The Mercy Kills take a fall, Maxïmo Park head for the flatlands, Modem the Band push for equality, Saiah makes himself at home and more in your Monday Roundup. Today’s videos are brought to you by animals, parks and the colour red.
1 | The Mercy Kills | Fall
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Melbourne, Australia’s The Mercy Kills are back with their newly remastered single Fall and accompanying video. Fall comes from their upcoming EP X, which will be released on Oct. 2.The seven songs that appear on X were painstakingly hand-picked by The Mercy Kills. After many squabbles and fights over which songs would make the cut, the band settled on the best seven songs that deliver a strong representation of their releases to date. They enjoy new life with slick remastering that adds a new dimension to them. Fall is a post-punk inspired song about trying to keep in control of your life, while things feel like they are falling apart around you. This high energy track has always been a favourite between the band members and is still relevant to them today.”
2 | Maxïmo Park | Child Of The Flatlands
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Maxïmo Park are sharing their first new music in nearly four years. The new track Child of The Flatlands is accompanied by a visual art piece from experimental designer and video artist (and recent Daniel Avery collaborator) Greg Hodgson. Child Of The Flatlands is a psychological and geographical rumination on the push-and-pull between our urban surrounds and the persistent grip of nature. Paul Smith comments: “Child Of The Flatlands is an affectionate look at both the psychic and physical edgelands of the town where I grew up, punctuated by snapshots of modern Britain as viewed from a distant hillside. It’s about the inevitability of nature (in all senses of the word) over the order we try to impose on it. The quiet, melancholy choruses lament the loss of community spaces for marginalised people, and the overall pace is meant to evoke a long walk, collaging found sound, strings and insistent piano to create a mildly psychedelic pop odyssey.”
3 | Modem the Band | Equal
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Modem The Band are a post-punk coldwave trio from Larissa, Greece, with minimal, schizoid, tuneful attitude. They recently released Equal, the first single from their forthcoming full-length Chapter I: Inspiration, due out on Nov. 2. “This song is about the inevitable battle of classes in someone’s head. Many people consider that they are privileged and stand out from others but in reality they are stranded in their own isolative world, a case very difficult for a deluded mind to accept. Self-knowledge is hard to attain.”
4 | Saiah | (Black)Planet
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Arizona-based Saiah continues to make a mark with a steady stream of buzz-generating singles, like his latest (Black)Planet, from his upcoming sophomore EP Honest Red, due out this fall. The followup to the recent tracks Polaroid and Heart (Break), (Black)Planet pairs breezy, laid-back beats and female backup vocals from fellow AZ artist Plantedherb (who co-wrote the track with Saiah), with a timely message that speaks to the current state of race relations in America.”
5 | Tom Keifer | All Amped Up
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the release of Rise, the second album by Tom Keifer and his band. Since they’re not able to celebrate the momentous occasion with their legions of loyal fans in person, they’re bringing the rockin’ concert party home with the new video for the album’s latest single, All Amped Up. “All Amped Up was inspired by and written to describe the reckless abandon and rush of a loud rock show,” explains Keifer. “With all the concerts being cancelled this year, I think everyone is starving for that feeling. We’ve filmed so much footage over the last few years and thought since we can’t all be together during this pandemic, we would make a video that brings the show to you. The energy and lyrics of All Amped Up felt like the perfect song for a video that would capture that concert energy as well as the feeling of being on tour.”
6 | Psymon Spine | Milk (ft. Barrie)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Psymon Spine, the Brooklyn indie/dance collective, shared a new music video for their song Milk (ft. Barrie), which was made over the past month using Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Bandmember Noah Prebish explains: “We were trying to come up with a way to shoot a music video together during a pandemic, with Sabine stuck in Germany and Barrie god-knows-where. I remembered that my sister is a genius wizard and Nintendo dork and thought: ‘What’s more quarantine than a hap-hazard Animal Crossing video organized via a bunch of confusing Zoom calls?’ ”
7 | Mr. Bison | The Curse
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Italy’s heavy psyched rockers Mr. Bison unleash a second excerpt of their upcoming album Seaward, coming out this Oct. 16. Experience the captivating lyric video for The Curse and plunge into a very inspired mythological world! Travel across a colored Tyrrhenian Sea and loose yourself among the different moons that make up Mr. Bison’s hypnotic and trippy lyrics video. Seaward is a concept album that draws inspiration from the legend of the seven pearls of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and an imaginary horizon. Leghorn/Pisa-based trio captivate by creating a unique and wild musical journey packed with psychedelia and virtuoso fuzz deliriums.”
8 | Ant Saunders | Effortless
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Rising R&B/pop artist, songwriter and musician Ant Saunders has dropped his latest track Effortless, along with a lyric video. True to the new single’s name, Ant’s voice is as effortless and soulful sounding as ever. The track follows the release of I Had A Love Song, featuring critically acclaimed Nigerian R&B duo and sisters VanJess. A full DIY effort, the entire Bubble EP was written, recorded and produced by Ant Saunders. The impressive collection of songs includes viral hit Yellow Hearts, which was created in his bedroom and released on the day of his high school graduation.”
9 | Tikyra | No More Fear
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Tikyra from Southern Avenue debuts her new video for No More Fear. Her comment: “This visual piece is meant to be an artistic expression of who I am as an artist and an individual which is just as important to my narrative as the reality I sing about. My intention is to show that I stand and rejoice in my identity. It re-shapes and re-forms yet remains true to my heart and soul, allowing me to take on life from multiple angles and overcome many obstacles that were put in place to keep me down and keep me silent. When people listen to my music, I want it to move them physically and emotionally. When they see my face, I want them to feel joy, because that itself is a weapon.”
10 | Cindy Lee Berryhill | Woke Up from a Dream
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Cindy Lee Berryhill, New York Anti-folk founder and singer-songwriter, reveals a longstanding family secret in a new song that touches on the zeitgeist of white entitled culture and reveals how some white families are not all they appear to be and that some are more akin to a David Duke nightmare. When Berryhill was in her 20s, during time spent between NYC and her longtime home of San Diego, writing songs for what would be her debut album Who’s Gonna Save the World (1987), she had an extraordinarily memorable dream.”
11 | Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge | Godthåb
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Oslo-based post-rock collective Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge have just revealed a music video for the track Godthåb, off the band’s debut EP Blitz Sessions released in late August. Playing a similar style to Mono, This Will Destroy You, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai, piercing guitars and haunting synths are the voices of YDNWR, floating on a sea of thundering bass and drums, essential in the creation of instrumental love letters to arctic ecosystems. Not only for the music itself, but as an expression of our world view: Humanity and nature are unbalanced. In order to change this, we must take a step back and make better use of the resources available, rather than continuing the raging consumerism that is destroying the planet right before our eyes.”
12 | Tryzdin | A New Way
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Tryzdin has shared the video for his first single as a solo artist, A New Way. The single was written by long-term collaborator Marc Darcange and Californian songwriter Britt Warner and features prestigious musicians such as guitarist Brent Paschke (Pharrell) and drummer Dylan Wissing (Alicia Keys). Tryzdin further elaborates on A New Way: “The song to me is about empowerment and overcoming your fears and especially overcoming hate. The song speaks about finding a new way to life and following your dreams. It speaks about facing your haters and showing them that you are stronger than they think. We are really hoping to connect with people who are experiencing or have been bullied.”
13 | Randall Bramblett | I’ve Got Faith In You
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Randall Bramblett will release Pine Needle Fire on Nov. 13. The 12-song set was produced by Bramblett and Gerry Hansen and is the followup to his acclaimed 2017 album Juke Joint At The Edge Of The World. Today he premiered the album track I’ve Got Faith In You, which comes complete with something of a musical bonus: a slide-guitar melody performed on Duane Allman’s famous 1961/1962 Gibson SG. It’s the same one heard on the Allman Brothers’ legendary At Fillmore East and particularly well known for being the instrument played on the live recording of Statesboro Blues. Bramblett said, “We were able to borrow Duane Allman’s original Gibson SG for that session and my old friend, Tommy Talton, used it to play a beautiful slide guitar solo. Since Tommy knew Duane when they were both living in Macon, GA, using that guitar created a circle of sound and memory for us all. It helped capture the feeling of longing and hope that we needed to complete the record.”
14 | Skofee | Spiderman
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Los Angeles pop artist Skofee shares the visual for Spiderman ahead of the Polished EP due Friday. Per Skofee, “Spiders make a lot of people (including myself) squirm, so the spider imagery is meant to communicate how uncomfortable it feels to be overcome with jealousy — to be the one who never got over a breakup when the other party is happily in a new relationship. The lyrics explain it the best, ‘cuz you cut it off and I spun out high off the ground asking myself, ‘do you think about me?’ ”
15 | Of Feather & Bone | Sulfuric Disintegration
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This November, Denver death metal outfit Of Feather & Bone will return with their most devastating material yet, having recently finalized their third album Sulfuric Disintegration. First, here’s a stream of Entropic Self Immolation. Sulfuric Disintegration sees the trio deliver their most brutal, dynamic, and punishing release to date. The record follows 2018’s Bestial Hymns Of Perversion, an album which signaled a new paradigm shift for the band and saw the band get the worthwhile recognition deserved through acclaim and notable touring cycles, the band being recognized for their devastating live performance, bringing a new sense of awareness to the band. Sulfuric Disintegration takes Of Feather and Bone’s intensity and aura to the next level.”
16 | Red | Dirty Talk
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Fast-rising R&B pop singer-songwriter Red (Nicole Simpson) released Dirty Talk, a rapturous, compelling pop number, peppered with emotive nu-soul influences and effervescent melodies, offering us the perfect respite we all need right now. Red details the track: “Dirty Talk is a sexy adventure of love and lust. When there’s raw attraction between two people, and the body craves an undeniable passion, there’s no better compliment than dirty talk to seal the deal.”
17 | Loren Allred | This Summer
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Loren Allred releases her debut single This Summer. It is an ode to an often-sunny & carefree season clouded by mandatory shutdowns due to the global pandemic. With the chaos and turmoil of everyone’s lives being turned upside down, Loren’s song shines a ray of light on taking time during such an isolating event to turn inward and think of all the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead knowing that nothing is permanent. “This Summer is my love letter to everyone around the world that felt as lost and isolated as I did. Even when I felt like the world was on fire, I couldn’t help but hope that love was on the horizon. As summer comes to a close, I hope this song gives you as much comfort as it gave me.”
18 | Jessa | Not For You
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Having made a name for herself through signature rhythmic and harmonically adventurous art pop, Jessica joined forces with producers Robyn Dell’Unto and Devon Henderson to become Jessa, smashing layers of playful guitars and vocals into an indie-pop package, singing about trying to keep the joy in everyday life while navigating this weird world and all of its curve-balls. Jessa just released a new album, Simple Songs. She says, “Life isn’t simple. We need music to transport us somewhere else that exists only in our imagination. I started writing this album just to write songs people could sing along to, but all of a sudden it became my confessional about love, loss, precious things and dreams. I’m thankful for the travels, experiences and people that inspired this music and to my family, blood and chosen.”
19 | King Park | Stuck In The Middle
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “King Park turns out mercurial, high-contrast indie rock. Gritty and lush, the quartet’s sound mirrors the antitheses of their hometown Hamilton, Ontario: on the one hand, blue-collar and raw, and, on the other, artful and lovely. Following the release of their debut EP, the band is gearing up to release their debut full-length Everett later this year. They’re starting with a new single, Stuck In The Middle – a more subdued version of the band’s usual alt-rock with chiming guitars and broken-up baritone vocals.”
20 | Matte Blvck | Stripped
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Matte Blvck is an electronic group out of San Diego CA. Producing sounds of sinister pleasures, visual arts and mechanical tinged dance music. The group captures lush dark-synth stylings complimented by gritty industrial anthems, while embodying their affinity for underground techno. Alex Gonzales, Bidi Cobra, and Daniel Corrales serve as the three-piece ensemble. Coming from various influences the trio come together to compliment their vast and scattered ideas to now form their own brand of club aesthetic. The debut album I’m Waving, Not Drowning is set to release this fall following their ageless rendition of Stripped from titans Depeche Mode.”
21 | Jori Sjöroos | Goth Perreo
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Label head and multi-award-winning producer Jori Sjöroos has released Goth Perreo, taken from his upcoming album Sjöroots on Nov. 27. Chisu provides the stunning vocals for the single. Says Sjöroos: “I was jamming with a reggaeton beat and wanted to push it as dark as possible. I had this image of two people twerking each other in a dark club built in a church made of stone. I needed some classic vibes for the song so I requested opera vocals from my wife who’s an artist and an extraordinary singer. I’m inspired by the freaky Latin American underground reggaeton/dancehall movement called Neo Perreo, and as a fan, I wanted to do my own Perreo which became Goth Perreo.”
