Virgin of the Birds
“Spooky, Stony, Barely Over Thirty”
The Seattle three-piece known as Virgin of the Birds is gearing up for the release of their sophomore album this coming Fall. In prelude to this much-anticipated event, the band released “Spooky, Stony, Barely Over Thirty” which might be new favorite song of the week. Jon Rooney, songwriter for the trio, has a David Berman-esque propensity for witty, obscure lyrics that can be heard in this track. And the lo-fi garage pop sound has a summertime feel I can definitely get behind. The album drops in October, but you can hear “Spooky, Stony, Barely Over Thirty” before that here…
Danielle Grubb
“Glue”
Never underestimate the power of sounding different. All day, everyday, we’re inundated with submissions. It takes a lot to stand out in that sea of sound. Danielle Grubb, originally from Plano, TX and now residing in New York, did just that. The infectious (but not annoying) beat and smooth vocal style of “Glue” had me hooked from the get-go…
Banshee Speak
Banshee Speak, currently of Flagstaff, takes a sample from The Ronnettes and creates the perfect song to encapsulate the college years. It brings me back to lighthearted antics of that era with a playful sound that can’t be crammed into any one genre. At just over two minutes in length, my only complaint about “In the Commons” is that it’s simply too short. I need more Banshee Speak. Good news, however, I just discovered the Flagstaff band dropped an EP in August (here) so I know how the rest of my weekend is going to play out. Before you dive into the EP though, check out “In the Commons” below…
Decent at Best
“Sideways” is the first single from the debut release of Tacoma’s Decent of Best. The track features the talents of Sean the Shaman for some slick rhymes to shake up the band’s indie pop sound. Not that Decent at Best is any stranger to hiphop infusion in their music. They will not be confined to any one genre. Pop? Electronica? R&B? It’s all coalesced into one form here. Check out “Sideways” below. If you dig what you’re hearing delve further into Retroactive Stimulation, also available through Soundcloud.
Weslynn
Phoenix’s Weslynn crafts a blithe pop style in this new single, “Strange Feelings”. The track came out in July in prelude to the band’s August release of their new EP, Black + Champagne. Love is a strange feeling, especially when it is brought on by a stranger, or a photograph found in a book, as the song addresses. At the same time, love can be blissful, much like this Weslynn track. Listen to “Strange Feelings” here and, if you like what you’re hearing, check out Black + Champagne here.
Arms Akimbo
The Los Angeles-based indie-alt act known as Arms Akimbo released their single “Little Insensitive” several months back and, if you missed this one, you might want to backtrack a little ways to give it a spin. Arms Akimbo combines the talents of Peter Schrupp, Christopher Kalil, Colin Boppell, and Matt Sutton. Together, the band creates uplifting, radio-ready numbers to sing along with in your car. If you dig “Little Insensitive”, I suggest digging deeper into the band’s musical offerings either through Soundcloud or Spotify. But, first, enjoy the single from Arms Akimbo below…
Anna Dellaria
“Sudden”
This Anna Dellaria track was an unexpected gem at the end of a seemingly endless stack of music submissions. Fusing R&B and pop for something that calls to mind Alicia Keys, Dellaria flashes some real vocal prowess on “Sudden”. And, at only twenty years of age, the L.A.-based musician quickly distinguishes herself as a rare talent, one I’ll definitely be keeping an eye (ear) on. Listen to “Sudden” here…
