Indie Weekend Roundup #3

Fresh sounds, artist updates, and indie highlights every weekend.

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This week in Indie Weekend Roundup: Katiuska McLean, AlphaWhores + Quick Tip for Indie Artists + Did you know?

Enjoy the music, share the love & have fun!

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Katiuska McLean releases “Loving Home”

Singlecover

Solo artist Katiuska McLean, born in Trinidad and Tobago and now based in Wels, Upper Austria, is known from The Voice of Austria, where she placed third. She has released her new sentimental single “Loving Home”, a song that reflects a deep longing for security, familial love, and trust in a protective higher power.

The track is powerful in both instrumentation and vocals. Piano, drums, and choir-like backing vocals blend with Katiuska’s strong vocal performance to convey the emotional depth of the song.

Its mood fits perfectly with the winter and holiday season, offering warmth, compassion, and a reminder of human connection. Lyrics like “We give love and we take it” and “We all need… a loving home” carry the message with clarity and strengthen the overall atmosphere.

Katiuska McLean began singing and writing lyrics at the age of nine. Today, that young girl has grown into a solo artist with international stage experience and her own original music. She writes with passion and vulnerability as a “protector of love.” Her lyrics address the essential themes of human life; clear words and heartfelt lines reflect her personal belief: “Happiness and love are there to be shared.”

"Loving Home” is now featured on the INDIENOXZINE Playlist - follow the playlist to stay updated on new highlights.

🎧 Listen to Katiuska McLean here: Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

📱 Follow Katiuska McLean here: Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / Website

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0cyFtM0oJc

The video to "Loving Home" is also featured on our INDIENOXZINE YouTube Playlist. Check it out for more great videos!

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AlphaWhores Europe Tour + new album "You Can Come Out Now"

Photo by AlphaWhores

The Panamanian duo AlphaWhores, Massiel Pinzón and Juan Carlos García de Paredes, has been creating music together for over 20 years. Known as Panama’s most prominent heavy metal duo, they are returning to Europe with their powerful album “You Can Come Out Now”, released on June 13, 2025.

The ten-track record features previously released singles such as “Bloodsport”, “Beautiful Music Awful Person” and “Pirate Mode.” 

The album was produced by London-based double Grammy Award winner Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse), who travelled to Panama to record with the band. Mixing was handled by longtime collaborator Evan Rodaniche, who also worked on their debut album I (“one”) and their recent single Over and Over, a reimagining of the Hot Chip classic in AlphaWhores’ dark, signature style.

“You Can Come Out Now” continues to expand the duo’s eclectic fusion of heavy genres, enriched by their distinct harmonies and a fierce selection of gritty, razor-sharp riffs. It follows the release of their debut album I (“one”) in January 2024, featuring the singles “Raw Nerve” and “Same Team.”

Regarding their band name, Massiel and Juan Carlos explain:

“Our name is a play on words from the Spanish word ‘alfajores,’ a pastry common in South America. It’s just a joke for those who get it - we’re not trying to be edgy, just silly.”

Fans old and new can look forward to a gripping live experience as AlphaWhores take their album on the road across Europe:

AlphaWhores Europe Tour 2026

2/03 Ljubljana, Slovenia | Orto Bar

18/03 Budapest, Hungary | Szimpla

19/03 Graz, Austria | Music-House

20/03 Vienna, Austria | Arena

21/03 Pilsen, Czech Republic | M.o.v.e.m.e.n.t

24/03 Munich, Germany | Lost Weekend

25/03 Frankfurt, Germany | Ponyhof

26/03 Berlin, Germany | Neue Zukunft

27/03 Hamburg, Germany | Bambi Galore

28/03 Copenhagen, Denmark | Stengade

"Beautiful Music, Awful Person” is now featured on the INDIENOXZINE Playlist - follow the playlist to stay updated on new highlights.

🎧 Listen to AlphaWhores here: Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

📱 Follow AlphaWhores here: Instagram / TikTok / Threads / Facebook

Rola Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46NZCxXLEYc

The video to "Beautiful Music, Awful Person” is also featured on our INDIENOXZINE YouTube Playlist. Check it out for more great videos!

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💡 🎚 Quick Tip for Indie Artists

Struggling to make your synths or pads sit nicely in the mix? Try sidechain EQ with your kick!

1️⃣ Insert an EQ on your synth/pad track.

2️⃣ Automate a slight cut in the low-mid frequencies each time the kick hits.

3️⃣ Adjust depth and timing to taste.

This creates more space for your drums without ducking the entire track, giving your mix clarity and groove. Ideal for indie, electronic, or pop productions.

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Did you know?

The term "indie music" originally referred to artists releasing music independently without a major label. Today, it’s grown into a diverse genre spanning rock, pop, folk, electronic, and more - but the DIY spirit remains at its core.

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That’s it for this weekend’s Indie Music Roundup! Stay tuned, we’ll be back next weekend with more new releases, live shows, Quick Tips for indie artists, and editorials highlighting the global indie scene.

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