Cougar Microbes is excited to be headed back Stateside in October to attend New York City‘s legendary CMJ Music Marathon.
Now in it’s remarkable 34th (!) year the urban festival keeps growing in scope with 80 venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn welcoming 1000+ acts. As is expected for this kind of thing some of the industries leading names will also be discussing the state of the industry on daytime panels.
With a track record for making and breaking some of the artists we’ve loved and written about over the years the festival is truly a platform for new music to shine. With so much talent due to perform it’s almost impossible to pick a highlight but here are 10 acts we are particularly looking forward to catching at CMJ Music Marathon 2014 :
Cathedrals
Solid indie rock fulfilling all your dreampop needs, with echoing vocals and quick but flowing guitar lines, it’s unsurprising that this San Francisco band is Neon Gold’s hottest new act.
Hoodlem
The sensual, deep, yet strangely airy vocals of Melbourne-based indie electronic group will suck you in quickly. It’s the slow soulful experimental beats that will make sure you stay though.
Made In Heights
Indie duo fronted by female vocals that range from breathy and smooth, to deep and sexy coupled with clever electronic beats and drumpads are a clear recipe for the hottest new indie act. Did I mention their fearless ability to sample a Sufjan piano composition?
AM Aesthetic
These guys have twisted lyrics, guitar breaks that they simple shred on, and an overarching melancholy that makes them a whole lot more enticing than your average alt-rock band.
Ryn Weaver
If you’ve been anywhere near the internet since June, you know that this chick is the next big indie-pop act. Having a good friend in producer Benny Blanco doesn’t hurt her sound either.
BORNS
With only one single available, this Michigan native still holds much promise and excitement for what else he is capable of. His smooth vocals backed by dreampop instrumentals make BORNS one of our must-see acts of CMJ.
Secret Someones
A trio of ladies from Brooklyn and their dear male drummer providing plenty of catchy indie pop rock to share with this year’s CMJ audience.
SKYROADS
Hailing all the way from Tel Aviv, this 5-piece group gives us the taste of electro-funk dance rock that we’ve been missing from our lives. Consider them to be your modern day Jamiroquai.
Emily Wolfe
Texas rock in female-form finding the happy medium between Black Keys grit, and a softer Grace Potter sound on vocals.
Alexz Johnson
Alexz shows how relocating to NYC can turn a good-girl Canadian singer-songwriter into an edgier pop artist with a taste of rock.
Snir Yamin
Singer-songwriter Snir Yamin takes his confessional sounds to his adopted home of New York City performing CMJ for the first time. Expect delicate melodies and a little veering into electronic territory.
—–
Words by Jabes
—–
