Folks are always asking about what’s new and upcoming but, as shown by the vital and venerable culture of crate digging, looking backwards can also yield unexpected results and reveal hidden gems. And boy oh boy do we have some hidden gems. Let’s dig through our virtual bins of vinyl and see what we find. From Heartbreak To Hopeful Over the past few years, LMNTL Records has steadily released a variety of singles and EPs that range from rowdy Irish-punk bangers to tender country ballads. These radio-ready tracks stay true to the heart of each genre while adding the utility of production ..read more

  For folks who live in places that experience four distinct seasons, fall is often a favorite. It’s easy to see why, even without the ever-expanding pantheon pumpkin spice products. Layers of comfortable clothing like flannels, hoodies, and puffy vests come back without the need to be completely bundled. Cool, crisp air and sunshine invite us outside to pick some apples, go on a hike with our furry companions, play a pick up game of football (or football). As the days move closer towards the holidays, hints of winter tease the hygge lifestyle and give us permission to stay inside, read a ..read more

  Flowing melodies and harmonies intertwine in three emotionally stirring, stripped down acoustic duets. (LMTL-045) “Make a rule then break it After all you can't resist” The opening lines of See You Someday sets the stage for an EP that is so much more than two voices and an acoustic guitar. While those ingredients are all that the pair of Alec Shaw and Zan Fiskum need to deliver such sentimental duets, those lyrics give the listener a preview of the subtle beauty and emotionally rich scenes captured on this release. The three songs on See You Someday (LMTL-045) are true duets. It isn’t ..read more

  uplifting, positive, indie, pride, warm (UND-61) “There’s nothing new under the sun.” It’s an old phrase that has been quoted time and time again, but it seems a bit short sighted. Whether you believe it’s true or not, there are always new ways of looking at things.  We’ve explored the radiant territory known as Under the Sun before, presenting different styles and interpretations of the uplifting characteristics that go along with a sunny day. We’ll revisit each of the previous volumes of this series below, but first we’d like to introduce you to the newest member of the “sun’s o ..read more

  FEATURING FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, PLAYERS, COMPOSERS AND THEIR MUSIC OUTSIDE OF THE LICENSE LAB CATALOG Artist: Alec Shaw Feature Title: Live On KEXP Genres: Indie Folk, Pop, Singer-Songwriter Quick Description: Live in the KEXP studios complete with a full band and choir, rising Seattle talent Alec Shaw brings his soulful vocals into a lush, raw indie pop playground. For Fans of: Nathaniel Rateliff, Dawes, Fleet Foxes, Paolo Nutini, Jeff Buckley, Bon Iver Alec Shaw is hustling. This hustle is embodied not only in the urgency and passion of his music, but in the lead up to this performanc ..read more

  Heartbroken and full of regret, an emotional male vocal crawls out of the shadows and delivers the final word with a dynamic piano ballad. (LMTL-033) The sound of a broken heart, Our Fallen City (LMTL-033) is a ballad for harder times. Waves of emotion pour out of every word from a powerful baritone voice, rising and falling with piano accompaniment in a dynamic acoustic pop arrangement. Built for drama programming of all shapes and sizes, this single has timeless, simple production that fits in a variety of decades and settings. Though our narrator may have reached rock bottom, there ..read more

  thoughtful, comfort, home, memories, family (UND-57) Home means different things to different people. Sometimes it’s where you grew up, sometimes it’s where you rest your head each night, sometimes it’s just a feeling. But it all centers around comfort, togetherness, and often complicated emotions. We assembled composers Ehren Ebbage (Lizzy McAlpine), Tyler Fortier (Jeffrey Martin, Anna Tivel), and Alec Shaw (Zan Fiskum) to bring all of that together in Under One Roof v2 (UND-57). Warm, atmospheric, organic sounds create soft vignettes to underscore moments of reflection and memory. Th ..read more

  spacious, emotive, personal, worktapes (3ING-074) As most songwriters know, a lot goes into a song before the world hears it. But what do you discover when you truly listen and dive deeper? You’ll likely find worktapes: musical ideas that are less than full songs but more than nuggets, containing an undiscovered bounty of spacious and emotive indie gold. Indie Appetizers (3ING-074) utilizes stark indie folk instrumentation to explore moods, chord progressions, and panoramic emotional territory. Composer Christopher Porterfield (Field Report, DeYarmond Edison) has delivered an intimate ..read more

  Whether you’re selling your house, applying for a mortgage, remodeling a property, or just dreaming having a measly budget of 12 million for a beachfront home in Hawaii, there’s no shortage of real estate related television to get lost in. And for us regular folks who don’t trust our fate to clean-cut twins or bickering co-hosts competing for bragging rights, there are virtual home tours and walkthroughs to give you a better idea of what you’re looking at without leaving the comfort of your couch. No matter the avenue, bright and organic soundtracks of corporate pop and indie folk lay t ..read more

  FEATURING FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, PLAYERS, COMPOSERS AND THEIR MUSIC OUTSIDE OF THE LICENSE LAB CATALOG Artist: Dogwood Last Release Title: Clearwater / Queens (Single) Genres: Indie Folk, Indie Pop, Electronic Folk Quick Description: Soul-searching Indie Folk track with a massive emotional arc ranging from delicate to exclamatory, backed by an ensemble of acoustic and electronic elements. For Fans of: Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Local Natives Dogwood Last’s single “Clearwater / Queens” is a journey. Beginning with a simple finger picked acoustic guitar, thoughtful vocals guide us through p ..read more