Another week, another newsletter. Thoughts on music, movies, and some other random commentary. There’s also a playlist of ten songs worth your time, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
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Read More “Liner Notes (November 19th, 2022)”
Today is a great day to share the latest single from indie rockers, Bridal Party, called “Pool.” On this track that fits somewhere between the quirky indie pop of Toro y Moi and the electric charged guitar bliss of Japanese Breakfast, Bridal Party make a significant step forward in their musical journey. The band is gearing up for the release of a new record, tentatively scheduled to be released sometime this winter.
Read More “Bridal Party – “Pool” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m excited to share with everyone the new single and music video from electronic indie-pop artist Jordi Up Late, called “To Be Your Friend.” While Jordi continues to steadily release new singles, her plan is to eventually string some more recordings together for an EP or potentially a debut full-length LP. On this great sounding new single, Jordi Up Late shared:
”TBYF” is about experiencing the dichotomy of resentment and gratitude after falling for the ‘idea’ of someone and facing that your disappointment lies in your own expectations of a person who was incapable of loving you before meeting you. In the end I gave the benefit of the doubt by extending friendship only to feel my hand slapped away and taken for granted. Though I am resentful in the dark melodies of the synth, and at times in the lyrics, I remind myself of my own power in singing directly and unapologetically to this person. I speak plainly that loving one another was impossible considering his lack of confidence and that loving him was only worth it for the lessons learned.”
With a plethora of hooks and impressive songwriting chops, Jordi Up Late has crafted a single worthy of your next perfect playlist. I was also able to catch up with this artist for a brief interview.
Read More “Jordi Up Late – “To Be Your Friend” (Video Premiere)”
Today is the perfect time to share the latest single and music video from Donaher called “For Your Love.” The track comes from the band’s latest LP, Gravity and The Stars Above, which was released earlier this year via Jetsam-Flotsam. The song fits somewhere between the swooning best parts of early 00’s emo, paired with the backing in lyrical prowess of Dashboard Confessional. The band is comprised of Tristan Omand (Lead guitar / vocals), Adam Wood (Bass), Nick Lee (Drums), and Nick Lavallee (Lead vocals/guitar) shared this about the latest single:
“For Your Love” lyrically is timelessly lovelorn. Musically the song is a bridge between 90’s pop punk and early 00’s emo power pop. Inspired by a bad case of broken heart while trying to find true love again, the song’s influences are undeniably Chicago pop punk mainstays the Smoking Popes, early Green Day records, and (in the bridge particularly) a bit of Dashboard Confessional. In the video, Donaher is back in the garage and seem hopeful for what’s to come.
If you’ve been searching for your next musical obsession, look no further than Donaher.
Read More “Donaher – “For Your Love” (Video Premiere)”
Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to A New Violet, a brand spankin’ new pop-punk band from Orlando, Florida. The band is comprised of vocalist Beth Vandal (Summer Day Rescue, That I Am), Sean Manvell (guitar/vocals), Abner Jara (drums) and Ryan Ledbetter (bass), A New Violet have signed with Manic Kat Records and are ready for pop-punk domination. With influences that they wear proudly on their sleeves ranging from NOFX to Animals as Leaders, this new band has all the right assets to make a mark in the scene. On signing with the legendary indie label, Vandal shared:
It was unexpected for Manic Kat Records to reach out to me with the offer to sign to their awesome indie label. Being able to receive support for my music and band is something every hard working artist dreams about. I am excited to be working with like-minded punk rock music lovers and to reach a worldwide audience by being a part of the Manic Kat Records Fam.
Step right up and hit play on “Runaway.”
Read More “A New Violet – “Runaway” (Song Premiere)”
Today is a great day to share the new album from Youth In A Roman Field, called Get Caught Trying. Youth In A Roman Field is led by Claire Wellin, the violinist and vocalist of Brooklyn’s indie rock band, San Fermin. On her latest offering, entitled Get Caught Trying, Wellin channels sweeping instrumentation backed with breathtaking vocals in crowd-pleasing arrangements. Wellin shared:
“I’ve struggled with depression and anger my entire life (grappling with it led to our band name) but it’s been really difficult to identify what anger is mine and what does not belong to me. It became necessary to figure that out over the last six years, and create a path for living with instead of against it. What began as an exercise in self-soothing culminated in my exploring generational patterns and trauma, and the anger that accompanies it, as a thread between myself and the women who came before me. Get Caught Trying is an attempt to make sense of that, while opening up time & space for enjoyment, humor, and healing in the process.”
If you’ve been looking for the next great artist to put on your radar, look no further than Youth In A Roman Field.
Read More “Youth In A Roman Field – ‘Get Caught Trying’ (Album Stream)”I had the opportunity to take some photos from the Midtown reunion shows at the Garden Grove Amphitheater in California on October 14th. You can find those below.
Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the debut single from an artist named Jin Woo, called “Don’t Be Late For the End of the World.” On this great-sounding track, Woo is making it his mission to “save the kids” and be a beacon of hope for all who check out his unique brand of music. If you’re enjoying the early listen, don’t forget to purchase the single when it releases on November 11th. I was also able to catch up with Jin Woo for a brief chat about the new single:
Read More “Jin Woo – “Don’t Be Late For the End of the World” (Song Premiere)”
Today is a great day to introduce everyone to Kit Major, a great pop artist in the same vein as Poppy and Avril Lavigne, who has graciously agreed to share her new EP Vampire Saturday early with our audience. This debut EP will be released everywhere music is sold on November 9th. Kit Major shared:
Vampire Saturday is the first EP project I’ve put out. I wanted to wait until I had a story to tell. This is the story of my twenty-something experience. Through love, heartbreak, and self reflection comes rock ‘n roll. This EP is self-reflective, like most of my music. It’s intimate, edgy, rowdy, and angsty. It’s also nostalgic for my own young days, my late teens, earliest 20s. That time in your life when you’re desperate to finish growing up and become the person you are destined to be.
If you’ve been looking for that next great artist that checks all of the boxes of awesomeness, look no further than Kit Major.
Read More “Kit Major – Vampire Saturday (Album Stream)”
Drowse has delivered some of the best electronic and experimental music over the past few years dating back to their 2018 Flenser debut Cold Air. Now four years later with death, pandemic, and intense introspection all occurring in between, Kyle Bates is back with Drowse’s stunning fourth album, Wane Into It. As challenging as it is dark, Wane Into It explores how we curate the memories we want others to remember us by and how the internet plays an integral role in that. It’s a hyperrealistic and surreal look into loss, death, and all the anxiety that gets wrapped up into it. Today we are proud to premiere the final taste of Wane Into It before it releases on November 11th – the penultimate track “Three Faces (Cyanoacrylate).” A gentle acoustic strum paces the eight-and-a-half minute track before descending into sinister tones, all while Bates airy vocals chronicle what we lose due to distance and memory. But before we get into that, Kyle and I discussed the new record, what spurred some of the themes on Wane Into It, and ultimately what he hopes this record accomplishes. Check that out and “Three Faces (Cyanoacrylate)” below.
Read More “Drowse – Three Faces (Cyanoacrylate) (Song Premiere + Interview)”
This week’s newsletter has thoughts on music out this week (and last), some early first impressions of the new Anti-Flag album, and commentary on other media I’ve consumed recently. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed, 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.
Read More “Liner Notes (November 6th, 2022)”
Today is a great day to introduce everyone to K!lly !dol, an indie artist that sounds like a mix between YUNGBLUD and The Strokes. On his latest single and music video for “Wannabe!” this artist channels his hunger for superstardom in a well-rounded song. I was able to catch up with the artist for a brief interview about this single.
Read More “K!lly !dol – “Wannabe!” (Video Premiere)”
Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Chris Lewis (lead guitarist) and Scott Russo (lead vocalist) of Unwritten Law to discuss the band’s latest album, The Hum. In this interview, we chatted about the 20th anniversary of Elva, the legacy of Unwritten Law, as well as the songs they are most excited to play live during their upcoming headlining tour of the United States.
Read More “Chris Lewis and Scott Russo of Unwritten Law”
Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest single from Asylums called “Signs Of Life.” On this electric-charged single, Asylums channel the best parts of rock n’ roll with a blistering guitar groove that would even make Blur jealous. Lead vocalist Luke Branch shared:
Musically speaking we tried to broaden the edges slightly on this album, quite frankly we didn’t know if we would ever get to play it live so exploring the studio felt apt. We brought in strings, piano, organ and other sounds but still tried to stay true to our artistic values. I personally like to think of this album as our ‘Rubber Soul’ (The Beatles) or maybe even our ‘Out of Time’ (R.E.M.).
The track comes from the band’s recently released new LP Signs of Life.
Read More “Asylums – “Signs of Life” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m excited to share the latest single from Saint Christopher, called “Colina.” The song comes from his new LP entitled Pop Shit, out everywhere this Friday, October 28th. On this ballad, Chris Kalil shared:
Every pop album needs a sappy love ballad, I don’t make the rules. One of those songs where you stop playing it cool and just dive head-first into the corny, by-the-numbers, Hallmark version of love. Sometimes there’s still some truth in the platitudes. The message of ‘Colina’ is simple: life sucks but love is beautiful. When the bad times come it’s better to go through them together.”
Get ready to explore the best parts of a sappy love song on Saint Christopher’s single.
Read More “Saint Christopher – “Colina” (Song Premiere)”
