’68 wield a razor-sharp blade, Ġenn take an emotional journey, Ohtis is one selfish cat, Barra Brown grooves with a tree, Esther Rose has had enough — and those are just the first steps in the eclectic dance routine that is your Tuesday Roundup. Have you listened that Edgar Jones anthology yet? What are you waiting for?
1 | ’68 | The Knife, The Knife, The Knife
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The noisy Atlanta duo ‘68 just announced that their third album Give One Take One will arrive on March 26. To celebrate the momentous occasion, the band debuted the lead single The Knife, The Knife, The Knife alongside a music video created by vocalist and guitarist Josh Scogin (The Chariot, Norma Jean). Completed by drummer Nikko Yamada, the duo burst in with their signature blues-inspired and crushing wall of sound, marking some of their catchiest work yet with tinges of doom, alternative rock, offering only a moment of reprieve before diving into the distinctive and heavy chorus. Scogin says: “Of all the music I’ve created over the years, this album holds some of my very favorite moments, lyrically, musically, and even mentally; I travel down several roads that are equal parts therapeutic to get off my chest and terrifying to share with the world.”
2 | Ġenn | Feel
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ġenn have released the new single Feel from their forthcoming EP Liminal, which will be out March 30. Vocalist Leona Farrugia says of Feel: “Musically, the song was inspired by The Doors and Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side — it’s drone-centred and infused with psychedelic elements, giving space for the vocals to shine through. It culminates in a shoegazey bridge that showcases our love for experimentation, ’70s music and jamming. The lyrics personify a relationship with drugs and the dependency that stems from that sense of escapism.”
3 | Ohtis | Schatze (ft. Stef Chura)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Illinois band Ohtis — the trio of Sam Swimson, Adam Pressley and Nate Hahn — share their new single Schatze (feat. Stef Chura). The track is the first of two from their upcoming single out Feb. 26. Schatze conducts a character analysis of the “Selfish Antisocial Male,” told primarily through the lens of his long put-upon girlfriend — played by Chura. “I got the idea for the song on an oceanfront balcony up in Cambria when my wife got annoyed by my neurotic vape addiction crampin’ the vibes,” Swinson says. “Most of the rest was written and recorded last year, late at night in a hotel room in Amsterdam.” The track takes its name from an extremely violent cat belonging to Sam’s friend Gerald. “He has put Gerald’s wife Teri in the hospital, and fucked me up badly more than once because I had refused to admit there was a cat alive whose heart I could not win. Turns out Schatze is such a cat.”
4 | Barra Brown | Whoa Hey! (ft. Tree Palmedo)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Whoa Hey! is the new single and video from Barra Brown’s upcoming album LFT:RT, featuring the highly talented Tree Palmedo on trumpet. Brown edited the video using public domain footage of astronauts training in the 1960s. Says Brown: “My friend Tree is an amazing trumpet player. It happened that he was back in town (Portland) visiting from his new home in N.Y.C. We had about an hour together in my home studio and he took a few passes over my work in progress. I chopped some things he played to create a melody after our session. But the ripping solo at the end, I kept that one-take wonder! The guitar and bass sounds were taken from an improvised session I recorded with my former teacher and Oregon Hall of Fame guitarist Dan Balmer. He didn’t know several seconds of our jam would become this sonic world and his guitar would also become a bass.”
5 | Esther Rose | How Many Times
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Esther Rose’s upcoming album How Many Times (out March 26) was written over the last two years while her life was in perpetual motion. She moved three times, navigated the end of a relationship and began touring more than ever. The New Orleans singer-songwriter used that momentum while she penned her new record. “That’s how I untangle what’s on my mind, by going off for a walk into wild places. That’s what makes this album a country album,” Esther explains. “It’s not really just about feeling better, it’s about feeling it, whatever it is.” The album opens with Esther drifting around her house on a night of intentional sobriety, choosing to address emotions she had been avoiding. “How Many Times shows that ‘face it’ moment: opening the fridge, staring down the bottles, opening a laptop, just bouncing around the house before you finally make room to face the pain and be with it,” she says. “I remember walking trancelike to my writing table thinking, No numbing tonight. I’m going to sit here and look at it.”
6 | The Big Idea | XV
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In 2017, The Big Idea, a French psychedelic sextet from La Rochelle, released a mad first album — 21 songs on four discs called La Passion du Crime 3, in which the band did what they do do best: Everything. Their mix of garage rock, psychedelic pop, experimental and acoustic music provided the soundtrack for an imaginary erotic detective novel, depicting ’80s London through the investigation of Insp. Lawrence. Three years later, sound engineer Stéphane Gillet came across the tapes and offered to remix and remaster this monumental album. It’s out now, along with a video for the single XV.”
7 | -(16)- | Tear It Down
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “L.A. sludge-metal stalwarts -(16)- share their video for Tear It Down, off their upcoming Doom Sessions Vol. 3 split EP with Grime, which arrives Feb 26. According to -(16)-: “Tear it Down is a song that’s has been in our live set for a few years and has evolved through a few different iterations to finally land here on our split release with fellow sludge brethren Grime.”
8 | Decouplr | Changes
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Philadelphia electronic-indie duo Decouplr (Bailey Walker and Adam Laub) are premiering the video for their single Changes, off their upcoming full-length debut Digital Bonfire (out Feb. 19). The futuristic, glittering, trip-hop instrumentals of Changes create a shower of dancing energy that serves as the foundation for Walker’s graceful, soul-inspired vocals. “Changes is a sleepy dance anthem about wishing things were different,” says Walker. “It’s enjoying that beginning of the year upbeat feeling while leaving behind a rather dreadful 2020.”
9 | Lizzard | Blue Moon
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “French power trio Lizzard are pleased to reveal their captivating new video for Blue Moon. The mesmerizing track is featured on the band’s impending new full-length Eroded, set for release next months. Add the band, “Blue Moon is our wake-up call and reminder that every moment spent living is unique … It’s been written with the following mantra in mind: ‘Learn, adapt, and keep moving, keep living …’ ”
10 | Zuli Jr. | How to Feel
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Rising indie R&B-pop artist Zuli Jr. has announced the details for his new studio album Stop it God. — and dropped his single How to Feel, along with a video. Set for release on May 14, Stop it God. is the sophomore full-length from the New York singer-songwriter. “This album was a true labor of love, yet How to Feel flowed out of me in a single afternoon. A song about examining the ego from the outside looking in and how that affects the people around you. This is easily one of my favorite songs on the record and feels like the perfect transition from one chapter to the next.”
11 | Sulene | Photo Booth
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “South African-born, Brooklyn-based artist Sulene shared her dance-ready single Photo Booth, along with a video. The release coincides with the announcement of her upcoming EP he•don•ic, due out March 5. On the synth-driven Photo Booth, Sulene explores the discord of returning to a bad habit even though it’s pulling you down. “I wrote Photo Booth after a show I played. It was such an amazing night, but then I got swept up by my own demons at the after-party. One of the last things I remember was being in a photo booth and the night turning into a mush of laughter, regret, and just giving in. The song is about the noise in my head caused by the cognitive dissonance of returning to a bad habit even though I know it’s breaking me down. The irony is that once I wrote the song, I knew I had to confront the truth. The next day I started a long period of sobriety and wrote the he•don•ic EP.”
12 | Vandemonian | Jack Ketch
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Having released a promising self-titled EP in 2016, Hamburg progressive post-rock trio Vandemonian announce the release of their debut album Xenophilia on Feb. 20. Recorded and produced on a DIY-approach by guitarist and vocalist Nick Braren between late 2018 and early 2020, Xenophilia developed gradually over those two years with the trio constantly experimenting and maturing their ideas between studio sessions. The end result is an elegant and compelling album that sees Vandemonian fusing the very best elements of prog rock and post-rock. Atmospheric elements of post rock are met with dissonant guitar tones, driving bass and unconventional drumming.”
13 | Mike Casey | Breathe In
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Breathe In is the new jazztronica single from New York City saxophone master Mike Casey. The short, sweet, supple and smoothly flowing cut was co-produced with Alicante, Spain’s own Blori (we met during a yearlong masters abroad at Berklee Valencia) and is a pretty big departure from anything he’s released before. In some ways, it asks the question: ‘Is this even jazz?’ Judge for yourself.”
14 | Charlotte Jacobs | B
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Brooklyn art-pop/experimentalist Charlotte Jacobs will release her EP The Shape Of Wandering on April 9. This soothing jazzy singer gooses her atmospheric synths and sounds with a kick-ass drummer (Raf Vertessen). Her music reminds you of Hundred Waters and Tune-Yards, if Merrill Garbus made acid-trip soundtracks. Anyway, along with this announcement, Jacobs is releasing the first single B. The track gives off an atmospheric feel with a hip-hop beat that sets you afloat in your thoughts. Say Jacobs: “What I like about this song is that it merges programmed beats with organic acoustic layered drums, so much even that it’s hard to hear the difference. The first time I’m introducing a drummer into my recorded music, usually I work with samples or drum computers.”
15 | Megan Nash | Quiet
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “At the end of last year, Megan Nash shared her first new music since 2017 with the release of Artifact, a song about “discovering fragments of your former life; a letter from a past lover, a photograph from a perfect day, and how that discovery can be a punch in the stomach,” she says. Quiet is a song about “your husband, soon to be ex-husband, driving away from you on the prairies. What an unforgiving horizon Saskatchewan has. It can really draw out a goodbye. Quiet was born out of heartbreak and I hope it serves as an anthem for the lonely, the one left behind. The lyrics are personal and heavy for me yet I want to dance when we play it on stage. It contains two truths: Life is pain and life is a party.”
16 | Heather Rivas | Think Of Me
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Los Angeles native Heather Rivas is known for her genre-blending music, inspired by the eclectic scene that thrives in her hometown. She is passionate about writing from her personal experiences and doesn’t hold back when it comes to the dynamics of relationships and how often so much can be left unspoken, whether that is tied to poor judgment, mental health, or discomfort with a situation. Her latest single Think of Me is about infatuation and realizing you’re just into the idea of someone. Rivas confides, “A lot of us have been in a place where we realize we’re late in communicating or we just avoid it all together because it’s uncomfortable. Most of the time, infatuation is pretty unhealthy and I don’t think most of us ever want to admit out loud that we’ve been infatuated with someone.”
17 | Andrew Waite | Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Combining raw sound with electric showmanship, Andrew Waite’s passion for songwriting and stage performance is undeniable. His songs are honest and rugged, making for an unforgettable experience when paired with his dynamic live shows. Recently winning the coveted SOCAN Songwriter of the Year award from Music P.E.I., Waite is now working with producer Chris Kirby (Quote the Raven, Charlie A’Court) on a new release. His first single of 2021 is Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That, an addictively upbeat antidote to the adversity of the past year, hinging on a message of perseverance.”
18 | Julian Faith | Sorrow Wing
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Julian Faith is a new artist who combines beauty and sadness in his songwriting with the ways and means of electronic music. Faith works alone, but producer Mikko Herranen has been strongly involved in creating and developing the artist’s sound world. Faith says: “The first single, Sorrow Wing, is a rather melancholy and fragile performance. Whether the text is about love, death or a damaged bird, we can’t know for sure. I wanted to leave the final interpretation to the listener.”
19 | Maddisun | Meant To Be
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “My name is Maddisun. I’m a Canadian singer songwriter. I write expressive, honest music that makes you positive and happy. I released my album in the summer, and since then I have been on a momentum to really gain some exposure and grow my fan base. I have a new single out called Meant to Be. I am soooo excited about it. This track is a classic feel-good indie-rock track, with elements of new femme country such as Haim, Maggie Rogers, Jade Bird and Orla Gartland, to name a few.”
