Pen Pin - "Vampire"

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Pen Pin is the duo of Jeni Magaña and Emily Moore, who met while on tour with Mitski. They have a new song out that's perfect for all of your Halloween needs. "Vampire" is a smooth indie pop song that's wonderfully laid back. There's a bit of a creepy undertone to the song, but this is still a pop song, so it's a fun kinda creepy. The organs at the start help set the mood for the song, and the spooky factor only increases with each listen. That might be what makes "Vampire" such a perfect Halloween song, especially for vampires. It may seem charming and fun at first, but the fangs come out the more time you spend with it.

Jeni Magaa says of her band's new single:

"Vampire is about having someone in your life that loves you so much that you know they are always on your team. It's about having someone you feel safe with in a world of peril and insecurity. If you've seen You've Got Mail, there's a scene where Kathleen Kelly wishes she had come up with a comeback to an insult and then she finally does and realizes it feels horrible. I took that lesson to heart, and I try not to respond in any given moment with teeth, but that doesn't mean that I don't immediately call my husband or Emily and talk about all the mean things I *could* have said. It feels pretty good."

You can watch the video for "Vampire" below. The song will be included on PONY UP!, Pen Pin's upcoming debut album. For more on Pen Pin, check out the band on Instagram.

On Repeat...

Failure - "The Air's on Fire"

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Photo by Lyndsey Byrnes With their upcoming seventh overall studio album, the highly influential band Failure will have released more albums since reuniting in 2014 than they did during their first run. The first single from that album, "The Air's on Fire," shows the band expanding their sound while still being rooted in what has always made them great. The song is a dark and moody one that is always threatening to explode but never quite does. This is an example of 90's alt-rock meets art rock at its very finest. It's the kind of song that could easily have come out thirty years ago, but that doesn't mean it sounds dated. After the first listen, "The Air's on Fire" will sound like a killer alt-rocker from a 90's band that hasn't lost a step at all. The more you listen, the more complex Failure get on the single, and the more the song reveals itself to you. Ken Andrews says of his band's latest single: “That song is directly about my ...
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Hiding Places - "Waiting"

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Photo by Calli Westra Brooklyn's Hiding Places are originally from North Carolina, and that sound is all over their latest single. "Waiting" has a strong alt-country meets dark indie rock sound. The song is as hypnotic as it is heartbreaking. Even if you're not paying attention to the lyrics, the vibe of the song is overwhelmingly dark and somber. There's plenty of country twang and indie rock fuzz throughout the song, with the music carrying the weight of the song as much as vocalist/guitarist Nicholas Byrne's voice does. The song is stunning, both in its beauty and mood. I feel like I've been sitting on "Waiting" for a while now until I could fully wrap my head around it. Hiding Places has something truly special here. Nicholas Byrne says of his band's latest single: "Hiding Places’ first bassist, Anthony Cozzarelli, left the band in July of 2022. I wrote the chorus the day before Anthony left the band. I recalled the slow death of my ...
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Mama's Broke - "How it Ends"

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Mama's Broke, the post-folk Canadian duo of Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, have just released a break up song that might be their most accessible yet. While the previous singles from their upcoming album have a certain darkness or a sense of foreboding, "How it Ends" sounds relatively upbeat. Considering this is a song about how you never think you'll find someone as good as your ex after a break up, that's quite a feat. This is a traditional folk song with some slightly modern folk harmonies. As much heartbreak as their is in "How it Ends," there is also the warmth of remembering a recent relationship. You can listen to "How it Ends" below. Narrow Line is due out May 13 on Free Dirt Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Mama's Broke, check out the artist's website .
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