Latest news with #indiepop
The Verge
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Keita Takahashi returns with the whimsically weird To a T
From the worm-like character stretching to the length of the planetary system in Noby Noby Boy, to the tiny Prince hoarding a spherical mass of objects and even buildings in Katamari Damacy, the heroes of Keita Takahashi's games reflect the creator's whimsical vision. To a T is yet another Takahashi title that fits that playful tradition, well, to a tee. The protagonist is a young teen, aptly named Teen, whose body is permanently stuck in a T-pose. But while they may be able to wiggle their fingers a little or move their wrists to reach out for an item, their elbows are woefully nonexistent. That's okay, though! Like most of Takahashi's games, To a T is also a heartwarming tale about self-acceptance. Prep, an indie pop band from England, even composed an infectious, chirpy theme song for the game about already being the perfect shape, no matter what you look like. In a world where elbows are very much an accessory to daily life, Teen has to go through some pretty unconventional routines due to their irreversibly stiff arms. For one thing, Teen can't put on clothes, use the toilet, or even dry their face on their own. Even walking down the street can be a little cumbersome, since their outstretched arms mean they may inadvertently slap their hands into another passerby. Fortunately for Teen, they have a trusty sidekick — a dog named Dog — who's more than eager to help them navigate these tasks. Take washing your face, which can initially be an unfamiliar affair. As Teen, you'll need to twist your upper body, reaching your hand toward the tap — one that's uniquely designed for Teen's predicament — and lower your head, so the stream of water spurts upward to your face. Then, you'll hold your position until your face is clean and free of persistent eye boogers. Brushing your teeth is another fiddly routine. This is done by reaching for a toothbrush with a particularly long handle, getting Dog's help in squirting a bit of toothpaste on it, and then scrubbing your teeth until they're squeaky clean. But these activities aren't designed to be tedious; you aren't carefully calibrating every small movement like you would in physics games like Bennett Foddy's QWOP and Getting Over It. Instead, these are simply different sorts of routines you'll need to get used to. When your arms are resolutely perpendicular to your body, these activities are just all in a day's work. They're also genuinely joyful, even if the movements can appear superfluous. Rinsing your mouth is a matter of wriggling the analog stick or direction keys and then pressing another button to spit the water out into the sink. But you can also shake your head while doing that, so that your spit will trickle out like a meandering, miniature waterfall. Using the toilet allows you to mash several buttons, just so you can listen to Teen huffing and grunting as they go about their business behind closed doors. There's really no point to doing so other than giggling at these sights and sounds, but it's such a delightful way of prodding at the game's inherent silliness. That's the beauty behind To a T — it has zero pretensions about the kind of game it's trying to be. In fact, To a T later informs you that you can skip any of these routines if you like. Want to eat breakfast without brushing your teeth right after? If you can tolerate seeing green gunk stuck on your teeth for the rest of the day, go right ahead. The game isn't going to penalize you for skipping teeth brushing for a day — or two. To a T is chockful of such diminutive joys. Breakfast consists of cereal and flavored milk every day, such as chocolate, matcha, and mango, and there's a small thrill in discovering what these mixtures would taste like to Teen. In one meal, Teen commented that the cereal tasted like rubbery tires, and in another it was an explosion of strange, candy flavors. Regardless of the taste, they welcomed every mouthful of these sugary treats with gusto. Exploring the neighborhood, particularly on weekends, feels especially liberating, as your day is seemingly filled with endless possibilities for fun. Eateries offer minigames in the form of speed-eating contests, as you devour a giant corn on the cob and even hailstorms of ice cream. There are coins to collect and discover among the shrubberies and rooftops, new shops to look at, and fascinating locales — from a lighthouse to a magical mushroom forest — to get lost in. Even attending school was an adventure, even though Teen was largely reluctant to head to class in his first few days due to relentless bullying, a problem that does get resolved. Eventually, Teen discovers an innate talent for flying. By spinning on their toes like a ballerina, they gain the ability to traverse higher grounds. This skill does have a bit of a learning curve, however. As it turns out, flying isn't particularly intuitive, and it took me several tries to get my feet off the ground. But as with most gimmicks in To a T, failing isn't really that big of a deal-breaker. You're free to wander around town however you prefer, be it flying, running, or riding a unicycle. As you delve deeper into the game, To a T spins an increasingly ludicrous-yet-charming tale, one that Takahashi himself has referred to as being rather 'stupid' in an interview. Having finished the game, I can attest that one of its final moments is, indeed, almost irredeemably nonsensical. Yet it also made me crack a really wide smile, something I haven't done while playing games in a while. Playing and making games amid a politically fraught climate may seem frivolous, and this is an issue that Takahashi mentioned he was struggling with when he was working on his previous game, Wattam. But To a T 's central message of acceptance, and of finding joy in life's smallest moments, feels like a salve for these trying times. At the very least, its positivity gave me the impetus to keep trudging on — hopefully it'll do the same for you, too. To a T launches on May 28th on the PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lyle Kam Reflects On His New Album, ‘re:collections'
Lyle Kam for "re:collections" Lyle Kam will make you cry – or, at least, his music will. The 26-year-old Chinese Canadian artist recently released his third indie-pop album, re:collections, which documents his feelings on love, loss, yearning, and figuring out who he is in the long run. The catchy, melodious songs are carefully curated to tug at heartstrings, with lyrics that reflect similar memories and moments in one's life. It's safe to say, Kam's music will have you pause for a moment – if not for the emotional reflection, at least because it's soothing to listen to. 'I always want my music to feel warm, comforting, and soft,' says Kam over Zoom from his Toronto home. 'I don't like when sounds are very harsh or berating in my ear. When something's too ballady, I get a little snooze. So, I like having that balance of something nice to listen to, but still has a rhythm that keeps tickling the right spots in your head.' His new album does just that, each song telling a story, as if it would perfectly fit one of those movie or K-pop edits on TikTok to further explain the plot or situation. Kam enjoys the reference, saying he's had his music used that way before, and is honored that it resonated with people to use it. 'In my canon universe on how I draw everything, re:collections is as close as I wanted the sound I like and want for 'Lyle Kam' to be in terms of the music, song writing, the production, and all of that stuff,' Right now, I feel like I'm in a good place where I can translate what's in my brain into the songs I want to make.' Kam would agree that when you meet him, he's very calm and collected, but, in actuality, he's a really sensitive and soft dude who puts all his feelings into his music. He laughs when asked, 'Who hurt you?' He says he's never been asked that so bluntly, and explains that he just feels emotions deeply and lets that dramatic version of himself write the lyrics. 'There's one happy song,' says Kam. 'When I write songs, it lets me express myself in a way that I don't normally do when I'm just hanging out with people or conversing. I like making stuff that people resonate with. I'm able to do that when I'm the most vulnerable version of myself.' Lyle Kam for "re:collections" The album is called re:collections because it's a collection of all of Kam's experiences throughout creating the music —young love, heartbreak, self-doubt, and dealing with impostor syndrome. He wrote and produced the entire album, spending over a year and a half working on it. He knows that's not a very long time for many, but it was for him as he did it all—writing, recording, sound mixing, sound editing, creating the instrumentals and beats, and everything in between to complete it. 'There's been a lot of things that I've lived through, which is funny to say because I'm so young, but that was a long time for me,' he explains. 'I'd have this set list of songs on the project, but then I would change my mind. I'd think, 'I'd like this song more. Let me put this on here. Let me take this one out.' I had so many songs that were big contenders for what would make it on the project. The whole project is just a culmination of these experiences I've had for the past two years, even before I started properly on the project.' This isn't new for Kam, who released two albums and two EPs within the past six years. He loves making music and wants to put himself out there, so he just does it. Back in the day, he would take his old Rock Band video game microphone, record covers off Audacity, and upload them onto SoundCloud. It's why he considers his first album, dogfight (2019), an experiment that isn't tied to the type of music he makes now. 'At that time, I had no idea what I was doing," he says. "I was just doing music and recording it. I didn't even mix it. It was such a duct tape project.' Though Kam has been writing and creating music on and off throughout the past 10 years, he began taking it seriously during the pandemic. He didn't want 'just to make music' but to really be taken seriously as a recording artist. He recalls all of the artists he followed who shaped who he wanted to emulate, but realized it would mean sacrificing his identity. 'I wanted to embrace my actual personality and put that into the world, because so much of it before was about creating this hype,' says Kam. 'Instead of trying to be super cool and mysterious, let me be who I am and make friends with the people along the way. There's a huge aspect of community that has been missing that I want to implement now. With everything moving forward, I feel like I'm taking little steps towards getting to where I want to be.' Lyle Kam for "re:collections" His 2021 EP, Folly, kickstarted more fans to notice the singer when his 2020 single, 'Unlove,' gained traction for its melancholy lyrics over soft electronic beats from media outlets and on social media. His 2022 single, 'isn't it funny,' gained popularity for its use on K-pop video edits, since the song was about being in love with someone in another country, who doesn't know you exist. He considers his EPs and second album, blurry eyed, his first proper projects, where he finally figured out how to produce the sound he wanted. 'The biggest thing I've learned from this process is that you have to work hard, but also smart, and be open to opportunities [where] you're not afraid to leave your comfort zone,' Kam shares. 'When I first started, I thought I would do acoustic songs because I didn't know how to do anything else. When things weren't working out, I could have just kept doing the same thing. So, I took a step back and thought, 'How can I improve upon what I'm doing?' The big thing is that whatever I do, I always want to improve upon what I'm doing, because, at the end of the day, it should be fulfilling for me to do my art. I always try to improve, learn, and apply new things.' Lauv and Ed Sheeran have always inspired Kam's sound and songwriting. But, for re:collections, he found inspiration from Sabrina Carpenter's 2022 album, Emails I Can't Send, and several underground artists, like David Alexander. 'I've been listening to a lot of Sabrina Carpenter's old album, Kam explains. "I think is one of my favorite albums of 2023, which, was when I was getting into making [my] album. [David Alexander] has been a big influence because I love what he's doing with pop music and driving what I think is the next sound. I love taking influence from that.' With the album now out, Kam will perform in a few venues around Canada, particularly the major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, which have a large Asian population and make up most of Kam's fan base. He appreciates the reception he receives from the Asian diaspora community, who have always shown an interest and support in his work. Social media has also allowed him to grow his fan base and spark some interest from other artists to collaborate with him. He recently sang a duet version of 'all we do is talk' with singer Katherine Li. 'I'm glad people are starting to see my stuff now,' Kam says. 'It means something is working. I'm glad to meet people who are interested in these things. Even though I'm in the field of the diaspora of Asians, I ultimately like to expand to everybody, which is a goal for a lot of Asian artists. It's like, how can we step out of that bubble, even though it's a very nice and comforting place to be, because every Asian person and artist has been so welcoming.' Lyle Kam for "re:collections" Kam now has a manager and hopes to work with producers and labels to produce bigger and better things. He's not looking to become the next Justin Bieber or Shawn Mendes; he wants to make music that people listen to and be able to perform for them. 'That's the end goal for me,' Kam says. 'At least to the point where I can comfortably do this for a living. I think I would be happy with that.' re:collections by Lyle Kam is out and available on all listening platforms.
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Giant pop hits with chaotic lyrics, meet this week's feature artist
Emerging from Western Sydney, 22-year-old Sri-Lankan/Australian wordsmith Ama, is the latest voice breaking through the indie pop landscape. Loading Ama's passion to create a deeply emotional, raw and powerful story via her music first bloomed in her formative high school years before Ama began performing as a cover gigs at the age of 17. Those covers gigs are still a part of her live experience with her performing most nights of the week and honing her craft with a mixture of covers and originals. Whilst she loves to perform Ed Sheeran, the true inspiration in Ama's work come from Devon Again, Gracie Abrahams and Lizie McAlpine - influences which you'll hear shining through in her breakout single 'Employee'. Loading Ama places singular emphasis on meaningful songwriting. 'My way of storytelling is always consistent, but I go the extra mile with the concept of each song.' In 2023, with only three songs released, Ama ambitiously reached out on TikTok and Instagram with a callout to open for Sam Fischer, an early success that she says was manifested through pure force of will. 'Anything can happen if you want it bad enough.' Ama credits her connection to her online community as another driving source of inspiration to continue to release music. After many shows she would head straight to socials for hours on end where she would engage with fans and continue performing online. Ama's upcoming EP Julie's House explores the complexities of an online 'situationship.' Ama wanted to dedicate an entire project to the experience and while the relationship might not have been as deep as it felt, the connection was real and impactful. 'This person really saw me for who I was and inspired me a lot.' The EP navigates the emotional whiplash of wanting to meet in real life but coming to terms with another's reluctance. It's these lived experiences that make her relationship fuelled songwriting feel so earnest and raw as those moments transcend the songs to make paradoxically unique but relatable songs. Currently Ama is focused on building their catalogue and as her audience grows, so too do her ambitions but with a voice and songs like these we're confident they'll be shortly fulfilled AMA - on your triple j and Unearthed airwaves all this week or her Unearthed page.
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Shadow of the Gift by Mim Jensen
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Mim Jensen Photo: Supplied Christchurch singer-songwriter Mim Jensen delivers a polished EP of crisp indie-pop with occasional emotive flourishes, Tony Stamp looks at this release in this edition of The Sampler. Songs Played: Past Life Same Blood PTP Dream Spinning Warm Gun
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Australian Indie-pop band Sheppard CANCEL their US tour for heartbreaking reason - after selling just 59 tickets to show in Poland
Australian indie-pop band Sheppard have made the shock decision to cancel their upcoming American tour for a heartbreaking reason. The band shared a sad statement to social media on Friday confirming the scheduled concerts would not be going ahead, due to the challenging reality of touring. 'To our beautiful fans, I'm afraid we have some rather upsetting news. We've had to make the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our upcoming US tour,' they began. The Geronimo hitmakers had been performing across Europe earlier this year and were set to bring their shows to the States in June. They revealed a combination of the high touring costs and challenging concert logistics meant it was no longer feasible for them to perform in America, and reassured those who had already bought a ticket they would be refunded. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'A combination of sky-high touring costs, ambitious production standards so that we can give you the show you deserve and complex logistics have made this tour impossible,' they wrote. 'We're heartbroken. Being on stage in front of our fans - watching you not just sing but feel every word in our words - is always the greatest experience of our lives. 'Please know this isn't the end. It's just a pause. We're taking time to reset, to rebuild a more sustainable path forward.' Devastated fans took to the comment section to share their sadness over the band's shock decision. 'I was so looking forward to this concert, but it's okay! Next time,' one person wrote. 'Guys, better times will come, you've worked so hard this past year,' a second added. It comes after the band made the shock decision to not cancel their recent concert in Poland, despite selling just 59 tickets to the show. The Brisbane-based band were performing across Europe and had a scheduled performance in Warsaw on April 12 that sold below expectations. However, the band decided the show must go on and played their hearts out to a small yet passionate crowd. They later shared a clip to social media revealing why they made the decision to continue with the performance. '59 people showed up to our show in Poland. We knew we had only sold minimal tickets but also knew the people that would show up would be our biggest fans,' they began. 'We knew that no matter what we had to show up for them. So we got on stage and gave it 100 per cent.' Sheppard formed in 2009 and the current line-up comprises of siblings Amy, Emma and George Sheppard and Jon Butterworth. The band shot to fame in 2014 with the song Geronimo. The track reached number one in Australia and also charted in America and the UK. They have released four studio albums, all of which have made the top ten in Australia. They are still scheduled to perform two shows in Queensland, Australia and will take the stage in Port Douglas on May 24 and Logan Central on May 31.
