Tag Archives: indie pop

Single Release: Dreaming {Smallpools}

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

‘Dreaming’ by Smallpools (Los Angeles, CA)

There are many different levels of being turned onto a song and why it should be appreciated in the blogosphere and abroad. Today upon discovering what will quite possibly become the most hyped song of the summer, I am all ears for that very reason. The potential for Smallpools new synth-pop, dance track ‘Dreaming‘ to take off and be heard at parties and clubs all over the world this warm season is mind blowing. The main keyboard line and Passion Pit inspired vocals are enough to grab your attention for a good 5 plays in a row and be assured that posting this track on your social media pages will make you the coolest person your followers know that day. Hard-hitting production and intelligent pop arrangement will surely bring this group to international recognition and I’m glad to have caught on in these early stages. Oh, and download that shit for free you fools! [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, T: Single

Tagged 2 tone, A: Dingus, California, Dance, DIY, Hype Machine, indie, indie music, indie pop, Los Angeles, New Music, passion pit, pop, smallpools, synth pop

Hands’ EP

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Ryan Egan | 1 Comment

Hands’ EP by The Top (Brooklyn, NY)*

The fact that most of you have probably never heard of The Top is an unfortunate and curious reality. As the Hands’ EP runs its’ course, I acknowledge that reality and write this to you, with hopes of turning the music onto even one more fan, one more pair of ears to then share with their friends. The overall production is hot; most noticeably the vocals peak with a warmth we all crave as lovers of Nick Drake and The Beach Boys, but also from the crispy sound of the drums that groove and break up perfectly amongst the piano, acoustic guitar and electric guitar chinks on the 2 and 4. The band certainly accomplishes their retro pop ambitions and there is no reason they shouldn’t already have toured the US with bands like Dr. Dog and The Walkmen. This is the sort of band that fans will without any hesitation take under their wings and deliver to other music lovers with glee. It’s one thing to be told by hyped up music blogs and taste makers that you should be following a cool new band, and it’s another altogether to hear a band like The Top and pass them along out of sheer disbelief that they haven’t hit it big yet. I hope this EP finds you well and that you will pass it along like a peace pipe. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Staff Favorites, T: LP/EP

Tagged A: Dingus, Alternative, alternative-rock, Brooklyn, DIY, garage rock, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie rock, New Music, New York, New York City, NYC, pop, retro, retro rock, rock, rock n' roll, The Top

Single Release: We Are Alive

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

We Are Alive by Golden Youth (Sacramento, CA)

From the opening chirps of woodwinds to the whistles of other orchestral instruments, ‘We Are Alive‘ the new single from Sacramento indie-pop duo Golden Youth, flows forth with positivity and youthful energy. The two songwriters, Stephanie Lauren and Kyle Monroe are currently promoting the May 28th release of their debut album Quiet Frame; Wild Light that has already begun gathering a ton of hype from the likes of Nylon and more. The song is light and poppy but also packed with intricate layers of drums, vocals, strings, keyboards and more to make the song come alive. This single has come at just the right time with numerous Fun-esque youth anthems climbing the charts, it is likely that we will hear this track pouring from car windows and backyard parties with the approaching warm season. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: News, T: Single

Tagged A: Dingus, Alternative, California, DIY, golden youth, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie rock, indie-electronic, New Music, pop, sacramento

The Broadcaster EP

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

The Broadcaster EP by Charles Keith Sztyk (Union, NJ)

Music Monday for me begins at home in New Jersey, both physically and musically. Fighting off a cold due to inconsistent Spring weather and sifting through music to feature today brought me to one of my favorite songwriters, Charles Keith Sztyk. He has been featured here in the past but now with a full 4-song EP to push, more praise from the DIY Dingus council is only appropriate. Knowing the many sides of Charles makes me approach his recordings with a bias but also very open to where production can take his music in alternate directions. This EP is full of distorted lo-fi vocals and dirty guitar, where as I’m used to the angelic voice displayed at live shows. This is only more reason for fans to experience the music not only digitally but at their local venue too. The songs are dynamic and all have their own strengths, flowing from one to another and speaking for themselves with powerful lyrics, melody and performance. I guess that is easier to maintain when you record every instrument yourself as did Charlie. This is a dark yet uplifting batch of songs that a broad demographic can and will relate to but certainly an EP to be embraced by fans of M. Ward and other indie-folk modern icons. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged A: Dingus, acoustic, Alternative, Ambient, Charles Keith Sztyk, DIY, EP, Folk, folk rock, hipster, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie rock, indie-folk, New Jersey, New Music, pop, rock, songwriter, union

Operator

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

Operator by The Fleeting Ends (Philadelphia, PA)

Soaring pop strings aligned with oohs, ahhs, piano stabs and a snare drum that sounds like a mallet taken to a cardboard box, The Fleeting Ends are the butterflies you had on the first date with your significant other. Their latest track ‘Operator‘ is a sound depiction of where their collective head is at; groove based, 60′s retro rock carried gracefully by lead vocalist Matt Vantine and a wall of harmonic arrangements to allow every chorus to take flight. This Philly band is clearly following in the footsteps of pop greats before them like Dr. Dog, The Beatles, and Sufjan Stevens; undeniably a tried and true style but also a hard shoe to fill. Pressure is on and chances are these dudes can hang. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: Single

Tagged A: Dingus, Alternative, DIY, dr. dog, indie, indie pop, indie rock, New Music, PA, Pennsylvania, philadelphia, philly, piano-rock, pop, rock, Sufjan Stevens, the beatles, the fleeting ends

Polaroid

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

Polaroid by Matt Sztyk (Sydney/New Jersey)

To best compliment the talents of New Jersey young music veteran Matt Sztyk, I would resort to quoting him directly from the hook in his ‘Polaroid‘ single and say, Matt, you make EVERYTHING good. There is nothing like a self-funded, DIY project that has every quality of a big budget release; beautiful production, arrangement and songwriting topped off with a great hard copy package. Matt has been a native of the NJ music scene for years until heading to school down under in Sydney, Australia where he continues to build a local following with new players. It seems only fitting of our international DIY manifesto to plug a guy who literally takes his music all over the world and remains infinitely positive and productive. You may also remember when we featured his brother Charles Keith Sztyk a few months ago; that’s right folks, this is a family endeavor and there is plenty more music to come. Stay on the look out for Matt Sztyks’ next release The Drift. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP, T: Video

Tagged A: Dingus, Alternative, Australia, Charles Keith Sztyk, DIY, Folk, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie-folk, Matt Sztyk, New Jersey, New Music, NYC, pop, rock, Sydney, USA

Floating Feather

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

Floating Feather by Fox and The Bird (Dallas, TX)

I think it’s safe to say that I experienced Fox and The Bird as they should be for the first time, live and unplugged in both a backyard BBQ and a living room in Austin, TX. Leaving downtown Austin during SXSW and joining this band among numerous other talents for a BBQ was quite possibly my favorite memory of the week; great food, even better people and music all night at a quaint Texas home. Fox and The Bird were playing minus their female vocal element but the guys held down every song as well as any folk trio ever could, ‘Floating Feather’ being a song that stuck with me all the way home to Brooklyn. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: Single

Tagged A: Dingus, acoustic, Alternative, Austin, Dallas, DIY, floating feather, Folk, folk pop, fox and the bird, indie, indie pop, indie-folk, New Music, pop, singer songwriter, SXSW, Texas

Catch Ciphers EP

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

Catch Ciphers EP by Chocolate Bread (Union, NJ)

In hopes of keeping this music out in the world for new listeners to hear, an effort fans should take into their own hands due to Chocolate Breads’ indefinite hiatus, I chose this beautiful Spring day to feature the Catch Ciphers EP. The second release from the Union County, NJ band came shortly after their debut full-length …Until My Mind Stretches that helped build one of the most impressive DIY followings the area has seen in recent years. Dozens of packed, high-energy concerts and Summer parties are the way this band is best remembered for those lucky enough to experience their short-lived reign on the top. Take a moment to sift through their albums and enjoy some music made for music’s sake. Chocolate Bread is expected to release a new EP sometime during 2013. [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, T: LP/EP

Tagged A: Dingus, Alternative, chocolate bread, funk, hip hop, indie, indie pop, indie rock, indie-funk, indie-soul, jam band, New Jersey, New Music, pop punk, Punk, rock, soul, union, union county

Ruphmiup

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

Ruphmiup by Bowmont (Brooklyn, NY)

We’ve all been to that local show, maybe it was 285 Kent or maybe somewhere outside NY, where not one of five bands is worth the minimal door charge of five or ten dollars. You think, who is behind this? Who had a say in putting together such a miserable bill? And where the F*&% is Bowmont? Well, that’s at least my thought process after discovering this band; retro-REM meets Radiohead and Talking Heads, programmed drums and groove for nights. Being engulfed in the surplus of hack bands and performers that is half of NYC makes one forget that this sort of quality does in fact exist, it just takes a bit of digging. ‘Ruphmiup‘ is the stellar opening song off their new Euphorian Age EP, a creeping dance track with glittery synth and Phil Collins style vocals that will stick with you like fly paper. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged 80's, A: Dingus, bowmont, Brooklyn, Dance, dark-pop, indie, indie music, indie pop, New Music, new wave, New York, NYC, pop, psych pop, rock, talking heads

Keep Me Guessing

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

Keep Me Guessing by Bliss (Montreal, CA)

Another great find thanks to this years’ NXNE lineup. Bliss is an alternative-pop band from Montreal, piano driven soulful songs under a blanket of spacey guitar and keys. Vocalist Abigail de Burgh Galwey brings a Florence Welch/Adele twist to the bands’ melancholy yet radio friendly tunes. Their most recent release has 5 solid tracks to win over all of North America and anyone lucky to be in attendance to this years’ festival will surely see that Bliss is a new force to be reckoned with. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: Single

Tagged A: Dingus, alt-pop, Alternative, bliss, Canada, Folk, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie-folk, Montreal, New Music, nxne, pop, rock

Tag Archives: indie pop

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