Following her Spotify Singles and most personal project to date, ‘Dichotomy,’ Australian breakout artist and producer GG Magree returns to Monstercat today with the passionate rock single, “Be Careful What You Say.” Working alongside musician and producer Grabbitz, the record showcases the rocktronic evolution of her sound, leading with heavy-hitting guitar riffs and mesmerizing vocals. Rife with angsty lyricism reflecting the journey of becoming a powerful force amidst a breakup, her vulnerability and authenticity are on full display as she reminds listeners to use pain as fuel to reach their highest potential – and setting the trappings of a compelling anti-Valentine’s anthem.
GG Magree shares, “I’m specifically excited for this song as I feel like I’m exposing a new side of my voice. The whole experience of writing and making this song was with my good buddy, Grabbitz. We started with our usual life catch-up and I just unleashed everything on him that had happened to me recently. It was one of the fastest songs I’ve ever written. I cried singing it and you can hear it in some moments throughout the track. “Be Careful What You Say” is a reminder to myself and anyone that connects with the song that people will forever try and talk down on or poorly about you, and instead of letting it get to you, use it as fuel to better yourself and push you closer to your higher self. I believe everything happens for a reason and the reasoning for some of this past pain was to write this song.”
GG Magree has taken her rocktronic stylings to major festivals across the globe like Coachella with her full band, EDC Las Vegas and Orlando, Tomorrowland, and more. True to her visionary spirit, GG directed, produced, and designed the music video for “Be Careful What You Say,” set in a jail cell with her all-female band. Currently on the ‘So Tuff So Cute Goes To College’ tour with Mija, fans can also look forward to catching GG live on a US headline run with dates soon to be announced.
“Not for ourselves alone, but for the whole world are we born.” These words that inspired a young Paul McCartney, now live on as the motivation behind Payson and his music. Armed with overflowing positive energy and a live-for-the-moment mentality, Payson is bringing his brand of Indie-Pop spirit not for himself alone, but for the whole world to enjoy.
A Philly kid born and raised, Payson taught himself to sing and play piano by poring over his big brothers’ CDs and learning by ear. Eventually, he moved west to continue his evolution as a musician and songwriter at USC and find his place as an artist in LA.
Payson’s soaring vocals and natural knack for dynamic performance landed him instant success and led to a Top-4 finish on NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” Since then, he has used his diverse musical skill set in performances all over the world; lending his voice to symphony orchestras in Taiwan and Korea, starring in theatrical performances in Chicago and Las Vegas, and singing on multiple major motion picture soundtracks. He’s even scored roles acting on TV shows including Jane the Virgin, The People vs. OJ Simpson, and How I Met Your Mother.
All the while Payson has been continuing to grow as a musician and artist. His first releases, a series of cover songs, generated an impressive buzz and thousands of subscribers through his YouTube channel. His covers of Taylor Swift’s “Out of the Woods”, Adele’s “Hello,” and a mashup of Zayn Malik’s “Pillowtalk” and Rihanna’s “Work” enjoyed viral success as well as a wide variety of press coverage including features from Perez Hilton.
Last year, he released his debut record, “Take Me Apart” to universal acclaim. The record has amassed over half a million streams on Spotify, and has been featured in nearly 100 different music publications and curated music blog posts, and inspired 3 music videos with their own following; racking up well over 100k views.
While Payson Lewis has enjoyed a jack of many trades career thus far, it’s his music that gives him purpose. Drawing on the influences of his youth and in an attempt to inspire positivity, Payson continues to refine his band-centric indie-pop sound to deliver an energetic blend of throwback nostalgia and modern edge for the benefit of the world at large.
Bekah Bossard ( they/them), is revealing their debut single, ‘What You Wanted’. Born is Los Angeles but raised in Exeter, Bekah combines silky vocals and guitar led arrangements to create an exciting brand of woozy indie. The first track taken from their upcoming EP is ‘ What You Wanted’ is a deeply personal one – inspired by the rejection Bekah felt after coming out as queer. Speaking on the release, they state:
“I wrote this song about coming out as queer and the rejection I faced in response and coming to terms with the fact that I can’t change their minds.”
Phil Firetog, in full Philip William Firetog, (born May 8, 1985, Farmingdale, NY, U.S.), is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Phil Firetog Trio.
Firetog predominantly focused on songwriting and performing with the Phil Firetog Trio, which he started in 2015 shortly after his debut solo EP Portrait Songs. Phil Firetog Trio later debuted their own EP Circles in 2017.
The members of the Long Island trio, Phil Firetog (Vocalist/Guitarist), Johnny “Pots” Potocnik (Drummer) & Liam Gordon (Bassist) have entertained the industry’s toughest critics & built a loyal fan base since the trio’s formation in 2015.
Singer-songwriter Firetog develops music that is rich and intricate and spans the spectrum from clean to grit and ambient to rocking by mastering acoustic guitars with pedals and distorted amps. Johnny “Pots” Potocnik & Liam Gordon fill the spaces with complex & rhythmic grooves, intriguing listeners while they connect on another level outside the lyrical storytelling.
Currently undertaking an expansion project to include new talented artists for special live performances, PFT has further enriched its signature sound. We welcome our new members to the new “Trio and Co.”
Phil Firetog Trio & Co. will continue new single releases in 2022 starting in September with their release of “Fall”. It’s clear that Trio and Company will continue to reshape and reinvent itself in this ever-shifting industry while staying on the edge of new sounds and genres – never losing the essence of the core trio: ‘Rare and Transformative’.
Emotional authenticity, unwavering resolve, and a stunning voice: With an enthralling alchemy of anthemic choruses and memorable melodic hooks, pop-rock artist BRE shares her female-forward declarations of strength and empowerment.
These compelling songs are revealed in a series of releases. In her lead single, “Rather Be Alone,” she addresses the dilemmas of modern dating with these words: “Cause if you don’t expect a call/Then it don’t hurt at all/ If I leave the ledge then there’s nowhere else that I can fall/I’d rather be alone.”
Although she wrote the song about the mystifying males of Los Angeles, she says the message of meeting expectations is universal. “I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not going to change who I am, and play someone else’s game. Who do you want me to be? I don’t care. I’m going to enjoy my own company, and be happy being single and independent. If the right person comes along that’s fine, but being in a relationship will not change the quality of my life.”
‘Living Rooms’, the debut solo album by FE SALOMON, is out now.
Revealing one final piece of its widescreen picture today, Fe has released an elegant, engaging video for the featured track “Interstate 10”.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE || LISTEN TO ‘LIVING ROOMS’ HERE
Syncing the sweeping, string-laden single to a filmic official video starring Salomon, the new visuals immerse the viewer in the narrative of a protagonist juxtaposing longings for past adventures, with optimistic thoughts of beginning new ones.
Reflecting on the origins of “Interstate 10”, a track she wrote about her earliest experiences of touring America as a teenager, Fe says:
““Interstate 10” connects far-flung events that occurred during my travels around the US, including having to escape from a violent manager who gambled all the money away in Vegas. The song was written with my old friend, producer Ru Cook, and it was originally envisioned as a country song.”
Already gaining attention through a freestyle that went viral on TikTok hitting over 1 million views, with 1 million streams on Spotify (before being taken down) and 500,000 streams on Soundcloud, Ajet 2F will now release ‘Ride With 1’ as his official debut single.
‘Ride With 1’ is an inspirational track from Ajet 2F showcasing his lyrical flow with bars about not carrying weapons, focussing on your career, and staying mentally aware. He portrays his own life in a real way with his personable character shining through. The drill beat let’s his lyrics and flow standout, giving the track Ajet 2F’s poetic & expressive stance on parts of life through his eyes.
Although 2023 sees him releasing his debut single, Ajet 2F has been posting casual freestyles since 2019 on social media creating a huge buzz leading to his fanbase growing and following him on TikTok and Instagram.
A pivotal moment in his career came from his inclusion in the viral 2021 Blackbox Hardest Under 18’s Cypher which accumulated over 2 million views on YouTube. Another freestyle ‘Lone Ranger’ reached #61 on the UK Official Singles Charts and along with a viral verse on ‘Intro’ combined reaching 13 million streams. Ellie Prohan named another freestyle ‘Flax’ as her ‘Power Track Of The Week’.
Quote from Ajet 2F:
“Ride with 1 started out as an Instagram and TikTok freestyle which turned out to go viral. The idea stemmed from the song ‘Die Young’ by Roddy Ricch which talks about how some young people carry weapons to protect themselves from losing their life at an early age. I thought about this idea and related it to myself; even though I don’t want to die young, I still don’t “Ride With 1” (a weapon) as that is not representative of who I am or who I want to be. This contributes to a larger understanding of the type of person I am. Despite making drill music, the life I live and portray is not that which is generally associated with drill rapper, yet I love drill music and the artists within that space. I appreciate them sharing their lives, and where I live a life different to them, I share my life through music as well. I also explore the desire to stay on a path where I stay far from jail or anything of the sort and pursue my music career, which ironically starts with this song.”
Backline announced Break The Barriers; a movement that aims to end the stigma around mental health by asking participants to commit to taking care of their own mental health, and take action to address and dismantle the systemic and historical barriers that BIPOC communities face when seeking mental health care.
Partnering with the Black Mental Health Alliance, Silence The Shame, Latinx Therapy, Black Music Action Coalition, SONA (Songwriters of North America), FEMME HOUSE, Women In Music, NIVA, The SIMS Foundation and more, Break The Barriers’ first call to action centers around the Break The Barriers Pledge, which states, “I commit to prioritizing my own mental health and that of my community, and to help end stigma through education, action, and resources as part of the Break the Barriers Coalition.”
Backline also revealed the Break The Barriers Portal, where Artists, Organizations, and Fans can access mental health resources, critical messaging, digital toolkits and more. The toolkits and resources are aimed at making it easier to implement and uphold mental health in workplaces, concerts, and communities.
Break The Barriers also launched #MentalHealthMondays; a weekly Instagram Live series featuring vulnerable conversations around mental health with music industry and mental health professionals. Artist Jojo Simmons (Growing Up Hip Hop) is the serie’s first host, going live at 5:00PM PT / 8:00PM ET every week at @jojosimmons. The first installation of #MentalHealthMondays featured conversations with Terra Lopez (Backline), Shanti Das (Silence The Shame), and Andrea Brown (Black Mental Health Alliance).
JoJo Simmons, co-Founder 3isFor, Growing up Hip-Hop, says, “Ever since the pandemic mental health has become an issue and growing concern for many people, Backline’s Break the Barriers campaign aims to help demystify and destigmatize this conversation across communities that need these resources the most. I want to lend my voice and platform to influence and encourage my community, followers and extended network to get involved. Take the pledge, ask someone how they are doing and know that together we have the power to change the narrative and change lives. 3isFor is proud to sponsor and champion this important cause.”
Break The Barriers is already making an impact on the industry; with Guin Records implementing this week a new “Mental Health Day Policy” for all employees. The policy offers employees to take a day off in order to take time to recover and recenter themselves to prevent burnout. Industry entities interested in deepening their efforts can also register to have a workshop with Coalition Partner Silence the Shame, or subsidize mental health care costs for employees via Music’s Mental Health Fund, a partnership between Backline + Sweet Relief Musicians’ Fund.
The momentum has already begun. Already, more than 25 companies have signed the pledge, including Wasserman, Vevo, Big Hassle, 23 PR, Terrorbird, Propeller, Dayglo Presents, The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Tree Fort Music Fest, Duck Club Presents, 11Eleven Group, PassionHouse Coffee, Sound Mind Live, Post Oak LA, National Event Services, Lyte, 6Degrees and The Orchard.
Naledi Nyahuma Seck, Vice President of Diversity, Equity + Inclusion for The Orchard, says, “The Orchard is proud to partner with Backline and the Break The Barriers movement. We support mental health initiatives all year round by providing benefits to employees, supporting nonprofit organizations addressing critical needs in the community, and providing educational resources and tools to take action.”
Terra Lopez (Backline / Break The Barriers) says, “Break The Barriers is a movement that aims to end the stigma around mental health by asking folks first and foremost to take care of their mental health. The more we talk about our mental health, the less taboo it will be. Break The Barriers also aims to address the systemic and historical barriers that have been set in place for BIPOC communities when seeking out mental health care. We believe that by acknowledging the logistical, structural, historical barriers that BIPOC communities have faced, we can bring not only solutions to changing the system but also much needed healing to these communities. We want to encourage folks to have these vulnerable conversations around mental health in the hopes that it will allow others to feel able to share their own stories. There is so much power in sharing your story and in bearing witness to others. We are so excited to launch the first call to action with the pledge and ask all to sign and share with their own communities to help us break the barriers and end the stigma around mental health!“
Building a reputation as one of the most exciting new names across the underground, Essex-born powerhouse Bilk’s kinetic chemistry is on full display across their latest cut-throat offering “Fashion”. The young talents – comprised of Sol Abrahams (guitarist and lead singer), Luke Hare (bassist) and Harry Gray (drummer) – have created a searing soundscape, elevated by thrashing guitar licks and Sol’s classic tongue-in-cheek charm as he advocates breaking social boundaries and always being true to yourself.
Since bursting onto the scene with the breakout 2018 record “Spiked” (2.3M+ streams), the rising collective’s unorthodox, wild approach has firmly imprinted their signature on a national scale. Cutting their teeth with an incendiary debut performance with BBC Introducing at Reading & Leeds Festival – leading to the band winning Act Of The Year across BBC Introducing Essex, critical acclaim has come swiftly from the likes of WONDERLAND, DORK MAGAZINE, CLASH, LOUDER THAN WAR, FRED PERRY and BBC R1.
5x GRAMMY® Award-winning, multi-platinum rap icon Lil Wayne announced his 2023 tour coming this spring – Welcome To Tha Carter Tour Presented by Young Money, Rolling Loud, and Live Nation. The 28-city tour kicks off on Tuesday, April 4th at The Fillmore in Minneapolis making stops across the U.S. and Canada in Detroit, Toronto, Houston and more before wrapping up in Los Angeles at The Wiltern on Saturday, May 13th. The tour announcement comes ahead of The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective pre-GRAMMY event, where Lil Wayne will receive the prestigious Global Impact Award for his iconic personal and professional achievements in the industry.
TICKETS: Tickets go on sale starting Friday, February 3 at 10AM Local on Lilwayneofficial.com
WELCOME TO THA CARTER TOUR 2023 TOUR DATES:
Tue Apr 4 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore Minneapolis
Thu Apr 6 — Fargo, ND — Scheels Arena*
Fri Apr 7 — Omaha, NE — Baxter Arena*
Sat Apr 8 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee
Sun Apr 9 — Chicago, IL — Radius
Tue, Apr 11 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit
Wed Apr 12 — Toronto, ON — HISTORY
Thu Apr 13 — Boston, MA — House of Blues
Sun Apr 16 — New York, NY — Apollo Theater
Mon Apr 17 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore Philadelphia
Tue Apr 18 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
Thu Apr 20 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore Charlotte
Fri Apr 21 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz
Sat Apr 22 — Atlanta, GA — Tabernacle
Mon Apr 24 — Birmingham, AL — Iron City
Wed Apr 26 — St. Louis, MO — The Factory
Thu Apr 27 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
Fri Apr 28 — Cleveland, OH — House of Blues
Sun Apr 30 — Lexington, KY — Rupp Arena*
Tue May 2 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
Wed May 3 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
Thu May 4 — Austin, TX — Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater
Sat May 6 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
Sun May 7 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium
Tue May 9 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
Wed May 10 — San Diego, CA — SOMA
Fri May 12 — San Francisco, CA — The Masonic
Sat May 13 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
*Not A Live Nation Date
Illinois-based band REAL FRIENDS have announced their brand new EP ‘There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late’ out 24th February via Pure Noise Records. To celebrate the announcement the band have release their brand new single ‘Six Feet’. The EP, features previously released singles ‘Tell Me You’re Sorry’ and ‘Always Lose’, was produced by Andrew Wade (A Day To Remember, Neck Deep) and mixed by Kris Crummett (The Callous Daoboys, Knuckle Puck.)
Vanessa Mood (Vanessa Moodley) is a South African born singer, international award winning songwriter, producer and entrepreneur. A newcomer to Canada, her music is soulful, passionate – often telling stories of intimacy that leave you feeling less alone in this world. Her life kicking off at the tail end of apartheid, Vanessa had no idea that a career in music was something that was available to someone of her skin color or gender. It was only after completing a degree in music, a degree that started as an escape from the pain of her father’s death, that she realized that she needed music.
And so, without examples of success, in an industry fearfully unknown to herself and her culture, she looked to the love of music forged in her by her parents by the sounds of Elvis, Cliff Richard, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Boyz II Men, Israel Houghton, Kirk Franklin & Chuck Berry.
She completed a degree in Jazz Performance, Composition & Arranging in 2008. She was named winner of the Jazz category and a finalist in the World Music category in the 2009 U.S.A Songwriting Competition and was honored to perform on one of the most important stages in the world to her – the stage that held one of the first multi-racial live music performances in the face of Apartheid under the lead of renowned jazz pianist Darius Brubeck, the stage at the Center for Jazz & Popular Music. She was featured as a young top achiever on South Africa’s leading lifestyle show Top Billing (S20/E53 – aired 25 November 2010) in celebration of 150 years of Indian culture in South Africa and participated as a regional judge for the televised Mzanzi Magic Young Star Competition 2010-2012.
The Know began in late 2018 when Daniel Knowles suggested to his wife, Jennifer Farmer, that instead of traveling home for the holidays (to the UK and Texas respectively) that the LA based transplants stay put and try to create music together, just the two of them. This would be the married couple’s gift to themselves.
For the next few weeks, they isolated themselves in their home studio with no real plan, just a mutual love of Beach House, Julee Cruise, Ye Ye, The Jesus and Mary Chain, 60’s girl groups, dream pop, and the evocative storytelling lyricism of Patsy Cline and The National.
The result was their debut EP shared in 2020, a stunning blend of dream pop and shoegaze. Entitled wearetheknow, the six trackcollection of songs provided an unflinching look at the couple, delving deep into the duo’s personal lives by honestly narrating stories from their relationship and life experiences against a kaleidoscopic sonic palette. Leading single ‘143′ melded autobiographical with fantastical lyrics and unfolds as a series of conversations, images, and hazy recollections of a night out. While ‘Hold Me Like You Know Me’ garnered comparisons to David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound.
The Know’s upcoming highly anticipated second EP (EP2) is lyrically full of relatable snapshots of love, loss, isolation, uncertainty, sadness and connection. Completed during the pandemic and in a time of intense isolation, the EP was produced by Farmer and Knowles and mostly recorded in their home studio in a short span of time.
Leading single ‘Used to Be’ details the complexities of romantic relationships specifically when they were heightened during the pandemic. Knowles confides,“then of course the pandemic hit, people all around us were having their relationships tested in lockdown with significant others, some relationships came out stronger, some didn’t survive. And on a more universal scale lots of people worldwide were dealing with a loss of normality, loss of connection with other people, suddenly not being able to do simple things like buy groceries, things we’d all taken for granted.” Sonically, “Used to Be” features hazy guitars, warm melodies and atmospheric soundscapes that are on the edge of uncontrollable making for an enthralling listen. The accompanying cinematic music video was directed and created by Farmer and profiles a troubled relationship representing the highs, the lows and the mundane moments in a non-linear fashion.
The second single ‘ME’ is “a recollection of the start of a relationship and events between two people during lockdown but this one mostly covers the good stuff. It’s a love song about the thrill you feel when you connect with another person,” proclaims Farmer. ‘ME’ is an enthralling cinematic slice of dream pop complete with romantic lustrous landscapes and dreamy vocals.
The Know have found success attracting fans across the globe with their authentic narratives and dazzling mix of genres. Their debut EP garnered praise from the likes of SPIN, BBC, FLOOD Magazine and Earmilk among others. In addition to The Know, Knowles is an engineer and producer who also this year co-produced the Sharon Van Etten album We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong.
Miami-based Nu Deco Ensemble, led by Jacomo Bairos and Sam Hyken, premieres their re-imagination of some of the most celebrated works from legendary singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer Pharrell by. Nu Deco recorded the performance at the Miami Beach Bandshell on October 1, 2020.
“Pharrell Williams is not only of the most influential performing artists of our time but is the definition of a renaissance man… a singer, rapper, songwriter, producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur all in one. We are thrilled to share a retrospective of this already historic career, which features music from his band N.E.R.D, his production team, the Neptunes, and Pharrell’s solo career, which includes his legendary collaboration with Daft Punk”, emphasizes Sam Hyken
Nu Deco Ensemble CEO and co-founder, Jacomo Bairos, echos this sentiment by saying, “As an artist, Pharrell epitomizes the highest ideals of creativity, diversity, and production through his genius of output and genre-bending styles, and truly reimagines what it means to be a legacy artist. There never seems to be a moment where Pharrell isn’t relevant, connected to the pulse of the now, nor speaking to society today. With hit after hit, project after project, and collaboration after collaboration, over decades, Pharrell continues to inspire and share with his fans new and exciting musical pathways with his fans.”
“Not Gonna” is the second song in the “waterfall” release of their second album. “The inspiration for ‘Not Gonna’ was this nagging feeling that we are too old to be successful in music. Whether or not that’s actually true or not, we’re too stubborn to listen,” shares the duo Merlot Embargo.
“Not Gonna” is the duo pushing back on those feelings of being too old or too uncool to “make it” and often feel like it’s holding them back from being taken seriously. Additionally, it’s an inner dialogue with themselves, telling them to give up and them overcoming those voices. “It’s our determined, defiant response to a world (and our own self-doubt/imposter syndrome) that wants us to quit,” they share. “Hopefully, this song inspires people to keep persevering and following their dreams. They may be closer than they realize.”
Merlot Embargo started with a nearly fatal car accident that crushed their little Toyota, and sent them scrambling out the newly-destroyed rear window. That brush with death, and time of self-reflection, drove them to share their music with the world. Some might consider them (Scarlet and Geoff) an unlikely duo: a seat-of-the-pants singer-songwriter, and a music school nerd and engineer. But the blending of their different approaches to music, and life, has helped them create music that’s provocative, but approachable. They temper each other’s worst tendencies, and in their good moments, bring out the best qualities in the other.
explosive new pop act Chloe Star reveals the music video for her debut single, “Element.” Directed by Jake Woodbridge and produced by Jake Johnston, the “Element” music video is an enthusiastic introduction to Chloe Star’s expansive visual world.
“The process of putting this video together was so fun. It was such a powerful journey to be able to transform the song into a visual art piece,” she says. “The video gives a great glimpse of what me being in ‘my element’ looks like: power, strength, confidence, and fierceness.”
Chloe Star is a Persian-Native American singer, songwriter, visual artist and tribal advocate. Growing up she split her time between Los Angeles and her family’s reservation in San Bernardino. With a childhood that was chaotic and often unstable, she found solace in journaling and writing poetry. She taught herself to play piano and guitar and soon started transforming her prose into lyrics.
After spending the past few years finding and cultivating her sound, Chloe is now ready to share her music with the world. “Element” offers the first glimpse of her debut EP, due out later this year.
YOUR ANGEL — the project of LA-based singer, songwriter and producer Maddy Boyd — announces her sophomore album, A Star in the Headlights, out on March 17th.
The 11-track album includes recent singles “You Never Say Sorry” and “Misbehave,” the latter of which was met with praise from NYLON, Consequence, and Ones To Watch. Teeming with raw emotion and ethereal indie-pop soundscapes, A Star in the Headlights captures a time of contemplation and transformation for YOUR ANGEL.
She adds, “‘A Star In The Headlights’ is about longing for something and the journey I took to arrive there. It explores feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, jealousy and weakness. I drew inspiration from artists like Britney Spears, Dido, Portishead, Timbaland and Beach House in order to create an album that embodies my childhood role models.”
YOUR ANGEL will release the final pre-release single, “Good Girl,” on February 17th and the album will follow on March 17th.
A Star in the Headlights Track List:
1. STAR
2. You Never Say Sorry
3. Edge of the Line
4. Misbehave
5. Baby
6. INTERMISSION
7. Good Girl
8. Rose (feat. Brutus VIII)
9. Tough
10. Sleep Talk
11. Honey
Collaborating with GRAMMY nominated songwriter and producer Poo Bear (Justin Bieber, Usher, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez), Marco introduces his pop and R&B-influenced sound with “Straight Face.” Exploring his musical interests and abilities at a young age, from learning piano and guitar to singing in talent shows and joining an acapella group, the Connecticut-born singer/songwriter began recording music of his own inspired by his biggest influences by the time he was in high school. Catching the attention of Poo Bear, the mastermind behind some of pop’s biggest hits, the two began working in the studio together allowing Marco to truly hone in on his craft. “Straight Face” is just a taste of what’s to come and we’d love to have your support on this release as he prepares to take the world by storm!
Mastercard announced it will host She Runs This: Celebrating Entrepreneurship in Business and Hip-Hop, a three-day event in partnership with Femme It Forward, honoring the genre’s 50th anniversary as part of the brand’s GRAMMY®Week activation. Recognizing the universal challenges Black women face when pursuing their dreams and the criticality of supporting this community to help close the racial wealth and opportunity gap in the US, She Runs This will spotlight the strength and perseverance of Black women powerhouses and educate aspiring luminaries to create a future full of Priceless possibilities.
Beginning Thursday, February 2 and running through Saturday, February 4, Black women owned small businesses in Los Angeles will host invited guests for dynamic discussions on entrepreneurship for women in business and hip-hop with music icons such as MC Lyte, Lil Kim, Salt-N-Pepa, and Yo-Yo as well as emerging artists such as Jozzy, Baby Tate, and Coi Leray.
While panelists share business stories and music industry insights, Mastercard will provide tools, resources and network access to participating small businesses, to help these entrepreneurs grow their businesses, taking inspiration from the musical artists they grew up listening to, idolizing and learning from.
“Like the musical talent who shaped Hip-Hop, Black women small business owners continue to embrace the power of perseverance and go above and beyond to conquer their business dreams and empower their communities, despite deep-rooted inequalities they face,” said Rustom Dastoor, EVP of Marketing and Communications, Mastercard North America. “We are proud to support these fearless Black women artists and business owners in their pursuit of redefining what’s possible, and we’re excited to watch them take their stage, follow their passions and thrive.”
Formed upon a chance encounter while busking in the subways of New York City, Bandits on the Run have become modern troubadours, the flower children of the digital age. Their new single, “You Have Changed,” releasing on February 2, 2023, marks a new phase of Banditry; this is the first release that they have self-produced, and offers a taste of what’s to come on the follow-up record to 2021’s acclaimed EP, Now Is The Time. PRE-SAVE / STREAM HERE.
“‘You Have Changed’ is about being torn apart, begrudging acceptance, and lingering love. It’s about the uncontrollable wellspring of grief that comes swooping in when life smacks you in the face, and you’re just not ready for it,” the band reveals. Written at a moment of uncertainty, when their futures seemed tenuous, they say that the creation of the song was a mediation on accepting reality. “It felt like the world was caving in under us and all of a sudden everything we loved and held onto had changed.” It’s evident that those feelings resonate with listeners. “When we perform this song, people tend to open their hearts to us and share their stories of change and loss. For some people, ‘You Have Changed’ is about a loved one that’s passed, or a lover that’s left, or a storm that’s finally clearing up. We love that it takes on a new meaning with every person who hears it, and is about whatever is changing in their life at the moment.”
Rapid-rising Australian rapper and creative DAY1 explodes into the new year with his high-octane offering “DAY N NITE” – OUT NOW across YouTube.
Laced with the addictive textures of Kid Cudi’s 2009 smash hit, DAY1 continues to showcase his multi-faceted rap approach with another swaggering rap cut. Gliding atop sharp percussion and synthetic melodies, the atmospheric backing across “DAY N NITE” allows the artist’s chilling cadence to shine in full effect, displaying a raw rap prowess that belies his young age. A sleek, stylish take on contemporary rap, the international talent is feeling like a serious new name across the UK landscape.
Unleased alongside an unrelenting music video that tails a chaotic day across Melbourne, we see thousands of fans flood the busy city streets in awe of the Māori native and his irresistible energy – a true showcase to the speer gravitational force DAY1 has on the youth culture and his prospect to lead the soaring rap scene in Australia.
With well over 76M streams and counting, DAY1 is rapidly building a cult following across continents. Crashing onto UK consciousness with his hit record “Me, Myself & I” – directed by UK pioneer Kaylum Dennis (Stormzy, Wretch 32, Smoke Boys) – the rising talent amass well over 100K views in 24 hours across GRM DAILY, as well as regular play time from BBC RADIO 1XTRA’s Snoochie Shy. Critical tastemaker acclaim soon followed from the likes of CLASH, NOTION, VIPER and MIXTAPE MADNESS all proclaiming his energetic and unapologetic brand of rap as a standout. Capping off a standout summer, the young artist landed pivotal support slots with London pioneers Central Cee and AJ Tracey, where he toured across Australia’s major cities while being a part of Clint’s CRTZ.RTW “Down Unda” activation.
Now on a direct path for an international takeover, DAY1 is emerging as one of Australia’s hottest breakout stars and with plenty more releases confirmed this year, get ready to see and hear a whole lot more.
YEAR OF THE KNIFE(YOTK) have surprise released a stunning new EP ‘Dust To Dust’ today, Thursday 2nd February, via the ever excellent Pure Noise Records (Knocked Loose, State Champs, Drug Church). The EP is the bands first new music since the release of their hugely received album ‘Internal Incarceration’ that was released in August 2020.
The three-song EP, ‘Dust To Dust‘, was produced and engineered by, Taylor Young, (Nails, God’s Hate, Twitching Tongues) clocking in at a blistering seven minutes, and it finds YOTK continuing to push their huge, abrasive and unapologetically hard hitting sound forward, tapping into new corners of the heavy music landscape while not losing an ounce of the ferocity that’s endeared them to a legion of underground listeners.
“Being straight edge is something that has always connected and driven the band, and that is still heavily present,” vocalist Madison Watkins explains. “Building from that thematic foundation, my lyrics are through the lens of my own experiences and demons.”
Speaking about the new EP, Madison explains, “The Dust to Dust EP is a product of everything we’ve been inspired by since our last record. We used the unexpected downtime to focus all of our energy on writing, and wanted to combine our existing sound with these new influences to push our boundaries and make our most pissed songs yet. This EP is an evolution in the direction of our sound while staying true to the core of our inspiration and values. We recorded with Taylor Young at the Pit in Van Nuys, CA. Everyone clicked right away and found that we had the same direction in mind for the production of the songs. Taylor was incredible to work with, and after admiring so many of his projects (Nails, Twitching Tongues, and Ruckus to name a few), it was great to work with him and hear his input on our music.”
Interval Presents is a podcast network from Warner Music Group (WMG) that produces multi-format, culture-forward audio content at the intersection of music, pop culture, and social impact. Launched in 2022, the network is rooted in artistry, authenticity, and diversity partnering with WMG’s talent, notable figures, and producers to connect listeners with unique storytelling about today’s trending topics. Interval Presents’ slate of programming amplifies underrepresented voices, cultures and explores the impact of music artistry from diverse perspectives. The network’s programming slate includes talk shows and narrative-driven episodic podcasts. It is home to Rap Radar featuring Elliott Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller, Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams, and The Last Resort narrated by Xiuhtezcatl, with forthcoming shows hosted by Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and Grammy-nominated singer Jason Derulo to come. Follow Interval Presents on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rap-radar/id1635777933
Quickly becoming a household name in the bass circuit, breakout producer Dr. Ushūu returned to Monstercat today with his vibrant single, “Love Me.” Highlighting his ever-evolving sound design, Dr. Ushūu shifts from his familiar chord-driven melodies and experiments with new production techniques using Granular Synthesis. Fueled by the emotions of heartbreak, the track is powered by electrifying buildups dominated by punchy chimes and otherworldly bass kicks, unearthing newfound energy from the depths of the Ushūuverse. Recently announcing his return to Rampage Open Air on the 2023 lineup, the galactical bass virtuoso’s career is bound to soar to new heights with more performances and music to come this year.
Dr. Ushūu shares, “‘Love Me’ is a love song which I wrote when I was broken-hearted. It led me to work on a style I’ve never worked on before. The UK vibes that we get in this track come from all the songs that I listened to when I was broken-hearted and helped me get through that rough patch.”
Since 2017, Dr. Ushūu has skyrocketed across the electronic scene with his complex music style and unique perspective in the world of colour-bass and dubstep. With his sonic range spanning melodic bass to drum & bass, he’s garnered support from Martin Garrix, Excision, Nicky Romero, and more. Last year, he brought his celestial branding and imaginative Ushūuverse realm to festivals and shows across the globe including Rampage Open Air and EDGE, landing on multiple “Artists To Watch” lists. Portugal-born and Paris-based, he can speak four different languages and even survived a near death experience, which inspired him to bring the boundless Ushūuverse to life.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
