A Quick Word from the Authors:

2014 seems to be shaping up to be quite a year in terms of music as this past week held new material from James Blake, Beck and Broken Bells. All the while there is a constant stream of novel music coming from the up-and-coming spectrum. Releases from Phantogram, St. Vincent and Tycho in the near future also leaves the scene in a postitive place as the trend-setting artists look to solidify their hold on navigating the future of indie as a genre. However, whose to say that the market of such a versatile genre will be dictated by the heavy hitters, for all we know there may be a producer in his basement right now crafting sounds that will define the year. In all reality only time will tell as to what 2014 will be remembered for from a indie standpoint.

Broken Bell's playing "The Changing Lights" (58 seconds in)

James Blake's new song "40455"

Beck previewing new track entitled "Blue Moon"

With big names like Jack White, Vampire Weekend, The Strokes (Governor's Ball) Muse, and Arcade Fire (Coachella) already announced as headlining monstrous festivals there is benefit in looking further down the list of scheduled artists to find music that best appeals to your specific tastes. We recommend keeping a close eye on artists such as Gems, Mø, SOHN and Bondax where they will look to build off of their strong 2013 showing.

- Aaron Thomas & Anna Murphy

The Bees Knees

We don't make you work to separate the milk from the cream

In case you only want to scratch the surface of the Sabbath we offer the cream of the crop, highlighting what should be indefinitely considered when crafting a playlist.

The Pasture: Death Vessel - "Mercury Dime"

The Kindle: NONONO - "Pumpin Blood" (The Chainsmokers Remix)

The Tryptophan: Blood Cultures - "Mercury Child"

The Indie Gift Basket

Overview

The Pasture Less is more -- slow-churned nights need a soundtrack too, and relaxation is underrated.
The Kindle represents a peak of accessibility where the masses will be drawn to the raw energy exposed throughout.
Lastly, in The Tryptophan indie gets plugged. What ups the ante more than experimental electronics and synths?

The Pasture

Drawing from hushed textures the intersection between folk and translucent melodies can surprisingly be seamlessly navigated. So kick back, chill out or fall asleep – but be sure to stream the easy-going tracks below for the epitome of mellow. Highlights from Death Vessel and Tennis.

The Kindle

The top forty that no one knows, the songs that you pop on that party playlist, the tracks you belt while driving 80 MPH on a dessert highway, or the jams you blast alone in your bedroom, rocking out with your socks on, solo style. Wherever you are, you’re in for a treat by way of indie beats. Highlights from Misun and Lorde.

The Tryptophan

The Tryptophan is a playlist for the forward-minded individuals, filled with everything from airy ascending melodies to mind-bending beats that work to spark a progressive, yet equally grounded mindset. Highlights from Blood Cultures and Wildcat! Wildcat!.

In closing – it’s simple. We’re bringing you three different playlists every week; one for you mellow manatees, one for you vibrant vipers and one for you hazy honey badgers. So whether you’re a homebody who needs a backtrack to lying on the couch or a rabble-rousing hipster looking to paint the town tonight, we’ve got a perfect playlist for you. Enjoy & as always, feedback welcome.

Tags: