Up and Coming Indie Artists to Check Out

Smörgåsbord: Up and coming indie artists to check out graphics by Jennifer “An Obelisk” by Titus AndronicusBack in 2010, Glen Rock, New Jersey punk band Titus Andronicus made a name for itself with the release of “The Monitor,” an over-an-hour-long record with various references to the Civil War. Over the nine years since then, the band has had trouble matching the power that that album held. However, with this new album, instead of writing rock operas, the band opts for shorter, more to-the-point punk songs. As proven by the punchy lead-up track “(I Blame) Society,” this move has paid off. The song’s chorus is a political chant that melts its way into the brain. Lead singer Patrick Stickles’ voice cuts through like a knife with its powerful rasp. The track wields all the force the group had with their longer tunes, but condenses it and gets to the sweet stuff. “An Obelisk” might be the Titus Andronicus record many fans hoped to see. “Keepsake” by Hatchie “Keepsake,” the latest record from Australian singer- songwriter Hatchie, continues down a distinct stylistic path. Last year, Hatchie released her debut EP “Sugar & Spice” to favorable acclaim. Its sound centered around the genre of dream pop, a sound similar to 1980s alternative and synthpop bands like Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine, but loaded with modern sounds and production. Like Hatchie’s previous work, “Keepsake” combines perfectly tuned pop songs with landscapes of dreamy instrumentation. Tracks like “Without A Blush” perfectly capture this, with catchy hooks all around the tune. The layered keyboards and guitar create an immersive soundscape that leaves the listener in awe. The music video for the song is very colorful, fitting the aesthetic of the tune. It catches the viewer’s eye like how the song captivates the listener’s ear. “Keepsake” is the perfect delicacy of an album to fall Smörgåsbord: Up and coming indie artists to check out in love with over the summer. “Schlagenheim” by Black Midi Taking its name from a strange internet genre of extreme piano music, Black Midi is taking the world of underground music by storm. Dubbed the “new face of guitar music” by many blogs, like Pitchfork, NME, and SPIN, Black Midi’s sound is a herky-jerky, anxious, progressive form of rock. Just listen to their debut single “bmbmbm” (which only ever saw a vinyl release, but is available to hear on YouTube). It’s a monotonous guitar note and repetitive screeching vocals backed by a sample of a lady screaming and sporadic drumming. It’s so strange yet amazingly fascinating. Although none of the debut album’s songs and titles will be revealed until its June 21 release date, previously released tracks can be found scattered over the internet. Black Midi is a cryptic new group that no one can get enough of..

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