Welcome to our monthly series on new Colorado music. Every month, we highlight five local musicians, five local music videos and five local songs. Go here to check out previous entries to the series. Are you a Denver artist with fresh music you would like us to check out?
Send to James.Lane@303magazine.com and/or Thomas.Rutherford@303magazine.com for consideration.
5 New Songs By Local Artists
Gila Teen – SoftWareWolf
Denver duo Gila Teen has returned with their latest album SoftWareWolf and it’s an absolute banger. Standout tracks include “Snack Run,” a synth-driven tune with an optimistic energy that suits well for the dance floor. On the darker end of the LP, “Magneto Was Right” leans into sinister guitar riffs and underlying comic book-inspired lyrics, chanting “We know Magneto was right!”. Meanwhile, “Local TV Guide” has a quieter moment, conveying a cozier, coffeeshop vibe with clever wordplay that intrigues the mind with its lyricism. This record explores both light and dark moments, making it a must-listen for fans of indie rock and creativity when exploring genres at their finest.
EXVRT – CONTINUUM
Mile High-based producer EXVRT (Marco Lopes) dives deep with CONTINUUM, his latest 16-track album that smoothly connects a world filled with experimental bass with accessible, groove-driven tunes. Tracks like “GR4V17Y” stand out with uplifting rhythms and soulful female vocals, stirring up waves of emotions that feel both energizing and healing. While already building a legacy shaped around the versatility of genres like future bass, synth wave, and tropical house, EXVRT explores new territory with CONTINUUM. There is no doubt that this release is designed for listeners to dance, reflect, and connect while bringing a special feeling of joy when listening.
Jesse Marcus and the Swan Song – First Flight
Jesse Marcus and the Swan Song take flight with their debut album First Flight, a lively fusion of jam band energy, danceable grooves, with storytelling that captures the spirit of a fun road trip. With a distinct, larger-than-life personality, the album has moments of funky disco beats on “Poetry to Me” to the psychedelic, funk-infused vibes of “Illusionary Time.” Going deeper into the album, tracks like “Just Desserts” have a more chilled-out, reflective moment. The album’s hit song, “Shoulda Known,” shines as a standout track. With its ten tracks, First Flight showcases a musical journey that is high energy and full of intrigue, with album artwork displaying a black and white swan with wings raised, capturing the essence of this powerful release.
R. Shayne Floyd – Heart to My Head
R. Shayne Floyd’s latest track, “Heart to My Head,” has a soulful narrative with nuanced melodies, bridging a gap between folk and Americana. As an emerging Denver-based artist, Floyd’s heartfelt songwriting and deep connection to his roots shine through in this track, making it a great addition to the city’s music scene. Picture a gathering around a campfire with friends and family, as this song has a feeling of warmth, love, and affection. This song draws listeners in with its intimate and moving energy. Floyd’s unique sound will surely resonate with anyone seeking music that stirs the heart with its connections.
Bun Bun – Eat Curry Off My Body
Denver residents Bun Bun’s latest single, “Eat Curry Off My Body,” out November 26th, is a glitter bomb of pure pop chaos served with a side of cheeky fun. What started as a late-night mantra on a rainy San Francisco hill has evolved into a three-minute single that dares those who listen to let loose, lean in, and maybe grab a spoon. Playfully teasing and undeniably catchy, this track has tongue-in-cheek humor with an infectious beat that needs to be devoured. If you’re laughing, dancing, or rethinking your dinner plans, Bun Bun proves once again they’re here to cook up something fun and memorable
5 Local Up and Comers
Gartener
Gartener is the Denver-based five-piece gaining traction with their garage pop grooves and a touch of shoegaze. Female-fronted and brimming with creativity, their music feels like it could soundtrack a Wes Anderson film, featuring a balance of cinematic charm with an artsy grit. Their latest singles, “Only For Sleeping” and “The Thunder,” showcase shimmering songs paired with charismatic, alt-rock energy that hooks the ear for more from the first note of the track. With heartfelt lyrics by lead singer Coco and a talented band who bring them to life, Gartener is a rising act you’ll want to watch closely.
Spella
Spella is the mysterious force rising from Denver’s underground experimental bass scene. With only three releases to her name, she is already spinning her signature eerie webs and hypnotic, otherworldly textures in her music. The vibe combines psychedelic bass and experimental sound, all wrapped in a “don’t put me in a box” mentality. Having emerged from a DIY rave culture where creativity reigns free, Spella’s music transcends typical boundaries, much like her performances. Whether at a warehouse rave or a festival stage, Spella’s spellbinding mix of sonic grooves will surely leave you entranced, one rhythm at a time.
Saint Somebody
Saint Somebody is quickly garnering attention in Denver as an exciting new act to keep an eye on and ear on. Their debut, Saint Somebody, released earlier this year, is a journey that displays Classic Rock foundations with a smorgasbord of global influences that houses a unique narrative. Their music doesn’t just stick to one vibe. Each song taps into the range of life, locking together themes of resilience and transformation. With standout tracks like “And Now?” and “Find Your Way Back Home,” the band carries listeners through struggles and triumphs, urging them to hold onto hope even when life gets tough. Look for these somebodies to see where to catch them next.
Destiny Bond
Destiny Bond is a hell-raising band in Denver’s hardcore scene, delivering relentless energy with a punk edge. This five-piece, fronted by a rad vocalist, exploded onto the scene with last year’s Be My Vengeance, a 10-track album that’s as passionately loud as it is chaotically fun. Singles like “Headspin” and “Chew” showcase their knack for pairing gritty intensity with fierce hooks within their songs. With a striking black-and-white aesthetic and over 10k followers on Instagram, Destiny Bond is already making serious waves in the music scene, and they’re just getting started. Keep them on your radar as they continue to wreak havoc in the Denver music landscape.
Pink Lady Monster
Pink Lady Monster is reshaping the Mile High scene with their unconventional sound and artistry vibe cultivated in their music. Their latest release, Psychic Antennae and a Tinsel Heart, is a disorienting yet thrilling ride through noisy, jazzy moments laced with playful abstraction. Tracks like “No Romance” and “Spiderweb” reject traditional structure, leaning into chaotic grooves and surreal female vocals that leave a big impression after the track has ended. The album’s cover, a haunting black and white image of masked women mid-dance, perfectly encapsulates their eerie, avant-garde vibe. Unique yet captivating, Pink Lady Monster has an unexpected sound that feels like a séance in a speakeasy with a spooky, seductive and utterly cool feeling.
5 New Music Videos By Local Artists
Push Pass – Bittersweet
Push Pass’s music video for Bittersweet is a surreal, playful trip back to childhood, blending nostalgia with quirky visuals. The video captures a guy dressed in pink shorts, a blue and white striped shirt with flowers on it, and pink sunglasses while riding a small kids’ bike around a playground and donning a helmet, which gives the whole scene a sense of whimsical absurdity. The lyrics are integrated into the video, heightening the connection between the carefree imagery and the song’s poignant themes. It’s a fitting visual for a band that started as a college indie rock project. This video is an unexpected yet fun visual companion to a song that connects with a wave of nostalgia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugbZxzSw18U
Replica City – Gift Of Knives
Replica City’s new music video for “Gift of Knives” is a visual blast from the past, channeled through a fuzzed-out, 90s-inspired haze. The screen flickers with distorted colors of red, blue, and electric fuzz that evoke the chaos and intensity of a worn-out VHS tape, capturing the song’s energy. As the band members flicker in and out of focus, it’s as if they’re ghostly figures, barely keeping their grip on reality, much like the song’s narrative. The video mirrors the relentless energy and turbulent feeling of the track itself, with visuals that feel both disorienting and noteworthy, leaving you on the edge of your seat. It’s a trippy, unsettling visual journey that complements the band’s sound, making “Gift of Knives” a crazy little experience for both the ears and the eyes.
The Ford Edition – What I Do
The Ford Edition’s music video for “What I Do” transports you into a world of technicolor nostalgia, where pink saturates every frame. The video opens with a hazy pink TV screen, fuzzed out and flickering with the song’s title, before cutting to surreal, dreamy visuals: a beach under a pink sunset, a girl painting her nails in perfect sync with the track, and bold “FAKE NEWS” splashed across a screen. The aesthetic is equal parts playful and unsettling, mirroring the song’s introspective lyrics, like “I don’t have to believe that you care for me,” which are displayed against a backdrop of shifting, distorted imagery. The video culminates with a moment of self-assured beauty as the girl touches up her lipstick in a car mirror, embodying the song’s themes of self-expression and resilience.
Funk In The Name – Funk Official
In the recent music video for Funk Official, the band takes over a Denver rooftop, delivering an unfiltered burst of joy that captures their feel-good energy. The video is set against the backdrop of the iconic “You Look Good” sign in the Santa Fe Art District in Denver. The video celebrates youth, movement, and the groove of their sound. With a lively mix of horns, from the bold blast of the trumpet to the deep resonance of the tuba, and a rhythm section that pulses with constant motion, the video conveys pure happiness. The band jumps, dances and grooves as if they were born to make you smile. Every beat and horn section feels like a reminder that music can still be as liberating as it is uplifting.
Carly Fox – A Blue So Blue
Carly Fox’s “A Blue So Blue” casts a spell of tranquility in the music video for A Blue So Blue. Filmed against the stunning landscapes of Colorado, the visuals reflect the song’s serene, acoustic spirit. The video unfolds with Carly, guitar in hand, moving gracefully along a lakeside, her presence as fluid and calming as the rippling water. With soft, meditative movements and moments of dance in natural settings, a small waterfall, golden-hour light, it’s a quiet celebration of nature’s beauty and a relaxing journey that the song invites. This visual experience is as much an invitation to let go as it is an escape for those interested in an audio and visual relaxing moment.
