discover: x ambassadors

When Dan Reynolds hears a band on the radio that is totally awesome, he fanboys much like the rest of us, non-famous humanoids. However he also begs his producer to sign them and then proceed so to produce the majority of their debut album.

X Ambassadors is an alt-rock band from Ithaca, New York formed in 2009 and signed to Interscope Records that produces music that strikes you right in the heart. They began with the name Ambassadors, touring with artists like LIGHTS. The band is comprised of brothers: Sam and Casey Harris, and their friends, Noah Feldshuh and (get this) Adam Levin (I know!).

They self-released their debut EP- Ambassadors EP and then their LP, Litost. They did a Kickstarter to raise money for a music video for of the songs from the LP, my personal favourite Unconsolable.

Unconsolable was also used on their debut EP for their label, Love Songs Drug Songs released in 2013, which also included a song co-written by Dan Reynolds (lead singer of Imagine Dragons, you should know this). In promotion of the EP, they toured with bands like The Mowglis, Imagine Dragons and Jimmy Eat World. They released their second major label EP, The Reason in 2014. They also released a single with Jamie N Commons in 2014 called "Jungle".

They featured on a track "Transmission" on Zedd's new album this year as. Their debut album VHS is set to be released on the 30th of June (can't wait).

X Ambassadors have lyrics that speak to you about life and the things that we do or have to do that make us happy or not so happy. I strongly suggest you reader of this belated post, give them a try.

Listen to Unconsolable below if you're not sure and tell me what you think in the comments.

discover: decades

Okay, so this band followed me on Twitter and I when deciding who to listen to at random, they got lucky (because I am lazy and they are recent followers).

They are called Decades and they do the kind of rock that got me into music into the first place. I loved listening to it. It's melodic and heavy and sounds like the alt rock bands of  the early '00s but somehow still very 2015.They are four guys with a pretty standard set: vocals, guitars and drums, from New Jersey. No two of their songs sound the same and I am currently repeating Anchors Away, their new single from their EP, Similar Lights which will be released this spring. They're not perfect and they sound like what most alt rock bands sound like in the beginning, but they're worth a shot.

Listen to Anchors Away and tell me what you think in the comments.

You can get a free download of their songs which I'm pretty sure is limited to head over to Soundcloud if you're interested.

Check out their:

Facebook|Twitter

discover: broken back

8tracks is seriously becoming the best friend I have. I heard a Broken Back song on a playlist and now, I can't get enough.

There's not much about them out there and it's a little frustrating, but from what I could glean from their Facebook, it is an electronic music, dance-pop band based in France (French people generally have good taste, don't they?)

Listen to their newest song below and tell me what you think then!

Check them out on:

Soundcloud|Facebook|Twitter|YouTube

...and pre-order their upcoming EP on iTunes!

discover: catfish and the bottlemen

Notice I didn't use a witty song lyrics or something as the post title. That's because this band's name speaks for them and it speaks loudly!

Picture from Facebook.

Catfish and the Bottlemen are four guys from Wales (the UK provides some of the best bands of boys- not boy bands, mind you): Ryan "Van" McCann (lead singer), Johnny Bond (lead guitar), Benji Blakeway (bass guitar) and Bob Hall ( he plays drums. Got such a normal name after the rest). The music they make is easily classed as alternative (at least, what alternative sounds like now) with elements of rock and post-punk.

The band name (I just had to put this in here) has a chain of events leading up to it, but basically, Van was a little boy watching a busker called Catfish the Bottleman. 

They've been a band since 2010 with changes in members here and there. They signed to Communion Records in 2013 and released the singles 'Homesick' (my favourite track) and 'Rango' from what would be their debut album, The Balcony, released on the 12th of September last year. Also, Rolling Stone has their eye on them (their good eye) and there's this DJ that really likes them too.

The Balcony

The Balcony is a good, solid debut album and the fact that they haven't been around as long as some other bands does not show at all. Their sound is professional (Van's voice has been compared to that of The Kooks' frontman, Luke Pritchard). The album is said to draw heavily on Van's life (he was a last-resort IVF baby) for inspiration and the cover art for some of the songs makes it sort of obvious in that respect. They're not one for subtlety, they go outright with their lyrics and I love it.

Cover art for Rango

Cover art for Pacifier

Cover art for Homesick

They have also garnered a reputation as an amazing live band and the YouTube videos I've watched cement the fact. So go see them if you're anywhere near where they're playing next. Also, their album was produced by Jim Abbiss who has worked with Arctic Monkeys and is apparently quite well known for that (as he should be), so you should be assured.

Essentially, you should download the album. It is crazy good, perfect for fans of George Ezra, Drowners, Royal Blood and Atlas Genius. Listen to the first minute and a half of the song 'Fallout' in the Song of the Day tab.

Website|Soundcloud|Twitter|Facebook|iTunes

discover: the score

I want that leather jacket!!!

This is The Score (they look like badass Abercrombie boys, I know. Don't judge just yet.)

They are an indie-pop act from New York (the city of dreeeeamssss), now based in LA (according to their Soundcloud account. Their names are: Edan Dover and Eddie Anthony (they're both Eds!). Eddie sings (and I just love his voice) and plays guitar, while Edan plays keyboard and produces their tracks. They are currently unsigned (what in Nutella are labels looking for?!?!) but we all know that won't last.

I just found out about them yesterday and then tweeted at them like I'm some crazy fangirl (which I am...)

Oh My Love blew my mind. Now, I will blog about: @TheScoreNYC

— Tammy Oladipo (@tammyoreads) February 3, 2015

They were so nice about it and they replied and everything and damn it...they deserve this post because that song, 'Oh My Love', is freaking amazing. It's the kind of song that makes you want to smile and dance and just be happy. It's in one word: uplifting. There's this raise-your-head-up, foot-stomping, festival-ish (my idea of festivals is skewed because I've never been to one. I know they are never as dreamy as they seem) quality to it.

Now, if you're the kind of person that just likes to be unhappy for the sake of unhappiness, this band might not be for you, however, if you are into the whole sunny dispoisiton on life thing, then they are perfect listening.

Listen to 'Oh My Love' below.

 Isn't it just amazing. Replay, replay, replay!!!

If you like: Train or OneRepublic, you'll definitely like these guys.

They have this casual, pop-rock feeling to their outfits

Check them out on:
Twitter|Soundcloud|Facebook|Their Website|iTunes|YouTube

Download Oh My Love on iTunes and SUPPORT THE BAND.

They're cute too...

You know, I might just start asking for Skype interviews from the indie artists I tweet and blog about (it is so weird how these words have become part fo our everyday language...). Wouldn't that be so cool though? Seriously though, if Skype interviews seem like a viable thing, tweet me or comment on the post (pleeeeease, comment on the post). Or, you know...be a little...sorry. I had two Red Bulls and a granola bar for breakfast and now I'm in a Theology class and I can't even...

Thank you, people who read these posts that I don't know about. If you want me to blog about your music (which I will only do if I like your music...), then tweet me or you know...nah...sorry.

discover: nikki lorenzo

On her website, the "About Me" part tells us that Nikki Lorenzo came into the world during hurricane Andrew in Miami, Florida and that after taking one look at her, anyone could tell that she would be quite the hurricane herself.

I love that. That description tells you so much about her already, and after listening to 'Work That Charm' (below) where she sings , you'll understand the part about the hurricane. She's got that sassy, showgirl style through and through (she learned Evita by age four!

She's really good (yes, I know I write that about A LOT OF ARTISTS) and should be Twittered, Tumblered, Soundclouded and Youtubed as much as possible. Check out her website too.

Stay sassy Nikki.

discover: gerard smith

There isn't much on this Gerard Smith to be found if you Google him (you'll get a Gerard that died in 2011), but he's a treasure, he really is.

This is him. It's his Twitter profile picture so...

His song Odessa is fantastic, perfect for those that love the guitar-strumming sound that is prevalent in folk music. His voice is soft but strong, and croons in a way that gets to your stomach and gives you butterflies.

Listen to it below and if you like it, check out his Soundcloud, follow him on Twitter, do the Facebook thing, check out his YouTube channel and just show him some love in general.