Damion – “Come Alive” (Video Premiere)

Adam Grundy Jun 29, 2022

Today I’m excited to share the latest music video from singer/songwriter Damion, called “Come Alive.” The single comes from his forthcoming debut LP called Special Interest, that will release on July 20th via Earth Libraries. On the song, Damion shared, “This is the last song I wrote for the album. It occurred to me that most of my songs are full of augmented, major 7 chords, and other weird chord clusters I can’t even name, so I wanted to write a really simple song with only major and minor chords. I recorded a demo by myself and the music sounded so vibrant and confident that I thought I needed to write lyrics from the point of view of a bush-league character.”

Adam Grundy Jun 28, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to share the fourth single from post-rock duo, Canadensis, from their upcoming record The Decades Apart Have Weathered Us Both, called “As the Fog Swallowed the Beacon’s Light.” The album was recorded live, with no overdubs, and only speaks to the power of the two musicians being in tune with each other to create beautiful art. Canadensis shared this about the latest single:

While the first three tracks of The Decades Apart Have Weathered Us both are from the perspective of the ego experiencing a fragmentation of the soul and the path that follows; ‘As the Fog Swallows the Beacon’s Light’ is a window into the perspective of the fragment, becoming an individual as time separates their existence from the collective. It explores a pensive space where the futility of the ritual of lighting a beacon is realized.

If you’re enjoying the direction the band took here, their new album will officially be released on July 29th.

Adam Grundy Jun 27, 2022

Today is a great day to share the new music video from new rockers, Her Head’s On Fire, for their electric new single called “Lexicon of Doubt.” The band will be releasing their debut record entitled College Rock and Clove Cigarettes to make their unique stamp on the music scene. Lead vocalist Joseph Grillo had this to say about the latest single:

’Lexicon of Doubt,’ like most of my songs, is written directly to myself. They are desperate pleas to become a better person, or to finally shed the last remains of last year’s husk of skin and grow anew, open eyes, and feverishly excited like a child seeing the sunrise for the first time. Life seems to be mostly about adapting and pushing through to the next chapter. To see and overcome obstacles, to be a more improved version of yourself, or if I may be so bold to quote myself from my youth, to ‘learn to struggle.’

If you’re enjoying the new and exciting direction Her Head’s On Fire went with, you can pre-order their debut album here.

Jason Tate Jun 25, 2022

This week’s newsletter tries to make up for missing last week by being jam-packed with treats. We have brief first impressions of the new albums from The Midnight, The Wonder Years, The Interrupters, and Yours Truly, and we have some thoughts on other music and entertainment I’ve been enjoying the past couple of weeks. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I think are worth your time, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.

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The Other Each Other – “Heads” (Song Premiere)

Adam Grundy Jun 23, 2022

Today I’m excited to share the latest single from The Other Each Other called “Heads.” The song comes from the band’s new album Mirror Memorials that will be released on June 24th, and sounds like a mix between Phantogram and Ty Segall. The band comes from the mind of Joel Finch, and the single tackles the theme of being trapped inside our homes during the pandemic, while feeling like that experience is a luxury to have. Finch mentioned, “Note to self: all the problems you spend too long trying to solve daily are inconsequential. You will look back and not remember them. You might just remember what you did instead, possibly outside. Also, your dog wants to go on a walk.” If you’re enjoying the direction that this artist took on the latest single, you can purchase the new song starting tomorrow here.

Adam Grundy Jun 22, 2022

Recently I was able to catch up with lead vocalist, Angel Marshal, of the Latin-infused alternative rock band called Los Saints. In this interview, I asked him about the band’s core influences that they put into their new EP called Welcome To Confusion, how the band does the majority of their songwriting, as well as a fun question about the albums that shaped who Los Saints are as musicians.

Adam Grundy Jun 22, 2022

Today is a great day to share the new single called “Falling” from Chayla Hope. This singer is from Cleveland, Ohio and would be perfect for fans of Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa. In fact, the song was mixed by 10-time Grammy Award winner Josh Gudwin (Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny). On this latest song, Hope evokes an emotional response to falling in love.

Adam Grundy Jun 21, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to share the latest music video from Katrina Ford, a great singer and songwriter who will be releasing her debut solo and self-titled EP this Friday via Violin Films. For those unfamiliar with the artist, Ford channels the creativity of Fiona Apple paired with the earnest hooks of Purity Ring into a package that feels refreshing and unique at the same time. On this single called “I’m Found,” she shared, “”Home in my heart at last! This song was written as one thought over the course of a few hours, later the details fell into place. It’s about finally feeling safe in your heart. Feeling a connection to Creator. After much adversity and a long hard few years, we finally felt like we had found level.” I was also able to catch up with Katrina Ford for a quick chat about her music.

Adam Grundy Jun 20, 2022

Today I’m excited to share the latest single from electronic pop artist D’Arcy for her new song entitled “Ecstasy.” The artist recently released her debut EP Hard To Kill last year, and has since earned over 1 million streams on Spotify. Her unique brand of bedroom pop paired with frenetic beats showcases the breadth of her abilities to convey wide ranges of emotions through her music. On this latest song, D’Arcy shared, “Ecstasy’ is about the fine line between pleasure and pain; the concept for the song derived from the feeling of being at a party and wondering what everyone else there is trying to escape from, if anything at all.” If you’re enjoying the direction she took on this track, you can pre-save it here.

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Interview: The Dangerous Summer

Adam Grundy Jun 16, 2022

Recently, I was able to catch up with AJ Perdomo and Matt Kennedy of The Dangerous Summer for a Zoom call to discuss everything that went into the band’s upcoming full-length record. I asked the band about their new partnership with Rude Records, including some insight on the type of deal they signed, and we also chatted about the band’s legacy and what they feel they can still contribute to the music scene at this stage in their careers. The Dangerous Summer are scheduled to release their second single from the new album on June 17th, with the LP scheduled to be released this August.

Adam Grundy Jun 16, 2022

Today is the perfect day to share the latest single from Santa Barbara indie rock/folk band Plastic Harpoons, a great Americana-styled song reminiscent of Bob Dylan paired with the modern sheen of accomplished songwriters like Brian Fallon and Brandon Flowers. Lead vocalist Taylor Casey shared this about the new single:

”Diamond Wings” is a story about a modern day Icarus – a man obsessed with climbing higher, disillusioned by the life that he leads. He separates himself from the masses, via drugs, material possessions, and shows of wealth. Eventually, he loses perspective, ignoring the advice of his own father along the way, leading to dire consequences. I think unintentionally the song is also a metaphor for my thoughts on the current state of modern man. The song, originally just played on acoustic is filled out with snappy slide guitar, jangling piano, a grounding and pocketed baseline, and no-nonsense drums, paired with a rambling Dylan-esque vocal.

If you’re enjoying the new and exciting direction Plastic Harpoons took on this track, their full-length record will be out on October 21st via Lolipop Records.

Adam Grundy Jun 15, 2022

Today I couldn’t be happier to share the latest single from the synth-rock band from Philadelphia, named Crozet, for their great new song called “My Racing Heart.” The track comes from their upcoming full-length record, Suburbia, which will be self-released on July 1st. This band reminds me of the dripping nighttime synths of M83 paired with the pop sensibilities and quirkiness of Toro y Moi, but really they’re well on their way to having a unique sound that is simply Crozet. The band shared this about “My Racing Heart:”

During the height of the pandemic I dealt with the worst anxiety I’ve ever experienced in my life. I never expected to be living in the city again with nowhere to go, nothing to do, and no one to see. I know I wasn’t alone in feeling that way. I was in fact fortunate enough to have the creative outlet of Crozet to allow me and Sean to continue collaborating on music remotely. During that time period I was listening to a lot of music produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in an attempt to keep my spirits up. Producing a track in this style was definitely a new experience for Sean and I. We tried to keep the sounds of the synths, guitars, bass and drums true to the style of a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis track. Lyrically this was one of those songs that kind of wrote itself once I started getting into it. I hope people can relate to the feelings the lyrics speak of.

If you’re enjoying the direction that Crozet went with here, please consider pre-ordering Suburbia here.

Adam Grundy Jun 14, 2022

Recently I had the chance to catch up with the frontman of NY-based pop-punk band Bad Luck. As Dominick Fox and I chatted about the upcoming new music from his band, it became apparent that his confidence level in what his band is cooking up could take a lot of people by surprise. We discussed everything that went into the recording of the band’s last album, Summer of Pain, their difficulties with touring in a pandemic, as well as what the future holds for the direction of the band’s music.

Adam Grundy Jun 14, 2022

Today I’m excited to share the latest single from Philadelphia’s own Pine Barons, called “In The Air.” The song is a cover of The Fishmans’, a Japanese pop group that stormed their scene in the 80’s and 90’s. The song reminds me of lush dream pop meshed with psychedelic rock. Imagine if Beach House and Phish ever collaborated on a song; it might sound a lot like this. Lead vocalist Keith Abrams had this to say about the cover:

”In The Air” has such a haunting quality to it, both in the lyrics and the way it moves, and I get such a strong emotional response when I listen to it, like I can feel my heart breaking. The first version I had heard was the live performance off Otokotachi no Wakare. From this sort of cosmic meditative intro, like leaving the earth behind as you enter the upper atmosphere, and out comes this creeping hypnotic pulse with the bass and drums. The progression, as simplistic as it is, feels somehow ahead of its time, and it blew me away. As the last Fishmans single to be released in 1998, it was an important one to include on this album. I wanted to marry the essence of the live version with the studio version, with a slight deviation from the structure. When it feels like it might come to an end, it sort of blasts off into this other realm where you might forget you’re listening to the same song.

By putting a new spin on a classic, Pine Barons are off and running towards being your next key musical discovery.

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Jude Flannery – “Quiet By Your Side” (Video Premiere)

Adam Grundy Jun 13, 2022

Today I’m happy to share the latest music video from Jude Flannery for his song “Quiet By Your Side.” Flannery enlisted Matt Barrick (The Walkmen), Robbie Bennett (The War on Drugs), Quentin Stoltzfus (Light Heat) to both play on and produce the new record, and form a supergroup of sorts. Flannery shared this about the new single:

I wanted to write a song about what it means to be comfortable. For me, that is the ability to quiet my mind. The more I thought about this song, it also feels like my relationship with music – it’s always nearby, it moves me and lulls me into a state of listening calm. It’s funny but I think that ended up happening when we recorded the song as well – we immediately felt what the song needed and just played it. I started with the acoustic guitar and vocals and Quentin laid down the bass line from the control room as I was recording it. Matt added drums on top of that in what seemed like a single take and Robbie’s keys filled in the rest quickly.

If you’re enjoying the new song/video as much as I think you will, his full-length record will drop this September.

Damion – “Come Alive” (Video Premiere)

Canadensis – “As The Fog Swallowed The Beacon’s Light” (Song Premiere)

Her Head’s On Fire – “Lexicon of Doubt” (Video Premiere)

Liner Notes (June 25th, 2022)

The Other Each Other – “Heads” (Song Premiere)

Interview: Los Saints

Chayla Hope – “Falling” (Song Premiere)

Katrina Ford – “I’m Found” (Video Premiere)

D’Arcy – “Ecstasy” (Song Premiere)

Interview: The Dangerous Summer

Plastic Harpoons – “Diamond Wings” (Video Premiere)

Crozet – “My Racing Heart” (Song Premiere)

Interview: Dominick Fox of Bad Luck.

Pine Barons – “In The Air” (Song Premiere)

Jude Flannery – “Quiet By Your Side” (Video Premiere)