If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Asher Thomas Boston bubblegrunge favorites Sophie's Body have a new single out of their upcoming debut album, and this one pushes the genre forward. "Long Term Loaner" has all of the fuzz and melody you want from bubblegrunge, but this one is even more pop. At times it's almost a dance track, and others it's full on alt-rock (albeit alt-rock that you can easily dance to). As pop-focused as "Long Term Loaner" can be, it's not a pop song, or even that mainstream. The guitar tunings are too far off, and create an otherworldly sound. Sophie's Body base their sound on pre-existing styles without sounding much like those styles at all. Sophie McMinn says of her band's latest single: "I started playing around with the homophone 'loner', and that’s where I get into my angst a bit more.  This was not a fun period in my life, I was feeling lonely, and really grasping for purpose post-college graduation." You can listen to ...

Photo by Asher Thomas Sophie McMinn started off as a classically trained vocalist and violinist, but then moved to Boston and discovered the city's DIY scene. Now she's the frontwoman for Sophie's Body, a band that embraces the bubblegrunge label. Their latest single, "Star," isn't what I would consider to be traditional bubblegrunge. The song is rather poppy, especially towards the beginning. There's a fuzzed out bassline over some catchy electronic elements, and it's almost a dance song. Once the guitars kick in, "Star" becomes an indie rock banger while still being a pop filled delight. Sophie's Body have been on my radar for a while, and I have a feeling their upcoming album is going to blow them up in and around Boston. Sophie McMinn says of her band's upcoming album: "In every song, there is this dark shadow and honest-to-god primal fear of failing before I’ve even had the chance to start.  Life and the search for meaning i...

Photo by Lee Trigg London based Ethiopian-Egyptian artist Alewya has a new single out that is going to blow some minds. "Maktoub" is a hip hop based track that blends in R&B and traditional Ethiopian and Egyptian rhythms. The song has a completely unique sound mixed with familiar elements. The song has roots in the golden age of hip hop, while pushing it into the modern age with international elements. "Maktoub" is the kind of song you fall in love with within the first thirty seconds, and keep going back to in order to make sure it truly is as good as you thought it was. I can assure you that it is. Alewya says of her latest single: “Sometimes songs take time to reveal themselves, but Maktoub felt immediate and effortless from day one." You can listen to "Maktoub" below. ZERO is due out June 26 on LDN Records, and is available to pre-order here . For more on Alewya, check out the artist on Instagram .