Somebody told me we hadn’t done an indie music update in a while so here’s five indie songs that I downloaded within the last couple months, that I really like and have yet to post. As usual, most of these bands are emerging musicians in the industry.

First we got 5-member mashup group out of Rochester, New York, Joywave, who utilized indie electro-pop artists Miike Snow and LCD Soundsystem to create a mashup that just has wonderful over-lapping sounds and has this great instrumental flow. “Betelgeuse” comes off their latest mixtape 77777 (download). (via IndieShuffle)
Joywave – Betelgeuse (Ft. Miike Snow and LCD Soundsystem)
Next we got a new Starfucker track, “Death As A Fetish”. I have never been the greatest fan of the vocals but have almost always loved the instrumentals Starfucker assembles.
Starf*cker – Death As A Fetish
I have known about Bedouin Soundclash since 2007 when my friend Felon Fresh gave me a great introduction to indie/alternative music in a mix she made for another friend of mine. “Mountain Top” instantly became my favorite Bedouin Soundclash track with the instrumentals and the lyrics which make we want to climb atop a mountain for some strange reason.
Bedouin Soundclash – Mountain Top
I realize most indie music I enjoy because of the instrumentals that catch my ears then the vocals not being annoying is the 2nd reason I enjoy the track. Young Empires make original tracks as well as dope remixes and are still a bit raw with what seems like a fairly simple sound at the moment. However I see Young Empires only getting better as they better figure out their music style. (via TBIS)
Young Empires – Rain of Gold
Lastly comes a group that reminds me of Oasis, especially when it gets to the chorus. More Amor is a young indie pop group and in “Young Hollywood” they sing about falling into the Hollywood scene. More Amor is a mix of Oasis with Owl City but they have an originality that we should keep an eye on. (via P&P)
More Amor – Young Hollywood

Tags: Bedouin Soundclash, Joywave, LCD Soundsystem, Miike Snow, More Amor, Starf*cker, StarFucker, Young Empires

Shout out to ChinUp Music for bringing this to my attention. Although this came out back in November 2010, I’m so glad I found out about it as most of the remixes are DOPE and several are MUST-DOWNLOADS! It’s time the world knows who Bad Rabbits is, a band that is a mix of rock & roll, funk and hip-hop.

Here’s three songs that should help give you good reasons to download the Stick Up Kids Remix album.
Can’t Back Down (Jayson DeZuzio Remix) feat. Jay-Z (Jay-Z lyricism thrown in)
Stick Up Kids (Clinton Sparks Remix) (love the original so much, remix almost as great)
Advantage Me (Jeremy Comitas & Jayson DeZuzio Remix) ft. Jesse Korman (hard rock remix)

Tags: Bad Rabbits, Clinton Sparks, Jay-Z, Jayson DeZuzio, Jeremy Comitas, Jesse Korman, mashup/remix, Stick Up Kids REMIX album

Spring officially started last week so it’s time we start putting together Best You Never Heard 3: Spring Edition. On our way to releasing that, we want to update you with each of the artists from Best You Never Heard: Summer Mix on what they are doing since being featured back in early September.

The one song that featured artists that were already pretty big was “All Summer” by Kid Cudi, Bethany Cosentino (of Best Coast) and Rostam Batmanglij (of Vampire Weekend). Converse employed these three artists to create my favorite song of Summer 2010, just edging out “Pumped Up Kicks” (yeah that song came out last year, mainstream radio you are too slow!).

Anyways I thought I would update you on what each of the artists are up to and include my personal favorite song from each.
Kid Cudi is one of our favorite hip-hop artists because of his unique hip-hop style which has an alternative, yet highly enjoyable sound. That’s kind of a general way to describe him because most of you that read this post know who he is and have most of his music I’m guessing.

Earlier this month, Cudi announced that a music video for “Marijuana” will be released later this Spring and that an official music video for “Mr. Rager” will come out this summer. Also rumor has it that cudders is currently working on a new mixtape, then will work on a rock album with Dot da Genius and the rock band’s name will be Wizard. Here’s my favorite Kid Cudi track, which barely beats out “Up, Up & Away” and “REVOFEV”:

Best Coast is an indie/alternative pop from Los Angeles. Lead singer Bethany Cosentino, who sang the chorus in “All Summer” has a solid unique voice for the type of beach rock Best Coast creates, which is similar to Wavves but more pop and female vocals. I’m not the biggest fan of Best Coast but I feel they are a group that can expand its sound and go from indie to mainstream within a couple years.

The band recently released a music video for “When I’m With You” and are currently touring with Wavves, which is a smart move as their sounds are unique yet have similarities that complement each other. Here’s a song featuring both bands, who I’m slowly starting to like but haven’t yet jumped on their bandwagon.

Vampire Weekend is a group New York City dudes who make awesome unique alternative rock that has a wide variety of influences. I realized they are signed to XL Recording, which means that maybe Tyler the Creator (also signed to XL) and Vampire Weekend should collaborate! Maybe Tyler the Creator makes a sick beat, raps in the verses, and Vampire Weekend throws in some of their instrumentals, does the chorus and Ezra Koenig to do some rapping like he did with his rap band L’Homme Run.

Currently Vampire Weekend is touring and figuring out the sound and direction they want to take for their third album. I like several Vampire Weekend songs so much that it’s hard to decide on one favorite although “A-Punk” is so freakin’ catchy. So here’s my favorite Vampire Weekend song that was in one of my favorite movies, I Love You, Man.
Vampire Weekend – Campus

Tags: Best Coast, Kid Cudi, Vampire Weekend

I’m so glad I downloaded the SXSW 2011 Torrent because if I hadn’t, I might have never discovered the hottest hip-hop act from Australia, Bliss N Eso. They have a huge following outside the US, but I’m hoping to change that with some upbeat rock & roll/hip-hop tracks below.

They have an alternative hip-hop feel, much like Atmosphere and Macklemore but more rock & roll and like Cage the Elephant with more hip-hop. Bliss N Eso did a tour in USA & Canada back in 2009 and did a 26-date tour in USA in late 2010. Here’s five tracks to show you how talented and dope Bliss N Eso is.
Down By the River
Family Affair
Where The Wild Things Are (ft. 13. Mind Over Matter)
The Sea Is Rising
Bullet and a Target Ft. The Zulu Connections Choir (Acoustic Version)
The first three songs are off Bliss N Eso’s latest album, Running on Air (July 2010), and the last two tracks are from their album before that, Flying Colours (April 2008).

Hopefully the hip-hop group will come back to USA soon before next years SXSW festival. Follow Bliss N Eso: Facebook / Twitter

Tags: alternative hip-hop, Australia, Bliss N Eso, genre-blending, Hip-Hop/Rock, mixing genres

XV continues on his grind, releasing yet another new track via his twitter. This time Miami Horror is featured on the hook in “Foreign Exchange Student”. This track has a bit of an old school feel to it which I love a lot. In this track, XV raps about his #SquarianLadies a lot, reaching out to his female fans. This guy is a superstar and he is only getting better.

XV – Foreign Exchange Student ft. Miami Horror

Tags: Miami Horror, Squarians, XV

Hodgy Beats of Odd Future delivers an awesome new track. It’s called “Mystery” and it samples Moody Blues. Although it has a simple beat, the rapping is quite raw. He and Tyler the Creator are without a doubt the best rappers in the group and I expect them to have a lot of success in the near future. Enjoy!

Tags: Hodgy Beats, Odd Future, ODFGKTA

I have been playing this song non-stop, every where I go! “Positive Movement” is a contagious song much like the zombie movement story in their music video for this song.
MTHDS – Positive Movement
If you like that song follow MTHDS on facebook and twitter.

After the jump, watch the official music video for MTHDS’ “Positive Movement”; great song, interesting video. Can anyone tell me why this video doesn’t have more than 10,000 views already?!?

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Tags: Alternative Rock Hip-Hop, genre-blending, mixing genres, MTHDS

The Hood Internet are one of the premier 2-3 song mashup artists. Last month they released The Mixtape Volume Five, a 30 song mashup mixtape of dope mashups. Most of them I already had and/or had posted already but here’s 2 from the mashup mixtape that I really liked. Download the mixtape on mediafire.
The Hood Internet – Back You [Cee-Lo Green x Sir Mix-a-Lot]

The Hood Internet – Dougie Vision (Cali Swag District x Toro Y Moi)
Here’s the latest Hood Internet mashup I love with Quad City DJ’s over some Deadmau5, crank that shit to 11! Next is a mashup with the Regulators over some Toro Y Moi, it’s a smooth criminal of a mashup, but it’s not guilty of sounding bad.
The Hood Internet – Ride Some Chords (Quad City DJs x Deadmau5)
The Hood Internet – Still Regulating (Warren G & Nate Dogg x Toro Y Moi)
If your reading this post and don’t want to hear another mashup look no further than below! The Hood Internet produced a song that BBU and Das Racist rapped on. The beat is hot, the lyrics are random and kind of funny; overall a cool alternative hip-hop track.
BBU – Please, No Pictures ft. Das Racist (produced by The Hood Internet)

Tags: BBU, Cali Swag District, Cee-Lo Green, Das Racist, Deadmau5, mashup mixtape, Nate Dogg, Quad City DJ's, Sir Mix-a-Lot, The Hood Internet, The Mixtape Volume Five, Toro y Moi, Warren G

Spring officially started last week so it’s time we start putting together Best You Never Heard 3: Spring Edition. On our way to releasing that, we want to update you with each of the artists from Best You Never Heard: Summer Mix on what they are doing since being featured back in early September.

The Freshmen are a hip-hop/pop trio from California. When I first heard their music back in July 2010, I knew these guys were something special with their unique sound.

They actually became a one of the many small reasons E-Wish and I decided to start BeforeBigs.com, to find more artists like The Freshmen with music that can’t be defined by a specific music category, whose music has a different sound and who are emerging talent in the music industry.

Since featuring “Hello There” by The Freshmen on our BYNH: Summer edition, their following on facebook has increased by at least a couple hundred new fans, an increase in twitter fans and their following growing beyond their strong support from Cali. I only see this group improving further not in their music but also their popularity.

The Freshmen are currently in the studio making more new music. In February they released an official music video for their latest single, “Imagine” and once they get 30,000 views on the video, they will release a new song!

Here’s my top 3 favorites from The Freshmen:
Dreamin’ California
Hello There
Imagine

Follow The Freshmen: Facebook / Twitter / Website

Tags: Hip-Pop, The Freshmen

Even after the success of his most recent mixtape, Best Day Ever, Mac Miller continues staying on his grind, releasing yet another new track. This one is called “On and On” and keeps the same laid-back stoner feel that Mac Miller has done so well with. This kid keeps getting more and more talented with each new song he drops. I look forward to his debut album which is scheduled to release later this year. Enjoy!

Tags: Mac Miller