Madeleine Mayi – “Faithless” -This is one of the most important songs I’ve heard in 2024. It is timely for the questions it asks, the answers it provides, and the central concern of the supernatural. If you grew up in a religious context and find yourself asking faith questions, this song is absolutely for you. This is a theme that we’ve been covering since Noah Gundersen’s “Jesus Jesus” in the early days of our blog. Mayi’s magical use of electronic elements creates a soaring, atmospheric quality for these hard questions. I’m a music blogger and not a theologian, but I will say that these are ..read more

Surtsey are an intriguing band with a sound that feels like the kissing cousin to a number of different sounds. You’ll hear some countrified steel guitar, some great folksy acoustic guitar, and poetic singer songwriter style lyrics. The sound comes together for something we’ll call Americana and the new EP Nothing Doing highlights the versatility of this quality band. “Stick” is the opening, complete with the soaring steel guitar at the heart of the song. The overall vibe of the track feels a bit like folk rock with a country twist. The vocal harmonies on the bridge are really nice on this one ..read more

Nathan Evans Fox – “Landlords, Bill Lee, etc.” -If you’re a fan of classic storytelling country music, give this track a spin. Every lyric in this song is carefully placed. If you’ve ever been genuinely mad at someone, you’ll relate to the songwriting here. The line about “hillbilly karma” is amazing. If you’ve ever heard someone say “bless your heart” to you, trust me you are not actually being “blessed.” This song has a lot of phrases that not everyone will get, but if you get them… you’ve probably lived a pretty hard life, too. It’s great songwriting and a sentiment that is far too relatabl ..read more

Theo Kandel – “Lunch” -Theo Kandel is one of those artists who has entered into the “almost automatic yes” category. It’s easy to hear why when you click play on this song. It’s clear, engaging, and has a mood that makes the listener instantly feel at peace. The nostalgic lyrics remind me of a few important people in my own life. The subtle atmospheric elements do a great job of allowing Kandel’s relatable lyrics to resonate beautifully. I love everything about this song, honestly. Alex Blue – “There’s Always Something” -The acoustic guitar work on this song is good, but the vocal is gorgeous ..read more

Wax Owls – “Overpriced Bullets” -From the first time I clicked play on this track I got some early 90s alt rock vibes (in the vein of Oasis). I love the phrasing and style of the song. It feels like it’s got a familiar energy. The effect on the electric guitars definitely has an intentional alt rock element to it. The effect on the vocal on the chorus is meant to intentionally soar over the rest of the production. I like that it has this bright pop energy in the chord progression, all while feeling like a sound that wouldn’t fit into a conventional top 40 slot. It’s a great encapsulation of wh ..read more

Joel D’Aubin – “Come Home” -This is a song about hard work and dedication. The instrumentation is a bit more chill than the Americana we’ve been curating lately, but I really liked the vocal harmonies here. There’s a whole atmospheric vibe about the song that makes it resonate. The lyrics are encouraging and supportive, which we are definitely happy to support here. If you have someone to be blessed to “come home” to, this song will feel good. It sure does for me. Kiefer Luttrell – “Every Shade of Blue” -If you like old fashioned folk music in the vein of Woody Guthrie or even later artists l ..read more

Rose Hotel: “Drown” There are two artists we think of when we hear this incredible new rock act. First, vocally we hear Courtney Barnett. While the group shares vocal similarities, the wordplay is just as compelling and rich. “Drown” is an undeniably cool sounding track, but it also speaks of mental illness and family trauma. It is wonderfully layered, but easy to look past because of such a compelling New York cool rock style (although the act are from Atlanta). Secondly, we are reminded of one of our all time favorites, The Dandy Warhols. Both acts blend so many different sounds and personas ..read more

Juno Roome – “Think You’re Falling” “Think You’re Falling” has an unescapable hip shaking ability we could not ignore. The bass is especially groovy, while the vocals are the perfect amount of smooth. We classify this track in its own category; indie dream, although it is accessible to anyone who loves great music. The way the artist crafts a restrained lo fi sound speaks of an artist in the pocket of their talent, confidence, and maturity. We were pleasantly surprised by Juno Roome and cannot wait to hear more. The Lostines: “Neon Lights” “Neon Lights” has a wonderfully whimsical talent that ..read more

Alara – “Even When It’s Over” -There’s a magical energy to this song that you’ll hear from the moment Alara starts singing. The sweetness in the line, “think I’m gonna love you forever” resonates. The lyrical concept of the song is that “even when it’s over, it’s forever.” Talk about romance. Swoon! This is a really beautiful piece of songwriting that captures the heart of what true love really is, that is to say love that has no bounds. Alara writes with sincerity, but it’s the vocal delivery that makes it go from good to great. Virens – “Apocalypse” -If you’re a fan of acoustic folk music ..read more

Brad Wilson – “You and I” -This is such an endearing song that I’m pretty sure I approved it in the first 20 seconds. The lead vocal is unbelievably smooth and well delivered. The lyrical message is quite sweet as well; it’s about falling in love. I appreciate how the main melody feels like a timeless folk pop song. Some of the backing elements bounce around from atmospheric to contemporary alt forms, but it all works together for a really wholesome and engaging sound. Wise John – “standing in sunlight” -The first track I heard by Wise John absolutely floored me (in a good way), so when I saw ..read more