Another playlist features new indie rock singles from the following artists:
Rhymes – Uppsala, Sweden
The Duskwhales – Washington, D.C.
Tekla Waterfield – Seattle, Washington
Liz Hogg – Brooklyn, New York
The Edwards – Chicago, Illinois
Rhymes – “Fyrisån”
Swedish indie band Rhymes’ latest single, “Fyrisån,” has received a good deal of play on Swedish Radio nationwide and has also become the band’s most popular song to date.
The single is “a hometown accolade” to the Fyrisan River that flows through the Uppsala region where the boys are from.
Interestingly, the song includes references to the Girls’ cover of Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” from 2009 and “celebrates the river’s unrelenting journey through the shifting times.”
The band opened for the band Slaves during a world tour. The Rhymes was formed in a basement in Uppsala, Sweden in 2016, and have since then played over 70 gigs in England, Germany, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
The Duskwhales – “Today”
Washington D.C. indie rock, psych-retro band The Duskwhales not only lay down well-engineered sounds, but they are also somewhat of a miracle as well. The band drummer, Chris Baker, came down with cancer last year.
For months, he fought back and as of the past couple of weeks, he was one year into remission.
The band’s new single, “Today,” is described by Baker as a special song that “encapsulated my cancer experience in the style of 60’s inspired psychedelia with nods to The Monkees, The Beatles, The Turtles, and all the other lovable anthropomorphic bands from yesteryear.” Hot ditty!
With a new perspective and appreciation for life, Baker and his band members – Seth Flynn (guitar/vocals) and Brian Majewski (keyboards/vocals) – are geared up for a fantastic 2019.
The Duskwhales have opened for bands like Car Seat Headrest, Diane Coffee, Frankie Cosmos, and Little Green Cars. They are influenced by many bands, including those mentioned above, as well as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Elliott Smith, and Radiohead.
Tekla Waterfield – “Nice Try”
Tekla Waterfield is a Seattle based singer/songwriter, recipient of Listen up! Women in Music 2018 grant by the Allied Arts Foundation, long-time Seattle Tacoma International Airport performer, among various other recognitions and awards.
Her songs have been featured in indie films, including the upcoming 2019 release, Dakota, and she has had multiple songs from both of her independent releases receive radio play.
In addition to Waterfield (vocals, guitar), band members include Jeff Fielder (guitars, programming, synths); Andrew Joslyn (strings); Aaron O’Neil (drums), and Eric Eagle (percussion; engineering).
Liz Hogg – “This Is Trash”
At first, we thought the WiFi was tripping off and on but then realized it’s the way that this very different song – titled “This Is Trash” – was purposefully recorded (or is it played that way?), which is interesting, but not for three minutes. It came to us from indie DIY artist Liz Hogg of Brooklyn.
She has toured eleven countries playing numerous festivals and concert halls. Recently, she became the first American to win a fellowship to perform and study at the Lanciano International Guitar Festival in Italy. Her musical influences include John Frusciante, T. Rex, David Bowie, and Lou Reed.
The Edwards – “Northern States”
The Edwards have been carving a niche in Chicago’s gain-heavy garage-rock scene of latee thanks to a home-brewed mix of warm, swingy guitars, chill percussions, and breezy melodies. This is exemplified in the band’s most recent single, “Northern States”.
The band features Chicago music scene veterans Kyle Maurisak (Nativity Beds); Emma McCall (Moonrise Nation); Chris Deporter (Torres); Stuart MacFadyen (Strange Foliage), and Chris Murphy.
Opened for bands like Sun Cop, Pooky, Blind Moon with musical influences like Yo La Tengo, Deerhunter, Radiohead, Pavement, Grizzly Bear, and Wilco.