Mothlights – “Walking The World With A Leaky Umbrella” (Album Stream)

Adam Grundy Feb 23, 2023

Today is a great day to share the latest album from Mothlights called Walking the World With A Leaky Umbrella. Mothlights come from the mind of Rishi Gupta, who also owns the label Strawberry Moon Records. This DC-based artist would be perfect for fans of Julien Baker and Low. Gupta shared:

More than once was a guitar take on this record interrupted by the sound of an armored police vehicle rolling past my window in mid 2020, and more than once did I give up recording a vocal take after yet another news buzz on my phone left me exhausted. I feel like we all feel it, seeing it on our screens, before our eyes and in the way it’s affecting our personal behaviors. Rising global fascism, rising tides: we’re in the end stage now. I’m still reckoning with the fact that we will never get the pre-COVID world back and how this new world was born from that one. Being terminally stuck in my 700 sq ft apartment for two years in downtown DC amidst all of that was pretty rough as I was writing and recording this album, so I retreated heavily into fantasy. Almost all of the songs are informed by what was going on around me contextually but set in this surreal other place I had retreated to. I tried to let the quarantine, the Floyd uprising, the loss and declining health of loved ones and the wave of reaction bleed into this completely hypothetical folk music from some place I made up in my head.

Welcome to the world of Mothlights.

Adam Grundy Feb 1, 2023

Today is a great day to share the new single from indie synth/punk band Belted Sweater, called “Requiem.” For those unfamiliar with Belted Sweater, it is the indie solo project of Christopher Patrick Gregory, who largely builds his songs on this record around percussion elements. Gregory shared:

The first Killing Joke album is one of my favorite records. The energy of the opening track, “Requiem,” is so infectious, especially for a half time feel, I air drum and shout along every time I hear it. Revisiting the album during the pandemic, I wanted to try and cover it. I had never covered a song solo before, so it was an interesting challenge, but I still get the same feeling playing it as I do listening to it.

If you’re enjoying the early listen of the single, please consider purchasing the EP here.

Adam Grundy Dec 9, 2022

Today I’m excited to bring everyone a stream of the recently reissued LP by The Co Founder, called Gymnasium. The reissue of Gymnasium, previously released in 2018 on Slang Church, features two live acoustic versions of the singles from the record that were recorded and released by Slang Church via their Brunch Tunes sessions. The band will also be recording new music next month with producer Jordan Krimston (Oso Oso, The Obsessives, Weatherbox). I was able to catch up with songwriter Hayden Eller for an exclusive track-by-track look at this reissue. If you’re enjoying the LP, please consider purchasing it here.

Adam Grundy Nov 10, 2022

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.

Adam Grundy Nov 8, 2022

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.

Adam Grundy Oct 20, 2022

Today is a great day to showcase the latest EP from indie-rock band, Partygirl. On this self-titled EP, the band are able to tackle the themes of surviving and finding their independence. The band’s founders, Pagona Kytzidis and Colby Lamson-Gordon shared:

The EP is about a reclamation of self, particularly in the context of confusing, disorienting, and/or violent intimate experiences. We were inspired by trying to find clarity in the wake of specific distressing experiences and as people navigating an absurd and terrifying world. This EP seeks to connect listeners with the band as we all search for and find healing. Our sonic influences draw upon the experimental structures, inventive musical textures, and confessional lyrics of Mitski, St Vincent, and Fiona Apple.

The self-titled EP makes its debut on streaming services tomorrow, but we’re here to bring you an exclusive early listen below. Also, the band has an EP release show coming to Brooklyn this Sunday.

Adam Grundy Oct 17, 2022

Today is the perfect day to share the latest offering of music from Calling Cadence, with their Acoustic Session Vol. 1 EP. This LA-based band are following up their debut, self-titled EP with this collection of acoustic songs to further showcase their songwriting chops. The band is comprised of Rae Cole and Oscar Bugarin, who shared this about the acoustic record:

Getting into the acoustic versions of the songs, was really taking it back to how the songs began. Three part harmony and 12 string (I didn’t have much money, sold all my guitars except the old 12 string to get by). We used to work these songs by performing live around LA, and I used to bang on the guitar like a drum to fill it out, which is an indigenous technique, when they took away their drums. It’s in my blood, and embedded in these songs. This time we had Thomas on bass, and it felt a little more complete in the acoustic incarnation.

If you’re enjoying the early listen, the record will be available for purchase starting tomorrow.

Adam Grundy Sep 29, 2022

Today is a great day to share the brand new album from post-punk trio, J. Graves, a day early called Fortress of Fun. The band would be perfect for fans of artists like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sleater-Kinney, and Interpol. The band is clearly excited for everyone to hear what they cooked up:

Say it: “Fortress of Fun is here.” Fortress of Fun is here – it’s surreal, unreal, and a little hard to believe. Maybe it’s just another dimension of our story, a different choice, and somewhere I’m actually still chanting “Fortress of Fun is coming!” This time last year J. Graves and our amazing, talented family of artists, film makers, musicians, stunt people, and loved ones were at the Oregon coast filming the music videos that would make FOF’s choose your own adventure visuals. It was this time last year we all donned the cursed chain-mail, faced our deepest fears, only to break its nefarious spell with love, acceptance, and a whole lot of help from our friends. And FOF has been just that – support from our loved ones and from the talented folks who played integral parts in bringing this adventure to life. Fortress of Fun IS here, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.

If you’re enjoying the early album stream, please consider purchasing the album starting tomorrow.

Adam Grundy Sep 22, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to share the early album stream from melodic punk rock quartet, New Age Affair, for their new LP called Paradise White. The band is signed to the legendary indie punk label Manic Kat Records, and they are making their name better known with a sound that drifts somewhere between MxPx and Masked Intruder. If you’re enjoying the album stream, please consider purchasing the record tomorrow.

Adam Grundy Jul 7, 2022

Today is the perfect day to share the new EP from the garage pop band named Astrologer, called Legerdemain. Astrologer is comprised of lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Drew Cline as well as Candy Caballero who contributes both backing and lead vocals during the EP. The sophomore set was produced by Wyatt Blair, and the EP hits the streets via Lolipop Records tomorrow. Also, as a bonus treat, I caught up with the band for a brief interview regarding the artistic steps they took on Legerdemain.

Adam Grundy Jun 29, 2022

Today is a great day to share the new EP from ska/punk band For The Record called Fake It ‘Til You Make It. The California band take their influence from ska legends like Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto, but they have a nice pop-punk sound that is unique to their brand of feel-good tunes. If you’re enjoying the early listen of the EP, please consider purchasing the album when it hits the streets this Friday, July 1st.

I was also able to catch up with For The Record for a brief interview about the new and exciting direction they took on their new EP.

Adam Grundy Jun 8, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to share the album stream of power pop/rock band Aunt Kelly called Remember. The band is comprised of vocalist/guitarist/pianist Kelly Hannemann, bassist Dan Gianaris and drummer Sarah Weddle, and their great musical chemistry is felt over the seven-song effort. With a sound that strays somewhere between Beach Bunny and The Aces, Aunt Kelly have crafted a great debut record that should dominate your summer rotation. Hannemann shared this about the new record:

Remember is made up of songs written over several years through periods of despair, euphoria, depression, and mania. The title-track is about the fear of losing memories. There is something really comforting to me about being able to live in the past whether it’s through good or bad memories. I thought it was fitting for that song to be the title-track since all these songs hold a very specific feeling and will always make me think of that moment in time.

By looking back on key memories and staying true to who they are as people and musicians, Aunt Kelly will make you remember their name. If you’re enjoying the early album stream, please consider pre-ordering Remember here.

Adam Grundy Apr 7, 2022

Today I’m excited to bring everyone a talented songwriter named Seth Swirsky, who has written several #1 hits for artists like Tina Turner and Celine Dion, and his new album Songs From The Green Couch, a day early. This album of well-constructed indie-pop songs shines through the speakers majestically and leaves the listener in a better mood than they started their day with. Swirsky shared this about the new record:

We all have a ‘safe space’ — a place where we can go and escape from the world. The green couch in my art room in my house is such a space. It was there where most of the songs on this album were written, either on guitar or with lyrics—thus, the title, Songs From The Green Couch. Rob Campanella, of Brian Jonestown Massacre — who engineered the album— introduced me to two guys in The Triptides: bassist Glenn Brigman and drummer Brendan Peleo-Lazar. The three of us (me on most guitars, pianos and mellotrons) became the core of the entire record. I sang all vocals and arranged the live strings. L.A. musicians, Kirk Hellie and Fernando Perdomo contributed their talents on some songs as well. But, as I said, the core was myself and the Triptides, which added a certain ‘toughness’ to my natural pop sensibilities. The record was a two year process: I started writing and recording the record at the beginning of a serious new relationship I was having — it continued during a very painful breakup. Thus, the album oscillates between many hi’s and lo’s for me personally, which are reflected in the lyrics.

If you’re enjoying the exclusive album stream, you won’t have to wait long to purchase the album that releases officially tomorrow.

Adam Grundy Mar 17, 2022

Today I’m really excited to bring everyone an exclusive early listen of the new Audio Karate album called ¡OTRA!. The set of songs was produced by Bill Stevenson (The Descendents) and Trever Keith (Face to Face), and it includes rare and unreleased music from the band in a career-spanning set. Jason Camacho shared this about the new record:

While working with Mike Jimenez on the remixes and such on Malo, there were three songs (“Care Carelessly,” “Black Covering,” and “Lovely Residence”) that didn’t fit and that we were generous with overdubs, which was something we did not want for Malo. We had “Do You Miss Meaning Everything to Me” from Space Camp that never saw the light of day, and “Segway,” a Lady Melody outtake that never was released. Seemed fitting to put it out, sort of a like The Smiths Louder than Bombs…not really an album but an album never the less and an essential listen for fans. ¡OTRA! is essential listening for AK fans in my humble opinion, and something that I like quite well.

If you’re enjoying the early album stream, please consider pre-ordering the record here.

Adam Grundy Mar 1, 2022

Today I’m excited to bring everyone an early listen at indie-pop musician, Chayse Porter, new album called Chay’s Palace. The record gives off major Mac DeMarco vibes with a little bit of a psychedelic twist from bands like Pink Floyd. Chayse shared this about his new album:

For the new album, I wanted to create a world apart from my own but relatable in many ways – one that is raw, uninhibited, and painted with whimsical humor. It’s a tale of self exploration, self discovery, and self love. In this world, I’ve smashed the flattering mirrors within the palace and hung funhouse mirrors in their place. Should you find yourself passing through, I hope your stay is most comfortable

If you enjoy what you hear, please consider pre-ordering here.

Mothlights – “Walking The World With A Leaky Umbrella” (Album Stream)

Belted Sweater – “Requiem” (Song Premiere)

The Co Founder – Gymnasium (Album Stream)

Youth In A Roman Field – ‘Get Caught Trying’ (Album Stream)

Kit Major – Vampire Saturday (Album Stream)

Partygirl – ‘Partygirl’ EP (Album Stream)

Calling Cadence – ‘Acoustic Session Vol. 1’ EP (Album Stream)

J. Graves – “Fortress of Fun” (Album Stream)

New Age Affair – “Paradise White” (Album Stream)

Astrologer – “Legerdemain” (Album Premiere)

For The Record – “Fake It ‘Til You Make It” (Album Premiere)

Aunt Kelly – ‘Remember’ (Album Premiere)

Seth Swirsky – ‘Songs From The Green Couch’ (Album Premiere)

Audio Karate – ‘¡OTRA!’ (Album Premiere)

Chayse Porter – ‘Chay’s Palace’ (Album Premiere)