Fall '23 Roundup
Final music discovery post for the year
One last post in 2023 before I make my big end of year list for 10 people to read. I’m on tour right now, so the write-ups are shorter/less fleshed out than usual. Doesn’t really do the music justice, but these projects are too good to not share!! Figured this was better than nothing
BOYS - Medici // GIRLS - Medici
5 tracks, 14 minutes // 5 tracks, 15 minutes
Released: October 21st, 2023 // October 28th, 2023
From: Manchester, UK
Genres: Alt-Pop, R&B, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Jai Paul, The Dare, Toro y Moi
BOYS: APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
GIRLS: APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
Releasing jointly back to back, this feature is covering UK singer Medici’s dual EP release of BOYS and GIRLS. Releasing first, BOYS is a dirty followup to his 2020 EP Songs for Alyssa. Aggressive electronic beats with edgy lyrics highlight songs about drugs, sex, and self-destruction. Coming just two short weeks later, GIRLS offers a more tender approach with softer sounds and more reflective lyrics, foiling the prior EP in the most beautiful way. Combined, the effort shows off both the multiple sides of an artist and the dual sides of a person.
Standout Tracks: Boys on Drugs // Rigid
Versions of You - Rocket
7 tracks, 25 minutes
Released: October 27th, 2023
From: Los Angeles, CA
Genres: Alternative, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Momma, Hotline TNT, Smashing Pumpkins
A one-off gig over the summer selling merch for Pretty Sick at The Teragram Ballroom introduced me to Rocket, the opening act and killer four piece outfit operating out of my neck of North Hollywood in Los Angeles. This debut EP, Versions of You highlights their style of heavy guitar rock that layers of sleek vocals from lead singer Alithea glide over with precision. The influence from 90s alt-rock is present, but Rocket effortlessly merges the sound into their own lane.
Standout Track: Sugarcoated
Viral Wreckage - Aunty Rayzor
12 tracks, 31 minutes
Released: September 1st, 2023
From: Kampala, Uganda
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Club
Recommended For Fans Of: KABEAUSHÉ, Phelimuncasi
Shortly after writing about KABEAUSHÉ for the summer shortlist, I was introduced to another exciting artist working out of Uganda, through his feature on Aunt Rayzor’s debut album. But what on earth is Viral Wreckage? Combining rap with industrial beats, dancehall, electronic, club music, and at times just all out chaos, the album is as unique a listen as you can get in 2023. An eclectic project bursting with originality.
Standout Track: Never
Grady Says Serotonin - Massie
6 tracks, 13 minutes
Released: October 13th, 2023
From: Washington, D.C.
Genres: Punk, Power Pop, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Charly Bliss, Bully
Raw DC punk rock, everything about Massie is real, down to the blood on the EP cover. I got to be in attendance as the three piece band formerly known as Grady debuted their new name and first EP to a rambunctious crowd at Black Cat on 14th street. Complete with mosh pits, heavy riffs, and killer hooks Massie’s music delivers a punch in the teeth you’d happily get back in line for.
Standout Track: Never Live Without You Again
Lovely - Saving Miles Lemon
13 tracks, 38 minutes
Released: October 6th, 2023
From: Kansas City, MO
Genres: Psychedelic, Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Tame Impala, Men I Trust, Prince
Kansas City artist Saving Miles Lemon caught my attention in October with the release of his third album, Lovely. Locking in to crunchy psychedelic production, while adding captivating grooves, silky hooks, and Spanish verses, it’s not cliche to say this is a truly lovely listen. Consistent from front to back, this album is the perfect soundtrack to nearly any occasion. In his own words on Bandcamp Miguel details how, “the album deals with overwhelming love and adoration for a partner, and the difficulties of sustaining a long-distance relationship,” while also listing all the “nerdy” information like mics and synths used in recording.
Standout Track: Harder To Sleep
4Ever - Koka
5 tracks, 16 minutes
Released: October 26th, 2023
From: Coachella Valley, CA
Genres: Synth Pop, Indie, New Wave
Recommended For Fans Of: Chromatics, The Marías, Crumb
Full disclosure, this is a project I worked on, giving feedback on demos and working on the mixes for the better part of 2023. But it’s not a project or group I would work with if I didn’t fully believe in the music being made, so of course I had to give it a feature here. Together Sebastian and Uba create dynamic synth pop beats that Edith’s ethereal vocals float across beautifully. The album’s sound reflects the process of focusing on the essentials, and stripping back the track until you have strictly what’s needed to make it work. And boy does it work.
Standout Track: Is this the Day
Pipedream Firewood - FORAGER
8 tracks, 29 minutes
Released: August 18th, 2023
From: Brooklyn, NY
Genres: R&B, Alternative, Indie, Jazz
Recommended For Fans Of: Sen Morimoto, Radiant Children, April + VISTA
Brooklyn trio FORAGER makes free flowing R&B with a live feel to it, because it’s very much made with a live experience in mind. They say explicitly “Pipedream Firewood is music made to be performed live and in community.” The songs here are funky, vibrant, and always engaging. The second you even think you might lose focus, they change up the tempo or throw in a new part that demands your attention. It’s a group you can’t look away from, and why would you want to?
Standout Track: Edgewise
Mexikoreano - EthanUno & kimj
5 tracks, 11 minutes
Released: October 6th, 2023
From: San Diego, CA
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap,
Recommended For Fans Of: 454, Surf Gang, Bear1Boss, Yeat
San Diego artist EthanUno has been having a big year releasing singles of sugary sweet internet rap, and here he drops his first official project, a collab with producer kimj. Mexikoreano highlights the rapper/singer’s keen knack for addictive melodies that won’t leave your head for days after hearing them. It’s the type of music you’ll happily throw on repeat without any fear you’ll get sick of it.
Standout Track: Caminare Solo
Special thanks to Matt Singer who sent me the below passionate guest feature on why you should listen to his new favorite artist, and why he should be yours too
circa - low.bō
7 tracks, 16 minutes
Released: June 14th, 2023
From: Baltimore, MD → New York
Genres: R&B, Indie, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Dijon, Berhana, Kinrose, Omar Apollo, Choker, UMI
There’s no better feeling than the one that comes from discovering your new favorite artist. The older and older I get though (I’m only 29 but also FUCK I’m 29), the harder and harder it seemingly gets to come across that feeling. Though 2023 had some noteworthy debuts and breakout stars, there wasn’t any artist or project that blew my mind quite like low.bō’s circa EP did. The 23 year old NYC based, Baltimore raised singer-songwriter has been dropping a steady stream of absolute slappers since 2021, but hadn’t put out a project until June’s release of circa, a seven track record that I’ve had on-repeat since I first pressed play.
The opening track clear waters pulls you in with its mesmerizing harmony and impressive vocal range, while the soft-spoken second song navy shows how special the singer can be with just a few strings and drums behind his silky smooth voice. Next is fallen angels, a standout track that beautifully captures what it feels like to want someone to live up to the way you see them. low.bō asks “all I see is an angel/ so tell me why you don’t have any wings,” and “I see you/ so can you tell me do you see me?” The song examines the idea that having to ask questions like that is tough, but sometimes not knowing the answer is even tougher. Either way, the artist comes to the conclusion that “only time will tell.”
From there we get the playful yet simple audio romcom that is alysia followed by Trust God, which is more or less a skit that features the artist’s mother giving tried-and-true advice via a soundtrack-backed voicemail that reminds me of the outro from MAVI’s “TIME TRAVEL” which featured his own grandmother in another sweet voicemail moment. Writer’s Note: please take low.bō’s mother’s wise and loving guidance to heart and SIGN YOUR OWN PAYCHECKS!!!!!!
The sixth record earl grey is a distorted, funk-fueled BANGER that is half love-note/half apology letter to the album’s muse, with low.bō singing “don’t hate me girl but I had to get away, get away/ peace of mind is so hard to find.” The song has the EP’s only feature from tomteahouse, who does his part in attempting to soften the blow by adding “don’t blame it on yourself, baby/ blame it on the world/ don’t blame it on you.” Timing is everything, especially with relationships, which low.bō acknowledges when he croons “even though I hate goodbyes/ I have to leave you alone.” The closing track sunsetta sees low.bō making his feelings painfully clear to his former flame, “don’t say that you want me love/ cause you can’t get in.”
The EP is an honest and open look at where low.bō is as both an artist and person in this moment of time, and circa’s less-is-more approach to production allows his intentional and vulnerable lyrics to shine from start to finish. I highly suggest you run don’t walk to your nearest streaming service to check out circa asap, and remember to LISTEN TO LOW.BŌ!!!!
P.S. I found low.bō through one of my other favorite artists Luke Bar$ (who also has a contender for 2023 AOTY with his Angels Never Die) which just goes to show that you should always listen to the artists that your favorite artists are listening to 😤😤😤😤
-Matt Singer
Standout Track: earl grey (w/ Tomteahouse)
Goodreads
Bandcamp United files Unfair Labor Practice violation claim against Songtradr and Epic Games
by Raphael Helfand for Fader.
Mass layoffs at Bandcamp, including what seems to be a halving of the editorial team is a huge blow to musicians and music fans alike. Bandcamp’s union, Bandcamp United has now filed an unfair labor practice violation claim in response. Bandcamp editorial is one of the only publications consistently putting out features on artists you won’t find coverage on many other places. Countless projects I’ve written about in DBA, I discovered through Bandcamp editorial. The outlook for the future of music discovery and independent artists is incredibly bleak without outlets like Bandcamp editorial operating at full force.
In Response, Flaming Hydra
When things look bleak, look for the light. The above link is a kickstarter for a co-op newsletter from artists and writers who will own and share the publication equally.
It’s a joint effort between over 60 writers who have bylines in Bandcamp, Pitchfork, NYT, The Nation, Teen Vogue, Sports Illustrated, Vox, and countless other notable publications. Having nearly doubled it’s $25,000 goal, the daily (M-F) newsletter featuring articles, essays, comics, criticism, humor, literature, photos, reviews, and more is set to follow through on its proposed Jan. 2024 launch.
The above kickstarter link has the most info about the newsletter, but with the campaign having closed, you can head to their website to subscribe and get the full first year for $36.
Alumni Watch
Were you paying attention to Léa Sen (featured 5/25/22) when I posted her last year? Sampha was clearly paying attention, including her as the only feature on his long awaited 2nd album with What If You Hypnotise Me?
Subsonic Eye (featured 2/3/21) returned with another stellar indie rock album in All Around You
Rob Apollo (featured 12/19/22) continues the shenanigans in the sequel to NSFW from last year, NSFW 2: I Like Girls
Hadji Gaviota (featured 9/13/23) quickly followed up Wallflower with his new single lea michele
Melan (featured 11/16/22) puts her own spin on the viral TikTok mentality with her new single, Lucky Girl Syndrome
Sunny Moonshine (featured 3/17/21) dropped a new EP with abstractly fun pop music, with Mirage
Nat Home (also featured 11/16/22) returned with another EP of groovy electronic tracks, Homeward Bound
End of year lists coming before the end of the year