Diamond States – “While You Were Sleeping” (Song Premiere)

Adam Grundy Oct 25, 2023

Today is a great day to introduce everyone to the power pop band known as Diamond States. While some have classified their sound as “American Britpop,” this band features a nice blend of Alternative Rock, dream pop, and indie rock in a package that is sure to leave you feeling better about the prospects for new music today. “While You Were Sleeping” is a tribute to the band’s guitarist Bryan Frazier’s late friend, Rob Fisher, who passed away in 2016. As Frazier puts it, “‘While You Were Sleeping’ is sort of a one-sided conversation with Rob. Just imagining that he’s still out there somewhere, and that we’ll meet again someday.” The single was mixed by veteran producer/engineer Brian Reeves (U2, Sparks, Rooney), and sounds as heavenly as its likely intended to be.

Adam Grundy Oct 20, 2023

Today I’m excited to announce that singer-songwriter Adam Lytle has released his new LP called This is the Fire. Adam Lytle writes songs that explore the darker regions of the heart. When speaking on his new record, Lytle shared, “I wanted to write in a way that spoke to the feelings of anxiety and disillusionment that many in my community are feeling. This is anti-escapism. It meets the issues head-on.” Known for the mysterious power of his live performances, Lytle honed his craft for years leading acclaimed bands, Quicksilver Daydream and Wild Leaves. He has won over crowds all across North America; sharing the stage with Marlon Williams, Daniel Romano, Imarhan, and appearing at festivals like NXNE, MidPoint Music Festival, and CMJ. If you’re enjoying the album stream, please consider supporting this talented artist here.

Adam Grundy Oct 17, 2023

Today is a great day to get reacquainted with modern folk artist, Hallie Spoor. Her new EP, Heart Like Thunder, has now been released, and her sound channels 70’s music stalwarts like Joni Mitchell, but with the modern pop sheen of Sheryl Crow. When speaking on the direction of her new EP, Spoor shared:

Heart Like Thundertells the painful truth that when things get difficult, sometimes it’s easier to slip away than try. Yet, ironically, writing and recording Heart Like Thunder allowed me to do just the opposite: to live authentically, to rewrite my stories in their purest, truest versions. When I look at this record as a whole, I realize that I’m much more honest — and far wiser — in songs about my life than I am in my real life. Writing these songs gave me the chance to re-frame experiences in a way that healed me. In place of villains and martyrs, now I could see the characters as both flawed and beautiful.

Hallie Spoor is delivering the goods in more ways than one.

Adam Grundy Oct 17, 2023

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest taste of Endearments, called “Selfish.” Though Endearments’ new forthcoming EP, It Can Be Like This, largely pivots away from the angstier subject matter of the band’s earlier releases, the onset of new love nonetheless yields its own unexpected ambivalence. The band’s latest single, “Selfish,” cuts celebration with caution, as front-man Kevin Marksson grapples with what he calls, “the liminal space before anyone has said ‘I love you,’” where excitement is laced with fragility and the past still looms. Carried by drummer Will Haywood Smith’s steady groove and guitarist Anjali Nair’s staccato-picked leads, “Selfish” builds to a rapturous bridge — “Would it hurt me if you say you love me?” — that explodes with a gust of Nair’s distorted guitar. The EP’s emotional core, “Selfish” climaxes in a falsetto final chorus, with moments of intimate candor criss-crossing questions of readiness to love again. If you’re enjoying the latest single by this talented band, please consider pre-ordering the EP at their Bandcamp page.

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Wilson Getchell – “This To That” (Album Stream)

Adam Grundy Oct 13, 2023

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone that Thirsty Curses’ front-man, Wilson Getchell, is releasing his debut EP called This To That on October 13th. This To That opens with the puerile and playful coming of age tune, “Brand New Nintendo,” in which Getchell humorously retraces his life’s missteps, and ponders the resulting twists and turns. It’s followed by the Pavement-esque “This Just Might Take Some Time,” a cathartic post-breakup anthem with a banging saxophone solo, and then the toe-tapper “Trauma Queen.” The EP is rounded out by the existential crisis themed “Fifty Straight Nights,” and the ballad “Are You Still There?”, an orchestral-ish rearrangement of a tune which previously appeared on Thirsty Curses’ To The Ends of The Earth. Getchell shared, “Earlier this year, my band Thirsty Curses took a couple months off and I started recording a handful of songs which ultimately became This to That. When we’ve recorded Thirsty Curses material in the past, we’ve always tried to present the songs in the same way we would perform them live. This solo EP was much more of a studio record which allowed me to explore some different sounds and instrumentation. I performed all the instruments on the new EP with the exception of guest appearances by Jason Froeber (saxophone on “This Just Might Take Some Time” and “Trauma Queen”), Tee Corbett (trumpet on “Brand New Nintendo”), and Lodge McCammon (cello and bass on “Are You Still There?”). I think the new tunes came out pretty great and I’m excited to finally get to share them.” If you’re enjoying the early listen, please consider purchasing the EP.

Adam Grundy Oct 12, 2023

Today is a great day to share that singer-songwriter Frank Viele has returned with a great new single and video for a song that’s sure to pull on all your heartstrings, called “Trying to Raise a Man.” When speaking on the track’s origins, Viele shared:

”Trying To Raise A Man” is a song that came from a place of honesty, gratitude, and perspective. It was written on the first Mother’s Day of my life I couldn’t be with my mother due to the pandemic and corresponding quarantine rules. Writing this song was my way of still being with her in my mind and heart that day. The way my young adult life panned out, it ended up me and mom versus the world at a real confusing age for me. It wasn’t until I got older that I started to realize just how hard it is to be a parent and as I grew up and conquered so many obstacles in front of me, I eventually realized how all that strength and perseverance that became synonymous with my character came directly from my mother and the sacrifices she made for me and my siblings.

If you’re ready to discover your next favorite artist, Frank Viele is here for you. I was also able to catch up with this talented songwriter for an interview below.

Adam Grundy Oct 9, 2023

Today I’m excited to share with everyone the news that Hawaii post-hardcore band, Mara Bloom, have returned with their debut LP called They Who Invite. Along with a deeply evolved conceptual storytelling style, the new record also transcends the sonic bounds of the genre. Increasingly progressive elements are introduced with unusual song structures and winding referential lyrics. Influences of Japanese city pop and progressive metal riffs are abundant and tangible, creating an attention grabbing brand of modern hardcore. And while frenetic, the young quintet have crafted an astute songwriting, that glazes the top of a gripping rookie collection. The band breaks down the full album in an exclusive track-by-track below.

Adam Grundy Oct 6, 2023

Today is a great day to share the latest single from indie singer-songwriter, Matt Costa, called “The Golden Ghost.” On this textured, western folk song, Costa channels rich musical landscapes similar to Bon Iver and The Decemberists. Speaking on the track, Costa said, “Golden Ghost is a song that I wrote after meeting a long lost relative. I started writing it in the morning, took an eight hour drive through the mojave desert, and came home late that same night to complete the song. I felt strange that an Imagined reality can be more powerful than an actual one. I recorded it in the golden state of California.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider supporting this artist here. I was also able to catch up with Matt for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy Oct 5, 2023

Today I’m ecstatic to share with everyone the news that Great Good Fine Ok has returned with an electric-charged new single, “Will We Make It?” The band has recently signed to the label Nettwerk and will be releasing their next EP in early-2024. “Will We Make It?” showcases a revitalized soundscape of Great Good Fine Ok, blending warbling vocals with bass-y synths that are sure to entice listeners. The track features hypnotic high register gliding over a bridge that sets the stage for lead singer Jon Sandler’s emotionally charged plea, ”I really need to know right now, will we make it?” This lyrical exclamation delves into the uncertainty that often accompanies today’s complex world of relationships and connections with a relatable perspective. In 2022, the guys traded Brooklyn for Los Angeles. Adding more live instrumentation and pulling inspirations from “seventies jazz-rock” and R&B, they are channeling Steely Dan, Prince, and other influences. The band also shared:

A couples therapist once told my partner and me that if ‘you’re confused to halt action’ We became paralyzed by uncertainty obeying this advice. You can get so far into a downward spiral that you forget how you even got there – wish you could rewind and ‘analyze the video.’ You can yell ‘I really need to know right now, will we make it,’ but there’s no one who can really answer that question, and you can never know for sure anyway. One thing is certain though: life is just a string of days and if you’re unhappy for a lot of them, you might want to make a change.

If you’re enjoying the early listen to the new single, you can pre-save it here.

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Helena Hallberg – “From The Outside” (Video Premiere)

Adam Grundy Oct 5, 2023

Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single and video from Nashville-based artist, Helena Hallberg, called “From The Outside.” The song comes from the newly announced LP, EPITHET, that will be out next spring, and showcases this talented artist’s growth as a songwriter. While Hallberg takes inspiration from Joni Mitchell and ABBA, she displays a folk prowess to her music that exudes confidence and has a contemporary feel to it much like Maggie Rogers is doing. Hallberg shared:

The song came to me as a sort of anthem to my own journey; Moving to the US and taking a chance on building something better, while also acknowledging that journeys often don’t have happy ends– and that’s ok. Because while your life may not play out exactly the way you had envisioned, you can always be proud of taking that step out, you’ll be a better person for it.

The video captures the heart of the song, and marks Hallberg as a key artist to watch as this year unfolds.

Adam Grundy Oct 4, 2023

Today I’m excited to introduce everyone to experimental indie band, Salamander, and their latest single called “The Label.” Their debut LP, [Container], will be released later on this month and this third single from the set showcases an artist willing to take calculated risks on a distorted shoegaze track that expands upon the possibilities of the band. Band member Leo Frampton shared:

I woke up one morning with the melody to the label in my head, and immediately made a guitar demo on my computer. PJ’s ableton beat on this really gives me chills. I have a verse about loneliness and alienation, PJ later sings about surviving the apocalypse, and in an emotional ending, we bring it all together. ‘the label’ is what people see from the outside, it is what they choose to look at or away from.

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

Adam Grundy Oct 4, 2023

Today I’m excited to bring everyone the latest single from three-piece rock band, Population II, called “Pourquoi qu’on dort pas.” On this electric new track, the band delivers a heavy, psychedelic rock-infused sound with feverish funk rhythms, a hint of jazz philosophy, a burst of early punk energy, and a love of minor scales that harkens back to the roots of heavy metal. I was able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy Sep 29, 2023

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest single and video from Miss Velvet called “Zumirez.” Channeling the legends of classic rock with powerhouse vocals, impeccable leather style, and an elusive sense of danger that takes you by surprise, Miss Velvet has taken the rock n roll world by storm. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for an interview below.

Adam Grundy Sep 29, 2023

Today I’m so excited to share with everyone an exclusive track-by-track feature by Welsh pop-punk band,Honeytalks, regarding their new EP titled There’s Hope in the Hopeless. Despite less than two years in existence, Welsh wunderkinds Honeytalks have already landed acclaim from BBC Introducing, as well as Kerrang Radio (finishing 2^nd in the Marshall Records competition) and Bowling for Soup front-man Jaret Reddick. Upcoming sophomore EP, There’s Hope in Hopeless marries the best of the Drive-Thru Records era with a punchy and contemporary pop-punk grit. The record embodies struggle, positivity and triumph for those who feel marginalized and misunderstood. Mental health is at the thematic core of the new collection, but the overarching message is one of strength and hope, inspired by Honeytalks’ uplifting brand of melodic punk. This track-by-track was put together by Adam Scott, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Honeytalks, and the EP is available on all streaming services starting today.

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Super City – “Hang Up” (Video Premiere)

Adam Grundy Sep 28, 2023

Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single and video from rock band, Super City, called “Hang Up.” On this electric-charged new track, that is sure to make you think as much as it makes you want to dance, Super City channel their love for guitar-based dance grooves paired with slick hooks. The band shared:

The song is sung from the perspective of someone who doesn’t feel strong enough to leave a relationship that they shouldn’t have entered in the first place. The main character explains how they were promised love, but instead only receives criticism and gets berated on the phone. The little voice in their head tells them to hang up, but they’re too weak. At the climax of the song, the main character makes a last ditch effort to impress their sharp-tongued partner with an insane guitar riff. This is to no avail and the song ends with the highest notes that we could sing.

If you’re enjoying the early listen to the single, please consider pre-ordering their new LP In The Midnight Room.

Diamond States – “While You Were Sleeping” (Song Premiere)

Adam Lytle – “This is the Fire” (Album Stream)

Hallie Spoor – “Heart Like Thunder” (Album Stream)

Endearments – “Selfish” (Song Premiere)

Wilson Getchell – “This To That” (Album Stream)

Frank Viele – “Trying To Raise A Man” (Video Premiere)

Mara Bloom – “They Who Invite” (Track-by-Track)

Matt Costa – “The Golden Ghost” (Song Premiere)

Great Good Fine Ok – “Will We Make It?” (Song Premiere)

Helena Hallberg – “From The Outside” (Video Premiere)

Salamander – “The Label” (Song Premiere)

Population II – “Pourquoi qu’on dort pas” (Song Premiere)

Miss Velvet – “Zumirez” (Video Premiere)

Honeytalks – “There’s Hope in the Hopeless” (Track-by-Track)

Super City – “Hang Up” (Video Premiere)