Artist Spotlight: Discovering Your Next Favourite Indie and Alt-Rock Obsession
By David Weddle
Exploring the raw talent and resonant stories of the independent music scene.
Exploring the raw talent and resonant stories of the independent music scene.
Today we are shining a light on three phenomenal new discoveries that completely throw out clinical, over-polished production in favor of pure sonic force: Bicentennial Drug Lord, a brilliantly witty power-pop auteur, and Bella Rios.
Formed by longtime friends and members of Sparklehorse, Punchdrunk, and Soda, Milwaukee-based trio Bicentennial Drug Lord is breaking away from the melancholic country roots of their debut. For their stellar new 6-song EP, BDL, the band holed up in a Virginia cottage during a muggy summer to capture a fresh, collaborative indie-rock sound.
Their fantastic new single, "Thaw," serves as a welcome ode to summer, beautifully recorded by acclaimed producer Alex Farrar (known for his work with MJ Lenderman and Wednesday). Shifting from country twang to an incredibly rich, nostalgic alternative palette, the band masterfully holds up a mirror to the emotional highs and lows of an endless summer.
Listen here
Their fantastic new single, "Thaw," serves as a welcome ode to summer, beautifully recorded by acclaimed producer Alex Farrar (known for his work with MJ Lenderman and Wednesday). Shifting from country twang to an incredibly rich, nostalgic alternative palette, the band masterfully holds up a mirror to the emotional highs and lows of an endless summer.
Listen here
Next up we take a look at 'Let's Get Back To Music' by Mo Troper. Bringing a fierce and deeply intelligent edge to the underground scene, this phenomenal power-pop artist delivers a brilliant new track born out of absolute emotional exhaustion. Originally written under a creative prompt from Kitty (Teen Suicide) to craft a yacht-rock song, the track was tracked at LA’s New Monkey studio alongside members of Father John Misty's band.
The result is a spectacular, satirical arrangement that sounds like Abba meets the Doobie Brothers and Randy Newman. Lyrically inspired by a frustrating battle over album producer credits, the song acts as a clever send-up of "kumbaya" classic rock tropes and a sharp, cynical critique of music as a superficial substitute for real political engagement.
Listen here
The result is a spectacular, satirical arrangement that sounds like Abba meets the Doobie Brothers and Randy Newman. Lyrically inspired by a frustrating battle over album producer credits, the song acts as a clever send-up of "kumbaya" classic rock tropes and a sharp, cynical critique of music as a superficial substitute for real political engagement.
Listen here
Bella Rios is an unstoppable force in the pop-rock scene today, and her newest single “Rubberneck” is proof in the pudding. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter is from Chicago but resides in Nashville, with influences from Queen and Fleetwood Mac, this classical piano driven artist has been growing in leaps and bounds.
This newest single is a confessional, hook-laden rollercoaster of emotions, following a deeply introspective storyline that explores the modern psychological phenomenon of rubbernecking. Being unable to look away from the emotional wreckage of another is a painful inner conflict that the track captures fiercely and fearlessly, a perfect anthem for fans of Olivia Rodrigo and Reneé Rapp.
Listen here
This newest single is a confessional, hook-laden rollercoaster of emotions, following a deeply introspective storyline that explores the modern psychological phenomenon of rubbernecking. Being unable to look away from the emotional wreckage of another is a painful inner conflict that the track captures fiercely and fearlessly, a perfect anthem for fans of Olivia Rodrigo and Reneé Rapp.
Listen here
Keep an eye out for more artist spotlights, and if you have any new music that you think deserves a shout-out, feel free to send it our way.