Soundclouds of the Underground: The Postlife Edition

These days, music truly lives online, with an infinite number of websites dedicated to hosting tunes for the laptop-wielding masses. However, the web’s bottomless pit of blogs isn’t the only place to troll for mp3 treasures—some of the newest and most exciting (Internet-friendly) artists can be sought out via Soundcloud, the online stage that allows musicians to promote and distribute their music to fans and friends across the globe. In this weekly column, expert Internet sleuth Alex Chapman goes into the depths of the music-sharing site, in hopes of shedding light on emerging acts, as well as sharing some digital diamonds in the rough.

The World Wide Web is a community, with many crucial collabs finding their root in Twitter friendships and mutual Instagram admiration. The type of family mentality that can be generated from sharing common threads online has resulted in a handful of innovative Internet posses. This week we take a look at one such co-op, Pittsburgh’s Postlife; the 8-person group is made up of producers (like Shisa), DJs (like @CTHEMC ), and graphic designers (like Catsperm) who throw parties and play shows in their hometown and beyond. Below, check out three members’ tracks.

Nic Lawless: “Sunless”

Who: “LO-FI PUNK ROCKROLL BAND LIVING LIKE DIRT IN PITTSBURGH,” Nic Lawless’ Facebook bio exclaims. The five-piece band (with Lawless on lead vocals and guitar) fit their self-described profile: their sound is dark, dingy and aggressive, the stuff that quality mosh pits are made of.

The Song: In the fast-paced “Sunless” (a track less than two minutes long), Lawless switches between an on-point agro scream and a sexy sing-growl à la Jack White. The track captivates for just as long as it needs to, an ADD explosion of punk-rock energy that ends as soon as it begins. Put this on repeat and destroy everything in sight.

Current Project: Grab the group’s Sunless album on Bandcamp, and lurk personal pics and news on new shows, etc. by scrolling through their Tumblr.

White Tuxedo: “Noir” 

Who: The elusive White Tuxedo’s influences seem to range everywhere from grime house to hip-hop, which adds plenty of layers to his ambient sound.

The Song: Cinematic and scary, “Noir” starts with a chilling synth and a low-pitched fearful muttering before launching into a breakbeat tirade.  The combination of shadowy sounds and constant waves of heavy-hitting drums is lethal, the result being a crazy breakcore cut worth putting on your most trippy iTunes playlist.

Current Project: Name your price and then grab “Noir” on Postlife’s bandcamp.

Lil Ugly: “Lookin For The Sucking” (Trogpite Remix)

Who: Trogpite is a talented producer whose sound seems to have found itself in the realm of juke music, but tracks like the messy, grungy “TROGLEATHER” and the equally disorienting “THELORDBIRD“ also show his more experimental side.

The Song: This juke jam takes rapper Lil Ugly Mane’s original track and chops it to pieces, with the syrupy vocal sample sitting atop the weirdly sweet melody with claps and bass abound.

Current Project: Check out Trogpite’s Twitter to stay updated on his whereabouts, and keep on the lookout for a joint EP with Shisa currently in the works.

Soundclouds of the Underground runs every Thursday. For more, click here.