Artist: Discovery

Hails From: New York City

Musical Style: Electronic, Indie, R&B

For Fans of: Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot, The Postal Service

Orange Shirt

Why you should check them out:

The glitchy, glitzy synths that electronic duo Discovery leave behind in their path are more than mere bread crumbs for a safe return.  Full of experimentation and pitch-shifting software, the band brings a playful and charming array of R&B beats and cooling hypnotic harmonies.

Background Check:

If the sharply angled electronic dream pop that emerges from Discovery’s debut album, LP, is an eyebrow raiser, it may be due to the source. The duo is made of Vampire Weekend keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot singer Wes Miles, both of whom have become known in the indie world for re-framing classic sounds in new exotic arrangements–but, you know, in rock bands. Here the two embrace a wholly different slice of pop, combing R&B beats and a bedroom like intimacy for an inviting and innocently pulsating record.

The two friends first began collaborating and recording sans guitars in the summer of 2005, before either formed the groups they’re now known for. The project always remained close to the pair, an escape into a quirky and irreverent avenue of the of scattered rhythms, dazzling digital hues, and Miles’ rioting yell reduced in a simmering sauce of falsetto crooning and whispered yearning. With guest appearances on their debut by the likes of fellow Vampire Weekender Ezra Koeing and the Dirty Projector’s Angel Deradoorian, the group has emerged from back burner curiosity to full-fledged wonder duo in the making.

Like the best kind of side project, Discovery is the yin to Batmanglij’s and Miles’ rock n’ roll yang. But at the end of the day, Discovery is about having fun, celebrating music and dabbling in something new. Where Discovery is headed is still a mystery. These two are, after all, a couple of busy artists. It is a sure thing though, that wherever they end up, you’ll want to see what they discover.

–Charlie Swanson

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

Discovery web site
MySpace

Merch:

Kung Fu Store

Similar Artists:

• The Very Best
• Yacht

Hails From: Columbia, South Carolina

Musical Style: Indie Pop, Electronic

for fans of: MGMT, Neon Indian, Animal Collective

Blessa

why you should check them out:

At the forefront of the chillwave scene, Chazwick Bundick, aka Toro Y Moi, is poised to have a promising 2010 and beyond while helping to turn the lo-fi sound into a reason to stop staring at your drink and get on the dancefloor. With one well-layered track after another, his music eschews worry, and practically begs you to relax and have a good time.

Background check:

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Chaz formed the indie-rock outfit, The Heist and The Accomplice, in 2004. After the release of their album, Connections Work, he started his own project, Toro Y Moi. Along with friend and contemporary, Ernest Greene (better known as Washed Out), Chaz helped usher in the chillwave, or glo-fi movement. With the release of his album, Causers of This, in January, 2010, and remixes of songs by Washed Out and Tegan & Sara, his style of filtered vocals over highly-textured production has earned him some growing critical acclaim. With the upcoming release of the 7″ “Leave Everywhere” on Carpark Records, and a summer tour of Europe set to get underway, the future looks bright for Toro Y Moi.

–Dylan Macturk

where you can find them in cyberspace:

Website

Myspace

on tour:

Jambase

Artist:

Hails From: Denton, TX

Musical Style: Indie, Alternative, Electronic

For Fans of: MGMT, Washed Out, Air

Terminally Chill

Why you should check them out:

It’s an easy/bad pun, sorry, but Neon Indian has more buzz than a, err… neon light bulb.  The band has become the leading figure of the new indie microgenre called chillwave. This new sound applies a garage lo-fi aesthetic to a sleepy 80’s-style synth pop. Much of this genre’s success can be credited back to Neon Indian’s sleek and gratifying songwriting.  There are hooks at every turn and they know how to present a cool retro sound fitted for the listeners of today.

Background Check:

The band started as the brain child of Alan Paloma, who wrote the music and lyrics, and his long-time high school friend Alicia Scardetta, who supplied visual elements to accompany the music. They released their first EP in 2008, but it wasn’t until the spring of 2009 when they released two tracks “Should Have Taken Acid With You” and “6699 (I don’t Know if you Know)” onto the web. Several indie music blogs caught wind and started to spread the word.

They released their first LP Psychic Chasms, on Lefse record in October and since then the buzz has just continued to grow.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

MySpace

Wikipedia

On Tour:

JamBase

Similar Artists:

• The XX
• Harlem
• Rogue Wave