Dune Rats play stupid, Shabaka and The Ancestors go for it, Jim Lauderdale lauds Cadkalacky, Amigo the Devil asks why, why, why, Delilah, Niika blows smoke and more in today’s bigass Friday Roundup. Crack open the first beer of the night and wade on in. The water’s fine.
1 | Dune Rats | Stupid Is As Stupid Does
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Brisbane trio Dune Rats shares their new single Stupid Is As Stupid Does feat. K-Flay and release their long-awaited third LP Hurry Up & Wait. Working alongside best mate and producer James Tidswell (Violent Soho), engineer Mitch Kenny, producer/songwriter Miro Mackie and mixer Mike Green, Hurry Up & Wait marks a new chapter for the band. Hurry Up & Wait is Dune Rats’ cleanest and most mature release to date, seeing the trio evolve while also honing their beloved brand of raucous, anthemic 90s skate-punk. And while they might write about new life experiences and exploring new musical styles – they can’t just be that Scott Green band forever – the band proves just as tongue-in-cheek and down-to-earth as ever. Above all, Dune Rats are just always trying to keep it real, no matter where they are in life.”
2 | Shabaka & The Ancestors | Go My Heart, Go To Heaven
THE PRESS RELEASE: “On March 13, Shabaka & The Ancestors will make their Impulse! debut with the band’s sophomore album We Are Sent Here By History. Their breakout 2016 album, Wisdom of Elders, established Shabaka & The Ancestors as a sudden force in spiritual jazz. But where that record warned of impending societal collapse, this one unfolds within it. Shabaka refers to the album as a “meditation on the fact of our coming extinction as a species. It is a reflection from the ruins, from the burning.” On the lead single Go My Heart, Go To Heaven, Siyabonga pays homage to his father’s favorite church song. The word “hamba” (or “go”) is repeated, and within the context of this track, it’s “about the point where one gives in and wants out of this world,” Siyabonga says. “But in times of darkness is a call to the light and the heart.”
3 | Jim Lauderdale | Cackalacky
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Jim Lauderdale, the prolific, two-time Grammy-winning American music icon, shares the video for Cackalacky, from his new bluegrass album, When Carolina Comes Homes Again, out March 27. A raucous tune co-written with North Carolina songwriter/activist Si Kahn that declares North Carolina “always means home sweet home,” Cackalacky, is the latest track unveiled from Lauderdale’s 33rd album. “Si Kahn is a national treasure,” says Lauderdale. “I’ve wanted to write with him for a long time, especially after talking about it for years at Merlefest and IBMA. I’m so proud and happy to have written this song of Carolina with him, and I hope this will be the first of many songs with Si.”
4 | Amigo The Devil | Delilah
THE PRESS RELEASE: “After wrapping up a sold-out North American tour, Amigo The Devil is currently embarking on his first-ever European Tour throughout January/February, before he joins Murder By Death’s 20th Anniversary tour in March. To coincide with his first European tour across 30 cities, Amigo The Devil has released a brand new video for his emotionally haunting cover of the Tom Jones classic Delilah. “I remember hearing Tom Jones songs around my parents and their friends when I was young. At the time, I didn’t process how dark some of them really are. Delilah, for example, is usually such a drunkard karaoke sing-along that I feel like most people still don’t notice it,” commented Amigo The Devil. “This version came from wondering what it would sound like to match the mood of the song with the content of the story being told.”
5 | Niika | Blue Smoke
THE PRESS RELEASE: “On her debut album, Close But Not Too Close, Niika invites listeners to step into her world of multitudes- warmth, intimacy, and tenderness collide effortlessly with experimentation and playfulness in her songwriting. Stimulating and beautiful, this record juxtaposes an inviting, feminine, and real voice with adventurous rhythmic and textural choices. Nika Nemirovsky was born in Uzbekistan, in a time when the Soviet Union was collapsing and Uzbekistan was yet to reestablish itself as a nation. Politically, it was no-man’s land, but the rich culture and warmth of the place persisted. When Nika was one, her family came to the US as refugees, and settled in Chicago amongst the bustling immigrant community of Rogers Park. Nika’s childhood was infused with Russian films and animation, pantomime and physical theater, and a constant rotation of highly eclectic music. Russian language, family, custom, and folk medicine have remained core fibers of Nika’s world, and her lyrics reflect a deep connection to allegory, superstition, myth, and tradition. “
6 | Nature Of | Behave
THE PRESS RELEASE: “One of Edmonton’s most beloved indie rock bands, Nature Of, are excited to announce the release of their third full-length album The Mean on Feb. 21. Nature Of teamed up with producer Marcus Paquin (The National, Arcade Fire) to record The Mean. On their latest single Behave, Nature Of’s honest persona and chill melodies are front and centre. The sparse yet expansive production allows the song to breathe which is fitting for a song about forgiveness. “Behave is about letting go of the past and learning to forgive yourself,” says Nature Of vocalist Steven Schneider. “The older I get, the more I collect, good and bad. I know some of the things I carry need to be sent on their way in order to be the person I want to be.”
7 | Alienbaby Collective | Degenerate Moon
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Dutch noise rocker Alienbaby Collective presents Degenerate Moon, the first taste of the forthcoming double EP Fishbowl/Terrestrial, slated for release on March 27. The accompanying video was directed by Alicia Breton Ferrer and filmed on 8mm film by Sjors Mosman. Alienbaby Collective is guitar-driven noise-pop at its finest. This is the solo project of Liú Mottes, previously guitarist in both Blue Crime and New YX and also currently playing with SOON, Slow Worries and OBOL LE. Alienbaby Collective started with both the incessant need to make songs and sounds and as an experiment with recording when all you have is a half-dead laptop and the cheapest audio interface. From there it became a way of trying to create something that was of the moment, to capture a mood, a glimpse of Now.”
8 | Maya Rae | New For Me
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The uncertainties of first love. Misgivings about a friend’s choices. Thoughts that come and go. The best music has the power to illuminate a moment in time more vividly than anything else. A song, well played and passionately sung, has a life of its own that goes beyond genre and temporary musical fashion. The songs on Maya Rae’s new release, Can You See Me? – like those on Joni Mitchell’s Blue or Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut album – are timeless and universal. Poised at the crossroads between innocence and experience, Maya’s voice communicates with an immediacy and commitment that most artists never attain. In an age when so much music feels overproduced and lacking in genuine emotion, Maya’s songs come like a breath of fresh air.”
9 | Discrepancies | Control
THE PRESS RELEASE: “St. Louis hometown heroes Discrepancies have launched their highly anticipated new single Control. The new single combines elements of Hip Hop, Alternative Rock and many other genres to create a special sound. The track is produced by the late Matthew Amelung and produced by Joey Sturgis. The track’s energy is through the roof and the first single off the highly anticipated album due out this Spring.”
10 | Alex Dowling | Reality Rounds (for AutoTune Choir)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “After years of experimenting with electronic vocal effects to extend the capabilities of the voice, Irish composer Alex Dowling has announced his debut album, Reality Rounds. Written for AutoTune choir, the work was performed live by four singers, each controlling their own vocal effects in real-time. The innovative use of electronics allows for a stunning array of sounds from rapid flickering textures to unusual tunings that would be impossible for a normal choir to sing. Breaths build into propulsive rhythms by imprinting amplitude modulation on the singers’ voices (Channeling II) and two-voice hocketing with delayed harmonizers forms complex interlocking patterns (God Rays).”
11 | Testament | Night Of The Witch
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The time has arrived for legendary Bay Area thrash metal giants Testament to unleash new thunder to the masses and reveal their thirteenth studio album: Titans Of Creation will be released on April 3. Today, the band releases the lyric video for the first single, Night Of The Witch. Chuck Billy comments, “It has been months since the final mixing of Titans Of Creation and we are eager for fans to hear it. We feel that we put a lot into this record and at the end of the day it is a Testament record that stands on its own. We are very proud of Titans Of Creation. Night Of The Witch uses old school lyrics about witches chanting in the moonlight and casting spells. It is a heavy song and a great way to introduce everyone to Titans Of Creation.”
12 | Perséide | Sell Yourself
THE PRESS RELEASE: “French Alternative-Rock revenants Perséide premiered their brand new single Sell Yourself and new official music video. After nine years (or almost) of hiatus, the French alternative-rockers from Lyon are back to business with tons of projects (a bunch of singles, an album, some music video, gigs…). From now and while they’re currently working on the last details on their upcoming album, these four guys unveil Sell Yourself.”
13 | Hanging Valleys | Behind The Backs Of Houses
THE PRESS RELEASE: “London-based Hanging Valleys shared their music video for new single Behind the Backs of Houses, the title track from their forthcoming release due out Feb. 28. The video was directed by Andres Arochi (who has previously worked with Alt-J, FKJ, Ry X, among others) and was shot by Galo Olivares, who was co-cinematographer on the critically acclaimed film Roma (2018). Arochi elaborates on the stunning short film that was produced in Mexico: “I was inspired by the aesthetics of Mexican Classics. The photographs of Graciela Iturbide and the Golden Age cinematography of Gabriel Figueroa. Don Benito and Doña Eva are not trained actors, which is what gives the scenes such a natural feeling, they are simply interacting with places they have known their whole life. We got there with a clear idea of the emotions we wanted to capture, but it was really the town and the Hacienda of Puruagua that told us the story.”
14 | Shvpes | Hot Head
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Shvpes have released a brand new single, Hot Head, with an accompanying video. Witness the band perform Hot Head under, let’s say, compromising conditions (watch ‘til the end!) “You never know what’s going on with someone behind the scenes, people can be going through a lot & appear to be absolutely fine. When shit gets ugly it can affect the way you see the world and that can manifest itself in ugly, negative traits. This song is reflecting on those traits and the knock on affect it can have on the people around you. Musically it’s a big step into a more solidified direction for our band. We’ve always had an eclectic approach to writing music but with Hot Head I think we’ve really found our own lane.”
15 | Tisoki | Promise (feat. LiL Lotus)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “A staple within the bass music scene, UK-native producer Tisoki is starting the new decade with a bang. Fresh off a NYE performance at Insomniac’s Countdown festival, Tisoki is joined by emo rap pioneer LiL Lotus on Promise, a boundary-free composition that integrates elements of bass music with the passion and vulnerabilities of LiL Lotus’ emotive vocals. Promise follows Tisoki’s recent single IT’S OK and is the second look at the producers’ forthcoming sophomore EP, which is due to drop just in time for festival season. “I had such a great time making the record Promise,” Tisoki shares. “The majority of the synths are made with analog gear, giving it that gritty natural vibe which plays off LiL Lotus’ vocals super well,” he elaborates.
16 | thanks. | Busy
THE PRESS RELEASE: “thanks. is Steve Pagano and Mario Borgatta. Combining psychedelic pop, cinematic vibes and electronically influenced beats and melodies, thanks. have succeeded in creating catchy indie pop with an edge. Leading single Busy draws inspiration from a number of things, but the whole concept of the song was to just have fun. Borgatta shares, “We write tons of styles, we have songs that sound like Bruce Springsteen and we have songs that sound like Post Malone. It’s a very open-minded workflow when we’re working on thanks. It’s always for fun. If it’s not fun, it’s not thanks.” Featuring swirling soundscapes and sultry basslines, accompanied with impressive falsetto vocals, Busy is the perfect uplifting track.”
17 | The Jab | Dank Mississippi
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Chicago rockers The Jab are debuting a new track, Dank Mississippi, off their upcoming LP Consume, which will be released on Feb. 4. The Jab frontman Jam Alker was showcasing his punk-blues aesthetic for major labels on the Chicago club circuit just a handful of years ago. With the world at his fingertips, he swapped his guitar for the needle and disappeared for nearly a decade. In 2014, the birth of his daughter finally flipped the life or death switch and he began treatment. An arduous journey of detox and song-writing therapy laid the foundation for Consume.”
18 | Filthy Tricks | Walk In Line
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Filthy Tricks are hitting 2020 hard, and they’re kicking off the year with the release of new track Walk In Line. The Warrington five-piece ooze rock ‘n’ roll soul, citing Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Doors to Sly & the Family Stone and The Violent Femmes as influences on their music and lyrics. The recording of Walk In Line saw the band return to Manchester’s Red City Studios where they worked with producer Dave Radahd-Jones. A rather spontaneous recording choice, the track itself had only been written about 10 days before they headed to the studio to record other music in December 2019. The track’s got a real force behind it, with commanding lyrics and bold melodies forming the basis of the song. Walk In Line truly sums up the fiery, potent nature of Filthy Tricks.”
19 | Chin Injeti | Serious
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Born in India, Chin Injeti is the middle child to a father who was a classical vocalist and a mother who was a surgical nurse. Surviving polio from birth, he started music therapy to help facilitate his motor skills at the age of eight, which changed his life. After many years of touring all over North America with The Fugees, The Roots, Jamiroquoi, A Tribe Called Quest, and many more, Chin learned the importance of an impactful lyric and melody. He then teamed up with then partner DJ Khalil; with whom he made music with and for Dr. Dre, Eminem, Drake, Pink, and many other artists. Chin’s new single Serious was inspired by ’80s funk and boogie music with modern disco production.”
20 | The Beautiful Mistake | Memento Mori
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in 2000, The Beautiful Mistake are back after a long hiatus, ready to release brand new music. Memento Mori is the first song off their forthcoing EP You’re Not Broken. I Am, which picks up right where the band left off delivering their signature equal parts melody with screaming.”
21 | dumama + kechou | mother time
THE PRESS RELEASE: “buffering juju, the title of dumama and kechou’s debut album, relates to the process of “excavating spiritually charged content from within”. The duo’s textural sound, driven by cyclical song structures and chant making, not only captures the angst of the modern world but mines this state of affairs for regenerative potential. The duo’s approach to music is a coalescence of their respective individual journeys into the self and society, making their sound – described as nomadic future folk music – the sonic result of an organic meditative process.”
22 | Eliza & The Delusionals | Pull Apart Heart
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Australian indie rockers Eliza & The Delusionals have finally announced their brand new EP A State of Living In An Objective Reality, which will be releasing on March 20. In addition, the band’s new upbeat yet somber reflection on heartbreak and mental health, Pull Apart Heart, is out now.”
23 | Adaline | Ghost
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian alt pop-inspired singer/songwriter/composer Adaline returns with the hauntingly beautiful Ghost; a heart-breaking power ballad that speaks to the pain of separation from a revelatory love. “Ghost is about not being able to move on or enjoy new connections because the ghost of someone still lingers,” shares Adaline. One of her most honest offerings to date, Ghost will appear on Adaline’s anticipated forthcoming EP, dear illusion, due out in April 2020. Produced by Maximilian Jaeger (Diplo, Big Sean), the song was written during their very first meeting in studio and resulted in the duo partnering on dear illusion.”
24 | Tafari Anthony | Centrefold
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Tafari (pronounced Ta-far-eye) Anthony is a Toronto based artist whose music blends R&B, pop, and soul. He is a creator who embodies the spirit of the modern musician. Not just a musician, but a creator. Known for his sleek vocal tones, sultry melodies and music which oozes with personality, Tafari leaves listeners in awe – somewhat apt considering his name means “He who inspires awe”. Now Tafari is unveiling the confident new single Centrefold. The track sees the musician taking a different direction, to what he calls his own interpretation of pop music. Soaring with atmospheric synths and cascading pop melodies, Tafari showcases his impressive velvet vocals, with a hint of sass. Centrefold is the ultimate “go fuck yourself” send off to a self centred ex-lover. Tafari confides, “I’m a pretty calm guy, but when I get to my breaking point, it’s hard to hold my tongue. This song was written from sheer frustration of trying to let him down gently and realizing that he just refused to understand.”
25 | Phlake | Slip Away
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Danish outfit Phlake reimagine tropical-tinged pop with a touch of 90s soul with new single Slip Away. The track is the follow up to last year’s 90’s influenced single Waited All Summer – which marked the first collaboration with the enigmatic Mercedes The Virus – and is the third offering from their forthcoming collaborative album. “It’s a tropical-pop influenced song about sucking it all in. Keeping something too close, so it doesn’t slip away, but you actually keep it too tight,” explains the band. Tying in with the song’s theme, the artwork’s vacuum-packed apple well depicts the last desperate attempt to hold things together, before it all bursts out.”
26 | The Hempolics | Bongadashi
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The Hempolics tease more new music with Bongadashi, the third cut taken from their upcoming second album Kiss, Cuddle & Torture: Volume 2, planned for release in April. In the words of the band’s mainman and producer Grippa Laybourne – who has previously worked in the studio with a variety of international top acts like Mattafix and Faithless – Bongadashi is “a pure British reggae-funk stomper full of swagger and verve”. The song is about the inherent danger on the streets whether in London or Port of Spain in Tobago, the home of Hempolics collaborator Franz who lends the vocals to the track. “When fear comes out of the blue when you’re walking down the street and someone starts on you not sure whether you’re safe or not on the streets – Bongadashi coming,” Grippa adds.”
