The {Fancy 4} is a new monthly series where we feature four artists of the moment!
You might discover someone about to become huge or maybe it’s just an artist you heard awhile back on Grey’s Anatomy (what? I don’t watch it either!). I write a lot about uber-indie musicians. But for those familiar with my mixtape, you know we’ll drop a Top 40 artist from time to time (hey, indie kids like their swagger, too)! Either way, the goal is to present 4 artists – musical and other – that are rockin’ the free world, as someone once said.
All four will be featured in the latest Music Hi Fi podcast. In the podcast, we take a listen to new tunes and talk about the latest news in music and tech. This week, we briefly touch on Google music, Soundcloud, and more. You can hear it in the player below or at http://feeds.feedburner.com/musichifi.
So without any kind of further-ness, let’s cut to it, shall we?
1. The Femme fatale
Produced by long-time faves Simian Mobile Disco, Beth Ditto of The Gossip has a new EP out later this month that’s like a dream come true. It’s a place where dance meets electro, the videos are funky, and the lyrics decidedly relatable. With hook, song, and style, Beth further cements her superstar status.
2. The New School
When I did a Google search for “Braids Music”, I learned that Kim Kardashian is sporting “full on braids” for her upcoming music video. Whaaaa? I mean, that must have been labor intensive. She must have sat for at least 4 hours for that! Thanks for reminding me about the hardship and many intricacies of ladies hairstyling, Google!
I discovered the actual band Braids not from Google but from someone else’s mixtape. I then found the full-length on Spotify and becamed hooked. These guys are sweetly mysterious because it’s hard to pin down their sound – they take you on a journey without losing their identity to genre constraints. Braids gives electronic music a new twist.
3. The Chameleons
These guys hooked me with “Na Na Ni” a few years back when I was going through a folksy, singer-songwriter phase. They’re still folky, and new upcoming album (find it here) takes an interestingly darker twist.
And some, like the folks over at RCRDLBL, seem to have their own take: “Fredrik is a new remarkable music sensation, casually capturing the spirit of classic storybook drama through a unique brand of experimental pop.” !!
4. The Rebels
Post-punk and dance collide in a world seemingly far, far, away from Brooklyn-it’s the new New Wave that’s dark, brooding and at times romantic. I picked this one up last week at Other Music and immediately fell in love. Besides the lovely artwork and simplistic packaging, it was a treat to unwrap the EP and discover 4 brilliantly written songs inside.
