Miesha & The Spanks feel the feels, Paul Jacobs is halfway there, Billy Zach sees the humour, Bad Religion celebrate their freedom, Briqueville act up — and your Wednesday Roundup is just getting up to speed. Reach down between your legs and ease the seat back:
ON REPEAT
1 | Miesha & The Spanks | Wanna Feel Good
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Calgary’s Miesha and The Spanks have announced the followup to their critically acclaimed 2018 LP Girls Girls Girls. The Singles EP is set for release on April 16, and Wanna Feel Good, the new single from the guitar-and-drum duo of frontwoman Miesha Louie and drummer Sean Hamilton, is now available. It’s a gritty, fuzzed-out anthem about the pressure faced as deadlines approach and time runs out, and the vices and rituals used to make it through to fight another day. A tiny bit psych, a little ’90s grunge, some scrappy punk and all rock, “Wanna Feel Good was a last minute add-on,” shares Louie. “This song couldn’t have come from a more honest place, birthed in frustration and tension before finally a sweet release.” Hamilton adds that “the guitar progression hits like a swarm of bees, and then the B section comes out of nowhere to shake your ass into oblivion.”
2 | Paul Jacobs | Half Rich Loner
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal musician Paul Jacobs returns with a new video — which he drew, animated and directed himself — for Half Rich Loner, a rambling road-runner classic in the style of Canned Heat and JJ Cale. Following a prolific run of garage-rock releases and an album and EP with his band Pottery (in which he plays drums), this new song is the first single off Pink Dogs on the Green Grass, his album due out April 30. “I enjoy spending time alone and drawing pictures, what’s wrong with that?” he says in reference to the song’s title. “For Half Rich Loner, my only rule was that the character needed to be alone, and for the visuals to reflect the feeling of the music. Also I always visualize the drum part while listening to this song, so I was sure to animate some drums.”
3 | Billy Zach | Funny
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Billy Zach’s third single from the album Struggle On (out Friday) is different from its predecessor. Funny is a rather light-footed, yet cynical, song without frills. Lyrically, Funny vacillates between monologue and prologue, between irony and bitterness. “Isn’t it funny that I can’t (won’t) change?” The question seems rhetorical; one won’t, the other can’t, and maybe the whole thing isn’t so funny after all. Musically, Funny remains unusually short-winded and uncompromising. In the two and a half minutes, a choppy chord sequence defines the sound, while bass and drums rumblingly set the tempo. The vocals remain lethargic until the end, before finally throwing angry proclamations at the listeners.”
4 | Bad Religion | Emancipation Of The Mind
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Los Angeles punks Bad Religion have just released Emancipation Of The Mind, an outtake from the band’s critically acclaimed 2019 album Age Of Unreason. The track’s upbeat messaging calls for reason and open-mindedness as a new administration is welcomed into the White House today. Bad Religion have always advocated for humanism, reason, and individualism, which has never been more essential. “I think the song really is a celebration of enlightenment values that can be cultivated through enthusiastic learning and open-mindedness,” says vocalist Greg Graffin. “So often we’re told what to think. But learning how to think (as opposed to learning what to think) is a true feeling of emancipation from the constraints of indoctrination that are so commonplace in our society.”
5 | Briqueville | Akte VIII & IX
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Belgian post-metal enigmas Briqueville share some live footage filmed in Antwerp as part of a livestream late last year. The clip features Akte VIII and Akte IX from the band’s Quelle full-length. Say the band: “The 10 minutes prior to the start of the live stream, we spent holding our instruments on stage in absolute silence. With only a faint blue light and the presence of our sixth member as a spectator behind us, this felt as a lead curtain draped over us. This contributed immensely to the overall atmosphere we pursue in our live show. Using the beautiful venue as a part of the show, playing with our backs to it and staring into a black empty void contributed a lot towards achieving the catharsis we seek in our live experience as members of Briqueville. A different but satisfying experience that is certainly worth repetition.”
6 | Goresoerd | Lein
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “We live in a difficult time where one madness is chasing the other and the year 2021 has not brought salvation yet. But the Estonian metal band Goresoerd offer some solace with their new video single. Lein, meaning grief, makes sure that nobody forgets about the fact that everything can still go sideways. The video was shot by Erlend Štaub on a cold December morning. Meelis “Hainz” Hainsoo delivers pure angst on the shores of Lake Peipus where, undeterred by chilly winds, he drowns the viewer inside the dark world of Goresoerd.”
7 | Run The Jewels | Ooh La La (Mexican Institute Of Sound Remix feat. Santa Fe Klan)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Run The Jewels have shared a remix of the acclaimed RTJ4 single Ooh La La by Mexican Institute of Sound, with an added verse by Santa Fe Klan, seeping the song’s bombastic hip hop backbone in Cumbia and Mariachi influences. Mexican Institute of Sound is the brainchild of Camilo Lara, who states “Making the global dance floor a united, inclusive, banging space where everyone is welcome is the mission that connects me with RTJ. Inviting Santa Fe Klan on this adventure was crucial: his voice brings together Guanajuato, Brooklyn , Ciudad de México, Atlanta. Turn it up and jump right in: ooh la lá, papá … ooh la lá!”
8 | The Pink Stones | Blueberry Dream
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Pink Stones will release their debut album Introducing…The Pink Stones on April 9. Mixing elements of classic cosmic country, raucous rock ’n’ roll and indie rock, and fresh humor & heartaches, The Pink Stones are authoring a new chapter in the annals of Cosmic American Music and are within a new wave of young artists from the same college town that gave the world R.E.M., The B-52’s, Drive-By Truckers, Pylon, The Elephant 6 Recording Company, Widespread Panic, Vic Chesnutt, The Whigs and more. Today, they premiere the video for the first single Blueberry Dream. Frontman Hunter Pinkston says, “Blueberry Dream is a tune we shuffled in and out of our set for a while before the pandemic. It’s got a little psychedelia, a lotta country, and a nice pop floor to stand on.”
9 | Favourite Daughter | Long Distance
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal singer/songwriter Favourite Daughter (Julia Kennific) is a queer artist who pulls inspiration from across the indie alternative rock spectrum. She combines gut-wrenching vulnerable lyricism, soaring vocals and ear worm hooks in her own corner of dreamy pop rock. Her debut single Long Distance is about trying to keep up appearances that everything’s fine, while running from the inevitable. An upbeat indie pop song, Long Distance slowly progresses into an anxiety-inducing number until its eventual explosion in the final chorus.”
ALSO ON THE PLAYLIST
10 | Piqued Jacks | Elephant
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following on from their recent singles Every Day Special and Golden Mine, Italian outfit Piqued Jacks have now returned to continue the support for their upcoming album Synchronizer with the soaring new offering Elephant. It is passionate, positive, and amplified by a heavy dose of powerful and evocative stadium alt-rock. This is a track that celebrates those who know how to construct their personal relationships, who learn from the lessons of past failures, and who use the experiences of lost loves as a stronger building block for the next story, the right one.”
11 | Scarred | Ahaia
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Luxembourg death-metal group Scarred have just revealed a video for a track off their self-titled third album due this Friday. Titled Ahaia, this video was directed by Laurent Kessel and Kim Conrardy.”
12 | Subterranean Masquerade | Ascend
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Israeli progressive metal outfit Subterranean Masquerade have released the video for their single Ascend. Founding guitarist Tomer Pink notes, “It is with an utmost excitement, to finally share with the world Ascend, the first single from our album Mountain Fever, our most diverse album yet. We think there’s something for everyone here. Turn off the lights and let’s dance!”
13 | Cooper Phillip | Head Over Heels
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Born in a small town in Russia to a family of accomplished classical musicians, Cooper Phillip moved to New York City at age 17. With barely a dollar to her name, the singer worked and hustled, performing in weddings and clubs and sleeping in the storeroom of a restaurant where she sang. It wasn’t easy but she would not be deterred. After a few years in the city, Phillip jumped at an opportunity to sing at an important gig in Los Angeles. She never went back. Phillip’s music features an underlying theme of strength, grace and empowerment. “I believe we underestimate ourselves often and our fear takes over. My goal is to show people that they are stronger and can do much more than they think they can.”
14 | The Record Summer | White Dress
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Record Summer, aka songwriter Bret Rodysill, premiered a video for their single White Dress while announcing that their debut album Lay It Bare will arrive March 5. Discussing the single, Rodysill stated, “White Dress is about the juxtapositions that occur during marriage … how you bounce from a grandiose day with a gorgeous dress to absolute boredom and exercises with self-control. The question of spending the rest of your life with somebody versus standing with the sun shining in your hair, bright and beautiful.”
15 | The Prosaics | Frown
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Prosaics, aka A.G. Williams, consist of one man with a machine. His songs offer romance and disappointment, along with a solution to the vacuous pop that seems to dominate the airwaves. His songs are wry, scornful and cripplingly English. Frown is the debut single from this uniquely clever and obscure music artist. Frown explores the under-appreciated notion that all emotions should be worthwhile in the human experience. The song controversially triumphs the thought that one should strive to be unhappy. Excommunicate from the cult of silver linings and fake smiles. The track was recorded entirely naked in the dark!”
16 | Spencer Burton | Hard Times
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Country-folk artist Spencer Burton has released the single Hard Times, following the announcement of his fifth studio album Coyote, anticipated on Feb. 19. “It’s a song about how we can get through the hard times,” conveys Burton. “For me, that ‘how’ is love. It always has been. Love is a strong feeling and its ability to heal can help all of us get through the difficulties that life presents.” Coyote represents both the excitement and fear surrounding solitude and creating art. Recorded in the comfort of friends on analog equipment in Nashville, the album is full of dualities, necessary stops, and questions on the long journey of self-discovery that is life. “Every song I’ve ever written is a place to keep a memory.”
17 | Architects | Dead Butterflies
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Architects share Dead Butterflies, the third single off their forthcoming ninth studio album For Those That Wish To Exist. Accompanying Dead Butterflies is a black-and-white video filmed at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London, in November. On For Those That Wish To Exist, Architects tackle the biggest questions facing the future of our planet with their grandest, most expansive sonic offering yet. On the self-produced record, Architects build upon the band’s hallmark post-metalcore and layers a burgeoning influence of electronics and orchestral strings, horns, and choirs. The result is a rich tapestry that transcends the limitations of genre and rewards exploration and immersion in its journey.”
18 | Annabelle Chvostek | Walls
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Juno-nominated singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Annabelle Chvostek has announced details of her forthcoming sixth album String of Pearls, set for March 26. The former member of Wailin’ Jennys also shares the video for the first single Walls. Annabelle says, “At the beginning of lockdown in March 2020 … as the streets sat empty and we all holed up in isolation, the lyrics to the track Walls seemed to take on a whole new meaning, eerily reflecting the experience of living through a global pandemic. We started to talk with Toronto-based filmmaker Carlos Coronado on an idea for the video for Walls. He came back with the concept of a woman walking through an empty city seeking connection in a time of isolation.”
19 | Burry | Figs & Apricots
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Introducing Halifax’s premeire dyslexic non-binary musician. Burry blends elements of indie, rock, and pop together to create a flavour of captivating music with an unforgettable and energetic stage presence. “The song is about the inability to commit to a relationship, and dealing with someone who wants something more between the two of you,” said Burry. “The line ‘Life can’t always be figs & apricots’ means that life can’t always be sweet. Not everything is going to go the way you plan, so you might as well have fun with it.” Burry has also shared a “light-hearted and colourful” companion video for Figs & Apricots, directed by Becca Rowen. The song hails from the Yellow Paint EP, out today.”
20 | Wolvencrown | A Shadow Of What Once Was Part 1
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The three songs that make up A Shadow Of What Once Was, the haunting new EP from atmospheric black metallers Wolvencrown, subsume the senses, enfolding the listener in layers of dream and memory, summoning the scent of fallen leaves, the touch of evening mists and the howl of the pack upon the cold night breeze. The guitars race like wind driven clouds across the moon through the grand, two-part epic that is the title cut, capturing an exhilarating, savage beauty. A Shadow Of What Once Was will be released on Feb. 26.”
21 | Vanès | Brain
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “New to the scene, alternative pop singer-songwriter Vanès has released the video for her debut single Brain. The video was shot in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Brain was produced by her frequent collaborator and brother dontaskalex. She explains Brain is “feeling like I have 10 different versions of myself inside my head. Some could say that I’m just overthinking, but I truly believe they only exist to sabotage me and my decisions.”
22 | Your Paris | First
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Your Paris have released their new single First, a dreamy, floating pop track capturing love and heartbreak at the same time. Your Paris is Nick Babcock and Laila Kharouba. Their pop tunes are fresh yet familiar upon first listen. Since the start of 2020, the duo has made a splash in the Ontario music scene. They are determined to stay in the honeymoon phase of their career: in love with, and inspired by their music.”
23 | Laure Briard | Supertrama
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Laure Briard reveals Supertrama, the latest track of her next EP Eu Voo. This ballad was conceived between France and Brazil in collaboration with Giovanni Cidreira, and finally brought to life in São Paul with the psych group Boogarins. “I met Giovani through the Boogarins, who are both collaborators and friends of his. I appreciate his voice, his words, his stories, and working with him one day quickly became a certainty. When I found the melody of Supertrama I took the plunge and asked him if we wanted to write the words. He took the melody, but on the piano, and wrote a text that doesn’t quite tell a story, but rather feelings, impressions, and memories. Just like the rest of the EP, the arrangements were made in real time in the studio.”
24 | David Numwami | Thema
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “David Numwami has already had 1,000 lives. A gifted musician, composer, DJ and creator of the band Le Colisée, he quickly became a key figure in the Brussels and Parisian underground. Of his latest single, he says: “I started Thema on tour with Charlotte Gainsbourg. During a tour, the nights are often lonely and you spend them far away from your loved ones. So you take out your phone and you fall asleep while scrolling images. It’s probably a song about love, about loneliness, about obsession too, but I didn’t want it to be a negative song. I just wanted to get some beauty out of it. This piece took me a long time, more than a year I think if not two! Especially the percussion, because I was trying to get to something very electronic but also very organic, something modern and timeless.”
25 | Sanya N’Kanta | Waste My Time
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sanya N’Kanta has released his new track Waste My Time, from his new EP These Are The Days (Feb. 12). Born in Jamaica, Sanya absorbed an expansive musical tastes of his father, a reggae musician who first introduced him to guitar at age 13. When his family relocated to the U.S. from Jamaica, Sanya found himself immersed in a new set of artistic influences, but also facing issues of culture and racism. His new schoolmates laughed at his accent, but his father expected him to keep it and holdfast to his culture. “I remember studying TV, and practicing how to talk without a Jamaican accent with my older brother. My dad overheard us one day, and we received a swift punishment.”
26 | Federico Ferrandina | Hypermetropia, Pt. 1
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Federico Ferrandina is an Italian composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Born in a family of classical musicians, that heritage seemed destined to pair his irrepressible hunger for diverse musical galaxies with non-musical disciplines like literature, modern dance and sociology. He’s been able to team up with artists of all kinds: world music stars, alternative pop artists, classical and jazz orchestras, choreographers and filmmakers. Ferrandina provided strings and brass arrangements for Playing For Change versions of famous classic songs featuring David Crosby, Bombino and Yo-Yo Ma. Many of his compositions are in major movie and TV soundtracks.”
27 | Emmett Lucius Pharaoh | Sleepless Nights
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With well over 10,000 hours in the studio, Emmett Lucuis Pharaoh has developed a unique sound by producing, writing and recording all of his own tracks. In his young career he has already showcased his prolific talent, etching out his own individual path in the entertainment industry. Growing up in Calgary, Emmett found himself gravitating towards the musical arts at a young age, driven by a deep passion and teenage rebellion. At 17, Emmett moved out into the winter streets — homeless, but motivated. Finding solace in his obsession with the art of music and sound, he knew that this was something that he wanted to dedicate his life to mastering.”
28 | Tart Vandelay | Silver Skies
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Tart Vandelay is the indie-pop duo of Katie Halligan and Marty LoFaso. Formed in Boston in 2014, the group performed extensively throughout the northeast before relocating to Phoenix in 2019. The duo’s latest single Silver Skies is the first song in their new electronic direction.”
29 | Rone | Waves of Devotion (feat. Georgia)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In March 2020, the sudden halt of shows left a void that prompted Rone to invite a few of his friends to sing along to his music. From these life-saving collaborations, a musical refuge was built; an essential Rone album to be released this spring. The first single from Rone & Friends is a romance dreamt up by London-based singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Georgia, placed on the instrumental of Ginkgo Biloba. The sequels were written with Camélia Jordana, Flavien Berger, Dominique A and many others — a total of 16 performers from all walks of life.”
30 | Rooue | Flavour
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dublin duo Rooue create music inspired by life events. They’re back with their fresh new cut Flavour, searching for life’s vibrancy. “Flavour is about being bored of normal, monotonous life and the same bland relationships”, the pair offer. “It captures the moment when you decide to get more from life, get a taste of new flavours. The track resonates with us after being in quarantine — craving a sense of excitement and an escape from confinement.”
