After establishing himself under the name Phil Adé, the DMV talent served up a series of mixtapes and singles and shined on collaborations alongside heavy-hitters such as Logic, Mac Miller, Raekwon, and Bootsy Collins. Starting in 2013, he dove into honing his craft, writing in the studio with a variety of artists, perfecting his own sound as well as his live performance. He ultimately developed his voice immensely. During this time, he made extensive contributions as a writer and featured act to Wale’s #1 opus The Album About Nothing [2015] and Shine [2017], in addition to working with Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony Hamilton, Chris Brown, Eric Bellinger, Mýa, Trevor Jackson, Serayah, 9th Wonder and Bink, while gracing the stage on the sold out SHIN3 Tour. In 2017, he shared the solo single “No Fear” [feat. Tate Kobang and Saba Abraha], which soundtracked WWE NXT and clocked half-a-million streams. Upon the latter’s arrival, Billboard described him as “ready to seize his opportunity at rap stardom.” However, he changed everything for 2019. He opted to go by simply ADÉ, signed to Epic Records, and cooked up his first EP of the label, ALWAYS SOMETHING, showcasing a completely new side of him while continuing to carve out a place among hip-hop’s modern elite. The tastemaker-approved EP boasted “SOMETHING NEW” [feat. Lil Baby], “SOMETHING FROM NOTHING” [feat. Rich The Kid], and “SOMETHING REAL” [feat. Wale & Goldlink], and more. Meanwhile, it attracted unanimous acclaim. Billboard applauded “the six-track EP is a reintroduction to the hip-hop stalwart’s talents on the mic, backed by his refurbished sound,” HipHopDX claimed, “the switch brings the refreshing energy to validate his change in direction.” In addition to looks from HYPEBEAST and more, Respect Magazine summed him up best as “an amazingly versatile talent.”
Memphis rap artist/producer Big BIZ Da MC will debut new music this week from his upcoming Revenge of The Nerds (ROTN – pronounced rotten) project which is slated for release later this year. The single, “The Faculty” featuring fellow rap artist and collaborator J. Fields is the first of several singles scheduled from ROTN. “The Faculty” will be available on all streaming platforms on Thursday, April 30th.
Produced by imakefirebeats, “The Faculty” is a lyrical message on how to show proper respect when dealing with the Memphis based rapper. The track’s thick bassline and heavy trap music influence are heard throughout along with its melodic hook which sets the tone for the anthem-like song.
Also known for his production work and accolades under his producer moniker BaldMane, BIZ claimed the status as an undefeated producer during his stint with DOA Battle League. He has continued to build his career working with some of the most prominent artists in the city. He is currently working on a song with Project Pat.
In addition to “The Faculty,” BIZ has a collection of releases under his belt including his popular 2016 release, “Toonami” and his 2017 album project titled “I’m Bob Grey.” Big BIZ Da MC has also performed throughout the city and on stage at DreamFest. To check out his upcoming releases and other projects visit mindofbiz.com and bigbizdamc.bandcamp.com
Tunnel is a progressive rock music duo from Montreal. The project was born after a last minute improvised show in the summer of 2013 between guitarist François Jalbert and drummer Kevin Warren. The duo began recording ideas until heading into Montreal’s Breakglass studio a year later to produce their debut EP “Don’t Go Straight“. Francois and Kevin are mostly known for their work in the Montreal jazz scene, but Tunnel sees the duo drawing inspiration from artists such as Pink Floyd, Boards of Canada, Thom Yorke, and Cinematic Orchestra in their music. Not to mention a little rock touch…which comes most likely from Kevin’s teenage punk-rock days. In the past 2 years, the duo has been working steadily on new songs which have culminated into their first full-length album, entitled “Out For A While” set for release April 10th. They recorded the album themselves in a remote cottage in the Gaspésie region of Quebec. The album features a string of local Montreal musicians including bassist France Basilic (Valaire, Qualité Motel), jazz trumpet player Lex French, beautiful string arrangements by Mélanie Bélair (Patrick Watson), as well as vocalists Caroline D’été, Lisa Iwanycki (Blood and Glass) and Erika Angell (Thus Owls). This album is a solid documentation of the duo’s growth and expansion into more song-form compositions, without losing sight of an experimental approach, and features Kevin as a vocalist on “River”, “Save You”, and the debut single “Walking The Vine”. Tunnel’s most exciting gig to date has definitely been opening up for Snarky Puppy at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2018.
Following his third single release We Don’t Care from this LP earlier this month, Kai Exos today drops his highly anticipated debut full LP Houseplants, The release demonstrates Kai’s growth as a singer, producer, songwriter and artist. Houseplants exclusively premiered on Betches, with journalist Sara Levine raving, “..so if you’re one of those people who likes to gloat about how you knew an artist before they got big, you’re going to want to hit play [on Houseplants] and then text your group chat.”
Over the past few months, Kai Exos has been giving fans a glimpse of what was to come with singles from the album Komorebi, Broad Beans, and We Don’t Care. Kai Exos’ creativity is being noticed, with his Komorebi video enchanting viewers and amassing over 1 million views online. The new release follows Kai’s glowing track record of global tours and Billboard US Top 40 chart spots with Hold Out The Light and Fire & Brew from his self-titled 2018 EP Kai Exos.
Today Kai Exos shares Houseplants in its entirety, drawing on r&b, lo-fi, jazz, soul blues and more. Here are some highlights: Tugging at the cultural heartstrings of listeners while injecting feelings of nostalgia (Cypher); Kai explores and admires cultures beyond his own (Komorebi); revisiting his own cultural upbringing (Land & Sea); family traditions engrained with him till this day (Broad Beans), and pivotal relationship moments (Evening (U Are My).
Layered with soul and emotion, Kai Exos also maintains a dreamscape bliss (Big Dreams) that often leads with thought-provoking (Zorro) and uplifting lyrics seeing Kai drift momentarily from his usual musical narrative, challenging societal norms simultaneously (We Don’t Care), and showcasing his versatility as a song-writer and producer. Kai Exos also reflects and appreciates (Blessed), expressing simple pleasures and brutal honesty with himself (Sci-Fi) in an LP that positions Kai Exos’ profound talent and extraordinary appeal.
Set to resonate worldwide, Kai Exos – Houseplants is out today via VMP Music.
Soulful singer, songwriter, and artist, Devin Kowl, sizzles on his new single “You,” out May 8th, 2020. The Washington D.C. native started performing at an early age, encouraged and motivated by his elementary school teacher, Mrs. Lawson. Inspired by the smooth grooves of R&B artists from the ’90s and early 2000s, Kowl began to blossom into his own unique style and charisma, performing throughout his hometown at iconic venues including Blues Alley Jazz and Supper Club. At 18, he moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a dream, where he’s channeled his energy into songwriting and performing for industry events such as MTV Emerging Lounge Gift Suit and Scion’s Got Talent. As he steps into this new phase of his upcoming release, Kowl brings all his talent and style to the table.
On his new single, “You,” Devin Kowl harnesses the seductive power of a smooth falsetto. On a track about living in the moment and getting to know someone based on the freedom to let go of expectations, Kowl unearths raw emotion that bumps and grinds over a trap beat. The chorus moves fluidly from one note to the next, as Kowl layers track over track of vocal licks to create a wall of striking harmonies that take us back to the days of Boyz 2 Men and Usher’s debut. Even in the quiet moments, where the focus is purely on his honied vocals, Kowl effuses an addictive sensuality.
Website https://www.devinkowl.com
South Brunswick-bred hip-hop artist AK (Austin Kassabian) has already firmly planted his feet in the music industry with his uncanny lyrical abilities. In 2018, AK started releasing his original music and has since been growing his social platform and streaming numbers immensely – touting over 1.6 million subscribers and 148 million views on YouTube. He’s been featured on BET, Rollacoasta Magazine, Sway’s Universe on SiriusXM, and Travis Mills on Beats 1. Dropping his EPm ‘On Me’, in spring of 2020, AK is back in the studio creating new music for summer/fall leading into his second headlining tour.
“Love Me Like” was inspired by music in the neo-soul and pop genres that we love so much while intertwining modern production and hooks with vintage songwriting sensibilities. This is a song about a one-sided relationship from the eyes of the beholder, grappling with internal frustration and romantic invisibility.
Stream “Love Me Like” via Spotify OR SoundCloud now!
This track was produced by Ryan Worsely of EchoPlant Sound, who never fails to make every day we spend in the studio together so incredibly enjoyable.
“Love Me Like,” is a groovy song that we think could serve as the perfect soundtrack to a great night connecting with your friends or a brooding evening wallowing alone over failing relationships. This song captures the light and shade of our experiences.
Love yourself!
Ludic – Max | Rhett | Ayla
Jason Cipparrone is a photographer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Fueled by late nights in basement studios and frequent runs to the local café for coffee, Pyramid Tropic is a study in contrasts. The group’s music is percussive, synth-based dance music. One member is known as the singer/songwriter of a Toronto-based indie pop band while the other is recognized for designing music production software used by programmers working with Bjork, Coldplay and Depeche Mode. The chemistry was instant and the creative rush resulted in a flood of tracks being completed in their respective studios.
The initial reaction to their music was positive with The Wild Honey Pie describing first single, My Destroyer, as a “dirty synth pop gem”. Sensing that this was a completely new musical direction for them, the duo has performed mainly in Europe at the legendary electronic club Katine am Berghain in Berlin, the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, the Great Escape Festival in Brighton, the Water Rats Theatre in London and for the Toronto International Film Festival. A series of singles, EPs and remixes will be released in 2020.
Hailed by Music Review as “the new woman in country”, Brooklyn born country star Jessica Lynn just released the lyric video for her new single “Run To”, a song about desperation and longing after love is lost.
With four highly successful years of international touring and three full-length concert television specials, Jessica Lynn’s unique look and voice has been seen by millions all over the world. She has shared stages with some of the most recognizable names in country and rock music, including Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, ZZ Top and the “Queen of Country” herself, Loretta Lynn, to name a few. She has penned multiple songs with top hit writers in Nashville and Europe, including her last two chart hitting singles “Crazy Idea,” (Top 50) and “Let’s Don’t” (Top 40).
In addition to Lynn’s musical talents as a singer-songwriter, she plays the piano, guitar, harmonica, and the drums. With millions of views on YouTube and 324K Facebook followers alone, Jessica Lynn has lived up to what CBS Evening News calls her, “a rocket force.”
Be sure to watch the lyric video for the new single, “Run To” by country artist Jessica Lynn! Starting in late August, catch Lynn and her band in one of the 30+ cities along her US tour. Check out www.jessicalynnmusic.org for her complete tour schedule.
The genre-bending trio Hablot Brown has independently released their anticipated junior EP, OPAQUE. With a couple years of releases under their belt, including launching Soulection’s Black Label, the trio has solidified a lustrous vibe that merges indie, neo-soul and R&B sensibilities. The subject matter of the OPAQUE EP stems from a tumultuous and foggy transitional period that took place in each member’s lives towards the latter half of 2019. Being tossed around by the ebb and flow of adulthood, there was a moment when the band felt an unprecedented amount of uncertainty & anxiety for their future. The songs that constitute OPAQUE are products — not necessarily conscious reflections — of this time period.
– Linus Lester- Hodges
New emotions allow for growth, as the OPAQUE EP explores different sonic territories for the trio. The band tap into new tastes and influences, as seen on the urban-inspired songwriting on “MINUTE” to the dance-floor-ready production on “TAKE IT ALL.” The new EP provides room for the band to make additions to their ever evolving sound palette.
Hablot Brown is composed of twin brothers Austin Brown (production, keys, bass, guitar) and John Brown (drums, co-writing), who hail from Franklin, MA, and Linus Lester-Hodges (vocals, songwriting) who grew up in Singapore. Bringing an interesting blend of vastly contrasting genres, the band borrows from musical influences such as Ned Doheny, Nick Hakim, J.Dilla and Tom Misch creating their own unique sound that is difficult not to fall in love with.
Nick Black is a fun, optimistic and authentic young artist from Memphis, TN. Influenced by the feel-good music of Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars and the musicality of legacy acts, such as Al Green and Sting, Black has created his music to sound modern and unique, yet familiar and nostalgic. Striving to bring his optimistic life-vision to his music, Black’s songwriting encompasses his beliefs in human nature and the Universe, creating true, honest, perceptive and passionate releases.
Black’s new single “I.R.L” is a sexy pop song disguising a poignant and timely message. Originally written as a love song when his wife wanted him to put down his phone and live in the moment, the track quickly took a turn during the current pandemic. Rather than being an ode to taking a social media break, “I.R.L” is an infectious anthem declaring “I want to see you in real life.” Blending intoxicating pop melodies, with seductive neo-soul and South American guitar playing, Black and producer James Bennett have succeeded in crafting an “old love/new problem” type of vibe. Sun-soaked guitars emanate a warm and tropical feel, while his soulful vocals, which are reminiscent of Tom Misch, provide an uplifting track, perfect for those summertime playlists.
His lust for life oozes into his live performances. As an entertainer he is quite something to behold, pulling the audience in and refusing to let them go. Black creates an experience that he wants everyone to be a part of. Growing up between two worlds, from his family’s deep ties to church and his home-town of Memphis where Soul, R&B, Rock’N’ Roll and Blues legends made names for themselves, Black’s sound is an organically grown phenomenon.
His authenticity and passion has been the foundation of his identity, both as a person and as an artist. Black is excited to pursue his curiosity in electronic music, adding dance beats to his extremely versatile sound. Black has found success touring nationally and selling out shows at Springboard West Music Festival in San Diego, The Mint in Los Angeles, B-Side in Hollywood and at Anaheim’s 2020 NAMM Show.
https://www.facebook.com/nickblackfanpage
http://instagram.com/nickblackmusic
https://twitter.com/NickBlackMusic
Electro-pop darling CAPPA is serving up an infectious new single, “There With You Baby.” The new single is the second tease of a forthcoming EP, following on the heels of her 2020 debut, “Change My Mind (ft. Yuppycult),” a collaborative effort with Timeflies member Rob ‘Rez’ Resnick.
At its core, “There With You Baby” is a delightful, feel-good pop track. Explaining the concept behind the track, CAPPA writes, “I wanted the song to capture that beginning feeling in a relationship when you feel like anything could happen and maybe love isn’t all that bad.” Combining a dance floor ready beat with superbly catchy lyricism and CAPPA’s signature hypnotic vocals, “There With You Baby” perfectly captures the giddy feeling of falling in love.
CAPPA, aka Carla Cappa, has a knack for crafting carefree yet clever electro-pop tracks. Since her 2015 breakout, “Hush,” which premiered on SPIN and was later featured in a Victoria Secret ad, CAPPA has continued to pump out a bevy of delightful pop singles. Her music has been championed by key tastemakers like NYLON, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly and Billboard, and has also been featured in hit TV shows like Riverdale, Alone Together, Girlfriend’s Guide To Divorce, and The Bold Type, just to name a few.
Originally hailing from Philadelphia, CAPPA first landed in Nashville and quickly became synonymous with the pop music scene there. After moving to Los Angeles a few years back, CAPPA has established herself as a go-to songwriter and has featured on tracks for major electronic artists like SNBRN, TELYKast, and Justin Caruso. In 2019 her sought-after vocals led her to create an exclusive vocal pack for SPLICE. After taking the past year to arm herself with an arsenal of new original pop gems, CAPPA is now gearing up to release a new EP in early Summer 2020.
The Drew Thomson Foundation’s self-titled debut album follows a period of self-reflection and rectification to reveal surprising new sides of its songwriter. Produced by Alex Newport (At the Drive-In, City and Colour, Frank Turner) in his Los Angeles studio, its recording sessions found the Single Mothers frontman joined by bandmates and longtime collaborators to cultivate a collection of vulnerable lyrics into vivid, hook-laden anthems. Laying feelings bare on Thomson’s newfound sobriety, the death of a loved one, and pushing away people who he wants to keep closest, it welcomes listeners on his journey towards inner peace.
The past 12 months have seen The Drew Thomson Foundation share stages with Bob Mould, The Dirty Nil, and New Swears, but he’s just getting started. While the 2018 solo EP, Stay, first unveiled his contrasting musical directions, this album cites the influence of songwriters carrying on the tradition of folk storytelling regardless of their genre. From the heart-rending alt-country of Okkervil River to The Streets’ grime hip-hop finding pathos within life’s mundane moments, Thomson also points to Third Eye Blind’s sun-kissed melodies serving as a masquerade for the darkness underneath. There’s even a flicker of Rufus Wainwright’s orchestral torch songs on the violin, brass, and piano-draped reworking of Single Mothers’ “People Are Pets.”
The album’s first single “Break” paints a painfully real story of romance turning stale, as Thomson sings, “you need a break to know I’m the one for you.” However, he explains it’s not based on a relationship but instead looking inward, with the effort required to split from his past self to arrive as the person he is today. This theme is echoed on “Stay,” a song dedicated to the grandmother who raised him, whose death he tragically learned about moments before stepping onstage at the UK’s Reading and Leeds Festival. On its yearning chorus, he sings, “I wish you’d stayed around for a little while/Seen the changes that I would make/Yeah, I think that I would have made you proud/Of the person I became.”
Thomson credits this experience with snapping him out of a 10-year alcoholic spiral, battling his depression and the crippling anxiety of a life spent in front of crowds by drinking himself into oblivion. During a recording session, he recalls a moment when he was the only one in studio with a glass of wine and realized it had become a dependency. While his earlier songs included lyrics about getting “Bukowski drunk,” Thomson never intended to glorify drinking, instead aiming to satirize his own struggles. If that sarcastic skewering flew over fans’ heads, they can’t miss the point of this album’s “Pace Yourself,” a slowly swaying lament about becoming a “diet Coke and lime guy” to avoid “losing everything you’ve ever held dear”
“By drinking a decade away, I also pushed away a lot of people close to me,” he admits. “People had been telling me to quit for years and I never listened to them. You really have to want to get sober and believe it’s for the best. I don’t ask anyone else in the band to avoid drinking, but if I have one or two I slip back into that other world, so I just avoid it completely. It’s been a huge benefit. I write more, I work better, I’m less reactive, and easier to be around. I just have to handle self-doubt on my own. I don’t want to base everything I do around sobriety, but it’s been the biggest thing in my life lately, and made everything with the Foundation possible.”
Never one to shy away from sad songs or flawed characters, where he says he finds “a lot of romance,” Thomson’s lyrics tell the tales of troubled narrators who may or may not be himself. On opener “Karma,” he sings in first person as someone trying so hard to prove they fit in that their cocky overcompensation becomes obvious: “I’ve never been left out/I wouldn’t even know how.” The bouncing bass line of “Phone Ring” traces a conversation between two people stuck in a pattern of behaviour where “trouble feels safe,” while the cowbell-driven “Centerfold” finds him realizing he was “just the audience for your scream.” Returning to the theme of sobriety, “Barbed Wire” brings him and an unnamed partner in crime to a place “a long way from wasted” though he barely wastes a breath before admitting his own fallibility: “growing up’s got you down/well, you and me both.”
“Almost all of these songs started out on acoustic guitar in my bedroom, the same way I’ve been writing music since I was in grade seven,” says Thomson. “They’re more intimate and not something I’ve really shared this way before. Where Single Mothers songs can come from the perspective of a character that I play and put on, this band is more about who I am in my day-to-day life. It’s a lot more revealing of who I am now. I started playing music 10 years ago as a lost early 20s alcoholic. I’m now 33, sober, and still a mess but not quite a disaster.”
On the heels of her successful La Linda album release, Tei Shi has found herself at a pivotal moment. Newly independent, the Colombian-Canadian, LA-based artist is taking hold of her career and defining her artistry on her terms. Tei Shi is excited for this next phase, musing “I’m really looking forward to being able to create and release more hand in hand, and to choose who I bring into my work and career in a more natural way.“
Today, Tei Shi has unveiled a taste of what’s to come with the first release of 2020 – an infectious, electronic-pop track entitled “Die 4 Ur Love.” The song, written with collaborator Daniel Ledinsky, showcases her signature sultry vocal stylings over the hum of an 80’s-tinged synth and an undeniable, dance-inducing beat.
According to Tei Shi the song came about fairly effortlessly during a 5 day writing retreat on a ranch in Texas with Ledinsky. It was one that fateful final day that the shy engineer they had been working with shared a beat he had been working on, and the trio soon turned it into the song that would be Tei Shi’s 2020 debut. She shared, “The writing process was really fun and instant, Daniel and I were perfectly on the same page as soon as that first verse was written, and from there the song just flowed out. I think we both wanted it to feel dark and kind of delusional but also happy and uplifting at the same time.”
The resulting sonic masterpiece perfectly bridges Tei Shi’s early dark-electronic vibes with her current pop-leaning sensibilities. When thinking back on the song’s inspiration, Tei Shi reflected, “‘Die 4 Ur Love’ is a song about the end of the world as you know it. About losing someone or something you never knew you could lose, and then all of a sudden your reality shifts. All the things you would have done, or said, the love you could have given, and being willing to die over it. I wrote it right after the new year when I was feeling a sense of impending doom and darkness, which now feels surreal to see taking form in a real way around the world and in how the rest of 2020 has unfolded.”
Wonho has signed a management agreement with Maverick Management, under Eshy Gazit as a solo artist. The two have worked together in the past for Monsta X’s previous promotions, making this agreement a natural decision.
“I’m thrilled to be managing Wonho internationally and have him join the Maverick family. Wonho is one of the kindest artists out there with the biggest heart I know. He is the real deal and his talent in singing, producing, writing music, and dancing is undeniably extraordinary” – Eshy Gazit
On April 10th, 2020 Wonho signed with Highline Entertainment as a solo artist and a producer. He now joins Maverick Management’s roster along with Britney Spears, Madonna, The Weeknd, and many more big-name artists.
Sophisti-Pop duo BlissBliss bring their dance-charting magic to their upcoming fourth remix album, What’s Going On? Remixes, out May 8, 2020. The Nashville-based husband/wife duo, Lang and Renee Bliss, have put an electronic dance twist on the 1971 Marvin Gaye classic song, “What’s Going On?”. On the album, BlissBliss teams up with 7 world-renowned producers and DJs – including multi-Grammy Award winners and industry icons, Hex Hector, Dave Audé, and Lee Dagger – to create 14 unique remixes of their cover of the iconic track.
BlissBliss’ new album What’s Going On? Remixes features a world class team of producers, DJs and remixers, pulled together by San Francisco producer LP Vargas. Vargas worked with the duo on their 2018 remixes of their song “No Apology”, which hit #15 on the Billboard Dance Chart. He also collaborated with the duo on their 2019 I’m Coming Through Remixes album, which lit up the Top 10 Starfleet Dance and Urban/HipHop/Latin charts. For their new What’s Going On? Remixes album, Vargas recruited Grammy-award winning producer Hex Hector who remixed singles by Jennifer Lopez (“Waiting for Tonight”), Toni Braxton (“Unbreak My Heart”), Mel C from the Spice Girls (“I Turn to You”) as well as Whitney Houston (“I Will Always Love You”). He also brought in Grammy-winning producers Lee Dagger, who has produced for P!nk and Rihanna, and Dave Audé, who has worked with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez and Madonna among several others. The album also includes remixes by Joel Dickinson from Minneapolis, MACAU from Brazil, Paul Goodyear from Australia and Brian Cua from the Philippines.
About why they recorded “What’s Going On”, BlissBliss say, “It represents for us both, memories of fun and influential times on us as kids growing up, listening to amazing music. It was just one of those songs we had always wanted to do; a classic R&B tune with a wonderful melody and message. It’s a song and message that are relevant even right now and we think radio will love to hear it again, but with our female lead vocal, twist on it.”
Be sure to check out the new BlissBliss album, What’s Going On? Remixes, out on all digital platforms on May 8th. Also stay tuned for more new music videos by the chart-topping duo, coming soon!
https://open.spotify.com/album/5XqCQtid1Vlj3CDKfkqvEY?si=q9HJJwV-TnOsLxDr46MIoA&nd=1
British Columbia born singer-songwriter Kandle Osborne sings honest and raw, vulnerable yet empowered songs, never afraid to pen even life’s heaviest moments. While her fourth album, untitled, may have been recorded under extraordinary circumstances (during the current Coronavirus pandemic of 2020), Kandle streamlined her focus and vision.
Today, in anticipation of the forthcoming full-length, Kandle shares two new songs written prior to the pandemic. Self-produced alongside Dave Genn, “How Can You Hurt Me” (co-written with Louise Burns) and “Little Bad Things” are available to stream via SoundCloud + Spotify now.
The premise of the song is essentially about self preservation. Being completely abandoned by a great love with no explanation and thereafter seeking the cold comfort of an unobtainable, simple relationship inept of love.
– Kandle on “How Can You Hurt Me”
The L.A.-raised brother duo have carved out a fresh genre of indie-pop that breathes life into today’s music scene. The Lagoons, composed of Ryan and Joey Selan, found music at a young age. Their love for music evolved to writing, producing, and recording all of their own music in their home studio and have become multi-instrumentalists along the way.
The production duo’s unique blend of genres was first heard on their debut single California and was followed up by Gems EP & Escape EP. The Lagoons have been featured in Netflix’s series “Easy,” in a BMW ad with Kate Upton, and played across Bose stores worldwide.
Their most recent singles Milagro, Give It Up For Love, and Love To Love You have received rave reviews from tastemakers and fans. In addition to being added to numerous Spotify playlists including New Music Friday, NPR has included The Lagoons in their Heavy Rotation for ’10 Songs Public Radio Can’t Stop Playing’ and “Song Of The Day”. The duo will be releasing their upcoming album Spring 2020.
Meet rising Swedish indie pop singer, Ellen Krauss who is thrilled to share her new single “No Talk” out now through Tiller Inc. licensed to BMG Recorded Music and featured on Glitter Magazine and Earmilk.
Ellen says, “No Talk is about ignoring the fear of getting it wrong for a minute, and just letting yourself be swept away. It’s okay to seize the moment even though you have no clue what you’re doing. You can make up your own rules. I think it’s like that for a lot of people and specially in the LGBTQ-community. There’s no handbook on how to do things, you have to navigate on your own.”
At just 19 years old, Ellen Krauss has already received praise from some of the world’s biggest musical icons, such as super producer Max Martin and pop star Carly Rae Jepsen, and been awarded the Rookie Artist of the Year at the Denniz Pop Awards in Sweden, as voted for by a panel including pop sensations Tove Lo and Laleh. Her debut single and LGBTQ acceptance anthem, ‘The One I Love,’ has racked up over 12 million total global streams since its release last year, and was added to over 1,500 playlists, including Spotify’s New Music Friday (Sweden).
Entirely self-taught, Ellen has been flexing her musical skills since the age of four, and she spent most of her youth writing songs in her bedroom in Stockholm, or in South Africa where her family occasionally lived. Inspired by a diverse group of artists such as Ed Sheeran, King Princess, Dire Straits and Bruce Springsteen, her music is also imbued with the rebellious spirit of youth. She is outspoken about LGBTQ equality, women’s rights, and pushes back against the traditional social structures that a young girl should fit into. It all manifests in her charismatic, playful and thoughtful songwriting. “I want to look at what makes us similar,” Ellen says about her music, “and try and bring people together.”
Keep up with Ellen on her socials for more music, touring updates, and additional exciting news to be announced.
“No Talk” is out now everywhere at: https://ellenkrauss.lnk.to/NoTalkPR
Los Angeles, singer songwriter, Zander Hawley is thrilled to announce his new EP, I Invented Time Travel to be released on May 15th along with the music video to his single “Redcoats.” CLICK HERE to watch exclusively on Pancakes and Whiskey. The EP also features the track “Thumbs” that Zander released earlier.
Joey Brodnax the director says, “’Redcoats’ is something of a fever dream to me. zander’s psilocybin induced writings birthed this song that you can completely step into. once inside, you’re free to float and enjoy the colors. getting to be a fly on a wall (with a camera) during the near sleepless 72 hour process of Zander, Andy and Sam creating this piece of work was a special experience. being asked to visually dream alongside that work was a distinct pleasure of its own.”
Zander says, “The ‘Redcoats’ video is a hybrid BTS/music video showcasing the creation of I INVENTED TIME TRAVEL and the Los Angeles – Seattle – Los Angeles road trip Mason, Joey and I took to make it happen. All of the songs on the EP come from a really personal, reflective and delicate place, Redcoats especially, so it was wonderful to have two people I trust so much with me to document the songs coming to life. I’d be hard-pressed to name a time when I felt more free than during the making of these songs and even now, 7 months later, I can tell I’ve regressed a bit as the video sort of intimidates me. It’s one thing to feel unabashedly yourself and quite another to see it captured and packaged to be shared with the world, but given that Redcoats centers around the idea of letting go, I imagine that’s probably a good thing.”
Zander Hawley is a songwriter from Los Angeles. He began his career in high school with the band Honeywater, releasing two EPs to critical acclaim and 40 million+ streams to date, before transitioning to a solo career. His solo work has been described as “an avalanche of feeling” (Atwood Magazine), “acutely self-aware” (Noisey) and “consistently captivating, lyrical storytelling” (Ones To Watch). Since the release of his debut album in 2017, he has released two singles and toured with The Naked and Famous, Charli Adams and Henry Jamison. He likes dancing and the X-Men.
neillfrazer@hotmail.com
