The discussion about originality in music will remain a perpetual one. Is being fully and completely original essential, or is using inspiration of somebody else’s music and building upon it quite enough?
Actually, both will do. Familiarity is considered as one of the key elements of any form of pop, yet it is those that truly bring something new that always somehow rise to the top. Only they, like The Kinks only come once so often.
That certainly doesn’t mean that those artists/musicians building on their influences are not worth listening to, on the contrary. It is just that they have a different take and a different talent that counts quite enough.
Andrea Ward - Awake At Night
You simply cannot label New York City’s Andrea Ward just as a musician. You see (and can hear) that Ward is a singer songwriter multi-instrumentalist, dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, and as she puts it, ‘untethered mystic.’ Movement and rhythms seem to be essential to Ward, but she certainly doesn’t forget the melody either.
Kalina Thyne - Phoebe & Elliott
Along with dropping such big names Tyne actually doesn’t solely idolise these two renowned artists, but uses them as a starting point to describe how to outgrow your past, the times when you’d “change everything about yourself to be liked.” By taking this route, Tyne actually injects more of her personality and uses Bridgers & Smith only as a starting point to express herself.
the moss - Insomnia
The term alternative rock seems to be encompassing almost anything these days that can be tied to rock itself. Yet, the moss, seem to possess practically some of the essential elements of what is considered alt rock these days - surf, grunge and some lo-fi style vocals tossed up in the air and combined as they fall on the ground.
The Black Market Karma - Aping Flair
This London band certainly love their psych rock, particularly the strain favored by their better known American counterparts Brian Jonestown Massacre. After all, this includes Ruari Meehan, who at some point played with BJM leading light Anton Newcombe. Inspiration or no inspiration, sounds quite good, no matter what.
Songs For June - Ordalie
Behind Songs For June is one Elvy Jean, living (and home recording) somewhere in Belgium. And yes, here he presents all the advantages (and there are a few) of doing it all alone at home. Lo-fi at its best, certainly.
Moore Kismet - Forte
Prodigies come only come one in a thousand and 18-year old Moore Kismet (they/them) is certainly one. Here, they turn instrumental hip hop and break beats up on its head and keep building things fro there.
Sufjan Stevens & Danielson - Worried Shoes
Inimitable artist/producer Kramer and his continuously reincarnating label Shimmy Disc were always a source for incredible (and often inimitable) talent, whether they appeared there first, or were lured (at least temporarily) by Kramer for specific project. Here, such two inimitable talents (Stevens and Danielson) cover one such (unfortunately gone) talent Daniel Johnston, from an upcoming Johnston tribute compilation.
Allen Epley - The E.M.T.
Allen Epley (Shiner, The Life and Times), decides to go solo here, and comes up with an incredible melody and arrangement that just might lure the lovers of the late sixties up to mid seventies South California sound to his upcoming solo album.
That Summer - We Already Said Goodbye
That Summer is mainly singer songwriter/producer Charles Rocha, who obviously has something to offer, as he gathers quite a crew, including Tom Petty & The Heartbrakers Steve Ferrone. Does this song remind of Petty? Check. Does it have its own personality? Check.
Ziad Rahbani - Bala Wala Chi
This beautiful piano-led ballad by this Beirut, Lebanon artist certainly stands on its own and many better-known Western pop artists would go for this tune if they got a chance to hear it. Great arrangement too, and something different for quite a number of listeners.