Each generation of musical genres always have a figurehead. That figurehead not only shapes the future of their genre, but tends to represent it on an artistic level. We anticipate one of the figureheads of the evolving alt-pop genre to be (the aptly named) Future Generations, who released their single “Coast” last month, and their self-titled album Future Generations
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An artist may draw influences from other musicians, but it’s the name that they make for themselves that counts. Heavy Static has definitely made a name for themselves, having been named “Artist of the Month” by The Deli Magazine Toronto. The band hails from Toronto, and they’ve only been around for two years, but they’re
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Australia seems to be leading the world in the innovation of new music. From Dylanesque songwriter and snark-master Courtney Barnett to neopsychedelic band Tame Impala, the land down under has been turning out some truly impressive and creative musicians. Riding this wave of success is Sydney-based band Jenny Broke the Window, who just released their
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Feminism is a topic that will never get old in art. Sorry, Patriarchy — it’s still a thing, and people are going to keep talking about it. From Helen Reddy to Lorde or Beyoncé, the equality and empowerment of women is a topic that is relevant to musicians in increasing numbers. One of the latest bands
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Few themes have been explored more in depth by artists than those of belonging and identity. That doesn’t mean those themes are getting old, though. On the contrary, each new generation of artists have found a way to explore the topic in a new and interesting way. Among the most recent artists to do so would
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Sometimes we forget that artistically significant music doesn’t have to sound depressing. Naturally, we all have that one band that we go to when we’re in a pensive mood and feel like brooding, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any other significant music out there. The Marlenes are the perfect example of this, with their
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The new wave of psychedelia is an interesting movement. First off, while stylistically similar to its roots, the genre has, for the most part, taken on a major change in content and inspiration. While lyrics of early psychedelic bands such as Pink Floyd and The Doors stemmed from otherworldly, drug-induced bouts of hyper-creativity, the newer
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With the latest developments in alternative music, one thing has become obvious: rock will never die. And it’s a good thing, too, because like all genres, rock goes through phases of creativity and innovation. Indie grunge band ODDITY is riding the latest wave of experimentation. Formed in 2012 as Fletcher, ODDITY has reinvented themselves with
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Sometimes the best new music is actually a throwback to something older. But just because it’s a throwback, doesn’t mean it can’t be an entirely fresh and new style. This is the case with Graveyard Lovers, an indie garage band from New York City that just released their latest album, Past the Forest of the
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When a band finds “their sound,” it’s always influenced by some other style. However, when the band reaches maturity, that sound becomes something not only hard to describe, but impossible to define. The Beatles, while influenced by early rock and roll musicians like Chuck Berry, grew to develop their own style that is still difficult
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Experimentation is not only important to music, it’s crucial. New genres don’t develop and new styles aren’t explored without experimentation. And while some groups may fail at this, Denver-based group déCollage is clearly succeeding. Their latest album, Magnetize, is a true work of ingenious experimentation, and it’s an example of the rising popularity and influence
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Within the lifetime of a musical genre, there will be high-points and low points. Southern rock (or what, today, is falsely considered country) hit a low point the moment the music industry decided that lyrics about trucks and the same four chords over and over were all listeners wanted to hear. This is where Gideon’s
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When vocalization became a more common part of mainstream music, instrumentation at times took a backburner. Although vocals are an important artistic component to music, instrumentals can often be the real heart of a piece. With Indonesian band Summer Effect, it’s the sole element. Their post-rock album, Afterlife, takes instrumentalism to an entirely new level of expression
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With the reemergence of the punk-rock genre has come a wealth of skilled new bands to take up the banner. Like all truly valuable genres, it refuses to die. One of the most notable up-and-coming punk bands is Norwegian group SLØTFACE. With the release of their debut EP Sponge State, SLØTFACE has continued punk’s tradition of
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The concept of a “first love” has been one that has preoccupied songwriters for centuries. The deep emotional connection, sentimental attachment, and memories associated with this person can be so strong, that the sentiment is almost impossible to experience over again once it has been first felt. For Rachael Sage, though, her first love is
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The emergence of modern folk rock has also brought about the reemergence of profound, culturally-conscious lyrics. The honesty of musicians like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, who dealt with important and sensitive topics with satirical, dry mock-nonchalance, is making a comeback. This return of the genre has also brought about the popularity of women singers
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We all love energetic, peppy music that either gets us excited or makes us angry. Sometimes, though, we need a moment to sit back and reflect, confronting some of the difficulties of life. When we listen to music that is more pensive and profound, it’s easier to do this and it makes the time that
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Whoever said rock was dead has probably been eating those words for a while now. Each generation has seen bands rise up to take the baton of true, wholesome rock and roll, thus ensuring its survival. But it’s also been rock and roll’s ability to incite change and insight that has kept it alive. It’s
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Musicians and other artists are constantly told to be true to their roots. This poses a dilemma for someone who is somewhat unclear about their roots. Many artists will tirelessly search and travel to find this, and in such cases, a musician is left with even richer material; their journey to find identity. Melati Malay’s
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The most important element of great artistry is the personal touch that each artist brings to their work. A good artist not only draws from their experiences, but uses their art as an expression of their deepest thoughts and questions. One of these artists is Eric Johnson, the leader of Fruit Bats, who recently released
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As we see the invention or resurgence of certain musical genres, there are always bands that will come to shape or embody that genre. When folk music was adopted in the ‘60s and adapted into a new genre, folk-rock, it was musicians like Bob Dylan or groups like Crosby, Stills, and Nash that came to
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No artist gains legitimacy without true energy or passion. The best artists aren’t merely influenced by such passion, but that passion transfers itself into their work. You can’t find a better infusion of passion in music today than in Polymath’s debut EP Plymth. Each track is filled with this raw, emotional energy that not only influences
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Looking back at the new projects that have been released in the past year, I have come to an encouraging realization: psychedelia is on the rise. In fact, it has already risen. So many bands lately have adopted sounds highly reminiscent of groups like The Doors and Pink Floyd from the glory-days of psychedelia in
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Many of us have known somebody who can do it all when it comes to music. Whether it be playing the piano, guitar, some other random instrument, or even mixing the tunes on a laptop, such a person has enough skill that they don’t need help from anyone else. One such person is Matt Martin, the
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An artist can be distinct and original and still produce pleasant work. Many do not realize this, and equate pleasing art or music with shallowness. Those who hold to this opinion have a flawed view of originality: It’s not something that one comes to by searching for it. Rather, it reveals itself to an artist
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When the best bands or musicians first became successful, it was because of their own talent. The Beatles were just teenagers when they started out, before the era of boy bands. Their success came because each member of the Beatles had a particular set of musical skills that they were masters at. Bob Dylan was
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In a world where auto-tune and synthesizers reign supreme in music, an artist with a truly skilled voice really stands out. One such musician is Holly Miranda, who last year released a self-titled album which has proved to be a work of genuine musical excellence. Miranda has been making music professionally for almost 17 years, but she’s
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The main characteristic of a counter-cultural icon is that they are constantly finding ways to adapt without stooping to conformity. New styles are explored and new methods are employed, but the driving vision and artistic integrity of such an individual never changes. Counter-culture icon Yoko Ono embodies this very principle with the release of her latest
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Experimentation is one of the keys to artistic achievement. This isn’t only true of radical artists, such as Picasso, or radical musicians, such as Stravinsky — it’s true of any artist. Experimentation is growth, and one band that’s definitely been doing a lot of growing lately is Fake Laugh, particularly with their latest single, “Mind Tricks.”
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The fastest growing, fastest evolving genre in the musical world today is folk-pop. Take a look back into the past five years, even ten years, and you’d be hard pressed to find a prominent musician in this genre. But that’s changing. With the strengthening of the genre, there come certain musicians who have proved crucial to
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The music world has seen both revival and transformation of rock and roll. New bands are finding ways to bring the genre back, while adding their own unique twists. It’s no surprise, then, when bands like Spirit Animal come out with new material that sounds both familiar and new at the same time. The Brooklyn-based group
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When a band releases a single, it’s because the track is able to stand alone as a significant musical achievement. The song has undergone hours, sometimes days of labor, and is expected to be a masterpiece. Expectations were both met and exceeded with the release of Twin River’s new single “Antony.” The Vancouver-based group released their debut album, Should The Light Go
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The best music of today finds itself increasingly reminiscent of the music from the 1960s. This is understandable, because many of the most popular styles and genres of today owe their existence to the 60s. What genres weren’t created in the 60s, were at least forever altered and refined by it. A genre that owes its
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Each decade has its musical geniuses. These musicians are separated from the other musicians of their time, however, because their style is truly timeless. This ironic criterion is easily recognizable in bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Cure. Any musician who draws from these groups, though they perform in a different era, takes the
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A good artist takes styles and themes from older art and adopts it as their own. Originality does not rely on thinking of something nobody else has thought of, but on putting your own spin on something. Angela Perley and the Howlin’ Moons follow this concept in their own work, and the result is music
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Steve Lieberman, the man behind “The Gangsta Rabbi,” was recently told that his Leukemia was terminal. Such news would’ve be enough to break the will of many artists, but Lieberman responded to the news by releasing Terminator V617F, his newest album, containing some of his greatest work yet. Lieberman was born to a Jewish family
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Finding a skilled musician who can write meaningful lyrics is always rewarding. These musicians have become something of a rare-breed in popular music, and that’s why artists like Jim Ramsey are refreshing to listen to. His introspective lyrics and captivating melodies illustrate his knowledge of what music is at its essence: an artistic medium. Ramsey
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Anyone can tell you that it’s getting harder and harder to find decent, honest rock and roll today without going back to the classics. Every now and then, though, we find a band that gives us hope for the future of the genre. One such band is Catalina Shortwave. The New York band just released
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