Chai have their cake but don’t eat it too, Kreator divide the number of the beast, The Mowgli’s carry that weight, The One-Armed Man shares their infection, Kadavar live it up, Holy Roller Baby get the blues and more in today’s massive Roundup. That oughta hold you for a few hours — and give you an excuse to sign out of social media and turn off the news.
1 | Chai | No More Cake
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The Japanese quartet and champions of NEO-Kawaii Chai are proud to present their newest single and video, No More Cake. As with many of their other songs, the fun veneer is always a bit of a red herring for a deeper, more self-reflective message. The song is “a sarcastic poke about wearing make-up,” says singer MANA. “We feel like that you should wear make-up that you feel suits you. Wearing make-up shouldn’t be based on the orders of someone else.” The video representation is explained, in part, by bassist & lyricist YUUKI. “Doing your make-up to look like another person is the same as applying cake to your face.” “We wanted the theme for this music video to be ‘make-up meets art,’” adds guitarist KANA. “That’s why at times we had our faces looking like cake and then expressed as art.”
2 | Kreator | 666 – World Divided
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Even the most die-hard fans probably won’t expect this! German metal legends in Kreator surprise fans and the whole heavy metal world alike with unveiling a brand new song including music video without any prior notice. 666 – World Divided is by no means a leftover demo. This song marks the first new piece of music by mighty Kreator since the release of their last studio album Gods Of Violence back in January 2017 as well as the first joint recording with their new bass player Frédéric Leclercq. “After more than three long years we are more than happy to present you our brand new single 666 – World Divided“, said bandleader, singer, songwriter and guitarist Mille Petrozza. “The message of this song is more important than ever: we have to stick together in this more and more divided world. Take care and most importantly: stay metal! We can do it all together. We are one!”
3 | The Mowgli’s | Weight On Me
THE PRESS RELEASE: “All of life is a journey and the best journeys are those taken with friends. For the members of The Mowgli’s, that road has seen their friendship tested and rebuilt numerous times. From their earliest Venice, California days as a 10+ revolving cast of characters to their current line-up, the core members have evolved from playing midnight warehouse parties to the stages of the largest festivals. Their latest single Weight On Me is a mid-tempo mashup featuring hints of psychedelia, jazz & rock n roll. The song talks about the pressures of keeping up with everyday life and taking on the weight of the world around you while keeping your head on your shoulders. “Since this band started we’ve been through a lot of changes: gained members, lost members, been shuffled around labels and learned a lot about the music industry,” says Andy. “Now it feels like we’re really independent again, refocused on curating our live show, more in touch with the business of being this band.” He adds “Our sound has evolved but we always circle back to the basic themes: love, feeling good, excited for life no matter what the day delivers.”
4 | The One Armed Man | Infection
THE PRESS RELEASE: “About one year after the official release of 1, French Rock/Folk/Bluegrass four-piece The One Armed Man is about to release the sequel 2. In the meantime, the band just premiered a first excerpt with an official music video illustrating the song Infection. TOAM is influenced by American rock vibes and bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, The White Stripes or The Black Keys. Making its first steps on stage with a dozen of gigs, the quintet released a debut effort with a self-titled EP in 2013 before to begin to work on a first full-length record. Then the band hit the stages all around the French territory and released the acclaimed Paper Bird album in 2016.”
5 | Kadavar | Studio Live Session Vol. 1
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Nothing stops Kadavar from spreading the word of their incomparable vibes and unique music style: The band has streamed a live session straight from their rehearsal room. The band states, “It’s 2020 and the world is staying at home. It’s the time that we will remember as the year of Corona or something — a situation unprecedented for all of us and especially for musicians and music lovers. We can’t play or go to shows and the whole music industry holds its breath. It’s not going to be easy, but we are trying to make the best of what we have here and now. So here is part 1 of our contribution to keeping the ball rolling somehow… ”
6 | Holy Roller Baby | Leper Blues
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Holy Roller Baby bring out their new single Leper Blues. You plan a release months in advance and don’t have a clue how the world will change and then the song suddenly it fits to the current event in a way you never expected. Singer Jared about the song: “I hate to fill in all the blanks because it takes the fun out of discovering a new song, but essentially this is Beauty and the Beast. It’s about feeling like a leper (old Biblical disease that is mostly eradicated in today’s world), an outcast, an untouchable, an undesirable, cursed but falling in love with a religious zealot (a holy roller), someone as pure as they come. Imagine a sick man in quarantine during a pandemic seeing the woman of his dreams and not being able to touch, feel, hold, talk to or win her over. Damn timing!” And about the video: “The video was made back in September to spoof South by Southwest. It’s great now because the Festival was largely cancelled. If you’ve ever been to SXSW, there’s music everywhere. I mean, really anywhere…backyards, parking garages, rooftops, corner streets, the local convenience store. The idea of the video was to do a comic spin on how heavy the music sounds (take the piss out of it) by showing the band taking the song very seriously…then you find out they’re playing a kid’s birthday party.”
https://youtu.be/NGJhTStNEmk
7 | The Shrieks | Give Love
THE PRESS RELEASE: “NYC rockers The Shrieks have released their new track Give Love. The song is from their upcoming album Ode To Joe which will be released in May. The Shrieks are a New York City rock and roll band coming for your head. Building on the grand tradition of bands like The Ramones, Grand Funk Railroad, and above all The Rolling Stones, they seek to rain down high energy music across the city. This is a band of consummate professionals share a goal of crafting original music and unify listeners. It builds on frontman Luis Accorsi’s unique life experience as well as the magic of the Big Apple. With an electric live show and songs to match, The Shrieks are on pace to take on the globe.”
8 | Fight the Fight | Pacemaker
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Norwegian high-octane metallers Fight The Fight drop their new single and music video Pacemaker. With uplifting drum-beats and bouncy groove, Pacemaker directly takes action. The song’s inner drive won’t stop being fun, while the catchy chorus makes sure you’ll never forget the lyrics of this song. Fight The Fight’s incredible musicality shines through in an instrumental part, followed by an overwhelming guitar solo, which gets round-up by the song’s chorus, and a stompy breakdown. Along with great guitar melodies, a decent harmonic background, and Lars Vegas’ unique-sounding voice, this one directly goes into your favorite-song-playlist. Pacemaker is the second single off their upcoming sophomore album titled, Deliverance, to be released on Sept. 18.”
9 | Juniper Bush | Turn
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In their latest video for Turn, Winnipeg psych-rock/shoegaze four-piece Juniper Bush explore the fantasy of unrequited love through a dance. The tune appears on the band’s debut full-length record, Healing Through A Sonic Figure, which arrives on April 3. Reverb-smeared chords and Lizzy Burt’s angelic vocals evoke the emptiness of floating adrift through space, and the impending sorrow of a lust disguised as love. As Burt explains, “The song’s lyrics express the fantasy of a better life with the object of one’s affection, the inner turmoil and intensity of a one-sided romance, and how patterns repeat despite life’s lessons. It’s sort of a dance of self-deception and struggle to maintain a sense of self. I appear curled up naked in the chair for a mere moment near the end of the video to signify growth and a new sense of truth and awareness from the experience.”
10 | Victoria K | The Haunting
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Australia’s Victoria K share their new video The Haunting in support of the forthcoming debut album Essentia due out April 24. Victoria K adds about the track: “The Haunting is about a tortured past that relentlessly plays on your thoughts and keeps you captive at that point in time. These memories and thoughts haunt you continuously until you can learn to let go of them, if you ever can. Only when you do let go of these torturing thoughts and feelings can you actually move forward again.”
11 | Ante-Inferno | Oath
THE PRESS RELEASE: “As we lead up to the release of Ante-Inferno’s remarkable Fane album on May 1, the band present us with a beautiful visual realisation of one of the album’s most outstanding tracks. Oath will take you beyond the doors of Fane to a world of shadow and wonder, darkness and terror that exists beyond the boundaries of our clouded sight. The breathtaking video breaks down the walls that currently enclose us all, opening our hearts and minds to the glories of nature that await our deeper appreciation when this sickness passes. Ante-Inferno offered us these thoughts to share with you about Oath and the video that accompanies it: “Oath is a study of the macabre world that lies beyond the civilised universe that we inhabit. It is a reminder that, no matter how much concrete, glass, plastic and detritus we fill our earth with, there is a darkness that lives on at the very fringes of the realm we know and understand. The song and video further our investigation into subversive forms of worship, and the fear and corrupting influence of what can neither be seen nor touched — but sensed, always — in the unfettered wildness of the natural world that we seek, and fail, to control.”
12 | FXRRVST | This Rough Patch
THE PRESS RELEASE: “This Rough Patch is the latest single/video from Toronto-based Australian/Canadian Indie Rock duo FXRRVST (pronounced forest). It’s the second single from their forthcoming EP Dear Friend; Side A. “This Rough Patch is a song that we always hoped people would find strength and comfort in, but it’s especially relevant to us now with so many people affected by this worldwide pandemic” explains Holly Forrest, the Australian half of the duo. “It’s about overcoming difficult times and reinforces “if we try hard enough, we’ll get through this rough patch”. Sometimes we need something/anything to give us the strength to take those first few steps towards progress, and we hope this song can be that for our listeners.”
13 | The Mighty Mocambos | Superstrada
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In 2019 German funk superstars The Mighty Mocambos returned in fine form with the release of their fourth album 2066, a blistering set of funk, afro, hip hop, cinematic compositions and soulful storytelling, and now they are finally delivering the new singles from their current album. The break-heavy psychedelic soul score theme Superstrada is one of the most popular tunes from the album during The Mighty Mocambos’ recent European live shows. They continue to deliver their brand of funk with blazing horns, soulful guitars, driving drums and basslines combined with an extra bit of quirkiness.”
14 | Reuben & The Dark | Hold Me Like A Fire
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Reuben and the Dark frontman Reuben Bullock is doing his part in creating community amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic. While on an Instagram Live Stream, Reuben sang fan favourite, Hold Me Like A Fire, a song that beckons fans to join Reuben on stage and sing along to create a mass choir at each show. This was no different. After the live session, fans flooded Reuben’s inbox with their videos of them singing along to the live video. With the help of filmmaker Kaelen Ohm, Reuben edited each video clip and created a mass virtual Social Distancing Choir. The video is an effort to not only replicate the powerful moment on stage to screen, but also bring people together in community through this performance. “It’s just an attempt to remind people we are all still connected,” explains Bullock. “People at home are more than just comments on a cell phone screen.. This was an impromptu idea. People need a sense of togetherness right now.”
15 | Ender Bender | Star Killer
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Ender Bender, a newcomer in the indie pop world, presents his debut single Star Killer. This is the first single from his forthcoming EQ EP, to be released in spring 2020. This song explores the ups and downs, the angels and the demons of life in Los Angeles. Ender Bender is the solo project of Eddie Olguin, a multi-instrumentalist producer now based in Rome, guided by a unique mission of making perfect modern pop rock. Creating music and spreading bliss in the face of the realization that nothing in life is perfect, the pursuit of this perfect sound is what fuels the Ender Bender fire. “She raised me and made me who I was, both mother and lover, an open highway to my fantasies and, eventually, the butler of my demons. This song is but a humble, yet bittersweet, ode to LA.,” says Eddie Olguin.”
16 | Hallows | The Call // Ravenous
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Looming in the darkwave, post-punk and goth electro realms, Hallows formed in 2018 in Minneapolis-St. Paul and since made their way to the west coast. Consisting of Dom R. (vocals, guitar, synth, drum programming) and Vanee D. (vocals, synth, bass), their music presents layers of yearning sounds that bleed into uplifting, sanguine beats. Their compositions offer intimate messages about modern-day malaise conveyed through an exposed, vulnerable lens. “The Call // Ravenous was the first song we composed as a band. Dom came up with the original idea, composed most of the music, and Vanee filled in the gaps with some soft, sullen synths and accompanying vocals. We worked on this song for months, before we considered it complete. In essence, it’s about being on a dark journey, following this somber, yet enthralling voice; you follow it to wherever it takes you. As you get lost in the night, it becomes home,” says Dom R. “The video explores some kind of duality between two people following an invisible trail into the night. They cross paths with this voice that is calling for them, without being aware. You get an inside look into the beauty and chaos of the city: bright streets, dark alleys, quiet bench in the park, hectic traffic, mighty bridges, and imposing architectures. The city’s shrills all come to halt when faced with the deepest melancholy of these two people.”
17 | The Mystery Plan | Ballad of JC Quinn
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The Mystery Plan has released their single Ballad of JC Quinn with accompanying video filmed by Jason Herring and edited by Jay Thomas. This beautifully foreshadows their fifth album Zsa Zsa, which will be released in early April. “JC Quinn was an actor from NYC with many film and television credits, including Barfly, The Abyss, Visionquest and countless others. He moved to Charlotte in the late 1990s to be closer to his grandchildren. We met at a downtown watering hole owned and operated by his good friend from New York, Peter Herrero. That’s where I met JC, along with many other actors, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Bernadette Peters, etc. They would always stop at the café when in town to visit their good friend Peter,” says Jason Herring. “JC and I struck up a nice friendship. He was a fan of ours and would come to shows and stand right up front so we could see him. A very lovely man indeed. Sadly, JC died in Mexico while shooting a film a few years ago. I’ve always wanted to pay tribute to him, and we have finally done so with this song. The lyrics are a blend of what we would do with him now if he were still here, and iconic lines from some of his films.”
18 | Zoon | Help Me Understand
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Zoon has released the second single, Help Me Understand, off his upcoming album, Bleached Wavves. Zoon (also known as Daniel Monkman) gave us some context for this new single: “Help Me Understand is from a short story/poem I wrote about an unknown First Nations protagonist who lives homeless on Vancouver Island,” says Monkman. “While homeless, they become very ill. While no help is to be found, they accept death, and while on their last moments, they’re greeted by the creator, who welcomes them into the heart of the sun.” Fans will find the deeply-expressive, effects-laden sound on Help Me Understand immensely powerful and emblematic of Zoon’s moccasin-gaze style.”
19 | The Chats | Drunk N Disorderly
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Australian punks The Chats release their debut album, High Risk Behaviour and offer an animated lyric video for one of its tracks, Drunk N Disorderly. The Chats is made of Eamon Sandwith, Matt Boggis and Josh Price. High Risk Behaviour buzzes like an out-of-control chainsaw, propelled by Sandwith’s spoken-spit-sung vocals, their three-chords-is-one-too-many approach, and an exacting combination of youth, vigour and drunkenness. It’s a perfect name for an album that does not f*ck around — one that’s over in 28 blistering, funny, sweaty, unforgettable minutes.”
20 | Mister Nobu | Falling Down
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Mister Nobu (the solo project of Nobu Adilman, co-founder/director of Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir!) celebrates the release of his full-length record Tavie by sharing the lyric video for the album track Falling Down — “A nostalgic look back to a world that will never be the same. We are all falling down.“ Tavie features 12 songs that mark the highs and lows of a relationship slowly falling apart. It’s kind of a happy/sad thing that’ll appeal to people okay with having feelings. The album is “mostly about connection,” says Adilman. “From my TV work to music stuff, I generally like to explore human interaction by throwing everyone into weird and collaborative creative environments. Music has a beautiful way of pulling people’s guards down, and cutting through lots of emotional red tape quickly. Music helps me process my emotions, my life, and, if I can get it down in a song, then I feel more resolved.”
21 | Bear | Kuma
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Kuma is the latest lyric video from Belgian progressive metal/hardcore unit Bear. The track comes off the band’s Propaganda full-length, set to drop this May. Propaganda is angry. It’s an album against propaganda; against the manipulative character of communication and product-placement that we face each time we turn on the TV, walk through a supermarket, or tune in to Spotify without a paid subscription. And while blatant ideological propaganda is being camouflaged behind product propaganda within an endless floating spectrum of ever-growing, artificially created needs and demands, ideology is as a matter of fact constantly being reinstated and affirmed. Bear criticizes propaganda by making Propaganda of their own with their very own aural bombs, symbols, and manifestos.”
22 | As I Lay Dying | Destruction or Strength
THE PRESS RELEASE: “These are concerning and unprecedented times. Amidst the uncertainty of how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last, or how severe its impact will be, there are countless people desperately struggling to weather the storm. In an effort to make a positive contribution to our communities and the people closest to us, we are releasing a b-side from our Shaped By Fire album sessions called Destruction or Strength. All proceeds from both will be aggregated and donated to the AILD Road Crew and Feeding San Diego.”
23 | The Treble | All The People
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The thing that no one tells you about your 20s is that they are a whirlwind of epic highs and gut-wrenching lows. By the time it’s all over you realize it’s far less work to be the best version of the person that you’ve been all along. For alternative rock band The Treble, that realization was completely freeing. Not only did it open the floodgates creatively, but it saw the band writing from a place of contentment and self-assurance for the very first time. Formed in 2008, it’s been a slow climb for The Treble, but they’ve finally carved out a reputation for delivering spectacular DIY content and a drive to give back to the community that saw them through it all. The band’s new single, All The People, captures their melody-heavy brand of alt-rock with anthemic group harmonies, urgent brooding rhythms, and soaring electronic flourishes.”
24 | The Glorious Sons | Don’t Live Fast
THE PRESS RELEASE: “For Juno Award-winning, two-time CRIA platinum-certified and six-time CRIA gold-certified Canadian rock group The Glorious Sons, the past few years have been an incredible journey, leading to the meteoric rise of their recognition as one of the commanding forces in rock ’n’ roll, not only at home but globally. Their third full length studio album A War On Everything saw international acclaim with their latest single Don’t Live Fast arriving today. “We wrote and recorded this song a few months back, because back then it looked like we might not have the time this year,” shares Brett Emmons. “Look at us now. This song is called Don’t Live Fast, and I think it means a lot more now.”
25 | Whitney Rose | In A Rut
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Whitney Rose has never been daunted or intimidated by challenges. Whether she’s perusing the possibilities that accompany a new project, or following up on her early transition to residency in Austin, she’s always eagerly embraced any opportunity to further amplify her art and her career. That’s certainly the case with her upcoming album, We Still Go to Rodeos, due out on April 24. Indeed, it continues a tradition Whitney has adhered to from early on — that is, the ability to share sentiments and scenarios that all of us can relate to simply by being participants in the sometimes tenuous adventure we call life. “I draw from a lot of different influences, but I’d like to think there’s a certain uniqueness in my work,” Whitney herself remarks. “I don’t want to make the same album over and over again and this one is no different. I’m not changing styles or redirecting my career as much as I’m expanding on avenues that I’ve explored previously. Maybe it’s because I heard Marty Stuart call Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers the best country band of all time and I got excited. In any case, this record has some distinct differences in production style and instrumental focus from previous works and I’m proud of the outcome.”
26 | R3HAB x Andy Grammer | Good Example
THE PRESS RELEASE: “R3HAB has release his new pop single Good Example with Andy Grammer (Billboard-charting, multiple-platinum pop-rock-country singer). With Good Example R3HAB and Andy send a meaningful message to their families and all parents, forced to spend time away due to chasing their calling, which at the same time serves as a good example showing that sometimes sacrifices need to be made if you passionately go after your dream.”
27 | Dr. Fresch & Freak On | Thicc
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Known for his distinctive drops and meaty bass, Dr. Fresch joins up with Portland native Freak On to attack a different angle of dance music with new house-infused summer club single Thicc. The new single follows up reignites Dr. Fresch’s hot streak of drops, making good use of his trademark fusion of heavy bass and G-house sounds. Dr. Fresch has been in the lab cooking up mixes for his die-hard fans. Working alongside Dr. Fresch on Thicc is protégé Freak On, who has become an integral part of Fresch’s imprint. With more labels and collaborators calling his name, Freak On has shown his potential to shine alongside some of the best underground producers.”
28 | G.Rag/Zelig Implosion Deluxxe | Look Of The World
THE PRESS RELEASE: “G.Rag/Zelig Implosion Deluxxe release Laut Los on May 1. It’s an album, where you think after the first song you know where the journey is going, but in the end you don’t really know where you actually are, even after 12 songs from a to b, with stops at c, d, e, f etc. An album you should definitely listen to!”
29 | Starpainter | Mark of Cain
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Starpainter exists in the neatly carved out spaces between rock and country and pop. They wear their influences on their sleeves, with pride, showcasing strong songwriting and an affinity for classic folk and rock. They’ve created a record that is representative of a modern, new era of alt-country: a two-step here, a ballad there, a radio-worthy chorus in between. Lead single Mark of Cain is steeped in the tradition of prairie-born artistry with a fresh pop sensibility.”
30 | Burnt Tapes | Greek Wood
THE PRESS RELEASE: “At the tail end of 2019, Burnt Tapes returned back to the Ranch production house with producer Daly George to record a couple of new tracks to bookend their debut album Never Better. A year after the album release, they present their first single Greek Wood. The track sees the band return on top form, by delivering the listener a healthy dose of what Burnt Tapes do best: Melodic punk rock with lyrics of regret. Vocalist/Guitarist Pan says ‘‘Greek Wood is a coming of age song in all the wrong ways, lost youth, lost love, lost time. It is not a penis metaphor, although it could be if you want it to be.”
31 | Seven Spies | Chameleon
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in London by childhood friends, Seven Spies are a three-piece band looking to infiltrate the ears of the world. Consisting of David Blomiley (vocals, guitar, piano), Olly Brown (drums, backing vocals) and an ever-rotating bassist taking form of old band members and musical friends, you can expect to witness a healthy dose of melodic riffs and anthemic choruses. Seven Spies fuses the best of rock bands such as Muse and Radiohead, while highlighting vocals reminiscent of Jeff Buckley and Bjork. Their highly anticipated debut single Chameleon narrates the different faces, personas and behaviour we put on to negotiate our daily lives in different situations and the pressure people place on themselves to hide their struggles and internal demons to the outside world. Blomiley confides, “The subject of the songs seems to be stuff that has been bubbling away inside of me for a while that I need to get out. I find song writing massively therapeutic in a way.”
32 | Darius | Men er Grah
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Swiss post-hardcore/heavy-post-rock collective Darius premiered their new song Men er Grah, from their album Voir coming out on April 17. Their 22 guitar strings compose a surprising orchestral landscape that masterfully oscillates between abstract noise rock and instrumental post-rock. Their playing has refined although it hasn’t soothed; Darius’ formula stays the same. Being poles apart from effects, manners and make-up, these five lads play for the sake of passion, honour and camaraderie.”
33 | Lili Kendall | Lonely Empress
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Los Angeles-based Aussie artist Lili Kendall reveals her enchanting new single Lonely Empress, the final tease from her upcoming full-length project Love, Herself. To execute her vision for Lonely Empress, Lili worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Syience (Beyonce, Jay-Z, John Legend, Mary J. Blige) and guitarist Javaughn Young White. The track opens with an atmospheric pop beat and Lili’s signature sultry neo-soul vocals, exploding over the course of the song with climatic production and instrumentation that transports the listener into Lili’s empowering, femme-forward dreamworld. “This song is about choosing self-growth over a relationship,” Lili writes. “I wrote this song when I realized the relationship I was in was not allowing me to thrive and become the woman and artist I envision myself to be.” The title of the track was inspired by a tarot card reading Lili did for herself while looking for guidance — the card she picked was the empress.”
34 | Natalie Shay | Owe It To You
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The new single from London’s Natalie Shay, Owe It To You emits a raw and truly personal essence, narrating being in a relationship and struggling to resist temptation. To date she has collectively amassed hundreds of thousands of streams, with her music being placed in Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist in ten countries.”
35+36 | Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown | Dark Rainbow Light + Sins of Gaia
THE PRESS RELEASE: “London rapper Phoenix da Icefire & producer Husky Brown drop their incredible new album Panacea on May 5. The themes covered by The Triple Darkness member address the environment, mental health, knife crime, racism, well being and aspiration. The narrative is delivered with the highest caliber of lyricism and figurative wordplay over a soundtrack provided by Husky which skillfully blends a fresh fusion of hip hop, soul, r&b, electronica, dub and bass. The second single from the album, Dark Rainbow Light b/w Sins of Gaia, was released today. Husky laces Dark Rainbow Light with some soulful traditional hip hop flavours as Phoenix reflects on the challenges of inner city life while searching a better path, with the lo fi beats of Sins of Gaia paints the backdrop for an attack on institutional racism with the remix provided by Kashmere.”
37 | Marshall Chapman | He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Marshall Chapman has been making records for longer than most of today’s indie rockers have been alive. Songs I Can’t Live Without is her 14th release. “I went through a lot of trauma five years ago, which had me telling myself and anybody else who’d listen, that I had retired from making music,” Chapman says. Recording an album of classics had always been on Chapman’s bucket list. “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands is the first song I remember singing as a child. I was eight years old. It’s one of those songs you know the minute you hear it. Anyway, this was Spartanburg, South Carolina. TB and LeNoir Thackston lived next door to us. LeNoir was my great aunt. Her oldest son, Barry, was in the Air Force stationed in Texas. Whenever Barry would be home on leave, all the kids in the neighborhood would go crazy. That’s because Barry loved children. (Children can always tell when adults love them.) He even had nicknames for us. His nickname for me was “Cookie.” Harriette Elmore who lived across the street was “Monkey.” Barry knew I loved to sing, so he would encourage me. “Hey Cookie!” he’d shout out. “Sing that song about He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands.” So I’d start singing it in my little eight-year-old voice. And Barry would get so happy, his happiness just pulled that song right out of me.”
38+39 | The White Buffalo | Problem Solution + Faster Than Fire
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The White Buffalo (aka Jake Smith) released two new tracks off his forthcoming album On The Widow’s Walk as a double A-Side. The new Shooter Jennings-produced album is due out on April 17. The White Buffalo is about engagement. The White Buffalo makes people laugh and cry. The White Buffalo is truth and wild imagination working together. Of the six studio albums and three EPs thus far released under The White Buffalo banner, this latest 11-track outing is the most collaborative and organic, the most sonically round. With uncontrived, hand-crafted music now receiving increased levels of attention, music straight from the source, the timing is perfect for this powerful, provoking new album and a fresh turn of the page.”
40 | Bishop Nehru | Emperor
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Bishop Nehru releases Emperor, the second taste of upcoming LP Nehruvia: My Disregarded Thoughts. Delayed due to managerial disputes, the album is now slated for release on May 8. Self-written and produced, Emperor sees Bishop go it alone to take the mantle and ascends from bubbling underground MC to one of the most talented young rappers working today. “Emperor was just a track that I was making specifically to have fun at lives shows,” says Bishop, adding: “I wanted to be able to have an energetic song everyone could just feel free to. When i was in the process of creating it the main thing I was thinking about after I finished the beat was ‘Wow this could be amazing if performed in a stadium’.”
41 | Lowborn | Light Me Up
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Electro-alternative rock band Lowborn can’t be compared to any other modern act, with their flawless production and tactful lines heard through each release. As haunting vocals intertwine with burning power riffs, their blazing new single Light Me Up is no exception. Alongside New York dark alternative rock band Vista, an undeniable heat explodes within the first five seconds of this synth-infused track. The hook “I soaked your clothes in gasoline, I held your mouth, you tried to scream/remember that you came for me, I’ll leave you buried down underneath” rages into the chorus as the single demonstrates the aptitude and power behind both of these rising acts. Produced by Lowborn members Wes Lauterbach and guitarist Zane Frye, Light Me Up sees Lauterbach and Hope Vista inject polished, intense vocals into this unforgettable single. “The song is about taking the negative energy people throw your way and using it as fuel to burn even brighter and go even further, just to spite them.”
42 | Julia Bhatt | Miami
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Miami is one of the first songs I ever wrote, and the reactions gave me the confidence to keep going and actually pursue music for real,” genre-jumping indie artist Julia Bhatt says of the tropic-pop observation of her hometown in Florida. “People in Miami tend to be in a hurry, often easily inconvenienced, but the scenery is so calming and beautiful. The juxtaposition of the soft background and the harsh inhabitants is just interesting to me. Of course, there are many people who are super chill, but you know, this song isn’t about them.” Working with producer and mentor Elliot Jacobson on the track, Julia says they were influenced by a dynamic range of artists who allowed them the flexibility play around and be really creative with the sounds.”
43 | Bad | Dirty Laundry
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Bad is comprised of NYC based duo Julia Brex and Jackson Hoffman. Having met in high school, the two have been writing and recording music together for over eight years. While they mainly focus on pop songwriting and production for other artists, Bad was formed a year ago and born out of a passion for funk music. The duo are releasing Dirty Laundry. The funk pop track is a playful take on airing out your deepest secrets in a relationship. The duo reveal, “We all have baggage that we carry with us, so before you get too deep into a relationship with someone, you want to make sure they can handle all of the parts of you.” The tongue-in-cheek track features kaleidoscopic synth soundscapes, a vibrant horn section and layered vocals.”
