Happy Little Clouds - "Higher"

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Photo by Jac Mestel

Happy Little Clouds have had this particular sound that is both completely all their own while sounding strangely familiar. The Boston band's latest single, "Higher," has a distinctly 90's feel, although it sounds modern at the same time. Musically, the song sounds like a funkier, less dream pop version of Belly. Despite how rough around the edges the song's vibes are, it's still quite pop based and dances right on the line of being ethereal. I'm also not saying that "Higher" is a ska song, but there's just something about the groove of the track that reminds me of the genre. Happy Little Clouds are a band that has been knocking it out of the park over and over again lately, and "Higher" continues that trend.

Vocalist/guitarist Jac Mestel says of the band's latest single:

“When you see enough examples in life of relationships that masquerade as love, you can then understand what unconditional love really is and how it always inspires you to become your highest self. That’s real love, the kind of love that opens you up in a vulnerable and scary way and may really wound you at times, but is so authentic and real and deep and really sees and carries you higher.”

You can listen to "Higher" below. The single is out now via Bandcamp. For more on Happy Little Clouds, check out the band's website.

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
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Dutch ReBelle - "GOONIEZ"

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How is Dutch ReBelle not a national superstar at this point? The Boston MC just released "GOONIEZ," and I know I'm a bit out of touch with current mainstream hip hop, but this song is absolutely killer. It's a stripped down hip hop song that has this futuristic space age sound to it. Plus, ReBelle's flow is unsurpassed. You can't listen to her and not be completely sucked in. The song has a feel reminiscent of classic Missy Elliott. As much as I love that we can still see Dutch ReBelle in smaller Boston venues, "GOONIEZ" proves she should be playing much larger venues nationwide very, very soon. You can watch the video for "GOONIEZ" below. For more on Dutch ReBelle, check out the artist's website . 
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The Freqs - "Witch"

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Photo via Facebook When you're a rock band from Salem, MA, you have to have at least one song about witchcraft. The Freqs have fulfilled their obligation with a banger of a song. "Witch" is this giant monster of a song, filled with fuzz and strained, screaming vocals. This is the type of song that doesn't usually exist in this century. It's giving me some serious 90's flashbacks, like if Hum got aggressive or Alice in Chains decided to do some damage on the college charts. As great as the vocals are in "Witch," what's really drawing me in is the instrumental break down that takes over about halfway through. This is the kind of song to make the hipsters and the headbangers equally excited. You can listen to "Witch" below. For more on The Freqs, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . The Freqs · Witch
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