To The Wedding creates such mellow, soothing melodies, it melts all your worries and surroundings like wax.  To The Wedding is a one woman show – Lauren Grubb – who brings in a guest here and there for a little guitar assistance.  Her recent EP, Silver Currents, is in no rush to go anywhere.  Each track is perfectly content to just occupy the space it’s in.  “Come On,” the first song off the EP, is the textbook definition of shoegaze.  Let it occupy your space for a little while.  Enjoy.

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I haven’t posted nearly enough Trails and Ways through the run of EWH.  Every track released by this foursome has an intangible charm and warmth.  Whether they are spouting lyrics in English or Spanish, it’s easy to feel connected to what they produce.  They are pretty balanced in the amount of original work and covers that are released into the digital world.  Although their cover of Miguel’s “Sure Thing” is one of their older releases, it’s still catchy and a great interpretation of this 2011 R&B track.  Enjoy.

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There is something so honest, so engaging about “Getting It On” by Sales.  The Florida duo released their first EP back in September, full of acoustic, simply constructed melodies.  In a world where synth is king, it’s refreshing to hear a group so bare in its instrumentals and so intent on exposing emotions in the simplest manner.  “Getting It On” is disarming in its intimacy and gets better with every listen.  So keep listening.  Enjoy.

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Blackbird Blackbird aka Mikey Maramag has been churning out chill, spacey indie tracks for the past few years.  What’s incredibly impressive is that this young solo artist has produced a wealth of unique, creative music all on his own.  His recent single, “Love Unlimited,” further explores his patient, spacey music style with hollowed vocals, soft synths and a pronounced, hypnotic guitar riff.  Enjoy.

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It’s been eons since GRRL PAL released their ethereal debut single, “Amazon.”  Finally, the indie duo returns with their remarkably chill follow-up single, “Paradise.”  A sharper use of electronics snakes through this exotic, pulse soothing track, as Jay Daniel’s voice effortlessly floats above with each verse.  Hopefully, we won’t have to wait over a year for a third track.  But while we wait, it helps to be able to have a little “Paradise.”  Enjoy.

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Half pop singer, half hippie, Zella Day instantly pulls you in with her starry-eyed, carefree intonation.  With her recent single, “Sweet Ophelia,” Day seems to join these two converse approaches into something somewhat intoxicating.  Day’s voice spirals throughout the entire track and only breaks to to explode with a hook heavy chorus that makes all the blood rush to your head.  “Sweet Ophelia” can be found on Day’s recently released, self-titled EP.  Enjoy.

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 Minipop creates hazy pop tracks that should be the soundtrack for just about any dream sequence.  Since forming in 2004, they have crafted sweet little pop tunes that are equal parts enchanting and endearing.  “Chances,” off their latest EP, is perhaps their catchiest tune to date, starting off with dripping guitar chords until they are consumed by the misty voice of songstress, Tricia Kanne.  Enjoy.

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There is something in Cannon’s music that separates them from the spate of synth pop bands that seem to emerge every twelve minutes or so.  Earlier this summer, we highlighted the R&B laced “Up All Night,” off of Cannon’s debut EP of the same name.  This time around, the focus is on “Neon Light,” a more upbeat track that has massive soft disco elements.  The contrasts between “Up All Night” and “Neon Light” shows the group’s flexibility in embracing various influences, all with the purpose of making danceable grooves.  “Neon Light” moves seamlessly between verse and chorus with sparkling tones and appropriately placed buildups (the hallmark of any great disco track).  Enjoy.

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It wasn’t all that long ago that I posted an article on the UK’s Osca and their impressive debut single, “Blood.”  The foursome returns with “Illume,” an emotional track that sways between intimacy and exhilaration.  “Illume” proves that Osca is the real thing.  The near orchestral nature of their songs coupled with the maturity and openness of the lyrics (Come on love/I hold you closer than my skin) melts together into a song that makes the blood rush through every vein in your body.  Osca is bringing us the beginning of something amazing.  You might as well bask in the glory of being there from the start.  Enjoy.

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I might have been in the minority of people who didn’t love The XX’s second album, Coexist.  However, a remix of one of the bonus tracks, “Reconsider,” produced by band member, Jamie XX, captures the essence of what made the trio’s first album a game changer.  Not as subdued as the whole of Coexist, the “Reconsider” remix has sharper beats, a more aggressive pace, and is a great reminder of what made The XX a dominant force in the indie scene and one of the defining bands of dream pop.  It’s good to have them back.  Enjoy.

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