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Canadian Roots, Rock, and Soul band Bywater Call are excited to announce the release of their first studio single of 2026, “Only.” “Only” is a throwback to the timeless soul anthems of the 60’s and 70’s. Featuring Meghan Parnell’s signature smokey vocals and a smooth, slow groove, this losing-of-love song is a heartfelt plea to remain together, while attempting to downplay the pain of breaking up.
The emotional melody, accompanied by the rich background vocals of Joanna Mohammed (Aphrose) and Claire Davis, captures perfectly the feeling of loving more than being loved. Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
Reminiscent of the classic artists of the genre, but infused with modern influences such as Adele and Amy Winehouse , “Only is a simple, yet emotionally powerful tune that shows off a sweet, softer side of Meg’s usual powerhouse vocals” says guitarist and co-writer Dave Barnes. The song was recorded at Palace Studios in Toronto, captured and mixed by Patric McGroarty, and mastered by Kristian Montano of Montano Mastering.
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Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Cathleen Ireland kicks off the new year with the January 9th release of her uplifting new single, “Coastin’.” The song is from her latest album, “In The City.”
“Coastin’” is a sunlit, groove-driven anthem rooted in gratitude, presence, and self-acceptance. Blending warm pop, soul, and coastal R&B influences, the track captures a moment of calm after the climb — when the noise fades, the shoulders drop, and joy feels both deserved and deeply felt. With breezy melodies, relaxed rhythms, and Ireland’s expressive, soulful vocal delivery, “Coastin’” invites listeners to slow down and savor where they are right now.
Lyrically, the song celebrates appreciation without pretense. Lines like “I’m thankful, grateful, I’m so blessed to be here” land not as platitudes, but as reflections shaped by experience. “Coastin’” speaks to anyone who has weathered uncertainty, pushed through doubt, and emerged on the other side with clarity and peace. It’s a reminder that fulfillment doesn’t always come from chasing what’s next — sometimes it’s found in simply being present.
The single continues Ireland’s strong creative momentum following the release of “In The City,” further showcasing her ability to balance infectious, radio-ready hooks with emotional depth and authenticity. As both a songwriter and producer, Ireland remains hands-on in shaping a sound that feels modern yet personal, polished yet human.
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Following the critical acclaim of their evocative single “Bring Me a Flower,” California-based folk-Americana project Baldy Crawlers returns with a haunting new release, “Boy,” available January 9, 2026, on MTS Records. Written and produced by Martin Maudal, the track continues his unique fusion of handcrafted sound and lyrical introspection—this time delving even deeper into the abstract spaces between identity, love, and the ineffable.
“Boy” began not with an idea or image, but with a feeling. “I’m not sure I can even tell you what this song is about,” Maudal admits. “This one was music before it was words. The chords came first, and then there was that first line—‘Your back is a road, boy.’ It just stared back at me. The rest of the song followed where it wanted to go. I didn’t try to force meaning into it. I think people will have to find their own.”
That intuitive, open-ended approach gives “Boy” its haunting depth. The song unfolds like a riddle, each verse a brushstroke in a portrait that never fully reveals its subject. Over Maudal’s signature hand-built guitar tones—rich, resonant, and unmistakably organic—the arrangement gains additional dimension through the contributions of an exceptional ensemble: Elizabeth Hangan delivers a stirring and intimate lead vocal, while Norrel Thompson and Maudal himself add harmony vocals that echo like spectral companions. Marc Weller’s guitar, Carl Byron’s Hammond B3, and Ross Schodek’s bass enrich the soundscape with warmth and tension. Maudal further grounds the track’s rhythmic pulse with acoustic guitar and drums, shaping the song’s dreamlike motion with both delicacy and drive.
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| Photo - Matilde Pretolesi |
Kodaclips re-emerge with their new single 27, a track that defines the band's evolved identity. Showcasing a revamped lineup, the song melds shoegaze-influenced vocals with a gritty post-punk instrumental attitude. Released yesterday, 27 is the first of two singles out via Ravenna-based label Bronson Recordings. Self-produced by the band, the track was recorded at Farmhouse Studio (Rimini) by Lorenzo Ricci, mixed by Andrea Volpato (Fox Recording Studio, Seattle), and mastered by Manuel Volpe (Okum Produzioni).
Drawing on the driving energy of post-punk legends such as Echo & the Bunnymen and Joy Division, the ethereal textures of 90s shoegaze icons (Slowdive, Lush) and its revival wave (Nothing, LSD and the Search for God), 27 introduces Kodaclips's new vocalist Linda Capuano. Her voice glides effortlessly over guitar-driven walls of sound and a pounding rhythm section, offering a fresh, dynamic impression of the band's current direction.
27 plunges the listener into a vortex of stillness, disassociation and fear of failure. It explores a distinct sense of nostalgia in a world spinning too fast to grasp. As the lyrics suggest "I feel, I’m nothing at all" even the simplest things feel unreachable, trapping the narrator in a cycle where "our days fly by."
Kodaclips is an italian shoegaze and alternative band formed in the second half of 2021 in Cesena, near Italy's northern Adriatic coast. Drawing from a wide range of individual artistic backgrounds, from psychedelia to stoner and progressive, this project successfully fuses these elements to create a distinctive sound that strongly recalls '90s aesthetics. Their shared passion for the second wave of shoegaze, particularly the italogaze movement, serves as the cohesive force behind their unique blend of melodic and experimental textures.
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"This Is Where" is a reflective, uplifting breakup song about two people who outgrew each other but carried the courage, love, and lessons forward—realizing the end of their story is actually the beginning of who they’re becoming.
Eileen Carey is an award-winning country-pop singer-songwriter based in Altadena, California. Known for her infectious optimism and genre-blending sound, Carey has become a standout figure in the independent music scene, earning accolades such as the New Music Awards’ AC/Hot AC Breakthrough Artist of 2025 and the Independent Music Network’s Entertainer of the Year in 2025.
Her music, described as “West Coast Pop-Country”, is upbeat, accessible, and emotionally resonant. Carey’s singles like “Land with You” and “Good Bad Girl” have topped radio charts and earned praise for their empowering messages and danceable melodies1.
A dynamic live performer, Carey has shared stages with legends including Don McLean, Rita Coolidge, Jefferson Starship, and The Motels, captivating audiences with her “Gretchen Wilson-meets-Miranda Lambert” stage presence. Her shows are known for turning passive listeners into active participants, with line dancing, singalongs, and standing ovations.
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Galway via London four piece The Clockworks kick off the new year with their introspective and tender new single ‘Well Well Wellness’ ahead of their second album ‘The Entertainment’ released on 27th March 2026 via V2 Records.
Lyrically, singer and lyricist James McGregor writes with purpose, integrity and emotion, balancing light with darkness and finding poetic intrigue in everyday life. They will release their new album ‘The Entertainment’ in March, which was largely written and recorded in isolation, and is a project that looks to isolation, loneliness and connection in its exploration of life in the modern world.
New single ‘Well Well Wellness’ straddles both joy and sadness with its uplifting melody and forlorn lyrics. Self-produced, led by Sean Connelly, it examines the feeling of helplessness when someone you love is suffering and is being treated as a problem rather than a person. Speaking about the track, the band says;
“’Well Well Wellness’ was a collision of two songs that came about while I helplessly watched someone I love navigate chronic health issues. The first song was about the slow erosion of faith in an outdated approach to health care that treats real, desperate, suffering people like cheap toys on an assembly line. The second song was about the insidious allure of the Wellness industry: the side of it that equates being ‘healthy’ with being ‘good’ and treats real, desperate, suffering people like cows to be milked for money and attention. These songs met at the current chorus, and I realised that I was digging the same tunnel from both sides.”
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