International Indie Music: my favorite May 2022 releases

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Enjoy my favorite picks from Indie Music world released in May 2022, in chronological order!

"OLYMPIA" - Jillian Lake - Vancouver, Canada (released on May 5th)

Jillian Lake, mixes velvet sounds and big feelings to transport you into her world of sweet sorrow in a way that will make you want to take your broken heart out dancing. Her latest single "Olympia" flourished from a feeling, capturing the carefree essence of driving with the windows down. Bright, colourful synths, feel-good, sunshine melodies and an energetic beat inject you with a dose of youthful vitality, spreading a smile across your face from cheek to cheek. The artist explains, "Olympia forever will be the song that almost didn’t make the album… This one was such a tricky one for me as I was torn between making it a single or scrapping it all together. This song was a later addition to the record, we wanted to make a fun one - however therein lies the beginning of the problems for me… I was NOT used to making fun music… I had been on the sad and sappy train since the beginning. So the song always felt forced to me. I did, however, have so much fun making it, and it was a totally different process than the rest of my songs". 

Instagram: @jillianlake

"DANCING IN MY DREAM" - Akshit Dhall - Pune, India (released on May 6th)

Akshit’s fourteenth studio release, "Dancing in my dream" is a pop ballad that talks about love, about taking the leap to finally ask that someone out that you’ve been dreaming about for so long. For this song Akshit, along with the producer of the song, Bharath, experimented with electronic production, giving the song a dreamy vibe. Ajay’s charming guitar solo serves as the perfect bridge for the song.

Instagram: @akshit_dhall

"U-TURNS" - Arielle Eden - NYC, Usa (released on May 6th)

Arielle shares: "U-Turns is an upbeat tune with the happy ending of coming back together. The truth is, if you’ve ever been in an on again off again relationship it can actually be quite excruciating and exhausting especially during the off again parts. I think when writing this, I was winking to folks who understand that feeling of the inevitability of going back to something even if you know it’s going to end up the same way it ended up the last time. That can often be a painful thing, to not be able to make a turn in a better direction, but in the moment there is some relief in knowing that the other person wants to come back too and feels the same inevitability… It can be silly and frustrating and painful, and it’s also human. I like writing about the human tendencies even when they seem to be "flawed". It helps me laugh at myself and be more accepting of those aspects of my experiences".

Instagram: @thearielleeden

"CAN'T STOP" - Mike Rogers - Amsterdam, Holland (released on May 6th)

Mike Rogers in an Amsterdam based indie dance trio who make bold music to make big musical gestures without sensationalism. Their latest single "Can’t Stop" is about a lonely man. Looking back at his life as a young boy, he tries to do everything right but always feels he is failing since people don’t understand him. Battling a personal struggle with his past, he protests against this feeling, hoping to get rid of those negative thoughts. Bursting with drive and energy, the song takes you on a euphoric journey. Written in 2021, the trio shares, "In our minds that year was a year where we had a lot of questions. Like, what is freedom, what should one fight for, how should one fight for something, how do we move forward as a society and also, how do we judge our past behaviour. We believe questions are the biggest inspirator. We’re trying to ask questions more than to send a message, although that's also a bit of a vision we want to share".

Instagram: @wearemikerogers

"BAD FOR MY HEALTH" - Hanne Mjøen - Norway (released on May 13th)

Hanne Mjøen is not your average pop queen. The Norwegian alt/pop artist creates music that makes you want to dance, with lyrics that make you want to cry. Her intoxicating sound is coated in a dark, raw edge, providing a comforting reminder that it’s ok to be flawed, while her lyrics pull the trigger for an outlet of pent-up emotions.  Her latest single "Bad for My Health" takes you on this rollercoaster ride, as she explains, ''Sometimes I think love is bad for me, and in some ways it is, because it isn't always good and we’re not always good for each other. We do toxic things and we have our selfish moments. "You're bad for my health but you’re good for my heart" is my way of describing the ups and downs of a relationship when you’re too honest with each other, fighting over stuff that don’t really matter, not knowing if you should take a break or break up, but because it feels so good when it's good, you keep trying".

Instagram: @hanne.mjoen

"SOARIN'" - Alpha Circle - Madrid, Spain (released on May 18th)

The concept of Alpha Circle new single comes from the question "What’s a dream come true if not shared with you?". They say: "Along our journey as a band we’ve had some incredible rewards for our labour and the first thing we want to do is contact our families to share the excitement with them. That is applicable to anyone in any walk of life. Whether you get a new job, you’re getting married, a baby is on the way, realising a dream like having your song played on the radio in our case. When you achieve these feats, those who lifted you up, who encouraged you, share in your happiness. That’s the great thing about happiness, it doesn’t need to be yours to be enjoyed. Soarin' is a thank you to those people". 

Instagram: @alpha.circle

"I'M GOING BACK" - Matt Bednarsky - NYC, Usa (released on May 20th)

Matt says: "I’m Goin’ Back is a song I think we all can relate to. Starting out, our creative pursuits or interests often spring forth from a well of joy and innocence. We take to something because we love it and are inspired by it; there’s a free, childlike connection to it. If we’re not careful, the ways of the world erode that joy, and what was once fun and exciting can feel like a stale chore. "I’m Goin’ Back" is an intimate and emotional song about returning to the roots, of restoring that connection to the heart.I hope you enjoy and it speaks to you in some way!"

Instagram: @mattbednarsky

"STARS AND STRIPES" - The Songs and Stories Collective - Usa - Uk (released on May 20th)

The Songs & Stories Collective are made up of Tennessee Twin duo Victoria and Geoff, and UK solo artists Donna Marie and Saray Yeo. The quartet have always admired each other musically and, during the pandemic of 2020, decided to collaborate for a series of online performances. "Stars & Stripes" was co-written by Sarah, Victoria and Geoff from Tennessee Twin and Donna Marie. This is the first official release for the collective. The song speaks of shared experiences in the music industry (song true and others fictional) and how it isn’t all about being in the spotlight… It’s about the reality of hardship, and it isn’t always as it is portrayed through the media. They say: "Ultimately, the song is about the journey through a career in music the many different paths it can take you on. The song itself took a little moulding to put together as the process is all done remotely, files are sent to me and I put things together in the studio. We wanted to tonally create something upbeat and with a summer vibe so we all very much worked together on that".

I hope you enjoyed all these beautiful releases as much as I did, I'm very curious to discover my favorites of June!!

Follow me: @laurameetsmusicians

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