This week’s newsletter has thoughts on new music, a few books I’ve been enjoying, and some good (and badly good) movies. 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.
Read More “Liner Notes (February 11th, 2024)”
Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single from pop singer, Madeline Rhodes, called “Bailing on Your Birthday.” On the first single from her upcoming LP, The Brothel, Rhodes channels slick pop hooks paired with a great vocal performance.
It was my best friend’s birthday and I was having a terrible depressive episode,” Rhodes recalled on the track’s origins. “I called her after the party had already started and told her I wasn’t coming. She was pissed and I was like ‘it’s not always about you!!!’…on her birthday. Rude. But also kinda true? I wrote this song as an explanation for my absence at her party. I hope that when she hears it, she forgives me.
I was also able to catch up with this talented songwriter for a brief interview below.
Read More “Madeline Rhodes – “Bailing On Your Birthday” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single from indie rock artist, Rachel Ana Dobken, called “Bed You Made.” Dobken collaborated with Blind Melon guitarist, Rogers Stevens, and the single is taken from the forthcoming LP, Acceptance, that will be released later on this year. Dobken says in regards to Stevens’ guitar parts, “for the verses he came up with this crazy line that fit so perfectly with the vocals. Whenever you listen to his playing on any of the Blind Melon records, it’s like, ‘Who would write this?’ This is so unique.’ And he brought that same energy to ‘Bed You Made.’” If you’re enjoying the early listen, you can pre-save the single here.
Read More “Rachel Ana Dobken – “Bed You Made” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Spencer LaJoye, a talented folk/pop singer-songwriter who is sharing an early listen to their new single called “Someday You’ll Wake Up Okay.” The track comes from their new album, Shadow Puppets, that will be released everywhere music is sold on February 16th. Spencer LaJoye shared, “There was a time in my young adulthood when if you’d have come to me from the future to say, ‘Hey kid, someday you’re gonna wake up and feel okay,’ I would not have believed you. I was so uncomfortable with and ashamed of myself, my body, and my desires. But the truth is that I wake up almost every day now feeling okay. I wish my younger self could know that, so this song is my attempt to tell them.” I was also able to catch up with this artist for a brief interview below.
Read More “Spencer LaJoye – “Someday You’ll Wake Up Okay” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single by power pop band, Shadow Show, called “On A Cloud.” Taken from their upcoming LP called Fantasy Now!, that will be out everywhere music is sold on February 16th, this electric track channels the band’s love of 60’s psychedelic rock paired with pure pop bliss in their hooks. The band shared, “‘On a Cloud’ is the finale of our upcoming album, Fantasy Now!, With this track we offer a mantra of hope, peace and triumph over adversity. As a personal favorite, we strive to share the joy we felt while creating this song with the listener.” If you’re digging the new single by Shadow Show, you can pre-order their new album here.
Read More “Shadow Show – “On A Cloud” (Song Premiere)”
The first newsletter of February is here. Some thoughts on music, entertainment, and other random stuff. 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.
Read More “Liner Notes (February 3rd, 2024)”
Today is a great day to share the newest single from Good Cop Bad Cop called “Running Away With The Circus,” the second single to be released from their sophomore album, Welcome To The Marble Zone. The brainchild of Joe Carnall Jr., Good Cop Bad Cop will lift the curtain on their new LP Welcome To The Marble Zone, the follow-up to 2019’s self-titled release from Sheffield’s finest, on April 5th, 2024. Carnall added, “Over the past few years, I’ve been intrigued by the soundclash of guitars and electronic music, as I found myself listening to a lot of New Order whilst writing the record. Aside from the obvious ‘hooky’ bass lines and 808-inspired drums, I became a little obsessed with Bernard Sumner’s vocal melodies and deliveries, which is abundantly clear on ‘Running Away With The Circus’.” If you’re enjoying the early listen to the new single, you can pre-save the album here.
Read More “Good Cop Bad Cop – “Running Away With The Circus” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest single and music video from Oakland, CA post-punk band, States of Nature, called “Papered News.” Coming off of the success of their debut EP, Songs To Sway, the band is gearing up for the release of their debut LP called Brighter Than Before, out everywhere music is sold on February 16th. States of Nature shared:
’Papered News’ is a song about finding your people and making life changes. Everyone needs someone in your life who can validate where you are and encourage you to continue or take that risk that you hope will make things better. Just knowing someone’s in your corner can help you get out of a bad place. The song was one of the first written for the record and helped center the vibe of the whole album. We wanted to make the video bright, fun, and silly to go along with the playful nature of the song.
If you’re enjoying the latest taste of States of Nature, please consider pre-ordering their debut record here.
Read More “States of Nature – “Papered News” (Video Premiere)”
Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Mackenzie Shivers, an ultra-talented NY-based singer-songwriter who is gearing up for releasing her new album, primrose was in season, later this year. Her latest single and video for “johnny gown” is a synth-driven track about going through grief privately, and a reminder that you never know what someone is going through. Shivers shared:
When I wrote ‘johnny gown’, it struck me how we are all working through things no one else sees. I had been working so hard to let myself feel all emotions after having a miscarriage, because that was the only way I knew how to move through the grief. Radical acceptance of all feelings. And while that was essential, it was also very exhausting, and it affected how I moved through the world. I felt like I was wearing this heavy yet invisible cloak, this secret. It was a reminder that you never know what someone is going through. We all have our shit.
Mackenzie Shivers is an artist to watch as this year unfolds.
Read More “Mackenzie Shivers – “johnny gown” (Video Premiere)”
Another week, another newsletter. 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.
Read More “Liner Notes (January 27th, 2024)”
Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone a new acoustic video performance from Frank Viele called “Mountains We Can Climb.” On this heartfelt song, Frank Viele channels the best parts of rustic Americana music with veteran ease. Viele is currently on tour in support of the single, and the dates are below. I was also able to catch up with this talented songwriter for a brief interview below.
Read More “Frank Viele – “Mountains We Can Climb” (Video Premiere)”
Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Sean Scanlon, the lead vocalist/keyboardist of Alt Rock band, Smallpools, to discuss everything that went into their great new single called “Night Shift.” In this interview, I asked Sean about how the band typically does most of their writing, his favorite songs in Smallpools’ discography, as well as the upcoming touring plans. Smallpools will be touring the U.S. with Grayscale starting this April and tickets are currently on sale.
Read More “Sean Scanlon of Smallpools”
This week’s newsletter looks at Green Day’s new album and sprinkles in some other thoughts on the music and entertainment I spent time with last week. 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.
Read More “Liner Notes (January 20th, 2024)”
Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single from Aussie pop artist, Ben Hazlewood, called “Always There.” On this heart-wrenching track, Hazlewood encapsulates the feeling of a one-sided relationship. As Hazlewood writes on the single, “‘Why don’t you love me?’ The question hands in the air, frozen in time, a mirror to my soul being left in the cold. I hoped I could translate through song an audible monument to love’s resilience. Despite your attempts to knock it down, my love is ‘Always There.'” Ben Hazlewood understands the beauty of pop music, and he’s an artist to watch as this year unfolds.
Read More “Ben Hazlewood – “Always There” (Song Premiere)”
Today is a great day to share the latest single from Alt-Pop artist, Joseph Luca, called “My Best Dancing Shoes.” With a style that fits somewhere in the realm of Prince, Jeff Buckley, and Miguel, Luca showcases his depth as a talented songwriter. Speaking on the track, Luca shared:
”My Best Dancing Shoes” is a poignant musical narrative that encapsulates the intricacy of an unrequited love story. It weaves the tale of an individual grappling with the acceptance of their authentic self, compelled by a love that remains un-reciprocated. The song beautifully metaphorizes dancing shoes as a symbol of embracing one’s purest and most genuine identity despite facing adversity. It speaks of patiently waiting for a kindred spirit to arrive, a partner willing to join in the dance of life as true equals.
The latest single comes from the newly announced EP, PART 2: Ouroboros (Death), that will be released everywhere music is sold on February 16th. I was also able to catch up with Joseph Luca for a brief interview below.
Read More “Joseph Luca – “My Best Dancing Shoes” (Song Premiere)”