creative commons license

Eric Delay: Four Moments

After years of absence, Eric Delay is back with an intriguing new EP that shows him in his best shape. Four Moments is the result of rediscovering his own music and style. The artist supposedly had to "deny all the familiar sounds of the standard moves, starting with a blank face, not knowing what to get" while he was creating the tracks. The compilation is composed of minimal sounds that resonate in an ambient electronic groove. From beginning to end, you get a beautiful airy atmosphere filled with subtle instruments and sample.

Aidan Knight: Versicolour

Aidan Knight's music is like listening to a mash-up of Coldplay and Damien Rice. For a long while, the singer/songwriter has been contributing his skills to various bands, playing anything from bass to hardcore drums. For Versicolour though, he showcases a more laid-back acoustic indie folk side that is both soothing and melancholic. Accompanied with soft guitars and an equally emotional voice, the tracks are perfect for lazy afternoons, heartbreaks or just quiet moments where you feel like reminiscing about the many things in your life.

Mark.Nine: Bicycles

Containing a mix of flowy and sometimes gritty instrumental tracks, Bicycles is more of a metaphore for how these two wheeled contraptions allows us to travel and take us to places. Mark.Nine's sound is a lot like that. It's both soothing and disturbing (on occasion) compelling its listeners to seek what's beyond. There's a mix of uptempo rhythms, to ethereal sounding cuts; there are even slight dance tracks contained within some of the singles. Not much is available about the singer, even his Facebook info section only states that he's "a figment of your imagination." His sound is real though and it's quite worth taking a listen to.

Sostanze Records: Don’t Believe The Hype Pt. 2

Back with a great collection of music in tow, Sostanze Records is releasing their big follow up to their successful compilation album, Don't Believe The Hype. Don't Believe The Hype Pt. 2 contains the same energy and great selection of tracks like its successful predecessor. Sostanze Records is an online netlabel that specializes in giving electro drum and bass/visual artists a chance to share their work. Everything they do is under a Creative Commons license and offered for free download.

Fraser James: Gone From Here

Creating beautiful acoustic indie pop, Fraser James, has a knack for capturing any listener's attention with only his guitar and sweet vocal chops. Gone From Here is a debut EP from the St. Albans singer. It delivers music that seems ideal company for cold afternoons with hot cocoa on hand while silently taking in the quiet day. You'll find 8-tracks in this compilation, all recorded between winter of 2010 to summer of 2011. Almost all of them were written by James except for Flume which is a Bon Iver cover.

Monarchs: ft. Celeste – a Monarchs Mixtape

Monarchs is a surprising band that people who enjoy hip hop, alternative and soul should take note of. The group is led by the sultry and sexy Southern belle, Celeste Griffin. Currently based in Austin, Texas; the singer has several backing musicians that help complete her crew. Together, they combine to create a powerful and soulful sound complete with catchy beats and samples. Ft. Celeste is their latest record. They've released previous ones too, particularly The Rise and Fall; Those Words, Those Frames and The Oak EP. All of which are up for purchase over at BandCamp.

Kevin Burdick: In Your Cocoon

American singer/songwriter and pianist, Kevin Burdick creates contemporary piano rock ballads that's both soothing and relaxing. Currently based in Utah, the singer has had 5 releases under his name. Among his albums is this 4-track compilation, In Your Cocoon. It's a few years old but it's a great record to have if you want to dip your toes into the artists' sound. Sounding off a bit of Billy Joel and Elton John, Kevin Burdick is steadily making his name known worldwide. He's performed in various key cities as well as arena sized crowds; delighting the audience with his soulful ballads while adding a sweet touch of rock.

John Graham: Success In Retrograde

One exciting hip hop artist to watch out for, John Graham rolls out licks and rhymes that create a different kind of hip hop. He doesn't only have that rare talent but he's also bringing hip hop back to its roots while also incorporating a positive vibe. The man behind Ego Free Productions, John runs the company along with his partner, Amir. According to the singer, the company name was appropriate for the singer's brand of sound since he provides music that's "filled with positive messages meant to inspire growth and insight change." Success in Retrogade EP is an amazing record complete with 7 tracks. Each song carries a special message that you won't normally expect or associate with the hip hop genre.

The Paragons Of Goodness: The Edge Of Winter

What happens when two talented individuals join forces to create a record? You get one interesting and special R&B hip hop compilation that's definitely worth your while. The Paragons of Goodness is a two man crew made up of songwriter/producer/illustrator and vocalist Greg Blackman as well as engineer/producer/musician and owner of Long Track Studios, Nathan Wacey. Together they release this 18-track compilation that's filled with a host of lovely music. From smooth R&B to soulful hip hop and rap, the record has plenty of surprises for its listeners.