Glassetonbury, Vol. 7: Round of 32

We’re back with a brand new Glassetonbury bracket! We’ve crowned six champions so far, most recently Warsaw, Poland-based multi-instrumentalist Huxley Sun. Today, we restart the whole process.

If you’re new to our series, welcome! We take 32 songs by up-and-coming artists around the world and place them in a tournament bracket for readers like you to vote on. These rounds last for about a week, and rounds will continue in week-long intervals until one song remains. The winning artist will earn a featured interview on the front page of http://www.glassefactory.com, a live stream/fan Q&A hosted by our Instagram Live, and more.

Let’s take a look at our bracket:

Each matchup below will feature links to the songs, a brief description of each song and artist, and a poll for you to vote on. Voting for this round will close on May 22th at 1:00 p.m. CST and is limited to one vote per 24 hours. To prevent botting, we equip all of our polls with CAPTCHA protection, and while this is a necessary step to preserve the integrity of the tournament, sometimes this can lead to problems when people try to vote on multiple polls in one round. To ensure that your votes are properly counted, refresh the page before voting on a new poll, and make sure to click “Vote” again after you pass the CAPTCHA protection. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Campaign for your favorites in the comments and on social media, and don’t forget to tag and follow us on all platforms @glassefactory!

_______________

“Protector” – Social Media vs. “Don’t Waste Your Love” – Boo Seeka x Golding

Putting the listener into a soothing dream state like Joy Division, Social Media’s song “Protector” was born out of the artist’s compulsion to protect his sleeping girlfriend, going so far as to fight off her subconscious imagination’s villains. Meanwhile, “Don’t Waste Your Love” — an upbeat electro pop collaboration between Boo Seeka and Golding — hid a narratively unstable undercurrent, much in the same way production and lyrics were juxtaposed for “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People.

_______________

“Sinking” – Honor Me vs. “True Lies” – Sunniva x Austin Litz

With “Sinking,” metal band Honor Me provides earth-shattering metal for fans of Killswitch Engage or Shadows Fall to bang their heads relentlessly. Meanwhile, Sunniva’s “True Lies” has the kind of jam band energy that would make it fall in line nicely alongside artists like Phish, Goose, or Twiddle — with the added character of a flute weaving in and out of the song.

_______________

“You Took It All” – REINDIER vs. “Starfish” – Doc Landry

Synth-pop outfit REINDIER channels their inner Bon Iver with “You Took It All,” a vocoder-heavy track with walls of vocals and experimental instrumentation. Meanwhile, Doc Landry’s “Starfish” has the acoustic singer-songwriter sensibilities of artists like John Mayer and Amos Lee, and the chorus features some nice harmonies.

_______________

“End of the Waltz” – Yara Liz vs. “Midwest Dreams” – Distressed Damsels

Portuguese artist Yara Liz sings of spinning out of control on this Sara Bareilles-like ballad. Meanwhile, Distressed Damsels bring a raw, in-your-face style of rock to the table with “Midwest Dreams.” The track features screaming guitars, angsty vocals, and a very mid-2000s feel.

_______________

“Status Monster” – Arthur Moon vs. “COMPLICATED.” – Arlana x joshua

Alt-pop band Arthur Moon delivered a hypnotically looping melody with “Status Monster”. It features a single sparking spiral imagery that drew the listener in like a Talking Heads hit. An acoustic guitar base developed into a catchy electronic tune. Meanwhile, R&B/neo-soul artist Arlana teams up with producer/keyboardist/rapper extraordinaire joshua to deliver a refined, elevated brand of R&B with heaps of musicianship and technical prowess.

_______________

“DROWNING” – Watson vs. “Whiplash” – Tommy Ashby x Lydia Clowes

Watson’s “DROWNING” fuses elements of punk-rock and Soundcloud rap, resulting in a track that fans of Juice WRLD might like. Meanwhile, Tommy Ashby and Lydia Clowes channel acts like Oh Wonder and The xx with “Whiplash,” a mellow, relaxing indie-pop track.

_______________

“I Want To Know” – Pushing Daizies vs. “Bad Timing Blue Angel” – James Lockhart, Jr.

“I Want To Know” by Pushing Daizies showcases powerful, controlled pop vocals and massive EDM drops that could make this a hit at any festival they performed it at. Meanwhile, James Lockhart, Jr.’s “Bad Timing Blue Angel” reminds me of a world where “Parachutes”-era Chris Martin came up in today’s indie-rock scene.

_______________

“Lost & Found” – Corbu x Jimi Goodwin vs. “Staying Quiet” – Day Felice

“Lost & Found” by Corbu and Jimi Goodwin takes the listener on a journey into the wilderness with this choppy, trippy brand of alternative-rock that fans of Tame Impala would definitely enjoy. Meanwhile, Day Felice’s “Staying Quiet” is a five minute alt-rock epic that demonstrates a chameleon-like ability to change styles, with moments throughout that recall everything from disco to Weezer to Guster to Franz Ferdinand.

_______________

“I Wonder” – Tom Joseph vs. “18” – Lisa Heller

Tom Joseph’s “I Wonder” combines heartbreakingly visceral songwriting with a vulnerable, intimate voice reminiscent of Elliot Moss. Meanwhile, Chelsea Cutler fans may enjoy Lisa Heller’s “18,” a nostalgic reflection of fading youth and a longing for yesteryear.

_______________

“Heliocentric” – Martyr For Madison vs. “If Only You Knew” – Fabian Rasti

Fans of Yellowcard and Taking Back Sunday would thoroughly enjoy “Heliocentric,” a slice of mid-2000s-esque emo/rock from Grand Rapids, MI outfit Martyr for Madison. Meanwhile, Belgian/Iranian artist Fabian Rasti brings a lo-fi acoustic flavor to our tournament with the washy, wholesome “If Only You Knew.” His Mac DeMarco influence shines on this daydreamy reflection of the one he loves.

_______________

“Next Chapter” – Mafia B vs. “Own Melody” – Rebecca Conner

Manhattan indietronica DJ/producer Mafia B delivers an ambient instrumental with string pads, keys, and synths aplenty. This slow-build, seven-plus minute instrumental fits any playlist that STS9 has a home in. Meanwhile, Rebecca Conner’s “Own Melody” muses about forging one’s own path in life. The jazzy, soulful track would stand out to fans of bands like Lawrence and Melt.

_______________

“The Enemy” – Lobby Language vs. “You Don’t Need To Listen” – Fringe Mellow

Lobby Language, a rock group out of Nashville, penetrated listeners’ ears in much the same post-grunge way Foo Fighters would. “The Enemy” tapped into self-doubt that plagues us all when we dwell too long in our own minds. Meanwhile, Fringe Mellow touches on hip-hop, R&B, and jazz with the electric-piano-and-strings-driven “You Don’t Need To Listen.” The duo aims to open a discussion about mental health with their lyricism, and the music itself is reminiscent of artists like Loyle Carner and Midnight Mystery Club.

_______________

“Into The Sea” – Lexi Berg vs. “Mama Told Me” – Elo Kay x Sajan Nauriyal

Lexi Berg’s “Into The Sea” is a mid-tempo pop/R&B track that one could easily imagine Ariana Grande singing. A piano-driven song that features Berg’s vocals beautifully, the Swedish-American artist — currently based in London — writes with a worldly appeal that reflects her many travels. Meanwhile, Elo Kay and Sajan Nauriyal’s “Mama Told Me” is an excellent, accessible hip-hop track that feels like what we may have had if Post Malone signed with Dreamville five years ago and came up with rappers like EARTHGANG, J.I.D, and Bas.

_______________

“The Garden” – Itsjustinmills x Sez1 vs. “W. Monroe” – LDRDO

“The Garden” comes from rap duo Itsjustinmills and Sez1. It has an easy flow that feels influenced by rappers like lyrical rappers like Jay-Z and Dr. Dre. Meanwhile, LDRDO’s “W. Monroe” features spoken word vocals over a groovy, modal riff that sticks in your head all day.

_______________

“Polyester” – Chey Rose vs. “Soar” – Lazy Tiger

Chey Rose’s “polyester” expertly delivers the style of stripped-back synth-pop perfected by artists like Elina and Sasha Sloan. It’s the perfect song to listen to while unwinding at the end of the night. Meanwhile, Lazy Tiger’s appropriately-named “Soar” offers a mood-boosting, energetic dose of good vibes with this three-minute instrumental that feels like a natural addition to any morning playlists.

_______________

“Clearly Now” – Anthony OKS vs. “Expectations” – Joel Ansett

Anthony OKS’ sax-driven hip-hop song “Clearly Now” makes me think of Old Man Saxon’s “The Perils” with a more boom-bap flow. Meanwhile, Joel Ansett’s “Expectations” is a downtempo pop song that brings to mind artists like Nick Wilson and Corey Kilgannon. In it, Ansett deploys a tender vocal tone, buttery background vocals, and warm melodic execution.