The Underground Forest - Volume 35
Welcome to The Underground Forest! This month's edition features; a song that sounds like it could be from the 1975 mystery movie Picnic At Hanging Rock; a song that sounds like a blue skied morning in the 1990s; a song that could be from a surreal, eerie fairytale adaptation (the kind you find on MUBI); a song sounds like it was carried on the winds, over the desert plains to your ears; a song that is as dreamy and addictive as the very best late 90s/00 alt-pop hits, and more!
Featuring Blood Wizard, Tara Nome Doyle, Daniel Schamroth, KASIA, Juanita Stein, BATTLEFLAGG, Josephine & Poppy Jean Crawford.
Follow The Underground Forest on Spotify
Tara Nome Doyle - The Overgrown Path
The piano and distant birdsong fall upon your ears like gentle summer rain; this song makes you feel like you are out in nature in a Sofia Coppola movie, but it also feels like there is a deep mystery in its core (this could have been in the soundtrack of the 1975 movie Picnic At Hanging Rock).
The overgrown path is an allegory for the concept of taking the more uncertain path, the road less traveled; something that every artist has to think about at some point or another, as it deviates from what people have, for some reason, decided is the norm.
The Overgrown Path is truly wonderful, this song will invite you to be still and to think about what it is you really want out of life.
On the song the artist says “I don’t even remember writing this song. It feels like it appeared to guide me — a gift from a truer version of myself. In moments of doubt, I’ve often turned to it for solace, and its presence in my life continues to feel deeply meaningful and inspiring.”
Connect with Tara Nome Doyle
Bandcamp / Spotify / Instagram / Website / Facebook
Back2bed - Blood Wizard
Taken from the album Grinning William, an album which feels like it is from both the 1970s and the 1990s simultaneously. It was quite difficult to just pick one song from this album, as I loved all the songs on it (some of my favorites being sciencefiction and Apples + Oranges).
Back2bed opens with a slight lofi pop feel to it, the vocals reminiscent of the late 90s and early 00s; the chorus being a bed of dreamy, utterly divine textures that will sweep you away.
I haven't heard a song quite like this in some time, and I absolutely love it.
Connect with Blood Wizard
YouTube / Bandcamp / Spotify / Instagram / X
Soul On Fire (Home Demo) - Daniel Schamroth
This sounds like sunlight streaming in through the window on a blue-skied morning in the 1990s, where the acoustic guitar sprinkles down to your ears from the sky.
On the subject matter of the song, the artist says “This song was inspired by a friend of mine who used to lose their temper from time to time. It's about that feeling of 'seeing red' and losing control, and suddenly everything seems like a blur”.
The song is gentle, and compassionate, and is a delight to listen to.
Connect with Daniel Schamroth
Spotify / Instagram / X / Facebook
Isn’t Love Strange? - KASIA
This is the opening song from the new album From KASIA, With Love; and it feels like it is from an uneasy, deeply surreal fairytale; the Acapella vocal arrangement that opens the song is genuinely very unusual, making the song all the more intriguing.
The vocals are flawless (the power of the vocals in areas brings to mind Christina Aguilera), with some utterly divine soulful elements throughout, this is truly wonderful.
Connect with KASIA
Bandcamp / Spotify / Instagram
Old World - Juanita Stein
Taken from the artist's new album The Weightless Hour; Old World is hauntingly beautiful; a song that is about the artist’s Jewish ancestry; and the horrors her ancestors faced in Europe during the Second World War.
The song feels like an eerie country/folk song; one that is carried on the wind, across the plains.
Connect with Juanita Stein
YouTube / Spotify / Instagram / Website / Facebook
Ghosts - BATTLEFLAGG
This opens with a glorious burst of synths and rock textures; which will bring you right back to life during these cold winter days in January.
The piano in Ghosts adds a beautifully nostalgic dimension to the song, giving the flair of a beloved classic. The vocals are layered, dreamy, and sublime; and will whisk you away into the night sky.
The song was produced by Daniel Knowles (Sharon Van Etten, Cigarettes After Sex), this is the first song off the artist’s EP Solastalgia.
Connect with BATTLEFLAGG
YouTube / Spotify / Instagram / Facebook
Machine - Josephine
I really relate to this song; especially the part where the artist laments “How do people look so clean? / Give me a rundown of everything I’m not made of / Build me like a machine”.
On the song the artist says, "I wanted to write a fun song but I ended up writing about insecurity. It came out of a state of comparison, looking for a structure that other people seemed to have but I lacked. I wanted to contrast that and put those feelings over an upbeat guitar riff."
This is something I have often wondered about; how all of these things seem to be so effortless for a lot of people, but I find it to be very difficult and time-consuming - this song will make you feel less alone.
Connect with Josephine
Bandcamp / Spotify / Instagram
Glamorous - Poppy Jean Crawford
The opening track from Cosmic Waves Volume 1; (an album that features a compilation of songs from emerging artists chosen by Angel Olsen; alongside Angel Olsen doing her own versions of songs, from these same artists (read more about this here on Bandcamp) is an explosion of grunge, rock fuelled glory.
The sheer power of the wall of music that rises to greet you, combined with the power of the artist's vocals, will consume you completely, and set you free.
Connect with Poppy Jean Crawford
Bandcamp / Spotify / Instagram / X
Spotify
About Eimear O Sullivan
Eimear Ann O Sullivan is a multi-genre music producer, audio engineer and vocalist. After receiving a Masters in Music Technology from the CIT Cork School of Music, she went on to operate as a producer under the name Blakkheart. Her releases have received critical acclaim from Ireland's biggest music publications, such as District Magazine and Nialler9, alongside receiving heavy commercial radio airplay. She currently works in Cork recording studio Flashpoint CC. Previous clients of hers include the likes of Comedy Central’s Dragony Aunt star Candy Warhol, rapper Darce and Outsider YP. (Photo credit @Fabian Boros)
Contact Eimear O Sullivan at eimear.o.sullivan@musicngear.com
In this blog section we host new music releases, artist features and handpicked playlists by the Musicngear staff.
Interested in a music feature, writing a story as a guest or joining the Musicngear team as a Contributing Author? Contact us at info+blog@musicngear.com
