After an 18 month self-imposed lockdown in the studio, Grace Davies is back and better than ever with her punchy new pop single ‘A Wonderful, Boring, Normal Life’. Romanticising the most mundane moments of a relationship, Grace delves into the feeling of being alone (and at peace) whilst still craving company in the monotonous every day. Co-produced by Grace, the lush string intro lulls you into a false sense of ballad security, before sucker punching you into an involuntary head nod with a thumping beat.
Through pop-perfect melodies and whimsical, euphoric synths appears a relentless chorus with almost rap-like lyricism – shining a light on Grace’s gift for storytelling and hammering home the simple desire to have a picturesque yet ordinary life in love.
“And then I’d give you a drawer where you could put all your sh!t / And you’d say I’m moving quick for someone scared of commitment / So I’d swing by your mothers’ for a coffee and cry / And she’d tell me you’ve been this way since you were a child”.
‘A Wonderful, Boring, Normal Life’ serves as the first single from a brand new era and rejuvenation for Grace. The track was written after a challenging few months, when Grace was close to throwing in the towel on her artist career. She went into the studio with a new writing collaborator (Jon Olav) and new producer (Paul Whalley) – and ended up creating the track that would kick start a brand new, deeply creative phase. Speaking on the new single, Grace Davies explains: “This was really the song that saved me from giving up and reminded me why I love, so very much, what I do. When life gets stressful and you feel like you’ve lost your sense of direction, you find yourself craving the mundane and ordinary. Maybe that’s where the concept for this track began; imagining a life where you have your shit together, you’re financially secure and have everything you need but could also picture someone else within that. I think it’s possible to be alone and not lonely but still want to share life and argue over who’s turn it is to wash the dishes. It’s not a necessity, you don’t need a fairytale – but it might be nice.”
rising folk-pop sensation Chance Peña unveils his highly-anticipated debut album ‘Ever-Shifting, Continual Blossoming’. The album, described by Peña as “a labor of love, made with the people I love”, is a heartfelt exploration of his musical journey capturing the warmth and depth of his evolving artistry.
‘Ever-Shifting, Continual Blossoming’ is available now on all streaming platforms via ONErpm
Listen to ‘Ever-Shifting, Continual Blossoming’ HERE
The LP sees the rising artist exploring themes of personal growth, overcoming internal struggles, and finding strength in hard times. Peña also delves into the universal complexities of relationships and the longing for deeper connections. The album was written over the course of the past year, with a large part produced by Chance with co-production Naebird and Sarcastic Sounds.
“This project is a glimpse into the lessons I’ve learned over this last year and I’ve been excited about these songs for a while now. I’m really just ready to share these pieces of me with those who listen and to play them live on these upcoming tours,” – Chance Peña
‘Ever-Shifting, Continual Blossoming’ is an earnest, poetic journey through folk-pop sensibilities that stands as a testament to Peña’s growth as one of the most compelling voices in the folk-pop genre today. The album weaves together moving lyricism and rich vocal depth, creating a body of work that is both intimate and relatable. With an extensive discography that has steadily garnered attention and praise over the years, this debut album marks a pivotal moment in Peña’s career—a reflection of the experiences and emotions that have shaped him as an artist to this point.
So far in the album’s campaign, Peña has shared four singles—‘i am not who i was’, ‘Feel It All’, ‘The Mountain Is You’, and most recently, ‘Is What It Is’—each widespread acclaim from fans and industry tastemakers alike. These tracks, along with exclusive live performances of ‘Montana’ and ‘Black Bird’ on A COLORS SHOW and Vevo DSCVR, have set the stage for the full 14-track album, generating great excitement and anticipation for its release.
Track List:
1. Suddenly
2. Montana
3. The Art Of Putting People In Their Place
4. Blackbird
5. i am not who i was
6. Is What It Is
7. Whiskey Angel
8. Cold
9. Head Above Water
10. Feel It All
11. Muscle Memory
12. The Mountain Is You
13. Nobody Likes Change
14. When Life Gets Hard
The music world unites to celebrate the legacy of George Brown, iconic co-founder of Kool & The Gang and Songwriters Hall of Famer, with the release of his posthumous solo album, ‘Where I’m Coming From.’ Released via Astana Music Inc. and distributed by BFD/The Orchard, this 16-track collection offers an intimate and introspective glimpse into Brown’s life, capturing rich stories of love, family, struggles, and triumphs.
Renowned as the rhythmic backbone of Kool & The Gang, Brown steps into the spotlight with this solo project, showcasing his talents beyond drumming—as a vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and percussionist. Standout singles such as “Shawty’s Got,” a tribute to young love, and “What If,” a profound exploration of life’s meaning and the power of faith, reflect the joy, heartache, and spiritual contemplation that shaped his life.
In the album’s forward, Brown’s son, Jorge Brown, reflects: “Dad always said, ‘Good songs tell a story.’ Heartache, pain, loss, joy, excitement, happiness—Dad experienced it all, which meant he had stories, many stories, to tell. We hope that, as you listen, you’ll understand that our Dad was more than just a musician or celebrity. He was a husband, father, son, brother, father-in-law, friend, student, and mentor. His perspectives on the world were hard-won and well-earned, and he believed in fixing what’s been broken for so long.”
‘Where I’m Coming From’ was recorded at Alley Cat Studio, located in Brown’s family home in Woodland Hills, CA. Produced by George Brown and executive produced by Claude Ismael, the album was brought to life by renowned engineers Wolfgang Aichholz (Paula Abdul, Sheena Easton) and Larry Fergusson (Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand). More than just a musical work, the album serves as a window into Brown’s personal world. His life journey—from growing up in 1940s New Jersey to becoming a driving force behind one of the most influential bands in history—is deeply woven into the fabric of this album, a project he had been crafting for decades. Each track recounts stories of love, loss, and resilience, representing a pivotal chapter in his storied career.
This album arrives just ahead of Kool & The Gang’s upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 19th, where they will be honoured alongside musical legends like Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, and Ozzy Osbourne.
George Brown passed away in 2023 at the age of 74, leaving behind a lasting legacy. He is survived by his wife, Hanh Brown, and his five children. ‘Where I’m Coming From’ not only celebrates his remarkable career but immortalises the stories he lived and loved to tell.
Brilliant newcomer aimei 媚 (Pronounced Eye-May) today shares her best song yet, “Dark Arts.” The stunning track will start its life today on the BBC Radio 1 playlist as their BBC Introducing “Track Of The Week” put forward by their Manchester station. This track will also be first to be lifted from her sophomore EP “Bloom” that will land on October 25th just a few days after her next London headline show at the Outernet’s The Lower Third on October 22nd.
the freshly minted record StrataSonic Records officially unveils itself with a brand new release from Parisian house music mastermind and Apollonia ringleader Dan Ghenacia. Ghenacia’s three-track Rouge ou Noir EP is out now.
The title track opens up with looped, funky guitar riffs and neon synths, which wind their way through dusty, dynamic drums. “Chilly” bustles with a blend of louche rhythms and rugged synth arps that dart about the mix—it also gets a low-slung, dubbed-out mix to round out the release. Ghenacia’s knowledge of house music, which he’s accumulated over the last 25-plus years DJing, hosting essential parties, and running vital labels, is crystal clear on this fantastic new solo EP.
“Everything unfolded at a dizzying pace,” says Dan Ghenacia on creating the new EP. “Five days in a dream studio in Los Angeles led to Rouge ou Noir, a surreal and psychedelic experience with funky vibes. Stratasonic, this young label, is showing boundless creativity with its team to maximize the release’s impact.”
Romania-born, Nashville-based melancholy romantic Vlad Holiday has today announced that his debut record, My Favorite Drug, will be released on November 15 via ONErpm. Along with this news comes the second single “Closer.” Feeling like a covert mission, or a secret known only between two lovers, the deeply layered song seems to endlessly build before it is quickly punctuated — Stream.
Today’s release features guest vocals from Cage The Elephant’s Matt Shultz, who is also a co-writer on the track. For careful listeners, Shultz’s voice can be heard singing the “ah ah ah ah” hook and some repeated “closers” in the outro.
On the single, Holiday shares, “This is a love song. It introduces the romantic element of the album. It’s about going with the flow and letting the universe do its thing, rather than forcing things into existence.”
Yukon indie-folk band The August Arrival share their laid-back 80s-influenced new single ‘Whisper’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
Led by Yukon songwriter and vocalist Sara MacDonald, The August Arrival is a solo project supported by friends, incorporating live and recording contributions from an array of musicians who slide in and out of the lineup. ‘Whisper’ is the 2nd single from their forthcoming album Hillsides. On the surface, the song feels energetic and easy-going, but if you dig further, you’ll find a deeper meaning underneath.
“‘Whisper’ is a song about witnessing a loved one struggle,” says Sara. “Writing this song was meaningful in many ways. It gave voice to the intense emotions that can surface when someone close to you faces hardship, which allowed me to gain some distance from those feelings. Additionally, the process of writing the song affirmed my commitment to doing everything possible to help that person. Ultimately, through writing ‘Whisper,’ I came to believe that it was all going to be okay.”
Set for release on October 11th, The August Arrival’s new album, Hillsides, will resonate deeply with fans of intimate indie folk-rock, drawing inspiration from Postdata, Blind Pilot, and Manchester Orchestra. The music’s driving melodies, poetic lyrics, and atmospheric instrumentation create an emotionally charged journey that lingers long after the final notes fade. Written during what Sara describes as a “growth phase,” Hillsides reminds us that strength and beauty emerge from life’s most challenging moments. From health scares to a child’s Autism diagnosis to the loss of a loved one, The August Arrival’s songs offer an honest and vulnerable examination of change, loss, longing, and finally, appreciation.
‘Whisper’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit theaugustarrival.com.
HUDSON WESTBROOK
“Dopamine”
• “Dopamine” is the newest single from Hudson Westbrook. Self-taught and proudly rough-around-the-edges, the rising star made his debut with “Take It Slow” in 2024, which now has over 10 million streams.
• “As a college kid…many people are going out and living out their younger years. But I think love is special when you sacrifice your ‘having fun’ for someone that you love. This song tells about the unexpected people who might walk into your life and change how you think, hold yourself, and even your activities.” — Hudson Westbrook
• Hudson Westbrook is intent on taking the Texas country spirit far beyond the state line, including headlining dates and a tour supporting honky-tonk hitmakers Midland in late 2024, with more new music and shows to come.
Award-winning recording artist BEAM today returns with brand-new single “KING TUT.” Produced by SkipOnDaBeat and Al Cres, the high-octane single is his first official solo release of new material since his acclaimed album ALIEN. On the boisterous song, BEAM emerges triumphant and delivers an unmistakably confident performance with his customary vigor.
Stream “KING TUT” HERE.
“Dem wan fa test me / Nuh call me nuh text me / Lord as my witness a God a protect me,” raps BEAM, who never hesitates to incorporate patois in his slick talk and has a gifted penchant for organized chaos. “KING TUT” reinforces the anthem quality of much of BEAM’S catalog; “On mummy, it’s up,” is a refrain that will soon be passionately chanting in unison.
Fittingly, “KING TUT” announces the arrival of BEAM’s next project, Hollowman, coming soon. Loosely following themes found in the 2000 horror thriller Hollow Man, the body of work continues BEAM’s brilliant world-building storytelling found across his discography. This includes his 2022 album ALIEN, which weaves a narrative throughout, ruminating on stories of alienation, redemption and perseverance.
In the years since releasing his debut project 95, BEAM’s DNA can be found all over some of the most boundary-pushing music of today. He is a sought-after collaborator, having appeared on albums like Justin Bieber’s 2021 Billboard Top 200 #1 mega-smash album, Justice, on “Love You Different” among other collaborations together. In 2022, BEAM appeared on Beyoncé’s GRAMMY® Award-winning, culture-shifting RENAISSANCE on the song “ENERGY,” which spawned the instantly viral mute challenge. Earlier this year, he won a GRAMMY Award for “Best Dance/Electronic Recording” for work on Skrillex’s “Rumble,” further solidifying his eclectic and original artistry. BEAM has additionally worked with a wide variety of names, including Rihanna, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, 21 Savage and Internet Money.
After a six year hiatus, multi-talented artist Rebelski has returned to All Day I Dream with his new The Sirens EP, a collection of six ambient and enigmatic originals and an official remix by Tim Green.
Vast and absorbent, The Sirens is a transportive listening experience laden with complex melodies, sweeping instrumentals, and effervescent vocals appearing on tracks like ‘Memory Loss’, ‘Under Your Spell’, and the titular ‘The Sirens’. Serene, orchestral composition and organic instrumentation displayed on ‘Cascading Waves’ and ‘Jupiter’ highlight the sonic depth Rebelski has cultivated through his works as both a producer and session/touring musician.
Rebelski’s atmospheric six-track EP is complemented by an official remix from Tim Green. Lifting ‘The Sirens’ with breezy deep house rhythms, Tim Green transforms the track into a rolling 9-minute escape.
Princess Goes – release a Deluxe Edition of their critically acclaimed second album, ‘Come Of Age’ (via SO In De Goot Recordings). Stream HERE.
The New York trio – comprising Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under, Lazarus) alongside keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen (Blondie, Cyndie Lauper) and drummer Peter Yanowitz (The Wallflowers, Morningwood) – are revisiting their latest work with an expanded format, which will now include creatively reimagined versions of tracks, plus thrilling live versions from their 2023 shows.
Teaming-up with esteemed producer Brandon Bost (Mumford & Sons, U2, Lorde, Norah Jones, etc), the reimagined versions being made available exclusively on this release were all recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, NC in the USA; with Bost also lending his expertise to the mixing of the tracks.
Among the reimagined tracks, listeners will also hear a brand new version of the fan favourite “Armageddon Suite”, from Princess’s debut album. Born from a prolific jamming session earlier this year, the band felt this re-invigorated version of the ‘Thanks For Coming’ classic felt so natural that they simply had to include it on their expanded edition of ‘Come of Age’.
Elsewhere, fans who caught Princess Goes’ epic headline set at EaRTH back in October 2023, will also have the opportunity to listen back to the transcendent version of “Beija (Live)” aired that night, with the track included as part of the seventeen-track Deluxe Edition.
Featuring five alternative versions of fan-favourite tracks, reimagined with fresh perspective, unique arrangements and subtle twists, the ‘Come of Age’ Deluxe Edition breathes new life into an already captivating album. Stream the full album now here:
GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum artist, producer, and songwriter Pyrex officially unleashes his new album Sincerely, Rex. A 15-track offering that continues to ignite momentum for the budding star, it serves as the Baltimore native’s follow-up to Guns N’ Romance, released at the top of this year. Powered by the singles “Wat im On,” “Screamin,” and “Met Gala,” Sincerely, Rex is Pyrex’s most candid release to date.
Stream Sincerely, Rex HERE.
“Write on my headstone, the greatest one to ever live,” croons the longtime member of Southside’s 808 Mafia on “Burning Bridges,” the pensive, surf psychedelia ballad that opens the album. It isn’t a declaration so much as it is foreshadowing; as a key architect for the dominate sounds of 2010s hip hop and beyond, Pyrex has fully come into his own as an artist. Sincerely, Rex reflects that evolution. With a swirl of surrealistic production, unfiltered emotion, and disembodied melodies, Sincerely, Rex, reaffirms his status as one of hip-hop’s most dynamic creators.
Spread across various styles, sounds, flows and moods, Rex builds on his foundation as a vocalist and songwriter across all 15 tracks. New single “Met Gala” arrives as a centerpiece for the album, with an official music video coming soon. On “Void”, he weaves a painstaking tale of love lost with hazy guitar and reverb-drenched, warped vocals, with his customary 808s now absent. Pyrex’s natural poetic dexterity shines throughout: “Why I let you bring me down, every time you come around? My heart can shake the ground, your heart don’t make a got damn sound!”. That song bleeds into “DND”, flowing seamlessly into the brutally honest tale of two hearts yearning for unconditional love and the cold realities that often unfold within toxic relationships, all on a bed of intricate, yet masterfully reductive Pyrex production. Previous singles “Wat im On,” “Screamin,” and “Vacuum Sealer” round out the album with a distinct and unique point of view, driving home the sincerity of the body of work.
Brooklyn-based alt-pop singer-songwriter and producer Sabrina Song will embark on a fall North American tour supporting indie singer-songwriter Carol Ades. See a full list of dates below and find tickets on sale now here.
The news comes following Song’s release of her expansive debut full-length album You Could Stay In One Spot, and I’d Love You The Same out everywhere now. The expressive, earnest LP sees the musician take stock of her life as a twenty-something in New York City–reflecting on the love, loss, growth and gratitude–and what may come of it all.
Consisting of ten measured, tender tracks with more live instruments than ever before, the album examines Song’s life and growth during the period of great change that comes post-grad––loved ones moving out of her native New York, balancing day jobs, the ebb and flow of old and new friendships. She found herself overcome with gratitude––for getting older, for having loved ones to miss, for being in love, for making music. Written between 2021 and 2023, the album’s tracklist shows a maturation in Song’s subject matter as she herself continues to come into her own.
After witnessing Song live in NYC supporting Georgia Gets By, NYLON included the artist in their April 2024 Obsessed column. Eagerly anticipating the release of the LP, the publication wrote, “As one of the most underrated, rising indie-pop singers right now, Sabrina Song’s soft vocals and coming-of-age lyrics will appeal to listeners of Blondshell, Olivia Rodrigo, and Allie Crow Buckley. Her concerts feel like an intimate hangout, and I’m waiting on the edge of my seat for her debut album.”
Bristol-based, New York-bred Angélica Allen crafts dreamy yet danceable Avant-Pop with her project My Midnight Heart. Combining ethereal harmonies, hypnotic drums, and surreal soundscapes, she self-produces a brand of Alternative R&B that is equally reminiscent of Janet Jackson as it is Kate Bush.
Following the success of her previous work, including a tour supporting Tegan and Sara, opening slots for Solange, Blood Orange, and Foxes, and features in publications like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Vice Magazine—Angélica retreated from performing to focus on music production and sound design to be able to fully control her sound along its journey from conception to completion.
Exploring various expressions of her art while the world tumbled into chaos during the pandemic, Angélica cultivated a singular and sacred sonic space through her music production which evolved into a multi-sensory presentation of her work.
Each forthcoming release will be offered in multiple formats including remixes, visuals, and a variety of physical and sensory offerings that the listener can experience both from home and through intimate performances. These carefully crafted installations blur the line between digital and organic, viewer and performer, art and wellness.
The first installment is “anew,” a track written when Angélica was pregnant with her second child and grieving the woman she had fought to become. The songwriter confides, “Four years after my daughter’s birth I had only just begun to feel like myself again. My brain, my body, my blood finally felt like they belonged to me. I decided it would be my year. My moment. But when I realized I was pregnant with my son, I knew I would have to start the journey all over again.”
“anew” speaks about how pregnancy and early-motherhood requires an ego-death. It is a completely devotional practice; sacrificing all of yourself for the survival and happiness of someone else. Angélica continues, “I struggled so much reclaiming my identity with my firstborn, I wrote this song wanting to allow myself to enter a speculative space where I gave of myself easily… Opening to the possibility of being alchemized in the process.”
Swedish born singer, songwriter JAZMYNE is delivering a mixture of UK sass, Swedish lyrical prose, raw emotion and unforgettable vocals, as she arrives with her debut single ‘Yum Yum’.
With elements of dance, pop and a hint of trap, the high energy banger transcends genre boundaries, and will have people singing along no matter their musical taste. An empowering anthem at its core, ‘Yum Yum’ explores themes of self discovery, finding freedom and the prospect of endless possibilities. The artist sings “Welcome to your private party / Light a candle make a wish / Do you feel lucky / You know you do”.
Speaking on the meaning behind her debut release, JAZMYNE said: “With ‘Yum Yum,’ I wanted to create something that’s not just catchy, but deeply personal. On the surface, it’s a fun, high-energy anthem about living in the moment, but underneath, it’s a story of self-discovery and the freedom that comes with embracing who you are. I hope everyone finds a little piece of themselves in it.”
Moving to London from Sweden to perfect her craft, JAZMYNE’s time and experiences between these two iconic music hubs reflect in her art significantly. Despite only sharing her music with the world this year, her talents have already caught the ear of many, as JAZMYNE has been working with top talents including Duvall from Disciples, Lewis Gardiner (Ellie Goulding, Nick Jonas), ISHI (Emily Sands, Avicii) Taneisha Jackson (Doja Cat, John Legend) and Tylrrydr (Ashnikko), on her new and upcoming material.
Blending vibrant, shimmering guitars with infectious melodies, Vienna Vienna is an exciting new artist carving out his own lane in modern alternative music with a sound he’s coined “glimmer rock.” Today, the LA-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist releases an anthemic single, “Vienna (Everything’s Fine),” the first taste of what’s to come on his debut EP, Wonderland, set for release on October 11th via PULSE Records in collaboration with Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz’ label DCD2.
On “Vienna (Everything’s Fine),” J—aka Vienna Vienna—brings a refreshing approach to the electric guitar, delivering a gripping alternative rock sound. The single fuses dreamy guitar riffs with raw, revealing lyrics, offering a glimpse into the messy process of self-improvement that’s both sarcastic and soul-searching. Vienna Vienna sings, “I’m not scared to die, yeah fucking right, you’re too cool to care but you fucking tried…” capturing the tension of confronting inner turmoil.
“An ego check, cold sweat and realization, a bit of a bummer. I approach this like I approach everything, facetiously and lathered in distortion,” says Vienna Vienna of his new single. “Accepting that people care about you hurts like hell, but could you learn to be more like them? If you poke around inside yourself for long enough, you might see love underneath the rubble; It might be worth digging for.”
Accompanying the single is a playful and hallucinogenic music video. Taking viewers on a bizarre, dreamlike journey where Vienna Vienna finds himself dosed and interrogated by a group of mysterious, surreal orange men, the quirky, offbeat sequence blurs the lines between reality and imagination, perfectly capturing the track’s tension between self-reflection and escapism. The visuals add an extra layer of intrigue, drawing audiences deeper into Vienna Vienna’s unique artistic vision.
Detroit, Michigan-based indie singer-songwriter Ronny Tibbs shares elusive, driving track and rousing animated video “What You Do” out now. Tibbs’ haunting, intricate EP Shorthand, is due out October 29 and available for pre-order now.
The building, explosive “What You Do” has become a staple in the Ronny Tibbs live shows, and stands out from the forthcoming project as its bridge takes a raucous, psychedelic twist. Its subject matter similarly displays a new side of Tibbs. The artist invites listeners to bring their own perspectives to the music. “While it’s personal in some ways, it also touches on political and social perspectives. When writing about these topics, I always strive to pose an opinion without pushing an agenda. To each their own—this is just an observation from my point of view. It’s cool if people see something that aligns with them in the track; if not, carry on.”
For its accompanying video, Tibbs recruited two animators, Martina Sic and Taylor Stanislawski, who brought the music to life and together, all let their imaginations run, without any creative restraints. Plus, Tibbs continues, “To add a unique layer traditionally reserved for performance aspects, I enlisted America’s Got Talent winner Ace ‘Shadow’ Phillips, who masterfully performed all the shadow puppet sections. This film was one of my most complex projects, primarily because animation offers boundless creative freedom.”
marks the return of Californian artist, producer and songwriter Obed Padilla, as he teams up with fellow Chicano singer-songwriter Eddie Zuko on brand new single ‘Cigarettes and Lipstick’. This new release is the next track from Obed Padilla that gives fans a taste of more of his musical dynamic. The song is a hybrid of the Latin oldies feel so popular at the Chicano barbeque in Oceanside, CA and the Hip Hop nod that is part of the Obed Padilla brand. This is the first of three singles to round out the end of the year for Obed.
Desert Plains arrives as a seven track body of work, offering an empowering snapshot into finding their way through life’s challenges. Tiiva explains: ‘Desert plains is a collection of songs formed from coming through a personal journey. A stark landscape of the world with different stopping points where we pick ourselves up and leave a trace of ourselves behind.’
The new record boasts five previously unheard tracks, guiding the listener through a journey of self-healing and forgiveness, with glimmers of hope taking centre stage towards the end.
See below for the track listing;
Desert Plains
Awakening
Moths
Desert Plains
Wilderness
Run
Tornados
Dust Clouds
Focus single ‘Wilderness’ marks the middle point of Tiiva’s journey. Through the captivating chorus and the hypnotizing synths, Wilderness pushes back against self doubt. Sharing more, they expressed: ‘The quicksand and wilderness could be losing ourselves in love or the realization that we were already lost and can’t find love without loving ourselves.’’
Detroit based 5-piece UNWELL have today announced their signing to Pure Noise Records. To celebrate the news the band have released new single and video ‘Trip The Wire’.
Speaking about the new single frontman Matt Copley said “If you’ve ever loved the feeling of rage, this is the song to put on while you absolutely lose your shit. Trip The Wire’s that song that’s gonna give you that extra punch when you need it most.”
Australia’s hidden gem AVARICE IN AUDIO are back with the next single from their forthcoming new album “Tear Heaven In Half”. Leading the charge is the dance floor driver “Drowning One”.
With a grinding bassline, tribal percussion and Gerry’s penchant for in-your-face vocals and lyrics, “Drowning One” marks a very different sound compared to “Wicked Die Alone”. “Drowning One” starts off sounding like an industrial track from the 90’s before it reintroduces itself as a stomping tour de force.
In addition to the original track, four remixes have been curated. ANGEL OF VIOLENCE remixes the track into a cinematic, frantic affair, sounding like a soundtrack to a film not yet made. VISCERA DRIP bring a classic terror EBM flavour to the song, accentuating the club night nature while SINTHETIK MESSIAH and DIRTY K both experiment with more breakbeat style tracks, but go in very different directions.
“Tear Heaven In Half”, coming soon!
https://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/album/drowning-one-ep
‘Cooperation’, the second EP in a four-part series (‘Industry’ GAP040, being the first), emphasizes the key theme of the 2023 World Economic Forum: ‘Cooperation in a fragmented world’.
The purpose there is to encourage world leaders to join forces in tackling the complex challenges of energy, climate, and nature, in addition to investment, trade, infrastructure, emerging technologies, industrial resilience, job creation, skills development, social mobility, health, and geopolitical collaboration in a multipolar environment.
‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’ as featured on the album ‘Forum,’ illustrates a remarkable shift from its original form, having undergone significant alterations even after the initial mastering process. Yet, the distinctive sequenced layers persist, continuing to characterize Metroland’s techno pop and providing an enjoyable experience for their loyal fan base.
In a departure from conventional practices, Metroland opted not to assign specific remix names to each track. Instead, every version was designated with a distinctive and original title. Rather than the anticipated labels such as ‘radio version’ or ‘edit,’ the title was creatively transformed to ‘Cooperation in a shortened world.’
Accompanied by an extraordinary 9-minute extended version that reflects the purest traditions of the 1980s, “Cooperation in a Lengthened World” exposes the numerous intricate layers and elements found in the original version.
A gimmic that Metroland wanted to enhance is to be heard in ‘Cooperation in a surrounding world’. This exceptional version is made up of a series of sounds that were featured in previous iterations before the original version was recorded into history, a history that is detailed in the album ‘Forum’.
https://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/album/cooperation-ep
Boy Jr. is the songwriting/production project of Ariel Allen-Lubman (they/them). Allen-Lubman has established a consistently viral internet presence through original music that is both catchy and creative, while staying true and personal. While Boy Jr.’s charming, energetic indie pop-rock flourishes from Allen-Lubman’s academic music production background, the immense genre versatility is the backbone of the project.
Through an entirely DIY ethos, Allen-Lubman’s career is just about to fully blossom. Through a combination of genuine musical talent, and high energy, oddball personality, Boy Jr. has attracted a variety of followers, from music lovers to critics to creators. As they gear up to promote their upcoming full length DIY album, I Love Getting Dumped, Allen-Lubman continues to use their platform to explore expression in artistry, gender, and influencership.
Leading single “I Hope You Feel Terrible” is an honest and relatable narrative of wanting to confront the one who did you wrong. Boy Jr. confides, “You know how people will tell you to write a letter you’ll never send when you’re upset with someone? “I Hope You Feel Terrible” is like the letter I wasn’t supposed to send. It is for everyone who wishes they could have a romcom-like confrontation with someone who hurt them and tell them exactly how they really feel, with the perfect closing one liner and everything.” Second single “Bullying Myself” is all about those negative things we tell ourselves. Boy Jr. confides, “I find myself repeating a lot of the same unkind thoughts when I’m going through something, but if anyone ever said these things to me or a friend, I’d be pissed! So instead of letting it rot on the inside, I’m airing it out and releasing it outside.” Then there is the highly relatable track “Still Be Friends” a rather sarcastic way of showing the way the artist hears someone’s breakup spiel. The track is irresistible and witty, conveying the deep emotions many of us have after a breakup. “I’m Breaking Up With You” is all about that angry phase, the one needed after a breakup to move on. Boy Jr confides, “I realized I was still harping on how I GOT broken up with and so I wrote this song to let myself get angry and do my share of the breaking up. And ya know what, making this song really helped me put those feelings in the past. And now I’ve got a headbanger to show for it.”
One of the most infamous and influential drill collectives in Australia right now, ONEFOUR recruits UK street icon Headie One for their groundbreaking collab single “GANG TIES” – set to release September 18th via The Orchard.
A true testament to their dedication and artistic integrity, ONEFOUR continue to rise as Australia’s hottest export with “GANG TIES”. Laced with emotive pianos and sharp
trap textures, the potent kinetics lay groundwork for the collective to trade cut-throat bars with typical finesse. Their words depict growth, resilience and the unbreakable bonds of loyalty while raw street reflections and flashes of their success tee up Headie One to deliver one of his most poignant verses to date. From the streets of Mount Druitt to North London, their enigmatic displays of authority become a vigorous reminder of their influence at street level, and the fierce determination that has marked them as their national spearheads of drill music.
Unleashed alongside an electrifying music video, ONEFOUR and Headie One manoeuvre through a busy Western Australian backdrop – backed by their city as gritty cinematography instantly depicts the fast pace and hustle of Sydney’s most infamous suburb.
Speaking in the track and collaboration, ONEFOUR mentions: “Whether it’s out of necessity or choice, we form Gang Ties or connections with people we relate to – brotherhoods that are formed to overcome the challenges that we often face. Headie One has been one of our favourite UK rappers for time, so to have him feature on one of our songs is a big moment for us. Western Sydney to the world.”
Headie One adds: “It’s great to be able to travel and connect with the guys in person. I’ve been a fan of their music from afar so when the opportunity came to do a track together and I heard the theme of the song it made sense to me. We share a lot of similarities in our upbringing, the environments we grew up in and the friendships in our communities. These things help make the song have more meaning.”
The musical collective daysormay (the English phonetic of the French “désormais” meaning “from now on”) is made up of Aidan Andrews on vocals and twin brothers/rhythm section Carson and Nolan Bassett. Growing up in the small town of Vernon, BC, Canada, the trio started out in sixth grade ignoring all the trappings of typical teenage life and dedicated themselves fully to making music – playing in cover bands before shifting to writing their own material. Now 25 years old, in Vancouver, with a full album and EP under their belt, the members of daysormay have no intention of slowing down.
The group has connected with 3-time Grammy and Juno award winning producer Chin Injeti (Dr. Dre, Drake, Eminem, Aloe Blacc, Anderson. Paak) and T-Minus (Lil Wayne, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd) for their new full-length album, MODERATION.
The name MODERATION reflects two meanings. The first being the lyrical content of the album detailing Aidan’s struggle with the act of moderation itself and his inability to moderate things in his life that are enjoyable or pleasurable. Often to a point where he is no longer doing them for enjoyment, but out of habit. This applies to food, content, social media, etc. The second touches on how there is a major focus on minimalism in the production on the album. daysormay is focused on communicating the ideas in their most concise and simplified form. Melody, lyrics, bass, and drums are the primary focus. daysormay is functioning more as eliminators than producers, cutting any unnecessary layers or sections from the songs.
Aidan explains, “The perspective starts off as a self-focused, very narrow field of view, only focusing on myself and my problems/vices. It stays in this view for the first few tracks on the album, and then the perspective gradually shifts to a wider field of view, by the end of the album focusing on my relationships with others and how I’m affecting them, my influence on the world around me, and my shortcomings and how those have affected people in my life.” There are several allusions to religion and addiction on this album, specifically referencing saints from Roman Catholicism and steps from addiction recovery programs. MODERATION is also shortened to MOD ERA (“modification era”, or: “a time of change”).
Hugo Joyce is a singer-songwriter hailing from North East London. Blending striking, soulful vocals with pop hooks and honest but relatable lyrics, his main body of work consists of a range of original material created with writing partner Tom Althorpe, which has been picked up by BBC Introducing. Their songwriting partnership is the driving force behind the artistry. His new music also sees Hugo teaming up with both producer/mixing engineer Richard Wilkinson (Adele) and producer/mixing engineer Luke Burgoyne (Louis Tomlinson), taking his work to a new level. Working tirelessly together they have created a striking set of songs that will make you want to dance, cry, reflect and reminisce on past loves, both good and bad.
His latest single “False Hope” is a feel-good break-up anthem. Drawing influence from artists like Dean Lewis, Harry Styles, Dermot Kennedy, Teddy Swims and Miley Cyrus, this hard-hitting, atmospheric track will tug at your heartstrings, whilst giving you that get up and go feeling. “False Hope” shimmers with a warm piano melody, gritty guitars and passionate, emotion-fuelled vocals that soar over a driving beat.
Hugo shares, “The song is essentially based on a break up. I was with someone who didn’t feel the same way that I did and it’s about me slowly coming to a realisation that the relationship isn’t sustainable. It’s better to be by yourself than hold onto someone who doesn’t want you. I think the track is extremely positive and almost inspires you to go out and take what you want!”
Hugo has previously opened for Benedict Cork at his residency at Fiction Studios and performed at several iconic London venues including The Troubadour Club, Pizza Express Live, Ronnie Scotts and Servant Jazz Quarters. He can also be found performing regularly for the hugely popular Sofar Sounds London, where his infectious charm and endearing wit makes him a captivating live performer.
“False Hope” marks the beginning of a very exciting journey that will put Hugo Joyce on the map.
Following his debut on Planet E Communications last year to release Art-O-Fact, New Jersey-born and-based house music legend Junior Sanchez now teams up with longtime friend label boss and techno icon Carl Craig for a brand new Detroit Remix. “Art-O-Fact (Detroit Remix),” which injects the futuristic sound of Carl’s hometown, is set for release on Planet E on September 19. It’ll be the first of three new additional mixes from Carl Craig and Junior Sanchez that all arrive on October 11 (digital and vinyl), including a ‘Beatless’ mix and a ‘Bass’ mix, which split the new Detroit Mix directly in half, with one focused on melody and the other on rhythm.
Sanchez initially brought “Art-O-Fact” to Planet E with Detroit in mind. “I loved so many records by Carl Craig, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, and Juan Atkins,” he says. “I let my inspiration guide me, and I thought about that city—what it meant to me and what techno meant to my heart.” To fully connect the dots, Carl Craig has hopped on the remix, reinforcing the eclectic synth work with a heavy new groove, a gritty bass line, and subtle, shadowy synth melodies. The result is a fortified connection between two scenes and eras that sonically toes the line.
Earlier this year, Junior Sanchez appeared in the film Desire: The Carl Craig Story, a documentary chronicling Carl’s career while “telling the tale of techno and Carl’s place in a larger lineage of black musicians,” as Film Threat wrote. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
Sanchez’s eclectic palette can be partially credited to his time spent in the sonic melting pot of New York City in the 1990s. A pillar of the underground club scene, Junior Sanchez began DJing at iconic New York
City institutions such as Limelight and Club USA at the mere age of 13. He released his first track on iconic house imprint Strictly Rhythm at age 15. Sanchez’s extensive repertoire of collaborators includes Madonna, Ariana Grande, Good Charlotte, Azealia Banks, and more. At the same time, his own imprints, Cube Recordings, and Brobot Records, have seen releases from the likes of Felix Da Housecat, Sébastien Léger, and Steve Mac.
NYC antifolk mainstay Brook Pridemore today teams up with up-and-coming Maine indie trio Milk St. on a new four-song split called Oscar Mayer Winners. The collection sees Pridemore serve up a fuzzy new original cut, “Get Inside”, alongside a cover of Little Hag’s debut single “Tetris”. Meanwhile, Milk St. take down a shitty local venue owner with the shambling “Hawt Dawg”, and throwback to college pseudo-hippiedom on “Patchouli Snail Trail”.
The split is available on 7” vinyl as well as all digital streaming services. Streaming and purchase links here.
This duel outing is the result of a burgeoning friendship between Pridemore and Milk St. which began when they shared a bill on Rent Strike’s 2023 stop in Milk St’s hometown of Bangor, Maine. Since then artists have toured together and a shared split felt like the natural next step.
Oscar Mayer Winners follows 2023 album releases from both artists; Brook Pridemore’s Glad To Be Alive and Milk St’s V3rmont.
Visionary neo-psychedelic French ensemble La Femme release their latest masterpiece “Love Is Over”, the third single taken from their highly anticipated full-length album Rock Machine written entirely in English and set for release on the 11th of October via Disque Pointu.
Paying homage to the 90’s, “Love Is Over” seamlessly blends genres drawing inspiration from the Madchester music scene. Timeless drum machines lay beneath perfectly placed synthesizers as we hear guest vocalists Freya Warsi and Dan Lyons in a deeply introspective, grooving debut. The band’s first English-language release breathes new life into the arena rock sounds of past eras, merging futuristic percussive sounds with rich synths, layered pop hooks and massive guitar shreds to create an endlessly danceable culture clash.
Formed over a decade ago by Marlon Magnée and Sacha Got, La Femme have racked up a hugely impressive catalogue, inspired by a range of genres and sonics from new wave and rock to electro and punk. Described by PITCHFORK as ‘perhaps the biggest rock band in France right now’, the group boast numerous gold records, won Victoires de la Musique (the French equivalent to the Grammy Awards), played well over 600 shows and supported Red Hot Chilli Peppers on their European tour in 2016. The band are renowned for their monumental live shows and are the last bastions of ‘real’ live music defining pure, unbridled, and hypnotic energy within their sets, without the use of computers or pre-recorded backing tracks. La Femme will showcase this new era of innovation actoss a sprawling, 15-date North American tour this November.
With the release of their full album fast approaching Rock Machine was recorded over a handful of years, and across several borders. At the start of their career La Femme wrote only in French, a choice that stood out among their contemporaries in the Parisian rock scene who sang primarily in English. After much world touring the band decided to branch out with a Spanish language album titled Teatro Lucido. The following year the band dropped Paris Hawaii, an album of Hawaiian love songs. The success of those albums and subsequent travels encouraged the group to continue the multilingual catalog, bringing us to Rock Machine.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
