A selection of new and/or relevant indie/rock tracks that have recently left an impression on us. For the full playlist, click here.
ReeToxA- “The Lisa Song”
ReeToxA is a Melbourne-based rock band. Their single “The Lisa Song” is a song by Jason McKee about Lisa, the woman he met during a Spiderbait concert, the reason Jason McKee decided to pursue music. The song is bright with thumping drums and upbeat rhythm that’s cheerful, and starts with the lyrics describing a chance encounter and interaction.
The lyrics are written in the vocalist’s perspective, which makes it feel like a story is unfolding. There are undertones of admiration and adoration. The song sounds pure and honest in the same way that someone falls in love for the first time. It’s the kind of song that makes us want to be in love, to be loved. Find your own “Lisa” while you listen to “The Lisa Song”.
Tonneau- “O Father, O Mother”
“O Father, O Mother” is a dreamy, hymn-like song by Amsterdam based band Tonneau. The trio consists of Ton van Dijk, Alies van der Hoeven, and Jan van der Hoeven.
The rich atmosphere of this single is heavy and reverberates long after the song ends.
It is a song that fits perfectly into their discography with themes of family, love, and parenthood.
In the first half of the song ‘O Father’, the layered melodies paired with the piano create a narrative of a strong, fearless man. Here is where the soulful vocals by Ton Van Dijk take up centre stage. In the second half of the song ‘O Mother’, the track feels lighter, accompanied by higher-pitched vocals. As we get to the climax becomes distorted vocals layered with folk-inspired violin, felicitously bringing the song to an end.
Jeff Dwyer- “Wind beneath my wings.”
“Wind beneath my wings” is a song originally written in 1982 by American Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. The song is inspired by a poem about flying and carries themes of gratitude, admiration, and sacrifice. The lyrics bring light to the many people it takes for someone to shine, and all the people in the shadow of someone’s light supporting them to shine brighter.
‘Salmagundi’ is Jeff Dwyer’s latest album, in which he has released a powerful and revived rendition of “Wind beneath my wings”. It is a powerful ballad, a classic that you’d have heard on vinyl, but somehow still feels fresh and alive when Jeff Dwyer sings it in his rich, rounded, and deep voice. Jeff Dwyer’s rendition of wind between songs is perfect to rediscover and fall in love with classics that get forgotten over time.
Joseph Turner and The Dudes of Hazard– “Travelin’ Hearts.”
“Travelin’ Hearts” is a song by Joseph Tuner, an artist based in the Netherlands, and a rotating indie/alternative collaborator of The Dudes of Hazard. The indie-pop track, peppered with Americana influences, is recorded in what the artist calls a “collaborative distance,” recorded in multiple locations, multiple studios by multiple artists.
The visualizer features a figure riding horses as the sun is just above the horizon, and that’s exactly how the song feels. The song is somewhat in between running away to find yourself and travelling to experience something you haven’t before. When you want to feel like a main character in a film who is getting their life together, “Travelin’ Hearts” would be the song you hit play on.
Mattock– “Daughter”
“Daughter” is a long-awaited album and song by Mattock, the Americana-rock duo Casey Brandt and Jason Fletcher. “Daughter” is 6-minutes of bold, raw, and emotion-driven track that starts with an upbeat tempo that gets you grooving to the beat, but halfway through the song, the instruments halt, and only the drums and a unique screeching sound texture persist.
A booming drum roll comes in, the atmosphere changes, and the soundscape is more dystopian. When the groovy beats come back on, it feels like a completely different song; the guitar riffs, bass, and beats sound more intense and heavy. The song ends with a gut-wrenching, muffled scream.“Daughter” is a journey from electric guitar strum to the folk-influenced chimes to a tongue-in-cheek vocal style.
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