Recently I was able to catch up with folk-pop artist, David Steinhart, to discuss everything that went into his new single called “Row.” The track comes from Steinhart’s newly announced LP, Released, that is out everywhere music is sold on January 10th. With a warm vocal approach, complemented by picturesque guitar playing, Steinhart shows how he maintains a loyal following over his impressive career.
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A couple weeks back, I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Jimmy and Timmy Brown of Dose of Adolescence to discuss what went into the writing and recording process of their new album, Zircon Ave. The band has toured extensively with bands like Anberlin, Dirty Heads, Switchfoot, and more, and this latest record is their first full-length album in nearly a decade. Zircon Ave hits music platforms this Friday, but you can pre-save the album here.
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Recently I was able to connect with Minneapolis-based singer/composer, Nona Invie, to discuss her latest single and video for “Forget My Name.” I also asked about her forthcoming LP called Self-Soothing that releases on February 28th via Boiled Records, and what went into the visuals behind the latest music video. Nona Invie will also be touring the U.S. in support of her new record this Spring.
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The Cure are back, and it’s a dark and beautiful thing. Songs of a Lost World is the first new music from the band in roughly 16 years, and the long-awaited new LP doesn’t disappoint. In many ways, this new record feels like the direct successor of 1989’s Disintegration, what most fans consider The Cure’s finest work, and the comparisons in stylistic choices and the artistic direction can be felt on this concise 8-song album. The set of songs was composed entirely by goth rock icon, Robert Smith, and was co-produced by Smith and Paul Corkett (Tori Amos, Placebo). Each of these tracks are brooding with long intros to set just the right tone before Smith’s trademark vocals break through the wall of sound with veteran ease. Robert Smith sounds as confident and strong as he’s ever been, while his bandmates rally around his every word. On the opening track of “Alone” Robert Smith shared, ”It’s the track that unlocked the record; as soon as we had that piece of music recorded, I knew it was the opening song and I felt the whole album come into focus. that was the moment when I knew the song – and the album – were real.” By letting everything come flowing through him, Smith and The Cure have delivered a late-career masterpiece.
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The sophomore album from Denver emo band A Place For Owls is a great exploration from a group of musicians taking their time to get to the root of what makes us all human. The affectionately-titled how we dig in the earth is an album that was recorded over the course of one week at Coalesce Audio with producer Dave Wilton (A Boy & His Kite, Loud Harp), and finds the band showcasing what they are capable of creating when all the right parts click together into place. The band described their process as, ”We were digging deep into the arrangements, practicing songcraft as gardening: pressing dead seed gently into the soil, praying for rain.” By finding that other-worldly connection to music, while still continuing down the path of self-exploration, how we dig in the earth quickly becomes a defining moment for A Place For Owls.
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Recently I was able to connect with talented pop artist, George Alley, to discuss their latest single and video for “Letgo.” This Philly-based artist collaborated with producers Ian Romer and Frank Musarra on their debut self-titled LP that is out now. In this interview, I asked George about the artistic direction of the single and its inspiration, what went into the video treatment, as well as what George Alley hopes their fans will take away from this track. George Alley is available for purchase here.
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Recently I was able to connect with EDM artist and producer, Kappekoff, who just released a great new single and video for “Late Night” that features Pasha. I asked this artist about the inspiration behind the single and the video treatment, as well as where he expects the rest of his music to follow next. Kappekoff is releasing his new LP called Old Spring on November 15th and you can pre-save it here.
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I’ve always felt that solo projects are a healthy form of artistic expression. Especially if the music that an artist chooses to make in the solo effort sound vastly different than anything their main band would go for. Robbietheused, the moniker of The Used’s frontman, storms onto the pop scene with a rewarding solo effort. The set was produced by longtime collaborator, John Feldmann, and he lends a trusted hand in helping Robbietheused make his pop dreams come true. When I asked the frontman about what he likes best about this genre, he quickly quipped, ”I have always loved pop music; I grew up on Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, and that kind of thing. My favorite thing about pop is just a catchy melody that you can sing along to.” By using this background as a blueprint for his pop debut, Robbietheused crafts a synth-laden world of wonders.
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A couple of weeks ago I was able to connect with rock band, Sego, to discuss their latest music video for “Malibu Mary.” In this interview I also asked the band about their overall creative process for writing their material, as well as what fans can expect from the band on their recently announced LP called TANDANG. TANDANG will be released on streaming services on November 12th, but you can pre-save it here.
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The fourteenth studio album from Alternative Rock legends, 311, is a strong collection of songs that longtime fans of the band are sure to enjoy, and there’s plenty of new vibes brought forth for casual fans to check out as well. Full Bloom was produced by Collin Brittain, with some additional producer credits from Scotch Ralston and Tim Pagnotta. The band described Full Bloom as “311 on steroids,” and it’s hard to not agree with this assessment. 311 goes bigger and better than they have in quite some time and delivers the right mix of nostalgia paired with artistic growth for a strong musical statement. The set was preceded with their highest charting single in 13 years, breaking into the Top 15 on Alternative radio, with lead single “You’re Gonna Get It.” The concise ten-track album features some of the band’s strongest material in years showcasing that the veteran rockers have plenty left in the tank.
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This past week I was able to catch up with a new indie rock band called Anyone Awake to discuss their latest music video for “Late Night Driver.” I also asked the band about what went into their debut LP called Bushel and a Peck that released today. Since their inception in late 2022, the band has released a series of singles and a couple EPs. Their new LP is a great reflection of their influences that include Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Green Day and Peach Pit. You can listen to Bushel and a Peck here.
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The latest single from Aymen Saleh, better known as Holy Pinto, is bursting with raw emotion and painstaking detail in the songwriting process. Bartees Strange also contributes on “Death Is In The Air” by adding some well-placed guitars and synths to the mix. The track itself tackles the theme of searching for love, complete with all of the messy details that make this emotion so complex.
The song builds momentum as it sways from the cautious opening verse, to adding in more instruments in the chorus, while Saleh’s vocals remain consistently captivating in his delivery. The single takes the listener on an epic journey of lyrical twists and turns, all with a beating heart towards Holy Pinto’s self-discovery as an artist. The epic conclusion of the song features some well-placed hand claps and an Americana sound to keep interest high in this ultra-talented songwriter. Holy Pinto is back, and he is quickly re-cementing himself as a key artist to watch.
”Here’s to new beginnings” is a popular toast at weddings, job promotion celebrations, and retirements, and yet most bands don’t get the opportunity to experience this feeling themselves when it comes to reinvention. Real Friends are back with a slick emo-tinged pop-punk sound on Blue Hour, their fourth full-length studio effort to date, and their first LP with vocalist Cody Muraro at the helm. The 13-song album is packed with raw emotion, songs about relationships, and in many cases the theme of starting anew is prevalent. The band, whom have been around since 2010, seem to lock into a new groove on Blue Hour with a sound leaning closer to The Wonder Years and The Menzingers, rather than pop-punk bands like The Starting Line and New Found Glory. Real Friends are making the most of their opportunity to reinvent themselves on this record that is filled with depth, rich lyrical imagery, and hard-hitting tracks that demand to be taken seriously.
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Starting a record label isn’t for the faint of heart. So much can go wrong, really fast, if you’re not equipped with the right people around you to make it thrive. Luckily, Red Scare Industries isn’t in this category of failing labels, as they are now celebrating 20 Years of Dreaming and Scheming, the cool new compilation that features key artists like The Menzingers, Laura Jane Grace, Sludgeworth, Heart & Lung, No Trigger, and so many more great bands on this 17-track disc. Red Scare Industries has reliably introduced fans near and far to bands that they feel are worth their time, put on killer live shows, and have the musical chops to make you want to reach for that repeat button. While some various artists compilations are good for a spin or two to discover a new band every now and then, this particular collection of songs feels like a punk rock party that is sure to make you wonder just how Red Scare was able to pull this off.
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Recently I was able to connect with New York City indie rock band, Gamblers, to discuss everything that went into the writing process for their new single called ”Agita.” I also asked them about the aesthetic behind their music video for the track and what they hope their fans will feel when listening to the new single. Gamblers’ latest LP, Pulverizer, is out now wherever you stream your music.
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