Muck & The Mires watch their love zoom away, Ghost Funk Orchestra get fuzzy with the logic, Ayla Brook & The Sound Men give you a lift, Alex Little & The Suspicious Minds are broken men and much, much more in another epic Friday Roundup. Some of today’s themes: Animation, ampersands, online breakups, heavy metal, seniors and (for some weird reason) child abuse. Hey, don’t blame me. I don’t make ’em; I just post ’em.
1 | Muck & The Mires | Zoom Breakup
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Zoom Breakup is the brand-new video and single by Muck & the Mires, and is featured on the band’s upcoming EP Take Me Back To Planet Earth which is coming Sept. 25. The song’s timely lyrics, coupled with a timeless power pop sound, are guaranteed to provide joy to any self-isolating music fan looking to either socialize or social distance. The new Muck & the Mires release will feature six fresh tracks, all written and recorded while the band has been off the road self-isolating. The Boston-based band anxiously awaits their next visit to your hometown, but in the meantime please join them for a Zoom Breakup.”
2 | Ghost Funk Orchestra | Fuzzy Logic
THE PRESS RELEASE: “As Ghost Funk Orchestra begin releasing the initial offerings from their forthcoming second LP, Fuzzy Logic gives us just a taste. It showcases the group’s trademark dark and verbed out heady production, but shows GFO mastermind Seth Applebaum moving into more ambitious arrangements, something that will be the theme of their forthcoming LP due out this fall.”
3 | Ayla Brook & The Sound Men | Lift You Up
THE PRESS RELEASE: “As it was for all artists, the pandemic put a halt to plans Ayla Brook & The Sound Men had for the rest of this year. However, the Edmonton roots-rockers did get their latest album Desolation Sounds out before the lockdown, and the warm reception it received around the world has offset some of the disappointment they feel over the inability to play live. In that spirit, they’re releasing a new live (socially distanced) performance video for the track Lift You Up, made as part of the Alberta Spotlight series. According to Ayla, “Lift You Up is a sort of love letter to the music community — all the venues, techs, bar staff and listeners. And to the musicians. It’s also to all the folks who drag themselves away from their homes through the oppressive heat and the bitter cold to be together in a room and sing their sorrows away in a lovely loud wash of noise. Damn, I wish we could do that right now!”
4 | Alex Little & The Suspicious Minds | Broken Bones
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Vancouver’s Alex Little & The Suspicious Minds share their new video and single Broken Bones. Alex Little says, “Broken Bones is a dark yet poppy adventure into the psyche of a serial killer, and the strange obsession we as a culture have with their behaviour. The video by Mat Dunlap perfectly captured our love for new wave and punk while still making something quite uniquely ours.” Broken Bones follows the band’s debut EP No Control, produced by Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Destroyer). Known for their garage-pop songs that unflinchingly tackle drug addiction, mental health and heartbreak and yet, despite the heavy subject matter, the group’s soaring choruses and loud guitars mean that the mood is cathartic rather than heavy.”
5 | Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts | Oh No ft. Kay Hanley
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts have just released another track off their upcoming album Nowhere To Go But Everywhere, out on Sept. 18. Ryan says, “I’m super proud of the concept of this song. Flipping all those classic songs on their heads. Plus, I got to sing it with my friend Kay.” The follow up to 2019’s This Is The Sound (which won an Independent Music Award for Best Indie Album), Nowhere To Go But Everywhere was written by Ryan during a long road trip across the USA with his dog Peaches, while coming to terms with his recent divorce.”
6 | Endast | Standby To Get Some
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal’s Endast have been silent since 2015, when they ended their decade long career. However, one of the silver linings of the global pandemic was the core members of the band reuniting organically and committing to release a new single. As vocalist James Arsenian puts it: “My brother Chris presented me and the other boys in the band with the idea of writing a new Endast tune. We haven’t written music together in years, so we were all pretty stoked to put this together, even if we had to do it remotely and apart from each other. The result is a familiar sound with a newfound level of aggression. This is just the start.” The single Standby To Get Some is fresh, yet familiar; a track long time fans of the band will appreciate and one that will garner them new fans hanging out in every corner of the world. Starting with a somber melodic intro that breaks into classic Endast breakdowns, and gritty, aggressive vocals, Endast prove they can still bring it.”
7 | Tyler Shaw | Remember
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The multi-platinum-selling artist, producer and actor Tyler Shaw releases his energetic new track/video Remember. Co-written by the Vancouver-native with Frank Walker and Nick Henriques, this is the first solo song he has released since spearheading the COVID-19 relief single Lean on Me. Remember is the first single off Tyler’s upcoming as-yet-untitled third studio album, due for release in Spring 2021.”
8 | In Parallel | Deep Dark
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Nashville’s In Parallel have dropped another track off their upcoming new EP Fashioner mixed by Ken Andrews (Failure, Year Of The Rabbit) and out Sept. 4. In Parallel consists of Lance Black, Jesse Fine, Ryan Parrish and Mark Nash. The band recorded the EP in Nashville with the help of their most devoted fans from previous projects Celebrity and Hopesfall through a crowdfunding campaign. Bypassing the traditional structure of the music industry gave the three-piece group the freedom to lean into technology, ultimately treading new territory both sonically and lyrically.”
9 | Turkuaz | Here Comes The Sun
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Nine-piece ensemble Turkuaz have followed up their recent Beatles cover of Rain with the warmth and comfort of the sun with an uplifting cover of the 1969 classic Here Comes The Sun. With The Beatles being a consistent influence in the lives of Turkuaz founders Dave Brandwein and Taylor Shell, covering the band’s timeless records feels right. To Shell, The Beatles feel like home and happiness. “It’s music we have heard all our lives, that somehow seems to always be growing and changing at the same time, really the mark of any good art.” With Here Comes The Sun in particular, Shell understands the need for uplifting music right now and aims to bring listeners some renewed hope and joy for the months ahead.”
10 | Wreck-Defy | Skin
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The crushing new album from Canada’s thrash metal machine Wreck-Defy, featuring guitarist Matt Hanchuck alongside former Annihilator singer Aaron Randall, former Testament bass player Greg Christian and former Malevolent Creation drummer Alex Marquez. Watch the video for their first single Skin now.”
11 | Ibranovski | Surfboard
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Dutch producer Ibranovski takes a tropical turn on his single Surfboard, layering festive steel pan instrumentation over a big rolling house beat. “My inspiration for this song was actually me being on the beach for the recent hot days. It made me convinced that now is a time of self reflection, self love, & clear vision. The best wave of your life is coming now!” says Ibranovski. Surfboard is his third release of the year, following Kawaii and Mi Eye. The Dutchman’s signature sound and techniques have helped establish him as one of the most influential new beat makers in recent years.”
12 | Brohug | London Thing
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Brohug bring their bass house-infused brand of club music to the UK underground via the single London Thing, featuring newcomers Newyon. “London Thing is the long-awaited energetic song we played live all over the world. With our signature Brohug bass sound we wanted to create a ‘hands in the air shuffle floorfiller’ with a vocal breakdown, which hooks you from your first listen. Inspired by fans all over the world and living in the U.K., London Thing is a way for us to give back to all of you!”
13 | The Bros. Landreth | Clean
THE PRESS RELEASE: “North Americana Sessions, The Bros. Landreth’s stripped-back, intimate three-song EP was recorded while the band was on tour in the fall of 2019 in support of their sophomore release, ‘87. It features two tracks from that album and a stand-out cover: Jonathan Byrd’s Clean, which, until now, was only a part of the band’s live set. It’s also the first time Dave Landreth, bassist and one-half of the titular brothers, has stepped to the front of the stage. On the importance of this particular song, Dave says: “I’m struggling to remember if I was nearly or newly sober, when I first heard Clean. All I remember is that it cut right through me. I felt like I should have had some kind of fair warning before it started playing.”
14 | Roxanne Potvin | Jump In
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The summer of 2020 will forever be remembered as, well, the summer that never was. But that hasn’t stopped Roxanne Potvin from releasing the perfect summer jam that can invigorate us now and for years to come. Jump In continues the Juno-nominated Potvin’s run of acclaimed self-produced releases starting with the 2016 album For Dreaming. She says, “I wrote this song originally thinking about the uncertainty at the start of some romantic relationships, when both people are just getting to know each other and getting close. Sometimes one person is moving a little slower than the other. But it can also be a call to go ahead and do whatever it is you’re scared of doing!”
15 | Satellite Citi | Black Magic
THE PRESS RELEASE: “SoCal rockers Satellite Citi have dropped a new single and music video for Black Magic, off their forthcoming album Fear Tactics which they’re currently working on with producer Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Placebo). Says Anna Gevorkian (vocals, drums): “Black Magic is about overcoming the tight grip of an overbearing relationship. There can be toxic relationships in life, whether it’s romantic or a friendship, where you feel trapped under someone’s spell. The song is about breaking free from that spell. Musically, we wanted Black Magic to have an anthemic feel, something everyone could sing along to.”
16 | Primal Fear | The Lost & The Forgotten
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Primal Fear recently released their highly anticipated 13th album Metal Commando, which entered the charts worldwide Today, the band releases a new video for the single The Lost & The Forgotten. Mat Sinner comments: “The Lost & The Forgotten follows the Primal Fear tradition — for example, our songs The End Is Near or Hounds Of Justice show the more brutal, modern side of the band, which will be a very strong contender for the forthcoming live shows.”
17 | XNilo | Bodyline
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Bodlyline is the latest release from Spanish singer XNilo. Following the success of the single release, he officially unveils the official video for the R&B jam featuring Modulo and Ambizius. With iconic Swedish illustrator, director, and animator Magnus Carlsson directing (Radiohead’s Paranoid Android), the Bodyline video captures an animated XNilo and Ambizius on the run from an unsuspecting threat, giving an quirky new twist to the Bonnie and Clyde story.”
18 | Census | Sunbeam
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Progressive rock band Census have released their new single Sunbeam. Issued alongside an incredibly personal music video, Sunbeam brings the issue of domestic abuse to light. Sunbeam is about a girl who deals with sexual abuse and battles depression and mental manipulation from her current partner. Ben wrote this song for a friend of his after hearing about how she went through some of the same experiences. “We decided to make sexual abuse the main topic of the music video because, especially in 2020, it is becoming increasingly more clear how common sexual assault is, and we wanted to use this song and story to bring awareness to that. It’s a hard thing for people to talk about, and honestly, it’s a hard music video to watch at parts, but it’s a real issue and it’s important to acknowledge it, rather than pretend it doesn’t exist.”
19 | Jeen | Deep End
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian indie alt-pop songstress Jeen premieres a “crisp, laid back” new single Deep End, the first to come from her forthcoming self-titled album to be released Oct. 9. Despite its shimmery, electro-pop vibes, Deep End draws inspiration from dealing with depression and anxiety, and is co-produced by Jeen and renowned Toronto musician/producer Ian Blurton (Change of Heart, C’mon, Future Now) and features Brendan Canning on bass. It’s accompanied by an official lyric video from Stephen Hutchins. Jeen reveals that “Deep End comes from a darker place than its bright vibe implies… a bit like smiling when really you feel like shit. I wrote it in a last-minute realization that we needed more songs to round out the album, so I felt defeated and tired and consequently that’s all I could write about that day. Since it was a last-minute addition, my brother Ben O’Brien couldn’t make it back into the studio to play bass, so I called in my old friend Brendan Canning.”
20 | Brett Naucke | Hallucinations II
THE PRESS RELEASE: “You never know what’s going to happen at a residency.” That’s Chicago electronic artist Brett Naucke musing on his residency at Stockholm’s Elektronmusikstudion aka EMS. EMS was founded in 1964 as a public studio primarily for electro-acoustic and electronic music, and is one of few places where musicians can access and record on two rare, foundational synthesizer systems — Buchla 200 and a Serge Modular — through their artist-in-residency program. Naucke traveled to EMS with the express purpose of creating an album in the spirit of ’70s academic synthesizer music, but knew he was going to build it out of exploration. For EMS Hallucinations, Naucke recorded several hours of audio using their systems. The result is a meditative, immersive collection imbued with the pioneering ethos of artists like Pauline Oliveros, Ruth White, Morton Subotnick and others, but draws from a more contemporary palette — dance music, especially.”
21 | Sam Roberts Band | I Like The Way You Talk About The Future
THE PRESS RELEASE: “I Like The Way You Talk About The Future, the newest hit from Sam Roberts Band, is an infectious, thick groove with trippy vibes and inspired lyrics. I Like The Way You Talk About The Future is a head-nodding, instantaneously catchy track, fitting for the times we’re living in. Sam explains, “Essentially, in my mind, it comes back to the need for some light. A way forward. To shine some kind of bright light on the future, the path that we’re walking and not giving in to despair.”
22 | Nils Wülker | Highline ft. Theo Croker
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Highline feat. Theo Croker is an inspired and inspiring trumpet duet between Nils Wülker and Croker, and the second single leading up to the release of GO, the new album by the highly inventive and successful trumpeter/songwriter/producer from Germany. “Even before Corona, I had the idea of exploring by and for myself what kind of soundscapes I could generate with my non-harmony instrument alone, using various loops and other synthesized sounds.” This is evident in his long-distance collaboration with Croker, during which both musicians were “alone, not lonely,” as Wülker puts it, sitting in their respective studios, still being creative, and interactive, sharing ideas at a distance.”
23 | Jónsi | Cannibal ft. Elizabeth Fraser
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Jónsi Birgisson, frontman of Sigur Rós, releases Cannibal from his upcoming LP featuring Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins. Cannibal is the third single released ahead of Jónsi’s sophomore record Shiver (Oct. 2), co-produced by PC Music founder A. G. Cook and Jónsi. The Cannibal video is the vision of both Jónsi and Giovanni Ribisi, who previously directed Exhale. Like that video, Cannibal also places focus on a singular dancer. Jónsi’s vocals are refreshingly openhearted, featured alongside the legendary Cocteau Twins’ Fraser. “When Sigur Rós was starting, we were always compared to Cocteau Twins and I really didn’t like that,” Jónsi says. “I hated being compared to anybody. Then I got really into Cocteau Twins like two or three years ago. They’re so good. I understood the comparison then.”
24 | Amaranthe | Strong ft. Noora Louhimo
THE PRESS RELEASE: “After transporting us into a new dimension and lifting us up into a higher level of modern metal, Amaranthe are ready to drag us deep down to hell: Forged in the burning fire of passion and heavy riffs, together with one of Finland’s most powerful voices, Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast), Amaranthe is going Strong today with the second single off their upcoming album Manifest, out on Oct. 2. Amaranthe commented: “Devil and saint, martyr and sinner, betrayal and loyalty — Strong essentially underlines the dualistic nature of what it means to be human. In an increasingly polarised world, we found it incredibly exciting to reach across the metal world, and find collaboration and unity with the phenomenal Noora Louhimo. Even if the world around you is on fire, and if you find yourself at a disadvantage, remember that there is always one part of you that will remain Strong.”
25 | Yukon Blonde | In Love Again
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Recently, Yukon Blonde shared their first music of 2020 with the single Get Precious. Today, the Vancouver band shares another new track, In Love Again, which sees keyboardist-vocalist Rebecca Gray take over on lead vocals for the first time. “This track began as a fun experiment when we were jamming,” says Jeff Innes. “We were trying to have three or four separate melodies that when played together sounded nice, but didn’t make much sense when apart. I came up with the melody and lyrics, pacing the parking lot of our space and as usual hummed it into a voice memo on my iPhone. I had the idea knocking around my head to write a love song that detailed the simple day to day aspects of a newish relationship, normal things you value once you’ve been through the wringer.”
26 | Flash Gottii x Ron Suno | Talk My Shit
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Kansas City hip-hop artist Flash Gottii releases the new visual for his track Talk My Shit featuring Ron Suno. The track is featured on Flash’s recent EP 20/20 Vision, released in March. The visual shows Flash falling asleep and drifting into a New York dream. The 20/20 Vision EP includes Flash’s previous singles Paper Chase ft. Trippie Redd and Same Ones.”
27 | Seether | Beg
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Seether offer another strong preview from their upcoming new album with the release of the heavy new track Beg. The adrenaline-fueled new rave-up is accompanied by another bold animated music video from noted Turkish director Mertcan Mertbilek (Santana, Ray Charles, Ravi Shankar, Elvis Costello). As front man Shaun Morgan said, “This is our second collaboration with Mertcan and I wanted to get his interpretation of the lyrics. I sketched a rough idea, and he ran with it to create a video that I think is powerful and provocative. Animation allows far more freedom to create compelling visual art and I love how this video turned out.”
28 | Paul de Jong | This Flower Will Fade And Die
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Paul de Jong created This Flower Will Fade and Die for his most unusual collaborator and friend, 97-year-old musician and educator Catherine Luening, the widow of flutist and electronic music pioneer Otto Luening. De Jong had the invaluable opportunity to serve as Luening’s final assistant in New York City during the mid 1990s. This Flower Will Fade and Die is the first of 10 episodes of a ‘music and lyrics’-driven film, Love Me Alone. Each episode portrays an individual representing a specific decade of life.”
29 | TV Coma | Congratulations
THE PRESS RELEASE: “You can hold-fire on the cake and party poppers for now. In a year where finding cause for celebration has been a challenge at the best of times, the Congratulations on offer in TV Coma’s new single are rather aptly on the sardonic side. More slap-in-the-face than slap-on-the-back, Congratulations is a breakup song for the millennial generation. Written immediately after a messy split, the track recounts a fiery farewell with a former lover, while dwelling more deeply on the impossibility of truly escaping an ex in the digital age. “Congratulations, you win again…” deadpans Leo Troy, his vocal sneer stinging with venomous release as he spits lyrics of cutting sarcasm and knowing self-awareness throughout. Leo says: “It’s about the unexplored paradigms of modern relationships. As the first humans to publicly document relationships, millennials were pioneers in dealing with the psychological impact of social media on modern day love. Congratulations explores the aftermath of this: how hard it is to get over someone when there’s a 24/7 feed of what they’re doing just a click away, when you see that person with another person, followed by a unique kind of acceptance.”
30 | Vanishing Point | Count Your Days
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Vanishing Point release their new video for single Count Your Days, the third track taken from upcoming album Dead Elysium, due out on Aug. 28. This is Vanishing Point’s first music video with new members Gaston Chin & Damien Hall, and the first music video in over five years! This album also kind of represents the journey the five-piece had as a band and as individuals over the last few years. But thankfully all these difficulties from the past apparently had no influence on the quality of the new album.”
31 | Regent | Dirty Little Sinner
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Swiftly following-on from the stately Time To Loose The Blues, the Southampton four-piece shake off the blues well-and-truly with some straight-up, unadulterated rock ’n’ roll. Turning the amps up to 11, Dirty Little Sinner matches the gritty southern stomp of U.S. heavyweights like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Black Keys, with the irrepressible hooks of U.K. earworm merchants like Oasis and The Fratellis. A song about casting of the shackles to be the person you want to be, Dirty Little Sinner is loaded with a tangible feeling of release and a revolutionary spirit. Frontman Ben Rooke says: “The song is about and dedicated to all the doubters that put you down, and try to spread their negativity from their world into yours.”
32 | All Things Blue | White Lady Dogs
THE PRESS RELEASE: “L.A. band All Things Blue are sharing the latest taste of their debut album Get Bit (set for release Oct. 30), in the shape of new single White Lady Dogs. Traversing genres and sounds, All Things Blue is fronted by India Coombs (or simply, Blue) along with guitarist and collaborator Jon Joseph. India said: “My first and current home since moving from Pennsylvania is an area sometimes referred to as The Jungles in South L.A. I moved here when I was 18 so there was very little research on the neighbourhoods of available apartments and more on the price of the rent. I signed my lease and got some “be careful”s from people offering unsolicited advice but, the sense of community was so strong. Our neighbourhood was and is a family, with all the complexities and characters included. I feel lucky to be a part of it. While the sense of community still remains, things look very different now. It’s the classic gentrification happening. A hipster coffee shop, the original mom-and-pop shops slowly closing, fancy houses being built. I’m holding out hope for my neighbourhood family but typically this ends with us all being unable to afford where we live. So yeah, get OUTTA here ya rich fuckin’ opportunists.”
33 | Mali-Koa | Show Me Love
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Mali-Koa has her new single out — a gorgeous, poignant cover of the Robin S house classic Show Me Love. Transforming the much-loved floorfiller into a tender piano ballad, Mali has also prepared a touching visual which depicts love in all forms to accompany the track. Mali-Koa reveals: “I’ve been listening to the Robin S version since before I can remember. I started collecting Ministry of Sound compilation CDs every Christmas back in Sydney and I used to tell people I wanted to be a house music singer back then. Who knew that 12 years on it’d still ring true to me and that the lyrics would pair so perfectly with the times we’re in. This song is a gentle reminder that in times of sorrow and doubt, love is the key.”
34 | Wank | Blue Skies
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Orange County’s legendary rock-ska-punk band Wank are back with an upbeat new video for their recent single Blue Skies. Blue Skies brings exactly what is needed right now; iconic visuals and fresh, bright and positive vibe to help soothe what has been a tough, gloomy year. Blue Skies comes off their latest album White Knuckle Ride, which featured some amazing guests: Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters (who produced and played a guitar solo on Salvation), Jeremy and Ajay Popoff of Lit, George Hughes, Jr. of Ziggy Marley and Steve Soto of Adolescents.”
35 | Dirk Powell | Olivia
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Renowned producer, songwriter, fiddler and sideman Dirk Powell has achieved near-legendary status in the international roots music scene. His bonds with Louisiana and with the mountains of Kentucky are unmistakable, but so is his far-reaching vision and ability to translate the essence of tradition for modern audiences that need the timeless and sustaining messages that tradition brings. His new video Olivia is premiering today. Powell explains, “It [the song] explores the feelings of timelessness that we revel in as children … and wonders if, from that place where the best of life so often resides, waiting for ‘time to tell’ might be a mistake … whether in love or anything else in life.”
36 | Natalie Schlabs | That Early Love
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Natalie Schlabs released her gorgeous new single and video That Early Love, from her forthcoming LP Don’t Look Too Close. Its accompanying video, filmed and directed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard (who made John Prine’s last music video), is so poignant and is a beautiful visualization of what the song is all about. That Early Love is about just that — when early love and infatuation doesn’t fade like a “honeymoon phase,” but deepens, matures, and multiplies. The video features an older couple in daily life, interspersed with images of a little boy and girl wearing the same clothes as the grown-ups in the video. The visual is a metaphor for how the older couple feels, that their love is enduring and their hearts are still young; that their love doesn’t get old.”
37 | Victoria Anthony | Sleep
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Refreshingly wise beyond her years, Victoria Anthony is eloquent, passionate, and speaks with authority and authenticity about her songs. Sleep, the first single from her forthcoming debut album, is a pop masterpiece, featuring an irrepressibly fun melody, a bold attitude, and an energetic tone that is unstoppable. It demonstrates Anthony’s ability to embed emotion and meaning into even the most danceable tune. Finding herself right in the middle of the Covid lockdown with no music video productions in sight, Victoria pivoted quickly and developed a concept for an animated video using green-screen footage which could be shot at home. She researched companies which had produced some of her favourite animated music videos and ended up approaching St8ment, a company out of Nashville who had created Taylor Swift’s The Man animated video. They were able to bring Victoria’s ideas to life and created the most amazing animated dream world for Sleep.”
38 | Pink Cocoon | It’s No Fun
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in Montreal as a solo project by multi-instrumentalist Marc Zolla, Pink Cocoon is a one-man rock machine that follows in the impeccable footsteps of his idols. After the release of his debut EP Alienation in 2017, Zolla — a dedicated student of guitar heroes like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan — wasted no time at all in taking to the road. His brand of doom blues for the soul focuses chiefly on psychedelic riffs, classic rock and pop melodies. Listening to Pink Cocoon is like observing an electric sermon in the hallowed hall of volume worship. Zolla returns with It’s No Fun, the first in a series of special singles that will eventually form the basis of his new EP, due for release later this year.”
39 | Lost In Static | Jordan
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In Calgary, metalcore is alive and rowdy thanks to Lost In Static. They have made a name for themselves locally and with the new single Jordan, the band is continuing to entice listeners at home and abroad. This single is going to be on Lost In Static’s debut self-titled album released later this year. The heartfelt and personal song has special meaning to the band, which they explain in their own words: “Our new single Jordan is our second track to be released from our upcoming debut record. Jordan was a childhood friend who unfortunately lost his life from drinking and driving. This song was written in his honour. It’s heavy, it’s beautiful and we hope everyone is going to love it as much as we do!”
40 | Thrasherwolf | The Vortex
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Rising from the depths of the U.K.’s effervescent underground metal scene come a hungry new pack of contenders, ready for battle and armed to the teeth. Following in the footsteps of the standard bearers and stalwarts of British thrash like Onslaught, Xentrix, Acid Reign and Solitary, Thrasherwolf are ready to take their place in the trenches, with We Are Revolution — a debut album full of rapid fire riffing, screaming solos, neck-snapping songs and a never say die attitude. There’s a new generation of thrash fans looking for their own heroes and Thrasherwolf are stepping up to the plate. Built from ironclad riffs, dangerously vicious hooks, roaring vocals and a furious drum battery, there is no questioning the integrity of muscle-bound tracks like The Vortex. Thrasherwolf play from the heart and the gut, with a burning blend of adrenaline and molten metal in their veins. They have learned their lessons from the masters, including the need to bring their own twist, their own passion to the rugged framework laid down by the likes of Slayer and Kreator. A Thrasherwolf song stands proud on its own merits, ready to carve its own bloody place in your thrasher’s heart.”
41 | Primitive Man | Consumption
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Primitive Man unveiled their long-awaited Immersion full-length. The record is at once extreme, terrifying, and confrontational. In conjunction with the release of the record, the band has unveiled a video for Consumption. Adding to the album’s darkness, a pervasive lyrical anxiety erodes throughout the record. A stark look at a mirror, Immersion’s themes tackle sobering views on existential crises, a general distrust among another, and the current state of the world. They elaborate: “Souring your view on your existence and everything you had worked towards … allowing yourself become possessed by the darkest parts of your mind that you have carried around your entire life and not dealt with.”
42 | Blueface | Outside (Remix ft. Trucarr)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Rapper Blueface releases the video for Outside (Remix), featuring labelmate TruCarr. Directed by Edward Patino, the visual follows Blueface, TruCarr and friends as they party through a paintball course and beyond. Outside (Remix) is featured on Famous Cryp Reloaded, an expanded version of Blueface’s 2018 album.”
43 | Evangeline Gentle | So It Goes
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Peterborough-based songwriter Evangeline Gentle releases a new single, So It Goes, from their self-titled LP. The track is accompanied by the release of a lyric video directed and edited by Rob Viscardis, who has teamed with Gentle on videos for Sundays, Ordinary People, You and I and Black is the Colour. “This a love song for my final teen years,” says Gentle of So It Goes. “It’s a memory of how “bold and burning” teen experiences of life are, and how easily songs can transport us back through time to those days.” Gentle’s self-titled debut LP is rich, sweet, and lush with vibrato — only a few of the unmistakable qualities that constitute Gentle’s fervent timbre. Produced by Jim Bryson and mastered by Grammy Award-nominated Philip Shaw Bova, their songwriting on the LP possesses an authenticity and depth as rare and unique as their own journey.”
44 | Every Hour Kills | Time
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Every Hour Kills from Calgary are examining extraterrestrial threats and pondering the consequences of making dire and desperate decisions. Complete with a masterfully illustrated storybook from Splice Comics, their upcoming EP Re:Awaken is a work of art in many ways. The second single off the EP is a Joe Satriani cover, Time, featuring a guest guitar solo from Rick Graham. It’s an instrumental dénouement to take the listener on a journey through the infinite. It is a heavier re-imagining of the classic, with enough familiarity to entice Satriani’s fans and a lick of creativity to stand on its own. Re:Awaken is set in the 22nd century, when humankind was crippled by a relentless plague with no known cure. An ancient race of interstellar beings, the Illusorians, descended from the skies and offered a means to end the suffering of humanity. Each track follows the story of a person trying to navigate this cruel and unsettling reality.”
45 | Riches | Fantasy Chapel
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Riches is the manifestation of an ongoing dialogue between Catherine McCandless, lead singer of Montreal’s Young Galaxy, and choreographer Wynn Holmes. Today, Riches shares Fantasy Chapel, the title track of their new album, set for release on Sept. 25. Fantasy Chapel is about how devotion to our work’s practices and rituals can create a place, a form, a structure. The lyrics are largely inspired by American artist Kiki Smith’s body of work. Her exploration of themes of the natural world, feminism, religion, folklore, the human body, historical and fictional female characters, as well as the evocation of transformative spaces, are all elements of the pastoral but dark setting of the narrative of this soundtrack.”
46 | Rustin Kelly | Under The Sun
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Ruston Kelly’s new song Under The Sun is debuting. The track is the latest from Kelly’s anticipated new album Shape & Destroy, out Aug. 28. Kelly shares, “Under the Sun is about not going back down the mountain once you near the top. It seems to be a condition of human experience to want to give up most when we are closest to our goals. That’s when it’s hardest. Scariest. It is also the moment when we truly learn what our spirits are made of. Don’t give up when it’s easiest to, great and wonderful things are always on the other side of fear.”
47 | Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos | Sunk In The Mist
THE PRESS RELEASE: “A bonus cut from Jr. Thomas’ Rockstone sessions in L.A., this little nugget from a forthcoming 7-inch single oozes with all the sweet Jamaican vibes that fans of Jr. Thomas have become accustomed to! Authentically steeped in traditional JA music, but also clearly forward facing with wonderful original songwriting from Tom McDowall.”
48 | Gillian Heidi | Desperate
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging pop singer-songwriter Gillian Heidi is releasing her new single Desperate. Following on the heels of her recent singles, High and Static, Desperate is another preview of Gillian’s forthcoming debut album 3AM, slated for release later this year. Underscored by layered harmonies and full-bodied instrumentation, Gillian’s R&B-infused pop vocals take centerstage as she sings of the guilt and thrill that comes with having a crush while in a relationship. “I think that Desperate really sets the tone of the album,” she writes, “it was one of the first songs I wrote for the album and it’s one of my favorites.”
49 | Aftyn | Sunday
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Indie duo Aftyn have released their single Sunday. Released just ahead of their upcoming LP Minutia, the single is a beautiful taste of what’s to come. Soothing and serene, Sunday highlights Aftyn at their absolute best. The duo state: “Sunday is a song that we brought back from our EP because we thought that it had more potential than what we released before. The song has been re-recorded with a full production and is one of our most upbeat songs. The lyrics are about being apart from a significant other over a long period of time.”
50 | Prema777 | Workin
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Staten Island’s Prema777 has released her new single Workin, taken from her debut album Take Flight, to be re-released in early 2021. “Take Flight is where golden-age hip-hop boom-bap meets vibrancy, still hitting with pure lyrics as an MC,” she says. “The album was custom-tailored by building the entire sound from start to finish in the House of Dreams studio on Staten Island with my producer J. Glaze (Cappadonna, Inspectah Deck, Lil Jon, A Tribe Called Quest, Kurupt).”
51 | Alaina Castillo | Tonight
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Following the release of her critically acclaimed English & Spanish EPs, Alaina Castillo’s star continues to rise with her new single Tonight, which showcases her talent transitioning from introvert singer-songwriter to pop star in the making. This track sets the scene for what’s in store and shows the breadth and ambition of her artistry. Alaina wrote the track as an anti-social party anthem, re-emphasizing her own anti-social lifestyle and encouraging her listeners to embrace their solitude, especially in these uncertain times. Castillo says, “Tonight is my antisocial party song. it highlights all my emotions as I’m going about my day and wishing that I could just be at home in my own world. I’ve always been down to vibe out with neon lights and music so that I could create a different atmosphere on my own and that’s what Tonight is all about.”
52 | The War & Treaty | Take Me In
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Tanya Blount-Trotter and Michael Trotter Jr. — the musical duo known as The War & Treaty — have released Take Me In, from their new album Hearts Town, out Sept. 25. Take Me In is a rousing, gospel-tinged, piano-fueled epic that calls for unity amidst times of deep division. Michael Trotter reflects, “We were seeing so much anger in the world as we were making this album, so we wanted to give people something that told them, Stop looking for the next Dr. King or Malcolm or Mother Teresa and start looking for the first you.” Adds Tanya: “Right now, a lot of people are feeling so deeply engulfed in pain and surrounded by negativity, and sometimes you just need to hear that you’re good.”
53 | 0171 | Change Nothing
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Hackney, London-based duo 0171 released their new single Change Nothing, the title track from new EP, also ut today. The duo are widely praised for their futuristic, experimental approach to electronic pop. New single Change Nothing perfectly encapsulates the EP’s feeling of futility. With gritty electronic percussion twisting around elongated synth motifs and pop-leaning vocal lines, they describe the track as the saddest song on the EP. Speaking on the track the pair said: “Change Nothing is a song for the times you sit staring at a wall, and see days stretched out in an uninspiring line. But, as with all our music, there’s a kind of defiance in it as well. It’s you and me versus the sadness. It’s you at my side, trying to keep our heads up. The sound is aggressive — the message is not about giving up, it’s about shouting in the darkness.”
54 | Anna Von Hausswolff | All Thoughts Fly
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Anna Von Hausswolff shares the title track from her forthcoming new album All Thoughts Fly, set for release in September. Here, in solo instrumental mode, the entire record consists of just one instrument — the pipe organ — and represents absolute liberation of the imagination. The artist writes, “I wanted to play with dissonance and polyrhythms to create a harmonic landscape that is constantly changing and expanding into something else. Everything you hear in this track, every little overtone and all ambience is entirely made through the organ. We used EQ but that’s it. The overall idea was to create an illusion of flying thoughts, intertwining and entangling into each other. Different words and worlds happening at the same time, affecting each other and changing each other’s directions and courses.”
55 | Kat Meoz | Somebody Else
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The might of L.A.-based Venezuelan-American singer-songwriter, composer, producer Kat Meoz’s “swagger-rock” sound arrives better than ever in the shape of her new single Somebody Else. Channeling a much darker side to her music, as if it were her shadow taking over, Meoz’s songwriting and vocals on this single capture a mood that is eloquent in its storytelling as well as electrifying in its soundscaping. Using her intriguing blend of rock and electronic elements, the single’s mix of acoustic guitar on the verses and huge bright drops on the chorus is an irresistible combination to our ears. Meoz explains: “It’s about not trying to live anyone’s life but your own. Just because you see people taking one path to success doesn’t mean copying that path will turn out the same. There is enough success in the world to go around and we all just have to take our own chances and trust the choices we make and listen to the signs we are given.”
56 | Carmanah | Mountain Woman
THE PRESS RELEASE: “From muddy blues-funk to light soaring melodies, Carmanah creates music that curves and tumbles through valleys and over peaks guiding the listener on a celebratory sonic journey. Iris, their forthcoming album, is a natural evolution and a moody counterpoint to their debut. Recorded between the wild forests of B.C. and the concrete highrises of Brooklyn, Iris is a heartfelt offering, a tapestry of thoughtful stories for our time. Undulating rhythms and bountiful instrumentation create a rich sonic backdrop for driving melodies and potent lyricism. The first track, Mountain Woman, shows rousing vocals layered atop of propulsive rhythms, a joyful assertion of feminine energy and natural power.”
57 | Louis-Étienne Santais | Augustines
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Known as a half of the Fjord duo and as an integral part of Ghostly Kisses, Louis-Étienne Santais is taking the great leap forward and presenting his solo piano compositions for the first time.To mark the occasion, the Quebec City composer and producer chose to reveal the piece Augustines. It’s a compelling introduction that perfectly sets the stage for his debut album, expected this fall. “Strangely,” says Santais, “and while not being religious at all, I couldn’t help but conjure up the image of an Augustinian sister’s daily life (when they used to take care of patients in Quebec City or teach) while I was composing the song. ”
58 | Keaton Dekker | Mint
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Keaton Dekker releases his next single Mint, and announces the release of his debut EP The Unwelcome Series, due Sept. 18. Mint is a continuation of Keaton’s expansive and refreshing take on synth-heavy, ’80s-tinged dream-pop, a sound that has seen him quickly rise to be one of the U.K.’s most promising and exciting voices in the pop arena. Keaton explains: “It was made in my bedroom, in 2018, on Halloween. I remember coming up with the verse chords first, then it all seemed to write itself. This song felt like movement to me, which is kinda ironic as I also felt like I was trapped at the time. mint is a callout for a fresh start, something new. Being so close, but youre not quite there yet.”
59 | Vincenzo Ramaglia | La Parole 6 (Shigeto Remix)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Renowned Detroit-based musician Shigeto has remixed La Parole 6, originally by leftfield experimental IDM artist Vincenzo Ramaglia. The original track appears on Ramaglia’s album La Parole, which featured the well-known songstress Laure Le Prunenec (lead singer of French band Igorrr, who supported Ministry on their 2018 North American tour). The album also features the single, La Parole 5, which was remixed by legendary Planet Mu label head μ-Ziq. Speaking of the remix, Shigeto tells us: “La Parole 6 was a pleasure to rework. I have always enjoyed remixing any music with an ambient approach that incorporates some sort of live instrumentation. It gives me a lot of freedom to take it anywhere.”
60 | Only Now | Merciless Destiny
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Bay Area experimental producer Kush Arora aka Only Now presents Merciless Destiny, a compositionally raw and unfiltered work of crushing flex and weight that invokes razor-sharp up-tempo rhythms, deep space isolationist electronics and monumental soundsystem pressure. Drawn together with quick, intuitive facility, it feature represent a lustrous, pitch-black confrontation, moving through mythic siren song, industrial dancehall, spatial sequencing experiments, and ruminative inflections on ’90s-era metal. Completed during the lockdown period, the record’s intoxicating sense of tension and collapse reflects Arora’s personal response to the Coronavirus crisis and to the ascendancy of global protest movements, chronicling the escalating pressure and unease of this period but also symbolizing a purgative and powerful creative emission.”
61 | Andrew Gold | Don’t Bring Me Down
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Omnivore Recordings announces the digital release of Something New: The Solo Demos by Andrew Gold on Aug. 28. This collection will be preceded in release by the single Don’t Bring Me Down. Gold, who achieved legendary status as one of L.A.’s top session men (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Art Garfunkel) during the 1970s and found stardom with the Top 10 hit Lonely Boy in 1977, recorded these demos in 1973, two years before his first solo album. These guitar- and piano-based recordings were originally culled from Omnivore’s earlier 2020 CD release Something New: Unreleased Gold.”
62 | Bobby Rush | Dust My Broom
THE PRESS RELEASE: “A new track from 86-year-old Grammy Award-winning Mississippi blues legend (and coronavirus survivor!) Bobby Rush? The song is Elmore James’ blues classic Dust My Broom, from Bobby’s forthcoming acoustic solo album Rawer Than Raw. Dust My Broom was initially recorded, also written by the godfather of the blues Robert Johnson. “I didn’t learn about who wrote it until long after I heard it, but I knew that it related to me. I heard it first through Elmore James and always liked how he performed the song. I always did like that kind of song. It was talking about regardless of how I feel today, I’m going to get up in the morning, and I’m going to leave. Dust My Broom means I’m going to leave you, I’m leaving this town. It don’t mean the broom you sweep the floor with, it means I’m tired of the situation I’m in. The thing that’s going on with the police today and Covid going around, I feel like I want to get up every day and dust my broom, but there’s nowhere for me to go.”
63 | Latashá | GoGo Wyne
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Latashá releases her new single GoGo Wyne — a bold and empowering anthem encouraging women to overcome anything in their paths and shine in the face of adversity. GoGo Wyne, which Latashá describes as “an anthem for Black women,” blends deep carnival club sounds with Latashá’s signature, smooth rap flow. It’s the second taste of Latashá’s career-defining new music following March’s Who I Am, with more to come helmed by the incomparable DJ/fashion icon Honey Dijon and pioneering Australian act PNAU. Latashá explained: “Being in these times, it’s been so challenging to create as a Black artist in America. So much has been taken away from Black artists, and I’m tired of it. GoGo Wyne is not just my affirmation song but it’s the manifestation of my people’s success, despite what others might think of our worth. It’s a reminder of our magic even when they try to kill us.”
64 | Harry Jay-Steele | Precious
THE PRESS RELEASE: “East London-based songwriter, guitarist and producer Harry Jay-Steele teases more new music with soul-influenced new single Precious, the second offering taken from his upcoming debut album Boundaries, due for release on Oct. 30. Recorded with Jordan Rakeis co-producing and drummer Jim Macrae, the song is influenced by artists around the L.A beat scene including Flying Lotus, Taylor Mc Ferrin and Gonjasufi, as well as Blue Note African jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke.”
