Just when pop punk is near extinction, a new one pops up. Although it will not take the genre off the endangered species list Summer Years are worth checking out especially if you long for the days Blink 182 and Rise Against.

The San Diego, CA pop-punk 4 piece dropped “This Light“, the first single off their upcoming EP ‘You Can’t Live There Forever‘. The track landed on Spotify’s ‘New Noise‘ and ‘The Scene’ and Apple Music’s ‘Shazam’s Best New Music’ Playlists.

The album was helmed by a variety of producers and mixed by the infamous Chris Lord Alge (Green Day, The All-American Rejects) and Steve Rizun (NOFX, The Flatliners).

“Summer Years is rock music. Pop & punk rock-infused music, but at its core, it’s for anyone who likes to rock and enjoys lots of melody. We definitely operate with the energy and big rhythms of a punk band, but I think we will always be accessible to anyone. Kids who are just getting into guitar music or who have never listened to pop punk! I think our music is for everyone. Even soccer moms. Haha.” says the band.

They signed with ENCI Records (Beach Goons, The Joy Formidable, Fences).

Look out for Open Up by Alice Pisano. You’ll like if you want an upbeat pop track. The track landed on Spotify’s New Music Friday Italy as wells as New Pop Revolution.

Alice released her debut EP Celebrate Life in 2019. The self titled track clocked over 3.6 million Spotify streams garnering support from BBC Introducing andmDutch Radio NPO Radio 2.

“Open Up is about how I wish love was: simple and uplifting. After always writing about heartbreak, I wanted this song to be a positive anthem, a reminder that love doesn’t have to be dramatic and gut-wrenching, that you can meet someone who accepts you for who you are, someone who feels like home” says Alice.

The London-based, Italian born artist also notes, “I wrote it three years ago and played it live – an acoustic version of it – for about a year before recording it. I always had very positive reactions from people at gigs, which made me realise it was special! Part of it was recorded in the studio in London, part of it remotely during lockdown”.

Stream the track on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.

Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, a song written 40 years ago just surpassed a billion Spotify streams. How many songs that are released today will  stream big numbers 30 years from now? Certainly Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’ and Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” but it’s slim pickings. Blame culture, technology, and digital distraction.

But Don’t Stop Believin’ lives forever and it’s rediscovered by generation after generation. A great tune has no time stamp nor expiration date.

It’s easy to follow the trends and throw down a 30 second beat hoping some dimwit moves to it on TikTok. But do you want a 30 second rush or a 30 year journey?

If you look at writers today, they want 30 seconds of viral fame. A short term investment mindset. One and Done. A flash in the pan.

But I believe a new crop of artists are growing that are writing songs for a generation because they are in touch with themselves after losing themselves in the digital world. In world grown cold, artists  are weary of the data entranced business.

I see it. I believe. Don’t stop believin’

Check out I Don’t Love You Anymore by Norii. The San Diego based singer-songwriter has released  several singles but this is probably the most different. It could find a home on Apple’s Breakup Songs Playlist.

“I Don’t Love You Anymore” is about when I fell out of love with an ex out of the blue. It’s a pop song at its core, but the production takes a page from the old school, wall-of-sound for an emotional gut punch. I think you’ll be really into this one” shares Norii.

Stream it on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.

Look out for Andi Rella the track Best U Ever Had. It’s reminiscent of Tate McRae which I love.

The 24 year old pop artist hails from New York and draws from Eilish, Jojo, Olivia O’Brien, Madison Beer. She’s performed at venues such as Garcia’s @ The Capitol Theatre and Berlin NYC.

The track comes off her 14 track album Best U Ever Had.

Rella shares, “The song, for me, is cathartic. It’s a sort of moody breakup anthem about a back-and-forth, on-and-off relationship, but it focuses mainly on healing and acceptance. Sometimes we hold onto things way longer than we should because of comfort or history; but it’s important to recognize when it’s time to let go.” The song is well summed up by the last lyric of the chorus “I’m happy with staying in memories, so I’d rather you just remember me as the best you ever had”.