International Indie Music: my favorite October 2022 releases

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

 

"DOUBLE YELLOW LINES" - Johan Glidden - Arizona, Usa (YouTube video released on Oct 1st)

Johan Glidden is a singer-songwriter-producer out of Prescott, Arizona. Having entered into the music world at an early age, Johan has played in every genre from classical to blues to pop. Over the last few years, Johan's songs are generally born from questions about existence, love, light and darkness. He seeks to be honest in both his deep faith and in his nagging doubts. In his latest release, Double Yellow Lines, Johan opens his heart and sings about the beautiful and dangerous thing that is giving yourself to someone else, and allowing them to love you. The song is inspired by everything from Elton John to Dickens' 'Tale of Two Cities', and is one of Johan's biggest productions to-date, featuring a gorgeous cello arrangement by Harley Eblen and accented by a stunning music video directed by Micah Reimer and starring Gabriel & Ary Hernandez.

Instagram: @johanglidden (cello by: @harleyeblen)

"DOWNPOUR" - Joe Wilkinson - Costa Blanca, Spain (released on Oct 7th)

Joe Wilkinson is currently living, playing and producing music on the beautiful Costa Blanca, Spain. With an ever growing social media presence, a deepening bond with his fans, high quality daily content, a consistent stream of releases and a relentless dedication to live performance, big things are coming the way of this down to earth, hard working and likeable modern independent musician. About Downpour, Jow shares. "It's a modern love song about having someone's back through the ups and downs that we all go through! The track is built on a foundation of acoustic guitar, bass and drums (performed by Joey Demers), but my favorite thing about the track is the overlapping harmonies towards the end of the song. Will Davies, who mixed and mastered it did a fantastic job of bringing that choir sound I had in mind to life! I'm also incredibly proud of the artwork which was created by Julie Thomas and Ilan Kania. Julies canvas represents the song so well and there is even a hidden meaning directly related to the lyrics!"

Instagram: @joewilkinsonmusic

"I GAVE YOU MY NUMBER" - Allison Leah - Nashville, Usa (released on Oct 7th)

New York-born and Nashville based, Allison Leah has an innate gift for songwriting, coupling honest stories with ethereal melodies and accumulating over a million streams worldwide. Though Allison Leah’s crystal clear voice will hook you in, it is the message of her music that will keep you coming back for more. Her detailed, vulnerable lyrics offer a unique perspective on love, growth, nostalgia, and the world around us. To listen to Allison Leah is to know her, and maybe even to get to know yourself a little better too. About the new single, Allison says: "I'm so proud of "i gave u my number" and what it’s become. From a soft folk song i wrote in my bedroom three years ago to a whole dancey pop song. This song is for dreamers, overthinkers, and anyone that’s ever given their number to someone in a bar - or might after hearing this song!!"

Instagram: @allisonleahmusic

"SNAKE LIKE YOU" - Eleri Angharad - UK (released on Oct 14th)

It’s an exciting time for the Swansea starlet who caps off a huge 2022 with appearances at Country 2 Country, Focus Wales, Country on the Coast, and In It Together Festival. Sprinkle in support appearances with some of the biggest names in country music such as Bailey Tomkinson, Tim Prottey-Jones, Jill Andrews and Kezia Gill and it’s been hugely successful year already; all this despite being locked up in a studio for half of the year recording her new album! Departing from the big city apartment energy of Nightclub Floor, she returns Earthboundwith a newly found bold sassy attitude. "Snake Like You" is about the slimy salesmen you encounter in every walk of life, the chancers who try and charm you with a bottle of snake oil. "I get constantly bombarded with messages from fake companies promising success. Whether it be millions of streams, followers, publishing contracts, or gig offers that when you delve deeper are either bot generated or just rip you off. It can be an absolute minefield trying to decipher who’s genuine and who’s not and it’svery frustrating", says Eleri. The single is less of a response, and more of a bite back! Sonically, it’s underpinned with some Western Mojave Desert riffs, seamless slide guitar, each verse and chorus perfectly placed, building up the pent-up frustration before Millie Blooms guests and strikes like a thirsty rattlesnake.

Instagram: @eleriangharad

"SELF-SABOTAGE" - Gianna Branca - Philadelphia, Usa (released on Oct 14th)

Gianna shares aboout the song: "It’s a little different stylistically then my previous song. The song is about anxious and destructive thoughts and self-sabotaging your relationships, and I really cared about having a driving beat and pop sensibility to emphasize the size and weight of the feelings discussed in the song, and also to appeal to an audience who might want to both be able to dance and cry to the same song. I call it my "Sad Bop" because I really feel the lyrics are still personal in the way people who hear my music expect, but it’s got a fun groove many other listeners crave. I think of all my songs as journal entries, and i try always to make them personal and specific. i think there is something so cool about a song’s ability to let a stranger into your heart or into a specific moment in your life. Releasing "Self-Sabotage" has been an amazing journey, watching it transform from me and my piano to version it is now. I hope you can dance to it, cry to it, scream to it, drive to it, think to it, vibe to it. Most of all, I just hope you love it".

Instagram: @gianna.branca

"MADE IN LONDON" - Alpha Circle - Madrid, Spain (released on Oct 20th)

Alpha Circle are winners of Shout Radio’s Best song of 2022 for their single "Phoenix and Butterflies". They won the Toby Award. In the first year of their conception they qualified as Semi Finalist’s in Spain’s Battle of the bands with their hit single "Circles". Based in Madrid, Spain but composed of English and Spanish musicians they have a following both in The UK, Spain and have appeared on Kiss FM in The United States with their release of 2022 single "Soarin". They make music that consists of of a thumping blend of slick rhythms and epic hooks. A a pop rock live action energy. Always trying to storytell with lyrics of hope and overcoming life’s challenges. Early 2023 will see the release of their first EP. Their new single Made in London is about living far from your family and struggling with the guilt of being happy in your new location yet still missing those people you love.

Instagram: @alpha.circle

"SIGHS OF HER" EP - Meghan Pulles - NYC, Usa (released on Oct 21th)

Meghan Pulles reigns as an emo-positive singer-songwriter who heals the world through her lyrical lens. The New Yorker has touched fans across the globe with her music: taking her listeners on a cathartic journey of mental and emotional healing and wellness. Meghan shares: "These songs are the inspiration behind my debut album which will be out in a year from now, and I can't wait for you to hear them. They focus in on the sighs that people in abusive relationships have been through (namely women) but I know that it can also be men as well. These are gentle reminders that you are not alone in what you go through or what you've been through and that there is light waiting for you at the end of the darkness if you just look for it. Cover artwork by the lovely @enchanted.marvel!".

Instagram: @megpullesmusic

"NOT QUITE LOVE" LP - Brett Altman - Hoboken, Usa (released on Oct 21th)

Brett shares about his release; "I woke up this morning and thought about the last 10+ years of my life. In 2012, I picked up a guitar with zero expectations. I loved to sing, but had never written a song before. What started out as playing cover gigs in college turned into me writing a few songs that I would keep to myself. I soon started sharing these ideas with friends, who encouraged me to keep writing. In 2019, I developed vocal nodes and had to stop performing for almost a year. In that time I got serious about songwriting. I ended up writing "Not Quite Love". I didn’t know it at the time, but I was making my first album. An album that is now yours. "Not Quite Love" isn’t a figment of your imagination - it’s reality blended with fantasy. It’s a lingering glance, a gentle touch. Two halves that don’t quite equal a whole. One continuous story told over 9 songs".

Instagram: @brettaltmanmusic

"I'LL NEVER LEAVE" - Ashlyn Durel - Charleston, Usa (released on Oct 26th)

Ashlyn Durel's debut single is an haunting ballad addressed to the anxiety and depression-ridden, with achingly beautiful melodies and a stunning composition. Ashlyn wrote it 3 years ago after finding her college roommate broken on the bathroom floor. Worried for her friend, Ashlyn penned a heartfelt message she hoped would somehow ease the pain. "I found her [the roommate] cutting when I came home for the night and spent the whole night proofing our room…locking all the pills, blades, and sharp objects in my guitar case", she explains. "After weeks of deliberating and watching her hurt, I finally made the decision to get her family and our residence life team involved. I was horrified at the thought of coming home to a body, but even MORE horrified at the idea of not doing anything to stop it. This song is a message for my friend and anyone who struggles with these debilitating thoughts". Ashlyn has always turned to songwriting as an emotional outlet and a form of self-expression. After six years of writing on anything and everything, she’s amassed quite a catalog of works. 

Instagram: @ashlyndurelmusic

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

Follow me: @laurameetsmusicians

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