Marble Boy – Creatures of the Forest
Marble Boy's 'Creatures of the Forest' is a gorgeous slice of psychedelic indie folk from Haarlem, dreamy textures wrapped around a haunting narrative
Marble Boy opens 'Creatures of the Forest' with something strange and beguiling. There's a ritual happening at dusk, enigmatic figures gathering to mourn something unnamed, and the track pulls you right into that twilight clearing. Musically, it's a bit George Harrison, a bit DeMarco, and a lot good. Warm, psychedelic textures drift through gentle melodic passages, and the contrast between that inviting sound and the darker story underneath is what makes it stick. Dreamy psych-folk, mysterious and fab.
Marble Boy is the project of Haarlem-based Daan Frieling, three years in the making at his own studio. A debut album is coming next year, and he's bringing an eight-piece band to the stage to do it justice, starting with Haarlem Vinyl Festival on 2nd October. The influences are there, The Beatles and Men I Trust, but there's something properly his own here. Love the vibe, and we're excited to hear what else that album has in store.
Joe Nilson – Cuando despiertes con él
Joe Nilson's 'Cuando despiertes con él' is a tender bachata-pop heartbreaker from New York, romantic longing wrapped in contemporary Latin warmth
Joe Nilson sings to someone who chose another, and you believe every word. 'Cuando despiertes con él' opens on that ache, the hope that one day they will see what is right in front of them, and the track never lets go. The production blends traditional bachata with polished Latin pop, his own lead vocal carrying the whole thing. There is a gentleness here that never tips into softness, restraint that makes the longing land harder. And the hook? It stays with you. Lovely bachata-pop, warm and deeply felt.
Joe Nilson is a Dominican singer-songwriter based in New York City, the artist behind NL Latin Music. For years he focused on songwriting, crafting tracks in bachata, salsa, and Latin pop, but this single marks his step forward as a recording artist, his own voice finally front and centre. Real craft in how he moves between traditional influences and contemporary production. We're glad to have him on the blog, this one has bags of character.