Devon Allman, is thrilled to share “You,” the latest sampling from his forthcoming album Miami Moon.
“‘You’ was written on the spot in the studio as we made the Miami Moon record,” says Allman. “A love letter to my wife…It simply didn’t exist prior to going in to make the record. We had so much fun turning the photo shoot into a BTS music video. Shot on location at the Angad Arts hotel in St.Louis…a perfect, hip location for the smooth vibe of the song.”
“You” follows the release of the album’s lead single, “White Horse” with the accompanying official music video which. The official music video for “You” premiered earlier this week exclusively via All Music Magazine who said “The music video perfectly complements the music. The cool shade of blue and purple – while a cold color – brings warmth and laid-back vibes to enhance the song.”
Miami Moon, Allman’s first solo LP in 8 years is out everywhere August 16 via his own, Create Records.
For the album, Allman put together one of the finest studio bands in recent history featuring George Porter JR. (The Meters) on bass, Ivan Neville (Keith Richards, Dumpstaphunk,) on keyboards, Adam Deitch (Lettuce,) on drums, Karl Denson (The Rolling Stones) on saxophone and Jackson Stokes on guitar.
Miami Moon was recorded on 2” analog tape at the historic Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida (the studio where Layla & Eat a Peach were born) and was produced by Grammy winning producer Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Chris “Kingfish” Ingram.)
With Miami Moon, Allman has created what Tom Hambridge calls a masterpiece.
“Making the Miami Moon record with these legendary musicians has been a high point of my career. They brought these songs to life with their masterful playing and timeless feels. As for the approach, a couple things were different this time: First, writing the songs on bass guitar was a first for me and allowed the grooves to be the main focus. Also, letting go of some previous, limiting thought processes allowed some of my other influences to enter the chat for the first time such as Curtis Mayfield, Sade, The Cure, Steely Dan…among others. I believe you can hear some flourishes of those true loves on this album. Additionally, recording in the same hallowed halls where Dad made the Eat a Peach record and where Uncle Duane and Eric Clapton recorded the Layla record, made for a very special setting for us all to work in. We kept it fun and we kept it funky…..we ordered Cuban food, watched the NBA and jammed in a circle for days. In a world where you can make records in the basement or your bedroom, I’m so grateful to have done this record in a classic manner.”
– Devon Allman
G-Space and vide have teamed up for a new single ‘Shattered’, out now via HypnoVizion.
Created during a collaborative studio session, ‘Shattered’ was unearthed unexpectedly, resampling G-Space and vide’s raw ideas and reworking through a granulator to make an entirely new sound. ‘Shattered’ is scattered and offbeat, rumbling with the experimental antics threaded throughout HypnoVizion’s catalog. Its 5 minutes are filled with grainy textures and gritty layers as G-Space and vide skew the typical boundaries of dubstep to forge a defiant soundscape.
“I’ve been known to be more of a melodic and instrumental based producer. This release showcases my darker and filthier side, and the type of music I have been DJing at my low lights / no phone sets. The sound design is inspired by artists like Shades, Rezz, Tsuruda, anything deep, dark, and dangerous.” – G-Space
Natisa Gogol is a compelling singer/songwriter based in Prague. Her journey to get to where she is today is truly inspiring and is reflected in her stunning dream pop soundscapes through emotional, storytelling lyrics and mesmerising melodies. Having been forced to flee her home in Kyiv upon the outbreak of war in Eastern Europe, Natisa turned her life upside down, determined to continue pursuing her dreams. In the years following, her empowering music has caught the attention of listeners across the globe, as people connect with her story of resilience and hope.
Her latest single “Into The Wild” is a song about female empowerment and how feminine energy rules the world. Natisa speaks about how when a woman releases all of her desires and feelings into the world, miracles happen around her. The track also delves into the primal nature that is within each and every person. The songwriter shares, “This primal nature doesn’t imply something immutable, but rather it’s about the passion that lives within us, which cannot be controlled because it is instinctive. The song is about how something within us can sometimes be stronger than us, especially when we love passionately. It suggests that we shouldn’t always suppress this, as it brings out certain feelings and emotions. Overall, it’s about the passion and fire that exist in relationships, but from a positive perspective—one of pure instinct, not vulgarity.”
Not a moment too soon, MINOE is back with her unmissable next instalment ‘Jealous’.
Crafting a sound that sees bubble gum pop and dirty bass lines fused together seamlessly with devilishly playful lyricism, this track must not be skipped.
Produced by highly talented ‘Housefly’ (Kim Petras, Niall Horan, Tyga), the new single has already caused a stir ahead of its release as MINOE treated fans to a premiere last weekend during her knock-out performance at Osheaga Festival.
MINOE kicked off a ‘Saltburn summer’ to remember back in June when she released collaborative tune ‘LIQUORLIPS’, with fellow Canadian artist and party girl Renon. Written and made for anyone who likes to have fun, drink cheap wine, and indulge in naughty fantasies, if took shape as an outrageous creation that’s wracked up over 120k streams already!
Originally from Nova Scotia, MINOE took to songwriting at the tender age of 7 as a way to process her turbulent upbring and navigate her queer identity. After being ousted in her teen years, she moved to Montreal to independently pursue a career in music.
MINOE is driven to create a safe space for her listeners, whether you want to cry at the disco or dance yourself clean, MINOE has got the tunes to keep you there all night. Last year saw MINOE share her debut EP ‘Bleeding Hearts Disco’ which embodies her message of self-acceptance. The record and energy around her music more widely, shows what is possible when you mute your inner saboteur.
Dripping in self empowerment and queer liberation you can’t go wrong by checking out MINOE’s back catalog. Released totally independently, MINOE has racked up an impressive body of work and it’s not gone unnoticed. She’s scooped support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Complex CA, Consequence of Sound, Wonderland, CBC and not to mention hundreds of thousands of streams!
With some very exciting things still to come this year for MINOE – make sure you keep following!
Pigeon Club is the music of Wayne Whittaker, a multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter living in Los Angeles.
As a sideman, Whittaker has worked with artists like Dawes, Diane Coffee, Haerts, and countless others. As a songwriter, Whittaker explores themes of self-reflection, doubt, anxiety, and the minutiae of everyday life with an inviting mixture of emotional transparency and self-effacing humor.
Pigeon Club’s second album, “Another Year In The Minors,” is another collaboration with Grammy winning co-producers John Would (Fiona Apple, Warren Zevon) and Amy Wood (Fiona Apple, The Donnys The Amys). Together with a stellar group of friends and backing musicians, they unwittingly managed to document a major transitional period in the life of the songwriter.
His song ‘Liar,’ is a lush indie rock vehicle that examines the aftermath of a defense mechanism malfunction, with both humor and heart. Then there is ‘Ancient History’, a cinematic indie-folk epic, examining life, loss, and the ever quickening pace of time under a sonic landscape that is equal parts Neil Young, Andy Shauf, and The Beatles. Or, as Rolling Stone France put it, “delicate and meticulously articulated pop.” The title track ‘Another Year In The Minors” is “a sort of a sad-sack anthem for blue collar, DIY artists. It’s a song about aging in the indie scene, about believing in what it is you’re doing, the art you’re making and why you’re making it, even in the face of unbelievable odds. There is no secret. It’s about showing up and grinding it out and not giving up…yet,” confides the artist.
“Another Year In The Minors” is out now.
deegie’s emotional directness and empowering energy have inspired questions like, “What makes you so angry?” There’s something about a woman being raw, bold, and fierce that makes people uncomfortable, and deegie’s mission is to shine a klieg light on that truth. With the sound of Olivia Rodrigo’s older sister (or Avril Lavigne’s younger one), deegie is a pop-punk princess who loves an anthemic melody and a gut-punching lyric.
Her album EXES is a brutally honest collection of 10 songs all about the exploration of dating. The idea for the LP was sparked when she stumbled upon her online journals spanning nearly a decade, which included details about casual and serious relationships that were too good not to indulge in. It’s an exploration of memory, accountability, and the perspective bestowed by time and, in a particularly bold move, each song on the album will include the name of the boyfriend it’s about in the song’s title. This unflinching approach transforms the album into a deeply personal diary entry, inviting listeners to bear witness to deegie’s reletable journey.
After a 10 year vanishing act, JUNO-nominated roots rockers Cuff The Duke‘s comeback album, Breaking Dawn (out September 6th), reflects frontman Wayne Petti‘s process of coming to terms with his mental health, capturing the various stages of his journey. The musical interludes throughout the record serve as a representation of the ever-present anxiety that Petti has learned to navigate. At the same time, the songs themselves offer a sense of relief and catharsis.
On the record’s nostalgic new single, “Leaving It All Behind,” Petti comes to terms with his decision to put the band on hiatus, which meant abruptly not playing music anymore and how that left him scrambling to figure out his next move.
Exciting Brighton based, new UK 4 piece EVERY HELL return today with a brand new single ‘Bad Cop’ AND an announcement of their debut EP, ‘Vertebrate’ which is set for release on October 31st. Recorded at Middle farm Studios and featuring ex members of Black Peaks, Broker and Memory Of Elephants, EVERY HELL combine a unique and raw edged sound with full on, high intensity delivery, making for a heavy, thrilling and unpredictable listening experience. With the whole of this debut EP being recorded as a no edits, straight to tape experiment, ‘Vertebrate’ is THE sound of a band in its purest form.
Speaking about the new single, vocalist Will Gardener said – ” Bad Cop’ is a song about fighting for attention in your family. I tried to re imagine the conflict and difficulty of having young kids as two gunslingers in the wild west in a deserted town.”
Acclaimed U.S electronic musician, producer and activist Moby shares sultry track “Sweet Moon” ft. Choklate with a self-directed video, plus Jung remix, with a 3rd street DJ Mix out 15th August, featuring new and unreleased remixes of music from the ‘always centered at night’ album, mixed together by Moby (tracklist below).
Moby will perform live across Europe/UK to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ‘Play’ this September with tickets on sale now.
Even by Moby’s standards, ‘always centered at night’ is a bit special. The album features 13 collaborations in all, from names you might recognize to others you undoubtedly will come to recognize. Lead single “dark days” was recorded with acclaimed soul-jazz singer-songwriter Lady Blackbird, a defiant, rhythmic work propelled by her alluring, deep vocals and earnest soul. Other collaborators include serpentwithfeet on the achingly beautiful “on air,” and Benjamin Zephaniah on the propulsive, break- beat driven “where is your pride?,” a spoken word with a powerful message delivered in the late dub poet’s characteristically warm Handsworth burr. “As a vegan activist, and as a wise and compassionate man, Benjamin inspired me for many years,” says Moby. “I hope that ‘where is your pride?’ honors his legacy and also draws people’s attention to his life, work, and principles.”
Other wonderful voices on ‘always centered at night’, include Sudanese, Netherlands-based chanteuse Gaidaa on “transit”, London based Burundian royal refugee J.P. Bimeni, and Kingston raised, London based Aynzli Jones.
This Summer, BEN BROWN will be heading out on a stretch of live shows with THE MEFFS throughout August and September.
Ben’s tour slot announcement arrives as he reveals the video for “Kathmandu”, the latest single to be taken from his ‘Blue’ EP of recent weeks. Tune in now.
WATCH THE “KATHMANDU” VIDEO HERE
With Brown’s falsetto swoon and his disarmingly lovelorn lyrics at the fore, “Kathmandu” is the new single from Xtra Mile Recordings’ latest signing.
“I lost my heart in Kathmandu, oh what’s a boy to do?” Ben quips on a track filled with catchy chorus hooks and playful kazoo solos designed to lodge in your brain long after the needle has left the groove.
One of the stand-out songs from his recent release ‘Blue’, the EP was produced by friend and mentor Frank Turner.
Recently touring around the UK with Frank, and indeed The Meffs, Brown hit-it-off with the Essex tearaways and has since been invited to rejoin them for their own UK tour this Summer and Autumn. Catch Ben supporting The Meffs, at these upcoming shows:
THE MEFFS + BEN BROWN: UK DATES
23/8 – Soundhouse, Leicester
29/8 – The Piper, Hastings
30/8 – The Junction, Plymouth
31/8 – Anvil, Bournemouth
12th September – Bathgate
13th September – Newcastle Under Lyme
20/9 – John Peel Centre, Stowmarket
21/9 – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
22/9 – The Bunkhouse Swansea
*****
Saint Social, the earnest indie rock group hailing from the Gulf Coast, just unveiled their eagerly awaited debut self-titled album. This album promises to bring a fresh perspective to the indie rock genre with its sincere lyrics, atmospheric instrumental layers, and a touch of oceanic vibes. Saint Social is now available to stream on digital music platforms worldwide.
Saint Social is a deeply meaningful album that takes listeners on a transformative adventure similar to the Hero’s Journey concept by Joseph Campbell. Reflecting on lifelong friendships and rich history, frontman Quinn Erwin says, “This project is a concept record that actually became ‘prophetic.’” Each song is carefully designed to tell a story, covering themes of leaving your comfort zone, seeking spiritual connections, and ultimately achieving inner peace. The nine songs on the album act as separate stops on this voyage, forming a unified and introspective experience for the audience. Erwin’s distinctive vocal style and poetic lyrics are accompanied by ambient sounds and surfy arrangements by the band, adding an uplifting element to their music. Co-produced and engineered by Hunter West, with mastering by Joe Causey at Voyager Mastering, Saint Social highlights the band’s collaborative artistry.
The inspiration behind the album comes from the band’s desire to lift up their community during the COVID-19 pandemic. As they started composing, the songs took on a predictive quality, mirroring their personal challenges and victories. The band shares how their music became a healing outlet for them, transforming the album into a hopeful and resilient expression. ” Previously released singles, such as “Swagger” and “Holiday Forever,” are just teasers of the band’s versatility and emotional depth, both discussing the fight towards embracing one’s self with full authenticity while pushing against societal expectations and past anguish. Newly released songs from the album, like “Howl” and “From The Beginning To The End,” introduce new dimensions to their sound, blending eerie melodies with impactful lyrics. “From Beginning To The End” blends striking guitar chords with an inspirational and endearing sound. The song captures the positive impact others can have on your life, with lyrics that shout a heartfelt confession of admiration for someone special. It’s a tribute to the true feeling of having a day-one, someone who has been there from the start, making every moment feel meaningful. On a completely different note, “Overtigo” explores the allure and danger of an inevitable force that holds immense power. The song delves into the destructive nature of this force, something inescapable and intoxicating that captivates you despite its peril. There’s a haunting beauty in the mystery and deceitfulness of it all, as the lyrics and sound convey the tension between fascination and fear. Showing unfeigned passion, Erwin describes this album as a “spiritual record, it’s ecstatic, but it is also so grounded in the dirt and the streets and real relationships and real questions.”
Brother Valiant is an alternative folk-pop project spearheaded by singer-songwriter AJ Amsterdam. Inspired by folk legends new and old, from Paul Simon to Connor Oberst, Brother Valiant is a noble attempt to capture the magic that made these artists so iconic. After only a few shows, Brother Valiant released the singles “Little House” and “Devil” in 2015, along with a full-length LP “Thus, He Was” in the summer of 2016. His 2021 single “Lady Daisy” received widespread critical acclaim with Atwood Magazinecalling the song “a gripping folk sound that enchants listeners”.
Much of Brother Valiant’s sound brings together mental snapshots of living life between a big city and the sprawling suburbs; Riding through coastal beach towns that pave way into bustling city streets. The viscerally emotive, and oftentimes satirical lyricism, bite through a soundscape of anthemic choruses, jangly guitars and rambunctious horns. Themes of navigating feelings of anxiety, love, and fear through an adventurous spirit remain a hallmark of the songwriting, which bleed through with an authentic wit. Brother Valiant has played extensively throughout the East Coast, at such notable venues as The Iridium, Rockwood Music Hall, The Knitting Factory, City Winery, and The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC).
Better Luck Next Time, his new EP is a collection of songs all about accepting the imperfections in life. He confides, “Nothing is perfect. Nobody has it all figured out one hundred percent. But at the end of the day, we should embrace the journey we are on, and owe it to ourselves to find fulfillment along the way.” Single “C’est La Vie” is an intoxicating dreamy indie folk track chronicling trying to make big changes for someone you care about. “The premise of the song is accepting that deep down, to an extent, we are always going to have certain qualities and quirks that we cannot change about ourselves,” confides Brother Valiant. Then there is the evocative and emotional track “A Dream So Clear”, which explores the loss of a loved one through the eyes of a life partner. After the passing of the artist’s father, his mother recalls a dream she had of a visit from her late husband. Driven by a stunningly emotive and raw vocal performance, and accompanied by a beautifully picked guitar motif, this song captures the story of eternal love, even after death, and how we wish some dreams could last forever.
With soul-stirring melodies, wistful acoustic guitars and a knack for storytelling, Brother Valiant is an important artist on the rise.
multi-dimensional musician, artist and producer Hojean makes his highly anticipated return with his first release of the year, ‘I Could Be Forever’. This R&B/soul slow jam sets the stage for Hojean’s debut album in 2025, promising a fresh and captivating listening experience for his growing audience.
Speaking on the meaning behind the release, Hojean shares; “This being outside of the album coming next year, this song is inspired by my feelings about mortality, hereditary struggle, and stress of overcoming obstacles in my personal life and artist life. I know things have been unhinged but this song has been a healing factor to me“
‘I Could Be Forever’ showcases Hojean’s ability to create a sound that is both smooth and intricately diverse, drawing from a wide range of influences within the R&B genre.
The track is inspired by Hojeans’ troubles grasping mortality and hereditary struggles that exist in his life and family. ‘I Could Be Forever’ was created out of the stress of overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles in his personal and professional life. Creating this song has been a healing process for Hojean as he continues to evolve as an independent artist developing in the R&B and neighboring sonic communities. A lot of his struggle stems from him being pigeonholed as an “asian artist” and his desire to be recognised as an american / global artist making meaningful R&B music, which he is sure to do with this elevated new body of work.
Jalimpa, a wild child singer-songwriter raised on Suo-Oshima Island, Japan, has been certified by Guinness World Records™ as the “Youngest Solo Artist to Release an Album” for her debut album “Nonsense Makes Sense”, which she released at the age of 2 years and 358 days.
Growing up amidst the grandeur of nature, Jalimpa was lulled to sleep by the sounds of waves, insects, and birds of prey. Before she even learned to speak, she sang melodies overflowing from her subconscious, blending them with mysterious babbling known as “cosmic language”. “Nonsense Makes Sense” is her purest and most primal expression. It resonates deeply with the subconscious of adults weary from work and life, awakening the essence of what it means to be human and offering a chance to reconnect with one’s true self.
Already working on her next project, Jalimpa continues her musical journey into the future.
Dizzee Rascal has announced a UK tour celebrating the 15th Anniversary of his most iconic and commercial album ‘Tongue ‘N Cheek’.
Dizzee will be performing all the hits during a very special headline show at London’s Eventim Apollo as well as a string of regional dates including Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Dublin, Manchester and Leeds.
To mark the occasion Dizzee is also releasing some brand new never before released content including remixes and live versions of “Bonkers” and also a remix with rising star Buckley. In 2023 Dizzee Rascal ignited the electronic music scene with his collaboration with Leeds-based DJ Buckley in 2023, their track “Bonkers (Buckley Edit)”, became a viral sensation and was featured in sets by heavyweights like Interplanetary Criminal. As a constant innovator, Dizzee incorporates the track into his live performances, where it continues to energise crowds and solidify its status as an essential anthem.
Following this collection, Dizzee will release more unreleased tracks associated with the album ‘Tongue ‘N Cheek’. Further announcements will be made shortly.
Fans can pre register now for early access to tickets: https://subscribepage.io/o0UnhJ
Pip contributed to the ‘first wave’ of music activity on Queen Street West, Toronto and has lived extensively in Europe and Asia.
He’s currently living in Hamilton, Ontario, writing, recording, performing and selling original art-pop with world and jazz elements. Pip is also the sole proprietor of metroPhilmusic (est. 2008).
Pip is influenced by world rhythms and lute music. Every City is his 30th album.
Once, playing a tiny club in Seoul, Pip won over a cover-tune-demanding audience after a tipsy audience member had accidentally opened a bottle of beer all over Pip’s guitar neck (the self-serve beer fridge was directly behind the “stage”). The owner came up, apologized, and cleaned the guitar up with a towel with Pip continuing to play all the while.
Nashville-based indie alt-pop group Moody Joody share the buoyant St. Lucia remix of their shimmering new crush anthem “Velvet Connection“ out now. Alongside the release, the band is pleased to announce they have officially signed to Photo Finish Records. This fall, Moody Joody will join alt pop/rock group MisterWives on the MisterWives: Just For One Night! tour on select dates. Tickets are on sale now here and see a full list of dates below.
Mike Marquis, Executive Vice President of Photo Finish Records, is delighted to bring the band in and says, “We are very excited to welcome Moody Joody to Photo Finish. They are a dynamic young band that fits perfectly within our family. We look forward to helping provide them a platform to get their music, talent, and personality out to as many new fans as possible.”
The smooth, synthy “Velvet Connection,” co-written by Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes) is a bright, shimmering pop anthem that chronicles the early stages of an electric, forbidden summer crush. The reworked, fresh take on the track allows the band to collaborate with St. Lucia, their first release of 2024.
The group’s producer, Andrew Pacheco, has been a longtime fan of the artist, and adds, “St. Lucia’s records had a massive influence on me sonically around the time I first started producing. To have Jean, whose sound is a facet of my musical DNA, hop on our song and do a remix is absolutely wild to me and such an honor.” The remix transports the listener to the dance floor and the group is thrilled to bring their sound to the club.
Brooklyn-based psych-pop trio Psychic Lines share lively track “The Darkest Mountain” out everywhere now, ahead of the band’s lush, expansive fifth studio album SUNSET ON SUNSET due out August 23 and available for pre-order now. Over melodic guitars, the new tune sees the group share their vision for a brighter future in the face of adversity. On September 8, the band will celebrate the new album with an official album release show at NYC’s Berlin with support from Richard Papiercuts and Garrett Devoe with tickets on sale now here.
The latest single touches on the roadblocks that tend to pop up to keep one away from a feeling of contentment in life. Bandleader Phil Jacob explains what the title itself represents, stating, “The darkest mountain is the main obstacle that always seems to be standing in the way of our happiness, no matter who we are. It’s always different for everyone, and it can shift from day to day or even moment to moment. It’s that self-talk that starts out with, ‘If only I could overcome this one thing, life would be manageable.’ This feeling is universal, and yet some people tend to assume that those with more wealth, success or fame are immune to it. We often forget that many are struggling much more than we are, just trying to survive.”
Last month, the band shared the sunny track and video “LA in My Mind” – a tune that plays with the mythology of Los Angeles as opposed to the actual locale. Jacob says, “Whenever I travel anywhere new, I’m always amused at how my imagined version of the destination is completely shattered. This is also how we go through life, making decisions based on how we think the future will play out and often being surprised by what actually happens–and I sometimes find myself preferring the fantasy.” The dreamy track came about when Jacob was playing around with a six-note bass line, and it was brought to life by bassist Dann Baker and drummer Tim Simmonds.
Carlita has announced the complete lineup for the fifth iteration of her multisensory party concept Senza Fine, held on September 7th during New York Fashion Week. Senza Fine will take place at a secret Manhattan location in partnership with underground events collective Teksupport, featuring immersive installations and eclectic sets from the brightest names in fashion and electronic music.
Since its inception, Senza Fine has skillfully blurred sensorial boundaries and merged the worlds of high fashion and underground culture, providing an inventive playground for creatives. Setting a new standard for experiential events, the previous editions of Senza Fine have featured visual art displays, groundbreaking official fashion shows, and energetic performances.
Senza Fine Vol IV will offer an unparalleled fusion of fashion, music, and art, enveloping attendees into an irreplicable immersive journey. Sonic curation for the night will be led by its own Turkish-Italian sensation Carlita, veteran DJ, producer and style icon Mia Moretti, unifying dance figure The Blessed Madonna, and Australia’s Luke Alessi.
Erik Lankin is a composer and producer of New Classical music based in Montreal (Tiohtià:ke).
Erik combines Classical orchestration with contemporary sound design. He channels the full spectrum of emotion into instrumental soundscapes which are compellingly narrative and evocative.
From 2020 to 2023 he assembled a team of some of Canada’s most accomplished Classical soloists and Neoclassical producers to realize his vision for his highly anticipated debut release: The Icarus Album. Using music, Erik reinterprets the myth of Icarus and Daedalus as a metaphor for losing his father to mental illness.
His dual ambitions on the levels of musical theory and emotional vulnerability were able to secure him multiple funding requests from Canada Council for the Arts despite being an artist who seemingly came out of nowhere.
Erik’s music flows between grief and torment to find places of hope, triumph and healing, reflecting his personal journey of coping with loss and finding meaning in music. His work is a testament to his talent, passion, and courage as a composer. He is dedicated to forging new paths for Classical music to be expressed in the world.
Emo rock band Ben Quad have signed to Pure Noise Records. Having already established themselves with a loyal following off the back of tours with Hot Mulligan and Arm’s Length, the band will be headed out on tour this Autumn as part of the Pure Noise Records Tour.
Today, the band have released their first single on Pure Noise, “You’ll Get Nothing and Like It”
“It’s a song about the financial institutions created to keep us in a cycle of debt and dependency. The track’s spoken line “You were made to throw away” announces the main theme of the forthcoming record. We are disposable in the eyes of our protectors. Each of us is an ephemera (an item created purely to be used for a short time).” says the band
Brooklyn-based pop singer and songwriter Maddie Regent returns with her new single, “Sleeptalking.”
The song marks the start of a new chapter for Maddie Regent. Since releasing her sophomore EP, ‘Girl of Your Dreams,’ in late 2023, Maddie has been hard at work compiling a new batch of meticulously crafted pop tracks. “Sleeptalking” is the first of many singles that Maddie created with her partner, producer and songwriter Cade Hoppe in their home studio in Brooklyn. “Sleeptalking” also features additional production from Harper James of Eighty Ninety.
Layering organic instrumentation with glistening synth-pop production, “Sleeptalking” delivers a sound that’s both earthly and ethereal. Maddie’s effortlessly dreamy vocals and hypnotic melodies weave through these sonic layers, enveloping listeners in a cocoon of emotion.
‘Sleeptalking’ is about wanting to be happy about something you should be happy about, but you aren’t,” says Maddie. “And the longer you avoid confrontation, the more you wish for things to go south so your unhappiness feels justified. It’s classic self-sabotage and you know it.”
Rising pop singer & songwriter Paulina reveals her new EP, ‘everything’s still.’ Across the EP’s 3 songs, “stranger,” “funny (interlude),” and “a song I wrote,” Paulina opens up about an emotionally resonant breakup she went through.
“The title of my EP, ‘everything’s still,’ was inspired by one of my favorite Noah Kahan songs, ‘The View Between Villages,’” she says. “The closing line of the song, ‘and everything’s still,’ really resonated with me. It feels so uplifting, like it’s the moment you can finally breathe again. That’s how making this EP made me feel; I wanted to embody that feeling.”
The EP kicks off with the dark and sultry lead single, “stranger,” which grapples with her initial heartbreak and the phenomenon that the person you once loved has now become a stranger. The second track, “funny (interlude),” sees Paulina wading through the emotional whiplash of the breakup, slowly picking up the pieces of her shattered heart. She emerges with a sense of bittersweet resolution on the EP’s closing track, “a song I wrote.”
“The final song on the EP is about questioning whether or not the person still thinks about you,” she says. “And it’s the realization that even if they don’t admit it, you know there will always be things that remind them of you — like the song you wrote that you know they’ll be listening to. It’s a sassy, mic drop conclusion to the breakup story.”
Originating from Lorain, Ohio, Liv Miraldi is an LA based singer-songwriter specializing in lyrics and concept. She excels working with artists, helping them find their sound and telling their story. However, using tiktok to place uncut songs, she fell into artistry with her releases landing on playlists such as Spotify’s New Music Friday, Next Gen Singer-Songwriters, Indie Pop, etc. Additionally, her music caught the attention of prominent blogs and magazines such as Atwood Magazine, C-Heads Magazine, Ladygunn, Metal Magazine, and others. “[Miraldi] is captivating audiences and further solidifies Miraldi‘s place as a rising star on the independent music scene,” -Ladygunn.
She’s spent 2023 and 2024 writing not only in LA, but also Norway, Hawaii, Sweden, and Germany. As a songwriter, she has had releases with Tinashe, ENHYPEN, Marc E. Bassy, Natalie Jane, Johnny Orlando, Jenna Raine, The Rose, MODSUN, Cxloe, Arlissa, Keenan Te, Lily Fitts, WOOSUNG, TEN, CIX, etc. Recently, Liv co-wrote on ENHYPEN’s album Romance: Untold, which went #1 on Billboard (Top Album Sales & World Albums).Recent collaborators include: Lauren Spencer-Smith, ENHYPEN, Steve Aoki, Frawley, NOTD, Salem Ilese, Suriel Hess, Dylan Conrique, Brittany Broski, Lily Fitts etc. She’s also had sync placements with SONY Electronics, Netflix, Hallmark, Minute Maid, MTV’s The Hills, VHI’s Black Ink Crew, Brahms: The Boy II, Love In The Time of Corona, Promised Land, etc.
Her new EP 2019 is a collection of songs written during one of the most difficult years of her life. She confides, “I wrote the songs I needed to hear when I was going through it. 2019 knocked the wind out of me and for a while I tried to forget about it. But the more I tried to tuck it away, the more it haunted me. I realized, in the last few years, if I were going to move forward, I had to write about it. I learned so much in those 365 days- particularly that there are so many ways to have your heart broken, sometimes it’s from a breakup, family, death, or even ourselves. For me it was all of the above. Some stories demand to be written. “2019” is mine.” The result is a cathartic, raw and authentic journey marked by a profound depth and an innovative approach that captivates and challenges listeners.
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. Single “Without A Box” is a folk pop masterpiece and the most personal song to date for the artist. She confides, “this song is about realizing that life doesn’t stop and end with our relationship statuses. We don’t need them to define us. As a song, I’ve written out my need to know and control the future. I love to know things. I want to see how the story ends before it starts and in life, you don’t get that. You have to let go and be willing to start over. Life was never meant to be lived in a box.” Relationship Status EP is set for release later this summer.
Three years and two EP’s into their short but ascendant career, Telenova release their debut album ‘Time Is A Flower’, out today, alongside a brand new single “Margot”.
Listen to Time Is A Flower now – https://open.spotify.com/album/0LuIdfbrjQ7v3iw0emE6jU?si=EvySBAKTQjiGncrc8k7L6w
The distinctive universe of Telenova – a shadowy, sample driven alt-pop with prominent trip-hop and electronica influence, plus a touch of playful energy – is the design of lead vocalist, songwriter and filmmaker Filipina-Australian Angeline Armstrong and multi-instrumentalists Edward Quinn and Joshua Moriarty.
Their debut album ‘Time Is A Flower’ is a sleek alt-pop record, fuelled by a warm darkness. While previous EPs had a delicacy that came with strangers slowly becoming friends, Telenova’s debut album is bigger, more confident and less polite as the band explore faith, hope, pain and beauty through revealing, conversational lyrics.
Self-produced by the band, ‘Time Is A Flower’ tackles complex subject matter with a reassuring grin. “When we first started, we thought we were making the sort of music people just sit down and listen to on headphones, but it quickly became obvious that it was more visceral than that,” says lead singer Angeline Armstrong. “Yes, they’re not traditional dance songs but there’s something about them that feels transcendent,” she continues. “There’s so much introspection and thought gone into this record but the message is never just ‘it’s a dark, broken world out there’,” she explains, with ‘Time Is A Flower’ offering hope, community and release at every turn. “Making this album was cathartic,” she adds. “And onstage sharing it with an audience, I think that’s where it really comes alive.”
The brilliant aimei 媚 today has two announcements. She has just announced her next London headline will be at the Outernet’s The Lower Third on October 22nd. And for those waiting for new music there’s more good news inbound in the shape of “Fall Out” which is a delicious slice of pop noir.
Listen to Fall Out now; https://open.spotify.com/track/4mUUW9VRax0XjJAOL5WFsa?si=a0b910c99c2b45ae
& Buy Tickets to The Lower Third; https://link.dice.fm/G1be679ddae8
Speaking about Fall Out’s meaning, aimei 媚 explains “I wrote this about the audacity that some people have to literally show up at your house after they messed things-up – some people really have no shame!!” The track was produced by Patch Boshell & BadBadBad.
Today’s new The Lower Third headline announcement will be aimei 媚’s third London headline in what is her debut year. She had previously sold-out The Forge in March & the Bermondsey Social Club in May before announcing today’s show which will see thew newcomer play to a room double the size.
It was only a few months ago that aimei 媚 released her debut EP “City’s Violent” which saw her named one of Spotify’s ‘Fresh Finds Artists of the Month’ and the face of their ‘Planet Rave’ playlist. The tracks from that EP has been playlisted on key press tastemakers such as NME, COLORS, Dork, Best Fit & Ones To Watch as well as many BBC Radio 1 plays. You can read about her experiences releasing the City’s Violent EP on her recent Clash ‘Next Wave” profile (here) The EP’s follow-up single “Tell Me” out last month saw aimei 媚 grace the cover of Fresh Finds UK & Ireland.
Canadian singer and songwriter Annabel Gutherz releases her new single, “Showtime, Baby!,” out today on all streaming platforms. Combining classic rock sounds with modern pop melodies, “Showtime, Baby!” glistens with a sun-soaked sentimentality as Annabel delves into the duality between her desire for validation and her need for genuine connection.
In a statement about the new single, Annabel elaborates: “If life is a stage, am I always performing? This is a central question in ‘Showtime, Baby!,’ where I explore the tension between living authentically for myself and living to meet others’ expectations. It addresses the fray of seeking approval and belonging while striving to be truly seen and understood for who I am. Ultimately, I’ve learned that prioritizing my own feelings and experiences is essential, as it’s the only way to lead my every day with purpose and meaning and foster deep happiness.”
Los-Angeles born multifaceted creative Claire Brooks returns with her brand new single ‘GO(RILLA)’. Blending psychedelic indie-pop with R&B vocals and rap, all infused with a jazzy flair, Claire’s latest offering is a sonic experience like no other. Punchy, atmospheric, and grungy, Claire has crafted a track that is as slick as it is unique. Dive into ‘GO(RILLA)’ and experience the cutting-edge sound of an artist on the rise.
Romania-born, Nashville-based musical shapeshifter Vlad Holiday is joined by Kacey Musgraves on “I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore.” Mischievous and sultry, the track has all the jazzy, lo-fi hallmarks of a Bond song. Running Musgraves’ voice through tape delay, Holiday’s signature knack for gear experimentation gives the duet a style we’ve never heard either artist in before — Stream.
The two artists met a few years back through mutual friends. Continually finding themselves singing together over an acoustic guitar as the sun came up after a long party, the collaboration felt natural, especially given the lyrics of “I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore.”
Holiday shares that today’s release is, “About the feeling the day after a long bender, sick of going through the serotonin dip over and over again, realizing you should probably change your ways and be better to yourself — BUT getting pulled back in and having the process start all over again.”
Vancouver alternative rock band OurGlassZoo share their new single/video ‘Shut Up’ out now on all digital streaming platforms via Volunteer Media/The Orchard (Sony Music). Listen here.
The latest single from OurGlassZoo’s new album Horizons (release date: September 13th), ‘Shut Up’ follows previous singles ‘Home‘ (feat. Rachael Schroeder & O.K.A.) and ‘Burn‘ (feat. O.K.A.), released earlier this year. The radio ready electro-tinged alt-rock track pulses with energy and rebellion, leaving the listener with an empowering message.
“‘Shut Up’ is a rallying cry for anyone who’s ever faced doubters, manipulators, and energy-drainers—those who seek to control and diminish others for their own gain,” says lead vocalist/lyricist Josias Tschanz. “Whether it’s an educator telling you you’re not enough, a boss questioning your capabilities, an ‘industry professional’ trying to crush your dreams, or a politician peddling hate, we’re here to say: Enough is enough.
The lyrics boldly declare, ‘Shut up… I’ll dance around you… in unison and in my own way.’ It’s a powerful reminder that you don’t need to be defined or confined by someone who doesn’t truly know you or who unfairly judges you. Instead, ‘dance around them’—let them be nothing more than minor roadblocks on your journey, not the obstacles that stop you.”
While the song feels both contemporary and relevant, the video for ‘Shut Up’ offers a fresh, modern emo-inspired concept. The band’s lead vocalist, who also works as a film director and producer in Vancouver, directed the video.
“The video was filmed at Franklin Studios here in Vancouver, which was the perfect setting for the all-white backdrop concept that we used,” says Josias. “To enhance the claustrophobic and rebellious mood of the song, we shot with a handheld camera making it deliberately shaky.”
Rising indie-pop sensation denn. is back with his latest single ‘TT’, a vibrant sonic journey that blends dreamy indie-pop melodies with psychedelic elements. Full of dimension and texture, this new track showcases denn.’s unique ability to create immersive soundscapes that captivate listeners from start to finish.
Speaking on the release, denn. shares; “TT” is the ultimate petty breakup song. It’s my first time channeling pure bitterness instead of longing or missing someone. Instead of dwelling on the past or blaming myself for being cheated on, I’ve embraced a “your loss” mindset. It’s about refusing to let someone who disrespected me and what we had break me. Instead, I’m reclaiming my power by doing everything I couldn’t before and taking away their satisfaction. It’s all about talking my shit and owning my truth, even if it’s just for show. Words have power, and sometimes you need to lie to yourself to believe you’re okay. So this time, I’m speaking up.”
Following the success of their acclaimed debut album Traumatic Livelihood, Jazmin Bean has had a very busy and successful 2024. The momentum continued with the announcement of The Traumatic Livelihood World Tour, which gives fans another chance to experience Jazmin’s captivating live show. To celebrate the sprawling tour and their recent appearance at YUNGBLUD’s Bludfest, Jazmin today reveals an exclusive tour track for fans, called “It’s Not My Fault (It’s Yours),” available everywhere now.
Ben Sollee is thrilled to unleash, Long Haul, his first solo studio effort in seven years, is out now via sonaBlast! Recordings. On Long Haul, Sollee draws from diverse influences, from nearby Appalachia and Muscle Shoals (he lives in Kentucky) to the exotic music from Polynesia and West Africa. These influences all meet with Sollee’s cello and vocals to create a wonderfully textured album, something akin to Paul Simon’s Graceland. No Depression says “It’s as if Sufjan Stevens snuck into a Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats session. And The Bluegrass Situation notes that Sollee is “always ready to blur genres, Sollee felt more free to expand his sonic palette on Long Haul, which includes a gospel-style choir, a Little Richard-inspired rock ‘n’ roll rave-up, West African rhythms, and Caribbean grooves. He purposely wanted to have lively, rhythmic melodies to balance deeply thoughtful lyrics.”
In support of the album, Sollee will embark on select tour dates throughout the US and his home state Kentucky, including a performance with the Louisville Orchestra, Sollee will also be making a stop at Nashville’s AMERICANAFEST, The Old Town School of Folk in Chicago and more.
The album title, Long Haul refers to Sollee’s battle with long COVID, which left him with severe fatigue, body pain, cognitive impairment, vertigo, loss of smell and taste, and a deep well of anxiety and depression. Through a change in diet and exercise Sollee was able to overcome these symptoms. “I believe there is an innate intelligence within us that can serve as a compass in life,” Sollee says, “It is subtle, uncanny, and often ignored in the noise of living. Just like music, you need to tune yourself to the frequency of that inner-voice. In many ways, long-COVID was my teacher and I’m still learning to let go, be present, and listen.”
vincent’s last summer, the dynamic new age post-punk duo from Manchester, share their latest single ‘Doing It For The Country’ further placing themselves as a voice for today’s youth. Following their debut EP ‘GET RICH QUICK!’, the duo returns with a track that remains true to their roots—offering an unapologetic critique of the current political, social, and financial landscape.
Multi-talented producer, artist, and songwriter Little Monarch has released her debut album Plenty of Time, out today. The 13-track LP finds Casey Kalmenson, performing as Little Monarch, reflecting on moments of her life at home and on the road through a variety of musical styles that have evolved and taken shape as she comes to terms with creating music for herself.
Through a mix of sound choices, arrangements, and personal lyrics, Plenty of Time offers moments of reflection to simple memories of just being present to introspective homesick yearnings. The album, recorded in Kalmenson’s home studio, features her latest single and opener “We Got That Feeling,” a funky and slick track about capturing those special moments with loved ones that make the rest of the world fade away and turn good times into timeless memories. The cosmic self-love anthem “Sheesh” and radiant bass-driven single “Follow Your Majesty” both share a similar message of putting yourself first while celebrating your individuality while “Same Old” bursts with warbly synths as Kalmenson speaks to being surrounded by the wrong kind of energy you need to be your best self. Elsewhere on the full-length is jaunty tune “Bounce” that encourages you to go after what you want and atmospheric focus track “It’s Like Music” which describes the comforting feeling of listening to the ramblings of someone you adore.
Speaking to the release of new single “It’s Like Music,” Kalmenson shares, “it’s the focus track of the album in part because I just love how it turned out, but also because it represents so much of what has made up the past few years for me while making this album. Outside of my own project, I tour as a musician in other artists’ bands which leaves me away from home and on the road a lot. This song is about being away on tour and missing your person back home. Night after night, making them stay on the phone with you while you fall asleep to the sound of their rambling which is almost…like music.”
Fie Eike is a composer, songwriter and producer with Norwegian roots who was born and raised in Denmark. Based in Copenhagen, she creates melodic and atmospheric songs and playful instrumental compositions with a deep emotional imprint infused with curious playfulness and Nordic sophistication and mystery. The songs and compositions are often driven by Fie Eike’s vocal with great emotional depth and elasticity, piano, electronic elements and field recordings from nature. The result is a soundscape that moves between art-pop, electronica and jazz with a post-classical undertone.
Her latest single “Fluid” explores the feeling or state of “fluidity”, where we lose the connection to ourselves and our core because we “over-adapt” in order to fit in, and our boundaries become fluid in our existential pursuit of belonging. “Being flexible and able to adapt can be a positive and important skill. But in the context of our need for community and belonging, it can sometimes become a weakness, if we adapt too much and lose our sense of self in order to fit in or do what we think others expect of us,” Eike explains.
She elaborates: “The need for belonging is a basic human instinct and it is a very beautiful thing, as long as we don’t lose ourselves in the quest for it. Because the paradox is, that in order to belong or experience true connectedness and love, we must first belong to ourselves and have a sense of separateness that allows both ourselves and others to see us clearly. Because the sense of belonging we achieve by trying to fit in and please others, is essentially hollow and fear based, and can create unhealthy relationships and leads us further away from our own truth and from belonging.”
Musically and lyrically, “Fluid” is set in a beautiful underwater world of wonder. But it is also a world of extreme “fluidity” in the sense that everything is blurry and undefined with no clear boundaries and poor conditions for real connection. There is an existential longing for belonging, not just a longing for love and community, but a longing for connection to one self – for assuming form and a true self expression. Part of the inspiration for the song came from one of Eike’s favourite fairy tales, ‘The Little Mermaid’ by Hans Christian Andersen.
The soundscape is ethereal and otherworldly with a sense of wonder and melancholy but also hope. Field recordings of water merge with an electronic backdrop, led by a strong, fragile and emotional vocal. A beat emerges with the tempo increasing, towards a new movement of strength, transformation and hope.
“In a sense, ‘Fluid’ explores the state of being before assuming form”, Eike explains: “We go through this process of moving from a state of “fluidity” to assuming form during our childhood and youth, but in reality this process happens many times throughout our lives, in varying degrees, as we grow, transform and heal. Life can sometimes knock us off our feet and disconnect us temporarily, but the key is to become aware of it, so that we can come back to ourselves. There is a great vulnerability and risk in daring to belong to ourselves, but no true connectedness and love can happen without it.”
Famed artist RZA has today announced the release of the title track of “A Ballet Through Mud,” an original composition and orchestration via Platoon and 36 Chambers. The full album will be available on all streaming platforms on August 30th. Originally performed by the Colorado Symphony, “A Ballet Through Mud” is a poignant coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of love, the bonds of friendship, and personal growth.
RZA found this project during the pandemic, when during lockdown he came across old lyrical notebooks he’d filled as a teen. Inspired by his early musings, RZA explored what would become his first classical album, then ballet, bringing it to life onstage in 2023.
Featuring characters named for Greek musical scales, the piece echoes RZA’s journey from Staten Island project housing to refined concert halls – weaving in tales of love, loss, exploration, Buddhist monks, and a journey “through mud.”
“I have been composing my whole life, although I didn’t know initially that was what I was doing. The inspiration for ‘A Ballet Through Mud’ comes from my earliest creative output as a teenager, but its themes are universal—love, exploration, and adventure,” said RZA. “I hope people use it to score their own lives, to transform a drive to the grocery store or sharing a meal with loved ones into something magical, to be inspired and let their imaginations take them into a different chamber, if only for a moment.”
Mary Elle is a singer/songwriter based in the Czech Republic. Originally from Oklahoma, USA, Mary Elle first came into the music scene after a video of her singing at a school music festival was discovered online by musician and producer Gregory Darling. Sparking the beginning of a musical collaboration, Darling helped guide Mary Elle and at just 14 years old, they co-wrote her first single, “Movie Ticket.”
A few years later and after some refining, “Movie Ticket” is now being unveiled. The emotion-fuelled track narrates a sudden yet anticipated break-up. Portraying a message of growing from grief and finding yourself even in the hardest of times, “Movie Ticket” emits a light-hearted, empowering and freeing sound. Mary Elle explains, “It relates to the narrative and how even though letting that person go was painful, it was needed in order for her to find a sense of freedom and find out that she’s the main character of her own story, not someone else’s.”
“Movie Ticket” showcases a delicate piano melody that floats gently alongside Mary Elle’s soft, soulful vocals. With a love for storytelling lyrics, every word captivates you, while twinkling synths and ethereal backing vocals cascade, resulting in an all-encompassing release.
“Movie Ticket” is the second single to be released from an upcoming EP due later this year.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
