We met Jake Huffman in August 2021 with "Just a Little More". At that moment, already, we knew that this extraordinary voice was going to keep us company for a long time.

Jake Huffman, long called Jake "the Drummer" Huffman, when he wowed everyone in the band McLovins, just released a new song and we're really excited for you to hear it!

If you look at his Instagram videos, you'll find covers of Blink-182 or Green Day. We like these bands or we don't, it's radical. But on my side, I grew up with these bands. And they strongly influenced the music that I myself wrote and recorded a few years later. And thanks to these videos, you will discover that Jake is a talented multi-instrumentalist. By the way, with his band, he shared the stage with Blink-182 or even Foster the People!

That's why I'm still drawn to the sound of Jake: this rock-influenced personality with so much authenticity in the songwriting and vocal performance. His new single, "Martyr", out now on all platforms, winks at this episode of "drummer in a band", because the first seconds of the intro only contain drums. Then this impressive voice strikes from the first line with words of rare power.

This new track, from his upcoming EP, explores in depth the contradictions of being human, as Jake Said:

"The lyrics aren't about what I personally believe. Everywhere I look people are spouting their beliefs while contradicting themselves in the same breath. The world has become so polarizing and I wanted this song to encapsulate that energy."

Yes, human beings are very complicated to understand sometimes. And we have been able to see it more in the last three years. The song is just a clever observation of things as they are, with a lot of foresight and the necessary distance.

Building gradually, with an effective bass line and incredibly energizing guitar riffs, "Martyr" ends in apotheosis, with backing vocals that will have you sing along for hours. There's a certain addictive power in this song that I don't mind. It's your turn to shoot the repeat button.

Reach out to Jake Huffman

There are artists and bands that, at IMC, are almost part of the furniture. Even if we haven't seen them for a while, it's always nice to see them again. The Trusted is one of those pieces of furniture that you will never dare to replace because they are of rare and priceless quality.

I say it quite often in my articles, but you know, indie music has this particularity of being able to touch you closely. To support you in the difficult trials of life. At the end of November, I had to take a few days of forced rest, bedridden by intense vertigo and powerful tinnitus in my left ear.

On November 30 around 11 a.m., the diagnosis was made: I am suffering from an orphan disease (which cannot be treated), and I will have to learn to live with it and fight it. And music is a part of my cure, as having music in my ear helps to hide the tinnitus. So I went back to music submissions.

And the same day, around 2 p.m., I discovered “Terrible Fight” in my submission queue. This was the first song that showed up after I return. And of course, the title immediately caught my attention. Like a sign of fate telling me "Niko, you just came home, sat at your desk, and I know you're not feeling good: here's a song for you."

I must admit that at first sight, I was a little scared when I saw this title. Perhaps afraid that this would aggravate my sadness and my helplessness in the face of the concrete wall that had just collapsed on me a few hours earlier. But I trust these guys. After all, they're called The Trusted. And trust me, I trusted The Trusted already, in the past, and they never disappointed me. So I listened carefully.

And rather than overwhelming me, the song gave me the energy boost I needed. From the first line: "Did you come here to hurt me?". And even more when I read the pitch.

About the song, lead singer Tom Cunningham said: "Terrible Fight is a song about being metaphorically beaten up. Part of growing up, is realizing that 'life' is basically an emotional/ psychological boxing ring. Whether it's heartbreak, politics, or loss, it kind of feels like we are all being hit from all sides. I wanted it to be a song about being knocked over by all these heavy punches as well as our ability to just keep moving forward.“

If that's not a sign from the universe, then I don't understand anything anymore. As usual, with The Trusted, the quality is there: a super detailed production. No hesitation and no flaws in this stunning vocal performance. And above all, a beautiful cohesion between the members of the band which gives their sound a unique identity. There's also in "Terrible Fight" an overflowing but perfectly controlled energy, as the minutes go by.

Oh sure, I know I already played with their names a few words ago, but you can really trust The Trusted. Over the years, they're just getting better and better. They started music in 2016. They're still here in 2023. That's a good sign: these guys could be the soundtrack of your whole life. More than 1500 monthly listeners on Spotify were not mistaken. It's just the beginning for this amazing band, I know they'll get more and more fans over time. And I know I can trust you to be the next one. Okay, I'll stop now with my ridiculous puns.

If you too are going to have to fight something in the next few days, "Terrible Fight" will be your fuel, to listen to on repeat.

Picture by Jordan White

Reach out to The Trusted

A short time ago, we were already blown away by Marco Palos' breathtaking vocal performance on "Kings & Queens", where the artist showed how comfortable he is in the highs on the end of the song.

For "December Song", the configuration is a little different. Vocally, we are surprised from the first line of the first verse. What an incredible falsetto! And what ease! Believe me, I've heard tens of thousands of songs, and I think this is the first time I've been so blown away by a voice.

Marco Palos also has fun at Disney, he sings, plays the saxophone, and offers happiness to thousands of people. Look at that!

And sometimes, like everyone else, he has his moments of calm and reflection. December is one of them, as he explained to us:

"December can often be a month of reflection, and coincidentally, the month I wrote this song. Life had been on pause and it just seemed we would be holding this pattern for far more than any of us had anticipated. So, we committed to staying at the family farmhouse through the winter. My love, our doggy and miles and miles of snow and woods".

Always very inspired by what surrounds him, Marco Palos is comfortable in all musical genres. If you listen to his repertoire, you will see that the influences are very varied. But all his songs have one thing in common: authenticity. And then maybe also this addictive power, because he always manages to create unforgettable melodies. In the case of "December Song", the song reveals its surprises over the minutes. Just focus on the instrumental part which starts at 2:23 and you will discover some small details that make the difference. Yes, on a rather pop-rock-oriented track, you will rarely find Spanish guitar tunes... It's his friend Luca Pino who put these few notes delicately on this part of the song.

Life is a mess sometimes, but you can always find comfort in the simple things, as Marco says:

"The night that the first lyric came to me was a night my partner and I had laughed so much we had tears in our eyes. There was a pause as we smiled at each other recognizing that it's been a hard year, but that this moment in life was still very special despite all the mess around us."

I do not hide from you that I am going through a complicated period at the moment, and this song really helps to see things more clearly. As Marco says in the chorus "Everything will be alright". You just have to believe it, if only a little.

Although he's not yet showing on my Spotify Unwrapped, Marco Palos is becoming one of my favorite artists. Both for his incredible music, of course, but also for his extraordinary personality. He is very accessible, it is easy to discuss anything and everything with him. But the end result will always be the same: he will succeed, no matter what, in putting a smile on your face. And people like that are increasingly rare.

In "December Song", you will find comfort, warmth, support, poetry and above all, a lot of beauty.

This is Marco's 4th feature on IMC. You know what it means: next time, he will join the IMC Family. And we're really happy about that!

Reach out to Marco Palos

Have you ever been bullied at school? This happened to me, for more than 10 years, as I was different. You can learn more about this here. But this is probably why I can relate to this song so easily.

If sometimes you doubt yourself, your value, or your beauty (which is not necessarily where you think), this song is for you!

We discovered the powerful voice of Nate Amor in September with "Lose This Way". And from the first seconds of "Beautiful", when we heard it again, this voice gave us the same chills: immediate and intense.

For Nate Amor, the inspiration for this song comes from his daughter, as he told us:

"My daughter Jasmine came home years ago from school and was really upset. She’d been bullied. Naturally as a father I instinctively wanted to destroy the boy or boys who said these things to her... but they were just words after all. So I reassured her that as her father, I saw her as very beautiful. That me and God saw her as perfectly made and that although those words hurt, they were just lies. I told the story to Tony. He came by my office and an hour or so later, we had the song. Tony related as his daughter had been bullied in school. So this is an anthem for ALL women ALL over the WORLD to know that you are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are. Don’t you go and change a thing!"

A wonderful message of love, tolerance, and unity that shines through all the lines of the song, carried by an absolutely divine and haunting melody.

We've already talked about the singer's incredible vocal prowess, but we sincerely believe that this song wouldn't have the same impact if it were sung by someone else. This incredible voice has a lot to do with the "wow" effect.

"Beautiful" is a jewel that deserves its place in your playlists and that will put a smile on your face. Do you also feel better after listening to it?

Reach out to Nate Amor

If you like rock songs that capture your attention and curiosity in just a few seconds, like "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon, you'll love Cesc's new single, "Letter to You", which is the first single from his upcoming debut album.

Cesc Sansalvadó, Cesc for short, is a Spanish artist who was rather singer-songwriter and folk-oriented until now if we listen to his Spotify catalog. A 180° musical turn for this new single, a risky bet... that works!

Super catchy, the song which is nothing but an honest and sincere declaration of love, captivates us from the electric guitar intro. Cesc's vocals are powerful, but also perfectly mastered in the dosage: calm and delicate on the verses, and more gripping on the choruses.

Some might think the chorus is a bit simple in its writing. Certainly. But when I turn on my radio, I tell myself that this song really has more than you might be used to hearing: authenticity.

Very emotional, "Letter To You" will hook you like never before and will stay in your head for days. A new era in the career of the singer, which suits us very well. We can't wait to find out what's next!

Reach out to Cesc

Marco Palos becomes a recurring artist on IMC. Discovered with "A Place We Don't Know" in March 2021, then featured in October 2022 with "Slow Down", the artist now offers a stunning musical performance in "Kings & Queens".

I am now over 35 years old, and I obviously spent my adolescence locked in my room listening to Muse albums over and over. Especially the album "Absolution" released in 2004, and the single "Sing For Absolution" which is my absolute favorite. You would then be tempted to ask me "what is the relationship with Muse?"

Well, listen to "Kings & Queens" by Marco Palos and you will understand what I mean. Focus on the bass, the guitar riffs, and the amazing vocal performance, especially in the last minute.

About the song, Marco says it's "a seemingly perfect love gone down the path of temptation, betrayal... Yet finding victory in being able to love again."

And we can feel those different chapters of the writer through the progression of the song, which becomes more and more intense as it builds.

And it's all about temptations, as Marco explains: "While this song may have its own meaning and moment in life to me, I believe each listener will have the opportunity to think back on a time they lost a great love due to their own temptations or the temptations their lover struggled with".

Co-written with his partner and love, Cameron McCormick, "Kings & Queens" speaks for itself, and I believe there is no need to add more to make you understand that if you don't click "Play" on the player above, you will really miss out on something incredibly powerful that will stand your arm hair upright. Sounds like Muse? A little, yes, but better!

Reach out to Marco Palos

Some electric guitar notes in the intro. Then warm and soulful vocals. We are already seduced.

Yes! Within seconds, "Like You", had already grabbed our full attention. We stopped everything we were doing and turned up the sound on our headphones to enjoy it a little bit more. And when the full band appears around 1:40, we had an inevitable thought that crossed our mind: "ah, we've been missing bands like this for a long time"!

Frank Follows are three friends from Stockholm, Sweden: Adrian, Olof, and Måns. And we took a little slap when we read that "Like You" was their debut release. It's quite hard to believe, as the level of quality is very high. And yet... It's really their very first single ever, heralding a debut album to come, "Flight Thoughts".

Catchy as hell, with an energetic and perfectly balanced vocal performance, and a very professional production, "Like You" has a euphoric effect. Like putting your fingers in the socket when you're not sure what to do with your life.

Stop for a moment, reflect, and take some distance. This song is a little gem alternating very quiet parts and very powerful parts, a bit like the rollercoaster that our emotions can be sometimes.

With such a debut single, we can't wait to discover what's next! Frank Follows is definitely a band you're going to have to rely on. And no doubt you'll hear from them again on IMC.

Reach out to Frank Follows

I have already mentioned FOMO in 2021. For those who don't know, it's the Fear Of Missing Out. Essentially used to characterize an addiction to social media, it can also be used in real life. But in my case, it was social media, which had drawn me to their addictive side. Luckily, tools like "News Feed Eradicator" or just turning notifications off can save you from those nasty monsters who just want to compare your life to others and make you think your life sucks.

FOMO is the theme of the new song by Dan Krochmal, an Australian artist now based in the US. And who already has a good career. He even performed in front of Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan when he auditioned for American Idol.

Already under IMC's radar for a few months, Dan only needed a super catchy song to fully immerse us in his universe. And "FOMO" popped into our submissions on Halloween. Pretty timely, isn't it? Speaking about fear on Halloween's day was the perfect timing!

With highly elaborate songwriting, a melody that is catchy as hell, a production quality well above the average, and a perfectly mastered vocal performance from start to finish (with an astonishing vocal range, by the way), "FOMO" ticks all the boxes to become one of your new favorites.

A little extra: the music video is also very professional, you can watch it above.

Reach out to Dan Krochmal

If you lacked energy, we found it in Liverpool! Red Rum Club, formed in 2016, just released their super catchy new single "The River".

Some of their tracks have topped one million streams on Spotify, and it's no wonder: they're hugely talented and they've been their true selves from the start, as trumpet player Joe Corby explains:

“Ever since we started, we’ve been like, ‘Keep going, keep going, believe in the music and the rest will follow. “We just kept working away at it and never let stuff like missed opportunities slow us down.”

From the first listening, "River" invites us to swim at sunset, and to drink until the middle of the night. Sharing good times with friends is definitely something that should never go away! Even if algorithms try to dictate your life, stay focused on what matters most: real life. And this song is exactly what makes it possible to put the feet on the ground and to disconnect if only for a moment.

Super festive, the song is probably one of the catchiest we've heard this year. If it doesn't make you want to throw down your chair, get up, and dance, then we don't understand anything.

While you're here, also watch the funny music video that accompanies the song above. It's a perfect tutorial on how to manage your stock of pants when you take the plunge.

Reach out to Red Rum Club

You guys have been used to Ohio since our most featured artist is from Ohio (The Satellite Station). But it is true that we lack artists from this State where musicians are nevertheless very creative, musically speaking. And then, to be completely honest with you, it's been a long time since we posted something in our "Indie Rock" section. And we regret it.

So let's fix these two issues with a single artist! Let's meet Joel Borton, better known as Distance Sprinter, from Cincinnati, who offers us the super catchy "High Roller", released today on all platforms.

Yes, from the first listen, you will be caught by this fabulous hook in the chorus. You will shake your head without even realizing it. And you will sing alone, we promise!

About the song, Joel told us that "it's about love and relationships being a rick or a gamble. You really have to bet every ounce of your emotional well-being to commit to being with another person".

And you? What sacrifices are you willing to make your relationship work? With a fantastic production, which is said to be inspired by The Killers, scores points! It is true that on the side of electric guitars or vocals, we could find a slight resemblance to Brandon Flowers and his friends. But we find that there is a little more to Distance Sprinter. That little something that gives the song a special taste: authenticity.

"High Roller" is a safe bet if you want to update your rock playlist with flair and originality.

Reach out to Distance Sprinter

The most exciting part of running a big machine like IMC is being able to discover debut artists. Even more, when they manage to convince us in just a few seconds. And even more, when they are very young and very talented.

Theo Sawyer ticks all the boxes. Based in New Zealand, Auckland to be more precise, the 22-year-old musician wowed us with his new single "Love Drunk", out today on all platforms.

It's probably one of the catchiest songs of the year on IMC. The kind of song you want to listen to on a Sunday when it's raining all day, and the autumnal atmosphere is a little desperate? Do you see what I mean?

A real pop-rock anthem as we like them, and we guarantee you that we sang along with him from the second chorus. We often talk about it on IMC, but when a track has a super catchy chorus before the 40-second mark, it's won! The artist has every chance of seducing a radio programmer. This is the case of "Love Drunk".

An incredibly detailed production, perfectly mastered vocals (and in all keys), impeccable vocal harmonies, and above all this melody that will not want to leave your brain for days make "Love Drunk" the song that will dynamite your playlist.

A promising artist, whom we will watch closely!

Reach out to Theo Sawyer

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More music from Theo Sawyer

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Written with love by Niko. You can find more songs like "Love Drunk" on our "Indie Music" playlist on Spotify. Check it out below and give it a follow to discover more indie music!

If you were looking for a new indie band to support, let's welcome Superserious! They come from a small fishing village in Iceland called Garðabær, but their music smells better than fish!

At IMC, we like contrasts. And the first striking contrast about this band is the discrepancy between their name and their way of being. Far from taking themselves too seriously, they mostly focus on making good music. And it works!

With singles from their debut album reaching number 1 on national radio, Superserious continues to cross borders and sets out to conquer an international audience in need of good indie rock vibes.

Not even afraid to drown electric guitars in a swimming pool (watch the funny music video above), the band has just released "Bye Bye Honey", which is the anti-declaration of love: "When you start to get closer to me, it's bye bye honey, when you wake up in the morning, I pretend to fall asleep real quick".

Light, bouncy, and super catchy, "Bye Bye Honey" is electrifying with its huge hook on the chorus, its vocal harmonies, and its super addictive power. We warned you: you're going to sing along and you won't be able to get rid of this infectious banger!

Reach out to Superserious

From the first seconds of "Hurt Me", we were blown away by the voice of Ryan Argast, frontman of the band Marina City. What a voice! Recalling all the sensitivity and fragility of singer Seal's voice, this is a voice that gives a band a unique identity, and that's a huge advantage.

With a catchy chorus that comes in just 20 seconds, “Hurt Me” has all the parameters for radio play, starting with exceptional production quality. The ticking clock in the background adds tension to the track and each line becomes more powerful than the last. A gradual build-up, until a firework of emotions around 2:17, when the full band starts playing. The electric guitar solo that follows is absolutely divine.

From an apparently calm and melancholic song, "Hurt Me" becomes a powerful Alt-Rock banger that inevitably triggers the shivers down your spine.

With a rather dark atmosphere and heartbreaking lyrics, Marina City manages to take us into their unique, tailor-made musical universe, and their ability to gauge the intensities to perfection gives them a wonderful magical power. A very nice discovery!

Reach out to Marina City

We had met Marco Palos in March 2021, when he released "A Place We Don't Know", which at the time had transcended us.

A year and a half have passed, and the artist is back with an equally stunning new single. It would seem that Autumn is the best time to slow down, much like nature does, since a few days ago, you were invited to discover "Slow", the new single from The Satellite Station. Now it's "Slow Down", by Marco Palos, which continues this trend of the autumnal slowdown.

Which contrasts surprisingly with the song. Yes, because "Slow Down" is built, line after line, to reach a phenomenal finale where the instruments are released in a bouquet, like fireworks. We know how much Marco loves the sense of detail, we could hear him during his last feature on IMC. With 50+ vocal tracks, let me tell you that the production is a millimeter here.

The artist took advantage of the lockdown in 2020 to isolate himself and give birth to masterpieces, as he told us: "Life was moving quite fast for many of us in entertainment, and when we didn't have a stage to perform on with actual people… It was a difficult transition. My partner and I flew up to her hometown of Saranac Lake, NY and it was there that I allowed myself to disconnect from the race both mentally and physically. It was my moment to slow down."

And when he slows down, his creativity, on the contrary, explodes. And you can hear the brilliant result today in this single, which is the first in a series of 5. His vocal abilities are as extraordinary as ever, and his sense of melody is almost innate. Yes, the melody is probably the strong point of "Slow Down", because it is able to stay in your head for a very long time.

Having known how to surround himself with the right people for his new musical projects, the artist blows us away with his unlimited talent and creativity. He is unstoppable. For the pleasure of our ears.

Reach out to Marco Palos

When almost two years ago, the Finnish band Sunrise Avenue announced its separation, we had a hard time getting over it. Because Europe was losing a band with powerful compositions, a unique voice, and unforgettable melodies. Since then, we had not found this splendor... until today.

And it was in Austria that we found our happiness, with the band Now., who come from Vienna. Valentin, Constantin, and Florian have, like their Finnish counterparts, this incredible sense of melody. When they came to us with "Someone Else's Life", we were immediately hooked by their warm energy and perfect harmony, which shines through every single line of the track.

And what better, on a Monday, than a song to give us courage? As the band says, this new single "is about courage. The courage to be yourself, the courage to say what must be said, and the courage to go your own way no matter what."

After successfully crossing a first border by winning some fans in Germany, Now. are now conquering the whole world, and are working on their debut album which will be released in 2023. With the melancholy of Stereophonics combined with the infectious smiles of Raynes, Now. is a new safe bet if you are a fan of pop-rock music. The previous singles "Wastin' Days" and "Stay", which you will find on their Spotify, also deserve an addition to your playlist.

Reach out to Now.