BEST INDIE SONGS - WEEK 27

Remember how I said that it's crazy that, over the last month, we've been blessed with a Beyoncé and Jay Z collaborative album and five records from Kanye West?! Well, why don't y'all go ahead and add a DOUBLE DRAKE LP to that list?! 2018 LITERALLY HAS NO CHILL! If you're struggling to keep on top of the lesser-known releases around all of these power albums, then We Are: The Guard has, once again, got yo' backs. That's right, while you've been determining which Scorpion lyrics to use as Instagram captions, we've been busy as ever filtering through the blogosphere for the top indie tracks of the last seven days. As we flip our calendars over to July, then, come and get a musical fix this Monday morning with the latest edition of Best Indie Songs, featuring Mitski, Miya Folick, Young Fathers, Gorillaz, Death Grips, and more.

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MITSKI – NOBODY

As tempting as it is to lock ourselves up in our bedrooms and cry into our pillows at the first sign of heartbreak, Mitski wants us to “dance the lonesome away” with her new single “Nobody.” And with its Abba-esque pop pianos and groovy disco riffs, I can officially confirm that you'll be unable to resist shaking off the sadness to this latest cut to be unveiled from the Japanese-American artist's forthcoming album Be the Cowboy.

MIYA FOLICK – STOCK IMAGE

If you're feeling a lidl gray this Monday morning, then Miya Folick is here to bring a BURST of color to your life with her new single! “'Stock Image' is the conversation that you have with yourself when you're feeling lost and your color has faded,” says the Los Angeles artist of the pulsating Justin Raisen-produced slice of electro-pop, which showcases Miss. Miya's soaring vocal chops like NEVER before!

YOUNG FATHERS – HOLY GHOST

Young Fathers continue their KILLER video campaign in support of their recent album Cocoa Sugar by sharing the clip for “Holy Ghost.” Directed by Oscar Hudson, the visual depicts Young Fathers dancing on a mountaintop in Perthshire in their native Scotland, and was shot using a long-range thermal surveillance camera, a piece of kit that Hudson explains is “generally used by the military for border security and other unfriendly war zone-type operations.”

BILLY RAFFOUL – 1975

Once in a while, a voice comes along that completely stops you in your tracks. Billy Raffoul has such a voice. The son of rock star Jody Raffoul, Billy places his smoke-cured rasp front and center on “1975,” a timeless acoustic number that has all of the emotional heft of Bruce Springsteen at his balladic best.

GORILLAZ (FEAT. SNOOP DOGG & JAMIE PRINCIPLE) – HOLLYWOOD

Another week, another Gorillaz song, anyone?! A SNOOP DOGG-featuring Gorillaz song, I ought to add! Okay, so I admit that the darkly propulsive “Hollywood” could work in a party playlist as much as it could a chill playlist, but that's EXACTLY why I love this band! Their music seems to fit every mood, whether you want to dance, or, as I recommend in this case, sit back and enjoy the vibes!

MANSIONAIR – TECHNICOLOUR

Having recently got off a North American tour with We Are: The Guard favorites Mikky Ekko and NoMBe, Mansionair are BACK this July with “Technicolour.” The follow-up to “Violet City” hears the Australian trio continuing to refine their blend of organic and electronics sounds, resulting in the kind of vibrant anthem that you'll want to SCREAM from the top of your lungs this festival season. “'Technicolour' symbolizes those bright moments that relationships need to stay alive, all those little things that add up to love,” reveal Mansionair. LISTEN!

DEATH GRIPS – DEATH GRIPS IS ONLINE

“Death Grips Is Online” and they're not holding back on this exhilarating opening track from their new album Year of the Snitch. Named after their now-iconic tweet-turned-meme, this certified ripper, what with its droning shoegaze riffs and eerie witch house synths, sets listeners up in just the right way for what's without a doubt one of the most thrilling records of 2018.

AARON TAOS – VOODOO

Even if you aren't a believer in witchcraft, Aaron Taos is sure to have you under his spell with his new single from his recent EP Night Thoughts. Mixing distorted blues riffs and pleading soul vocals, “Voodoo” is a bewitching genre-blending bop that legitimately sounds like the stuff of musical magic.

SMOKESCREENS – WAITING FOR SUMMER

Summer is here, but Smokescreens are taking us back to the dark days of winter when the sun seemed like a distant memory on the nostalgic “Waiting for Summer.” Featured on the Los Angeles four-piece's forthcoming album Used to Yesterday, it's a twee bit of paisley pop goodness, with frontman Chris Rosi singing about “waiting for those hot, sticky, sweaty nights” over a spread of jangly 12-string riffs.

KNGDAVD – EVE

Closing out with an unadulterated BANGER from New York City duo KNGDAVD! If you've ever been cheated on by a lover, then I can't think of ANY better revenge than cranking up this explosive track loud enough for them to hear! P.S. While you're here, why not check out this addictive-as-hell game that KNGDAVD have made to accompany the song's release?! Just prepare to lose an hour of your life trying to beat your own high score!

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Photo by Stephany Lorena on Unsplash

Jess Grant is a frustrated writer hailing from London, England. When she isn't tasked with disentangling her thoughts from her brain and putting them on paper, Jess can generally be found listening to The Beatles, or cooking vegetarian food.