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

Seth Swirsky

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.

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Cremation Lily – “Wavering Blood” (Song Premiere)

Cremation Lily

Today I’m beyond stoked to help premiere Cremation Lily’s latest track “Wavering Blood,” pulled from Dreams Drenched in Static, the UK-based artist and multi-instrumentalist’s debut album for The Flenser. It’s one of my favorite songs from a stunning record – Zen Zsigo has created an atmosphere drenched in reverb and booming ambiance. The record drops on April 15th and is available to pre-order now.

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Hey Thanks! – “The Part I Call Myself” (Song Premiere)

Hey Thanks

Today I’m excited to bring you the latest single from the New Orleans indie-pop band, Hey Thanks!, called “The Part I Call Myself.” The band worked on their new album, Start/Living, with veteran producer Gary Cioni (Hot Mulligan, Free Throw), and he really helped this artist put their best foot forward. Hey Thanks! shared this about the new single:

’The Part I Call Myself’ was a song about me overcoming a point in my life where I was belittling my personality to fit the mold of the person I was trying to make happy by slowly sinking myself into their personality/lifestyle. It’s special to me because it marks that I’m in a point of my life where I no longer feel the urge to be someone I’m not. We feel really lucky to have worked with producer Gary Cioni on this, and ‘The Part I Call Myself’ was one of the highlights of recording. We are really proud of this record ‘Start/Living’ and excited to have this song finally available. It’s been an incredible experience working with Iodine Recordings getting the album together and being part of a label with so much history.

If you’re enjoying what you hear on this latest taste of new music, please consider pre-ordering Start/Living here.

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Nick Leng – “Morning / Midnight” and “My Mind Is A Mess In the Morning”

Nick Leng

Today I’m thrilled to share the new double single of “Morning / Midnight” as well as “My Mind is a Mess in the Morning” by a talented singer-songwriter named Nick Leng. Leng is currently supporting the artist, LP, on their Spring North American tour, and the interest in this artist couldn’t be higher with expansive songs like these two. Leng shared this about each song:

I’ve always had trouble writing quotes that summarize songs. It feels like the words can put songs in boxes, and possibly snuff out any personal interpretation a listener might have. In a similar way, when I was finished with ‘My Mind is a Mess in the Morning,’ and was thinking about releasing it as a single, it really excited me to pair it with ‘Morning / Midnight.’ They’re equally important to me, and, one might say, quite different. together, I felt like they painted a better picture of what I’m trying to say. 

’My Mind is a Mess in the Morning’ was written while I was living in Topanga in a trailer park which, subsequently, (and arguably hilariously) became rat infested prompting a hasty departure. ‘Morning / Midnight’ was started there as well one late night when I was chopping up a classical piano improvisational piece I had recorded, on a sampler. There’s a video on my Instagram of me playing the melodica in the intro in the morning and the sun peeked through that ended up in the final version. I had considered dividing that intro, with the chopped piano and the ‘second part’ when the beat comes in, into two songs, but the journey of the intro, and duality and sensation of when the bass and kick comes in, had a real story to it that it cemented the conviction that it’s one idea.

If you’re enjoying the two singles, please consider purchasing them from your favorite streaming service via SOTA Records.

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One Armed Joey – “Numbstruck” (Video Premiere)

One Armed Joey

Today I’m excited to bring you the latest taste of new music from the Bay Area’s own punk rock band, One Armed Joey. The new single is called “Numbstruck,” and is taken from their upcoming new album called Happiness, To Me out on May 27th via Sell The Heart Records. One Armed Joey is perfect for fans of melodic punk rock bands like MxPx, Goldfinger, and The Ataris. The band shared this about the new track:

”Numbstruck” is about the anxiety brought on by watching the world and everything around you continuously change, but getting to the point where you’re numb to it all and would rather feel something rather than nothing. I feel like whenever I’m overwhelmed, I look back on simpler times and wish for that naivety, but then realize how selfish that can be. Dealing with significant life changes is a challenge, but accepting and embracing those life changes is even harder.

There couldn’t be a better time to discover another great punk band to add to your collection. If you’re enjoying what you hear, please consider pre-ordering Happiness, To Me here.

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

Audio Karate

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.

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Warren Franklin – January (feat. Max Bemis) (Song Premiere)

Warren Franklin

Warren Franklin is back with their new song “January,” which features vocals from Max Bemis. The song is from the band’s upcoming EP, Second April, which will be available digitally and physically on April 1st (pre-order here). The band described the song as:

”January” was the song that sparked the whole record. We wrote the song with Max in mind and he brought so much life to it. It was inspired by songs like Dancing in The Dark, Kyoto by Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski’s Nobody. Songs that sound so infectious and fun on the surface, but carry a deep sadness in them once you dig beyond that. That’s January for me.

Check out the song below.

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Animal Sun – “Chasing Shadows” (Song Premiere)

Animal Sun

Today, I’m excited to bring you the latest single from LA’s Alternative/Pop band, Animal Sun, for their song “Chasing Shadows.” The track comes from their sophomore album called Generation Waiting, that will be released this Summer. The song was produced by Kenny Carkeet and Aaron “Zeus” Zepeda, and it has a nice groove to it. The band reminds me of a mix between Waterparks, Set It Off, and One OK Rock with some great anthemic moments thrown into the mix. Lead vocalist, Steven Blake, shared this about “Chasing Shadows,” “‘Chasing Shadows’ is all about living in the moment. We want to remind our listeners to stop chasing a perfect existence at the cost of missing what’s right in front of them.” If you enjoy what you heard from Animal Sun, the single will be hitting streaming services this Friday.

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The Dead Licks – “With A Bottle Of Whatever You’re Having” (Song Premiere)

The Dead Licks

Today I’m excited to share the lead single from Chicago-based band The Dead Licks for their song “With A Bottle of Whatever You’re Having,” taken from their debut LP In Disguise that hits the streets on May 20th. The band reminds me of the magic found on early Coldplay albums with a steady heartbeat of a familiar-sounding vibe that is comforting to the ears. The Dead Licks shared this about the new single:

Written during the pandemic, and one of the first songs written around a beat made on the drum machine.  We sent Jimmy the drum machine/main riff and he came up with the high energy ending to the song.  The song structure came about eventually, after we wrote/jammed the song for months.

If you’re enjoying what you hear, the song hits all streaming services tomorrow.

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GOON – Paint By Numbers (Track-by-Track)

GOON

Recently I was able to catch up with GOON before the release of their new EP Paint by Numbers to provide a cool track-by-track about their new record, that came out today. The LA-based band effortlessly sways from shoegaze pop to a more straightforward rock/grunge approach on this EP that is filled with several great moments. GOON’s Kenny Becker provided these answers based on each song on Paint by Numbers.

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

Chayse Porter

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.

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Lost Like Lions – “Back To Life” (Song Premiere)

Lost Like Lions

Today I’m thrilled to share the great new single from Buffalo, New York’s own Lost Like Lions, called “Back to Life.” The band is set to release their next EP called Fear of Letting Go this Spring, and the band shared this about the new single:

Our new single ‘Back To Life’ is a quick reintroduction to our band, and it’s a song about feeling re-energized. ‘Back To Life’ definitely takes on new meaning as the winter winds down, and we head into the Spring, and hopefully back to some sense of normalcy in our lives after two years of the pandemic.

This band would be a perfect fit for fans of The Dangerous Summer, Relient K, and The Starting Line.

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Morningsiders – “Waterfall” (Video Premiere)

Morningsiders

Today I’m excited to share the next premiere from the indie folk-pop band, Morningsiders, for their great new single “Waterfall.” The band is comprised of Magnus Ferguson (vocals/guitar), Reid Jenkins (fiddle/vocals), and Robert Frech (piano), and their eclectic brand of indie rock has garnered worldwide attention. The band shared this about the new single:

We developed ‘Waterfall’ out of an earlier song that we wrote and played a bit in college, but that never fully clicked. The melody has been stuck in our heads all these years, and every now and then we’d try to re-imagine words for it. A few phrases kept coming up like ‘easy does it,’ and it slowly started to take on a reassuring, if slightly sad mood. I started thinking about conversations I’ve had with my younger sister trying to help her navigate her early 20’s, and also about what I wish I could have told myself when I was that age. It ended up being a song about that oceanic feeling of being a small part of a big world. That zoomed-out vantage point can feel melancholy, but almost in a satisfying way, like a good cry.

If you’re in the mood for a song that makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself, look no further than Morningsiders’ “Waterfall.”

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Alexx Bean – “Castles” (Video Premiere)

Alexx Bean

Today I’m thrilled to share the exclusive premiere of Alexx Bean and his new single for “Castles.” The track was inspired by pop-punk legends like Green Day and Blink-182, with the modern flair of other up and coming pop artists like WILLOW and Miley Cyrus. The single was produced, mixed and mastered by Alexx, with a co-writing credit from Jesse Fink. If you’re looking for a pop-punk artist that pays direct homage to past legends paired with more modern elements, look no further.

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Vakili Band – “Father’s Son” (Song Premiere)

Vakili Band

The latest single from the roots rock band Vakili Band, for “Father’s Son,” recaptures that spirit of the 70’s guitar rock era, and repackages it into a crowd-pleasing effort. The song comes from their new album, Walking Sideways, that hits the streets on February 25th, and you can pre-save it here. I was able to get a hold of lead vocalist, Lily Vakili, to provide some in-depth context on the new single. She mentions a strong Rage Against the Machine influence among many other insights. If you’re enjoying the new track, you can learn more about the band here.

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