Amanda Cross is on the cusp of stardom with her new single Malibu Daydream. An elegant mix of indie with subtle nods to mainstream pop, Malibu Daydream falls somewhere between Lana Del Rey and Brandi Carlile. It’s got the studious appeal of Dolly Parton, but with an affinity for modern indie.
Beneath the new Nashville slightly psych inspired standard Cross displays a masterful vocal delivery. Full of attitude and rich with depth, Cross is a strong tenor in a world of Sopranos. What she gracefully lacks in range she makes up for with lyrical prowess and measured knowledge. She knows how to place her melodies to suit her voices strength. We’re not saying she’s a bad singer, in fact we’re saying she’s a GREAT SINGER. A lot more interesting than the cookie cut crap on the TV talent circuit. And a solid songwriter to boot. Crossing over between two worlds, she’s got big star potential in the world of pop.
Vacation Phase is your slacker indie pop Summer Lover. Combining the laid back appeal of Mac Demarco with the urban swagger of Mac Miller, Summer Lover is groovy. At its core the song features a catchy melody and interesting instrumentation, with dirty guitars and sneaky flutes to tickle your auditory spectrum. It’s the singers jiving dictation and how he spaces his lyrics that really catches you.
The rhythmic backbone of swinging drums and bumping bass is straight jamming. A rare release that coexists as a catchy single and a potential jam out live, it shares that distinction with classic hits by pseudo jam artist like G Love and Jack Johnson. Summer Lover, however, is a little more raw and grimy in its stylistic appeal, and for that it should attract an interesting allure in indie.
Fireball is majestic lo-fi magic. The new single from Robert Church & The Holy Community is more evidence that when it works, it works. In a scene obsessed with over polished compressed nightmares, Robert and band remind us that nostalgia isn’t all about imitation. A killer arrangement in its own right, Fireball doesn’t really need the lo-fi textures to be amazing, but it definitely lends to the dreamy aesthetic.
These classic vibes fall somewhere between the post punk of Joy Division, the shoegaze vibes of Beach House, and select cuts from psych pop rockers like Tame Impala. A little muddy by design, turn it up to hear the intricate offerings. Featuring a killer bass line and droning synths to compliment the melodic guitars, its a tasty under the radar gem we’d love to see in concert.
The Wild Is Calling 