Alice Merton – “Loveback” (Song Premiere)

Today I’m excited to bring everyone the latest single from powerhouse singer Alice Merton called “Loveback.” The track inches closer to the finish line of her June 17th sophomore effort entitled S.I.D.E.S., and this artist would be perfect for fans of Florence and the Machine, Your Smith, and Maggie Rogers. Merton shared this about the latest single:

”‘Loveback’ talks about waking up one day and realizing someone has stolen a part of you that you want back. It was the realization that I didn’t ‘need’ anyone to exist. I was never dependent on anyone or anything, even if it at times felt like it. I felt like I was handing out something I was rarely getting back. At some point I felt like I had forgotten why I’m doing what I’m doing, and felt like I had lost sight of what’s really important to me.”

By setting her sights firmly back on what’s most important in her life, “Loveback” finds Alice Merton simultaneously at her most vulnerable and purposeful. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-ordering the new record here.

Adam Grundy 4 weeks ago

Today I’m thrilled to share the latest single from the talented singer-songwriter Andrew Pitrone for his new song called “Locket.” The single is the second single to be released from his upcoming EP, Aurora Montage, out later this year on Lolipop Records. Pitrone had this to say about his new song:

”Locket” is a song about the Idea of committing to someone. In a sense when someone puts a photo in a locket it signifies their commitment to that person, that person in the photographs being extra special to them, in their heart, or close to their heart. If you were going to cut someone into the size of a little locket and shove them into the shape, even in the most loving gentle way, it might sound something like the feeling of the song ‘Locket.’ Suggesting that someone put you in their locket is like suggesting that they should feel free to have that attachment.

With heartfelt vibes and sweeping instrumentation found on this great-sounding single, it’s no wonder why so much buzz surrounds this artist. Pitrone has also shared the music video for this track, and it can be found here.

Adam Grundy 1 month ago

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.

Adam Grundy 2 months ago

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

Drew Beringer 2 months ago

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.

Adam Grundy 2 months ago

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.

Adam Grundy 2 months ago

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.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

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.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

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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Ben Auld – “O Athena!” (Music Premiere)

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today I’m excited to share the latest single for indie folk songwriter Ben Auld for the song, “O Athena!” The track comes from his upcoming debut LP Lemongrass, that hits the streets on February 15th. Auld shared this about the song:

This is possibly the oldest song on the album and it stuck around because I could imagine an audience singing along to it. Sufjan’s Illinois is one of my favorite albums ever and I wanted to create something that had a similar feeling of exultation. I can’t remember where the chorus lyrics came from, I guess I felt they fit this theme of praising or elevating people. Making a new friend or founding a new relationship can make people so elated and joyous. This song tries to express that period of time before things settle back to normality. The recording process for each song is slightly different and with this I wanted it to feel like it had depth without it being drenched in reverbs. So I recorded the bass, drums and rhythm guitars to cassette and then used an 8 track to layer the keys and picked guitars. Then I bounced that all to another 4 track and recorded the vocals. Each time a layer was bounced it got pushed down in the mix and so you have this sort of stratification effect.

Your next indie singer-songwriter obsession has arrived.

Adam Grundy Nov 15, 2021

Today I’m excited to share the latest single, called “Wild Heart” from Philly’s Riot Grrl band, Full Bush. In this blazing single, the band is able to grasp the spirit of early Riot Grrl bands and put their unique stamp on it for today’s audiences. Kate shared this about “Wild Heart:”

Learning to embrace what sets you apart and how you can embody those parts of yourself that perhaps you were told weren’t socially acceptable for one reason or another is what ‘Wild Heart’ is all about. I wrote it at a time when I was struggling to find answers to why I was stuck repeating habits that weren’t serving me, and beginning to do inner child and shadow work helped make sense of the cognitive dissonance I’d been experiencing. The culmination of the song’s message is to stop fighting the lies you tell yourself and instead listen to and feed the pieces of yourself that are screaming to break free and embrace the wildness of who you are without fear.

If you’re still rocking out to this song, their new EP is out on December 3rd, and pre-orders are available here.

Adam Grundy Nov 3, 2021

Today I’m thrilled to share the worldwide premiere of “Burn Me” by Divided Heaven. The band is comprised of Jeff Berman, and the band’s upcoming album Oblivion is slated for an early 2022 release date via A-F Records. Berman shared this about the great new single, “‘Burn Me’ is a punch thrown at the self-aggrandizing internet trolls. ‘Burn Me’ aims to counter the all-too-prevalent cultural pessimism and cynicism with the most raw and vicious song Divided Heaven has ever released. It’s not always easy to put your art on public display and to open yourself up to criticism and bullying (I’ve had my fair share, and then some). ‘Burn Me’ is a tribute to the artists that push the boundaries of their genre, dive into the androgynous, dabble in the dirty, all in the face of vitriolic social commentary. Produced by the great Charlie Stavish and a great way to kick-off this Oblivion-era of Divided Heaven!” If you enjoy this track as much as I did, consider pre-ordering Oblivion here, and international fans can pre-order here.

Adam Grundy Oct 26, 2021

Today I’m thrilled to premiere the single for “Oreo” by Pass Away. This Brooklyn, New York band formed in 2013 in what began as a side project from members of I Am The Avalanche and Crime In Stereo, Pass Away has become a powerful songwriting force in the scene. The band shared this quote about the new single, “This song is named after Oreo, a black cat that I woke up with sleeping on the top of my head on a very early Lower East Side morning. I was in a strange place, laying next to a stranger who a few years later ended up being my wife. I didn’t think I was worth a shit or worthy of any kind of love or partnership at that point in my life. This song is about knowing when to pump the brakes, chill out on the self abuse and let the good stuff happen.” With great hooks and impressive songwriting, Pass Away are truly onto something great here. The track comes from their new album, Thirty Nine, and pre-orders are now up.

Adam Grundy Sep 23, 2021

Today, I’d like to re-introduce you to Broadcaster. On their latest single for “Vacation Days,” they bring out all the great end of summer vibes into a crisp package of 90’s Alt Rock in the style of Third Eye Blind, Gin Blossoms, all with a bit of a modern spin similar to Seaway’s Big Vibe record. Broadcaster are from New York, and plan to release a record called Joyride +3, available for pre-order via Jump Start Records. Your next radio-ready gem is ready for your playlists.

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Hanalei – “Steep Ravine” (Song Premiere)

Zac Djamoos Feb 25, 2021

Hanalei will be releasing his fourth LP Black Snow on March 12th via AF Records. While AF is known as a punk label, Hanalei is of decidedly different stock – if you like the folkier side of The Weakerthans or Kevin Devine you’ve got an idea of what to expect from Hanalei. This is never better exemplified than on “Steep Ravine,” the seventh track from Black Snow that we’re premiering today.

Brian had this to say about the song:

[It] draws parallels between the loss of love and the loss of the environment. A female narrator residing in the barren and nearly lifeless western fringes of Marin County, CA is crippled by grief and nostalgia. Memories of rain, redwoods, owls, and a deceased lover paint the monochromatic landscape in every shade of gone.

Stream it below.

Alice Merton – “Loveback” (Song Premiere)

Andrew Pitrone – “Locket” (Song Premiere)

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

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

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

Animal Sun – “Chasing Shadows” (Song Premiere)

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

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

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

Ben Auld – “O Athena!” (Music Premiere)

Full Bush – “Wild Heart” (Song Premiere)

Divided Heaven – “Burn Me” (Video Premiere)

Pass Away – “Oreo” (Song Premiere)

Broadcaster – “Vacation Days” (Song Premiere)

Hanalei – “Steep Ravine” (Song Premiere)