With its catchy hooks and cinematic indie rock sound, Michigan-based band Steppes' latest single "Marceline the Vampire" will bite you and not let go. Love hurts sometimes and the fantastic vocals from frontman Joshua Kemp play this out perfectly over soaring guitar melodies. The song is inspired in part by a 1,000-year-old vampire queen and bass guitar/battle-axe player of the same name from the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time. Marceline the Vampire is only their third song since their debut release earlier this year and we look forward to hearing more from them next year!
Denver-based producer Baaku has remixed Justin Caruso and Rosie Darling's "High Enough" giving it an energetic, glitchy future bass treatment. Baaku has released a number of popular remixes since bursting onto the scene in June debuting with Boombox Cartel and Nevve's "Whisper" and opening for Alison Wonderland at Ogden Theatre in August. Check out his latest remix too, a powerful, uplifting take on Bon Iver's Calgary. Baaku wrote of High Enough: "So a while back, i took some time to experiment with the bass music sound. Luckily, I had the opportunity to remix Justin Caruso's 'High Enough' around the same time, and this is what I came up with. Thank you to Justin, his team, and Proximity for approving this and releasing it as an official remix!!! Also shout outs to my team and everyone else for their support as well <3"
Toronto-based artist Bad Child has released a striking new single called "Payback" building on driving, fast-wobbling synths, clattering reggae-like guitar chords, and topping it off with his powerful vocals. He lost his mum when he was young and music became a way to express and deal with his emotions. His father had an old HP computer with a copy of music production software Fruity Loops and he'd spend hours making beats, and later, singing too. He moved to Toronto not knowing anyone and lived out of an old rehearsal space with a hot plate and an air mattress, and when the air mattress burst, he slept on the floor. "Bad Child" became about not being good enough, not living up to expectations, and about trying to be a better person. With such quality music, he's made quite an impression in 2018, and he's only set to rise from here.
LA-based artist Oliver Tree has taken his already great music, and raised it to another dimension with his viral videos and by making himself a meme. With his bowl cut and small red sunglasses, his look is unmistakable. Adding to the mix is his childish but super fun vision full of scooter stunts (he's actually a pro), monster trucks, pocket rockets and Ukrainian tanks. His latest single "Hurt" has a moshable, alternative electronic sound reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots with catchy, lightly distorted vocals, electric guitars and a hip hop beat. Regarding the the song's inspiration, Tree wrote: "This song and video were inspired by a really bad scooter crash I had a few summers back where I broke both my wrists & my right hand while competing in a pro-competition. But I honestly hate those types of questions cause it tries to give a reason for the art when really that's for the viewer to decide for themselves and apply it to their life in whatever way it makes sense." Tree will be going on tour from February next year throughout the U.S. in support of his upcoming debut album "Ugly Is Beautiful". Check out his Facebook and YouTube to see more of him, well worth it!
Texan rapper Adrian Stresow shows his "Passion" on his latest single about giving it all for his craft. The track opens with oldschool lofi jazzy production before the beat comes in and Stresow lays down the bars. Some of the lyrics that stand out include: "But at school they used to call me a b***h / So I penned my aggression up in the songs / I could rap on this beat for an hour long / Ain't nobody here like me so am I wrong."
London-based duo Third Party have released their latest single "Remember" in the lead up to their upcoming sophomore album. On the single they unleash a powerful festival progressive house sound with uplifting vocals taking you higher. They've had a big year performing at some massive shows from Creamfields in August to Ultra Korea and their own show LIIIVE at Liverpool Olympia in the UK. We look forward to hearing more from them soon on their album!
Producer Just Lennie gets "Everybody Dancing" with his bouncing second single. The track has a funky festival EDM sound with a thumping beat in the drop. Raising the energy even higher are fantastic vocals from Mel Miklosh, a mezzosoprano who can hit a C6 - super high! Turn up the volume and get your groove on with them below.
Canadian electronic producer Adam Pearce has teamed up with vocalist Olivia Lunny on titular track "October" from his new EP. The track opens with airy atmosphere and Lunny's lovely vocals then builds into a big melodic electro chorus sprinkled with short synth arps and smooth electric guitar licks. Explaining the inspiration for the EP, Pearce wrote: "Growing up this time of year always connected with me, there's something about October's dark and ominous vibe crossed with the beauty and colour of fall that I love deeply. Over a year of work, hope you enjoy my first EP!"
After releasing "Let U Go" together in June, Canadian artists Marcus James and XYSM have teamed up again for their new single "Ghosts". Building on acoustic guitar, the track has a folk house sound with warm vocals and whistles from XYSM. James wrote of the song: "this song is about a nostalgic longing to reconnect with something from your past. whether it's a person that faded out of your life, a youthful sense of wonder, or just a feeling."
Dutch DJ/producer NOMA$ has released a hard, banging new psytrap single called "Pay Day" on label Mad Decent. Before the release he said on Facebook: "Can't describe how I feel lately, this has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and now it's really happening! Pay Day is coming out in just one day on @maddecent and I still can't believe it." He's been on the rise having toured throughout China, supported by Diplo and Dillon Francis and placing in the Beatport Top 100. Pay Day has a dark, menacing sound with cinematic percussion in the verses before hitting hard with a fast-pulsing drop.