Tuesday Tunes -- January 31, 2017
Shaun Cordingley
It's always weird when I hit the very last day of the month with a Tuesday Tunes, as I feel like I should be building a playlist for you, but apparently it just needs to be next week, and longer...
Anyway, this week is going to be the last 'Tuesday Tunes' in the traditional sense; I've decided to try something a little different with the way I talk about indie music on theguysfrom.com, but rest assured, there will still be a lot of great indie music talked about here, and I hope you will join me for the start of that new way on February 6, 2017.
This week? MUSIC!
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new and different music that we are enjoying, or re-expose them to artists they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website, so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
What You Want - Zuzu
Every once in a while when I am putting Tuesday Tunes together, I come across a song that instantly needs to make the list, and that is exactly what happened when I heard "What You Want" by Liverpool/London's Zuzu.
First off, Zuzu's vocals are bloody fantastic--she has a unique, indie rock/punk swagger to her that just pours out of your speakers, which is remarkable as the pace of "What You Want" is...man it's hard to describe as you can really feel influences in the song from both pop rock of the 1960s, as well as the indie scene of the late 90s and early 2000s. Musically, the band is spotless indie rock, the balance is great, the production is perfect...This is one of those songs that I feel that essentially every indie alternative station (and college station) needs to be playing.
"What You Want" is Zuzu's second released single (the first being "Get Off", another song you should really check out that has more of a late 90s vibe to it), and honestly, you should not be surprised if Zuzu becomes an indie film soundtrack staple, nor if they show up on TT again...
(oh and PS: the video is totally an I Heart Huckabees reference)
Find a Way - Foxkeeper
Singer/Songwriter Andy Feller (AKA Foxkeeper) is a Nashville based musician whose debut EP The Beach Dream is due out next month, and one of the first singles he has released is "Find a Way", an interesting blend of indie pop-rock, with a soft, almost dream-like quality fuzzed around it. Not only is "Find a Way" catchy and enjoyable indie pop, but it's musically a lot more engaging thanks to its' dense layering.
Foxkeeper's got a nice, mellow indie pop-sound going, and I'm looking forward to seeing what The Beach Dream EP is like in the coming weeks.
Melbourne - The New Coast
East London's The New Coast is an indie pop duo whose track "Melbourne" has a dynamic (almost cinematic) sweep to it, thanks in large part to a strong use of drums to punch up the energy behind the more traditionally "indie pop" vocals. It's a cool combination which works together to make a stellar bit of indie music.
In late 2016 The New Coast released their debut EP Paraga Beach (which includes "Melbourne")--if you dig this song, I do recommend the the EP, as "Melbourne" really is a good example of The New Coast's sound (with "Lost in Your Love" a standout).
Baby - Bakermat
Amsterdam based DJ Bakermat has created a super funky, and fun piece in "Baby" that combines a house feeling, with a sound (both in vocals, and saxophone) that feels like it's lifted and remixed out of a hip club in the late 1970s. Bakermat has been active since 2012, and has released a number of tracks which have garnered European success, but I feel like it is very possible that most North Americans (like those of you reading Tuesday Tunes) probably have missed out on him; I really appreciate his use of samples, and melodic themes from soul, blues and jazz throughout his EDM, and "Baby" is the latest, great example of that.
And again, that saxophone.
Get Up - Gecko
Look: I understand that it has been a hard week for a lot of people...so I thought that this would be a nice time to tall about "Get Up" by Gecko. Gecko makes fun, playful music which oozes charm, and is hard not to smile and bob along to. I think Gecko is one of the more entertaining lyricists out in the indie scene today, and I have to admit that I am sad that I was not able to go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to see his "debut hour" A Lizard Goes a Long Way, because I honestly think that it sounds like it would've been a wonderful time.
"Get Up" does sound something like a few other pieces of indie pop, but the thoughtfulness (and depth) of the lyrics are edging toward bardic--it's honestly hard not to get something of a grin.
And I think we all needed that.
Earlier this month, I put together my Top 20 Songs of 2016, which also has an (in order) Apple Music Playlist for the Top 20 Songs of 2016
Also, there are ALL the monthly lists, like the one for November 2016! This one is only missing a couple of tracks so it's a fairly full, and fun list!
Remember, if you want me to put these playlists on other services (like Spotify), let me know on Twitter (I've linked it below)
If you're looking for more Tuesday Tunes, are late to the party, or just want more theguysfrom.com in your day, here are the playlists for:
There are other (earlier) playlists available for you if you check out earlier articles or search on Apple Music itself.
See you again next week!
-S (@Shauncord)