Kina has achieved platinum certifications at just 24 years old with his lo-fi pop anthem “Get You The Moon,” featuring writer and vocalist Snøw. The song went viral on social media, flooding TikTok and SoundCloud, and became the first original track by an Italian artist to reach one billion Spotify streams. Re-released through Columbia Records, it spent 450 days on Spotify’s Global Daily Charts and is now certified platinum in eight countries and gold in five more. Born in Naples, Kina began making music young and shifted to lo-fi pop during high school. His 2020 YouTube documentary Asleep In A Dream highlights his self-expression and signature melancholic lo-fi sound, which pioneered a wave in “bedroom pop” and continues to reach billions globally, cementing him as a member of Spotify’s coveted BILLIONS Club playlist. Kina has over 20 platinum discs, 15 billion YouTube streams, and a #2 spot on Billboard’s Top TV Songs Chart. He has been championed by outlets such as Complex UK, PAPER, and EARMILK.
Pop rock artist Penny Bored is thrilled to announce that they have signed to Richmond-based label Open Your Ears Records. They join the independent label’s rapidly growing roster, which includes up-and-coming artists such as Elektric Animals, House & Home, Latewaves, Wild Truth, and more. For more information, please visit: https://oyerecs.com/.
Additionally Penny Bored has shared news of their forthcoming single “Dance In Hell”, a song about self-sabotage and learning to find the silver lining in life’s worst situations. “Dance In Hell” is set to be released on August 15th and can be pre-saved now at https://ffm.to/danceinhell.
Through honest lyrics about mental health and personal struggles, Penny Bored, the solo project of Faith Alesia (they/them), combines catchy melodies with relatable topics to create an authentic discography. Inspired by early 2000’s pop rock, Alesia uses nostalgic sounds to establish a safe space for listeners to connect and know they aren’t alone. Alesia reignited their passion for music during the summer of 2020 and continues to promote the message that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
Stay tuned for more coming soon from Penny Bored.
The Used’s frontman Bert McCracken has released a new single under his solo project, robbietheused, titled “The Feels.” With its electro-pop vibes and uplifting lyrics, “The Feels” is the ultimate feel-good anthem of the summer. Its exhilarating, addictive beat coupled with encouraging lyrics serve as a reminder that there is always time to pause and enjoy the present moment.
Friedberg announce their eagerly awaited debut album ‘Hardcore Workout Queen’, due for release on November 8 via Clouds Hill, pre-order here. The announcement also comes alongside their first London headline show at the 100 Club on November 4.
Across 10 tracks, including previous releases ‘Hello’, ‘My Best Friend’, and latest single ‘The Greatest’ Friedberg’s debut album ‘Hardcore Workout Queen’ is, in frontwoman Anna Friedberg’s own words: “like an endless road trip, with no destination.” The alt-rock quartet’s first record is filled with songs made for long drives with close pals, the sort of journeys where deep conversations become second nature and your innermost feelings are discussed over service station snacks and slightly-too-warm fizzy drinks. The kind of road trip you never want to end.
On the record the band broaden their sonic palettes: psychedelia, dance-punk and beyond all joining the fray, often coupled with huge pop-leaning hooks. ‘Hardcore Workout Queen’ was written in various studios, from Berlin to LA, via Dan Carey’s (Hot Chip, Fontaines D.C.) studio in South London, and Oli Bayston’s (the mastermind behind Boxed In) in Walthamstow. The results? An electric debut album that is undeniably Friedberg.
Talking about the long awaited release, Anna of Friedberg, says about the album: “I suppose you could say it’s a journey through the inner workings of my past few years. It’s vast and minute, it’s everything and nothing. It’s about breaking in and breaking free, about slipping into someone else’s mind for a holiday from your own thoughts. It’s being the Champion of the Slobs, whilst cheering for the Hardcore Workout Queens who run past your bedroom window as you’re tucking into your second breakfast. It’s the perfect album to listen to with the windows down cruising along a coastline, whether you know where you’re going or not.”
Muncie, Indiana emo rock trio Leisure Hour has signed with PNWK Records.
Leisure Hour formed in the summer of 2019, and released its latest album ‘The Sunny Side’ in June of 2024. The threesome will soon begin working on new music, which will serve as their PNWK label debut.
The band says, “We’re so excited to announce that we have officially signed with @pnwkrecords. We were fortunate enough to have our paths cross during Pt. 1 of our Sunny Side Album Release Tour and we’re even more fortunate to have met Sam and Robert (PNWK Records co-owners). Their energy, commitment and dedication to this scene and community is something truly remarkable. We have a lot of things planned out already and are looking forward to the start of a beautiful future together.”
In September, Leisure Hour is hitting the road again with their friends in Moosecreek Park. See dates below.
“We’re so excited to rock out with our best friends again and celebrate the amazing year we’ve had together! Catch us at a city near you.”
The first signee to Conway The Machine’s Drumwork Music imprint, rising star, Jae Skeese, is set to release his forthcoming album Ground Level on 8.16.24. Ground Level was created by Skeese at a vital time in his career, and he more than proves up to the challenge, delivering his biggest and best project to date; and leveling up with Ground Level.
Skeese kicked off the rollout for Ground Level with the project’s breakout lead single and video, “Situated” featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Sauce Walka, and followed up with “Sara Lee,” featuring Dave East, Jay Worthy & Lloyd. Now, close to 48 hours away from Ground Level being released, Skeese releases one final single “Brick After Brick (Ground Level)” which is now available at all DSP’s.
“Brick After Brick (Ground Level)” also serves as the intro track for Ground Level, and symbolizes the overarching concept of the album; Skeese continues to build and further his legacy brick by brick, with Ground Level being a vital piece to the foundation. “Brick After Brick (“Ground Level)” is produced by Beat Butcha, Motif & Waji.
With Ground Level, Skeese takes the next step out of the basement and builds on top of the foundation he has laid the last three years (which includes Skeese’s Drumwork debut, Abolished Uncertainties, (2023), and his collaborative album with Conway The Machine Pain Provided Profit). Ground Level is a testament to Jae Skeese’s evolution as an artist and includes high-profile collaborations with Big K.R.I.T., Dave East, Sauce Walka, Jay Worthy, Project Pat, Smoke DZA, Statik Selektah, Che Noir, Lloyd, and Ski Beatz, among others.
In a world where screens dominate and attention spans dwindle, a new force in children’s entertainment is emerging. Star Forest, the brainchild of Emmy-winning producer and Atlanta resident Genevieve LeDoux, is set to revolutionize how children engage with music, storytelling, and creativity.
Watch “The Sonic Secrets of Star Forest” video HERE.
A new Star Forest album, Let Me Be Real will be released on September 26, 2024.
The Let Me Be Real album is the newest installment in the Star Forest adventure, which is presented through animated short form videos, music, and music videos, with a podcast coming on September 3. The project will officially launch in Atlanta on August 29 at Dragon Con, the largest multi-media and pop culture event in the U.S.
Let Me Be Real transports listeners into the enchanting world of Star Forest, a multimedia adventure that merges vibrant melodies with lyrics inspired by a deep connection to nature, encouraging kids to embrace their true selves and celebrate their individuality. Blending nostalgic synthwave vibes with contemporary pop elements, Let Me Be Real is designed to resonate with both kids and adults.
Star Forest isn’t just an album, a show, or a game – it’s an entire universe designed to captivate, educate, and inspire. At its heart is a virtual band of lovable misfits whose music transcends mere entertainment, becoming a gateway to imagination and self-discovery for children aged 5 – 9.
“We noticed a significant gap in content for children who have outgrown preschool programming but aren’t ready for teen-oriented material,” says LeDoux. “Star Forest fills this void with rich, multi-layered content that grows with the child.”
FEVER 333 have officially announced details surrounding their eagerly awaited new album ‘DARKER WHITE’ out October 4 via Century Media Records under exclusive license from 333 WRECKORDS CREW. The band have also released a new single today called “NO HOSTAGES”, which can be heard here. On Friday, the music video will premiere on YouTube at 11am EST, 8am PST, 5pm CEST.
A month ahead of the release of their highly anticipated album, Kiss & Forget, WhoMadeWho teams up with fellow Danish artist and techno maestro Kölsch in their fifth and final single, “Heartless.” The track coincides with the second edition of the band’s label festival The Moment. The star-studded festival began in their hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark on August 7th and concludes today.
Anthony Davis, AKA Ant, producer half of the legendary, pioneering hip-hop group Atmosphere, has shared two singles from his forthcoming debut solo album, Collection of Sounds: Volume 1, the first volume of a four part series of instrumentals due out 6th September via Rhymesayers Entertainment. “Sun Decides” and “This Happened” offer distinct perspectives on the new collection. “Sun Decides” intertwines soulful samples, creating a summery vibe that’s perfect for carefree listening. In contrast, “This Happened” dives into a more introspective realm, featuring a meditative beat complemented by murky piano melodies.
The son of a military family, Ant grew up bouncing between locales: Texas, California, New York, Colorado, even as far away as Germany. While moving every couple of years presented plenty of challenges, it also exposed Ant to a wide array of different people and cultures. It also helped nurture his burgeoning love of music. Ant’s father, only 20 years his senior, was an avid record collector. “He was into funk and jazz and soul music and stuff,” Ant says. “When I’m ten years old, he’s only 30, and rap is out: he was listening to it, but he didn’t know the difference between Grandmaster Flash and Rick James. To him it was the same thing—this is all funk, this is all disco, this is just all music.”
“There was always this weird dream in my head that I could get somewhere,” says Davis. As one half of Atmosphere, the longtime Minneapolis resident has carved out the type of career that aspiring musicians across the world imagine as they cut their teeth in home studios and on small stages. Yet while decades of sold-out tours and critical acclaim might have been, at one time, an abstract notion to the now 53-year-old, he always had a sense that he could spin his ingenuity behind turntables into a living. While the last 30 years serve as proof positive that he was right, his new four-volume collection of instrumental work, Collection of Sounds, illuminates the variety of styles and skills that made that inkling a reality.
Last month, Ant announced the record with “Leather Soul” + “That Old Bongo Joint.” Both singles serve as a preview and testament to the breadth of influences synthesized on this collection, and Davis’ undeniable skills as a producer. In his own words, he shares “I guess I have the audacity to believe I could put out a four volume instrumental music project, composed of music I’ve made over the last 30 years, and call it great art.”
Each of the ten tracks on jazz trumpeter/singer Augie Haas’s new album, Augie Haas +8 Live At The Speakeasy, was recorded in one take before a live audience on a single night in May 2024. The record realizes Haas’s desire to create an album where listeners close their eyes and feel transported to a basement speakeasy in NYC, hearing great jazz and having an amazing time basking in the environment of what jazz is all about – the players, the listeners, and the moment. Augie Haas +8 Live At The Speakeasy will be out tomorrow, August 16, 2024.
“What you hear is what actually happened that night, in real time,” says Augie Haas. “We did one take and recorded it live in front of an audience at The Speakeasy on the Upper West Side. Our goal with this album is to immerse the listener in the highest quality music, set within an ambience of authentic sounds of people enjoying themselves. We wanted this record to be fun, real, and raw, and I think we’ve achieved that.”
George W. Harris wrote in Jazz Weekly that Augie Haas as a vocalist is “always calm and comfortable, never resorting to histrionics,” while critic Jonathan Widran praised Haas’ “expansive mastery on the horn.” Augie Haas +8 Live At The Speakeasy showcases Haas’s strength as a powerhouse lead trumpet player fronting a supremely talented band, including Rick Germanson on piano, Gary Kerkezou on drums, Dick Sarpola on bass, Todd Groves on alto sax, Troy Roberts on tenor sax, Alden Banta on bari sax, Andrew Neesley on trumpet, and trombonist/vocalist Hailey Brinnel, with special guests Major Attaway and Kacie Sky on vocals, and Mike Gorham and Andrew Carson on trumpet.
Umphrey’s McGee Continue To Push The Boundaries Of Rock And Roll Adventure Travel With Morockshow: A 3-Night Run In Marrakech, Morocco, April 18-20, 2025
Presented by UM and Pilgrimage of Sound, Morockshow’s ticket lottery is now open; General on-sale begins 8/21 at 12pm Central
August 15, 2024 – Chicago, IL – For a band who has brought their music, and in most cases, their home country fans, to international stages in Japan, Australia, Europe, and most recently, Iceland, improv-rockers Umphrey’s McGee know what it means to make music into a vacation. For fans who’ve done plenty of Caribbean or Yucatan festivals, those who need an excuse to leap to a far-off destination, or those hardcore enough to tick off yet another show from their favorite band, Umphrey’s McGee have just announced the upcoming Morockshow. That’s right, for three nights, April 18th-20th, Umphrey’s will take the stage outdoors at Chez Ali in the magical city of Marrakech, Morocco, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa; yet another voyage to a bucket-list location for the band and fans alike.
In addition to three nights in the heart of the Red City, the band, along with Pilgrimage of Sound—co-producers of UM’s last Iceland outing, Rockjavik—are offering numerous activities and excursions to explore the explosive splendor of Marrakech by day before rocking out in an other-worldly venue by night. Rage. Roadtrip. Repeat. umVIP package options will include nearby hotel accommodations with roundtrip shuttles, a private set, an on-site reception with local food and drink, exclusive merch, and more.
Fans can join the Morockshow pre-sale lottery right now to ensure a three-show ticket or umVIP package before tickets go live. After the pre-sale, general and umVIP on-sale will begin Wednesday, August 21st at 12pm (noon) Central time. Visit morockshow.com for additional details, ticket info & more. Fans are encouraged to keep an eye out for updates on special guest and Moroccan artist announcements, further adding flavor to this uniquely UM experience.
What: Three nights of Umphrey’s McGee concerts in Marrakech, Morocco
When: April 18th, 19th, and 20th, 2025
Where: Adventure through the world-heritage sites of Marrakech by day and rock out with the band at the otherworldly Chez Ali each night
How: Ticket lottery is open now at morockshow.com. General on sale begins 8/21 at 12pm central
the multi-talented Montreal native dee holt is proud to share her third EP, loving in the dark, out now via Nettwerk. On the five-song effort, dee is more confident and primetime-ready than ever with songs that range from eerie, Eilish-inspired productions to club-ready electropop bangers. loving in the dark is about new
beginnings, taking chances, and embracing a leap of faith. “With this EP, I’m entering a new phase in my artist career which is quite fitting…. a new beginning,” explains dee. In an interview with Luna Collective, she went on to say, “I’m
finding my aesthetic, making things more cohesive, and giving it 100% with “dee 2.0.” It’s like my alter ego.”
On the focus track “fool’s gold,” dee experiments with the feeling of breaking free from a toxic relationship “and only realizing in hindsight how truly terrible it was. It’s about reanalyzing with some distance and picking up on all the signs and red flags that you should have right at the beginning.” In typical dee fashion, the syncopated song features her airy & commanding vocals with flirtatious production. dee’s fresh indie-pop troubadour sound resembles contemporaries such as Gracie Abrams, Charlotte Cardin, & Holly Humberstone.
38 Spesh has released his new project Mother & Gun which is now available at all DSP’s. Spesh has also released a video for “Speshal Methods,” featuring Method Man.
Mother & Gun is a testament to 38 Spesh’s evolution as both an artist and a producer, showcasing his unique blend of gritty storytelling and sharp lyricism; it’s a narrative journey that reflects 38 Spesh’s experiences and the realities of life in upstate NY. Mother & Gun features appearances and production from Method Man, Havoc, Benny The Butcher, Lloyd Banks, StreetRunner, Che Noir, and Jimmy Dukes.
“I made this album as therapy to help me overcome the depression brought on by losing close family members” Spesh confessed. “This is the most meaningful and emotional body of work I’ve ever made.”
38 Spesh’s Mother & Gun is now available at all DSP’s.
You can now purchase, stream, add and favorite Mother & Gun at your preferred DSP: https://orcd.co/motherandgun
![38 Spesh & Method Man - SPESHAL METHODS (produced by Jimmy Dukes) [Official Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dtKrOF_Lafc/hqdefault.jpg)
The first signee to Conway The Machine’s Drumwork Music imprint, rising star, Jae Skeese, has now released his new album Ground Level. Ground Level was created by Skeese at a vital time in his career, and he more than proves up to the challenge, delivering his biggest and best project to date; and leveling up with Ground Level.
Ground Level is a testament to Jae Skeese’s evolution as an artist, blending raw emotion and storytelling with cutting-edge production. The album includes high-profile collaborations with Big K.R.I.T., Dave East, Sauce Walka, Jay Worthy, Project Pat, Smoke DZA, Statik Selektah, Che Noir, Lloyd, and Ski Beatz, who add an undeniable dynamic range to the project. Ground Level is a portrait of Jae Skeese, an illustration of where he is today, and the highs and lows in his journey which would shape and inform the artist; all delivered with Skeese’s stellar wordplay.
“Ground Level is me taking the next step from coming up out of the basement and building on top of the foundation I have been laying the last three years; finally being able to say okay, I’ve laid the foundation. I’m here now, how many more levels can I reach now that I’m finally at the first floor,” Jae Skeese contemplates. “Everyone has a starting point, whether you are a med school student, an NFL prospect, or even a manager at Dunkin Donuts. The Ground Level mindset is a testament to overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights, while staying grounded and remembering that there are always new levels to achieve.”
Jae Skeese reflects on his journey, “I remember when I dropped my Drumwork debut, Abolished Uncertainties, (2023) last year right after Pain Provided Profit (his collaborative album with Conway The Machine) it felt like the Bills just won the Super Bowl- FINALLY! After all this working hard and grinding and making my own way with the odds stacked against me seemingly all the time, finally, I dropped my debut Drumwork album after I dropped one with one of the best rappers in hip hop. But what I learned after dropping Abolished Uncertainties is that that album was just another brick in the wall. I was building, another piece to the foundation. Ground Level is a reflection of that. I highlight things I’ve been through, talk about the people I’ve lost, my mindset as I’ve elevated to the position you see me in today, how people have changed, my reasons for why I want to elevate in life and of course I talk about the things that make me, me.”
In addition to releasing his new album, Skeese also released a video for “Brick After Brick (Ground Level)” which can be viewed below.
Jae Skeese keeps building his stature in the culture brick by brick; and with Ground Level, he levels up! Where were you when you discovered the level up.
You can now purchase, stream, add and favorite Jae Skeese Ground Level at your preferred DSP: https://ffm.to/groundlevel
![Jae Skeese - Brick After Brick (Ground Level) [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TTjtJWaNfZg/hqdefault.jpg)
MVW is back with a new single, Ova With,” and continuing to collaborate with bubbling female rap artists in the underground. In 2022, he dropped songs with TiaCorine, Freaky T star. In 2023, he dropped with Anycia, a now beloved star.
Early this year, MVW dropped “Goofy,” with deceased legend Gangsta Boo and now he returns with, “Ova With,” featuring one of the top burgeoning Houston artists Lisha G; a staple in the female rap underground.
“Ova With” is an anthemic banger where MVW brings his unique sonics and piano driven melodies and fuses them into a super intoxicating mix.
Lisha is a voice to be reckoned with. Coming from a small country town, Camden, South Carolina, the burgeoning talent is seen as a hometown hero. Working with talented producers like MVW, Brodinski, MNDYRMM, MexikoDro, Trini Viv and more, Lisha has been carving out her own lane.
The difference in Lisha G’s sound is what makes her so interesting and appealing. Coming from her own world, and representing wholesome, small-town values is what sets her apart from most artists. With “Ova With” and previous collaborations with RXKnephew, Famous Dex, Slime Dollaz Glokk40sspaz and Ancyra, Lisha. Is clearly someone who’s rap’s are sought after.
Lisha G & MVW’s new single “Ova With” is now available!
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.
Sydney’s alternative trio Yours Truly have released their brand new album, TOXIC, out today via UNFD.
With their name now firmly cemented on a global scale, Yours Truly retain their versatility moving into their sophomore album chapter while also expanding beyond any stylistic confines or expectations. Produced by Ocean Grove’s Sam Bassal and mixed by Daniel Braunstein (Spiritbox, Dayseeker), TOXIC ultimately nods to the fun pop-punk essence of earlier Yours Truly works while also demonstrating a boldness to step forward and explore heavy rhythms and, at times, darker direction. Via TOXIC, Yours Truly arrive at their most open, visceral and engaging material to date, with themes of anger, desperation, sadness and exhaustion forming alongside sanguine acceptance and self-awareness.
fast-rising Billboard and TikTok chart-topping singer, songwriter, producer and 18-year-old, gen-z, R&B musical iconoclast LAILA! (aka “Baby Genius”) unveils the globally anticipated music video for her uber-viral summer smash single “Not My Problem” out now. Watch HERE. The single is from Laila!’s forthcoming debut album “Gap Year!” which will release on September 6th and is available for pre-order today HERE via label IIIXL Studio distributed in partnership with Soundcloud.
Following her #1 TikTok hit “Like That!,” which debuted this spring on Billboard’s TikTok Top 50 chart and reigned in the top five of the charts for six weeks straight, “Not My Problem” also soared to #1, as well as charted on Billboard’s “Hot R&B Songs” chart. The single has garnered over 100 million plays via reels, shorts and stories across social platforms while piling up over 36 million streams to date on dsp’s with 20 million plays on Spotify alone.
The visual, directed by Otmara Marrero follows Laila! on a dream-filled, 90’s themed, boss-girl journey as she provides the remedy to easily dismissing things that aren’t one’s problem. “Not My Problem” began as a freestyle I made after making the beat first” says Laila! “I played it for my sister and she said ‘that’s hard.’ I just started singing the hook and it worked. It’s more of a mantra about letting go and not taking on things that really aren’t your problem.”
‘Cupid’s Error’ (a play on cupid’s arrow) is a romantic tragedy.
It’s sung from the perspective of one half of a crumbling relationship. This relationship may have at first seemed like a match made in heaven, yet a brutal reality has just now reared its ugly head.
The song transitions between melancholic lows and dramatic highs, all the while delivering a sweet combination of catchy lines, crisp boom bap drums and ethereal sound design.
Heart Tide is a Finnish alternative/rock/indie outfit, created by composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Samu Hietainen, that’s been active since 2018. Known for its genre-bending approach, passionate delivery and emotionally charged lyrics, the musical project is here to make music that resonates on a deep level while also presenting it in a form that is always unexpected and exciting.
Samu Hietainen:
composer. // songwriter. // producer.
Samu Hietainen is a composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer, born in Finland. Having commanded attention right from the get-go as a solo artist with his moody, atmospheric style in genres such as ambient, contemporary classical, techno and house, Hietainen isn’t afraid to display a cinematic scope, deeply felt creative passion or genuine love for exploration in any genre. Known primarily for his composing and songwriting work, the multi-hyphenate artist also has an alternative rock outfit Heart Tide and works in pop music, film, television, video games and commercials, with a perceptive admiration of music, cinema and visual arts.
In 2023, Samu Hietainen discovered a new era in their career with the releases of his first two full-length albums, ‘No One Will Save You, No One Will Even Find You‘ and ‘Withered Flowers‘, which together provide a statement that the talent is ready to shake up the worlds of ambient and classical music whilst delving into topical and important issues that affect the humanity at large. This is where we begin, in 2024 we will continue.
Nuno Freitas grew up in the gorgeous and vibrant Portuguese island of Madeira
in the Atlantic Ocean, whose wonderful nature and beauty continue to inspire
him. Initially Nuno studied art and multimedia but he always loved singing. His
musical journey began on YouTube, where he uploaded covers of songs by his
idols Lana Del Rey, Troye Sivan, and Lady Gaga. The overwhelmingly positive
reception to these covers encouraged Nuno to pursue a musical career, which led
him to move to London, where he could grow as an artist. There he studied music
at University and began developing his skills as a songwriter and performer.
In his work Nuno started exploring topics dear to him such as love, desire,
queerness, and hope.
His 2020 single “Swimming Pool” was inspired by the Norwegian series SKAM and
a fan video made by Nuno himself, which featured on the YouTube release of the
song, has now garnered over 1.1 million views on the platform, making it his most
popular video to date.
Last month, Wendy Eisenberg (Editrix, Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet) unveiled details of their anticipated double album, Viewfinder. An ambitious work that unites the respected sound and practice they have established across jazz, noise, avant-rock, and songwriting, Wendy introduced the album with the lead single “Lasik,” which garnered significant media praise, including a coveted spot on The Playlist by The New York Times, where Jon Pareles described the track as “minimalistic, math-rock infused, diaristic, and open-ended.” Building on that momentum, Wendy has returned with “HM,” a second and final glimpse ahead of the album’s release on September 13 through American Dreams.
About the track, Wendy shares: “‘HM‘ is a resurrected tune for small ensemble I wrote in 2016. I wrote it about the feeling of paralysis that occurs when everything you see feels invented or arbitrary. The written material is a line of unbroken and breathless melody, but the rest of the piece is a game—how do you improvise around the fixity of a phenomenon when that phenomenon is the totality of your project?”
Rakim returns with the 3rd official visual from his most recent release “GODS NETWORK (REB7RTH)” titled “GODS PLAYGROUND”.
The track features an unreleased posthumous feature from NY legend Fred the Godson alongside an unreleased prayer from the world renowned DMX. “GODS PLAYGROUND” showcases Rakim on vocals, production and cuts alongside 2 other NY living legends in the making .38 Spesh and Skyzoo.
![Rakim x 38 Spesh x DMX x Fred The Godson x Skyzoo - GOD'S PLAYGROUND [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3lkzQlw9bC4/hqdefault.jpg)
Rounding out the hat trick is a solo offering from Vakili Band frontperson, Lily Vakili. After spending most of last year touring in support of the band’s full length album, Honey, Lily was offered a string of solo dates supporting John Douglas (Trashcan Sinatras) on the US West Coast. As she returned to her solo songwriter roots, she found herself inspired to record a few new tunes in that setting. The resulting Tannersville EP was made in collaboration with
blues musician, studio engineer and poet, Reed Turchi, and will be released on 9/13. The first single, “Photograph,”
Genre-queer, Donegal-accented, therapy-rock band TRAMP (Siânna Lafferty, Ellie McFadden, Fionnbarr Doran and Ciaran ‘Steamy’ McCay) re-emerges to the 2024 scene with a tongue-in-cheek cracker of a track, ‘The Birds (Lowered Suspension)’ out Aug 23rd.
The first single from their upcoming debut EP; ‘the bird-cat-dog metaphor’ is just the beginning of their satirical commentary to come with their EP. The playfulness and energy of this song is enough to get you hooked, with the added seriousness of its message – A true reflection of this band’s balance of political commentary with feel-good songwriting.
The video, filmed and directed by Hot Shoe Productions, was also inspired by the association of ‘lowered’ cars with ‘lad culture’, to humorously address its dark side of misogyny. The repetitive line, ‘Not all men are like that, not all men…’ is sung with a purpose -and like the band; not to be misunderstood or underestimated.
TRAMP has rapidly emerged as a formidable force in the Irish DIY music scene. Winners of the ‘BBC Introducing: Artist of the Year Award 2023’ at the NI Music Prize, and recognized by notable platforms such as BBC Across The Line, BBC Radio 1’s Introducing, Nialler9, Dig With It, and Chordblossom, TRAMP is no stranger to the spotlight. They’ve shared stages with local legends like The Undertones, TOUTS, and Cherym, quickly becoming a ticket-selling sensation in Derry.
TRAMP is here to redefine the music landscape with their powerful blend of sound and message. Don’t miss out on ‘The Birds (Lowered Suspension)’ – a track that’s as thought-provoking as it is catchy.
Upcoming Gigs
- 4th October – Dublin – Ireland Music Week
- 25th October – Mandela Hall, Belfast (BBC Event on the night of our EP release)
- 31st October – Dublin headline show
Albany-raised, pop-punk band State Champs has announced their fifth studio album and self-titled record to be released on November 8 via Pure Noise Records. The band released their first two punchy singles off the album, “Silver Cloud” and “Too Late To Say.” “Silver Cloud” was released with an accompanying music video where singer Derek DiScanio breaks the cycle of a mundane, unfulfilling life with a cast of characters played-out by the rest of the band.
Produced by Anton DeLost (Mayday Parade, Hawthorne Heights), State Champs will showcase some of the best edgy, high-energy tracks that have defined their career thus far, making it the exact right time to debut their Self-Titled album. “We found our way, through the ups and downs within us, personally and as a band, and wanted to express that,” explains frontman Derek DiScanio. “This is the right time to showcase it.” Bassist Ryan Scott Graham agrees. “When we stepped back and looked at the songs, sonically and thematically, it’s a great vision of who we are. Every era of State Champs exists within this record.”
Nearly 15 years after the band’s formation, lead singer Derek DiScanio, bassist Ryan Scott Graham, guitarist Tyler Szalkowski, and drummer Evan Ambrosio, found themselves at different points in their personal lives—marriage, kids, and relocations across the country made for a new kind of relationship dynamic.
Comprised of 12 tracks, the songs on this record explode with passionate and smartly constructed precision. While big, bold, and slick, the production nevertheless sounds like a band in a room together or decimating the stage. It’s a perfect example of how the band has become a major player in the pop-punk scene, championing the genre over the past decade.
Ska-punk legends Less Than Jake have shared another piece of the map with the release of their brand new single. “Not My Problem”, out now via Pure Noise Records. Fans can stream the song now here: https://purenoiserecs.lnk.to/LTJ_NotMyProblem and watch the music video here: https://youtu.be/-pEH0UEyE9k.
“This song came about in the 11th hour,” shares frontman/guitarist Chris DeMakes. “I was messing around with a synthesizer loop one night, which became the part you hear for the intro of the song. The whole song was built from that, and it came together super fast. The main guitar riff is quirky and fun. The lyric is classic LTJ. A really fun song mixed with a sad lyric.”
He adds: “As for the meaning, that’s for the listener to figure out.”
“Not My Problem” comes on the heels of Less Than Jake’s latest 7”, featuring recent releases “Walking Pipebomb” and “Broken Words”. Physical copies – limited to 500 worldwide – are available for pre-order now at https://purenoise.merchnow.com/collections/less-than-jake.
Sydney Sprague has released another brand-new song that can be found on the upcoming deluxe version of ‘somebody in hell still loves you’ to be released on September 13 via Rude Records. “i tried my best feat. Kevin Devine” can be heard now wherever you consume music: https://music.ruderecords.com/itriedmybest
“I was fully floored by “i tried my best” when Sydney & company sent it over,” Kevin Devine says on the collaboration out today. “The strength and specificity of the songwriting, the stellar arrangement & performance choices, the way the woozy, off-kilter sonic template is in close conversation with the destabilization captured in the vivid, evocative lyrics, which manage to balance the danger of getting lost in your own inner maze with a sharp sense of gallows humor about the inevitability of doing exactly that when the world at large is even scarier and more incomprehensible. I’m flattered to take fractional part in helping it come to life and was grateful to be invited to the fucked-up party.”
“Having Kevin Devine on this song is seriously such an honor,” adds Sydney. It feels very poetic to me because this song came from a place of uncertainty if my music would ever be heard or if there was even a point to making music at all, but now because of it I got to work with one of my favorite artists. I used to rent Kevin’s CDs from the library in high school and college and listen to them on repeat in my car, and now I get to hear him sing words I wrote. I’ll just never get over it! I love the way he sounds on it, it turned out to be my favorite song on the record.”
multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, and record producer Frank Iero has announced he will release a deluxe 10-year anniversary edition of his debut studio album, Stomachaches, titled XNauseousX on Friday, August 30.
To commemorate the announcement, he has released a new single “This Song Is A Curse…” out now via BMG. The new album is available to pre-order on limited vinyl exclusively on his website and to pre-save.
Widely recognized as the lead guitarist in My Chemical Romance and L.S. Dunes, Frank Iero launched his solo career with the debut album Stomachaches in 2014. It received rave reviews from Alternative Press, New Noise Magazine, and NME, with Louder calling it “an emotional listen and more of a window into Iero’s mind than any of the mainstream releases he has been involved in before.”
United Grind co-founder, Vice Souletric, is a conscious Hip-Hop artist and producer that rekindles the days of true skool hip hop in a modern-day form.
The Ohio native boasts a four-album discography that features appearances and production from the likes of Talib Kweli, Benny The Butcher, 9th Wonder, Skyzoo, Hi-Tek, Young RJ, Guilty Simpson, REKS and more.
Now, Vice returns with his most powerful and diverse collection of music to date with Vice For President 4, which includes the Ohio emcee’s trademark clever bars, over top-notch production from some of Hip-Hop’s elite beatsmiths; including Pete Rock, Nottz, Apollo Brown, Young RJ, JR Swiftz and Vice himself.
Vice also called on some of the genre’s most respected emcees; including Slum Village, RJ Payne, Elzhi, The Musalini, and his United Grind family.
Vice For President 4 will complete Vice’s VFP series in a rousing fashion and promises to place Vice Souletric in the discussion of top-tier artists carrying the torch for Hip-Hop delivered with a message.
After announcing his new project with the aptly-titled “Vice For President,” (produced by the legendary Pete Rock). Vice is back with two new singles; “Welcome Back” which features RJ Payne and Juggernaut June and “Mr. 360,” which features The Musalini & HiJinks. Both singles are now available!
Vice Souletric’s Vice For President 4 will be released on 9.17.24.
Rising star Daughter Of A Drum, the dynamic musical persona of the multi-talented, genderqueer artist Aoife McAtamney, announces the release of her evocative new single ‘Space’ on August 2nd, featuring the iconic Bessie and Obie Award-winning artist and activist, Justin Vivian Bond. This release will coincide with the premiere of the trailer for her upcoming film ‘Pink Breath,’ the visual sister to her debut album of the same name, set to drop on August 30th.
Daughter Of A Drum is also thrilled to share that she will be performing at Ireland Music Week from October 3rd to 4th, further establishing her as a force in the music scene. Her performances are known for their powerful blend of contemporary dance and soulful music, promising an unforgettable experience.
Sarah Davachi announced her new album The Head as Form’d in the Crier’s Choir, set for release on September 13 via Late Music. Since its announcement, the album has generated anticipation, capturing the attention of outlets like Exclaim!, Resident Advisor, The FADER, The Quietus, and Vogue. Following the lead single “Possente Spirto” and the recent release of Ex Fabula I (a sampler and guide to her Late Music catalog), Davachi today shares an edited version of the album’s monumental 22-minute closing track, “Night Horns.”
“Night Horns” utilizes a specific type of pipe organ as a solo instrument a mechanical-action instrument built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in 1864, located in the Église du Gesù of Toulouse, France. Like some of Davachi’s previous organ work, it focuses heavily on the organ’s pedals and the textural variations made possible by the mechanical tracker actions that most possess. The edited version of the track is accompanied by a video also made by Sarah Davachi.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
