featuring @psychobuildings @donnalewismusic @hayden.mp3 @livbloore @kyle.waves @brookeleemusic @waterparks @nicolealexismusic @thisisamericanvanity @kelsoliviamusic
Psychobuildings, fronted by multidisciplinary artist Peter LaBier, share “Outside” off of their first album in six years – Tears, Vol 1. The “Outside” music video was filmed and directed by Christian Prince on location in Washington, DC and the historic Cabin John Trail in Maryland. It features the artist wandering, sleeping and dancing in zombie-like fashion – haunting the woods while wearing found masks. It’s a song about loss of love and renewal.
Psychobuildings was formed in 2010 by Peter LaBier alongside multi-instrumentalist and producer Juan Pieczanski (of Small Black) in Brooklyn, NY. Their music has been spotlighted on Fader, Pitchfork, Spin and NME and featured on several compilations, including Kitsuné Maison Compilation 10. Psychobuildings has been described as “Like ‘Ghostrider’ filtered through ‘Let’s Dance’.” – Peter Macia, Fader. Tears, Vol 1 is the first full-length release by Psychobuildings since 2020’s Blackout.
Last month, Psychobuildings shared the project’s first single and video for “The Beach.”
Peter LaBier of Psychobuildings on Tears, Vol 1: “I started work on this album in the first year of the pandemic, living in Brooklyn. Alone, feeling the effects of isolation, uncertain times and processing a break up, feeling the loss of love and the loss of contact with friends. Dealing with the ending of some friendships as well and along the way, the loss of a mentor figure, Barbara Maier Gustern – a legendary New York based vocalist and teacher. During this time I was working as a tutor with children and experiencing the intensity of their emotions as well. This album is a reflection of and a testament to all of that time – to all of the grief, sadness, political turmoil, and growth both myself and many others experienced from 2020 until now. In addition, during this time, new connections were made. At various points I spent time living in LA and developed a community there. There are many contributions made by others to this record, some by old friends, some by new friends, some in New York, some in LA – all collectively processing uncertainty, fear, sadness, political tensions, and creatively finding joy in the struggle. I spent the last several years focusing again on guitar playing, on painting and drawing which has always occupied a large space in my life. Dance and movement has always been core to the music I make with this band – after struggling with a traumatic knee injury I was able to successfully rehabilitate it and learn to dance again.”
Berlin-based songwriter Ryan O’Reilly releases the official studio version of “Elizabeth,” a reflective and memorable alternative folk gem written nearly 20 years ago. Originally penned in 2006 before a summer tour of Canada with future Dwayne Gretzky founders Tyler Kyte and Nick Rose, the song channels O’Reilly’s deep admiration for Gram Parsons into something more country and bluegrass-inflected than typically associated with Irish or English songwriters.
“Elizabeth” is taken from O’Reilly’s new album Native Companion, out now. Inspired by David Foster Wallace’s essay collection A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, the album title nods to the collaborative spirit that defines O’Reilly’s journey from Toronto’s Dwayne Gretzky community to Berlin’s L.A. People. The record features contributions from Spencer Cullum Jr., classical cellist Anastasia Povekvechnykh, Jadea Kelly, Missouri songwriter Ian Fisher, and screenwriter Christopher Moynihan.
Edmonton’s St.Arnaud, the project of Ian St.Arnaud, returns with St.Arnaud, a vibrant and collaborative third record that captures the full spirit of a band in motion. Expanding beyond its singer-songwriter roots, the album blends buoyant indie pop, roots textures, and early indie rock influences into a dynamic, lived-in collection that feels both loose and deeply intentional.
Released as a series of three deluxe singles before arriving as a full-length, St.Arnaud introduces a unique structural approach, grouping songs into distinct “movements” shaped by production style rather than genre. Drawing inspiration from the playful, raucous energy of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, the album leans into pop hooks, sardonic lyricism, and a collaborative energy that defines its sound.
At the heart of the record is “It’s Cool,” a chill, confessional indie pop standout that balances resignation with quiet self-assurance. Built around a laid-back groove and an understated emotional core, the track explores the tension between feeling stuck and choosing to move lightly through it anyway. “It’s about brushing off that sense of futility,” Ian explains, “about self-assurance, and keeping your sense of humour alive. Stay light on your feet as long as you can. It’ll probably be ok in the end.” The song’s chorus, contributed by bandmate Tory Rosso, anchors that sentiment with an easygoing clarity that defines the track’s tone.
Revisiting the platinum-selling single from her debut album Now in a Minute, Donna Lewis transforms the beloved track into an intimate, cinematic experience defined by sweet layered harmonies, breathy vocals, and slow-building synth textures. Bathed in violet, blue, and green light, the performance trades nostalgia for atmosphere—offering a living, modern reinterpretation that underscores the song’s enduring emotional pull.
Captured with drifting camera work, ghosted overlays, and immersive close-ups, the visual mirrors the sonic evolution, elevating the ’90s radio staple.
Donna Lewis is joined by her band that includes original collaborators Gerry Leonard (guitar) and Harvey Jones (keyboards), alongside Gail Ann Dorsey (bass, backing vocals) and Doug Yowell (drums). Together, they bring new depth to the track’s signature sound, layering pulsing electronics and expressive instrumentation with an atmospheric glow.
The release marks the first in a series of live recordings filmed at Bearsville Theater, capturing Now in a Minute performed in its entirety. These sessions lead into Donna Lewis’s forthcoming album In a Minute Now, a reimagined body of work that revisits her breakthrough era through a contemporary lens.
Originally released in 1996, “I Love You Always Forever” became a worldwide smash and remains one of the defining love songs of its generation, continuing to resonate across audiences nearly three decades later.
Seattle-based folk vocalist, guitarist, and storyteller Hayden Everett unveils his debut album ‘So The Sun Can Pour’, a deeply personal, natural and intimate collection of songs guided by honesty, presence, and the beauty of imperfection.
Emerging producer and classically trained multi-instrumentalist Liv Bloore (she/they) introduces her debut EP ‘In Heaven, After Hours’, arriving alongside its final single, ‘A Prophet For A Sin’. Written and produced over four years, the project captures a period of personal and artistic transition, mapping a move from rural Suffolk to London, experiences of love and loss, and an evolving relationship with religion.
Dance-pop artist Kyle Waves returns with his newest single, “Rose-Tinted,”a shimmering, synth-driven track that blends Y2K-inspired pop with introspective lyricism. Built on atmospheric productions and pulsing electronic rhythms, the song captures the tension between self-doubt and resilience, pairing vulnerable storytelling with an irresistible late-night energy. “Rose-Tinted” is now available for streaming on all music platforms.
With its hypnotic groove and honest lyricism, “Rose-Tinted”expands on Kyle Waves’s evolving sonic identity while staying rooted in the dance-pop sensibilities that have defined his recent work. On this latest single,Waves leans into a softer yet more conflicted emotional landscape, exploring the uncertainty of navigating your twenties and questioning your sense of direction. “I know as a twenty-something that it can be really difficult to feel like you’re on the right path, and I’ve had a lot of difficulty with thinking I’ve messed up everything and that I’ve gotten in my own way, that things won’t work out,” Waves explains. “I took all of those feelings and put them into this song because I didn’t want to get stuck in them. Instead, I wanted to release it all and keep pushing.” Lyrics like “I think I’ve been feeling kinda low / Close to not believing” and the recurring refrain, “Try to keep on breathing,” reflect an internal dialogue shaped by anxiety, ambition, and the desire for clarity. Rather than offering easy answers, the track lives in that in-between space where doubt lingers, but so does the will to keep going. The production mirrors this push and pull, building from airy synths into a fully immersive soundscape before dissolving into a lingering, extended outro that will get audiences dancing. Mixed and mastered by Kai Tsao (KLND Audio), “Rose-Tinted”embraces a sleek, nostalgic palette reminiscent of early 2000s pop while maintaining a modern, intimate edge.
BROOKE LEE
Desert Darling
• Brooke Lee lays bare her heart and soul on her latest EP, Desert Darling. The project is six songs that are rooted in Brooke’s own personal journey, from carefree young love to heartbreak to self-discovery.
• “My years from 19-25 were filled with stories and growth, and, as this chapter closes, I wanted to share the moments that impacted me the most.” – Brooke Lee
• Brooke wanted the music to feel authentic and reflect her live shows, which is why she invited her longtime touring band, NEEDTOBREATHE, to track the songs with her in the studio. She celebrates the EP release with two headline shows – one in Atlanta and one in her hometown of Charleston – before performing on the Wrangler Stage at CMA Fest in June.
Produced by Joe Reinhart (Hop Along, Joyce Manor, Modern Baseball), Hotwire Trip Switch is Prince Daddy & the Hyena at their most urgent and unpredictable. Built as an intentional “singles” record, the tunes hit fast and loud, just in time for a headline run later this spring and early summer alongside Remo Drive, Restraining Order (5/3-25) and Liquid Mike (5/27-6/11).
Across the album, Hotwire Trip Switch shows off drastically different sides of Prince Daddy & The Hyena where exaggeration and experimentation are simply tools for zeroing in on each song’s vision.
Since forming out of Albany’s DIY scene, Prince Daddy & The Hyena have built a career out of reaching their breaking point. Their first LP, also produced by Joe Reinhart, captured a young band figuring things out in real time; their massive conceptual undertaking Cosmic Thrill Seekers pushed their ambition (and patience) to new extremes.
Not long after, a serious van accident nearly took their lives, inspiring their 2022 self-titled LP. Over the last decade, they’ve lost friends and collaborators, and faced moments that would have ended most bands. But those experiences never slowed Prince Daddy down.
On Hotwire Trip Switch, they recalibrate and reconnect with their roots while sounding more focused than ever. It pulls from the punchy lineage of Green Day, the hook-driven quirk of Weezer, the snarky urgency of Joyce Manor and Jeff Rosenstock – all through the distinctly bratty lens of songwriter and vocalist Kory Gregory. He’s backed by an airtight band including guitarist Cameron Handford, drummer and vocalist Daniel Gorham, and bassist Jordan Chmielowski.
Rina Rain is a Bay Area-based meditation trainer with over twenty years of experience in mindfulness, career and personal development. She is also a mantra artist (Rina Rain) and meditation guide sharing peace, devotion, and healing through music. Blending soulful vocals and ancient mantras and modern soundscapes, she creates songs that inspire inner stillness and connection. Her voice carries the essence of tranquility, each chant unfolding like a soft prayer, a return to presence. Rooted in sacred repetition and silence between the notes, Rina’s voice invites listeners to slow down, breathe, and come home to themselves. Through simple, spacious sound and guidance, she channels frequencies of peace, remembrance, and quiet transformation. Her sound is not performance, it is a threshold.
Her debut seven track mediation and mantra album “Whispers of Rain” is “born from seeking refuge that led me inward to finding a mantra within.” She continues, “Each piece was intentionally chosen and composed to guide us toward healing and transformation — with the power of ancient wisdom and soothing modern sound. What lives in these soundscapes is alive in all of us. It’s an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and find your way back to your own light, your own universe. We are all on this journey together.
For over two decades, Rina has held space for healing through mindfulness, coaching, and creative expression. Her music is a meditation. It’s an invitation to slow down, breathe, and return to the heart.
Emerging from the heart of Southwest Virginia, Matt Jones and The Bobs have woven a tapestry of raw emotion and timeless storytelling since their formation in 2011. The band first came together during their time at Radford University, where Matt Jones (vocals, guitar) and his bandmates—affectionately known as “the Bobs” —took their shared passion for Americana, roots, and classic rock, and transformed it into a sound that resonated with listeners on a deeply personal level. Their debut album, “Brother’s Hymn”, released in 2014 while they were still in college, marked the beginning of their journey into the world of music. With tracks that captured the essence of small-town life, love, loss, and the everyday struggles that come with growing up, the album quickly gained a loyal following for its honest songwriting and gritty performances.
But like many bands that start in their youth, the road ahead was not without its twists and turns. After years of intense dedication to their music, the members of Matt Jones and The Bobs took a step back in 2015, each pursuing individual careers, business ventures, and entrepreneurial pursuits. The band entered a hiatus, but the bonds forged through years of creating music together remained unbreakable. For ten years, the members thrived in their own respective worlds, but the pull of music—the connection to their roots, their storytelling, and their shared experiences—was always there, simmering under the surface.
Fast forward to 2024, and Matt Jones and The Bobs have reunited, bringing their signature sound back to life with renewed energy and purpose. Though they’ve stepped back into the world of music after a decade, their roots in Americana, folk, and southern rock remain as strong as ever. However, this new chapter carries fresh twists—a subtle infusion of 90s influences, a bit of grunge grit, and more expansive instrumentation that complements their established sound. The heart of their music remains, however, unwavering: a commitment to capturing the emotional essence of life, love, heartbreak, and the triumphs and trials that make us human.
The band’s songwriting is nothing short of iconic, blending storytelling with profound vulnerability. Each song is a narrative—a glimpse into the human experience through the lens of Matt Jones’ deeply personal lyrics. From tales of love and heartbreak to reflections on death, struggle, and the perseverance needed to keep going, the music continues to strike a chord with listeners. It’s a sound that feels both familiar and fresh, a nostalgic journey through the ups and downs of life that feels like an old friend whispering in your ear.
Waterparks have announced details surrounding their sixth studio album, JINX, to be released July 24 via BMG/Rise Records. The album, which will include features from Mark Hoppus of blink-182, Danny Elfman, Eric Nally of Foxy Shazam and Dillon Francis, is now available for pre-order. Today, the band shares a new single and music video for “PROWLER”.
“I wrote “PROWLER” at a time I felt the most isolated last year,” says Awsten Knight.”I really hate change and for the first time since anyone knew who Waterparks was, we separated from (almost) all of our old team and our record label. This was one of the biggest changes we could’ve experienced and on top of that, when one is as busy as I am, your friends are naturally 99% work-related. So it felt like losing almost everyone I knew, even tangential friends, while also feeling like career-wise the floor was falling out from under me. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but sometimes it is that deep. This song is a reflection of the extremely concentrated sadness I felt over those months while trying to rebuild my world.”
Alt-acoustic artist Nicole Alexis (stylized as N/A) has today released her highly anticipated debut EP Mirrors and Smoke. Featuring recent singles “Don’t Tell Me To Breathe” and “Just A Friend”, the EP showcases N/A’s talent for storytelling. Stream Mirrors & Smoke in full now here: https://ffm.to/e1oyagd.
N/A shares: “I’ve spent years performing stripped-back versions of other people’s songs, and this EP felt like finally turning that lens onto my own stories, stripped down, and honest.”
N/A has quietly taken the internet by storm over the last few years, building a following of hundreds of thousands across social media with her stripped back and looped covers of fan favorites from New Found Glory, Kelly Clarkson, Smashing Pumpkins, My Chemical Romance, A Day To Remember, Dashboard Confessional, blink-182, and more.
Now her songwriting skills and instrumental prowess are on full display throughout N/A’s first full EP of original music. Additionally, “Don’t Tell Me To Breathe” was featured in the launch of Fender’s Quantum LT, while N/A first teased “Just A Friend” last year while performing at Vans Warped Tour on The Unplugged Stage in Orlando.
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Burdick today releases his eagerly awaited debut single, “I Get The Picture,” available now via Back Blocks Music. Blending Pop sensibilities with emotional songwriting precision and an undeniable melodic pull, the track has caught the attention of Sirius XM, who has added the track to its Hits 1 Playlist and named Burdick as one of their “Hits 1 To Watch” artists on Sirius XM Hits 1. Built around a clever and classic Nashville turn of phrase, Burdick’s time spent honing his craft in the southern city shines through with every chord. Written by Burdick, Ricky Manning and Nick Bailey, the track captures the sting of watching his ex move on while he’s left holding onto nothing but a Polaroid— and the hard truth that she is gone for good.
rising PA rockers American Vanity share their latest single, “whenufall.” The track is the latest offering from their upcoming debut album 17, out everywhere on July 17th.
Co-written with producer Matt Squire, “whenufall” is a moody, vulnerable track that explores the emotional toll of always showing up for someone who won’t do the same in return. Co-vocalists Virginia Franks and Luke Vanchure trade verses, with Luke’s grit complementing the smoothness of Virginia’s delivery. The cathartic chorus brings them together as they lament, “It’s 2am, no one’s around, I’m there to take your call, always there to catch you when you fall.” Pulsing guitars and an understated bassline keep the focus on their powerful vocals, allowing the song’s emotional weight and lyrical impact to take center stage.
“‘whenufall’ focuses on loyalty as obligation — being the person who always shows up, answers the call, and absorbs the fallout,” explains the band. “The song reflects exhaustion born from emotional accessibility without reciprocity. Its restrained verses and soaring chorus mirror the imbalance at the heart of the relationship.”
Indie-pop Kelsey Olivia has released “Quit,” the first single off her forthcoming album. With deeply honest lyricism backed by an unshakable beat, Kelsey Olivia lets listeners into the rawest parts of her heart when an old flame makes yet another return. “Quit” is now available to stream on all digital platforms worldwide.
“Quit” grapples with chasing the high of a lost relationship that keeps enticing you back for more. The song immediately paints a picture of hazy heartbreak, like waking up from a vivid dream of that person you can’t seem to get out of your head. With a driving drum beat and dark synth carrying the song’s melody, Kelsey Olivia laments, “Been through this many times, but that doesn’t make it easy.” The song is inspired by a longtime situationship coming back around, comparing it to addiction and the lifelong chase of the constant high that person brings. “No significant other either of us has ever had has come close to one other,” she explains. “And who’s to say if anybody will?” The chorus punches with “You hit like a drug, can’t quit you even when I try.” The melancholic intoxication of Kelsey Olivia’s voice shines as her anguish and emotional turmoil become palpable. The harmonies feel hauntingly distant, like the memories of an ex that always reappear. The track was produced by Ben Schigel (MGK) and mastered at Sterling Sound by Will Quinnell (Demi Lovato, Jennie, Poppy).
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