Pop

Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, Elton John

Amy Stroup: Noisetrade Exclusive

If the name Amy Stroup rings a bell, that’s because you surely have heard her tunes somewhere. This Nashville-based chanteuse had her tunes featured on various TV series (Grey’s Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars, to mention a few) and ads for Eharmony and Walmart.

Molly Parden: Le Premier

If you’re looking for a quick escape to a land of overflowing mush, Le Premier is your best bet. Nashville-based Molly Parden, who now has three EPs under her belt, kick-started her music career with this modest 4-track collection of guitar-driven ditties that can actually rival those overplayed Taylor Swift songs any day.

Our Wild Love: Uneven Beats

With a flair for the dramatic, wonderful strange noises and massive drums, Our Wild Love‘s latest musical project, Uneven Beats, fleshes out raw fantasies creating a jungle of intensified sonic goodness.

Tara Priya: Tara Priya

Don’t be fooled by her sweet persona and her playfulness, because Tara Priya is so much more than that. The London bureau of BBC calls her voice something that “you just need to hear,” and why not? Tara is half-Persian, half-Indian, and all soul. The California-based songstress has been listening to ’60s pop ever since she was a tot. Priya cites Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Etta James, and even Tupac Shakur as some of her influences, which probably resulted in the diverse yet accessible brand of music that she currently possesses.

Hibou: Dunes EP

Seattle native Peter Michel, also known as Hibou, is here to amuse your hearing machine with Dunes. This EP is a collection of dreamy, vibrant, indie-pop tracks that are too irresistible to not put in your summer playlist.

The Sarcastic Dharma Society: Other People’s Songs (Volume One)

Chill acoustic covers of old (or recent) folk favorites? Yes, please! This is the very idea of The Sarcastic Dharma Society‘s 2009 collection, Other People’s Songs (Volume One). While we have yet to see a volume two, the rich feel of this 10-track album is still as fresh as yesterday’s produce, lessening our clamor for a new one.

Lake Street Dive: Album Sampler

We have just been invited to a kickin’ jamming session at the ‘lake street dive’! Lake Street Drive, a quartet formed in Boston, is an underrated gem of a band that’s waiting be elevated to greater heights, even though they’ve been around in a decade now.

Young Summer: Fever Dream

Get swept away with the progressive beats of an impending Young Summer. This is the name Bobbie Allen uses for her newest musical endeavor, which comes from a long, distinguished breed of female indie acts — bringing their impressive artistry along. Think Florence & The Machine, or even Norah Jones, and that’s what you’ll get, more or less.

Jim Guthrie: Now, More Than Ever (Remastered Edition)

Jim Guthrie’s Remastered Edition of Now, More Than Ever is not far from the original. The poppy electronics of the remastered can be seamlessly juxtaposed to a nostalgic look down memory lane. The Canadian singer-songwriter has foremost made a name for himself through self-produced cassettes. Having recorded as a solo artist and as a band member of Islands, Royal City, and Human Highway, it can be safely imposed that the original Now, More Than Ever is a great leap in his music career after having been nominated for a Juno Award.