Today is a great day to introduce everyone to indie-pop artist, Bets, and share her new video called “Add It Up.” On this moody Violent Femmes cover, Bets (the moniker of Betsy Hershey) channels her love for lush musical landscapes paired with breathtaking vocals. I was also able to catch up Bets for a brief interview below.
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Today is a great day to share the latest single from art-pop solo project, Careful, called “I Don’t Mind.” Careful comes from the mind of multi-instrumentalist Eric Lindley, and he weaves a tangled web of musical landscapes similar to established artists like Mitski and Surfjan Stevens. Lindley shared, “For the sound of the song, I tried to keep a wide distance between the two moods: a very private, dry sound that really felt bare and alone for the “sad” parts, and a more soaring feel for the others—like you could hear Beyoncé or Adele singing the vocal, but the backing is closer to the digital decay of Crystal Castles.” If you’re enjoying this latest single from Careful, his full EP will be released on September 22nd called Promise / Practice.
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Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single from ultra-talented singer-songwriter Zach Berkman, called “Alone.” With a rustic sound that fits well within the realm of Surfjan Stevens, paired with the vivid musical storytelling of Bruce Springsteen, Zach Berkman could be your next favorite artist. The song tackles the theme of a crumbling relationship, where Zach noticed that things were quickly slipping away. He shared:
”Alone” came along at the beginning of the end of a relationship, just when I knew I could feel something slipping away and when I still hoped I could fix it. The verses describe a crumbling house as a metaphor for a crumbling love. The crooked pictures and fading marks of a thing untended. I thought about my grandparent’s old farmhouse where we made these recordings, left dusty and in disrepair for so long then restored and renewed, and I wondered whether you could do that with people. I know that when I wrote the song, the chorus was meant to be sung to someone else. It’s all in the second person, but I hear and sing those lyrics now as directed to self. The repeats of the title are at once mantra, warning, and a facing of fear. If we can’t reconcile our differences, we will end up Alone.
If you’re enjoying this latest single, you’ll be happy to know that Zach Berkman’s new album has been announced for release on November 10th via Brooklyn Basement Records, and it is called The Heart Of.
Read More “Zach Berkman – “Alone” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Matthew Lowry, a talented singer-songwriter who is bringing a lot of Florida sunshine everyone’s way on the shimmering new single, “Coming For You.” The song has a nod to the Foo Fighters’ style of humor, paired with the picturesque music storytelling of Ben Folds and the pop sheen of Elton John. Lowry shared:
I knew right away when I wrote the riff for this song that I needed to follow through on it. It was so much fun from the start because, for a long time, my songwriting had been missing the hard rock that I grew up loving. The stuff that made me want to put a guitar on. A little Southern flare mixed with the rock anthems I blasted throughout my entire childhood. No better way to be honest with yourself and move forward than to let out the real stuff you have inside. And since this album is about that journey to embrace yourself and move forward in life, it was perfect. Once this was tracked in the studio, that feeling I had from the start was confirmed. I wanted this to be the final single before the album came out. Lyrically, it’s pretty straightforward: I’m over trying to be anything for anyone. No more fear, no more paranoia. I’m bringing my shit front and center. This is me, this is my music, this is who I am. Then to be really me, we knew that we wanted to make the video as ridiculous and goofy as we could. Since I started planning the album, I had this idea for the “Flamingo County Games” as a Jackass style backwoods Florida Olympics. A bit of a nod to the Foo Fighters in their golden era of amazing music videos with those huge rock anthems. In the end, it all came together, and I honestly could not be happier.
Matthew Lowry’s latest track comes from his new LP, Flamingo County, due out on September 15th.
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Today is a great day to share the latest single from Coma Girls, called “Candles.” Coma Girls is the moniker of songwriter Chris Spino, and he tackles the themes of addiction, recovery, and wanting to be a better person with grace and poise. On this journey of self-reflection that is drenched in great guitar sounds and soothing vocals, Coma Girls showcase his staying power in the music scene. When speaking on his latest single, Spino shared:
’Candles’ was one of the first songs I recorded for the album. It was also the only one that we ended up re-recording when the album was close to being finished. The original version was very upbeat. We ended up slowing it down. We made the drums more fat and in the pocket, right from the jump of it. The lead guitar part is very inspired by picky guitar players, such as Kurt Vile, that use their fingers rather than a pick. The backing vocals are stacked harmonies that are meant to sound choral, haunting, and continuous throughout the song. The lyrics are very bittersweet. It’s talking about loving someone and always having their back, even though you know that you shouldn’t. It eventually shakes out in the end, which causes a lot of emotional inner conflict.The song takes a sharp left turn towards the end. The distorted guitars come in abruptly. The drums break out, very loudly, into a wall of sound. The chanting mantra, “leave your candles lit, my pain keeps burning on and on and on,” is grief expressed through the death of an ideal, and the struggle that comes along with that afterward. It’s very unsettling to resolve these feelings within myself without the confirmation or acknowledgment of those who disappointed me. It takes a lot of self-work to cope with. Ultimately, a part of me had to die in order to detach myself from whatever toxic environments I was once clinging to. In doing that, I have a new life as a result. As scary as it was at first, it turned out to be very exciting and was the cause of a lot of growth and motivation. I’d been messed up. I participated in so much nonsense in my life. Once I decided to do things differently, there was a real struggle that took place. I think that’s what this song speaks to.
If you’re enjoying the direction of Coma Girls latest track, you can check out more music from this talented artist when his new LP, Crystal Pistol, drops on October 13th.
Read More “Coma Girls – “Candles” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single from ultra-talented songwriter, RYTERBAND, called “Camouflage.” The song comes from his forthcoming EP, Echoes, that will be released everywhere music is sold on November 3rd. With a sound that fits within the same realm as Bon Iver and James Blake, RYTERBAND has all the makings of a star. When speaking on his new single, he shared:
As a kid, I was afraid to take risks. Only by focusing on the pain of missed opportunities was I able to escape my own numbness and justify being myself. These days, I cherish authenticity and boldness. I wrote ‘Camouflage’ as a cautionary tale and a reminder to us all. It’s too easy to let life slip by half-lived. I hope this song inspires people to be themselves.
As a composer, music editor, and songwriter, RYTERBAND’s work also graces over 50 TV shows and films, including hits like Euphoria, Brooklyn 99, and The Umbrella Academy.
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Today is a great day to share the latest single/video from indie-pop artist, Caicos, called “Subsequent Footprint.” The track features a great collaboration from Philly rapper, Lojii, and makes an immediate impact on the music scene. The single comes from the forthcoming LP Ascension Intention, that will be released everywhere music is sold on September 15th. I was also able to catch up with Caicos for a brief interview below.
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Today is a great day to introduce everyone to Oh He Dead, a DC-based indie soul band who are preparing to release their sophomore LP Pretty on September 15th. Their latest single, “Lightning Drunk” captures the feeling of falling head-first in love without thinking about any of the negative consequences. It has a sound that infuses the neo-soul of Earth, Wind & Fire, paired with the picturesque dreamy vibes of Fleetwood Mac, all with a modern twist of Amy Winehouse-stylized vibes. Band member Andy Valenti shared:
I can’t remember who said it first, but someone uttered the phrase “Lightning Drunk,” and it just fit so well. I loved the idea of falling in love with lightning. Getting addicted to something so intense, bright, exciting, and dangerous. It felt like a great iteration of the “electric love” lyric that is perhaps a bit cliche. CJ really spearheaded the verse vocals on this one, but I remember working on them with her in my basement apartment, just visualizing all of the different ways that getting struck by lightning feels like a dangerously exciting romance.
If you’re ready to fall head over heels in love with your next favorite band, Oh He Dead is here for you.
Read More “Oh He Dead – “Lightning Drunk” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest single and music video from Aussie pop star, Ben Hazlewood, called “Chemical Roulette.” On this atmospheric track, Hazlewood proves he’s one of the key artists to watch as this year unfolds. Ben shared,
I could argue it was all a highly scientific experiment to create new neurological pathways; to bend and mould my mind into a new way of thinking. Or, call it what it was; a bender of epic degree, one in which I was crushed, then rebuilt, shattered and swept up. I hit the basement floor of pain and the highest heights of happiness. Whatever way I justify this time in my life…Chemical roulette is a game just as dangerous as it’s Russian counterpart but far more fun, and with this celebratory song of survival as memento of the best parts.
I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for an interview below.
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Today is a great day to introduce everyone to indie folk/pop artist, Ava Earl. On the second single from her new LP, Too Much (due out everywhere music is sold on September 15th), “Ears Bleed” tackles her personal topic of coming to terms with being deaf in her right ear. Earl shared, ““After going deaf in my right ear, I was left with emotions that took months to unravel, sort, and explain. Six months in, I thought I had come to a semblance of peace when this song tumbled out of me, surprising me with a pain that was still so palpable.” Ava Earl has found early success in her career by opening up for Maggie Rogers while she was still in high school, and has released four albums before she turned 18. With a sound that fits well within the realm of Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Phoebe Bridgers, Ava Earl might just be the next most important indie artist to arrive on the music scene. If you’re enjoying the early listen to “Ears Bleed,” you can pre-save it here.
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Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single and music video from rock band, OSEES, called “Stunner.” John Dwyer shared, “Matt Yoka came up with the idea of filming us playing the song in our rehearsal space with as many people as we could fit, and as many formats as he could stomach. Hi-vis on all the kids. Constricted & claustrophobic just as contemporary routines can be. Noise, obstacle and pointless spectacle. There is no escape!” If you’re enjoying this latest slab of rock, their forthcoming LP, Intercepted Message, will be released everywhere music is sold on August 18th via In The Red Records.
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Emo-infused alternative rock band, I Am The Pilot, are back with their first taste of new music in 16 years. On their latest single, called “Did You Feel It Too?”, the band channels their love of slick hooks paired with great-sounding guitars for a complete wall-of-sound approach to their music. The band is comprised of Todd Ross and Chad Gannon, and if you’re needing a reminder of their music style, it fits somewhere within the same vein as Bayside and Matchbook Romance. Lead vocalist Chad Gannon shared:
’Did You Feel It Too?’ is the first single and part of our upcoming, as-of-yet untitled release, set to drop later this year on Manic Kat Records. It’s also the first single we have released officially since 2007, and we could not be more excited to share it with everyone. Our hope is that when you listen to this track, you feel the emotions, energy, and passion that went into making it. Ironically, ‘Did You Feel It Too?’ is about the changes that have happened to the scene over the last 20 years. This song is our battle cry announcement that we are back! We hope you enjoy listening to this track as much as we enjoyed creating it together.
If you’re enjoying the early listen to the latest single, it will be available on all streaming services tomorrow.
Read More “I Am The Pilot – “Did You Feel It Too?” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m excited to re-introduce everyone to indie-pop songwriter, Ashlynn Malia, who is back with a great new single and video for the song, “Feels So Good.” The track comes from Malia’s recently released EP, Navigating Galaxies, that is available now where everywhere music is sold. When speaking on the latest single, Malia shared:
I’m in a phase of my music that I’m calling my ‘ethereal pop era.’ This is one of the first songs to come out of it, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s new for me to put out a song about being happy, I feel like there tends to be this idea that happy music can get a bit cheesy. Instead of being scared of that happening I leaned into the fun of it, while trying to incorporate a cosmic quality as well.
I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.
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Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the latest single and video from Alt Rock artist, America Jayne, called “Life of the Party.” The track comes from her forthcoming EP, Shove It, out everywhere music is sold on August 11th. With a sound that fits well within the realm of Snail Mail, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers, America Jayne could be the next breakthrough artist to take the alternative music scene by storm. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.
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Today I’m excited to bring everyone a great new single and video from D.C. punk rock band, American Television, called “Snakes.” On this emotionally charged punk song, the band highlight their knack for slick hooks, improved songwriting, and crisp musicianship. The band shared, “We hope for the best from any person we vote into office, as they frontload their promises to the people. But if history has told us anything, they’ll backpedal. Yet, somehow, there’s always money for the war machine. The snakes are all around.” With a sound that fits somewhere within the political punk rock of Anti-Flag, paired with the memorable songwriting of Green Day, American Television could be your next favorite band. If you’re enjoying “Snakes,” please consider pre-ordering their new LP, Scars, that releases on September 22nd via A-F Records here.
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