Fight The Sun know what the truth is, Nick Noon gets dressed up, Die Tired play on and more in today’s submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can (and should) follow me on Spotify HERE, check out my Top 200 playlist HERE, or listen to it via the widget at the lower right of every page on this site. If you want to be in an upcoming playlist, go HERE. But first, kick things off with these fine finds:
Fight the Sun | Strange As Fiction
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Hard Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “They say good things come in threes. Fittingly, underground trio Fight The Sun share their third single for 2022, Strange As Fiction. It takes us on a journey from menacing introspection to a purposeful hook.Experience the powerful trinity of weighty rhythms, evocative vocals and a distorted pull that might just win a battle with the sun. Melbourne chuggernauts Fight The Sun exploded onto the Aussie heavy music scene with their self-titled EP in 2018. Since returning in 2021 they have been welcomed with open arms, giving us another taste of their catchy, driven riffs.”
Nick Noon | Costumes
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Nashville’s Nick Noon is a multi-genre artist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. His newest single is a striking blend of songwriting, rhythm and euphoria. Costumes — mastered by Brian Lucey (Liam Gallagher, Arctic Monkeys, Black Keys) — is from his forthcoming EP A Jejune Affair. The grand orchestra-style production recalls a nostalgic progressive rock style while infusing a modern indie-folk sound. Costumes spares no expense when it comes to delivering quality. Pushing the boundaries of his talents, Noon is also adding new layers to what alternative/indie music with a message can be.”
Die Tired | Play
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Die Tired are a rock band from Reading, PA, featuring guitarists Matthew DeAngelis and Sean Boyle, bassist Jamieson Lee and drummer Brandon Ballantyne. Ranging from heavy alternative to pop-rock to acoustic ballads, Die Tired are a versatile and eclectic group. DeAngelis explains that their latest single Play is about “leaving the things that drag you down behind and pursuing what you love. Taking the people you care about the most with you and leaning into the innocence and beauty that can be found in everyday life. This song is about having fun and being free … go fall in love, skydive, travel the world; as long as it’s pure and it’s what you need.”
Jem | Lost
HOME BASE: Turkey.
GENRE: World-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Forever intrigued by the unseen, unspoken and the hidden, Jem discovered songwriting as an outlet to render his otherworldly feelings. With his second single Lost, the Turkish musician merges his alt-rock inspirations from the ’90s with Middle Eastern melodies carefully collected from childhood. He lavishly paints his art with dark, emotive and mysterious lyricism, while his vocal conjures intrigue and vivid imagery as he details a cryptic narrative. Having drawn inspiration from the award-winning film The Pianist, Lost explores the concept of a dystopian world of a man who lost it all. “The desperation I’ve felt while watching The Pianist stuck with me until recent years, so I’ve started journaling, and the sentiments I’ve felt became real within this song.” Accompanied by another visual of momentous beauty, Lost is haunting and thick with emotion, directed by Jem’s older brother Necip Karakas.”
Bethan Lloyd | Cutting Circuits
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bethan Lloyd is a Welsh artist whose trance-inducing vocals expand over an ocean of rave-inspired production, harmonic layering and otherworldly ecstasy. Working within the unseen realms, Bethan has engaged deeply in the art of relinquishing control — the art of becoming the hollow bone. Bethan takes her intense explorations of the spirit and emotional realms and blends them into something playful and danceable, a gritty experimental pop. She has worked as a composer, television presenter and performance artist, she now teaches voice and performs with experimental vocal project SoundingBody and ritualistic beats duo Jet Pack Dog.”
Vrézyo | Héros Ordinaire
HOME BASE: Tahiti.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Now living in Tahiti, Vrézyo affirms his work in increasingly accomplished compositions. He offers us deep, touching lyrics. This song was inspired by his son Lukas, an avid superhero fan. The lyrics deal with what we all have dreamed of being. And whether you are a superhero or a simple human, shouldn’t we all write our own extraordinary story? Made in the style of a blockbuster trailer, the clip is inspired by the spirit of the song. It immerses us in the universe of a simple mechanic who sees himself becoming a superhero to rescue a woman kidnapped by a band of cartoonish bad guys. The clip features 10 professional stuntmen in a manga atmosphere.”
Alexandra John | Lock Me Down
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “ The members of L.A. duo Alexandra John are twins — literally and musically. In 2020, Liza and Weston combined their middle names and worked to hone their infectious brand of alt-pop. “When my sister and I get into a room together to work there’s a kinetic, creative energy that’s so familiar,” shares Weston. “We just seem to feed off one another.” Drawing influence from artists like Massive Attack, Glass Animals and Zero 7, Alexandra John take us on an odyssey of healing. Bonded by both craft and DNA, they create music that inspires.”
Freysteinn | Lokun Sem Varð Að Byrjun
HOME BASE: Iceland.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lokun Sem Varð Að Byrjun (The End That Was The Beginning) is the title track from y new album.”
Hot Flowers | I Don’t Know
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hot Flowers grew from the beautiful meeting of guitarist Arnaud and drummer Sandy, two friends, both self-taught and passionate about music. The crazy duo are part of the bubbling Bordeaux garage scene. For more than 27 years now, they have been relentlessly touring the cellars of Bordeaux. Their fifth album Camera is undoubtedly the most accomplished.”
Adeola | Falling
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Adeola is a multi-talented singer-songwriter. She is a fresh voice in the scene, with impressive vocals and natural talent for writing powerful songs. Her music is an interesting blend of jazz, soul, and pop, generating a truly distinctive sound. Currently living in Paris, she performs in some major locations and open mics across the city, often leaving her audience spellbound by her powerful sound. Falling is a melange of pop, soul, and alternative sounds designed to produce a distinct sound lifted with my voice. It is a truly emotive song that describes the tug-of-war between falling in love and the fear of being hurt again.”
Karim Dabo | Silence
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian, French and Senegalese, Karim Dabo embodies the artist citizen of the world who crosses borders with his committed but always humanist lyrics. Singer, guitarist and percussionist, he explores his sensitivity to create a singular and authentic link with his audience. He is the recipient of the prestigious Francofolies de Montréal prize in 2019 and Mundial Montreal in 2014. In a mystical language, he offers us a powerful new single charged with emotion.”
Izeradeca | Norway
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Parisian songwriter and producer Izeradeca gets his inspiration from artists such as Avicii, Keane, Coldplay and Chainsmokers. This 32-year-old French producer has worked with singers from all over the world. Obsessed by sound design and evolution of music, Izeradeca always tries to add a different touch to his sound to make it unique. “Norway is about nostalgia, hope and love,” he says. “So I wanted it to sound sad and energetic at the same time. This track is not only made for clubs; I wanted people to sing it along in their cars, or just feel it in their earphones.”
Arbrume | A Lily
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “French pianist, singer and songwriter Arbrume travels alone. He roots himself deep in the earth, digging through time and obscurity, trying to reach out to the sky, searching for a celestial future. Arbrume wanders a singular path from britpop, rock and electro to minimalism, as he unravells surprising worlds hidden in the mist. “This solo piano piece is meant to symbolize the purity of a lily, the flood of a river, the passing of time and its unstoppable mutations,” he says. “The piece was elaborated from a short improvisation and has already been performed at the Obro residency.”
Tuyu | What Sort Of Ending Are You Wishing For?
HOME BASE: Japan.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This trio formed in June 2019 — June is the rainy season known as Tuyu in Japan, hence the artist name. What Sort Of Ending Are You Wishing For? is a self-cover of a song written by Tuyu for the smartphone game Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage, which is very popular among teenagers around the world. Between dreams and reality, resignation, and positive feelings, the game protagonist’s struggles are expressed in this rock number.”
California Condor | 9 92 6 19 The System
HOME BASE: Estonia.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Estonia’s California Condor were forged in the light of 2021. Their sound fuses alt-metal, post-grunge and hop-hip. They are on a crusade to make music with less nonsense and more point. California Condor are a different kind of light lurking between the shadows of mainstream culture. California Condor . A post-apocalyptic band coming from the Baltic States of Estonia.”
https://youtu.be/j_4xxrxcgBI
François Fougère | Perpétuité (Version 1)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a French singer-songwriter and producer. I began to write songs in the ’70s. I’ve been influenced by Véronique Sanson, Michel Berger and Michel Polnareff. This time, I’ve decided to release a French album because many people thought I only sing in English.”
https://youtu.be/LzAtHpPmT5E
Ser Castro | Hugs (That We Miss)
HOME BASE: Portugal.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “For over 50 years, I was part or founded bands such as Psico, Arte & Oficio, Stick and Trabalhadores do Comercio, which were some of the best acts in Portugal and Spain. Along the years I gathered quite a substantial amount of songs which for various reasons, never made it to the bands. Still, I loved them and thought they were worth a try. I released them on the album Surge in 2019, with more than 40 musicians and 10 engineers/producers helping me achieve the goal. Hugs (That We Miss) is one of the tracks.”
Paurita | Mon Chéri
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: Paurita lets the music do the talking.
Yack | Soleil Noir
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electro-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I always have in me a certain form of melancholy. Soleil Noir (Black Sun) is a bulwark against this melancholy, a shamanic incantation to expel dark thoughts. The heady folk guitar symbolizes the grip of ever-returning sadness. I refined the arrangements, drum sound and bass to balance simplicity and sophistication. This song is aimed at fans of French pop, those who are attentive to the lyrics and who are not afraid of true emotions.”
Dillon Currie | Ghost In The Wind
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dillon Currie is the lead singer, co-lyricist, and formative member of Saskatoon band League of Wolves. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while isolating at his home in Swift Current, Currie began writing his debut solo record, a collection of songs inspired by pandemic life that address topics including mental health, isolation, morality, accountability, and reconciliation. A sonic and stylistic departure from his work with League of Wolves, Currie’s debut solo effort will channel storytellers like Elliott Smith, Jeff Tweedy and Andy Shauf. The haunting second single Ghost In The Wind is a brooding rocker that reflects the realities of urban life.”
Larissa Tormey | Friend Or Foe
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Larissa Tormey wrote her first song at the age of four, released her first album Perfect As I Am in 2014, and just issued her latest album Ultimate Me,. “I experiment in a lot of different genres of music,” she says. “This time it is a very jazzy Friend Or Foe.”
$abba | Look Into My Eyes
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Emo-Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “$abba is a drummer and singer who composes and produces his own songs in English. His second single Look Into My Eyes unites emo-rap with pop-punk. Like a mantra he chants the phrase “never give up the fight” over an energetic and striking instrumental, creating a climate of true attitude and courage. The sound is full of personality, fusing electronic beats with acoustic beats and distorted guitars.”
Travis Sayles | Time Awaits
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Travis Sayles, better known by his stage name Travesty, is an American producer, musician, singer, songwriter and artist. He has performed for U.S. President Barack Obama alongside Grammy-winning artist Maxwell, headlined at Madison Square Garden, appeared on the 2010 Grammy Awards and played with Ashanti, Angie Stone, Soulja Boy, Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Cheetah Girls, Brian Mcknight, Roberta Flack, Chris Brown and others. He has worked and produced for artist like T.I., Meek Mill, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Backstreet Boys, Meaghan Trainor and more. His new single Time Awaits is a smooth lofi hip-hop track that fits any mood and takes you on a journey through time.”
Reap the Light | Isolate (Sloth ft. Laure Guldemond)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Rev is a bassist, guitarist and lyricist who grew up listening Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Dokken, Accept and Fates Warning. Orion Hellraiser composes and produces music inspired by NWOBHM bands, thrash and heavy metal. He grew up listening to Metallica, Motörhead, Saxon, Angel Witch, Black Sabbath, Misfits and Venom. He always tries to combine the all-mighty riff with melody; he has his own vision of what metal should sound like, and tries to bring his small contribution to the genre. “Our new song Isolate is from the upcoming concept album The Seven Deadly Sins,” they say. “In this song, we’re featuring Laura Guldemond from Burning Witches on vocals. If you’re a fan of post-metal, then you’ll love this song! Isolate (Sloth) is a heavy song with a deep sound. Laura Guldemond‘s vocals are absolutely brutal.”
AmPm | Streets Of Tokyo
HOME BASE: Japan.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Based out of Tokyo, AmPm are a masked production duo who made a global impact with their 2017 track Best Part of Us. Since then, AmPm have dominated the electronic dance market, releasing hit after hit. In addition to releasing their own music, AmPm have remixed tracks by popular artists such as Afrojack, R3HAB and Nicky Romero. Brimming with lush sonic landscapes blending house with synth-wave, their new single Streets of Tokyo transports the listeners to the neon lights of the Japanese metropolis. With dopamine rushing through every note, the single ties together the awe, the mystery, and the sheer pleasure of wanderlust. It’s part of their forthcoming album that revolves around the notion of thrill of traveling and going to new places.”
Officeman | The Love
HOME BASE: Jamaica.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a reggae / dancehall artist. I was born in Jamaica. I am very versatile. I can record on any instrumental. I’m also a songwriter.”
A.D. 4 | Mary’s Ghost
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is a new song for us. Two songs from our first record were nominated for a Grammy last year.”
Sound vs Silence | Reeling
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We recorded the vocals on our album almost 25 years ago and were preparing our demo when circumstances forced us to stop. The project was lost and forgotten until recently, when we rediscovered them. We arranged some new music to fit and here we are!”
Dkare | Depoze Zam Yo
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I want to raise consciousness and bring about enlightenment for as many people as possible through my music.”
