Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest single and video from Miss Velvet called “Zumirez.” Channeling the legends of classic rock with powerhouse vocals, impeccable leather style, and an elusive sense of danger that takes you by surprise, Miss Velvet has taken the rock n roll world by storm. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for an interview below.
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Today I’m so excited to share with everyone an exclusive track-by-track feature by Welsh pop-punk band,Honeytalks, regarding their new EP titled There’s Hope in the Hopeless. Despite less than two years in existence, Welsh wunderkinds Honeytalks have already landed acclaim from BBC Introducing, as well as Kerrang Radio (finishing 2nd in the Marshall Records competition) and Bowling for Soup front-man Jaret Reddick. Upcoming sophomore EP, There’s Hope in Hopeless marries the best of the Drive-Thru Records era with a punchy and contemporary pop-punk grit. The record embodies struggle, positivity and triumph for those who feel marginalized and misunderstood. Mental health is at the thematic core of the new collection, but the overarching message is one of strength and hope, inspired by Honeytalks’ uplifting brand of melodic punk. This track-by-track was put together by Adam Scott, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Honeytalks, and the EP is available on all streaming services starting today.
Read More “Honeytalks – “There’s Hope in the Hopeless” (Track-by-Track)”
Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single and video from rock band, Super City, called “Hang Up.” On this electric-charged new track, that is sure to make you think as much as it makes you want to dance, Super City channel their love for guitar-based dance grooves paired with slick hooks. The band shared:
The song is sung from the perspective of someone who doesn’t feel strong enough to leave a relationship that they shouldn’t have entered in the first place. The main character explains how they were promised love, but instead only receives criticism and gets berated on the phone. The little voice in their head tells them to hang up, but they’re too weak. At the climax of the song, the main character makes a last ditch effort to impress their sharp-tongued partner with an insane guitar riff. This is to no avail and the song ends with the highest notes that we could sing.
If you’re enjoying the early listen to the single, please consider pre-ordering their new LP In The Midnight Room.
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Today is a great day to share the new video from Rustbelt called “You Got Nowhere to Go But You’re Going There Tonight.” Previously going by the moniker of Juiceboxxx, the newly named Rustbelt (the solo project of John Chiaverina) has also announced his next EP, You Got Nowhere to Go But You’re Going There Tonight, out everywhere music is sold on January 19th via Dangerbird Records. He shared, “With Rustbelt, I’m trying to give myself room to move outside of my narrative a tiny bit. These songs are like alternate timelines for myself.” With a sound that’s fully entrenched in American-styled pop music, Rustbelt is an artist to watch as this year unfolds. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.
Read More “Rustbelt – “You Got Nowhere To Go But You’re Going There Tonight” (Video Premiere)”
Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single from singer-songwriter, Adam Lytle, called “Seeds of Joy.” On this third single from his upcoming LP, This is the Fire, out everywhere music is sold on October 20th, Lytle channels the best parts of darker pop with a voice as powerful as Leonard Cohen and Brian Fallon. When discussing the origins of the latest song, Lytle shared:
In the fall of 2021, my friend Eva (Nighttime) had asked me to record some piano on her song “Keeper is The Heart.” While working out my part for that song, I stumbled on the melody that would become the centerpiece of “Seeds of Joy. I worked on the song for a year after. Filling notebooks with free-written lyrics. Extracting a line here and a word there; combining seemingly disconnected fragments into a mosaic that felt reflective of life’s complexity. The recording features an “ocean of strings” arranged by Trey Pollard that offers a gorgeous perspective on the lyrics while Ryan Jewell’s drums give the song wings. Jonathan Schenke brought it all together in the mix; making additional arrangement decisions that emphasize the surrealistic journey.
If you’re enjoying the early listen to the track, please consider pre-ordering This is the Fire here.
Read More “Adam Lytle – “Seeds of Joy” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m excited to introduce everyone to Gert Taberner, an ultra-talented singer-songwriter who is releasing his new single and video for “Tourist.” Gert showcases relatable vulnerability and has the ability to connect people to his music in both an authentic and comforting fashion. On this latest single, Taberner shared, “I wrote ‘Tourist’ about my journey providing end-of-life care for my mother when she passed away after a long bout with a terminal illness. The process of providing care to the person who raised you really messes with your head. It feels like any decision you make comes with a life-or-death asterisk, something that I definitely wasn’t prepared to deal with. You’re constantly getting things wrong, and even when you’re getting them right, it doesn’t feel much better, and frankly, any form of joy in that time felt like a bittersweet act of defiance with regard to the clearly pre-defined outcome that a diagnosis like hers entailed. Getting this one right while writing felt like an exercise in holding space for both sides, the morbid and the joyful, and where they intersect.” If you’re enjoying the early listen, more music will be coming soon from Gert Taberner when he releases his new EP If We Kept On Trying later on this year.
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Today is a great day to share the latest single from dark pop band, Decant, called “Passing.” The single is a captivating and emotionally-charged track that delves into the intricate interplay between love’s turmoil and the struggles arising from substance use. With its hauntingly beautiful intro, dark electronic beat, and elevating chorus, the song encapsulates heavy emotions within its melodies and lyrics. Lead vocalist Freddie Bytheway shared, “The name speaks to the passing of life, but also the feeling of passing for what you are not. It is about how existence is contradiction. I remember as a kid often hearing the expression, a blessing in disguise, I was fascinated by the relationship between what we experience and how we interpret it. For me this song is about addiction and how love can be as addictive as any drug.” The band also collectively dedicated the single to, “the life and legacy of Corey Budke, and all of those we have lost too soon.” If you’re enjoying the early listen to this incredibly moving new track, you can pre-save it here.
Read More “Decant – “Passing” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m excited to introduce everyone to Ursa Major Revelation, and their new single/video for “Big Baby.” The band is Ursula Rose (vocals) and Dylan Rau (production/guitar) and you may remember Rau’s name from his work in the indie rock band, Bear Hands. The title track from their forthcoming EP is a glowing mix of memorable sounds that mesh well over Rose’s breathtaking vocal performance. While speaking on their new EP, Rose shared:
By the time I turned 30, I had a major revelation. I looked back on my life and saw a map. My life was a map of the men I have loved. Some of them were pretty cool, others less so. I let the map guide me through the creation of three songs, one for each of the major loves of my life. Dylan Rau made these instrumentals in various west coast closets and I wrote most of the vocals at an Airbnb in Joshua Tree. Additional recording was completed at a fishing cabin on the Oregon Coast. The songs feature production and mixing from dear friend and colleague Chris Chu (The Morning Benders, Pop ETC). Original artwork for each single by my grandmother Sara January Price.
I was also able to catch up with this talented band for an interview below.
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Today is a great day to share the newest single from California indie rock band, Juniper Honey, called “Another Morning.” The track uses top-notch lyricism paired with energetic instrumentals to highlight the deeply-intimate connection that unites and exhausts us all. With a laid-back blend of sounds that reflect the essence of the Central Coast, slacker rock scene, the single offers a musical escape for anyone seeking solace and resonance. Juniper Honey is Jake Hesse (lead vocals, guitar), Donovan Hess (drums), Cason LeSueur (guitar) and Josh West (bass), and their band chemistry pays off on electric songs like this. Hesse shared, ”I wrote this song when I was feeling overworked and stressed with thoughts of what I was going to do with my life. This song feels very near and dear to me, not only am I proud of where it has landed as a song, but it is one of the first songs that I truly feel has pointed me toward a songwriting direction that I am really excited for.” If you’re enjoying the latest single from Juniper Honey, you can pre-save the single here.
Read More “Juniper Honey – “Another Morning” (Song Premiere)”
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.
Read More “Careful – “I Don’t Mind” (Song Premiere)”
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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