ON “Make Me”
Change always manifests a counter movement of nostalgia and retro, and with the world tumbling away from where it used to be, the reminiscence for the past has only heightened. Indie rock band ON answers that call, bringing forward a contagious, adrenaline-inducing new single. “Make Me” echoes the frustration of growing up and the aches and longing for an unattainable past with funk-infused grooves and power riffs in homage of 90s college rock, grunge and post-punk. Something that everyone can Dave to and scream along. “Make Me” is about making memories and connections.
Through a storm of turmoil and chaos of wanting against a bleak reality, “Make Me” hits hard. It delivers the gut-wrenching nostalgia that feels like coming from another era, but at the same time, rips off the bandage and exposes the wounds. Brutally honest and straightforward, “Make Me” doesn’t shine away from bleakness and frustration.
But in the end, it elevates the contrasting emotions that seem to tear you apart from inside—acceptance. We’ve all grown up. Reliving the past is on borrowed time, and in the end, it’s time to look forward and live life like yesterday. “Make Me” is accompanied by a bright note and a contemporary twist that completely shifts its meaning in the process.
ON is led by bassist and vocalist Lucy di Santo and joined by drummer Dan Cornelius and guitarist Steve Fall, who have all been members of other popular Toronto bands.
UNKLFNKL “Goth Girl”
Gabriel Maga, aka UNKLFNKL, teams up with Jake Hays on the genre-bending single, “Goth Girl,” taking a nostalgic drive past teenage years, reliving the agony of an unattainable crush. Angsty, hard-hitting, punch-throwing, but emotional and cathartic “Goth Girl” hits all the right spot, itching those unscratchable pain in teenage years.
The inspiration for this track goes all the way back to high school. Thinking of a crush out of reach, “Goth Girl” rides between hormones, impulse and the overwhelming experience of being a teenager. A part of the past somehow becomes alive through “Goth Girl.” Armed with a ground-shaking, powerful electronic drop, a guitar, stretching the envelop of indie pop, the single has the taste of memory yet breathing the air of the present. “Goth Girl” is one of a kind yet highly relatable.
UNKLFNKL is a top 100 Glabal Shazam electronic artist with releases under Universal, Warner, Soave, Magic and Effective. “Goth Girl” is a bold departure from UNKLFNKL‘s previous work, separating itself with a mainstream finish and an innovating edge.
Moon and Aries “KNOTS”
Entanglement, doubt, struggle, and denial are the knots in life that serve you no good. Instead, untangle negativities will set you free. Created with the best intentions, Moon and Aries brings you a spiritually charged, high-vibrational single “KNOTS.” With deep retro and futuristic textures setting all constraints back to zero, the eclectic, vibrantly captivating track unlocks your potential and aims to set you free. All you have to do is close your eyes and let go.
Immersive and stimulating. “KNOTS” brings a pulsating world into your mind’s eye through an eclectic mix of electro pop and cinematic synth pop. Sonically, it’s refreshing and clean. It reminds you the really good feeling of hunger, but in a healthy way, as opposed to obsession or addiction that pop music makes you feel.
“KNOTS” is a track that cleanse your aura and recharges your energy. Like a very memorable sonic bath. It washes through your mind and body and lifts the weight on your shoulder. “KNOTS” is liberating, and it’s simply magnificent what this duo is capable of accomplishing through their music.
AUTiSM ‘Neverberator’
Autism invented the techniques and sounds in Neverberator more than two decades ago. And before 2023 Omninorm Records made the album available to the public, the record was only offered as a limited CD. Like a time capsule being reinvented as a continued/new time capsule, Neverberator is like a time machine that gazes into the past with the aesthetic of the present and the reflection of the future. An album that exceeds the law of time.
The law of time isn’t the only thing bent by Vadim Militsin, the mastermind behind the music project Autism. Genres, sounds, and cultural influences all received a round of reinvention in Neverberator. 20 years ago, the record was innovative and ahead of its time. And it continues to stay true today. Even now, the methods and approaches Autism experiments in relation to collective memories, eras, and modernity are something that’s simply not seen in the music world. Most records only get a slight improvement, but Neverberator steps into the new century, bending new rules to its own sonic reality.
Sonically, the record roughly resembles a huge alien machine rushing underwater. Drastic, fluid-like, and otherworldly. Its impression seems to vary each time you tap into its particular realm. It’s an aesthetic blurred into a collage of emotions, taking shape in stimulating visual experiences you have yet to taste until now. It’s something entirely new yet bizarrely familiar. Strange but highly resonating.
Rylie Wyane “The Race Is On”
In 2020, everything changed. Rylie Wyane found his life upside down, not just by covid, but also on a personal level. However, what might have been the worst brought a gift into his life—music. It was then that Wyane connected with the calling for music. His answer was initially a way of self therapy, but with an emotive and captivating cover of “The Race Is On” launching an exciting new beginning, Wyane brutally honest storytelling and his natural talent for songwriting is being recognized by the world.
In under two months, “The Race Is On” has garnered 2500 listeners without previous fan base or help of a label. His own brand of threading alternative country with rock also shines brightly from the song, bringing a personal touch to the well-known track. The narrative of “The Race Is On” resonates on a personally level with what Wyane has gone through. HIs version almost feels like an original rather than a rearrangement.
Wyane seems to have shed a new light to the melodies and lyrics in “The Race Is On.” Together with featured artist Luke Mills, they bring grit and authenticity to the familiar melodies.
"The problems of today are the opportunities of tomorrow" In the face of adversity, it would be easy for one to become bitter and resentful. However, despite being knocked down and broken, I persevered and emerged from the storm with my head held high. I hope to use my experiences to inspire others who may be facing their own struggles. Even though life can be tough and unpredictable, I believe that it can also be an opportunity to spread hope and love. If I can offer even a glimmer of relief and encouragement to someone else, I consider my journey a success,” said Wyane, in reflection of his journey.
He is currently working on four original songs and will be releasing them in the near future.
Metrophobia “Crazy”
Metrophobia drops a sonic bomb with their latest single. “Crazy,” screaming out at breaking point with darkly alluring dark pop influence, tossed in the soundscapes of distorted guitar and exhilarating percussion. Fueled by the ultimate longing for explosion of pent-up anger after enduring the unbearable, “Crazy” is catharsis against frustration.
With lyrics that hit hard and melodies that get under your skin, Metrophobia represents the brand of authentic rock and pure creativity. As a song about the deeply unpleasant situations in life, “Crazy” is moodily charismatic. The Swiss alternative rock duo of Markus Gmur and Jose Garrido has a way with storytelling. Their music is the kind that you feel with your body and resonate with your heart.
And it all goes back to their unique formula of music cocktails —solid rock, hard-hitting edge in contrast with sweet and light melodies. And “Crazy” is just like that. Intimate lyrics unveil their heart and vulnerability. And that’s all they need to move the mountain—honesty, love and some kick ass soundscapes.
Bingo Boys “Freak Out and Leave”
Indianapolis punk band Bingo Boys returns with retro angsty fourth album. Freak Out and Leave is a collection of ‘90s-sounding garage punk tracks pumping through in one set. Raged with a distorted sonic palettes, cooked in punchy fast pace, Freak Out and Leave tackles themes from boredom, dissatisfaction to failure and other problems that a young person can easily relate to. Taking place in the midst of an intense discussion between the self and the rest of the world, Freak Out and Leave is in the midst of chaos and passion, beaming authenticity.
Eccentric and flaming, Freak Out and Leave never runs out of sparks. From dark distortion and illusive vocals sprawling in noise-coiled grunge atmosphere to high-contrast abstract mind-daze to heavy-hitting headbangers, the album reminds you everything about the 90s bands you grew up listening. Rebellious and unapologetic, having issues but never compromise—their music has an edge, an attitude that you love and hate.
From guitar to vocals to production, Freak Out and Leave sees the maturity of their craft, but rest assure, no creative direction has been changed. They are just getting better at being themselves. Everything that lives and breathes in their music is even more alive in their fourth album.
Henka “Caught Up”
Henka explores the depth of emotions in the epic new single “Caught Up,” unraveling the darkness and heartache of betrayal. With thundering bass intertwining heart-stopping melodies, a love that is destined to be crumbles to meet its tragic end. Heartwrenching vocals stir a ripple of dark waves in the wake of truth and clarity. Beautiful harmonies in echo with instrumental swells.
“Caught Up” is therapeutic and cathartic. It’s for anyone who has gotten their hearts broken and left to lick their wounds alone. Henka proves that the process of healing can be empowering and powerful. Instead of being the victim, she rises up and takes control of her story, and in the process, she creates a song as drastic as the tides and as intimate as a diary can go.
She brings listeners together, through tearful moments, facing the deepest and hardest truths and healing traumas from the past. “Caught Up” is one of the best offerings from Henka yet. Her own brand of dark synth and metal rock evokes epic visualization of picturesque soundscapes and profound emotional connection.
Hungry “The Jig”
Hungry, one of Manchester’s brightest rising acts, is out with a punk hit. “The Jig,” armed with buzzsaw noise gate and blood-boiling riffs. Raw vocals ripple with political head and heart. “The Jig” has something to say about corruption, dishonesty and embezzlement in the world, and it says it loud with no holding back. Fueled by machine gun rhythm and hard-hitting thoughtfulness, “The Jig” is a song of protest and a wake-up call in the shape of a sonic carnival.
“What has inspired the song? It’s 13 years of Conservative rule and a neoliberal orthodoxy that has given the UK a callout and self-righteous ruling class that views anyone beneath as overdramatic and lazy,” said Frontman Jacob Peck, who is also the mastermind behind “The Jig.” “It seems of late that the governmental system may be revealing itself, one of corruption, dishonesty, and embezzlement. In many ways, the lyrics call for a collective consciousness of that.”
Rebellions scream loud, but it screams at those who provide the reasons. Energetic, highly relatable, and more than ever captivating. “The Jig” puts Hungry at the top of the world while rooting for the underdogs. It makes sense that their music would take off in only a few months after the Cambridgeshire-native jam-kicking four-piece entered Manchester’s atmosphere. It’s stirring. It’s sweaty. It’s loud and disillusioned. They make your mind clearer and your heart pumping.
Led by Peck, the buzz-starting four-piece is complete by drummer Stan Rankin, guitarist Kit Thomas and bassist Jas Malig. “The Jig” is aided by producer Dean Glover, whose hands have blissfully touched cult punk legends such as The Membranes and Inca Babies. He captures the unbending energy of Hungry and gives them a juicy push full of edges and thrones.
Collapsed Tower ‘Happiness is Transient, Melancholy Is Permanent’
Collapsed Tower takes on a rather inventive approach to its post-metal roots in their latest instrumental record Happiness if Transient, Melancholy is Permanent. Without massively and lengthily produced tracks, the album stays true to simplicity and its eccentric nature. All shades of heavy music enrich the record. Styles such as doom metal, hardcore punk and post rock can be heard scattered in different songs.
Collapsed Tower immerses you with a variety of riff-driven tracks each reflects on a peculiar thought in connection to emotions that naturally emerged in the past two years. Happiness Is Transient, Melancholy is Permanent proves that sounds can speak louder than words. Like a collage of mood-filled, picturesque snapshots, record documents moments of fragility and intricacy, epic and at times, euphoria.
From emotions and real-like circumstances, Happiness is Transient, Melancholy is Permanent also goes above what meets the eyes. There are clearly traces of fantasy and imagination being intertwined with the fundamental reality we could all relate to, but the creative pursuit, the twists and unexpected and the new is what transcends and sets the reality free. Happiness is Transient, Melancholy is Permanent is no doubt an introspective and emotive record, but it’s also an eclectic adventure full of surprises.
Tom Auton “Go Back”
“Go Back” features a characteristic Tame Impala guitar riffs against a dark atmosphere. The pulsation and movements of the song’s grooviness then confronts the inescapable spiral storytelling. Crawling out from the dark corner where one spends dwelling on one’s own mistakes, “Go Back” explores the concept of overthinking and being trapped in your own creation of mental prison.
Like Muse meets Royal Blood meets sprawling psychedelia, the latest release from Tom Auton is an ever-evolving audio-visual masterpiece that amusingly fuses rock, ambient, noise and pop in a sonic cauldron. Known for creating something extraordinary out of thin air, Auton takes full creative control over his project. From crafting sounds to sculpting layers to giving everything a final retouch, “Go Back” was created and produced from Auton’s home studio.
In 2018, his hit single “Mother Mary” sealed his status as one of UK’s most exciting up coming rock acts. The artist ventures into 2023 with the plans to release more original material. With four new singles and an EP on the way. From May to July, Auton will showcase “Go Back” on three shows and five festivals.
trouble bunny “M.D.L.”
trouble bunny comes back with another socially sensitive lo-fi pop piece, “M.D.L,” tapping into body dysmorphia, the unspoken insecurity and intense pressure behind popular social media phrase many use to accompany their selfie, “felt cute, might delete later.” Unlike the rest that smiles and overlooks the true meaning hidden from each photo, trouble bunny takes listeners to a look behind the scene.
The real world is not picture perfect. It’s far from that, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Everything and everyone has their unique beauty, no one and nothing should convince them otherwise. “M.D.L.” is dedicated to those who silently suffer from body dysmorphia. Inspired by her own struggle and those close to her’s, trouble bunny, through her sensuous and captivating lofi pop soundscapes, transforms everyday observation into a relatable song that sheds light and raises awareness around mental health issues that spike along side of picture perfect trend that in recent years rises across social platforms. Trouble bunny sends all her listeners a heartwarming love letter with “M.D.L.,” letting them know that they are beautiful just the way they are.
“M.D.L.” Isn’t just a form of self-expression. trouble bunny’s music is for her listeners. She cares about them, and music then becomes an effective mean to voice changes. There’s so much heart that goes into the lyrics and soundscapes of her music, along with her creative, unique twist adding to the genre of pop.
Chet Bucke “Spring Is Not My Friend”
“Spring Is Not My Friend” is a symbolic knot of transformation, one between death and life. A few years ago, Chet Bucke lost a person close to him in Spring, the season of rebirth and hope. In the wake of a profound loss and navigating grief, the song flows out of him. Gentle and tender. Earthy and ethereal. “Spring Is Not My Friend” weaves the intricate turning of heaviness and loss into light and hope. Through its scenic and cinematic shifts of sonic landscapes, the song touches different stages of grief as perspective changes, strength emerges.
The duality of light and darkness is so subtly and meaningfully represented in this track. The third single from Chet Bucke feels like a feather landed in the palm of your hand—it’s soft and magical, but the weight it bears is the weight of life. The lyrics are moving and tear-jerking, in the light of its folkloric synthscape and drone-like introspection.
In contemplation, he seems to be in deep conversation with himself, but every word splatters a ripple in your heart. In the end, the song goes back to unconditional love and appreciation, knowing that each encounter is a blessing. “I hold on to the knowledge that I’ve said goodbye in the most meaningful way possible,“ said Bucke. “I feel ready for the Summer.”
“Spring Is Not My Friend” is not just a song. It walks you through a journey of transformation, allowing you to find strength in the season forward.
Torchbearer “Vindication”
Hard as nails, soaring, in-your-face hardcore—that only begins to describe the sonic majesty of “Vindication.” Dedicated to Torchbearer’s bassist Mo Bashir’s late brother, the track contemplates the depth of life and loss, subjects that are not often time discovered amongst heavy metal music. Torchbearer is committed to making their music as smashing and progressive as they are meaningful. Like “Vindication,” every song they make has a special and personal bond to them, and for the listeners, it’s a world better with their music. And when the song ends, it feels like something is missing.
The South UK metal outfit leaves quite an impression for the first times, but through the course of the entire song, they change your perspective of metal music. Yes, they deliver an overwhelmingly mind-blowing sonic experience, but what you remember about their music is mostly about how you connect to them. The tangled up emotions get to the surface. The dreams and demons are roaring free. They forge a space for these to breathe openly, and they untangle bone-deep experiences that leave a mark in your soul.
“Vindication” leads to their highly-anticipated forthcoming record Warrior, coming out later this year. The records cover much personal topics such as bereavement, anxiety, trauma, insecurity and self-accountability, but theme, as its name predicts, are about triumph and overcoming.
Sounds Like Jamie “Coming To You From The Man-Cave”
Coming To You From The Man-Cave sees a vibrant and whimsical blend of hip hop, jungle, rock and funk, weaving into a series of rare phenomena. Sounds Like Jamie pushes the envelop of genres with this album, in his pursuit of expressing the different tastes of life. Coming To You From The Man-Cave sees his creativity in a fierce rippling effect. From thought-evoking moments to encouragement to insight-sharing, Sounds Like Jamies navigates the overlooked moments in our daily life with wisdom and whims. Coming To You From The Man-Cave might not fit into your conventional expectation, but it’s full of charm.
Taking inspirations from a diverse group of artists such as Linkin Park, Beastie Boys, The Prodigy and Pendulum with drawing references from Nerdcore Hip-Hop and video games, Sounsd Like Jamies takes listeners to a stimulating audio-visual journey, immersing you with the unexpected and the bursting. Each track in this album is special. They delivers distinctive experiences, yet together, they convey a grand artistic vision that is unbending and unique.
Coming To You From The Man-Cave is the kind of art that leaves you feel uplifted and inspired. The sky doesn’t have a limit in this album. One’s potential can be limitless, only one has the spirit to challenge oneself. In a way, Coming To You From The Man-Cave is grounding—its ideas derived no further from our daily life, but in the form of art, it aims the stars.
Louis And The Shakes “sorry.x”
Louis and the Shakes return with dark majesty, smashing a grungier, heavier sensuous soundscapes in pair with pop sensibility—“Sorry.X” marks the first single released from their forthcoming EP, Everything That Glitters Isn’t Gold. Unlike anything you have heard before, this is the new era of Louis and the Shakes.
Diving deep into metal health issues such as anxiety and sobriety, “Sorry.X” finds Louis and the Shakes at their most unapologetic. With deeply vulnerable lyrics touching on heavy topics, exposing them to their vulnerability and brutal honesty, “Sorry.X” is nothing like what fans have previously heard from this band before. Unshakable darker tone, droning through punches and hard-hitting sonics, “Sorry.X” sheds light to the real struggles that many people experience but are afraid to talk about. And Everything That Glitters Isn’t Golden certainly doesn’t shy away from difficult discussions.
Sonically, “Sorry.X” is immersive and explosive as it can be. Its expressiveness gets under your skin, while in its dark and explosive sonics, one finds comfort and catharsis.
LOVESICK ‘Hoping this is the end’
Hoping This Is the End sees a glorious experiment of rock n roll meets the splendor and madness of love. Light and dark electronics painting the wildest dreams. Written and recorded in the midst of the pandemic, Lovesick’s creativity and imagination take off, landing Hope This Is the End on an euphoric land of love.
Inventive, free-spirited with unfiltered sparks of inspirations, the songs on Hoping This Is the End explore vibrantly diverse sonic palettes. “Blue skies on Mars” speaks of hope and the haze of love through an euphoric, feverish lens. “As I look in your eyes, I hope for a Hollywood ending.” Perhaps love does feel like a fever. It’s maddening and surreal, but at the same time, it tastes like cotton candy and smells like roses.
“Holiday” then charms listeners away with beautiful upright bass played by the legendary Tony Garnier (Bob Dylan’s musical director).“I’m hoping this is the end,” the quixotic sci-if singalong, passes along that intoxicating passion in the setting of doom day on earth. “We’ve been down the road” continues Lovesick’s unconventional love for music with a singing Italian puppy named Cozimo.
Attendant “Mortal Coil”
Scuzzy, heavy, nihilistic, bleak and just pure chaos. From one of UK’s most exciting rising rock band, Attendant, “Mortal Coil” proves that they can do anything they set their minds to.
With a strange vision of apocalypse and the annihilation of the human race, “Mortal Coil” finds its first sound in the shape of a voice note on songwriter Andy Walker’s phone. The initial idea might have been too heavy in their taste, but with Cleopatrick and Deftones chiming in as muses and Nevil Shute’s On The Beach as a spiritual guide, “Mortal Coil” took off and landed unexpected with an unconventional two-act structure and the runtime of 5:20.
Blowingly loud and ominously lofi. Disobedient interference and wild experimentations resulted in an end-of-the-world commotion and destruction. The lyrics of “Mortal Coil” journals through different coping mechanisms while the drums filtered through distortion pedals. They tuned the guitars down to Drop A and let imagination and feelings take over.
“Mortal Coil” is the darkest and the most experimental fans of Attendant have ever experienced. It signals versatility and ambition in the time of change. “We’d like to keep people guessing what we’re going to do next,” said Walker. “This is a side to us that people won’t have heard before. Heavier, darker, more theatrical.”
Silvia Josefina ‘Spring Broke
The sonic world of Silvia Josefina begins at “Treehouse,” the passion for exploration meets the fear of the unknown, but fear, in that story is only a brief fleeing of thoughts. Curiosity always wins. With a dash of nostalgia and childhood innocence, Spring Broke begins its journey. Inspired by a bout of anxiety, the album sees Josefina at her bravest and most honest moments.
“Sin” contemplates on the inevitable moral struggle that follows our action, stripping away the skin, diving deep for truth. “Idk” circles back to another crossroad, of a simple but emotional entangled question. The duality of harshness and warmth then wraps up the album in the introspective “Death” and “Warmth.” Spring Broke is confessional and highly relatable. It doesn’t shy away from the questions we ask ourselves each day, no matter how big they are or how small they are—it’s the very human experience that connects us all together.
Hailing from Indiana, Josefina is a self-made artist and scientist. With crystal clear visions and an uncompromising spirit, she crafted and molded and produced every sound in the tracks of Spring Broke. Her sound, which fused industrial, pop and electronic, embraces life’s journey of warmth, sin, death, and the simple but complicated experience of being alive.
Jamie Bosanko “Life Will Do”
Singer-songwriter Jamie Bosanko brings a sharply shaped, effectively sounding in-your-face accidental punk song “Life Will Do” into your ears. It might have been a derivative from the rest of his work, but the song remained warm and passionate, cynical and sentimental—everything that made Bosanko’s music what it is. Hailing from the small but busy port town of Barrow-in-Furness, life is tangled up with the rough but immersive seaside scenery, sandwiched between miles of beaches and lake districts. Materialism and the modern way of life are being put into perspective.
In “Life Will Do,” Bosanko reflects on the wasted energy of chasing a modern lifestyle, obsession over trends and being hip, however, so disconnected from one’s roots. “Life Will Do” urges listeners to take a step back. What they’ll discover is a piece of the sky they’ve always had but long failed to notice.
Perhaps Bosanko didn’t imagine the two-minute banger taking its shape in a punk rock confrontation, but the energy and the expression that naturally fused into the song burst from speakers into listeners’ ears. Shouting at the top of his lungs, Bosanko’s to-the-point lyrics carry the weight and power to shake awake a drifting soul. In the collage of imageries surrounding the things one wants in life, the loud and sharp single is simply something we all need to hear.
Perhaps the message just needs to be screamed out, punched through and carved into the minds of bewitched sleepwalkers. “Life Will Do” is a wake-up call, with all the harshness, nutrients, heart and compassion.