We are delighted to premiere Coma Culture’s beautiful new single “Martha,” prior to the release of their debut album, Camouflage. Coma Culture is the new indie-rock project from Young The Giant’s Eric Cannata and Francois Comtois, along with producer/songwriter Jon O’Brien. 

Previous releases found Coma Culture dealing with the complexity and shallowness of modern life, as well as the feel-good, carefree joy that comes from falling in love. Mixed by Yuuki Matthews, “Martha” finds them pushing into complex emotional territory as they candidly navigate the struggles of addiction. 

Soft swirling synths and gentle keys establish an unwavering honesty that is present throughout, as ghostly vocals let us know from the start that this is a direct confession to the narrator’s wife, Martha. Droning sounds mimic the repetitive background pull that is dependence, while the narrator reveals “Sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat / And I need something in my veins”. The beat intensifies, different elements of percussion set in and a whirlwind of synths come forward as though we’re moving through a maze of old alluring habits and resisting them. Despite that, there is also a felt sense of a glimmer of hope, something that keeps grounding the narrator and it comes in the form of another person, in this case, Martha herself. 

On the track, O’Brien said: "'Martha' is a story about waking up and fighting through the haze of addiction—choosing to live selflessly for at least one day and attempt a change for the person you love most. My biological father has spent most of his life in prison and drug addiction has always been a constant battle. The song is based on the premise that there is a fork in the road, a choice is to be made, and the future looks daunting but hopeful."

The optimism mentioned by O’Brien is felt when swelling strings arise, giving us a sense that the right choice will be made and despite the difficulty, the narrator will be able to pull through for the person they love. This stunning instrumental outro ends with the words “I woke for you today, Martha,” hitting us straight in the gut and reminding us of the truly positive ways other people can help shape our lives. 

Pre-order Camouflage, due out June 25th via Gourmet Music and Repost by Soundcloud. Photo by Kelly Victoria.

Sven Gamsky, best known as rising indie-funk superstar Still Woozy, is the definition of DIY. Part new-age R&B, part psychedelic pop, and part experimentation, his sound doesn’t fit neatly into a box. He has yet to come out with an album but has steadily been releasing hit singles since 2017. He writes, records, and self-produces all his music in his garage-turned-studio space in Oakland, California. His artwork is weird and vibrant, and it’s all made by his partner. Most notably, he’s unsigned, yet his Spotify monthly listenership currently resides at a cool 2.3 million. For all his unconventional methods, his success isn’t a mystery—his groovy, chill tracks are easy listening for music-minded ears. Gamsky's newest single, “Lava,” is no exception. It’s a vibey, sun-soaked jam that begs to be blasted on good speakers. Dreamy synths and a wavy guitar line cast the song in a warm, shimmery glow, while the swinging bass and tight percussion maintain the funky, head-bopping beat. Gamsky’s vocals are soft and pleasing even though he’s singing about a riff with a loved one, nicely complimenting the atmospheric arrangement and proving his sound is something of an unstoppable force. “Lava” is another smooth, abstract jam from the master of transcending genre. Keep an eye out for Still Woozy's debut EP, Lately, set to release on May 8th.

Queens-based songwriter and producer Sam R. (aka Glassio) has listeners wrapped in a psychedelic, dance dream with his new alt-electronic project, Biomes. In the debut single,“Everything I Need," Sam uses elements of Persian music with electro-synth beats and indie-pop vocal stylings to create a unique brand of dance music that will keep you engaged yet entranced. “Everything I Need” begins with a subtle hum that then grows and stays consistent throughout the song. Soon, it’s joined by well-blended layers of synths, percussion, and floaty vocals that take us down a rabbit hole of sound. As the current of the song ebbs and flows, the lone singer is suddenly joined by a swelling chorus who lament for the remainder of the track—“One of these days I’ll wake tomorrow, I want to see the sun come up the way, I used to know.”

"Marching Song" is the latest release by indie-folk songwriter Izzy Heltai in anticipation of his full EP out April 19th. Izzy's simple and often nomadic life is deeply reflected in his music. An unusual power and constant movement dominate his storytelling. There is a quality to his voice that is very timeless and comfortable, even when the lyrics tell a stirring story. "I couldn't tell you through the telephone / that I am not myself / I am not myself anymore." The horns and keys throughout the song offer a contrasting softness to the raw guitar. Izzy delivers a refreshing voice in the folk community. There is something very delicate, yet purposeful about his instrumentation and songwriting. You can catch Izzy Heltai on tour in the United States and Canada this fall.

“Sold You Out,” a new song by Beauty Queen, will make any day feel like a Sunday afternoon. The band, hailing from San Francisco, is due to release their forthcoming EP, Out of Touch on April 19th via Brooklyn’s Sleep Well Records. "Sold You Out" is truly pleasant and comforting, and sometimes, especially these days, that’s the kind of song we need. It’s a track that makes smiling at the fresh spring leaves seem like an entirely normal and not dorky thing to do. Yes, synth dream pop is all the rage right now, but Beauty Queen has truly hit the nail on the head with what the genre is trying to achieve. Even though "Sold You Out" is full of synths and simple chord patterns, it’s layered in an unpretentious yet non-basic way. Like many other west coast bands, Beauty Queen appears to be drawing from artists like Washed Out and Tennis, but there's still something distinct about what they're doing. Take a listen and see what I mean, I swear I’m not over-selling it.

Northern California duo Junaco balance the warm and inviting with the haunting and suspenseful in their latest track, “Willow.” Singer Shahana Jaffer provides dark, smooth vocals that linger, leaving the listener hanging on to her every word. The vocals float above plucky, bellowing guitar lines that when combined create eerie and atmospheric soundscapes. The track is an emotional one that shifts and bends from its gothic, folky open to a sonically bright wave of warm Americana guitar tones. The duo then change things up even more by switching vocal duties and throwing some shimmery indie pop guitar and expressive drums into the mix. This variety expresses a full spectrum of emotions, but cleverly keeps it all connected so that we can also “feel the room.”