[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (February 2013 Round #1)

It seems like just yesterday the 1st indie dojo was posted.  But really “just yesterday” means 59 Tuesdays ago. Which means 59 playlists multiplied by the average song count of 6 quals approximately 352 wrangled songs that just happened to be floating around the internets at the right time. We hope you’ve enjoyed at least one if not multiple songs at this point and if you haven’t, well, here’s another 8 for you to try.  Ninjas never give up.

Santah - Springfield
Jason Diaz
All the Way Down
The Gospel Whiskey Runners
Hold On
Minotaurs
Open the Doors
Song Preservation Society - Circus
Liz Lawrence
When I Was Younger
Tell Me Ida
Matthew E. White
One of These Days

 

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[Indie] Vondelpark – California Analog Dream

While R&S Records has been known to boast a range of electronically minded artists (Airhead, James Blake, Aphex Twin), they’ve got the ear for sparse, straightforward indie rock. Case in point: London three-piece Vondelpark. Their new song, “California Analog Dream” reads like a coaxing, late-night drive along an empty and dark highway. It’s not loud or boisterous, but it hardly needs to be; its hushed quality is its best quality. Add in the velvety vocals that wrap you up like a cozy security blanket and you’ve got a track that’ll keep your attention night or day.

California Analog Dream

Vondelpark’s new album, Seabed, comes out April 1st.

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[NEW] Iron and Wine – Lovers’ Revolution

Sam Beam, aka Iron and Wine, has been known for his delicate folk rock and heart-wrenching tales — my personal LP favorites being 2002′s The Creek Drank The Cradle and and 2004′s Our Endless Numbered Days — nearly leading and inspiring that niche corner of music for good chunks of time. But on his newest song, “Lovers’ Revolution,” he shifts away from that sound, instead dabbling in brass-heavy arrangements perfect for a free-form night at the local jazz club. It’s an interesting change, and one that longtime fans might have to get used to, but it shows that Beam hasn’t lost one drop of that creative blood that propelled his career in the first place. Listen in below.

Iron and Wine
Lovers Revolution

Iron and Wine’s fifth album, Ghost on Ghost, comes out April 16th on Nonesuch Records.

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[Folk] Wake Owl – Wild Country EP Review

The resurgence of indie folk music is apparent in the last 5 years with an array of chemistry-filled bands like Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros, Of Monster and Men, Mumford & Sons among many others. While talent comes in many forms there is still a separation between the production quality of rising independent artists. At its core, folk music remains one of the most genuine sounding genres in music. Far from the melodramatic sibling, Country music, folk is about allowing the simplicity of the instrumentation fill the song with harmony and graze. However, not recorded or produced properly, these instruments are often shadowed by noise and echo.

The beauty and perhaps the most inspiring quality about Wake Owl‘s Wild Country EP is its impeccable and delicate recording. Every single instrument used, brings forward the warmth and charisma of each guitar pluck, percussion and of course, the longing vocals of singer/songwriter Colyn Cameron. Wake Owl has effortlessly awaken (pun intended) the energy behind my unquestionable admiration for the folk genre and delivered unique melodies wonderfully wrapped around the familiarity of heart-felt themes about love gained and love lost.

The most ironic part of Wake Owl story is Colyn’s history. Born and raised in southern California the aspiring musical poet was into “rhyme stuff/hip hop” explaining, “I wrote rap basically. I used to go around the school ground rapping my verses to whoever would listen. Then about seven years ago I picked up a guitar and taught myself basic stuff and immediately began writing songs.” It was this very event combined with travelling to different farms throughout the world, trained in organic agriculture, that solidified his passion for music writing.

After much experimentation and reflection, his debut release Wild Country EP was born. A collection of five songs that harvest raw, genuine emotions of hope.

The Wild Country EP was released via Vagrant Records on January 29th, 2013. and is available nationwide for purchase on iTunes.

Wake Owl
Wild Country
Wake Owl
Youll Never Go
Wake Owl
Gold
Wake Owl
Grow
Wake Owl
Seaside
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[Folk] Charley Bickers – Our Frail Hearts

Our Frail Hearts feels like a deeply personal journey through Charley Bicker’s delicate acoustic songwriting. Narrated by the melancholic weight of his lyrics, Charley’s debut album is a tender introduction to the Brighton based artist and is available on Bandcamp to download now, once you’ve listened to the title track below.

07 Our Frail Hearts

With a gift for crafting affecting acoustic ballads and a host of special guests, including members of Goldfrapp, The Guillemotts and The Verve, lined up for his next album, Charley is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

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[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (January 2013 Round #5)

As simple as they seem, playlists don’t always come easy. There’s a lot of searching for new songs, adding old ones, deleting played out ones, and moving this one after that one just because it flows better.  It takes some time to get it just right. But once it’s done you feel like you have created you’re own masterpiece of listening pleasure. Go ahead, pat yourself on the back….even if you just took the latest Indie Dojo and uploaded it into your iTunes. Rearrange a couple songs and no one will know but you….

Qtier - Drift
Leapling
17
photocomfort
Windfall
SEA OF LOVE - Your Arrangement
Fred Woods
The Pond
Bad Bad Hats
Learning To Sleep

 

 

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[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (January 2013 Round #4)

In the life of a true music lover, a silent world is a boring world. Which could possibly explain why a lot of us have a playlist for everything. Working out, road trips, getting down, getting ready for bed, getting up in the morning, studying, eating, partying, beaching, relaxing, chillaxin, waiting, working.  The possibilities of excuses to have music as a constant in our day to day living are endless and the indie dojo is just another way to fill up any left over empty space.

The Black Atlantic
The Aftermath (Of This Unfortunate Event)
The Strumbellas
Underneath A Mountain
Rue Royale
Guide To An Escape
Pickering Pick
On The Edge Of The Light
The Lone Bellow
You Never Need Nobody
Kait Lawson
Place In The Ground

 

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