There’s a special joy in pulling together this monthly feature and going over all of the emails and music submissions. One of the best parts is seeing up-and-coming musicians continue to produce music month after month and year after year. June’s Music Roundup includes a number of musicians that have been featured here before. For some, it’s their third or fourth trip back. That being said, there’s also a number of great new artists making their debut appearance on The Indie Mine.

In all, this was our biggest month ever for music. We hope you’ll take the time to check out our Staff Picks and all of the other deserving bands included a little further down. Let us know what your Song of Summer is by leaving a comment. Happy listening!

Staff Picks

Single(s) of the Month:

“Help Yourself” – Go Life

Jennifer

Go Life has returned with a brand new single just in time for the summer. \“Help Yourself\” is a relaxing, down-tempo track that features mellow electronic drum beats and dreamy vocals. In just a few months, Rhys Viney’s presence as a solo artist has grown exponentially, delivering a rich listening experiencing for fans of chillwave and dream pop..

“What the French Call ‘Les Incompétents’” - Waterbodies

Lux

Ontario garage rock trio Waterbodies put out a fresh track this month, \“What the French Call 'Les Incompétents'", whose name is a homage to the 90's classic Home Alone. Despite the somewhat trite lyricism, the single has a great balance of pumping bass and distortion, reminiscent of Favourite Worst Nightmare-era Arctic Monkeys, and The Wombats-style \“woo woos\”. Give it a listen on Soundcloud or Bandcamp.

“Hades” – Fitness Club Fiasco

Brandon

Picking a favorite single this month was an arduous task. A number of musicians made return trips to the Music Roundup with worthy releases. Honorable mentions go out to Jonny Debt and Kings of Lowertown, but my pick this month is "Hades" by Toronto-based Fitness Club Fiasco. Last June, the band produced one of my favorite tracks of 2013 in "Goldmine", and "Hades" marks the 2nd release from their upcoming album. While the new song employs the underlying synthpop sound and generous use of harmonies that have become the band's signature style, "Hades" marks a departure in tone, moving from a high energy arrangement to a low-key feel. I'm eager to hear what FCF has up their sleeve next.

Album(s) of the Month:

Rocky - Wonder Villains

Lux

Derry City party-pop quartet Wonder Villains released their first full-length record, Rocky, on the 23rd, whose track list features my pick for single of the month back in February, \“Marshall\”, along with an almost definitive catalog of their previously released hits, including \“TV\”, \“33\”, and \“Zola\”. The central part of the album encompasses the extent of their new material, which is unfortunately weak, but passable, in comparison. The new songs, including \“Fiction\”, a sad, sparkling, Imogen Heap-like slow jam, diverge from their typically energetic, upbeat fare and take a turn towards melancholy. Despite the piecemeal nature of the album, Rocky is standout for June and certainly deserves a listen or two (or twelve), particularly if you're unfamiliar with Wonder Villains' previous releases. Rocky is available for purchase on iTunes or Amazon.

EP 1 – Gdansk

Jennifer

Gdansk’s EP 1 is a polished mix of the ethereal and deep. The Toronto quartet blends dark and brooding elements with beautiful melodies that create a haunting atmosphere. The opening track, \“Mariner’s Cross\” sets the tone with a slow and deliberate drum beat, balanced by the gentle melodies and soothing vocals. As the EP progresses, there is a noticeable increase in intensity, particularly with \“Babel\”. EP 1 closes with \“Live Away\” which is both heartfelt and uplifting, bringing the entire EP full circle..

Mary – Ivory Hours

Brandon

Ivory Hours' 6-track EP Mary is a bit of a strange animal. By and large, the alt pop group maintains a catchy, upbeat sound throughout the setlist.  However, many of the songs include themes of loss and sadness. It's an interesting juxtaposition and just one reason I selected the EP as my staff pick for the month. Lovely harmonies featuring vocalists Luke and Annie Roes pervade each of the tracks. The instrumental work shines as well. I particularly enjoyed the bass line on "Young Blood" and the opening guitar licks of "The Attic". It all spells a successful release for the talented musicians from London, Ontario.

Other Music

Singles:

By Definition releases rock/metal single “Warrior” off album The Concerns of Moral Man

Single “Salo” marks the debut of Paul Nicholson’s new pop, piano-led act Oxford Style

2-piece grunge/punk band MAD ONES release “Leather Rug“, lead single off upcoming LP Sanciety

Soulful indie pop act Wayne William releases new single “Don’t Fade Away” from upcoming album The Parade

Canadian rocker Jonny Debt releases “Purple Heart“, s single seven years in the making

Kings of Lowertown record gritty new single “Blues Haul” in an Ottawa Valley farmhouse

Metal bands Wolvhammer and Krieg release 7″ split

Kye Alfred Hillig creates “Licorice the Dog” demo during sprint tour

Seattle-based troubadour Daniel G. Harmann records live version of single “Foreverever”

With a music video banned in Turkey, The Shanks release single “German Heavy Metal Girl”

Terracotta Blue continues his series of Purple Summer singles with “Last Night”

Albums/EPs:

Indie pop duo Six Years readies release of new album Rivers

Four-piece, all girl, blues rock band Rouge releases four-track EP Edge of the Bed

Edinburgh’s Wozniak releases shoegaze/post-punk EP Pikes Peak

Manufactured Consent marks third release from London-based septet State of Play

Disco visionary Rayko releases 10-track album Rebirth

High energy pop rock band Tokyo Taboo release new EP Porno Star

Canadian musician riot nrrd releases 14-track song-cycle settle

Shoegaze/rock/pop artists Ceremony release new EP Birds

New England brother duo The Cautious Arc release self-titled debut album

Dance music veteran Bobmo releases club/acid techno album New Dawn

After multiple single releases in 2014, 5j Barrow releases From the Dim, Sweet Light

Psychedelic rock band The Eye Jabs release new modern garage rock album Songs From the Fourth Dimension

House music specialist Tunnelvision follows up first EP of 2014 with first full album, Sky Swallower

Brooklyn-based, multi-instrumentalist Jon Autry releases full length album Beautifully Broken

KLANGLIEBE veteran Klangschwester releases new EP Keep Loving Me as part of duo Go Astray

West Palm Beach alt rock band The Drip Effect releases album Dinosaur

Music veterans combine to form Royal Tusk and release new six-song EP Mountain

Canadian grunge/punk band CHAMPION LOVER release self-titled LP

Electric dance artist Airsouth releases EP Deep Space Bird featuring vocalist Elegy Parks

Blurred City Lights follows up 2013′s EP Neon Glow with full length album Anamorphic

Indie pop artists The Mothers are set to release their debut, self-titled album

Singer-songwriter solo artist Jacob Caporali releases indie alt rock album Running From My Shadow

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The introduction of the mp3 format, portable devices and streaming audio has changed the way we listen to music forever.  Digital listening has replaced spinning vinyl and collecting compact discs, so unless you’ve been living in the stone-age you’ve probably found some great new outlets for following the best new indie music out there. It is undeniable that even the digital revolution doesn’t guarantee you’ll keep up with all the new music – there’s just way too much. But these apps will help you stay on top of the music scene.

In addition to obvious apps like Pandora, Shazam, Spotify, Soundwave, even Band of the Day, indie music lovers turn to these apps to stay ahead of the ever-changing music curve.

• Pitchfork Weekly is the digital child of the Chicago-based music zine of the same name. As its namesake, it delivers on every level any music lover could want. Features and reviews from the magazine are readily available, as are audio/video and original programming from Pitchfork.TV.
  If all of that is not enough to keep you busy, there are staff-produced podcasts.  For your podcast please, the people so engaged with music they’ve dedicated their lives to creating this publication, bringing it digital, and now mobile, sit around talking about everything music. If you consider yourself a true audiophile, this resource is for you.
• Indie Shuffle is a great little app that falls somewhere between Pitchfork Weekly and the Sonarflow/Pandora type apps – but it specializes in indie music. It is also named after a music publication, however this one is a San Francisco based blog (www.indieshuffle.com).
  The mobile app utilizes the SoundCloud API to offer ad-free playlists based on similar artists and genres.  You can choose from genre, ‘popular’, latest recommendations and more. You can also browse the catalogue by genre, save and view your favorites; and, as if that weren’t enough; each song comes with IndieShuffle staff-writer reviews.
• Songkick is a must for the live music lover. Available for both the Android and iOS platforms, Songkick is a brilliant little program. It scans your personal music collection, and not only alerts you when the bands in your playlist will be playing in your area, but also suggests other shows based on your musical tastes.
  Songkick is always running in the background, and will give you a pop-up alert anytime a show is happening in the area. It will also send you emails alerting you who is playing where and when, if you wish.
• Earbits is a great example of the evolution of the artist in the digital age. It is an artist-focused Internet radio station now available as an app for both Android and Apple formats.
  Earbits is a music stream that is free of ads. Instead, it is funded by labels, bands and promoters who buy airtime in targeted channels, getting their music out to the people who are looking for something different than commercial radio has to offer.
  They currently feature music from over 630 labels, 12,000 artists and 380 channels, so it is certainly not devoid of variety or volume.
• Rormix is a great idea, and hopefully can produce some great new artists. The idea of this app is to help you find music videos from unsigned artists, based on your musical tastes. The format offers a great deal of potential, and all of the artists are hand-picked by the company. Talented artists are certainly found there, but the genres available may be limited in number.

Of course, if these don’t fit your need for cutting edge music technology, you always have the option of creating your own app. If you know music, but aren’t tech savvy, you’ll probably want the talents of someone like the guys at http://appdeveloper.org/.

Don’t let your lack of knowledge about new music technology keep you from being a part of it. Check out some of today’s indies music apps, and you’ll always have indie music at your fingertips.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

In our latest guest post, blogger Nicolas White of Rukkus.com shares his list of the top 10 best music festival lineups for 2014. Find out which big names and indie acts you can expect to see at each event. Check out the Rukkus Android app for additional Rukkus content.

1. Sasquatch!

May 23-25 / July 4-6

Quincy, WA

Lineup Highlights: The National, Kraftwerk, Cut Copy, Neutral Milk Hotel, Outkast

Indie Acts You Must See: Phosphorescent, Parquet Courts, Foxygen, Majical Cloudz, Jon Hopkins

Sasquatch set the bar pretty high this year, as the fest transitions from a gem of the Pacific Northwest, to a household name. This year, Sasquatch has followed the lead of California’s Coachella with its two weekend model. However, Sasquatch offers an interesting take with two very different lineups, providing a unique experience for each respective weekend, while reaching an even wider base of fans. That said, the scenic location and the picturesque backdrop is probably enough to justify the admission price.

2. Governor’s Ball

June 6-8

New York, NY

Lineup Highlights: Jack White, Vampire Weekend, The Strokes, Disclosure

Indie Acts You Must See: Grimes, Chance The Rapper, SKATERS, Ratking

Arguably the most viable NYC festival to date, Governor’s Ball has continued its monster growth with its deepest lineup yet. Though the festival was marred by torrential rains and ankle-deep mud last year, fans will surely gather en masse to catch this event.

3. Osheaga

August 1-3

Montreal, Quebec

Lineup Highlights: Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, Modest Mouse, The Replacements

Indie Acts You Must See: SBTRKT, Mac De Marco, White Denim, Jagwar Ma

The trip across the border has never seemed so alluring. Osheaga takes place in the beautiful multicultural hub of Montreal, adding a bit of Canadian efficiency to the US Woodstock-ian festival model. This year’s lineup could be Osheaga’s strongest yet.

4. Bonnaroo

June 12-15

Manchester, TN

Lineup Highlights: Kanye West, The Flaming Lips, James Blake, Phoenix

Indie Acts You Must See: Warpaint, Darkside, The Preatures, Real Estate

OK, you’ve definitely heard of this one. It’s an American rite-of-passage, after all. But if you haven’t yet made the pilgrimage down to Tennessee, you’d be hard-pressed to find a lineup as diverse as 2014’s. It just might be about time to head to “The Farm.”

5. Newport Folk Festival

July 25-27

Newport, RI

Lineup Highlights: Band of Horses, Mavis Staples, J Roddy Walston & The Business

Indie Acts You Must See: Houndmouth, Shakey Graves, Dawes

Newport Folk was a touchstone of the beatnik, counter-culture movement of the 1960s; it’s one of the most storied festivals in the US, and it’s still being held in the folky, grassroots-y, tradition that acts like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary once established.

6. Electric Forest

June 26-29

Rothbury, MI

Lineup Highlights: String Cheese Incident, Ms Lauren Hill, Flying Lotus

Indie Acts You Must See: Anders Osborne, RAC, St. Lucia

Before you even look at who’s playing, imagine a music festival in the middle of a forest. The trees are lined with shimmering lights, art installations, and hammocks for sleeping. Add in a electronica-heavy lineup, and you’re in for one hell of a trip. This dreamy location makes this a truly unique festival experience.

7. Coachella

April 11-14 / April 18-20

Indio, California

Lineup Highlights: The Knife, Haim, Arcade Fire, Beck

Indie Acts You Must See: Future Islands, Dum Dum Girls, Wye Oak

Let’s face it, the Coachella lineup is a bit of a let-down this year, considering the superstar status of this festival. Yet, all things considered, the promoters at Goldenvoice still managed to book two consecutive weekends of mouth-watering live entertainment.

8. Pitchfork

July 18-20

Chicago, IL

Lineup Highlights: Giorgio Moroder, St. Vincent, Danny Brown

Indie Acts You Must See: Cloud Nothings, Earl Sweatshirt, Sharon Van Etten, Death Grips

This Chicago publication may be known for their cooler-than-thou stance on music, but you can’t argue with their success. Pitchfork always curates a lineup that takes risks, and while this year they’ve taken on some more proven artists, the undercard is still filled with hidden gems.

9. Shaky Knees

May 9-11

Atlanta, GA

Lineup Highlights: Spoon, Alabama Shakes, Portugal. The Man, Iron & Wine

Indie Acts You Must See: Man Man, Band of Skulls, The Weeks

Shaky Knees enters its 2nd year seeking rock and roll festival domination. This ATL-based weekend fest packs a punch, with a wide selection of blues-driven, Southern rock. If that’s your scene, there’s no better lineup than Shaky Knees.

10. Firefly

June 19-22

Dover, DE

Lineup Highlights: Broken Bells, Childish Gambino, Jake Bugg

Indie Acts You Must See: Washed Out, Vic Mensa, Haerts

Firefly is the newest contender for the festival crown. After achieving remarkable success in its first few years, the 2014 lineup is (comparatively) a bit of a dud. But, it’s still strong enough to round-out the top 10 best lineups of the year.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.