ALEXSUCKS
Reminiscent of indie rock soundscapes of the 2010s, ALEXSUCKS offers both the post-punk sensibilities of the Strokes and the stripped-down introspection of Radiohead or Current Joys. While songs like “Worm in the Sun” and “What’re We Doing Here” feature raw vocals and catchy, distorted guitar lines, others, such as “Television of Memories,” contain deep vulnerability and nostalgia, with lead singer Alex Alvarez in an emotional falsetto.
hey, nothing
After blowing up on social media for their 2024 single, “Maine,” Georgia-based duo hey, nothing went on to release their latest EP, 33°: 5 songs of midwest emo angst and melancholy folk tunes likened to those of early Bon Iver. The band’s initial releases are worth a listen, too—”Party Brain” features catchy songwriting and a driving beat with the indie rock elements of Death Cab for Cutie.
Alemeda
With bubbly lo-fi production, ethereal yet catchy vocals, and a theme of embracing your true self, it’s no wonder Alemeda’s song “Gonna Bleach My Eyebrows” went viral in 2021. While her big break may have been more akin to the bedroom pop anthems of PinkPantheress, Alameda’s 2024 EP, FK IT, constitutes more of an indie pop feel, with heavier drums, electric guitar, and slightly distorted vocals—falling somewhere between the realms of Olivia Rodrigo, Conan Gray, and Claire Rosinkranz.
Jane Remover
Starting on Soundcloud in the 2010s, electronic artist Jane Remover has already become a celebrity within the realm of hyperpop, having pioneered the microgenre dubbed “dariacore.” Their latest album Revengeseekerz, released on April 4th, comprises 12 songs of metallic, industrial textures, sped-up and pitch-shifted vocals, and hard-hitting cybernetic angst. Past songs like “Census Designated” and “Contingency Song” feature the same digitally-warped melodies, but with a background of thick, overdriven guitar lines and signature shoegaze haze—a mix you don’t want to miss hearing live this summer.
Nourished by Time
Genre blending singer-songwriter Marcus Brown mixes indie pop, R&B, hip-hop, and soul on his project Nourished by Time. His debut 2023 album, Erotic Probiotic 2, features upbeat and lo-fi, DIY sensibilities such as on “Shed That Fear,” as well as the crooning “Quantum Suicide,” with reverberating, Prince-like synths and touches of soft, distorted guitar like those of Yves Tumor.
Glass Beams
Instrumental band Glass Beams prefers to keep their identity hidden behind glittery, gold beaded masks, but their hypnotic, psychedelic rock-driven and Indian-style compositions speak for themselves; their songs feature twirling guitar arpeggios, mesmerizing drones of a tambura, and catchy, upbeat bass grooves, evoking the cross-cultural experimentation of the Beatles while still keeping true to their Bollywood inspirations.
Sam Austins
Alternative hip-hop and R&B artist Sam Austins experienced mass virality with his hit single “Seasons” in 2024, a liminal, cinematic track reminiscent of the transcendent soundscapes of Blood Orange. But there’s much more to discover; from the Steve Lacy-esque indie-rock infusions in his earlier work to the heavier dance beats on his newest single, “A baby girl named Heaven,” Austins offers a sound that feels raw and intimate yet larger-than-life.
julie
Similar to Jane Remover, julie previously earned themselves a name in the grunge rock and shoegaze community with the viral “flutter,” released in 2022. While their fuzzy, aggressive, feedback-laced guitar and soft vocals evoke the style of bands like My Bloody Valentine, the fast-paced, almost frantic nature of many of their songs brings a unique, hard-hitting adrenaline rush to the otherwise sludgy and texturally dense genre.
