Today I am breaking my review writing silence for the newest song by Dominic Romano, because it’s one of the most beautiful and vulnerable songs I have ever heard. “Who I Am” captures the moment of uncertainty of how the loss of someone close to us will affect us. It lives in that bittersweet space between grief and gratitude while facing one of the biggest questions out there “Who am I?”. 

The song was written and recorded in the time before Dominic’s mom’s passing, before she lost her battle to cancer. The California based artist brought the song to life by himself in his home studio, and it was an intensely cathartic process. Dominic said: “I cried more with this song than all my others combined. When I lost her, I had no idea what would happen to me. This is the most honest song I've ever written”. 

Dominic is not just an artist, he’s also an incredible producer and even with a song this raw the craftsmanship behind the arrangement is absolutely stellar. A folky acoustic guitar introduces the song and falls into the background as the drum beat kicks in alongside the main vocal. From there the song builds tastefully carrying a certain lightness in the arrangement that compliments the memories described in the lyrics “When I was ten you told me to talk to the trees”. 

The song takes us on a journey through the chapters of his life and the wisdom and how his connection to his mom has shaped him. We get to travel through the doubts of what will come once she’s gone, different voices questioning everything “who am I to stand up to fate anyway?”. At the end of the song we find the beautiful conclusion that despite losing her, he still carries the lessons and love from her within him “I am now who you made me, standing up to fate anyway”.

I don’t know any other artist that manages to strike the balance between the vulnerable and the polished, the heart and the head, quite as well as Dominic Romano. His music has depth like a good painting that you want to look at for hours from different directions to discover new details and find yourself in the reflection of the paint. “Who I Am” is a stunning celebration of love and what it means to be humans, to be connected - written and produced in a way that only Dominic Romano can. It’s a song to feel seen and be seen, and I think it will be a good friend to many people. 

Written by Luna Keller.

Reach out to Dominic Romano

The epitome of romance awaits you from the first second you play “Babe of the Moon” by Natalie Wildgoose. Her sweetly sung melody has been floating in the back of my head in the past few weeks and I found it truly embodied in recent sunsets and star-dotted skies.

Released in February 2023, this alt-folk song sounds like the change of dusk to night in winter. The colors of the sunset are not as warm and saturated as in summer, the coolness is not only represented in temperatures but even the colors of the sunset contain more coolness and space to breathe. Already from the start, Natalie’s vocals lead you directly into a mythical inspired world, and while listening it makes you feel as if you simultaneously watch the sun set. With the verse, you enter night time and gentle piano notes add the feeling of distant, twinkling stars. To me the song portrays gazing at someone’s eyes for a little too long in the glow of the streetlights, not wanting to let them go as you already know how much you will miss them, stargazing in the middle of the night. But also, being gently introduced by someone to a different world from yours and exploring it. It sounds like two universes tenderly coincide, just as two people with their individual personalities, views, and interests when they get to know each other. 

Her accompanying animated YouTube video will turn this rather mythological and mystic world that is already created musically into a visual representation.

An owl-like mysterious creature of the night shows nighttime to a sunflower, a flower that is normally obviously closer to the sun rather than the moon. It experiences a wholly different world, one that it wouldn’t have known if it hadn’t followed its “Babe of the Moon”. 

Natalie’s debut EP will be out in spring 2023 and after becoming a fan of “Babe of the Moon” I honestly can’t wait to hear her future work.

Reach out to Natalie Wildgoose

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Written with love by Anna.

When I first listened to “Crumble”, the latest single from IMC Family artist Thomas LaVine, it instantly wrapped me into a warm blanket and sent me to a frosty winter evening indulging in reminiscences. And then suddenly this image actually transformed into real-life as right now we’re experiencing a winter as freezing as it hadn’t been in a very long time where I live in Germany. You can see your breath vapouring towards a clear star-dotted sky; snow from a week ago is still emblazoning the streets and fields (and glistens beautifully in the misty morning sun); people are wearing simultaneously ridiculous and heart-warmingly sweet Christmas hats while meeting up with their friends at Christmas markets; you share blissful small and big moments of connection with the people closest to you; you overhear strangers on trains talking excitedly about baking “sesame peanut biscuits” soon to gift to their friends.

Considering these few winter impressions from overall thousands which I gathered over the course of the past few weeks it’s not very surprising that “Crumble” represents a warm wintery hug for me to return to after a long cold day out and about.

The end of the year often also carries a note of melancholy, especially when reflecting on everything you went through in the past year. There were moments of pure blissfulness and moments of grief and pain. And sadly, often the painful moments dwell the longest in our minds. So, as you’re watching the snowflakes dance in front of your window while pondering about the past it happens that you find yourself pretty much “staring at the silent cold”... feeling “frozen” and somehow “broken”.

Thomas’ vocals add a sweet, tender touch to the dreamy background synths and guitars, quite literally creating the mood of what he describes as “floating above the valley down below”, hoping for a bit of rootedness in a period of uncertainty.

Apart from the atmosphere he created, I generally related a lot to the lyrics he expresses in this song. Its bridge introduces a particularly gentle and affectionate tone with the words “You’re my harbour. It’s getting darker without you.” This winter season I find myself relating to this line more than I had initially expected to, being endlessly grateful for the company of certain people while dealing with a rather confusing, now and then also gloomy time. Clinging onto love and kindness in the most obvious as well as most unexpected corners of the last moments of 2022, even though you see an intertwined chaos of “snow and fire” when looking outside your window from time to time.

Written by Anna Naumenko.

Reach out to Thomas LaVine

It is rare that you find a band with the sort of natural chemistry that resides in June Road.  Their music has a heartbeat and a breath to it that pulls you in and lives in you long after the song is done.  

Maia and Harry met on tour. Maia, playing with Marillion with her string quartet, and Harry the supporting act. “It's our common love for music that got us writing together, it was a natural flow. We simply met on stage (in the Royal Albert Hall!). At the end of the tour, we fell for each other.” Harry moved right away to Brussels to live with Maia. 

Their common passion not only for music but for each other is evident in their music.  Their latest release “Honestly” (the fourth song on their EP “Landscapes”) starts with Harry’s unmistakable rhythmic fingerpicking style and Maia and Harry humming the first hook.  Maia’s warm violin joins the melody and the harmonies take us on a journey through the rest of the song.  It’s a sad break-up song, boldly proclaiming, “I’m never, never coming home to you”, which lies in contrast to the love they obviously share. Their songwriting process is collaborative, with Harry usually contributing the lyrics (“I help”, says Maia, “but it’s not my mother language”) with Harry also adding the guitar riff and Maia the melody.  “I’m always really good to find the harmonies to the melody, and obviously my violin parts that are more present on a live set than on the studio version.  And then we just share ideas until it becomes a song.” 

With already nearly 3000 monthly listeners, part of the reason for their quick traction in gaining a following (along with their work ethic and touring) has been their waterfall release pattern, starting with their first single, “Seize the Day” released last February, they followed up with “Little Bird” in April, “Glow” in June, and finally “Honestly” on September 29th.  “We are releasing a cover on the 4th of November; a 90’s classic ‘My Favorite Game’ by the Cardigans.  We have a lot of material written and on demo and we plan to release our second EP with 5 tracks in April”.  They plan to release two singles prior to that and will record the second EP in December with the help of a crowdfunding campaign (so keep an eye out for the big announcement to be a part of it!).

Their backgrounds are quite different.  Both started with music from an early age.  Maia has a classical background and studied violin, piano, music theory. She sang in her dad's studio since the age of seven.  And although she had a path that clearly led to a career in music: playing in a classical orchestra (she's playing now in the Royal Opera of la Monnaie, Brussels), she always felt like something was missing, because her love for folk, pop, rock music was very strong. Harry is a self-taught guitarist. He was inspired at a young age by witnessing his dad playing guitar, jamming, and listening to artists like Damien Rice, John Martyn, Paul Weller, and Bob Dylan.  He started performing in bars and small venues from the age of sixteen.  “When we met, it was like our dream came true!”  Maia was looking for a guitar player to start a band, and Harry always loved the idea of sharing the stage with a violinist (inspired by bluegrass music). “So not only do we love each other but we really complete each other musically.”

Their musical style is born from these contrasts.  They find inspiration from such a wide variety of genres and styles of music.  “We like to mix all of them to create our own style. The different influences that we have blend together well!” The result is quite unique and diverse, and as a curator lends to easily adding them to any number of playlists quite naturally.  They are currently on all three of my top playlists which have a slightly different feel to them but the blend is quite natural.

They are presently on tour in France, Netherlands, and Germany, and plan to continue throughout Europe supporting Marillion in the near future. “We would love to play as many shows as possible, as we have a serious passion for playing live!” In addition to their upcoming EP, they also have a full album in the works and hope to gain exposure by getting featured in film.  “Our dream is simply to gain a nice solid fan base that appreciate what we do and be able to live out of it!”  

And you too can be a part of that dream.  They are such an amazing band and couple and I truly hope you’ll start down the road I have by listening to their music and following them on this journey.  And I know you’ll really enjoy seeing them perform so do make sure to check out their YouTube video of their single, “Glow”.  Also be sure to check out “Indie Music" and our "Artist Pick" Spotify playlists to support June Road and our other great artists, and make sure you follow the playlists below to discover incredible new music every day.

Reach out to June Road

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Written with love by Joe

Have you ever listened to a song and was enraptured by the feel of it more than the lyrics themselves? To me, An Early Bird exudes an emotion. The feeling is upbeat but subdued; wistful yet hopeful. You find yourself singing along but unsure of the full lyrics - you fill in the blanks and find your own feelings bubbling to the surface. It draws out what’s in you in a stream of consciousness sort of way. And then you read the lyrics and it all makes sense… it clicks… and you find that you weren’t too far off in your own interpretation. I love those sort of songs, and that’s what drew me towards Stefano De Stefano’s work.

As a teenager, Stefano started playing the blues with a piano he had in his home out of a need to feel something beyond the ordinary. Then he discovered the Britpop movement and learned to play the guitar. He had his first band experiences, started making albums, and began touring. He moved to Milano, the band split up - and “An Early Bird” was born.  

His new release, “Lights Off” was actually written eleven years ago. “I was totally into the Ryan Adams music. At that time he was releasing the 2nd solo album so I wanted to go back to his roots and discovered a band called Whiskeytown. I love a song by them, ‘Yesterday's News’ and the first demo of ‘Lights Off’ took some inspiration from there.” Aside from Ryan Adams, Stefano also finds inspiration from artists such as Glen Hansard, Noel Gallagher, Paul McCartney, Band Of Horses, and Travis.

To me, Stefano’s new release “Lights Off” is about the feeling we have as a young adult, and finding others in your life that bring a larger meaning. The chorus exclaims, “I wait for something bright, And you break into the night”. It could be a love song, but I think it may be more about ourselves, or rather … finding ourselves. I felt something quite universal in the song. It speaks to our uncertainty that lies ahead and our longing for connection. The melody and vocals are smooth and rhythmic. His signature falsetto is other worldly and alluring.

This will be the second single off his upcoming fourth album to be released on December 30th this year. De Stefano collaborated with Marti West on the production of “Lights Off”. About Marti, De Stefano told me “I really love for his whispery vocals and gentle songwriting. Marti did a great job on the recording and I feel very proud to have such a great artist performing my music.” He adds, “Stefano Bruno, a former member of my previous band, worked on the track: he's now a great producer and has also produced my 3rd album Diviner out last year.” An Early Bird has three shows scheduled in Berlin in early October, November, and December. Beyond that, he will be performing in Italy and France from mid-January and is planning a new tour in Portugal. What lies beyond? “I’m very close to the start of my 5th album sessions. If I have good music to share, why should I wait?” But while WE wait, you can check out the video for his newest release above! 

I for one look forward to his upcoming releases later this year. I’ve become quite a fan not only of his music, but in talking with him have come to appreciate his soulful spirit and count him as one of my own musical influences for what comes next. So if you haven’t already done so, please make sure you follow “An Early Bird” and listen to all his music on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get yours.

Reach out to An Early Bird

To regret not having shared your honest feelings with a special person, to know that your fear of being too vulnerable won; isn’t that one of the most heart-breaking circumstances? But many of us find ourselves being able to express these unspoken words through the world of music.

Lucas Fournier, with whom I share the same age of 19 years old, began to write his song "Lakeside" as a "simple guitar sketch" but turned it into a song of many emotional layers that extend the sung words. Brutally honest and with genuine sincerity he addresses a special someone and admits his self-doubts, regrets, and lost opportunities. The particular place of a lakeside he nostalgically sings about is connected to this person and their memories together. 

With this song, a new exciting musical chapter dawns for Lucas as it is the first single from a couple of new songs which will be released in the forthcoming months. 

Reasonably, he finds music to be the most natural way of expressing himself.

"I regret the words I never said." After Lucas sang these exact words, you can hear an ambient, melancholic instrumental break as if the feelings he tries to express go beyond words and as if the only way to truly give them the recognition and meaning they deserve may be possible through music. In addition to the gentle piano notes and quiet violin, rain sounds wash over you. Music can talk without the usage of words; it can create a full dimension of feelings whereas words sometimes fail to portray even a fragment of what you actually feel. This instrumental part may seem sad and melancholic at first, but towards the guitar build up you hear a spark of hope and joy, which then ignites an epic, powerful finale. At its peak Lucas reveals "It's not over yet" and gives shape to the hope in the form of words too. Collaborators Harley Eblen and Charles Henry-Volk helped create this three-dimensional song. 

Maybe it is because of our shared age that I find a deep understanding of his described insecurity and self-doubts, but I believe that this song goes beyond age and time. It shows a universal range of emotions on a topic that all of us experience in our individual lives.

Reach out to Lucas Fournier

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More music from Lucas Fournier

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Written with love by Anna. You can find more songs like "Lakeside" on our "Indie Music" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify. Check them out below and give them a follow to discover more indie music!

I first fell in love with Zoe Butler’s music with her very first release called “Shenandoah Blues”. Starting with a simple piano melody and her soulful vocal, she draws you in for the full band to bring you home from the second verse. But what I feel is Zoe’s true gift is her lyricism. I simply can’t explain without giving you a taste. “If Virginia is for lovers then why’d you leave me here? And if I never said I need you, I should have made that clear. And now I'm lucid it in the gymnasium where you told me you were broken. And I’m still holding.”

Raised in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and moved to Nashville to launch her music career, Zoe Butler’s music appeals to the part of you that longs for home. She is a story teller and at only 24, the roots of her music draw on songwriters from before her time. “My music has definitely been influenced by what my parents listened to when I was growing up. My dad loved James Taylor, Carole King, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Bruce Springsteen. My mom listened to the local country radio station everyday. I was so interested in their music that I really missed out on the 2000s music and had to learn in high school. I honest to god didn’t hear a Brittney Spears, Gwen Stefani, or Lil Wayne song until I turned 15 or 16 (although I do love all those types of songs now)!”

Zoe came from a creative family. Her parents are actually in the process of publishing their own manuscripts, her uncles were in a band together and her aunt has published her own poetry. Born with a twin sister, who she grew up with painting, writing stories and poetry as well as playing music together, you could say she’s been preparing for this her whole life. “My twin sister was actually writing songs before I was. I think writing music always felt like a natural extension of learning to play the piano and the guitar”.

Her newest release, “Old New England Town By the Sea” has an intimate appeal, with just her and a single acoustic guitar, it feels like a conversation. It’s a love story, and an opinion - and a memory. It’s about living a simple life, and about all the hopes and dreams that come with it. Again her lyrics show more than I can say, “Everybody says I should want the city life, the fancy job, the high rise, but I’ll give up ambition for these brick buildings and cobblestone streets, for this old New England Town by the sea.” It frames a beautiful bittersweet watercolor image, without directly mentioning how much of the song is framed around a boy named Luc she dated the summer before he died, and how he influenced not only her, but her music - introducing her to artists like Johnny Cash and Lou Reed. “He introduced me to a lot of new music that really changed the course of my writing”.

With these two releases, she is already starting to build a bit of a following, but there is certainly more to come. “This past spring I recorded six original songs with producer Mike Fahey. I’m planning on releasing two more as singles and then all six in an EP in late August, early September.” Zoe worked with musicians Jon Eldridge, Noah Denney, and Eleanore Denig on most of the songs to add percussion, bass and strings. The entire EP is dedicated to two of her high school friends (Luc & Rosie) who took their own lives. “Most of the songs are about Luc. Some of the songs on the upcoming EP like “Hitchhiker’s Guide” combine my love story with Luc with pieces of history from subsequent boyfriends”. Perhaps it is because her songs were written as a personal extension of herself that they feel as intimate as they do. “Even though I’ve always dreamed of releasing music, I really never thought it would be possible until I met Mike Fahey. He took my songs that are so intimate and turned them into works of art that can stand alone.”

I for one, can’t wait to hear the rest of her EP and more to come in the years ahead. So if you haven’t already done so, please make sure you follow Zoe and listen to all her music on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get yours.

Also, make sure you follow the playlists below to discover incredible new music every day.

Reach out to Zoe Butler

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Written with love by Joe. "Old New England Town by the Sea" has been added to our "Indie Music" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify.

As crucial as our daily decisions sometimes may seem, reconnecting with nature gives us a moment of freedom to focus on things that outlive our mundane problems.
The song “Trecolpas” by Jeff Mailfert invites you to escape from the hustle of the world’s roundabout.

During the first few seconds of the song, you already find yourself slowly transformed into a calm, dreamy world where you are caressed by chirping birds, gentle guitar tunes and Jeff’s honest and wistful voice.

As the song proceeds you cannot help but feel a sense of longing wash over you, longing for a deep, clear breath while noticing the crystal water of the Lac de Trecolpas, the Lake Trecolpas, in France, the major inspiration for this song. A hidden, rather misty place of retreat where time seems irrelevant next to the surrounding crags.

The song “Trecolpas” shows the power that music can have over us: no matter where you are and which challenges you are facing, if you start listening to a tune as warm as this one you are allowed to pause and forget your thoughts for a while. Like Jeff sings: “As if time and the world stopped being crazy“. Especially after we faced the nerve-racking challenges of a global pandemic there is nothing we wish more than a bit of rest.

Originally from France, Jeff is known for the nostalgic folk sound of his music and his closeness to nature and traveling. Through his music, he is able to turn the distant roads of his travels into a form of art that his fans may strongly connect to. And “Trecolpas” is definitely no exception from that.

But not only does the song make you feel mistily nostalgic. After a wonderful instrumental with mournful strings and a banjo solo, Jeff is able to express a sheer powerful amount of energy with his strong voice.

The energy only nature can provide you with to fill your whole body and soul, as Jeff describes it. The honesty of his words is unmistakable.

As the song slowly fades away it feels like you are slowly waking up from a remote dream which you will commemorate in a sweet, yet longing way. But different from a dream, you can always come back to “Trecolpas” when you need a pause from nowaday’s hustle and bustle.

Reach out to Jeff Mailfert

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Written with love by Anna. "Trecolpas" has been added to our "Indie Music" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify.

It was May of 2020 when a wave began surging over our US cities. It was a defiance against racism in general fueled by the murder of a black man named George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin. My own song “Hurricane” released in December that year came out of those and other events that followed.

Meanwhile, Melody Kiser (HeyDreamer) was similarly moved and inspired right here in my own hometown of Atlanta, Georgia to write about it with band mate and high school friend, Jasper Joyner. It was called “As Cities Burn” and as it turned out would become their last collaboration together. Aside from the fact that “As Cities Burn” is just a damn great song with amazing guitar riffs and lyrical hooks, it is a powerful and poignant and captures the essence of a time unique in our history.

Melody and I spoke about the genesis of the song. “[Jasper] had the chord progression already written and needed a concept/lyrics. It was one of those songs that came together instantly. The lyrics can actually be applied to many situations. They are about the darkness in the world, and the people who are waiting to find their way out of this darkness.”

Melody grew up in a musical family. Her mom played keyboards for several bands from a young age, and her brother became an accomplished bluegrass violin/fiddle player as a teenager and young adult. “Going back even further, my maternal great-grandfather was the leader of a southern gospel vocal group that cut numerous albums. So, music has always been deeply rooted in my life. As a teenager, I cut my teeth playing cover songs in bars, nightclubs, and coffee shops. This really allowed me to grow as a musician and an entertainer. I was able to break free of my childhood shyness and blossom as a performer.” It was from this environment that she began to create her own music.

In 2019, she and Jasper created the band HeyDreamer. And in February 2020 (yes just as COVID began ravishing the nation and any chance of a successful tour) they released their first album, “If You’re Out There”. Jasper moved to Philadelphia to begin anew, and Melody continued on adding Dustin Williams (bass) and Dylan Hansen (Gamma Star) as their drummer (I had the opportunity to write about Dylan with his own project, “Cosmic Trash” in January 2022). HeyDreamer released their new album “Dances in Wonderland” produced by Will Turpin (Collective Soul) on March 4th this year as a fan-funded kickstarter campaign. “Working at R2R with Will Turpin and Steve Rawls (co-owner) has truly been a life-changing experience. I've learned so much. Will taught me that less is more… when it comes to songwriting and production. I tended to over-complicate things. I am a big fan of so many different genres of music, and my songs became ‘idea vomit’ really quickly. I've learned to arrange more concisely, and my ear training has developed immensely. It truly has been an experience I'll never forget. Real 2 Reel is a wonderful studio with awesome staff and state-of-the art facilities. I will always recommend it to anyone.”

I first listened to the full album while hiking around the beltline here in Atlanta, chatting with Melody over Facebook Messenger. I was so blown away by the guitar leads I asked who her lead guitarist was only to find that it was actually her! She in fact wrote eight of the songs on the new album (She and Jasper co-wrote “Night Flight” and “As Cities Burn”).

Although “As Cities Burn” has more of a subdued and ethereal vibe than the rest of the songs in her new album, her musical influences are anchored in classic rock. “I love so many different genres and flavors. My main influences would be Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Heart, Paul McCartney, The Killers, and honestly so many others.” To me Night Flight had some definite Journey or Night Ranger vibes to it. (I was curious if she was familiar. She tells me she loves Steve Perry and calls herself a huge music nerd).

Reflecting on what she’s learned from her experience and what she would have done differently, she says, “I would have allowed myself to be more vulnerable early on in my career. It takes immense confidence to express this kind of vulnerability, and I lacked that for so long... and often still find myself unconfident. If you're going to write a song that impacts people, you have to be willing to open your heart. I would also say stick with your gut. It's easy to become overly malleable when you're writing with other people. If the idea was originally yours, stick to your gut. Always be open to the ideas of other's, but if you truly don't like the idea, you don't have to accept it. It's your art.”

Melody is always writing but not overly rushed to pump out new music until it’s ready. And now with a new band dynamic, it’ll be exciting to hear what they produce going forward. “We actually already have several songs in the works/finished. I plan to start recording these as soon as we feel comfortable with the arrangements and get them out to the world. The songs are excitingly different than the songs on either of our previous HeyDreamer releases. I can't wait!”

Of course there are always so many who help us along in our musical journey. Among those she called out as particularly influential are Steve Rawls from Real 2 Reel Studios and Melissa Crispo, an independent artist she met on the Melissa Etheridge Cruise, for their support in helping her to accelerate her music career. And YOU TOO can support Melody and HeyDreamer by following her and supporting their music on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get yours. You can actually relive their Album Release Party in the YouTube video below!

Reach out to HeyDreamer

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Written with love by Joe. "As Cities Burn" has been added to our "Indie Music" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify.

“you”, written, performed and produced by Vancouver, Canada-based Lucas Davies is one of those love songs that makes you wish you wrote it. With a simple rhythm guitar, a softly distorted lead guitar, gentle percussion re-enforcing the 3/4 time, and smooth buttery vocals, it doesn’t seek to crowd the space, rather simply and understatedly captures what it feels to fall in love; to “fall in to you”. The songwriting is solid and universal - and would be a great add to your favorite playlist.

I was able to catch up with Davies this past week and got some great insight into the artist. About his new release, Davis says “you” is “about how falling for someone can draw you into them in a way that’s hard to resist. The song started when I wrote this line that would later become the chorus: ‘It’s not that I want it, it’s more of a need.’ Which I thought was a very simple but impactful way of describing love. Everything else was built around that.”

With several singles to his credit since he began releasing music in 2018, and album “Hold on - Summer” (2020), Lucas Davies is becoming a seasoned songwriter at a young age. Davies started writing music when he was only 11 or 12 years old. “My dad is also a musician so I grew up in a household full of instruments which is what inspired me to start at a young age. As a teenager, I practiced nearly every day and learned how to perform and sing in front of crowds at my high school.” Davies learned how to record and produce music at his local college and began recording and self-producing his own music. “Since then I’ve been releasing original music and trying to improve myself and grow my audience.”

Of course, like most artists in the indie music space, he’s had time to learn lessons along the way. And among those, we spoke about how we tend to compare ourselves to others. Davies advice is to give ourselves a break. “I think one of the most important things I had to learn is to not compare [my]self too harshly to other musicians and songwriters. When I started writing songs as a teenager I would listen to some of my favorite songs, then listen back to my own originals and get discouraged because I could never imagine myself capable of writing something of that quality. It’s important to remember that some of the best songs that you hear on the radio are written and performed by songwriters and musicians who have been honing their skills for many years. Also when you’re looking at an artist’s catalog you are only seeing their best ideas - for every song that gets released, there are a hundred song ideas that never see the light of day.”

I personally found “you” to be to the heart of what we look for at Indie Music Center. I was moved by the heart of it, the production quality and the songwriting. As for the future, Davies continues to create new songs and content. “I’m currently working on my next single and I plan to release as much music as I can in 2022 to grow my fanbase.” Davies is thankful to his friends and family for their endless support for him and his music.

So, there you have it! If you haven’t already done so, please make sure you follow Lucas Davies and listen to all his wonderful music on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get yours. And check out his nostalgic YouTube video for “Hold On, Summer” below. You’ll love it! And don’t forget to subscribe to his channel while you are there and let him know your thoughts!

Also be sure to check out “Indie Music" and our "Artist Pick" Spotify playlists to support Lucas and our other great artists, and make sure you follow the playlists below to discover incredible new music every day.

Reach out to Lucas Davies

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Written with love by Joe. "you" has been added to our "Indie Music" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify.

In my journey as an artist and radio show host, I have been moved by many songs, and I have often shared my current obsessions with you here on Indie Music Center. Usually, I will have a favorite aspect of a song, maybe the lyrics hit me really hard, the production is brilliant or the harmonies are giving me goosebumps. “Red Moon Night” is in the “all of the above” category. It is impossible for me to choose my favorite part of it because it is, as a whole, stunning.

“Red Moon Night” is a breakup song, but it doesn’t fall into any cliches or big words that we’ve heard a thousand times before. Instead, it creates a space of both acceptance and grief capturing the moment on a real and human level. I really appreciate the nuance of the song acknowledging that it’s not the end of the world and yet the pain is very real and valid. “Forty-eight hours of relief and regrets / Neither of which will stay”.

The production subtly accentuates the song never overpowering the story. It really shows that Dominic is not just a brilliant songwriter, but also an incredible producer. The story is told through words and instruments alike in a seamless synergy. A great example of this is the ending of the chorus “And all I have is shredded As familiar is ripped away”. The last part of that sentence swells with beautiful harmonies throughout the song, but not in the last chorus, where the harmonies are “ripped away” leaving one gut-wrenchingly raw vocal standing by itself. It’s just brilliant, this man is brilliant - I have no other word.

Dominic teamed up with cello player Harley Eblen who was a big part of the process of arranging the song. The cello has a warm tone that brings the song even closer to the listener. It starts subtly in the back, lifting up the choruses and then taking the center stage in a beautiful interlude that reveals the full richness and versatility of Harley’s playing.

“Red Moon Night” is honestly one of my favorite releases of 2022 so far, I literally cried the first time I heard it. I have this joke with my artist friends where I call moving songs “soul stabby” and oh boy did this one stab me. It combines the raw feeling of a really vulnerable moment with the incredible craftsmanship of a wonderful songwriter and producer and a great cello player. Grab some tissues and have a listen!

Reach out to Dominic Romano

Reach out to Harley Eblen

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Written with love by Luna. You can find more songs like "Red Moon Night" on our "Indie Music" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and join me on a journey through Thomas LaVine’s latest release “Calico”. It’s one of those songs that pull you in from the beginning with atmospheric sounds moving and growing into the opening line “A house is not a home set apart in winter”. As per usual LaVine paints beautiful imagery with his words, woven into stunning layered vocals that are tastefully supported by the rest of the arrangement.

What I’ve always loved about his songs is that they have depth both lyrically and musically, every listen uncovers another layer in production and the words sung are told through every note played. “Calico” was inspired by landscapes seen during a trip through Northern Michigan and it manages to encapsulate that feeling of images passing by your window and the wonder of imagining what stories lie behind that brief glimpse of a foreign place. The song feels very light and open, with echos, layers and beautiful guitars that build the vastness of the open sky. The drums and driving rhythm guitar move the song through this space taking you along on the journey. And just like on this imaginary road trip you never really know what’s behind the next hill, the track takes no obvious turns and doesn’t shy away to completely fall into a pause of atmospheric sounds to build back into a bridge that breaks the driving rhythm for a few bars to remind us to stop and take in the view “And I made a mistake / I should’ve stayed a little longer that day / Out at the lake”.

Once again Thomas manages to use nature as a metaphor to express part of what it means to be human. “Calico” speaks of a desire to be present to feel the sky above you. It also speaks of the sadness of the moments passed that we can never return to. Life doesn’t have a repeat button, but my music player sure has, so I’m not gonna make any mistakes here and listen on loop for the rest of the day - or maybe until he releases the full “Everwood” EP.

Reach out to Thomas LaVine

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Written with love by Luna. "Calico" has been added to our "Fresh Indie" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify and is already playing on the radio.

I’ve been following Sophie Dorsten’s musical journey for the past year or so, and I’m always so excited to hear what she has yet in store. Sophie’s voice is pure and powerful, her lyrics are never predictable and there is always a wonderful chemistry between her and co-writer Alex that you would almost think they are related. (Spoiler Alert: They are...:-)) With attention-grabbing singles such as “Red Skies”, “Receipts”, and “I Need Some Time” being released on a steady basis you could say it’s “about time” for their newest release - and guess what, it’s here! Their newest single, “Butterflies” flutters its wings from Sophie’s room and into your favorite streaming platform as of last Friday and I think it would be fitting to take a listen right now as you read the rest of this review… (okay, you ready?). Let’s do this…

One of the things I love about Sophie Dorsten’s work is how her lyrics are so visual, and can mean different things to different people. I spoke with Sophie this past week and asked about the story behind the new single. “Butterflies came from being in my room all the time always being in my head, and wishing I could escape thoughts and go to a perfect world where all my hopes and dreams became reality” Sophie explains. “In the chorus, I talk about a place where ‘flowers don’t cry’ and ‘clouds don’t rain’ … ’this is the life I’ll find it someday - but I’ll have to wake up again’ is talking about that fantasy world where everything is picture-perfect, but then I realize that I can’t spend my time dreaming of things and hoping it happens. I need to wake up and make it happen.”

There’s also an innocence in Butterflies, yet it has a message that is very self-aware and mature. Perhaps that depth coming from someone still at an early stage of her career comes from how early she and Alex first got started. At the age of 9, Sophie explains that she saw her brothers Alex (guitar) and Joey (drums) play in a local school performance. She thought about how it would be really cool to sing with them - (luckily they agreed) and the band “Sophie & the Boyz” was born. “We played showcases around the valley for several years and then my little brother didn’t want to do it anymore. Alex was in a band that played gigs everywhere full time so I taught myself guitar and started writing (this was about [age] 12). I was in the Alice Cooper’s ‘Proof is in the Pudding’ competition and had written a couple of songs and it was suggested I record them, and that’s how it came about. I’ve been writing, recording, and releasing songs since I was 13”.

After Alex’s college band broke up, he moved back home - and then Covid hit. “We started writing and creating together - we’ve had a blast with it and now performing out together again!” Performing live, Sophie plays acoustic guitar while Alex alternates between electric and acoustic guitar. Sophie actually played the guitar in their recent release, “I Need Some Time” while Alex Produced. Alex generally writes the music, plays bass, and drums in the studio while Sophie writes the lyrics and melody. “Sometimes he creates the music first and I’ll write / create off of that and other times I have a song already written and he then adds his magic to it. We work well together - it’s so fun! Even when we rehearse for a show we usually end up creating a new song. We’re definitely on the same wave length as far as what we want for the songs. He’s a great producer too - I love how the songs turn out. He will usually mix and master as well although we have used Mark Needham for mixing several of the songs.”

In talking with her about her support system, it’s her family who first comes to mind. “I am so thankful to have an amazing family who always supports me and believes in me. My brother Alex … is the best big brother, and my best friend and always comes up with the best ideas. My mom and dad for all their help with making my dreams come true, and always being there for me.” And her team is also a strong part of their success. “Warren Wyatt with WorldSound and Adam and Olesya from American Artiste are amazing - and currently working hard at a very cool UK tour!”

Sophie and Alex are currently preparing to record at Abbey Road in March and will be performing at several industry parties both in the London area as well as Berlin. “We will also have several local shows around that area. We are very excited for all that! We are working on other projects that we’ll announce soon and hope for some festivals to work out as well. We have songs lined up for most of the year with more always being written.”

And there you have it! So if you haven’t already done so, please follow Sophie Dorsten and be sure to listen to all her wonderful music on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get yours. You will also enjoy her many great videos including my personal favorite featured below, “Red Skies” so check it out and give her a subscribe there as well to see her newest material and to show your support!

Also be sure to check out “Fresh Indie" and our "Artist Pick" Spotify playlists to support Sophie and our other great artists, and make sure you follow the playlists below to discover incredible new music every day.

Reach out to Sophie Dorsten

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Written with love by Joe. "Butterflies" has been added to our "Fresh Indie" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify.

On January 1st, 2022, cosmic trash began ripping through the atmosphere… (Okay, settle down… it’ll all work out…). Heart thumping and daring, the new album “Cosmic Trash”, brainchild of Atlanta, Georgia native Dylan Hansen has flavors from the past and present. The Cars, The Kinks, and David Bowie, are just a sample of Hansen’s old-school influences (and to me I swear I picked up on The Who mixed in there). Modern influences include Spoon, Beck, Wilco, and The Hives. “I try to be influenced by everything. Films, books, science articles, evening news, friends just talking at a party… If it strikes something in me, I write it down. It all feels human to me and since that’s the target audience I’m inclined to jot a note or two.”

I first met Dylan back in 2014 when he was the drummer, vocalist, and songwriter with trio Kick the Robot. “I learned so much about everything with that outfit.  I think without those friendships I wouldn’t be playing music at all. Jess and Dan taught me so much. They have Incredible ears for melody and harmony. I always felt I needed to bring my best just to keep up with them because they were so good at what they did.”

Personally for me, the sound of KTR truly captured my imagination for one, and in fact, they received an in concert shout out from Sir Elton John, toured with Collective Soul (I actually personally saw Ed Roland perform wearing a “KTR” t-shirt), and even now, several years after going their own separate ways they still pull in over 20,000 listeners a month on Spotify. “When the guys wanted to hang up the ole’ technicolor garb I was devastated.  But life happens and they had to move forward to what they felt was calling to them.  They’re your best friends, so you respect that and carry on as best you can.”

As difficult as the breakup was, it was foundational to Dylan’s development as an artist. “I found myself in a strange spot from there. A drummer with no band and a limited skill set for anything other than music. It didn’t go well, I kept breaking like some sort of junky. I found myself writing in this disjointed and compartmentalized fashion that felt very foreign. It helped; it was cathartic, so I kept going until I had a lot of material that made me feel good.  It’s stupid, but most of the material is written intentionally to be villainous. I needed a safe space to be aggressive and call out the emotional bullshit I felt as a human and not feel guilty about it.”

His brand-new album self-released under the name “Gamma Star” is edgy and experimental. It fills the soundscape and constantly takes you in directions you don’t expect. “For some of this record I didn’t even own my own electric guitar yet, I had to borrow things and teach myself while I had It. It was very difficult, hundreds of takes to get good at the part and then perform it properly was exhausting. The thing is, I knew what I wanted to hear, and minimizing the editing to feel the performance was important to me.” It paid off. With a sound that is unmistakably unique – Gamma Star is a performance that takes you on a journey from the first to last note.

Although a defining aspect of the album, the production is certainly not drum-centered. With vocals that hit you diagonally, and have filters, pans, and doubles in places – the lyrics are intelligent and meaningful. The guitars come at you from a time when guitars meant something, and the synths – well… I did mention The Who. “I went and did this record backwards and tracked drums last.  Being primarily a drummer, this was a bit counterintuitive, I guess. By the time I got to the studio to track the real drums, we decided to layer the sounds together and do a hybrid thing with it. It ended up becoming an identifying part of the sound of the record, I think.”

Dylan’s father Gerry Hansen was also critical to the development of the album. “Co-mixing and Co-producing with him one-on-one was a huge privilege that taught me so much about production. He also lent his drumming on a good portion of the tracks as well which really brought new life to the tracks I had been working on for so long.” He also credits Dustin Williams who tracked bass on half the record.  “He’s an amazing player and I’m always so fortunate to get to play with him. He helped me write the track ‘One of Us’ from the record too. I had the general idea put together, but he came in with this great bass line that immediately spawned the rest of the song for me”.  

And Hansen has no plans of slowing down now. He’s already heading back into the studio for his second album. “I have about 9 tracks structured out … It’s a bit of a conceptual idea that I’m writing around actually.  It’s darker material but I’m excited to share it because it feels important”. He’s also toying around with the idea of getting a band together and performing live again. “People keep asking me for it and I feel grateful that I’m wanted in that space again.”

One thing is for sure - this album solidifies Dylan Hansen as a multi-instrumentalist and lead man. My personal top three tracks on the album are Pretty Veins, Lost It, and Pull Your Hair. But there isn’t a loser in the space debris. It’s a major move forward in his creative portfolio and you are sure to love it, stream it, and add it to your own playlists.

If you haven’t already done so, please follow Dylan’s “Gamma Star” and be sure to listen to the full album on Spotify. You will also enjoy his absolute brain-teasing lyric video “Lost It” feature below, so check it out and give him a subscribe there as well to catch his future releases and to show him your support!

Also be sure to check out “Fresh Indie" and our "Artist Pick" Spotify playlists to support Dylan and our other great artists, and make sure you follow the playlists below to discover incredible new music every day.

Reach out to Gamma Star

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Written with love by Joe. "Lost It" has been added to our "Fresh Indie" and "Artist Pick" playlists on Spotify and will start to play on the radio.

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Over two years ago I released the first episode of my all indie show “Why Doesn’t Everyone Know These Songs?”, and one of the artists featured on that very first episode was Aidan & The Wild. Back then I was slightly obsessed with his stunning song “Dreamer” which became part of my life soundtrack in the following years. So it’s safe to say that I have been a fan for some time, and when I got an email announcing his debut album I knew I was in for a treat. And I wasn’t disappointed… “Revelation Never Came” is just the album I needed towards the end of this year.

One thing I always loved about Diederik van den Brandt’s work is the delicate balance he finds between the personal and ethereal. The layered vocals and dreamy guitars create a stage for the poetic which results in really unique friction with some of the really raw and direct feeling lyrics. “Keep you distance, build resistance/all you fuckers need to stay the hell away from me/ I don’t want to die, I don’t want to kill you”. The themes are both hopeful but realistic, with often simple but perfectly chosen hook lines that contrast the more descriptive verses. “It is what it is and it isn’t want it ain’t” and “Oh what a world to be living in/oh what a world to be born into”.

Through this very unique artistic lens, the album manages to encapsulate much of the feeling of the time we live in. It faces the struggles of our relationship with the world and ourselves, the world isn’t black nor white and neither are we. It’s in our hands in the end, as the closing song states: “every step is mine to take/I’ll climb this mountain a stepping stone at a time”.

I really enjoyed the songs featuring guest singers, “The Whip” stands out with beautiful vocals by Merel Sophie. And “What It Ain’t” features three additional voices that work incredibly well with the song: Bobbie, Dési Ducrot, and Baptiste W.Hamon. The whole album creates a really cohesive feeling musically with floating guitars, layered vocals, laid-back drums, and playful acoustic guitars.

“Revelation Never Came” showcases how great of a storyteller Diederik is. The songs hit with raw emotional force carried by delightfully folky arrangements and melodies that are bound to get stuck in your head. It’s a really fun album to listen to, with real depth and great musicianship. I highly recommend putting your headphones on and listening to it on a walkover autumn leaves, I ended up dancing, singing, and crying in public, it was marvelous.

You'll find Aidan & the Wild on our "Fresh Indie" and "Artist Pick" Spotify playlists, make sure you follow this playlist below to discover incredible new music every day.

Written with love by Luna.

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