LA-based band The Regrettes have released a fun new indie pop punk track called "California Friends" about a two women flirting with being more than friends and the insecurities of doing so. It has an upbeat, dynamic style making good use of guitars, drums and backing vocals and shouts. Lead singer Lydia Night told Upset Mag, "I've just noticed how people are so scared to be vulnerable and really admit how they're truly feeling and I have felt that way in the past too. I was just sick of it. I feel like a lot of our songs were extremely personal and I'm a super personal writer, I felt like it made a lot of sense to make that the whole message of it."
Italian producer Matt Strike has teamed up with vocalist Chantelle Paige for their new single "Madness". The track was co-written with Paige who is formerly part of R&B/rap group Flipsyde who actually released one of Strike's favourite childhood music records! Madness has a lovely warm pop sound and an anthemic electronic chorus that would get everyone's hands in the air at a summer dance music festival, and Paige's vocals only take it higher. Strike wrote of the track: "Love is so special that it brings people to madness".
US DJ/producer Third Digit has released a new three-track EP called "Cooldown" full of banging rhythms and bass. The first track "Runnin'" energetically kicks off the EP with tight, fat synths and fun offbeat vocal samples and sounds. "Headshot" has a more minimal drop but definitely puts the "cool" in "cooldown". Backstage has a kind of sneaked-into-the-backstage-afterparty feel to it and you can imagine everyone having a good time jamming out to it. If this is what Third Digit does in a "cooldown", we can't wait to hear him at full throttle!
We approached the talkative producer for comment on the EP, to which he eloquently replied: "Muse asked me for a quote but idk what to say, just let the music talk for me". So there you have it! We'll stop chattering away and you can stream and download the EP here.
Californian band FMLYBND have a come out of hiatus to release their first single in nearly 3 years. Departing from the synth-heavy style of some of their previous music, their new single "Wasting My Time" adopts a more indie rock style built around acoustic guitar. It has a lovely enjoying-life feel to it and catchy sing-along vocals.
Over the past two years the band have "built their own recording studios out of shipping containers in their new home of Costa Mesa, California in addition to launching their own record label through which they will be releasing their upcoming music."
FMLYBND are working on their debut 12-track LP and hopefully "Wasting My Time" is the first of a number of singles to come from it or in the lead up to it!
Two months ago, Norwegian producer Jagsy, alongside fellow producers Vosai and Tom Wilson, released a fantastic remix of Imagine Dragons' "Natural" giving it a harder edge and powerful drop. Jagsy has now teamed up with producers Mike Vallas and Quaggin for their new trap single "Left My Heart In Pain" released on NCS. The track has a big, epic sound particularly with the long reverb tails on the lead synth and snare, and a stormy coldness like a broken heart.
Swedish producer Eastern Odyssey has been releasing a lot of new music since their debut EP "Chapter 1: Genesis" in August this year. Now in November we're already up to Chapter 4, with each EP taking us on an immersive sonic journey and infusing eastern instruments and stylings. The music is mostly instrumental and very cinematic, but Eastern Odyssey has taken a step towards pop by remixing "Let Me Down Slowly" by Alec Benjamin: "Alec Benjamin sent me this incredible song awhile back but I finally decided it'd be a great idea to give it a remix! Hope you all enjoy it, I'm really happy with it :)" Benjamin's lovely voice remains in the forefront, with Eastern Odyssey giving it an airy electronic treatment and tying in a range of fantastic acoustic instruments.
There's such a heartwarming and uplifting feeling to "Serious", the new single from producer duo Midnight Kids and vocalist Matthew Koma. It's a beautiful confession of love expressed over joyful, soaring electronic production. Midnight Kids have been on the rise since early last year after releasing a number of high profile remixes including of The Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition, Madeon & Passion Pit's Pay No Mind and Zedd & Alessia Cara's Stay.
Midnight Kids wrote of the track: "After remixing Matthew Koma's song 'Hard To Love' back in early 2017, we hit it off and wanted to work on an original right away. Having Matthew be a part of this record was something we only could have dreamed of at the time. He's written some of our favorite records to this day. 'Serious' has been a year and a half in the making and we're so excited that it has finally seen the light of day. This is a very special record to us and we hope you all love it as much as we do!" We do love it, and we look forward to hearing more from them in the future!
Los Angeles-based post-hardcore band Boy Hero have put out a fantastic cover of electronic producer 3LAU's song "Close", giving it their powerful rock treatment. The track has an emotional swell particularly with Dan Rudd's passionate vocals. Driving percussion, guitars and a ripping chorus riff bring the energy like a tidal wave. The band are donating all proceeds from the streams and sales of the song to the charity F**k Cancer [...]
Western Massachusetts-based rapper Eli Ostheimer, known as 30's latest single "What U Mad For?" drips with swagger over a dark music-box style beat. His stage name "30" reflects his initials. The track has a laidback confidence with one arm poised for the knockout. Along with the track, 30 also released his first ever video clip which you can watch below. With quality like this, he's set to take off!
Classical dance-pop crossover group Clean Bandit have teamed up with Welsh singer Marina (previously known as Marina and the Diamonds) and Latin singer Luis Fonsi (well known for his song "Despacito") for their new latin/reggaeton/pop track called "Baby" about struggling with seeing an ex-lover when you're now: "already someone else's baby." Over a dancey 808 bass with rhythmic acoustic guitar, Marina's alluring vocals draw you in. Fonsi then brings in spanish verses perfectly complimenting the latin dance style.