From lilting, hypnotic melancholia to grungy alt grooves, this edition of LITM Rock Picks , features artists Tigers at Midnight, Love Is The Question, Fiona Amaka, Venn Echo and Eyal Har-Noy.
1.Tigers at Midnight – Bridges
Self-described as ‘midlife crisis meets 2000s pop punk emo rock’, solo music act Andy Clare aka Tigers at Midnight, delivers a raw, high-energy dose of grungy alt-rock. With lyrics like “Now I’m blurred and being driven by the picture, tears taste of tequila, I’ve been drowned”, the writing is incredibly visual and poetic. Everything in the arrangement bursts with electricity, with electric runs, tangy overdrives and spacious pockets of instrumentation between the verses, allowing the guitars to converse, while a surprise brass segment arrives seamlessly without breaking the song’s tone. It’s raw, celebratory, and vibrant, as each instrument and vocal layer surges with life before ending on the fittingly reassuring note, “by the way I’ll be ok”.
2. Love Is The Question - Down by the River
An ominous tone sets the stage, complete with dogs barking in the distance as the vocals introduce themselves with a raw, unfiltered approach. The woozy layering of instrumentation features gentle guitars that feel like floaty steps the singer climbs upon, highlighted by a wistfully beautiful vibrato. A product of their concept EP Sojourn, ‘Down by the River’ is an overall soulful piece with a hint of unsettlement that instantly puts you in a dreamy headspace. The guitar strums act more like deep atmospheric rumbles, making this the perfect 2 am listen; and with the blend of husky and buttery vocals from Sara Goldenthal, it hits all the more harder.
3. Fiona Amaka – Sometimes Forever
Fiona Amaka’s latest track ‘Sometimes Forever’ offers a lesser-spoken-of message, an unromanticised look at love—the track features lines like “but sometimes it's not there to give any more”, conveying a realistic message. Steering clear of typical breakup song territory, it frames the split as a mutual, respectful separation. Musically, with peppy pop-rock instrumentation, it comprises crunchy guitar distortion and energetic drums, while at the top, one unanchored guitar lets floaty, loose notes trail gently above the vocals. It achieves a healthy balance of contrasts, seamlessly pairing the raw, silky, and viscous delivery of Fiona Amaka's vocals with the crispness of the guitars.
4. Venn Echo - Little Love
Alt-rock trio Venn Echo gets experimental with their production on their latest track ‘Little Love’; introducing the song with skittish rhythms alongside beeps and whistles before slipping into a smoother, flowier groove. The instrumentation shifts between fragmented and smooth, infusing darkness with grungy, choppy guitar strums and a deep, wallowing bassline. There is an air of static electricity brimming in the atmosphere during the chorus, while the vocals remain raw, naturally textured, and unpolished by the mix. Overall, a fun song you'd want to crank up the volume and vibe to. Catch it here-
5. Eyal Har-Noy - This Is Me
E nding this list on a high note, ‘This is Me’ carries a strong sunset vibe and features dense, glassy vocals and simple yet profound lyrics that offer a great take-home message with lines like “step by step the road feels right dreams are calling shining bright”. Accompanied by long legato notes, shimmering textures, and a feel-good atmosphere, the instrumentation brings in some good old pop-rock energy with peppy guitar action along with solos beautifully interspersed throughout. Overall, if you’re looking for a chill, upbeat track, this would be a great one to pick.
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