Eventually, it turns out that either you have it or don’t. No matter how long a career of artists lasts, how popular they turn out to be, or how many ups and downs they have (they all have both), what turns out to be the main measure is whether they have the capabilities, inventiveness, and inspiration to keep that internal, ‘eternal flame’ burning throughout.
Susanna Hoffs came up with and sang the song with the same name while she was with The Bangles, something that is at this moment considered the height of her musical career. Yet, checking out what she came up with as a solo artist, (or as a duo with Mathew Sweet, doing song covers) it turns out that she did have and still does that eternal flame of creativity and capability to come up with excellent art, whether it is music or writing (check out her recent novel ‘This Bird Has Flown’).
Dana Gavanski - How To Feel Uncomfortable
Gavanski literally lost her voice while recording her previous album, but with this single and an upcoming album, she seems not only to have regained her voice, but also the confidence to come up with some good stuff.
Alvidrez - Hymn For The Corner
Moving from one milieu to another can do wonders for artists. And while moving from Glasgow, Scotland to California is not unusual, the other way around might, but it certainly worked for Alvidrez, for this mellow dream pop stuff.
Thomas Nicholas Band - Better Than Home
Nicholas is probably known to all fans of ‘American Pie’ films and to those who have followed the musical part of his career, where he is now to his album seven. Maybe he should settle for the latter.
TTSSFU - Baggage
Tasmin Stephens usually operates as the guitarist for Manchester punks Duvet, but here goes for more shoegaze/dream pop sound, and it suits her quite well.
The Wandering Hearts - River To Cry
This trio is British, but they seem quite big fans of the Americana-style folk-tinged harmonies that they turn into excellent pop here. More power to them.
Rosali - Rewind
North Carolina singer-songwriter Rosali (Middleman), actually doesn’t need a middleman to create some subtle singer-songwriter fare, with her excellent songwriting and vocals, as on this one from her forthcoming album.
BIG/BRAVE - i felt a funeral
BIG/BRAVE have rightfully created a big buzz in recent years with some hard-to-define music and they don’t disappoint again with this, their latest single offering.
K. Flay - Carsick
Multi-platinum records and two Grammy nominations don’t just come by themselves, and K. Flay got those by coming up with slices of ultra-modern pop as this one.
Nick Hudson - For My Silence
Hudson likes that piano-driven, complex pop that can be a tricky affair to nail right, but he seems to have done quite a good job with this one from his upcoming album.
Susan Santos - Hot Rod Lady
Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Santos likes to present her guitar chops right up front, and for a very good reason, with her singing and songwriting not lagging behind.
Phillip Lammonds - Cowboy Things
Lammonds is a seasoned, weathered songwriter who has only now decided to come up with his debut album. Judging by this one, maybe he should have done that much earlier.
Divining Rod - Days of Rum And Roses
Country rock from NYC is not such an unusual thing, yet these guys sound like they have just come out straight out of L.A. or Nashville for that matter.
VIAL - falling short
These three girls like their punk straight, sharp, and as brief as possible, as if they have digested the complete history of punk rock so far. With good results, that is.
Walt Disco - Pearl
The band name of this Glasgow group might not be the best indicator for this one, as it has more to do with cool, late-night bossa vibes than with disco. And it works great.
Sam Evian - Wild Days
Evian is better known as a producer for some big indie names. Luckily he doesn’t neglect his own music and certainly shouldn’t on the evidence of this excellent pop tune.
Sam Tabasi - Alsatia & Leslie
Tabasi is certainly one of the upcoming composers working within the ambient/modern classical/post-rock genres, that require some subtle, inventive touches, which he definitely exhibits here.
Mal Not Bad - Dodgeball
This Los Angeles multi-disciplinary artist likes to play with different (electro) genres. To do that well, you need to know them more than well, and Mal Not Bad certainly does.
Lucie Antunes - Luchadora
Antunes is primarily a percussionist (and composer), and she knows so well to present her strengths in this piece of dance floor excellence.
Les Big Byrd - Diamonds, Rhinestones…
These Stockholm, Sweden guys like their rock in a more old-fashioned manner, but brought up to modern times and they seem to know how to do that well.
Itasca - Milk
Guitarist Kayla Cohen, or Itasca, sounds like a master of her instrument here with some nifty tunings but at the same time an excellent melody and subtle vocals.