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Music Blog for Indie Pop Fans

Etherdene – Summer Dreams: An Indietronica Ode to Seasonal Longing

Etherdene’s latest single, ‘Summer Dreams‘, is a masterstroke in indietronica, blending the magnetic allure of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with the Smiths’ jangle-pop melodies, all while infusing a shoegaze and retro-futuristic electronica reminiscent of Tiny Ghosts.

Since her solo debut in June 2023, Etherdene has been an indomitable force in the music industry. Each release has solidified her place in the hearts of listeners and playlist curators. Her music, an affectingly arresting cocktail of empowering messages and evocative soundscapes, resonates deeply on every conceivable level.

‘Summer Dreams’, released in the heart of February, initially strikes as a paradoxical choice. However, the track’s lyrical yearning for the warmth and sticky-sweet hues of summer, set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest’s rainy winters, unifies through the affirmation that we’re all in it together, and now we have the ultimate soundtrack to our unified longing.

We didn’t think there was much scope for improvement from Etherdene’s previous single, You Are My World, but the complexities within Summer Dreams that reveal a new reason to fall head over heels for the single with every listen prove that Etherdene is poised to become an indietronica firebrand in 2024.

Summer Dreams was officially released on February 9th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Neil Young meets Pixies in Ryanne + The Rumination’s seminal single, Waste

Indiana’s Ryanne + The Rumination hit the airwaves running with their stylistically expansive self-titled debut LP, which explores the spectrum of human emotions within the psychological ebbs and flows.

The standout single, Wasting, exhibits the duo at their most ethereally magnetic. Ryanne’s crystalline vocal lines cut right through the Pixies-esque atmosphere manifested through the guitar-driven production that exhibits the duo’s influence of Neil Young.

Intimate and profound in equal measure, the artfully immersive single evolves from a dreamy monochromatic release of pent-up emotions to a melancholically stirring alt-pop anthem that won’t fail to pull you into its raw oscillating core. If Ryanne + The Rumination’s is the future of pop, I’m here for it.

Ryanne clearly found her alchemic match in the multi-instrumentalist, Seth Wyatt. The way the single culminates in a post-punk decorated disquiet crescendo after a lament on the frustrations of stagnation is a stunningly affecting way to make an ever-lasting impression.

Waste was officially released on February 9th and is now available to stream with the band’s eponymous LP via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Holly Lovelady alchemised around the rough terrain of reality in her scintillated by synths folk-pop ballad, Helvellyn

Holly Lovelady’s latest folk-pop single, ‘Helvellyn‘, is a meticulously crafted piece of aural alchemy. Lovelady, with her arcane vocal harmonies reminiscent of Stevie Nicks and synth lines echoing The Human League, brings a fresh, artful approach to the genre.

‘Helvellyn’ is a scintillatingly spiritual modern ballad that seamlessly blends electro-pop with folk melodies while delving into the highs and lows we’re all fated to traverse. Her enchantingly ethereal vocal timbre effortlessly weaves through the melodies, allowing you to instantly feel at home in her profound presence.

Lovelady’s musical roots, nurtured in the cosy embrace of her grandparents’ home, are evident in the depth and authenticity of her sound. Her journey from covering classics to creating her own path in the music industry is reflected in the song’s metaphorical exploration of the rough terrain of reality.

The single stands out for its balance of artfulness and accessibility. It resonates as an ornate feat, an affecting blend of modern and traditional, without falling into the trap of becoming a dusty relic of bygone eras. Lovelady’s skill in modernising the ballad form while maintaining its soulful core is nothing short of remarkable.

With support from BBC London, BBC Merseyside, and Radio 6, and following a year of personal and creative growth, Lovelady is poised to make a significant impact on the alternative pop scene. ‘Helvellyn’ is more than just a feather in her cap; it’s a bold statement of her artistry and a beacon for the future of modern ballads.

Helvellyn was officially released on February 6th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Olen Filipe – Home 17: Authentically Augmented Indie Pop

Swiss-based Portuguese artist Olen Filipe’s latest alt-indie-pop single, Home 17, is a firestorm of evocative momentum, alchemised through a stridently lush blend of introspection, innovation, and unflinching soul.

The exposition of the complexities of love and self-discovery is guided by Filipe’s tender vocals and mapped with his candour-fuelled lyrics which transpose aching emotion into nuanced storytelling. The stylised and authentically augmented production ensures that the only thing that’s raw about Home 17 is the visceralism within the expression, which has earned the singer-songwriter a devoted following since his debut.

Filipe’s subtle harmonies leave a profound impact as they juxtapose the oceanic evocative nature of the release, which echoes the pain inflicted by self-conflict. There’s no understating the affecting nature of the production as it simultaneously stirs and comforts your soul.

Influenced by artists like Bon Iver and Neil Frances, Filipe stands out with his distinct sound in Home 17, which stands as a testament to his commitment to crafting music that not only resonates with listeners but also invites them on a passionate, introspective journey.

Home 17 was officially released on February 9th; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Royston Vasie – Creeping: A Melodic Renaissance in the Indie Landscape

If you have had your fill of indie landfill, cleanse your sonic palette with the latest release, Creeping, from Melbourne’s most affecting melodicists, Royston Vasie.

With synth melodies sweeter than honey/Grandaddy, soulfully sludgy ennui in the same vein as Dinosaur Jr, sweepingly angular guitar licks that give Johnny Marr a run for his money and a modernist touch as a courtesy of the Jaws and Peace-esque indie accordance, Creeping is a smorgasbord of influence which amalgamates to portray Royston Vasie as one of the most promising up-and-coming artists on the airwaves in 2024.

After releasing their first two albums through Courtney Barnett’s now-defunct label, Milk! Records, Creeping marks a shift in their musical style, which previously oscillated between the garage ethos of Black Lips and the shoegaze of early The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

If the outro leaves you aching for more, mark your calendar for the release of the fourpiece’s upcoming album, Through the Canopies, which will arrive on May 15.

Creeping will inch its way onto the airwaves on February 15; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dreams and reality blur in Baz Edmondson’s artfully alternative folk single, The Shepherd’s Lullaby

Baz Edmondson’s sophomore release, ‘The Shepherd’s Lullaby‘, is an ornately tender foray into a euphonically artful world where dreams and reality blur into a harmonious symphony.

This single, beating in the heart of Bournemouth’s folk scene, is a testament to Edmondson’s stripes as a singer, songwriter, and storyteller. It is an intricate blend of traditional folk and art rock, showcasing Edmondson’s unique ability to take feelings and transform them into musical experiences that resound like no other.

The gentle piano keys, placed at the forefront around the orchestral strings and other folk synthetics amplify the sentiments in the sleep-dusted serenade which sees the instrumentals ebb and flow into crescendo, bringing a sense of grandeur while never overpowering the release.

Edmondson’s vocal delivery is reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s fervour, imbuing the song with a raw, emotional depth that is both captivating and haunting. The navigation through the highs and lows of the melody is a journey you will want to take with Baz Edmondson time after time.

For those seeking to rediscover the feeling of their soul being whole, Baz Edmondson’s intricately artful folk world is a journey worth embarking on.

The Shepherd’s Lullaby was officially released on January 31; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NÍNIVE – Aleluya: Celestial Permission to Shed the Weight of Emptiness

After making one of the strongest debuts of 2023, the Ecuadorian Alt-Pop conduit of cinematic experimentalism, NÍNIVE, has returned to the airwaves with her sophomore single, Aleluya, created in collaboration with the world-renowned producer, Enrique Gonzalez Müller.

There’s not just something in the ethereal atmosphere of Aleluya; the intricate complexities within the explorative instrumentals as they oscillate, glitch and melodiously flow are dynamite to the rhythmic senses as they create a beguiling platform for NÍNIVE’s celestial vocal timbre.

As the deeply confessional single professes the weight of internal emptiness, the transcendence within the production is permission to free yourself from that feeling and let light and colour into your soul through resilience, love and awareness of inner beauty. The sonic meditation is the ultimate antidote to the agony of our current era, which makes it so hard to find meaning and fulfilment. We can’t wait to hear what the superlative songstress constructs next.

Aleluya was officially released on February 2nd; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Romantic Rhapsody on Airwaves: Allen Miller’s ‘People Pretending to Be You’ Melds Indie Pop with Cinematic Love

Allen Miller

Allen Miller took the romantic comedy from the silver screen to the airwaves with his latest narratively panoramic indie-pop love song, People Pretending to Be You. The heart-in-throat hit jangle pops in the same vein as The 1975, carries all the sticky-sweet earworm potential of a Taylor Swift chart-topper, and flows with a flood of emotion, emanating the pop panache as Harry Styles.

To round off the influential smorgasbord, you’ll also succumb to the stylistic sonic gravity, which pulls you in with the same visceral pull of the snappy moody beats featured in the boygenius discography. Yet, the melodies and vocal magnetism fall by the wayside when you lock into the cunningly tender poetry within the lyricism, which proves that Allen Miller is a writer first and an artist second.

Exploring the sensation of everything falling into place as your soul cohesively connects to another, Allen Miller reached the paragon of romanticism by putting his heart on his guitar strings and paying such an affecting ode to the ethereal feeling that most screenwriters fail to sincerely capture.

People Pretending to Be You will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from February 9th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Molly Ferrill unclipped her wings in her emboldening sonic rebellion, Born to Fly

Molly Ferrill’s debut single, ‘Born to Fly‘, is a clarion call to unshackle the spirit. The potent blend of rock ‘n’ roll fervour and pop sensibility echoes the raw energy of Joan Jett and the unapologetic boldness of Courtney Love. But the real earworm appeal lies in how the National Geographic Explorer turned musician infused the single with a sense of unbridled freedom, mirroring her own life’s journey across the globe.

Recorded in Mexico and produced in the U.K., Born to Fly is a testament to her multifaceted creativity, seamlessly blending visuals and sounds that resonate with her deep connection to the natural world. The accompanying music video, set against the rugged backdrop of Tlayacapan, Mexico, features a Harris’s hawk, symbolising the song’s core message of liberation and empowerment.

The track itself is a masterful reinvention of 90s nostalgia for the modern alt-rock scene. Ferrill’s vocals oscillate between the soulful pop tones reminiscent of Texas and the gritty edge of the Riot Grrrl era. The guitar licks may pay homage to the classic rock era, but they are distinctly contemporary in their execution.

Ferrill’s message in Born to Fly is clear: liberation is not just a dream, but a tangible reality, attainable through the sheer force of will and the joy of living.

As Ferrill continues to traverse diverse creative landscapes, from the streets of Mexico City to the urban sprawl of Bangkok and New York City, Born to Fly is a strikingly catchy elucidation of her artistic vision – fearless, unbound, and relentlessly uplifting.

Check out the official music video for Born to Fly on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The troubadour of die-hard romanticism, Andy Smythe, struck aural gold once again with ‘Out of My Mind’

Andy Smythe teased the aurally amplified eloquence caged in his forthcoming album, Poetry in Exile, by unveiling the standout single, Out of My Mind, which captures the toil of finding ‘the one’ in a sprawling metropolis.

The psychedelic and sporadically spacy pop hit, which oscillates in the middle ground between the Beatles, Bowie, and Buckley, brings brand-new meaning to an endeavour being a labour of love while allowing you to fall head over heels for the London-based troubadour of die-hard romanticism.

The kaleidoscopic melodies vortex around the horn stabs, which bring an infectious and enrapturing bluesy stridency to the release, ensuring that Out of My Mind will never be far from your own psyche after you have succumbed to the rhythmic magnetism. The stunningly rendered release is the ultimate testament to Andy Smythe’s talents in prising sentiments from his soul and visualising them through his tenor harmonies and lush arrangements that will effortlessly become your new crush.

The official music video for Out of My Mind was officially released on January 26. Stream it on YouTube and follow Andy Smythe on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the launch of his upcoming LP, which is poised for a March 1st release.

Review by Amelia Vandergast