Portland-based electronic producer, singer, and songwriter Natasha Kmeto is a multifaceted talent that has recently introduced the new DJ Gigs alias to her arsenal in order to separate her DJ'ing sets from live performances. A stunning live performer, Kmeto transfers her magnetic and kinetic energy…
Like their oddly elastic new album title, Nabuma Rubberband, Little Dragon continues to stretch the limits of electronic music with their eclectic influences. This time, the Swedish group trades the pumping beats of their earlier LPs for glimmering Janet Jackson-inspired slow jams. But even their m…
Italian electronic producer Andrea Mangia has been creating boundary-pushing electronic beats under the Populous alias since his debut album in 2002. Influenced by his extended travels around the globe, his latest releases explore an immersive, bass-heavy, intricately-layered sonic world that's enh…
Ever since his debut single in 2009 for his longtime label Captured Tracks, Virginia musician Jack Tatum's Wild Nothing project has consistently unleashed some of this decade's finest expansive dream-pop and shoegaze music. Now based in Brooklyn, his new third album, Life Of Pause, is yet another K…
GEMS is the blossoming musical duo of LA-via-DC artists Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher. Their recent debut full length album, Kill The One You Love, has quickly become a KEXP favorite, with the record's brilliant lead single, "Living As A Ghost", handsomely showcasing their rich and dreamy m…
1080p is a prolific and highly-respected independent music label based in Vancouver, BC, run by New Zealand-born DJ + curator Richard MacFarlane. Heavy purveyors of fuzzy, off-kilter, leftfield electronic music, 1080p has become a hotbed for underground talent that consistently explores thrilling s…
Happy backwards, Yppah is the music project of Long Beach, CA-via-Texas producer and multi-instrumentalist Joe Corrales Jr. Over three albums on the esteemed Ninja Tune label, Yppah has become a KEXP favorite with his lush and psychedelically welcoming sound that uniquely blends downtempo, shoegaze…
Sleigh Bells new album won't be out for a few more days, but today you can stream the entire 10-song collection on Rolling Stone. Bitter Rivals has a beat-heavy and polished sound that really makes this album a standout. [Pitchfork]
Cheryl Waters' final mix of 2017 is a wild one, with dreamy and heavy sounds taking you on a looping, rollicking ride with new tunes from A Giant Dog, Mister Heavenly, and Nick Hakim. 1. Nick Hakim feat. Jesse and Forever - Miss Chew 2. Nearby - Breakers 3. Gordi - Heaven I Know 4. Mister Heaven…
New Zealand-born, NYC-based artist Tamaryn has emerged as one of the most striking artists crafting atmospheric shoegaze/dream-pop over the past five years. Her third and latest album, "Cranekiss", finds her adding more electronic elements into her potent and grandiose sonic mix, yielding some of h…
On the second day of Bumbershoot, Seattle garage-rock duo Pony Time played their final show to a full house in the KEXP Gathering Space on Saturday afternoon. Luke Beetham (vocals/bass) and Stacy Peck (drums) did not disappoint, turning out their usual bass-heavy tracks, highly danceable as evidenc…
Sounds like nowhere you'd want to be, and as far a band names go, maybe not something you'd want to hear, but believe us when we tell you, Diarrhea Planet rules! Six guys from Nashville – four of them playing guitar! – live the credo of "Shred 'Til You're Dead" by blasting a fiery torrent of riff-h…
For just three people, Seattle metal trio Helms Alee make a big noise. Performing tracks off their third album Sleepwalking Sailors, they rocked the KEXP studios with their pounding rhythms, insistent vocals, and heavy guitar riffs. How do they do it? "We don't use our heads, basically," laughs dru…
At 7PM during KEXP's New Home Grand Opening, we were blessed with a magic hour: the sun had passed behind our wall but the dusk was still light. A crowd of fans spilled out into the courtyard from having just witnessed Hey Marseilles in the standing room only Gathering Space of KEXP. Now, they coul…
Even after releasing a pair of EP's, Wolf Alice has yet to show their teeth. The young London four-piece have grown from a folky duo into a gnashing, shoegazy, guitar-heavy band steeped in 90's alternative rock but with a freshly energized take. But their past singles “Fluffy” and “Moaning Lisa Smi…
In the Nordstrom Recital Hall during Decibel Festival's Optical 4 showcase, the sound of WIFE was equal parts exciting and heavy - the sound was swelling with an emotional intensity unparalleled, and the room felt thick with listening. Visuals tracked through architectural yet emotive abstractions …
After 17 years of existence, The Helio Sequence could easily kick back in comfort as a fixture in the Pacific Northwest music scene with their successful signature indie-rock sound. Instead, the duo has been ushered into a new, full-grown style on their fifth full-length album, 2012's Negotiations,…
Next on the video stream live from Kex Hostel at Iceland Airwaves Music Festival was Icelandic atmospheric metal band GlerAkur. The solo project of sound designer for National Theater of Iceland Elvar Geir Sævarsson, creating post-rock flavored metal. His debut record The Mountains Are Beautiful No…
Midday Show host Cheryl Waters recently discovered a slew of great bands that she loves -- Coals, Maszer, Plastic Pinks and more. Enjoy these discoveries along with a heavy helping of fantastic local bands. 1. Coals - Weightless 2. New Order - Restless 3. Gwenno - Patriarchaeth 4. MASZER - Fata …
Gear up for patio weather with Midday Show host Cheryl Waters' new podcast. This synth-rock heavy mix will leave you blissed out and wanting more! 1. Ceo - Mirage 2. The Casket Girls - Chemical Dizzy 3. Marriages - Skin 4. Hot Chip - Huarache Lights 5. Operators - Ecstasy In My House 6. FM Belfa…
