Growing up in the early 90’s & 2000’s pop punk/ pop rock scene, for Taylor Acorn it was never a phase. Hailing from the small North Central Pennsylvania town of Wellsboro, Taylor had always dreamed of a career in music and in 2014, dropped out of Kutztown University to pursue just that, setting her sights for Nashville in 2017.
With her infectiously relatable releases of “Do That Again”, “In My Head” and “Shapeshifting”, Taylor is now leaving her own footprint in the pop punk community giving her fans a place to feel safe and to feel heard, by tackling tough subjects such as mental health by sharing her own personal struggles. She wants to give her listeners a space where they can feel free and vulnerable, a place where healing is accepted no matter who you are or where you’ve come from.
Certified Depressant Tracklisting
- Sticking Around
- Certified Depressant
- I Think I’m in Love
- Good Enough
- Famous Last Words
- Psycho
- Coma
- Everything Sucks
Canadian singer-songwriter J8KE (Jake Robertson) pulls his artistic skills from a genuine love for music. “Music has saved my life over and over again,” explains J8KE. “It’s the one thing that keeps me going forward and making each day count.” His early musical beginnings trace back to a chance encounter learning chords from his aunt during a summer vacation. From that point on, he learned how to channel his hyperactive energy into music and discovered his passion.
J8KE’s unique blend of acoustic, roots, and pop has led him onto the biggest stages around North America, touring both independently and with his former band, Cardinal Chase. From opening for the likes of The Beach Boys, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Sublime with Rome to scoring radio play around Canada and coverage in Billboard magazine, J8KE’s distinctive sound is demanding near constant attention. His artistry weaves together the noises of off-beat reggae, laid-back acoustic roots, and an observant pop ear to create dynamically engaging recordings and unbelievably energetic live performances. Inspired by artists like Sublime, Jack Johnson, and Justin Timberlake, J8KE’s songwriting ranges in topics from life lessons to personal growth to heartbreak, resulting in a mixture of blissful and nihilistic songs.
In 2019, J8KE released his debut album, Mixtape, and was followed in 2022 by a fun beachy reggae track called “Lemonade.” Stay tuned as J8KE prepares to release a series of new songs in 2023. Keep up with his adventures by following him on Instagram @J8KEmusic.
Atlanta’s hottest rising artist, buzzing rapper, and Slaughter Gang member 21 Lil Harold returns with a new single and music video entitled “Hall Of Fame” via Slaughter Gang/Epic Records today.
Listen to “Hall Of Fame”—HERE. Watch the video—HERE.
On the track, airy Middle Eastern-style guitar snakes around a skittering beat punctuated by samples of an unsheathed sword, produced by Slaughter Gang’s own Kid Hazel. 21 Lil Harold unleashes a flurry of quotable bars as he reminds, “You know I can’t hop up in no truck if it ain’t tinted black,” and warns, “When it come to dropping opps, we in the hall of fame.” Taking it back home and to the streets, he also honors friends and relatives stuck behind bars, giving them a glimpse of the world and offering up a mantra.
Stay tuned for a stunning and cinematic music video to accompany the track.
It kicks off a new season, showcasing his vibrancy and versatility with more music to come very soon.
Earlier this year, he dropped his debut album, AFTER THE CURSE. Beyond generating 10 million-plus streams and counting, HotNewHipHop proclaimed, “The Atlanta rapper’s latest body of work is a strong introduction for those who aren’t familiar. For those that are, it’s a welcomed body of work that showcases his growth and maturity as an artist.”
Stay tuned for more music from 21 Lil Harold soon!
New York-based multi-talented powerhouse and rising star, Rob Roth, has released his new single “Awol,” today. The song, co-written by Rob Roth himself, boasts an infectious hook with powerful lyrics that resonate with anyone who has ever felt disillusioned by the corporate world. The main hook of “Awol” revolves around a universal theme of feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from the world, prompting the powerful lyrics, “I don’t wanna do it no more, think I’m going Awol.” Rob Roth masterfully captures the emotions of those who have experienced being caught in the corporate world’s labyrinth, where individual value can often be overlooked. The song beautifully portrays a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, and ultimately, breaking free from the constraints of societal expectations. “Awol” is a song that masterfully combines Rob Roth’s 90s/00s pop-rock influences; with its guitar riff-driven foundation, uplifting atmosphere, bright synths, and lively percussion. Influenced by artists such as Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Goo Goo Dolls, Avicii, Chainsmokers, among others, Rob Roth aims to evoke a wide range of emotions through his songwriting, encompassing pain, hardship, healing, and love. Collaborating with renowned vocal coach RAab Stevenson, who has worked with top artists like Dave Matthews, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and more, Rob Roth continuously hones his craft to deliver exceptional performances.
Gearing up for a significant moment, acclaimed U.K. singer, songwriter, and performer Absolutely ignites a new single and music video entitled 24 Hours today via Epic Records. Listen HERE and watch the music video HERE. Most importantly, it paves the way for the release of her debut album, Cerebrum, which unlocks an escape into her universe like nothing else. It arrives on November 17, 2023. Pre-order/Pre-save HERE.
The track illuminates her artful integration of sultry R&B, evocative alternative, spacey soul, and intergalactic pop. Once again, she enchants with another otherworldly hook laced with raw emotion. The accompanying visual showcases the depth of her world. We enter her mind’s eye, and an immersive trip unfolds on the screen. Literally falling through the looking glass, she tumbles in an Alice In Wonderland-style sand clock.
You’ll want to spend 24 Hours and more in her world.
Beyond resonating with fans, WONDERLAND chronicled her triumphant turn at Lollapalooza with an exclusive tour diary, proclaiming, “Her recent performance at Lollapalooza stunned crowds and further cemented her sound within the pop scene.”
She continues to serve up scorching anthems. A prior release, Stranger Phase, landed a coveted spot on the Spotify New Pop Picks playlist and earned critical acclaim. FIZZY MAG professed, “This girl’s creativity knows no bounds, and she’s taking us on a wild journey through her world of music.”
Award-winning alt-folk-pop singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Rachael Sage has released of her new full-length studio album, The Other Side (MPress Records/ILS/Virgin). In anticipation, Sage released the empowering first single/video, “Whistle Blow”, the optimistic title track/video “The Other Side”, a third single/video, “Only You” (a sparkling reinterpretation of the ’80s Yazoo classic), and Beatle-esque pop-rock single “Flowers For Free”. The album premiered in The Bluegrass Situation.
Sage’s latest studio album is the most grounded of her illustrious career. The Other Side‘s 15 tracks of emotionally charged and intricately woven music recall the classic, retro-warmth of the ’70s and ’80s, and are as instantly hummable as they are lyrically poignant. With memorable Americana-infused pop hooks and folk-fueled poeticism, Sage’s timeless writing reminds us what’s most important is always worth waiting for, via songs steeped in just the right amount of best-is-yet-to-come optimism.
Blending a myriad of genres and instruments into a cohesive and captivating whole, the album’s musical collaborators include guitarists Jack Petruzzelli (Patti Smith) and James Mastro (Ian Hunter), trumpet player Russ Johnson (Elvis Costello), bassist Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo), and guest vocals from UK pop icon Howard Jones. Track highlights include: “Whistle Blow,” an Americana palette of slide and acoustic guitars, where Sage muses on power dynamics and boundaries; Sage’s folk-pop anthem “The Other Side“, whose memorable gospel-tinged chorus and rapid-fire poeticism make it an instant classic; “I Made a Case” is a poignant, Bacharach-esque duet featuring Howard Jones, with whom Sage has undeniable vocal chemistry; while the ‘60s-influenced “Flowers For Free” is poetic pop-rock at its most adventurous. The record also includes Sage’s interpretations of Yazoo’s classic “Only You”, and Maria McKee’s “Breathe”.
Sage decidedly stretched her range as a producer on The Other Side. String arrangements are equal parts intimate and lush, and there’s a sense of expansiveness that never overtakes her gritty-but-ethereal vocal delivery. Acoustic guitars, fiddles, tympani and trumpets amplify lyrics bound by an appreciation of freedom’s most desired consequence: peace. Detailing her latest album, Sage – a self-described “cancer thriver” – shares, “This record encompasses a high and low search for resilience in this broken world. In ‘No Regrets’ – which I co-wrote with my Dad – I sing ‘I love life in all its aching joy.’ Anyone who lived through the chaos of the last several years and still manages to get out of bed and out into the world has my admiration. I can’t wait to get back out on the road and hear how everyone triumphed, firsthand!”
US Tour Dates
(please see rachaelsage.com for all international appearances)
7/26/23 City Winery Hudson Valley – Montgomery, NY 7/27/23 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival – Goshen, CT 9/07/23 The Mint – Los Angeles, CA 9/08/23 Lost Chord Guitars – Solvang, CA 9/10/23 Refugee House Presents – Visalia, CA 9/12/23 The Lost Church – San Francisco, CA 10/1/23 The Birchmere* – Alexandria, VA 10/14/23 Best Video – Hamden, CT 10/20/23 The Bowery Vault – Nashville, TN (*supporting Marshall Crenshaw) 
In some ways, it’s helpful to conceptualize Tetchy’s music not so much as creating a sound, as creating a place. A place to radically feel. Somewhere that trauma is laid bare, smashed to pieces and then reconstructed through audacious freedom and unabashed pleasure. Perhaps the defining aspect of the burgeoning Tetchy lore is that vocalist/guitarist Maggie Denning is, in her own words, “someone who has very big feelings”. From the band’s earliest releases, her songs have been repositories of visceral emotion; from unshakeable heartbreak and soul-crushing grief to delirious joy and brazen lust.
Amongst these highest highs and the lowest lows, Tetchy craft their expansive and emotional musical universe. A world of whispered hushes that explode into eviscerating screams, and ambient space that gives way to bludgeoning walls of sound. A home to embrace one’s good chaos and to work through bad thoughts
At the heart of Tetchy beats the creative partnership of Denning and drummer-now-guitarist Jesse French, who are the two members that have remained mainstays through the young band’s early shifts into the current lineup backed by Kaitlin Pelkey on bass, and Max Goldstein on drums. While this is the lineup that fans will see clambering over stages throughout the nation, their upcoming EP, All In My Head, wouldn’t exist without trusted Tetchy alums Dylan LaPointe (bass) & Chris Krasnow (guitar), who’s playing you’ll hear on this record and who bought the bones of Denning’s demos to life.
Ultimately, no matter the personnel, Tetchy is a group effort, a family outing replete with awkward conversations, quiet love, and the knowledge that we’ll all get through this together.
Princess Goes, the trio led by the charismatic showmanship and signature voice of vocalist, lyricist, musician and actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under, Lazarus) alongside keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen (Blondie, Cyndi Lauper) and drummer Peter Yanowitz (The Wallflowers, Morningwood), have released the cinematic official video for their new single “BLUR”. Watch here.
It’s the second track to be taken from their highly anticipated sophomore full-length album, ‘Come Of Age’, which arrives on 6 October via the SO In De Goot label.
With artful visuals directed by the award-winning Tim Richardson (Sir Elton John, Billie Eilish), the official video finds Michael C. Hall stuck in a black hole as he croons these haunting lyrics “At best I’m but a blur, if you remember me at all. Fuzzy memories playing on your basement VCR. Found the final payphone, dropped my change and made the call. Picked up – whispered last room on the left. End of the hall.”
“‘BLUR’ opens with a classic Juno-106 synth drone, evoking the early 80’s, flirting with the finality of its own fruition as layers of more synth, bass guitar and drums reveal themselves,” says Matt Katz-Bohen. “Michael’s poignant, aching lyrics and melody go from soft to epic, culminating in an MGMT/Human League chorus of loving synth transcendence: Baby I’m full grown now.”
Crafting a sound all their own that vividly comes to life on stage during their captivating, hypnotic and impassioned live performances, the band have also announced a UK Headline Tour which kicks off on 26 September in Manchester.
‘Come Of Age’ is the trio’s most accessible, yet innovative, work to date, replete with songs that traverse a thrilling and often surprising sonic and lyrical landscape. There’s a clear cohesiveness to the 12 songs on the album (full tracklisting can be found below) that manage to be all at once catchy and intoxicating, soundtrack-y musicscapes for the ages, synth-heavy but multi-faceted. The musical growth on ‘Come Of Age’ was organic, and though onstage and on paper they are a keyboards-drums-vocals band, this album is rife with guitar and bass, instruments that play a bigger role than on previous recordings. The band’s evolution is ongoing and often unearthly, spacy and provocative in the vein of Bowie’s ‘Blackstar’ (David Bowie personally cast Hall to play the lead role of Thomas Newton in his final stage project – ‘Lazarus’ on Broadway).
RICHARD WALTERS is pleased to present “Lost In Your Light”, an elegant new duet with the vocalist Lydia Oliver.
Lifted from his upcoming album ‘Murmurate’ (out 17 November, via Nettwerk), it finds the Oxford-born songwriter pairing fluttering synths and longing orchestral arrangements, with poetic observations on the complexities of love and attraction.
Inspired by a metaphor from the natural world that a friend had used to describe his own love life, it would prove to be a lightbulb moment in the creation of this poignant new solo single. As Walters explains:
“”Lost in Your Light” came from a long talk with a friend – he’d found himself in an endless on/off relationship. He knew it was bad for him, he knew he couldn’t see a future, but he said he was like a moth trapped in her light. I loved the idea, and I think we can all relate – sometimes we can’t help doing the thing that hurts us most.”
Dappled with light and shade, tenderness and brittleness, “Lost In Your Light” is graced by the Kin Records signed artist Lydia Oliver, whose plaintive vocal adds an affecting yin to Walters’ yang across this intimate duet.
“Lost In Your Light” follows recent teaser tracks “After Midnight”, “Anchor”, and “Move On”, all of which will feature on Walters’ upcoming solo album ‘Murmurate’ this Autumn.
Written in 2022 as the world recalibrated to the tides of change, ‘Murmurate’ is an album that ruminates on our human need for real-world relationships and the importance of meaningful connections with those closest to us. Combining unassumingly complex arrangements and openly heart-on-sleeve songs, it’s an album that graciously shifts from nocturnal piano ballads (“All Over”), to sprightly folk/pop poetry (“Long Way Down”), darkly lilting lullabies (“Open Everything”) to longing, love-lorn duets (“Locked Up Never Fade”).
With all tracks performed and written by Richard Walters, ‘Murmurate’ was recorded, produced and mixed by Eliot James, before receiving its final mastering by Dyre Gormsen. Amongst the myriad instruments performed by the pair, listeners will also be able to detect Eliot’s 11 year old son Leland James on cello, plus guest vocalist Lydia Oliver. ‘Murmurate’ is released on the Nettwerk album on 17 November 2023.
Formed in 2019 from lead singer/songwriter Angus Watt’s desire to provoke more dancing within the Victoria, B.C. indie music community, Pastel Blank carries on the torch of such genre-defying luminaries as Talking Heads and Women. Kaleidoscopic guitarwork blends together jagged jabs of funk, soft shades of bossa-nova, and punchy disco beats to create a listening experience that flows between the grooves of indie rock, prog-pop, and new wave.
Produced by longtime band member and musical polymath Connor Head, “Dopamine” is the second single from Pastel Blank’s forthcoming debut album. One of Watt’s desires for the recording in-studio was for the single to express the excitement and playfulness of the soon-to-be infamous Pastel Blank live show. “Dopamine” is about the moment when you realize you’ve been flipping between apps like you’re checking an empty fridge for the 10th time, hoping to feed your receptors something that feels as good as the younger days of however long ago you picked up your phone.
Coyote Eyes, the musical project led by singer-songwriter, Jo Eubanks, has released her latest single, “Fires Burning in the Sky,” today. This powerful track encapsulates themes of resilience, triumph over adversity, and the indomitable spirit of pursuing one’s dreams. “Fires Burning in the Sky” is an anthem of strength, echoing the sentiment of rising from the ashes and defying the odds. It’s a testament to the power of determination and the unshakable will to overcome the impossible. The song celebrates that pivotal moment when every challenge
transforms into fuel for success, and doubters are proven wrong. Coyote Eyes explains, “This is a triumph song for everyone who’s been told their dreams were unrealistic, that they weren’t good enough, or that they’d never make it. It’s a reminder that we can emerge victorious against all odds.”
The single marks a significant collaboration for Coyote Eyes, as she joined forces with Grammy-winning producer and co-writer Danny Johnson [John Legend]. Coyote Eyes shares, “Working with Danny Johnson was an incredible experience. We knew we wanted to create something dynamic, a driving force that felt like a victory cry. When Danny presented his concept for the track, I was instantly hooked. We aimed to evoke a sense of renewal and vindication while maintaining a grounded narrative. This song is profoundly relatable, and that’s what makes it special.”
Pen Pin is the new sun-soaked indie pop project from songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeni Magana and Emily Moore. Both established musicians in their own right, they met while touring with Mitski and started writing and recording their debut album whenever they weren’t on the road. The result of their “pen pinspiration” has become a chill, vintage pop album that sounds and feels like lounging by a Palm Desert pool when the afternoon becomes the dusk.
The whole process of self-producing these songs has captured a moment of inspiration and a joyous collaboration between friends. The LP entitled Pony Up is about these feelings: the spark of inspiration, holding onto happiness, and friendship.
Pen Pin’s single “
Fringe” details capturing a moment in a relationship that is pure joy and recalling that feeling when times get tough. The breezy track features golden-hued vocals, dreamy melodies and nostalgic piano, creating a warm and cathartic musical moment.
Designed to bring you company on your evening walks through the park, Pony Up is set to be released Spring, 2024.
Stockholm indie/pop four-piece – GIRL SCOUT – have announced an extensive run of UK shows this Autumn.
Jumping on the Coach Party bandwagon, the two bands will be embarking on a 13 date stretch together between 26th September – 13th October. With an additional stop at London’s Rough Trade East, Girl Scout will also be launching their brand new EP: ‘Granny Music’ en-route. Details for all dates can be found below – with tickets on sale now.
The ingeniously-titled ‘Granny Music’, the second EP by Girl Scout will be released on 29th September, and will be preceded by the sumptuous new single “Bruises” (out 13th September).
Recalling the tenderest moments of Alvvays, boygenius, or Soccer Mommy, upcoming single “Bruises” is a spectral, brittle indie-rock ballad to rival the best. Showcasing lead singer Emma Jansson‘s vocal spectrum hitting new heartbreaker heights, it’s a song that offers winsome reflection beyond their years on those feelings of getting older and seeing those closest to you in a whole new light. As guitarist Viktor Spasov explains of the track:
“‘Bruises’ is a song about reaching a certain age where you realise that the grown ups and people around you aren’t really grown ups but just kids stuck in older bodies. It’s a song about trying to understand and forgive the wrongdoings or faults that people close to you may have and, in some ways, the whole track is a reminder for myself to try and choose love and patience instead of anger and irritation”.
– Leeds born, London based artist Eden Rain is set to release ‘ I Found My Brain’, a stellar alt-pop single produced by Halfrhymes ( Matilda Mann) on September 7th. Showcasing the attention grabbing vocals and songwriting that have seen Eden gain press support from areas such Dazed, Best Fit and DIY as well as placements on Spotify playlists such as anti-pop, Fresh Finds, New Music Friday and more, the track is another razor sharp entry into a growing catalog. The track is taken from upcoming EP ‘ But I’m Alright Now’, arriving in November alongside headline shows at The Lower Third ( London) and Oporto ( Leeds). Speaking on the release, Eden states:
I found my brain ( last night, down the back of the sofa) – This song was written based partially on mine and partially on my friends dating stories. Its about losing your brain, your identity, yourself, to fit into someone elses view of you. Really important and angry song for me to write because in the past I, and other friends I know, really struggled to feel like we had a voice in relationships / situationships and would just sort of place our brains and comfort out of the picture and do and be whatever for someone who wanted us. It took me a long time of thinking badly about myself that I wasn’t right or enough for someone before I even clocked to wonder if they were right for me.
Most of the songs on my forthcoming LP, Goodbye Patterns, deal with the supernatural. Topics like aliens, werewolves, time loops. “In the Middle” is a song about someone receiving life-altering visions from another dimension and losing their sense of self in the process…. But in a positive way.
Listen to “In the Middle” via your preferred streaming service.
I was listening to “I Am The Walrus” by The Beatles, drawn to the opening line “I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.” I wanted to play with the idea that we could look at our lives as a collective whole instead of as individuals; to explore questions of consciousness, human agency (or the lack thereof), and the individual ego.
The album cover above was painted by my dad in the ’70s. He had originally finished the piece, but when he met my mother, he repainted the face of the woman to be my mother’s face. The painting used to hang in his living room, and I have always loved it. The strangeness of it pairs well with the lyrics of what will be my third full-length record, out on October 6th.
Thank you for listening,
Darryl Kissick
Chicago, US- Knuckle Puck, one of the most celebrated acts in the modern pop-punk scene have announced their new album Losing What We Love to be released 20th October 2023.
Over the last thirteen years the band have nurtured their craft across three albums and have artfully balanced their emotional spectrum, trading in high-tempered and deeply introspective lyricism, but also cutting the tension with an underlying layer of optimism.
But now, with the release of their fourth LP, Losing What We Love, Knuckle Puck are done sugarcoating life’s hard truths. It is a record about coming to terms with exactly that. It is an attempt to lean into the transition between a high point in life to a low point. These songs are a tribute to the familiar while acknowledging that nothing can stay the same forever.
“For a long time, we felt a responsibility to have this overwhelming hopefulness to our lyrics,” Cassasanto explains. “This time around, we started writing more honestly with less intent to sound cool or hopeful. It feels like we’re in a bit of a losing battle with the state of the world, but in the past we’d say, ‘Oh, but it’s all OK!’ Now we’re saying, ‘No, we should be panicking.’ This record feels like more of an expression than a motivational speech.”
Recorded with longtime producer Seth Henderson (State Champs, Real Friends), Losing What We Love follows 2022’s Disposable Life EP and marks the band’s first LP for Pure Noise Records. In many ways, it’s a throwback to their earliest days – not necessarily in sound, but in songwriting essence, tapping into the same collaborative magic they found in bedrooms and garages across Chicago’s south suburbs as teenagers.
The group did far more in-studio writing than ever before during the making of the record, with Taylor pointing to tracks like the album-opening “A New Beginning,” “Worlds Away” and propulsive first single “The Tower” as wholly representative of this new (again) songwriting approach, recalibrating their collective creative ethos while continuing to push their sound forward in ways exciting to both the band themselves and their listeners. Siorek, in particular, brought a number of ideas to the table, offering a percussive perspective shift that’s immediately evident on “The Tower.”
It may have been 13 years since the last record, but Crime In Stereo are back with the announcement of its forthcoming album House & Trance, set for release on 27th October 2023 on Pure Noise Records.
Lead single Hypernormalisation analyses the apathy of people in the face of their imminent demise,
“The wildfires gathered themselves together, advancing enough petition signatures to force a vote on rerouting subterranean magma ducts directly into any east/west commuter corridors. Cities of water rushed in from the sea only to circle the neighbourhood for hours, stymied by alternate side parking.”
The additional streaming song, Books Cannot Be Killed By Fire turns its acerbic eye to recent and ongoing Republican efforts to whitewash American history and restrict access to its truth.
I’m just tryna make fun pop music that tells you something you might already know but in a way you’ve never heard before.
My new single, “Next Chapter,” was inspired by my annoyance with a guy who kept sending me all these books he was reading. He seriously thought he was the smartest person in the room.
Send me a Lana song, I promise I’ll listen, bet you read all the words and think you’re so smart. My god, this line is just too real. It’s almost awkward for me to sing ’cause the boy knows it’s about him. He even came to one of my shows in New York City and I got to sing it to his face. It’s all fun and games now but I still can’t believe I just went with that!
PLAY “Next Chapter” via your preferred platform.FOLLOW for more on TikTok, Instagram & Facebook.
The single artwork above was photographed by my usual collaborator Hrithik Sethi. We wanted to stylistically capture a moment of me peering through a bookshelf at a library.
Always in my back pocket, I added elements to this song over the course of a year. First, I had real drums recorded along with the programmed drums which is something I’d never done before. I also got my friend Cinde to lay down some super anthemic guitars. The most fun part was recording gang vocals for the very final chorus. I did an open call for people when I was still going to school, and we used the school’s studio to shove like… 15 of us in a recording booth where we all sang the oh oh oh‘s in one big chant. It really lifted the track’s energy and I’m so happy I could get it done.
I’m ready for my “Next Chapter” – are you?
Keeping fans adequately fed as they await the band’s highly anticipated debut album, The Hails today announce the second leg of their first ever headline tour. Adding on to their previously announced dates that kick off in two weeks, The Hails will travel coast to coast in celebration of What’s Your Motive, their LP arriving on September 8. Across the tour dates, the band will be joined by other indie breakaway acts Cannibal Kids, Foxtide, Shallow Alcove, and more to be announced. See all tour info here and below.
Upon the announcement of the tour’s 2023 dates, fans took to the internet pleading for more dates to be added in their cities. Never ones to deny people a good time, The Hails added 16 more shows for February 2024. Tickets for the newly announced dates will go on sale on August 31 at 9 am local.
Arriving next Friday, The Hails’ debut album, What’s Your Motive, is a progressively zooming out view of what happens in life when you break cycles of complacency. Moving chronologically through the track list, the focus goes from noticing these changes in yourself, to noticing how these changes need to be made in others, and the permanent misalignment you can feel when you don’t grow alongside people you once knew. An album with a worldview that expands as you listen further, What’s Your Motive is a culmination of every coincidence in life that allowed for the five band members to unite under a refined, experimental sonic identity – Presave.
Tiësto has joined forces with fellow superstars BIA and 21 Savage for the star-studded new summer single, “BOTH,” available everywhere now via Atlantic Records HERE. With the combined star power and infectious melodies and lyrics in this track, it’s set up to be the new worldwide party anthem.
“As a fan of both 21 Savage and BIA, I’m super excited to have collaborated with them on this one,” saidTiësto. “BIA and I had been looking to work together, and after sharing my new track with her and then hearing her verse I instantly knew this would be the one. Before she could cut another verse, 21 Savage hopped on and brought a whole new energy to the project ! I couldn’t have asked for a better collaboration for this song !”
BIA and 21 Savage had a similar sentiment.
“This was an amazing track to be a part of! I loved working with Tiësto and 21 Savage. The beat is fire and I’m excited for everyone to hear this record,” said BIA.
“This is the type of track you get lit in the club to!” said 21 Savage. “Working with Tiësto and BIA was super dope I’m glad I was able to do a verse on this one.”
“Both” follows this spring’s release of Tiësto’s acclaimed seventh studio album, Drive, which was the first album of 2023 to be certified in the US by RIAA. A crowning achievement that celebrates the latest period of Tiësto’s career, Drive – which arrived alongside an official album DJ mix (streaming HERE) – includes such multi-million streaming worldwide hit singles as “The Business” (2x Platinum), “Don’t Be Shy” with Karol G (Gold), “The Motto” with Ava Max (Platinum), “Hot In It” with Charli XCX, “10:35” with Tate McRae (Gold), and “All Nighter,” all of which have earned a cumulative 4.5B global streams to date.
A storyteller first, New Jersey born and bred IX Wulf has embarked on a musical journey that spans over two decades. His passion for music was ignited at a young age, growing up with a father who was a wedding singer. Surrounded by the timeless classics performed by his father’s band, IX Wulf developed a deep connection to the art of singing and performing. Inspired by legendary artists like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Usher, he set his sights on becoming a musician himself.
At the age of 10, IX Wulf stepped into the studio to record the first song he ever wrote. From that moment onward, he honed his skills as a R&B singer, songwriter and producer, pouring his emotions and experiences into his music. The journey hasn’t always been smooth, with its fair share of ups and downs in the music industry and in life, IX Wulf persevered, using music as a means of healing and self-discovery.
The artist-to-watch has a unique approach to his music that extends beyond the audio realm. He treats each song as an act and has created a forthcoming visionary EP, incorporating his love for film and storytelling. Through carefully crafted scenes, he brings the narrative to life, presenting a multi-dimensional experience for his audience.
Creating and developing his debut EP, ‘Heal Yourself First,’ was a process that spanned over several years and serves as a personal reflection. Each song represents a different act, coming together to form a cohesive narrative. Drawing from his own experiences and emotions, IX Wulf weaves a tale of self-discovery, love, heartbreak and the importance of healing yourself before attempting to heal others.
With ‘Heal Yourself First’, IX Wulf aims to convey a powerful message of self-love and personal growth. He wants his fans, both old and new, to connect with the overarching story and find solace in his music. Through his soulful vocals and poignant lyrics, he invites listeners on a journey of introspection and healing.
In addition to his talents as a vocalist and songwriter, IX Wulf also takes on the role of producer for the majority of his releases. His creative process begins with crafting the music, allowing the emotions to guide the soundscape. From there, he freestyles melodies that fit the mood and lets the lyrics flow naturally.
Beyond music, IX Wulf nurtures a deep passion for the world of film. As an actor himself, he aspires to write, direct and produce films. With a versatile and ever-evolving musical style, IX Wulf is poised to captivate the world with his talents and leave a lasting impact on the R&B scene.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
