Just Rolled In: Young Dreams - "Of The City" [psychedelic / orchestral pop / electronic / tropicalia]

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Bergen, Norway's Young Dreams has just released new material for the first time since their excellent 2012 debut album Between Places in the form of the fully imagined psych-pop single "Of The City". With production chops recalling the sleek expansiveness of Tame Impala's Currents, this upbeat single stays true to the psychedelic leanings of their debut and sports one hell of a string arrangement and bongo-heavy percussion section.

As the story goes, Young Dreams began work on their sophomore effort immediately after releasing their debut, but after three years of work on this "requiem for God", it was scrapped because the producer/composer/singer-songwriter behind it all, Matias Tellez, feared the album was "blasphemous and too conceptual" for anyone to like. However, the new track "Of The City" is actually a reincarnation of one of the songs from that discarded album, and boy, are we lucky that it made it to see the light of day! It just makes me wonder what the rest of that album would've sounded like. Nevertheless, Young Dreams has finished a different album that will be released in 2017, and if this song is any evidence, it's going to be amazing.

"Of The City" sees an official release August 26 via Blanca Records but can be streamed now on SoundCloud.

Artist Making Waves: Szymon [indie rock / folktronica]

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Szymon Borzestowski was a talented young singer/songwriter/musician from Newcastle, Australia who lost his battle with depression at age 23. When he was 19 years old he struck a deal with EMI but never got to release his music, so following his tragic passing his family got together with some record industry people to see that the music he had recorded in his home studio got released. More often than not, tragic backstories such as this one tend to be what carries posthumous works of art to a certain level of success or notoriety, but Szymon's debut LP Tigersapp speaks for itself, seeing as I was hooked on the album before ever hearing anything about the artist.

Drawing from the indie rock, folk, and electronica genres, Szymon employs his smooth vocal harmonies, intricate guitar melodies, ambient electronics, and catchy songwriting to make Tigersapp a truly unique album that is sure to live on, both as a celebration of an artist's life and talents, and as an extraordinary record in and of itself.

Listen to two of Tigersapp's singles below, the upbeat "Medusa" and dreamy "Golden", and order the full album here.

Swell Album: Macajey - Let's Go [electronic / folktronica / chillwave / beats]

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Estonia-based California native Jeremy Macachor, aka Macajey, has just released his latest record entitled Let's Go. The young solo musician/producer uses his experience as a guitarist and recording/mix engineer to bring us a full sound that is as much organic as it is electronic, tracking live drums, electric guitar, and original vocals (by Elle Leatham and sister, Ashley Macachor) throughout the complex array of digital sonics.

Macajey lists Bonobo, Four Tet, Slow Magic, and Gold Panda as influences, and it's evident in his music, throwing together Slow Magic's energy and danceability, Four Tet's use of organic sounds, the smooth jazziness of Bonobo, and the Gold Panda's glitchy production style. This concoction of musical tendencies allows him to generate a sound of his own that is just as likely to make you hit the dance floor as it is to make you plop down on the couch and trace the imaginary constellations on your ceiling with your eyes.

Stream Macajey's beautifully produced album Let's Go below and follow the link in the Bandcamp player to buy yourself a copy. You can also listen to and download (pay what you want) his two previous EPs here and here.

Just Rolled In: Froyo Ma - "I Live All Alone (Abby Diamond's Figure Remix)" [electronic / r&b / beats]

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New Orleans beatmaker Zack Villere, a.k.a. Froyo Ma, has made a name for himself for his complex electronic soundscapes littered with glitchy harmonies, obscure and retooled vocal sampling, and complementary guitar embellishments. This signature style of his is evident on last November's offering "I Live All Alone (feat. Bill Murray)" , which recently underwent the remix treatment by another New Orleans musician, singer-songwriter Abby Diamond.

Unlike most remixes, the music for the track itself remains the same and Abby's sensual vocals are simply layered over top, which, as you can imagine, yields an even better song. Having heard the remix first, the original track (featuring dialogue between Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray from Lost in Translation) just sounds like an instrumental version to me. This all goes to say that Abby Diamond fits flawlessly into Froyo Ma's already beloved track.

Aside from Abby Diamond's alluring R&B presence, what really impresses me on this track is how Villere manages to take an easygoing (and super pretty) contemplation-inducing loop and then turn it into a trip hop banger halfway through with the flip of a switch. It's gotta be the best "drop" in a non-dubstep song ever.

Enjoy the remix below and check out more music from Froyo Ma and Abby Diamond on their SoundCloud pages.

Artist Making Waves: Cannons [electronic / dream pop / r&b]

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Cannons is a blossoming three-piece electronic outfit based in Los Angeles that draws from funk, R&B, and darkwave to brew up their own futuristic brand of electropop that's equal parts groovy, sexy, and dreamy, so I can see why they've decided just to go with "future boogie".

South Florida native Michelle Joy is front and center on the keys, drawing the listener in with her chilled-out hypnotic vocals while bandmates Ryan Clapham and Paul Davis lay down the funky guitar riffs, ominous melodies, danceable beats, and slick electronic production. The fact that it all comes together so beautifully and that they've been pushing out singles every month or so for over a year goes to show that Cannons know what they're doing and that they're here to stay, and more importantly, to make you dance.

Cannons' debut four-song Up All Night EP can be download on iTunes or BandCamp for just a few dollars. Check out the recent tracks "Evening Star", "Night Verses", and "Spells" plus two of my favorites from the EP and hop on over to their SoundCloud page to hear a bunch more!

Swell Album: Jape - This Chemical Sea [electropop, synthpop] *FULL ALBUM STREAM*

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Dublin native and current Malmö, Sweden resident Richie Egan and his bandmate Glenn Keating are back with their fifth album This Chemical Sea as Jape, this year's follow-up to 2011's Meteor Choice Music Prize-winning Ocean of Frequency. While most of their discography has been tagged with the subgenre 'folktronica' for its unique blend of acoustic guitars and synths, what we hear on This Chemical Sea is pure electropop, leaving the acoustic component out of the final mix and focusing more on the rich electronic production. Catchier, smoother, and groovier than ever before, This Chemical Sea is, hands down, Jape's greatest and most tenacious effort to date. Stream its 10 tracks below and purchase yourself a copy if you like what you hear.

Artist Making Waves: LOW ROAR [dream folk / electronic / ambient pop] ***UPDATED (album stream added)***

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I've been listening to LOW ROAR's new singles a lot in the past few months and it's taken me this long to look deep enough into the band to find out that the man behind it all, Ryan Karazija, was the frontman of Oakland, CA's now defunct indie rock band Audrye Sessions. I saw them about 5 years ago in St. Petersburg, FL opening up for Manchester Orchestra with then-overlooked Fun and was really impressed by the band's eerie explosiveness, Ryan Karazija's soaring falsetto, and the way he played the guitar with a cello bow. While Audrye Sessions reminded me of Radiohead's energetic rock songs, LOW ROAR seems to derive influence from their slower, more expansive tracks, creating a dreamy brand of ambient electronic music with orchestral and post-rock elements.

I suppose when I saw that LOW ROAR was a band from Reykjavík, Iceland I simply deduced that its members must also be Icelandic, which was partly correct. Apart from California-native Karazija (pictured above in the center), there are two members from Iceland, and listed as a member on their Facebook page, but not pictured above, is American Grammy-winning producer Andrew Scheps, who contributed keys and programming on LOW ROAR's 2011 self-titled debut album, so it's safe to say he plays a similar role on their upcoming sophomore release entitled 0 (yes, that's a zero).

Moving to Iceland after the dissolution of his previous band, Karazija hoped to find inspiration similar to that of which most Icelandic musicians seem to feed off on the majestic Nordic island, and I'd say he's found it. Its awe-inspiring landscapes have made their way into LOW ROAR's vastly beautiful arrangements enough to have comparisons be drawn to Icelandic post-rock giants, Sigur Rós. Apparently, you don't have to be from Iceland to sound like you're from Iceland; you just have to live there.

Enjoy three dreamy tracks from LOW ROAR's sophomore release 0 below Stream LOW ROAR's new album 0 below, stream the debut album here, and be sure to pick up your own copy of 0 on July 8th.

Just Rolled In: FISHING - "Your Mouth (feat. Jonas Nicholls)" [electronic / indie pop / beats]

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The Australian electronic duo FISHING from Sydney produces radiant sample-laden electronic music influenced by hip-hop and indie-pop. With their debut LP Shy Glow coming out this week via, and with summer finally here (for most of us) I found it all too appropriate to share the latest sunny single from the record entitled "Your Mouth", featuring Jonas Nicholls of fellow Sydney band SURES on vocals, as well as a couple other songs from the new album. If you're lacking summer vibes I'm sure this will help.

Just Rolled In: SALES - "Chinese New Year" [indie pop / electronic / lo-fi]

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Since we last checked in with Orlando, Florida's endearing indie pop duo SALES about eight months ago, they have released a handful of catchy tracks on their SoundCloud and expanded their fan base considerably. On their fifth single "Chinese New Year", SALES continue their minimal sound but kick the tempo up a few notches, resulting in a tender indie pop song that recalls the clarity and candor of The Drums while preserving their originality thanks to Lauren Morgan's indelibly sweet voice and Jordan Shih's less-is-more approach to electronic production.

Stream "Chinese New Year" below along with four other beautiful SALES tracks.

Just Rolled In: Hundred Waters - "Down From the Rafters" [electronic / ambient folk]

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Eighty-four years ago yesterday the former ninth planet of the Solar System was discovered by American astronomer Clyde M. Tombaugh. Although Pluto was demoted to "dwarf planet" last decade, we can't help but thank Mr. Tombaugh because in honor of his discovery of this desolate icy rock, my favorite Florida band Hundred Waters has shared the equally dark and mysterious track entitled "Down From the Rafters".

Channeling the unhurried eerie tracks of their 2012 self-titled debut (see "Caverns" and "Gather" below), Gainesville's Hundred Waters return in the wake of touring with Canadian art rock band BRAIDS with a mellow and stirring song that doesn't fail to show off their expert instrumentation while the ethereal vocals of lead singer Nicole Miglis sweep you away into the haunting melody. While a sophomore LP is on the horizon, it hasn't been confirmed just yet as to whether "Down From the Rafters" will have a spot on the record.

Check out the "Pluto Day" celebratory song below and if you're new to Hundred Waters, I demand you take the time to listen to their 2012 self-titled debut (my favorite album of 2012), which I've also embedded below.

Artist Making Waves: Shivum Sharma [electronic pop / soul]

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After releasing a pair of soulful piano-based bedroom demos last year, 19-year-old South Londoner Shivum Sharma is back with a studio version of the powerful slow-burner that turned heads in the first place, "Flicker", and its lusty B-side "Only You". The two tracks will be on the Flicker EP, which indie label National Anthem (home to CHVRCHES, HAIM, and Sir Sly) will be putting out on March 3.

Shivum Sharma enlisted the help of Warp signee Kwes. to produce his originally piano/vocals-heavy tracks. The result falls somewhere between James Blake and Antony and the Johnsons—unique passionate music with captivating electronic beats and textures that serve to add depth, not to divert attention away from Sharma's vulnerable, compelling croon and his solid piano work.

Enjoy the two tracks below (don't miss the climactic closer on "Flicker") and purchase a copy of the Flicker EP in March!

Artist Making Waves: RY X // The Howling // The Acid [indie folk / electronic]

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First things first: Yes, this is a triple post. Why? Well, you may have guessed that it has something to do with that bearded character up there, and you're right. His name is Ry Cuming.

Ry Cuming is an Australian-born surfer and musician who relocated to Los Angeles some years back, got noticed (for his music), recorded a major label pop record under his real name, toured with Maroon 5, and then decided to 'go indie', which has resulted in the lovely music I present to you today.

Cuming performs/records under the stage name RY X and shares his beautifully fragile pipes and solid guitar work in the electronic projects The Howling and The Acid. Each time I switch between EPs my favorite project of his changes so it would be rather difficult to write this post recommending only one.

The three projects feature Cuming's unmistakable sultry vocals and a haunting ambience. His solo work recalls Bon Iver thanks to his crooning falsetto, melancholic tone, stripped instrumentation, and overall alone-in-a-cabin-in-the-woods feel, while it boasts crisper production and trades in Justin Vernon's folky chords for more intricate melodies lined with arpeggios. The Howling is delivered in the same vein as RY X (both projects have a version of "Shortline", for example), but is spruced up with the subtle, yet expansive electronic production of German electronic musician Frank Wiedemann. Whereas RY X and The Howling share the same downcast tone and bare-bones structure, The Acid changes up the formula. This mysterious trio constructs a much more complex (and electronic) sonic environment that has brought on comparisons to James Blake, Animal Collective, m83, and Radiohead, but it still has that ominous fog creeping through it.

Go ahead and dive into Ry Cuming's three projects below to see for yourself which one you like best. I wouldn't be surprised if you found it hard to decide as well.

Artist Making Waves: Astronauts, etc. [dream pop / electronic / pop]

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What do you do when you are studying classical piano at UC Berkeley and you suddenly find out that your future career as a pianist is rendered practically impossible due to arthritis? Well, I suppose you do what Anthony Ferraro did and you drop out of music school to start producing beautiful electronic music under the moniker Astronauts, etc.

With music as celestial as his recording name, Ferraro has been making quite a name for himself despite having drifted away from his original musical aspirations. Astronauts, etc. boasts over 2,500 SoundCloud followers and has been floating around the 'blogosphere' for over a year now, which is a surprise considering his previous projects were scrapped shortly after their realization. However, with recent dreamy pop jams like "Sadie" and "Coldboy", it's hard to imagine Ferraro's current project going anywhere but skyward.

If I had to compare it to something, I'd say Astronauts, etc.'s melodramatic dream pop is a beautiful blend of Neon Indian's lo-fi chillwave, Porcelain Raft's smooth, heartfelt vocals, and Jai Paul's beats and song structures (see "Jasmine"). This is electronic pop at its best.

The idea of getting lost in space doesn't sound so bad if you have Astronauts, etc. to float along with. Enjoy the songs below and check out more tracks on his SoundCloud.

Just Rolled In: Son Lux - "Lost It To Trying" [orchestral pop / electronic / experimental]

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After getting his hands dirty arranging music for three feature films (including 2012's Looper), releasing two highly acclaimed albums and a collaborative EP with Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti (known jointly as s / s / s), producing numerous hip hop beats, and working with revered composers and ensembles, NYC-based Ryan Lott, aka Son Lux, is gearing to release his 3rd full-length record Lanterns out October 29 via Joyful Noise Recordings. The classically trained composer and electronic producer has left us with high expectations for the rest of the record after releasing the brilliantly epic debut single "Lost It To Trying".

Riddled with a frenetic array of live saxophones, flutes, and percussion and sister duo Lily and Madeleine's Sufjan-esque choral singing, Lott seamlessly throws in his production expertise in the form of hyperactive synths and thunderous drum programming to deliver the incredibly complicated, energetic, and triumphant masterpiece known as "Lost It To Trying".

Check out the single below and listen to and purchase Son Lux's previously released music on his Bandcamp.

holaTUBE: Sailor & I - "Tough Love" [electronic / orchestral pop]

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As I try to enjoy the last few days of my summer here in Murcia, Spain before returning to work, I'm suddenly forced indoors to seek shelter from the only thunderstorm I've ever seen pass through these parts. Luckily enough, being locked inside under a roof is the perfect excuse to trade in the sun and bathing suit for the internet and headphones, so I'm writing my first blog post of August.

Considering my bleak summer finale, I have discovered the ideal theme song to help me through it all. Stockholm, Sweden's singer/instrumentalist/producer Alexander Sjodin premieres his moody orchestral pop production with the solemn-yet-enlightening video for his first single "Tough Love" under the moniker Sailor & I. Through his smoothly layered vocals, Sjodin sheds light on the dark realities of his failing relationship with his wife. The helplessness and disparity of it all is summed up in the lyrics, "Sometimes I start a fight just to see if you care", and brought to life with the addition of cinematic strings and building percussion.

The video features former Olympic swimmer Peter Prijdekker, who battles, in slow-motion, across a desolate lake and cold forest to reach the inevitable finish line, which holds for him hope and a new beginning—the eventual outcome of any dying relationship.

Download the Tough Love EP here and check out the video below.

Just Rolled In: SALES - "renee" [indie pop / minimal folktronica]

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It's always refreshing to hear a simple song that manages to pull you in by the heartstrings just as much as a complex, professionally produced song would. That's exactly what freshly formed Orlando, Florida duo SALES pulls off with their heartfelt debut track "renee", which was inspired by and named after a breathtakingly beautiful and interesting woman the two got the chance to spend a special evening with at a bar. Unfortunately, as the night went on, and after falling hopelessly in love with her, they lost track of her. So, in hopes of reconnecting with Renee, they wrote this song.

Set in motion by the repetitive, yet catchy guitar melody and angelically sincere vocals of SALES-woman Lauren Morgan, the song soon gains texture when it joins forces with the underlying bass line and bare-bones drumbeat of SALES-man Jordan Shih (aka JSHIH). Once "renee" gains momentum with that beat it never ceases to unfold itself and grow on you. The initial raw sound (yes, those are crickets chirping in the background) is slowly embellished upon by the minimal electronic production of JSHIH, who adds layers of reverberated vocals, a sleek electric guitar hook, a heavier pulsing bass line, and finally the chopped and layered vocals and bouncy drumbeat of the fully realized coda. This gradual buildup, the duo's less-is-more approach, and Lauren's alluring voice is what makes "renee" truly infectious.

If you're reading this, Renee, you can find Lauren and JSHIH performing as SALES at Total Bummer Fest alongside Javelin, Levek, Alligator Indian, and Saskatchewan at the end of August in Orlando, FL. And to everyone else: There are more tracks on the way and you're invited to Total Bummer Fest too.

p.s. Please forgive my salesman/saleswoman puns

Just Rolled In: f y f e - "Conversations" [electronic / soulful pop / R&B]

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As you may recall, London's f y f e, aka Paul Dixon, was the first artist featured on holaOLA back in March. Well, the rising R&B-tinged electronic musician is back with a new single called "Conversations", which has surfaced in the wake of his recent excellent Solace EP.

Nothing much has changed regarding f y f e's musical vision, which is certainly fine by me. On "Conversations" Dixon whips together another irresistible hard-hitting beat and glazes it over with his beautifully soulful voice and adds some more texture with his usual guitar licks and haunting backing vocals. While fitting in well with his previous singles, the only difference here would be a heavier hip-hop-influenced beat and more glitchy production.

Check out "Conversations" below followed by f y f e's beloved Solace EP. You can purchase the EP via the "Buy on iTunes" link on the SoundCloud player.

Artist Making Waves: MØ [electronic / indie pop]

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Attracting comparisons to Grimes, Purity Ring, Lykke Li, Little Dragon, and Nite Jewel, Copenhagen's MØ has just released her 4th track, and new single to her upcoming debut effort, entitled "Waste Of Time", on which she continues the choppy R&B-influenced vocals and rich electronic soundscapes that have inhabited her previous tracks.

The only reason this Danish electro-pop musician is being compared to such artists is because she just so happens to be a female singer with a great voice who chooses electronic music as her backdrop. It's like saying that Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear sound the same, but basing it on the fact that they just both do folk-based music with vocal harmonies really well. While she may share some fundamental musical elements with the aforementioned female artists, MØ, aka Karen Marie Ørsted, sets herself apart from the herd with her hard hitting beats, soulful voice, modest use of vocal samples, and occasional electric guitar flourishes.

Listen below to her 4 current singles (which are all amazing!) that she has released in the past year and be on the lookout for her debut album release sometime this year via Sony Music Denmark.

Just Rolled In: Poliça - "Tiff (feat. Justin Vernon)" [indie rock / electronic pop / R&B]

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Following their collaboration with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon at Coachella this past weekend, Minneapolis, Minnesota's Poliça have released the single version of the moody, atmospheric song "Tiff" in which Vernon and lead singer Channy Leaneagh share vocal duties. This is the first new music we've heard since last year's beloved debut Give You the Ghost.

"Tiff" continues the soaring indie-rock-and-R&B-infused electronic pop sound that got heads bobbing on Give You the Ghost but could possibly be mistaken for an unreleased B-side of Justin Vernon and Poliça members Leanagh and Ryan Olson's soft rock supergroup Gayngs. The soulful voices of both Vernon and Leaneagh are passed through filters and blended into one another, as per usual with their aforementioned supergroup, to be braided in nicely with the brooding synths and the sensual bass line that carries this slow-burner. With a slow song this good, I can't wait to hear the faster material from Poliça's upcoming sophomore release.

Listen to "Tiff" below with a couple other different sounding standout tracks from Poliça's debut album, which you can buy here. Keep an eye out for their followup record being released later this year.

Artist Making Waves: Ghost Loft [electronic / dream pop / R&B]

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Los Angeles producer Danny Choi, aka Ghost Loft, has been causing serious waves in the "blogosphere" this past year for his smooth electronic blend of dream pop and R&B accompanied by his own euphoric voice and other airy vocal samples. He has released  4 original tracks and has remixed tracks by The Neighbourhood, jj, and Icky Blossoms to name a few. In fact, Jesse Rutherford of The Neighbourhood just recently remixed his first hit single "Seconds". Considering the beautiful, intimate tracks that Choi has released in the past year, his upcoming debut EP, and that his music is already getting the remix treatment from some of today's leading producers, Ghost Loft is an artist that will be hard to ignore in 2013.

Listen to Ghost Loft's most recent single "So High" along with "Seconds" and three other excellent original tracks below. Check out his SoundCloud for some great remixes and keep an eye out for his debut EP dropping later this year.