Tag Archives: indie rock

With ‘Loser,’ Lips Speak Louder Inspires Us to Get Back Up, Even in Defeat

“It evokes that familiar, deflative feeling we’ve all experienced before.” -Angie Lese, drummer for Lips Speak Louder

Lips Speak Louder’s sixth single release, “Loser,” is the UnderDog anthem you want to blast at full volume on a rainy day, when you’re fed up with life dealing continuous blows (despite your many attempts to keep your head up).

The song begins with building harmonic anticipation on a melodic guitar. The verse comes in, reminding us of the innocence of youth and all the expectations we had for life when we grew up. Then, chorus busts in with an admission: “I’m tired of proving, I’m so good at losing,” before telling us to stay tuned, to see if the band makes it out of “the same black hole.”

“It’s a song about burnout and frustration that comes with growing up, and realizing that you can  try your hardest and it won’t always be enough,” the band told us.

When you initially hear “Loser,” it gives the vibe of carefree life, spent cruising down the street on a skateboard before hanging with friends to catch a glorious sunset. Then, you feel the vulnerability of admitting that it’s tough to stay resilient when everything around you feels like it’s not working out.

Despite this sense of defeat, there is also a feeling of hope on “Loser” that things can and will be better on the other side of the struggle. The song provides a lonesome reminder that most of us are doing the best we can, even when the days constantly feel like an uphill battle. We remember not to bee too hard on ourselves and to keep pressing on, even at times when “doing our best” wasn’t good enough.

It’s important to keep getting back up. Then, just maybe, you’ll get a win every now and then.

LISTEN: Katie Mal Gets Us ‘Caught Up’ in Our Feelings

Have you ever experienced a heartbreak so real, that even the smallest reminder prevents you from moving on?

Katie Mal crafted her new single, “Caught Up,” 3-4 years ago, as she was trying her hardest to recover from her first “real, hard breakup.” The raw honesty of the lyrics, paired well with a steady-driving garage rock soundscape, give us all the room we need to process our own pain — even if we’re the ones choosing to hold on to the memories.

“’Caught Up’ came from a really personal place—those moments when even the smallest things, like rain on a window or a box of their stuff, can keep you from moving on,” Katie said. “It was one of those times where writing helped me process what I was feeling.”

The Toronto-based songwriter started with the lyrics, later refining the melody and guitar parts to develop the finished product we’re enjoying today.

“I really wanted to release this song, because I love how the final product turned out,” she said. “It feels raw and real, and I hope people can connect with it.”

LISTEN: Soheill Accepts That We’re ‘Only Human’

We’re all on this spinning space rock together, encountering challenges and getting to know our own imperfections, all while trying to make our way in the world.

Nashville-based atmospheric rock artist Soheill captures the spirit of our existence with “Only Human,” a thought-provoking, atmospheric ballad about the ways our individual battles tie together the greater story of our collective existence.

“‘Only Human’ is a reflection on vulnerability and self-acceptance, embracing the imperfections that make us who we are,” Soheill said. “The song explores the rawness of being human, acknowledging our flaws while finding strength and connection through them. It’s a reminder that we’re all in this together, navigating life’s challenges.”

Warm-glowing keyboard layers lead us into the “Only Human” experience, followed shortly thereafter by the introduction of a slow-marching drumbeat. This provides the perfect backdrop for a sweet, solemn vocal melody which inspires the listener to look inward. As we progress, hazy guitars come into the mix, helping the tension build to an emotional crescendo reflective of the song’s lyrical and thematic depth.

Soheill has more on deck where this came from, with more singles coming our way throughout the year. If they’re anything like this, count us in!

Rock On: Holiday Tunes and Winter Moods

There’s a certain moodiness to some of the tunes on this month’s edition of Rock On! befitting the time of year. The weather has turned colder, the sun’s light has dimmed, and it’s a perfect time to go inward and reflect. There are quite a few songs here that will give you that opportunity, bookended by holiday cheer.

Of course, there are plenty of high-powered moments, as well. It wouldn’t be the Rock On! playlist if you couldn’t turn it up to 11.

Track listing:
The Mad Sugars – Christmas Wrapping
The Manic Boys and Girls Club – Blacked Out
Glamper – Back Chewer
Josh Gilligan – Anything
Aaron English ft. Francy Planet – Canada
Evan Kreutz – Dandelion
All Poets & Heroes – Dime A Dozen
Harley Olivia ft. Emily Bones – You’re Not Ready
Tell My Sons – Shot In The Dark
Fortunate Losers – Taste
Lips Speak Louder – Dog Days of Summer
Feral Minks – My Escapade
General Mojos ft. Marshall Law Band – change will come
floater. – Half-Life
Doc. Henry – Babyface
KJ Wild – Red Hot Magazine Girl
ROM COM ft. Eliza Harrison Smith – Call You Mine
westwell – Don’t Forget To Leave the Light On
Brother People ft. Bradley Rodermond – It’s a Brand New Day
Shattervox – Home for Christmas

LISTEN: With ‘Two Feet Tall,’ CIAO MALZ Carries the Weight of Unfinished Business

Is there something that you know would make your life better, but for whatever reason, you just can’t bring yourself to pull the trigger and get it done?

If that sounds like a familiar refrain, we have something hazy and wonderful from CIAO MALZ. The Connecticut native — real name Malia DelaCruz — has given us “Two Feet Tall,” an experimental indie rock single about our nagging need to get things done.

“Two Feet Tall is about the feeling of losing an inch every day you put off making that call you really need to make,” DelaCruz said. “It’s the pile of clothes growing bigger and feeling yourself getting smaller. Regardless of the overcompensation, the mountains to hide behind — that unsettling feeling persists. I wanted to evoke the feeling of stagnation while everything else is in motion, so the lead on this track quivers in front of the persistent drums that push the scene along.”

The track’s lo-fi sensibility hangs over a bright, intricately layered soundscape like the weight of half-finished ambitions; the foggy feeling that comes with knowing that better days are ahead — if only we would finally flip the switch.

If you dig this one, we have good news: more music from CIAO MALZ is coming, when she drops her EP, Safe Then Sorry, on December 6.

Safe Then Sorry is a rest stop on the path most traveled. I wrote the bulk of the EP after work, (and) these stories and characters came to me subconsciously and asked to be spoken into existence,” DelaCruz said. “These songs are about the unlikely connections we make, how they’re simultaneously inexplicable and meaningful. I work through these contradictions with unpredictable melodies, explosive choruses, and with the recording process itself. We did everything on the fly to capture as much raw emotion as could fit in the four walls of the basement studio. I wanted the project to feel how it did when I was messing around on GarageBand on my first computer — unrestrained.”

LISTEN: Evan Kreutz Watches Love Drift Away Like a ‘Dandelion’ in the Wind

Remember that time you were in love, and it just didn’t work out?

Evan Kreutz does, and he filters that nostalgia through a 2000s pop rock-tinted lens on his new single, “Dandelion.”

Those who find resonance with the emotive alt-rock stylings of bands like Guster and Fountains of Wayne will enjoy diving into this one. From the opening line, “she’s all out of patience,” we can feel a deep sense of longing and regret. With each somber chord, Kreutz wistfully comes to terms with the fact that the love he once held so dear — which provided him with so many beautiful moments and memories — is gone with the wind.

“Dandelion” was produced by Doug Grama and mixed by Ray Martell at Westfall Recording, with Griff McCarthy on drums. Get ready to get into your feelings with this one!

LISTEN: Josh Gilligan Applauds the Courage it Takes to Do ‘Anything’

Photo credit: Emory Brown

There are times in all of our lives when persistence itself is an act of bravery.

Nashville-based songwriter Josh Gilligan offers a comforting commentary on such moments with “Anything,” the first single from his forthcoming album, Party of One (out January 24 via Easy Does It Records).

“I started writing ‘Anything’ to a friend who was going through some pretty dark times. It’s a song that acknowledges the bravery it takes to keep on going, no matter what kind of life you lead,” Gilligan said. “It’s not written to give advice or prescribe anything, but just to extend some calm love and feel the weight and the joy of life together. It’s also the first tune coming out that I live tracked together with the band!”

“Anything” is the opening salvo of the forthcoming record, described as a “somber, yet hopeful collection of songs.” The mellow, shoegaze-y indie rock tune is also part autobiographical, with a relatable message for anybody soldiering through the grind of everyday life.

“I wasn’t expecting to feel so hollowed out after my twenties, and I was wondering if I still wanted to make music. But I felt like I owed it to myself to give it another try, even though in the back of my mind I’m thinking, ‘What can I add to the conversation? Why would anyone want to listen to what I have to say?'” Gilligan recalled. “‘Anything’ came out of that, and it’s been a good message to live with. A lot of people think that if they’re not doing something super ambitious and highly visible, that means they’re doing something wrong or they’re not being brave enough. But, it takes so much bravery to do anything at all.”

Indie Darlings: November 2024

We conclude our November rollout of The Playlists with the one that brings us closest to our true Underground roots.

Indie Darlings consists of the cuts that are ambient, experimental, and don’t quite fit into any one genre box. You’ll hear shades of pop, rock, and folk here — often at the same time — as you get lost in a diverse sea of sounds.

We phoned a friend for this one, too. Our friends at Circle Back Entertainment Group contributed roughly half of the selections here, because we believe in the power of teamwork! (Also, adding this playlist to the mix was actually their idea…)

Track listing
BoyWithUke – Ghost
Julia Kahn – Badlands
Accidental Friend – Empty Love
almost a.m. – Stand Still
Nico Son – Let This Go
Hunter West – Don’t Cry
Hugs ft. Parking Lot Funeral and Karaoke Bar – hummin
Post Meridiem – Love
Chasing Tonya – Why
Pierce Alexander – Doll Parts
Sierra Carson – skeletons
Davis Evanoff – Cranberries (2024)
rakey – Everything Is Summer
Adam Lamah – Even If
Common Man – Vermont
The Stremes – Got Myself Together
Max Blansjaar – Burning In Our Name
Unbelievable Truth – Roadside No. 2
Shawn Andrew – Valley of Hope
book NOT brooke ft. Zina – Everything I Wanna Know

Rock On!: November 2024

We’ve said it before, we’ve said it again, and we’ll always say it: contrary to what you may have heard, rock is alive and well.

We’ve seen and heard this simple truth through the years, as artists near and far have made clear through their art. And, for as diverse as our musical world has become, there’s still nothing quite as organic as a bunch of friends bringing their instruments into a room to make some noise.

This playlist is a result of that raw energy and spirit, 20 times over. If you’ve been wondering where all the guitars are on the modern music landscape, look no further. They’re right here for you.

Track listing
The Mad Sugars – New York Girls
Bobby Mahoney – Empty Passenger Seats
Leah Burns – WUT R U WAITING 4
Brother People – Total Vibe
The Trampoline Delay – Little Lucy
Theos Wall – COSMONAUT CASTAWAY
Hot4Robot – Your Chemical (Unplugged Live)
Lonely Little Kitsch – Vices
Harley Olivia – You’re Not Ready
Fortunate Losers – Taste
Lips Speak Louder – Dog Days of Summer
Feral Minks – My Escapade
General Mojo’s ft. Marshall Law Band – change will come
f1oater. – Half-Life
Doc. Henry – Babyface
The Manic Boys and Girls Club – Last Train
horsebread – ontherun
The Hollow Party – Medicine
KJ Wild – Red Hot Magazine Girl
ROM COM ft. Eliza Harrison Smith – Call You Mine

LISTEN: On ‘Call You Mine,’ ROM COM Watches Summer Love Fade

Artwork credit: Aron Rosing

As the summer sun fades, so does summer love.

In the dramatic, cinematic fashion we’ve come to know and love, ROM COM captures the essence of that moment brilliantly on their latest single, “Call You Mine.” A collaboration with songwriter/vocalist Eliza Harrison Smith, the dreamy new alt-pop single encapsulates our collective struggle to realize that nothing gold can stay.

“‘Call You Mine” is a song about a relationship that is fading away, but still trying to hold on,” said ROM COM vocalist Aron Rosing. “It is the first release with Eliza, with several more collaborations planned over the next few months.”

Imagine the late September sun shining, though not as bright as it did just a couple months prior. Imagine the sweet, warm air growing colder with the winds of change, as the first leaves turn yellow and we’re left to face the inevitable. That is the essence of “Call You Mine.”

Hold onto the moment before it’s gone, and check it out below!

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