Three tracks at the intersection of pop rock and indie pop — these vibes are OUTSTANDING

Born Runner – “Live It Up”
-If you’re looking for a high energy track that brings together elements of pop rock and indie pop, definitely check out this track from Born Runner. The overall energy of the song is unmatched, with a percussive style that keeps it moving and some wonderful effects on the vocals that make them really soar. This is the kind of song you can imagine singing in a massive crowd at a festival or just with the speakers entirely too high with your friends in the car. The dynamics on the chorus feel a bit like EDM style bounce, encouraging the listener to sing along to the “we’re going to live foreverrrrrrrrrr” message. If you’re looking for something with vibrancy and excitement, give this a spin.

Jillian Lake – “Apple”
-If you’re a fan of fuzzy guitars and just the right amount of alt rock energy, definitely click play on this track from Jillian Lake. Her sound is one that we’ve been featuring for a few months now and it’s easy to hear why we keep coming back to it. There’s a careful, cathartic, accessible intonation in the vocal work that feels delightful, yet there’s a real impact in the lyrics. I’ve compared Lake to Maggie Rogers in nearly every article, but honestly I think it every time. There’s something about the fuzzy guitars and the chord work (especially on the chorus of this one) that reminds me of Noah Gundersen. Let me tell you, it doesn’t get much higher praise from me than Rogers/Gundersen. The repeated line “I’m still BITTER” gives the song such bite and substance; this one is complex and layered. While it can feel cathartic and sweet in some places, it’s a complicated and intriguing bit of pop rock art.

Linn Cervell – “Zelda (Sweet and Sour)”
-I’m a sucker for good first lines, and this one is about as good as it gets. “I hate the world, but I’m destined to save it.” There are some fascinating layers of meaning to that, but what I like most is that it just strikes the listener as so powerful and bold, right from the jump. Cervell writes with a clarity and sureness that is appealing. As you listen, you just want to hear more. The instrumentation has elements of pop rock with some quirky production blips along the way that keep it curious and interesting. The end result is a sound that has you locked in to the combination of sound and message, a central question emerges, “am I the hero or the villain?” I think most of us would answer… yes to both. I appreciate the bouncy pop rock energy that introduces such a conundrum in an appealing, engaging way.