Keaton Henson recorded his debut album, ‘Dear…’, after an emotional break-up, and ‘Small Hands’ certainly shows the pain felt by Henson. His quivering vocals and direct lyrics are heart-rending, and that’s before we even get to the video. Directed by Joseph Mann, who used cute woodland puppets to tell the tale of loss, the simplicity of the video fits with Henson’s lo-fi bedroom recording. Guaranteed to have you reaching for the Kleenex, ‘Small Hands’ is a quiet masterpiece. ‘Dear…’ is out now.
New Yorkers The Walkmen are back with a new album, ‘Heaven’, scheduled for release on June 5. Produced by Phil Ek and featuring a collaboration with Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes, it’s safe to say that ‘Heaven’ is going to be something pretty special. But don’t take our word for it – have a listen to the title track, which we think has ‘Hit’ written all over it. With jangly guitars and catchy vocals abound, ‘Heaven’ is infectious, and will have you pumped for the album.
Brit producer Bibio (Stephen Wilkinson to his friends) had a massive hit with his single ‘Lovers’ Carvings’, which has been featured on a Google commercial. This remix by Bruno Be and Eddie M extends the track to seven minutes and adds some shimmery beats, making this the perfect summer jam for indie fans all over the world.
The lack of stability in the world today, i.e the economy and the weather, has become quite clear. For some of us, it only adds to the piles of responsibilities and crazy thoughts already swimming through our brains on a daily. But instead of taking on more negativity then need be, start your day off by noticing all the good stuff around you. Even if it’s something small. Like today and every Tuesday from here on out for example. The Indie Dojo will be right here, waiting for you to sit down and relax with a positive note or two or eight in this case. We promise to provide a little something you can rely on, even if it is a tiny speck in the whole grand scheme of things. But hey, sometimes it’s the little things that help get you through the day. We just hope to be one of those many (and yes, there are many) little things…
Indie Dojo April Round #3 [Mediafire]
Blessed Feathers – Stinging Nettle, Honeysuckle
German based producer Brummer released this dreamy remix of Red Hot Chili Pepper’s song, “Under the Bridge”. It’s chill, dreamy, and carefully uses the incredibly recognizable guitar riffs.
If world-class songwriting is your bag, then look no further. Celebrated and much-loved musician Ron Pope is set to release ‘Atlanta’, a truly breath-taking record packed with sensational adult pop songs. Highlight track ‘One Grain Of Sand’ is a belter which showcases Pope’s strong vocals, while the title track’s emotive lyrics create a beautiful atmosphere. One for fans of Ray LaMontagne and Ben Howard, Ron Pope’s ‘Atlanta’ is out on June 12. Or, if you can’t wait until then – and let’s face it, who can? – don’t miss the the exclusive iTunes release on April 17.
Imagine Dragons are a four piece rock band out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Through utilizing emotional songwriting and a whimsical attitude paired with an unstoppable work ethic these guys have been seeing well earned success lately. I was fortunate enough to catch their set this week at the Bowery Ballroom here in NYC and I was definitely moved by their performance. You can just feel the honesty and power in their songs as lead singer Dan Renolds switches off between wailing his heart out and banging on a huge bass drum. They are definitely worth seeing in your town when they come through on their spring tour, so don’t miss out. You can get a taste of their sound with the free download of their single “It’s Time” below or by picking up their latest EP “Continued Silence” on iTunes today.
