In the midst of chaos, music can be the perfect escape. Come get lost with us for a while….
Some things come and go, but the Indie Dojo is forever. And if you missed last weeks or the months before, you can always go back. Seriously though, unless the internet explodes, count on a fresh new playlist featuring artists from the endless universe of indie, right here, every Tuesday.
The first day coming off a 3 day weekend is never easy. It sucks actually. But, let’s focus on the positive. It’s a short week and it’s Tuesday. And what’s good about Tuesdays? Well, a brand new Indie Dojo of course. Hopefully, it will help ease in to the week a little easier.
Following an impressive debut release, London-based Alt-folk singer/songwriter Amaroun continues to rouse tastemakers and music fans alike with another soulful offering. “Fear” released about a month ago and it’s as dreamy and powerful as the preceding “Bedbugs,” yet showcases another side to her developing musical persona. Gone are the wavering guitar chords and rolling percussion, and in their place, we’re embraced by layers of warm, buzzing synths. Though, as different as they are, each soundscape provides a completely unique, yet perfect backdrop for her pleasantly unconventional and highly addicting voice.
Today’s premiere brings a visual adaptation of “Fear,” which comes via Cardiff-based designer Jaron Lionel. Utilizing elements of Amaroun’s profile intertwined with creative animation breathes a completely different view of the track, leaving us completely entranced for the duration
If you’re feeling the combination of Amaroun’s unique vocals and animated story below, make sure you keep tabs on each and every new release. As they release throughout the coming months, they’ll be accompanied by an animated video, telling its story in an abstract fashion.
The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer & the Indie Dojos are building quite the collection for your future summer soundtrack.
Red Rocks season is in full swing, highlighting some of the best and most entertaining acts anyone would care to see. We’ve already made it up for a few notable shows, but the best outdoor venue in America still has so much in store, including a showing from Colorado-based folk outfit Elephant Revival.
We’re planning on being in those legendary stands this Sunday, but before we head out there, we thought it would be great to get to know this homegrown band a little bit better. So, we fired off a few choice questions to Daniel Rodriguez, who sings, and plays bass, banjo, and guitar.
TMN: Thanks for taking some time to sit down with us ahead of your first ever headlining show at Red Rocks. Let’s talk about that for a second. As a Colorado-based band, what does this mean to you guys?
ER: It truly is a great honor to be headlining Red Rocks. As a Colorado-based band, it means that the people who have been with us since the beginning can share in this experience with us. To have this world-class and incredibly epic venue in our backyard is a true gift. To be connected as we are to the Colorado music community—coming up through the jams and small venues, to now headlining Red Rocks—sure means a lot!
TMN: This performance closes out a pretty hefty tour in support of your recently released album, Petals. How has the reception been so far?
ER: The reception of our new material and all of the new sounds has been great. It's funny because when Bonnie picks up the cello, Charlie gets on the pedal steel, and I get on a drum, our fans become exposed to a sound that we have never produced live before. On tour, we found a balance of playing material off of our past records as well as off the new record. Intertwining both really helped people to welcome in the new. Mostly, I think people are mesmerized by how many instruments Bonnie can play. And then she sings, and how could that ever not be well received?
TMN: The album is phenomenal, by the way. The procession from start-to- finish was beautifully crafted. Did you write the album with a solid storyline in mind, or is this more so a collection of songs arranged in a specific order?
There’s something about the warming temperatures hinting at the edges of summer that beckon us to go out and track down some of the most endearing indie folk tunes we can find. Maybe it’s the thought of mountain adventures, adorned with a backpack weighed down with the essentials. Maybe it’s fondly recalling late-night, lakeside campfire memories where the only things that matter are a circle of good friends and a bottle of quality whiskey. Whatever it is, it always happens around this time of year, and thankfully, Frances Luke Accord is here to satisfy that itch.
Made up of Brian Powers and Nicholas Gunty, this Windy City duo has an Americana-rich charm that’s simply irresistible, especially when both members pair up for one of their pitch-perfect vocal harmonies. At times, their modern folk interpretations remind us of Iron & Wine, at times they call on nostalgic associations of Simon & Garfunkle, and we also can’t help but shake hearing Hunter Hunted, especially with those harmonies we mentioned earlier.
We have to start by covering one of the most interesting origin stories we’ve heard, which comes from one of the oldest songs in the group’s repertoire. “Nowhere To Be found” was actually originally recorded in Kkindu Village, Uganda during their senior year at the University of Nortre Dame. When Powers and Gunty were putting together the Fluke, they revisited it once more and decided to include it.
Beyond that, it’s honestly difficult to highlight other songs to talk about for one simple reason – they’re all so damn good. Take “Tangled In Your Web,” which takes a slight departure from other offerings, showcasing their ability to hone in on classic rock sensibilities. While the essence of their sound is still very much in tact, the calculated guitar riffs give it an edge that other tracks don’t have. Conversely, tracks like “Who Do You Run From” showcase the frolicking, playful folk nature that’s perfect for that soon-to-be sunshiney weather.
As a collective experience, it’s truly one that’s worthy of a start-to-finish session. With that in mind, we won’t keep you from it any longer.
