Tag Archives: indie

[Indie] Janelle Kroll – Numb

Posted by Clayton Warwick - April 26, 2015

JANELLEKROLL
Numb

It’s rare to come across an artist as talented as Janelle Kroll with less than 1,000 SoundCloud followers. If you don’t know the name just yet, we highly suggest you familiarize yourself with her work, as she has just delivered her newest stunning original, “Numb.”

Kroll, who studied theater at Northwestern University, is a budding artist hailing from Chicago who has a voice similar to BANKS or Alanis Morissette, but is distinct in its own right. Armed with a soul and passion that listeners can feel, Kroll catches your attention from the start of “Numb,” and doesn’t let go until the final notes are fading away, demonstrating her immense vocal prowess on her latest original.

On “Numb,” the New York transplant elegantly glides her way through Angelo Lomelo and Rocco Rimpino’s dazzling production with her sultry croons, using her voice as a guide to take listeners through dreamy soundscapes. With a performance at Lollapalooza on the horizon, Janelle Kroll is primed to make 2015 her year, and we couldn’t agree more.

Indie

[Indie] MS MR – Painted

Posted by TMN Staff - April 8, 2015

MS MR
Painted

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MS MR had a massive year in 2014 with the release of their debut album, Secondhand Rapture, that included chart breaking hits such as “Hurricane.” Returning with a new look, the New York duo is getting a little darker and digging a little deeper. Their new original, “Painted,” that just surfaced marks their new direction. Both sexy and dramatic, the tune incorporates robust vocals, vivacious drums, chic electronic inspirations, and steamy electric guitar chords. Back in with a triumphant return, it is always a risk going a new direction, but these two have executed it flawlessly. We are beyond excited to see what these two have in store next. Buy your copy of “Painted” off iTunes.

Indie

Feed Me Jack – Humanzoo [TMN Premiere]

Posted by Ash El Gamal - March 16, 2015

Feed Me Jack
Humanzoo

Download

Oakland-based band Feed Me Jack rocked our SF showcase last month bringing their unique brand of indie rock to life in front of a full house. As they work on their full length album and experiment with new sounds, FMJ will be releasing a series of musical doodles on their Soundcloud page over the next few months and we’re stoked to be premiering the first one. “Humanzoo” demonstrates yet another dimension of the group’s creativity as they delve into psychedelic territory. Combining far-out vocal sampling, playful synths and syncopated percussion with their always smooth guitar work, FMJ create a tune that brings to mind the oddly infectious allure of Radiohead’s “15 Step.” Listening to their library thus far, it’s pretty remarkable the ever-expanding scope of styles Feed Me Jack have successfully traversed and “Humanzoo” bodes well for what’s to come. Vibe above and follow them on Soundcloud for more.

P.S. If you’re digging this track, check out our recent interview with FMJ here.

[Chill] LostBoyCrow – HiyHiy (WATERBED Remix) [TMN Premiere]

Posted by Jordan Grammer - February 25, 2015

Lostboycrow
HiyHiy (WATERBED Remix)

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Not only is this track the latest and greatest premiere here on TMN, but it’s also both LostBoyCrow and Waterbed’s debuts on the site and the rest of catalogue finds themselves in good company with this release. LostBoyCrow comes to us from the warm streets of LA where it seems everyone has a dream, but not everyone has the talent or hustle to make it work. He’s only a few releases in but he’s proving himself to be an A&R’s dream come true with his unparalleled skills that will strike gold in today’s R&B market. WATERBED come to us with a Golden State of mind as well, and this certainly won’t be the last time we feature this dreamy duo either. It may be frozen east of the Rockies, but you can still warm up to anything on these two’s catalogue, we promise. As for the remix, it’s a knock out of the park. Airy, energetic, and a nice blend between indie pop & R&B, this track will make waves very soon.

[Indie] Misterwives – “Our Own House” [ALBUM REVIEW]

Posted by Jordan Grammer - February 24, 2015

Soundcloud

In an indie music scene becoming more and more saturated by the week, it’s becoming more important than ever to stand out amongst your peers, both sonically and professionally. Some rely more on marketing than talent to get by (and are generally well-known) while some may be the next great thing but can never find an audience. It’s very rare to find a combination of the two, and Misterwives may be TMN’s favorite of the bunch. They have built a wonderful strategy to build up a genuine, organic fanbase from the bottom up and are making all the right moves to stay in the spotlight for years to come. And when the fans come to their intimate, yet explosive, live shows (which we’ll get into later), this New York quintet puts their talent where their mouth is and rocks out. On their debut album, “Our Own House”, they quickly turn the heads of anyone who wasn’t yet on the hype train.

From start to finish, this album is one wild ride you won’t want to get off of. The album starts off with the title track and while it takes a bit to build up, the energy carries on through the next five tracks until we reach “Coffins”, our personal favorite off the album. Absolutely gorgeous harmony work that would make even Lykke Li blush. From there on out, it’s all euphoria to the end of the album in “Queens”. In all honesty, this album is like a cracked out lovechild of Matt & Kim and Monsters & Men and we couldn’t love it more.

If you like what you hear and you live in the US, chances are you’re in luck. Misterwives are kicking off their own national tour this week and stopping on both coasts and everywhere in between (If you’re at the Columbus show and recognize me, I’ll buy you a drink. A full list of tour dates can be found here and don’t forget to pick up “Our Own House”, out today!

[Indie/Soul] Janelle Kroll – Sunny Days

Posted by Clayton Warwick - February 17, 2015

Janelle Kroll
Sunny Days

Soundcloud

Let’s face it – this is the perfect song to dedicate to the cold weather.

While we know this tune had a more serious message than what was stated above, we couldn’t help ourselves. Jokes aside, if you’re not familiar with budding, young artist Janelle Kroll, now is a great time to get familiar, as she just delivered this enchanting new original, “Sunny Days.”

This up-and-coming singer from New York City has previously proved her talents on tracks with some of dance music’s finest (Dennis Ferrer and Codes) but now she’s adding to her catalog with yet another tune to call her own. On “Sunny Days,” Janelle uses her stunning voice as her paint brush, as she artfully tells a story of being consistently brought down, on a canvas of a chilled-out, downtempo beat with various melodic accents.

Have a listen to the outstanding song, and keep tabs on Janelle as she continues on her rise in music.

Indie
Soul

[Indie Rock] ISLAND APØLLO – Miracle

Posted by Jake Balbes - February 4, 2015

ISLAND APØLLO
Miracle

Soundcloud

Newly monikered indie rock outfit ISLAND APØLLO has administered an attack with new single ‘Miracle’. The release of their self-titled EP is expected February 17th and this release shall be the anchor for a successful run. Residents of the Orange County area, the five-piece excites with danceable pop rock reminiscent of Capital Cities. This record fuels us with a healthy chorus full of horns and a lengthy bridge. Join them in Santa Ana, CA on February 21st for their EP release show at the Constellation Room, tickets here. Free CD’s to everyone at the show. Be sure to also check out their first single ‘Lion Eyes‘ and their live acoustic version of Arcade Fire’s ‘Deep Blue’ for Orangewood Guitars.