Jentri Colello

Instantly loved this new band, which was recommended by one of my friends from last.fm.

Jentri Colello fronts a four-piece Indie-rock group raised in the basements and bars of Madison, Wisconsin’s radical music scene. She’s the kind of accidental muse who fuses genres, transforming folk songs with the band’s spectrum of influences. The unique style pairs older artists such as Neil Young with more recent pop-rock flavors evocative of Cat Power, Spoon, and The National. This harmony of earthy and modern rock, infused on a folk template guides front-woman Jentri Colello’s songwriting. Jentri’s debut EP, Bird of Prey will be released later this year.

@ Madison, USA
♫ Indie, Folk, Rock
♥ Bird of Prey (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Nat Johnson

As being a fan of Monkey Swallows the Universe who sadly split a few months ago. I was happy to see Nat Johnson, going solo!

Former singer, songwriter and guitarist of Monkey Swallows the Universe, Nat Johnson has embarked on a solo adventure. She has already made two critically acclaimed MSTU albums, a host of festival and radio appearances and has toured with Richard Hawley and the Long Blondes. Live, Nat uses a loop pedal to create backing vocals and other instrumentation. She will be touring with a full backing band from late September 2008, which will coincide with the release with her debut solo single, "Dirty Rotten Soul"

@ Sheffield, UK
♫ Indie, Acoustic, Pop
♥ Heart of Clay (mp3)
♥ Judy's First Beat (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Tu Fawning

Tu Fawning is the new project of Joe Haege and Corrina Repp. Both Haege and Repp have been playing in Portland and abroad for many years now. However, a mutual desire to achieve something outside the bounds of their other projects, 31knots (Haege) and Corrina Repp (Repp), lead both of them to begin collaboration on each other's albums last year.

Now with Haege and Repp fully realzing their pallette of piano, drums, percussion, guitar, vocals and samples, mutually and individually, they are finally able to tell the types of stories they have always wanted to, both lyrically and musically. Toussaint Perrault and Liza Reitz to join, adding horns/guitar and piano/ violin, respectively. They recorded their first EP, entitled Secession. that got it's release; July 8th. This summer they will begin the process of recording their first full length.

@ Portland, USA
♫ Alternative, Indie, Pop
♥ Out Like Bats (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Marte Heggelund

Marte is one of the many artistst I found through "similar artists" on last.fm. Two and a half years after the release of her debut record ”I Abide", that was released back in 2006 on Warner Music, singer/songwriter Marte Heggelund from Hammerfest is ready with her second album ”Treason” In the time between the releases she has kept herself busy touring Norway with her music, finishing her Master’s Degree in Literature. Treason was recorded at Sunflower Recordings during the winter of 2007/2008, mostly with the full band in the studio. Afterwards, several other artists and musicians contributed to the completion of the album. The album will be out this August on her own record label; Mate Music.

@ Hammerfest, Norway

♫ Indie, Acoustic, Pop

♥ Stuntman (mp3)

♥ Innocence Lost (mp3)

▸ Myspace

▸ Official Website

Ashby

I've been listening to Ashby quite a while now, only now I found the time to share their dreamy indie pop songs with you. Enjoy!
Ashby is a Scottish-American indie pop duo comprised of singer Evelyn Pope and producer collaborator Bill Cowie. Based in Boston the pair have recorded two albums both released on stylish German imprint Marina Records and both have garnered wide critical acclaim. First release in 2001, “Power Ballads” featured a strong range of pop songcraft with an atmospheric approach to production employing a wide range of acoustic and electronic instrumentation. A second album “Looks Like You’ve Already Won” followed in 2005, this time emphasising more use of acoustic instruments, woodwinds and horns and allowing for more collaborators. Guests included Blake Hazard of The Submarines. The London Times cited the album as one of it’s albums of the year.

@ Somerville, USA
♫ Indie, Pop, Electroacoustic
♥ Anyone Anywhere (mp3)
♥ Getting Started (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website
+ Full Album Stream

Lindsey Ray

A friend of mine, Dieter, also a reader of this blog; recommended this girl to me.

At the tender age of five, Lindsey Ray declared to her family, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a singer." Focusing early on her singing, Lindsey grew up performing regularly in her hometown of Belfast, Lindsey began writing and composing her own original songs, a step she needed for her own satisfaction. She wrote one of her first songs, “A Song for Sam,” after the death of a friend in the fall of 2005. Finally, with nothing but a piano and herself, Lindsey was able to become the true artist she was always meant to be. Lindsey caught the eye of Original Signal Recordings when she uploaded a video for "Wake Me Up" Now in the process of writing and recording her first album, Lindsey strives to stay true to herself and to write real music that touches the soul. Her newest song "Goodbye From California," co-written with Justin Gray (Joss Stone, Emma Bunton), was recently featured in the season finale of MTV's The Real World: Hollywood.

@ Los Angeles, USA
♫ Indie, Pop
♥ Goodbye From California (mp3)
▸ Myspace

The Mood

The Mood has been making quite a name for itself in New York City's music scene. This five-piece boasts infectious pop tunes infused with a sunny rock 'n' roll vibe that has audiences dancing far and wide. The effortless vocal harmonies of cousins Marco Argiro and Corinne Callen gracefully complement gritty guitars, grooving bass lines and pounding drums. The Mood has been receiving radio airplay in various college radio markets, and four tracks off its "Get In" EP were recently featured on MTV's The Real World. The band has had memorable performances at SXSW, CMJ, and shared the stage with artists such as Simian Mobile Disco, This Is Ivy League, and Tom Morello’s the Nightwatchman. The Mood's latest album was produced by the band itself and recorded and mixed at Edison Studios in New York City. The new tunes showcase an individual and collaborative musical evolution that fans at live shows have come to know and love. The new record "Synaesthesia" is due out July 1, 2008 on Outright Rock Records.

@ New York, USA
♫ Rock, Pop, Indie
♥ Masquerade (mp3)
♥ Suddenly (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website