WE ARE: THE GUARD VOL 1 - OUR BEST INDIE POP RELEASES & NEW COMPILATION LINE

It’s been an exciting start of the year for We Are: The Guard. You see, not only are we a music blog/filter, we’re also an incubator label for upcoming artists, mostly in the indie pop world.

This week, we released a brand new song by Wyld & Free, as well as our very first synch compilation album in collaboration with Kobalt. We Are: The Guard Vol 1 features some of our favorite label releases from dark pop to indie rock.

LOLA BLANC - “ANGRY TOO”

Lola Blanc’s “Angry Too” is a powerful anthem inspired by the Me Too movement. The poignant lyrics are supported by dark, twisted production and melodies. The message of “Angry Too” is clearly resonating, as it climbs towards 17 million streams on Spotify.

DAUGHTERS OF NOISE! - “2023”

“2023” is the indie dance jam that got us through 2020. Daughters of Noise! is the works of Coco Morier and Arama, and they are no strangers to the music industry. Not only have they released music as solo artists, they’ve also collaborated with some of the industry’s brightest creators including Major Lazer, Britney Spears, TV On The Radio, Galantis, and Charli XCX. On their debut single as DoN!, the two play to their strengths and have created a song that will keep you moving.

COACH & REF - “iNFINITY”

On their recent single, “iNFiNiTY,” Coach & Ref delivered a timeless feel-good bop. Written in collaboration with songwriting Brooke Tomlinson, “iNFiNiTY’s” got it all from infectious chanting and a sax solo, to a fun tennis themed music video.

EMILIA ALI - “WHAT’S MY AGE AGAIN?”

Blink-182’s “What’s My Age Again?” got a bedroom pop makeover on Emilia Ali’s cover. With an Imogen Heap-esq vocal arrangement at the forefront, Ali’s gentle, but skillful voice shines. A collaborator with dwilly, Mickey Valen, and many others, she’s an indie pop artist to look out for.

WYLD & FREE - “DONE IT LIKE THIS”

Music should be fun. I feel like it’s so easy to lose sight of that, and Wyld & Free have created the perfect reminder. “Done It Like This” is a dance party, unconfined by the bounds of a genre. Johnny C and producer Blue have created a masterpiece on Wyld & Free’s debut single and we predict that it’s only a matter of time before you’ll see a billion remixes of this and hear it on every commercial or movie trailer.

MXMS - “I REVENGE”

Duo MXMS, short for Me and My Shadow, have created their own dark genre called “funeral pop.” The collaboration of singer Ariel Levitan and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Dawson, the self produced duo bring together cinematic darkness and haunting melodies. These strengths are showcased on single “I Revenge.”

JESSE SAINT JOHN - “MOVE”

You’ve probably heard Jesse Saint John’s (stylized jesse saint john) songwriting before. A collaborator to Britney Spears, Kim Petras, Dorian Electra, Charli XCX, Brooke Candy, Lizzo, and more, he’s got a knack for writing in-your-face pop jams. If you haven’t heard his work as a solo artist yet, it’s time to fix that, as you are big time missing out. His first single “MOVE” is filled with energy, power, and rhythm.

LOW CUT HIGH TOPS - “RED LIPSTICK”

Self described as “a song that [is] really quiet, and also loud as f*ck," Low Cut High Tops has nothing to hide. “Red Lipstick” showcases the angsty kind of garage rock that we’ve come to love from the Seattle-native.

DENM - “LIT”

DENM blends pop, R&B, electronic, and rock on “Lit.” When writing and producing “Lit,” as well as the other songs on his Dreamhouse EP, he imagined himself “playing a house party in a dingy little beach town.” While we’re doing any partying these days, DENM provides us with exactly what to put on the party playlist in (hopefully) a few months!

SALEM ILESE, JORDAN JAY - “IMPATIENT - JORDAN JAY REMIX”

Rising pop artist salem ilese grabbed the world’s attention with “Mad at Disney,” but even before then, she was no stranger to great songwriting. One of her first singles, “Impatient,” talks about living life with a sense of urgency. We were lucky enough to release an EP of remixes of the song, and Jordan Jay brought his signature high energy dance sound.

We hope you enjoyed the compilation! These are our best new indie pop label releases, and we’re so lucky to work with these awesome artists.  Looking for more indie pop? You’re in luck! We’ve got a weekly column of indie pop releases that we love. Be sure to check it out!

We Are: The Guard Vol 1 is out now and can be streamed on all platforms!

Arielle Tindel is from Cleveland, Ohio. She recently graduated from Berklee College of Music with degrees in Music Business Marketing and Songwriting. In her free time, Arielle can be found gardening or playing bass.