Another Friday, another massive dump of tracks and video by publicists frantically trying to clean out their desks before fleeing into the night like bandits. Well, two can play at that game. Which brings us to what is quickly becoming a regular feature around here: The bare-bones, no-frills, fat-free Friday Roundup. Giddy-up.
1 Singer-songwriter Eamon McGrath premiered his haunting single and video Guys as a very early preview of his upcoming seventh album later in the year. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Guts is all at once Blue Velvet, Lord of the Flies, and A Clockwork Orange, yet perfectly suited for the rapid societal changes of our present time. “Chauvinists argue that this is a ‘scary time for men’,” McGrath continues. “But the reality is that the entirety of human history has been fucking terrifying for women. Things are changing, and change takes courage, because only people with courage have the capability of changing anything.”
2 Young Memphis combo Southern Avenue offered some retro-soul heat with their new single Whiskey Love, from their May 10 album Keep On. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Southern Avenue combines the talents of a prodigiously talented set of young musicians who bring their individual backgrounds and wide-ranging musical interests to the table, carrying the Southern soul legacy into the 21st Century while showcasing the powerful chemistry and electrifying live show that they’ve honed through extensive stage and studio experience.”
3 Feisty London rocker Izzy Thomas packs a punch in the video for her track Trouble (Pull That Trigger). SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Trouble (Pull That Trigger) is an anthem of self-worth and self-respect. Narrating the frustrations that so many female artists face in the music industry, Thomas has crafted a powerful and passionate release which encourages others to stand up and fight against those who try to bring you down. Thomas reveals, “This track is a message now as an experienced artist, saying whatever doesn’t kill me, better run! Although it came from that particular place for me, I would say it is an anthem for anyone with a message to sing”.
4 The Lumineers released the single and lyric video for their new track Gloria to introduce their next album III, due Sept. 13. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “The new album III is audacious: every note, every syllable, and every moment of silence in between is emotionally charged. The album is darker in tone than previous albums and is presented in three chapters, with each one centering on one main character from a fictitious family known as the Sparks, who span three generations in the album’s storyline. III’s concept began while the band was writing in the Catskill mountains, where producer Simone Felice works. Mixing raw emotional themes with their ear-catching melodies, expressive vocals and trademark acoustic sound, III moves masterly in artistic directions not yet traveled by the band.”
5 Cleveland indie-rockers Heart Attack Man delivered the new video for the song Out For Blood, from their April 19 release Fake Blood. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Frontman Eric Egan says, Out For Blood was inspired by the 1993 Joel Schumacher-directed thriller Falling Down, starring Michael Douglas. The anger and frustration of the movie seamlessly weaves into the anger and frustration of our album, and rounds out the overlying narrative with a nice referential touch of over-the-top 90s cinematic rawness.“
6 Language Arts, the Toronto art-pop artist, brought out her new song and video for Against The Wind, comes from her upcoming album, Lemon/Lime, due this fall. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “The video is just as vibrant and dynamic as the song, and serves as a technicolour highlight for the tune and its relatable lyrics. Completely animated, the video pairs perfectly with the song and features a person roaming through life and thought. Kristen Cudmore, the lead guitarist and vocalist of the band, calls it “one of those, why try, songs? When I was with him, I was exhausted. I was running against the wind”.
7 Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dave Hause launched his single Fireflies, which will apparently also appear on his Kick album when it comes out April 12. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Fireflies is an ode to youth, a simpler time and summer on the east coast.”
8 Dance-pop diva Yumi searches for love on her new single Find You. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “With her heart on her sleeve, YUMI showcases her vocal ability with the use of colored melodies and a snappy beat on Find You. YUMI’s mesmerizing voice guides listeners on an emotional quest searching for a soulmate.”
9 Swedish metalheads Enforcer unleahsed the lyric video for their new single Searching For You. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Vocalist/guitarist Olof Wikstrand states: “Here’s something for you speed maniacs. Bang your heads!”
10 Long Beach multi-cultural groove/world/indie rock collective Wargirl dropped their latest single and music video How You Feel, from their self-titled album due April 19. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Think Santana’s early records, afrobeat recordings by Fela Kuti, the psychedelic masterpiece Forever Changes by Love and sounds from 70s psych funk masters War (who happen to also be from Long Beach) and mix that with element of reggae, disco, garage rock and post-punk and you’ll start to understand where WARGIRL is coming from.”
11 Singer-songwriter Jadea Kelly shared her haunting cover of Amazing Grace, taken from her soundtrack to the documentary Met While Incarcerated. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Met While Incarcerated is defined as a person who met their partner/spouse after incarceration or criminal offense. It challenges societal stereotypes and our understanding of crime, punishment, good and evil, forgiveness, love, and redemption.”
12 Bear Grillz partnered with singer Micah Martin for the new track Stay. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Stabbing beats and exploding bass rider over intense kicks on this unique spin on the producer’s bass heavy style. Stay is the third single off Bear Grillz’ forthcoming Demons album and arrives alongside the commencement of the Demons Tour, which kicked off last week in San Francisco.”
13 Singer-songwriter Eleni Mandell presented Be Together, the second single from her upcoming album Wake Up Again, which was inspired by songwriting classes she taught in an L.A.-area women’s prison. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Some songs were written there, while I was teaching and participating in the assignments that I gave,” says Mandell, “others are portraits or amalgamations of two or more inmates or were inspired by something I heard them say.”
14 Electronica producer Loft announced her new curiously titled EP, and departt from mono games, which will be out May 3 and will presumably include the single That Hyde Trakk. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “That Hyde Trakk is a stunning example of LOFT’s impressive artistic growth since emerging in 2016, transforming what could have been standard 90s drum and bass elements into genuinely new shapes. Whiplash-inducing drum patterns and beautiful ambient synth waves are twisted and contorted, expertly thrown together and built up into a blistering, breath-taking crescendo of storming break beats and blown out bass. It’s possibly her most explosive track to date.”
15 Indie-pop duo Ummagma revealed they will release Compass, their first LP in seven years, on June 21. To whey your appetite, they dropped the also unveiled the track Caravan. SAY THE PRESS RELEASE: “An invigorating pop rock anthem inspired by the musicians’ own journeys and infused with Carpathian gammas and percussion.”
16 Canadian rocker Skye Wallace sent over the new song Suffering For You, from her upcoming self-titled album. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Suffering For You was written during my time as the Dawson City Music Festival’s songwriter in residence in the Yukon. I was there for the month of January in a big (potentially haunted) heritage house by myself, with very few hours of daylight, and a wealth of history and inspiration to prompt me to write. The song was inspired by the story of a group of people who were separated from their expedition, trapped on an ice floe in the arctic for months.”
