Bad Friends With Black Cats – ‘3 HOURS AND 47 MINUTES’

‘Aw man, my boss is such a jagoff’ sings one of the chorus lines of ‘3 HOURS AND 47 MINUTES’. The title refers to the time left in our narrator’s working day – anyone who has ever worked in a soul-sucking job will relate to the despair, and clock-watching.

Bad Friends With Black Cats describe themselves as a folk-punk-rock duo. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, this track was one of the first songs they ever wrote, and has now been reworked and re-released with their EP ‘I WANT TO MOVE’.

‘3 HOURS AND 47 MINUTES’ is a driving rock track with influences of pop, punk and folk, powered by relatable sucky-job frustrations.

The lyrics echo the thoughts of many in the same situation – “the only time I feel happy is when I’m leaving this place” – but also include some smart imagery with lines describing feeling like ‘a surfer who’s been stranded in the ocean’. The melodies are not quite memorable but contain high energy, with lines ‘god damn, my head’s about to blow off’ seeming ripe for shouting along to. They’re delivered in Paul Harrison’s drawling, conversational yet solid vocal style.

The production combines bright, driving guitars with crashing drums and chiming percussion, adding tuneful riffs and tight harmonies that create a big sound for a duo. There’s clear influences of late 90s and early 2000s pop punk, as well as artists like The La’s, The Front Bottoms and Weezer. It’s a track with a lot of character that shows a lot of promise for the forthcoming EP.

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Words Eden Tredwell

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Dear Daria – ‘Tino’

Has anyone seen Tino? Come on, you remember Tino! Or if you don’t, don’t worry – Tino is more of a concept than a person. Dear Daria named this track after Tino, an unseen character in the classic show ‘My So Called Life’. And true to form, Tino is constantly going missing in this track as well.

Dear Daria is a 4-piece based in Washington DC, describing themselves as ‘a goth kid, an indie rocker, a vinyl addict and a Beatlemaniac’. They’ve already had an impressive output over the last couple years and show no signs of slowing down.

‘Tino’ is a grooving yet relaxed indie-rock track with plenty of whimsy and charm.

The conversational lyrics paint a strangely enjoyable picture of an almost-mythical Tino, who promises ‘we’re gonna start a band in his basement’ and advises you to ‘totally dye your hair’, but whenever crunch time rolls around, he’s never there. It’s lighthearted, nothing to take too seriously, but the detail is vivid – ‘we’re gonna start a band in his basement’ – and the main hook memorable. The melodies are natural and delivered in laid-back, almost sardonic lead vocals.

The production combines grunge guitars with upbeat basslines and percussive beats. There are some woah-ohs and smooth backing vehicles that will make this a familiar treat for fans of 2000s indie-pop-rock acts like The Las and Weezer. A cute, Scooby-Doo referencing video where the band searches for Tino is also a nice touch, hopefully endearing Dear Daria to a brand new audience.

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Words Eden Tredwell

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The Lofty Pines – ‘Light At The Door’

In days where highly produced and layered music is widely accessible, something is endearing and refreshing about a 3-piece acoustic trio. Meet The Lofty Pines, who combine a mandolin, a guitar, a fiddle and their vocals to create their own sound, blending bluegrass, folk, Americana and singer-songwriter styles.

The Lofty Pines are a band based out of Erie, Colorado. The band are jumping straight in with a debut album, with this release being the title track.

‘Light At The Door’ is a tender, heartwarming ballad with a folk sensibility and a gorgeous atmosphere.

The lyrics are slowly paced, but thoughtfully written, describing a relationship that’s gone awry and needs repairing. ‘Like a beggar I was cold and alone’, narrates the song, affirming that there is still ‘a light at the door’ for his love and that even in the face of adversity, he will ‘knock a little louder sometime’. These lyrics are delivered in light, plaintive lead vocals combined with sweet backing harmonies, and graceful, lilting melodies.

The production blends and balances the chiming mandolin, the steady acoustic guitar and the wistful fiddle, allowing each one to push through at different moments, including instrumental solos that showcase what are clearly some very skilled players. It’s never too complicated but highly effective, creating a twinkling, warm atmosphere with a little nostalgia thrown in. Any fans of folk or country looking for a summer evening waltz could do much worse than giving this track a spin.

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Jonathan Thomas Maiocco – ‘Better Off’

‘Tears were streaming down my face, when you told me I’m going to hell…’ opens ‘Better Off’ by Jonathan Thomas Maiocco. It reflects what is unfortunately still a reality for many queer people around the world – rejection from our loved ones, with a dash of religious persecution. This song lifts those feelings into a pure kind of acceptance, into something almost – dare I say it – heavenly.

Jonathan Thomas Maiocco is a composer, producer, songwriter and artist based in LA. His work not only includes his own artist project, but production and arrangement for other artists along with film and TV music. This single comes from his latest EP, the bluntly titled ‘Religious Trauma Syndrome’.

‘Better Off’ is a soaring synth-pop hymn with plenty of authenticity and relatable subject matter.

‘I never thought that I would leave’ sing the simple, confessional lyrics, tracing the path from a more rigid, oppressive environment to self-acceptance and freedom. The title refers to the ultimate realisation that ‘I’m better off you’re not around’. The melodies have plenty of classic pop influence although could use more hooks, and the tender vocals lend plenty of sincerity to the track.

The production has a soundscape approach to it – flashes of birdsong, and ocean sounds are heard at various moments. But the core of the track is pure piano lines and soaring synths. With no strong beats, the track relies on building layers of synths and choral-style vocal harmonies for power, and achieves it well. A promising song.

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Words Eden Tredwell

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Louis Velasquez – ‘Skyscraper’

Are you afraid of heights? A title like ‘Skyscraper’ might evoke soaring excitement or dizzying fear, depending on how you feel about being miles above the ground. And so it goes with love on Louis Velasquez’s track – the giddiness can also signal the danger.

Louis Velasquez is an indie artist based in London, with connections to both the UK and Panama. This track comes fresh from his debut EP ‘Laugh About It’, which is now available for streaming.

‘Skyscraper’ is a high-spirited indie rock track with a romantic heart and a youthful energy.

Velasquez’s tender lyrics show classic sentiment with lines like ‘I’ll fall with you someday for eternity’ yet also paint a picture of a relationship teetering between bliss and destruction. ‘My hand is outstretched, and you grab it with all your strength, you pull me way over every edge’ sings Velasquez in the refrain, but retains hope as he vows ‘I’ll find a way for us to both be safe’. There’s maturity in lines like ‘find the time to try and reach the ledge’. The melodies are natural and easy, though could use some more hooks, and Velasquez’s vocals have plenty of youthful gusto.

The production centres around energetic drums and whirling guitars, particularly showcasing the latter with some spirited solos. There are chanting backing vocals and more than a little influence from acts like The Kooks, The Arctic Monkeys, and Bloc Party. Anyone with a soft spot for 2000s indie rock should give this one a spin. 

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Dimitri Loizos – ‘Make Up Your Mind’

‘I wonder how you can treat a man so rough…’ opens Dimitri Loizos on ‘Make Up Your Mind’. We’re in classic blues territory, and as tradition goes, the root of the trouble is a lover. It’s never quite explained exactly what went wrong in this relationship, but it’s more of a sit-back and soak-in-the-vibes kind of track.

Dimitri Loizos is a guitarist, composer and songwriter with Greek heritage, currently based in London. This latest tune comes ahead of his next EP ‘Back To The Blues’, due for release this summer.

‘Make Up Your Mind’ is a late-night classic blues track, light on the words and heavy on the solos,  but drenched in ambience.

‘Honey, all you do is cause me trouble’ sing Loizo’s vintage-influenced lyrics as he exhorts his love to ‘make up your mind’. He begs through the song, promising to ‘sing his heart out for you’, but there’s a suspicion he might be better off alone – at least his ‘guitar won’t tell no lies’. Listeners looking for a richer narrative may be left wanting here, but it’s all delivered with Loizos’s deliciously soulful melodies and assured, silky lead vocals.

The production focuses, naturally, on the sultry, bluesy guitar. Solid bass and chugging drums glue the track together, with some dreamy strummed chords and skittering piano lines to flesh it out. There are plenty of instrumental breaks, to give you that late-night, jam session feel. At over 6 minutes, this might be too long for some, but fans of classic artists like B.B King will find something to enjoy here.

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Inigo Quintero – ‘Desconocido’

For the non-Spanish speakers in the room, ‘desconocido’ means ‘stranger’. And in Inigo Quintero’s track, this refers to the strangers you become after a relationship ends – the strangest kind of stranger of all, as the shadows of former intimacy melt away. But don’t worry, this tune still manages to retain its euphoria.

Spanish artist Inigo Quintero has had quite the rise. A TikTok viral sensation, his track ‘Si No Estás’ currently has over 600 million Spotify streams. This latest track comes from his debut EP, ‘Es Solo Musica’, or ‘It’s Simply Music’, which is available to stream now.

‘Desconocido’ is a bittersweetly anthemic track with influences of pop and dance, dedicated to heartbreak and regrets.

‘Tú eras todo lo que pedía’ sings Quintero with heartfelt lyrics – ‘you were everything that I wanted’ – but shades of frustration show through too, with lines like, ‘in the end it was going to destroy me’ ,  ‘al final iba a destrozarme’. The main hook ‘que mas da’ (‘what difference does it make?’) is soaring, and delivered in Quintero’s throaty, evocative vocals. The melodies are cleanly crafted with a singer-songwriter edge.

The production combines wistful guitars with echoing piano lines, layering tuneful vocal harmonies with humming synths and a strong kick, making this a big-scale track ripe for festivals and summer car journeys. Fans of modern male artists like Ed Sheeran and George Ezra will find something to enjoy here, and it’s still hooky enough even if your Spanish isn’t up to scratch.

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Joel Mallen – ‘What A Day’

‘Breathe the ocean air, would you rather be anywhere?’ opens Joel Mallen’s ‘What A Day’. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t a story of blue-skied voyages or holiday beaches, it’s something a little darker and stranger. Mallen cites ‘a love affair with a siren’ as the inspiration for this track – but it can still be enjoyed as an upbeat indie tune.

Joel Mallen is an artist with roots in both Manchester and Leeds. This track is the lead single from his upcoming debut EP ‘Rapture’, due in June 2024.

‘What A Day’ is a glorious alt-pop track with influences of funk and neo-soul, that balances darker themes with a shiny aesthetic.

The lyrics narrate a love story with evocative lyrics – ‘taste your emerald lips, palate tingle, you emerged from callous, salty depths…’ – yet it gets stranger, more abstract and visceral as the song progresses. There’s obsession and self-loathing in lines like ‘I want you coursing through my vessels’ and ‘you struck a nerve, I flinch and spasm.’ This is combined with dreamy melodies and delivered in Mallen’s pure, powerful vocals, which takes the edge off the darkness.

The production opens with sharp percussion and bright, creatively used guitars. Unexpected harmonies add a tinge of psychedelia and neo-soul to the whole affair, as the track builds up with lush vocal harmonies and quavering synths to a big, guitar-solo climax. Fans of artists like Bjork and Peter Gabriel will definitely find something to enjoy in this strong and distinctive debut.

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Crooked Cat Adams – ‘Beautiful Dark’

“Through the blinds of my youth, I see two different moons…” opens ‘Beautiful Dark’ by Crooked Cat Adams. No, we haven’t landed on Mars, the moons are more of the metaphorical kind – the past and the future, “the old and the new”, and the realisation that we are leaving one era behind and beginning another.

Crooked Cat Adams is the project of singer-songwriter Patrick Barry, who hails from Florida. Currently based in Portland, Oregon, he’s built up a body of work with steady releases over the last few years. This track comes from his latest EP of the same name.

‘Beautiful Dark’ is a dreamily strange, stripped-down indie-folk track.

The poetically minded lyrics reflect on the passage of time and the dangers of too much nostalgia, with lines like “my first memory is haunting me”. There’s some lovely depth and imagery here, with lyrics like “the mirror gives hints that I’m showing my age, but I’m still a child, still a child.” There’s also darkness in the confession, ‘’I’m sinking deep, where no one can reach”. The melodies are simple yet effective, along with the layered vocals, both showing a clear folk influence.

The production is fairly bare and lo-fi, focusing on earthy guitar strumming contrasted with quavering synths. Although it could use more development, there is definitely a swirling ambience to it which becomes hypnotic. At over five minutes long, the ‘beautiful dark’ outro becomes trance-like. Fans of artists like Sufjan Stevens may find something to enjoy here.

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Hugo Brijs – ‘Creeper’

‘My creeper, she came for me, two nights before midsummer’s eve…’ opens ‘Creeper’ by Hugo Brijs. This might sound like the beginning of a horror movie, or at least a terrible date, but in Brijs’ hands, it turns into an ecstatic, if a little unhinged, indie love anthem.

Hugo Brijs is an artist, producer, composer and musical director. His career has led him down several impressive paths, with nods from NME and Radio 1, scoring for film and TV, and creating for brands like Calvin Klein and Vogue. This track heralds his first artist release in a few years, with an album of the same name due later in 2024.

‘Creeper’ is a soaring, driving, indie-rock love song with more than a touch of psychedelia.

The lyrics tell the tale of a femme-fatale gangster capturing the heart of a simple man. Despite her danger and the fact ‘she says she’s bored of me’, the besotted man begs her to ‘pick the white bread life’ and stay with him. It’s darkly fun with a cinematic edge, delivered with effortless melodies and sultry lead vocals.

The production is something special, showing all Brijs’ experience. Beginning with an unsettling, twanging, Eastern-influenced riff, it gradually builds and opens into something epic, with thrumming bass, warm strings and dreamy backing vocals. There are echoes of artists like Elbow, The Beta Band and The Beatles here, but it’s definitely got an identity all its own. New and old fans will enjoy the return of Hugo Brijs.

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