Hazel Adeline on songwriting, authenticity and identity
Q&A Roman Martinez Q&A Roman Martinez

Hazel Adeline on songwriting, authenticity and identity

Massachusetts-based songwriter and producer Hazel Adeline is a masterful storyteller, channeling raw emotion and introspection into her music. In a bold move, she released two strikingly different albums—Color of Nothing and ego death & nightmares—just a month apart. One is lush and collaborative, while the other is stripped-down and deeply personal, capturing unfiltered moments of self-reflection. In our conversation, Hazel opens up about her creative process, the power of authenticity in songwriting, and the challenges of being an independent artist.

Read More
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Dogwood
Best of 2024 Roman Martinez Best of 2024 Roman Martinez

BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Dogwood

As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact. 

Indie rock band Dogwood shares their list of most-liked releases of the year. Their selections range from dream pop artist Fazerdaze to Atlanta locals Indy Grab.

Read More
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Book/Spirit
Best of 2024 Roman Martinez Best of 2024 Roman Martinez

BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Book/Spirit

As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact. 

Today we highlight releases chosen by Pete Ferrari of the indie rock band Book/Spirit. From Been Stellar to Uncle Skunk, we get all New York-based bands.

Read More
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Iceblynk
Best of 2024 Roman Martinez Best of 2024 Roman Martinez

BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Iceblynk

As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact. 

In this edition, we hear from Iceblynk’s Martin Newman. The guitarist for the New York-based shoegaze project selected music from the unclassifiable duo Tremours and Icelandic goth trio Kælan Mikla.

Read More
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: lucidlüc
Best of 2024 Roman Martinez Best of 2024 Roman Martinez

BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: lucidlüc

As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact. 

Next up in our Best of 2024: Artist Picks, we hear from lucidlüc. The Atlanta-based artist blends psych-pop, punk and hip-hop. Lucidlüc’s curated list includes the diverse sounds of Tyler Jackson and Alli Cat.

Read More
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Theo Vandenhoff
Best of 2024 Roman Martinez Best of 2024 Roman Martinez

BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Theo Vandenhoff

As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact. 

For this edition of our Best of 2024: Artist Picks, we collaborated with Toronto-based post-punk/synth pop trio, Theo Vandenhoff. The band’s picks range from the black metal sounds of Nächtlich to indie folk tunes from Little Kid.

Read More
BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Navel Grazr
Best of 2024 Roman Martinez Best of 2024 Roman Martinez

BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Navel Grazr

As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.

We’re thrilled to feature Anjali Nair, of the dreamy and genre-blurring New York band Navel Grazr to kick off this series!

Read More
6 Things W/Ex Monarch
6 Things W/ Roman Martinez 6 Things W/ Roman Martinez

6 Things W/Ex Monarch

Miami alternative band Ex Monarch blends 90s grunge with modern rock. Their most recent single “Rotten,” which we featured as one of our faves back in October, the band calls “an honest expression of grief.” 

“We want our music to create a sense of empathy, and a space to expand the conversation and destigmatize topics that are hard to talk about,” says vocalist Amanda Pasler.

In our “6 Things W/Ex Monarch” the band touches on sonic influences, creating a balance on social media, guilty pleasures and more.

Read More
Blous3 dials into the noise on ‘Synchronized Swimming’
Q&A Roman Martinez Q&A Roman Martinez

Blous3 dials into the noise on ‘Synchronized Swimming’

Sacramento-based art punk band Blous3 has released their third album Synchronized Swimming, showcasing their evolving sound and songwriting. The album features a mix of noise, distortion, and experimental elements. In our Q&A, the band discussed their creative growth, collaborative writing process, working with Cherub Dream Records, and shoutout their favorite Sacramento bands.

Read More
Capturing the NYC indie music spirit on VHS
Feature Roman Martinez Feature Roman Martinez

Capturing the NYC indie music spirit on VHS

Bands Do BK Presents The Music Matters festival, held at Arlene's Grocery earlier this year, captured the spirit of the city's vibrant indie scene through performances by fourteen diverse bands. Curated by Marc Seligman, a fixture of New York's music world since the ‘70s, and Sam Sumpter of Bands Do BK, the event celebrated both emerging talent and the deep sense of community that defines the indie scene. Documented on VHS by the video crew I Know We Should, Bands Do BK Presents The Music Matters preserves a unique moment in time, capturing not just the music, but the unbreakable bond that connects artists and fans in the city's ever-evolving underground scene. Read our interview with Seligman.

Read More
Docile Bodies go with their gut
Feature Roman Martinez Feature Roman Martinez

Docile Bodies go with their gut

Dutch post-punk band Docile Bodies’ debut album, Light Will Come Our Way, is a powerful, emotionally-driven release that showcases their intuitive approach to songwriting. The album explores themes of art, nature, and family, while delving into hope and possibilities. We spoke with vocalist Sjoerd Aarden about the band moving in unison, turning gut feeling and indecisiveness into creativity, and their plans to experiment even further in the future.

Read More
Cosmopaark switches things up on ‘Backyard’
Feature Roman Martinez Feature Roman Martinez

Cosmopaark switches things up on ‘Backyard’

Bordeaux shoegaze band Cosmopaark has released their latest EP, Backyard, which features five tracks that blend classic shoegaze with modern noise pop. The EP was recorded in a studio, allowing the band to experiment with new production techniques. Backyard explores themes of resilience and introspection while showcasing their evolving sound. With a limited-edition release that quickly sold out, Cosmopaark's creative journey continues to captivate fans. Read our interview with vocalist Clément Pelofy.

Read More
6 Things W/The Noir Dalis
6 Things Roman Martinez 6 Things Roman Martinez

6 Things W/The Noir Dalis

The Noir Dalis is a Los Angeles-based duo featuring vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Carlos Bojorquez and drummer Linda Ventura. The pair is known for their collaborative songwriting, blending influences from psychedelic, garage, and post-punk. Their debut single, "Strawberry Jones," was recorded at Joshua Tree Studios with producer Tommy Dietrick and Jared Artaud (The Vacant Lots). Their self-titled debut album was released earlier this year, followed by additional singles, including the new 7” Rise. In "6 Things W/The Noir Dalis," they share insights about their favorite gear, creative exercises and more.

Read More