With a voice as eclectic and elegant as her personality, Olivia Lunny is well on her way to becoming the next breakthrough Canadian artist/songwriter.
Olivia’s been preparing for this moment since she released her self-titled EP in early 2018 that garnered her a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for “Pop Artist of the Year”. That success, in turn led to her appearance on season two of CTV’s The Launch, resulting in her winning and recording the top 40 single “I Got You” that has racked up over a million streams across platforms. In the wake of that milestone, Olivia went on to perform as opening support for the legendary Lionel Richie. Although she began her musical journey playing folk songs, this new era leads her to continuously explore indie-pop and writing post breakout ballads we can all bop our heads to.
Photo Credit: Tom Emmerson
Check out Mimi Webb singing a stripped down performance of her debut single “Before I Go,” The 19-year-old UK singer/songwriter paints an idyllic picture of wanting to freeze time. “It’s a song I wrote about my boyfriend who I had to leave when I left Brighton,” she says matter of factly, as the two are still together. “He was lovely and charming and brilliant, and I just wanted to hit the pause button and hold onto every memory we had in that very moment.”
Co-written by Aussie singer/songwriter Rory Adams and English songwriter/producer Digital Farm Animals, the track is both heartfelt and relatable.
FOLLOW MIMI WEBB ON INSTAGRAM HERE
“Mirage” is the latest offering from Billy Hammer featuring catchy guitar riffs, lush violin melodies and immersive soundscapes. It’s the single off of his debut EP Joshua Tree, a psychedelic exploration of one of nature’s most awe inspiring environments. The EP will be released in its entirety on September 11th, 2020. “The visualizer for this project was shot by my friend and talented filmmaker Anthony Wilson, and it’s by far my favorite piece of visuals that my music has ever mixed with” – Billy Hammer
“Bubble” is a declaration of surrender to love. I wrote this song when reflecting on how I got into my current relationship, as I am someone who is used to being a protective person.
This track is all about letting yourself be vulnerable, despite knowing that once you let that person in, they have the power to break your heart or burst your bubble.
Stream “Bubble” via your preferred platform & watch the official music video for “Bubble” on YouTube!
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Photographed by Gabriela Geneva
You know the feeling of enjoying being confrontational?
My new track, “Trigger,” is about when your partner is pushing your buttons in a challenging way and you give into it.
Tension doesn’t necessarily mean aggression.
Everyone has different ways of expressing it, but I always find it incredibly exciting when I find my equal – someone who can meet my wit, intelligence, and crazy with the same.
Listen to “Trigger” wherever you get your music here.
https://itsniiva.com/
© Sophia Khmil
Saturday night dance party. Gutwrenching lyrics. Perfectly placed synths. May Have’s new EP, Misunderstood, draws influences ranging from Sylvan Esso to Daft Punk. Originating as a threepiece, Maerin Hunting’s songwriting and soaring vocals are elevated by the contagious energy of the rhythm section, Sebastian Balk-Forcione (drums) and Matt Rousseau (bass/synths). Adding Dan Rougeau (guitar) and Emily Rockarts (vocals and keys), May Have has added depth to their sonic palette. With an impressive array of synths, samples, guitars and other goodies, May Have lights up the dancefloor. Their hook filled songs get stuck in your head all – night – long.
Three piece indie-electronic outfit Moontower is here with their latest single “Hit The Lights,” the focus track of their 2020 EP titled “What Day Is it?” Fresh off the heels of a successful collaboration single “Guess I’m Jaded” w/ Goldroom and subsequent RAC fronted remix package, quarantine has not slowed Moontower.
Through the late-May release of a 15-minute performance video titled “What Day Is It?” (link here), Moontower provided a boundary-pushing performance and a visual accompaniment to their EP of the same name. The video currently has more than 25 thousand views on YouTube. Shortly afterward, Moontower embarked on the “What Day Is It?” Virtual Tour presented by Bandsintown. With unique openers, setlists, and stage production for each night, the 4 night tour sold more than 750 tickets and benefitted two amazing organizations (Know Your Rights Camp + NIVA).
Moontower’s music combines left-of-center pop with French House inspired production. Their debut EP, released in May 2019, currently has more than 2.4 million Spotify streams and has been supported on Spotify Editorial Playlists including New Music Friday, Young & Free, Fresh Finds, Chill Vibes, Poptronix, + more. The band has received press from publications including NPR, ComplexUK, Ladygunn, + Earmilk. Moontower’s trademark is a high-energy live show represented by Paradigm (Tom Windish) & X-Ray Touring (Steve Strange). In the past 2 years, Moontower has toured the country with the likes of The Driver Era and Night Riots, played the 2019 Reading & Leeds Festival, and opened for YUNGBLUD, Social House, COIN, Cold War Kids, YUNG BAE, Bad Suns, + more. Moontower will set out on their originally-scheduled May 2020 headline tour (including a Troubadour headline) when touring resumes.
As far as the future is concerned – Jacob, Tom, and Devan are excited to commence the recording of Moontower’s first album in the Fall of this year. Stay tuned for more (including a music video for “Hit The Lights”) and until then, be safe and wear a mask!
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aylee Federmann didn’t always want to be a pop artist. Before her singing days, she had a strong love for dolphins. After watching the movie Dolphin Tale, the Newton, MA native fell in love with the idea of being a dolphin trainer. The idea of being a singer came a little later. When she was 10, Kaylee found her dad’s old guitar in the basement and after showing some interest, her dad fixed it up for her. However, she didn’t start playing and writing songs on it until she turned 12, after her dad passed away from cancer. “My dad showed me the first few chords on his old nylon string, but I didn’t end up diving in until after he passed. I watched videos and learned to play songs from his old guitar book he used when he was a kid taking lessons.” Also during these developmental years, Kaylee had been struggling with a learning disability in school. When she was tested in middle school, she found out she had Executive Functioning Disorder, a disorder that falls under the umbrella of Dyslexia. She was put in special education classes for the rest of her middle school and high school years. Ironically, language and words were the two things she struggled with the most – she was always two to three levels lower than she should be for her age. In this traumatic time, Kaylee decided to turn to songwriting: “When words are put to melodies, when you have control over them, that’s when it becomes fun. When they’re your own, you can understand them.” Fast forward 7 years, Kaylee is now captivating listeners with her catchy melodies, honest storytelling, and expressive voice. Her love of pop music and dedication to her art has taken her places most singers her age still hope to be. She has played stages from coast to coast, including Brighton Hall in New York City, the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and The Mint in Los Angeles. She’s shared the stage with artists such as Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke and The Voice finalist Sarah Grace. Kaylee is extremely excited about the new music she’s been working on, set to release this year. “Something that’s always been important to me is the idea of being listened to and heard. When people listen to my music I want them to feel like we are having a conversation – that we’re the only two people in the room and that their thoughts and feelings are heard. I want them to feel like nothing is passed aside…while of course still jamming out to the song and having fun
My new single, “I Don’t Care,” is about living for today, instead of worrying what will happen tomorrow. Available now on all platforms: https://ffm.to/dgidontcare.owe
We often stress over things that are uncontrollable. “I Don’t Care” is an attitude. It’s about taking whatever happens and going with it. Whether you and yours take it slow and steady, or aren’t wasting any time, this song is about living in those romantic moments. Let’s go with the flow. We’ll turn out okay. Things will work out.
As always, I have new GIFs on Instagram stories.
Thanks for listening,
Dawson Gamble
Swedish death pop 5-piece Agent blå have shared “Frustrated” from their upcoming Atopos EP (out Oct 2 on Kanine Records). The track is an unvarnished exploration of intimacy and discontent that singer Emilie Alatalo describes as being “about built-up frustration manifesting itself through physical and psychological pain. When youʼre feeling like your whole person is about to burst.” This tension is mirrored in the clattering guitars and wash of cymbals that ebb and flow throughout the single, playing in contrast with Alatalo’s disdainful vocal delivery.
“Frustrated” follows the release of the EP’s ice-cold title track, “Atopos”, which caught love from Stereogum and Jezebel, as well as nods from Under The Radar and Breakthru Radio.
The three recordings that make up the Atopos EP are deep and textured in a way unlike anything Agent blå have done previously. The pop sensibility is still there but it’s wrapped in interweaving arrangements to be unpacked on repeated listening. Alatalo explains how the developing connection between the band members creates the complexity of these singles, “Each member of the band adds their own layer to the sound, each addition bringing a new unique perspective. Nothing would sound the same if you removed one of us from the writing process.”
In a notable change from their last LP, Morning Thoughts, Agent blå recorded, mixed, and produced the Atopos EP entirely by themselves. A process they described as “something that strangely felt like growing up and going back to our roots at the same time.” They continued, “we shed our old skin to start something new and fresh, but also embraced the DIY approach we had when we first started the band and on the first album.” The songs that make up this trilogy are organic from the outset, built on the snatched hooks jammed in between the rehearsal of established tracks. Chord patterns returned to and given hummed melodies, eventually to be born into full-flight. The fact that this band who describe their songwriting process as “spontaneous, organic and pretty quick” recorded these tracks at the same complex that houses their rehearsal space (Gothenburg’s Bitch Studios) no doubt contributes to the sense of ‘creative spark’ that these songs put across.
Agent blå emerged from Gothenburg, Sweden in 2017 when, still in their teens, their debut Agent Blue (Kanine Records/Luxury Music) caught love stateside from Stereogum, NPR and more. Morning Thoughts (Kanine Records) followed in 2019 with live dates across Europe.
“Shiny” is about finding someone who gives you a glossy new layer of confidence and shows you the best version of yourself. Love doesn’t always mean broken; sometimes there is light that’s been shining right in front of you. My new song is about finding that person who wakes you up and levels you up.
Stream “Shiny” on yourpreferred streaming platform now.
“Shiny” is not just about being in love, but about loving yourself. That feeling of subconscious bliss coupled with power sparking new confidence. The song is meant to leave you glowing from start to finish, as it continuously reminds us just how golden we all are.
Thank you for listening. Stay tuned – my sophomore album, 8 Ball, will be rolling out soon.
Dedicated to individuals who have had the misfortune of going through an embarrassing shock breakup, the bubbly track hears Josie deliberately create a sonically awkward atmosphere to reflect the peculiar story of getting the ‘ick’ which Josie quirkily tells.
An intriguing young artist, Josie’s witty lyrical style – delivered in a quintessentially British manner – shines in “I Bet You Fall Apart”, the follow-up to her acclaimed debut EP Pub Songs: Volume 1 which hit the top spot on the iTunes Pop Chart and Number 4 on the UK Albums Chart.
With well over 400K+ Spotify streams and 6M+ Tik Tok plays thanks to Josie’s endearing, playful approach to music, “I Bet You Fall Apart” is sure to continue the buzz around Josie Proto.
Indie-pop singer/songwriter Cloe Wilder releases her new single “It’s True” today along with the official video – listen to the song on all platforms HERE and watch the video on YouTube HERE. The video premiered exclusively in Girl’s Life Magazine Tuesday, Sept 1st – read the full interview HERE. The breezy pop tune follows Cloe as she reveals her desire to embrace her “golden” teenage years but struggling with a feeling of disconnect with her peers and their life experiences. Directed by Bobby Hanaford (Vic Mensa, Ava Max), the official video finds Cloe in fantasy-fueled landscape, exuding a dreamy and romantic “head in the clouds” moment. Cloe will perform “It’s True” + more tonight during her Backyard Session on Stream Live – tune in at 6 PM PST and watch the performance HERE + official invite below.
Watch the official video for “It’s True”: https://youtu.be/QCZ-b7-LSHE
Listen to “It’s True” on all platforms: https://smarturl.it/cwit
On the inspiration behind her new single and video, Cloe shared with Girl’s Life Magazine, “It’s True” is really just me romanticizing my life as a teenager. I’ve been a teenager for two years and I’m making it sound like a big thing, and that’s what it is for me right now. Every little thing is a big thing. So, I definitely wanted to romanticize it and that’s why I think it’s so ethereal and moody looking.
“It’s True” is the first single off of Cloe’s upcoming EP, “Teenage Lullabies” which will be released in January 2021. The EP contains Cloe’s most mature material to date, and encompasses her life thus far and all the moments and feelings she’s experienced along the way.
“KMOTM” came out of a place of missing human connection. I think I’ve always tried to be “good” and “do the right thing” in my life. To deal with every problem perfectly; not resort to vices or distractions, handle every situation “well”, but there’s a danger of inauthenticity if you don’t allow for some of the cracks of the human experience to get in. This song provides permission to connect with our messiness and darkness and be a bit more loving and accepting towards it. To feel free from the shame we often associate with feeling lonely, stuck, needy.
“KMOTM” is dark, moody, and sexy, meant to pull your feelings to the surface and get your body moving. Movement is such a big part of my upcoming record, City of Our Lives, which is out November 26th. It’s inviting you to process your feelings through your body instead of your head. Get up and dance on the same kitchen floor you may have been crying on a moment earlier.
Thank you for listening.
PETER KATZ
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Panamian singer-songwriter Sofía Valdés – a 20-year old latinx woman who is pushing the boundaries of what it means to be an alt/pop artist, with music deeply influenced by her multi-cultural musical heritage (her great-grandfather was the legendary Cuban musician Miguelito Valdés, and her great-great grandmother was Silvia De Grasse, a famed Panamanian singer who once performed with Louis Armstrong). She learned to speak English by listening to pop music as a child, and from there absorbed everything from British folk and bossa nova to ’60s Motown and ’70s soul. Her music combines these influences with her latin heritage to create an all-encompassing sound that is as much modern as it is vintage, as straightforward as it is progressive.
Maxim Faster, known musically as The Venus in Scorpio, is an electronic producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Roaming ambiguously across the spheres of 70s Glam Rock, 80s Goth and New Wave, and everything 2000 and beyond, The Venus in Scorpio’s unique sound captures a sprawling sonic essence that is strikingly familiar, while curiously bypassing theconventions of genre.
The genderless, and self-described “mysterious and moody They next door” first gained exposure after BuzzFeed highlighted their experience selling underwear online to secret admirers around the world. Their unapologetic message of self-empowerment, liberation, and sex-positivity attracted a following of fascinated bystanders, who were surprised and eager to listen when a music project was debuted.
The Venus in Scorpio’s second EP, I’ll Never See Him Again, is a dark synth pop trip through more intimate areas of Faster’s life, casting a glimmering pop sheen on their bleak personal experiences in emotional recovery and lost love. Their second single “Daddi Decides” was mentioned in Paper Magazine’s Bop’s Only top 10 for its “shiny ’80s synthpop (complete with a magnificently sticky chorus) [that] casts a heavenly light through its narrator’s shadows”, with Flaunt Magazine hosting the video premiere. The Venus in Scorpio have taken their eccentric and enigmatic live shows to iconic Los Angeles venues such as the Troubadour, Gold-Diggers, TheSatellite and the Hi Hat. Faster is currently producing their third EP, This Place Is Killing Me, with plans to relocate to Berlin in 2020.
“Palo Santo” represents a magical little moment in my mind where it’s just you and one other person. The rest of the world pauses and disappears, leaving you feeling like you’re in a sort of breathless vacuum. That moment, that intimacy is what this song is about.
A couple of years ago, my longtime friend and photographer, Erin Leydon, posted a little video of Palo Santo burning during golden hour, and I remember being mesmerized by the way the light was catching the smoke as it billowed up.
I couldn’t get that imagery out of my head one day while I was sitting in my apartment, playing around on my guitar in the middle of a massive thunderstorm with all the windows and doors wide open. I’ve always found some sort of romantic quality to thunder and a torrential downpour. I think that moodiness and romance definitely found its way into “Palo Santo,” and it flowed out in about half an hour. Thank you so much for listening!
✨ Amanda Frances
“Things You Said” is now available on all streaming platforms, a song filled with hope, reflecting on the loss of someone important. During harder times, we always need something, or someone, to hold on to. When facing adversity, we feel helpless and alone at first, but with time start to notice everything and everyone around us.
A single individual can help turn your life around.
Allow “Things You Said” to remind you of the people who have brought about positive changes in your life, when you needed it the most. Thank you for your support.
Silk Tonic
(Mark and Matthew)
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Photo Credit: Kelly De Geer
New York based alt-pop artist and guitarist Denitia drops a video for “Place To Be”, the seventh track from her album Touch of the Sky, that was lauded by fans and critics alike.
The video was directed and edited by Emory Parker, the co-founder of Blue Slate Films, a female-run production company that aims to bring queer and female-driven stories to the forefront. Parker is also a recipient of the Horizon Award founded by Cassian Elwes (Mudbound, The Butler), Christine Vachon (Carol, Boys Don’t Cry), and Lynette Howell Taylor (A Star is Born, Blue Valentine).
“The raw and intimate video captures the song’s dreamy, 4 AM vibe using a combination of superimposition and practical effects,” explains Parker, “ While the song examines a complex relationship, we decided to take a more poetic, imagery-based approach. The themes and emotions conveyed in “Place To Be” are especially relevant at this time. It was a pleasure collaborating with Denitia on this poignant project.”
Denitia on the video: “I waited a bit to release this, it didn’t feel right a couple months ago when there were so many other extremely crucial conversations being had. I realize though, it’s not lost on me, that it is a push for the movement for me to exist publicly – to continue my output as a visible black + queer artist working outside the confines of expectation. And that context continues to inform the music I’m working on currently.”
Inspired by the bittersweet loneliness settling in after the end of a tumultuous affair, “Place To Be” showcases Denitia’s airy vocals and a synth-filled steady rhythm, that results in a heartstring-pulling, hypnotic track.
Touch of the Sky, a cinematic ode to nostalgia and the alchemy of love, was released late last year along with a beautiful short film, (listen + watch here). The record received attention from Afropunk who called it “achingly masterful”, Refinery 29 “a moment of musical happiness”, as well as The New York Times, Pop Dust, DUMMY MAG and more.
Denitia was recently invited to record a COLORS Live Session with British producer and artist Quantic. The video has racked up close to 320K views on YouTube.
Lancashire, UK born Molly. is armed with strength and individuality. Her tough exterior blends with her soft, vulnerable core – a combination that shines through in her honest music. Through intoxicating indie-pop melodies and powerhouse vocals, Molly. is establishing herself as an accomplished emerging artist and a force to be reckoned with.
Molly. has been gigging since her teens, with performances at countless festivals around the UK and Ireland. Over the past year, Molly. has released a slew of sensational indie-pop singles, each with streaming numbers in the tens of thousands and with hundreds of plays on-air. Her latest single “Paradise” was written during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown and touches on the subject of what is happening in the world at this current time. The musician sings about the fantasy of fast-forwarding time, being in a place of paradise and the distant, hazy memories of 2020. Molly. shares, “Paradise to me is a place that has no hassle or problems, where life seems so much more positive and easy. I’m sure many people will agree that life this year hasn’t been what they expected, but who knows next year may be better.”
Reminiscent of Rae Morris meets Fleetwood Mac, the track glistens with atmospheric soundscapes, upbeat, pop percussion and feel-good melodies. “Paradise” emanates an uplifting, positive feeling, sure to get you on your feet and put a smile on your face.
Molly. stands up for a generation with ambition and a desire to make a difference. Her mission to overcome hardships and negativity is delivered with revelatory freshness and pragmatism. Molly. is keen to emphasise the importance of remaining true to yourself and sticking to what you love. “Paradise” is currently available worldwide.
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Seeva, a burgeoning creative talent and growing voice in the London queer scene, makes an unforgettable entry with his gripping debut album We Need to Talk. Marked by hard-hitting singles like the ethereal synth-pop of “Clouds”, the bouncy,effervescent “Young”and atmospheric electronic guitar sounds of “Princess” where Seeva explores fetishization in the queer community,We Need to Talk hears the budding artist dive into love, loss and heartbreak across eleven sharply crafted pop bops; his moving vocals and intricate, thoughtful and deeply personal songwriting at the heart of every song.
CLUB PARADISE SOMETHING MORE PERSONAL: EP Rising Newcastle-made band Club Paradise have not been wasting any time throughout this quarantine and have creatively prepared a new body of work:the 4-track project Something More Personal, serving as the follow up to their acclaimed single “GrowingUp”. Reimagining their original indie-rock sound which has seen them cultivate a loyal fanbase, Something More Personal shows the quartet in a different light and hears them take their standout music to brave new heights; ranging from 80’s synth wave vibes which falls nothing short of electrifying for“Closer” and the sonically healing, ambient remix of “Teenagers” to the vastly cinematic sounds of “Brother” and a stripped back version of “Kirby Keger”.
(photo credit: Felicity Davies)
Folk-pop artist Mabes unveils new single “Danny” – a poignant track about a lover left behind while their spouse is off serving time in the armed forces. With her wistful lyrics, Mabes impeccably captures the heart-wrenching essence of true love, patience, and yearning. The new content (including previously released “Too Young To Love”) is a precursor to her forthcoming EP due out later this Fall via The Other Songs.
The quickly rising British singer-songwriter taps into her anecdotal abilities, inventing the character that is ‘Danny’ to represent anyone on active duty and sacrificing their life for their nation. Sung from the perspective of the love interest waiting at home, Mabes’ inspiration for the new song stems from her admiration for Laura Marling’s poetic storytelling. “After years of listening to Laura Marling, I wanted to write a song from another person’s perspective and create a character, something Laura does so well.” She continues, “When I was younger, I would see many wars reported on the news. I always wondered how people in the armed forces and their families coped with the reality of the job. So in this case and for this song, the character I’ve invented is Danny, the soldier that left for war and doesn’t come home.”
Mabes’ comeback single “Too Young To Love” arrived shortly after the success of her Keeping The Noise Down EP (released May 22nd via Amuse / The Other Songs). The EP – written partly in Nashville – was a nod to the community she fell in love with and included collaborations with Jonny Latimer (Ellie Goulding, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man), Dan McDougall (Noel Gallagher), and Quarry. Mabes tells Sounds Like Nashville in an exclusive love letter to Music City, “I think fate brought me to Nashville… Before I knew you I felt afraid to be myself, but you embraced me in your open arms and taught me to see things differently. I had always seen the world as a strange place, somewhere I didn’t quite fit in, but when I stumbled across you, I was home.” The EP visual transformed all four songs into one collective piece of art representative of her teenage years and further illuminated Mabes’ affinity for the ‘70s and Americana/folk/country culture in the states.
Shot by Kristi Tou
“Cheap Gold” is about that part of a relationship I think everyone dreads. It’s not a breakup song per se,
but a list of reasons why it should be.
Click here to stream “Cheap Gold” wherever you get your music.
The title actually came to me in a dream. Something to do with my sister buying a knock-off designer bag and yelling “CHEAP GOLD, IT’S CHEAP GOLD,” which may or may not be based on a true story…but you didn’t hear that from me. It wasn’t until a friend of mine texted me that I had the concept. She updated me on the latest saga of her relationship, so I turned it into a song thinking it would just be something dramatic and fun to show her.
Abby J Hall is a Canadian singer/songwriter from Burlington Ontario. Some of her musical influencers are: T-Swift, Julia Michaels, Alec Benjamin and Maggie Rogers. She started songwriting when she was 11 and has been passionate about it ever since. Her go-to instruments are the guitar, keys and ukulele. Memorable music moments include: playing her originals at The Sound of Music Festival in Burlington; at Canada’s Largest Ribfest; for the Live and Local Music Series at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre and at Canadian Music Week. She has been in the studio over the past year and is excited to be releasing new music over the next couple months. EVERYONE has a story to tell. Abby loves nothing more than to write some of those stories down and put them to music.
“I was born a couple thousand years early,” bemoans Lomon, sitting in his Seattle apartment turned home music studio. He dreams of exploring the universe and uncovering deep mysteries of reality- but given the infeasibility of such dreams in this era, he turns to the lyrics of his indie-electronic music to explore such ideas. Growing up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Lomon (a.k.a Zander Chocron) took to music from a young age. He began exploring the piano at the age of two, and from there his fascination became a passion. When he was 14, he taught himself to play the guitar. Since then, he has been writing, playing, singing, and producing his own music.
His latest single “Escape Velocity” is about addiction and relapse and the fight to break out of a cycle, but failing miserably with each attempt. Lomon explains, “There’s also the story aspect – the song drops you into a particular moment of a concrete but open-ended tale. I think it’s easier (for me at least) to digest heavy topics when there’s a layer of fiction (or even whimsy) overlaying them.” Despite the song’s seemingly sombre narrative, it actually talks about maintaining optimism in the face of defeat. Lomon continues, “The song’s protagonist feels completely defeated. But as it goes on, he becomes more hopeful and optimistic. So maybe listening to the song will inspire someone to pick themselves back up after falling down, and marching on again.”
Through kaleidoscopic melodies, hypnotic vocals and dreamy, falsetto harmonies, Lomon takes you to a place where you can truly lose yourself. He delivers his message with an effortless cool, leaving listeners begging for more. Inspired by the likes of The Beatles, Thundercat and Tame Impala, Lomon has concocted his own take of indie psychedelia and it’s totally addictive. When he’s not making music, Lomon spends time developing software, boxing, solving puzzles, making bad jokes, and making music. Lomon often writes about issues such as climate change and mental health. He says, “If we’re ever going to become an interstellar species, we must survive long enough to become sufficiently advanced. To survive, we need to love our planet, love each other, and love ourselves.” Known for his quirky brand of space-themed advocacy, Lomon hopes to inspire others to think deeply about the nature of existence- and, in turn- how to make it more meaningful.
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“Navigating dating is a difficult process in general, and I hate that when it doesn’t work out, someone usually gets hurt. For me, there was an added level of why it would never work out with this girl, and it wasn’t until coming out and looking back on the relationship and breakup that I was truly able to process it all.” – Cameron Hawthorn
Cameron Hawthorn defies genres as an American singer-songwriter. His stunning vocals and songwriting blend elements of Country, Americana, Folk, and Pop/Rock to put him in a league of his own. Hailing from a small town in Kansas, he attributes his years of growing up in the Midwest to the authentic and honest storytelling found in his music. The emerging crooner made a buzz in 2019 with his single, “Dancing In the Living Room,” with the accompanying music video garnering over 260k views for the independent artist and coverage from the likes of People Magazine, CMT, and Huffington Post. With the underlying theme of showing your truest, most vulnerable self, Hawthorn set out with the desire to deliver listeners the message that ‘love is love.’
His latest release “To Break Hers” is based on Hawthorn’s real dating experiences before coming out. He confides, “There were so many moments when I could have ended it with this girl, but I just kept going, leading her to believe I was in love. Looking back, I was 100% using that to hide and cover up what was really going on.” Oozing with emotion and heart-wrenching lyrics, “To Break Hers” gives listeners a look into some of the songwriter’s most vulnerable moments. Influenced by legends like Johnny Cash, Elvis, James Taylor, and Fleetwood Mac, Hawthorn aims to make music with the same raw narrative – pure and real, classy and classic. He combines that with the spunk and pop sensibility of more current artists like Shania Twain and Eric Church. This is only the beginning for Cameron Hawthorn as he sets his eyes on an EP release for 2020 and much more to come down his yellow brick road.
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Speaker Face is an award winning earthy electronic band that melds the sounds of nature and machines. Combining acoustic instruments, voice and wilderness sounds with computers and synths, Speaker Face creates beats and sonic landscapes that immerse the listener in melody, groove and mood. The palette of sound created by Trent Freeman’s layers of rhodes and violin, and Eric Wright’s atmospheric production and beats, are topped with the hauntingly honest voice of Ruby Randall.
Whether it’s a star-lit forest dance stage, an acoustically perfect soft seat theatre or the immersion of your headphones, the musical experience of Speaker Face is transportative and fully consuming. Their latest album, Crescent, is reshaping the notion of genre, and captures the future of indie music within the building blocks of ancient sounds.
AIRPORTS is Australian DIY pop artist Aaron Lee. After taking on two life threatening illnesses and the ups and downs of being a full time creative, AIRPORTS is an avid voice for personal development mental health. With his eyes set on influencing listeners while travelling the world, the Sydney dwelling artist isn’t afraid to take a non-conventional approach, further fortifying his unique sonic identity by defying & blending genres of hip hop, punk, electronic and pop. Taking care of writing, singing, production and engineering all himself, AIRPORTS is an independant pop force to be reckoned with.
Off the back of his feel-good record “U FEEL IT 2” which was featured by Live Nation’s ‘Ones To Watch’ & Pop Dust, and accumulated over 12 thousand music video streams (starring his fans from around the world); AIRPORTS returns with “PARTY ALL THE TIME”.
“PARTY ALL THE TIME” is a bass heavy, sing-rap anthem featuring Los Angeles artist R I L E Y. R I L E Y recently released his debut album LOSS ANGELES which includes “Dead & Over” with Blackbear and has quickly surpassed one million streams. Sonically the track pays homage to AIRPORTS love of both hip hop and punk, combining both genres to create something new and exciting, reminiscent of Machine Gun Kelly and Chase Atlantic.
“Party All The Time” is about that girl who you know you can’t coexist with because she’s too busy with social clout. AIRPORTS explains, “I was scrolling through my Instagram and saw a girl I knew who was literally just out every night clubbing and said to myself, ‘she just wants to party all the time.’ Although she sparked the idea, it’s more of an exaggerated story about a person you can’t love because they’re more into socialising than into you.”
AIRPORTS has garnered support from tastemaker radios such as Triple J (Australia), George FM (New Zealand), Kiis FM and amassing over 780,000 independent Spotify streams to date. Building a global music production company, the multitalented artist has worked on award winning projects for TV, brands (Coca-Cola, Fanta), labels (Universal Music, Capitol Records), artists and performers, including Multi platinum JPOP groups. AIRPORTS is forging his own path and there is no slowing him down.
https://www.instagram.com/AIRPORTSmusic/
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https://twitter.com/AIRPORTSmusic
Burning Pools, the new band led by former Smashing Pumpkins bassist Ginger Pooley, has been long in the making. She and husband Kristopher Pooley had been demoing songs showcasing Ginger’s penchant for empowering protest lyrics clothed in pop hooks, when they decided to reach out to guitarist Max Bernstein. He promptly added some tracks with a sub-octave fuzz permanently in the “on” position. Instantly, the three decided that Kris (a keyboard player by trade) would dust off his drum kit as this was not a synth operation —and a band was born.
The band’s three members share a long list of studio and touring credits and collectively have worked with rock legends like Tom Morello, Siouxsie Sioux, Slash, Morrissey, Liz Phair, Scott Weiland, Tegan and Sara, and bands like Jane’s Addiction and Weezer. They’ve also had their hands in the pop world, though it is clear that its influence is positively nil. Their unique brand of noisy power-pop with doomy riffs charts a different sonic course, harkening more to the loud drum and guitar squalls that Kris and Ginger experienced as newlyweds on Smashing Pumpkins tours.
Their debut EP is a critique of the hierarchy of our value system. Ginger shares, “It’s nothing new for music to be a voice of criticism of our culture. That is the purpose of a lot of art. This is just my way of expressing my frustration with the priorities of modern society. Valuing money over everything, undervaluing women and people of color. Hopefully our songs make people who are of the same accord feel heard and supported. There is so much injustice in the world, we hope to be a part of the solution in some small way.”
“Bang Bang” features gritty, distorted guitars and crashing percussion, emphasizing the angst and exasperation they have towards the inequities central to modern power structures. The anhemic “I Am Woman” oozes with confidence, highlighting an individualistic feminism with all the subtlety of a brick through a window.
Bands like Burning Pools are supposed to play shows — and to the list of the world’s upended plans of 2020 we add the dream of taking these songs beyond streaming platforms to the stage where a power trio can actually be one in real time. For now, Burning Pools will be releasing singles from their forthcoming EP.
https://www.instagram.com/burningpools/
https://twitter.com/GingerPooley
Freight Train’ is the 2nd single from Vancouver musician Lola Parks’ new album No Apologies which will be released on September 25th. ‘Freight Train’ is a musical shotgun straight to your heart, an Americana folky-blues track that warns you to check your heart at the door. The song is all about reconciliation and forgiveness, applicable both to an intimate relationship and in a wider, sociopolitical and human rights sense.
“I wrote this song when I was finally letting go of a love relationship that was over and wrong for me,” says Lola Parks. “I’d mislead myself about the person and the reality. Major self-denial. I needed to be honest with myself, let go and move forward. I think this way of thinking also works with human rights issues, especially with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). Human rights abuses aren’t ‘done’ or ‘over’ anywhere. Violations and trauma are ongoing. We need to listen, converse, listen some more, help heal and support, and work toward collective betterment, understanding, acceptance and respect.”
An Indigenous Canadian musical artist, Lola Parks is compelled to create, cultivate and share her art. Her mission is to give and be a voice: cultural and social brokerage through music and words. A 12th generation Canadian of Montagnais, Ukrainian, French and British ancestry, her heritage deeply influences her songwriting and music.
Over the past 20+ years, Lola has created a fiercely independent musical history that includes 3 studio releases, many collaborations, and performing around the globe. Her 4th studio album, No Apologies (out September 25th), features the first single ‘Dreamer‘ and previously released track ‘Hey Hey’ which has already aired on several CBC Radio programs, at the BC Culture Days 2019 opening ceremonies, and in the Talking Stick Festival 2020 promo video.
‘Freight Train’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit: lolaparks.com
Singer-Songwriter-Producer, Wonho, releases his highly anticipated solo debut mini album, ‘WONHO 1ST MINI ALBUM Part. 1 Love Synonym #1 : Right for Me.’ Immediately upon release, “wonho” was trending #1 worldwide on Twitter, with “open mind,” “#OPEN_MIND,” and “#Love_Synonym” following closely behind; and the mini album quickly shot up the iTunes Charts, taking up the #1 spot under Pop Album Chart, K-Pop Album Chart, and currently peaking at #6 under the All Genres Album Chart. As Wonho makes his first step as a solo artist with this eight-track mini album, he showcases not only his vocal skills; but also his lyrical, compositional, and production skills. The title ‘Love Synonym’ symbolizes a new start that is different from Wonho’s music style and performances that he has shown before. ‘Love Synonym’ is a new definition of love that Wonho created in order to show his pledges and determinations that he will communicate with his fans. Wonho expressed his earnestness by participating in writing and composing five songs, including the title track “Open Mind” and the pre-released single “Losing You.”
“After the release of “Losing You,” I wanted to come up with a rhythmical-upbeat song. I love the bass line of this song, and I feel like when you hear it, you want to jump and dance! let’s all have some fun” –Wonho
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