Sunniva – Moondrum
Genre: Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock
There’s not much room for tall poppies in the modern music industry. Don’t blame it on the artists, either. If you have to find someone responsible, look toward the music execs that managed their business so poorly. They’re the ones responsible for making originality “synonymous” with “uncommercial.”
Records were so easy to sell too. Everyone needed music. Everyone liked to spend time at the music store. It didn’t take much to convince people to spend a few bucks on a record to play in the comfort of their homes forever.
But once sales declined, the only thing that music execs could do was to homogenize everything they offered the public. Bands had to sound the same. Their style had to be obvious. Fanbases needed to be pleased quickly.
Sunniva doesn’t work to please on their single, “Moondrum.” The band’s aim is to make new musical discoveries and share them with their audience.
No, no, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds. They’re doing it all on the back of tasty guitar riffs, playful vocals and a tight groove. But there’s an exploration on the musicians’ minds, and they won’t let any radio format stop them.
Majak Door – Borderline
Genre: Surf Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Lo-fi Rock
If you want to start listening to technically proficient heavy metal or jazz musicians, you should put it off until you’re older. Chances are that these listening habits will ruin your appreciation of all forms of modern music. You may end up regretting your decision.
The reason for it is that metal or jazz define themselves in contrast with other, less technically sophisticated genres. And, while they’re usually right about being able to play more notes than their rivals, this is missing the point. Music, unlike manual labour, isn’t paid for by the hour.
Take Majak Door’s “Borderline.” It’s a song entirely unconcerned with speed and vocal acrobatics. Instead, it aims to do something much closer to the impossible: take you back to a time and place that you may have forgotten about. It attempts an act of hypnotism. And if you don’t think this is as impressive as playing sweep arpeggios on your eight-stringed guitar, you may need some regressive hypnosis yourself.
