What a great song! Auckland band Back To The Hillside, consisting of vocalist/lead guitarist Neo Aiono-Fukushima, Hamish Brown (bass), Rocielli Fernando (keys/backing vocals) and Sam Hatley (drums), have rustled up I’m Alone, a beautiful indie rock/pop single with a dream-pop underside that is at the same time sweet and melancholy.

Neo has the perfect timbre for the genre they are aiming at. Somehow vulnerable yet rogue; Brandon Flowers meets Swedish indie rockers the Wannadies. In fact, I get quite a Killers feel from this song. Dripping with vocal, guitar and especially keyboard hooks and phrases, it’s like the 80s New Romantics decided to hijack the Kooks and deliver something memorable and unexpected. I really, really like this song.

From the EPK: Neo Aiono-Fukushima explains that ‘I’m Alone’ is about the struggle of trying to fit in by wearing a ‘mask’. “The vibe of the song is fun, upbeat and jumpy, but it does have a little sad undertone with the lyrics.” Well, they have managed to find a melody and an orchestration mix that helped to capture that feeling completely.

There’s no vid yet, but I hope to see one soon, because this is a classy song, and is performed and has been engineered well. Hardly a surprise when you find out the engineer was none other than Scott Seabright. This chap just knows instinctively how a band wants to sound, and they always, always, sound amazing. It’s bright and striking, and fits into a number of niches. It’s definitely going to be a crowd pleaser on the stage – for which they already have an impressive resumé of past shows – as it’s such a memorable tune.

This will help you if you’re walking or running. It’ll go down well at a party. It’s one for the indie kids; the ones who wear their heart on their sleeve with regard to their love of the organic sound of living people playing music from their hearts and souls.

I’m glad I do this job, because I get to hear some truly special things. I’m Alone by Back To The Hillside. Go find it on your Spotty Fly and give it a listen. If you want to thank me later I accept pepperoni pizzas, very strong flat whites, milk chocolate or hard cash.

My type of indie 100%.