New Indie Music Gems From Jade Bird, Steady Holiday, Ryley Walker, Biig Piig, Gabriella Cohen, and Hospital.

So much happening in the music world, but honestly the start of fall and a new schedule has me tied up and lacking much time to post it all. Despite my schedule, I always listen to music. True confessions… I have been holding on to some music that makes me smile with warm satisfaction. These are the tunes that have lasted through multiple listens and I keep going back to them.  I hope you’ll give them a listen and add them to your own playlist.

Need a wake up dose of power packed vocals? This rising British star, Jade Bird, has what it takes. Wise beyond her young years, she tells it like it is. Jam worthy and sing-a-long ready, I hope I didn’t miss her in Atlanta….she makes it as close as Nashville and Charlotte and the rest of the US, before crossing the pond in November.

Jade Bird-Uh Huh

 

“Does she wake up, put on make-up in the bathroom
And go to work, and stay real late and text you she’ll be back soon?
But her boss runs his fingers ’round her pretty blonde platinum ‘do
I bet you never thought about that, did you?

And it’s none of my business
And I don’t wanna get involved
If you’re thinking that she’s good
I think you should be told

She’s got you on your knees like a little boy
Everybody sees that you’re just a little toy
She’s got a boxful that her daddy likely bought
She asks you if you love her, and you nod and say “uh huh”

She wears short skirts so you don’t ask her if you can check her phone
Talk about the guys at work so you feel ego-central
Like fancy cars and football teams and she like continental
With a European accent does she speak, oh so gentle

And it’s none of my business
And I don’t wanna get involved
If you’re thinking that she’s good
God no, God no

She’s got you on your knees like a little boy
Everybody sees that you’re just a little toy
She’s got a boxful that her daddy likely bought
She asks you if you love her, and you nod and say “uh huh”

She’s got you where it hurts but you don’t seem to see
That while she’s out at work, she’s doing what you did to me
She’s got you where it hurts but you don’t seem to see
That while she’s out at work, she’s doing what you did to me

She’s got you on your knees like a little boy
Everybody sees that you’re just a little toy
She’s got a boxful that her daddy likely bought
She asks you if you love her, and you nod and say “uh huh”
She asks you if you love her, and you nod and say “uh huh”
She asks you if you love her, and you nod and say “uh huh””

 

Steady Holiday is Dre Babinski from LA. She harbors the most tender vocals, but there is a surprising bite to her lyrics that make you pay attention. Clever and imaginative, she gives interesting insight into humans in this tune from her most recent albume release by the same name. Enjoy….

Steady Holiday-Nobody’s Watching

“Animals are wild, no matter the breed
You can see it in their eyes, they’re taking it in
Before you have the chance to know where you stand
You’re between a mom and lamb
She’s sinking her teeth in

Like nobody’s watching

People are the same, there’s hunters and prey
There’s rules to the game
You can win for a day
Now I’m old enough to know it all comes around
Cause the war is in between
We’re taking ourselves down

Like nobody’s watching

Never did I think that this could be me
But I’m stealing heavily from the powers that be
It’s not personal this time, I’m here to survive
So I smile and we shake, then I sharpen my blade

Like nobody’s watching

Nobody’s so
I’ll take a little off the top if no one’s paying attention

Like nobody’s watching

I made it to the top but don’t know when to stop
When I take, I take a lot”

 

When you have a need for soothing guitars and a soft voice that whispers confessing truths, Ryley Walker is your guy. He is a fingerstyle guitarist, singer, songwriter out of Chicago. He is touring extensively right now and hits Atlanta at The Drunken Unicorn on Dec. 19.

Ryley Walker-Spoil With The Rest

“I woke up with intuition
I declare my own constitution
“Whenever I do my best, I spoil with the rest”
I spoil with the rest

Takes a half shit to give a full one
Every time I get it done
“Whenever I do my best, I spoil with the rest”
I spoil with the rest

I woke up with intuition
I declare my own constitution
“Whenever I do my best, I spoil with the rest”
I spoil with the rest

Passed out bad decision
Dreams look great with no vision
Whenever I feel blessed
Too much guilt to confess
Too much guilt to confess

Put my head through the glass
First look it’s a pass
Whoever I can’t impress
Yeah I wish you the best
Yeah I wish you the best”

 

And when the world and life is just a bit too much to digest, this song fills the emptiness with the simple idea we are not alone in our pain. Biig Piig has a bluesy romantic style which proves to be fresh and honest. She is Irish, but based out of London and her first EP, Big Fan Of The Sesh, Vol. 1, is out now.

Biig Piig-Perdida

 

“I just wanna lay here, smoke my cig and drink my wine, and think I wanna lay here until my hurting is done

I just wanna lay here, smoke my cig and drink my wine, and think I wanna lay here until my hurting is done

Confío fácilmente en la gente Y por eso ya no tengo nada más pa verme fuerte Estoy cansada y Mis huesos se sienten viejos Créeme ya no tengo nada porque todo te lo dejo Y yo así pasando Y con mi dudas fumo más Sigo cantando Como que sé que otra vez el sol va a subir Pero No quiero ver mañana si es sin ti …

I just wanna lay here, smoke my cig and drink my wine, and think I wanna lay here until my hurting is done

I just wanna lay here, smoke my cig and drink my wine, and think I wanna lay here until my hurting is done

I should’ve never let you in Huh Cause Now I’m sitting here crying like a fool And all the world is seeing my pain U know i love you all the same I hope on time my heart will change Cause now i’m sitting here and crying like a…

I just wanna lay here, smoke my cig and drink my wine, and think I wanna lay here until my hurting is done

I just wanna lay here, smoke my cig and drink my wine, and think I wanna lay here until my hurting is done”

 

When bluesy psychedelia meets retro surf rock, the Australian artist Gabriella Cohen wins the crown. Her tunes unfold with originality and a joyous quirkiness that should be in everyone’s musical marvel arsenal.

Gabriella Cohen-Music Machine

“We’re all looking for that small green
Or we’re looking for something in between
We’re wondering if we can park on your street
I took a left not a right but you didn’t see me. 

I think your garden needs a couple more trees
You think you drive but I have your keys

I said I love you and you know what I mean
I take it slow on the road while the traffic beeps
I’m playing gigs in the music machine, in the music machine

I like LA cos the people are mean
I like LA cos the people seem clean
I saw many homeless on concrete
While bikini girls strut down Venice Beach

I’m doing time in the industry
I go to parties but I’m not in your scene
My mama thinks I’m doing gigs for free
I’m playing gigs but I’m anti-machine

I said I love you and you know what I mean
I take it slow on the road while the traffic beeps
I’m playing gigs in the music machine, in the music machine”

 

The band, Hospital, from Russia does retro indie pop right! I have blogged their music before and they continue to crank out some great tunes. Their tune, “Nothing But Love”, is from their most recent album, Memory Waves, out only a couple of weeks. I wish there was more love in the world instead of anger, skepticism, and deception. We all need love. If you are in the mood to move and just enjoy a poppin’ tune, listen.

Hospital-Nothing But Love

 

“I was so naive

in looking for relief

I felt like I lost the race

now I’ve found my place

and among this grace

I would like to know what love is

I wanna feel love

nothing but love

what I really need

is to feel your heartbeat

when you are sitting next to me

do you understand

every single day I spend

waiting for you to come here

I am a sleeper and I’d like to find you

I wanna feel love

nothing but love”

Gathered these gems for you, and I love how Spotify adds more to listen to at the playlist’s end. Check it out.