Walt Disco become one with nature, Billy Raffoul mans up, Olivia Lunny tries out a new hold, RIP Youth bring the love and more in today’s Roundup. A quiet Monday is always a good thing, wouldn’t you agree?
1 | Walt Disco | Hey Boy (You’re One Of Us)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Walt Disco release the video for their new single Hey Boy (You’re One Of Us), lifted from their debut EP Young Hard and Handsome, out Sept. 30. Walt Disco are a band who defy all convention to create a world of their own, truly like no other. Their fearless, unique pop songs are created without constraint, with a message of self expression at the very core of everything they do. Mirroring that sentiment perfectly, the aquatic-themed video for Hey Boy (You’re One Of Us) was shot by the band with the help of their Glasgow flatmates earlier this year in Troon, on the West coast of Scotland. Singer James Power explains: “The video’s very loose concept was that I was sort of a mermaid/sea-dweller who was toying with the idea of becoming a land creature, using this to relate exploring gender within myself. The main goal of the video was to make something fun that was also sexy and could again include the members of the band who weren’t isolating together. For two separate days, I froze my nipples off at the beach in Troon and none of it would have been possible without the help of our lovely flatmates Ally Scott of Lucia and The Best Boys and Anna Acquroff of Medicine Cabinet. As with the Cut Your Hair video, our shaky iPhone footage was masterfully pieced together by Bryan M Ferguson.”
2 | Billy Raffoul | What Makes A Man
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Singer/songwriter Billy Raffoul shares his powerful new song What Makes a Man and its accompanying video. What Makes a Man is the first single from Raffoul’s upcoming album International Hotel, due out Aug. 28. Sparsely arranged but full of raw feeling, What Makes a Man is a profoundly moving protest song that speaks out against systemic racism in policing. As Raffoul explains, What Makes a Man was the final song written and recorded for International Hotel. “I knew I wanted another song, and with so many important things going on in the world I was finding it hard to write another love song. I thought about how since the quarantine started in March I had been driving my car around with expired plates for three months. I couldn’t get down to Nashville to get new tags, yet still I didn’t think twice about it. I can’t help but feel like that is a confidence that only privilege can give you.”
3 | Olivia Lunny | Hold Me
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Olivia Lunny has been preparing for her breakthrough moment since the release of her self-titled EP in early 2018. That effort garnered the young songwriter a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Pop Artist of the Year. Although she began her musical journey playing folk songs, this new era leads Olivia to continuously explore indie-pop and writing post breakout ballads we can all bop our heads to. Her latest track Hold Me is the third single that will eventually make up Olivia’s forthcoming To The Ones I Loved EP. Rooted in a palace of passion, Hold Me is yet another piece of the puzzle which will be revealed when To The Ones I Loved comes out on Aug. 28.”
4 | RIP Youth | You Love
THE PRESS RELEASE: “RIP Youth are the American/Australian DJ/writer/production duo consisting of Dylan Bowes and James Maas. After having penned a plethora of hits for a number of other artists, the longtime best friends felt the time was right to start curating their own artist project. For their debut single You Love, the duo collaborated with a team of fellow Australians — the ARIA-nominated and multi-platinum selling DJ/Producers Bombs Away and soulful hit singer-songwriter Reigan. The euphoric electro-pop single quickly became a hit, picking up major radio support all over Australia. Now, You Love is set to make waves worldwide. “We knew this song was special from the very beginning. We were pumped about the message and Reigan’s vocals were on point. The collab with Bombs Away was super exciting and we can’t wait to share this with everyone.”
5 | Yellowstraps | Frissons ft. Nelick
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Off the back of their EP Goldress, acclaimed Belgian alternative R&B duo YellowStraps continue to inspire despite the lockdown with their latest single Frissons, featuring French rapper Nelick. Downtempo synths and relaxed baseline serve as the bedrock for their latest R&B-tinged effort. Performed entirely in French, Frissons comes to life as a sweet summer-love song. A tale of the complexities of new love between two young adults, which Nelick narrates with the poise befitting of a Yellowstraps cut. Frissons is the first official single of the Yellockdown Project. Yvan and Alban challenged themselves to release one track per week, every week, featuring a different artist and written in 24 hours — which the new video shows.”
6 | No Joy | Dream Rats
THE PRESS RELEASE: “No Joy release the latest single Dream Rats from their forthcoming album Motherhood. The track features frontperson and principal songwriter Jasamine White-Gluz’s sister Alissa, of deathcore supergroup Arch Enemy. Dream Rats crams in synth choir, blast beats, cowboy leads, and signal-jammed shredding into a radio-friendly three and a half minutes. Motherhood is out on Aug. 21. Jasamine White-Gluz says, “I’ve never collaborated musically with my sister before. When we were kids we would sing and play music together but as we’ve both become adults and touring musicians we’ve never had a chance to work together. This is the heaviest song on this record so it felt fitting to have her on there. There is something special about her being on this album, specifically because it’s an exploration of family and motherhood.”
7 | Helion Prime | Forbidden Zone
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Two years after their sophomore release Terror of the Cybernetic Space Monster, Sacramento sci-fi power metallers Helion Prime return with their third effort — the much-shorter titled Question Everything, set for release on Oct. 5. This is Helion Prime’s first album with new vocalist Mary Zimmer, who has also accompanied the band on two separate tours of the United States. Today, the band releases their first single from the album, The Forbidden Zone, based on the fictional character Cornelius from the classic sci-fi film Planet of the Apes. The lyric video was made by Austin Bentley. Founder/songwriter Jason Ashcraft says: “I have had plans to write a song based on the film Planet of the Apes for some time now. I love films and just needed the right time. The character Cornelius really fits into the theme I was going for with this album. He is the only fictional character to be featured on this album.”
8 | Pat DiMeo | Somebody New
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Pat DiMeo is an established touring and recording artist, who has played in a host of bands over the years, composing his own songs from the age of 14. Alongside his lifelong friend Dre, DiMeo is also part of The Motion Epic, an ’80s pop revival group. With the help of Dre on his solo endeavor, the duo are determined to reach an even wider audience. Somebody New, his brand-new track, captures a chill mood and incorporates an anti-drop sensation to really build up the tension with the lyrics in the chorus.”
9 | Fabich | Café Kitsuné Mix
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Fast rising London / Berlin based producer Fabich lays down the template for blissed out, summer soundscapes with the latest edition of Kitsuné Musique’s fêted Café Kitsuné mix series. Fabich says: “As a music producer and DJ I visited a lot of different cities in the last few years, but no matter where I am, I always like to start my days the same way. Most mornings right after a quick shower, I just grab a book and my diary and enjoy a nice flat white or iced coffee in a cool local coffee shop before jumping into the busy work day. The tracks I have selected for my mix are inspired by those beloved mornings and by the Café Kitsuné in Paris, that I visited last summer. I loved the friendly vibe, the awesome food and coffee and the interior design there, and that’s also what I wanted to reflect in my track selection. Music is a big part of this experience for me and I hope my mix provides the perfect soundtrack for a laidback start to your day.”
10 | Sleepwoka | How I Was Wrong
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Whereas for many 2020 has been the year that stood still, Sleepwoka has been busy songwriting, recording, filming music videos and broadcasting live stream gigs. Particularly poignant to the times we find ourselves currently living in, How I Was Wrong explores the notion we often believe in our youth that our best years are yet to come. Sleepwoka explains, “When we were younger, we always felt that the best times were always ahead of us and that we would be the kings of this life! As the years go by, and we begin to achieve our life goals, we realise that those carefree times were actually the years where we felt most free and alive. Although we had nothing, somehow life felt more authentic.”
11 | Ridgio | World
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The brainchild of artist Derek Towner, Ridgio is set to explore a new world of sound for 2020. His latest release comes in the form of We Made It. His initial sound came from being with his family recording in his aunt’s attic at the age of 17. He had a piano, T-Pain mic, and an iPod to record. Fast forward to eight years later, and his sound has developed into its own niche, especially when he goes into a lower register. “I just don’t find a lot of artists nowadays that sound like that. I started music on the fly at 17, so everything you hear currently is freshly developed and raw sonics. I never went to school for anything music wise. I never took any classes so it’s all just a blessing and a gift.”
