With the Halloween season coming to a close, we understand that those with a deep love for the holiday may need something to fill that void. We believe that we may have the solution for you; that being a brand new barrel-load of amazing new music.
This week, the running theme has seemingly been soaring melodies or cosmic soundscapes, giving us a good diversity of tracks to sink our teeth into. In this article, we bring you 13 of our favourites this week.
Track Of The Week
Hayden J Barlow » What You Don’t Know
‘What You Don’t Know’ begins with a straight-forward yet incredibly infectious melody, before progressing into increasingly dynamic sounds
INDIE TOP 39
‘What You Don’t Know’ is the sophomore single release from R&B/Jazz singer and guitarist Hayden J Barlow, who we enjoyed very much when collaborating with DeCarteret on her debut single ‘Sunday 21’. While J Barlow’s debut single ‘F.L.O’ did well to balance both the R&B and Jazz influences together, ‘What You Don’t Know’ leans further towards the jazzy side of things, thus making this track more upbeat and engaging in the process. Starting off with a melody that feels very straight-forward, but also incredibly infectious, before progressing into something more and more dynamic, this tune stands as one of the most memorable we have heard this week.
Alan Finan » Another Rare Moon
‘Another Rare Moon’ oozes with a brooding indie mood, whose sense of atmosphere has listeners sucked into its cosmic soundscape.
INDIE top 39
The Irish singer/songwriter that is Alan Finan, wowed listeners with his highly textured and atmospheric sound, which fused the likes of indie, folk, and pop, on his 2018 EP The Undwelling. Fast-forward to where we are now in late 2020, and Finan brings us his second single release of the year. ‘Another Rare Moon’ oozes with a brooding indie mood, whose sense of atmosphere easily has listeners sucked into its cosmic soundscape, and we really love how the drifting melody only elevates that sense further. Along with this, Finan’s soft but echoing vocals really give listeners a sense of the vastness of said soundscape. It is fair to say that two years on from his debut EP, Alan Finan has raised the atmosphere up to 11.
Colours Of One » Haunts
We adore ‘Haunts’ for its vast, epic and effortlessly soul-lifting sound, which is paired with raw instrumental elements, to keep the sound down to earth as well
INDIE TOP 39
The Wales-based, four-piece rock band that is Colours Of One, bounced back brilliantly in 2019 after a long hiatus. With their rock sound once again in full swing, ‘Haunts’ is the fourth single release of this new chapter in the band’s musical journey, showing that not even a worldwide pandemic is enough to keep Colours Of One from crafting the music that they love. ‘Haunts’ in particular, is a track that we also adore for its vast, epic and soaring sound. The feeling that this track creates feels like enough to lift the soul effortlessly. Pair this highly atmospheric melody with the more raw instrumental elements, and you have a track which is capable of carrying you off to a world of epic sound, whilst still managing to feel down to earth.
Foreignfox » Fractions
Foreignfox continues to take their sound into deeper and more progressive territory, with the soaring tune that is ‘Fractions’
INDIE TOP 39
Having rapidly grown since their first single release in 2014, this year has served as another step forward for the Scottish alternative rock duo that is Foreignfox. With ‘Fractions’ being their second 2020 release, the band continue to take their sound into deeper and more progressive territory. The very beginning of this track does well to invoke feelings of vulnerability in its undertone, before progressing into a more full and dynamic sound. With the vocals and instrumentation both soaring sky-high, the quality of this track definitely feels like one that could give more commercially successful rock bands a run for their money. We are loving where Foreignfox is heading with their incredibly layered new sound.
Glow Beets & Felix » 4am
Glow Beets sees a collaboration with a graduate singer-songwriter which he once tutored, in this awesome combined effort of teacher and pupil
INDIE TOP 39
After crafting a remarkable remix for Will Naisbit’s 2019 track ‘Us Against the World’, the musical project of EDM producer Johnny Amos, named Glow Beets has been consistently dishing out colourful tune after colourful tune in the year of 2020. And while the producer has collaborated with artists on previous singles, his newest tune ‘4am’ is very unique in the case of its respective featured artist. After recently graduating university with a degree in songwriting, under the tutorage of Amos himself, Birmingham singer-songwriter Felix is now collaborating with his former mentor. We strongly agree that Felix’s vocals, paired with the wondrous production from Glow Beets, makes for a pretty phenomenal tune.
La Palma » Sábado
La Palma’s exotic indie style translates through to ‘Sábado’, whilst the track also shows an evolution in the richness in their sound.
INDIE TOP 39
La Palma is the musical project of Chris Walker and Tim Gibbon, and the duo is split between two cities: Chris lives in San Francisco, and Tim lives in Washington DC. They are making music over 3000 miles of social distancing. La Palma started off strong in 2019 with their debut, self-titled LP. But one year later, and the band’s second body of work is already on the horizon. ‘Sábado’ is their second single release this year, and the newest to tease their imminent second LP. Since their musical ignition in 2019, the duo has stylistically painted themselves as a more exotic-sounding equivalent to bands like Cage The Elephant, which could definitely be heard on their first album. And this translates through to this brand new track, whilst also showing an evolution in the richness of their sound.
Leopard Rays » Need You
With Leopard Rays revering ‘Need You’ as their “most feel-good track so far”, we definitely tend to agree
INDIE TOP 39
Despite having previously released their EP, titled Time’s A Factor, Kid, in 2020, Hartlepool rock band Leopard Rays are showing no signs of calling it a year just yet. Right off the back of the aforementioned EP, ‘Need You’ is the band’s newest single. With Leopard Rays revering their newest creation as their “most feel-good track so far”, we tend to agree. ‘Need You’ brings the energy in barrel-loads, and in the time that we are in, definitely feels like the kind of vibe that is sorely needed by many. We could definitely sense that this track sounded like the band were having tonnes of fun recording it, and we strongly believe that fans will be having just as much fun experiencing a live performance of this absolute banger.
Lisa Akuah » Dancing Trees
It definitely didn’t take long at all for ‘Dancing Trees’ to completely bewitch and enchant us, thanks to the track’s near-haunting atmosphere
INDIE TOP 39
After releasing her first two singles earlier this year, Folk artist Lisa Akuah puts a more atmospheric and psychedelic twist on her folk style with her third single ‘Dancing Trees’. It definitely didn’t take long at all for this track to completely bewitch and enchant us, thanks to Akuah’s drifting vocals, and the near-haunting atmosphere created by the mixture of acoustic and ambient sounds. As a track that was written with the purpose of shedding light on our innermost parts of the human mind; the subconscious, the sound of ‘Dancing Trees’ definitely elevates that sense brilliantly. This track most certainly succeeds in letting the listener connect with themselves and the earth around them, which is a brilliant achievement.
Liv Ellen » Wasted Emotion
‘Wasted Emotion’ brings a level of cosmic and whimsical intimacy that casts a real level of intimacy over the listener
INDIE TOP 39
The sophomore single from experimental pop artist Liv Ellen, ‘Wasted Emotion’ brings a level of cosmic and whimsical intricacy that casts a real level of intimacy over the listener. And while her debut single, 2019’s ‘Burden’, felt immensely unique in its own right, we feel that ‘Wasted Emotion’ takes this quality a step further melodically, whilst also sounding more emotive, especially in terms of Ellen’s vocal delivery. All of the melodic goodness that this track, and Liv Ellen carry, pair amazingly well with the slow, drifting pacing of this track, which lets the listener feel as if they are floating on a soft cloud of gorgeous sound. Liv Ellen’s first body of work is set to arrive in early 2021, and we cannot wait to hear it.
MuddiBrooke » Devil
With a perfectly deep and moody undertone, MuddiBrooke’d ‘Devil’ feels incredibly true to the traditional Grunge sound that fans of the genre feel familiar with
INDIE TOP 39
Following the release of their live NHS charity single which was titled ‘Stay Home’, the Derby based, all-female Alt-rock trio that is MuddiBrooke bring us a brand new single titled ‘Devil’. Despite only forming in January of this year, MuddiBrooke has managed to stay productive and develop their sound, even with the extraordinary conditions of the worldwide pandemic. Their new track arrived just in time for Halloween, with a perfectly deep and moody undertone that feels incredibly true to the traditional Grunge sound that fans of the genre feel familiar with. But of equal importance, ‘Devil’ serves as the first taste of things to come, with MuddiBrooke in the studio working on their debut EP, which is set to arrive in 2021.
Roma Rose » How To Feel
‘How To Feel’ brings us a more cavernous and atmospheric sound, with Roma Rose’s gorgeous vocals floating perfectly alongside the instrumental
INDIE TOP 39
Getting off to a fantastic start in 2020 with her debut single ‘In My Head’, Scotland’s Roma Rose brings us her sophomore single release, which is the second to tease her upcoming EP, titled ‘How To Feel’. In comparison to the warm and plucky sound of her debut single, ‘How To Feel’ instead brings us a much more cavernous and atmospheric sound, which only goes to show further promise when it comes to this artist’s versatility in her musical moods. The vocals float perfectly alongside the instrumental of ‘How To Feel’, and this all results in a track that whisks us away with its sound, and also makes us very excited for the EP that is on the horizon.
Sabiine » Hotline
Of all the tracks to come out of Sabiine’s new EP, ‘Hotline’ feels the most belonging when it comes to being comparable to many current pop artists with mainstream success
INDIE TOP 39
Sabiine has been taking fans by storm with her pop-destined vocal style and unique aesthetic, ever since releasing her first single in 2019. This week saw the artist release her brand new EP Dragonfruit, which carries with it four tracks. And while three of those were completely fresh tunes, we ultimately decided to vouch for the warm and punchy sound of the EP’s second track ‘Hotline’. We definitely believe that this track especially feels the most belonging when it comes to a sound comparable to many of the current pop artists with mainstream success. Along with this, the beat that this track’s production carries feels engaging and then some, with a sound that would fit right into most night clubs, once such institutions reopen.
Writer’s Rain » Eleanor
Writer’s Rain’s sophomore single brings us a more sleek and elegant atmosphere, while perfectly retaining the artist’s knack for intimacy
INDIE TOP 39
‘Eleanor’ is the sophomore single release from the Bristolian singer, songwriter, and musician, who goes by the title of Writer’s Rain. With her debut single ‘Black Coffee to Go’, fans were able to bask in her stripped-back style, which truly felt intimate to the core. And while ‘Eleanor’ is more sleek, elegant, and atmospheric in its sound, it still brilliantly retains that sense of intimacy. As a result, this makes Writer’s Rain’s angelic vocal delivery feel all the more special, in the foreground of a melody that is sure to have you lost in its heavenly sound. A track as gorgeous and as emotive as this one, really has us excited to see what this talented artist has planned next.
Below you can find al of the 39 awesome songs that were released this week. Don’t be shy to give us a cheeky follow and spread the indie music vibe with others!
