Crystal Joilena – “The High Priestess” (Behind the Scenes)

Adam Grundy Jun 2, 2023

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone a cool feature, from an artist named Crystal Joilena, that showcases some exclusive behind the scenes photos from her recently released single and video for “The High Priestess.” Joilena has provided some guest vocals on a track with Motionless In White, and her sound strays somewhere between the dark synths of PVRIS and Evanescence, paired with the pop prowess of The Weeknd.

Adam Grundy May 31, 2023

The deluxe version of A Bitter Descent by Providence, Rhode Island-based band, Another One Down!, offers a nice glimpse into the maturity shown in the band’s dedication to their craft. “A Bitter Descent means a lot to us because it marks growth and progression for our band. For a long time we felt like we were seen as sort of a throwaway easycore act and we really wanted to prove that we have so much more to offer with this record,” the band shared. “One of our main goals going into the writing process was to tackle more mature subject matter, primarily overcoming mental health issues which is something each member of the band has struggled with in the past and we feel is important to discuss. Another goal was to explore a wide variety of sounds and vibes while still creating a cohesive record. We’ve always been inspired by bands who are not afraid to give individuality to each song rather than write the same song 12 times, especially when they’re able to do that and still create a well-flowing record. We truly believe that we achieved these goals with A Bitter Descent and we are so proud of how the record came out.” The sound of the band fits somewhere between The Starting Line, Midtown, and Allister, with the punchy production of Hit The Lights. By honing in on their songwriting, while still remaining committed to putting their best foot forward, Another One Down! have made a great, hard-hitting pop-punk record just in time for the beginning of Summer.

Adam Grundy May 31, 2023

STMNTS (pronounced Statements) is a 5-piece emotive pop-punk outfit from Baltimore, Maryland. Formed in 2022, the band consists of vocalist Liam King, rhythm guitarist Jamie Black, lead guitarist Drew Chiodo, bassist Josh Pelc, and drummer Shawn Smyth, and their band chemistry is already firing on all cylinders. With a sound that can be found somewhere between the hardcore guitar groove of Four Year Strong, the wonderful lyrical wordplay of The Wonder Years, and the emotion of Bayside, STMNTS are making a solid name for themselves on their debut single “Handpainted.” The single comes from their upcoming EP Tendencies, and features a guest collaboration from Patrick Williams.

What the band does well on this single is to keep the song emotionally charged throughout and still allows for the melodic parts to come through in the mix to make for a memorable track. The crunchy guitar riffs in the verses are complemented by Liam King’s crisp vocal cuts to keep the song balanced in its delivery. The last gasp of a scream on the final lyric of “I feel so alone” finds the band tinkering with a great combination of emo, screamo, and the melodic elements of pop-punk. STMNTS may have just lived up to their name by making a welcomed invitation to the genre.

MIDNIGHTCHOIR – “Love Crimes” (Song Premiere)

Adam Grundy May 31, 2023

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest single from NYC-electronic act, MIDNIGHTCHOIR, called “Love Crimes.” The band comes from the mind of Patrick Bobilin, who is a political activist and he shares his unique perspective on the world through great synths and eccentric guitars. The song comes from MIDNIGHTCHOIR’s upcoming LP, Loverboy Molotov, that releases everywhere music is sold on July 14th. I was also able to catch up with Bobilin for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy May 26, 2023

On the latest offering from emo rock band Out of Service, called simply “Folk 1,” the band highlights a different side of themselves. The track features soft-spoken vocals from Mike Capuano, over a campfire-styled acoustic guitar layered with some banjo too. The single unfolds well at the two-minute mark as the band comes to a crescendo while adding in some vocal harmonies to complement Capuano’s delivery. The track comes from the yet-to-be-announced new record that Out of Service have been working on that approaches the emo genre in a unique way. The guitar tones added by Teebs Williams mesh well off of the cymbal crashes by Ken Bond, while Brian McGovern adds in some contextual rhythm on the bass line. If you’ve been looking forward to Out of Service experimenting with a more rustic sound, “Folk 1” should be a welcome discovery to add to your latest playlist.

Review: Tyler Posey – UNRAVEL

Adam Grundy May 26, 2023

On the genre-fluid debut LP by Tyler Posey, he channels his love for punk rock, screamo, and hardcore music on a 16-track opus known as UNRAVEL. The set was produced by Matt Malpass and John Feldmann, and it expands upon the ideas Posey tinkered with on his first two EPs (Drugs and Scumbag). When speaking on the direction of his self-released set, Posey shared, “Being an independent artist, there is a lot of freedom, and that’s exactly what this album is. Freedom. It’s got every genre: from screamo, hardcore punk, to chill beach vibes. Listen to it from start to finish in order to really experience the ride that is UNRAVEL, my first full length LP!” With a little bit of everything thrown into the mix on UNRAVEL, Tyler Posey solidifies himself as a key artist to watch this year and beyond.

Adam Grundy May 25, 2023

Today I’m excited to bring everyone a great new single from indie pop-rock duo, Maeve & Quinn, called “Jeweler’s Row.” With a sound that fits somewhere in the same realm as Maggie Rogers, Snail Mail, and Soccer Mommy, this duo makes breathtaking vocal hooks and harmonies look effortless. The song comes from the band’s forthcoming LP, Another Door, that releases on September 8th. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy May 24, 2023

This past week I was able to hop on a Zoom call with indie pop-rock band, Arrows In Action, to discuss their great new album called Built To Last. Arrows In Action is singer/guitarist Victor Viramontes-Pattison, guitarist Matt Fowler, and drummer Jesse Frimmel, and their unique circumstances that led to them playing music together only made them stronger as a unit. In this interview, I asked the band about what went into writing/recording Built To Last, the collaborative tracks found on the record, plus how they measure success in their musical career. Built To Last arrives this Friday, and pre-orders can be found here.

Adam Grundy May 24, 2023

Today is a great day to share the latest single and music video from indie rock duo, Hunter & Wolfe, called “Famous Friends.” The song comes from their forthcoming LP I Deserve This, out everywhere music is sold this Summer, and showcases their vibrant contributions to the indie rock genre. The band shared, “‘Famous Friends’ is about mixed emotions, that awkward middle ground between happiness for, and envy of, the successes of others. We fight the urge to measure ourselves against others – especially when our social media are flooded with their accomplishments and good times. Ultimately, ‘Famous Friends’ is about coming to terms with those mixed emotions and arriving at self-acceptance.” I was also able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy May 22, 2023

There’s something magical about finding a new friend through an online forum on a music site. You may find that you both have similar music tastes, love the same type of movies, or in rare cases, form a cool pop-punk band remotely. That’s exactly what happened with Harsh Lights, a pop-punk band comprised of Kyle Simons (Patterns In Traffic) and Eva Driessen. Kyle and Eva met on this website and decided to pursue making music together, albeit in different parts of the world: Kyle lives in Maryland, while Eva lives in the Netherlands. This distance never distracts from the quality of music found on Watch The World Divide, a fun debut LP that pays direct homage to great pop-punk bands like Blink-182, Fenix Tx, and Mae, but with a modern twist and sheen to it that makes it a rewarding listening experience.

Adam Grundy May 18, 2023

Today is a perfect day to share the latest single from PHNTMS, called “Coastline.” On this electric-charged track, PHNTMS play off of their pop rock influences and bring something incredibly exciting into the mix. The band shared about the song:

’Coastline’ is a song about letting go of your current situation and moving on to what is best for you and your life. Taking a chance to be with the one you love forever. It was inspired by the story of how I left the East Coast to move to Los Angeles to be with my girlfriend, who ended up becoming my wife. It was recorded by producer Courtney Ballard (All Time Low, 5 Seconds to Summer, Grayscale). ‘Coastline’ is a part of a collection of songs to make an EP about moving to the West Coast. ‘Coastline’ was written by Adam Jessamine and April Rose Gabrielli, who sings on the track.

I was able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy May 18, 2023

Today I’m so excited to introduce everyone to Chloe Jane, a pop singer/songwriter who has all the makings of a star. On her latest single and music video for “No Patience (No Tengo Paciencia),” Chloe Jane takes the best of a bad situation in a relationship, and pens a majestic pop single. Chloe shared, “‘No Patience (No Tengo Paciencia)’ is about losing patience with someone in a relationship. I gave someone so much of my time and energy and all I got in return was gaslighting and them lying to me. Eventually, I came to my senses and said ‘I gotta go, I don’t have patience for you this time.'” I was also able to cath up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy May 17, 2023

On the band’s sophomore album, PONY deliver some great-sounding power pop on Velveteen. Named after the book The Velveteen Rabbit, that lead singer Sam Bielanski used the audiobook from to cope with a nine-month struggle with insomnia, Bielanski shared, “I became obsessed with it, but I always fell asleep before getting to the end. The way I interpreted the story was that it’s the love that we give and receive that makes us real or whole.” Through this unique connection to a childhood favorite, Bielanski and multi-instrumentlist/collaborator Matty Morand were able to pen approximately 200 songs that they narrowed down to ten crisp songs found on this record. If you’re into bands like Beach Bunny, Soccer Mommy, and Diet Cig, you’ll definitely find plenty to enjoy on PONY’s Velveteen.

Adam Grundy May 15, 2023

Third Eye Blind found themselves at a bit of a crossroads when the time came to write the follow-up to two successful records: their stunning self-titled LP and Blue. Longtime guitarist/songwriter, Kevin Cadogan, was replaced with Tony Fredianelli and Out of the Vein would be the second album in a row without an outside producer. The band’s chemistry somehow didn’t suffer on this album that most 3EB fans rank very highly when looking back on the full breadth of the band’s discography. The album was recorded at their own Mourning Wood Studios in San Francisco, and Stephan Jenkins admitted that nearly 40 songs were written during the pre-production sessions that would become their third LP. Originally called Crystal Baller, but scrapped because everyone outside of Jenkins hated the name, Out of the Vein would solidify the band as one of the premiere acts in Alternative Rock history. The record was supposed to be released in early 2002, but the mounting pressure to live up to the legacy left behind on their first two albums led to several lyric re-writes. Ultimately, these growing pains worked out in the band’s favor creatively, even as their label (Elektra Records) imploded right as Third Eye Blind would release the record. Out of the Vein may not have the sheen of Blue, or the bulletproof legacy of their self-titled debut, but it still features several great Third Eye Blind songs that have stood the test of time.

Adam Grundy May 12, 2023

Today is a great day to share the new single from LARAAJI & KRAMER called “Submersion.” On this ambient single, this artist channels warm music arrangements paired with sweeping instrumentation in a crowd-pleasing song. When speaking on the new track, the artist shared:

Memory, is an art. Sound, and its visual point of origin, can open our minds to ourselves, and to others. The potential truthful of every sound is strengthened when attached to a formless visual image. ‘Submersion’ is an act of submission, to Memory. It is the most sublime form of surrender, and it holds within itself the power to set us Free.

If you’re enjoying the direction taken here, you can pre-order the full-length record, Baptismal, here. I was also able to catch up with this artist for a brief interview below.

Crystal Joilena – “The High Priestess” (Behind the Scenes)

Review: Another One Down! – A Bitter Descent

Review: STMNTS – “Handpainted” (featuring Patrick Williams)

MIDNIGHTCHOIR – “Love Crimes” (Song Premiere)

Review: Out of Service – “Folk 1”

Review: Tyler Posey – UNRAVEL

Maeve and Quinn – “Jeweler’s Row” (Song Premiere)

Interview: Arrows In Action

Hunter and Wolfe – “Famous Friends” (Video Premiere)

Review: Harsh Lights – Watch The World Divide

PHNTMS – “Coastline” (Song Premiere)

Chloe Jane – “No Patience (No Tengo Paciencia)” (Video Premiere)

Review: PONY – Velveteen

Review: Third Eye Blind – Out Of The Vein

LARAAJI and KRAMER – “Submersion” (Song Premiere)