Coming off his aspirational, intimate, and deeply personal breakthrough project, Hotel 1105, expectations are high for emerging Chicago artist D2x’s next sonic odyssey, The Hunger Era, which will be released on 10.29.24.
The Hunger Era EP is produced by frequent collaborators Ro Moore & Gold Haze, and today, D2x released the project’s first single “FIRE,” (produced by Ro Moore) which is now available at all DSP’s.
The Hunger Era will be released on 10.29.24 via Fake Shore Drive/D2x Music Group.
Stream D2x “FIRE”: https://youtu.be/8HA0P1P0MWM
You can now purchase, stream add and favorite “FIRE” at your preferred DSP:
Back and better than ever, PYPY returns with the sonic journey that is Sacred Times. Releasing through Goner Records, Co-vocalist/founder/multi-instrumentalist Annie-Claude Deschênes’ (Duchess Says) signature howl and vocal acrobatics are present but so is a tendency towards beautiful melodies. Bassist Philippe Clement’s (Duchess Says) brings a nastier bottom end that locks onto Simon Besré’s drumming with a death grip for the entire affair. And guitarist/co-vocalist Roy Vucino (Red Mass, CPC Gangbangs, Black Leather Rose, Les Sexareenos, a gazillion others) goes bonkers with wildass blown-out guitar that’s like hornets caught in your hair.
techno’s masked maven, Pawlowski, unveils his latest single, “Back With Another One” – a highly anticipated collaboration with Fenrick. The duo, deeply rooted in old-school 90s’ techno, have blended their distinct brands of artistry into a masterpiece, bridging the gap between the old and the new, showcasing their commitment to collaboration and sonic experimentation.
“Back With Another One” immediately plunges into the depths of their synergistic genius, instantly drawing listeners in with a pulsating beat and playful, trance-like vocal samples. Highlighting his technical prowess, Pawlowski seamlessly weaves Fenrick’s bouncy basslines with his signature melodic bells, cascading into a shimmering sequence creating a euphoric, futuristic vibe while simultaneously paying homage to the old-school ‘90s techno that both artists are rooted in.
Strasbourg/Paris-based French-American artist Melissa Weikart announced Easy, her new EP set for release on January 17, and shared its title track. Premiering earlier via French national public radio, the avant-pop gem “Easy” offers a first glimpse into how the Paris-born, Boston-raised singer-songwriter’s sound has evolved since her debut album, Here, There. Her music has drawn attention from outlets like Beats Per Minute, Our Culture, and PopMatters, and earned her national recognition in France, where she received the Nancy Jazz Emerging Artist Prize and the Concours National de Jazz à la Défense Instrumentalist Prize.
Accompanied by a music video directed by Alfie Johnson and filmed in the former home of poet Dylan Thomas, “Easy” strikes a delicate balance between romance and uncertainty. Notably, it is her first solo track featuring electronic and production flourishes, adding new layers of depth and texture to her strikingly sophisticated, piano-driven songs. Reflecting on the track, Melissa shares: “Easy is a love song I wrote for love itself — the way that mundane moments become magical, but also the turmoil and uncertainty that flourish in its path. We’re trying to make it easy, but it’s rife with contradictions.”
This is FRANK’s exhilarating new “western grunge” anthem “Stuck in Reno,” which is out now. The single is accompanied by a music video and additional visuals co-directed by the artist.
In honour of Mental Health Day, Milyssa Rose and C-WIZ are re-releasing ‘Lost at the Seams’ to raise awareness of the struggles of dealing with suicide, anxiety, depression, and other issues regarding mental health.
Lost at the Seams is written and performed by Milyssa Rose and C-WIZ, plus Papi Hey of 2Gran Productions produced this pop/rock masterpiece. Milyssa also enlisted Keith Kosmopolis of Bank Hard Beats to remaster the track.
Milyssa said:
“Lost at the Seams’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve created – it’s raw, expressive, and beautifully put together. Myself and C-WIZ complement each other perfectly, whilst conveying a powerful message.”
Heart of the Nation was shot on location in Bristol and Diss (Norfolk). The song and video is essentially a commentary on where some people find themselves today; which is to say let down, and betrayed either by government or themselves. Heart of the Nation is out now- https://song.link/i/1746229292 Directed by Tristan Sherfield https://linktr.ee/tristanpatricksherfield About Pharmacists: “I started Pharmacists because without creativity in my life I essentially wither away into nothing. I’ve been writing songs for a long time but struggled to ever really grasp a sound. I was driving my car one day and unearthed a Lemonheads album; “It’s a shame about Ray” stuck in my head. It’s one of those ‘great albums’. Shortly after this I saw Weezer live and something undeniable clicked. I just wanted to write trashier, guitar lead songs with a vocal that was more sardonic, even soporific. The greatest thing to ever come out of Florida was Tom Petty and I stand by his craft, he was master. I once stood on a beach in Thailand and heard “The Waiting” by Tom Petty followed by “Archie, Marry Me” by Alvvays. It was while later I wrote “Heart of the Nation”, and wanted to fuse those two influences together. When it comes to the driver behind my music it’s very simple; the state of our country and loss. After losing my dear father to meningitis when I was 20, I saw into an abyss that has always been within touching distance. When Brexit loomed and the bile that presented itself to the country it also changed me. In a way loss is beautiful because you do evolve, but sometimes what is left behind calcifies into a savage darkness… Bring me Weezer, Petty, The Lemonheads, Alvvays and the new hope that Rock n Roll will never die, and i’ll ensure to inject it into something that people will come to see.
Vlad Holiday shares the third single, “This Was Always Gonna End,” from his upcoming debut record My Favorite Drug. In the album’s opening track, Holiday conjures up a deserted, nostalgic landscape at a point of grandiose turmoil. Creating a starting point for an album meant to be listened to in order, inevitable loss from song to song feels prophesied, almost making death feel greater than life. But the listener won’t truly know where this journey concludes until the album is released in its entirety on November 15 via ONErpm — Pre-save My Favorite Drug / Listen to “This Was Always Gonna End.”
“This song is about one of my lowest moments, and the beginning of my mental health recovery,” shares Holiday. “My therapist at the time wasn’t working, and the only thing that got me out alive was writing about what I was going through. I know it’s a heavy way to start an album but I wanted to be very open from the start. Looking back on it all now, I feel extremely lucky and hopeful that the worst is behind me.”
Electronic music icon Paul Kalkbrenner announces the release of “KABELMANN,” a multi-part short film project accompanying the artist’s upcoming two-track Kabelmann EP. The films, created by Mother Berlin and SMUGGLER, and directed by Björn Rühmann, premiered at the renowned Ciclope Festival in Berlin earlier this week and were released alongside the EP today.
A Tale of Connection in Two Parts
“KABELMANN” unfolds in two short film chapters, each scored by Kalkbrenner’s tracks. The films follows the journey of Kabelmann (literally meaning cableman), an otherworldly character and outlier perpetually tethered to endless cables—an homage to Kalkbrenner’s analog production methods and live-only approach to performance.
Part one is the emotional story arc of an outsider. Kabelmann searches for human connection, hindered by a mysterious energy flowing through his cables. Small flashes of Kalkbrenner hint at the source behind Kabelmann’s energy as the song’s rhythms push the story forward.
Part two catapults viewers into a dreamlike afterlife juxtaposed with a violent and climactic showdown,which, accompanied by Paul’s melodic and optimistic track Kabelmann 2, leaves Kabelmann’s ultimate fate ambiguous.
Breakthrough pop singer-songwriter Emei unites with dynamic DJ-producer Whethan to share the orange-tinged electro-pop track “SUNNYD,” a collaboration with the boldly original namesake brand, SUNNYD. Like all good ideas – born in the DM’s on social – the song marks the beginning of a “sunny sweet” partnership between the artists and the nostalgic 90’s orange juice drink, signifying an upcoming campaign and video for the catalytic party anthem that showcases the versatility of two genre-shifting musicians, providing an instant club classic.
Amid their international tour supporting Los Bitchos, Faux Real are excited to share their debut album, Faux Ever, available now via City Slang Records. An investigation of what is real and what is faux, Faux Ever explores themes of pastiche, hustle culture, anxiety and authenticity with an often brutalist sound in a more established and ever more unhinged form than ever before. The final single “Full Circle” heralds the release, which sees brothers Virgile and Elliott Arndt sculpting a razor-sharp new sound favoring ultra-digital software instruments, its brutalist and meticulous production showcasing their long-standing knack for hugely catchy vocal melodies.
“Full Circle is one of the first songs we wrote for Faux Ever, before it was known as such,” the duo explains. “Full Circle was in many ways the catalyst to this record’s method and direction. With this moody Neo-Noir piece, focused on cycles and the recurring nature of art and history, we ended up conjuring Faux Ever. Coming Full Circle is an ending, but also a beginning.”
Italian duo Dot N Life have released their new Milano Downtown III EP out now via Dirtybird Records. The two-track EP features collaborations with fellow Italian producers NOTO and Gabriele Agostino.
For their Dirtybird debut, Dot N Life have stepped up with a pair of enthusiastic tech-house tracks. ‘Green Room’ was built for the dancefloor with its pumping kicks and driving synth melodies. ‘Work It’ is a saucy complement, unrolling over five minutes with funky basslines and body-shaking percussion to round out the EP. Milano Downtown III is playful and sprightly, making it a fitting addition to the Dirtybird catalog.
Italian duo Dot N Life are quickly leaving their imprint in the house music ecosystem. Their catalog boasts over 10 million streams across releases like ‘Sax In The City’ and ‘Hollaback Girl’. Dot N Life’s releases on Glasgow Underground, Nervous Records, IN / ROTATION, Repopulate Mars, and Club Sweat have earned support from established artists such as Michael Bibi, Paco Osuna, Seth Troxler, Cloonee, ACRAZE, Mau P, and many more.
Fresh off the release of her debut album Survival In Motion, pop-punk powerhouse Taylor Acorn is showing no signs of slowing down. She has today released her new single “Final Nail”, a driving collaboration featuring fellow Nashville based artist Charlotte Sands. Fans can watch the brand new music video now, directed by Doltyn Snedden,
BLOND:ISH releases her warm new single, “Different Way,” featuring triple-platinum Brazilian singer Zeeba. The track is out now via Insomniac Records.
Tapping into a feeling of unlimited potential, “Different Way” embraces the unknown with optimism and excitement. In a message that speaks to her open-arms-and-minds community, the song reminds us that even though we all endlessly compare ourselves to others, everyone’s journey is unique. “If you’re late, I’ll be fine / We can catch the next ride / Yeah, we can go anywhere / Different way to get there,” Zeeba sings over BLOND:ISH’s uplifting synths and effortless groove.
BLOND:ISH has woven a thread of positive messaging through her most recent singles, along with masterfully blending a tonic of genres that aim to beam her compassionate transmissions far and wide. While the late summer mood-lifter “Never Walk Alone” (written to serve as a friend in a time of anxiety or loneliness) called on pop, indie, and soul, “Different Way” combines surf rock, synth pop, and house music. BLOND:ISH’s goal is that these songs push the planet closer to “Happy Happy World” (an inclusive place of sustainable unity, respect, and nourishment).
“‘Different Way’ is an experiment in energy, and doubling down on energy with my music from here on,” BLOND:ISH says on the new single. “I met Zeeba the last time I was in Brazil and played Time Warp and we became instant friends. I heard his music on Spotify and immediately sent him an acoustic demo I was working on. I shared the intentions for the song with him and then got to the studio in LA to record his magic vocals on top.”
Hopeless Records is continuing its 30th-anniversary celebration with the release of an all-new cover from Palm Beach rockers, Fame on Fire, who covered one of the most recognizable emo songs of the last twenty years, “Dear Maria, Count Me In” by Maryland’s own All Time Low. As part of the California-based label’s special ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ 30th Anniversary Series, this track and other covers on the upcoming collection feature the iconic indie punk label’s current rostered artists paying tribute to the beloved songs from their historic catalog.
World’s First Cinema have debuted their new single, “Freak Show,” out just in time for Halloween via Fearless Records.
The Los Angeles-based duo—John Sinclair and Fil Thorpe—draw audiences deeper into their cinematic universe with this enticing single. The track references the taunting desire to fit in within social circuits, comparing it to a circus of clowns trying to outdo each other and hide their own insecurities.
Hong Kong native and one-women powerhouse XTIE (pronounced X-T) released her new heartfelt dance single, “Crying on the Plane.”
This news comes just after she made waves with her wildly popular track “Lost in Between,” featuring Finnish artist Anniina. Within just one week of its release, the music video surpassed 100,000 views on YouTube, and it has entered the first round of GRAMMY voting in the category of “Best Dance Pop Recording.”
Out of the 176 entries competing for this year’s Best Dance Pop Recording category, XTIE stands out not only for her exceptional talent but also for her dedication to this project. “Lost in Between” is a cross-regional collaborationbetween Asia and Northern Europe, featuring Finnish artist Anniina, with XTIE taking charge of writing and producing the song alongside an all-female creative team.
Her entry has established a new benchmark for Asian artists, shining a spotlight on the immense creative potential and rich diversity of musicians from Asia to the rest of the world. By blending innovative sounds with cultural influences, she is pushing boundaries and paving the way for a new generation of artists to share their unique stories and perspectives.
Sharing her excitement, XTIE said, “Thrilled! We are qualified for the GRAMMY® first round voting! It’s an honor to be listed among amazing artists like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and Madison Beer etc. in the Best Dance Pop Recording category!”
in the face of daily-televised violence and political hopelessness, NYC’s most outspoken and hottest new band – alt pop trio Chanpan – released their rousing new single “election year.” Spotify has already featured the song on All New Indie (1.3M+) and Bossa Pop with a top 5 placement.
Produced by Pom Pom (John Legend, Noah Kahan) and newly in partnership with EQT Recordings (Masego, Smino, chlothegod), the single shouts Chanpan’s defiant and irreverent message from the rooftops: “FUCK WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAY, IMMA DO ME ANYWAY!”
On their historic first US tour with punk-inflected J-pop idol HARU NEMURI, the trio has hit the campaign trail with a full-fledged run for office designed by Laura Beth Palmer, Creative Director of the National Working Families Party. Drawing from their backgrounds in national politics (member Lance Tran digitally ran the Bernie Sanders 2020 Campaign) the band is stopping between nearly-sold out shows in each city to stump at Town Halls for their Policy Plan to Save America™️.
Behind their satirical rejection of a force-fed “lesser evil” election, Chanpan is partnering with local community organizations across the country including J-Town Action & Solidarity, Stop Cop City Dallas, Youth Against Displacement, Midwest Books To Prisoners, and many more to fundraise for progressive causes, promote a message of mutual aid, and build a platform of grassroots community-building and organization.
CHANPAN SOCIALS:
Instagram / TikTok / YouTube / Spotify / Apple Music
Coupdekat drops her new single ‘cdjs’ today – a reflection on teenage memories that once seemed vivid but have now faded away and been forgotten. The single announces a new era as the first single from her
upcoming EP, ‘the world she created / inside of her pocket*’ releasing early 2025.
Coupdekat has become an indispensable part of the London scene by forging community and connection previously as a co-founder of LOUD LDN, and now Club Gunk, an inclusive party community and sanctuary
showcasing the best underground artists and DJs with a focus on affordability in an increasingly expensive city.
She has supported piri & tommy, Nine8 Collective and Dream Wife as well as performing alongside Charlotte Plank and Issey Cross at Spotify’s Our Generation x LOUD LDN pop up. Coupdekat says of the track, “I wrote this track (and the rest of the EP) with Luca Dixon (Lucagotbbm) who I’d admired for a long time for his introspective lyricism and experimental pop sound. cdjs is the first on a journey of self-reflection and coming of age that is ‘the world she created / inside of her pocket*’”
As the second-eldest daughter in a large, religious family–five siblings in all–Seattle-based retro soul and modern pop artist Annie J has always relied on music to find a sense of belonging. With a childhood spent shuffling around small towns throughout the US, she discovered that art created a deeper understanding of her purpose than what was on the surface. Annie’s family eventually settled on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State—through it all, she found a constant companion in what was flowing through the speakers of a “dream machine” radio alarm clock her grandfather gifted her.
“Anything that was mainstream pop or R&B came through the dream machine clock radio, which I’d listen to quietly in a room I shared with one of my sisters,” she says.
The R&B and jazz stylings of Whitney Houston and Nina Simone that Annie gravitated toward swirled with country-soaked powerhouse voices of Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, The Chicks and The Judds that her mother had on repeat. The messages these women sent via their music sparked her desire not only for singing but also for crafting stories and emotions into melodies that resonate, as well as modeling the significance of what it means to be uniquely you.
“I grew up a Mormon girl, which came with an implied vocation that I applied to myself for sure,” she says. “You know, love of cooking, embroidery, arts and crafts, anticipating male needs, following the chain of command, and staying in your lane—the goal being a good wife and mother.”
In addition to what she found on her radio, she credits the incredible educators along her path for the vocalist she is now, particularly a middle-high school choir teacher who felt like one of the first people to further her development as a young vocalist. These teachers and mentors helped her solidify the belief that she was worth the investment.
“I went to a small school with few opportunities,” she says. “Soon after we met, my teacher sat my parents down and advocated for private lessons. She found a proper instructor for me, who I worked with for the next ten years. It was such a slim chance for me to have grown into the vocalist I am today. A weird dimensional twist.”
Formally trained in classical music, Annie studied theater in college, which offered a gateway to a wider world—learning to inhabit another viewpoint was a profound experience as an actor and later as a writer. She began to realize her talent for storytelling. In the years since, Annie’s sound has evolved into a singular blend of pop sensibility, soulful expression, and jazz-infused rhythms—she mentions contemporary voices like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae, and Billie Eilish are current influences. She blends her skillful songwriting and brilliant vocals seamlessly on her second EP, Been Loving You, for a sound that is truly her own.
Russian metal powerhouse SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL release their highly anticipated new single, “Behelit.” This track marks a significant evolution in the band’s sound, showcasing their most dynamic and eclectic work to date while staying true to their trademark heaviness and ferocity.The song is accompanied by a video with animation from acclaimed Manga series ‘Beserk‘.
Dutch DJ and producer Mau P debuts on Defected with ‘Merther’, a hard-hitting electronic damager built for the club. In the short amount of time since his debut, Mau P has already soared to the top of the Beatport, Shazam and Spotify charts with solo releases like ‘On Again’ and ‘BEATS FOR THE UNDERGROUND’.
His heavy production style has attracted fans from the global house scene and led to official remixes for major names like Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia and Armand Van Helden.
“I’m so stoked to finally release ‘Merther’ after testing it out on the road for a really long time. It’s actually sick that I get to put this out with the legendary sample from Ini Kamoze’s ‘World A Music’. I didn’t think this would be remotely possible a few years ago but here we are.
My fans have also been asking for this one nonstop so I’m really happy they don’t have to keep listening to ripped versions online and can finally get the full finished version. ‘Merther’ has also been a staple in Solomun’s sets lately and got supported by Michael Bibi also, which is amazing to see because those are two artists I admire very much. ‘Merther’ will be out in the world soon, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it for you.” – Mau P
Rising punk rock act Winona Fighter has announced their highly anticipated debut album, My Apologies To The Chef, set to be released on February 14th via Rise Records. Pre-orders are available now at https://WinonaFighter.lnk.to/MyApologiesToTheChef. In addition they have today shared their blistering new single “ATTENTION”, a call to arms that rages against the societal issues that gone unchecked for far too long. Fans can watch the new music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hS4Xbp0z0.
“We cannot believe we finally get to announce our Debut LP ‘My Apologies To The Chef’ is on the way. This has truly been a long time coming,” reflects frontwoman and multi-instrumentalist Coco Kinnon. “Our amazing label Rise Records allowed us to take our DIY approach to the recording of the album. Every song was either written or co-written by us. It was just me (Coco) and the boys (Dan and Austin) in our home studio from pre-production to sending it off for mastering.”
She continues: “I couldn’t think of a better introduction to the band. 14 hard hitting tracks straight from a guest bedroom or garage. It’s raw. It’s got emotion. It’s got a little satire. Mostly, it’s uniquely us. It’s three punks obsessed with music, making tunes for people obsessed with music. It is a punk-rock record, period. We are so proud of this album and we hope fans old and new love it as much as we do. To finish this off we’d like to thank our ENTIRE team for believing in us and helping us create something incredibly special. All we ever said when we were grinding with no one on our side was ‘we just need ONE person to believe in us’ and now we have all of you… so thank you for allowing us to create, play, and live our dream! 2025 here we come.”
“It is our most political song to date, but not in a super black and white way. It’s about the issues I personally find important,” Kinnon adds on the latest single. “It’s about watching the rise in methamphetamine usage and fentanyl poisoning while growing up in New Hampshire. It’s about having to pay out of pocket for life changing or life SAVING medications and women getting denied coverage for birth control that won’t completely wreck their hormones. It’s about shelters consistently being at capacity while puppy mills are still unethically producing millions of dogs a year.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
