PiPEllA — born Abigail Wynans — is an ASPEC Cinematic Rock Storyteller currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. The trilingual (English, Spanish, Korean) singer began making music at a young age and released her first song “Emotional” while getting her Masters in Global Entertainment at Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain, and her second “Life As A Movie” in November 2022.
She used her love of fantasy soundtracks, cinematic pop and arena rock, specifically combining the influences of artists like One OK Rock, Morgan Clae and Hans Zimmer, to create the sound she has today. PiPEllA uses her own connections to the LGBTQIA+ community and her experiences with mental health to inspire her lyrical content.
Currently, the artist is working on her first major creative release since 2021, PiPEllA: The Worlds Traveler. Following the tropes and world-building styles of her favorite literature, movies and TV, PiPEllA spent the last year building this immersive project for her fans to enjoy.
Announcing the release of debut record, Young Old Man. The new album for indie alternative/folk artist Albert Kass was produced in his hometown of Los Angeles by Grammy nominated producer Billy Mohler.
Kass has returned to writing and performing after two careers and two decades: “Call me a late bloomer. All the perceptions were there. But I didn’t feel I was called to music until now.”
The album is a coming-of-age tale—a culmination of years of original songwriting and a coalescing of sound, style and aesthetic. The young old man: broken-in yet modern, vintage vibes that echo of tomorrow. Raw with an edge but softened with bittersweet nostalgia, like the worn leather of a favorite jacket.
Tightly edited with 10 songs, Young Old Man remembers the purity and clarity of youth, and how the joys and miseries of growing up take on energies of angst, abstraction, and the sarcasm of adulthood. “I wanted to feel that in song,” he says.
The sound production is minimal, to enhance intimacy and his easy, deep melodies. “Stripped down is what my life sounds like now. Like ‘Shallow Sea,’ putting my soul, inside-out, on display.” Kass utilizes only voice, acoustic guitar, upright bass—featuring soulful bowing on tracks like ‘The Void’ and ‘Awake’—and simple percussion. The result is less extreme, with easy, haunting hooks, arpeggios, as well as a subtly visceral quality, like on ‘Hurricane.’
Rising Yorkshire noise-merchants – FERAL FAMILY – have unleashed their latest single: “Spice King”, taken from their debut EP ‘PLAYTEST’ (due 12 May).
STREAM “SPICE KING” ON ALL SERVICES HERE
Arriving as a fiery follow-up to playful, Spaghetti Western-inspired single “Wee Van Bee”, “Spice King” is an equally cinematic cut that thunders and wails like an interplanetary apocalypse.
Inspired by Frank Herbert’s visionary science-fiction saga ‘Dune’, the track is as vital and mind-bending as the novel’s own precious currency with Feral Family’s rambunctious sounds elevating listeners to an altered state.
Hailing from a remote East Coast town overlooking the North Sea, it was perhaps inevitable that the band were drawn to the bleak landscapes of Herbert’s imagined worlds and to dreams far beyond. As guitarist Oscar explains:
“After listening religiously to the Dune soundtrack, I started playing around with different loops and synth samples. I loved the chaos the soundtrack brought — it transported me right into the harsh, desolate environment of Arrakis. I wanted to create something dark and heavy, that lets the chaos consume you in the chorus.”
An epic adventure destined for the furthest reaches of the imagination, vocalist Jamie adds:
“It’s a story of powerhunger — how a group can take an innocent life and mould it into an obedient being through deviancy, manipulation and by hooking someone up with a potent substance. They become another chess piece on your board, a play toy for your pleasure that you can discard at your will and with no consequence.”
Produced, mixed and mastered by Liam Radburn at Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton, the new track is taken from Feral Family’s debut EP ‘PLAYTEST’. Set for release on 12 May, the EP will be available digitally and on a limited run of 10” vinyl.
MICHAEL J. BENJAMIN is pleased to share “The Deal Has Long Gone Down”.
STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE
Having introduced himself with a gorgeous acoustic version of this track earlier this year, the young Dutch singer-songwriter has now unveiled its masterly studio version. Produced in London by Jon McMullen, best known for his work with Wet Leg and Michael Kiwanuka, “The Deal Has Long Gone Down” will tingle the hairs on the back of your neck as it evokes the spirits of Johnny Cash or Leonard Cohen.
A masterclass of technique and tone, Michael’s quietly defiant guitar playing and foreboding baritone vocal only serve to deepen the impression of a chilling song that looks out upon the prospect of looming environmental catastrophe and an uncertain future. As Benjamin says of single’s reflective subject matter:
“I guess it expresses my fears for the modern climate we all live in, a changing world in danger of moving towards something dark and despairing. When the fortune-teller at the crossroads loses belief, you know it’s tough times ahead.”
I often feel like a musical James Bond with a strong mission and purpose to fulfill, one that is not actualized without the sacrifice of living a ‘normal’ life.
My new song, “Catch Me,” was written from the perspective of being an independent female artist, traveling around the world to share my music and passion with others.
I have always felt alone on this journey,
as it involves sacrificing romantic relationships and time with friends.
I could never clearly express this burning desire in me to keep creating and moving forward, which has become much like a double edged sword.
💃 Stream “Catch Me” via your preferred platform 💃
Check out my stint as a female James Bond in the the official video for “Catch Me,”
shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on YouTube
“Catch Me” began as a simple piano hook with a jazzy melody. When I got into the studio to produce it, it took on a whole new life of its own, with a massive electronic drop that I can never get out of my head.
I want listening to this song to get you excited.
It’s meant to capture the thrill of adventure and the feeling of dancing through loneliness.
I say what’s on my mind. I only ever look behind to see how far I’ve come.
Growing up, my father would always give me advice to stop worrying about the past, saying, “That’s rearview mirror stuff.” It stuck with me and reminds me that when you do look back, you can see all the achievements you’ve made in your wake.
Writing “Catch Me” has taught me to accept the fact that there will be sacrifice along the way of following your purpose, but if you have faith and fearlessness, eventually you will succeed.
I don’t think I actually am ready to be caught yet, but I’ll let you know when I am 😉
Thank you for listening,
Apryll Aileen
A Canadian indie-folk artist of Mauritius descent and based in Toronto, Sumaroo previously released 2017’s Do You Notice EP, a set of five songs that included double-tracked vocals from Sumaroo warmly tucked in with other instruments. Sumaroo began writing songs that were more true to his artistic identity after Piggyback’s first single “No One Likes The Kid” acted as a catalyst. Those songs will ultimately form Sumaroo’s latest EP. The EP itself follows singles “No One Likes The Kid” and “Piggyback”.
With gentle energy and a devotion to commitment, Sumaroo presents Piggyback, his latest 5-song EP.
The Institutes are back with new single “INSIDE OUT”.
The track will be supported by an accompanying music video starring acclaimed actor Steven Cree, to celebrate the release of a Limited Edition pressing of their debut album COLOSSEUMS on stunning 180g heavyweight ‘splatter’ Vinyl (out 17 March).
WATCH “INSIDE OUT” OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE || STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE
Responding to popular demand, atmospheric Indie rockers The Institutes release an updated version of fan favourite “INSIDE OUT” – rebooted with a new mix and strings arrangement, to celebrate the release of a stunning re-pressing of their debut album COLOSSEUMS, which will be available as a beautiful 180g heavyweight ‘splatter’ vinyl (out 17 March, via 42’s Records). With the first vinyl pressing selling out in 2022, the repressing is available pre-order now here.
Marking the new album reissue, the band have created a lush new version of “INSIDE OUT”, as a new digital single. Enhanced by a new string arrangement and layered with ethereal ambient soundscapes that build on a solid groove to an explosion of guitars. Speaking about the themes within the track and how this new version came together, Hally, co-songwriter and lead guitarist, says:
“[“Inside Out”] is an insight into the struggles of the modern-day adult – a search for the coping mechanisms of day-to-day commitments, that can feel empty and unrewarding, but inside the struggle there is hope, we just need to find it.
We’re all fans of the indie orchestral marriage of tunes such as Bittersweet Symphony, F.E.A.R, Whatever by Oasis but also the mood and journey Radiohead create with their arrangements… Myself and recent addition to the band, Alan Ferguson, wrote a string arrangement, working around the build of the song trying to achieve something more epic, without crossing the line and it sounding like a Disney score! The wonderful Julia Violinista kindly performed the arrangement, and we remixed the track with her added strings.”
“INSIDE OUT” arrives with a brand new official music video, featuring a powerful leading performance from acclaimed Scottish actor Steven Cree (Outlander, Terminator: Dark Fate, Churchill, Maleficent). Introduced to the band by none -other than Robert Carlyle, Hally explains of the new visual collaboration:
“Out of the blue Scottish actor Robert Carlyle (Begbie in Trainspotting!) contacted us to tell us how much he loved the song and at the same time introduced us to his friend, and as we now know, all round top bloke and a fellow Scottish actor, Steven Cree, with a view to working on a film to go with the song.
This was a massive compliment, and we were over the moon. Over a few beers with Steven an idea formed to bring to life the story of “INSIDE OUT” on film, with Cree as the lead protagonist. We shot the film and Phil from our label 42’s Records suggested we update the recording to match the emotion contained in the film, and release this as a single… Steven Cree is a genius and perfectly conveys these raw emotions in his powerful leading performance in the accompanying film – the geezer deserves an Oscar.”
I remember waking up one Sunday morning just feeling very empty, and feeling like there was a hole in my chest that was just growing bigger and bigger. I turned my phone off that day and just wanted to disappear from the world for a little bit and that’s when I sat down at my piano and instantly poured my heart out. That’s how “Six Feet Under” came to be.
Hear “Six Feet Under” on streaming platforms everywhere now.
Trying to let my demons win, so that I don’t have to fight
I want listeners to know that they’re not alone in the way they feel, if they’re ever feeling like they’re not enough or better off not in this world that there is hope and they’re loved by so many people.
Thanks for listening,
Maddy Little
While some artists work to master their chosen genre and others may even manage to define one, Alex Whorms crafts music that is essentially a genre unto itself. From her beloved piano, the Hamilton singer, songwriter and screen composer flows freely and flawlessly between styles and sounds, gracefully blending classic singer-songwriter pop, jazz, rock, folk and almost anything else that strikes her fancy — while investing everything with honest tales and authentic emotions drawn from her own life and experiences.
Even she has trouble assigning it a name. “I’ve struggled to explain my sound for a long time,” she laughs. “The ideas I have are all over the place. I’m inspired by so many different styles.”
Not bad for someone who didn’t — and wouldn’t — listen to the radio until a few years ago. A self-described “classical music kid” who became a “musical theatre kid” in high school, Whorms went from practicing piano five hours a day to reading charts in pit bands and conducting choirs while still in her teens. She loved the dramatic melodies, the lyrics that told stories. She could handle Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Rodgers and Hammerstein. What she couldn’t handle was the Top 40. “I hated it,” she admits. “Pop music seemed so disingenuous to me when I was growing up. I used to have an iPod that I would listen to in the car so I didn’t have to hear the radio. I would go to the library, grab whatever CDs looked interesting, load them in and put them on shuffle.”
Houston-bred rapper Yung Pooda unveils his latest music video release, “Already Know,” featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Angelica Vila via It’s a 10 Records. The official music video from the buzzing rapper premiered earlier today via Bet Jams/ YouTube. Watch HERE. Recently, Pooda’s latest hit garnered attention on massive coveted playlists such as Spotify’s ‘Most Necessary’ ‘State of Mind,’ ‘B.A.E’ and Apple Music’s ‘Friday Night’ ‘New In Hip Hop’ ‘It’s Lit!’ and ‘BASE:Line.’
Listen to “Already Know” featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Angelica Vila HERE.
Yung Pooda brings the flare from the south to N.Y.C. in the Starr Mazzi-directed music video. The music video draws a distinct vivid picture for the smooth-sailing Cool & Dre produced record complemented by multi-platinum achieving artist A Boogie wit da Hoodie, acclaimed R&B singer Angelica Vila and a special cameo appearance from Grammy-nominated artist Fat Joe who blesses Pooda with a Terror Squad chain and official co-sign.
Within the last few years, Pooda has received critical acclaim for the array of hits he’s released, including “Forever Tippin” with DJ Chose, “Chicken N Grits” with DreamDoll and Trey Songz, “Drop,” and more. Each release has garnered significant press praise, including BET, Revolt, Houston Chronicle, Houston Press, Earmik, Lyrical Lemonade, Hot New Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop DX, The Source, Kazi Magazine, Rolling Out, Flaunt Magazine, and more.
Be on the lookout for Yung Pooda’s debut project Vivid Pictures set to arrive Spring of 2023.
PRETZELLE is a four-member Thai female vocal group under 54 Entertainment. The group consists of INC, ICE, AUMAIM, and GRACE. PRETZELLE made their debut in May 2020 with their first album, PRETZELLE DAY. Two songs from the album were featured as OSTs for a Thai TV drama called Love Revolution on PPTV and a Korean animation called Teteru on KBS1. Since their debut, they have released more than ten singles and EPs collectively and have received praise on social media, hit the top of “Best of T-Pop” lists on Spotify, and were nominated for the Best Female Group by Thailand’s TOTY Music Awards 2021. PRETZELLE plans to continue to grow their fanbase and be one of the artists to break T-Pop into the International market.
LA-based singer, songwriter, and sinister-pop performance artist, ONICKS (they/them), is paying homage to Britney Spears with their first release of 2023, “Toxic.” An iconic song that’s already very dark and sexy, ONICKS was determined to recreate it with their own vision. ONICKS elaborates; “I
studied many iconic hits from the 80’s in order to get my accent as authentic as possible. My producer Jakaval (Jordie Arrieta) created the PERFECT ONICKS meets the 80’s track. We made sure to use some of Britney’s signature musical accents throughout, while also recreating this song to be even darker than the original, in true ONICKS fashion.”
Following the success of their previous singles “No Problems” and “Illuminati,” which is now sitting at almost 2.5M streams; “Toxic” came to fruition when Streamy Award Winner Brandon Rogers asked ONICKS to create a cover for his new YouTube series, “Bryce.” In addition, Brandon will be co-starring, directing and producing the upcoming music video for “Toxic” for the first time in his career. ONICKS; an artist who has emerged from the well of despair to bring hope to those that are on the same or parallel journeys. Being a strong voice for others to receive inspiration from has always been a
shining light throughout any project ONICKS takes on. Merging the worlds of Electropop, Alternative R&B, Trap, and Pop to form their own genre coined: “Sinister-POP” – they are defining a new sound featuring raw and mesmerizing lyrics which appeal to all generations, sexualities, genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. “Blurring the lines between masculine and feminine is my entire DNA. I
don’t make music for “he, she, straight, gay, etc”…I make music that any human can sing for themselves” ONICKS states.
Los Angeles-based galactic dream pop artist POLARTROPICA, recently crowned LA Weekly’s Best Indie Pop Band, is a force in the music scene, creating a genre of ethereal synth psychedelia that you’ve never heard before. Following up their first US Tour and residency at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles, Polartropica released their first full-length LP ‘Dreams Come True’ to sparkling reviews.
With Polartropica’s latest singles featured in NYLON and NPR as well as landing acclaim from the likes of Billboard and LADYGUNN, among others, Polartropica is an artist on the rise not to be missed. Most recently, they headlined the Troubadour and LA PRIDE’s Hollywood Main Stage, in addition to opening for Poppy at The Novo (Los Angeles) and House of Blues (San Diego).
Their newest single “Do You Wanna Play” is a sports and hot crush anthem, a tribute to the human endurance and spirit.
Rising alt-folk act – MORNING TOURIST – has unveiled a new video for his recent single: “Small Flame”, taken from his brand new album ‘The Endless Eve’ (due Summer 2023).
WATCH THE “SMALL FLAME” VIDEO HERE || STREAM VIA ALL SERVICES HERE
The alias of alt-folk musician Sean McKinney – Morning Tourist – follows the release of his recent single “Small Flame” with a heartwarming new video for the track.
Directed by old friend and videographer Becky Dorgan, and starring his sausage dog Ted, the new visuals touch on themes of love and loneliness. As Morning Tourist explains:
“When the time came to make the video for “Small Flame”, I had recently found myself living on my own with a dog for the first time. This was during a period of pretty significant change in my life and as it happened Ted became a helpful constant at a time of upheaval and uncertainty. It seemed a sweet idea to make a sort of love letter to our simple life together.”
Conceived “in the Robert Rodriguez, Kevin Smith-esque school of indie film” where you make do with what you have and keep the budget low by utilising things you already have access to, the artist adds:
“I think the time lapse effect and single location evokes the idea of a dependable shelter or retreat from the outside world. Ted usually dislikes me playing the guitar, typically leaving the room when I pick it up: I think because it means I can’t stroke him. So I appreciated his cooperation in that regard and also for allowing us, despite some reluctance, to attach a small camera mount to his back. He’s a good boy.”
Brighton (UK) punks THE BAR STOOL PREACHERS have released new single and video for ‘Lighthouse Keeper’. ‘Lighthouse Keeper’ is the third single off their upcoming new album ‘Above The Static,’ which is out the 31st March via Pure Noise Records. Stream the latest singles and pre-order is available now – HERE.
Speaking about the new single ‘Lighthouse Keeper’frontman Tom McFaull said “Vulnerable, beautiful and moving. Recorded live on it’s first take, Lighthouse Keeper may well be the most beautiful song the Bar Stool Preachers ever create. Guaranteed to bring even the hardest of hearts to their knees with it’s life affirming message of strength, and individuality. Lighthouse Keeper is a song for everybody, and heralds the importance of acceptance, patience and kindness in a world that is so often cruel and quick to conformity. Whatever you want to do, do it. Whoever you want to be, be it. Live proud, live loud, and know that you are so, so loved. It takes more strength to be yourself in a world that demands perfection, than any version that somebody else wants you to be, so be yourself, because that’s enough.”
Canadian singer/songwriter Tara MacLean has been an internationally renowned and award winning recording and touring artist for 25 years. She released her first album with the Nettwerk Music Group in 1996 and Sony Music Publishing Canada. Since then has been signed with Capitol Records and EMI Canada with her band Shaye. She has made six solo albums and two with the band.
Tara has recently received the Senate of Canada Medal for her activist work in her community. She finished a run of three summer seasons with her hit theatre show that she wrote, produced and directed called, “Atlantic Blue- The Stories of Atlantic Canada’s Iconic Songwriters.” in Charlottetown, PEI. The summer of 2019 saw Atlantic Blue produced by the world famous Charlottetown Festival playing three nights a week to sold out crowds.
Tara received the SOCAN songwriter of the year award as well as Solo Recording of the Year for her latest album, “Deeper” at the PEI Music Awards in 2020. Deeper was nominated for Pop Album of the Year at ECMA 2020. Her duet with Catherine MacLellan, This Storm, received the award for Song of the Year. She performed “Songs from Atlantic Blue” in Concert with the PEI Symphony Orchestra. She received the Stompin’ Tom Award for outstanding contribution to music in the region at the 2021 ECMAs.
Tara MacLean is an environmental and social justice activist, a zen student, a poet, a playwright, an author and public speaker.
She resides in her home province of Prince Edward Island but also spends time on her farm in Salt Spring Island, BC. Her greatest joy is being a mother to her three beautiful girls, Sophia, Stella and Flora.
NYC heavy pop project Pink Mexico announce their signing to Quiet Panic Records and share the single “Dungeonhead”. This single serves as a psych-fueled and reverb-juiced entry point into the uncertain world explored on the upcoming Mirrorhead album, which arrives on May 19th.
Discussing “Dungeonhead”, Pink Mexico’s Robert Preston Collum calls it “a track about never feeling comfortable in one’s own skin while reflecting on the obscurities of life during a time when the regular version of confusing and fucked up is even more fucked up and confusing”.
Mirrorhead is the first album release from Pink Mexico since 2020’s Idiot Piss Illiterate (Broken Clover Records) and was written and recorded during the period that album was released.. While Idiot Piss Illiterate rode on a frantic garage rock undercurrent, Mirrorhead swaps ragged pace for bruising waves of heavy sound (“Junkie Smile”, “Victimhead”, “Shame”) interspersed with moments of stripped-back exposure (“Fuck It I Quit”, “Muring Calm”). The result is Pink Mexico’s most definite and tangible work. “Mirrohead” is not only a record but a recollection of memories and experiences embroidered through experimentation and through the reconstruction of self. Through the unknown, Collum revisited music writing and re-imagined his work, tracing a new and personal path.
Mirrorhead was produced, recorded, engineered and mixed by Jeremy Scott. Robert Preston Collum wrote all songs, sings, and plays drums, guitar & synth on the album. Additional tracking was provided by fellow band mates Grady Walker providing bass and Paul Blackwell on guitar.
Do LaB have announced the complete music lineup for the 20th anniversary of Lightning in a Bottle, North America’s original boutique festival taking place Memorial Day Weekend at Buena Vista Lake in Southern California this May 24-29, 2023. These talent additions offer a first glimpse at the immersive environments of The Stacks, The Grand Artique, The Junkyard, and The Compass in addition to the full day by day artist lineups.
Beyond its primary stages – Lightning, Thunder, and Woogie – LIB has long been known for its other creative, other-worldly habitats where attendees can discover new artists and stumble upon outlandish surprises.
The Stacks will continue its reign as the festival’s bass music community stage and breeding ground for the genre’s next generation. The stage is thoughtfully curated to offer rising producers the chance to be introduced to LIB fans before their time comes to play the event’s larger stages. This year, The Stacks welcomes rising US talent like Abelation, Kaipora, All:Lo Collective – the brainchild of Park Breezy, Thought Process and TF Marz, as well as Canada’s Mythm, UK riser Rohaan, and many more.
For more info on VIP tickets, visit https://www.libfestival.org/tickets.
Highsnobiety introduces Issue #30, featuring notoriously shy 24-year old rap sensation, Central Cee.
In the new conversation with Simran Hans with accompanying photos by Joe Cruz and styling by Highsnobiety’s Fashion Director Sebastian Jean, Central Cee gives a rare, candid take on: rejecting a Rolex from Drake, why clothing is like “choosing your skin”, writing lyrics at 14-years-old, and the time Diddy asked him for a selfie.
Despite his fame, Central Cee dressed himself for the cover, a nod to his love for designer tracksuits that has kept his Instagram following closely monitoring his feed for years. Central Cee wears Thom Browne alongside his own hat and custom jewelry.
Elsewhere in the issue are other champions of taste including: Reign Judge, Emma D’Arcy, and Montell Fish, features on Dover Street Market’s Rose Bakery, the carabiner, and the work of menswear designer Connor McKnight. Alongside the editorial refocus, and first-ever in-print Highsnobiety Beauty section, the magazine has been physically re-sized.
As Editor-in-Chief Willa Bennett notes, “So, with the help of our many writers, editors, and contributors around the world, I present to you a reshaped Highsnobiety: We aren’t just a fashion magazine, but a podium for new perspectives on style.”
On what Drake said to him the night before the shoot: “I got this for you, by the way,” Drake said to him. “He actually tried to buy me a Rolex I already had,” he says sheepishly, gesturing to the rose-gold watch on his wrist. “I said, ‘Oh, I’ve got that one already.’”
On personal style:Letting someone else pick out [my] outfits would be, “my worst nightmare.” … “Clothes is like your skin innit? Can’t let a man choose my skin, you know what I mean?”
On writing lyrics as a 14-year-old:“I wouldn’t rap no bullshit about the street life that I didn’t know – I was a kid. It was about my feelings.”
On the first time he stepped into a recording studio:“I heard my voice clear in my microphone. I felt like the man in the booth,” he remembers.
On his relationship with his fans and the Internet:“One thing I wouldn’t mind reiterating, is that I do not do marketing. I hate marketing. And I’m not marketing. I’m just living my life.”
On why fame doesn’t excite him:“What’s to fantasize about now? You’re either famous or you’re super rich and you’re insensitive to the value of money. I’m not super rich, but I’m famous to some extent, so I’ve seen things. Money don’t excite these people, and fame don’t excite me.”Read the full interview on Highsnobiety.com 
Buzzing Los Angeles-based rapper JELEEL! teams up with Armani Whiteon the video for their latest single, “GNARLY!” Watch it HERE via 10K Projects.
Directed by Mattias Russo-Larsson, the visual takes place in a deserted junkyard where JELEEL! has full reign to showcase his antics. From doing pull-ups on metal beams to golfing off a shipping container, the rapper’s moves sync up perfectly with the playfulness of the song. Soon, Armani White joins in on the fun, as the two are seen vibing in a golf cart while dirt bikers zoom around the duo.
“GNARLY!” offers another glimpse into JELEEL!’s upcoming debut album REAL RAW!, following his last single “RIDE THE WAVE!” which The FADER hailed calling JELEEL! “a relative newcomer quickly taking world by storm and stealing some hearts in the process.”REAL RAW! is slated to arrive this Spring.
KROOKED KINGS DROP NEW SINGLE ‘ COMING OF AGE’// LISTEN HERE
RELEASED TODAY VIA NOBODY GETS IT
With a busy SXSW ahead and a new album on the way produced by surf darling Day Wave, Salt Lake City based indie rock quintet Krooked Kings continue to build the rising fervor around them with the reveal of new single, ‘Coming Of Age’. A vibrant indie-pop cut showcasing energetic vocals atop driving guitars, the track is another testament as to why this group is grabbing attention.
A grass roots band who were raised in the Mormon faith before taking the decision to walk away from the religion and embrace music, Krooked Kings are a unique band with a unique story. Set to be a sleeper hit of SXSW, the rising group are set for a big few months.
rock band Broadside shares a brand new single, “Cruel” featuring Brian Butcher of The Home Team, out now via SharpTone Records. The upbeat track underscores the deeply emotional lyrics that tackle what it feels like to face your fears when it feels like the world is trying to bring you down.
Listen to “Cruel” now HERE.
“This song is about facing your fears,” shares vocalist Ollie Baxxter. “For years, I’ve allowed my dreams to slip out of my hands from things I can’t control. ‘Cruel’ as a song, is about hitting the nail on the head, allowing yourself to be washed out in the headlights of oncoming traffic. If you’ve got something to lose, this world is cruel, or it can be. So hold on tight.”
The band also shared the accompanying video for the track today. Directed by Sam Link, the video follows the band as they pull off a hotel heist. Watch the video now HERE.
BC singer-songwriter Genevieve Charbonneau looks for the light in the darkness with her new single ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
“Though ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ is a breakup song, it’s really about using music to process the grief and find hope in the life after,” says Genevieve. “Producer Adrian Dolan composed an incredible string section to accompany my melody and lyrics and I decided to use Leonard Cohen’s very popular and hauntingly beautiful song ‘Hallelujah’ as a reference. The structure of the verses echoes that of his song, and there are also several direct references lyrically.”
Based on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley, Genevieve crafts tales of love, loss and rural living in between raising her three sons, harvesting veggies from the garden, and hauling firewood to fuel her earthen home. Her music is rooted in folk and old-time country but incorporates bluegrass rhythms, Americana and pop. Her songs turn effortlessly from insightful love ballads to rollicking political hootenannies.
For 5 years, Genevieve fronted the band Genevieve and the Wild Sundays, and toured across Vancouver Island, BC, and Ireland. She later joined forces with singer-songwriter Jack Connolly to create the folk power duo Heartwood. Genevieve has played many music festivals, including Vancouver Island Music Fest, Rifflandia, Islands Folk Festival, Coombs Bluegrass Festival, and ArtsWells.
Genevieve’s new single ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit: genevievemusic.ca.
Love Moor offers up new 6-track EP LOVE, a heartfelt and sultry project that touches on all aspects of the concept – falling in and out of it. Lovetaps into many sides of the burgeoning artist and shares glimpse of her vulnerability alongside her bold and playful messages. In making the EP, Love realizes her self-worth and puts herself first.
“My EP LOVE is really just an extension of myself and my inner world.
It encompasses the sexy, the silly, and the lover in me. I wanted to show the
depth of true love and all its forms… from vulnerability to strength, insecurity to confidence, desire burning from lust to comfort. To me, love is more than a feeling. It’s an action and a person and a place. It’s the ultimate expression
of our human nature.” – Love Moor
In an increasingly cruel world, Love Moor offers a respite for tired and broken hearts. Her music screams, “why care less when you could love more?”
An island girl with southern roots, Love Moor brings a deliciously eclectic mix of influences to her music. Her warm, raspy vocals sing evocative stories about relationships, sexuality, empowerment, and heartbreak with mature introspection.
Love was born in New York and raised in Miami by her Caribbean parents, who laid the foundation for the kind of artist she is today. With her father working as a DJ and her mom who came to America to become a singer, Love was destined for stardom. At home it was Diana Ross, Bob Marley, and Amy Winehouse on rotation; anything with soul that made you dance.
As she puts it, she “became a woman” in Alabama; so spending an important period of her life there put another indelible mark on her music. But whether it’s seeped in R&B, neosoul, hip-hop, or alternative sounds, there is always a consistent stream of island vibes coming from the lyrics or groovy production in her songs. Listening to her music lets you soak up her electric energy from the soundwaves. She says, “I just wanna be everybody’s homegirl!”
bexx is a seriously exciting new talent in the UK pop scene. Her eclectic, euphoric alt-pop sound unabashedly draws from influences within 80’s synth-pop, pop-punk, classic rock, and current artists like Rina Sawayama and Lady Gaga.
Taking inspiration from subjects including queer dating, body image, mental health, and her favourite romcoms, bexx uses her songwriting to carve out space for fans to feel accepted and hopeful even in their lowest moments.
Her latest single “Stupid” narrates missing someone who clearly doesn’t miss you, and being furious with them about it. Featuring fun, playful lyrics, bouncy melodies and an energetic beat, the single shimmers with colourful synths. Inspired by the likes of Fickle Friends, Valley and Carly Rae Jepsen, bexx sings, “Hate your stupid eyes in the morning light, your stupid mouth when you kiss me right, how your voice notes made me feel like home, I feel kind of stupid waking up alone.”
“Stupid” is off of her upcoming EP, SUCKER, which is a collection of songs that shows the songwriter admitting to being an idiot when it comes to dating. These are all anti-love songs, trying to deliver something cathartic for people in the midst of the horrible world of dating.bexx has headlined Nottinghamshire Pride and supported the likes of Fickle Friends and Deco on tour, as well as being featured in the likes of Wonderland, Earmilk, and Rolling Stone. bexx in 2021-22 was about experimenting and finding her style – bexx in 2023 is fully cooked and ready for world domination. With her debut EP due in the first half of 2023, bexx is rapidly heading towards an exciting future, and it’s one you’ll want to be a part of.
“So Bad Together” describes that fantasy relationship between two magnetic personalities who are consumed with each other, passionate for each other and yet through that intense, gripping love, may or may not be great for each other. These are the relationships that Hollywood idealizes and the media hypes and the paparazzi photographs. I idolized it all… who doesn’t want that all-consuming, stunning Hollywood romance? Hollywood makes those relationships seem so enticing, sexy, and intoxicating and while one part of me is aware that most of that is usually a facade, I can’t deny that it still intrigues me. – Tash Blake
An accomplished singer/songwriter, producer, and creator of his artist owned label Art Society Music Group (ASMG), Kevin Ross has risen to the forefront of R&B culture. Ross has over 100 million streams and counting, #1 Billboard entries on the Adult R&B Songs Chart, and countless sold-out shows. From working with esteemed artists such as Toni Braxton, Trey Songz, Tank, Ne-Yo, and T.I,. to being nominated by the Soul Train Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and iHeart Radio Music Awards, Kevin Ross continues to forge ahead with his signature style of elevated R&B, rich with eloquent songcraft and magnetic sonic architecture.
Kevin Ross’ single “Sweet Release” saw an impressive streak in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart. It also broke the record for longest run with the #1 requested song on Sirius XM’s Heart & Soul. The single is a part of Ross’ latest album Drive 2 which bowed at #1 on the iTunes Top R&B/Soul Albums Chart. “Sweet Release” follows his track “Looking For Love” which vaulted onto the Top 10 of the Billboard Adult R&B Radio Play Chart.
Currently, Ross’ single “Look My Way” from his upcoming Midnight Microdose project is making major waves on Spotify while rapidly climbing the Top 20 of Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart. When “Look My Way” debuted, Kevin Ross was the first independent artist with two singles on the Adult R&B Airplay Chart at once. “Look My Way” is swiftly gaining traction after debuting as the #3 most added song behind Tank and SZA with 25 new stations adding in the first week.
Kevin Ross’ latest release, “Show & Prove”, is sure to follow the Billboard-charting buzz of “Look My Way” with up-tempo, captivating vocals over decadent beats. Kevin Ross continues to stay ahead of the curve and keeps surprising people with the new heights he’s reached as an independent R&B gamechanger.
Singer/songwriter, producer, screenwriter and actor Roskamala is set to make her mark as a creative visionary with her thoughtful musical releases full of evocative storytelling wrapped in a unique sonic fusion. Born and raised in Thailand, Roskamala became an actress and fashion TV host. Realizing that her dream was to pursue music full time, the songwriter moved to the United States and teamed up with acclaimed Grammy award-winning producers Ghian Wright (Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Janet Jackson, Foo Fighters) and Robert L. Smith (Lady Gaga, David Bowie, U2) for her debut EP.
Roskamala’s upcoming EP entitled truth she told, is an existential narrative on the trials and tribulations of what it is like to be human and how our experiences shape who we are. She confides, “We all have our own stories to tell of good times and bad times. We tend to focus too much on the bad times, but one thing I believe in is hope. You will find this in every one of my songs if you have the right attitude and learn from our shared experiences. Life can be tough but we all have the power to make it better and create a wonderful future.” Roskamala brilliantly relays these extreme emotions in relatable narratives, touching the listener and inspiring them to try and find hope and understanding that they’re not alone in every struggle. Sonically, (insert name of album) features a variety of genres including dark pop, R&B, rock, and even soul for an intoxicating collection of songs.
Leading single “Kiss Me Amnesia” is a dark alt-pop song that delivers a stirring message about the ghosts of the past and the burdensome effects of unhealed trauma. The single explores the concept of two co-existing worlds, Reality and Amnesia World, that connect the past and present through a karmic bond where former relationships, repressed feelings and damaging patterns all intertwine in a fateful experience. She confides, “The message is that if you don’t make peace with your past it will always haunt your future reality.” Euphoric and moody, “Kiss Me Amnesia” features intimate vocals that glide effortlessly over cinematic dipped electronic soundscapes for a beautifully raw and introspective musical journey.
“Loving Mess featuring Lia Apa” is a vibrant and colorful pop anthem about accepting your own faults and moving confidently in the game of love. With soul-drenched soaring vocals over bright kaleidoscopic soundscapes, “Loving Mess” is a playful and teasing song about daring someone to entice us. Roskamala confides the single, “was written from acceptance and self-awareness. You are what you think and what if we can surprise ourselves with a new discovery and break the cycles by thinking differently. Seeing our flaws positively. What if we fail 1000 times and 1001st time we succeed? It’s worth failing, isn’t it? Instead of worrying about the future or our issues, the song turns it into a game of love.”
“Beautiful Disease” is a slow-burning passionate song all about love and obsession and “being in a situation where you are trapped…you want to get out but you can’t,” confides the singer. Roskamala’s seductive honey-dipped vocals flow over intoxicating melodies for a vulnerable song about yearning and escape.
“Out of The Maze” is a song all about living against the norms. With decadent electronic pop landscapes under colliding melodies full of heart, “Out of The Maze” is a dance pop banger sure to entice with every note.
“Chameleon” is a gorgeous ballad full of soulful melodies and delicate piano. The track is all about the relatable theme of being a people pleaser and being trapped in a situation to where one looses their identity.
A true artist, Roskamala is dynamic and mult-faceted. Her debut album is imaginative and creative, capturing the essence of love, loss and new beginnings. truth she told is out 2023 worldwide.
MICROWAVE have released emotive new single‘‘Ferrari’ on Pure Noise Records.
“Ferrari is about coming to terms with your fears and not allowing them to dictate how you act. It’s relaxing your grip on things and taking care of yourself. We were listening to a lot of Spirit of the Beehive, Big Thief, Sorry, Foxing and Frank Ocean while working on it, which speaks to the moody, chill, trippy, Neo-soul vibe we were going for.” says the band
London-based producer and composer CJ Mirra reveals his brand new project CJ’s Mirra Maze taking shape as maximalist, neo-psych pop music through an electronic lens.
Check out his intoxicating standout-debut ‘Self Medicate’ below.
Arriving as an infectious, beat-heavy, hypnotic piece, Self Medicate balances between sharp electronics and hook-laden melodies, peppered with psychedelics. The outcome toes a line entirely of its own, somewhere between Tame Impala and Toro Y Moi with the inventive allure of LA Priest.
Taking inspiration from the world around him, lyrically Self Medicate was born in response to addiction.. Sharing more, CJ explained; “We all have the instinct to self-medicate with our addictions of choice, for me, it was filling the gap of finding a deeper sense of purpose.
When I watched a film about a guy who taught himself to surf and immersed himself in everything around surfing to help him overcome addiction and depression. The water, the connection to nature, the meditative quality of waiting for the right conditions, the rush of getting the wave, the physicality – all combined to be powerful enough to change his life. That really made an impact and resonated with my own experiences in recent years”.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
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