"Overgrown" is the result of the meeting of Dom Malin and Luna Keller. Quite funny, this is the second song out today that is called "Overgrown"! Yes, also check out this other post about Whylemin's release!

The first feature on IMC for Luna Keller was on November 11, 2018. The first feature on IMC for Dom Malin on April 15, 2021. Since then, both have joined the IMC Family, where artists exchange tips and grow together. I wouldn't go so far as to say they are "Overgrown", because that's not true. The success they deserve is even greater than that. Besides, wouldn't that be the saddest pun in IMC's history? So I won't.

But on the other hand, I can tell you that it is one of the most beautiful collabs we've heard in a long time. This magical meeting in the Autumn of 2020 between two wonderful human beings was inevitable. They then started writing together remotely. Then met in person a year later. The song then began to come to life for real at Dom's home studio in Birmingham. The perfection of Dom Malin's writing and his incredible talent for creating unforgettable melodies, combined with the perfect mastery of the vocal harmonies of Luna Keller, have made it possible to create this unforgettable little gem. Timeless. Yes, "Overgrown" is quite the kind of song that can go through the years without getting old.

In the past, I've sometimes rejected songs that had vocal harmonies throughout, saying it was too much. Yes, vocal harmonies are a very difficult exercise that should be mastered perfectly. This is the case in this song. No, having harmonies throughout is not a hindrance here, on the contrary, especially when they are well done like in "Overgrown"!

I said the song was timeless, but I would also add timely. Hot on the heels of Luna dropping the song "Wolves," which addresses loved ones who have recently passed away, "Overgrown" is a logical sequel, as Dom explains:

"The song is a metaphor for losing someone close to you (mother, father, sibling, friend grandparents, etc..), and while it never feels the same when they are gone you have fond memories of that time. The inspiration for the song came from my own childhood and how I would spend my weekends with my grandparents. Some of my favorite lines come from the Bridge, these include 'grass beneath my toes', 'dirt on the patio', and 'flowers in the window'. They not only invoke memories but ignite the senses and create a vivid and lasting image."

For Luna, there is also this feeling of uprooting, when she left her family in Tenerife to settle in Germany and start touring all over Europe. No matter where we go, our memories come with us, and Luna recognized herself in the song:

"Dom and I had worked on several songs before but when he sent me his verse idea for “Overgrown” I immediately felt connected to it. Having moved from home this year a part of me feels like the garden, the places I used to nurture and be a part of are now left to grow on their own, without me. From there, the song's story grew into a story of loss and nostalgia. Life moves so fast and as new houses fill with light, old ones fall victim to the dust and weather of time. whether it's a person or a place that doesn't exist anymore, there are memories and moments that tie us to them all our lives."

The magic of these encounters between musicians resides in the fact that they all have experiences in common. Both endowed with an innate talent for writing, Dom and Luna sign with "Overgrown" their most beautiful common memory. Despite quite melancholic lyrics, the comforting and warm light that emanates from "Overgrown" is absolutely divine. A real ray of light for your chill playlists.

Reach out to Dom Malin

Reach out to Luna Keller

Back after a year's absence, the band coming from Virginia, which communicates very little on social media, risks surprising its fans. But in a good way! They come back with a single with a much more melancholic atmosphere than its predecessors. And above all, with a very different mood from what you may have heard previously, and it falls more into indie-folk than indie-pop.

"Halifax" is steeped in nostalgia. As the band says, the song "uses visceral imagery to describe moving back home & reflecting on strange nuances of growing up in a small-town/remote area & how different it can feel from others' childhood and adolescent years".

More generally, the song can speak to anyone who thinks that time passes too quickly, as we can guess from our favorite line in the song: "The more I age, the less I feel, maybe I'll grow up this year".

With a minimalist and atmospheric production, the band succeeds in convincing us with touching writing, delicately posed on a melody that gives shivers, even if it is not ultra-powerful. But each little element, even the most discreet, whether it's the electric guitar in the background or the banjo at the end, contributes to the creation of an inevitable and enjoyable melancholy.

If we had to find a single fault with this song, it might be its length. When you are fully immersed in this very pleasant cotton cocoon, the song is already over. We would have taken an extra minute. But nothing prevents playing it on repeat.

Reach out to Rhineland

Born in Florida and raised in the small town of Blacksburg, SC, Thomas blends the organic textures of his roots with ethereal textures and nuances.

He is just as at home as a minimalist as he is in soaring choruses and driven guitars.

LaVine is a songwriter who loves using captivating metaphors to convey honest emotional ideas.

He has been playing music for his whole life and started to write songs when he was about 16 years old.

He took influences from a wide variety of bands and artists from classics like John Denver to modern favorites such as Andrew Belle and Noah Gundersen.

He has developed a unique and authentic style that creates a space for emotion and honesty to take shape in a new way.

I have to admit it: even if I'm "only" 35, sometimes I feel a bit lost in this new music world where young people discover music from 15-second videos on TikTok and enjoy listening to 90-second tracks on Spotify. I grew up with some vinyls like Mike Oldfield and Vangelis, and I prefer the listening experience to the frenetic consumption of content that will be forgotten in a few minutes. And trust me, you will remember the music that transports you, even in 30 years.

Ollie Dixon is a UK-based artist that is doing that kind of music. By "that kind of music", I mean that you just have to close your eyes and imagine a whole scenery or fictional landscapes. And regarding his new single "Harbour", the listening experience lasts 5 minutes which seems almost too short. Far from TikTok trends, closer to human.

A real invitation to disconnect, "Harbour" very lightly evokes a heavy subject: toxic relationships., as Ollie explains:

"Harbour was written at a time when I lost 3 of my closest friends, people I thought id know forever, sadly it came to an end, and I realized they weren't good for me or my health. Since parting ways I've met so many amazing people that are now closer than family".

Many people will be able to relate to this situation, and I am one of them. The song perfectly reproduces in our imagination the fog that can appear when we are not sure if we should trust or not.

Halfway between indie-folk and ambient music, "Harbour" is a wonderful gem that, from 3:22 to 3:54, will reconcile you with long formats, by suddenly making the fog disappear in favour of a light that illuminates the end of the song, evoking freedom and lucidity. Sometimes we just need the light to guide us to the harbour. And this song is a big help.

Reach out to Ollie Dixon

That's why his new EP is a tribute to South Africa, and his two previous singles "Mzansi Afrika" and "Madiba" were an incredible mix of Zulu and indie folk.

Back to more folk roots for this final single, which reconnects the singer-songwriter with his real self. Even if African choirs hide in the song, we are in a much more acoustic universe with a lighter production. But still so detailed: if you pay attention, you will hear some sounds of African nights at the very beginning and at the end of the song.

More than South Africa, this song mainly focuses on Lesotho. Over 80% of the country is 5,900 feet above sea level, making it one of the most mountainous countries in the world...and also one of the most beautiful. We often hear about South Africa, but a little less about Lesotho, which is actually a country landlocked as an enclave in South Africa. Man has been able to adapt to live on rugged terrain, and nature is much more inspiring there than anywhere else. Africa in general, underexposed in the media, suffers from a somewhat cliché image of landscapes burnt and yellowed by the sun. Just type "Lesotho landscape" into Google and you will be amazed by the incredible green vegetation and dizzying waterfalls of this little paradise.

That's when you become aware of each line of the song and everything becomes more magical. The poetry of Luke Beling mixes these pretty landscapes with his childhood memories. Yes, of course, the song is both full of nostalgia and hope. Luke's writing is truly impressive and very descriptive: just close your eyes and you're in Lesotho.

The artist is our big crush this year, scoring 3 points in barely 3 months. His creativity fascinates us! Even the title of this song "My African Dream" is a bit of a nod to the traditional "American Dream" of which the artist is a part. A discreet way to put things in their place and remember that the United States is not the center of the world and that there are also beautiful things on other continents.

If we add to that the melody which is itself imbued with nostalgia and beauty, this new song by Luke Beling ticks all the boxes. Even if we don't have his memories, because they belong to him, we recognize ourselves in this song. Because we all come from somewhere.

Reach out to Luke Beling

But let's look first at the artist and more particularly at the authentic human being who hides inside. Little Eveline grew up surrounded by a lot of insecurity, in a suburban environment, made up of concrete building floors and a lack of a clear horizon. Quite uncomfortable, the child then took refuge in writing and she began to write her first short story at the age of... 9! And when she was 13, she had already piled up more than 50 poems, short stories, and anecdotes! In books and movies, she found inspiration, but she always needed this dose of fiction, and the musicians who were her models were none other than Etta James or Freddy Mercury. In other words: very real legends.

Music, therefore, came naturally to her, and she had a blast into a rather pop and electronic musical universe until now, which you can discover on her Spotify. But the song you're about to hear today is the complete opposite of anything she's released before!

"sunflower" is a piano ballad, which slowly evolves into a ball of energy to give you memorable chills. The song hides many mysteries and surprises. And the first clue is in the title. Over the minutes, we witness the blossoming of the song as if it was a sunflower.

We also find these differences in contrasts in the stunning music video directed by Samuel B. Maria, mixing intimate parts, in a very dark and solitary universe, almost in black and white, and parts in color where the artist shines under the light projectors in front of an attentive audience who can only be captivated by her masterpiece, both musical and visual. And the contrast has been pushed down to the smallest detail, down to Eveline's hairstyle: very pulled back in the dark parts (giving her an almost sad and austere look), and relaxed and highlighted hair in the lit parts. A real stroke of genius to discover on top of this article.

Recounting her childhood traumas including the mistakes her parents may have made, for which she no longer blames them. Indeed, as we grow up, we discover that these mistakes our parents make also come from their own history, and sometimes their own childhood, as Eveline told us:

"I wrote this song about childhood trauma. But really not to accuse my parents of doing a shitty job. I know they tried the best they could. And I do have a lot of respect and love for them."

Young, lucid, and with an authentic talent, Eveline pushed creativity to the maximum on this song, using the 6/8 time technique. For the uninitiated in music, here is a quick little explanation that might help you:

6/8 time is another way of making music. And also another way of conveying emotions. This choice is for me irrefutable proof of exceptional talent and a high level of creativity. Maybe you didn't notice this difference the first time you listened. I completely agree with you, if you have never studied music, it is very difficult to spot this atypical construction.

"sunflower" is a jewel that deserves a lot of attention to understand all its secrets. But it's by far one of the most authentic songs we've heard on IMC.

Reach out to Eveline

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

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

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

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

Reach out to Cesc

Aasma ticks all the boxes. The artist from Sweden grew up listening to CDs by Sade and Enya. Exactly as I did, with my music-loving father who introduced me to the immersive musical journeys of artists like Mike Oldfield. Often relaxing and sometimes epic music, which transports you just by closing your eyes.

And this kind of artist is unclassifiable. They do not belong to a musical genre. They create their own musical genre! It is for this reason that it is all the more important to support them because the programmers of radio stations or the algorithms do not understand them.

Even at IMC, where we try to make it easier for you by sorting the songs by genre, we weren't sure if we had to create a specific genre for Aasma! So we ended up going for Indie Folk as it has some undeniable folk roots. But honestly, the song could fit into a "wonderful and epic gems" category.

On the first listen to "Going Nowhere", we were seduced by the light vocal performance and the discreet vocal harmonies, but also by the astonishing contrasts of the song. Alternating quiet parts, with an acoustic guitar and birds in the background, and epic and powerful parts with brass instruments, and impressive choirs. Between two powerful parts, a calm part... Accompanied by an... electric guitar! Yes, this artist is surprising and we love surprises.

We couldn't help but listen to more, and we went and delved into her discography on Spotify. We particularly had the pleasure of listening to the album "Daydreams", released in the summer of 2021, and we were impressed by the beauty of the trip and the diversity of the landscapes.

Like a rollercoaster of emotions, "Going Nowhere" is the first single from an album that will be released in 2023. We can't wait to get our ticket for this fabulous trip.

Reach out to Aasma

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reach out to Nate Amor

The haunting vocals of Rosie Robers are carried by magnificent vocal harmonies and by the whole group, where each instrument has its place: the alchemy is felt from the first to the last line.

A warm and comforting energy that contrasts very well with the darkness of the lyrics that evokes a separation, as the band explains:

"This track was written about the ending of a long-term relationship for one of the band members and the realization that sometimes, as hard as you both might work to keep something together, you also have to know when to call it, stay friends and share custody of your Golden Retriever!"

Yes, we can also keep the best of the worst, and that's what keeps us going. The band cites among its influences The Paper Kites, the Lumineers, or Of Monsters and Men, but they have really managed to create their own musical identity. The complicity that shines through every second of this gem is unique. And their positive energy will give your chill playlists that little glimmer of hope that was missing.

Reach out to Axe & the Ivory

Hard to believe that "Saudade", out today on all platforms via CRC Records, is his debut single. What hooked us first was the incredible writing, full of metaphors and imagery that's easy to visualize just by closing your eyes. Besides, we closed our eyes during the whole song and we were literally transported elsewhere, seeing the leaves fall. I actually think that's my favorite line from the song: "The leaves, they look so desperate when they're falling, searching for their loved ones in the piles". That's so brilliant and beautiful!

If we add to that the pure vocals without special effects, and also the few air trumpet notes (can you spot it?), we find ourselves in a marvelous landscape in which we want to stay forever. After the leaves, here we are in the middle of the pines. The images that the artist manages to paint in our minds are so powerful that they almost make us forget the melancholy of the song, which reminds us that things can sometimes escape us, as Tobias confides:

"Saudade is a Portuguese word that can be translated into "the melancholy of missing something you never had", which in itself is a paradox. To me, this song is about that feeling. When the possibility of something coming true that you long for is slipping away. And before you even had it, you start to feel like you've lost that something irrevocably."

If you loved this trip, good news! The artist is preparing a debut EP which will be released in the spring of 2023 via CRC Records. What opens the horizons a little more and transports us for other wonderful journeys. We can't wait!

By the way, if you loved this trip to Sweden, we'll get back there tomorrow!

Reach out to Tobias Arbo

Yes, super catchy from the third second, "Paper Plane", the new single from Danish singer-songwriter Mads Langelund won us over from all points of view!

First, the super clever writing, evokes a long-distance love relationship, as the key phrase of the chorus says: "If I could jump on a little paper plane, I would already be on my way to meet you there ".

Then, as we already said, the super catchy melody. My 21 years of radio experience have taught me that a song has a chance of making it to the A-list if a catchy melody (usually the chorus) pops up in less than 40 seconds. For "Paper Plane", you must not wait less than 3 seconds to capture the attention of the listener and make him shake his head in traffic jams.

Then, the production is super detailed too! And it's Mads himself who produces his tracks. He has been helped by Asger Møller on this one. A work of a goldsmith, where each element has the place it deserves.

Finally, the music video (to watch on top of this article) is touching, showing a young aviation fanboy fulfilling his dream. By dint of playing with paper planes, he ends up getting on a real plane. Very professional, the music video is also directed by Mads!

The artwork is also very successful, highlighting the young boy from the music video with the lyrics in the background.

Mads Langelund is definitely a multi-card artist who succeeds in all aspects of his music, whether audio or video.

Released on Friday, the song has been in our heads all weekend and we couldn't wait to let you discover it. A real crush and we can already say that it will be in our summary of the best songs of the year 2022.

Reach out to Mads Langelund

The Carley you knew until now was a rather pop artist, with sometimes folk sonorities, but always with this talent for writing and catchy melodies. The Carley we present to you today for her 8th IMC feature is, in fact, the authentic Carley, down to her deepest roots. Like us, she grew up listening to artists like Avril Lavigne, Linkin Park, and other rock sounds that made the 2000s so special. It was therefore inevitable that the artist tries the experience of a more alt-rock track than her previous releases.

"Better Without Me", out now on all platforms, is the result of Carley's encounter with the artists who have influenced her career. Very rock, with powerful drums and explosive electric guitars, a caustic bassline, and this melancholy in the lyrics typical of her sincere writing, this new song reconnects Carley Varley with her true "me". As if the butterfly finally opened its wings to reveal all its beauty.

Taken from her upcoming EP “Home Sick,” the singer recently shared on Instagram how the EP title came to her:

"I was looking back at the photos, I spotted 'Home Sick' written behind me in graffiti! When I saw it I was immediately thinking 'Wow this looks like an album cover!!' And that is the story of how my next EP's title was born!"

If you are attentive, you will notice that it is precisely the illustration photo that we have chosen, because we loved this anecdote.

And if you want to know more about this risky but fabulously successful musical shift, Carley Varley will be our guest of honor in episode 2 of our "Indie Hour" podcast, available next Wednesday on IMC. We can't wait for you to hear the great chat we had about it! In the meantime, you can still check out the first episode with special guest Thomas LaVine and many other great artists featured.

Reach out to Carley Varley

As incredible as it sounds, Sleeping Together was formed... over Facetime. Alexander, Jason, Ryan and Mike, all from the UK, managed to create their own musical universe in no time, quite close to The Hunna, with an anthemic and catchy chorus that won't want to leave you for weeks.

As the lead singer says, the song "was inspired by a short and sweet summer romance. At the end of summer, the couple agreed to go their separate ways". We also appreciated their sharp, very British sense of humor: "However, much like the British summer, this romance was rained off too soon".

The production quality of "Summer Girl" is absolutely breathtaking, and gives hope for future singles just as good as the first.

Reach out to Sleeping Together

Reach out to Luna Keller