Soft Loft caught our attention with their new release Little Less. Jiving out the gate with an infectious back beat, the vibe expands with the instant contrast of the bands impressive lead singer. She energizes the affect from righteous vibe to elite composition.
Her voice has an intoxicating instinctual quiver, a soft fury ripe with hurt and conjured vulnerability. She truly makes you feel something. She plots her melodies effectively, spacing them dramatically and with an added percussive pump. There’s an influence of vintage blues or R&B to match the indie intellect. A sure thing for fans of Sharon Van Etten and Feist.
Hear Little Less now on our Best New Indie Playlist.
We were instantly drawn to the new Nashville charm of Lillian, the new single from Quinn Devlin. Indie rock infected with a semblance of alt country, its just damn good songwriting no matter how you spin it. The trademark atmospheric lap steel gives it sunset shine, while the Laurel Canyon shuffle adds Neil Youngs trademark sad guy appeal.
It’s Quinn Devlin’s own candid vocal that makes Lillian so effective. His voice is rich and slightly rugged, as he carefully dictates how he blows from his smoked out bellow. Overall it presents with an intriguing breadth of influence, like a long lost Justin Townes Earle and Big Thief collab. We can dig it.
Hear Lillian now on our Best New Indie Playlist.
Tycho Jones writes hit songs. We were drawn to the catchy infectious appeal of his new single Pink + Blue. The alt pop gem has commercial potential with underground roots. It’s heard in the 80s alternative compositional under layers in the new single. Evidence of The Cure and New Order updated with an indie sensibility akin to Del Water Gap. Like them Tycho offers crossover hits ripe for Coachella and full of youth and teenage charm.
Beyond the sound, he’s a fashionable fellow. He honors a rock star revival, one that tags the glam icons of the 70s while embracing new movements in fashion. Who are our modern Rock Stars? Tycho Jones makes their case, with solid songwriting to match his star presence.
Hear Pink + Blue now on our Best New Indie Playlist.
Orange County songwriter Dearie recently dropped an intriguing self titled EP. Stand outs like the previously released single Yugoslavia and Deflection introduce an intriguing scope of influence. On Yugoslavia he blends classic orchestration with an anti folk appeal. As if John Lennon produced a song for Alex G, or maybe the other way around. In that way we also hear evidence of indie folk trailblazer Badly Drawn Boy. It’s smart bedroom folk with an appreciation for the genuine punk aesthetic.
The alternative Deflection adapts with more abstract depth, revealing an influence of Radiohead to match the anti-folk drama. His delivery is more melodic. As a singer he brings eclectic variation, bending into the emotion of the song with conceptual flare. There’s a lofi quality to match his genuine nature. It’s effective, but also alludes to his potential. Dearie is the real deal. Say you heard it first.
Hear Dearie now on our Best New Indie Playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 