young the Giant, Kongos, and Borns, since forming in 2002 after the five friends decided to start up the band. Not many bands last 15 years in the music industry, and it’s nice to see these guys haven’t become ordinary. The band members are fans of artists like Electric Light Orchestra, Ennio Morricone, Paul Simon, Justice, and Spoon.

MP3: ”Sweet to the Rind” – The Outer Vibe

The Outer Vibe on Facebook

Alabama Deathwalk – Steep Hills

For more than a decade now, El Paso musician Eric Reed, has been attracting press and fan adulation within the indie rock world for his series of DIY albums as the artist Alabama Deathwalk.

Reed’s celebrated style of Americana-meets-emo with tragic lyrics of heartbreak of the modern age, has captured the attention of popular indie bands as well, including Built to Spill, Deertick, Appleseed Cast, and Porches – all of whom have tapped Reed to open for them when they passed through the region on national tours.

Reed’s newest release, the haunting album, Steep Hills, has produced the emo-leaning single, “Friends”, a touching tribute to friends Reed lost tragically in recent years. The music video for the song, directed by Sheridan O’Donnell, is wonderfully crafted with a touching, and appropriate, black and white short film.

Reed’s authentic songwriting and performance on Steep Hills obviously wouldn’t be as accomplished as it is without band members Simeon Beardsley (guitar); Rod Mendoza (bass); Josh Mendoza (drums) and KT Neely (vocals). Apparent in the band’s songs, Alabama Deathwalk is heavily influenced by, and similar to, artists like Bright Eyes, David Bazan, Pinegrove, Sunny Day Real Estate, Ryan Adams, and Rocky Votolato.

Other notable tracks on Steep Hills include the electric lashing beats, lonely ringing guitar, and melancholy vocals of the memorable “Two Weeks,” with swelling choruses of instrumentation and vocals near the song’s conclusion.

Even more stand out tracks on Steep Hills, and there are a number, include the math art-like indie rock of “Confessionals Part Two” and the poignant breakup song, “Dallas.” There is also the lo-fi Americana-meets-emo meandering track, “11:14,” and definitely don’t miss Reed’s heartfelt lyrics, shaky, screeching vocals, high school band-like background drumming, and wonderfully melodic, sweeping synth swells on “Freaky.” From beginning to end, this is one of the best DIY albums of the year so far.

You may also want to take a listen to Reed’s thrilling, soaring post rock/indie rock hybrid track, “Plans,” (listen here) from 2015. The album was produced by Reed and Ross Ingram; recorded and mixed by Ingram at Brainville in El Paso and mastered by Luke Dumke at The Yard in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Alabama Deathwalk on Facebook

Zach Cannella – Jephthah

When songwriter and musician Zach Cannella arrived in Nashville from his hometown of Chicago a few years ago, he brought with him “a different outlook on the genre of country and a unique interpretation on what makes an ‘indie folk’ musician.”

At first, the layers of acoustics and strings on the standout title track of his new EP, Jephthah, flow like gentle streams with Cannella’s wonderfully lush melodies, pitch-perfect vocals, sound effects and booming percussions that all converge into a sweeping chorus before the song downshifts again. The second single, “South,” from the EP is an uptempo country-tinged rocker reminiscent of Kurt Vile.

MP3: “Jephthah“ – Zach Cannella from Jephthah

A student of music composition at a music conservatory in Chicago, it wasn’t long before Cannella discovered that the art and process of songwriting was “the most honest form” of artistic expression. Cannella’s musical influences include Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and Jose Gonzalez.

Ruby Bones – Ruby Bones

With unfettered guitar rock hooks, energetic rhythms and existential lyrics on songs like “Heart of Darkness,” the new Brooklyn indie rock band Ruby Bones make no bones about enjoying themselves.

The track reminds us a lot of The Strokes, and in a good way. The band’s guitarist and vocalist Chris Nova, describes the track this way: “It’s heavy without being macho, all while embracing pop melodies and big hooks.”

On May 12th, the band will drop their eponymous debut album. Ruby Bones main musical influences include The Thermals, The Walkmen, and Spoon. The other band members are James Janocha on drums and FC Spies on bass.

MP3: “Heart of Darkness“ – Ruby Bones from Ruby Bones

Ruby Bones at Facebook

DOTE – North

Uptempo Strokes-inspired guitar riffs and hooks; booming bass lines; a grooving rhythm and beat, and the fantastic Robert Smith-like vocals of Jonah Lemm (guitar, synth and programming) comprise the unforgettable, melodic hooks of the hot new single, “Cold Lips,” from the band DOTE‘s debut EP, North.

If you dig “Cold Lips” as much as we do, you can listen to the rest of the EP on Spotify. We’ve been listening to it for a couple of weeks, and it’s a grower. Other tracks like the seductive, Bowie-influenced, “Blind,” the mood-swinging synths of “Arcane Love” and the ringing guitars of the anthemic-like “Ghosts.”

The other band members – Lukas Hueskens (vocals, drums, percussion), Moritz Arendt (guitar, synths, Rhodes), and Niclas Beba (bass) have been friends since they were school boys growing up in Essen, Germany. But they didn’t start to create music together until their late teens.

Now in their early 20s, the band members “like to sing about red wine and cigarettes with danceable beats and dark electric sounds,” Lemm exclaims. DOTE’s musical influences include Foals, The 1975, Phoenix, Ben Howard, The Cure, the xx, and The Smiths.

MP3: “Cold Lips“ – DOTE from North

DOTE on Facebook

Bobo and The Demeraras – Uptopia Eurotica

Formed in Glasgow, Scotland during the summer of 2014, a couple of touring veteran session musicians – lead by Craig Bobo France (vocals, guitar and keys) and Billy Hudson (drums and production) – decided to write and record their own album as Bobo and The Demeraras.

That 2015 debut album, Heart Goes Blind, received many glowing reviews and thumbs up from Nik West (former Prince bassist) and Johnny Marr (The Replacements founder). The duo’s major influences include The Stone Roses, AIR, Tame Impala, and Kraftwerk.

The group’s second album Uptopia Eurotica, out now, is full of dreamy sci-fi synth pop songs like the space love song, “Oktogon” and the floating melodies and emotive vocals of “Everything (Is You)” with it’s memorable guitar hook.

MP3: “Oktogon“ – Bobo and The Demeraras from Utopia Eurotica (Feb. 28th)

Bobo and The Demeraras on Facebook