Lana Nauphal – “Is It Raining In California?” (Video Premiere)

Luna Nauphal

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest music video from songwriter Lana Nauphal, called “Is It Raining In California?” On this vibrant single that fits somewhere in the world of Ingrid Michaelson and Iron & Wine, Nauphal channels her love for sweeping instrumentation and pure songwriting bliss. This talented songwriter shared:

I wrote two songs about the rain, one very stormy summer spent in Washington, D.C. Summers in DC: it gets so hot and humid, and the pressure builds and builds and builds until it breaks into these raging storms; they’re hard not to write about, especially when they mirror your state of mind. ‘Is It Raining in California?’ is the second rain song I wrote. There was a wild thunderstorm one night at 3am and I couldn’t sleep, and this song just burst into my head, almost fully formed. ‘Is It Raining in California?’ is about the messy middle part of getting over someone, when you’re still yearning for them but don’t want to be, and you’re mad at yourself for feeling what you feel but you just can’t help it. So you ask if it’s raining where they are, however unlikely that may be, in the hopes that you might be sharing something still.

The song comes from her newly announced debut LP, Wildland, that will be released on May 24th, and if you’re enjoying the early listen, you can pre-save the track here.

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Graduation Speech – “No Confidence” (Song Premiere)

Graduation Speech

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone an early listen to the new single from New Jersey emo band, Graduation Speech, called “No Confidence.” With a sound that fits somewhere between the pop bliss of The Get Up Kids and the working-man rock of The Menzingers, Graduation Speech check all the boxes for what you’d want in a band. The band shared, “‘No Confidence’ is my attempt to sum up the feeling of disgust and fatigue from watching parasitic ghouls that show total disregard for humanity and people.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider pre-ordering their new LP called Arcane Feelings here.

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Sleepytime Gorilla Museum – “Hush, Hush” (Video Premiere)

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone a tasty slab of rock from Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, called “Hush, Hush.” Band member Carla Kihlstedt shared:

’Hush, Hush’ is a celebration of dusk, when angels and demons come out from the dusty corners of our houses and our minds to play. It was the first song I wrote after moving to the East Coast, the saddest part of which was leaving my dear Sleepytime Gorilla Museum comrades and community. Matthias and I formed a duo called Rabbit Rabbit Radio – making the most of our new lives and our self-imposed musical isolation. ‘Hush, Hush’ poured out of me — the music itself, an obvious tribute to all that I absorbed in so many years of living, rocking, creating, and conjuring both on stage and off, next to the fine humans of the Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

If you’re enjoying the new single, you can pre-order their upcoming LP titled Of The Last Human Being here.

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Skateland – “Autobahn!” (Video Premiere)

Skateland

Today is a great day to introduce everyone to the Austin-based bedroom pop artist known as Skateland. On his latest single, called “Autobahn!” Skateland makes writing breathtaking melodic hooks look easy. Skateland shared, “‘Autobahn!’ is a dialogue about the hills and valleys of love and relationships. The narrator begins the song with what he presumes is a breakup speech, but somehow along the way concedes that for better or worse he will always love this person, and that the tough parts of loving someone are what make it worth it in the end.” If you’re enjoying the early listen, you can pre-save the track here.

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Interview: Infant Island

Infant Island

On Friday, Infant Island will release one of the best records of 2024. “But Drew,” you say, “there’s only been 12 days of the year so far!” Trust me, I just know. Obsidian Wreath has been four years in the making from Fredericksburg, VA’s Infant Island. The quintet’s debut album on Touché Amoré’s Jeremy Bolm’s Secret Voice imprint (the band’s third full-length album overall), Obsidian Wreath captures the how desolate and dark our modern world is against a furious, scathing back drop of hardcore, screamo, and post-rock, as the album’s ten tracks paint a picture of survival, anxiety, and community. I was fortunate to speak with vocalist Daniel Kost, guitarist Alexander Rudenshiold, and bassist Kyle Guerra about the album’s themes, creation, and more.

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Interview: 2:00 AM Wake Up Call

2am Wake Up call

Recently I was able to schedule an interview with 2:00 AM Wake Up Call, the solo project from Micah Leith, to discuss the band’s latest single called ”No Nostalgia.” In this interview, I asked Micah about what went into the process for creating the visualizer video for the new track, how Micah does most of the songwriting for this project, and the opening of 2:00 AM Wake Up Call’s new merch store. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider supporting this artist here.

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Interview: Barely Civil

Barely Civil

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with one of my favorite up-and-coming emo bands in this scene, Barely Civil, who are gearing up for the release of their highly anticipated third LP. The record will be called I’d Say I’m Not Fine, and it was produced by Chris Tetti. In this interview, I asked the band members about the exciting new direction they took on this new LP, what they looked towards for inspiration, and much more. I’d Say I’m Not Fine will be available on March 22nd via Take This To Heart Records, and pre-orders are live.

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Ashlynn Malia – “Dying To Miss Out” (Video Premiere)

Ashlynn Malia

Today is a great day to share the latest single and video from Ashlynn Malia called “Dying To Miss Out.” On this electric-charged new track that’s based on recent heartache, Malia channels her love for artists like Halsey and Lana Del Rey into her own eclectic mix of pop. Malia shared, “This song’s for those situations where I’d rather be literally anywhere than around the person I miss most, not because I don’t want to see them, but because of how badly I do want to see them despite how painful the interactions are.” The song comes from her highly anticipated debut LP, MALIA, that will be released on February 2nd via Jullian Records. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.

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Susannah B – “Talkin’ To Myself” (Song Premiere)

Susannah B

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Susannah B, an ultra-talented songwriter who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming album, POV, with the lead single called “Talkin’ To Myself.” Susannah B shared:

I wrote it over 20 years ago during a time of profound change, when I was pregnant. What began as my own rallying cry against the creeping shadows of self-doubt has evolved, much like I have. The song has matured, with a bridge that’s been re-imagined and a chorus that’s deepened in its truthfulness, mirroring the way I now confront that persistent inner critic. This critical voice familiar to so many of us can bring me to a standstill even after all these years. Yet the song remains hopeful and honest about the reality that this struggle with self-doubt might be a lifelong companion for many.

Through its evolution, “Talkin’ to Myself” is for anyone who’s ever faced the paralyzing echoes of self-critique, reminding us that while the conversation with ourselves can be challenging, it’s a universal experience that binds us in our shared humanity.

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Josephine – “Normal” (Song Premiere)

Josephine

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Indie-Americana songwriter, Josephine, who is releasing her latest single called “Normal.” The song comes from her forthcoming EP, Leaning, that will be released this March. Josephine shared, “I wrote ‘Normal’ a little over a month after a breakup. This is when the initial sadness faded but it was still present and I was exhausted from it. I was over being a mess physically, mentally, and emotionally. I did multiple layers of vocals to create a haunting and pulling feeling, and I wanted you to be able to hear the upset and exhaustion in the harmonies.” If you’re ready to discover your next favorite artist who checks all of the boxes for what you’d want in a songwriter, Josephine is here for you.

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Charles Moothart – “One Wish” (Video Premiere)

Charles Moothart

Today is a great day to share the latest single and video from Charles Moothart, called “One Wish.” On this great-sounding new track, Moothart channels his love for psych rock in a crowd-pleasing package. The single comes from his new LP, Black Holes Don’t Choke, that will be released on March 8th via In The Red Records. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.

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Chorus.fm’s Top 30 Albums of 2023

Best of 2023

And we are back, once again, with our annual ranking of our favorite albums of the year. Below you’ll find the contributor best of 2023 list with blurbs written by the staff talking about why we loved these albums. Each album title links to a streaming page so you can check out anything you may have missed. There’s also a playlist featuring a song from every album on this list, and a few staff members have shared their individual lists and some commentary in their blogs.

As always, thanks for spending 2023 with us, and I hope you find something new to check out and love.

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Interview: Pat Kirch and Garrett Nickelsen of The Maine

The Maine

Recently, I was able to catch up with Pat (drums) and Garrett (bass), of The Maine, before they played a show at The Fillmore Silver Spring. In this interview, I asked the band about their range of emotions with putting together the Sweet 16th Anniversary Tour, how they’d rank their albums in their discography, the status of several key vinyl reissues, and some fun facts about each of the band members.

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