With a nostalgic, melancholy vibe, “Tiny Nuclear Reactor” is seemingly the perfect accompaniment to my dreary weekday drive to the office. It’s grey and subdued, but still has enough nuanced fun to it pair up nicely with a thermos full of coffee, fumbled around with through a pair of pilled wool gloves.
Maybe it’s those 90s vibes that have me thinking of a brisk Seattle day. It’s not hard to hear nods to Ben Folds or Deathcab for Cutie, what with the casual vocal cadence and soft guitar strums. It should be noted that while this feat is often emulated, it’s rarely effective. That’s not the case with Vern Matz.
Made up of three former Yale Students, this trio showcases a maturity in both songwriting and execution. “Tiny Nuclear Reactor” is the perfect example of that, bringing you a warming simplicity, done so in a way that’s carefully thought out.
Make sure to follow these three on Facebook to keep up with future releases and live dates.
The final weeks of 2018 are upon us. Let’s fill them with love, happiness and as much Indie Dojos jams as we can.
Crunchy, groovy, and layered with delicious psych-pop elements, “Hydraulic Lover” has me transporting back to my younger years, minus the teenage angst and awkwardness.
Brought to you by Bradford-based GRDNS, made up of Jacob Lyons (vocals/guitar), Sam Gledhill (guitar), Cameron Harrison (bass) and John Fitzpatrick (drums), this tune should serve well to blend the gap from those just discovering that distortion is a wonderful thing and those of us who spent our teenage years with headphones full of it. Taken from their debut EP, it’s brimming with heavy guitar work, approachable lyrics, and engaging backing vocals. It drips with 90’s grunge and does so in an effortless way.
The single was released just a bit ago, but today we’re offering a first look and listen to their accompanying music video, which highlights show and studio footage combined.
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Indie Dojo Tuesday. One of these things will not break your bank. You can thank us later.
LA-based HighSchool Jacob has been making some waves as of late, releasing a handful of tracks in only a few months time. It’s not hard to understand the magnetism to this curious alt-pop act. His style is truly unique, which is getting increasingly more difficult to say anymore.
“Nobody But You” is a testament to his talents, and the most recent release that grabbed my attention. Lead in by soft, humming synths, and a warm, treated vocal, this fresh single doesn’t take long to build up intrigue. A vocal harmony wanders in next, brought in tandem with some spattered percussion, building to a big, beautiful, choppy lead synth. The eventual crescendo is powerful, spiraling upwards with an intense, passionately sung lyrics.
The end result is something oddly nostalgic, though inevitably difficult to cite why. It just feels familiar. My best explanation? I don’t have one. Just sit back and drink it in.
You know what goes well with a food coma? An Indie Dojo, that’s what.
