Cali indiepop greats Rocketship are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1996 debut album A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness by giving it its first vinyl pressing since the original release. This is much needed as original copies fetch for over $200 in the secondary market. It's out March 20 via Slumberland and you can preorder it here. The album, which mixed sugary melodies and jangly guitars with shoegaze atmosphere and krautrock drone, sounds pretty fresh in 2026 and you can listen below.
Melbourne-based DJ Moopie, AKA Matthew Xue, is renowned for engrossing, wide-ranging sets that can run the gamut from gelid ambient music to churning drum'n'bass and beyond. He also runs A Colourful Storm a fantastic indie label that massively punches above its weight when it comes to putting out charmingly moody experimental pop music, from artists as disparate as London-based percussionist Valentina Magaletti, dubby Hobart duo Troth, and renowned underground polymath Simon Fisher Turner.
VARLEY's sound is an evolving tapestry of heartfelt, genre-fluid music, rooted in the courage to express. With their new upcoming single, the duo ventures into the nuanced emotional terrain between clinging to love and the painful act of letting go. Through intimate, confessional lyrics, the track poignantly tells the tale of realisation, the bittersweet moment when you awaken to a love that is "halfway out the"
Indie pop used to be so much scrappier: full of guitar fuzz, played by musicians whose passion generally superseded their skill. It was punk for people who couldn't wear studs, down to the amateurish art, deeply direct lyrics, and underground cassette trading networks-a scene where the north stars were early Rough Trade 7"s and the Television Personalities instead of, say, Fleetwood Mac.
My baby My baby, he don't have nothing My baby My baby he don't have nothing to give But he gives it to me Yeah, he gives it to me Quit dreaming Quit dreaming amount to something You're scheming Believing in old love that got away That there's still a way Find you someone who makes a living Sweet, sweet nothings aren't worth investing Sweet, sweet nothings just nothing after, oh But cold cash comforts are overrated When your lover's got funds depleted
The new track arrives as Ego Death receives a long-awaited physical release (pick up your copy here). With crisp drums, a vocoder-assisted chorus, and sparkly synths, "Showbiz" is a more romantic indie pop offering from Williams. The song's sticky production, courtesy of Williams and Ego Death collaborator Daniel James, recalls the smooth, syncopated grooves of Phoenix - a fitting influence, as Williams sampled Phoenix's 2017 song "Fior di Latte" on recent track "Love Me Different." Stream "Showbiz" below.
The kids at Rickshaw Stop on Wednesday night do not remember. They have X's drawn in Sharpie on the backs of their hands. But they dress like they were there: cargo shorts, weird hats, long-sleeves under short-sleeves. One, whose bleached-blond curls bob violently with the slightest twitch of his head, jerks his body to the music like his life depends on it.
With her latest album, "Adagio," released under the renowned Sub Pop label, Σtella offers a lush auditory experience that wraps you in warmth, resonating like a cherished memory. Her music, rich with nylon-string guitars, ethereal percussion, and psychedelic elements, is a 27-minute reflection on the philosophical themes of love, longing, and the passage of time. Experience her unique blend of English and Greek lyrics, including the mesmerising "Omorfo Mou" and a revered cover of the 1969 Greek New Wave classic "Ta Vimata."
Becca Stevens is one of the premier jazz musicians working today, effortlessly blending jazz harmonies with indie pop hooks, resulting in a sound that's gripping, intimate, and sublime. Since founding the Becca Stevens Band in 2006, she has toured internationally and become a desirable collaborator. This has led to projects with David Crosby and Jacob Collier. Her impressive soundscapes have resulted in two Grammy nominations.
Praised for her raw and honest writing style, Ola Bird captures the essence of contemporary romance through her evocative lyrics. As noted by The Berliner, "Bird's songwriting is raw and direct, blending vulnerability with sharp honesty." From navigating the murky waters of dating apps to tackling themes like patriarchy, feminism, human rights, and the stark realities of capitalism, Ola's message remains unfiltered and unapologetic.
Album titles are tricky. I mean, they have been for me. I think a lot of the record felt like it didn't want us to complicate it too much. Better Dreaming is one of my favorite songs we've ever worked on together. And it wasn't going to be a single. It's pretty down-tempo sad. So, (the album title) was a way of getting people to pay attention to that track more.
I'm a real people pleaser-I often prioritize the needs of others over my own and carry a constant concern for their well-being. While that can be a beautiful human superpower, my fixation on pleasing everyone sometimes leads me away from my true self.
