Drinker’s “Wave” experiments with highs and lows starting with deep ambient noise and brightening slowly as it progresses. The rich synths provide a deep fullness with little moments of light coming in through meticulously placed guitar riffs and nuanced harmonies. The experimental pop duo explores the cyclicality of life and its endless searching through the metaphor of the moon’s influence over the tides as Aaron Mendelsohn repeats, “who is this? / I’m stuck inside a wave.” Ariel Loh’s production aids in the cyclical quality without falling victim to boring repetition. Much like the ocean, it is slow, steady and relentless, but it is riddled with moments of surprise— a spirited yet subtle shaker, a quick riff of high hats, and ethereally manipulated harmonies. The song builds slowly on itself ebbing and flowing from one complex interconnection of sounds to the next until it hits its brink. It does not slow as it ends as much as it just finishes leaving the listener waiting for more. “Wave” is the fifth single from Drinker’s upcoming debut LP, which is due out May 3rd via B3SCI Records.

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.”

Having recently taken time away from his personal practice to lend his talents to the production of recent Beach House and Cass McCombs projects, Papercuts has returned with three track EP, Kathleen Says. Humming waves of synthesized warmth and a rich, metallic guitar are the only accompaniments to songwriter Jason Quever’s conversational candor on "Comb In Your Hair," the final track off his latest project. Memory plays a significant role in the lyrical narrative of the tune, while Quever’s dreamy remembrances cast a gauzy sheen over the sleepy, low-fi instrumentation. “And your eyes fell back in your head / to a place inside the light just couldn’t get” repeats a slightly gritty, emotionally affected voice following a series of lyrical tableaus that sift through intimate memories—seeking perhaps both comfort and gold.