“MY 45” is the debut single from multi-instrumentalist Lane Mueller, aka Candy Cigarettes. He dropped his debut full-length this past May, which is one of the more impressive introductions this year. The

Based out of New Hamburg, Canada, Jon Parks crafts what he calls “pensive pop music”, a good fit for “fans of Belle and Sebastian, David Bowie, Wilco or Ron Sexsmith.” The chamber-pop

Rollicking acoustics, natural hand percussion, and approachable vocals comprise a very welcoming arsenal throughout Danophone’s new album Rerun, led off by highlight “Frightened For”. Danphone, the musical side project of Danish science

This past October, mysterious Maine-based act AGENCY impressed with “Evaporate”, a chilling new track with an ample atmospheric R&B presence, featuring droplets of piano combining with smooth vocals in a stylistic vein

“Squatter’s Rights” alternates between fuzzy goodness and crisp guitar trickles, all as Michael Turzilli’s gravelly vocals project a similarly captivating presence to that of The National’s Matt Berninger, though with added exuberance.

Vagabond Specter was formed by vocalist Pablo Specter and guitarist/keyboardist/producer Yuriy Smalius, who met in Kiev in 2014. Recently, the (now) four-piece opened for notable alt-rockers Garbage, their star is on the