Alt-pop artist CLAY (she/they) has revealed the details for her forthcoming EP, Waiting for God in the Garden, out May 24th. Today, she also releases the introspective title track and accompanying music video directed by Kanya Iwana (Erick The Architect, Chlöe, Lucky Daye). On the track, CLAY’s delicate vocals float above an ethereal backdrop as she comes to terms with the importance of tending to and loving yourself fully.
“I have always been on the outside looking in. Always felt like there was a language I didn’t speak, a secret code I never learned that somehow everyone else knew,” explains CLAY. “I spent what felt like lifetimes in deep isolation and loneliness, hoping that one day if I was good and kind and true and patient, I would find the happiness I so desperately sought. I would finally get to cross over to the land where my peers seemed to flourish. I spent all of my energy appeasing others, in a desperate attempt to be liked, perhaps if I was lucky even loved. For many years, when nothing shifted and I continued to feel like an alien, I blamed myself. It had to be something wrong with me, what else could it possibly be? Since my autism diagnosis, I have been slowly stripping back the layers of shame and blame that built up over the years. In this journey, I have started to feel deserving of love and began to give myself the energy, care, and attention that I so readily and effortlessly give to others. I have begun to pour back into my own cup. For if I so wholeheartedly believe, as I do, that everyone on this earth is worthy of love, then why wouldn’t that include me?”
“Waiting for God in the Garden” sees CLAY enter a new era driven by the exploration of self-discovery and empowerment, embracing the transformative power of self-love. The multi-faceted 6-track EP goes through the emotional experiences faced after heartbreak and the need to release control in order to find solace. CLAY shares, “Throughout my young adult life, especially in these last few years, I have found that the more you lean into joy and childlike wonder, the more you remember your purpose. Your inner child always knows the way back home, to the source of your self-love. As we journey through the EP, as I ‘wait for God in the garden,’ I come to realize what I’ve been looking for has always been within.”
Basement Revolver has always centered around the friendship of bassist/keyboardist Nim Agalawatte and guitarist/vocalist Chrisy Hurn. Lead guitarist Jonathan Malström and drummer Levi Kertesz round out the band’s larger-than-life sound. The band’s catalogue spans back to their breakout single, 2016’s “Johnny”. That single, and their self-titled EP from the same year, led to their signing with Fear of Missing Out in the UK, and later, Canada’s Sonic Unyon Records. Heavy Eyes, their debut LP, built on their aesthetic which merges hardcore-inspired indie and ambient dream pop. In support of that they toured throughout the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany. With tour plans on hold through 2020, Basement Revolver found time to wrestle with questions about identity, faith, mental illness, and sexuality. Their sophomore LP, Embody, is explicit about these new ideas and new thoughts, addressing them with a deeper sound and crisper production to adroitly express the complexity of the world. It is an album of friendship, of working out identity together, and making deeply personal art.
Electronic visionary Rezz has teamed up with Blanke for a new collaboration ‘Everywhere, Nowhere’ out now via HypnoVizion. ‘Everywhere, Nowhere’ is the fourth single off Rezz’s forthcoming album CAN YOU SEE ME?.
The long-awaited followup to 2018’s ‘Mixed Signals’, Rezz and Blanke’s second collaboration follows suit with its experimental edge and minimalist take on bass music. Scattered with eerie countermelodies, gritty basslines, and thunderous kicks, ‘Everywhere, Nowhere’ is cut with a sense of danger as it veers through magnetizing movements before embracing perilous drops. An alluring addition to CAN YOU SEE ME?, ‘Everywhere, Nowhere’ is intertwined with the rebellious, off-kilter styles that have united Rezz and Blanke once again.
“This is my second collaboration with Blanke! I sent him the idea for the song, and his contributions were incredible. It’s one of my favorites on the album. Fusing classic sounds that I’m notorious for, but in a more evolved way, while also in a different BPM.” – Rezz
“So stoked for our second collaboration to be released into the world. It’s a turn from our last collab, where this time we went deeper, darker and heavier. The more minimal, chunkier sound has been going crazy in our sets. We’re excited for you to get your hands on it.” – Blanke
Denver-based rock band WAKE ME have today announced their new single “Finger On The Trigger,” set to be released on March 15. Pre-save the song now at https://wakemeofficial.com/fott
Produced by The Used guitarist Joey Bradford, “Finger On The Trigger” marks the beginning of a new era for WAKE ME. “We had been exploring a new sound for our band with the combination of Collin at lead vocals and working with a new producer Joey Bradford of The Used,” shares the band on the new track. “This is one of the songs we ended up being most excited about not only because we thought it was great, but it was also very different than what we had been doing and perhaps not exactly what other bands were aiming for.”
WAKE ME have been swinging out of the gates since working with platinum super producer Erik Ron (Godsmack, Staind, Bush) in 2018 and have been invited to share the stage with some of rock’s biggest names including Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown, Kim Dracula, Five Finger Death Punch, Pop Evil, Skillet, Of Mice and Men, Puddle of Mudd, Sevendust, August Burns Red, and more. In that same timeframe, the band has accumulated over 15 million streams on Spotify alone and has been featured on multiple rock and metal editorial playlists. Their early-band rock/metal cover of Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose” has garnered over 7 million streams and named as one of the “greatest rock covers of the last two decades” by Guitar World Magazine… all of this as an independent band.
“Sad” is a powerful and raw piano ballad that calls for emotional sustainability as a prerequisite for a deeper and more meaningful relationship to ourselves and the world around us.
Fie Eike is a composer, songwriter and producer, born and raised in Denmark, to Norwegian parents. Based in Copenhagen, her atmospheric songs and compositions are often inspired by experiences and childhood memories from nature, especially the Danish forests, the coastline of The North Sea and the fjords and mountain landscapes of Norway, where she would spend her summers growing up. Through melodic and playful instrumentation, her compositions are laced with a deep emotional imprint and infused with a Nordic sophistication and mystery. Fie Eike also captures this atmosphere in photographs and other artwork, stating that visual expression is an integral part and extension of her writing and composition process.
“Sad” is the second single from Fie Eike’s upcoming debut album that comes out later this year. A powerful and raw, piano ballad with sparse arrangement, strong vulnerable vocals and lyrics with a clear message. The song is an expression of sadness about the emotional wounds we humans cause ourselves and others, often unknowingly, when we fail to take responsibility for our challenging emotions such as sadness or anger, but instead avoid them, numb ourselves or project them onto others.
The raw and sparse expression and composition is inspired by nature on the North West Coast of Denmark by the North Sea. Nature there is very raw, sparse and temperamental especially during the winter months, with strong winds and large powerful waves that continue to shape the coastline, while the wide sandy beaches, the sky and the ocean melt into each other, becoming one. For me “Sad” and our deepest emotions have a similar movement as the powerful yet vulnerable sensibility and volatility of nature. Just like the waves washing away all footprints and traces in the sand over time, the connection to our challenging emotions and tears can help us heal our wounds over time.
The song was written and recorded in a matter of hours, from a stream of consciousness and emotional expression and reflection. The songwriter shares, “We live in a time, where there is a sort of allergy towards challenging emotions. There seems to be a misconception that challenging emotions somehow limit our productivity and wellbeing when in fact it is quite the opposite. Because at the end of the day, everything that is unresolved eventually seeps out through the cracks and ends up controlling our subconscious, hindering our wellbeing and causing hurt not only in our personal lives but also on a more structural, collective level. If we dare to feel and be present with our deepest most challenging emotions, we give ourselves the chance to heal.”
“Sad” is a call for emotional sustainability and provides a musical space with an invitation to surrender and be present with the sadness, pain and other challenging emotions through the music. According to Fie Eike, daring to feel and be present with our challenging emotions such as sadness and grief is necessary in order to heal and can help us gain a deeper and more meaningful connection to ourselves and the world around us.
Fie Eike’s debut album has already received support from Koda Kultur and the Danish Musicians’ Union. 2024 is set to be an exciting year for this artist on the rise.
Dirtybird Records is honoring its San Francisco roots with a new remix package celebrating hometown heroes Hawke and God Within and their timeless classic ‘Acid Funk’. Out now and available on digital platforms for the first time, ‘Acid Funk’ has received exciting reworks from originator Gavin Hardkiss, Canadian duo Smalltown DJs and psychedelic producer Rabbit in the Moon, as well as a collaborative remix from Pillowtalk’s Mr. D and the late Navid Izadi’s The Sheik.
Originally released in 1996, ‘Acid Funk’ is a treasured record of San Francisco’s pre-internet rave era from Hardkiss aliases Hawke (Gavin Hardkiss) and God Within (Scott Hardkiss). Exclusive to vinyl, ‘Acid Funk’ has grown in notoriety due to its rarity as a secret DJ tool heard in few sets and found only by true crate diggers. Nearly 30 years later, ‘Acid Funk’ still resonates with dancefloors in the Bay Area and beyond, and carries on the legacy of Scott Hardkiss who unexpectedly passed away in 2013.
“The Bay Area house sound and Hardkiss are a big influence; the attitude, groove, and all-around cool vibe of the original ‘Acid Funk’ is still undeniable.” – Smalltown DJs
“Hardkiss were infused into the soundtrack to the early West Coast rave years. ‘Acid Funk’ in particular was an anthem in those warehouse days. ” – Mr. D
This is Ian Arden’s new Ep called “Songs For Rebecca”. Check it out below with a new music video for the single ‘Moon Spirit’.
Serena Ittoo, a singer-songwriter from Enfield, UK, uses her music to explore and express the emotions we all experience in our daily lives. Her emphasis on authenticity highlights the importance of embracing our unique selves, both in her music and in her interactions with others.
Her latest single, “My Heart Is Yours” is one of the most heartfelt and emotional songs Ittoo has ever written. Through storytelling lyrics, the song speaks of a soul level love which feels spiritual and reigns in the themes of unconditional and pure love for someone. Ittoo explains, “When two people are connected on a soul level, one of the most magical things of that love between them, is the ability to know how they’re really feeling even if they don’t say it to you, or others around them.”
Co-written with Steve Garry at the Buddy Holly Songwriting retreat in Lubbock Texas, the soft and sentimental track features minimalist production, with elegant and intricate embellishments which enhance the atmosphere of the song. The warmth of the piano compliments Ittoo’s soulful vocal tone, as she sings, “seek and you’ll find, my heart is all yours.”
Her commitment to her craft has opened doors to amazing opportunities, such as writing and performing an original song at Sir Paul McCartney’s childhood home. Serena has also collaborated with renowned songwriters like Grammy winner Gary Nicholson and multi-award-winning Jeff Cohen in Texas. Ittoo has garnered acclaim from the likes of Earmilk, Atwood Magazine and Record of the Day, as well as having featured on numerous podcasts.
Dive into the world of Serena Ittoo’s music and discover her relatable melodies that connect listeners across language and cultural boundaries. Her songs will inspire you to appreciate your own individuality and recognise the shared experiences that unite us all.
The Kitchen Dwellers continue their musical evolution as they present their highly anticipated 4th studio album, Seven Devils, streaming everywhere today via No Coincidence Records. The album is also available on limited edition 2LP 180g Blue-Orange Galaxy Vinyl, including a 12-page booklet.
Produced by Grammy-winning Glenn Brown (Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass), the ascending Montana quartet continues to redefine the boundaries of bluegrass, folk, and rock. Inspired by Dante’s epic voyage through the Nine Circles of Hell, the album guides the listener through a similar exploration. The Dwellers invite the listener to treat this as a musical journey inward to the self.
Emerging from Prague, NOANNE is an artist whose melodious tales paint vivid landscapes of raw emotions and unconventional perspectives. She weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of sound, drawing listeners into her realm of introspection and self-discovery. In a world where conformity reigns, NOANNE stands as a delightful enigma, finding solace and inspiration within her introverted nature. The stages of theater, the reels of film, the realms of music and the captivating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) become her sanctuary, where she sheds the veil of self-consciousness and steps into the spotlight of pure artistic expression. It is through these immersive artistic mediums that she reveals her true essence, leaving no corner of her soul unexplored.
Her latest single “Forgiveness” is an evocative and deeply emotional song that emerged from the creative synergy between NOANNE and the accomplished musician and producer Gregory Darling. Combined, their introspective songwriting and nuanced understanding of music has resulted in a song that resonates with profound emotional depth.
The inception of “Forgiveness” came about during a period of intense personal reflection for NOANNE. Inspired by her own experiences and inner contemplations, the song was conceived as a means to explore and articulate the intricate emotions surrounding the themes of release, self-confrontation, and the journey toward emotional and psychological liberation.
Lyrically, “Forgiveness” is a poignant exploration of the complexities inherent in the process of forgiving. NOANNE explains, “It delves into the nuanced interplay between words left unsaid and the weight of silence, capturing the internal turmoil one faces when grappling with unresolved emotions and the desire for closure.” The opening lines, “Give it to me – The taste of satisfaction, Leave them behind – All unanswered questions,” immediately draw the listener into a world of introspective questioning and emotional intensity.
As the song progresses, it touches on themes of loss, disillusionment, and the transformative power of acceptance. Sonically, “Forgiveness” serves as a reflective pause, a moment for the listener to internalize the song’s emotional journey. This break is not just a musical interlude but an integral part of the song’s narrative structure, providing a space for introspection and emotional processing.
Offering a cathartic journey for listeners, NOANNE shares, “This song represents a universal experience of confronting and releasing the burdens of the past, while speaking to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of forgiveness in healing and moving forward.”
acclaimed songwriter Patrick Davis is thrilled to share his newest single “Southern Roots.” “I love that I am from the South,” says Davis. “The land, the people & the history raised me from the ground up to stand for what is right, admit when I am wrong, change when it is necessary & to always keep learning from the triumphs, and mistakes, of those who came before. “Southern Roots” is not just my story, it is the story of millions upon millions of men, women and children, who just like me are forever trying to do better than those who came before us.”
“Southern Roots” follows follows a number of original songs released by Davis throughout 2023 including “L-O-V-E” “Wrong Side of the Tracks,”“Beautiful Day For Flying,” and “Six String Dreams.”
Busta Rhymes, never one to shy away from leaning into his creative curiosities, flaunts his unique approach yet again with the arrival of the latest music video off his 2023 album Blockbusta, “OK” f/ Young Thug. The video, directed by Busta Rhymes himself and Gaudens Zulu is now available.
global party institution CircoLoco has revealed the dates for its 25th anniversary Ibiza season, taking place April 29 – October 14 at DC-10.
CircoLoco remains one of underground electronic music’s most important outfits. From its namesake party in Ibiza, spawned in 1999 as a Monday after-hours party, CircoLoco has grown into a global music brand and veritable lifestyle, catalyzing cultural exchange with the most brilliant minds across art, fashion and entertainment. Its no-frills approach and forward-thinking lineups have perpetuated the underground spirit of its Balearic roots for 25 years.
CircoLoco’s impact on culture far exceeds its four walls, with the world’s of fashion and celebrity colliding with dance culture. It’s where Ricardo Tisci first heard the Martinez Brothers before booking them to soundtrack Givenchy shows for years; where P Diddy fell in love with dance music before releasing his electronic record II II; Virgil Abloh was inspired to design a capsule collection for the brand; a place where household names and high society stars can lose themselves on its dancefloor. CircoLoco’s dance floor has sparked collaborations with world renowned brands such as Off-White, Adidas, and most notably a partnership with Rockstar Games, which led to the founding of CircoLoco Records, serving as a far-reaching fusion between the virtual and physical worlds of music and entertainment.
R&B music darling Jade Novah rolls out a 24-track innovative contemporary hybrid album titled WHERE HAVE I BEEN? via Varick Street Records. LISTEN HERE. WHERE HAVE I BEEN? is a concept R&B album that combines storytelling with scripted dialogue, comedy, and original music. Produced by Jade’s husband and creative partner, award-winning producer, composer, and musical director, Devin Johnson, the album takes us on a reflective journey through Jade’s childhood and past relationships, revealing how words of affirmation can be used within to unlock the magic of self-love.
WHERE HAVE I BEEN? includes Novah’s latest singles “AFFIRM ME” and “WHAT’S YOUR SIGN?” along with features from an all-star cast of artists and actors, including Grammy and Tony-winning performer Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton, Harriet), Emmy Award-winning actor Wayne Brady (Who’s Line Is It Anyway, Kinky Boots), NAACP Award winner Tabitha Brown (The Chi, Tab Time), Grammy®-nominated R&B artists Kenyon Dixon, rising actress Gail Bean (Snowfall, P Valley), the hilarious comedian Tony Baker (HBO’s The Headliners), and more.
About the album, Novah explains, “Where Have I Been? is a concept R&B album that tells the story of how words of affirmation became my love language. This album feels like my most authentic project to date, combining my passions of music, comedy, storytelling, and healing.” She continues, “The music takes you on a reflective journey through my childhood and some of my past relationships, ultimately revealing how words of affirmation can be used within to unlock the magic of self-love!”
I got the juice, can’t go nowhere without my gin”
—21 Lil Harold
21 Lil Harold continues to build his momentum with the release of his new music video, “Gin and Juice,” featuring Dallas standout BigXThaPlug. The new single and music video follows the successful release of the J.I.D.-featured “Sundown,” which quickly kicked Lil Harold’s year into gear, and whet his fans’ appetites for his forthcoming project.
The next chapter in Harold’s story, “Gin and Juice,” is available now.
On International Women’s Day (March 8th 2024) the unique British soul, jazz and R&B singer-songwriter Sarah Jane Morris returns with her most joyously life-affirming album yet – ‘The Sisterhood.’
A representation of Sarah Jane’s roots, inspirations, and indefatigable love of contemporary music-making and its iconic pioneers ‘The Sisterhood’ celebrates ten female stars who dominated the singing and songwriting of the 20th century – Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Annie Lennox, and Kate Bush.
“For more than twenty years I have been thinking about projects to celebrate women and our contribution to the history of song. This, at last, is it,” says Sarah Jane. “These are my ten singers, my essential lodestars. With these stories I tell my own, acknowledge my musical tutelage and identify the women who mean so much to me. This album is dedicated to all my musical sisters, to those who went before and to those still making music. Thank you for blazing the trail, for fighting for us all with your irresistible talent and your passionate resolve.”
‘The Sisterhood’ is Sarah Jane’s ‘lock-down project’, as she and her husband Mark worked on the lyrical structures through months of isolation. As the repertoire came together, Sarah Jane and Tony Rémy, her co-writer/co-producer of the project, became convinced that the grooves and moods of the songs needed to sound contemporary yet reflective of the styles that had guided the ears and choices of the original artists in their own times. They also knew that the pandemic had hollowed out their earnings, and that this supremely ambitious project would have to be funded with little more than ingenuity and hope.
With the lyrics to the ten songs completed, and the music and arrangements crafted by Sarah Jane and Tony Rémy, Sarah Jane set up residential song-writing and creative visual art weekends at home in Sussex to help the cause. A trip to South Africa (to record the album’s Miriam Makeba tribute with the Soweto Gospel Choir) was made possible with help and accommodation from Dali Tambo, a friend of Sarah Jane’s since Artists Against Apartheid was founded in the UK by Tambo and The Specials’ Jerry Dammers in the mid-1980s.
How successfully they realised the elusive ambition of a contemporary set that remains rooted in the legacies of the artists it celebrates, is evident all over this remarkable album. The title track is an infectiously funky salutation to Aretha Franklin, with the groove and vocal snap of a dancefloor anthem, yet steeped in the classic gospel sound that Sarah Jane Morris seems to have absorbed into her DNA. Junk In My Trunk, for Billie Holiday, is a deceptively ethereal soul-jazz homage to Holiday’s determination to stand by the harrowing anti-racist message of ‘Strange Fruit’ in the face of ruthless censorious pressure from the authorities, Couldn’t Be Without is a springy, horn-pumping eulogy for Bessie Smith, that towering precursor and influence for so many female artists – complete with the price she paid.
Tomorrow Never Happens urgently unfolds the story of how Janis Joplin threw fuel on the fire beneath the intimate relationship of blues and rock and roll, while the lyrical, romantic For The Voiceless is a graceful thanksgiving for the music and empathy of Annie Lennox. The delicate Rimbaud of Suburbia enchantingly connects the dreamworld of Kate Bush’s ‘The Man with the Child In His Eyes’ to the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud – Bush having written the song when she was 13, Rimbaud creating his entire surreal literary legacy before he was 20.
Then there’s Sarah Jane’s Rickie Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell tributes – Jazz Side of the Road and Sing Me A Picture – exquisitely capturing the fragile perceptiveness and old-soul wisdoms of those two complex women. Miss Makeba first pays solemn spoken-word respect to South Africa’s anti-apartheid revolution, before an Afrobeat guitar chime develops a deep, humming anthem. So Much Love (for Nina Simone) – opening in spacey whispers and becoming a cruising soul-ballad groove – is both a warm celebration of the compassionate universality of music-making its subject would have dreamed of in her youth, and a candid recognition of the experiences of racism and greed that fuelled Simone’s defiant and scalding seriousness as she extended the reach of popular song.
WESSON is a British Indie Alt Rock band led by singer/songwriter Chris Wesson. Based in Milton Keynes, the four-piece band was formed under the mutual decision to find like-minded souls who needed music as part of their everyday life and essence to their being. Along with bassist Callum, guitarist Jimmy, and drummer Dale, WESSON creates music which is relatable, conversational and meaningful.
Starting 2024 on the right note, WESSON have dropped their four-track acoustic EP, Stay the Same. Featuring three songs from their 2023 album, All We Are, the new acoustic release also includes a brand new single, title-track “Stay the Same.” Written from the perspective of a person whose glass is half empty and always sees the bad things in life, the band explain, “This is the type of person who just complains and then looks externally for something or someone to lift their mood, rather than working on themselves and making positive changes. They are ungrateful, unable to see the good in life and they pray for change but things either get worse or just stay the same.”
Sonically, “Stay the Same” is inspired by a lot of 60’s bands, including The Kinks. The laid-back, easy-listening track showcases WESSON’s versatility, with soft, layered harmonies gliding over toe-tapping, organic instrumentation. Their infectious sound will worm its way into your ears and you’ll quickly find yourself chanting along to their storytelling lyrics. They have had an overwhelming response to this release on social media platforms. Fans and strangers alike are commenting positively on how WESSON could be the modern-day Beatles. Each acoustic track is also accompanied by a live performance video which were all filmed in Chris’s self-built studio. WESSON has had the pleasure of performing across the UK, supporting artists such as Space, The Bluetones, Callum Beattie and Lucy Spraggan. They have also garnered acclaim from the likes of Earmilk, Atwood Magazine and Variance Magazine to name a few, racking up hundreds of thousands of streams for their music to date. Stay the Same is available on all streaming platforms and will soon be available to purchase on CD.
Permanent Moves is Shane Chapman and Julia Sirna-Frest, an indie-electro-folk-rock duo from Brooklyn, NY. They started writing music together in 2016 based on found texts and have grown into an unique blend of eclectic orchestrations and soaring, emotional harmonies that The New York Times has called “sonically gorgeous.” Their forthcoming concept album Don’t Forget Us: A Chekhovian Song Cycle – out on April 12 – uses the work of Anton Chekhov as inspiration and their north star. The project features Chris Giarmo (American Utopia), Jessie Shelton (Hadestown), Karl Blau, Starr Busby and many other special guests. It also features translations by Laurence Senelick. Today they unveil a video for “200 Years.”
Permanent Moves will celebrate the release of Don’t Forget Us: A Chekhovian Song Cycle with a live performance on April 16 at Brooklyn’s Sultan Room. Tickets are available now.
Artist Statement:
For the past 7 years we have been working on and performing these songs in a myriad of ways from a 16 person band at Ars Nova to a duo set in a living room in Vancouver, Canada. We have both been drawn to Chekhov’s work because it speaks to the questions we often sit around talking about. What are the lives not lived? How does one survive the monotony of everyday life? Failure, living up to one’s potential, longing for a bigger life. You know, the hits of the human condition.
This album feels very ripe for this moment because the past few years has led many people to reassess their lives, to question whether they’ve made the right choices. For us in the performing arts, the entire industry was yanked away and it feels like a chance to ponder our existence, a very Chekhovian thing to do. His work reminds us that life is lived in the in-between moments. Huge things happen in a Chekhov play, people die, love is lost, a gun might go off but the focus is watching the characters muck through it as we all must do. We’re hoping to give people a good soundtrack for their personal mucking. We can all be uplifted by a good horn section, right? As Charles McNulty put it so elegantly: “Chekhov’s art doesn’t seek to correct but merely to point out that as we’re dreaming of better days our real lives are quietly unfolding.”
Casii Stephan is a MN born, indie-pop meets soul-rock singer-songwriter now based in Tulsa, OK. Casii’s “gorgeously emotive voice inspires comparisons to alt-pop artists like Florence Welch and Fiona Apple with a writing style reminiscent of Carole King” proclaims (NPR).
Stephan’s voice is fierce and fearless, but this was not always the case. She grew up shy and afraid of her voice until she started writing songs on the family piano when she was 16. Casii moved to Tulsa in 2014 with the intent to give up her pursuit of a music career, however with a little encouragement from a friend, she continued songwriting and started releasing music in 2016. Since then, she has received national songwriting awards, toured regionally, performed official SXSW and Folk Alliance showcases, performed at the virtual Sundance Film Festival, and has been profiled on platforms such as Billboard, NPR, and American Songwriter.
Casii writes her songs honestly, from the depths of her emotions, with lyrics that pushback on negative societal norms like sexism, ageism and “playing nice” as a woman. She uses writing to deconstruct her own beliefs with an underlying hope that things can change, inviting listeners on their own journey. In October, Casii signed with TRO Essex music publishing, joining the talented folk writers such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seger, and iconic rock bands like The Who, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd.
The songwriter recently traveled to Muscle Shoals, AL to record with producer Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes, St. Paul and the Broken Bones). The concept EP to be titled, Relationship Status takes the listener on the emotional journey of going from one relationship status to another and finally landing on the realization that these statuses do not define you. Leading single “Can’t Handle Me” is a soulful funk pop rock thrill. She confides, “Being single has many highs and lows. This one is about overcoming a low. When a drunk guy at the bar can’t get the message that you don’t want to talk to him and he just keeps on talking and talking and talking… We bite our tongues, because the truth is they can’t handle us.” Relationship Status EP is set for release later this Spring.
Powerful and defiant, Tornados is here as your reminder to keep going.
Sweeping melodies and grounding beats take hold as Tiiva’s relatable lyricism coaxes you towards your next move.
Sharing more Tiiva explained: Tornados is about possibility and hope through hedonism and thinking about the different directions you can take. It’s inspired from spiritual ideals of using intuition instead of influence, listening to primal voices and leaning into self trust and belief to keep going when things are difficult or confusing in life.
The release of Tornados is the follow up to Tiiva’s debut EP Fireflies which came out at the end of the last year. Shifting their sound into the next room, they return with an outcome that boasts natural development and innovation. Working with talented producer Moritz Kerschbaumer on co-production, Tornadoes is the first single to be revealed from their collaboration.
All Day I Dream, the renowned record label and events series founded by the illustrious Lee Burridge, is set to embark on its highly anticipated 2024 World Tour. With a legacy spanning over a decade, All Day I Dream has left an indelible mark on the international music scene, curating transcendent experiences that transport audiences beyond the ordinary.
The All Day I Dream 2024 World Tour is set to visit eleven cities across the globe, presenting a total of 26 shows that promise to make this summer its most magical yet. The journey kicks off in Mexico City on April 20, followed by stops in Dubai on April 27 and Los Angeles on May 11. As the summer season unfolds, All Day I Dream crew will touchdown at premiere venues like New York’s Brooklyn Mirage and Denver’s Sculpture Park.
One of the (weekly) highlights of the World Tour includes a spectacular residency in Ibiza, where All Day I Dream will take over Playa Soleil every Monday for 16 unforgettable shows. This marks a significant milestone as the brand introduces a new venue on a new night, creating an ethereal space for “dreamers” to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of All Day I Dream.
Founder Lee Burridge, the visionary behind the All Day I Dream movement, shares his vision for the tour: “Summertime is already headed towards us fast and this year we have the pleasure of hosting 26 All Day I Dream parties around the globe. I’m looking forward to dropping the first track of what promises to be a very special summer indeed.” As the driving force behind the brand’s success, Burridge’s commitment to creating emotive experiences through exceptional music remains unwavering.
Born out of Lee Burridge’s passion for mystical music and enduring experiences, ADID has become synonymous for its melodic soundscapes, vibrant beats and a global community of like-minded individuals.
Join All Day I Dream on a journey that promises to be their most unforgettable summer ever. For tickets and additional information about the 2024 All Day I Dream World Tour, please visit https://fanlink.to/ADID2024
Project Pabst, produced by Pabst Blue Ribbon, is excited to unveil the music lineup for its highly anticipated return, taking place at Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon for the first time in seven years this July 27 and 28. Project Pabst is a two-day, two-stage celebration of live music, beer, and the local culture of the Pacific Northwest.
Project Pabst’s lineup was curated to showcase iconic acts alongside modern favorites and rising stars. The festival brings out punk rock pioneer Billy Idol and hip-hop trailblazer and party starter T-Pain, as well as indie and alternative stars Big Thief and Violent Femmes. Beloved Portland heroes, Gossip, make their long-awaited return, and hip-hop acts of the moment like Denzel Curry and Kenny Mason bring their electrifying stage presences.
The lineup’s curatorial depths run deeper with indie rock bands Manchester Orchestra and STRFKR, the sophisticated song writing of Soccer Mommy, garage-psych inspired Shannon & The Clams, punk rockers Jeff Rosenstock and Militarie Gun, neighboring Seattle rock band La Luz, and many many more.
Project Pabst has a legacy of bringing out incredible artists, with past performances from Tame Impala, Blondie, Nas, Iggy Pop, and more. The festival demonstrates Pabst Blue Ribbon’s continued dedication to championing music and art, and will showcase installations by visual artists, as well as unique vendors and local food options.
“Ten years ago, the team threw the first Project Pabst in Portland, and this year we have the opportunity to bring it back to the city where it all started. We set out to create a festival that PBR fans would love, and I’m really proud of how this lineup delivers.” – Rachel Keeton, PBR Brand Director
Tickets for Project Pabst will go on sale on March 8 at 10am PST at the link here. Project Pabst is a 21+ event. Pre-sale tickets start at $99, with general on sale tickets being $115.
Hudson Valley-based singer-songwriter Jack Manley shares the gentle, earnest track “Tightrope Life” out everywhere now. Manley’s revealing, introspective debut solo EP Unmeasurable Terms is due out May 10 and available for pre-order now. On “Tightrope Life,” Manley reckons with his own mistakes that jeopardize his relationship and vows to change as he aims to preserve it. On March 14, Manley will perform at The Avalon Lounge in Catskill, NY, with support from Setting Sun and Xadir Yucel. Tickets are on sale now here.
Out today, “Tightrope Life,” looks at the pain that addiction can inflict on users and their loved ones as Manley attempts to salvage his cherished relationships after repeated lapses. Fragile and sleep deprived, the track illustrates the moments Manley realizes he must make a change. Over sparse production and glittering electric guitar riffs, Manley yearns for connection and stability to ground him, singing, “This time I can’t stop spinning/Round and round and round/The tightrope life I’m living/Always looking for the ground/I’ve been longing, waiting, hoping for your love.” Manley says the achingly honest track is about, “finally admitting I’m in too deep and can’t stop.” With his shortcomings on full display, Manley admits, “it’s a recognition of the toll it has taken on my partner and how it hurts to see me hurt her–which is incredibly selfish–but hey, progress not perfection.” The single art features text that describe Naloxone–the drug that ultimately saved Manley’s life.
The pounding drums came together after Manley edited and spliced several takes by drummer Josh Eppard (Coheed and Cambria) and includes sounds using the Electro Harmonix Freeze pedal while guitarist Billy Pearson plays a magnetic, spacey lead that uses a vintage Ibanez Dual Chorus pedal adding an atmospheric, dazed quality that mirrors the dizzying real-life experience.
HARD Events has announced the highly anticipated lineup for its 2024 edition of HARD Summer Music Festival. For the first time, HARD Summer will take place at Inglewood’s Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium, on August 3 and 4, 2024.
Since its debut edition in 2008, HARD Summer has cemented itself as a staple of the Southern California festival scene, growing steadily while showcasing its signature multi-genre curatorial ethos and Y2K aesthetic. The festival is now the largest electronic music event in Los Angeles and a stronghold for the city’s diverse melting pot of musical styles and influences.
HARD’s 2024 lineup continues to showcase a reflection of the festival’s multi-genre ethos, where the top tier of electronic music blends with champions of the underground scene, marquee crossover and live acts, and the best and brightest of the next generation.
A host of headlining acts will soundtrack a massive welcome for HARD Summer to its new home of Hollywood Park, led by GRAMMY-nominated brotherly production duo Disclosure, the electrifying FISHER + Chris Lake: Under Construction collaborative show, and hard-hitting REZZMAU5 collaboration of Rezz and deadmau5. HARD will also welcome special guests including revitalized UK electronic duo Chase & Status and GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado with her catalog of iconic hits. More highlights include globally celebrated international trio Major Lazer and forward-thinking beatmaker Jamie xx.
Speedrun (a.k.a. Nina Lüders) is a singer-songwriter born and raised in New York, whose self-coined “indie chic” music weaves a dynamic tapestry of alternative rock with jazzy vocals, contemplative lyrics, and Cameroonian makossa-inspired riffs. Intertwining vintage sounds with contemporary themes of social alienation and self-love, Speedrun invokes a nostalgia trip to old and new fans of indie rock while also bringing forward a new, electric perspective.
Her debut EP Love’s Latest News is an exploration of the medieval ideals of courtly love and how they relate to the modern world. Each track, ranging from chill to upbeat, delves into different types of love before finally culminating in self-love as the central theme. She confides, “I wrote this EP as a love letter to 2000s indie rock, with the cover art of me in a suit of armor to both highlight the medieval theme and introduce imagery of a young black woman empowered in her own hero’s journey. The Strokes producer Gordon Raphael found me on TikTok and offered to join the project as the lead mixer and really drove home the nostalgic garage rock sound while keeping it contemporary for all kinds of listeners.” The result is a captivating six song journey of empowerment.
American artist, producer and songwriter Ghost Loft returns with a melodic, warm new single ‘Sweet Honey’, which spotlights Danny Choi’s bliss vocals and infectious rhythmic flow.
Take a listen to ‘Sweet Honey’ HERE
Notably, Choi has worked closely with a plethora of established musicians throughout his career, having featured on songs with Wiz Khalifa (“So High” and “The Last”) and Juice WRLD (“Scared Of Love”), as well as having produced the entire soundtrack for the Louis Vuitton video game, “Louis: The Game” in 2021. Over the years, he has made a name for himself in the industry, and by re-entering the scene today with the release of ‘Sweet Honey’, he marks the start of a new chapter in his solo career, with lots more on the way.
This Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum music artist originates from Los Angeles and gained momentum after the great success of his debut tracks “Seconds” and “So High.” “Sweet Honey” is Ghost Loft’s first release since his single ‘Over’ in 2020, and coming back with a bang, the song sees him playing with an electro-pop sound that has an irresistible charm .
alt-pop musician Lisa Humber shares her empowering new single ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
‘The Devil’s Advocate’ was written in collaboration with producer/guitarist Justin Abedin, whom Lisa met backstage whilst working on Come From Away in Toronto. He also played a significant role in her debut EP, The Space Between, released in 2022, helping to infuse beauty into her work and shape her lyrics and melodies. The release of this new single launches a quadriptych of new music to be released from Lisa in 2024.
“‘The Devil’s Advocate’ delves into introspection on love, mistakes, and self-discovery,” says Lisa. “It’s a song about facing the fallout of ignoring warning signs, playing games, and owning up to my part in the chaos. We’ve all been on that rollercoaster of growth, and this tune encapsulates the essence of breaking away from past choices while asserting newfound empowerment.”
Embracing her “Empowered Epoch,” Lisa aimed to showcase it both on and off-camera with the music video for ‘The Devil’s Advocate’. Assembling the band for the shoot was a breeze: Jessica Stuart (JESSA,) on guitar, drummer Allyson MacIvor, and Melissa Mather on bass—each exceptional in their own right. The video was co-directed by her longtime friend and collaborator Steffi Didomenicantonio, and the multi-talented pop princess Rafa Weyman (Ralph) serving as the behind-the-scenes set photographer. Queer icons Lauren Wotherspoon (cinematographer) and Jaimee Q. Vicente-Hall (associate producer) complete this stellar team.
‘The Devil’s Advocate’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit lisahumber.com.
Continuing to carve his path and create buzz, Indie-Folk singer songwriter, Hans Williams, presents his debut EP More Than One Way Home. Get it HERE.
“I wrote and recorded ‘More Than One Way Home’ between Vermont, Georgia, and New Orleans over the past year and a half,” says Hans. “Creating this small project has helped me lean into the unfamiliarity of my future while reconciling with my past. It’s for anyone who’s feared they won’t ever find the same sense of belonging they once felt in their hometown. For anyone who’s ever felt paralyzed by self-doubt. Or anyone who has lost touch with themselves somewhere along the way.”
With five tantalizing tracks, the project was introduced with previously released singles “The Trek” and “Skin,” an imposter syndrome anthem that quickly amassed over 600K streams. Upon release, both tracks received acclaim from the likes of Ones to Watch and Sheesh, as well as landing spots on editorial playlists including Fresh Folk and Juniper. Now with arrival of his More Than One Way Home EP, Hans presents the full picture into his world with three new tracks, sharing with listeners the chronicles of leaning into the unfamiliar aspects of life and finding peace through that process.
Following the arrival of the EP, he will be hitting the road for his debut headline 26-date North American ‘More Than One Way Home’ tour. Kicking off on March 15th, the tour starts in New Orleans – where Hans currently lives – before making its way across North America, stopping in major cities like Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, as well as his home state of Vermont. With 26 dates in total, the ‘More Than One Way Home’ tour will culminate on May 4th in New Orleans at Jazz Fest. See below for full routing and get tickets HERE.
London based, self-produced singer-songwriter and visual FX designer, Ashlie Skye releases her debut EP, alongside title track ‘In My Boat’. In essence, Ashlie’s new body of work is a heartfelt, melodic collection of six tracks that evoke strong feelings surrounding themes of love and maturing. In this personal account of her life experiences, the EP almost takes the form of a journal entry, where she shares her inner thoughts and feelings. The project is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Listen to ‘In My Boat’ and the rest of the EP below:
https://apollodistro.lnk.to/ashlieskye
Speaking on the story behind the EP, Ashlie SKye shares; “Stories of finding my feet in places that I thought were “love” but turned out to be searches for validation, care, comfort or a sense of permanence and home. This EP takes you through the journey of facing uncertainty and becoming bold enough to share uncomfortable feelings in the pursuit of connecting to people through music. In making this, I let go of any shame connected with being sensitive, and seeking love both always and early on in my life. The process of creating this EP transformed me – from a scared, self indulgent, obsessive young girl into a hopeful, patient, and determined musician.”
acclaimed Irish indie rock band Pillow Queens share their latest track and official video for 90s-soft rock-inspired “Like A Lesson” out everywhere now. The band’s triumphant third studio album Name Your Sorrow is due out April 19 and available for pre-order now. This June, Pillow Queens will perform live across the UK and will support Snow Patrol in Limerick, IR on July 12 ahead of their biggest show to date on July 13 at Dublin, Ireland’s Iveagh Gardens. Tickets are on sale now for all shows via pillowqueens.com/live.
Out today, the guitar-driven “Like A Lesson” explores longing for intimacy and a desire for closeness as well as the fears and insecurities that come with sharing one’s self. On the raw subject matter, the band says the track dives into, “The notion of finding safety and comfort in the presence of love of limerence is emphasized, contrasting with the paralyzing fear of making mistakes or ruining your life or someone else’s. It delves into the feeling of being a lesson for someone, a side character in someone else’s story.” Over a hooky guitar riff, the track swells until the backing instruments fade for a moment and lead vocalist, bassist and guitarist Pamela Connolly belts, “I don’t wanna ruin my life/But I wanna go home with you.” Here, the band illustrates the thin line between fear and desire and the risk involved in vulnerability.
It slowly became a blend of each band member’s music taste and is now a favorite to play live. The band continues, “Sonically, we were influenced by a range of artists from Blur and REM to Seminsonic, New Radicals, and Squeeze. It began as a song we felt had a strong country music influence and morphed into something that referenced a wide range of our musical tastes. It’s the 90s soft rock song on the album.”
Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young returns to the Café Carlyle, May 14-18, with one of his most-popular sets. Original Jersey Boys screen and stage star, John Lloyd Young, is one of the current longest-running recurring performers at the storied, iconic venue. For over a decade, he has returned each year to interpret a set of classic hits in the Café Carlyle’s timeless New York showroom.
Young sets his thrilling, live vocals to the most beloved standards of original rock ‘n’ roll, doo-wop and R&B. Along with tracks from his critically-acclaimed debut album, My Turn, the spring 2024 residency will feature such hits as “Sherry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” and “Unchained Melody,” as well as other iconic songs originally introduced by the likes of Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Platters, Smokey Robinson and Roy Orbison.
This year’s residency serves as a love letter to the Golden Era – harkening back to his debut Café Carlyle residency back in 2013, when The New York Times praised Young’s “one-in-a-million tenor shading into falsetto that he can direct through the stratosphere.” Music direction by Steve Marzullo.
John Lloyd Young: “I’m a sucker for classics. There are only a few places in New York that have retained their elegant, old-world charm throughout the decades. The Café Carlyle is one of them. I’m in love with that timeless room and the timeless songs I sing there.”
John Lloyd Young is the original Tony Award-winning star of the original Broadway production of Jersey Boys, lead singer on the Grammy-winning, double-Platinum cast album and star of Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys film adaptation from Warner Bros Pictures. His five-star-rated debut album of classic 60’s doo-wop and R&B, My Turn is an Amazon.com best seller.
Performances will take place Tuesday – Saturday at 8:45pm. General Seating $125 per person / Premium Seating $175 per person / Bar Seating $100 per person. Reservations can be made online via Tock. Café Carlyle is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street, at Madison Avenue).
For more information, follow Café Carlyle on Instagram and Facebook.
Brownsville, Brooklyn-born rapper Bleezy sets a sizzling tone for the year with the release of his new song, “DOD Freestyle.” Out now via Team Eighty Productions, the latest music offering finds the rising artist unleashing fire-armed bars with a fiery, triumphant flow to match the championship-feeling beat.
Referring to the tone of DOD Freestyle, Bleezy states, “The message behind this one is simple. I want to be the voice of inspiration and motivate the youth to keep chasing their dreams. The grind never stops.”
The track follows Bleezy’s lethal release, “Makin It Hot,” which earned organic rotations on major New York City hip-hop stations and stands tall with over 300K + views for the official music video. Watch HERE.
Lily Lane is a born entertainer, captivating audiences with her powerful voice. From selling out venues like the House of Blues to performing at Madison Square Garden, she has established herself as a force to be reckoned with. Graduating with honors from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, she is not only a talented singer but also an advocate for body positivity and LGBTQ representation. With a standout voice that combines the grit of Amy Winehouse, the range of Demi Lovato, and the soul of Alicia Keys, Lily Lane is an independent artist in control of her own destiny. Her music has been featured on popular TV shows and gained recognition from influential sources. She has headlined festivals, collaborated with notable artists, and continues to impress with her unmatched vocal prowess.
Her debut independent EP, “Nothin’ But Trouble,” gained recognition when it was featured on Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars and garnered praise from influential outlets like Nylon, Just Jared Jr, and Perez Hilton. Throughout the 2020 lockdown, Lily Lane’s music amassed over 720,000 streams, and she collaborated with Trinidad James on a track. Additionally, one of her songs served as the theme for two seasons of the Netflix original series “Get Organized with The Home Edit.”
Mariah the Scientist, back home after performing the 9-date European leg of her To Be Eaten Alive Tour, gets ready for her close-up.
Mariah The Scientist is back. Literally.
The Atlanta singer-songwriter returns to the United States today to embark on the North American leg of her To Be Eaten Alive Tour, which has sold out all 41 of its dates. This comes after Mariah performed nine shows in Europe on the sold-out European leg of the tour, which began in Oslo, Norway on February 10. The domestic shows begin tonight, March 6, in Seattle, and stretch through the first week of May when Mariah will conclude the tour with consecutive shows at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, her hometown, on May 5-6.
The To Be Eaten Alive Tour supports To Be Eaten Alive, Mariah the Scientist’s third studio album and her first since joining Epic Records. The album, which features Young Thug, 21 Savage, Kaytranada and more, earned Mariah her first of many debuts on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.
To Be Eaten Alive 2024 Upcoming Tour Dates:
3/6 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre
3/7 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
3/9 Sacramento, CA The Rink Studios
3/10 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst
3/12 San Francisco, CA The Regency Ballroom
3/13 San Francisco, CA The Regency Ballroom
3/15 San Diego, CA The Observatory North Park
3/16 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
3/17 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory OC
3/19 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
3/20 Albuquerque, NM El Rey Theater
3/22 Houston, TX House of Blues
3/23 Austin, TX Scoot Inn
3/24 Dallas, TX House of Blues
3/26 Denver, CO The Ogden Theatre
3/28 St. Louis, MO Delmar Hall
3/29 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
3/30 Chicago, IL House of Blues
4/1 Detroit, MI Saint Andrew’s Hall
4/2 Toronto, ON The Danforth Music Hall
4/3 Montreal, QC Théâtre Beanfield
4/5 Providence, RI The Strand
4/6 Boston, MA Citizens House of Blues
4/7 Hartford, CT The Webster
4/9 Washington, DC Echostage
4/11 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia
4/12 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount Theater
4/15 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
4/16 Richmond, VA The National
4/17 Norfolk, VA The NorVa
4/19 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works
4/20 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore Charlotte
4/21 Raleigh, NC The Ritz
4/24 New Orleans, LA The Joy Theater
4/26 Orlando, FL House of Blues
4/27 St Petersburg, FL Jannus Live
4/28 Ft Lauderdale, FL Revolution Live
5/3 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
5/4 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
Street Fever is a versatile, mixed-media performance-artist residing in Boise, Idaho. Whom, remains anonymous. Their music is a gritty symphony born from profound life experiences and sonic experimentation. From the shrines of Three 6 Mafia in their bedroom as a kid, to being raised by the DIY hardcore scene- they have an eclectic background that sources inspo from hardcore / heavy rap / industrial techno / EBM / noise / electro / techno and classical music.
Rooted in an ongoing spiritual awakening, Street Fever has been on a wildly cinematic path to better understand themselves as an artist, spiritual seeker, and human being. After losing all their possessions, being institutionalized multiple times and nearly losing their life in a South East Asian prison, this project has since been reborn and aims to use it as a platform to speak on their own recovery and addiction. Now more than ever they are empowered to share their story in hopes to connect with others who are seeking personal and spiritual growth
Street Fever deftly balances between destructive possession and holy reclamation, extending a hand to invite you into their world through the powerful mediums of art and sound. Witness their journey of self-discovery and enlightenment through their thought-provoking creations.
His latest single “Fate” is a reflection of self love, desire, and a deep look inside one’s shadow to embrace who it is that we want to be. “Fate” is an intimate call for us to dive deeper into the love we want to give ourselves alongside feeling an indescribable love from a power beyond ourselves. The song is the tug of war between desire and presence, guided by the language we use to embody our purest form.
Tour
March 20-24: Boise, ID Treefort Music Festival
April 6: San Diego, CA Modern Wav w/ HEALTH, PANTHER MODERN
indie-folk duo Eletto releases their brand new single ‘Danced With a Stranger’, which spotlights the duo’s mesmorising vocals as they sing melodically in unison, to the sound of a delicate acoustic guitar accompaniment. The project is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Take a listen to ‘Danced With a Stranger’ below:
https://apollodistro.lnk.to/eletto
The second track in Eletto’s debut EP is an acoustic ballad about dealing with grief and moving on. Danced With a Stranger tells the story of a young woman who’s lost her loved one to the drink. It details her longing need for affection; using other men to fill the gap he left, but they all remind her of him. The nostalgia fuelled song was recorded live solely featuring an acoustic guitar and Eletto’s close harmonies. Keeping it simple so the tragic story and haunting vocals remain
the focus.
Today’s release is the follow up from Eletto’s recent single ‘Fool’, which shone bright with a 70s folk flair and began the year of new music on a high.
Belo Horizonte-based DJ/producer Viot releases his new single “So Far So Good,” via Diplo’s Higher Ground label. The new track, a sweltering yet uplifting tech house number, is outfitted with an effervescent vocal sample, bouncy groove, and punchy percussion.
The optimistic vibe of “So Far So Good” reflects the headspace Viot was in while writing the track. “I wrote this during a period of my life with big changes,” Viot says about the track. “I was starting a new relationship, moving to a new house, starting to show the world my new project, and when I found the acapella—it all made sense.”
Viot, real name Lauro Viotti, has come a long way from sneaking into clubs as a teenager in Belo Horizonte. Inspired by Jamie Jones, who came through his hometown club Deputamadre, he taught himself to DJ and produce and went on to earn a residency at the venue he frequented most as a fan. A decade-plus of experimentation across various projects would lead to his current vision, one that led him full circle to releasing not just on Jamie Jones’ revered Hot Creations label but also Chris Lake’s Black Book Records, Lee Foss’s Repopulate Mars, and FISHER’s Catch & Release.
Still considered an underground hidden gem who mostly performs in Brazil, some of the most influential tastemakers in house music have started to uncover his talent with DJs like Michael Bibi, Marco Carola, Mochakk, Diplo, and more rinsing his records. Viot began playing international parties last year, with performances at Ibiza’s famous clubs Ushuaia and Hi Ibiza, as well as Taraka Ecuador and Catch & Release Miami.
Ashley Elle’s love for music was evident from an early age. She would spend hours singing and playing the piano and guitar. But despite her natural talent, she was always a bit humble and shy about it. It wasn’t until her dad encouraged her to record her voice in a studio that she realized her passion for music was stronger than she thought.
Since then, Ashley began to study the songwriting process as it is important that the music she shares will be authentic to her. As industry folks began to hear her early recordings, many quickly took notice and reached out to work directly with her. She has worked tirelessly with producers to hone her craft and develop her unique indie-pop sound. To date, the themes of heartbreak, maturing, love, and mental health are central to Ashley’s music. She writes deep from the heart, drawing on personal experiences and struggles. For Ashley, music is a way to express herself and connect with others. Her vulnerability as a songwriter is both scary and rewarding, and she hopes her music resonates with her listeners as much as it does with her. She always wants to stay real and authentic and for her, that includes sharing her most vulnerable feelings.
Ashley Elle’s hard work paid off in 2019 when she was signed to a publishing deal by Given Entertainment out of Nashville. She has since been writing and recording new material, pouring her heart and soul into each song. She has a deep catalog but is always working to make the next song better.
Now based in Los Angeles, Ashley attends Loyola Marymount University and collaborates with talented producers and writers. With her upcoming singles “Heavy Heavy Heavy” and “Somebody’s Somebody,” Ashley Elle is eager to share her music with the world and hopes that her authentic story will inspire others. Visit her website at AshleyElleMusic.com.
Kandle can weave magic so powerful because she feels it too, she is out here in the darkness with us. A true music industry veteran, she has been a powerhouse in the scene with an impressive career spanning over a decade. Kandle’s new album is a crescendo of all her years immersed in music and an intimate knowledge of the many ways this industry, this world can break your body and heart. Arguably her strongest and heaviest album yet, one that is completely vulnerable and unwaveringly honest; an ode to the darkness that surrounds us and the connections we find in it together.
With her newest album, Kandle aims to make you come and come apart. Weaving a thrum of trip-hop downbeats, brilliant, gut wrenching lyrics, and her signature, sultry, haunting vocals, she casts spells that lure us off our solitary, mundane paths. She knows too well the darkness we all face, and with these songs she reaches out to all those who wish to be understood but feel they aren’t. Kandle can weave this magic so powerfully because she feels it too, she is out here in the darkness with us.
Under the cover of night and shadows, we lay bare all our deepest fears and despairs, revelling in the blurring of lines between dream and reality, pain and pleasure. Through Kandle’s songs, we unfurl our grief, our mourning for a future that will never be while we attune to the profound knowing that the future was only ever an illusion, these fleeting moments of pain and pleasure are all we get.
Kandle’s a powerhouse in the industry, with a career spanning over 12 years. She’s had to overcome all manner of obstacles, from abuse to chronic illness; and yet, she shows absolutely no sign of slowing down. Kandle was first signed at the age of 19 and toured extensively through Europe, Japan, China and North America. Kandle is now self-produced and independent for the first time in her impressive career. 8 albums and 4 labels later, this female force of nature finally owns her entire discography and is ready to be the maker of her own destiny.
Vancouver Island based alt-rockers Vogue Villains share their new album Built On Bones out now on all digital streaming platforms. The band is also showcasing the title track ‘Built On Bones’ as the feature single. Listen to the full album here.
Like many other artists before them, the creation of Vogue Villains’ new album is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as the band’s shows were cancelled and they were laid off from their jobs, they quickly shifted gears and started writing and demoing all the material they had on the back burner. In doing so, they found they were able to get to know themselves better as a band, hone in on a signature sound, and really figure out what they wanted to say on the record.
“A recurring theme for us on this album is coming to terms with the necessary dismantling, analysis and reconstruction of our lives from atop the bones of our past,” says lead vocalist / bassist Andrew Baskin. “In a lot of ways, this album is about accountability, whether in ourselves or in others. It’s about realizing that it’s time to get your shit together, change now or forever hold your peace, because like it or not, you may just be the villain of your own story. This is where we knock it all down. It’s time to rebuild.”
Based in Campbell River, BC, Vogue Villains are a hard rocking alternative band with a musical foundation planted firmly in catchy melodies and multi-part harmonies. Their live show is big, dirty and full of raw energy while also having a humorous stage presence that goes hand in hand with their tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Set on making music that feels unique, yet unafraid to wear their many influences on their sleeves (QOTSA, Billy Talent and Arctic Monkeys to name a few), this powerhouse of a band has created a sound that is undeniably and unmistakably their own.
creators of North America’s original boutique festival experience Lightning in a Bottle and immersive art leaders Do LaB have revealed the artist lineup for their 2024 stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, taking place this April 14-16 and 21-23. Combining dynamic design prowess, forward-thinking music curation, and animated crowd environment, Do LaB remains one of Coachella’s most iconic areas.
The beloved Do LaB stage is revered for its transcendent and colorful structures that celebrate the brand’s ethos of human connection and art as a transformative experience. The newest version of the stage, follows up on Do LaB’s previous Warrior One design and sees the brand return to its roots of creating intimate spaces where fans can get lost. Taking inspiration from the world’s beauty seen in things as specific as mushrooms and coral reefs, the design takes an innovative approach to its use of flowing fabrics and low ceilings to create the feeling of intimacy that belongs on the dancefloor and truly cannot be replicated elsewhere on the fields.
Do LaB’s 2024 lineup will feature a mix of marquee dance and crossover talent alongside next generation stars. Between both weekends, fans can look forward to a special BODY HI by Alesso set from the dance music titan, a DJ set from slick sounding beatmaker Channel Tres, revitalized D&B icons Chase & Status, Life and Death founder DJ Tennis, and multi-genre producer and singer-songwriter Sam Gellaitry.
Hunter Blair Ambrose is a pop singer-songwriter and musician born in Indianapolis, IN with origins in New York, NY. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Hunter is known for her powerfully distinctive vocals, vast range, tight melisma-flourished delivery, fashion forward styling, and provocative visuals to accompany her artistry. Influenced by pop titans such as Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Ariana Grande, Janet Jackson, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, and more, Hunter has successfully borrowed sonic and visual queues from her idols, while creating a sound, image and style that is unequivocally her own.
As an artist and writer, she has explored multiple genres, but has made a name for herself with her signature sound blending her Pop and R&B influences. Hunter’s talents extend themselves to multiple creative mediums including music, acting, and theater. A lifelong student of music, art and performance, Hunter began formal vocal and piano training in early childhood. In her early years, she began learning and training in classical vocal styles at only 6 years old. Following years of classical study in voice and piano, Hunter found her true passion and a natural inclination in pop music and began taking on additional private vocal training with pop focused instructors. She soon started performing in the local Indianapolis music scene and was represented by local talent agency, Blonde Entertainment. Hunter’s professional career began as a teenager under the mentorship of Grammy Award winning pop producer and songwriter, Narada Michael Walden, who discovered her innate musical talent. With Walden, she began her singing and writing career at 17 years old, recording her first original material, all of which she co-wrote.
At 18, she was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. While attending school, she performed extensively throughout the nightclub circuit in New England while beginning to write her own original material. Hunter participated in various shows sponsored by Berklee College of Music and was involved in Voices of Berklee, a showcase of some of the prominent vocal talents of each graduating class. After attending Berklee and relocating to New York City to further her career, Hunter met fellow Berklee College of Music alumni, producers Jason Strong (Gayle, Mothica, Salem Elise) and Jannek Zechner (Estate of David Bowie, Tony Visconti) . The three created a core team to write, produce, and record what would become Hunter’s first official works as a solo artist. These sessions took place in New York and Los Angeles. These releases included an EP, “Scorpio Rising” (2020), and Hunter’s debut album, “Scorpio Season” (2021). Both projects were met with universal critical acclaim. The projects were supported by several singles and music videos including the viral song “November” which featured an interpolated sample of Lady Gaga’s 2010 hit “Alejandro”. ”November” garnered heavy attention worldwide via social media and radio promotion.
Salt Lake City, Utah – EIDOLA, the enigmatic existential rock band recently announced the release of their new album Eviscerate on 12th April 2024 via Blue Swan/Rise Records.
Eidola returns as the E-Team to execute a dastardly heist of the coveted Swan Diamond. Jam-packed with soaring vocals, spastic riffs, and dripping with bravado “Who Of You Will Persevere” is an aggressively driven post-hardcore track. Featuring a Reservoir Dogs meets Oceans 11-themed throwback visual with a cameo from Will Swan, the release is a sonic and visual delight.
rising London-based pop star Ruby Duff brings a welcomed new sound to the scene with her bold new single ‘Undressed’. On this new release, Ruby nods towards Killing Eve describing it as “more of a religion or empowering movement”. The single is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Take a listen to ‘Undressed’ below:
Speaking on the makeup of her new single, Ruby emphasises that “Undressed” is not merely a superficial concept, but rather a metaphorical shedding of a mask and a release of introversion. It’s more of an obsession, a religion, and an empowering movement. Influenced heavily by movies and theater, I wanted to create a chaotic pop track that encompassed all of my influences into one artistic vision…being ‘Undressed’.”
With a diverse collection of tracks thus far, Ruby continues to surprise us with Undressed, which takes listeners on a captivating theatrical parade through genres, artistic visions and thought-provoking lyrics that promote the often overlooked theme of self-confidence. It wouldn’t be surprising to hear this captivating and chaotic infectious earworm in a thrilling cinematic experience, but for now, you can keep Undressed close to your heart, or at least until Ruby Duff gifts us with another of the wall piece of art.
This alt-pop queen in the making has released a plethora of elevated pop music since her emergence onto the scene in 2019, which has since continued to spotlight her ever-evolving eclectic style that draws from trends past and present. Most recently, Ruby released her EP ‘I guess We Belong Here’ which garnered reputable support across the board.
NPR – ‘WHAT STRUCK ME ABOUT HER MUSIC WAS THE DIRECTNESS. AT TIMES, I FELT I WAS LISTENING TO HER INNER THOUGHTS.’
Notion – ‘WHAT’S SO REFRESHING ABOUT THE ALT-POP QUEEN IN THE MAKING IS HER OTHERWORLDLY AND CELESTIAL APPROACH TO HER CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT ULTIMATELY LEAVES THE LISTENER COMING BACK FOR MORE AND MORE’
Wonderland – ‘THE KIND OF CLASSICAL OPERATICS YOU DON’T HEAR EVERY DAY ON THE RADIO’
Canadian pop singer and songwriter JESSIA returns with her new single, “Care About Me,” out on all streaming platforms today.
Guided by JESSIA’s signature soul-stirring vocals, “Care About Me” is a beautifully crafted pop ballad that tugs at the heartstrings. Her emotive lyrics perfectly capture the sinking feeling of a relationship slowly falling apart. “I knew it was a special song as soon as I wrote it, but I didn’t know if anyone would relate,” JESSIA says.
When JESSIA started teasing “Care About Me” on TikTok and Instagram earlier this year, she was met with an overwhelming response from other people who emotionally resonated with the song’s message. “I was terrified to tease it, but as soon as I did, my video comments were flooded with people sharing their stories of feeling unseen or alone in relationships, and other commenters empowering the brokenhearted,” JESSIA says. “I am proud to say it has become another ‘safe space’ anthem for my community.”
TREY LEWIS
Troublemaker
• Trey Lewis released his new album, Troublemaker, on March 1. The title track is an anthem of youth rebellion and self-discovery, with Lewis portraying the struggles of growing up without guidance. Jacob Rice produced the record, and contributing songwriters include JT Harding, Brice Long, Matt McKinney, Matt Jenkins, Zachary Kale, Deric Ruttan, Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice, Lee Thomas Miller, John Pierce, and Ben Stennis.
• “I feel like everything I’ve been through in my life has built up to this moment. I feel like these songs really represent where I’ve been and what I’ve been through. I believe there is something on this album for every listener, whether this is their first time hearing me or they’ve been a fan for years.” – Trey Lewis
emerging electro-pop artist and producer Tsatsamis releases the next single from his upcoming EP, titled ‘Faith’. His newest single takes the form of a lively, electronic fuelled fantasy, which is charged by the song’s dynamic, buoyant pop beat. The single is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Take a listen to ‘Faith’ below:
Speaking on the inspiration behind the release, Tsatsamis shares; “Faith is the 3rd and final single from my upcoming EP Our Shame. It’s an ode to some of the queer pop greats– George Michael, Madonna and SOPHIE– and the pop cornerstone of the upcoming EP. It comes out with an incredible music vid directed by Ruby Harris, set in a boxing ring gym and complete with a group choreo moment.”
“I had massive writer’s block when I wrote this song, developing it over almost 9 months. But it became about learning to enjoy the process; be that a creative or personal one. And, of course, naturally I worked in some sexual undertones and references.”
‘Faith’ comes ahead of Tsatsamis’ upcoming EP ‘Our Shame’, which is dropping this April, and will feature previous singles ‘Faith’, ‘Let Go’ and ‘Everyone Wants A Piece Of You’ which was #10 on iD’s best songs of 2024. Alongside this, he is releasing 4 brand-new singles for his audience to enjoy.
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