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SONGS WE LOVED! 16-22 September 2024

September's round-up brings a fresh wave of the most awesome song releases sent our way lately!

Featuring Early Riser, Rakish, Crash Harmony, Club Paradise, Nick Hudson, Pete International Airport, Steve Leon & The Accusations, JC Miller, Jake Diehl, The Willful Deaf and Dylan Forshner

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Early Riser - Beetlejuice

Photo Credit: Jeanette D. Moses

 Beetlejuice is the second single from Brooklyn’s Early Riser’s upcoming album Big Life—a tour de force of cello-driven pop-punk produced by John Agnello, set to drop on October 11.

The album boasts ten explosive tracks that delve into themes of isolation and connection with fierce, catchy energy. Songs like Strays and Beetlejuice highlight the band’s distinctive mix of humor and heartache, underscored by Heidi Vanderlee’s soaring cello riffs and Kiri Oliver's clever, relatable lyrics.

Having evolved from their acoustic duo roots, the band now features a full lineup with Mikey Erg (The Ergs) on drums and Nicole Nussbaum on bass, injecting new vitality into their sound.

Early Riser are gearing up to light up the East Coast—catch them live in Brooklyn, Wilmington, and Asbury Park, and wrapping up at THE FEST in Gainesville, FL(tour info here). 

Connect with Early Riser
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Rakish - Lonely Hotel Room

Photo Credit: Sasha Pedro

Rakish’s Lonely Hotel Room offers a majestic glimpse into their forthcoming album Now, O Now.

Maura Shawn Scanlin’s mellifluous vocals and her skillful fiddle and banjo work blend flawlessly with Conor Hearn’s lush guitar arrangements. With Jamie Oshima at the production helm, Lonely Hotel Room melds traditional Celtic melodies with an innovative splash of electronica, giving it a fresh twist while honoring the rich folk traditions​​​​.

Now, O Now drops on October 11th (pre-order here). Catch the band on tour and experience this genre-blending magic live—it’s a ride you won’t want to miss.

Connect with Rakish
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Crash Harmony - Velour Goddess

Crash Harmony’s Velour Goddess is an explosive throwback to the vibrant indie rock of the late '80s, marking a fiery return after a 30-year hiatus. It's a declaration of their triumphant comeback, setting the stage for their full-length album, No One Asked for This, dropping October 18 via Magic Door Record Label.

The song roars with Dave Derby’s commanding vocals, backed by soaring guitars, and hypnotic rhythms. It’s a nostalgic yet fresh revival of their '80s indie rock roots, proving that their sonic magic is far from gone.

With production genius Ray Ketchem steering the ship, Velour Goddess delivers an electrifying preview of what's to come. 

Connect with Crash Harmony
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Club Paradise - What If These Days

Club Paradise’s What If These Days is a dreamlike indie ballad overflowing with gorgeous vocals over a backdrop of atmospheric instrumentals.

After a summer of touring with bands like The Mystery Jets and The Futureheads, this release shows the band's growth and depth, offering a poignant look at the emotional battles we all face.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the release of the band's album Life on TV on October 18, and stay tuned for more from this evolving indie powerhouse.

Connect with Club Paradise
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Nick Hudson - Catherine in the Curate's Garden

Photo Credit: Jo Biggs

 Nick Hudson’s Catherine in the Curate’s Garden, is a stunning avant-pop masterpiece that feels like a fever dream of gothic art rock. Taken from his album Kanda Teenage Honey, (listen here) the song erupts with dark elegance, blending haunting melodies and rich, cinematic textures.

 Stuart Dahlquist (Sunn O))), Asva, Burning Witch) lends his brooding bass, grounding the song in a deep, hypnotic groove that perfectly complements the intense, otherworldly percussion.

Hudson’s narrative vision is as bold as the sound, weaving a story of saints shedding their martyrdom and coming together in ecstatic, romantic defiance, underpinned by a queer and speculative reimagining.

The video, shot in a junkyard in Tbilisi, takes inspiration from Carl Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc, with Russian rapper Tex2ra stepping into the role of Joan in a bold, boundary-pushing portrayal.

If you’re looking for art that stirs the senses, Hudson’s latest project delivers in spades.

Connect with Nick Hudson
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Pete International Airport  - Sea of Eyes

 American neo-psychedelia band Pete International Airport's latest single Sea of Eyes, delivers an entrancing blend of psychedelic rock and electronic textures, featuring vocals from Alexander Hackett of Montreal's dream-gaze band Pang Attack.

Hackett’s haunting vocals blend smoothly with Peter G. Holmström’s inventive guitar work, creating a hypnotic, dream-like energy filled with deep, reverberating bass and subtle electronic textures.

Taken from their upcoming EP of the same name (pre-order here), Sea of Eyes highlights Holmström’s experimental edge, drawing inspiration from The Cure’s bass-heavy grooves and cloaking them in a dark, atmospheric soundscape.

Produced by Jeremy Sherrer (The Dandy Warhols, Modest Mouse) and accompanied by an eerie, visually striking shadow-dance video directed by Francesca Bonci, Sea of Eyes sets the tone for what is expected to be an enchanting EP.

Connect with Pete International Airport
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Steve Leon & The Accusations - Bound to break

Steve Leon & The Accusations’ Bound to Break kicks off with a blend of acoustic warmth, a resonant dobro guitar, and a flowing violin, creating a lush soundscape that fuses alt-country grit with indie folk soul. Leon’s vocals, paired with lush harmonies, cut straight to the heart, reminiscent of indie greats like Wilco and Bright Eyes. 

The song reflects the passion that drives Leon to keep creating, even as the years pass. It's a reflection on leaving youth behind while holding onto that unshakable love for making music with friends.

Recorded live on analogue tape, Bound to Break is a masterclass in keeping things real—human, heartfelt, and full of soul.

The upcoming album Borrowed Time Bonanza, set for release in November (pre-order here) continues this journey of authentic sound and emotion. Don’t miss out!

Connect with Steve Leon & The Accusations
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JC Miller - Tombstone Junction

 Country-rock artist JC Miller’s Tombstone Junction hits like a slow-burn fuse, exploding with gritty Americana soul and unfiltered intensity.

With Marty Rifkin’s pedal steel howling like a ghost on the wind, Miller carves out a haunting ode to a forgotten era. This is no nostalgic trip—it’s a reckoning, a dirt road dive into the heart of what’s been lost and what still matters.

The track rumbles with the weight of history, powered by Miller’s evocative storytelling and a melody that sticks like whiskey on the back of your throat. It's pure, unfiltered American grit—a time capsule that digs deep into a world slipping away. 

With a sound that recalls the best of outlaw country and southern rock, Miller conjures up images of abandoned theme parks and forgotten legends, where the music might be gone but the echoes still linger.

It's a heavy, soul-shaking track that pulls you in and leaves you with a sense of yearning. For anyone missing that old-school, road-worn vibe, JC Miller is the answer.

Connect with JC Miller
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Jake Diehl - Yes

 

Jake Diehl’s debut single Yes delivers a burst of high-energy positivity. The song encourages embracing both the highs and lows on the path to success. With Diehl’s dynamic vocals leading the charge, the track transforms challenges into motivation and inspires a confident, optimistic outlook.

It’s a perfect anthem for those ready to face life's obstacles head-on and shout "YES!" to whatever comes their way. So, if you’re looking for a track that boosts your confidence and drives you forward, this is the one.

Turn it up, and let it remind you that you're built for whatever's coming next.

Connect with Jake Diehl
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The Willful Deaf - Chasing Demons

 The Willful Deaf’s Chasing Demons is a thought-provoking dive into the psyche of modern societal frustrations, set against a backdrop of alternative electronic and psychedelic rock.

Frontman Matthew John Watts, known for his previous electronic work as Dogmixer and Debunkt, shifts gears with this new project, exploring darker, more textured soundscapes. The searing guitar lines and atmospheric synths pull you into a world where people chase shadows, misplacing their fury and worshipping false idols—the "demon in the sky" that blinds them to the real enemy.

With Watts’ haunting vocals cutting through the chaos, Chasing Demons is an anthem for those fed up with surface-level solutions, offering a biting commentary on societal disillusionment.

Connect with The Willful Deaf
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Dylan Forshner - Under Control

 Dylan Forshner’s Under Control dives deep into the gritty side of self-reflection, blending acoustic simplicity with unflinching honesty.

Forshner’s voice, paired with the stripped-down strumming of his guitar, brings an intensity to his story of addiction and mental struggle. The track carries a haunting quality, yet offers a glimmer of hope beneath the weight of its lyrics.

With the addition of subtle synth and bass touches, Under Control becomes more than just an acoustic ballad. It shifts into something unexpectedly dynamic, where vulnerability meets defiance.

As a taste of his upcoming EP Hopeless Optimism, the song hints at an even wider emotional range, cementing Forshner as a voice to watch in the Toronto indie scene.

Connect with Dylan Forshner
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Spotify Playlist