Valerie

Ian Knox: Trilogy

A prolific producer and so much more, Ian Knox is definitely one busy guy. Before devoting his time to producing, he was actually a rapper. In fact, he managed to release two previous albums prior to just going full time as a producer. Currently, he's focusing on production engineering and has come up with this exclusive compilation of beats that's should serve as the perfect ingredient for remixing. Having the capacity to incorporate a lot of different styles, including jumping from electro pop to dub step with ease; it's obvious you're in for a good and smooth ride as you listen to this mix.

Lunova Labs: [shhht_13]

Inspired by transcendentalism, Lunova Labs pays homage to the forerunners of the movement by naming each of the tracks in this EP after some of the leaders' major works. This short EP resounds in transcendentalist perception. It takes the idea of spirituality and nature and incorporates them into each cut. The result is a sonic landscape the showcases a mix of vocals and nature samples along with dreamy instrument work. Listening to [Shhht_13] is like being transported to another world where eclecticism, spirituality and oneness with nature exists.

The Specktators: Familiar With Floss

The Specktators is a two piece crew made up of Matt Duda (known as Moe-T) and Patrick Duda (known as Packi.) Creating a sound that's mainly a blend of hiphop with a hint of electronica, R&B, pop and even dance; the brothers make a good impression with this compilation. These two share a passion for their craft and have recorded/produced their own tracks since they started back in 2009. They've released various projects before include the Never-Ending Mixtape where they constantly added recorded tracks every month. Most of the songs there are now part of this new compilation.

Kristin Diable & The City: Kristin Diable & The City

From the strong vocals that welcome you in God's Chambers, you'll instantly realize that Kristin Diable has definitely got something up their sleeves. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the strong voiced singer left her hometown to try out her luck in the big city. She moved to New York City for a good long while before deciding to make New Orleans her new home in 2009. Kristin Diable & The City is her latest album. It features 12 tracks recorded live in her apartment to help capture the beauty of the moment and add great sincerity to the sound.

The United93: The United93

The United93 is a rock band from the Korea. In a country where rock music is a minority and pretty much pop music reigns supreme, it's amazing and a real treat to find groups that rock out as much as these guys. Although it's a bit tough to find info about them, it does seem that they're quite popular in the Korean rock scene. They were named as Band of the Month in a prestigious music magazine in Korea. This self-titled EP was released back in 2010 and available as a free download under a Creative Commons license. The compilation is an uncharacteristic marriage of prog, punk and industrial elements.

Sweetheart: Map Of The Human Heart

Contrary to their name, Sweetheart isn't a band that does mushy, lovey-dovey music. Instead, what you'll hear when you put on their record is a mix of hipster, new wave music that's filled with jangly guitars and shouty vocals. If you thought The Strokes on first listen, well it really shouldn't be a surprise since the band does list them as among their influences. The group is made up of Canadian quartet, Matthew, Marty, Sammy, and Weezee. Map of the Human Heart is their debut record and it's filled with upbeat cuts that deal with various relationship issues.

The Susan Constant: Rayonnement

The boys of The Susan Constant dub themselves as a band who are "committed to writing hooky and insightful indie rock for local consumption, we write radio songs for people who don't listen to the radio." True enough, the five-piece stay true to their commitment and create songs that are radio-friendly and easy to listen to. Their sound is filled with indie rock goodness along with a touch of pop. This is a debut album for the band. It's released under Tour de Stade Records but you can grab the free digital download over at BandCamp.

Guerre: Darker My Love

Guerre is the brainchild of singer/songwriter Lavurn Lee. He's originally from Toronto but currently based in Australia. Even though he started out creating music with a hushed folk sound, Guerre's sound has evolved into a sophisticated mix of ambient electronic pop with a touch of soul. This debut EP from the artist strings together a lush set of tracks that tackle love, sex, guilt and exudes a somewhat silent remorse. It's moody, eclectic pop in a really good way.

Pat Parra: Lowered

One of my favorite indie album find of late, Pat Parra's Lowered is a beautiful and convincing debut record from the San Jose native. Released on BandCamp last June 2011, the album plays host to a multitude of genres and moods. You'll get a bit of 90s alternative, R&B, soul, anti-folk and even a few heavier indie rock pieces. All of which float around before successfully coalescing into sweeping guitars, moody electronics and intriguing vocals. The album was mastered at Different Fur by Patrick Brown and shortly after the release, Pat debuted a music video for the single, Forget Your Love.