On January 22, 2020, NYC indie band Queue delivered their swan song performance at Gowanus brewery and event space Threes Brewing, marking the end of their impressive four-year run that included a series of captivating singles - from the rolling, upbeat debut "Falling Into Skies" to the dreamy, introspective "Float Away." During this period, I was lucky to catch two memorable live Queue performances as part of Brooklyn recording studio Degraw Sound's annual Degraw Fest music

Glasgow-based ambient pop band Who's Olivia? recently released its spellbinding, atmospheric debut single, "She." Comprised of Colette McLaughlin (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Max Murphy (guitar, synth, vocals), Ben Main (bass, vocals), and Rhys Robertson (drums, vocals), the foursome has been making music together over the past year. Delicately embellished with sparse, electronic beats and a synthesized, drone-like undercurrent, "She" is guided by a reflective, fingerstyle e

NYC-based alt/indie band Yella Belly bursts onto the music scene with their impressive "double A-side" debut single, which features two different, but complementary musical facets of the band's creative process - the rebellious, rocking "Bad Dog," followed by an easy, classic rock-sounding "Last Days." Yella Belly is comprised of William Thompson, Connor Jones, and Jake Hiebert. The band represents a fresh start for its members, who were previously part of other emerging and

It's not uncommon for me to plan a weekend getaway or roadtrip around music. Past travels have taken me to destinations ranging from Nashville, Tennessee to Stockholm, Sweden. This past weekend, I found myself in Brooklyn, NY at independent performance venue Littlefield for the better part of a day to take in the second annual Degraw Fest - one of the most memorable independent music showcases I've ever experienced. The event featured ten ridiculously-talented, Brooklyn-based

While browsing through my Instagram feed, I stumbled on a short soundclip in a post from Swedish electronic artist and producer Familjen (Johan T Karlsson) which introduced Need for Speed, a band he'd been working with on their debut single "c/o" (i.e., "in care of"). The bold, analog-sounding synths, upbeat tempo and smooth, droning, echoing vocals immediately caught my attention. Wow! The overall atmosphere is reminiscent of late 80's/early 90's dark pop, synth and industri

Hailing from Bristol, UK, atmospheric indie rock outfit Alabaster marks their official entry into the indie scene with their impressive debut single, "Modern World." With musical influences ranging from Brian Jonestown Massacre to the likes of Jeff Buckley and David Bowie, the band delivers a solid, atmospheric, guitar-driven soundscape on their debut single, paired with haunting vocals over prominent, pounding drums. Like a ticking clock, the striking rhythmic intro to "Mode

A few weeks ago, I was flipping through those little Instagram Stories you find near the top of the app, and viewed a clip from a recent Sofar Sounds NYC show that caught my attention. It was a short video showing a stunning acoustic performance from a musician named @jukeross. After a quick internet search, I discovered that this was Guayanese singer-songwriter Juke Ross performing his impressive debut single, "Colour Me." What's there not to like about this song? It's reall

I treasure the unforgettable moment when you stumble upon a song that's so pure, unpretentious and catchy that you just want to share it with everyone. A case in point is the outstanding debut single, "Something's Got A Hold On Me," from Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Shanice Green. Running at just two and a half minutes, the song is a sweet blend of acoustic soul, blues, and folky pop, graced with Shanice's soulful, soothing vocals. The enchanting, uncluttered fusion of not

It was just a week ago that I first heard the music of Nashville-based singer-songwriter David Swick at a Sunday afternoon Sofar Sounds Chicago event. Accompanied by violinist Laura Epling on strings and backing vocals, David captivated the audience in a tiny, packed Chicago apartment with his stunning, flawless, fingerstyle performance on acoustic guitar, which provided the perfect musical soundtrack for his expressive, heartfelt vocals. Among the songs performed was his deb

Within the past year, 19-year old Rhys has risen from aspiring, unknown musician to Swedish pop sensation, with her first two single releases ("Swallow Your Pride" and "Last Dance") attracting significant attention, along with noteworthy radio play and internet streaming. If these two songs are any indication of what else we might hear from Rhys down the road, then I'm pretty sure we'll all be hearing a lot more about this emerging songstress and musician. The lovely and movi