By Zach Collier
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 a variety of indie artists around the world! We hope something here helps spark that inspiration.
Alwyn Morrison – “Chained”
I get a lot of Blink-182 vibes from Alwyn Morrison’s vocals. More Mark Hoppus and less Tom DeLonge (in all his voice’s various iterations). The music feels like the chill mainstream rock of the mid aughts – think Lifehouse, The Goo Goo Dolls, etc.
This song was written during a flight from New York to Amsterdam. It’s about loving someone through their depression, and sitting with the pain being unable to help them. Feeling trapped without wanting to leave. Ultimately, it’s a song of resilience.
The subject matter is heavy, but he managed to write and structure this song in a way that captures this feeling without being overwrought. It’s an enjoyable listen.
Gaston – “Tourist In Love”
This oozed cool from the very first note. Really great blend of tones and a perfect example of the importance of proper bass tone – and the power of a groovy line. The guitars are smooth and sparkly, and there are some really great guitar features: 1:30 is definitely a standout moment.
The vocals are distinct and hyper indie. The kind of vocal that feels fresh and current but isn’t a dead ringer for any other artist. The performance was so distinct I haven’t forgotten about Gaston since the first listen. “Tourist In Love” is a bop, and honestly one of my favorite finds as of late.
Gavin Marengi – “Back to Boston”
We’ve loved Gavin’s stuff since we first featured “Northwinds.” This song has really great guitar work across the board and feels more “true country” than “Northwinds.”
It’s really fun to hear a young country artist. At only 19, he nailed the lead vocal. It’s melodic, it’s full-bodied, and it’s gritty. This song pulls from a lot of different influences – but he’s still got the youthful, try-anything exuberance in his arrangements. 1:44 is a testament to the power of the soli breakdown.
Vinn Lombardo – “Sedatives and Alcohol”
Not sure why I always end up choosing country tunes whenever I write one of these roundups, but I do. Country is historically my least-favorite genre, but when it hits, it hits. I’ve found that I especially love it when the genre is at its most timeless and authentic, and this checks both boxes.
Vinn doesn’t sound like every other country artist out there. It feels mid 1900s in the best way. He’s got a solid, cinematic voice. Great lap steel guitar work, perfectly engineered drums, and complimentary aux percussion and bass do a lot to nail that timeless, vintage vibe. It’s really well done.
Dax – “Lonely Dirt Road”
This song has absolutely blown up since the first time I heard it a year ago, so I’m WAY late to the game here. Boasting over 50 million streams, it’s another window into my unique country tastes.
I know the term “Hick Hop” tends to be derisive, but I mean it endearingly. This is how to do it right. It’s not a caricature or meme bait like Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” nor is it a Florida Georgia Line mainstream cash grab.
Instead, it’s emotive. Earthy. Grounded. Real. It feels like Darius Rucker taking on hip hop. Idk – this just really did it for me.