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Nick Marks Charts New Coordinates in Jazztronica with ‘Current Location’

Posted on 13 February 2025

From the first note of Current Location, Nick Marks and his armada of collaborators pull listeners into an aural cosmos where jazz motifs greet futurism with traditionalism.

Opening Cinematic Chromatics Vol. III, the final instalment of his 3 EP trilogy, Current Location exists in a liminal space where textures shift like constellations, guiding listeners through a field of gravity formed by soul, neo-soul, and jazztronica.

Marks has spent the past two years carving his sonic universe, bridging the underground scenes where jazz, hip-hop, and electronica collide with filmic grandeur. Since its inception in 2020, Cinematic Chromatics has been heralded for its genre-blurring ingenuity, earning Marks acclaim from tastemakers and playlist placements, including Spotify’s Best of Fresh Finds Jazz 2024.

Current Location represents the fluidity of place, time, and sound, drawing from Brazilian influences, lo-fi aesthetics, and orchestral sophistication. The track’s inception came as Marks walked through Manhattan, melodies forming in response to the rhythms of the city, later fleshed out with electric bassist CARRTOONS, vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu, and pianist Benjamin Furman.

The soulful yet spacey non-lexical vocals harbour accessibility in the mix, reassuring that, despite the technical chops underpinning the track, pretension is absent. This is pure rhythmic expression, allowing listeners to traverse the same sonic pathways as its creators. The polyphonic tones heighten the groove’s ecstatic zeal, but the crescendos, reaching the epitome of seraphic euphonia, steal the spotlight.

Current Location is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Secret Radio Tune into Indie’s Melancholy with ‘Mockingbird’

Posted on 13 February 2025

Aching in the same vein as Elbow, Badly Drawn Boy, and Starsailor, The Secret Radio’s ‘Mockingbird’ carries the weight of nostalgia with the kind of orchestrally laced swells that sharpen the emotion without slipping into saccharine cliché. The song, taken from their debut album, Shortwave, is a testament to the enduring pull of melodic indie rock, one that transcends eras rather than leans into pastiche.

The Secret Radio’s roots trace back to New York in 2006, where they played live for five years before the original members went their separate ways. While some of their early recordings lingered in obscurity, chief songwriter Damian Fowler, a North Yorkshire native now based in New York, revisited and reworked select tracks during the pandemic.

With producer and pianist Asen Doykin, guitarist Bebbo, and a collective of musicians spanning multiple countries, these songs found a second life—fitting for a band whose name now comes with a definitive article and a renewed sense of purpose.

The British sensibility weaves through Mockingbird, with its sweeping violin lines and honeyed vocals that console as much as they ache. It revives the trend of truly affecting indie pop rock, carrying all the sentiment and none of the excess. If The Secret Radio are this laudable straight out of the aural gate, their sophomore release will be one to watch out for

Mockingbird is now available to stream on all major platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Agaaze Sends Synths Soaring with ‘Run Free’ – A Neon-Soaked Slice of Sonic Liberation

Posted on 13 February 2025

There’s no mistaking an Agaaze production when it lands—his signature sound carries the warmth of sun-scorched nostalgia while still pulsing with an electrified sense of the future. ‘Run Free’ is no exception. Built on staccato pseudo-reggae rhythms and synths torn straight from the neon-lit corridors of the 80s, the track doesn’t just stick in your head—it hijacks your psyche.

Even as the instrumental euphoria threatens to sweep you away entirely, the rhythmic cadence of his rolling vocal melodies keeps you hooked as they surf over the synthesised soundscape. Blasts of funk, nostalgia, and eccentricity make this track impossible to pin down, but that unpredictability is exactly where the ingenuity of the monolith of an infectious perennial pop earworm lies.

The Rochester-born artist, producer, and DJ has already gained recognition for his boundless creativity, and with a fearless approach to independent artistry, he’s proven that no sonic territory is off-limits.

With ‘Run Free’, Agaaze doesn’t just invite you into his world; he allows you to escape your own. Liberate yourself and hit play on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

FLIPPIN’ GOTHIC FABP Strikes with Speaker-Mangling Boom Bap on ‘IT’S B’S LIKE THIS’

Posted on 12 February 2025

If there’s one thing FLIPPIN’ GOTHIC FABP doesn’t do, it’s half-measure hip-hop. ‘IT’S B’S LIKE THIS’ is another bullet in his fully loaded arsenal of boom bap bangers, refusing to hold back as he injects high-octane energy into every beat. The track is built on a polyphonic onslaught that mauls the speakers while his signature infectious lyrical flow keeps the momentum locked at full throttle. It’s a masterclass in how to command a mic with unshakable conviction, making it effortless to get swept up in the rhythmic mantra he hammers home.

With over 2,000 tracks to his name, the Jamaica Queens-based artist has long since earned his place as one of the most prolific figures in the underground hip-hop scene. Cutting through the noise with a raw and undiluted sound, his work with X-Calade Promotionz has cemented his reputation for music that refuses to be watered down. His versatility extends beyond rap, pulling in elements of pop and heavy metal to keep his sonic palette unpredictable. Even before the moniker switch, he was carving out his legacy, with mixtape features from DJ Ron G and a relentless commitment to releasing tracks that demand attention.

The single is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tong Cherd delivered a jazz funk-infused shot of adrenaline with ‘CAFF’

Posted on 18 January 2025

Tong Cherd’s instrumental single, CAFF, is as energising as its namesake, delivering a riotous fusion of jazz, funk, and soul that’s impossible to ignore. From the moment the lines of slapped bass hit, it’s clear this isn’t just a groove-heavy funk track—it’s a masterclass in dynamic composition. The melodic bass riffs are elevated further by Augie Bello’s sax riffs, creating a rich interplay of textures that buzzes with kinetic energy.

Cherd, a Thai-born bassist now based in NYC, has carved out a reputation for his melodic sensibilities and aggressive slap bass technique. A graduate of Shobi Music College and The New School, Cherd has collaborated with a wide range of artists across genres, including Augie Bello and Cory Wong. With CAFF, he flexes his virtuosic muscles, layering bold bass solos and rhythmically intricate percussion over soulful rock undertones.

The track doesn’t just coast on its up-tempo energy. Every element—from the smoky outro to the punchy crescendos—exhilarates while showcasing Cherd’s skill. As the sonic journey winds down, the smoky soul infusion ensures that even when you’re through with the track, the earworm laid down by the rhythmatist isn’t through with you.

Add it to your playlists and you may not need your Starbucks order on your morning commute.

CAFF was officially released on January 17th; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Breaking the Sound Barrier: Eleri Ward’s ‘There You Go’ Spiritually Shatters the Monocultural Mould

Posted on 10 January 2025
Eleri Ward

‘There You Go’ by the Chicago-born, NYC-based spiritual seductress of alt-pop, Eleri Ward enmeshes an arcane aura that breaks through the monocultural mould with baroque beguile in a way that makes Björk sound positively pedestrian.

Every second of ‘There You Go’ is a revelation; as you sink into the scintillation, you’ll find yourself in awe of the singer-songwriter’s expansively seraphic octave range and how her harmonies effortlessly complement the transgressions in sound, which shift you into a state of transcendence.

Teasing dark aesthetics into the syncopated alchemy of the indietronica release, she pairs moody etherealism with crystalline embellishments to immerse you into a session of expression that goes beyond sound. In this labyrinthine soundscape, where each texturally electrifying twist offers a new sonic delight, Ward proves her connection to music runs as deep as her lyricism. She’s a convention-challenging phenomenon in her own right, making no pantheon prestigious enough for her to enter.

There You Go will hit all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, on January 10th.

For more information and more ways to connect with Eleri Ward, visit her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sauce999__ Launched a Soulful Escape Beyond the Stratosphere with his cosmic RnB release, ‘The Flying Saucer’

Posted on 8 January 2025

With The Flying Saucer, the breakthrough luminary Sauce999__ crafted an intergalactic alt-RnB experience that defies conventional boundaries and went beyond Earth’s orbit. Featuring SALTHOUSE and Raquel, the track is a standout moment from the Boston-based producer’s eccentric LP of the same name, released in November 2024. Sauce999__ utilised a synthesis of vintage samples and live instrumentals to create a soundscape that lifts listeners far above the monotony of material reality.

The track balances the nostalgic warmth of old-school RnB grooves with a modern, experimental edge. While mostly instrumental, it doesn’t shy away from emotion; spacey vintage samples serve as the perfect transmission while the ethereally soulful non-lexical vocals and outro mark the outro, tying together a composition that feels both otherworldly and grounded in authenticity. By juxtaposing familiar retro tones with exploratory production, Sauce999__ delivers a sensory experience which simulates floating weightlessly through the cosmos.

Unlike typical psychedelic tracks, The Flying Saucer forgoes cliché motifs, instead carving its own unique path into sonic escapism. Sauce999__ proves himself not just as a producer but as an architect of vibes, expertly cradling his listeners within the dreamy transcendence of his work.

Stream The Flying Saucer on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

aubreyleighkirk has made her debut with her truth-bleeding wounded ballad, empty

Posted on 30 December 2024

The single ‘empty’ by aubreyleighkirk arrives with lyrics so visceral they resound as though they’ve poured from a raw wound. Confounded with striking minor-key piano chords, filmic orchestral swells and the singer-songwriter’s seraphically melancholic vocal harmonies, the debut single instantly catches you off guard.

With gospel-esque choir vocals adding to the arcane atmosphere of the cinematic vignette—which illustrates the hollowness of loneliness when you’re missing the warmth of the only person capable of making you feel whole—aubreyleighkirk easily distinguished herself as a purveyor of authentic artistry. As the industry waits with bated breath for more of her discography to cascade from her cultivated pipeline, she’s already an indie pop icon to watch.

Aubrey grew up immersed in music. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music with a BM in Musical Theatre, she pursued the arts relentlessly and proudly joined the Actors’ Equity Association. Her career soared in the cabaret scene, including appearances at 54 Below, The Greenroom 42, and Birdland Jazz Club. To date, she has performed in three original works at the NY Winterfest, the NY Theatre Festival, and a five-week Off-Broadway run at the Players Theater.

After building her film presence in LA through lead roles in commercials, short films, and independent features, she now flies between NYC and LA, forging her music path with ‘empty’ and preparing more releases this winter.

empty was officially released on December 13; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LR – Red Dress: Hip-Hop From the Streets Into the Soul

Posted on 14 December 2024

The single ‘Red Dress’ from LR’s EP, It’s Late, locks you into a smooth, seductive groove with its Latin-tinged guitars after a wavy, trappy R&B intro which gives way to LR’s arresting cadence that hypnotises you into his marked with metric precision verses.

As the complete epitome of vocal charisma, the up-and-coming rapper ticks all the right boxes in this multi-dimensional, progressively exhilarating hit that radiates with so much more than lust; it’s a celebration of beauty that will make you question the perception filter you view the world through.

LR veers away from any sense of pretence and taps straight into the soul with his expertly stitched bars that give you a sense of the Bronx grit that has shaped the artist’s conviction. Rather than merely imitating the revered rappers he grew up listening to—those whose names still echo through New York streets—he channels their raw honesty into his own reflections. Influences from the likes of Aaliyah and Missy Elliot shape his fluid approach to melody and harmony, resulting in a style that refuses to settle into any one corner of hip-hop.

Red Dress is now available via Apple Music and Spotify with the rest of LR’s It’s Late EP, which dropped on December 2nd.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

figaro heralded the new wave of darkwave indie with their ‘Good Bones’ EP

Posted on 1 December 2024

If your playlists are littered with tracks from White Lies and Editors, the latest EP, Good Bones, from the Brooklyn-based alt-indie trailblazer figaro is a homecoming for malaised souls seeking salvation in moody synth-driven indie guitar-licked pulsative euphony.

Haunting the borderlands between post-punk-tinged industrial indie sleaze and darkwave synth-pop, the 6-track release is an anthology of strobing ennui. The opening single, Maybe Cherry, has infiltrated swathes of influential indie playlists with its aching atmospherics, angular guitars and abstract crooned lyrics, which paint poetry throughout the hypnotic oscillations.

In Foreva, the indie artist wears their 80s influence on their guitar strings, harking back to the tonal mesmerism of Echo and the Bunnymen while delivering hymnally intimate installations of introspection. All I Know is yet another standout on the EP; with sweeping guitars which echo Interpol, polyphonic synths, a syncopated beat, and the delicious sonic dejection of PEACE and Jaws, figaro scorched their way through the oversaturated synth-pop scene, reigning supreme over the indie landfill pawns as one of the most organically original artists who has graced the darkwaves in recent years.

Stream figaro’s sophomore EP, Good Bones, which dropped on November 22nd, on all major platforms, including Spotify.

For more ways to listen and connect with figaro use this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast