On Repeat is a monthly roundup of My Music Mixtape’s favourite tracks featured on our ‘Radio Friendly Indie Rock and Alt Pop‘ Spotify playlist.
This roundup features a diverse range of musical styles and influences by exceptional genre-blending artists, including Aless Arias, Myra Keyes, The Trusted, The Casbahs, and MatAre. Continue reading below to learn more about the talented artists who landed on October’s edition of On Repeat.
Deep End – Aless Arias
“‘Deep End’ is about the push and pull of the unknown when you like someone new – you’re ready to jump into the deep end, but also terrified. What if this person doesn’t like you back? What if it’s a bad idea? But at the same time – what if it’s the best thing you do?”“
Excerpt from Aless Arias press material for “Deep End”
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Aless Arias dives fearlessly into emotional depth with “Deep End,” a sonically rich and lush blend of shoegaze, dream pop, indie rock, and a subtle touch of emo. Right from the opening bars, Arias establishes a deeply introspective mood — dreamy guitar tones shimmer against punchy percussion, creating a soundscape that feels both expansive and intimate. The result is an immersive listening experience that blurs the line between melancholy and euphoria.
At the heart of the track lies Arias’ infectious vocal delivery, particularly in the chorus, where her voice soars with raw emotion and clarity. The guitar-forward refrain hits like a wave, balanced by lush textures and fuzz-drenched undertones that heighten its nostalgic energy. The bridge, carried by a clean guitar and groove-infused bass line, offers a moment of vulnerability before building toward a cathartic return to the chorus, showcasing Arias’ strong understanding of dynamics and structure to hook listeners.
“Deep End” captures the rush and uncertainty of having a crush, and the tension between excitement and fear, reflection and release. It’s edgy yet delicate, gritty yet graceful, mirroring the emotional roller coaster of diving headfirst into the unknown. A standout single from her upcoming EP, “Deep End” feels like a brave creative plunge, one that reveals the quiet beauty waiting beneath the surface for those willing to dive in. My Music Mixtape
Foam – Myra Keyes
“You learn a lot about yourself and the world when you’re twenty. Sophomore year was a puzzle of regrets, epiphanies, learning things the hard way; I wrote most of these songs late at night, or scrambling to record a riff between classes, in that lonely daze when you’re so busy you start to miss yourself.”
Excerpt from Myra Keyes press material for “Foam”
Chicago-based singer-songwriter Myra Keyes makes a captivating impression with “Foam,” a lush fusion of dreamy, shimmering pop and crunchy pop rock hooks that hits all the right notes. Clocking in at just over two and a half minutes, it’s a quick yet deeply immersive listen, one that lingers long after the final notes fade out.
Built on a foundation of warm synth flourishes and layered background vocals, “Foam” floats in a haze of reverb and texture while still anchored by a strong rhythmic pulse. The production leans heavily on atmospheric effects, giving the track a cinematic quality while maintaining an accessible, hook-heavy core. “Foam” sits at the crossroads of emotion and restraint, recalling the melancholic intimacy of Elliott Smith, gritty edge of Hole and the atmospheric textures of Radiohead, three artists Keyes cites as influences.
Through it all, Keyes’ vocal delivery shines, effortlessly moving between soulful and sultry while gliding over gritty guitar tones that elevate the dynamic tension of the song. The track’s deep groove builds steadily toward a memorable outro where guitars trade places across the stereo field, widening the soundscape and leaving listeners in that blissful head-bopping zone.
Born out of late-night songwriting sessions during a particularly intense sophomore year at college, “Foam” captures that sense of midnight introspection and self-discovery, a dreamy and infectious standout that demands repeat listens. My Music Mixtape
Levitate – The Trusted
“Our new single ‘Levitate’ is one of our most euphoric songs yet, a soaring love track with lush guitars, sharp percussion and a chorus that was built for festival crowds to get lost in.”
Excerpt from The Trusted press material for “Levitate”
The Trusted have done it yet again with their epic single “Levitate,” a track that, as the title promises, lifts you up with its high-energy instrumental. Opening with a shimmering synth and electronic melody, the song unfolds with warm keys and soaring guitar work, driven by a tremolo-laden edge that propels the track forward. The bass injects a deep low end, grounding the sound while giving the song an undeniable push, and the chorus delivers an stadium-sized hook that pulls listeners into the moment.
Singer Tom Cunningham’s charismatic vocals cut through the mix with just the right amount of grit, perfectly matching the edgy instrumentation. The refrain, “your eyes, your eyes, I’m high, I’m high,” is infectious and built for large-scale singalongs. The bridge introduces a more introspective moment, providing dynamic contrast while maintaining the song’s feel-good energy.
“Levitate” radiates romance without falling into cliché, balancing high-octane instrumentation with lyrics that capture fluttering hearts in a fresh, powerful way. It’s a track that perfectly channels that emotional lift, the feeling of being carried upward and weightless in the moment. We’ve been long-time supporters of the UK four-piece band, following their steady rise through BBC Introducing, festival stages, tours in Italy, all while amassing over 1.5 million streams. This band is the real deal and with “Levitate” joining the ranks of other arena-ready standouts like “Self Destruct” and “Yellowhammer,” The Trusted continue to climb higher with every release, consistently finding new ways to surprise with pure intent and purpose. My Music Mixtape
Electric Daydreams – The Casbahs
“The track captures the essence of the band’s evolution, featuring powerful vocals and dynamic guitar tones that aim to captivate listeners and leave a lasting impression. Various guitar based music influences blend together to form our sound but it all has its own distinctive gritty north east edge.”
Excerpt from The Casbahs press material for “Electric Daydreams”
On their latest single, “Electric Daydreams,” UK five-piece The Casbahs mark a confident return after a three-year hiatus. The track captures the heart of classic guitar-driven rock while giving it a modern polish, blending familiarity with a sense of new purpose. There’s a warm, lived-in quality to its sound, the kind that recalls Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”; yet, the band brings their own contemporary edge and energy to the forefront.
“Electric Daydreams” places the guitar on a pedestal, recalling the instrument’s golden era with layers of grit and sonic character. The production stands out as a highlight, particularly in how the guitars are split across the stereo field, creating an immersive listening experience that builds naturally toward a climactic solo to close out the song. Each riff, lick and flourish feels carefully threaded together with intention and purpose, giving the song both texture and momentum.
Singer Niall Fenwick’s vocal performance mirrors that same sense of balance, with a soulful yet understated approach, delivering an infectious chorus that unfolds with a subtle, melodic pull rather than a heavy-handed hook. It’s the kind of chorus that feels easy to return to, grounded by the song’s blend of melody and raw edge. As the first single from their upcoming second album, “Electric Daydreams” marks a thoughtful new chapter for The Casbahs, a return that feels assured, inspired, and quietly bold. My Music Mixtape
Epilogue – MatAre
“With a driving bass line and a soundscape that evokes images of a desolate wasteland or a moonlit graveyard, “Epilogue” challenges listeners to reflect on the world’s past mistakes, enticing them to delve deeper into Matare’s sonic universe.”
Excerpt from MatAre press material for “Epilogue”
Atlanta-based songwriter Matthew Rousseau, known as MatAre, has quietly built a reputation for crafting music that rewards deep listening. His latest release, “Epilogue,” continues that trajectory, a self-produced track that finds Rousseau pushing further into the intersection of atmosphere, mood, and meaning. The song carries a dark undercurrent, with a brooding bass line and expansive synth layers that immediately set a tone of tension. The sound feels both familiar and new, merging dark wave, new wave, post-punk, and shoegaze influences into something unmistakably his own.
From the opening moments, “Epilogue” builds an almost cinematic landscape. Wind-like synth textures sweep across a desolate, dystopian backdrop, while dreamy, shimmering guitars cut through the haze. The rhythm section keeps the track grounded with a bass-forward groove that is propulsive yet restrained, maintaining a steady sense of suspense throughout. You can almost see the imagery as you listen, a hallmark of Rousseau’s ability to create soundscapes that also paint strong visual references.
Lyrically, Rousseau’s refrain, “when will you understand?”, poses a quiet but persistent question, urging reflection on collective mistakes and the uncertain future ahead. While “Epilogue” didn’t conceptually fit within his recent standout album, Extinction Burst, it certainly shares a similar sonic DNA. Like a film auteur, Rousseau’s fingerprint is evident on every element, from composition to production, creating a singular creative voice that closes one chapter while opening another. My Music Mixtape
All quotes and images provided in artist press material
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