IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Midday energy boost

Best place to listen

On the road, At home

Does this song haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

Sometimes you only need a few seconds to understand that a song deserves your attention. “Lie To Me”, the latest single from Seattle band Marsalis, does exactly that. Dennis Zender’s voice arrives almost immediately and sets the tone. Strong, confident, and impossible to ignore.

Marsalis formed in West Seattle in 2016 and is built around three musicians: lead singer and guitarist Dennis Zender, bassist Adam Bishop and keyboardist Theresa Cadondon. On stage the band performs with additional musicians, including a drummer and a second guitarist.

One thing we appreciated right away with “Lie To Me” is the way the band allows the song to grow naturally. The track runs a little over four minutes and actually takes time to introduce itself. There is a real introduction, verses that settle in, and a chorus that arrives when the moment feels right. That may sound simple, but it is becoming rare today. Many modern productions jump to the hook as quickly as possible in order to secure a stream. Marsalis clearly chose another path.

The melody quickly sticks in your head, but the structure of the song deserves just as much credit. The bridge is a perfect example. It is often the most delicate part of a song, yet here it works beautifully. Vocal harmonies appear, the electric guitar steps forward, and the section builds patiently before leading into the final chorus.

Lyrically, “Lie To Me” deals with a difficult emotional situation. The band describes the song as an "exploration of the moment when someone tries to give a relationship another chance while slowly realizing that the situation may already be unhealthy. Feelings, attraction and shared history can blur the reality of what is happening".

One line stands above the rest, and it is also our favorite in the entire song: “but the sugar seems sweeter than the pain”.

That sentence alone says a lot. It describes how easy it is to hold on to the good moments while quietly overlooking the damage happening at the same time.

Musically, the band shows impressive control. Theresa Cadondon’s keys add beautiful colors to the arrangement while Adam Bishop’s bass playing keeps everything moving with good fluidity. His work becomes especially noticeable near the end of the track as the arrangement briefly strips down. The bass supports the guitar before Zender returns with that final line once again: “but the sugar seems sweeter than the pain”. The song closes on that thought in a way that feels completely natural.

Despite the difficult theme, the overall atmosphere of the track remains energetic and uplifting. The melody stays with you long after the first listen, and the production reveals small details when heard through a good pair of headphones.

They will soon bring that energy back to the stage. On March 21 the band will perform at The Crocodile in Seattle, one of the city’s best known venues. Grab your tickets! If you know the history of that place, you know it hosted many important names over the years, including Nirvana long before the band became world famous.

Marsalis already played there in 2017 on the same night as Flagship. Funny detail for us at Indie Music Center: we still have the Flagship CD sitting on our editorial shelf among the albums artists have sent us over the years, after we featured them in 2018. The music world can feel very small sometimes!

This upcoming concert will take place in the venue’s largest room, something that rarely happens for a local independent band. The show will also be all ages, which has become increasingly complicated to organize in Seattle due to local regulations and the disappearance of smaller venues.

Meanwhile “Lie To Me” continues to circulate online and has now passed the 60,000 stream mark. The track has also been featured on our "New Indie Music" playlist for the past four weeks, where it quickly became one of the songs receiving the strongest organic support from listeners.

Marsalis remind us that sometimes the simplest things remain the most effective: a strong melody, musicians who clearly understand each other, and a song that takes the time to say what it needs to say.

Marsalis's take on "Lie To Me"

It’s hard to find the balance between giving a relationship a chance and accepting abuse, isn't it? There are a lot of variables but the emotions/attraction/history can muddy the water. You can see people that put up with a lot and try to stay connected to people when it’s obvious the situation is unhealthy... We can get caught up in the good "feels" when they happen and then not give enough weight to the bad ones that are dragging us down. Are we being honest with ourselves about these relationships? Should we re-examine?

A bit more about Marsalis

Marsalis released their self-titled debut EP in 2016. The record quickly found its audience in the Pacific Northwest and was later voted Pacific Northwest Album of the Year by readers of Northwest Music Scene.

In 2018 the band followed with a second EP, “The Assault On Silence.” The project brought Dennis Zender, Adam Bishop, Theresa Cadondon and Philthy together around a set of songs that pushed the band’s sound a little further.

Since then Marsalis have played a number of well-known venues on the West Coast, including The Roxy in Vancouver, The Crocodile in Seattle and Whisky-A-Go-Go in Hollywood. Several of their songs have also received radio airplay across the region, with a few stations even picking them up as far away as Boston.

In early 2018 the West Seattle Herald described Marsalis as a band “on the cusp of fame.”

Reach out to Marsalis

Lyrics

Lie to Me… Lie to Me
Words are meaningless
Cheap and free
Lie to Me
 
All your stories seem to contradict each other, baby
Your excuses seem to fall like the rain
And it seems I’m being taken to the cleaners
But the sugar seems sweeter than the pain
 
Oh,
 
Lie to Me… Lie to Me
Words are meaningless
Cheap and free
Lie to Me
 
You rent a space within my heart you’ve never paid for, baby
An open tab on all my insecurities
I spill my guts and you inflict on me a fever
But the sugar, it seems sweeter than the pain… oh yea
 
Lie to Me… Lie to Me
Words are meaningless
Cheap and free
 
Lie to Me… Lie to Me
I feel so pitiful
Full of my insecurities
 
You capture the worst of me
You push me away
When you lie to me baby, yea
When you like to me baby, yea
When you lie to me, lie to me, lie to me
When you lie
 
Lie to me… Lie to me, yea, oh yea
Words are meaningless, yea
Cheap and free, and free, and free
 
Lie to me… Lie to me, oh yea
I feel so pitiful… oh so pitiful
In my insecurities, yea
 
But, the sugar seems sweeter than the pain

-------------------------

Picture by Scott Butner

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Rainy day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

At home

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

For the past few months, we have seen a musical shift for our dear artist Laura Lucas, the talented Canadian now based in Australia. In addition to her folk sounds, she is now experimenting successfully with electric guitars, which are shaping her musical evolution, as shown in her new single “Woman.”

With a very catchy chorus that will not leave your head for hours, the artist sends us a clear message: she is now fully in control of her life, her desires, and her feelings, and no one will ever change that:

“Like a lot of people, I grew up internalising a patriarchal script about sex and relationships that really does not set women up for fulfilling connections,” Laura shares. “There was a point in my early twenties when I started to interrogate that script, and this song is a product of that questioning”.

Her long-awaited debut album “There’s a Place I Go” will arrive on November 14 via Nettwerk, and will include the excellent “Did the Mountain Change You.”

“Woman” is truly an open letter to those who still believe they can impose their vision and desires on women, and we can only salute the strength of this accomplished artist.

A real pleasure to listen to, as always, and another jewel in her already rich discography of masterpieces.

A bit more about Laura Lucas

Laura Lucas didn’t exactly "choose" music. It just kind of showed up, unpacked its bags, and made itself at home. Growing up in Canada with parents who always had music playing, she picked up a guitar at 10 and never really looked back. Songwriting quickly became her way to deal with the chaos of life. A quiet space where she could put her feelings, even if no one else ever heard the result. Then came 2019. Laura arrived in Melbourne for an exchange trip and something shifted. Suddenly, all those songs that used to stay hidden started asking to be shared. She jumped into the local scene, met some amazing people, and finally started letting the world in on what had been going on behind the scenes. Since then, she’s released two EPs, "Light The Candle, Hold The Mirror" and "The Dreamer", worked with artists like Lawson Hull and Rod Coote, and opened for legends like Harrison Storm and LANKS. Laura has a rare gift for writing songs that feel like they were ripped straight out of a diary you didn’t know you needed to read. Keep an eye on her. Something tells us she’s just getting started.

Reach out to Laura Lucas

Lyrics

Spent too much time
Kissing people I don’t wanna kiss
Too many lies
Lived their lives out on my lips
I don’t know why
I don’t know a gut feeling when I see one
When he’s inside
Don’t feel like a woman but I’ll be one

They say I should want this, want this, want this
Don’t know what I want is, want is, want is
I think I want this, want this, want this
Just not like this, like this, like this

What’s mine is yours
But what’s yours is never gonna be mine
And I know for sure
This isn’t what it’s supposed to feel like
I’ve been here before
And I know that shame is just a white lie

And it says I should want this, want this, want this
Don’t know what I want is, want is, want is
I think I want this, want this, want this
Just not like this, like this, like this

Just be a good girl, just be inviting
A little rough but always abiding
Love what you got, but keep it in hiding
Hiding, hiding

They say I should want this, want this, want this
Don’t know what I want is, want is, want is

They say I should want this, want this, want this
Don’t know what I want is, want is, want is
I think I want this, want this, want this
Just not like this, like this, like this

Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Rainy day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

At home, Before bedtime

Does this song haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

Some articles are easier to write than others. Sometimes everything falls into place. Life drops a series of hints, and you just know this song came at the right time. When that happens, it usually means it will land with the same force in other people’s lives. And that is exactly why it needs to be shared.

"goodbye" is the new collaboration between Luna Keller and Dom Malin, following Overgrown and Shoulder. It also announces a full EP coming in September, and it is safe to say that tears will be shed. This first single already managed to do that. How is that possible? Am I too sensitive? Or is this song simply too good? I would argue for the second option.

The writing of these two combined always hits hard, with lines like “Found an anchor in your eyes” or the imagery of “Slow motion as you turn / Sunset makes my eyes burn.” Yes, goodbye is a breakup song, but at the same time it feels like a declaration of love, or maybe a last grasp of attachment to a love that is slipping away. Either way, the song is alive, powerful, and some of that strength comes from the fact that Luna herself was going through a breakup while writing it.

There are small unexpected noises left in the recording on purpose. It is a live take, raw and honest, and you can hear it. That choice only heightens the emotion, making every word and every line even stronger.

I will not introduce these two artists in detail once again, because they are already in the IMC top five of most-featured artists. They are also among those who deserve recognition the most. Together, they have a strength they still underestimate. Each time they put pen to paper, something remarkable comes out. That is for the music review part.

But why did I say this song came at the right time for me? Because I have been working on a project for nine years now. During this decade I went through difficult times. I had a troubled childhood, a complicated teenagehood, and after becoming a father last November, I finally stepped into adulthood. The teenager hiding inside had to break his shell.

I decided to use my past as fuel to finally launch something coherent and aligned with my vision. Something that can help others move forward. If I made it through, they can too. The difference is that they will have a supportive hand to lean on, which I never really had. Or maybe I did, in a way. Because indie artists like Luna or Dom were always there, with the right songs at the right moments. And I will never forget that. The world is changing fast, but becoming a father has shifted everything for me and helped me focus on what really matters. In my daughter’s eyes, I saw myself grow up. In that instant, I became an adult. Now it is my turn to help others do the same.

This does not mean I will stop writing here. That would be a lie. I know I will be back. I simply need a break to give space to this project that means so much to me. There are lost children out there who need help in the real world. So I am stepping away for a while. And if I leave you with a song called goodbye, which stands as the most beautiful song ever shared on IMC after 1800 pages of content I have written, it feels like a chapter closing. The next one already looks bright and promising. Especially with songs like this as the soundtrack. Take care of yourselves.

Luna Keller's take on "goodbye"

It's interesting how songs can change their meaning to us over time, when we wrote goodbye it was about missing our partners on tour. But when we recorded it I had just gone through a break up and I got to channel all the emotion from that heartache into my vocals, it was really cathartic. And now that we release the song it feels like the closing of a chapter, a collection of memories and moments shared while making this EP.

Reach out to Luna Keller

Reach out to Dom Malin

Lyrics

Wouldn’t take a moment back
Silhouettes and train tracks
Songs and faces and bright lights
Found an anchor in your eyes

Time comes slow and goes fast
Running on this winding path
I don’t care if I arrive
As long as you are in my life

Now we say goodbye
Now we say goodbye

I know tomorrow
I don’t wanna feel this hollow
Hate that our time is borrowed
I just wanna know
This time you won’t go
I just wanna feel your body
Tired of saying that I’m sorry
Living echo of our story
Darling please don’t go
I just want a home

Slow motion as you turn
Sunset makes my eyes burn
And every second from now on
Is a countdown till I’m home

Now we say goodbye
Now we say goodbye

I know tomorrow
I don’t wanna feel this hollow
Hate that our time is borrowed
I just wanna know
This time you won’t go
I just wanna feel your body
Tired of saying that I’m sorry
Living echo of our story
Darling please don’t go
I just want a home

Now we say goodbye

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Rainy day

Best time to listen

Late-night immersion

Best place to listen

At home

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

This song brings back memories of the bands that made us drift away in the late 90s and early 2000s, like The Cardigans or Hooverphonic. A light voice that can still carry strong emotions even without great power. And musically, that’s something special.

Kim Dekker, from Switzerland, has that gift, and she does it all on her own. Playing with contrasts, she moves within a folk-pop world similar to Allison Leah and delivers in this new single a sharp mix of nostalgia, bitterness, and emotional attachment that leaves us wondering one thing: how far can our mind take us in our addiction to someone else? And how do we break free?

Simple yet very well produced, this little catchy tune will grab your attention and stay in your head for hours.

A perfect one to keep on repeat all summer and beyond.

Kim's take on "You Again"

I wrote and recorded You Again during a five-day songwriting retreat in a remote cabin in Entlebuch, Luzern. It was part of a mountain session with my friends and collaborators Mattia Ferrari on drums and Giuliano Sulzberger on production and guitar. On the surface, the song feels light and easy to move to, almost carefree. But behind that is a story about finding yourself drawn back into something that isn’t good for you, just because it’s familiar and comfortable. I wanted to show that mix of knowing it’s not right, yet still going back, and to wrap it in a sound that makes you want to listen again.

A bit more about Kim Dekker

Kim Dekker is a Swiss-Dutch singer-songwriter from Lucerne, Switzerland. She carries an adventurous spirit, summed up in her motto: “I’ve never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.” Her music keeps things clear and uncluttered, yet she adds small touches that make each song feel personal. Her voice is close and natural, supported by gentle instrumentation that leaves room for the listener to connect with the moment. Each release feels like an open door to step inside, take a breath, and spend time with your own thoughts. In a time when much of the music around us can feel heavy, her indie-folk pop brings a lighter touch and a sense of calm, making her a name worth keeping in mind.

Reach out to Kim Dekker

Lyrics

On the left side of my bed he's there again
He brings my coffee, we don't talk before we drink
And he keeps saying that the two of us are friends
I say I love you and the door slams in my face

I know how this ends
We never change

But I keep coming back to you again
You again
You again
You again

I keep wondering if you're fate or just a choice
You're so familiar but I don't know you at all
Can I find in you what I've been looking for
Or do you fill the thing I'm trying to avoid

I know how this ends
We never change

But I keep coming back to you again
You again
You again
You again

I keep coming back to you again
I know the end
It's you again
You again

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Rainy day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

At home, Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

Meet Julia Campbell today on IMC. The LA-based singer-songwriter, originally from Pennsylvania, returns after two and a half years of silence with a deeply moving new single, "Ohio Song".

Her upcoming EP "Sick of Staying" is on the way, and this first taste blends indie-folk songwriting with a subtle pop edge. "Ohio Song" sticks with you for hours after listening thanks to its instantly catchy melody. It's soft, fresh, and bright, even though the theme leans more towards melancholy.

Her vocal performance is absolutely stunning, intimate and close, as if she were singing right into your ear. You find yourself holding on to the story she tells, a love story that doesn’t quite end the way you expected. An upbeat breakup song? Yes, and why not?

Production-wise, there are countless little details waiting to be discovered with a good pair of headphones. It’s a real piece of craftsmanship, no doubt about it.

And when every box is ticked, that’s when we feel lucky to share a gem like this one with you. It’s already made itself comfortable in our playlists, and chances are it’ll do the same in yours. Julia Campbell is definitely a name to remember, and we’re pretty sure you’ll be seeing more of her on IMC soon. We can’t wait for the EP to arrive.

Julia's take on "Ohio Song"

I'm super excited to share with you my first release in 2.5yrs. This feels like a new era for my music!

A bit more about Julia Campbell

Julia Campbell grew up in Pennsylvania and now calls Los Angeles home. Music has always been her way of making sense of the world. She started young, singing along to Avril Lavigne from the backseat, listening to her dad’s Monkees tapes with the windows down, or sitting with her mom while they picked apart Joni Mitchell’s lyrics together.

At 14, she picked up a guitar for the first time and taught herself to play. Ten years later, she’s still writing songs, now tucked inside a home studio she built out of a walk-in closet. Over time, she’s also been learning how to produce her own music, step by step. Julia’s sound has been shaped by artists like Lorde, Phoebe Bridgers, Lizzy McAlpine, Clairo, and Adrienne Lenker. But her songs tell her own stories, often filled with quiet details and honest questions.

Before settling in LA, she spent six months teaching English in China, then drove across the country alone to start a new chapter. Since arriving, she’s spent many nights at concerts, often solo, soaking in the city’s music scene and slowly finding her place in it. She’s now started performing her own songs at local showcases. Her writing feels personal, sometimes raw, and often unexpectedly catchy. The kind of songs that stay with you and say just enough to feel like they were written for you too.

Reach out to Julia Campbell

Lyrics

Whenever I’m driving down the highway
and see an Ohio license plate
I think about how you were the best part of what i always thought was
probably the most boring state

Do you remember our friends’ wedding?
when you had finally cut your hair
after I’d told you to for months and you said that you never would
you looked so good, it wasn’t fair

you couldn’t look at me
and I couldn’t look away

Damn we were a train wreck waiting to happen
Everybody saw us go off the tracks and
You still couldn’t say it
guess it’s easier just staying

But we were like a car crash in slow motion
I could feel the airbags breaking us open
there’s no use in praying
when there’s nothing worth saving

and at the end, you just said nothing
Maybe I should’ve walked away
Instead I got way too drunk & called your bluff
wish I never gave a fuck
Say you miss me
Say you hate me
Say something

But you wouldn’t speak to me
Cause you knew it wouldn’t change a thing

Damn we were a train wreck waiting to happen
Everybody saw us go off the tracks and
You still couldn’t say it
guess it’s easier just staying

But we were like a car crash in slow motion
I could feel the airbags breaking us open
there’s no use in praying
when there’s nothing worth saving

And I never even told you half the shit that I thought
I let so much slide and took it, all for what?
you left me with nothing in the name of god
just like I thought

Cause damn we were a train wreck waiting to happen
Everybody saw us go off the tracks and
You still couldn’t say it
Guess it’s easier just staying

Cause we were like a car crash in slow motion
I could feel the airbags breaking us open
there’s no use in praying
when there’s nothing worth saving

And i got sick of staying

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Midday energy boost

Best place to listen

At home, Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

Taylor Latham is quickly becoming a trusted favorite at IMC. After warming our hearts in the middle of winter with "Sunkissed", he's back to fill our summer with love and good vibes. If you feel like shouting your love from the rooftops, this song might just help you do it.

It tells the story of a passionate love, strong enough to make you want to travel the world with someone and see everything through their eyes. This new single adds another gem to Taylor Latham’s growing discography.

The South West UK artist once again wins us over with a melody that slowly gets stuck in your head and a simple production. If you listen closely, you might even find it quite minimalistic, but it works so well that you’ll want to play it again and again.

Taylor Latham's take on this song

"Golden is my lifelong dream in a song. To fall in love and explore the globe with someone who makes the good better and the bad manageable. A dream inspired by my parent’s heritage (SA & UK), love for each other and stories from their honeymoon adventuring around the world.

With a warmth throughout and an honesty I write with that only comes from the depth of true inspiration 'Golden' is a roadmap to part of what I want to achieve in my lifetime".

A bit more about Taylor

I'm a singer-songwriter from the coast of North Devon in the South West of the UK. As well as loving making music, I enjoy traveling, hiking, and spending time outdoors and I feel these hobbies and experiences are woven throughout a lot of my writing. In the last couple of years, my solo performances have taken me to festivals such as Boardmasters and Goldcoast Oceanfest as well as gigs with SW1 and Sofar Sounds.

Reach out to Taylor Latham

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Midday energy boost

Best place to listen

Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

Lucie Glang, a young German artist who joined the IMC Family last month with her fifth feature on IMC, is already back with a new single. Last month, she invited us to dive into the water with "Underwater Skies". This time, she’s asking us to jump into the river. It seems like Lucie shares a strong connection with water, just like Thomas LaVine, who has named many of his songs with aquatic references over the years.

For this track, Lucie teamed up with producer Dominic Romano, a familiar name at IMC as he regularly works with some of our favorite artists. His signature style is instantly recognizable, with every instrument finding its place and nothing getting buried in the mix. Lucie and Dominic had already worked together on the beautiful song "Friends", which we had the pleasure of featuring too.

"Jump In The River" invites you to get behind the wheel, drive with no real destination, no money in your pocket, and just enjoy whatever life brings your way. A true celebration of simplicity that fits perfectly with IMC’s philosophy: we try to stay away from screens as much as we can, and only come back to find the best songs for you to enjoy offline.

Joyful and full of light, this track offers a contrast to the melancholic mood Lucie has often explored since 2021. According to her, it’s "the happiest song I've ever written". And she really shines in this new mood that brings a big smile to your face.

Another gem added to Lucie Glang’s already rich collection of standout songs. With its super catchy melody, this one really stands out, even if it’s a little short. But no matter what, we never get tired of her incredible voice. After 3 listens, this song will be one of your favorites. After 5, it becomes an obsession.

Lucie Glang's take on "Jump in the River"

I wrote it to escape our loud and fast world and remember the freedom and peace I felt living in my campervan with my dog, going surfing and waking up to the sound of birds, not cars.

A bit more about Lucie Glang

Lucie Glang combines folk-pop with Nordic influences and offers honest and introspective lyrics. Born in a small town in western Germany, she spent several years in different countries, finding music to be a constant home and a way to stay present in a fast, loud, and electronic world. Initially created due to pandemic restrictions, Lucie's songs come from a lot of online collaborations, intimate bedroom recordings, and professional studio sessions spanning Iceland, Denmark, and America, inspired by bands like First Aid Kit, Simon and Garfunkel, and Fleet Foxes. After several festival slots and support shows, she returned in 2024 with a tour through Germany and Scandinavia to release her debut EP.

Reach out to Lucie Glang

Lyrics

Oh let’s get a dog
And sleeping bags
And move into your car
And we’ll watch the sunrise
Sleep at beaches
Chewing marram grass
In the evening drive into
The sunset
The sky is full of stars
We’ll go skinny dipping
Salty water 
Dripping down me
Just
 
Take me on 
And then take me away
Take me on 
And then take me away
 
Oh let’s jump in the river
Oh let’s swim 'til we shiver
Take me on 
And then take me away
Oh let’s lie in the woods
Starre into pine trees
Read books of better times
And it takes me away
 
And the highest mountains,
Deepest river,
A freely running dog
And the sunburn after
staying in the
water all these hours
coffee in the morning
In the evening
A two dollar red wine
And we’re drunk on being away
From all the noise
And simply smile
 
Take me on 
And then take me away
Take me on 
And then take me away
 
Oh let’s jump in the river
Oh let’s swim 'til we shiver
Take me on 
And then take me away
Oh let’s lie in the woods
Starre into pine trees
Read books of better times
And it takes me away

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

We’ve known about the project &Tilly (pronounced “andtilly”) for a few years now, as their songs have already been featured in Luna Keller’s podcast Why Doesn't Everyone Know These Songs, which we proudly host.
This musical duo is made up of multi-instrumentalist V and poet-singer Tilly. What’s funny is how they describe themselves as two introverts who somehow crossed paths. And here at Indie Music Center, we’ve noticed something over time. Some of the most moving and unforgettable songs we’ve featured often come from the most introverted artists. Just think of The Satellite Station, Ben Greenberg, Specific Coast, to name just a few. Well, same here. Two introverts, one masterpiece.
Their new single At a Cost stands out for its minimalist atmosphere, even though it mixes a wide range of instruments: guitar, piano, banjo, pads, and even brass. But none of that would matter without Tilly’s voice. It’s fragile, always walking a tightrope, as if it could fall at any second. But it never does. And that vocal tone, so striking and unique, fits perfectly with the whole soundscape they create around it. Having a voice with such identity, something you recognize instantly, is a real gift for any artist.
The music video adds even more depth with its beautiful colors, shadows playing under the trees, and clever use of light. All of this highlights the contrast that makes this song so powerful. Because yes, behind the poetic, bright, and almost joyful surface, there’s something else. A love story falling apart. And we, the listeners, witness its very last day, helpless. So if you were ready to drop this into your springtime playlist full of blooming flowers, think again. This one belongs in your heartbreak collection!
On the production side, every choice feels right. The percussion that kicks in during the final chorus brings exactly what we’ve been waiting for since the beginning: that shiver down the spine. Then comes the ending. Tilly’s voice, even more exposed, almost entirely on its own, delivers the most powerful line of the song: “It’s the last day we have together / don’t be sad, nothing lasts forever”. Dang. What a slap!
Probably the most beautiful breakup song we’ve ever featured on IMC. One that leaves you with a small smile and makes you want to say, quietly to yourself, “Well… that’s life”.

&Tilly's take on "At a Cost"

Road trips and broken hearts. At a Cost is about that last day before the other one moves out — the crushing, silent tears of an ending that couldn’t be prevented, the trying to make it lighter for the other person’s sake. And the parallel of traveling to new countries without a map, without directions… it might end up a catastrophe, and there’ll definitely be some homesickness, but ultimately, it’s an adventure. A new life, at the cost of the old one that was no longer sustainable. At a Cost is an indie folk song that’s as perfect for sad or brokenhearted playlists as it is for road trip ones, and as light as it is mellow.

A bit more about &Tilly

We're &Tilly, an under-the-radar, international, genre-bending project that started with... an end. As two introverted individuals, we're nothing, just one or the other; we got connected through our own personal ends to create something more than ourselves. Over time, we also connected with various amazing artists all over the world, giving our music incredible new dimensions. The link, the base of it all would be the unique voice and the mellow style of the singer and songwriter, Tilly. In the &Tilly world, profound lyrics, powerful melodies, and haunting soundscapes take center stage. Through music, you can strongly feel the beauty of an inner sadness, the depth of an unanswered question, and a lot that feels heavy and unsolvable. Genre-wise, it's also not too easy – the &Tilly project blends alternative dream pop with folk, singer-songwriter, country, and even synthpop and electronic vibes. Each song is different from the other, taking you on a unique journey while making it hard to clearly class the music.

Reach out to &Tilly

Lyrics

It’s the last day we have together
Don’t be sad or take it bad
Let’s talk about the weather
We don’t have much to say now
And the past keeps calling on
I may not call – won’t know how
For a while

It’s the last conversation, I guess
I’m still glad for every single caress
We can celebrate a new night
Or wait hidden in the twilight
There’s nothing left to smile
About

We’re on the road again, there’s no map
Coordinates are lost
Run away and hide, or face the gap
Life will come at a cost
At a cost

At a cost

The dream we dreamt is gone now…

We’re on the road again, there’s no map
Coordinates are lost
Run away and hide, or face the gap
(Face the gap)
Life will come at a cost
Oh, at a cost

On the road again, there’s no map
Coordinates are lost
Run away and hide, or face the gap
Either way, love comes at a cost
At a cost

It’s the last day we have together
Don’t be sad, nothing lasts forever

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

Alright, I have to admit it. These two really got me this time. They actually made me eat my words. In my last article, I ended by saying that if we had to wait another five years for a new collaboration, so be it. And boom. Another one shows up right after, like a direct reply to the previous track.

Last time, we were talking about phlox, the flower that grows near Thomas LaVine. And now, in response, we get a song about a flower found in the German landscapes of Luna Keller. That’s clever. And creative. But honestly, with these two in the same room, nothing surprises me anymore.

Once again, we’re hit by the production quality coming out of that garden shed turned recording studio. Seriously, those lawnmowers must have gone to mixing school, and the screwdrivers and hammers are clearly mastering experts. It’s wild. And just like before, the song is full of subtle little details you’ll only catch with your best headphones on and the volume up.

But the real moment comes with the final climax. That goosebump moment only happens when two voices blend this perfectly. At this point, we’re seriously wondering why these two haven’t started a side project yet. We could listen to their vocal harmonies forever.

There’s always something magical when Thomas or Luna are involved. And that’s what we love about the artists in the IMC Family. There’s something honest, human and real in everything they do. You can feel it in every line of every song. And it’s doing wonders for our ears.

We wouldn’t mind another one, by the way. Any chance you recorded something else in that little cabin?

Their take on "White Lily"

"Getting to write this song with not just one of my favourite songwriters, but also a dear friend feels really special to me. These wild white lilies have been a comforting symbol on my journey for a long time (I even have them tattooed), now there's finally song for them. Thomas has always been so good at creating a scene and feeling in his songs, while I often tend to go more into storytelling. It was magical to see him work with this idea and bringing that space I've visited so often to life in this song". - Luna Keller

"With White Lily, we had a little more of a “goal” now that the first song felt completed. It feels like a sister song, or next chapter to ”Phlox”. I think Luna and I had found a bit of a groove on this one and it really felt like we flowed from one idea to the next. The song itself came together naturally and pretty easily. One of us would sing something, or hum a melody and the other would just build right on top of that until we got what you hear in the song now. Luna is just a really good songwriter, so it felt like she and I were speaking the same language, even when the gears would shift, we were just locked. I love this song, I hope anyone who hears it does too". - Thomas LaVine

Reach out to Thomas LaVine

Reach out to Luna Keller

Lyrics

Be my white lily
something i can run to
through the gray and through the blue
through everything to come

All my growing pains
shadows we cast yesterday
going forward anyway
what else can i do

Can you show me
where i'm going?
cause i've been lonely
trying to get to you

oh my white lily
it's been a while since we could speak
been holding to this broken piece
counting down the days

By mid-afternoon
twice i've come to visit you
showed you scars and showed you wounds
you never made me wait

Can you show me
where i'm going?
cause i've been lonely
trying to get to you
trying to get to you
trying to get to you
trying to get to you

Can you show me?

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

On the road, Out in nature, Before bedtime

Does this song haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

Discovering a new Dom Malin song is a bit like trying the latest version of your favorite chocolate bar. It's a personal moment, something just for you, where you have every right to shut out the rest of the world, put on a good pair of headphones, and just breathe while you listen. That’s exactly what we did. And as always, that familiar sense of pleasure was there.

Even more so this time, because Dom Malin takes on something massive that he hadn’t really explored before. A sound that leans much more into indie folk than usual. Sure, he had already touched on folk vibes with All I Know. But here, it's another level. And when we say you need good headphones, it's for moments like this. To catch the subtle electric guitar in the background of the final chorus, the soft “ooh oohs” tucked between two lines in the second verse, or those tiny sounds, like birds reacting in awe to another masterpiece from the great Malin.

Yes, the connection to nature is the theme here, and nature is clearly present in the production too. The truth is, Dom Malin is a real problem for bloggers. We run out of ways to describe what he does. And we end up sounding like broken records, always saying the same thing: that he somehow did even better than last time. We keep asking the same questions. Can he top this again? Where does his creativity end? But deep down, we already know the answers.

Once again, for the thirteenth time, we’re saying this is Dom Malin’s best track so far. Until the next one!

Dom Malin's take on "Bloodmoon"

It's a personal and nostalgic song about that one connection that never really goes away. You know, you move on, time passes, but somehow, this person still holds a place in your heart. I wrote it while I was back in Seattle, a city that carries a lot of memories for me. It feels like stepping into a chapter of the past. The song is my way of understanding that strange mix of distance and closeness. When someone is no longer part of your life, but just thinking about them still brings a kind of warmth. It's not dramatic. It's quiet. Almost peaceful. Musically, it's soft and intimate, with a bit of melancholy, but there's also something hopeful in it. It came together naturally, without trying to force anything. Just letting the feeling speak.

A bit more about Dom Malin

Dom Malin has built his life around music. From acquiring his first electric guitar at 12, it was written in the stars that he was meant to be a musician! A pivotal life moment happened at a school talent show where he performed ‘Time of Your Life’ by Green Day: that evening he wrote his first song. Since then Malin has proven himself an** undeniable talent** and his skill has not gone unnoticed. He has on several occasions, been the artist of the week for **BBC Introducing Lincolnshire** and gained support from numerous blogs: I**ndie Music Center, Mahogany, **and** RGM.** Malin intrigues and allures you to his wonderful musical landscapes by making music from the world around him. With sensual poetry, notes of nature, and tender vocals, he explores the array of emotions on offer through genre-fluid melodies and dynamic instrumentation.

Reach out to Dom Malin

Lyrics

Out under city lights
a late summer night
When was the last time we spoke
It all feels so long ago
But when I think of you
Just like a blood moon
It’s pure and beautiful
Just like the light in June
The light in June
The light in June
The light in June
City of Emerald Green
Seattle, how have you been
When was the last time we spoke
To me, you were always home
To me, you were always home
But when I think of you
Just like a blood moon
It’s raw and beautiful
Just like the light in June
The light in June
The light in June
The light in June
But through the seasons, I have changed
I feel heavy and rearranged
But like the seasons, we all change
Just like a pink sky turning to grey
But when I think of you
Just like a blood moon
It’s raw and beautiful
Just like the light in June
The light in June
The light in June
The light in June

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Sunrise awakening

Best place to listen

Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

The German folk world of Jetlagged, which we introduced to you back in mid-April with “My Way”, feels like a childhood candy. Sweet, nostalgic, but with a modern twist. That’s exactly what you’ll find in “Sunrise”, another track from their Roadtrip EP. The folk roots are solid, but the guitar strumming brings flashes of Andalusian warmth. A blend of genres and cultures, just like this group of friends.

Once again, “Sunrise” stands out with a clean and thoughtful production. The balance between folk roots and modern energy is spot on. The vocals bring a warmth that instantly connects with the listener. It feels like a quiet confession whispered close to your ear. That kind of closeness is rare.

The song celebrates the joy of starting a new sunny day, breathing in the fresh morning air, and remembering that each day is a new beginning. It’s up to us to turn it into something unique and memorable. We say it often on IMC, but it’s worth repeating. The present moment is the most precious thing you have. Don’t waste it. There’s no replay button or refund waiting at the end.

Jetlagged keeps moving forward with their six-track Roadtrip EP, already closing in on 90,000 streams in less than two weeks. No kidding. That momentum comes from tracks like “My Way” but also from other hidden gems like “The Pond” and its instrumental version. We wouldn’t be surprised if a few film or series producers are already taking notes. Jetlagged has that cinematic potential. And us? We’re already sold.

Jetlagged's take on "Sunrise"

“Sunrise” is about those quiet early hours where everything feels possible. That first breath of cool air, the light slowly creeping in, and the feeling that the day hasn’t been written yet. It’s a song about slowing down, noticing what’s around you, and enjoying the simple pleasure of a fresh start. We’ve always loved mornings. Not necessarily for getting up early, but for that peaceful energy they carry. “Sunrise” came from that space. No big speeches, just the idea that every day gives us a chance to try again, do better, or simply appreciate what’s already here.

A bit more about Jetlagged

Jetlagged is a German acoustic band that has been writing, recording, and performing together for over fifteen years. Their songs draw from real-life experiences, touching on love, distance, change, and everything in between. The music is carried by acoustic guitars that shift between delicate fingerpicking and steady rhythm, supported by percussion and bass. A violin brings depth and adds a melodic voice of its own. Over the years, Jetlagged has connected with listeners of all ages and backgrounds. They have shared the stage with acts like Nada Surf, Ezio, Philipp Poisel, and Enno Bunger. Their debut album, \_Depart, Be Lost, But Climb\_, was released in 2011. Since 2021, they’ve continued to release a steady stream of singles. In 2022, they reached the semi-finals of SPH Music Masters, one of the largest band contests in Europe. Recommended if you like Dekker, Mighty Oaks, Harrison Storm, Vance Joy, Snow Patrol, or The Paper Kites.

Reach out to Jetlagged

Lyrics

In the early morning light, we’ll find our way,
Chasing dreams as the sun begins to paint the day.
With the world so still, and the colors so bright,
We’ll follow the golden path, chasing the morning light.

Oh, the sunrise, it’s our guide,
As we journey on, side by side.
In the quiet of the dawn, we’ll find our way,
With the sunrise, we’ll start a brand new day.

In this city full of dreams
Found a place to call my own
Through the highs and through the lows
In the chaos, we have grown
Every corner, every street
Holds a story to be told
In the shadows and the light
I found my way back home

Oh, the sunrise, it’s our guide,
As we journey on, side by side.
In the quiet of the dawn, we’ll find our way,
With the sunrise, we’ll start a brand new day.

In the early morning light, we’ll find our way,
Chasing dreams as the sun begins to paint the day.
With the world so still, and the colors so bright,
We’ll follow the golden path, chasing the morning light.

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

Back in 2020, Thomas LaVine got his first feature on Indie Music Center. He was curious enough to read other articles and discover new artists. That’s how he came across a feature on Luna Keller and bam: instant connection with that unique voice. As luck would have it, he had been searching for months for a female voice to complete his folk ballad “By The Coast”. That’s how one of the first IMC Family gems was born, and to this day, it remains one of the most beautiful indie songs ever released.

The two artists quickly became friends, and it was only natural that Luna would end up in Thomas’s little garden shed turned studio when she visited the US in 2024. Today, we’re excited to share the result of that “In Real Life” meeting, and we’re so glad a small miracle came out of it. I have to admit, I had to look up what the word “Phlox” meant. Here in Europe, it’s not a common word at all, and I had never heard of it. So if, like me, you’re not too familiar with North American landscapes, here’s the answer: it’s a flower that grows a lot over there. Mystery solved.

So is this a song about an American flower? Not exactly, even if there are plenty of references to it in the lyrics. Is it another song about water, just like most of Thomas' repertoire? Nope. Crazy, right? This new song is more about living in the moment, instead of always chasing the best this, the best that, and running after a version of happiness that might not even exist. Life moves fast, and we often forget to just live. This gorgeous ballad is a gentle reminder, with warm harmonies and a summery vibe. Bonus points for the vinyl crackle at the end.

Once again, the LaVine + Keller combo works like a charm, even though it already proved itself five years ago. This North Carolina guy and this German wonder have created something magical once again, and our ears are in for a treat. That's what happens when two of your favorite artists of all time release something together. And if we have to wait five more years for another timeless gem, so be it. We’ll take it.

Their take on "Phlox"

"Writing in person with Thomas felt really joyful to me, he's not just a good friend but also one of my favourite artists, so there was a foundation of understanding each other's approach already. One thing Thomas and I always connected over was our love for deep philosophical conversations and our tendency to overthink - "Phlox" is like a grounding reminder that not everything needs a deeper meaning or answer" - Luna Keller

"It was a joy to write with Luna. I don’t do a ton of collaborations, and I feel like when I get the opportunity to really connect and write like this, it really is a gift. Writing with someone else may mean you do not always walk the same part of the path you typically do. You challenge each other, and in this case, I feel there was a lot of mutual respect and admiration for the talents that each writer possessed. I think we were just trying to amplify that in each other, so it was a highlight for me. Luna is a true artist. 10/10 would do again." - Thomas LaVine

Reach out to Thomas LaVine

Reach out to Luna Keller

Lyrics

There's a valley where the wildflowers grow
all the longing takes me back
there's a sorrow in the undertone
of a slowly fading past
broken pieces coloured glass

Smell the meadow phlox there so you know
the scent of southern air down where they grow
whisky never tasted good to me
but if that's what you'll have that's what I'll drink

Sink my feet into the shallow shore
if I walk will it get deep?
it might pull me in the undertow
maybe that's just what I need
when it's dark can I go back?

Smell the meadow phlox there so I know
the scent of southern air down where they grow
whisky never tasted good to me
but if that's what you'll have that's what I'll drink

Smell the meadow phlox there so you know
the scent of southern air before you go

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Sunrise awakening

Best place to listen

Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

Want us to be honest? Seeing a Lucie Glang song land in our submissions queue feels like spotting your favorite pastry in a shop window. It shines. You see it from afar. And all you want is to grab it and start enjoying it. That’s the Lucie Glang effect, every single time.

And each time we hit play, it’s another good surprise. Each time her voice appears after a short intro, we get goosebumps straight away. Yes, we’ve already said it before, but this angelic voice truly is one of a kind. You could recognize it among thousands. And once she starts singing, we also begin to savour the lyrics one by one, because we know poetry, metaphors, and vivid imagery are always part of the experience. Writing like that isn’t something you can learn. For Lucie Glang, it’s just natural.

With “Underwater Skies”, it was love at first listen. Intense. Powerful. When you get goosebumps at second 18, something’s clearly happening, right? The song is all about the joy of being in the water, the feeling it gives you, and the silence it brings. No surprise there: Lucie is a huge fan of surfing. Close your eyes, and it’s like you’re floating. This track paints pictures effortlessly, really!

But what kind of song can trigger that much emotion? It’s the whole thing. The melody is stunning, subtle backing vocals support the build-up, and then comes that incredible climax starting at 2:27. And yes, goosebumps again, all the way to the end. You find yourself with your mouth wide open, wondering if what you just heard is even real.

It is. It’s Lucie Glang’s new single. And we also have to give huge credit to Danish producer Martin Korsgaards, who knew exactly where to push to bring all of Lucie’s ideas to life. The result is a masterpiece.
Bonus points for the music video, too, and we really hope she didn’t catch a cold diving into that water! This marks her fifth feature on IMC. And if you’ve been around long enough, you know what that means, we’re proud to tell her: WELCOME TO THE IMC FAMILY!

Lucie Glang's take on "Underwater Skies"

I wrote this song in 2022, as part of a challenge I took upon myself to write and record a demo every day in October. It talks about the feeling of being underwater and feeling the present moment, while letting go of your worries and concentrating on breathing out and the blue blurred vision around you. I wrote it to calm your nervous system in moments of panic. It's my second collaboration with Danish producer Martin Korsgaards, and I'm really happy about the produced soundscape, especially the bridge filled with a choir of over 50 voices that gently wakes you up and brings you back to the surface.

A bit more about Lucie Glang

Lucie Glang combines folk-pop with Nordic influences and offers honest and introspective lyrics. Born in a small town in western Germany, she spent several years in different countries, finding music to be a constant home and a way to stay present in a fast, loud, and electronic world. Initially created due to pandemic restrictions, Lucie's songs come from a lot of online collaborations, intimate bedroom recordings, and professional studio sessions spanning Iceland, Denmark, and America, inspired by bands like First Aid Kit, Simon and Garfunkel, and Fleet Foxes. After several festival slots and support shows, she returned in 2024 with a tour through Germany and Scandinavia to release her debut EP.

Reach out to Lucie Glang

Lyrics

Hold your breath and count
Underwater Skies
Mumbled, blurry sounds
Bring your body down
Feet fly over sand
Blue and peaceful towns

Imagine what it’s like
To stay here for some time
Breath out and don’t swim up
The blood pumps, changing tides
A corpse with you inside
The shivering sea around

Everything now fades
Thoughts let go of you
Everything’s been said
The current takes you far
Float away my dear
Leave it as it was

Imagine what it’s like
To stay here for some time
Breath out and don’t swim up
The blood pumps, changing tides
A corpse with you inside
The shivering sea around

-------------------------

If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.

IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Rainy day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

At home

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

We first discovered Dylan Dunlap back in November 2019, with his single “If That’s Alright” as his first feature. We wrote: “This song has huge potential”. Once again, we weren’t wrong. Today, that track has over 71 million streams on Spotify. Sure, we don’t usually care about numbers on IMC… but still. Dang.

And yet, here we are, 6 years later, featuring Dylan Dunlap for the 4th time. He hasn’t forgotten the small media outlets that supported him before his career took off. That down-to-earth attitude is one of the many reasons we still enjoy diving into his new musical creations.

If you’re already a fan of Dylan Dunlap, here’s the good news: a new album called BROOKLYNITE is coming out on August 8. Dylan gave us the honour of an early listen, and we were blown away by the level of professionalism he poured into it. A perfect mix of pop and folk influences, switching between bangers and ballads, this album is simply massive. We can’t wait for you to hear it.

To give you a first taste, here comes the new single, "Fool". This one tells the story of Dylan’s cross-country drive when he moved from L.A. to Brooklyn. Uprooting yourself like that is never easy. Of course, you look ahead and get ready to build something new. But it’s hard not to look back. Hard not to think about the people you’re leaving behind. I did the same thing 15 years ago, and I can tell you: the decision is tough, but in the end, it’s worth it.

Mostly acoustic, the track features beautiful strings and sharp, clear writing. One line in the second verse stood out for us: “I am a warrior / I wanna watch me fall / Under the waves of devotion”. The vocals carry a hint of fragility, but what shines through is confidence and the feeling that the right choice has been made. And of course, Dylan’s songs wouldn’t be the same without his natural gift for melody. His hooks always stick with you.

As if that weren’t enough, Dylan has also launched a side project called Buttercup. More ambient and instrumental, it gives him space to explore his creativity even further. Three singles are already out, and we loved the peaceful vibe they give off. We’re especially drawn to “Northern Lights” and its beautifully cinematic mood.

Dylan Dunlap stays grounded, and we’re ready to float above the clouds when the album drops in August. Until then, we’ll keep “Fool” on repeat until the next single comes out at the end of June.

Dylan Dunlap's take on "Fool"

I wrote & produced "Fool" almost immediately after driving across the country and moving to Brooklyn. I was doing something with my life that I knew in my gut was 100% right for me, but the people pleaser in me (now recovering) couldn’t fathom the thought of lifting myself up while letting others down in the process. There came a turning point where I had to decide if I was going to be the change I wanted to see in my world or stay the same in the world of others.

A bit more about Dylan Dunlap

The Brooklyn-based singer (formerly in LA), songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dylan Dunlap developed a love for music at a very young age. As a teen, Dylan left the prestigious Berklee College of Music to get a head start on his music career and started busking in his hometown of Burbank, CA. Since then, he has supported OneRepublic in front of 65,000+, released his first-ever single “Microphones & Lights,” toured across the US and the UK, dropped his debut EP Things I Can’t Explain and demonstrated a versatile songwriting prowess, writing with artists across country, hip-hop, pop and electronic genres. In November 2019, Dylan released what would become his breakout single, “If That’s Alright,” which has amassed over 71 million streams.

Reach out to Dylan Dunlap

Lyrics

I am a worrier
I am a waterfall
I am a wave of emotions
I am away from hurt
But from afar I’m not
I am wonderfully broken

I’m not a fool
I’m not a fool
For falling in love
I'm not a fool
I'm not a fool
For leaving what was

I am a warrior
I wanna watch me fall
Under the waves of devotion
I am a wanderer
But never far from lost
I am wonderfully open

I’m not a fool
I’m not a fool
For falling in love
I'm not a fool
I'm not a fool
For leaving what was

I’m not a fool
I’m not a fool
For falling in love
I'm not a fool
I'm not a fool
For leaving what was

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IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Sunrise awakening

Best place to listen

Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Melody lingers

Goosebumps scale

Chills guaranteed

Our thoughts

Ever since we first introduced you to Rod Coote back in 2022, we’ve been telling you to keep an eye on this Australian artist. Three years later, here he is releasing tracks produced by... Hayden Calnin. No, this isn’t an April Fools’ joke. And anyway, isn’t it a little late for that?

Taken from his new EP Half Moon Bay, released on May 9, “The End” plays with contrasts right from the title. The song talks about endings, yet it opens the EP. It tells the story of a new beginning for Rod, the moment he moved to the south coast of Australia.

With its unmistakably folk sound, driven by steady banjo and honest, confident vocals, “The End” is the kind of song that fits perfectly with those moments of doubt. And the “ooh oohs” will echo in your head for days, without asking permission to leave.

It’s a bit like the IMC Family: once artists join, after five features, they usually don’t want to leave. That often leads to beautiful collaborations (you'll see later this week). And since “The End” marks Rod Coote’s fifth feature on IMC, we’re officially welcoming him into the IMC Family!

Rod Coote's take on "The End"

This song is paradoxically the beginning of the EP and explores the notion that closing one chapter also allows space for the beginning of a new season. This was inspired by my move to the southern coastline of Australia and letting go of a life I once knew. 'The End' is the beginning of this chapter. I think we all experience moments when we feel like a lost cause, and things feel like the end of the world. This song offers a new perspective that the ending of a chapter can also invite a new season to begin.

A bit more about Rod Coote

Rod Coote is an Australian singer-songwriter based in Melbourne. He grew up in a quiet town in New South Wales, where he started writing music as a teenager inspired by artists like Ben Howard, Noah Kahan and Hollow Coves. Over the years, he built his audience through busking, regular releases and touring across Australia, Europe and the UK. He’s opened for acts such as Ziggy Alberts, Kim Churchill and The Dreggs. His two latest EPs, produced by Garrett Kato and Tim Hart, mark a new chapter shaped by his move from the countryside to the coast. And his very last one has been produced by... Hayden Calnin.

Reach out to Rod Coote

Lyrics

Reborn, by the southern sea, 
Into love, into peace, humility and harmony
Grow, water this seed
Soon we’ll be grey & old, slowly fading under this oak tree
How long could we pretend
Is this the end 
Dusk, at half moon bay
Will the light ever come if night takes it all away,
We’ll lie here, with tides between our feet
We can lose our soul, but we can never really lose our dreams
How long could we pretend
Is this the end 
How long could we pretend 
Is this the end

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If you enjoyed this song, consider supporting the artist directly on platforms like Bandcamp, Patreon, and Twitch whenever possible. Streaming services are great for discovery, but they rarely provide fair compensation for musicians. Every purchase makes a difference!

If you're an artist and want the same kind of feature, send a message on our contact page, we'd be happy to help.