Today’s list, there are new songs from independent artists that we’ve become fans of and some news too.
WEAK TYRANT – Retreat
There is a new release of one of my favorite bands that I’ve found so far on MUSOSOUP! Weak Tyrant was born in Switzerland recently and is making its way into the international emo/punk scene.
Weak Tyrant’s release EP is scheduled for next month and what I can tell you by now is: if the first single ‘Slide’ brought me to memory Paramore, the group’s newest single did it with its breaks of guitar solos, remind me of System of a Down (if you listen you’ll understand what I’m feeling).
The single ‘Retreat’ is melodic but has an intense chorus. If it was an image, it would be a person running as fast as possible away from what is destroying them. And it’s really this theme that the band sings in this song.
Weak Tyrant transcribes the feeling we often feel when we need to get away from what is hurting us. “As a journey, which helps a person to move forward, get rid of frustration and thus gain new perspectives” – declared the band.
Listen now to the new single that precedes the EP “To Be Pure” by the band Weak Tyrant:
KINETIX – Off My Head
KINETIX’s band is formed by three Irish brothers, who started their musical studies with the typical instruments of their country. Banjo, Violin, and Accordion now make room for synthesizers that create a comfortable and lively atmosphere, but without any snags.
The trio’s new single ‘Off My Head’ talks about the power of our beliefs and how they shape our reality.
According to the band, “this song is able to make you feel comfortable in your own skin and inject self-confidence as the secret ingredient to living without fear and achieve your dreams.”
Listen now to the single ‘Off My Head’ which was created and produced entirely in the Stones brothers’ homestudio.
IDLE DREAM – The First Time
IDLE DREAM is also from Ireland, but their sound has melodic indie rock characteristics. After all, the duo draws inspiration from names like Bowie, Bush, and The Pet Shop Boys to compose their songs.
The single ‘The First Time’ talks about love, but in an anxious way. Inspired by the idea of falling madly in love with someone with all your heart as when they were young, but at the same time, currently the drama of responsibilities that follow the life and all personal history, capable of haunting romance.
On the back, Chris states “I want to meet you when you’re sober,” investigating the ways we mask our apprehension and anxiety at the beginning of an emerging romance. The breaking guitars are powerfully emotional, bringing the strength of that feeling to highs and lows.
AMY BLAKE – Blue
Amy Blake is a singer who won me over with her sweet voice which is so full of feeling! About her new single ‘Blue’, she claims “this song invites the listener to pull up a chair and just feel”. Literally, that’s what happened to me and, of course, to you too.
What inspired her to compose this song was her own experience living far from home. Several reflections surfaced during this time, such as what does home mean? After all, the feeling of being at home is not necessarily in a house. It can be found on someone else too.
I invite you to enjoy this beautiful melody and so sensitivity that Amy Blake was able to create in ‘Blue’.
“My goal as an artist is to capture a moment or feeling as pure and authentic as possible, with the hope that it will resonate and connect with other people.” Declared the singer. And, in my opinion, she did it masterfully on this release.
SASHA DANIEL – Pollen
The intro of ‘Pollen’, the new single from singer Sasha Daniel, is so mysterious. With a deep beat and her seductive voice, the track has nuances that arouse the feeling of nostalgia that mix with a discreet electronic pop.
“This song is about being in the moment and experiencing everything that comes our way with open arms, because we don’t have a better alternative. Good or bad – everything is life. It’s all energy. And that’s beautiful.” – declared Sasha. She told that the inspiration for this single came after a trip she took with her partner, right after the first lockdown.
This track can be a good soundtrack for afternoon tea while we sit at the window and enjoy the view, can you feel it?
MARINES – No Hell, Incase
The British band Marines started their musical career singing covers. Now, they have just released their first single, ‘No Hell, Incase’, which is being distributed across all streaming platforms!
Marines‘ sound is very characteristic of post-hardcore/ punk rock bands, but it also demonstrates some indie influences in the composition.
‘No Hell, Incase’ is about masochism and unwillingness to get out of a destructive situation while enjoying the vulnerability of being right. It presents the repetition of human emotion and the depravity of what we can become with pessimism and a commentary from manipulative characters.
Listen now to the first Marines release:
BEACHMASTER – Doctors for Transparency
Beachmaster is also a band originating in the UK. They sound like pop-punk with indie folk and despite the lyrics being somewhat melancholy, the rhythm of the music is super lively and contagious, one of those types that makes you want to go out dancing with an ungoverned choreography.
The band’s second album, “Mass” was produced with funding/donation from 72 fans! On September 24, 2021, you will be able to check the result in full on all streaming platforms.
In the meantime, enjoy the single ‘Doctors for Transparency’ and get ready, because the chorus is one that sticks in your head, and when you least notice you’re singing distracted during the day!
BURN LIKE STARS – Shattered Shell
I still haven’t found a decent description to explain the explosion of feelings I feel when I listen to music with a sound style like ‘Shattered Shell’. It’s an instant thing that gets me right. I can only say that it literally has to do with the composition of the song and the vocalist’s voice timbre. The union of these two factors is capable of conquering my ear in an absurd way.
Burn Like Stars is the solo project of musician and composer Lloyd Ratalsky, which began after he left his former metalcore band, Frequent Misconceptions, in 2020. In January 2021, he released the first single ‘Hey, You’, in which he did a huge success! Now with ‘Shattered Shell’, the artist displays his talent in a different way but as well produced his first solo song.
“I want my music to send positive messages to people, whether they’re doing well in life or struggling to survive.” declared Ratalsky.
Metalcore fans, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Burn Like Stars!
BULLPUP – Actor
The Bullpup band was born from a friendship who enjoys rock and musical theater. Following this inspiration, when you are listening to the new single ‘Actor’ you really feel the sensation of watching a Broadway musical. After all, the frontman seems to improvise the Belting (a singing technique in musicals) in some moments interspersed with punk-rock/emo characteristics. Almost like My Chemical Romance.
The instrumental features powerful guitar riffs and progressive choruses. According to the band, “All instrumentation depends on a very delicate balance on the verge of insanity, making room to sparse silent moments of clarity and ending with a bang in a dramatic ending in the interval of time that begs for attention to an empty theater” .
Lyrically, the song describes the comparison between stage and real life, remembering how many times we found the courage to overcome stage fright and take our place, only to fall into the imposter syndrome, doubting ourselves with the fear of being exposed as a fraud. The song also deals with the idea of selling a performance of yourself that matches the prejudices of others.
Respected audience, with you, Bullpup‘s new single, ‘Actor’:
AVARAJ – World So Cold
Avaraj ‘s release is a simple yet concise alternative rock track. ‘World So Cold’ has very clear lyrics about the feeling of being alone in this world.
“The single is about someone who looks happy but feels alone in their fights. They try to help others, but that only wears them out and makes them more distant when the kindness isn’t repaid. He talks about how people use religion or God as an excuse to avoid truly helping others. They offer to pray, but they don’t offer to really help.” – declared the band.
Although the track doesn’t suffer great sonic contrasts, towards the end of the song the vocalist starts a rap saying that actions are worth more than words, it’s easier said than done.
Check out the release of Avaraj, ‘World So Cold’:
TAYIHA – Lose Myself
The 16-year-old Australian singer has already been compared to Taylor Swift early in her career. But she also carries in her influences names like Whitney Houston, can you imagine the result of this mix? This is the summary of the sound identity of Tayiha who has just released the single ‘Lose Myself’, written during the pandemic.
“Lose Myself is when you know that someone will always be there for you and then you can get lost in them and know that everything will be alright” – declared the singer.
Now listen to Tayiha‘s contemporary pop/indie melody:
EMMA MAE – When Paris Calls
Emma Mae released the single ‘When Paris Calls’ in a very mysterious way simulating a murder on her social media. After all, according to the singer, the release is an answer for those who judge how she reacts in certain situations.
But despite the dense scene, Emma‘s song is a very commercial pop where among all the energy of the instruments, she uses heavy words to express herself in front of the story that involves ‘When Paris Calls’.
The theme of the song is the reaction, exaggerated or not, of a person who discovered a betrayal with a name and all details. “This song should capture the desperate mix of emotions that any normal person would feel,” said the singer.
Listen now to ‘When Paris Calls’, Emma Mae‘s new hit:
PAYTON MARIE – Miss Me Too
Payton Marie is just 18 years old and has a musical quality that surpasses her age. Her new single ‘Miss Me Too’ has a chorus inspired by the soundtracks of the ’80s and the dance clubs, but the verses carry over to current alt-pop full of involvement.
The singer started her career when she was 5 years old and her parents put her in piano classes and since then, she has become a multi-instrumentalist, and also played in a rock band in her city (Iowa/USA). She composed all songs of her first EP (released in January 2021) when she was 16 years old.
“The song is about being in a relationship with someone who cares more about your reputation and partying than you are. And then he wants you back after you gave up because he realized how good you were to him.” – declared Payton about the new single.
If your playlist includes songs from bands like The 1975, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, you will identify with the sound personality of Payton Marie, who is also influenced by these artists.
Listen to the ‘Miss Me Too’ release now:
EMMA AND THE FRAGMENTS – Back to Blue
The band Emma and the Fragments is also known in Diário de Shows with a special place in my playlist with their punk rock sound, which this time explores a gothic and romantic atmosphere at the same time.
The new and latest single, ‘Back to Blue’, precedes the upcoming Smile EP”‘Til It Hurts”! In this track, the singer vents about her old relationship and the effortless attempt to move forward, even with her thoughts bringing the past to light in a heavy way.
The sung verses are able to make us feel everything that goes on in the vocalist’s heart with such elegance that accompanied by the sensual bass and the contrast with the frenzied drums, this junction transforms ‘Back to Blue’ into a gothic melodrama in which we don’t have sure if Emma manages to break free of this story.
Immerse yourself in the sound of Emma and the Fragments, press play:
MAYA YENN – How Much Sadness Can You Shallow?
In ‘How Much Sadness Can You Shallow?’ singer Maya Yenn explores dark themes in a dense electronic composition. “It’s a scintillating electropop exploration of loss, self-blame and what we do or don’t do with those feelings.” – reports the artist.
This track is a response to a dark nightmare she had. So, as a way to externalize all the claustrophobic sensation she felt, she asks herself and also leaves the question ‘how much sadness can you shallow?’.
“Years ago I had a vivid nightmare where I woke up in this old house and couldn’t remember who I was or why I was there. I was banging on doors and windows to try to escape but no one could hear me and I realized I was in hell living the same day over and over, my memories erased overnight. It really stayed with me. “– She declared.
Personally, I found this single addictive and sexy despite the heavy theme. Probably because the beginning is so smooth and at the same time the instruments create a tense atmosphere. The chorus is slightly more energetic as if it sets you up for victory, but then the stronger bass beats resurface and you’re back to square one. Or rather, the beginning of the feeling that was awakened in you in the first few seconds of the composition.
The single ‘How Musch Sadness Can You Shallow’ gives you a looping of feelings, perhaps intentional, to see how far you can take the pressure. Listen now and find out how much you can take:
“The support I’ve received so far from Brazil has been surprising and unexpected! They’re so engaged with the music and so encouraging, it really makes it all worthwhile.” – Maya Yenn
SCHEISSKIND – Direkt in Den Kopt
How about a rock song sung in German? I met the band Scheisskind this month and aside from the part where I hardly hear any music sung in German, their new single ‘Direkt in Den Kopt’ is really an interesting track for those who like melodic post-punk/punk rock.
Like every punk band, the theme surrounding the single released in April portrays the political scene in Germany. The group has recently returned to work and for this release, guest guitarist Domi ‘Dombag’ Glöckner brought all his talent and set the melodic accents.
Check out the punk rock sound of the band Scheisskind:
All these songs in on the official playlist of Diário de Shows on Spotify! #DiáriodeShowsINDICA.