If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Zenzele Jordan Patterson was born in North Carolina and raised in San Fernando Valley. Her latest single, "Just My Friend," is a unique blend of pop music and singer-songwriter, with twists that sound only like her. Trying to narrow the song down to a style or two is impossible. It's a little folky, but it's too poppy. It can't be pop, it's too organic. And this is all from a song that's pretty sparse as far as instruments go. It's mostly piano, guitar, and handclaps... and maybe some record scratches towards the end? The song does sound celebratory, and shows that Patterson is one of the most unique talents in all of music. "Just My Friend" sounds like a simple song, but you'll uncover more and more with each listen. Jordan Patterson says of her upcoming EP: “ I said exactly what I meant to say. I felt like I believed in myself. I had a lot of faith. I was like, if I'm gonna make this EP, it's gonna be exactly what I mea...

Photo by Steve Gullick Porridge Radio have always been one of the more creative indie rock bands we cover, and their latest single is no exception. "Sick of the Blues" is a noisy indie rock single at heart, but it's also surprisingly orchestral and even a little folk adjacent. Dana Margolin's vocals don't seem to quite fit the song at times, but it works out in the best possible way. So many elements of the song sound like they're in an all out battle with each other throughout the song, and it still all ends up fitting together. "Sick of the Blues" is a tumultuous song. But, it's also beautiful in its pain and raw emotion. Dana Margolin says of her band's latest single: “‘Sick Of The Blues’ is about being heartbroken and taking back some joy, remembering that you’re the source of your own happiness, not someone else, even when you’re hurt and left with a hole in your heart. After being messed around enough, you just want to take back control...

Photo by Hermione Sylvester London's gglum (aka Ella Smoker) has released a new single that starts off as bedroom pop and then evolves into a much more epic sound. "Eating Rust" begins as an intimate and personal sounding song. Smoker's vocal delivery in particular makes the song sound almost confessional, like a discussion between close friends. And then the sound just opens up into more of a giant alt-pop track. It still sounds personal and intimate, just on a grander scale. "Eating Rust" is a lush and gorgeous track that has us wanting to pay closer attention to gglum. Ella Smoker says her new single "...  was the first song I made while writing the album that felt like it summed up the album's sound for me.  It's all about a period of my life where I was desperate for one person's love and approval which I would never get (yet i'd keep on trying anyway). It's about what inspired the dream that inspired the album.” You can watch t...

Photo by Sam Smoker gglum is London born singer-songwriter Ella Smoker. Her new single, "Do You See Me Different?," is a dream-like track that is a little pop, and also a little indie rock and folk. The song is lush yet feels sparse. It's the kind of song that sucks you in from the opening guitar, and then pulls you even deeper in once Smoker starts singing. "Do You See Me Different?" sound like if dream pop went folk, and is going to appeal to fans of artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Blondshell. gglum has crafted a song that is cheerily hypnotic, and delightfully mesmerizing. And that's even before Kamal's engaging guest spot. Ella Smoker says of her upcoming debut album: “ At the time of writing it, I was having so many nightmares, just straight-up graphic and disturbing stuff. I think it was my subconscious telling me I had shit I needed to deal with, a lot of the mistrust I’ve had since I was a teenager. It was weirdly good timing, because I'm at...

Photo by Michelle Mercado Atlanta's Faye Webster has this very specific sound of mellow, laid back and incredibly groovy music. Her latest single, "Lifetime," might just be the most Faye Webster song to date. "Lifetime" is almost impossibly chill. It almost has this lounge song vibe to it, and has an almost jazzy quality. This is the definition of a cool sounding song. In another artist's hands, this song could have ended up boring, but Webster has this magical quality that makes virtually everything she does compelling. Part of it is her voice just sucks you in, but Webster has that certain intangible star quality that makes you need to listen. You can watch the video for "Lifetime" below. The single is out now via Secretly Canadian. For more on Faye Webster, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video, and the U.S. portion is completely sold out. Oct 17 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club -  SOLD OUT Oct 18 - Washington,...

Photo by Michelle Mercado We've been giant fans of Faye Webster's take on chilled out indie rock and folk for a while now, so we're always thrilled when she releases new music. Her latest, "But Not Kiss," fits right into her catalog of music, but it is also her most ambitious song to date. The new song starts off just as we'd expect a Faye Webster song to start off. It's simple, and beautiful, and mellow. And then the piano kicks in, and everything changes. "But Not Kiss" is all of those things, but somehow the piano gives the song this absolutely epic feel. This is the biggest sounding of Webster's songs to date, and it shows some interesting growth for the artist. Faye Webster says of her new single: “ I think it could be a really romantic song or a really anti-romantic song.  It’s something I’ve looked for but struggled to find in other love songs, for them to describe this conflict or contradiction. ” You can watch the video for "But...

Photo by Emma Daisy I don't think any song captures Stella Donnelly's unique blend of indie rock, folk, and pop as much as "How Was Your Day?" This new song has a charmingly upbeat sound with verses mostly spoken and verses sung. It's a little too quirky and occasionally noisy to be pop, far too dance friendly to be folk, but too pop to be indie rock. "How Was Your Day?" sits right in the middle of those genres refusing to decisively choose any particular one. This is a really lovely and fun song that anyone not afraid to enjoy a joyful song is going to love. Stella Donnelly says of the new song: “ This is my attempt at building a song out of a very specific dynamic between two monogamously involved people. The verses are just excerpts from real conversations, fragments of what two people talk about when they both know they need to have a real talk but neither wants to be the one to bring it up. This song came out of lockdown and seeing a lot of friends ...

Photo by Olivia Senior We've been very high on Stella Donnelly for a while now. The Australian artist hit the whole Americana meets alt-rock sound that we can't seem to get enough of on her 2019 album Beware of Dogs . Her previous single, "Lungs," went a little more into the world of pop, but "Flood" sees Donnelly back to what we learned about her music. This new song is a little more singer/songwriter than Americana. It's fairly straightforward, but Donnelly makes it captivating with her natural charm. Plus, it's not exactly a fully straightforward alt-rock singer/songwriter track as there is still an odd use of synths that give it kind of a 1950's space age sound at times. This is a fascinating and compelling song that has us even more excited for Donnelly's upcoming album. Stella Donnelly says of her new song: " This song feels like a sad little adventure. I wrote it in the dark depths of a Melbourne winter lockdown where it had been ...

Photo by Olivia Senior Stella Donnelly is the latest indie/folk musician who has veered into a more pop territory, but with her it doesn't feel as out of left field. "Tricks" off of 2019's Beware of the Dogs almost edged into dance territory, but didn't quite make it. "Lungs" is a dance song, but it's still worlds away from the world of Top 40. This is more of an experimental and indie side of dance with at least one foot still planted firmly in the world of indie rock. It's oddly reminding me of when Radiohead first started playing in the world of electronic music, but if that was meant to be fun and not chin stroking music.  Stella Donnelly says of the new song: “ I do love observing human dynamics.  Dynamics between old best friends, or dynamics between housemates, or a relationship where the two people are broken up and haven’t spoken in years. I like getting into the mind of someone who we’ve all been at some poin t.” You can watch the video...

Photo by Matilda Hill-Jenkins Post punk is typically a fast and aggressive genre of music, but Porridge Radio change that on their latest single. "End of Last Year" is filled with synths and is a more gentle take on their style. It's a lovely song, even as the intensity gets ramped up. And this is a song that's intense, despite how laid back it starts out. Dana Margolin's vocals propel this song and completely drive the emotion, with backing vocals and instruments merely following Margolin's lead. This one reminds me of a current version of Yeah Yeah Yeah's now immortal "Maps." Plus, with a title like "End of Last Year," this is perfect to suggest to the graduating seniors in your life. Dana Margolin says of the new song: "' End Of Last Year' is a love song for my bandmates and for myself. It’s about not trusting my intuition, not trusting my body to heal itself, not trusting the people closest to me, but it is also an ode ...