Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with singer-songwriter Kassi Williams, and producer Steven Ellis, of the band called We Are The Dirt. We discussed the band’s moody new single called ”Lie To Me” that came out today, Kassi and Steven’s creative process, and much more. If you’re enjoying the interview, please consider supporting this ultra-talented artist here.
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Today I’m so excited to introduce everyone to Utopia PKWY, the new project from songwriter/producer John Beckmann (The Mortal Prophets), and the band’s new single and lyric video for “I Knew You Would Be Trouble.” If you’re enjoying the track, keep an eye out for the full-length self-titled debut from this band that comes out on November 6th.
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This past week I was able to schedule a Zoom call with musician turned author, Kenny Feinstein, to discuss his new book called More Than Talent: 7 Steps To Attain The Brand, Acquire The Gigs, And Amass Lifetime Fans. In this interview, I asked Kenny some in-depth questions regarding these seven key steps, what mistakes most new artists are making today, and how he views the music industry changing today. The book officially released today, and you can order it here.
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On the debut full-length record from gracie, called Miss Misfortunately, she weaves a slick narrative between songs heavily influenced by artists like Paramore and Olivia Rodrigo, but with a twist of ingenuity that is unmistakably her blueprint. “I’m not making music because I want to be successful; I’m making music because I have to,” gracie affirms. “I need to tell an authentic story. Sonically, it’s a collection of everything that’s influenced me. I’m ready to express so many thoughts I hadn’t been given permission to express before. The record is about being human, laughing at yourself, telling scary stories, and holding nothing back. It’s who I am as an artist.” Miss Misfortunately might not be the record you’d expect a label like Tooth & Nail Records to put out, but the songs found here are undeniably catchy, dripping with purpose, and gracie proves that her topical sound is poised for the next big breakout moment in the music scene.
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The new EP from Snarls, called In Heaven There’s Rainbows, opens up soaked in a mysterious cloud of distorted vocals, hauntingly gorgeous melody undertones, and vibrant guitars from the Columbus, Ohio band. For a band that stormed onto the indie rock scene with a cheery sound on Burst, this latest EP’s first chorus on “Chemical Control (Spill Your Blood) basks in the darkness with the lyrics of, “If you spill your blood / You’re mine to keep (Never letting go) / I’m the chemical control / I’ll see you in your sleep / Pray you come to me.” It’s crystal clear that Snarls are not content with staying the same band as their debut, and they make remarkable leaps of faith that largely pay off in their favor on In Heaven There’s Rainbows. The world around the band is dark, and yet Snarls remain a beacon of light and hope in the indie rock realm.
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Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with singer Molly Grace after she wrapped up a stint of tour dates during June’s “Pride Month” in support of her debut album called Blush. The tour dates were called “Lovergirls: A Sapphic Soiree” and showcased Grace’s impressive vocals, showmanship, great choreography, and fan interactions. If you’re enjoying the interview, please consider streaming Blush here.
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Today is a great day to share the latest music video from Chicago punk trio, NightFreak, for their single “Midwest Rattlesnakes.” The title track from their new LP, out everywhere on July 10th via Big Neck Records, this is NightFreak at their leanest and meanest. The band delivers beer drenched chaos, by blending hardcore punk ferocity with metal-inspired riffs, machine gun drumming, and scorched vocals. Recorded by Bobby Hussy (No Coast Records) it’s stripped down, raw metal-tinged punk and it’s mean as hell. The band shared:
This one has a little bit of everything that makes up NightFreak; sick riffs, bitchin’ guitar solos, & killer drumming. We wrote it after a wild gig where we got into a lil’ tussle with another band. It’s full of piss, vinegar, and bravado. It’s a way of saying we don’t fuck around in Chicago and also a shout out to our core group of fans we call the NightFreak NightKrew. We were trying to create something in the spirit of the old 60’s and 70’s music shows like Live Beat or Musikladen TV and we were really influenced by some of the old Black Sabbath and Motorhead footage. We wanted a grimey psychedelic feel, like a good acid trip, and we’re stoked with how it turned out. We shot and edited in the living room of my apartment,100% DIY, on gear we bought thru Amazon and returned when we were finished. Rock n Roll Forever!
If you’re enjoying the music video, please consider supporting this artist here.
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Today I’m so excited to bring everyone an exclusive track by track from Bike Routes, the project from songwriter David Osterhout, that has released his third LP called Prairie today via Blue Grape Music. Speaking about his inspirations, David Osterhout shared, “New Jersey is big for me. As a kid, I listened to a lot of Bruce Springsteen in addition to My Chemical Romance. Then, my mom introduced me to ABBA. I’m a huge hip-hop fan, but I love hardcore, grind, and death metal too. My music pulls from all directions. I want my voice and lyrics to fit over anything.” If you’re enjoying the insight on Prairie, please consider ordering the record here.
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The funk-infused hardcore punk band known as Rebelmatic sound as re-energized and purposeful as they’ve ever been on their latest record, Sting The Devil. This Creep Records release packs in so many different stylistic choices, tempos, and vocal cadences into the mix that is thematically about traditional punk rock ethos of rallying against the status quo. Over the course of these blistering ten songs, that clock in just under 28 minutes, Rebelmatic solidify their sound into one of the best hidden gems to come out of our scene this year.
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Today I’m so excited to share the latest single from indie pop duo, CA in LA, called ”Clarity”. The track comes from the artist’s forthcoming reissue their latest record, called Hindsight: Deluxe Edition. CA in LA is the creative partnership of best friends Courtney Birk and Ashleigh Coffelt, two longtime collaborators whose artistic world blends music, film-making, visual art, and storytelling into one universe. Originally connecting in Maryland through independent film-making, the duo later relocated to Los Angeles to pursue their creative ambitions while building a loyal online community through years of weekly live music streaming on Twitch. Influenced by artists like PVRIS, Daughter, Flyleaf, and Lydia, CA in LA has developed a distinctive alternative rock sound that reminds me a bit of The Cranberries, Snarls, and Beabadoobee. The band shared, “‘Clarity’ marks the beginning of a new music era for us. Getting sober, leaving self-doubt behind, and focusing on listening to our intuition, we had so much fun playing with song structure, guitar tones, and layered harmonies. We’re excited to share our hopeful, introspective love letter dedicated to everyone going through it and wanting to be better. We see you.” If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-saving the track here.
Read More “CA in LA – “Clarity” (Song Premiere)”
Today is a great day to introduce everyone to Brooklyn rock trio A Very Special Episode who are releasing an early look at their latest single and music video for “But I’m A…Starr”. This rock band has a sound that sits somewhere between the realm of Weezer pop sensibilities and the blistering hard rock of Queens of the Stone Age. The band shared, “We only realized after tracking how much Weezer’s ‘Beverly Hills’ must have been a subconscious influence. ‘But I’m a . . . Starr’ is about the anxieties of being in a working DIY band more than anything else. ‘March of the Pigs’ is a big visual inspiration for the upcoming video to be directed by Brendan McKnight.” The band is gearing up for the release of their self-titled EP that hits all streaming services on July 31st. If you’re enjoying the music video, please consider pre-ordering the band’s EP on vinyl here.
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A couple of weeks ago, I was able to schedule a Zoom call with all four members of indie pop band, Snarls, to discuss their vibrant new EP called In Heaven There’s Rainbows. In this interview, I asked the band about where the title of the EP came from, which songs came easiest during the writing process to get to the finish line, and how they’re crafting the setlist for their co-headlining tour with Future Teens. One of my favorite quotes from this conversation was lead vocalist/guitarist Chlo White’s comment regarding how the band decides if a song will be included in a set: “The last couple years, when we’re deciding what goes on a setlist, it’s like, ‘Do you feel hot and sexy playing this?’ And if the answer is no, we’re scrapping it!” In Heaven There’s Rainbows releases this Friday, and pre-order options are available here.
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Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the lead single from the new album from Holy Pinto called “One Tattoo.” Holy Pinto’s long-anticipated new LP, called Wedding Season, is filled with songs grappling with the concepts of love, distance, doubt, and adulthood. The album, which releases on all streaming services on September 14th, features some key collaborations from Bartees Strange, who helped produce some of the tracks found on Wedding Season. If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider supporting this artist here.
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It’s really hard to quantify just what Underoath accomplished on their career-defining album called Define The Great Line. Having already achieved breakthrough success with their previous record of They’re Only Chasing Safety, the bar was certainly raised for the band to deliver once again. And what a delivery it was. Underoath’s Spencer Chamberlain recently shared, “Define the Great Line was never just an album to me. It was a world I was building in my head through lyrics and sketches long before the songs were finished. I was dealing with a lot and didn’t always know how to put it into words.” From the thrilling opening notes of “In Regards To Myself” that has the sound of a film projector being turned on, to the final fadeout in the sprawling seven-minute album closer of “To Whom It May Concern,” Underoath were creating pure undeniable audio cinema.
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Today I’m so excited to introduce everyone to a vibrant new band called Strange Lot. They’re releasing their new single and music video for “Go Have A Dream” that captures just the right magic in the indie rock realm. Strange Lot is Dominic Mena, Cameron Martin, Levi Murray and Jason Desiderio, and their band chemistry is clicking on all cylinders ahead of their self-titled debut that hits streaming services on August 14th via Greenway Records. If you’re enjoying the video, please consider supporting the band here.
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