# January 2020 Indie Playlist, Vol. I – COQUÍ, Tripmaster Monkey, Honestly & Others

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2020/01/january-2020-indie-songs-playlist-vol-i/
- Published: 2020-01-20T00:24:40-05:00
- Author: IRC Staff

The first indie playlist for 2020 indie songs kicks off with some exciting tracks
from new artists and bands such as COQUÍ; Tripmaster Monkey; Honestly, Bad Person,
and Nikki and the Human Element.

**COQUÍ** – Brooklyn, New York
 **Tripmaster Monkey** – Various (U.S.) **Honestly**–
Westport, Massachusetts **Bad Person** – Boston, Massachusetts **Nikki and the Human
Element** – New York, New York

#### COQUÍ – “Off My Mind”

Brooklyn recording artist **COQUÍ** is known for his work as a producer and engineer
with bands like Crystal Castles and Young The Giant.

Now he, whose real name is **Samuel Jacob Lopez Jr**., is stepping out front from
behind the scenes to offer his new and first solo recording with the track, “Off
My Mind.”

Lopez blends 90’s hip hop and skateboard rock, Latin and R&B influences into a dynamic,
dreamy electronic pop context with a different twist. He is developing the all-important
signature sound.

COQUÍ’s musical influences and acclimations are written all over his solo recording.
From the house music he grew up on via his D.J. dad and salsa dancing mom, to rock,
indie, alt, R&B, hip hop and more, Lopez’s influences were many and varied.

“As I got older, I was more into indie music, like The Killers, Kings of Leon, and
The Strokes,” Lopez told IRC.

“My tastes are constantly evolving, but I still kind of throw a little bit of inspiration
in my music. I don’t want to stick to just indie,” he adds.

 1. [Off My Mind](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Coquí-Off-My-Mind.mp3)

As far as songwriting, Lopez writes from the heart, and “pulls from personal experiences”
and even movies. In fact, he says, movies are his biggest songwriting inspiration.

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One of COQUÍ’s talents is an ability to create a complex overall sound with little
more than an acoustic guitar, distinct vocals, deep grooves, and savvy production
techniques.

In addition to working with bands like Young The Giant and Crystal Castles, Lopez
has toured as an Ableton technician with 30 Seconds To Mars. He is also involved
in music projects Tapioca & the Flea and Little Wolves.

[https://www.facebook.com/iamcoqui](https://www.facebook.com/iamcoqui)

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![tripmastermonkey](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Ruinen-
Artwork2.jpg)

#### Tripmaster Monkey – “Ruined in Rouen”

During the past year, the comeback of long-time indie/alt. rock band **Tripmaster
Monkey** has been nothing but historic.

A splendid new album (after two decades), a series of singles and a string of new
shows have put the 1990s indie band back on the map.

The band’s first single release of 2020, “Ruined in Rouen,” features jangling guitars,
chugging percussions and hardened lyrics.

 1. [Ruined In Rouen](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tripmaster-Monkey-My-East-Is-Your-West-02-Ruined-In-Rouen.mp3)

Tripmaster Monkey first rose to prominence in the mid-90s when they became a popular
alt.rock/indie band out of the midwest, were signed to a record deal, dropped by
the label and ultimately decided to disband to focus on careers (regular, reliable
income) and families.

But after a couple of reunion shows, and encouragement from longtime fans (via Kickstarter
and other support), together with the original band members’ undying love for alt.
rock, the longtime friends, now scattered in cities about the country, decided to
get back into the studio and record a new album – Tripmaster Monkey’s first in more
than 20 years. The album, _My East Is Your West_, is out and it’s a blast.

[https://www.facebook.com/tripmastermonkey](https://www.facebook.com/tripmastermonkey)

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![honestlyduo](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/honestly.jpg)

#### “NYC” – Honestly

The emotive vocals and touching lyrics of Massachusetts songwriter and recording
artist **Eric Canto** are striking.

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LP

Together with guitarist and keyboardist **Dalton Winters**, the **Boston**-area 
friends formed the duo, **Honestly**, less than a year ago.

The duo’s new sophomore track, “NYC,” has a place in the hearts of the cafe team
and is one of the late 2019 tracks that has earned cross-over relevance into 2020.

Powered by Canto’s pains of love, the track, he says, “is a nostalgic synth-heavy
indie-pop song that explores the anxiety surrounding an uncertain, tumultuous love.”

 1. [N Y C](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Honestly-N-Y-C.mp3)

Pegging a genre on the duo is difficult, but the electro chill/adult contemporary/
indie pop mix of “NYC” seems an apt description. Afterall the duo has only dropped
two tracks so far; therefore, it’s hard to really pin that down right now.

The only thing we would have changed-up on “NYC” is the intro. It’s a bit too sparse
and quiet and might make some people think the track isn’t playing.

We’re not entirely enlightened on what effect the duo was going for, but the amount
of time it takes for the track to ramp up is just a little bit of an issue.

The duo’s biggest musical influences include The 1975, LANY, The Wldlfe, and The
Weeknd.

[https://facebook.com/honestlyitsyou](https://facebook.com/honestlyitsyou)

---

![badperson-heat-lightning2](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/
badperson-heat-lightning2.jpg)

#### “Heat Lightning” – Bad Person

Boston songwriter and multi-instrumentalist **Joshua Pritchard**, who records as**
Bad Person**, unveils a new single showcasing self-reflective lyrics and somber 
instrumentation.

The heart-breaking single, “Heat Lightning,” is a sad and introspective electronic
track with whispery, breathless vocals, hard-hitting bristly beats, and synthy keys.

The track is boosted by the highly experienced ears of engineer/musician **Bob Weston**.
Weston, according to _AllMusic_, has his “name and fingerprints are all over the
American underground rock of the post-punk era.”

 1. [Heat Lightning](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bad-Person-Heat-Lightning.mp3)

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His magic mixing and mastering adds that extra level of bringing the musician’s 
work to life in a robust and great-sounding final master. Weston has worked with
Nirvana; Sebadoh; Polvo; Archers of Loaf, and Chavez, among others.

Currently, Pritchard is working on a series of new songs and collaborating with 
Los Angeles-based musician and sound engineer **Brian Gross**.

One of the songs includes a project with producer **LaToya “Lil’ Face” Drakeford**.

[badperson.us](http://badperson.us)

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#### “Don’t Mess Around With My Boy” – Nikki and the Human Element

The New York-based band **Nikki and the Human Element** are building community and
social change through “righteous rock and roll for all.”

The band’s edgy rock sound is apparent on the latest single, “Don’t Mess Around 
With My Boy,” off of the album, _ELemental_.

The song features important and relatable life themes with the intention to raise
money for soup kitchens, according to **Dr. Nikki Neretin**, lead singer and guitarist.
She is also the director of homeless services for a local NYC non-profit.

“Providing care at soup kitchens, shelters and on the street for the last 20 years
has created a strong back drop for this important and relevant music,” Neretin says.

The band’s musical influences are Heart, Led Zeppelin, and Santana. These are rock
and roll troubadour’s like they rarely make them today.

[https://www.facebook.com/nikkiandthehumanelement](https://www.facebook.com/nikkiandthehumanelement)

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