indie underrated

Neko lets all his defenses down in the vulnerable new alt-pop single “Ludo.” The relatively spare, lofi production features atmospheric synth tones and unconventional rhythms that give the lyrics and vocal performance plenty of room to flourish. Built around the refrain of “I just wanna let you know I don’t mind losing to you,” the song tells the story of a sibling relationship reaching new and mature circumstances. The sentiments are delivered with a relatable simplicity that invites listeners into a space of gentle reflection, and the choreography in the video paints it all in beautiful physicality. We think it’s a sure thing for fans of Sufjan Stevens and Big Thief.

“Nonsense” is the funky new indie-pop single from talented multi-instrumentalist Luan Luan. The song is mainly characterized by a soulful chord progression, groovy rhythm, and melodic guitar runs that fill the spaces between a limber vocal performance. The lyrical composition shows evidence of tension, but the song itself sounds bright and colorful as if the music exists for the purposes of alleviating the conflict of inspiration. This gives the song a beautifully organic and necessary quality. We think it fits well in a category with artists like Dominic Fike or Tash Sultana.

“Unknown Soldier,” by Doug Gatta is an indie-rock saga. Many artists struggle to capture the energy and allure of a live performance in their recordings, but Gatta is an exception. This 7+ minute song is as immersive as a view from the pit. Instrumentally, it’s grounded by an acoustic guitar and dressed in a full rock arrangement. The bass is tight. The drums are energetic. And the electric guitars are ideally crunchy. The melodies and structural arrangement are triumphant and, therefore, reminiscent of the Boss, but we also hear some Killers-esque modernity in the mix. Be sure to check out “Unknown Soldier” now!

Listen to these songs and more on our playlist now!