In Signs share some hard knocks, Rare Americans sleep with weapons handy, Murky Waters goes it alone, Penfriend sees monsters — and there are still plenty of winners to be found in the final instalment of your latest Weekend Roundup. Are you ready to say Uncle yet?
51 | In Signs | Knock Knock
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Based in Kyiv, In Signs are a rock trio whose sound builds and builds until it threatens to blow the roof off! They are starting 2021 with the single Knock Knock, accompanied by a lyric video. Says frontman Arsen: “It’s so important to be true with people who listen to your music — this is our main goal. There are a lot of artists nowadays but not all of them are doing art. We want to prove that music is not about money, it’s about the passion of your life. I’m a closed person and making music and writing lyrics is a perfect way for me to communicate with people.”
52 | Rare Americans | Knives, Guns & Bed (ft. Clare Twiddy)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Genre-defying band Rare Americans return with Knives, Guns & Bed, from their forthcoming sophomore album Rare Americans 2, due in March. “Knives, Guns & Bed is a song about an ambivalent, love-hate relationship,” explains James Priestner. “As the lyric goes, the couple questions each other’s commitment, they go for the throat, but at the end of the day neither of them are willing to throw in the towel and give up on each other.”
53 | Murky Waters | Alone
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “L.A. crooner Murky Waters launched his debut single Alone (produced by Ford Jones) today. In Alone, the young artist paints a vivid picture of his struggle in regaining independence from a traumatic relationship. Murky Waters says: “It captures the feeling of wanting someone so bad you drive yourself crazy, then losing them and falling apart, unable to shake the thought of them.”
54 | Penfriend | Exotic Monsters
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Exotic Monsters is the first single from Penfriend’s upcoming album. Sparked by a throwaway phrase in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s a laundry list of asynchronous human needs and desires, and a timely reminder of the practice of cultivating gratitude through meditation.”
55 | Lauren Bird | Keep Trying
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Keep Trying is the new single from Irish indie-pop artist Lauren Bird. Insightful lyricism cushioned by her characteristically charming vocals and playful guitar line, she provides a warm embrace to her listener in this compelling new track. Says Bird: “Keep Trying is a song I wrote about my frustrations with societal norms and beauty standards. I thought a lot about how I felt as a teenager growing up and how uncomfortable I felt in my own skin. Sending love to those who still struggle with looking in the mirror.”
56 | Callie Reiff & Lenii | The Kids Are All Rebels 2.0
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “New York producer and artist Callie Reiff is kicking of 2021 with The Kids Are All Rebels 2.0, a collaborative remix with Irish artist/producer Lenii. Callie puts an electrifying, indie-club spin on the original track. “I loved the meaning behind the record and how powerful it felt. It was the perfect track for me to combine everything I have already been working on into it and showcase this new side of my sound no one has heard yet.”
57 | Jessica Luise | Nice Try
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Nice Try is the new single by Jessica Luise. It’s a totally blissful but bittersweet listen, which you might like if you’re a fan of The Sundays, Wolf Alice, Biig Piig and beabadoobee. The uplifting melody pairs with the melancholic nature of the lyrics to create a bittersweet but blissful song, which was written as a form of closure after a personal experience. Jess says: “This song is the one that helped me blossom as an artist. The simplicity yet rawness of the lyrics made this song quite cathartic to write and record.”
58 | Alfie Zappacosta | Unspoken
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Few recording artists deliver some of their finest work in the fifth decade of their career, but that is clearly the case with Saved, the new solo release from Alfie Zappacosta, out Feb. 5. Zappacosta is at the very top of his game here, as a singer, a songwriter and producer. There is that rich soaring voice that has always been his signature, one that, like a fine Amarone Italian red wine, has improved with age, gaining a new degree of resonance evident on Saved.”
59 | Velvet Skyline | Circles
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Alt-rock band Velvet Skyline have released Circles, the lead single off of their LP What We Have In Common (out Feb. 5). The song ushers in the progressive and grunge-influenced sound of the album. Led by vocalist Taylor Seerden, the quartet is full of fresh, youthful, punky energy. The entirety of the LP will take listeners on an emotional journey, telling an edged-out coming of age story through punk production. For listeners that are just being introduced to Velvet Skyline, Circles is a perfect welcome.”
60 | Brodka & Scottibrains | Wrong Party
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In their strong tradition of new/unlikely collaborations the single Wrong Party is a collab between acclaimed Polish superstar Brodka and in-house Speedy Wunderground band Scottibrains. Of the track’s inspiration Brodka says, “Sometimes we are all drawn to a person or situation that is bad for us, so bad you want to set it on fire, but the desire is so strong, we can’t resist it. That’s what Wrong Party is about.”
61 | Begonia | Bus
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In February 2020, Begonia (Alexa Dirks) hosted five shows in her hometown of Winnipeg, which capped off the tour for her Fear album. Those concerts are now available as the Fear Tour Live Album. Along with the album, Begonia is sharing the outtake Bus. “I recorded Bus in the same sessions as all the other songs for the Fear album but in the end when I was putting the tracklisting together it just didn’t seem to fit in with the other songs like I originally planned,” says Dirks. “It’s a song about going out with your friends to try and feel something which I wish I could do right now more than a lot of things … soooo it’s kind of a party song and kind of a sad song haha … my favourite.”
62 | Calica & Daniel Loumpouridis | Don’t
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter and producer Calica is a breath of fresh air in today’s indie pop scene. Her masterful vocal delivery paired with expertly crafted melodies transport the listener to a synth-pop paradise. Calica’s lyrics are cheeky and relatable, yet deliberate and intelligent. Her takes on love, loss and self-empowerment are boldly refreshing. Don’t features futuristic synths, driving basslines and infectious melodies. The single details being able to create healthy boundaries.”
63 | Terez | Hot Mess
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Calgary musician Terez spent the past few months at home writing and recording, and has just released her new single. Hot Mess is an ode to poking fun at yourself — being able to laugh at the craziness, or coincidences going on in your life. “This song was born out of leaving my wallet in an Uber after a night out (don’t worry, I got it back), and was written to poke fun at myself for doing so. I hope that this song can pick people up if they’re having a rough day, give them humor instead of frustration, and the license to be imperfect and love themselves for it!”
64 | Justine Tyrell | Radar
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Calgary R&B artist Justine Tyrell’s single, Radar is a smooth R&B piano ballad. The tune was recorded live off the floor — no retakes or edits — and discusses a past lover who chooses to keep an old flame on their radar. “Radar is a song that calls out the past lover who is stuck keeping the door to the past cracked open just enough to never fully let go of what they once had. The stripped down, and intimate mood recounts the one who still keeps an eye on what you’re doing, spectating through social media, asking around and observing — unable to look away.”
65 | Magenta Moon | I’m Here
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The talented songwriting and production duo Elaina Whitesell and Joey Petrarca, better known as Magenta Moon. Enchanted by shimmering guitars and the jazz greats, Magenta Moon seek to blur the lines between poetry and music while re-imagining surf in the 2020s and beyond. They have just dropped their new album, Rapid When It Happens with I’m Here. The band add about the track; “no matter what you’re doing, you’ll always be you … even if you’ve been asleep for a long time, you can always wake up.”
66 | Sam Eagle | How Often
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Sam Eagle has announced his new EP She’s So Nice, and shared How Often. Sam says, “This track was the first song I wrote after taking the decision to get back to writing for me. I wanted to write a track that was fun, colourful, weird in a cool way, rhythm-based, and structurally interesting. I thought it would be cool to write it in three sections, with the first section being more positive, energetic and colourful, then the middle section is more uncertain, strange, tight and dark; and then the final section being smoother, calmer, open and more focussed on the lyrics.”
67 | R+R=NOW | How Much A Dollar Cost
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In October 2018, Robert Glasper settled into the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City for a month-long residency several nights of which featured the new dream-team collective R+R=NOW with Glasper on keys, Terrace Martin on synthesizer, vocoder, and alto saxophone, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah on trumpet, Derrick Hodge on bass, Taylor McFerrin on synthesizer, and Justin Tyson on drums. R+R=NOW Live, a thrilling live recording, will be released Feb. 12, featuring standout tracks from the studio album including this cover of Kendrick Lamar’s How Much a Dollar Cost (co-written by Martin).”
68 | Liar Thief Bandit | Catch and Release
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “What do you get if you blend the melodic essence that helped shape the ’70s and the raw garage revival of the late ’90s with a modern touch of uplifting lyrics and undeniable energy? The answer is Liar Thief Bandit — a power trio born to play live with the sole purpose to carry the torch of all that ever was, is and will be rock ’n’ roll in its purest form. Liar Thief Bandit released their debut album Gun Shovel Alibi in 2016. Catch and Release is the second single from Liar Thief Bandit’s upcoming studio album Deadlights.”
69 | Jerry Castle | Throw Back Texas Man
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “There’s a one-of-a-kind spunk that radiates off Texans, and Appalachian cosmic soul artist Jerry Castle embodies the Lone Star State’s spirit on his rowdy new track Throwback Texas Man. It the grit-fueled attitude of Castle’s favorite Texan icons like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rolling Stones’ saxophonist Bobby Keys and more. “I’ve long felt a kinship with Texans,” says Castle. “This song is an observation of the types of traits that Texas dudes have. They never complain. They get the job done. They’re respectful, God fearing, hard living, and treat their women with respect.”
70 | Ends 84 | Thunder (ft. Power Rob)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From the very first synth stab, Thunder is bringing an ominous feel of fascination with the main character. An archetypical menacing female figure that reminds us of iconic femme-fatal of films like Basic Instinct or Fatal Attraction. The track is a borderline darkwave song lifted up by Power Rob’s hooky melody and captivating lyrics. The vocalist makes honour to his name and delivers a powerful melodic and lyrical composition through a performance full of intention and focus. French producer Ends 84 introduces distorted guitars and crunchy pads to paint a scene of grit and clenched teeth. An inspired collaboration that brings something new and fresh to the genre whilst ticking all the right boxes. A classic ’80s erotic thriller condense in three minutes of pop perfection.”
71 | Allison Lorenzen | Vale (ft. Midwife)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “As half of the synth / percussion duo School Dance, Denver artist Allison Lorenzen became adept at pulling beautiful vocal melodies across skeletal compositions, bringing barren landscapes into full bloom. On Lorenzen’s first solo outing, she enlists the talents of Madeline Johnston’s shoegaze project Midwife to root her spectral vocals, keyboards and slow-mo percussion to the earthy loam of the terrestrial plane. On Vale we hear Johnston’s characteristic feedback and reverb-drenched guitars pierce the middle distance between heaven and Earth before Lorenzen’s aching voice plumbs the depths of this depressed place.”
72 | Gustav Hoyer | Innocence
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Gustav Hoyer returns in 2021 with his blissful new single Innocence. Whether composing for ensembles, media or multi-faceted musical encounters, Hoyer creates musical narratives that resonate with drama, richness and the contrast of light and dark moments. Hoyer describes music as something that “binds us to another person,” that we “literally and figuratively resonate together” when sharing music. He absolutely achieves this with his latest release. This piece immediately reminds me of Alexandre Desplat or Alan Silvestri, two composers known for creating an entire universe within their works.”
73 | Shem Thomas | Old Ferry Road
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Don’t we all know them? Those moments in life when we ask ourselves if we’re still on the right path. And those when we become painfully aware that we have lost our way. On Old Ferry Road, the second single off his upcoming album 8, Shem Thomas sings touchingly about how he lost his anchor as a 24 year old and how he wanted to find it again. His words and story cast a spell on the listener. You can feel the longing and urgency in his voice. Old Ferry Road is a homage to something ancient and original in us — the longing for happiness.”
74 | Joelistics | 5 Rivers
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ahead of his forthcoming concept album and multidisciplinary project Film School, Melbourne electronic/hip hop producer Joelistics reveals 5 Rivers. A collaboration with Indian classical vocalist Parvyn Singh, 5 Rivers brings together electronica, dance music and global influences in a sprawling soundtrack of immersive atmospherics. “5 Rivers is a gentle piece built from the bones of a beautiful lyric from Parvyn. With the production, I wanted to ground it in modern production but also create a world in which Parvyn’s voice invites you on to an ancient riverbank and lulls you in the arms of warm synths and watery guitars.”
