Collide

       EVVY's "Collide" feels remarkably fresh with a sweet pop melody holding out over heavy synths and pulsing percussions. 

       The track, produced by Mickey Valen & The King, is simultaneously light and grounded, the duo's incredible knack for highlighting the best parts of the melody and rhythm by bringing them to the top without allowing the production to drown out even the softest vocals in full swing. EVVY's pure vocals ring out clearly as lyrics "I looked all over your face to find the reason it makes me feel so damn new" and "your lips they used to haunt me but now you want me and I'm floating off the ground" seek to explain the complexities of new love and a fun melody works to keep up with the prominent beat. 

       A bridge which features "oh, I crash into you, and I'm better being broken, and you've got me movin' to your heartbeat, to your heartbeat" played out over a simple piano line with some hearty percussion thrown in is insanely addictive and there's no way to sit still while listening to that final refrain. 

       Few tracks are more satisfying to the ear than one of Mickey Valen & The King's and not many female vocalists have a sound as sweetly rich and pure as EVVY's, so check out "Collide" below, head to the websites, and listen to her first single, "Got Me Movin'", for something that breathes fun summer vibes. 

"Collide" EVVY

EVVY
Twitter
Facebook
SoundCloud
- E

Apart

       Halcyon Drive's latest single "Apart" features full vocals plaintively begging "can we find another way around this, 'cause I would love you every day you wanted me to" whilst a steady percussion offers up a rhythm as emotional as those lyrics, with desperate lashes and heavy beats balancing out a soft and winding melody.

       A deliciously hard hitting bridge (around 2:55) presents the wonderful competition between a heavy, emotional percussion, filled with anger and frustration at the fact that it just won't work, juxtaposing beautifully with a pretty vocal harmony that bleeds hope.

       Listen to "Apart" and check out the websites below to find out more about the band and to hear lead single, "Whitewash", from the band's forthcoming debut EP.

"Apart" Halcyon Drive

Halcyon Drive
Twitter
SoundCloud
Facebook
Tumblr
- E

Geronimo

       Nothing is as addictive as the music coming from Australian six-piece Sheppard and their first US single, "Geronimo", will turn you into a fan in one listen.

       A gorgeous alternative rock sound is met with just enough of a pop influence to keep the track upbeat and you dancing, with satisfyingly full lead vocals and sweet vocal harmonies thrown in throughout.

       Articulate lyrics run throughout but an alluring bridge presents "well I'm just a boy, with a broken toy, all lost and coy, at the curtains of the waterfall /so it's here I stand, as a broken man, but I've found my friend, at the curtains of the waterfall / and you rush to me, and it sets us free, so I fall to my knees, at the curtains of the waterfall" with such assured optimism that normally plaintive lyrics are left feeling addictive and hearty; and the repetition of "say geronimo" (used as an endearing provocation) and the overlaying of "can you feel my love" with "bombs away" and "make this leap" are too adorable to ignore. 

       The fun rhythm, sweet chord progressions, and melodies made to make you dance breathe summer vibes from their core and the band's knack for teasing out the good in anything turns the most hopeless of songs into ones that ring with inspiration and love.

       Listen to alternate tracks "Let Me Down Easy", "Something's Missing", and song of the day, "Hold My Tongue" to fall in love with, yet another, Australian band. 

"Geronimo" Sheppard

Sheppard
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
SoundCloud
- E

Trippin'

       The description of a song catchy enough to push oneself to fame, in a song itself, is too ironically impressive to pass over.

       Lilting vocals lead the way as a soft track begins to build upon itself, growing heavier as the lyric's elusive quest for recognition is paired nicely with a video that features the protagonist completely remaking himself, when given the chance. 

       The track manages to come full circle with the imploring "to be unknown is not our own decision and we're fed up" both opening and closing the track; the rest of it is tied up nicely with the repetition of "with a bass line sounding funky to get you hooked like a crackhead junkie" while "we're moving forward and onward" is repeated in the background proves to be so superbly addictive that this track will be running through your head for days.

       The deep bass, heavy rhythm, and solid guitar riffs feel like a refreshing change of pace and, with a production that feels gritty, but never messy, the track will hold your attention from that opening beat to its final lyric.

"Trippin'" RudyTrixX

Facebook

Twitter

SoundCloud

YouTube

- E

Fearless

       Zalkin's powerful vocals stay soft throughout the track's first minute, letting a pretty piano riff and soft rhythm lead the way before a charming set of strings chimes in but, by the time more words of wisdom have been doled out, the track swells with a powerful piano line, soft guitar hooks, heavy strings, and a persistent rhythm; all while Zalkin's vocals grow in intensity with sweet lines "don't wait for the day when your world might come crashing in, tear down the walls and break through" and "the worry you carry, is weighing on you, you're missing the beauty, you're travelling through" before an endearingly uplifting chorus insists "I've got nothing to lose, nothing to prove, I'll let go and be fearless, I won't run and hide, look this in the eye, and be fearless".

       The video opens with the question "what does being fearless mean?" and serious, and great, responses ("embracing life, the good and the bad", "deciding to be all of who you are, flaws and all", "to love, to create, to be free") are intermixed with fun ones which read "fearless means, eating that Indian dinner when you know what's going to happen later" and "letting out a fart in a crowded elevator": the intermixed quotes perfectly personify a video which easily switches from somber shots to fun ones, all without slipping into an air of pretentiousness which so many tracks similar to this one are prone to doing; it's absolutely adorable and compellingly addictive. 

       The beautiful people offering up their own words of wisdom make the video, but the song, which pulls the whole thing together for a wonderfully cheesy and perfectly frisson inducing five minutes of film, is fantastic; get the beautifully put together track from Alisha Zalkin's On This Road EP now and head to the sites below to hear more from this artist.

"Fearless" Alisha Zalkin

Alisha Zalkin

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

SoundCloud

- E

Whoa Whoa Whoa

       Watsky's first new track since the inarguably fantastic Cardboard Castles features a grinding guitar riff, solid drums that push the track forward with a purposeful enthusiasm, and a beat that sucks you in and convinces you to dance with ease. 

       Watsky's lyrics are as unforgivingly honest and straightforward as ever, with lines like "I'm gonna win the tournament, that's what I'm all about. Do what I gotta do and never gonna pout" and "ever since I was a little kid I know that I've been looking for the hot hot spotlight, and if you really wonder what I think about the competition, they were not not not tight" bleated out intermittently with a vocal sample which features the remarkably simple and moving repetition of "whoa whoa whoa, what do you take us for?".

       Watsky's always great lyrics ring with well thought out allusions and are never afraid of taking it a step too far and his latest video to go with the single (featuring well-knowns: Jim Belushi, Bo Burnham, Chinaka Hodge, and Julia Misaki) features the same 'never back out' attitude exhibited in all of his tracks, before ending in flames. 

       The track grabs your attention immediately and hangs on until the final fade-out while the video will keep you watching as it flips from scene to crazy scene. 

       Get the latest single from Watsky's forthcoming All You Can Do now and catch him on the Warped Tour circuit this summer.

"Whoa Whoa Whoa" Watsky

Watsky
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
SoundCloud
- E

Got Me Movin'

       "Got Me Movin'" rises above the rest of this summer's pop tracks with a fun production that feels like a breath of fresh air on a muggy summer day. 

       Airy vocals are filled with such depth that they stand congruously with a prominently pulsing rhythm and wispy melody twists that keep the track surging forward while taking the listener away. 

       A fun piano line holds steady beneath a chorus that starts with the wonderfully soft repetition of "you got me movin'" before jumping in with a compelling chorus that comes full circle with "just shine a light I'll find a way through the darkness, you better hold on I'm coming for you, just shine a light I'll find a way through the darkness, 'cause you got me, got me movin'".

       Listen to Evvy's "Got Me Movin'" to hear, yet another, track that should be on your summer playlist and download the track for free from her SoundCloud page now.

"Got Me Movin'" EVVY

EVVY
Twitter
Facebook
SoundCloud
- E

Music Related News

• I am so addicted to this remix of Say Lou Lou's "Everything We Touch" that I cannot actually get any other work done. Bravo Mickey Valen, you've ruined me for all other remixes.
• The Stationary Set's latest video is so offhandedly weird that I would pay attention to the single without any further convincing but, with a gorgeous beat, a melody that pulls you in and leads you around, and lyrics as amazing as "but baby, I've been learning to smile, this is the year of my sign, and it's just a part of things to come" it is so very easy to fall for "Year Of My Sign". 
• It is so hard to not love a track that just feels right, and Viola Dust's "The Big Hop" feels like everything you've ever loved about pop was given a makeover; it's completely refreshing and more than irresistible. Put on your headphones, turn it up, and lay back or just dance around to it; you really can't go wrong with this. 
• Bleachers continues to adamantly refuse the title of 'one hit wonder' which was tossed about after the release of the sensational "I Wanna Get Better" (watch the video; it's rare that a video can actually make a track even better). "Shadow" is the sweet love song you never knew you had to hear (on repeat and turned all the way up) and "Rollercoaster" is so damn catchy it's a must-have in any summer driving playlist. 
• "Kids Again" is so much greater than expected from a radio ready pop single and it should be a staple of your summer playlists. It's upbeat, the lyrics are adorable and, with a fun melody and persistently solid rhythm, it is impossible to not dance around to this latest single from Example. 
• James Bay's "If You Ever Want To Be In Love" is adorable and lyrics that offer "I'll come around if you ever want to be in love, I'm not waiting, but I'm willing if you call me up, if you ever want to be in love, I'll come around" crooned out over a wonderfully steady piano and a tangy sweet guitar riff are too great to not fall for. 
• Stargroves' music is so perfect it kind of hurts. Every part of the composition and lyrics are thoroughly thought out and put together with such care, not to mention that it's impossible to not fall for their lead track which shamelessly talks about trolls and other legendary creatures; listen to "Westfjords", featuring Abigail Breslin, now. 
• Colbie Caillat's "Try" sought to engender women everywhere by urging girls to love themselves as they are; the song is gorgeous, with lines that are achingly honest and so very sad in their truths but, as great as it is in theory, these efforts always fall flat in practice. Honestly though, you are with yourself so much more than you will ever be with someone else; you better learn to love you an awful lot. It's hard to remember sometimes, but you are pretty awesome.
• Mwansa's "The Kid Has Issues" is honestly so fucking fantastic that I can't stop listening to this. It feels like sinking into a comfy chair after a long day and deserves to be played, sound way up, with your headphones on and your eyes shut.
• Everything coming out of Ireland right now is so perfect it aches to not just head over there and bask in it, and RudyTrixX's "Trippin'" offers a look at some of the best music you have to look forward to right now; alternative/techno pop from Australia is already making it's move, you need to be looking for alternative indie folk pop from Ireland now. 
• Alisha Zalkin's "Fearless" music video is adorably fantastic; watch it because it's cheesily great and a beautiful song that feels like you've heard it all before (in a good, message-from-your-older-sibling way) pulls these short messages from all of these gorgeous people together perfectly.
• Kimberly Anne's music video for "Liar" is just as hypnotic and amazing as the track itself; words cannot adequately express how much I love everything coming from this artist right now. Check out "Hard As Hello" and pre-order the Liar EP now.
• Cathedrals released their third single, "Want My Love", and those sultry vocals mix so eloquently with a bass that throbs in your chest and a rhythm that shows amazing restraint, in the best way.
• Sticky Fingers' "Just For You" shouldn't sound so great amongst all of summer's pop anthems, but the track is so cool and refreshing, with just enough of a hypnotic lull, that it sucks you in immediately and demands to be heard. 
• Buffalo Sunn's music video for their single "By Your Side" is still so time-trippily great that you need to see it if you have not already fallen for the band's sweet indie beach sound (again, I would like to reiterate that you need to start falling for Irish bands now).

Check these out, stop by tomorrow for more great music to fall in love with, and check out Hudson Taylor's recently re-released "Battles" from their newly released Battles EP.

- E

Rollercoaster

       Jack Antonoff's announcement of his solo project, Bleachers, came about after the release of the first single "I Wanna Get Better" and, with the premiere of a track that fantastic, it was easy to label the band as a one hit wonder, but his latest tracks, with their prominent rhythms and melodies so addictive they're impossible to ignore, are just as great.

       Bleachers is your favorite angsty punk rock band from highschool, all grown up. The lyrics read just as desperately as you love, but with an eloquent and honest wording that only comes about with age; the compositions are mature, with melodies that throw in just enough twists to keep it fun and lighthearted while a rhythm keeps it steady and grounded, all without drowning out the vocals with their exuberance. 

       The airy intro is met with a solid guitar riff and persistent rhythm while a wandering riff maintains a lighthearted presence in the background throughout the track and lyrics which read "now I'm running and I can't stop anywhere I go, I think about it every day and that I can't let go, man I'm never the same, we were shotgun lovers, I was a shotgun running away" are too great to not get caught up in. The track's eagerness to leave lyrics up to the listener's interpretation takes it back to the wonderfully great origins of 'alternative' while the rhythm insists on throwing in just enough of a pop feel that there's no way you cannot become addicted. 

       Bleachers is the band you've always loved, just updated to match the times, so pre-order Strange Desire and listen to the three readily available singles.

"Rollercoaster" Bleachers

Bleachers
Twitter
Facebook
SoundCloud
- E

Sunshine

       Teddybears new summer ready single is as addictive as ever and their always danceable mixture of electronica/hip-hop beats with rock/reggae rhythms and easy to sing along with lyrics are in full effect on a track that's sure to make its way into your next beach playlist. 

       While lyrics that state "won't you be my sunshine, your sweet smile is always on my mind" are casually sweet, they're met with such a greatly terse opposition in the video that it's hard not to lose focus on the track itself. 

       The track's dance-worthy and cute, but the video, which features a magical pair of underwear which turns every man she sees into a 'teddybear' (by shooting rainbow rays from her bejeweled crotch [I don't know]) is so distracting that I'm left with a slight appreciation for their weirdness and a lot of questions for the mindset of the person who pioneered this idea. 

       Check out the insane video below and get the single now.

"Sunshine" Teddybears

Teddybears

Facebook

YouTube

SoundCloud

- E

By Your Side

       The latest music video from six piece rock/alt band Buffalo Sunn features the single's adorable lyrics held in stark contrast to a video which alludes to the inevitability of the things you just can't change.

       The Irish band's throwback to a sixties-esque indie beach sound combined with modern alternative riffs produces an undeniably addictive melody. Sweet lyrics, "don't worry, I'll be there in the morning, by your side, for you", and a prominent guitar riff combine to create a perfectly balanced melody while persistent drums and that final vocal harmony urge you to play the track on repeat.

       Catch the music video below, buy the single (from the band's forthcoming debut album, By The Ocean, By The Sea), from iTunes, and head to the websites to find out more about Buffalo Sunn.

"By Your Side" Buffalo Sunn

Buffalo Sunn          

Facebook          

Twitter          

SoundCloud

- E

Fireworks

       Watsky's latest music video is as hypnotically fantastic as his fans have come to expect from a rapper who gives you the unabridged truth without a care to the critics. The video features a simple idea built up by intricate details and careful production, only getting better the longer you watch. 

       If you haven't already fallen for Watsky's sound, check out his album Cardboard Castles for songs as perfect as "Sloppy Seconds", "Hey, Asshole" (featuring Kate Nash), and "Strong As An Oak" with great videos to match and make sure to check him on this summer's Warped Tour circuit. 

"Fireworks" Watsky

- E

Got To My Head

       WATERS' "Got To My Head" features a youthful rhythm dripping with fun vocal hooks and addictive guitar riffs and is paired with a video just as unobtrusively fun and wonderfully simple as the song itself. A chorus which insists "maybe you got to my head" is easy to sing along with from your first listen while great lines like "like rain on sun-soaked days, I never thought you'd stray, and now I can't stop thinking" keep the song interesting long after you've memorized its sound.

       Check out their impossibly fun single for a track you won't mind having stuck in your head the rest of the night.

"Got To My Head" WATERS

WATERS
Twitter
Facebook

- E

Summertime

       With any hope, you're like me and finished your last final today and have a few weeks off from classes and are more than a little ready for summer to finally be here, and The Head and The Heart's release for their "Summertime" video could not be more perfect. 

       The track features lead vocals, for the first time ever, from Charity Rose Thielen (violinist/back-up singer) and holds a sweet melody that carries you away and strays just far enough from the band's normal root rock sound that the track, fittingly so, feels like a vacation from the rest of the album. 

       Even if you still have another week or so of classes to slough through before you finally get a taste of freedom, you can still check out the slightly trippy and completely sweet stop-motion animation video of a track that promises long days and warm nights to come. 

       Grab "Summertime" from THATH's sophomore album, Let's Be Still, and catch the band on tour this summer. 

"Summertime" The Head and The Heart

The Head and The Heart
Twitter
Facebook
SoundCloud
- E

Take It Slow

       With a sound reminiscent of 'classic' Tokyo Police Club and lyrics which bring to mind the often metaphorical and greatly articulate Radiohead, there's an inherent feeling of hominess to Tapioca and the Flea's track. Although the single sounds like a song which has been in your playlist for years, it maintains an undeniably fresh sound with its delicious blend of psych, indie rock, and electronic music which I can't get enough of.

       Lyrics like "I don't know which way I wanna go, I'm running away now, I'll leave my heart on the ground", "do you think she'll really mind, if I need to take my time...do you think I even care?", and "well I don't know where I belong, my mother said it won't be long, but I don't know which way to go, she's moving fast, I'll take it slow" are unapologetically honest and combine with a swirling melody and prominent rhythm gorgeously; by the time the song hits its oh so sweet melody at 2:01, I'm already set to play it again.

       Everything from that wandering keyboard and sturdy drums to those vocals which you can sink into and an unrelentingly solid guitar riff make the track completely addictive, so check out the video below, head to the websites, and buy the single from iTunes now. 

"Take It Slow" Tapioca and the Flea

Tapioca and the Flea
Twitter
Facebook
SoundCloud
- E

Knock You Out

       Bingo Players' single, "Knock You Out", features the duo's signature heavy synth lines with a decidedly fun rhythm and gorgeously strong vocals. The track was one of the songs Baümer worked on with Hoogstraten before his passing and was debuted at the Remembrance Festival during Miami Music Week, with a portion of the concert's proceeds going to the Dutch Cancer and American Cancer Societies in Paul's honor.

       Lyrics like "you pick on the weak, your twisted tongue speaks all the fears you hide, the fear inside", "and the bully's best friend is the poison pen, but you can't touch me... you try to phase me but I get stronger every day... my power's fed by your hate" and a remarkably addictive chorus which insists "my fight is won, who needs a gun, boom, boom, knock you out, you knocked me down, but who's laughing now?" are amazingly articulate; add in the song's final crescendo into a full blown dance floor melody that forces you to move and the track could not be any better. 

       Check out the incredible single below and grab it from Beatport now (or from iTunes on May 13th).

"Knock You Out" Bingo Players

Bingo Players
Twitter
Facebook
SoundCloud
- E

Let Me Break

       You Love Her Coz She's Dead's latest single holds all the heavy beats and dripping melodies you've come to love from this EDM duo whose tracks invariably cause you to break out in dance. 

       The stuttering rhythm that drops off into a heavy track infused with drums and vocal riffs pulls back and lets go with perfect timing while that wandering melody that enters at 1:53 is just haunted enough that the solid beats which pull it back down manage to feel just like the first warm summer night of the year and it's impossible to not get caught up in the track. 

       Check out the single below and download it for free now.  

"Let Me Break" You Love Her Coz She's Dead

Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
SoundCloud
Tumblr
- E

Be Careful

       Lyon Apprentice's "Be Careful" from their debut EP, Be Honest, Be Wild, Be Free, has a refreshingly full composition, warm vocals, and lyrics which make the track so easy to fall for. 
       The slightly discordant and echoing piano at the beginning gives way to comfortingly steady chords and a gorgeous melody that's pushed forward by an urgent rhythm and fantastic lyrics like "hold my hand, like it is cold, like it's worth melting" and "there's no way of knowing what.. comes your way, but I'll keep trying".
       The track is fantastic enough that I'm tempted to start throwing around superlatives in an effort to adequately describe this superb composition and great lyrics; it's sweet and melancholy with rich vocals and unabashedly honest lyrics that support an amazing piano melody and I can't get enough of these brother's tracks. Get the EP from iTunes now and head to the websites to find out more about the band.  
"Be Careful" Lyon Apprentice

Twitter
Facebook
SoundCloud
YouTube

- E 

We've Got Love

       I'm a sucker for songs with happy melodies and unrelentingly honest lyrics and Calan Mai's (stage name of Jordan Lawrence) "We've Got Love" is the first track, in a long while, which I've heard that perfectly captures that oh so gorgeous fusion of sound. 

       There is no way to better describe the song than to let it speak for itself, and a verse which states, "well ma's been helping patients but she's running out of patience, 'cause she's waiting for the big one, the one who might just ring to say, 'I'm sorry that I messed up and I know that it's been years', but so far dad don't call / well dad's been turning coins and turning something into nothing, but sometimes that machine it lights up all exciting, and that ding ding ding reminds him of that happy feeling coming, that the night is good for now / but dad's got love... and ma's got love... and me I just hope it's enough" does so eloquently. Mai manages to state harsh facts while still remaining, if slightly doubtful, optimistic, with the track closing out on "I hope it is enough that they've got love... and I've got love... I just hope it's enough".

       This track is completely refreshing and kind of superbly amazing, so head to the sites below and check back for new music, because you're going to enjoy being addicted to this. 

"We've Got Love" Calan Mai

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube - Jordan Lawrence

YouTube - Calan Mai

SoundCloud

- E

The Sinner Inside

       The Flight's title track from their forthcoming EP, The Sinner Inside (set for release May 12th), is tragically gorgeous with its soft strings which lend their sound to a pretty melody, an achingly prominent rhythm, and Alana Stewart's rich vocals wrapping up deliciously articulate lyrics like "I see my whole life was symptomatic, commonly tragic", "all my women, thinking that you're one in a million, you can be ambitious, long as you ain't vicious", and "'atta way, 'atta way, that's the way to treat a girl, that's the way to change the world, change my world".

       A composition this emotional deserves to be fallen for, so check out the track below and follow the links to find out more about the London based production duo.

"The Sinner Inside" The Flight

The Flight

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

- E