A Single to SWEAT For: New Release by NYC Indie-Rock Band DOUBLE STANDARD

[Photo by Kirill Bykanov]

Girl rock is officially in for 2025, and NYC-based queer-indie-girl band Double Standard is steering the revival with all the swagger and grit we didn’t realize we’d been missing. Formed in early 2024, the band started with college friends Siena Chanel and Lydia Eberling, whose musical chemistry laid the foundation for what would become an irresistible force of sound. They quickly enlisted bassist Zoe Arora, lead guitarist Lauren Dinhofer, and drummer Meg Cournoyer to round out the lineup, creating a powerhouse quintet that has been turning heads ever since.

After debuting with their dreamy-yet-defiant single “Crush,” Double Standard kicked off 2025 with the release of “Sweat,” a high-energy anthem that channels the raw charm of early 2000s indie rock. The track is all punch, pulse, and personality, seamlessly blending sultry lyricism with a gritty NYC edge.

Siena Chanel and Lydia Eberling’s vocals are a perfect match. The vocals of Siena Chanel and Lydia Eberling fit each other perfectly; Chanel's playful edge accentuates Eberling's powerful presence to produce a layered dynamic that captures you from the first line:

You’re a heartracer, timetaker / touch you like you won’t forget

Meanwhile, Dinhofer’s sharp lead guitar riffs and Arora’s bassline keep the track grounded in a propulsive rhythm, while Cournoyer’s infectious drumming turns every beat into a call to move. Together, the band delivers a sound that’s unapologetically bold and refreshingly fun.

[Photo by Kirill Byaknov]

Inspired by one unforgettable college night out, Chanel crafted the bones of “Sweat,” which the band brought to life in Brooklyn’s Diamond Records studio. With collaborators Alex Gomez and Ayad Al-Adhamy adding their production magic, the result is a song that feels as lively as it does raw—modern indie rock with a nod to its classic roots.

The music video, directed by Trillium Bentley, is a fluorescent fever dream that matches the song’s energy perfectly. Featuring the band in retro aerobics gear, wielding toy instruments, the surreal visuals amplify the high-octane vibe, like a neon-lit memory of a wild night out that leaves you buzzing.

I know that I make you sweat / you know that you make me…

With “Sweat,” Double Standard cements themselves as one of the most exciting new acts on the indie scene. As they roll into 2025 with a promise of more music, it’s clear that this band isn’t just here to revive girl rock—they’re here to redefine it. If this is the warm-up, we can’t wait for the main event. Buckle up, because Double Standard is setting the new standard.

Written by Jai LePrince

Photos taken by Kirill Byaknov

Water Gun’s Latest Release Will Be Your New Addiction

Cover Art created by Hannah Schwimmer

Imagine music that was a cross between Ethel Cain and Halsey, and you get Water Gun. Creating an ethereal mix of Cain’s moody poeticism with Halsey’s fierce self-expression, the Brooklyn-based indie band—consisting of lead vocalist Gaby Mitford, guitarist Ryan Wax, drummer Gabriel Seiler, bassist Whit Hemphill, and guitarist Ben Bogden– has quietly been releasing some hidden Spotify gems for a minute now. Their latest single, “Angel Dust,” will send you into a dreamlike trance that you’ll want to keep playing on repeat. This is the band’s third single to date. 

The song conveys the hesitation of leaving a relationship that is no longer doing any good for the narrator. The title, “Angel Dust” --another name for cocaine– likens the dynamic of the relationship to that of drug addiction. The opening lines, “Pretty how you protect yourself, run away before the beauty is felt,” illustrate how the narrator’s partner frequently pulls away from the relationship as soon as it starts to feel too serious, protecting themselves from having to deal with any real relationship problems and running away from feeling the “beauty” of allowing themselves to get close to another person. 

Unfortunately, the damage is already done, and when this partner does attempt to get close to the narrator, they only feel “cold.” Any attempt at reconciliation is often cut short as the narrator says, “Then you sold me out for your crowd,” implying that once the partner does the bare minimum required to keep the relationship afloat, they immediately abandon the narrator for other pursuits and to uphold an image of being unattached to their social circle. The main problem in this relationship seems to be an imbalance amongst the two parties, with the narrator mainly holding on while the partner remains indifferent.

In the second verse of the song, the title finally comes into play with the lyrics, “Breathe you in like angel dust, hold you there until my lungs burn out…thought that I could give you up somehow.” The narrator is explicitly calling out the toxic nature of this relationship and the way that they feel “burnt out” from the effort of holding on to their ambivalent partner. Despite the pain that comes with holding on to this relationship, the narrator still hesitates to leave because this toxicity has become familiar to them. The song ends on the second chorus, leaving it unclear as to whether the narrator will in fact leave this relationship behind or continue the cycle of neglect.

“Angel Dust” diverges from the band’s previous singles, “Heaven Sent” and “Mary Street” which were laced with the sound of 90’s grunge, instead adopting a 60’s surfer-rock feel akin to the early work of the Regrettes. However, they never stray from their shoegaze-leaning, alternative roots, opting for the instruments to take center stage and allowing the vocals to blend with the melody. In an interview with Afterglow Mitford described the band’s sound as “realistic” with the intention of “[being themselves], which is very authentic to the idea of being people who just really enjoy making music.” Whatever musical direction Water Gun decides to take, they are already showing that they have the strength to carry out an entire EP (and hopefully a full-length album) in the future.

Written by J.D. Valdepenas

Cover Art created by Hannah Schwimmer

No “Wasted Time” Seeing Juniper Live at Mercury Lounge

Taking a step outside the usual indie rock scene in NYC, I saw a show at Mercury Lounge with a band originally from Boston. It was on a Friday night after work in December, an ideal way to end the work week and start the weekend. As expected, the room was filled with drinks in hand, and everyone’s attention raised towards the stage, awaiting Juniper’s arrival.

The trio consists of Scott Johnson (lead vocals), Alejandro Marin (drums), David Sessions (guitar), along with Jacob Shneiderman (bass), and Angela Morano (keys and vocals) during live sets. The bands' cohesiveness in sound and performance was notable from start to finish.

Originating from Boston, MA, (but recently moved to Nashville, TN) each artist's love for music began at a young age, as a way to express their emotions and connect to others. Juniper as a band initially began as a high school cover band back in 2017, but as time has passed, their work in music took them to new heights, collecting almost 130k monthly listeners on Spotify! The start of their career was playing shows everywhere around the city of Boston, like college campus basements. As the lockdown of COVID made the continuation of their live performances more difficult, they realized they needed to record and release music. Thus, later on, came their first EP For The First Time released in 2019 shortly after their single “Here For The First Time” which now has over 10 million streams! The trio has spent time crafting music reflecting their personal experiences in love, life, work, and just being human. 

Their own eagerness to begin the show was visible. As the lights dimmed, they walked through the crowd and hopped on stage taking their respective spots. For anyone, headlining Mercury Lounge is a huge accomplishment that feels special, not only to the performers but also to the audience. Obviously ecstatic to be on stage, the band looked at one another in excitement and began their set.

One thing I could not stop thinking about during their set was how groovy their sound was- so forgive me if that description becomes overused. If you have listened to Juniper's music before you can agree with me, however, seeing them live truly solidifies that description. Because not only is their sound relaxing and fun to dance to but so is their stage presence. The first song of the night, “Angelina” starts off just like that, groovy and upbeat. Immediately as the guitar riffs began I knew I would be mesmerized by guitarist Sessions's talent. 

Lead singer Johnson has an ability to draw in the crowd during each song. As the rhythm continued as upbeat and the guitar carried on, the drums in the third song, "(Come to My) Senses" picked up, further intensifying the performance. Each transition between songs was smooth, carrying the same energy throughout as Johnson showed gratitude for the ability to play at Mercury Lounge. He invited the audience to dance along since “It’s a Friday night!”

Their newest single, “Wasted Time,” released in September 2024, was rhythmic and catchy, as sweet harmonies between Morano and Johnson tied the track together. Marin's steady drums and the sick bassline backed the emotive lyrics of the song. The instrumental break was slow and nothing short of groovy as the audience swayed along to the melody. 

The introduction to their song “Daydream” was “If you've been on the bad side of a one night stand yell “Booo”.... that shit sucks!” A good hook prior to a song always gets me more intrigued, and the crowd felt the same as the song began. As Johnson’s vocals engaged the audience, the crowd waved their arms back and forth in the air along to the music. A good guitar riff is always riveting to watch, and Sessions had a relaxed way of completely shredding. 

Juniper has a sound that showcases influences from a myriad of genres spanning, alternative, pop, R&B, and so on. Their live performances exude a funky melody that’s so intoxicating you can’t help but dance along. You get lost in their performance and truly just feel the music move through you as they play. A great range in sound, some songs are slower than others, with calming harmonies and a deep bassline whereas others have crashing drums, a fast tempo, and sparkling keys that liven up the energy in the room.

Johnson introduced their next song by saying “We haven’t played this since B.C….. before COVID” and transitioned into playing “Please Stop Calling” – a personal favorite. Emotionally raw lyricism, heavy keys, a slick electric guitar, and gorgeous harmonies yet again by Morano and Johnson. The instrumentals and vocals collapsed together beautifully, stopping time altogether in the Mercury Lounge room.

Another favorite song of mine, but this time they were doing a cover of “Evil Woman” by Electric Light Orchestra. With deep alluring vocals and a groovy live twist, Juniper’s rendition of the song was impressive and exciting. On the bass, Shneiderman was going crazy alongside the electric guitar, completely captivating us all! Ending off with their most streamed track “Here For The First Time”, the well-known riff and heavy drums signaled the night of good music was coming to an end. Everyone jumped and sang along to the chorus as the melodies of the night began to finish. 

A charismatic frontman with the ability to entice the crowd and a band full of life, they had a chemistry that was felt throughout the crowd. We as an audience had the opportunity to see people who genuinely loved to play music together. From dancing on stage to harmonizations that wowed us all, to a flawless instrumental performance, Juniper knows how to put on a show worth remembering. It was a fulfilling night being able to experience their set in a room full of people who also love their sound. 

Check out and follow Juniper's socials for more music and future show announcements and stream their recent single, “Wasted Time”!

Written by Amy Kapel

Photographed by Emma Wannie