5 New Indie Musicians to Listen to Today
It can be hard to keep up with the constant influx of great indie music, especially in the age of Soundcloud and self-released albums. This list is a quick curated look at some underground indie groups with serious musical chops. Give it a listen.
Soto Voce
Indie group Soto Voce just released this single that sounds like a retro futuristic take on Radiohead. This incredible new duo is fusing retro influences with contemporary production to create a modern yet timeless sound. There is rumored to by an ep recording by the group, hopefully we’ll be seeing that on the web soon. This tune will definitely be making it into a variety of summer playlists.
Sam-o
Sam-o is a bedroom pop project from Samuel Moore, a Texas teen with a penchant for lush sound design and captivating song structures. While his soundcloud only has a few tracks, this young man shows a ton of potential and lots of charm. His sound combines rich chords, hushed drums and incredible vocals, all fused together in a lo-fi high-brow package. Sam-o combines these rich sounds into tracks that sound painfully nostalgic, fleeting and reminiscent of fragile memories just out of reach.
Elvis Depressedly
Elvis Depressedly is a band from North Carolina, churning out broody tunes for feeling good about feeling bad. These melancholy tunes are perfectly at home for an introvert’s houseparty, smoking cigarettes in the dark on a first date, or staring into someone’s eyes. They have released a few eps and have yet to see mainstream acclaim, but their sound is moving and powerful, while still keeping a soft, acoustic feel. Solo tracks on this album are incredibly soft and introverted, yet muffled and distant. Tracks featuring full band instrumentation resonate and vibrate fiercely, yet the charming lo-fi quality of the album keeps things mellow and relaxed.
Radio Citizen
Radio Citizen is an incredibly forward-thinking german project that combines retro grooves and samples with soulful live instrumentation and a hybrid of sample based and live jazz drumming. They feature a selection of live recordings that showcase their sound. Their style is too complex to pin down with any one genre, but these tracks will appeal to fans of soulful house music, hushed jazz, inspired guitars and swung grooves. Their free flowing songs are elegant and nostalgic, channeling a Miles Davis cool while distancing themselves from the source material. Don’t miss this one for relaxed, extended mixes.
MINKS
MINKS is another retro futuristic throwback production with tight drum patterns, rich synthesizer melodies and crisp processed vocals. This video showcases their unique aesthetic. Fans of Starfucker, New Order and the Smiths will definitely enjoy their clean and catchy hooks and phrases. The video is also an excellent companion to the track, further adding to the video with weathered, weary footage, likely shot on tape. The production style incorporates spooky drones and pads, reverbed out percussive hits, and a smeared, ethereal vocal style. Appropriate tunes for laying in the sun, hitting the beach, or driving at night. Getting lost in these warm, comforting tracks is easy.
Jessica Kane is a music connoisseur and an avid record collector. She currently writes for SoundStage Direct, her go-to place for all turntables and vinyl equipment, including VPI Turntables.