indie underrated

Kirsten Izer’s “The Messenger” is out now. The song’s drums, which include subtle hints of breakcore rhythms without being overbearing, are a clever fusion of both live drums and synthetic ones. The melancholic guitars are topped by Kirsten Izer’s beautiful vocals of various pitch registers. 

During the back end of the track, we’re introduced to bubbly and airy synths. Although the rest of the instrumentation is present throughout the beginning of the track, the introduction of these synths makes the whole ending feel like a brand new track. This evolution and build up to the song’s conclusion makes it feel as cinematic as a great film.

Hear “The Messenger” on our All New Indie Pop Playlist.

This is no “False Alarm,” Emma Harner’s new song is really out now. The unpredictability of the melody is extremely intriguing, and it feels like the song is a physical place Harner is guiding me through. She is in control of each left turn the song takes. Her vocals are serene and peaceful despite the emotionally driven lyrics she sings. 

The track flows like water. One section transitions into the next seamlessly. Despite the song being a typical length of just over two and a half minutes, Harner’s melodies and harmonies are so infectious that when the song ends I wish it was longer. Something about Harner’s vocal tendencies and the way her vocals are mixed make the song feel so intimate; it’s as if listeners are in a room with Harner having the song sung to them directly.

Check out “False Alarm” on our All New Indie Pop Playlist.

“Ominous Presence” is a fitting name for New Math’s newly remastered song. The minuscule echo and reverb on lead singer Derek Sapienza’s vocals create a haze around his identity, which aligns with the song’s title auspiciously. “Ominous Presence” feels like it came straight out of a previous decade, perhaps because it was recorded around 1983-1984, but somehow still feels refreshing and new in the current landscape of music. 

The unique nostalgic vibe this song creates could only be done if it was released when and how it was. I feel if it was released any earlier, the nostalgic approach wouldn’t have been as successful, and if it wasn’t remastered to correlate with the current state of music now, it wouldn’t sound worthy of today’s standards. That’s why I feel this track came at the perfect time and was executed stupendously.

“Ominous Presence” is on our All New Indie Pop Playlist.

Proza’s new song “Schaduwspel” is an atmospheric sea of sounds. Industrial clunks and buzzes create unique and refreshing textural idiosyncrasies. It’s as if during the verses we’re walking through a new environment we’re unfamiliar with, but it’s a satisfying confusion.

It’s only during the track’s chorus that everything is pulled together and becomes apprehensible. The industrial sounds make way for a pleasant melody and a more harmonically pleasing structure. It’s as if the track is one big call and response between the verses and the chorus. This contrast between the different sections makes each part of the song feel equally as important and builds anticipation from one section to the next.

You can find “Schaduwspel” on our All New Indie Pop Playlist.