5. Luxe – LA Girls
As I’ve written about before, pop-punk has seen a cultural renaissance in the past year or two. I for one, am all for it. The unadulterated energy, raw emotion, and youthful nostalgia that characterises the genre is distinctively it’s own and impossible to find anywhere else. So, whenever I’m able to find an artist who’s on the right path to make waves in pop-punk, it definitely brings a smile to my eyes.
Making music for over three years and carrying a wealth of influences like Blink 182, Sum 41, The Maine, All Time Low, New Found Glory, Luc “Luxe” Toews is a multi-instrumentalist, song writer and producer based out of Toronto. But Luxe also has a lot of hip-hop to his act. LA girls is a mix of a pop-punk tune with a few rap verses sprinkled in. Sonically, the aggressive up-tempo drumming and guitar work makes it sound straight out of the 2000s. If you’d played this to me without knowing who Luxe was, i’d immediately think it was a song that slipped my mind from the pop-punk heyday. LA girls is just a great two and a half minutes for anyone who grew up on this kind of music. It’s very true to its roots, concise, and loaded with infectious energy.
4. Sleepy Soul – Stars
‘Stars’, the final single from Midwestern dream-pop duo Sleepy Soul’s latest album is a ray of sunshine on a rainy day. It’s really dreamy, spacey, and wayward with its sounds to the point that it is nigh hypnotic just trapping you into its stream as you flow alongside. Sleepy Soul is a St. Louis/Minneapolis based indie pop group made of Nick Hummel and Michael LeFevre. Their music combines ethereal vocals, dreamy synths, and wavy guitars alongside themes of love and loneliness. Both being truly dedicated to their craft, they spend most of their time in bedroom studios or crafted ones elsewhere.
‘Stars’ isn’t just a wavy dream to enjoy though, it has a very important theme to it that the lyrics uncover. Discussing self-discovery, but more accurately unravelling self-worth as something distinct from outward presentations. Especially today, in a social media age, knowing your value outside of what you project it to be is incredibly necessary, and that’s why ‘Stars’ is so important.
3. Lyena – Lucy
When you inject a single with so much energy, tempo, and bass that Lyena have on Lucy, you’re bound to find an irresistible piece of adrenaline. The feel-good indie tune blends a bit of brit-pop inspired drums, an energetic bassline and guitar strings that have a little grunge within them. The post-punk trio is on a mission to bring their electric energy to live audiences across the board.
Despite being an upbeat and otherwise enthralling energy to their music, their lyrics reveal a slightly darker underbelly. Based on several real events, ‘Lucy’ tells a tale of discrimination and prejudice that’s jarring when heard closely. For fans of any style of punk, ‘Lucy’ and Lyena by extension have an energy and swagger to their music that’s bound to excite. Just hearing the raw unbridled speed and enjoyment that each member seems to bring to the project is enough to sweep you in.
2. Rogue Proxy – She Turned Around
Self-described as an illegitimate love child between the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Daft Punk, ‘Rogue Proxy’ does indeed, bring the funk. The high energy rockers who are equally engaging with their electronic incorporation have a really cool fascination with their icon as well. To them, their icon is more than an image but rather the alter-ego and ‘artificial intelligence’ behind the music. Think of the Gorillaz for instance. Incorporating that visual alter-ego does actually add a lot more to the full experience.
‘She Turned Around’, their latest release, definitely finds itself more on the rock side of their genres. The effortlessly funky and grooving rock ballad even has a bit of Lenny Kravitz in there. The electric guitar work on this single is sublime. If you like your rock music with a little bit of spunk in it, don’t look further than this exciting duo. ‘Solitary Confiment’, another release from them, is also well worth a listen.
1. Alas de Liona – Pages
Part of a larger five track EP, ‘Pages’ is a heartfelt albeit slightly corny track. But really, if soppy music isn’t even a little corny then what’s the point? The Edinburgh based singer-songwriter has a soothing voice unlike most. On the Radio Astronomy EP, a collection of aptly dubbed space lullabies, she caresses the listener with her slightly soppy but wholly endearing ballads.
Already pushing tens of thousands of streams each month, Alas is slowly but surely accruing a dedicated following. ‘Until winter winds bring us close again’ she sings gracefully on the track in question. The vocal harmonies that cascade through while the progressively pumping drum elevates the track. It’s a fantastically sung, cinematically composed, and remarkably romantic love song that’s the perfect combination of cheesy and passionate. The entirety of the Radio Astronomy EP is replete with more wonderful tracks from Alas, an artist I am now dying to hear more from.
Check my playlists here!