GRIEF MOP
RECORD: I Want To Pull The Sleep From Your Eyes
RELEASED: 10|09|2025
LABEL: Sunday Drive Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Eco Green, Limited to 200
FAVORITE TRACKS: I’D Prefer To Be Nobody, Strange World, Headhigh
PURCHASED: Deathwish
BAND DISCOVERED
Through promotion by Deathwish Records, I became aware of the band Grief Mop. In late summer 2025, they released their advance single Strange World, followed shortly afterwards in autumn by their debut album I Want To Pull The Sleep From Your Eyes. Since then, their dark songs—situated between emo, dream, and shoegaze—have been in regular rotation for me. However, Deathwish only handled the distribution; the credit as the responsible label belongs to the good folks at Sunday Drive Records. For Friends of Trauma Ray, Gleemer, Slow Blind, Glare.
WISH
Of course, to catch them live at some point and to own their 2024 EP You Were Right Here But So Far Away on vinyl.
HORSE RIDER
BAND DISCOVERED
It was a decision by the cover artwork. How cool is that? That’s what I remember. I definitely read the review after my first listening. I can’t remember which internet fanzine picked Horse Rider but I’m glad that anyone at all did so. Sometimes it’s so joyful and heartfelt when you find new music, new music in the sense that your feelings simply need this musically snapshot and your inner self is simply served perfectly.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
melancholy | emo | differently | alternative
BESIDES THAT
Curious about more. Live and as a physical release.
DEAFDEAFDEAF
BAND DISCOVERED
I watched the livestream of their gig at the digital Eurosonic 2021 where the band performed in a basement (probably in Manchester) and I was very impressed by the performance itself and the songs. I bought the single Nothingness on vinyl immediately on its release date and got a nice note from the band on the cover of the 7inch. I followed them over the past years and was glad they came Europe mainland in April 2025. The gig in Liege, Belgium was a highlight.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
0:02min – the ongoing guitar theme
2:14min – refrain part til the end, with a nice post-punk/shoegaze touch in the background
FAVORITE LYRICS LINE
„Keep hope for a fresh life, hoping something’s new, a new thing to cling to“
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
introspective | groovy | raw | haunting | melancholy
BESIDES THAT
That band could be huge some day, hopefully.
FOXING
FOXING at Tiny Desk Concert with a beautiful three song set from 2019.
00:15 Slapstick
04:09 Nearer My God
07:27 Grand Paradise
DEAD CALM
ARTIST DISCOVERED
Dead Calm is another project by Irish musician Liam McCay, who has also reached impressive streaming numbers under the names sign crushes motorist and Take Care. I came across Dead Calm’s now second record simply through an Instagram post on his main channel. Acoustic, ethereal slowcore and lo-fi folk — raw and unpolished. In parts, it reminds me of St. Thomas.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
Can you love me now / When you finally see me fully stripped down – from Grow
I’m a man made of fear – from Turn Around
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
choral | lo-fi | acoustic
AUNT KATRINA
BAND DISCOVERED
Aunt Katrina first caught my attention when I listened to the band Feeble Little Horse, which was the main project of guitarist/singer Ryan Walchonski. In the meantime, Walchonski left his main band and focused on his then side project. Aunt Katrina promptly released a new album in July 2025. In addition, the music has been sufficiently fueled by various indie music blogs.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
quirky | melancholy | experimental | introverted
