Soundclouds of the Underground: Full Moon Festival Edition

ABOVE: THE DOLLS

These days, music truly lives online, with an infinite number ofwebsites 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 most new and 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 deep 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.

Summer finally seems to be in bloom, and what better way to start the season off than by attending the third annual Full Moon Fest? It all goes down this coming Saturday, June 22, from 4 pm to midnight at Governor’s Beach Club on Governor’s Island, where acts like Miami Horror, Wild Belle, and Cyril Hahn will tear up the stage in their usual way. With the aid of our internet-savvy stalking skills, we lurked the lineup for a few of the names you might not know but should find out about at the fest.

The Dolls: “Summer of ’93”

Who: Known separately as beloved DJ Mia Moretti (who recently wrapped her role as a judge on VH1’s Master of the Mix) and violinist Caitlin Moe, these two talented ladies have made the transition from nightlife’s favorite live act to full-fledged band, with Moe providing angelic vocals and Moretti taking the reins on the glossy production.

The Song: Sampling Arthur Russell’s “This Is How We Walk on the Moon” (a track previously borrowed by Santigold for her mixtape cut “Icarus”), the song is a nostalgic ode to love lost. The electro ballad propels forward with glitchy synths and big drums, never losing its momentum or its sullen sentiment (the romantic lyrics and Moe’s smooth vocal help deliver the message). The harmonized chorus is a highlight for any fan of a good pop hook.

Current Project: The newly formed group will play the festival’s main stage. For more info on them, check out The Dolls’ official website.

Float Fall:  “Someday”

Who: Belgium’s Rozanne Descheemaekers and Ruben Lefever make up Float Fall. The band follows The xx’s format: an intimate boy-girl duo who share vocals over subtle alt-pop combined with electronic elements. However, where The xx seems to have a cap on their own energy, Float Fall isn’t afraid to add layers, keep it light and get loud.

The Song
: “Someday” is a perfect example of Float Fall’s layering ability—the track, which has reached 180,000+ plays on Soundcloud, is sweet in its delivery, but still goes through the motions with an energy (a portion of which can be attributed to the awesome distorted guitar solo) that promises a rousing live performance.

Current Project: The band is set to play the Neon Gold Stage. If you want to know more, head to their website.

Little Daylight: “Glitter and Gold”

Who: Little Daylight is a trio from New York that makes epic, smile-inducing synth-pop. Tracks like “Name In Lights” showcase Nikki Taylor’s vocals, which can go anywhere from big belt to breathy falsetto.  The group is also known for their genius remixes of acts like Jon Sandler, Rubblebucket, and Passion Pit, which add even more depth to their already varied sound.

The Song: “Glitter and Gold” feels like good, honest, fun—its fast-paced percussion and explosive chorus makes it sound like an outtake from a John Hughes movie soundtrack. “Burn bright through the universe, ’cause you’re glitter and gold, you just gotta let go,” Taylor advises, and given all the track’s glitzy glitter-pop glory, it seems like she’s get some authority on the matter.

Current Project: The band will play the Neon Gold Stage of the fest, along with The Knocks and HAERTS (plus Float Fall, of course). If you’d like to see more from Little Daylight, head to their Tumblr and watch the video for their catchy track “Overdose.”

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