By Mike Romero
With so much music in the Provo music scene, it’s easy to get sucked in and start listening to music in a bubble. It’s always great to see what awaits you in the broader world of sonic textures, and to find new recommendations that can inspire you to make music differently than you did before.
Here are five songs from indie artists across the country. Hopefully something here can help spark some new inspiration for you.
Nights In Stereo– “First Time”
We heard about Nights In Stereo through our publisher, Zach Collier. Fun fact: frontman Ronen Rubinstein recently flew to Provo for a feature in tmrw for tmrw #51, where he was shot downtown by Provo photographer Clark Clifford.
“First Time” by Nights In Stereo comes from their brand new EP Second Nature. It’s a shimmering blend of nostalgic textures and propulsive energy. The track’s washy background vocals float like mist over a bed of rhythmic guitars that drive the song forward at a steady clip. Twinkly arpeggiations from secondary guitars cascade through the mix, adding a delicate sparkle that contrasts beautifully with the weighty, resonant drums and driven bass. It’s a rich, layered production that invokes Silverchair and Kings of Leon while creating something entirely new.
Boris Métraux – “Nena”
This is FRESH. Boris makes a really inventive use of sounds, pulling from his Panamanian roots and Afro house in equal measure. The intro insinuates a pending four on the floor club feel, but he immediately introduces a great twist when it drops into half time instead of a standard club beat.
“Nena” sits at the center of the Venn diagram, with rings including “Catchy AF,” “Cinematic in Scope,” and “Relaxing.”
Trapt – “Meant to Be”
It was kind of wild getting a message about new music from these guys. I’m a huge fan. I spent hours upon hours playing “Headstrong” on Donkey Konga in the 7th grade on the highest difficulty. This has amply qualified me for a position as a touring percussionist. But only for that one song.
Nostalgia aside, this song works Trapt’s signature gritty vocals and early 00s-styled harmonies over the top of an intricate drum beat with lots of high hat work (and rim clicks in the second verse). When the chorus drops and the beat becomes more conventional, the heavy guitars roll and swell underneath it all with glorious thunder. It’s cool.
Carrie Sue & The Wood Burners – “Don’t (Live)”
Carrie Sue’s voice is absolutely stellar! It’s a great folk voice that borders on country without crossing the line. It’s got a very distinct blend of twang. A live performance, this track proves she can hold her own without any studio finesse.
This performance was captivating from start to finish, and the arrangement had lush instrumentation and great harmonies that really kept the momentum going. I appreciated the mandolin and upright bass work on this one, and the dead strums before the chorus really built anticipation. Great touch.
Lo Stone – “Don’t Wanna Let You Down”
From the outset, Lo Stone’s approach to vocals has that quaint, “indie girl” oomph that sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go. A relentless, driven organ underpins the entire piece, filling it with rich overtones while melodic e-piano adds a touch of whimsy and cuteness. When the guitars drop in the first chorus, it feels incredible. This is a great track.