Irish Indie Alt Group “The Academic” Electrified Chicago’s Lincoln Hall last Monday and it’s well worth talking about… Cred: Rachel Senseman On a (shouldn’t have been) 27-degree Friday night in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Lincoln Hall was found buzzing with excitement for The Academic – an Irish quartet from Mullingar. The group is comprised of Craig Fitzgerald on lead vocals and guitar, Dean Gavin on drums, Matthew Murtagh on bass, and Stephen Murtagh on guitar and keyboard. From the minute Cousin Simple ended their (fantastic) set, the crowd began to stir with anticipation. The band kicked off t ..read more

If you’ve never heard of Swiss indie-rocker ‘Sam Himself’ then you’re about to…. Sam’s unique sound blends influences from both his homeland and American influences, ranging from folk to punk and is fueled by his contagious, sonic energy. Today he’s announcing his sophomore album titled Never Let Me Go. Upon first listen you’ll quickly realize the stark contrast between his debut album, Power Ballads, and this new project: the first having been created during the isolation-ridden times of Covid-19. Never Let Me Go is an embodiment of Sam’s newfound hope. Recorded in collaboration with long-ti ..read more

If you’re a fan of music in general, then you should pay close attention to German artist M. Byrd. This isn’t my first time writing about his music and certainly won’t be the last. With 10 million plus streams and critical acclaim from numerous outlets, he’s gained a hearty following and I don’t think he’ll be slowing down anytime soon. His latest single “Over You / Over” Me has cemented him as an artist to watch, and his upcoming album is sure to make waves. Byrd’s music is is full of soul – with heartfelt lyrics and groovy rhythms he creates an upbeat, yet calming sound. His newest single ..read more

HOLNE is an alternative indie/pop artist from Devon, UK. Drawing on influences from the likes of Lauv, The 1975 and John Mayer. HOLNE, F.K.A Richard James, creates lyrically honest and undeniably catchy music, setting him apart from the rest. His debut single “November Sky” is no different. The tune is “inner-conversation of regrets, assumptions and a longing to rekindle a past relationship” says James. “I wrote the beginnings of this whilst on an evening dog walk watching a November sky. Letting go of a perfect day and losing it to the night. I’d say a lot of my songs are lyrically inner-tho ..read more

Zach & Ben Yudin of Cayucas If you’re into sun-soaked, surf rock tunes that immediately put you at ease then look no further. May I introduce Cayucas… The Los Angeles-based indie rock brothers are back with an end-of-summer jam that is guaranteed to be a mood-booster. “Sayulita” is a small village on Mexico’s Pacific coast protected by the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains, but for the Cayucas, it’s a sonic release. With a vibe as close to the Beach Boys as possible, their newest single takes you to a place of serenity and good times. “Sayulita was a demo that we wrote in around 2016-17. S ..read more

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 29: Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail performs at O2 Forum Kentish Town on June 29, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Burak Cingi/Redferns) Snail Mail’s cover of Superdrag’s “Feeling Like I Do” is all I’ve been listening to as of late. Lindsey carefully applies her own special twist to breath life into an already classic tune. The core of the song is still apparent, except you get Snail Mail’s signature harsh guitar riffs and unconventional power-chords. I love her ability to hold this prim & proper persona, but once she gets an electric guitar in her hand that completel ..read more

Jake Ingalls and Eric Martin of Spaceface sit down to discuss their new album Anemoia Retro-meets-indie rock band Spaceface has just released their long-awaited album called Anemoia and you’re going to want to tune in. What started in 2019 as a string of popular singles, Anemoia found it’s shape at Blackwatch Studios with producer Jarod Evans (Sufjan Stevens, BRONCHO), bouncing ideas of each other until something stuck. Whether it was a tap of a glass coke bottle or a whim-fully recorded iPhone snippet, they tried it and they seamlessly found a home for it. The Nashville-turned ..read more

Pop-rocker Chloe George talks FADER, her new single “The Door,” and Christmas music Anna Koblish Chloe George has all the makings of a star: a knack for writing, a powerful voice, and such a fun, down-to-earth demeanor. Our 2-minute talk was example of this. We recently sat down to talk her newest single “The Door” – a nostalgic tune of a past relationship recalled by one small, everyday event (200K streams on Spotify alone and rapidly growing). You get to see more of Chloe’s rock side on this one with energetic power chords and distorted background guitar strums. Range is certainly not someth ..read more

Paint-splattered white lab coats, a sandy dunes backdrop, and smooth indie rock: A most perfect Spectre Jones Saturday. The LA-based group recently shot their music video for their new single “Sisters and Brothers”. The band describes the single as a message to the “siblings in this great big human family” as to say you matter. The tune is coming off their upcoming, debut LP Joy in the Morning recorded at the historic Boulevard Recording in Hollywood by James Krausse (Beyonce, Santana, Nick Jonas, Pusha T). Spectre Jones has millions of streams since officially coming together in 2018, r ..read more

The Golden Dagger is exactly the spot you want to go for live music: a dim-lit, intimate setting with 0 tables, 0 chairs and 1 long bar. Venues like this are home to superb ambiance and even better live music. I think Midcentury Llama would agree. Midcentury Llama is manned by Frank O’Meara (guitar), Sam Okrent (keys/vocals), Nick Witek (bass/vocals), and Eric Ganter (drums), all who are childhood friends. The group had played and grown together as musicians while growing up in Chicago, but it wasn’t until they all found themselves back in Chicago that they began compiling original music. The ..read more