HYPE ME CAPTAIN: Diamond Rings

Leading the indie pop Gaga-esque charge is a man coming up the street in pink eyeshadow, neon tights, and a Ziggy Stardust-era haircut.  Behold the brainchild of John O'Regan, doing it all, rocking it all, riding a new wave of indie pop that is dreamily longing and straight up at the same time.  His baritone is almost hauntingly Ian Curtis, but with a little more pretty boy to it.  He's fantastic, and blasting onto the scene on a bright red rocketship.

"Wait & See"

And the video is fittingly sweet.

HYPE ME CAPTAIN: Example

HYPE ME CAPTAIN blasts a track every week that all of you out there should know about for your own good.  Top 40 radio stations in the States probably aren't hip enough to play this British beaut.

Example is quickly becoming one of my favorite electropop artists---wonderfully produced by the talented Calvin Harris (ref. I Created Disco) and an all-around talented emcee.  Harris' influence clearly shows through in the new record Won't Go Quietly released last week in the UK.  All the synths and beats in the song work together perfectly, unlike a lot of production mix work you'll hear in the US.  The bass is more funky, the synths are a little '80s with some modern flair, as is Harris' signature sound.  There's a great hook at around 3:20 that utterly kills and makes me love the track even more, and is well worth the wait over and over again. Pick it up, blast it, bounce with it.

Refuse American Top 40: "Time Machine"

HYPE ME CAPTAIN / Summer Sounds: Surfer Blood

Just like all things these days, nothing is ever done the same way errday.  In something nearly as monumental as mashing up Biggie and Andrea Bocelli, today the usual "HYPE ME CAPTAIN" and "Summer Sounds" will be mixed together so that you may be in the know on your way to Chillvana.  

At first listen, Surfer Blood's name can be either the name of some hardcore ska-punk band based out of some OC slum that's heavy on localism, or they could be a metalcore group that plays shows in the name of Eddie while rocking some dangerous boardshorts.  At first listen, their tunes are oceanic journeys soundtracked by some effected guitar-driven pop that is hazily sunny and beats along like a Beach Boy.

They can trick you so easily, as in "Harmonix", where you think they're going to go somewhere predictable with their melody, but then BAM! they swerve a sharp left into Sharp Park.  Their guitar-heavy tunes have clear '90s noise rock influence (Pavement, to those of you who weren't the brightest '90s kids) that differentiates themselves from those sorts of bands in the way they arrange their songs.  Indie at its best and most real.  Also enjoyable is the songwriting, which lead vox man John Paul Pitts (what a name) communicates so well.  David Lynch references in "Twin Peaks" and much longing and scathing words to that ever-unnamed girl.

As my (probable), and many others around the blog world, chosen "Indie Band of the Year" (so far), I say chyah!  Who cares if they don't surf.  Who cares if they're from Florida.  Don't be like that.

"Swim" - Their flagship track.

"Twin Peaks" - My personal favorite.  Peep the meow! at the beginning.  Genius.

Plus: Awesome vid for "Swim".

HYPE ME CAPTAIN: One of the Best Music Videos You'll Ever See

Usually, every week I throw down an artist or track that I believe should be common knowledge. This week, it's a jewel of a music video.

Saman Keshavarz's video for Cinnamon Chasers' track "Luv Deluxe" won the award for Best Music Video at this year's South-by-Southwest (SXSW) Festival.  The cinematography is absolutely stunning; crystal clear, with a first-person perspective that engages you into what is happening in the video.  I won't tell you what happens, but I will say that you will find a femme fatale who takes you on a few adventures.  So sit, kick the resolution up to 720p HD, click full screen, and immerse yourself into 5 minutes of a life on the run.

HYPE ME CAPTAIN: Marina and the Diamonds

Every week, I throw down an artist or track that should be common knowledge.

This week, the voice of a Welsh lass will flood your ears.

Marina and the diamonds, as she likes to style it, refers to herself and her fans, the diamonds.  Riding on the recent British wave of pop music with the likes of Ellie Goulding and Florence + the Machine, she has distinguished herself solely on her experimental style.  She doesn't write shimmery pop tracks that are covered in glitter, nor does she follow the darker, melancholic side.  She covers a lot of ground in terms of lyrical matter too, from American materialism to social values and female sexuality.

What sticks out first and foremost is her voice---particularly her delivery.  She has a great vocal range, shifting from lows to highs to mids like she was doing it since she was 5.  She goes against the pop music norm and spends an unusual amount of time with the lows, throwing out weirdly psychedelic intonations that really make you pay attention.  Maybe she doesn't reach the outskirts that are achieved by the likes of her colleague Ms. Goulding or the younger Mariah Carey, but it is just as interesting.

Her beats are in a lot of places.  "I Am Not a Robot" is a softer indie rock gem driven by a piano and drums combination; "Mowgli's Road" rides on a heavy bassline that guides the main piano rhythm; "Shampain" is more mainstream glam-pop disco with a huge synthesizer atmosphere.  Primarily though, she is a synth-drums-bass-keys woman.

"...There's a lot of pop on it, but there's kind of a lot of leftfield experimental stuff as well.  It's basically an album about what not to be" - Marina.  She's a little bit quirky, a little bit cute, and unusually charming.

For a complete plate of her sound: "I Am Not a Robot", "Hollywood", "Shampain", "Mowgli's Road".

Her debut album The Family Jewels drops May 25th.

HYPE ME CAPTAIN: Delorean

Every week, I'll be throwin' down an artist or track that should be common knowledge.

This week kids, we've reeled in a big one.

Delorean is a band from the Basque coastal region of Spain, and they are sailing out from those shores in all directions like mad.  They began as four punk rock teenage kids who eventually found synthesizers and a shared affinity for electronic music.  This sprouted a colossal change in sound, and what was born grew out to be the treasure of Zarutz's music/club scene.

Their sound is one that's familiar, but only so that you can draw inexact comparisons because they have gloriously created a chillwave sort of sound that is completely danceable, yet you can take it to the beach with you and your friends, along with your beach towels and sunscreen.  This is synthpop reinvented and revamped.  They've combined their native Spanish Balearic house beats with melodic pop sensibilities and a touch of Euro-trance to make one animal of a cocktail.

Picture it.  Chillin' by the Mediterranean on the soft white sands of some secret cove with your lover.  Or your friends.  Summertime.  Relaxation.  Good times.  This shot will be heard at bangin' clubs and in speedin' cars 'round the world, no doubt.  I'm calling this one.

Pick up their ridiculously infectious single "Stay Close" and watch their sunny video below.