Words: Ryan Getz / Photo: Dustin Smith

Colours – “The Unforgettable”: The indie pop band Colours have arisen from the ashes of post-hardcore/metalcore band Burden of a Day, and are getting ready to release their debut full length Ivory from Victory Records – a departure in genre for the label. “The Unforgettable” is the third song released from the record, and carries a familiarity whose origin I cannot quite put my finger on. The airy song sounds equally modern and kinda nostalgic for something I might have heard in the 90s.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzRbWYipyLk[/youtube]

Danger Scene – “I Want to be Famous”: The Franklin, TN electropop duo continue their streak of infectious, adrenaline inducing tunes with the first single from their forthcoming EP. “I want to be famous, but I still want to go to heaven,” Micheal Cunningham bemuses amongst synth lines that seem to loom over this song the way that moral convictions seem to be looming over his conscience. Indeed, this is a battle that in some way we can all relate – what sounds good at a surface level often comes at a hefty price. Danger Scene are here to tell us that it’s okay to have fun while exploring these dilemmas.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vee32o9N6A[/youtube]

WLYDR – “Everything’s a Dream”: The LA band is inspired by M83, and in a year where I am eagerly awaited the next release by said artist, WYLDR thankfully is here to tide me over with some shoegaze inspired indie pop of their own. While this song isn’t as impressive of a debut as “Savage,” at least upon initial listening, “Everything’s a Dream” is a more than acceptable mid-tempo follow up. An introspective counterpart to the arena ready “Savage.”

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/232477046″ /]

RAC – “Magic Hour (feat Little Boots)”: When the beat kicks in the first thing that comes to mind is Lights, the Canadian electropop artist that many guys I know like to swoon over. Similarly, I suspect many will swoon over this song. I think I heard about Little Boots from my friend Marco Castro around the time he was obsessed with Lights, so it would make sense that I get a similar feeling. The song has a saccharine feeling that I haven’t felt since the late 90s gem “Around the World (La La La La La)” by ATC.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXlBfpp6Exk[/youtube]

Rainy Milo – “How Pretty You Look (When You’re Telling Me Lies)”: It’s been awhile since I’ve taken a stab at reviewing a bona fide R&B song, and I figured this might be a good place to start. Milo seems to be channeling Rihanna in this song, with tension in the composition nearly as palpable as the song’s subject matter. The song’s sense of longing is oddly alluring though…I might even say sensual.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/237841272″  /]