Thérèse has a simple question for you, Oldskull know what time it is, All Against have an existential moment, Record Thieves get on with it — and they’re just the opening moves in your Holiday Monday Roundup. Let’s get started:
1 | Thérèse | Chinoise?
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Multi-faceted French-Asian artist Thérèse unveils the music video for her recently released single, Chinoise? The track is taken from her upcoming EP Rêvalité, set for release on March 12. Thérèse says: “With this film, I wanted to fight for something, and not against something. Using common stereotypes, distorting them, breaking them, is my way to reclaim my identity. I believe that tackling difficult social issues with a colourful and positive approach is possible and probably more efficient. That’s why in the video those stereotypes gradually turn into strengths as I reappropriate them. There are a bunch of lifestyle details and references to be discovered in the movie about the concept of living together, at least what I put in that concept.”
2 | Oldskull | Time To Kill
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Portuguese old-school death metal outfit Oldskull released a video for Time To Kill. Oldskull were created in 2020 by the Portuguese musician/producer Paulo Soares. The idea behind the creation of this project has some years old, but only now, due to the current pandemic world situation, was possible to him properly re-record some old demos and write new songs, with the goal of releasing a full-length album.”
3 | All Against | I Am Alive
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Hailing from Lisbon, metal outfit All Against are proud to present the official video to I Am Alive, from the upcoming album of the same name recorded at Ultrasound Studios and mixed and mastered by Hugo Andrade.”
4 | Record Thieves | Work It Out
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Denver punks Record Thieves have just dropped a video for Work It Out, off their debut album Wasting Time. Singer Mike Waterhouse says: “We all deal with really fucked-up shit that can seem too overwhelming to get through. Sometimes we bottle it up, Sometimes we run away, but more than not we have to face it, take some stabs to break it down into more manageable pieces that we can pick up and rebuild from.”
5 | No Year | What People Say
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “No Year, a Portland quartet comprised of veterans of the city’s underground music scene, are poised to inflict gripping, visceral psychedelic post-hardcore on the listening public with their first LP So Long. Named well before the shit-showery of 2020, the title has taken on all new meaning at the end of the longest year of our lives. With big themes dealing with the topics of loss, sadness, confusion and alienation, audiences will have no trouble feeling the deeper message while occasionally obtuse lyricism leaves room for personal interpretations. The record is as much looming and desperate as it is embracing of the power of a positive mental attitude to see things through. A big chorus never hurts either.”
6 | PhasesLikeTheMoon | Mechanical Dogs
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Synth-centric San Francisco Bay Area artist PhasesLM just released her new music video Mechanical Dogs. Inspired by the thunder and lightning storm that sparked hundreds of devastating wildfires across Northern California in August 2020, the song is a sublime, anxiety-fueled exploration into the unknown that will resonate with anyone who has felt overwhelmed by the historic events that have unfolded over the past year. The music video reflects the distress many of us have faced during these unprecedented times, employing hair-raising kaleidoscopic imagery, electric colors, and mechanical elements to create a psychedelic visual with a daunting, apocalyptic ambience.”
7 | Dessa | Bombs Away
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dessa released Bombs Away, the second instalment of her monthly single series Ides. “Bombs Away is about a feeling of surrender, leaning in and letting go,” Dessa says. “As a control enthusiast, uncertainty and ambiguity unsettle me. But this past year wasn’t designed to cater to our preferences. I recorded the demo for this one in Minneapolis, in the middle of a very hard 2020.” Ides is the product of collaborations between artists working from their home studios across the country, trading sound files, snapshots, and voice memos. In a world without touring, Dessa says, the song series is designed to deliver music in regular installments — new art to look forward to around the middle of every month.”
8 | The Lyonz | Right Of Asylum
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Boundary crushing, super-creative pair The Lyonz have just released Right of Asylum / Where I Be, the first of a series of two-track EPs. Right of Asylum is a full-on sky-reaching festival chill-out banger with gritty thought-provoking raps worked in. They sound like a cross between Kendrick Lamar and N.E.R.D. at both of their peaks!”
9 | Infected Humans | Paraphilic Infestation of Internal Torment
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With the metal underground still reeling from the release of their debut album Unexpected Traumatic Experiences, Ecuador’s most brutal band, Infected Humans, have unveiled a disturbing video for Paraphilic Infestation Of Internal Torment. Unsurprisingly, this vicious visual assault is most definitely ‘not safe for work,’ as its cruel, disturbing imagery is the perfect match for the unhinged sonic battery that it accompanies. For those who like their videos as brutal as their music, Paraphilic Infestation Of Internal Torment is available now … approach with caution!”
10 | Jay Lavish & ZIGAZ | Anemoia
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Anemoia is the first single from the Jay Lavish & ZIGAZ album Nouveau Rock, set to be released on March 5. Created by up-and-coming Montreal based artists Jay Lavish and ZIGAZ, the EPs name represents the eclectic and singular style developed by these two siblings in collaboration with their beatmakers Woyal and Jules Panthere. Surfing between dream and reality, the Lavish family conveys, without a doubt, deep ideas of worry.”
11 | Dummy | Suddenly
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dummy is Ben Nelson, Jeffrey Fetzko, Carlee Ahart, Matt & Cris Nace. They say: “For Suddenly, we wanted the song to resonate and help people struggling with addictive personalities not feel alone. At some point, everyone goes through a dark period in their life whether it’s a struggling relationship, mental health, substance abuse, or everyday vices that can trap one in a corner of their own self doubt.”
12 | Aquarius Jones | Trendsetta
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Aquarius Jones is a hip-hop artist in Phoenix. His rough upbringing included poverty-stricken projects that were drug infested and full of gangs who escaped California and rooted themselves in Arizona. His 2020 debut album All In highlighted his dedication to his passion for music and his desire to be known as one of the best artists in the industry.”
13 | Jody & the Jerms | Get Me Out
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Oxford indie-pop collective Jody & the Jerms released Get Me Out, their first new music of 2021. “Get me out of here, I’m screaming, I need something new,” says Jody Jeger in her effortlessly cool tones. With traces of melancholy and ennui, Jeger seems to encapsulate the thoughts of an entire nation. A track about small-town boredom and the yearning to escape, Get Me Out was written in November by Jody alongside lead guitarist (and husband) Niall. Although recorded in a rehearsal room in St Clements before the latest lockdowns, it couldn’t be more apposite in 2021.”
14 | Youngdumblovers | 07960771268
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “YDL members Ed Scissor and Greenwood Sharps are keeping their true identities secret for now. This new project is a fluid collective of producers, poets & creatives who are redefining what it means to be a band in the traditional sense. The art and the subject material all explore the inner workings of the mind, the places we go to when we’re caged in our own domains, our own towns, our own homes. Think dark production, downbeat vocals and warm acoustic flourishes, all packaged up in the bleak aesthetic of South East England in winter time.”
15 | Echolily | Under The Clocks (Stay)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Echolily is a musician/producer who grew up in Malaysia and relocated to Melbourne in 2015. Often described as a closeted musician, Echolily is constantly striving to make music that would break the boundaries of her little echo chamber. She would describe her music as electronica downtempo, synth pop, trip hop and ‘can you make that more lo-fi please?’ Always chasing that nostalgic high from old recordings, you will detect effects of cassette tapes, vinyl records, crackles and all the lo-fi greatness misconceived as imperfections. When not producing from her bedroom, Echolily works as a medical doctor. A frontliner throughout the pandemic lockdown, Echolily finds solace within music and songs she grew up with.”
16 | Wildstreet | Set It Off
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Wildstreet just released the single Set It Off, a riff-driven anthem that runs the listener through the finish line. Its message is simple: Be yourself and stand up for what you believe. There will be setbacks, scars & bruises but you have to pick yourself up because you will make it to the top. This is a must for fans of Queen, Jane’s Addiction, Imagine Dragons and Awolnation. Set It Off is arena rock at its best.”
17 | Exterminated | The Genesis Of Genocide
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in the heat and humidity of the Philippines by Ace Estandian of Anal Fissure and Guillotined, Exterminated first presented their unquestionable brutality to the world on the Elements Of Obliteration EP in 2016. Tapping the vein of lust and violence that runs through the human condition like a seam of black blood, Exterminated have forged ahead from their first release, pushing the limits of sonic extremity and skull-crushing death metal to breaking point. The results of their quest for maximum overdrive and the distillation of the essence of human cruelty can now be heard on their unbelievably savage debut album — The Genesis Of Genocide.”
18 | Red Cain | Precipice of Man
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian progressive power-goth metal band Red Cain unleashed their new album Kindred: Act II in January. Today, the band present a visualizer for their track Precipice of Man. Vocalist Evgeniy Zayarny adds: “A ballad, but also … not? Certainly the most experimental track on this album, Precipice of Man was born out of focusing entirely on capturing the story and atmosphere related to the track from note one, and creating a musical landscape supporting those elements. Utilizing falsetto vocals and electronic touches not found in other tracks, Precipice of Man still keeps the weight and urgency of the album, but provides a necessary introspective and cautiously uplifting element.”
19 | Mara | Blessed Shores
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Swedish groove metallers Mara released the single and video for Blessed Shores, the second track from their upcoming album Djävulstoner, due on March 12. They say: “As the fog of disaster sets over the world in the wake of Covid-19, a new threat emerges. Djävulstoner will give you a rollercoaster ride of emotions, melody and groove.”
20 | Nari | Lower My Expectations
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Bay Area indie-pop songwriter Nari is here with a song about heartbreak and disappointment! Lower My Expectations is the perfect anti-Valentine’s anthem. Lower My Expectations was inspired by the disappointments faced in her own dating life. “I had gone on a couple dates with a guy who I thought was a pretty great guy, and one day he asked me out and was 40 minutes late,” she explains. “Any sane person would’ve left after like 15 minutes but I sat there and waited on him for that time. I felt extremely stupid and every time after that, he let me down.”
21 | Cole Koch | Lockdown NYC
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Producer Cole Koch is looking to do something rather different for the months ahead as he delivers his industrial debut single Lockdown NYC. While originally just a project to keep himself together throughout the pandemic, it quickly began to take on a life of its own and became his new endeavour full-time. Lockdown NYC is a fitting introduction to his latest material, not only as it marks the inspiration behind it, but makes for a powerful and jaw-dropping example of what we can expect from him throughout 2021.”
22 | Sam Blacky | Too Late
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Too Late is the debut single from L.A. female DJ/producer Sam Blacky. Too Late is a perfect reflection of Sam’s house DJ sets. Originally from San Diego, Sam spent several years in Australia, where she first fell in love with producing music and performing live. Since moving back to Los Angeles, music and performing have taken a front seat in her life.”
23 | Stone Deaf | The Velvet Hammer
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Colorado’s Stone Deaf released their latest single The Velvet Hammer, off their upcoming album ((Killers)). The Velvet Hammer is another desert-rock scorcher. One to crank up on a long drive on the sun-drenched highways. There is a little Queens of The Stone Age vibe to this track as it winds through its journey. The Velvet Hammer is the followup to recent singles Cloven Hoof and Polaroid. Stone Deaf produce a unique fusion of genre-bending sonic goodness.”
24 | The Hollywood Stars | Escape (Live)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Hollywood Stars released the single Escape (Live). Recorded at the world-famous Whisky A Go Go in 2019, this is the original version of the Alice Cooper song Escape, performed by the original band. This is a much more rock ’n’ roll version than Cooper’s 1975 version, complete with the energy of a live recording. This was the band’s return to the club that was their home in the mid-’70s.”
25 | StevieRay Latham & The Nomads of Industrial Suburbia | Gashouse
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Preparing a new EP for spring 2021, StevieRay Latham returns with the first spoils: Gashouse. Taken from the upcoming Letters From Suburbia, Latham is once again joined for the release by his backing band The Nomads of Industrial Suburbia. Loaded with a ricocheting guitar lick cut from the schools of Jack White or Edwyn Collins, Gashouse pairs a ghoulish delta-swamp cool to a sixties dance-hall strut.”
26 | Ava Kay | Wild Again
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ava Kay is a Canadian singer-songwriter and composer whose accomplishments as a writer includes gold records and both domestic and international radio hits. Kay describes songwriting as coming from “a feeling, a release, an expression” and her debut solo single Wild Again highlights that truth. “I often crave calm, reflective music myself and I wanted to be able to create songs that were true to that, while still making records that people can connect to without it feeling too insular, Wild Again feels like all that without any compromises,” shares Kay. The musician confides, “I think the artists I am influenced by the most are those who are true to their musical landscape, and are able to convey an emotional sentiment in a distinct manner that is undeniably their own sound.”
27 | Midnight Drags | It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following on from his 2016 record Long Way Back Down, Melbourne singer-songwriter Lucas James returns with a new project, Midnight Drags, and a new album, Bad Business, his second LP and first offering with a full band. Bad Business shows James at the apex of his songwriting career and marks as his most expansive release to date. A punchy nine-track record of guitar-driven power-pop hooks and soaring alt-rock riffs, the album pays tribute to the stylings of the ’70s and ’80s. A fuzzed-up rock album at its core, Bad Business combines the multitude of influences James acquired from an infatuation with all kinds of guitar-heavy pop music, spanning Bowie to Cheap Trick, The Knack to The Cars and beyond.”
