MARIS teams up with Caroline Kingsbury for her first collab, “Give Me A Sign,” a queer anthem accompanied by a self-directed official visualizer.
• “Growing up in Missoula, MT, I was always nervous about making the first move on a girl who may not be into me, or even queer! Not only does that rejection sting — the potential social ridicule of being gay and making a straight girl feel gross is terrifying. Even now, I find myself subconsciously begging my crushes to make the first move so I know if it’s safe to express my own attraction. ‘Give Me A Sign’ is that plea for my crush to show me they want me, so I can show them how badly I want them. Is it Girlie Pops…or is it more?” — MARIS
Canadian-Indigenous artists Shub and Tia Wood (2.2M on TikTok) have teamed up for “Victorious,” an electro-dub anthem of resilience and unity. The track blends their unique styles while honoring Indigenous music traditions with an electrifying twist. This is the first release from Shub’s upcoming two-part album, Heritage.
• The track was released alongside an incredible music video directed by Kit Weyman (Drake, Haviah Mighty) and produced by Taj Critchlow of Fela TV (Usher, SZA, Coldplay).
• Shub rose to fame as a member of the Juno-winning group A Tribe Called Red, where he pioneered the powwow-step genre, blending EDM with Indigenous rhythms.
San Diego-born rapper Amon releases his seventh studio album, just over broken. The project captures the struggle of staying afloat when life feels overwhelming — a reflection on how it’s not about controlling everything but how you respond when you can’t.
• Focus track, “Casper Flip,” which features hip-hop artist CMTT, highlights the feeling of being stuck despite years of hard work, grappling with unfulfilled dreams and the pressures of balancing ambition, success, and the reality of student debt.
• This release follows Amon’s two back-to-back EPs, until we make it and until we make it element 59.
Born in Los Angeles and based in Austin, Maxwell Knowles is an independent alternative pop singer-songwriter and producer who combines bouncy basslines, piano, and synths with his compelling and narrative songwriting. Growing up in a creative family, acting in commercials, and being exposed to Hollywood, he began his musical journey at 16 after hearing “Sky Full of Stars.” This led him to begin learning how to play piano independently. While he experimented with writing music in college, Knowles started playing with other musicians after moving to the thriving music city of Austin, Texas in 2023. He released his first EP, A Path Into The Night, in May 2024, and will release his debut full-length, Daydreaming In The Dark, on April 25th, 2025.
The Thing, one of New York’s most provocative rock bands, releases the first two singles from their upcoming record with “Above Snakes” and “Dave’s TV.” They have revealed that their self-titled third album will arrive in packs of two songs each month, until the 12-track LP is out in full this summer — Stream the first two tracks.
“‘The Thing’ is a fully analog record, tracked live to tape without any computer,” shares the band. “Intended to be listened to loud and fully through, the album reveals a universe of sounds and moods that brings forth our most ‘Thing’ record yet.”
First up in the album’s sequence is “Above Snakes.” An old Western term that means to stay alive and keep on living no matter what life throws at you, The Thing wrote this one with resilience in mind. They set the album’s tone disgruntled but ready to smash all the chains that could possibly bar them from being the band on everyone’s tongue.
Moving into “Dave’s TV,” The Thing shared that this song, “Is about being in love with someone who is in love with someone else. She’s watching Dave’s TV.” Experimenting with a krautrock beat, The Thing’s influences not only geographically wander along with them, but hop through decades they weren’t even alive for. In the official video, the band dials up the camp as they film outside of none other than Dave’s TV store in Millerton, NY
“Feel pretty lucky to be a bunch of really close friends that just get to mess around and make music together…” singer Scott Stanton
For over a decade, West Coast indie rock band Current Swell have carved a name for themselves in the hearts of fans worldwide, thanks to their electrifying live performances and vibrant, soulful songwriting. Hailing from Victoria, BC, this six-piece band—fronted by longtime friends Scott Stanton (vocals, guitar) and David Lang (vocals, guitar), alongside Louis Sadava (bass, vocals), Marcus Manhas (drums), Phil Hamelin (trumpet, keys), and Dave St. Jean (trombone)—have toured the globe, captivating audiences from Brazil to Australia, and filling theatres across North America and Europe. With hundreds of millions of streams and a dedicated fanbase, Current Swell stand out as one of indie rock’s most exhilarating acts, delivering unforgettable shows and cultivating a loyal following.
Since their breakout success with albums like Protect Your Own and When to Talk and When to Listen, Current Swell’s music has resonated with listeners, combining powerful storytelling, infectious melodies, and a sound that straddles indie rock, folk, and a touch of West Coast roots. Tracks like “Comin’ Home,” “Young and Able,” and “Long Time Ago” have become anthems, consistently belted out by rapturous crowds, reaffirming the band’s reputation for live performances that pulse with energy, soul, and community.
Now, after an extended break since 2019’s critically acclaimed Buffalo, Current Swell returns, recharged and rejuvenated, with their highly anticipated double EP Peacekeeper. The first EP was released on November 22nd, 2024 with the second to follow in summer 2025. Produced by the legendary Gus Van Go (The Beaches, Arkells, Metric), this new collection of songs showcases the band’s growth both personally and creatively. The EP captures the joy and camaraderie of friends who thrive on making music together, a vibe that has been a hallmark of their sound since day one.
On working with Van Go, Stanton shares, “He’s a wizard. We loved working with him. He used a lot of the demo tracks, knowing we’d captured something special. He knew exactly where to expand, add a stomp, a clap, or a shaker.” The result? A laid-back, feel-good record that invites listeners into the band’s world of carefree road trips, breezy summer days, and deep personal reflection.
The first single off the 2nd EP, “10 Feet Tall”, captures the thrill of youthful freedom and the unshakable confidence that comes from being in the right mindset, and surrounded by the right energy. The song blends nostalgia with empowerment, reflecting on the highs of living fully in the moment and the wisdom that growth brings. At its core, “10 Feet Tall” is about resilience, intention, and those unforgettable moments that make you feel truly alive. With its uplifting lyrics and anthemic energy, the track is a vibrant reminder of how perspective can make you feel larger than life.
Current Swell’s live performances remain their beating heart, where the band truly shine. Described as “a church of rock ‘n’ roll” by diehard fans, their shows are a cathartic release— intense, joyous, and unifying. With the addition of regular collaborators Phil Hamelin and Dave St. Jean, and the return of founding member Louis Sadava on bass, their performances have only grown more dynamic and expansive, blending rock, folk, and brass elements into something that feels both timeless and urgent.
Current Swells aren’t just making a return. With Peacekeeper, they’re reminding the world why they’ve become such a beloved force. As they prepare to hit the road this spring, touring new music alongside fan favourites, they are ready to bring down the house, one electrifying performance at a time.
Rising producer Juos is joining Dirtybird’s 20th anniversary celebration with a new single ‘WTF’ out now.
An electrifying fusion of Latin rhythms and pulsating basslines, ‘WTF’ is a high-energy debut from Juos. Taking listeners on a wild ride with its raucous grooves and cutting vocals, ‘WTF’ embraces the off-kilter tech-house eccentricities that have distinguished Dirtybird for the past two decades. Unabashedly grimy, ‘WTF’ is a certified floor filler that will heat up dancefloors throughout Dirtybird’s 20th Anniversary Tour.
Los Angeles-based producer Juos is quickly making a name for himself with his rhythmic Latin spin on tech house. His releases on Helix Records, Divided Souls, Hellbent Records, and Drop Low Records have garnered support from industry heavyweights such as John Summit, Cloonee, ACRAZE, Westend, Black V Neck, and many others. ‘WTF’ marks Juos’ debut on Dirtybird.
Juos is the latest in a line of new talent Dirtybird has ushered in under its wing. Recent years have welcomed signees like Smalltown DJs, AMPRS&ND, Dot N Life, OMRI., and Jey Kurmis as the label continues to grow its flock of underground hitmakers.
Stream Juos’ new single ‘WTF’ available now on all platforms and sign up here for the latest updates on Dirtybird releases, events, merch, and more.
Singer-songwriter/producer Sub Urban has announced his upcoming sophomore album, If Nevermore, due out on June 6 via AWAL. Accompanying today’s news, the 25-year-old alternative artist shares a driving, bass-rich single “Make Me Forget” alongside B-side track “Fingernails.”
LISTEN TO “MAKE ME FORGET” HERE
Speaking on the release of “Make Me Forget,” Sub Urban shares, “it’s a piece about forgetting oneself through the act of loving another. The hope that someone else can relieve you of who you’ve become. To peel away the lies we insulate ourselves with that grow into infectious, false identities that bring nothing but suffering to ourselves and those around us, and the yearning to return to that infantile state that once offered innocent clarity as to what it was we truly wanted in the first place. To unlearn.”
Supporting the album’s release this summer, Sub Urban has also announced a North American headline tour beginning June 4 in Portland, Oregon and wrapping on June 26 in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are on sale now, more details here – full routing below.
If Nevermore launches a brand new raw, uninhibited era for Sub Urban, cementing him as a consummate artist and one to watch closely in 2025 and beyond. The album is now available for pre-save here.
Reminiscent of 90’s alt-icons like Fiona Apple and Alanis, with a modern Chappell Roan flair, Ash Molloy is raw, vulnerable and unfiltered in her approach to music. A multi-instrumentalist with a degree in neuroscience, she’s full of surprises as she bares it all with her deep-cutting takes on sexuality, body-shame, and life as a woman. An absolute force of an artist, this year saw her breakout of her small town in Newfoundland to make her mark on the Canadian alt scene with her mesmerizing live show, powerhouse vocals, poignant lyrics, and sheer tenacity to get her message out into the world.
Strange Plants was born from the creative partnership of Travis Flint and Matt Brannon—former members of the Halifax NS alt-country collective Hot Mondy. Deeply rooted in vintage psychedelia, their debut album draws influences from artists like MGMT and Jack White, while remaining faithful to classic icons such as Pink Floyd and Supertramp.
Over Hot Mondy’s short lifespan, Flint and Brannon led the band to chart on stations across Canada and receive positive accolades from critics—including a glowing review from the legendary Rick Beato. Their music video for Pale Ember finished as a top ten finalist at the Tribeca Film Festival. Despite momentum for the Hot Mondy project, Brannon and Flint found themselves unexpectantly moving in a new musical direction—through songwriting sessions where a shared chemistry and vision was developing into something altogether different.
The resulting collection of songs on Strange Plants’ eponymous debut album were recorded at the legendary Creative Workshop studio in Nashville with the help of one of the city’s most in-demand musicians, Robbie Crowell (Deer Tick, Sturgill Simpson). Over an intense 8-day period, the band laid down 11 tracks that captured a raw, vintage sound with minimal digital interference—true to their love of old-school recording techniques.
Strange Plants’ diverse influences coupled with analog effects and recording techniques has resulted in a record that’s both timeless and forward-thinking—an album “glazed with your favorite psychedelic”. The resulting sound is rich in texture, yet stripped of excess—and captures a spirit of analog authenticity that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
