J. Graves is on her deathbed, The Wilderness accept their fate, Howlin’ Circus fan the flames of love, Bald Man fights the good fight, The Avett Brothers open their hearts and plenty more in another gargantuan Friday Roundup. Hope you didn’t make plans for the weekend.
1 | J. Graves | Deathbed
THE PRESS RELEASE: “J. Graves is passionate dance-punk. Tense relationship rock, sanguine lyricism, guitar music, chord changes that sound like secret longing, a rhythm section that thuds, skitters, and melts over the determined voice of Jessa Graves. The heat of the cataclysm gives off a vapor known to galvanize meatspace into writhing, dancing heaps, creating rabid, loyal fans. Her EP Deathbed, which was recorded by Portland engineer and pop music auteur Elly Swope at Destination: Universe, will be released on Oct. 2. On the album, J. Graves levels up — her voice is stronger than ever, even as she examines the relationship failure that resulted in the songs on the EP. On the title track she gets to the heart of the matter immediately, singing the opening line “we’re both on this deathbed, only nobody’s dead yet, and I’m lyin’ next to you…and I don’t know what to do.”
2 | The Wilderness | If I Have To Die
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Hailed as the next big band you haven’t heard yet, Kingston indie-rock sextet The Wilderness are set to release their first full-length album Until Tomorrow on Aug. 21. The second single from the album If I Have To Die is out today, along with the official music video created by Chris Mills of Number Four Films (Modest Mouse, Interpol, Metric). If I Have To Die is as much a statement of defiance as it is a response to crisis. “If I Have To Die is a song that I felt I really had to write,” says lead vocalist Jonas Lewis-Anthony. “We started 2020 by being bombarded with what at the time felt like pretty apocalyptic news. It felt like climate change, capitalism, coronavirus and a potential world war three was going to kill us all and there was nothing I could do to stop it. The song acknowledges the world is awful and although it feels like we’re on the precipice of disaster, we can find comfort and peace in and around the people we love.”
3 | Howlin’ Circus | Let Your Love Burn Out
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Howlin’ Circus announce the release of an evocative new single Let Your Love Burn Out accompanied by a sleek lyric video that was filmed in Toronto while adhering with physical distancing protocols. When asked about the meaning behind the song, lead singer Jafar Sandouk said: “I wanted to explore how you get from passionate, burning love to absolutely nothing within such a short space of time — something that many of us have experienced in big cities with dating apps. Technology helps us connect but it also makes it easier to break up, to let go, to move onto something new. And at the same time you can still keep tabs on all your exes, which probably isn’t all that healthy.”
4 | Bald Man | Fight
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging rock artist Bald Man has released the first single and accompanying music video from his debut album. Titled Fight, the high-energy song heralds the Sept. 18 release of Music for the Rest of Us, Bald Man’s 10-track debut studio album of original material. “Fight is a simple message,” said Bald Man. “We want to remind others we are all human beings, trying to survive on this planet spinning in space. Life is precious and we all need to come together as people and stand up, to help us navigate history and educate ourselves on what it teaches us so we can all stop repeating tyranny and corruption and discord to fight for ourselves. We the people. We the used and forgotten.”
https://youtu.be/MxZTXg2SMPE
5 | The Avett Brothers | I Go To My Heart
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Three-time Grammy nominees The Avett Brothers share I Go To My Heart, the second single from their highly anticipated new album The Third Gleam, out Aug. 28. I Go To My Heart is both sonically and emotionally stripped-back, turning to love in moments of hardship and pleading for redemption. Listen to I Go To My Heart here and watch the video here. In the band’s album statement, Seth and Scott share that The Third Gleam is “merely the sound of my brother and I in a room, singing about what is on our minds and in our hearts at the time…sharing it now is about what sharing art is always about: another chance that we may partake in connecting with our brothers and sisters of this world, and hopefully joining you in noticing a speck of light gleaming in what appears to be a relatively long and dark night.”
6 | Ant Saunders | I Had A Love Song ft. VanJess
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Rising R&B/pop artist, songwriter and musician Ant Saunders released a new single called I Had A Love Song featuring critically acclaimed Nigerian R&B duo (and sisters) VanJess. Along with the track is an official music video. Of the collab, Saunders said, “VanJess sent me their first demo and used their phones singing over the instrumentals and I fell in love with what they had. Their voices sounded so cool over the instrumentals and I knew they were going to kill it when they recorded it.”
7 | Steven G | I Need All That
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Rising Los Angeles-based Hip Hop/R&B artist Steven G releases a video for new track, I Need All That, from his soon-to-be-released EP, ShowGreat University, due out Aug. 14. Produced by 15Hunnit Boy of the hit-making collective 1500 or Nothin’ (Jay Z, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake), the track is a sexy invitation wrapped around a melodic groove. The video, directed by Richy Films, has Steven showing his Cali-pride at a classic sun-drenched pool party that pays homage to the early 2000s.”
8 | Joséphine | BabyGirl
THE PRESS RELEASE: “With the nostalgic sound of decades past, Joséphine gives us her latest single BabyGirl. On this track, Joséphine pines for her lover, who she is afraid has “found somebody new.” With influences from Ella Fitzgerald to Amy Winehouse, BabyGirl is reminiscent of a song you would hear in a ‘60s jazz lounge with a modern, pop twist. Joséphine shares: “I took a trip to Israel late last year with a vision to connect with my roots and make art there. I was wandering around Jaffa (South Tel Aviv) one evening and happened across Inta Gay Hotel (yes it is a gay hotel!). I walked in and saw they were doing a live model sketching — this handsome man perched upon a gorgeous deep burgundy chaise lounge, string lights draped around him as guests drew him. Immediately I knew — this was BabyGirl.”
9 | Léon | Chasing A Feeling
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Building off the success of her self-titled debut album, Swedish act Léon announces her sophomore album Apart, out everywhere Oct. 30. With the announcement, the songstress releases her newest single Chasing A Feeling. Sometimes the saddest part of a relationship is when you know love is gone, but you’re in denial or unwilling to let go of what you once had. Léon perfectly captures that feeling of regret and reluctance to walk away in this emotional new track. Her signature sultry vocals dominate the retro-pop track backed by subtle keyboards and expertly restrained accompaniment. Chasing A Feeling leaves you with a lingering question, thinking about what could have been — whether you walk away or choose to stay.”
10 | Melanie Peterson | Tightrope
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto singer, songwriter, actress Melanie Peterson releases a cheeky new lyric video for Tightrope — the second single from her upcoming album We Got This. Tightrope (produced by Mitch Girio) pursues Peterson’s ever-present songwriting theme of love, with a positive message. “Although this song was written and recorded pre-global pandemic, perhaps its message is more universal and relatable now more than ever. It deals with an unpredictable lover, and the loss of balance that uncertainty can bring,” states Peterson. “A mere three months has passed since the release of my upcoming EP’s title track, but it seems like a lifetime, and the overall pop song sound on Tightrope feels worlds away from its predecessor.”
11 | Young Gun Silver Fox | Baby Girl
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Baby Girl is the lead single from the forthcoming future yacht rock classic LP Canyons from the musical duo Young Gun Silver Fox. Canyons are places of mystery and beauty. The interesting thing is, while they are one of the great wonders in the history of planet earth and attract scientists of all kinds of disciplines, they have also been a popular retreat for artists and musicians. Maybe that’s why Andy Platts and Shawn Lee were thinking of Canyons when they wrote and recorded their third album as Young Gun Silver Fox.”
12 | Earth’s Yellow Sun | The Infernal Machine
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Five years ago Toronto’s Earth’s Yellow Sun released their sophomore EP The Infernal Machine. Now to celebrate the anniversary of that EP, they are re-releasing the tracks in the form of animated videos starting at the beginning with Part I – Assembly. Guitarist Josh Hanff explains: “Part I – Assembly is an introduction to the world and its characters. We see the process of the machine being made and programmed, culminating in the grand reveal to the public. This audiovisual experience is experimental, thought-provoking, and deeply artistic. Four more pieces of the story are to follow over the next couple of months.”
13 | Turkuaz | Rain
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Turkuaz recently dazzled fans to a set of never-before-seen (or heard) Beatles covers, paying homage to a major influence for the nine-piece ensemble. Today, the band share their performance of Rain, the first of many cover songs to be released from the otherwise unreleased set. According to the band, “Rain is one of those lesser-known Beatles B-sides, and given the sentiment of the track, also seemed like an appropriate note to start this series off with in these confusing and scary times. But don’t worry, the sun will be coming out soon.”
14 | The Nursery | Radium Girls
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto’s post-punk synth-pop trio The Nursery is back following the release of their widely acclaimed 2017 debut, Life After Wartime. The band has spent a large part of the past two years building a studio in Toronto, allowing them to create a sound that is uniquely their own. The result is Radium Girls, the first track from The Nursery’s sophomore LP, Candy + Gloom, due out later this year. Radium Girls is a cautionary tale inspired by the documentary Radium City. The single tells the story of women who died due to poisoning from their work. Lead songwriter Alex Pulec says of the track: “It was important to me that the song was uplifting and entertaining even though it highlights the horrific human tendencies we have. I realize those are two opposing feelings, but that juxtaposition is the signature in most of our music.”
15 | Dawes | St. Augustine at Night
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Veteran rockers Dawes have premiered their profound new single. St. Augustine at Night; an official lyric video is streaming now. “St. Augustine at Night is a song about one’s relationship to their hometown,” says Dawes’ frontman Taylor Goldsmith, “but also is a song about the varying degrees in which we all watch our lives pass us by.” St. Augustine at Night marks the latest single from the Los Angeles-based band’s eagerly awaited seventh studio LP, Good Luck With Whatever. Produced by Grammy winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit) at Nashville’s famed RCA Studio A, it arrives Oct. 2.”
16 | Ric Wilson & Terrace Martin | Chicago Bae ft. BJ The Chicago Kid
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Earlier this summer, Chicago-based hip-hop artist Ric Wilson and Grammy-nominated producer Terrace Martin released their collaborative EP, They Call Me Disco. Today, Wilson and Martin are proud to share the official visual for its snappy lead single Chicago Bae, which features BJ The Chicago Kid and production from Ted Chung, Terrace Martin, and J-Trx. “We started making the video to Chicago Bae around the time everyone was running into Walmarts taking all of the toilet papers,” says Wilson. “We couldn’t physically be together but wanted to make something that could bring people together more. I’m honored to be featured on a song with two incredible black musicians that I consider living legends. I don’t really know anyone who’s singing better than BJ The Chicago Kid right now and I don’t know who’s embodying and pushing the boundaries of all genres of black music right now as much as Terrace.”
https://youtu.be/-rp7pDnR604
17 | Adaline | Ghost
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian queer alt pop-inspired singer/songwriter/composer Adaline has shared a gorgeous stripped-down bedroom session video for her heart-breaking queer power ballad Ghost. The hauntingly beautiful single appears on Adaline’s latest EP Dear Illusion. “I’ve been keeping a part of myself under wraps, and the secrecy has affected my emotional wellbeing, relationships, and my music. I felt I wasn’t writing with the transparency and vulnerability I was accustomed to. The track Ghost is about my experience of falling in love for the first time with a woman. The album as a whole was created during this relationship. I wanted to be brave enough to use female pronouns, not only for my personal growth, but also so that queer women could directly see themselves in the song without having to change any of the language.”
18 | Anjelica | Maybe It’s the Drugs
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Anjelica brings an elevated sense of truth and vulnerability to the dark-pop music genre. Listeners received a taste of her forthcoming projects through her debut single Good Ones that she further accompanied with a stripped acoustic version and a stunning video to accompany. Through her music, a gravitational pull ignites and Anjelica brings us together in an expression of shared loss and the capacity to find strength in the darkest of times. Self-written and produced, her works deliver an intuitive sound that is distinctly her own. Anjelica will release a collection of songs throughout the year. Maybe It’s The Drugs is her second.”
19 | Heathen | Empire Of The Blind
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Bay Area thrash legends Heathen recently revealed their fourth studio album Empire of the Blind will be released on Sept. 18. Today, the band released the second single and title track Empire Of The Blind. Heathen comment, “This song refers to the ongoing manipulation of people through political and social propaganda in the mass media. Behold the rising empire!”
20 | Patient Hands | Opening
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Patient Hands, the solo-project of Saskatchewan based ambient songwriter Alexander Stooshinoff, announced his sophomore album, There Are No Graves Here, set for release later this year, and shared the first single and video from the album, Opening. “With Opening, I tried to capture the feeling of pure potentiality or the openness of a new beginning, even if it comes after tragedy,” explains Stooshinoff. “Change isn’t always kind to us, but I wanted this track to be hopeful and confident rather than cynical. It is composed of only two elements, a granulated nylon string guitar track, and a synth bass line.”
21 | Chyld & Ronnie Lott | Ur A Puzzle
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Showing no sign of letting up, Boston producer and multi-instrumentalist Chyld is back once again with his latest bop, Ur A Puzzle. This time he has enlisted the talents of San Antonio-raised MC Ronnie Lott to deliver a grooving hip-hop smash that incorporates Chyld’s signature synths, an undeniable bounce and some attitude-laced verses from the buzzing rapper. With both artists carving a lane of their own, the new collaboration is a fresh blend of influences that is sure to land both parties in the spotlight. Summertime fresh and ready to turn things up from clubs to pool parties, Ur A Puzzle is “the puzzle piece you’re looking for.”
22 | Equilibrium | One Folk
THE PRESS RELEASE: “One nation, one clan – one folk: Strong words that unfold powerful magic in these difficult times. United by the sound of epic metal, Equilibrium release their new single One Folk — an ode to humanity that celebrates all our solidarity and ties the knot between individuals under the flag of shared values even stronger. “2020 is the first year since 2003 that we are not able to play any festival shows for obvious reasons. But just like everybody else, we had to deal with that situation and we decided to spend a lot of time in the studio, writing new songs. We are very happy to share our newest creation One Folk with the world, our hymn to humanity. This song includes many of our favorite Equilibrium trademarks and I think it also shows what to expect from us in the future. We just can’t wait to play it also live hopefully soon!“
23 | Aquihayaquihay | Muack
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Mexican anti-boyband outfit Aquihayaquihay have releasef latest single Muack, an alt-trap record that flaunts their musical versatility and unique flow. Produced by Phynx & Adrian Be, the track blends lo-fi hip-hop and Latin trap and kisses toxic love goodbye with finesse and swag. “Muack describes the courage, adrenaline, and confidence that comes with saying ‘no’ to a toxic relationship. Breaking free from the chains [of love] and doing what you want which rushes blood to your head…but freedom is a double-edged sword if you don’t make the right moves. ‘Kiss on the cheek so it doesn’t hurt anymore’ a healthy way to say goodbye to toxic love.”
24 | Nimrawd | Pool Party
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Pools are empty. The Pool Party video is out. The Gamins by Nimrawd was released this year. Nimrawd is an electronic musician based in Montreal, Canada. He writes lo-fi instrumental music using live bass, old-school hip-hop beats and childhood field sounds.”
25 | Terra Lightfoot | Paper Thin Walls
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Nearly three years since the release of her critically acclaimed album New Mistakes, soulful rocker Terra Lightfoot shares the new single and video for Paper Thin Walls off the upcoming studio album Consider the Speed. “I wrote this song about overhearing someone you love sharing some harsh words,” says Lightfoot. “I’ve tried to modulate my reactions to things like that, strived to be calmer in my interactions even when I feel strongly. Paper Thin Walls is about having your heart run over by someone who never really comes through.” Alongside the single, Lightfoot releases a lyric video for the song, directed by Mat Dunlap and featuring performance footage from the tail end of the marathon New Mistakes tour.”
26 | Fast Romantics | Made For You
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Acclaimed indie-rock band Fast Romantics have released their highly anticipated new album, Pick It Up. They’ve also premiered the video for their latest single Made For You. Inspired by a trip to the Caribbean, Made For You is about the magic of sharing your life with someone who is better at living than you are, and being willing to let yourself be inspired to be more like them. “I involuntarily sang the chorus to this song — words and melody — to Made For You out of nowhere as I was swimming in the Caribbean sea after successfully defeating my fear of sharks. I had been convinced to take my first-ever tropical vacation by my partner and bandmate Kirty. She taught me the power of just wading out into an ocean and just looking into the abyss and appreciating it because it was beautiful and it felt good,” shares Matthew Angus.”
27 | Shabason, Krgovich & Harris | Friday Afternoon
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The protagonist of Icelandic writer Halldór Laxness’s 1969 novel, World Light, gives a tearful goodbye to the grains and knots of his attic ceiling when he leaves after years spent staring up at them, bedridden. On their album Philadelphia, Nicholas Krgovich, Joseph Shabason, and Chris Harris chase a similar kind of romance toward the mundane and minuscule details made more visible by the world’s newfound relationship with the Great Indoors. The three musicians, who convened on a shared love of Japanese New Age music, create a space of sonic refuge out of softly electrified textures, burbling live instrumentation, and Shabason’s lacquered synth work, all of which support Krgovich’s koan-like poetry about showers before bed, dusty minivans, sips of Gatorade, and the modern minutiae rendered beautiful by mere observation.”
28 | Ólafur Arnalds | Back To The Sky (ft. JFDR)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and producer Ólafur Arnalds is thrilled to present his new single/video, Back To The Sky (ft. JFDR). Composed and recorded at Arnalds’ newly designed studio nestled near the ocean in downtown Reykjavik, Back To The Sky features emotive violin and a beat that softly ricochets. The track highlights the intimate voice of multi-instrumentalist JFDR, a fellow Icelandic artist who Arnalds has long admired, known for both her solo work as well as her involvement with various groups such as Samaris and Pascal Pinon. “When Ólafur sent over the demo I could instantly hear and feel the melody,” says JFDR. “I was back in Reykjavík for a little while this winter and somehow ended up living on my own, the sky was dark all encompassing, I was quite lonely and staring into the sky was like I could speak to someone through the cosmos.”
29 | Adekunle Gold | AG Baby
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Adekunle Gold’s AG Baby gets the visual treatment, as he looks ahead to next month’s album release of Afro Pop Vol 1. Shot in Houston, Texas alongside Trinidad’s Nailah Blakckman, the latest release follows the infectious Something Different, with both singles acting as the perfect teasers, giving us early insight into what the African household name has in store for listeners on the highly anticipated forthcoming project.”
30 | Darling Boy | Air Conditioned Gypsy
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Borrowing its title from a lyric in The Who classic Going Mobile, Air Conditioned Gypsy has all the vim and vigour of that Who’s Next cut, while archly weaving-in Smiths-y interloping guitars and an Oasis-like bravado. The creation and homage of a true music aficionado, Darling Boy proudly wears his influences on his sleeve here and fashions them into something fresh, exciting and entirely his own. Written over a weekend while staying in Dublin, Air Conditioned Gypsy is a celebration of being carefree, living on your wits and approaching life with a willingness to find hope in times of adversity. “We’ll steal a future… now I’ve found you, I’ll never see a day without you” Gold sings, his crystalline vocal etching optimistic words over intricately layered arrangements.”
31 | Benediction | Rabid Carnality
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Benediction is without a doubt one of the few remaining originals in the death metal scene, and they have achieved legendary status through various albums over the years. They love what they do and always do their job without compromise — on record and on stage. After more than 30 years in the business and 12 years after their last album Killing Music, Benediction are back with one of their best releases — Scriptures, out Oct. 16. Today, the band released the music video for the first single Rabid Carnality.”
32 | Samurai Breaks | Marathon
THE PRESS RELEASE: “After blasting onto the scene last month with a monstrous jungle track, here’s Marathon, a 160bpm stomper from Leeds’ own Samurai Breaks — the second in a monthly series of singles, that will ultimately culminate in a full compilation EP exploring the contemporary evolution of jungle music. Marathon is a fantastically definitive demonstration of the sound Samurai Breaks has recently become known for, combining elements of jungle, footwork and old-school hardcore in a sound that is quite uniquely his own, making use of a clap-heavy drum pattern paired with a colourfully thick bassline bound to put any soundsystem to the test. Samurai Breaks is clearly making his own distinctive mark on the scene, and Marathon is no exception.”
33 | Anton Barbeau | Manbird
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Psychedelic singer-songwriter Anton Barbeau has announced he will be releasing the Manbird double LP on Sept. 18. Ahead of this, he presents the title single. Manbird is a collection of new songs, written in Berlin and on a farm in Auburn, CA. The title takes inspiration from the film Lady Bird, a coming-of-age-in-Catholic-school story set in Sacramento. Many of the film’s locations are well familiar to Barbeau. Whereas Lady Bird couldn’t wait to leave town, Barbeau notes: “I was quite timid about even stepping out of my precious Midtown, where I’d become a big fish in a small nest. I had major labels calling me up at home and I thought the world would simply come to my door, cash in hand.” Obviously it didn’t work like that, and Barbeau did finally leave Sacramento, ultimately finding his way to Berlin via Alameda and then England. “I saw the film Lady Bird in Madrid while on tour with Julia VBH, and it struck me I’d finally left the proverbial nest.”
34 | Math Club | The Sun
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Hamilton’s Math Club are gearing up to release a new EP, Major Arcana, on Aug. 14. The lead single The Sun is out today. “Our previous releases, 2016’s There’s a Light on Upstairs and 2019’s Hunter (Trilogy) have garnered a lot of local praise and support, and with this new EP we are hoping to continue that momentum and branch out further into the Canadian and international music scenes. Having shared the stage with acts like Basement Revolver, Kevin Devine, Listener, and Elevator, we’ve secured ourselves a place in the Hamilton scene as a go-to choice for the supporting slot. We’ve had solid support from college radio in Canada and the United States, particularly in the indie, emo, and alternative scenes.”
35 | Burnt Tapes | Getitgotitgood
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Getitgotitgood is the second single that will feature in Burnt Tapes’ upcoming emotionally reflective and environmentally focussed EP, Grower. The single comes with a music video by Luigi Sibona, filmed at The Fighting Cocks in Kingston. Instead of releasing their upcoming EP on a CD or vinyl record, the tracks will be available alongside a small Beech tree that can be planted, in efforts to help the local environment and climate change. The EP will be out on Sept. 4. As guitarist Phil explains: “We wanted to do something a little different, more sustainable and planet-friendly. Something you can plant and nurture, and watch grow. Don’t get me wrong, we love a good band T-shirt! But we need more green spaces in order to tackle the climate emergency, and hopefully, we can raise more awareness about this through this initiative. And most of all provide you with some wholesome family fun.”
36 | Colleen Brown | It’s The End Of The World (Again)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “With versatile songs and a compelling voice, Prairie-raised, now Toronto-based Colleen Brown is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who effortlessly weaves elements of folk, roots, Americana, and pop into a sublime, striking blend. Her new single and accompanying lyric video, It’s The End Of The World (Again), brings her varied skills into the spotlight once more – even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, about which the song was written. It’s the first single of an upcoming collection of compositions, under the title Isolation Songs.”
37 | Butcher Brown | Cabbage
THE PRESS RELEASE: “#KingButch — hashtag proudly attached — is the title of Butcher Brown’s soon-to-be top-trending album, the eighth in the band’s up-from-the-roots legacy. The 13 tracks collectively represent a bold step forward for the five-piece group from Richmond, Va. Remaining true to the group’s heady fusion of contemporary hip-hop, ‘70s fusion, ‘60s jazz and funk — even echoes of Southern rock and marching band music show up — #KingButch is a powerfully original statement that reaches across divisions of genre, generation, ethnicity, and geography. Significantly, the new recording also reveals a side of Butcher Brown that’s been developing and is now in full-flower: a song-crafting, studio maturity on a par with their national reputation as an explosive live act.”
38 | Jessie Wagner | End Of Time
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Popular touring vocalist Jessie Wagner (Lenny Kravitz, Chic, Duran Duran, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul) and frontwoman for NYC rock/soul band Army of the Underdog is stepping out into the forefront with her stunning debut solo album, Shoes Droppin, set for release on Oct. 9. The album’s first single and music video End Of Time is streaming everywhere. Jessie explains, “This is just pure bubblegum fun! This song is about finding the perfect person and wanting to just love and be loved by that person for the rest of your life.”
39 | Jason Wilson & Tabarruk | Keele Street
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The next instalment of Jason Wilson’s back catalogue reissue series continues with 2004’s dREaD & BLUE: A Canadiana Suite. Recorded with his band Tabarruk, the album is another prime example of Wilson’s unique ability to blend reggae, jazz and folk with a deep love of his hometown, Toronto. Along with one of his best-known songs, Keele Street, dREaD & BLUE contains many other references to Wilson’s days as a child growing up in Toronto during the 1970s. “dREaD & BLUE was the first really personal album I ever wrote,” Wilson says. “As a result, I believe it resonated with a lot of people, perhaps allowing them to hear and remember their own childhoods in a way. It also gave me my biggest ‘hit’ in Keele Street, a song I wrote on the Keele 41 bus in about 15 minutes.”
40 | Prospects | Orphic Trigger
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Progressive metal act Prospects have unleashed the new single Orphic Trigger, from the upcoming four-track EP Recalling, due out Sept. 4. Founded in 2014 by multi-instrumentalist Robert Medeiros, Prospects combines influences from acts like Opeth and The Contortionist for chillingly heavy tracks with multiple layers. In a niche, but thriving genre, the band aims to broaden their horizons and bring together fans from different backgrounds, united by a love of heavy and experimental music. The band explains one of the unique challenges they had when recording this album: “Since there is some distance between band members, we all recorded/tracked the instrumentals on our own, compiled them into an organized folder, and sent them to be mixed and mastered by Jamie King. Vocals were recorded by Mike Indovina.”
41 | Aftyn | Baby
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Indie-pop duo Aftyn have announced the upcoming release of their new LP Minutia, out Aug. 21. Led by the lead single Baby, Minutia is a simplistic and intimate 10-track collection. A testament to members Guinnevere Philipp and Chris Maher’s musical connection, Minutia is incredibly soothing, reaching into personal experiences and nostalgia. About the single, the duo state: “We are so excited to release what we have worked on over the last year to the world! All these songs were written and produced by us with no other hands involved which we felt kept our identities intact in the music. We have varying influences in music from the ’70s to now, so these elements played a heavy hand in our songs.”
42 | Loud Forest | Somebody Who Loves Me
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Bernard and Rachel Chadwick are the husband-and-wife duo that create pop/rock music imbued with love and artisanship. Theirs is an enviable creative relationship built around making more of themselves and the world through collaboration. The band started while Bernard was earning his MFA at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. It was a way for rock to fuse into art and art to fuse into rock. This became the exact intention of their music going forward. The band’s incorporation of pop sensibilities, ethereal vocals, insightful lyrics and rock undertones give them a sound that is unique, fun and sure to keep you grooving. They are currently working to release their third album 17.”
43 | Yoke Lore | Fade Away
THE PRESS RELEASE: “New York indie-pop storyteller Yoke Lore unveils his first solo release of 2020, Fade Away. Yoke Lore is the solo musical venture of Adrian Galvin, previously of Yellerkin and Walk the Moon. Deeply personal lyrics set atop lush synths and an anthemic chorus make Fade Away the perfect track to take you right into fall. “Fade Away is a song about making the difficult choice to persist in trying to know and understand someone. It is part promise and part plea. It is a promise to remain vigilant in my desire to be better than I was yesterday. It is a plea for others to do the same,” Galvin explains. “I won’t fade away, if you don’t fade away. I will remain conscious and try to be more conscientious, because I believe the way through is always through dialogue.”
44 | El Ten Eleven | You Are A Piece of Me, You Are a Piece of Her
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Experiencing an unexpected tragedy or loss often provokes a period of self-reflection, a time to contemplate one’s own place and purpose in the world. That was true for El Ten Eleven’s Kristian Dunn. When a beloved family member passed, Dunn found his own reflections on life emerging in the music he composed. Those expressions led to the creation of Tautology — a sonic meditation on the arc of human life, composed in three parts. Over the course of three discs, Tautology is, in Dunn’s words, “a representation of life from the teenage years, through middle-age, until the end of life.” You Are A Piece of Me, You Are a Piece of Her begins the third and final phase. “This is a song for my daughter. The “Me” and “Her” in the title refer to my wife and me. I was envisioning when my wife and I depart this mortal coil someday (hopefully a long time from now!) and thought about my daughter living without us. It made me feel quite melancholy and emotional and this song is the result.”
45 | Grid | Indifference
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Umea, Sweden’s Grid have completed the recording of their debut full-length, Livsleda. Consisting of nine blistering grindcore songs with echoes of melodic crust/d-beat, Livsleda will appeal to fans of Nasum, Rotten Sound, Sayyadina, Afgrund, Wake, Tragedy, Martyrdöd, and the like. The lead single from Livsleda, Indifference, is now streaming. Livsleda is set for release Sept. 11.”
46 | Avi Kaplan | Chains (Alt. Version)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Rising singer-songwriter Avi Kaplan shared Chains (Alt Version) off his upcoming new Lean On Me EP out Aug. 21. Chains originally appeared on his acclaimed Mike Mogis-produced EP, I’ll Get By released earlier this year. In addition to Chains, the four-track Lean On Me EP features the previously released, It Knows Me (Alt Version) (also from I’ll Get By), along with fan favourite track Aberdeen and Avi’s recently released cover of the Bill Withers classic Lean On Me.”
47 | Briqueville | Akte XIII
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Mysterious atmospheric metal collective Briqueville will release their latest full-length Quelle on Oct. 2. The contemporary Belgian heavy music scene continues to spawn some truly enigmatic bands, and Briqueville are among the most intriguing and compelling of them all. The meditative heaviness of their sound and the careful engineering of the visual aspects of their mesmerizing live performance rituals are awe-inspiring and challenging in equal measure. Issues the band, “We strongly feel that this record keeps all the ingredients of previous records and explores them further than we ever did before. The theme of a ‘source’ and the ‘which’ linking it reflexively to our previous album artwork gave us the feeling that we stayed true to our original concept, music, artwork and clips; water and sand as a source of life and death; how an isolated soul deals with these elements.”
48 | Delaney Jane | Want You Now
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian singer-songwriter Delaney Jane has unveiled her new single Want You Now. A shimmering pop track with a retro aesthetic, Want You Now sees Delaney continue with her recent shift in creative direction, with the Toronto-born artist delivering a modern take on the classic ’80s synth-pop sound. It follows July single Somewhere Else, with both tracks set to feature on her forthcoming six-track EP due for release this fall.”
49 | Leith Ross | Everyone I’ve Never Met
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto-based singer-songwriter Leith Ross is releasing the first single from their upcoming EP Motherwell. This is the debut release from a fascinating young artist who started making music as a way to digest their own life. “I was sitting in my basement bedroom, thinking about a girl that I had a crush on, feeling alone and scared and ashamed of myself.”, says Ross, who is non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them. “Then a song came on about two girls in love. I was so thrilled.” In Everyone I’ve Never Met, Ross’s powerful yet delicate voice shines over catchy electric guitar riffs in an ode to the beauty that can be found in chance encounters.”
https://youtu.be/NL6XxYFWnwU
50 | Beth Hirsch | All I Need (Eliot’s Cosmic Remix)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “American singer and songwriter Beth Hirsch shares All I Need (Eliot’s Cosmic Remix), the second single from her upcoming new studio album Love Is For Everyone, due Sept. 11. The new single follows up on the recently released albums opening track Allison Something and is one of the two tracks she featured on from Air’s multi-platinum album Moon Safari. “People have offered or suggested to me over the years to remix it, and I’ve never really jumped on board, she says while working in the studio with Eliot two years ago in Greece, he mentioned he’d really like to remix All I Need and showed me the sketch. I thought ‘This is so cool, let’s just do this.’ ”
51 | Felixity | The Bad Guy (EMP Remix)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Neo-soul pop artist Felixity presents her latest single The Bad Guy (EMP Remix), a soulful Amy Winehouse-inspired track from her new Love Sick Remixed LP. This follows up her debut Love Sick LP, released earlier this year. Taking advantage of the lockdown period, Felixity reached out to such epic music producers as Barry Adamson, Danny Saber, Andy Spaceland, Martin Eden, James Sanger, Drunq, Black Star Liner, Thomas Gloor, David Francolini and Cenzo Townshend, all of whom have come together to remix her original tracks. “On the whole, this music is a full stop on a part of my life. Written about personal experiences and laid over heavy drums and lots of strings, I wanted people to know that we all feel the same things and the hardest stuff never lasts. I wrote this about my past and the things that have happened. Sex, drugs love and addiction, it’s all in there.”
52 | Kadeema | I’m Still Standing
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Following the release of their debut EP, Ontario duo Kadeema have released a cover of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing to kick off a string of covers through the fall: “This cover was an idea that popped into our head at a time where both of us were experiencing the end of a very significant era in our lives. Separately, we went through a fair share of trials and tribulations, but we were both able to come out stronger at the other end of it. To feel like you’re still standing, better than you ever did, was a sentiment we felt very strongly about at the time so it was an easy choice. It’s also such an amazing song by one of greatest to ever do it. Why not pay tribute in our own way to the Rocket Man himself?”
53 | Mathew V | Not Sorry
THE PRESS RELEASE: “After 10 years of classical operatic vocal training, Mathew V moved to London, England at the age of 17 to teach himself how to write pop music. Now only 22, Mathew has accomplished a lot since returning home to Vancouver. His new album Two Faced has been a few years in the making. Mathew is not an artist that lives in one space — some days he wants to make top 40 pop music, some days he wants to make a really intimate acoustic song. Some people would say that isn’t allowed, but Mathew wanted to make the ideal album for this point in his life. An album for all of his moods, all of his highs and lows. Two Faced shows both sides of that spectrum really well — both of his faces, so to speak.”
54 | Devan | Real Shot
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto-born/London-raised singer-songwriter Devan’s solo project has been percolating since the moment she hit ‘record’ on her first homemade demo, and all these years later, she remains equally as brazen and ready to share her songs. While distinct, Devan’s voice may sound familiar. She has spent the last six years honing her talents as a songwriter and live performer with Wild Rivers, the folk-pop band that she co-found and co-fronts. Armed with unmissable and compelling vocals, Real Shot is Devan’s first single, and the shimmering indie-pop track traces the haunting what-ifs of old relationships.”
55 | Nick Kingswell | Homesick
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Australian singer/songwriter Nick Kingswell’s latest album Brontide is a stunning collection of 12 tracks, written peripherally while trying to focus in on a distant feeling. A feeling you can’t quite comprehend, or is just beyond your reach. Kingswell shares, “I covered a lot of ground on Brontide. Both lyrically and sonically. Brontide is the low sound of distant thunder, and my take on that is evident in these songs. They’re the closest I’ve gotten to the truth.” The single Homesick narrates Kingswell’s move from Australia to the UK. He confides, “I love living in the UK and I feel equally as lucky to get to go home to a place like Phillip Island. It’s the best of both worlds. But the feeling of being homesick comes and goes. It’s like that whole idle hands idea. As long as I’m busy and happy and in touch with my family regularly, I can make it work.”
56 | Jonny Polonsky | You Turn Me On (Jim Sclavunos Remix)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “NYC-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jonny Polonsky presents the Jim Sclavunos remix of You Turn Me On. Sclavunos has been a member of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds since 1994. Says Polonsky: “You Turn Me On wasn’t written with a specific person in mind. These are just the words and melodies that came up when I heard the music (I recorded all the music before I wrote a melody or words, which is very unusual for me). But then again, as Keith Richards said, when asked which person he wrote a particular love song for, “they’re about all of ‘em.”
57 | Fames | Scared of the Dark
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Los Angeles pop band Fames consists of Ian Johnson, Wesley Chandler and Blair Heumann. The band just dropped its brand new single Scared Of The Dark. “If you’ve been through a dark time after a relationship ends you’ve probably experienced the insomnia that can occur. You’re constantly up late replaying old memories with coffee, tea, cigarettes, and other substances that ease the broken hearted. If you’ve ever been there or are currently going through it, just remember the sun will come up and the light can heal yesterday’s wounds. It may just take awhile.”
58 | Evil House Party | Wicked
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Evil House Party is the new project of Emma Acs & Jacob Formann (Communions, Mini Esco). Their debut single Wicked features a modern murderous ballad fleshed out in a bittersweet revenge pop anthem.”
59 | Holodrum | Lemon Chic
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Disco-infused Leeds band Holodrum have released their third single Lemon Chic, a dance floor-primed silver glider that sparkles with the touch of members from bands such as Hookworms, Cowtown, Virginia Wing, Drahla, Nope, Mucky Sailor, VIDE0, Bathymetry & Xam Duo. Potentially the most streamlined, club-ready cut in the band’s repertoire, Lemon Chic is carried along on a wave of Metro Area-esque percussion and cosmic arpeggios, littered with rolling timbales and post-punk guitar stabs. Finished in one last inspired session before the social apocalypse, in an attempt to evoke the glorious union of Nile Rodgers with the tang of yellow citrus fruits, Holodrum invite you to boogie at a distance, and use table service wherever possible.”
60 | North Mississippi Allstars | Catfish
THE PRESS RELEASE: “North Mississippi Allstars have released their version of Catfish featuring Cedric Burnside. The song was recorded at Willie Mitchell’s historic Royal Studios in Memphis, which was home to the legendary Hi Records and the Hi Rhythm Section. Co-produced by Mitchell’s son, the Grammy-winning Boo Mitchell, and Luther and Cody Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, all proceeds from Catfish will benefit Black Lives Matter. Says Luther Dickinson, “In the collective repertoire of the Mississippi Hills, Muddy Waters’ songs Still a Fool and Rolling Stone exist as a medley referred to as Catfish. Catfish has been a rite of passage in my life time and time again. In 1997, RL Burnside hired me to play third guitar on his Ass Pocket of Whiskey tour with Cedric Burnside on drums and Kenny Brown on second guitar. For RL’s encore he would put his guitar down, stand up and sing Catfish, breaking it down to tell some of his infamous jokes.”
61 | Toots and the Maytals | Three Little Birds
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Toots and the Maytals have released a cover of the Bob Marley classic Three Little Birds, featuring Ziggy Marley. The track also features percussion from Ringo Starr, plus Zak Starkey on guitar, and drums from Sly Dunbar (of Sly & Robbie). Three Little Birds is the third track to be released from their highly anticipated forthcoming studio album Got To Be Tough, out on Aug. 28.”
62 | Syd Warwick | Moon Kin
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Vancouver alt-folk artist Syd Warwick (formerly Abraham) is releasing her newest single Moon Kin as well as revealing her new name. Moon Kin was recorded in 2019 at Protection Island Studios in Maple Ridge, B.C. It was produced, mixed, and engineered by Scott Currie, and mastered by Greg Calbi. Moon Kin is about the pain of not being able to connect with the people around you, when all you want is love. Secondly, it’s about creating an identity around outrunning ideas and expectations, that would seek to keep you small. Syd mentions that “the kindest thing she was called as a child was crazy” among many other negative things, the bullying made her feel very isolated and alone. She is taking her power back and hopes others can find their power in this story.”
63 | The Swell Fellas | Death Race
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Ocean City, Maryland’s prolific psychedelic rock trio and All Them Witches protégés The Swell Fellas released their brand new single Death Race. The band comments: “This song was recorded in Berlin, MD at the house that we created The Big Grand Entrance and The Great Play of Extension in. While in the process of moving out amidst quarantine, we found ourselves wanting to capture the sound of the place that we’ve lived at for the majority of our time as a band before venturing towards the next endeavor. Different instruments/parts were recorded throughout the house, allowing us to forever stamp the reverberations of its walls into the song we wrote while saying goodbye.”
64 | American Television | Officer
THE PRESS RELEASE: “D.C.’s American Television have turned the pandemic into a year of activism. Their cover of Operation Ivy’s Officer was recorded in response to police brutality that plagues the black community and now plagues Black Lives Matter protests across the country. The song was featured on the Attention! comp, which raised money for the NAACP. Additionally, in 2020 the band has raised money for Black Lives Matter, Equal Justice Initiative, Doctors Without Borders, the workers at their T-shirt printer Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations, and before the pandemic, they took action during the Australian wildfires by raising money for WIRES.”
