Maijah Anastasia Sanson-Frey (born May 24, 2000), known professionally as first-name-only Maijah (MY-yuh), is a West Coast-based singer-songwriter and up-and-coming popstar. Maijah, who has been writing and performing her entire life, began officially releasing music in 2021, eventually gaining over 10 million combined Spotify/Apple Music streams in just 2 years. Influenced by a multitude of artists from Lana del Rey, Amy Winehouse, and Sza, to the Beatles, David Bowie, and Frank Ocean, Maijah mixes powerhouse vocals with a love of harmonies and lyricism, bringing an alluring layer of depth to the pop genre. Coining the term “Main Character Music,” Maijah’s genre and subject-matter-diverse sound is tied together by the intention that no matter the song, the listener will feel like the main character of their own movie while listening. A lyricist at heart, Maijah aims to inspire, empower, and charm those who listen to her music through raw authenticity and the glittering hints of magic that she has grown up in — often including playful lyrics riddled with references to astrology, spells, and spirituality. Maijah, who is open about mental health struggles, also hopes to demonstrate to her listeners that you can be a confident baddie while simultaneously dealing with the realities of life. Whether it’s through relating to everyday human existence, promoting confidence and self-love, or simply by entertaining, Maijah hopes to make the world a better place through music.
Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream imprint is thrilled to kick off 2024 with the latest addition to its semi-annual compilation series, A Winter Sampler VI, releasing January 26. Serving as a testament to the label’s commitment to fostering emerging talent and highlighting the cutting edge of melodic house music, A Winter Sampler VI is a curated selection of tracks that showcase the diverse and vibrant sounds within the All Day I Dream family.
A Winter Sampler VI brings together an impressive consortium of artists from around the globe to put together a 12 track offering. The compilation kicks off with Simon Vuarambon’s remix of St Germain’s 2000 hit ‘So Flute’, the euphoric and driving track setting the tone for a journey through the innovative and cutting-edge sounds of the compilation. From Wassu and Bona Fide’s deep yet playful collaborative track ‘Threshold’ to Nathan Katz’s serene and uplifting ‘For You’ to Seth Schwarz and Solidmind’s beautifully spiritual collaboration ‘Create The Universe’, each contribution adds a unique flavor to the sonic tapestry, resulting in a must-listen body of work from beginning to end.
A Winter Sampler VI serves as a testament to All Day I Dream’s dedication to providing cutting edge melodic house from select talent across the globe, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists to shine. All Day I Dream invites music lovers to dive into the next edition of their compilation series with A Winter Sampler VI, available January 26 on all digital music platforms.
Wynona Bleach are: Melyssa Shannon: Vocals, Jonny Woods: Guitar / Vocals, Aaron Black: Guitar, James Foy: Drums, Carl Gilmore: Bass
Mixing alternative rock, shoegaze and power pop, Wynona Bleach are a 5-piece from Belfast, NI. 2021 saw them sign to legendary indie label Fierce Panda (Coldplay, Placebo, Death Cab For Cutie); in early 2022 the band’s debut album “Moonsoake” was unleashed, unveiling an exciting and energetically passionate body of work, screaming battered hearts and fractured emotions. The band’s latest single is the sassy and dreamily lush “Swim In The Bay” – available from all download and streaming platforms from January 24th, 2024.
Wynona Bleach have come a long way since forming in 2018 as “R51” and have achieved much in that time: performing at BBC Introducing stages at Reading & Leeds Festival, a 12-date headline tour of Russia, and support to rock legends Feeder, The Slow Readers Club, Lonely the Brave, and more…. Their accomplishments only stacked up further when in late 2022 they were nominated for the Northern Ireland Music Prize for both Album and Live act. A winter tour in 2022 culminated in two shows at Other Voices Festival. The band had arrived.
How do you define Wynona Bleach? Just one listen of their current “Moonsoake” album immediately tells you they possess a defiant, raucous, rock energy but also that their genius amplifies a gloriously sweet and pretty ‘colour palette’, the music underscored and embellished by Melyssa’s trademark ‘Bubblegrunge’, scathing, little-girl-crossed vocals. In that sense they are wonderfully indefinable. Continuing this fragrantly anomalous theme, it is perhaps unsurprising the band signed their record deal in a beach hut located in a landlocked locked down beer garden in downtown Brixton!
“Moonsoake” was recorded immediately after the band was personally chosen to support Alice in Chains for the sold-out Irish leg of their 2019 world tour. It was recorded with Bill Ryder-Jones in an abandoned factory in Portugal, complete with a full recording studio determinedly hauled over there by the band from their hometown. The album also features tracks mixed by Grammy nominated Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh, who have had extensive careers working alongside artists including Manic Street Preachers, Tori Amos, Bjork and Rufus Wainwright, to name a few.
The band started 2023 by doing a BBC Sounds live session and interview, and a successful first visit to the USA with huge, brilliantly received, showcases at SXSW in Austin, TX, and New Colossus Festival NYC. A prestigious support slot followed with indie rock legends Ash on the Irish leg of their UK and European tour. Now in 2024, the band are excited to ascend the next stage in their musical evolution with their highly anticipated, yet-to-be-named, sophomore album later in the year.
Bozeman, MT’s Kitchen Dwellers will celebrate their Glenn Brown-produced album, Seven Devils – out March 1 on No Coincidence records with a very special two-night celebration at The ELM in Bozeman.
Artist presale begins today, Jan 16 at 10am MT with special password: SEVENDEVILS, followed by public on sale this Friday, January 19.
In support of the new album, The Kitchen Dwellers will kick off their L.F.G. Tour on January 16 with two nights in Aspen, Colorado before heading out on an extensive 32-date tour that will bring the band cross-country.
Inspired by Dante’s epic voyage through the Nine Circles of Hell, Seven Devils guides the listener through a similar exploration. The Dwellers invite the listener to treat this experience as a musical journey inward – to the self.
Through their music, the Kitchen Dwellers brilliantly twist bluegrass, folk, and rock through a kaleidoscope of homegrown stories, rich mythology, American West wanderlust, and psychedelic hues.
KITCHEN DWELLERS ON TOUR
1/16 @ Belly Up Aspen | Aspen, CO**
1/17 @ Belly Up Aspen | Aspen, CO**
1/18 @ Mesa Theater | Grand Junction, CO**
1/20 @ Center For The Arts | Crested Butte, CO**
1/21 @ Sheridan Opera House | Telluride, CO**
1/23 @ Meow Wolf | Santa Fe, NM*
1/25 @ Beer City Music Hall | Oklahoma City, OK*
1/26 @ Deep Ellum Art Co. | Dallas, TX*
1/27 | Empire Garage | Austin, TX*
2/13 @ Treefort Music Hall | Boise, ID +
2/14 @ The Commonwealth Room | Salt Lake City, UT %
2/16 @ Belly Up Tavern | Solana Beach, CA
2/17 @ Troubadour | West Hollywood, CA
2/18 @ The Independent | San Francisco, CA
2/21 @ WOW Hall | Eugene, OR**
2/22 @ Revolution Hall | Portland, OR**
2/23 @ Midtown Ballroom | Bend, OR**
2/24 @ Neptune Theatre | Seattle, WA**
2/25 @ Wild Buffalo | Bellingham, WA**
3/1-3 @ WinterWonderGrass | Steamboat Springs, CO
3/21 @ Infinity Hall | Hartford, CT^^
3/22 @ The Met | Pawtucket, RI^^
3/23 @ State Theatre | Portland, ME^^
3/24 @ The Drake | Amherst, MA^^
3/27 @ The Capitol Room at The Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center | Harrisburg, PA^^
3/28 @ Lincoln Theatre | Washington, DC^^
3/29 @ Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY^^
3/30 @ Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY
4/2 @ Westcott Theater | Syracuse, NY^^
4/3 @ Electric City | Buffalo, NY^^
4/4 @ Beachland Ballroom | Cleveland, OH^^
4/5 @ Thalia Hall | Chicago, IL^^
5/21 @ The LAWN at Surf Hotel | Buena Vista, CO
5/22 @ The LAWN at Surf Hotel | Buena Vista, CO
5/24 @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre | Bellvue, CO
5/25 @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre | Bellvue, CO
5/26 @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre | Bellvue, CO
^^w/Cris Jacobs
**w/Armchair Boogie
*w/ Leon III
% w/ The Pickpockets
+w/ Tylor & the Train Robbers
FERAL FAMILY’s eagerly awaited debut album ‘Without Motion’ will descend this Friday, 19th January 2024.
Ahed of the release, these Northern post-punk agitators are pleased to share “Sold”, the final track to be cut from the record ahead of its release.
STREAM “SOLD” ON YOUTUBE HERE || ALL SERVICES HERE
PRE-SAVE ‘WITHOUT MOTION’ HERE
A rush of wormhole-like guitar lines and pneumatic rhythmic clatter, “Sold” is the breathless new single from the Bridlington antagonists.
Placing Jamie Lowe’s sneering vocal and warpspeed wit front-and-centre, Feral Family deliver a scathing appraisal of the daily grind of living and working in broken Britain. As he explains:
“”Sold” is based on life being taken over by work, it quickly gets to a point in your day to day where working to live becomes living to work, and I think it’s one that many people can relate to.”
Dark, deep, and unpredictable at every turn, “Sold” is an exhilarating final glimpse into what lies in-waiting on their imminent debut album ‘Without Motion’.
An invitation into the day-to-day life of a band with nothing to lose and united in their determination to break the shackles of conformity, on their debut album Feral Family create 11 songs of a febrile intensity befitting of their name.
A coming-of-age album for the end of days, ‘Without Motion’ is littered with oblique observations of a society increasingly removed from reality, lessons of love and life learned in the hardest of ways, and visions of warped dystopias becoming increasingly indecipherable from the norm.
The final single to be unveiled from their forthcoming fourth studio album ahead of its release – THE MISERABLE RICH – are pleased to present: “Probably Will”.
WATCH THE “PROBABLY WILL” OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE || SPOTIFY HERE
“We’re gonna get through this and much more, Yeah you know – we probably will” The Miserable Rich tentatively reassure us here. An unlikely song that took its initial inspiration from Murphy’s Law, it revolves around the repeated vocal refrain of “we probably will” in each verse. Featuring sweeping guest violins courtesy of Mike Siddell (The Leisure Society / Hope of The States) and breathtakingly operatic backing vocals from Kelly Barnes, it sees the band deliver a rousing anthem about finding hope in the face of our daily adversities.
Emerging from a series of chance encounters, from words inspired by a misheard Japanese Breakfast lyric to twisting the band’s arms to give it a shot at the very end of their album recording session, vocalist James de Malplaquet explains how this exquisite single almost never came to be:
“This was the last song written for the main album and nearly didn’t make it… the band agreed to ‘squeeze it in’ at the end of the day’s studio recording if we had time. I’ll admit that making a song about Murphy’s Law and giving it this title was a bit playful and I did quite like taking it to the band for that reason. Will has had quite a few accidents in his time, including losing his passport at the airport bar on the first day of a you. That sense of fun led me to putting the joke in the middle section, something I first thought about while listening to a Japanese Breakfast song. I realised on second listen, she hadn’t said what I thought she had – so I did. Sort of…. Overall – though it was almost an afterthought – I think the song fits very closely to the paradoxical and contranymic essence of the album.”
HANNAH ROSE PLATT releases the deluxe edition of her ‘Deathbed Confessions’ album.
STREAM ‘DEATHBED CONFESSIONS’ DELUXE ED. ON ALL SERVICES HERE
A victory lap for her acclaimed 2023 album, the expanded version features four additional acoustic versions of tracks from the record including the Ed Harcourt duet “The Mermaid & The Sailor”. Watch the video for it here:
https://youtu.be/1-8ynA-ZDkY?si=0Ucg_DdNM_mWNVDW
With all of the additional tracks recorded at his Wolf Cabin studio, the deluxe edition also features “Tango With Your Fear”, “Hedy Lamarr”, and “Feeding Time For Monsters” in scintillating, stripped-back forms.
Released in the Spring of 2023, ‘Deathbed Confessions’ comprises a collection of ghoulish ghost stories, melodious murder ballads, and humorous hammer-horrors. Inspired by classic horror such as Rod Serling’s ‘The Twilight Zone’, the BBC’s ‘Inside No 9’, and the balladeer categories of Samuel Peyps; Platt distilled them all into this scintillatingly strange album. Featuring the singles “Feeding Time For Monsters”, “Dead Man On The G Train” and the spellbinding duet “The Mermaid & The Sailor”(with Ed Harcourt)”.
Receiving warm reviews across the board, ‘Deathbed Confessions’ was praised by The Crack as “twelve murder-ballad tales that are dripping in gothic stylings”, whereas Americana UK hailed the record as a glimpse into future greatness, enthusing “a resounding success and one that should see Platt’s trajectory as an artist and songwriter rise to the next level” (8/10). Cementing her class as a born storyteller, Hannah’s debut was further praised by literature giant Neil Gaiman who praised the record as “marvellous… Beautiful and moving”.
Over a year since their debut E.P. one of Glasgows most exciting indie bands, Pizza Crunch, return with new music. Latest single, ‘Advertised Entitlement’ continues what the band started on ‘That Serene Age’, acute observational lyrics and enthralling hooks, whilst moving into a new era. With a penchant for poignant lyrical narratives, inventive guitar melodies, and a robust rhythm section, Pizza Crunch stands as one of Glasgow’s most exhilarating musical exports.
‘Advertised Enlightenment’ revolves around the idea of looking for meaning and awakening but always being left disappointed with what you find. Speaking about the writing process, lyricist Ewan Hearns said: “We always look to try and evolve slightly when we are doing new music, even if it’s by a tiny margin. The lyrics on this track are more concerned with being lost and looking for enlightenment in what’s next. The last EP was much more concerned with dwelling on the past, this track and our new music are related to that but tend to revolve around concerns about how to extract some happiness and contentment today and tomorrow. Hopefully there is a noticeable change in the sound too, it certainly feels like step forward for us.
21 Savage’s third studio album, american dream, made its highly-anticipated arrival on Friday, and this week the Atlanta superstar is following up with the release of the official american dream merch collection. The collection features items specific to Savage’s career and his american dream campaign, ranging from bucket hats and hoodies to baseball jerseys and, of course, vinyl options of the rapper’s latest opus.
[Shop: ‘american dream’ merch collection]
Following up on his most recent emotive indie pop single, “Harder To Love,” Toronto-based singer-songwriter Liam Barrack has teamed up with new collaborators Ron Lopata and Andrew Allen to create “Empty Spaces.”
The single is an agile and upbeat piece of indie pop that continually drives forward into the unknown, embracing rock production as Barrack reflects on feeling like you don’t have things in your life figured out enough to relate to the people around you.
“It’s a pretty self-deprecative song about not really seeing the value in many facets of life, and when you really try to consider life, you’re left staring at a bunch of empty space. I think it’s a relationship that a lot of people have with life at some point, and I hope the message resonates with those who listen,” explains Barrack.
Dorian Williams II, known professionally as Skateland, is an American singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Austin, TX. After moving from Las Vegas to pursue a degree at the University of Texas, Williams began writing songs and experimenting with various instruments in his bedroom and Skateland was born.
Drawing from a wide variety of musical influences, he combines melancholy lyricism and new wave instrumentation with pop production techniques to create a sound that is equal parts past, present, and future. With Skateland, he often writes about autobiographical experiences, confiding, “I take emotions or feelings that I’ve gathered from certain experiences and package them into a format that’s accessible to anyone who listens. I think that’s why I love writing and recording music in non-traditional places as opposed to a fancy studio, writing a guitar part on my porch, jotting down song lyrics at a bar or cafe, tracking vocals in my bedroom etc., it feels like returning to the scene of that major life event and there’s an emotional power in that!” Self produced and recorded, his debut EP New Wave Revival was shared in early 2023. The six-track collection has received praise by the likes of NPR’s KUTX which proclaimed it to be, “sensationally mellow cross-genre bops” and stated that it “has the fuzzy charm of shoegaze but filtered through a pop lens”.
Skateland’s single “Postcards” is a highly relatable and important narrative of the often toxic comparison that occurs from being on the internet and social media.
“Postcards” features dreamy soundscapes, layered breezy melodies and a kaleidoscope of hazy synths for an intriguing listen. LADYGUNN proclaimed the song as a “perfect piece that truly represents the essence of his musical distinctiveness.”
His new single
“Autobahn!” explores the hills and valleys of love and relationships. He confides, “The narrator begins the song with what he presumes is a breakup speech, but somehow along the way concedes that for better or worse he will always love this person, and that the tough parts of loving someone are what make it worth it in the end.”
In just over a year, Skateland has already performed multiple showcases at the coveted SXSW festival as well as garnered praise from the likes of NPR, Earmilk, Atwood Magazine and more. This rising artist hopes his music inspires people to delve into their own passions. He proclaims, “Fear of failure or a perceived lack of “the right resources” are the biggest reason why people hesitate to try something. Instead of dreading those butterflies in your stomach, embrace them and use them to lift you up. I hope my music inspires people to do “the thing” whatever the thing is.”
In a world full of over produced and heavily programmed radio friendly pop songs which are chucked out by way of factory it’s absolutely refreshing to be sitting back with headphones on and experiencing “Gold Control”. Lost is the art of the album, the experience of an album. Not here. This is JEEN’s 4th LP this decade and disappoint it does not. In fact it delights. Gold Control glides along the same trajectory as its predecessors while maintaining its own identity. Grunge. Garage. Psych-rock. Punk. Tinges of Shoegaze. Her influences continue to shine as she crafts them into her own vehicle with ease while removing herself from the often times dreaded genre labelling. Hazy, heady, hedonistic and hopeful.
Despite the lyric “It’s all I got inside me” lead single “Just Shadows” which is set for release on 7th July is the perfect first firm foot forward from this luminous ten tracker. It’s quick frantic pace bounces along and transports the listener to those communal sweaty nights in dodgy body packed underground clubs with the band five feet away making all feel as one.
“Hold My Head Up Higher” sees JEEN join creative forces once again with long-time collaborator Canadian indie musician and producer Ian Blurton. Ian has taken the role of co-producer on JEEN’s last five albums and their strength in working together shines on this track. Its swirling chorus shimmers along the flesh and actually induces frisson with ease which is a hard sensation to help facilitate through song.
TANSU has been training to become a diva her whole life. The longtime Harlem resident, who is of Turkish-Irish descent, has an irrepressible spirit, a renegade sense of fun, and a totally knockout voice, honed through years of training with the masters and absorbing the work of her favorite soul divas. Born in New Jersey and raised in London and Connecticut, TANSU always felt connected to soul music. Specifically, some of her core memories involve Whitney Houston: as a toddler she refused to eat her dinner unless “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” was playing. And she remembers waking up every morning, playing with her Barbie dolls, and listening to the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack on repeat, entranced by The Voice emanating from her speakers. Throughout TANSU’s youth, the pop stars of the day were like gods: she worshiped at the altar of Mariah and the Spice Girls, artists who combined vocal chops and platinum-plated charisma with a gonzo attitude and fierce commitment to their art.
It was artists like these who inspired TANSU to throw herself into performance arts at high school. But the limited training she was able to receive – only Broadway or classical, hardly the kind of high-glitz, forward-thinking music TANSU loved – felt lacking. When she enrolled in the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, she was finally able to study pop music properly, as well as the kind of technique that would allow her to try her hand at any style she wanted – setting the stage for an artistry defined by effortless genre bending and a deft musical ear.
After college, TANSU moved to New York and began working in fashion, a field that she describes as “another performing art,” much like music. TANSU loves fashion – and still has a lot of connections in that world, a must for any future pop star – but she says that “fashion can eat you alive.” She speaks from experience: working for one of the major fashion houses early in her career, she began spending upwards of 15 hours a day chained to her desk, rarely seeing family and friends and burning herself out trying to be an A+ worker. Then Whitney died. The passing of her prime inspiration, someone who had provided solace and connection to her for her entire life, was a wake-up call for TANSU. She realized that Whitney singing for the world was a great, selfless gift, and given that she too had a remarkable voice, it would be selfish if she didn’t try to do the same. From then on, fashion took a backseat to her true passion: music.
Her debut EP The City, recorded with friend and longtime collaborator Dave Rublin (American Authors), is a chronicle of a life lived well, delivered by a sterling, astounding voice; spanning indie-soul, sparkling pop and hypnotic trap, it’s a brilliantly defined debut for the lifelong musician. The Part One in its title says all you need to know: TANSU has a lot more to say from here.
Working with Dave, who she had met at Berklee, in a handful of different apartments and recording studios, The City slowly took shape. Even when she found herself hamstrung or unmotivated, or when life got in the way, Dave was relentless in pushing her to finish this body of work; their collaboration is one of perfect symbiosis, his sharp musical knowledge a perfect match for her acrobatic voice.
The sultry neo-soul epic “Downtown” is a prime example of their creative chemistry. TANSU floats among Dave’s rich, undulating backdrop, the bassline hum slowly building to an ecstatic climax, mirroring TANSU’s bittersweet tale of love, sex and jealousy, which attempts to interrogate the emotions that fuel nights of recklessness and partying. It makes a sharp contrast to “Easy Love,” The City’s understated finale, which finds TANSU charting the ups and downs of a long term relationship with grace and clarity. Recalling the rich maturity of classic 2000s R&B, TANSU’s words are accented by Dave’s sumptuous production, the perfect backdrop for TANSU’s conversational vocals.
The City’s undeniable centrepiece is “Got 2 Me,” a simmering ballad on which TANSU allows her resplendent, powerhouse voice to shine at its fullest potential. An “emotional followup” to “Downtown,” it’s a song about learning to be vulnerable in a relationship, in spite of your best instincts. Smoky and tense, it’s a showstopping piece of soul-pop, TANSU’s voice slipping between an ingratiating low register and a clarion belt. A remarkable work of patience and skill, it’s a song that feels effortless, belying the fact that TANSU has been working for this her whole life, and then some.
Then there is the stunning single “Easy Love” which is a cathartic soft goodbye. TANSU confides, “It is a song about letting go of a friend while respecting the life and beauty the relationship once shared. A loving tribute to someone you can no longer be there for, the song helps us all tell our former friends to take it easy, love.” The track entices with soul-drenched vocals, heartfelt melodies and kaleidoscopic synths.
Natalie Del Carmen is a 22-year-old musician, songwriter and artist native to Los Angeles. Her musical path has been an acute exploration of the Folk-Americana genres, interwoven with some exciting detours into the realm of pop music at a former time.
Her debut 11-track album, Bloodline, was released in March 2023 and delves into themes of fleeting love, diligence and the passage of time. Working alongside BruNjo down Nashville, TN in the project’s entirety, the title track, “Bloodline,” pays homage to her love of the Nashville terrain, and remains a heartfelt ode to cherished individuals who have played pivotal roles in her life.
Del Carmen’s succeeding EP, Tandem Songs, signals a shift in her musical direction toward the warm embrace of Americana. “Achilles’ Dire End,” produced by Billboard Chart-Topping engineer and songwriter Zack Burke, is a playful tune that explores one’s willingness to love, while “Hollywood Reviews” delves into the modern-day phenomenon of excessive screen time and the insidious habit of comparing one’s life to others in the digital world. Traveling back and forth from LA to Nashville in the summer months, she was lucky enough to work with Wyoming native, Coburn Larsen, for a second time to create “Love in Vain.”
Having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA at the age of 21, she immersed herself in the art of Songwriting. Natalie is currently working on her next project in LA, and dedicates many of her waking hours to mastering her new favorite instrument: her grandfather’s 1930s banjo.
Rising Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter, DLG. continues his momentum, on new single “DIVE IN.” Get it HERE via 10K Projects.
After packing out venues on the west coast in support of Healy, DLG. drops his psychedelic new single, “DIVE IN.” The new track explores the line between passion and obsession, and in DLG.’s experience, the commitment to one’s dreams can be a bit grim. As a result, “DIVE IN” relishes in the idea of obsession, reflecting on the fact that passion doesn’t always create the same results as obsession.
DLG. questions passion versus obsession, “How far do you go to achieve your goals? How deep do you dive?” He adds: “Committing yourself to your dreams seems noble from the outside looking in, but the reality is a bit darker than most expect. “DIVE IN” reflects on dropping the ball, missing calls, dreams, delusions, and diving deeper. Sometimes, in order to make it, passion won’t cut it; only obsession.”
Los Angeles-based, brother sister duo BETWEEN FRIENDS drop their brand new single, “Pleasure delayer” Get it HERE via 10K Projects.
After packing out venues across North America and the UK on their sold out I love my girl she’s my boy tour, BETWEEN FRIENDS is starting the year off strong with their 00s inspired guitar ballad, “Pleasure delayer.” Last year, the brother-sister alternative pop duo unveiled their long-awaited debut album, I love my girl she’s my boy, produced in collaboration with Luka Kloser of Max Martin’s MXN team. Delivering some of their most intimate songwriting to date, the project boasts impressive features from artists such as Teezo Touchdown, Bakar, and EDEN. Following the album’s impressive debut of over 14M+ streams in the first month, Savannah and Brandon embarked on a 24 date fall tour, selling out some of the largest markets including Los Angeles, New York City, and London.
As an extension to their pop masterpiece, I love my girl she’s my boy, the duo is following up their recent release “Really good cry” with “Pleasure delayer.” The brand-new track contributes an addictive ear worm in the chorus with Brandon and Savannah pondering a relationship fling, “Is it reciprocated? / I can never get you out my head.” Inspired by the duo’s real-life experiences, the new single embraces the challenging aspects of relationships and lessons learned in love.
Southampton indie-rockers – REGENT – are barrelling into the new year with latest single “Flying High”, taken from their upcoming second album ‘Beggars Belief’ (due Spring 2024).
STREAM “FLYING HIGH” ON SPOTIFY HERE || YOUTUBE HERE
A jubilant, jangling, romantic rock’n’roll track, “Flying High” finds the four-piece jetting that nostalgic glow of summer love into these colder months.
Fusing rampant electric guitar riffs with wistful, Britpop-inspired melodies and hopeful lyricism well-worthy of a windows-down singalong, the new track bubbles over with a relentless feeling of optimism as it nods to “faith, hope, love and everything in-between”.
Mixed by award-winning producer Chris Taylor and recorded at a friend’s studio in the band’s hometown of Southampton and dubbed an “upbeat, summery rock’n’roll love song” by frontman Ben Rooke, “Flying High” finds Regent soaring on a skyward trajectory of their own.
Having forged a reputation as one of Southampton’s finest emerging acts, Regent have notched a string of highly-charged releases under their belts including recent EP ‘Believe’ and 2022 debut LP ‘Just A Revolution’.
As PET NEEDS’ fast-approaching third album ‘Intermittent Fast Living’ creeps into view, the band are delighted to share a fresh track ahead of its release: “Sleep When I’m Dead”.
WATCH “SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD” VIDEO HERE || STREAM HERE
Lurching through your monitors at 100mph, this life-lusting latest from the Essex punks is an invigorating clash of buzzsaw melodies and carpe diem ideologies.
Inspired by lost nights in sticky boozers and living for what tomorrow brings, frontman Johnny Marriott says of “Sleep When I’m Dead”:
“We wanted to subvert the tired rock n roll “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead!” mentality and celebrate both the million mile an hour touring lifestyle and, well, being in our own beds, too! When you’re on the road for months you pine for home. When you’re at home you’re always thinking ahead to the next tour. To us, this is the ultimate” Intermittent Fast Living” song. Singalong, high energy, filterless reality. Sex, drugs, booze, snooze. Perfect!”
The iconic Nelson Freitas today reveals “Black Butterfly”, the title track from his
forthcoming seventh album – which he also confirms will be released on February
23 rd .
Taking its place as the second slice of Black Butterfly, the track was originally
conceived by Nelson whilst at a writing camp hosted by the legendary producer
Teddy Riley (Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson) in Cabo Verde.
Co-written by Nelson with hitmakers Daecolm Holland (Adekunle Gold), Arrow
Benjamin (Beyoncé), J.Sol and Mohombi with production helmed by Nigerian super-
producer Ozedikus (Rema, Oxlade), the swaying Afro rhythms of “Black Butterfly”
are elevated by lush strings arranged by Portuguese musician Tiago Machado, as
Nelson relays a story of a sweet love affair.
Meanwhile, the luxurious “Black Butterfly” music video was directed by André
Caniços and pictures a suavely styled Nelson against a backdrop of dancers and
futuristic architecture amongst epic Cape Verdean greenery – a stunning
juxtaposition between the modern and the classic, surely serving as the perfect
representation of Nelson’s forward-thinking yet timeless sounds.
“Black Butterfly” follows on from Nelson’s well-received October release “Hero”
(watch). Serving as Black Butterfly’s lead single produced by the in-demand hitmaker
Blaisebeatz (BNXN, Davido, Victony, CKay), and racking up over 2.5M views on
YouTube for its touching music video starring the Angolan-Portuguese international
supermodel, Sharam Diniz, the soft Afropop sounds of “Hero” also saw major airplay
via DJ Edu on BBC Radio 1Xtra as well as being selected by VIPER Magazine as
one of their ‘Essential’ picks.
Speaking about “Black Butterfly” and his upcoming album, Nelson Freitas said the
following: “I’ve been waiting for this album for ten years and it’s a project where I truly
found myself. It’s something I’ve been working on for a long time and I believe the
time has finally come. I looked for the best Afrobeats producers and composers in
the world, and only with them did I feel complete enough to take this leap. I am
confident that I achieved the exact result I wanted and “Hero” and “Black Butterfly”
are already out to prove it.”
Toronto raised-LA based pop artist LU KALA kicks off 2024 with a stellar new offering ‘Nothing But Love’. As the recent recipient of the Emerging Artist Of The Year Award at the Legacy Awards, and one of VEVO’s #DSCVR Artists to Watch of 2024, LU KALA is heading into the new year with an abundance of anticipation and promise following her, and today’s new single undoubtedly proves her to be worthy of such championing.
Listen to ‘Nothing But Love’ below:
Sharing the story behind ‘Nothing But Love’, LU KALA expresses; “I wrote Nothing but love on zoom with a friend from my bedroom in the middle of the pandemic. The world had stopped and it was the very first time I sat with my feelings and processed the hurt I had never healed from. Moving on after a breakup is hard especially when you still have love for that person. At least if I hated him, I could completely delete him out of my life and heart. But maturing for me was realizing that even though things didn’t work out and though I believed him when he said he wanted this for the long haul it’s still pure that at 1 point there was love and so I don’t wish him the worst but instead, I still have nothing but love for him. Nothing But Love is the most vulnerable song I’ve ever written. So much so that It took me 2 years to heal & finish writing it. I hope this song helps heal those in need. I’m okay singing it for the rest of my life if that means it provides love and healing to the heartbroken souls that are in need of nothing but love.”
LU KALA breaks down her walls in her new tear-jerking ballad ” Nothing But Love”. LU KALA’s videos teasing Nothing But Love have amassed over 5 million views on Instagram and Tik Tok combined, connecting with hundreds of thousands of fans eager for its release with one video alone having 1.6 million views on TikTok.
At the end of last year, LU KALA was on the lineup for TikTok’s first ever music festival, TikTok In the Mix, alongside the likes of headliners Cardi B, Niall Horan, Anitta and Charlie Puth. She is also now part of TikTok’s first emerging artist program, Elevate. With each step LU KALA is reaching new heights and continues to evolve as a powerful songstress today. 2023 served as a breakthrough year for the newcomer, with LU KALA securing 3 top 10’s at Top 40 radio in Canada in the calendar year.
Wonderland Magazine – “Having cemented a legacy as one of the most interesting pop stars of the modern day, LU KALA is a singer-songwriter pushing the boundaries of her style and expectation of what being a pop star means.” (Hotter Now)
Merryn Jeann returns with her beautiful new single ‘SUBCONSCIOUS LOVE CONNECTIONS’ alongside another impressive, self directed music video. The accompanying visual was shot at the local gas station with friends whom the song was written about.
Rich in a blissful soundscape, the new single arrives as the final teaser ahead of her first full length album ‘DOG BEACH’, due for release on the 23rd of February via her co-founded label Rescue + Return Records. Pre-order the vinyl HERE
SUBCONSCIOUS LOVE CONNECTIONS was written during the lockdown in Paris, where Merryn was based at the time. The inspiration for the track was sparked after receiving a voice message from a dear friend back in Australia. True friendship prevails distance and SUBCONSCIOUS LOVE CONNECTIONS’ is a moment to cherish those magical and defiant connections. Sharing more Merryn explained: ‘This song is about the love we feel because we have love to feel. My friend was reaching out to myself and another best friend, whimpering over the phone that she wished we were with her as her home was flooded in and everyone was in a moody rain mood so weren’t answering their phones/ weren’t close enough with her to be contacted in this moment of sadness and hopelessness. The night leading up to this text, I had dreamt of this same friend and wasn’t surprised to receive her message.’
Today’s new single is accompanied by a wonderful, self directed video, immersing the listener deeper into the music and beyond. Watch it HERE
SUBCONSCIOUS LOVE CONNECTIONS is the follow up to ME B4 U, which came out back in November. Born from the complexities of navigating romance, ME B4 U was a gorgeous display of self-discovery and mindfulness. The release was well received by music media, scooping support from the likes of Under the Radar, God is In TheTV and Clash who labeled Merryn ‘a rising pop force’ Check out the video HERE.
Vancouver musician Devon More shares her empowering new single ‘My Body Is’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
The latest single from her new album Sky Is Falling, set for release on February 29th, ‘My Body Is’, is a powerful anthem for the fundamental right of bodily autonomy.
“‘My Body Is’ is a complete sentence: my body exists, and that is enough,” says Devon. “The song is my attempt to disentangle a lifetime of mixed media messages and societal projections onto my female body – and ultimately celebrate the simple living magic in ALL body machines. Every flesh home is worthy – no matter what it looks like, or where we may find ourselves on the love/hate relationship spectrum on any given day.”
Devon’s latest singlefollows the release of previous tracks ‘Finally Yours‘ and ‘Songbird‘ in 2023. And ‘My Body Is’ is not just the latest single from her new album; it’s also one of 5 original songs featured in Devon More’s critically acclaimed stage show – Hits Like A Girl (premiered/toured in 2019) – an immersive soundscape and poetic manifesto exploring the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury acquired in her early 20s that left her in an altered state of consciousness for years.
From Kamloops but currently based in Vancouver, Devon is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumental musician (guitar, flute, and more), and genre-bending performance artist who combines insightful lyrics and infectious melodies in alternative pop rock songs served with a side of symphony. Centered on themes of wanderlust, revolution, and love, Devon’s story driven songs illuminate universal themes while drawing rich images from her own unique life experience as a globetrotter (approx 30 countries!), polyglot (German, Dutch, English), and Traumatic Brain Injury survivor.
Turkish DJ/producer Mahmut Orhan releases his new single, “Andalusian,” via Ultra Records. The track comes alongside the formal announcement of his debut album, Pangea, which is set to arrive on March 22. The project will continue Orhan’s mission to harness the universal power of music by blending intercontinental and intercultural sounds.
Orhan’s sonic evolution is heard clearly on “Andalusian,” which builds upon his indie dance roots and ascends to powerful melodic techno. Middle Eastern psytrance influences propel the track forward, while Lebanese singer Ribale Wehbé delivers a rich yet feathery vocal performance in her native tongue. The sound is dramatic and emotional but still beckons listeners to the dancefloor.
“The Pangea album is a real memory album for me, where all the memories, experiences, journeys and sounds that inspire me that I have accumulated since the day I started making music, come together.” – Mahmut Orhan
MAISY KAY
“Karma Is A Bitch Like You” (Tiësto Remix)
• The Tiësto remix of Maisy Kay’s track “Karma Is A Bitch Like You” jump starts a busy 2024 for her, with a slate of new original songs set to be unveiled in the upcoming months. This remix comes on the heels of her earlier releases, including the Metamorphosis EP and her cover of the Kate Bush classic “Running Up That Hill,” both launched in late 2023.
• “When I originally created ‘Karma Is A Bitch Like You’ I was feeling so many emotions trying to put into words how karma comes back around when you don’t treat people with respect. With this new remix with Tiësto, I wanted that feeling to continue to pull through, but with a fun, dance-worthy twist to it.” – Maisy Kay
Alternative-pop band, Valley — comprised of Rob Laska, Mickey Brandolino, Alex Dimauro and Karah James – close out the Lost In Translation era by releasing an expanded, deluxe version of their sophomore album, songs that got lost in translation, out today via Capitol Records/Universal Music Canada — Stream.
The deluxe album features seven untouched demos, rediscovered on the cutting-room floor from the original recording sessions. One of the demos includes the wistful synth-pop record, “memories” which is released alongside a lyric video. Full track listing for songs that got lost in translation, below.
Drummer and vocalist Karah James explains, “We wrote so many songs for Lost In Translation over the course of about three years. A lot of them were pretty bad, but some gems sat in the Dropbox for way too long, it started to feel like the land of lost toys.” James continues, “We’ve always dreamed of putting out a collection of demos, and this felt like the best way to carry on the LIT era. These songs are mostly unedited from the first day we wrote them. There’s a lot of fond memories, but also pain attached to them. We hope you find an attachment to them in your own way.”
Originally released in June 2023, Lost In Translation arrived as Valley’s sophomore album which they toured across North America, playing it live for fans first before releasing the full project. On the road, the band received rave responses from audiences to the new songs on their set list that blend seamlessly into their catalog of danceable love songs. Lost In Translation has garnered over 84 million global streams since its release and features “Break For You” which reached Top 10 at Top 40 on Canadian radio, plus fan favorite “Have A Good Summer (Without Me).”
Electronic visionary Rezz has announced her forthcoming album CAN YOU SEE ME? with a new collaborative single ‘DYSPHORIA’ with HOLLY out now via HypnoVizion.
A foreboding introduction to CAN YOU SEE ME?, ‘DYSPHORIA’ echoes the eerie outliers and desolate tones that soundtrack Rezz’s self proclaimed “bass era”. Complex and enigmatic, ‘DYSPHORIA’ distends the usual curves of electronic music with its perilous basslines and cryptic drum patterns. As galvanizing slow builds give way to catastrophic drops, ‘DYSPHORIA’ brings listeners to the brink before catapulting back to reality.
“HOLLY sent me this idea for a collaboration and I immediately knew I wanted to work on this record. This is the perfect entry to this new bass music era for my project.” – Rezz
“This one means a lot. I’ve been looking up to Rezz since I came across her music in 2015. I have always respected the world she has built with her art and how true to herself she has been since day one. There’s a lot I learn from Rezz as a fan and now I am very grateful for the opportunity to create together. I hope this is our first of many records!” – HOLLY
Kicking off 2024 with a bang, singer/songwriter AJ Mitchell releases new single, “Foolish.” Produced and co-written with frequent collaborator Kid Culture (Justin Bieber, Eddie Benjamin), the track follows previously released single “Passionate” and is taken from the budding superstar’s upcoming sophomore album. Entitled As Far As The Eye Can See, the new album is officially set for release on May 3, 2024 via Epic Records/Vol 1. Records.
Get “Foolish” at all DSPs HERE and watch the official music video HERE.
On “Foolish,” Mitchell vulnerably bares his self-doubt as he wonders aloud whether he engaged in poor decision making with a previous love interest. “If I’m stupid for thinking I could lay in your arms and not get hurt. Will I ever learn?” sings Mitchell over the pulsating, electric instrumental.
In Mitchell’s own words, “I wrote ‘Foolish’ in the midst of being in a relationship that I knew wasn’t good for me. It’s a conversation with myself- I was aware of the fact that the relationship would do me more harm than good, but the feelings were overpowering. ‘Foolish’ is about giving in to things that feel good even if you know they’re ultimately going to end in heartbreak. It’s human. “
Los Angeles psych rock gurus Levitation Room offer up one more taste of their upcoming album today with “Revelations.” Like listening from underwater, the rolling fluidity of the track is punctured by the band’s signature command over a guitar, contrasted with guiding, embracing vocals – Stream. The album Strange Weather will arrive in its entirety on February 16 via ONErpm / The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway Records – pre-save / pre-order on vinyl here.
On “Revelations,” the band shared, “It’s a heavy one, with nods to Black Sabbath and early Tame Impala. Definitely one for the headbangers out there.”
Sam Drysdale is a singer-songwriter rediscovering the roots of his musical style. Raised in a home filled with music, Sam started writing and playing guitar at a young age. Over the past few years, he has released three EPs that trace the evolution of his distinctive voice and lyrical storytelling while his unique style shines through. On his latest project, Sam strives to strip things back to the core of his songwriting, channeling the raw emotionality he discovered early on through the artists he grew up admiring. Paring things back to their essence and focusing on potent lyrics and intimate melodies, Sam uses his talent for crafting compelling narratives and connects with the passion that first inspired his musical journey.
certified-platinum indie folk musician David Kushner releases his long-teased new track “Skin and Bones.” Kushner shares, “Skin and Bones captures the electric tension of desire and redemption, exploring the thin line between ecstasy and salvation in the duality of love.” An accompanying music video will follow the track’s release.
Listen to “Skin and Bones”
David looks forward to 2024 with his first three festivals of the year announced last week: Hangout Festival from May 17, Boston Calling on May 24, and Bonnaroo on June 14.
Last year, Kushner went from breakthrough artist to certified-platinum hitmaker with major career milestones including over 1 billion streams on the track “Daylight,” two hedline tours, and his TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Other high marks include 13.7 billion Tik Tok views, a million new Instagram followers, and a show with Dermot Kennedy in Ireland.
Described by UK critics as “one of the most innovative of their era” and that “even to this day they sound brave and fresh”, Martha and the Muffins emerged from the early punk/new wave/art pop scene in 1977 which was centered around various clubs along Toronto’s Queen Street West and the Ontario College of Art, where several members of the band were students. The band was the first Canadian band to sign to a UK label and recorded their first album, Metro Music at The Manor Studio near Oxford, England. After “Echo Beach” became a top ten single around the world in 1980 and earned them a JUNO for Single of the Year, Martha and the Muffins toured extensively in Britain, Europe and North America including dates with Roxy Music. Since then, the band has released eight studio albums, three of which they co-produced with Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel). The songs they worked on together included the groundbreaking singles “Women Around The World At Work”, “Danseparc”, “Black Stations/White Stations”, “Come Out And Dance” and “Cooling The Medium”.
Martha Johnson and Mark Gane spent much of the ’90’s scoring music for various television and film projects. In addition, Universal Music Canada has reissued several Martha and the Muffins albums on CD, including Metro Music, Trance And Dance, This Is The Ice Age and the CD compilation Icon while the band itself has reissued their albums Danseparc, Mystery Walk, The World Is A Ball and Modern Lullaby. The duo returned in 2010 with Delicate, their first new studio album in eighteen years on their own Muffin Music label. The album was five years in the making and mixed by David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, David Sylvian, Robert Fripp). The songs range from the horn-inflected “Drive” and the anthemic groove of “Mess” to the perceptive “Life’s Too Short To Long For Something Else” and “Love Began With Eve”, a song that Daniel Lanois stated was “one of the most beautiful, original songs I’ve ever heard.”
In the spring of 2023, Kojak entered the studio of acclaimed musician and producer David James Allen to record what was initially intended to be a single tune – “Cigarettes & Whiskey.” Little did they know that this encounter would mark the beginning of a liberating creative process. The energy, sound quality, and creativity that David brought to the sessions captivated the band, leading them to expand their vision and produce a full album under his record label, Littleknown Records. The self-titled album,due out February 22nd, 2024, showcases the culmination of Kojak’s evolution and dedication to their craft and high energy and at times heavy sound.
Over the next six months, the band immersed themselves in the writing and recording of seven additional songs that would complement their initial release. Drawing inspiration from a wealth of half-polished riffs and spontaneous jam sessions, the members of Kojak embarked on a collaborative journey to create an eight-song, genre-spanning sophomore album.
While each track on the album possesses its own musical identity, common themes are thread through the tapestry of Kojak’s songwriting. Melancholy, excess, and a yearning for change resonate throughout the collection, establishing a thematic unity. One standout track, “556,” recounts a harrowing tale of a bad acid trip in their old apartment, delivering a heavy and progressive vibe. In contrast, “Wake up when the morning comes” explores the melancholy of dreading the morning and facing reality, enveloped in a more laid-back musical atmosphere. Together, these songs represent different facets of the same emotional spectrum.
Metal Icons Judas Priest unleash another exhilarating new single entitled “Crown of Horns,” out today via Epic Records. Get it here.
This will be the third single release from their highly anticipated new studio album Invincible Shield, set for release on March 8, 2024. Pre-order the album here. The band’s last two singles “Panic Attack” and “Trial By Fire” have streamed over 10 Million times since release.
Judas Priest will also delight fans with a world tour this year, the UK leg kicks off in Glasgow on March 11th before taking on North America in April and May. See below for full North American tour routing and head to [judaspriestinvincibleshield.comfor]judaspriestinvincibleshield.comfor tickets.
INVINCIBLE SHIELD TRACKLIST
1. Panic Attack
2. The Serpent and the King
3. Invincible Shield
4. Devil in Disguise
5. Gates of Hell
6. Crown of Horns
7. As God is my Witness
8. Trial by Fire
9. Escape From Reality
10. Sons of Thunder
11. Giants in the Sky
JUDAS PRIEST: INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR DATES:
Thu Apr 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Fri Apr 19 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Sun Apr 21 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
Wed Apr 24 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
Thu Apr 25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Sat Apr 27 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Center*
Sun Apr 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River
Wed May 01 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre
Thu May 02 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Sat May 4 – Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center*
Sun May 05 – Maryland Heights, MO – St Louis Music Park
Tue May 07 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Propst Arena*
Thu May 09 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville^
Sat May 11 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sun May 12 – Mobile, AL – Mobile Civic Center Arena*
Tue May 14 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Thu, May 16 – Columbus OH – Historic Crew Stadium ^
Fri May 17 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center*
Sun May 19 – Washington, DC –The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Tue May 21 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
Wed May 22 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
*Not a Live Nation Date
^Festival Performance
Aloysius Bell (a·lo·wish·us bell) is the alter ego of Winnipeg-born, Montreal-based singer-songwriter Annick Brémault.
While her name is a nod to the male pseudonyms of the iconic Brontë sisters, Aloysius Bell is a persona born from intense soul-searching who aims to shed light on murky, in-between spaces.
In 2019, Annick, as Aloysius Bell, took her first solo steps with the tracks Mountains and Your Heart Is Feathers. Co-produced with long-time collaborator Sacha Daoud (Blanche Baillargeon, Daniel Bellegarde), the songs feature a talented crew of Montreal musicians including Mélik-Alexandre Farhat, Mathieu Charbonneau, Amélie Mandeville, Sheila Hannigan, Chantal Bergeron and Monica Günther.
Mountains and Your Heart Is Feathers offer a glimpse into Aloysius Bell’s introspective world, showcasing an ethereal, open-eyed perspective, imaginative, atmospheric pop language and a style of prose both minimalistic and masterful. Drawing heavily on her modern dance and theater background, her travels and a 3-year stint living in Japan, Aloysius Bell’s writing portrays a deeply personal take on relationships, both with ourselves and others.
Alongside friends Andrina Turenne, Ariane Jean (Sala), Alexa Dirks (Begonia), Benoit Morier and Sacha Daoud she’s also toured extensively as a member of the now defunct Juno-award-winning group Chic Gamine. The pop/soul/r’n’b music of the latter led to numerous performances in North America and internationally, including opening for Smokey Robinson, Mark Broussard, Lake Street Dive and appearances on A Prairie Home Companion, Vinyl Café, Radio-Canada’s Studio 12 and other notable broadcasts. She’s since become increasingly sought after as a collaborator, co-writer, background vocalist and guest artist (Damien Robitaille, Willows, Sala, David Myles).
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
