Idle Achiever – “Seaside Suicide”: The young duo that could from Sidney, OH is back with arguably their strongest single yet. Noah Reineke and Chase Myers might have a similar posture to twenty one pilots, but their live performances stand out because neither one of them are content to stay behind their respective places on stage—the chemistry, whether recorded or live, shows a brotherhood as they trade vocals singing and rapping. This song is a quirky synth-driven song of desperation, with a hook that is bound to get stuck in your head.

Ghost Town Remedy – “360 No Scope”: The Nashville based emo-inspired rock and roll group is blasting back with a driving song chock full of gang vocals and crowd participation moments. This song communicates camaraderie and fits the end of summer mood—nostalgic, but hopeful at the same time. Something Ghost Town Remedy does which is bit out of left field is introduce some serious shredding into a emo-anthem that fans of Further Seems Forever will likely enjoy. Look for the Nashville group to tour more often in the coming months.

La Poré – “Green”: Nicholas Samson is back with another single, with what is possibly my favorite hook he’s put out so far. “Green” is sweeping and emotional, with a thrilling peak in each chorus. It encapsulates desire, heartbreak, and nostalgia in one groovy tune that shows off Nick’s vocal range. I find the production to be on point, and appreciate the thoughtfulness put into each element of the track. The shimmering guitars in particular are a nice touch. I like the way this power ballad is forward thinking and a throwback at the same time. Check out the music video here.

Faintheart – “Us”: The Kansas City indie rock quartet is back! They were a dark horse act at our own Steadfast Festival and earned the approval of my R.E.M. loving dad (thanks, dad!). “Us” is a continuation of what we’ve come to expect from the band: nostalgic, driving pop-rock. “Us” is perhaps a little less melancholic than some of their other songs (“You and I” and “90 Minutes” come to mind). This latest release shows the versatility of Faintheart to fit on multiple lineups—Death Cab, Turnover, Thrice. They would fit opening for all of those artists.

Lucien – “Stars”: I honestly forgot how much I enjoyed trance music until I listened to this track. The track is as celestial as the title suggests. Whispery vocals fade in and out of backdrop of synth-driven beats to create a familiar but still enjoyable effect. I’m reminded of a lyric in Incubus’ “Wish You Were Here”—”The sky resembles a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket.” I’m intrigued to see what’s next for this Toronto DJ.

Ruinr – “Hindsight is MD 20/20”: This sad, pensive power pop trio—also the passion project of vocalist Tasha Beninghof, recently dropped this single off a forthcoming release, titled Not Enough Room For Clovers. Tasha’s voice communicates a sense of authenticity and rawness, which complements the warm, twinkly vibe of the guitars. The mix is lo-fi enough to communicate angst, while pretty enough to adequately get the intended emotions across. This trio is underrated in Columbus and would fit well on several concert bills in the sad indie genre (Snail Mail, Jay Som, Yowler).

Find the above and more on “Tuned Up’s New and Nifty” playlist on Spotify—follow it, and you’ll never miss out on the latest and greatest in Tuned Up land.