Fauna Twin are Parisian singer-songwriter Claire Jacquemard Ginsberg (leader of Hippies Vs Ghosts) and North Wales’ Owain Ginsberg (We Are Animal). They have released their single ‘Edge Of The Coin’ which is taken from their debut ‘The Hydra’ EP. Beginning with a dramatic chilling and eerie hair raisingly thrilling vibe, the track grabs your attention. It develops into a lightening strike of groovy beats and bouncy spirited synths. Swirling sonic waves interweave between playful melodies and rapid weighty textures on percussion creating a twirling euphoric surge of energy and blissful psychedelia. Jacquemard’s smooth soothing vocals lull you into a hypnotic stupor. The track coils and curls building to a dynamic crescendo with soaring vocals and bursting with energy. ‘Edge Of The Coin’ is infectiously catchy you will want to put it on repeat, dance and sway to its luring seductively rich sound and dynamic bounce and energy.
Steam ‘Edge Of The Coin’ below
Hailing from Manchester, Baum Jr. is a newly emerging musician with an aptitude for creating catchy electro songs with edgier vocals. He has a background in rock and describes his newly-invented genre as ‘Next-Gen 8-bit’, calling upon influence from film scores and game soundtracks of the 1980’s. His debut single ‘When I Grow Up’ was released in October and is a re-imagination of a Garbage song, the popular American-Scottish alternative rock outfit founded in the mid 90’s. Baum Jr.’s rendition of the track boasts some restructuring and sonic shifts. In lieu of Garbage’s alternative rock stylings from 1998, Baum Jr. has opted for an electronic pop landscape that’s infused with his signature ‘8-bit’ sound. It is elegantly contemporary while wholly retro. ‘When I Grow Up’ is an electronic composition bursting with thick gooey synths that bleep and bloop with bombastic acoustic drums that create a dramatic backdrop for the anthem-like chorus. With an eerie spacey electronic vibe created by the darkened shimmering synths and elastic bounce and rumble beat Baum Jr. gives us a dramatic swirling electronically bubbling punchy track that seems a little subdued by the tactful, edgy vocals. Baum Jr. has rebuilt Garbage’s song from the ground up utilising a new key and style while effortlessly showcasing his complicated, structured music.
Heez has released his EP ‘Codependent’ its a five track meandering labyrinth of intricate electronics churning with dark tones and poetic lyrics. Previously featured on Indie Buddie ‘Dancing’ kicks off the EP with its snappy beat, interweaving electronics and shadowy atmospheres. The heavy hearted vocals add emotion to the track while the rap adds rhythm and gives an edge. The quick synth-stabs which are a recurring feature in Heez’s EP give the track an elastic bendable quality while providing a strong sharp whack beat that has a trance effect. ‘The XX Makes Me Sad’ which we also featured this year is a deep rooted flex wave track that is sticky and muggy in thick slap beats and punchy electronics. The haunting lull of backing vocals give a subtle ghostly wailing effect to the track as if they groan and moan with anguish conveying the depression and sorrow of the track. ‘Cold Soul’ follows with distorted spoken vocals and simple accompaniment drawing the listeners attention to the lyrics. The slight echo and “wah wah” vibration to start has a psychedelic vibe. A strong beat enters giving something solid to hold onto before you slip into a trance. ‘Must Be Love’ brightens the tone of the EP with a catchy pop melody for the chorus. Rap vocals brings an R&B feel while the soft instrumentation has a feathery feel and cheery vibe which contrasts the entire EP up to now and showcases Heez can do happy but his way. ‘Sunday’ is a slick sensual light at the end of the dark swirling psychedelic black vortex tunnel that was the first half of the ‘Codependent’ EP. Filling us with hope for the future and optimism. Its a daydream of hazy sunshine with a hint of reggae thrown in and a brighter glimpse of that whack beat teamed with razor shape edgy guitar and strums from a warm mellow acoustic guitar.
Stream the ‘Codependent’ EP below
Robert Loud is the electro solo-project from Robert Connolly (lead guitar/vocalist of Fictionist). He has released his first track ‘Intentional’ from his forthcoming EP set for release early 2017. The track features guest vocals by Janessa Smith (Goldmyth). ‘Intentional’ creates a room-shaking body grooving dance-music moment with a heavy electronic beat, driving and orbiting swirling synths with sweet vocal melodies. Having distorted vocals and tropical undertones this track will get you on your feet and dancing like a Daft Punk robot. Easing us into the sound to start, Robert Loud lures us with infectious beats and honeyed melodies. Once you are drawn in queue the swirling hypnotic elements contrasting heavy fuzzed psychedelia and your trapped in a hazy concoction of electronic pop and edgy indie that commands you to dance.
Stream ‘Intentional’ below
Heez has release his new singles ‘the xx makes me sad’ . Its a deep rooted flex wave track darkened in a concoction of sorrowful melancholy tones swirling and fusing in heavy thick electronics. The sticky muggy beat slaps and sticks and adds punch while conveying the poetic lyrics of depression and sorrow. The lull of backing vocals give a subtle ghostly wailing effect to the track as if they groan and moan with anguish. Heez performs this track with emotional spoken vocals for the verse and soft velvety vocals for the chorus. Encrusted with a whack beat that focuses the mind on a solid feature so you don’t become consumed by rest of the track churning and interweaving into a black abyss.
Born in Mexico City, 22 year old Heez grew up in Dallas, Texas and now resides in Downtown Los Angeles. The first story he wants to tell is about codependency and having such a strong connection with someone that both identities begin to blur into one. He achieves this through his debut single ‘Dancing’. Heez embarked on this musical journey from his Los Angeles dorm room while studying music industry at the University of Southern California, finding inspiration from his past heartbreaks. ‘Dancing’ was released earlier this year. Its a catchy flex wave track with a snappy beat interweaving electronics glazed in shadowy melancholy tones. The heavy hearted vocals add emotion to the track while the rap adds rhythm and gives an edge. The track is richly textured and portrays Heez’ lyrics poetically while holding a grit and darkened atmosphere. The quick synth stabs give the track an elastic bendable quality while providing a strong sharp whack beat that has a trance effect. ‘Dancing’ presents us with an airy hazy vibe you can loose yourself in while maintaining a bite and grit that gives this track substance and attitude.
Stream ‘Dancing’ below
Bradford’s Mik Davis has created an Atmospheric, Dark-wave, experimental psychedelic sound in his solo project They Called Him Zone. They Called Him Zone’s new EP ‘Miami’ gives you a glimpse at the underground music scene by Incorporating elements of Dark-Wave, Electronica and Goth Rock. The new video and final single from the ‘Miami’ EP is the eerie and sinister ‘Sunset Beach’. The track is a trippy psychedelic journey that is both twisted and claustrophobic. The video is produced and edited by They Called Him Zone creator Mik Davis’ with the dance performance accredited to UK poet/writer – Joolz Denby. ‘Sunset Beach’ is a dark mysterious track that is full of sinister tones that make your hair stand up and your skin crawl. With whisper like breathy vocals that fill you with fear and make you look around you in case you are being watched or followed like in a horror movie. Contrary to what you might expect from the title of this track it has no sunny vibes instead its consumed with a concoction of shadowy haze and chilling psychedelia. With is techno and hypnotic tones it has a trance effect and is almost bewitching. Its dark hypnotic electronic sounds seem to almost lure you down a dangerous road where horror awaits and their is no escaping. The steady beat adds to the entrapment as it is soft and gives a constant feature that your mind almost subconsciously holds on to.
This track is a psychedelic electro Pop/ Rock nightmare- like concoction that is dark and luring yet a fantastic piece of musicianship and is perfect for the underground music scene.
Watch They Called Him Zone’s eerie and sinister ‘Sunset Beach’ video below
The Fontaines are brother-sister duo, Charlotte and Hank Fontaine, from Los Angeles, their infectious ‘New Wop’ sound with swinging bopping 50s references has become a favourite of ours here at Indie Buddie. So we were delighted to hear they have released a new track for us to obsess over. ‘Cold’ was released today on soundcloud and remains true to their sugar coated doo wop style only this time they have added a refreshing bit of rock in the mix. They have proven that they are not afraid to take risks and it does seem to pay off for this duo. ‘Cold’ begins with a heavy electric instrumental which softens to a light drum beat as Charlotte’s vocals begin in a soft smooth tone until the chorus kicks in and both the instruments and vocals heighten keeping with a bopping 50s style. However, there is a heavier more modern guitar and drums feature which adds some grit and substance to the song. The verse again comes in gentle and soft before a huge instrumental bridge that is full of energy and almost mosh like which is a pleasant surprise and shows us you can do old school and make it fresh and new.
A really impressive and accomplished track from The Fontaines look forward to hearing more!
Stream ‘Cold’ below
The Perx are just two buddies from Los Angeles ,Ryan and Jeremy making songs in their basement.Their Indie, Alternative Rock sound with some electronic thrown in is infectious. ‘Hipster Nightmare’ has an electronic dance feel, perfect for your Friday night tune. Really catchy lyrics and crazy synths. This song shows an ambitious, experimental side to them, that works really well and sounds amazing. ‘The Dreamer’ takes us on a mellow, dreamy almost trance-like trip. With smooth west coast style and light instrumental that builds as the song progresses. Its a really well written song that will definitely take you on a journey. ‘Another Minute’ has a Police feel, with a reggae beat before it breaks back into an electronic sound for the chorus. This is an upbeat energetic song with a great electronic reggae fusion with the lovely surprise of a guitar solo. Both these songs were released on soundcloud four days ago and showcase the variety of music these guys can produce. ‘Episodes’ Is a groovy track with a catchy chorus that is full of emotion. This song has a psychedelic vibe in the verses that makes you loose yourself, right up to the amazing chorus. This was the first song I heard from ‘The Perx’ and I was hooked after one listen.‘Alive’ again is a fantastic song with lyrics everyone can relate to, ‘Wednesday pisses me off’ we have all thought that! The whole song runs so smoothly with steady beats ,radiant guitar and strong vocals and melody. Its written in a not quite upbeat tone but a hopeful hang in there tone.
I Really enjoyed these guys and look forward to hearing more from them.
Stream ‘ Alive’ ‘Another Minute’ and ‘Hipster Nightmare’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
