We’ve been digging newly-discovered indie/DIY artists and bands for the past couple of weeks in dee mail (aka, via our submission box). Some fantastic rarely-heard songs have been on repeat here in the cafe. They include the following artists and bands you need to hear. Please like, follow, and share to encourage highlighting talented, unstated musicians and bands, especially at a time when the already difficult situation for DIY artists has been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. (And, yes, for the top10-dedicated, we’re working on the new ones; stay tuned). Lots of great music so far this year.
Icarus Phoenix – Provo, Utah
Matthew McNeal – Fort Worth, Texas
Ora Violet – London, England
The Slow Glow – Stockholm, Sweden
The Red Curtain Affair – London, England
Icarus Phoenix – “All The Same”
Provo-based indie artist Icarus Phoenix hit our inbox with this sweet folk-rock track, “All The Same.” The music conveys a certain urgency but in much calmer tones than one would otherwise expect. A somber underbelly is delivered through textured notes and vocals.
The prolific Utah musician behind the moniker is Drew Danburry, a musician, filmmaker, animator, dad/husband, skateboarder, and barber. His new single is accompanied by a video of his own animation using hand-drawn index cards. That said, Danburry expresses angst at the difficulties of daily life these days, singing: “When I find myself in suffering/when I find myself in pain // Am I guilty of dishonor? Can I find another way?”
Since 2002, Danburry has performed more than 800 shows worldwide and dropped 20 albums and 13 E.P.s. “All the Same” is off of the forthcoming second album via his Icarus Phoenix moniker. The album, ‘No Tree Can Grow to Heaven Unless Its Roots Reach Down to Hell’ is available on tape and digital.
Matthew McNeal – “Tired of Believing”
With warm 1970’s vibes, relaxing instrumentation, and soft vocals, Fort Worth-based singer/songwriter Matthew McNeal‘s “Tired of Believing” is one of the most touching DIY singles of the summer. McNeal is an alluring songwriter with a knack for existential pondering.
After teaming up with Joey McClellan (BNQT, Israel Nash) and McKenzie Smith (Midlake, St. Vincent) for his 2015 release ‘Compadre’, McNeal and company aim to “bring an unorthodox feel to their music, pushing poetic storytelling forward atop a range of musical genres. ”
https://www.facebook.com/matthewmcneal/
Ora Violet – “Have You Met Me”
The talented London indie/alt. rock band Ora Violet has been pumping out a series of strong tracks since forming a couple of years ago and getting airplay and reviews in various blogs and zines. The band’s newest single, “Have You Met Me,” is a testament to the band’s rising profile. Ora Violet was even publicly lauded by The Strokes’ producer Gordon Raphael.
Ora Violet fuses rock influenced by bands like Raconteurs and Queens of the Stone Age with early 1970’s proto-punk in the vein of bands like The Stooges and The Modern Lovers. The duo is comprised of multi-instrumentalist production duo Black Tiles and guitarist Nick Ferman.
About the song (from the writer/band): “Influenced by Grinderman, Elizabeth Wurtzel, Marmaduke Duke & Ernest Hemingway, the song was inspired by the realization that the same way we go down, we come back up; gradually and then suddenly. The antihero protagonist has lived a life of unapologetic excessive in all ways and despite nearing the end, the statement is clear… I won’t go down.”
Vocalist Jeet Mulkerj and bassist Adam Liston also contributed to the song.
https://www.instagram.com/ora.violet/
The Slow Glow – “Loco”
Stockholm lo-fi indie rock one-man band, Diego Garcia – who records as The Slow Glow – is also a multi-instrumentalist. His new single, “Loco,” is something to behold.
“‘Loco’ means many things in Spanish; it means ‘crazy’ but also ‘dude’ in certain parts of Latin America,” Garcia wrote to IRC. “I wrote and recorded the song in one go one afternoon in my living room as a sort of mantra for myself and it’s the song that got me signed to Lacreu Records, an independent cassette label based in Barcelona, Spain. I think right about now we could use some calming down.”
The Swedish-based Venezuelan-born musician’s influences include King Krule, The Beach Boys, Lou Reed, Mac DeMarco, Blood Orange, and Homeshake. He plays guitar, fake bass, snare drum, and synths.
Garcia toured for several years under the Hotel moniker and released three EPs.
https://www.instagram.com/theslowwgloww/
The Red Curtain Affair – “We’re All in the Same Boat”
Another multi-instrumentalist featured in this post is The Red Curtain Affair, a project of London musician Alexander Tarel. His new single, “We’re All in the Same Boat” showcases his fusion of unique funky rock with spices from world music. Tarel’s musical influences include The Smiths, The Cure, and Jimi Hendrix.
Tarel’s song description: “A feel-good U.K. indie rock song with rather depressing lyrics, a funky baseline to dance to, and a virtuoso guitar solo written in a dream.”
https://www.instagram.com/theredcurtainaffair/
Stream all of the tracks on this page uninterrupted: