Soundvsystem

In the Winter of 2020, Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Romain Collin traveled to Iceland for a creative reset. Due to COVID lockdowns, Collin spent six months in a remote cabin writing music. Upon his return, Collin and multi-Grammy award-winning producer Jeremy Loucas worked for a month. Together, as FOSS, they finished the album Shapeless. Read our Q&A with Collin, where we chat about audio & visual work, working in isolation, being inspired by nature and circumstances, and more.

FOSS on the transformational act of a creative reset — soundvsystem In the Winter of 2020, Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Romain Collin traveled to Iceland for a creative reset. Due to COVID lockdowns, Collin spent six months in a remote cabin writing music. Upon his return, Collin and multi-Grammy award-winning producer Jeremy Loucas worked for a month. Toge

To kick off our new series “6 things w/” we decided to answer the questions we get the most. Learn more about us and why we do this in the first place!

1/ABOUT US/sound(versus)system is owned and operated by one person. Over the years, music has given me an outlet as a listener. soundvsystem was started to support and give back to the indie music community.

2/GENRES WE COVER/We feature artists from a range of styles. Though the playlist ‘the faves’ skews mostly toward indie rock/shoegaze/post-punk etc. (to avoid algorithm f-ups for bands) we have included electronic, hip hop, and r&b songs in the past.

3/FINDING MUSIC/soundvsystem checks for new releases on Bandcamp and other DSPs regularly. We also review releases we receive via email/DMs and submissions platforms like and .

4/THE FAVES PLAYLIST/To keep up with new releases, follow our curated Spotify playlist ‘the faves’

5/NEWSLETTER/For a wrap-up of recent interviews, features, and our monthly Bandcamp Friday picks, sign up for our e-mail list. We will never spam you.

6/SUBMISSIONS/We do our best to listen to every submission we get via email & DMs. soundvsystem is a 1-person team, so keep that in mind (:

Look out for the upcoming “6 things w/” feature in collaboration with rising indie artists. Get to know their process, recording habits, and more in our new series.

We’re always open to suggestions. If you have any feature ideas or ways we can improve, let me know in the comments!

Moon Cowboy, the solo project of songwriter Ricardo Fiel, has released its new single “baby jane” under the UK shoegaze label 1991 Recordings. Fiel’s subdued vocals add an element of mystery behind lush guitars and atmospheric sounds. Moon Cowboy’s upcoming EP 'an explosion of sound' is out in May.

Chicago-based trio Daarling emerged onto the music scene with their debut album, “The Deep Within.” Recorded in the basement of their old practice space with CJ Melton, the album showcases a mix of alt-rock and shoegaze, tinged with elements of noise and grunge. Tracks like “Metamorphosis” and “Out of Greed” offer introspective lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, highlighting their ability to craft emotive and compelling music. As they embark on a spring tour to promote their album, daarling promises to continue pushing creative boundaries while staying true to their evocative sound. Read our Q&A with the band.

daarling dives into the deep within — soundvsystem Chicago-based trio daarling has emerged onto the music scene with their debut album, "The Deep Within." Recorded in the basement of their old practice space with CJ Melton, the album showcases a mix of alt-rock and shoegaze, tinged with elements of noise and grunge. Tracks like "Metam

Nieri's latest EP Flow State touches on personal growth and resilience. Collaborating with producer Joakim Buddee, Nieri blends dance-pop, electro-pop, and nu-disco to create a seamless project. The 9-track release reflects Nieri's artistic evolution, marked by bold experimentation and a deeper exploration of vulnerability. We asked Nieri to curate a playlist of the influences that shaped Flow State. From Grace Jones to George Michael and Peaches, Nieri’s selections help us understand his motivation. Read our Q&A with the LA-based artist and listen to the playlist.

soudvsystem x Nieri — soundvsystem Nieri's latest EP Flow State touches on personal growth and resilience. Collaborating with producer Joakim Buddee, Nieri blends dance-pop, electro-pop, and nu-disco to create a seamless project. The 9-track release reflects Nieri's artistic evolution, marked by bold experimentation and a deeper ex

On their debut album 'Dying,' Brooklyn art-rock band The Narcotix takes you on a journey exploring time, personal transformation, and life after death. Led by Esther Quansah and Becky Foinchas, their choral arrangements over psychedelic folk and West African polyrhythms, turn music into a sonic wonderland. From haunting to ebullient, 'Dying’ captures the band’s deep bond as they tap into a visceral energy fueled by personal breakthroughs. In our interview with Quansah and Foinchas we talk vocal arrangements, songwriting, exorcisms in the studio, the birth of the album, and more.

The Narcotix bends time and space on Dying — soundvsystem On their debut album Dying , Brooklyn art-rock band The Narcotix takes you on a journey exploring time, personal transformation, and life after death. Led by Esther Quansah and Becky Foinchas, their choral arrangements over psychedelic folk and West African polyrhythms, turn music into a sonic wond

Ottawa artist Hot Mud confronts addiction on his debut album Rehab Rock. The album is a raw and honest portrayal of addiction and recovery. Influenced by indie rock, stoner rock, art rock, and psych-pop, Hot Mud blends harsh truths with humor, addressing the emotional journey of healing. Hot Mud, who turned to creative pursuits during recovery, discusses art as therapy, mental toughness, and influences in our Q&A.

Hot Mud searches for truth on Rehab Rock — soundvsystem Ottawa artist Hot Mud confronts addiction on his debut album Rehab Rock . The album is a raw and honest portrayal of addiction and recovery. Influenced by indie rock, stoner rock, art rock, and psych-pop, Hot Mud blends harsh truths with humor, addressing the emotional journey of healing. Hot Mud,

It’s a familiar story: moving to the city to chase your dreams. On “A Fridge In Berlin,” UK post-punk band THE NEW NOSTALGIA explores the other side of the coin. As vocalist Patrick McCallion explains, “It’s a song about the mental arithmetic you do when you decide to move away from home in pursuit of some sort of hipster utopia." Listen to the track and tell us which hipster utopia you moved to in the comments.

Indie rock band Pulse Park is at it again with their new anthemic single "Briars." The track is off their upcoming second full-length album 'First Second' out 4/19. Read more about the track at the link!

https://www.soundvsystem.com/playlists/new-indie-music-weekly-playlist-the-new-nostalgia-glimmer-ziah-ziah

UK alt-rock duo Peony confronts the complicated ideas of manhood on “Man II Uomo.” About the song, Peony says “’Man il Uomo’ explores the impact of malignant masculinity on the family. Modulating between sincerity and satire it explores the tension between the destructiveness and appeal of traditional masculine ideals.” Listen to the track now on our playlist 'the faves.'

On “Techno Beats,” Baltimore producer/artist Jaxyn Lethe gets nostalgic. “‘Techno Beats' channels the deep love I have for a friend,” Lethe explains. Read more about the track at the link.

The Faves Playlist - Week of 1/26 — soundvsystem New music from Speedrun, MOP, VENUS GRRLS, Jaxyn Lethe, Lip Critic and more!

Austin noise pop band Daiistar experienced a sudden rise with their debut album ‘GOOD TIME.‘ The album, conceptualized by vocalist/guitarist Alex Capistran, was released by London indie Fuzz Club. In our interview, Capistran highlights the collaborative process with the band and producer Alex Maas. We talk about process, performance, the band’s ambition, and more.

With ‘GOOD TIME,’ DAIISTAR Bolts to the Top — soundvsystem Austin noise pop band DAIISTAR experienced a sudden rise with their debut album GOOD TIME . The album, conceptualized by vocalist/guitarist Alex Capistran, was released by London indie Fuzz Club Records. In our interview, Capistran highlights the collaborative process with the band and producer Al

Dead Leaf Echo has been an integral part of New York’s shoegaze scene for over a decade. On their latest album ‘The Mercy of Women,’ Dead Leaf Echo experiments with song structure and genre further developing their craft. Delays stemming from the pandemic resulted in the album taking over six years from start to finish. We connected with the band’s vocalist LG Galleon to discuss the album’s evolution, concept, and more. Find our Q&A with Galleon at the link!

Dead Leaf Echo digs into The Mercy of Women — soundvsystem Dead Leaf Echo has been an integral part of New York’s shoegaze scene for over a decade. On their latest album ‘The Mercy of Women,’ Dead Leaf Echo experiments with song structure and genre further developing their craft. Delays stemming from the pandemic resulted in the album taking over six ...

We put together a list of the 100 best songs from 2023, including songs from Ergo Bria, ekkstacy, FAKE HANDS, Fatal Jamz, Future Husband, George Clanton, Maraschino & more. Check out our full list at the link!

Best Songs of 2023 — soundvsystem This year we compiled a list of our favorite releases from 2023. Our picks for best songs include poetic hip-hop from LPTHERAPPER and psychedelic rock from Holy Wave. Check out our full list!

Our favorite EPs of 2023 include releases from Bedridden, Crushed, Fräulein, Heavy Sleeper, Night Tapes, Peter Xan, Polevaulter, Welcome Strawberry, Wishy & wych elm! Read about our picks at the link:

Best EPs of 2023 — soundvsystem This year we compiled a list of our favorite releases from 2023. Our EP picks include post-punk/industrial duo Polevaulter and London indie rock act Peter Xan. Check out our full list!

We compiled a list of our favorite albums of 2023, including releases from Daiistar, DEBBY FRIDAY, Dijah SB, Diles Que No Me Maten, Karen Y Los Remedios, Meagre Martin, Rid of Me, The Seshen, Taleen Kali and Ulrika Spacek! Read more about our picks at the link!

Best Albums of 2023 — soundvsystem This year we compiled a list of our favorite releases from 2023. Our pick include shoegaze sounds of DAIISTAR to the bewitching rhythms of Karen y Los Remedios. Check out our full list!

Leveller, Bristol musician Daniel R. Bell’s solo project, has released the new track “You, Fading out of View.” Bell describes the song as “a baritone break-up poem, detailing a love cruelly cut off in its prime.” The post-punk love letter from Leveller to a former flame is a result of merging the old with the new, as he's influenced by acts ranging from The Cure to Drab Majesty. “You, Fading out of View,” also features Callum Brown of Ulrika Spacek on drums. Check out the video below:

Leveller - You, Fading Out of View (Official Video) Official video for 'You, Fading Out of View', the third single from Leveller.You, Fading Out of View:Written by Daniel R. BallAll vocals, guitars, bass, synt...

On their new and independently released single “Good Company,” Netherlands indie pop band Future Husband looks within for answers. The four-piece notes that the song is “dedicated to the power of self.” Vocalist/bassist Adura Sulaiman hints at being comfortable in your skin and putting yourself first. According to Future Husband, the track was recorded in “a unique sleep-away camp-style studio.” This is the band’s first single since their 2022 EP 'I Love You Forever.' Could this be the start of something new?

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Ottawa indie pop duo Wotts have released their new single “ALLO!” On the track’s sound, band member Ricky 100 comments, “For most of the year, we really focused on getting out of our comfort zone and making songs that were more mellow and indie sounding. So it was a lot of fun flipping the script with “ALLO!” and making an energetic synth-heavy track.” The song is off the band’s upcoming EP 'Petals.'

The music from California post-punk band Juicebumps could easily soundtrack a video game. Their sound is a fusion of new wave, post- and dance-punk. Their remarkable lyrical skill, captivating melodies, and unpredictable rhythms make them a standout presence in Oakland’s music scene. On their new album ‘JUMBO,’ the band incorporates new genres and instrumentation. Using Drum and Bass samples and strings, Juicebumps pushes into new sonic territory. In our interview, we discuss exactly how the changes in their song development created an opportunity for sonic exploration. Read more at the link.

On JUMBO, Juicebumps Explores New Ground — soundvsystem The music from California post-punk band Juicebumps could easily serve as a video game soundtrack. Their sound is a fusion of new wave, post- and dance-punk. Their remarkable lyrical skill, captivating melodies, and unpredictable rhythms make them a standout presence in Oakland’s music scene. On t...

Irish lo-fi indie rockers Stupid Son are back with their new single “Dylan’s Brain.” According to the band’s vocalist Andrew Pierce, the song is about “coming to terms with the not-so-slow realization that you’re no longer in control of your own thoughts… facing the reality that these intrusive feelings are splitting apart your character. Like most hypochondriacs, these thoughts usually invade when I’m lying down, struggling to fall asleep. Dylan isn’t real, but his brain is.” The track is off of the band’s upcoming EP 'Comedy' set to be released in early 2024.

London-based psych pop artist Marlon Bianco has released the atmospheric single “She Can’t Leave Me Here.” Through the ethereal layers of synth and sax, Bianco tells the story of “A relationship that is coming to an end, but with an outro which gives the listener and the story some hope for the main character suffering from loneliness.” Marlon Bianco and the Clones, led by Luca Bianco (former member of the British band Dead Coast), will be heading out on tour across Italy and Switzerland later this month.