It’s the final day of February! And with spring just around the corner, as well as a bit of clarity as to when we will finally be leaving lockdown behind, we are confident that this week’s tunes will be the icing on the cake when it comes to feeling positive and motivated towards the year ahead.
Many of these awesome new tunes feel very introspective, and have us reflecting upon what we’ve been through so far, and the loved ones that keep us happy. We hope to have you feeling a similar way with this week’s top 9 picks, so let’s dive right in.
Track Of The Week
Grizzly Bird » The Lakes
‘The Lakes’ sees Grizzly Bird tap into their connection with nature and myth flawlessly, thanks to its incredibly atmospheric undertone.
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The first 2021 single release from folk trio Grizzly Bird, ‘The Lakes’ is the first track to follow 2020’s ‘The Drummer’s Trauma’, which was a track that we thoroughly loved for its mixture of earthy and dreamy elements. With ‘The Lakes’, however, Grizzly Bird seem to faultlessly tap into their connection with nature and myth. With its incredibly atmospheric undertone, ‘The Lakes’ truly emanates a highly dream-like feel, which left us absolutely mesmerised by its whimsical sound. The cavernous yet soft vocals blend together perfectly with the dreamy acoustic sound to create something with a true sense of vastness. It is definitely safe to say that Grizzly Bird are already off to an incredible start this year, thanks to this utterly gorgeous track.
Benedict » Sweet Sister
‘Sweet Sister’ carries a marginally more upbeat presence, and a more spring-like feel, making it feel like a perfectly-timed release.
INDIE TOP 39
The musical alter ego of Martijn Smits, known as Benedict, has clearly been keeping the productive boulder rolling in 2021. Even after the release of his debut album, titled You Can Tell Me Nothing That I Should, Benedict already sets his eyes on the next chapter of his musical journey, and has already released two 2021 singles. We got to listen to the latest of these this week, in the form of ‘Sweet Sister’. With this new single carrying a marginally more upbeat presence, thanks to its more raw drum-beat. In addition, it creates more of a nostalgic and spring-like feel, which allows ‘Sweet Sister’ to feel like a perfectly-timed release. This track is a beautiful reminder to keep your loved ones close, which feels like an especially important sentiment in times like these.
Daniel Etherton » Foundations
‘Foundations’ stands as a track which pairs a wholesome sound, with an equally wholesome narrative, which highlights the importance of the people around us.
INDIE TOP 39
‘Foundations’ is the debut single release from singer/songwriter Daniel Etherton, and serves as an introduction into his intimate and compelling acoustic sound. Going along with this wholesome sound, is an equally wholesome narrative, highlighting the importance of the people around us who offer us a sense of stability in these uncertain times. Etherton really succeeds with this debut single, especially when it comes to the subtlety of his sound, that truly allows the lyrics to take center-stage. And thus, we were holding on to every word that was sung. ‘Foundations’ is a fantastic debut effort, which has our hopes set extremely high, when it comes to Etherton’s ability to really create with the heart as his primary tool.
Demelza » Little Me
Demelza’s debut single doesn’t hesitate to venture into reflective territory, complimenting this sentiment with a gorgeously warm melody.
INDIE TOP 39
The Birmingham-based Indie band Demelza arrive with their debut single release. Titled ‘Little Me’, their first single ventures straight into reflective and introspective territory. Lyrically, the track appears to be reflecting upon a post-relationship meeting with someone that was once closer, and holding no bad blood. Pairing this with a gorgeously warm and festival-ready instrumental, and ‘Little Me’ is a track that feels both bittersweet, and uplifting. As a result, we feel that this single reflects the kind of feelings that surround the supposed narrative of the track perfectly. We totally love this debut single, and cannot wait to hear what else this exciting band may have up their sleeve for the near future.
Haunter » Illuminate
Writing about that one-of-a-kind feeling of being deeply in love, this sentiment is perfectly reflected in the wondrous and electric sound of ‘Illuminate’.
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The U.S-based alt-pop group known as Haunter burst began to get their musical vision rolling in 2020, after each of its members, who formerly favoured a heavier style of music, professionally or otherwise, came together to pursue something both challenging and different. With the three singles they had released last year, they succeeded in displaying their uniquely deep, colourful, and dynamic alt-pop sound. Turning the page to 2021, and we have this year’s first release from Haunter, titled ‘Illuminate’. Writing about that one-of-a-kind feeling one gets when they fall deeply in love, this sentiment is perfectly reflected in the song’s wondrous and electric sound.
Liush » thetimewewanderoff
Liush’s musical experience definitely shows on ‘thetimewewanderoff’, as he totally uses a stripped-back sound to his advantage.
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‘thetimewewanderoff’ is the sophomore single release from indie folk artist Liush, as well as his first release of 2021. Sharing the same name as Liush’s upcoming EP, ‘thetimewewanderoff’ continues where his debut ‘YOM TOV’ left off, and further clarifies the sound that Liush chose to pursue independently, after several years of participating in musical projects. Said sound feels incredibly soothing yet very raw at the same time. Liush’s musical experience definitely shows on this track, as he totally uses a stripped-back sound to his advantage, and had us bewitched in its minimal beauty. We are incredibly excited to see what other gorgeously ambient vibes come out of his upcoming EP.
Low Girl » Big Now
With their sophomore single, Low Girl brings us a more upbeat feel than their debut, while spreading an impactful and passionate message.
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After the release of their debut single ‘ICU’ last year, this week saw singer/songwriter band Low Girl release their sophomore single, and attack on apathy, titled ‘Big Now’. It tells listeners about the frustration felt over the climate crisis, and everybody retreating to an ‘every person for themselves’ way of thinking. Pleading for listeners to understand this, this important lyrical sentiment is pasted over an instrumental that feels far more warm and upbeat than Low Girl’s debut, which does brilliantly to have a more inspirational impact. We love how an artist like Low Girl can tackle subjects like this so artfully in their music, and we are very excited to see what other moods and messages they bring to their discography.
Tarn PK » Indigo Dreaming
While not straying too far stylistically from previous tracks, Tarn PK’s ‘Indigo Dreaming’ still stands as a uniquely enjoyable experience.
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After how much we thoroughly enjoyed the previous single from Christchurch-based singer, songwriter, and producer Tarn PK, named ‘Sky Is Falling’, we are thrilled to be graced with his first single release of 2021. ‘Indigo Dreaming’ keeps the hype-train fuelled for the upcoming release of Tarn PK’s Monarch EP, and continues to wow us with its immaculate blend of stripped-back, indie-folk instrumentation, and atmospheric indie-pop style vocals. However, ‘Indigo Dreaming’ does seem to venture into more atmospheric and dreamy territory (as the title may suggest). While not straying too far stylistically from previous teasers for PK’s upcoming EP, it still stands as a uniquely enjoyable experience.
Wes King » Living Strange
With his debut single, Wes King combines elements of indie, alternative, and Brit-pop, in a track that keeps steady progression at its heart.
With the hope to display a fresh take on indie for a new generation, artist Wes King arrives with his debut single ‘Living Strange’. King’s powerful and nostalgic vocals do perfectly to set the stage for his signature sound, which combines hints of alternative, indie, and Brit-pop, within a track that keeps a steady progression at its heart. The lyrical content that ‘Living Strange’ carries, which reflect upon how unorthodox our lives have all been in the past year, add another layer to this track, and truly allows ‘Living Strange’ to feel like a uniting musical force. This debut single not only displays Wes King’s ambition to redefine to add a new feel to the genres that inspired him, but also shows that his heart truly lies in his music.
New Music Sunday » Best Songs Released This Week
