motel void

This time, we’re heading twice to Australia and once to Brooklyn. For everyone who loves real music — these three songs are truly something special!

SCARLET DAHLIAS – SUNFLOWERS

“sunflowers” is the new single from the second album by scarlet dahlias (Evey and Ash, a lo-fi slacker duo from rural Victoria, Australia.)

The track was recorded on a Fostex cassette recorder, embracing a raw lo-fi aesthetic to create something human and intentionally anti-AI. I really appreciate this approach – lately I’ve found myself returning more and more to live instruments and organic sound, the kind that almost feels like a relic of an “old world,” much like the cover art itself.

scarlet dahlias capture this authentic, human feeling beautifully. Drawing inspiration from artists like Cindy Lee, Mazzy Star and The Microphones, they create music that feels real. Highly recommended, especially for fans of those artists.

SKINNY DIPPERS – WHEN YOU WERE IT

Skinny Dippers is a Brooklyn-based indie project led by songwriter Ryan Gross, whom we’ve recommended here many times before – they’re one of our longtime favorites!

Their new single “When You Were It” immediately stands out thanks to its beautiful, rich production, something Skinny Dippers have always paid close attention to. The song carries a warm, summery mood filled with just the right amount of sadness and melancholy, yet it still radiates an uplifting and comforting vibe – even the whistling before the chorus adds to that feeling perfectly.

Overall, it’s the kind of track that feels beautifully bittersweet: nostalgic and slightly melancholic, yet still full of hope – and Skinny Dippers capture that atmosphere incredibly well.

FLEECEPANTWARM – MAY

I don’t know too much yet about fleecepantwarm, a project based in the Blue Mountains (Gundungurra) region of Australia – I think this is actually my first encounter with their music – but it’s truly beautiful!

The indie-folk ambient sound they create feels incredibly warm and natural. The song itself is just over two minutes long, yet it has a huge replay value. Even though the first 50 seconds are essentially just an intro before the vocals arrive, the guitar work is so gorgeously done that it could easily go on for several more minutes and you’d still happily stay immersed in it.

The guitars then perfectly complement the emotional yet subtle vocals, creating something intimate and calming. Really lovely stuff.