Local Music Spotlight February 2024 

• via Instagram
• Southernmost Gravy

If you've ever found yourself listening to the same 10 songs over and over, just know that you're not alone. We all get into ruts from time to time, and it can be hard to venture out and try new artists to listen to. Luckily, SLC is brimming with incredible talent, so there's plenty of new music to discover. Here are some songs to add to your library to freshen up your listening routine.

Hopeless & Depraved, Everything Hurts: Off to a somewhat melancholy start with this one, but there are times when you're feeling down and you need the comfort of sad tunes to make you feel like you're not alone. "This here be an album about drug addiction, suicidal ideation, and broken heart despair. It's as angry and heavy as I often feel, and has proven to be far more cathartic than drugs have ever been," says David Smalley, the man behind the moniker Hopeless & Depraved. Smalley incorporates elements from rock, punk, noise and shoegaze to create his signature sound. At times the sounds are a bit jumbled and tend to clash, but if that's how your mind is feeling, it's a perfect fit. You can find all of Smalley's projects on BandCamp. Listen here

Southernmost Gravy, "4 More Hours": Greater Salt Lake City-area rockers Southernmost Gravy got their start as a band in January 2020, and we all know what happened then. Since that time however, this EDM/rock group has broken through in the scene, gaining thousands of fans and putting out great music. "None of us really listen to EDM music ourselves, it's not really our genre of choice," synth/keys/producer Ben Adams told Volume Utah. "We mostly listen to '80s and '90s rock music, but it's the genre we like playing. Another is that we have an alien in our band. We dress up one of our friends who used to be in the band, and he'll come out on stage from time to time." Their most recent single, "4 More Hours," features a slick rap beat from hip-hop artist Axaero, and is catchy as hell. It's a great song for your happiest playlists, and great to throw on when you have friends over. Listen here

Addison Grace, Driving Lessons: Addison Grace has been captivating listeners with his tender and beautiful sounds since 2020. He released several singles and EPs leading up to his debut album release in Sept 2023, Driving Lessons, an album with an overarching narrative that takes listeners on a journey through themes of innocence, trauma, anger, sadness, acceptance and, ultimately, healing. Growing up as a non-binary trans person anywhere isn't easy, but it's easy to imagine that it was particularly difficult in Utah, and those feelings shine through on Grace's debut album. Despite the difficult themes of trauma and sadness, there is still a lot of hope and amazing pop elements to enjoy. Listen here

The Bombshell Flowers, The Death of Me: In 2020, many of us took a step back to reconsider things about our lives and make some changes. The same is true for Provo alt-rock group The Bombshell Flowers. They took time to redefine their sound and build up a new fan base. In 2023, they released their first full album as the rebranded Flowers entitled The Death of Me. It's a perfect album for anyone who is a fan of indie/alt rock and is looking for something upbeat, but not too heavy. The songs have a dreamy quality to them, feeling like music that a boy would play for a girl he has a massive crush on. This is the perfect album for a mellow night, or to keep you company on a long drive home. Listen here

Utopian Nightmare, "Ghost of My Past": I'm a sucker for goth themes in music. Growing up listening to groups like Evanescence and Within Temptation, I will also have goth sounds holding a special place in my heart. Ogden group Utopian Nightmare have these vibes in spades, especially with their debut single "Ghost of My Past." The music itself is heavy and driving, while singer Valerie Rose Sterrett swoops in with melodic vocals and dark-themed lyrics. If you're looking for more to feed your inner goth, look no further. Listen here

Lane and the Chain, "Love's Not Enough": Following their 2022 self-titled debut, alt band Lane and the Chain followed up with "Love's Not Enough" last April—and this single is Lane and the Chain at their best. That's not to say that the rest of the music in their catalog is less significant, but this song in particular stands out (to me, anyway). It's strong yet tender, and vocalist Courtney Lane Spaulding's performance is especially beautiful on this one. The song is atmospheric and will have you coming back again and again for another listen. Listen here

There you have it—another list of songs that will spruce up your music library if you're feeling like you're in a slump. Stay tuned for more recs and support local musicians by sharing their music with a friend.