Samuel Sandoval’s new full-length record, Current Pretender, is a sonic stained-glass window into the colorful mind of a young man wrestling and dancing with existentialism. The anthology is track after track of therapeutic acoustic guitar-led confessions and realizations: tracks like “I Mime” tip-toe instrumentally among bizarre ambient sounds and Sandoval’s layered-pensive vocals. As esoteric as some tracks can be, others like “Falling Asleep to Your Parents Watching TV Pt. 1” are gorgeously composed, with honey-sweet piano melodies and soothing flowing-water samples creating a cave of wondrous sounds. Much like life itself, Connecticut resident Samuel Sandoval’s record encompasses beauty, ugliness, weirdness, love, hope, and existence as you want to see it. We are streaming the indie-folk tune “Madam Day” from the new album below. – Rene Cobar

Darting in and out of Boston, Maya Lucia has managed to create a significant buzz in New England for her now-released EP, Lashing Out. The record is rebellious indie-pop, it is soft rock with a touch of lo-fi, it is alternative: the album is Maya Lucia, and that says it all. Tracks like “Jolene” are heartfelt, confidently presented, and punchy in their bass guitar plucks. Maya is explosive in the choruses of “Misunderstood” and playful-assertive in the verses of “Sadgirl (RIP Moviepass),” showing her ability to tell an honest story in each song. There is no reason to doubt that Maya can hang with the likes of indie-pop rising stars like Clairo and Charli XCX: the young artist offers something wholly different, something more attitude-fueled. Listen to “Jolene” streaming below; discover what the buzz is all about. – Rene Cobar

Some argue that grunge music’s meteoric rise led to its eventual fantastic-flaming disintegration from general consciousness toward the end of the ‘90s; should we go with that argument, then finding its scattered fragments is a rare and beautiful experience indeed: enter Boston’s The Addition. The group’s new music video for its gritty single “In Between” is a grainy black and white dance of pale silhouettes surrendering to growling electric guitars and punchy drums. From pain-stricken vocals to quaking basslines, the group brings it all together for breakdowns that display grunge’s still-smoldering appeal. The Addition has done an excellent job of stoking curiosity for its next move with a song and video that displays the band most naturally. We are streaming the group’s new music video below for your enjoyment; careful, it is hot. – Rene Cobar

The appeal of avant-indie music, for the listener, is and has always been in the discovery of both the artist’s emotions and one’s own throughout the experience. As songs progress, sharp memories take hold and swirl about: this is precisely the consequence of a single listen of The Stitcher by Boston’s Gish. The brand new EP is a fantastical and haunting sonic journey led by the ethereal vocals of Jacalynn Manning (Gish), who asserts herself in the ambiance that is created by gorgeous string-instrument strains and layered chants; ascending harp-like arpeggios enhance each track and bathe it in melancholic waters. Tracks like “Tadpole Teeth” have a ghostly feel to them and are milky smooth in the way they ebb and flow. The Stitcher is one of those records you are thrilled to have stumbled upon, an avant-indie gem that begs for reflection, and one we recommend. Check out Gish’s pensive track “Dreas” streaming below. – Rene Cobar

After teasing us with their synth-pop single “Scenes” earlier this year, Boston’s Pyramid Thieves, at last, have released their 2019 record Century Fader. The brand new LP is what you have come to expect from the electric group: a rich blend of indie rock grit and pop chic that is finished off with a teaspoon of new wave honey. Songs like “Thunder” showcase just the type of rich atmospheres the band can create, ones thick with marvelous basslines, supple synth melodies, and sustained guitar chords that float about. Then you have tracks like “Hang Around” which pay tribute to ‘80s synth-pop legends like Pet Shop Boys with their grandiose style. The group has crafted a record that is faithful to them and those that love them; it is refined enough to feel completely new. The band will be playing at the Boston City Hall Plaza on September 28th. We are streaming the groovy track “At The Aquarium” from the new record below. – Rene Cobar

A journey that began at the age of 4 hits a milestone today for Boston’s indie-folk songstress Elodie: the eloquent songwriter’s debut EP Things That Are Broken is out now. From the start of the record, Elodie’s emotions are gracefully and honestly exposed via the retrospective lyrics that are sung with hard-charging passion in the choruses of “City Paved With Stone.” The rapid rhythm of the song’s climax sets the canvas for Elodie’s fierce melodic collage. “Face in the Mirror” treats the listener to beautiful string-instrument swells and warm piano notes that create the perfect atmosphere for Elodie’s vivid storytelling. “Motion Sickness” is a punchy track filled with melancholic sincerity that is led by Elodie’s intricate acoustic guitar work. “Something More” is Elodie’s vocal point of excellence, while the record’s closing track “(May You) Find Your Way” is a cheery folk send-off that wraps everything up beautifully. The singer-songwriter’s travels from her native New York to Boston and beyond have helped shape a journey that is ever-present in each of the tracks she has chosen to share. Those that have supported her, a those like us, who are fortunate to listen, cheer for a rising New England artist. Catch Elodie playing at the Lilypad Inman in Cambridge on October 4th. We are thrilled to premiere Things That Are Broken for you below. – Rene Cobar

Cosmic Analog Blue is a group that cannot hide its exotic nature: the group’s charming-bizarre blend of country, rock, orchestral, and Americana is served real thick and chill. The band’s latest single “Through the Underpass” begins with relaxed acoustic guitar strums and twangy vocals that pave the way for grand string instrument swells and eruptive drums; all instruments rise in volume to create a sonic tornado you find yourself chasing. The breakdowns are exquisite and are telling of the Boston group’s penchant for creativity and free-flow combined with the precise organization to make it all work. The funky group released a self-titled EP back in 2018, and if this new single is any indication, the group is heating up again. We are streaming “Through the Underpass” for you below. – Rene Cobar

Tate & Silas released their latest record Different Worlds back in June, and in doing so, they gifted the world with a pure and super-concentrated indie-folk alternative. The approach is simple: electric guitar strums so clean you can almost breathe them in like rich oxygen, and minimalist vocal deliveries that tell stories about town life. In songs like “Overblown” you have rapid and thumping rhythms that are sprinkled with rich piano notes, and in tracks like “Sick” just pure indie guitar-lick goodness. The duo from New Haven makes each track seamless as it moves on to the next without ever allowing for monotonousness to creep in; the fluidity of the music is a testament to their easy-listening approach that soothes. Tate & Silas are scheduled to play at the Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT on October 5th. We are streaming the title track below for your enjoyment. – Rene Cobar

Boston’s Tyler Coyne offers listeners a refreshing brand of pop music that is frothy with funky guitars, electronic embellishments, and Coyne’s country-cordial vocals. In the singer-songwriter’s latest single "What’s Yours & What’s Mine" these elements are put on full display and blend for an upbeat track that is bound to stay with you. Coyne’s style embraces current mainstream pop trends while challenging them at the same time: the New England native offers pop music that is embroidered with electronic elements but still keeps folk/country as its main fabric. The brand new single is closing out the summer for Coyne in style; we are hoping for some fall show announcements soon. Stream the lively "What’s Yours & What’s Mine" below. – Rene Cobar

Cousin Stizz deploys hypnotic beats to entrance listeners and lures them into a world crafted by his unquenchable thirst for glory. The Boston-based rapper is spinning his brand new record, Trying To Find My Next Thrill, a thirteen-track statement super-charged with punchy basslines, killer features, and honeyed R&B undertones. The beat of "Perfect" (feat. City Girls) slithers into the ears with menace as Cousin and City Girls spit a venomous romance that will paralyze you. The features continue to dazzle with "Toast 2 That" (feat. Freddie Gibbs), a bravado-spiced track that keeps the bars steady and the flow fueled-up, always ready to explode. Cousin Stizz is putting a rich R&B glaze over the captivating trap music that artists like Valee are championing in Chicago, creating a special brand that is uniquely his. The release of the new record has us anticipating New England show announcements this fall, fans will surely demand them. As we wait, we are streaming the booming album-opener “Meds” below. – Rene Cobar

The eclectic Anna Rose is back with a single reminiscent of some classic alt rock, pre-grunge tunes of the late ’80s/early ’90s. After an atmosperic verse, “Broken Is Beautiful” holds nothing back as it bombards the listener with fuzzy guitars, a sonorous bassline, and Anna’s fierce vocal delivery. The track’s soulful melody gives an old-school tenacity that sets it apart, and Anna’s lyrics perfectly fit the anthem chorus. The single is a preview of her upcoming album The Light Between, set for release October 4th. Rose will be touring most of the fall, with stops in cities like Tucson and Chicago already scheduled. We are streaming “Broken Is Beautiful” below for your enjoyment. – Rene Cobar

Honey Cutt has been keeping busy since the release of its 2019 single “Suburban Dream,” an indie-pop delight with both retro and quite modern colorations. The band toured extensively through July, visiting cities like Indianapolis and Detroit along the way. Kaley Honeycutt, who leads the Boston-based trio, fuels the powerful lyrics of “Suburban Dream” with observations of her time in suburbia. The song may be “tongue in cheek,” according to the band, but it touches on that genuine feeling that anyone who has lived in one place for most of their life can relate to, a sense of wanting to break out. Breaking out is precisely what Honey Cutt is doing: having signed to independent label Kanine Records the band promises a full-length record is coming. The group recently performed at ONCE in Somerville and is sure to keep its momentum going this fall. We are streaming the vibrant single below. – Rene Cobar