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?
5 New Tunes By Local Artists
J.Carmone & C. Gilmore — “Sacrament”
Teathering the raw grit of stoner metal with the crooning charm of doo-wop, J. Carmone and C. Gilmore deliver something intriguingly different on their latest release, “Sacrament.” Across six tracks, the EP sails between garage-fueled guitar rock and unexpectedly smooth vocal harmonies, making for a mix that’s unpredictable, but still inspiring to listen to all the way through. Tracks like “Seimu Speeds Up” explode with fuzzed-out, Ty Segall-style energy, while “Koda” leans into a nostalgic breakup ballad, layering doo-wop vocals over some killer guitar riffs. “Peter Pan” is another fun earworm on this release with a nice segue kind of feel. “The Wrong Song” stands out as a playful but defiant anthem, embracing change with a smirk, while “Hyde” is pure instrumental mayhem, a jam session that showcases Carmone’s sharp musicianship. The closer, “The Rabbithole Iceberg ‘Something To Me'”, is a great song as an angsty, bittersweet closer that deserves an immediate listen. Beyond the music, Carmone has been making noise in other ways, recently hitting South Broadway to ask strangers if they’d listen to his new album is a DIY promo stunt that’s clever and entertaining. The whole project oozes garage rock spirit, with something fun and insightful to take from every track.
Brūha — “Pacoima”
Denver’s Brūha connects with their new single “Pacoima,” a song that has shoegaze feels with hints of alt-rock entangled in it. Self-produced in a basement studio, the track’s reverb-laden guitars and dynamic shifts nod to acts like Modest Mouse while keeping their own edge intact. The Guerrero brothers, along with their cousin and close friend, bring an untamed, youthful energy that makes their music feel fun and vibrant. With its distinct sliding guitar and the togetherness of the instrumentation, “Pacoima” is a memorable song that will linger on for hours. As a young band in their early 20s, figuring out life as it comes while shaping their sound, their recent performances at Underground Music Showcase and Jewel Studios highlight their growing presence in Denver’s music scene. If this track is any indication, Brūha has plenty more dreamy shoegaze to the horizon.
Pax Simile — “King of Hearts”
Pax Simile takes a theatrical approach to rock music, balancing cinematic arrangements with a flair for the dramatic. Their latest single, “King of Hearts,” stretches past the seven-minute mark, unfolding like a journey through a fantasy realm. There’s a sense of grandeur to the composition, and it brings to mind something you’d expect to hear in a medieval-themed place or the soundtrack to a high-stakes Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Described as “traditional music” in their bio, the band leans into a storytelling style that feels mythical. Layers of instrumentation build and shift throughout the track, carrying an air of mystique that sets them apart from more straightforward rock acts. Since debuting in 2020, Pax Simile has been around and making a very specific style for a crowd that may lean more towards a fantasy surrounding.
DOGTAGS — “Wondering”
DOGTAGS bring a warm, inviting energy to their latest three-song release, connecting classic soul influences with modern storytelling. Self-described as “your friendly neighborhood soul band,” the seven-piece group leans into vibrant instrumentation and smooth vocal harmonies, giving their sound a magnetic charm. “Wondering” kicks things off with backing vocals and a groove that feels similar-ish to the Jackson 5, while “Keepsake” strips things back with acoustic guitar and reflective lyrics about being 23 and holding onto what’s slipping away. The most playful of the bunch, “Sumn Bout Roses,” layers in a bouncing bass line, subtle percussion, and even a saxophone to complement the grooves, landing somewhere between a romantic slow dance and a lively jam session. Their cover art shows each member in a different color that adds to the group’s easygoing feel. It somewhat has a Sesame Street-esque aesthetic to the image. Friendly, expressive and full of heart, DOGTAGS brings something fresh to Denver’s soul scene.
Bison Bone — “Lean”
Warm and full of heart, “Lean” feels like the kind of song that drifts through the air at a summer cookout, where the drinks are cold, and the company is good. Denver’s Bison Bone delivers a sound that blends country rock with a touch of classic Americana, while an organ swells and steady rhythms beneath lyrics built on love, resilience, and devotion. The opening line, “All my dreams come true as long as I always have you,” sets the mood, leading into the song’s core message: “You will always have me to lean.” There’s a Springsteen-like earnestness to it, a sense of hard-won joy that never feels too much like a cover band, but definitely their own sound. Their recent photoshoot at Fort Greene, a bar with just the right kind of ambiance to match their warmth, adds to their growing presence in Denver’s music scene. With a show coming up at The Velvet Elk Lounge in Boulder on April 3rd, catching them live seems like the best way to take in their full sound.
5 Local Up and Comers
Cipriano
Cipriano brings something extremely different to Denver’s music landscape, crafting a sound that feels like dark jazz tangled with low-rock blues. His upcoming album, “Lo Lo House”, drifts between seductive grooves and eerie, almost hypnotic storytelling like a snake charmer luring listeners into a world of shadowy lounges and late-night drives. His single “Things to come” moves with a slow-burning intensity, while “The squeaky wheel” leans into spoken-word storytelling, with the line “hand over the car keys and let’s take a drive” hitting like a whispered invitation into the unknown. A Whole New Low revs up the energy, the kind of rock ‘n’ roll track that rides like a Harley down an endless highway, punctuated by wailing saxophone. Meanwhile, “Oh Cocoa” takes a freakier turn into a dark, strange, and undeniably alluring. Cipriano’s sound is unique and worth a solid listen.
https://cipriano-lowrock.bandcamp.com/track/oh-cocoa
Paul DeHaven
Some artists chase trends, but Paul DeHaven just writes great songs. His latest album, Essential Poems, dropped late last year, packed with the kind of songwriting and left-field charm that makes his work stand out. His track “Jaguars in Heat” is easily one of the best song titles in recent memory and it shows just how much fun he has with his craft, pairing clever wordplay with a rad, offbeat pop. His music feels like something Scott Vener would slide into an HBO soundtrack, the kind of stuff that sneaks up on you and sticks. Catch him at FoCoMX next month, where he’ll once again prove why he’s one of Colorado’s artists worth keeping a tab on.
Intrastellar
Intrastellar is turning spiritual wisdom into a fully immersive listening experience. The Denver-based music collective pulls together voices like Adyashanti and Caverly Morgan, pairing their teachings with lo-fi ambient soundscapes, electronic elements, and binaural beats. Their latest release, Into The Flow, has 17 tracks, featuring a range of collaborators and showcasing their interest in transformative audio explorations. Whether you’re deep into a project or sipping a drink while gazing into the night, Intrastellar’s chill, meditative energy sets the right tone. Their binaural beats series is particularly intriguing, adding a layered depth to their evolving sonic palette. Even their promo visuals of two figures in black jumpsuits and astronaut-like helmets suggest something beyond the ordinary, a step into the unknown.
Plain Faraday
Plain Faraday makes the kind of indie rock that feels as familiar as a late-night jam session with friends. The Denver-based four-piece leans into a warm, jazz-infused sound, somewhere between Tom Misch’s groove, Fleet Foxes’ harmony-rich folk, and the easygoing charm of Jack Johnson. Their latest single, Cabin Song 1, brings those influences to life with a laid-back, organic feel, built for slow afternoons or campfire gatherings with an acoustic guitar in hand. Catch them live in Boulder in early April or in Denver this June. This is the kind of band you could easily picture playing at your favorite brunch café, their sound drifting through the air as you sip a mimosa, especially when they break into their standout track, “Pink Blazer.”
Mineral King
A band with a youthful spirit within the DNA of their sound, Mineral King is obviously on the rise to something to watch. Their music is the upbeat, feel-good 90s rock that wouldn’t be out of place blasting from a dive bar jukebox, but with a modern edge, think craft beer, hipster mustaches, and just enough grit to keep it interesting. Their latest EP, Rotating, dropped in February and expresses everything that makes them a good listen. It’s exciting to see younger bands explore genres that are more than classic indie rock. This group in particular seems adventurous enough and found a style that suits them well.
5 New Music Videos By Local Artists
moonpool — “Autumn”
Denver’s moonpool stirs up a haunting world with their latest music video for “Autumn,” a standout track from their new EP, Nothing Sacred. The song radiates with gothic allure, its brooding atmosphere amplified by hypnotic, looping lyrics that feel like an incantation in a candlelit séance. The video leans into the supernatural, opening with a unicorn treading through a moonlit forest before unraveling into a dreamlike sequence of fairies, ghostly children, and shadowy figures. The visuals have an old cinema quality, like something pulled from a lost reel of a surrealist horror film. As the imagery unfolds, swamp-dwelling gnomes, spectral silhouettes, and eerie woodland encounters the song’s sensual, dark energy sinks in. This track feels like it wouldn’t be out of place at a Halloween gathering or echoing through the halls of a haunted mansion. The entire Nothing Sacred EP solidifies their place as one of Denver’s most exciting new acts, and this single might just be one of the strongest local releases of the year.
autumnal — “the mouth”
autumnal is quickly making a name for itself within the indie music scene. They are self-proclaimed as fuzz folk with a mix of folk storytelling and shoegaze-inspired pedal work that gives their songs a special edge that makes them stand out. Their latest music video for The Mouth leans into playful, lo-fi charm, following the band as ghosts and zombies within the mundanity of day jobs, which makes it feel relatable, but with a paranormal twist. The visuals match the band’s sound of being dreamy, a tad bit other worldly, yet still cozy and a mysterious level of cool. After making a splash performing at both SXSW and Treefort Music Festival this month, the band is set to perform a homecoming set at FoCoMX in April. autumnal is an exciting band to keep an eye on for their depth in an indie rock sound, which is notably their own signature style and their journey of performing noteworthy showcases at such an early stage of the band.
Capture This — “Other Side”
Capture This is bringing a fiery dose of Warped Tour 2000s pop-punk energy to Colorado’s music scene. Their latest music video, “Other Side,” taps into that era’s high-octane spirit, following the band through a neon-lit arcade. Between shooting hoops, racing motorcycles, and diving into a ball pit, the video locks in on the band’s powerhouse female vocalist, channeling nostalgic, anthemic hooks that made Paramore a household name. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to throw on a band tee, jump in the pit, and sing along to the words. This shares with us a reminder that pop-punk was never dead; it just needed a fresh spark.
The Catcalls – “Drag Me Like A River“
The Catcalls aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they’re here to burn rubber. Their latest Tiny Desk Contest entry, “Drag Me Like a River,” is all muscle and soul, shot in a repair shop that suits the energy they’re hammering out within their sound, a Southern blues rock vibe. With two female vocalists sharing lines like it’s a backroom jam session turned arena-ready to rock. The video is to the point, just the band jamming out, but it feels like a solid contender to be picked within the NPR contest. Their other songs I Get High and Muddy Waters carries the same theme of rocking hard and storytelling through the lens of someone that has a grittier version of country energy building up in them like a flame catching fire on a haystack.
Native Station — “Decompose”
Native Station taps into the early 2000s alternative rock playbook with their latest music video, “Decompose,” a song that melds punchy riffs with a sense of nostalgic heartache. The visuals follow a breakup in real-time with morning alarms, packed suitcases, and unread texts. At the same time, the band plays straight from the protagonist’s bedroom, capturing that classic era of emotionally charged rock videos. The Longmont-based four-piece has been steadily making a name for themselves in Colorado’s scene, with an upcoming EP dropping April 2, 2025, and shows lined up at Larimer Lounge (March 21) and Black Buzzard (May 16). Their high energy level is notable, their hooks stick, and they’re a band worth keeping on your radar for a while.
