What sounds shaped an album about a lost people? The FVL. share the 15 tracks behind Land of Siesta 午睡島, spanning ambient, psychedelia, and 4th world electronics. Listen in.

Hopeful and anticipating the next move. That’s Dewey’s debut ‘Summer on a Curb’ in six words. With its playful rhythms, spellbinding synths and crunchy guitars, the album is all sun-soaked energy.

To celebrate the release, Dewey curated a playlist of songs that inspired their sound. The tracklist includes lo-fi electronica from ESPRIT & George Clanton to Japanese shoegaze from Tapeworms and British alt-rock from The Servant. Read more at the link!

Is This a House? is the sound of a band breaking boundaries. For their second album, Dining Dead was influenced by chamber pop, funk, yacht rock & folk and turns it into something entirely their own. We spoke with Sammy Skidmore about the album’s slow-burn creation, the band’s deep connection, breaking traditional song structures and how a hilariously awkward date inspired the title. Read our interview and listen to the band’s selection of songs that inspired the album.

Alternative metal band Eva released their debut album last month. The 10-track release pulls from influences ranging from post-grunge, shoegaze and nu metal. On ‘OPIA,’ the band–Austin “Auzzie” Schmitt (vocals, rhythm guitar), Moises “Moi” Richardson (guitar), Ethan Strobel (bass) and Jeff Gonzales–references Deftones, Chevelle, and Slipknot alongside video game music and nu gaze artists including Wisp and Slow Crush. To mark its release, Eva curated a list of songs that shaped their full-length record. Read our Q&A and listen to the playlist.

On their debut album Ambivert, Houston-based duo Blemishes—comprised of Julienne Ceron and Jessie Huntington—defies easy categorization by blending diverse musical influences and styles. This 50-minute album showcases a spectrum of sounds, from frantic rhythms to gentle instrumentation, reflecting their view of albums as cohesive narratives rather than mere collections of songs. To highlight its various influences, Ceron curated a playlist for us. Read our Q&A with the writer/producer and listen to the playlist.

Nieri's latest EP Flow State touches on personal growth and resilience. Collaborating with producer Joakim Buddee, Nieri blends dance-pop, electro-pop, and nu-disco to create a seamless project. The 9-track release reflects Nieri's artistic evolution, marked by bold experimentation and a deeper exploration of vulnerability. We asked Nieri to curate a playlist of the influences that shaped Flow State. From Grace Jones to George Michael and Peaches, Nieri’s selections help us understand his motivation. Read our Q&A with the LA-based artist and listen to the playlist.

Mattstranger’s selection of tracks show off the range of styles that helped influence his debut album Perfect Blue. From Chicano soul music to video game sounds, the fluidity of styles is unmatched.