LOVE CRY
BAND DISCOVERED
Over the past few years, Sunday Drive Records has become a reliably safe bet when it comes to my personal taste in music. Love Cry’s debut EP has been out since November 2025 and is now also available on CD. If you’re into Enumclaw, this should be right up your alley, sometimes I think it’s between Calexico and Minus The Bear — intricate details paired with driving electronic beats and smooth indie textures.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
I Don’t Feel A Thing really comes alive at 2:20 min, when that striking, rough-edged melody kicks in after the second verse.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
Ditching the bar, head out into the dark
I sat alone, on the empty train ride home
I got to thinking, I’m not so sure I know what love is
Not one to cry, I can’t let out what I don’t have inside (from I Don’t Feel A Thing)
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
melancholy | emo | differently | smooth
WISH
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that these wonderful songs will make it to vinyl soon.
MAUVE
BAND DISCOVERED
I think it was through a combination of posts from the band Growing Pains and their label Rad Radicals that the algorithm dropped mauve into my timeline sometime in 2023 or 2024. Their song Two has since found its way into quite a few playlists, and I keep playing it at parties as well. Since mid-2024, however, the band has gone quiet and announced an indefinite hiatus, which is still ongoing. Let’s see if there’s a resurrection at some point.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
The hard breaks, the rhythm, the outbursts, the emotional intensity. A pretty solid all-around package.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
math | midwest emo | fast | catchy
WISH
A vinyl release at some point. Even if it’s unlikely.
DRAAG
BAND DISCOVERED
I discovered DRAAG through social media posts and announcements from their label, Smoking Room, and right from the start I really loved their experimental noise pop that completely flooded my ears. Now it’s not just about listening to their current EP Miracle Drug on repeat, but also about getting to know their earlier output.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
noisey | pop | nostalgic | hazy
WISH
That the band finds a distributor for Europe.
MIDRIFT
BAND DISCOVERED
While looking into the 2026 lineup of the Outbreak Festival in Manchester and checking out the music of some of the bands and artists playing there, I came across an announced tour by Turn Of Phase together with a band called Midrift. I was surprised by their current streaming numbers and, above all, by the band’s latest output: the three songs Safe And Sound, Tell Me Everything, and Reaching For You.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
The song Reaching For You seems to have everything my ears are looking for: something gripping, something driving, plenty of emotion, and a touch of emo nostalgia. So far, it’s their strongest output in my opinion.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
„It’s everything I’ve ever felt, winning cards are never dealt to me / you see for the worst, I’d keep you if I could“ from Reaching For You.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
driving | melancholy | emotional | honest
BESIDES THAT
This year, Midrift are touring with Turn Of Phase, Fleshwater, Julie, and Angel Du$t. So far the tours are limited to North America, except some UK dates, Paris and Best Kept Secret Festival in the Netherlands – hopefully some more European mainland gigs will follow soon.
WISH
Can’t wait for more.
DAN SPENCER
LP
Return To Your Dark Master
DIGITAL RELEASED
06|08|2024
FAVORTIE TRACKS
Fat Vampire, Eternal Platitude, Immaterial, Return To Your Dark Master
STREAM
Bandcamp
ARTIST DISCOVERED
Dan Spencer appeared on my radar regarding an Instagram post from Militarie Gun singer and mastermind Ian Shelton. I like to follow artists‘ personal accounts as long as they let me so I can get some ideas for music, suggestions, and collections from them. Dan Spencer is now on my map. Thanks, Ian.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
Ultimate highlight on this record is for sure the song Fat Vampire. The explosive start and the ear catching melodies are one of a kind. The tracks on Return To Your Dark Master combine in all very dark, depressive and broken lyrics with a catchy, sappy and sentimental music. So everything sometimes appears with a touch of black humour.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
Let’s lose ourself in the day dream / Let’s remember it’s easy to forget / How you are versus how you seem / Shed these life stained silhouettes – from Fat Vampire
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
catchy | sad | dark | alt-country | vampiric
BESIDES THAT
Dan Spencer released some new singles since the record release in 2024. Give it a listen.
WISH
Can’t wait for a physical release and maybe someday Spencer will make his way to Europe.
FIN DEL MUNDO
BAND DISCOVERED
I had been tuning in to a few live showcases and radio appearances on Audiotree and KEXP when YouTube recommended a video by Fin del Mundo. Even though I didn’t know what to expect, I clicked on it anyway. What I heard was very emotional, well-structured, and harmonious. No big breaks, no hustle and bustle, sometimes even a little monotonous. Post-punk meets shoegaze and dreamgaze. No frills, straightforward, and simply beautifully melodic. If I’m not mistaken, Fin del Mundo is the first Argentine band I’ve ever heard of. I’m pretty sure that this album and the previous one from 2023, Todo Va Hacia El Mar, will find their way into my record collection.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE from Vivimos lejos
Todos buscan su lugar bajo la tormenta
No quiero arrastrarte más a mi marea
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
dreamy | decelerating | harmonious | heartfelt
BESIDES THAT
Fin del Mundo were on their third European tour last month, stopping off in Spain, Portugal and France. Maybe they’ll extend their next tour to other countries too. I’d love to see them live.
