Get to know talented indie DIY artists and bands we’ve been listening to this summer. We decided to highlight one 2022 track from each artist or band, even though they all have others we dig as well. There’s a range of sub-genres represented as well.
Young Robin – Perth, Australia
Loops & Loops – Bronx, New York
Patches – Enid, Oklahoma
Nathan Colberg – Nashville, Tennessee
Cries For Colour – Waterloo, Ontario
Aussie alt-pop band delivers bliss on latest single
PERTH, Australia – Originally released in May, “Waste My Time” by Australian band Young Robin, is a blissful indie track that really stuck with us through the summer; thus, its inclusion in this series.
The band leans into the maturing sound it has discovered, blending bright signature riffs with sound elements borrowed from genres such as modern pop-driven hip-hop.
The alt-pop quintet comes straight out of Perth’s eastern suburbs, fusing a kaleidoscope of influences, and delivering a soulful, blissful sound and captivating on-stage performances.
The group are forging their own path in the music scene with a sound that doesn’t conform to trends. With a natural chemistry between the members and a knack for creating a euphoric atmosphere, their live shows are unmissable. ”
Social: https://www.instagram.com/youngrobinband/
Members: Jed Begho – vocals, Sophian Manik – vocals and guitar, Hamish Graham – bass guitar, Jarred Osborne – guitar, Tyler Vivian – drums
Influences: Clairo, The 1975, Last Dinosaurs, Foals, Jungle Giants, Glass Animals
Opened For: South Summit, Adrian Dzvuke, Pacific Avenue
Formed: 2013
Bronx one-man band Loops & Loops blends dream and lo-fi
BRONX, New York – Last year, Loops & Loops, aka Peter Bogolub, purked our ears with the lo-fi, dream-pop number, “Not Yet” – a track he says was based on a walk through NYC during the pandemic.
Lately, he’s been on a roll and quite prolific – dropping four EPs and albums so far this year, intermixed with a series of singles.
Other notable tracks we dig from his 2022 discography include “County Fair” and “Pain In My Heart,” among others, both from his Fake Face drop.
Clocking in at just under 2 minutes, “Pain in My Heart” highlights Bogolub’s inner monologue as he navigates the weird, limbo-like transition period following the end of a personal relationship.
Fake Face, he says, “serves as a return to indie roots of such bands as Yo La Tengo and The Magnetic Fields.” (two bands we’ve been covering since our start in 2007) .
Melding somber elements from the lyrics, a melancholy vocal delivery as if he was frowning throughout the entirety of it, the track delivers an optimistic ukulele riff and a bouncing pop melody hook.
One of his releases this summer, The Mysterious Case of Harper Goodwin, features 11 experimental space-pop/rock/shoegaze/dream-pop instrumentals, including stand-outs like the opening track, “Call Of” and “Lost In It”. If you’re into meditation music, check this out.
For nearly 20 years, Bogolub played in “noisier bands,” but the pandemic “opened the doors for me to find a more intimate and lo-fi groove as a solo artist,” he says.
However, he did not release his own recordings again for nearly 14 years. It was during the quarantine that he discovered, experimented with and released lo-fi music. We’re glad he did. You can
Social: https://www.instagram.com/peterbogolub/
Members: Peter Bogolub, songwriting, instruments, composition
Influences: Yo La Tengo, The Magnetic Fields, My Bloody Valentine, The Shins, Lord Huron
Opened For: n/a
Formed: 2020
New Trio Outta OK crafts spacey-pop rock
ENID, Oklahoma – Patches is a new indie rock/post-punk trio out of the mid-west that held our attention with the band’s February release of the single, “A Nice Day to Orbit Saturn” from the debut album Tales We Heard from The Fields.
“We have been making harmonic, pop infused rock with experimental noise since our inception, and the three members switch instrumental roles on the fly,” notes vocalist and bassist Nick Robilliard.
“We have a pronounced lo-fi and DIY aesthetic when it comes to everything from songwriting, to artwork, to production. With backgrounds in REM style jangle pop, minimalistic art rock like Wire, and the bombast of bands like Jesus Lizard, each member brings something unique to the band which is reflected in the song variety,” he adds.
“‘A Nice Day to Orbit Saturn’ was the third song created for our debut album. It is equal parts melody-oriented pop and scathing, distortion heavy feedback that quickly builds into layered guitar play.
“Lyrically, it is a bitter, first person narrative of an astronaut in a futuristic setting who has resigned himself to being stranded on one of Saturns moons. Clean harmonies obscure some of the dread,” Robilliard concludes.
Social: https://thesoundsofpatches.bandcamp.com/track/a-nice-day-to-orbit-saturn
Members: Evan Seurkamp – Vocals, Guitar; Nick Robilliard Vocalist/Bassist; Melodica Aaron Griffin – Guitar, Drums
Influences: Wire, The Cure, Guided by Voices, Kitchens of Distinction, Gang of Four, REM
Opened For: n/a
Formed: 2021
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Earlier this year, Nashville-based indie-pop songwriter and musician Nathan Colberg released his debut album, Dream On, Kid.
The stunning track, “Oblivion,” has been on repeat in our Best DIY Music of 2022 playlist series on IRC’s Spotify channel.
The album was produced by Jason Mater (Encanto, High School Musical the Series) & Chumba (Dua Lipa, Maroon 5) with songwriting contributions from Sam Martin (John Legend, Maroon 5, Jason DeRulo)and Bo Rinehart (Needtobreathe).
Colberg is originally from Charlottesville, Virginia but moved to Nashville in 2018 to pursue a career in music.
Interestingly, Colberg chose Nashville even though his music is not country or even close to country; instead, Colberg produces heart-felt pop/rock songs.
“Despite an insanely talented team,” he says “I am still independent and currently have a small following.”
Other notable tracks from his latest release – Dream On, Kid – include “Gateway Bridge” and “Gold,” among others.
His catalog of music (on Spotify, YT and Soundcloud) claims to have amassed more than 10 million streams – and not from being featured on any high-profile playlists, but instead from likes and adds by bloggers and music lovers who have latched on to Colberg’s music. Most of his streams came from the 2018 album, Silo, and his 2016 EP, Barricade.
His 2018 song, “Calm,” racked up over two and a half million streams on Spotify alone.
Social: https://www.instagram.com/nathan_colberg/
Members: Nathan Colberg – all instruments
Influences: Phil Collins, Maggie Rogers, 1975
Opened For: Johnnyswim, Matt Wertz
Formed: 2018
WATERLOO, Ontario – Based in Canada, indie dream pop solo artist Quinn Downton, aka Cries for Colour, weaves together disciplines in songwriting, compisitions and production. with a focus on atmospheric and melancholic sounds.
“The songs are fleshed out by an incredibly talented rotating carousel of guest musicians and singers to ensure that the music remains fresh and ever-changing,” Downton says.
One of his latest single, “Sea Fret,” has been on our ‘favorite DIY songs’ all year. Perfect for you chill-loving dudes.
“"Sea Fret" is an atmospheric yet fun indie pop song meant to mesh the acoustic and melancholic strumming of bands like Fleet Foxes with the more upbeat and funky pop of The 1975, Talking Heads and Daft Punk, but with a hint of modern electronica elements in the mix,” Downton writes.
“While the lyrics seemingly hint at a broken relationship they are actually about my own relationship with intrusive thoughts and anxiety.”
The song was released ahead of his debut album, Fairlight, that dropped earlier this year.
Social: https://www.criesforcolour.com/
Members: Quinn Downton
Influences: Fleet Foxes, The 1975, Talking Heads, Daft Punk
Opened For: n/a
Formed: 2020
Indie rock trailblazers Arcade Fire have dropped their first new track in five years, “The Lightning I,II,” from the upcoming new album, We, set to drop on May 6th.
