The Jack Rubies - LOV - Myrkur - The Slackers - St.Arnaud - Julian Taylor

The Jack Rubies - Visions In The Bowling Alley (Album).

A source of some fabulous new music last year Big Stir Records begin 2026 with the January 23 release of a new album by acclaimed UK postpunk veterans The Jack Rubies: Visions In The Bowling Alley on CD, Streaming and, for the first time since 1990, Vinyl as well. The band's fourth album and the follow up to their critically-hailed 2024 comeback Clocks Are Out Of Time, the full-length release features the band's recent indie hits “Are We Being Recorded?” and “Greedy” as well as “Phantom” as heard on BSR's 2025 Halloween collection, along with nine more all-new tracks.

The time-tested lineup of The Jack Rubies – Ian Wright (lead vocals and guitar), SD Ineson (guitar, harmonica, backing vocals), Steve Brockway (bass), Lawrence Giltnane (percussion), and Peter Maxted (drums, and also the album's producer) – is exactly the same today as it was four decades ago when the band emerged from the English C86 and postpunk scene, and the new record even sees the return of violinist and honorary sixth member Emma Peters who guested on the debut album and performed live with the band during the early UK tours. 

At that time, they won the hearts of fans of college radio and MTV's 120 Minutes with their angular, noir-tinged sound, memorable melodies and sly, literate lyrics, shared stages worldwide with the likes of Katrina & the Waves, The Triffids, They Might Be Giants and Modern English, and delivered two deeply engrossing albums, Fascinatin’ Vacation (1988) and See The Money In My Smile (1990), for TVT Records. Then came the grunge and Britpop years, and the band slept, as life and other exploits took center stage until the unlikely catalyst of the 2020 pandemic led the geographically-dispersed members to rekindle their collaboration with all on board and, miraculously, their original chemistry intact. 

The resulting flurry of activity led first to a series of singles (all of them at once of a piece with the band's early work and yet shockingly contemporary in every sense) and ultimately to the 2024 release of their third album, Clocks Are Out Of Time, hailed by rock writers worldwide as not just a return to form but the band's best work yet. 

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LOV - G.O.S.

“G.O.S. (Generations of Strength)” is the powerful new single from rising Plains Cree soul artist LOV. A spiritual and empowering anthem, the song pays homage to the matriarchs who shaped her — from her Kokum and mother to the collective lineage of women of colour who continue to carry strength across generations. Set over a warm, UK-inspired soul groove, LOV’s smoky vocals and heartfelt lyrics call out like a prayer: “This one is for my girlies going through a hard time… you have generations of strength.”

Anchored in her faith and cultural identity, LOV offers a song that blends raw emotion, ancestral pride, and divine feminine energy into one seamless expression. The lyrics are deeply personal, yet universal — calling on every listener to tap into their light and rise through adversity. G.O.S. is more than a song — it’s a message, a mantra, and a movement of healing through music.

This release marks a major milestone in LOV’s journey as an artist. Following the success of her chart-topping single Mama (which reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown in November 2025), LOV has emerged as a compelling new voice in Canada’s soul and R&B landscape. Her recent explosion in social reach — driven by over 2 million Facebook video views in the past month and a growing following of over 85K fans — confirms the organic demand and resonance for her message.

LOV · G.O.S

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Photo - Julia Nikiforova

Myrkur - Touch My Love And Die.

In the glow between flames and shadows, between whispering voices and resounding silence, a space emerges where music is not merely heard—it is felt. With “Touch My Love And Die,” Myrkur presents an entry for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix that feels more like a ritual than a song. A piece that draws threads from Nordic mythology, human vulnerability, and cinematic grandeur, gathering them into a moment where darkness is not hidden, but allowed to speak.

“Touch My Love And Die” is a dark, cinematic ballad in which Myrkur’s various musical expressions merge into a new whole. The sound incorporates elements from metal, Nordic folk music, and film scores, recorded in Dolby Atmos with real musicians—from cello, a girls’ choir, and ancient folk instruments to drums captured with more than 40 microphones. A physical, human soundscape in a time marked by speed, artificiality, and distance.

For Myrkur, it is essential that the lyrics remain open and can be freely interpreted by the listener. The past year has been marked by major personal and artistic changes, and the song stands as a culmination of this movement. Recorded in Winter 2025 with Christopher Juul (Heilung), Myrkur describes “Touch My Love And Die” as a work into which “heart, soul, blood, and tears” have been poured—both in song and performance—something she hopes can exist as an antidote to a world dominated by AI and a throwaway culture. A reminder of humanity’s roots, spirit, and resilience.

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The Slackers - No One Likes the Truth!

NYC ska/reggae legends The Slackers have released a brand new music video for the single "No One Likes the Truth!" The video was directed & edited by Arthur Leon Adams III, with additional camera operation by Kathryn Evangeline Adams, and it was produced by Rock and Roll Creative. This song comes from the NYC ska/reggae legends' latest EP, Money is King.

The 5-song Money is King EP features one cover song and four brand new originals, each by one of the band's different songwriters. "No One Likes the Truth" was written by vocalist / keyboardist / multi-instrumentalist Vic Ruggiero, who has this to say about it:

"they used to say 'do the right thing' as they patted you on the back and poked yer chest at the same time with a stiff two fingers... hen they looked me in the eyes and said it, i knew it was an encouraging threat he 'right thing' wasn't necessarily 'tell the truth' but more, 'keep yer nose clean and keep yer mouth shut and we'll all do fine' don't be a rat, and don't rat yourself out in the process... just play along and keep yer eyes low...if i never saw ya i ain't lying when i say i don't know nothin but it didn't happen that way"

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St.Arnaud - Love You! (For Real).

Edmonton's St.Arnaud, the indie pop project of Ian St.Arnaud, today releases "Love You! (For Real)," the lead single from their upcoming self-titled album, St.Arnaud, due out in April 2026 via Cordova Bay Records.

Delving into the ambiguity of modern social connection, this latest offering explores the bar-side phenomenon of becoming instant "best friends"—those effusive declarations and promises to hang out soon that dissolve by morning. "Love You! (For Real)" takes aim at these superficial, booze-fueled bonds with a wink and a groove, emerging as a white-soul-tinged indie pop track which asks the ultimate question: "When everybody loves everybody, how can anybody love anybody?"

Ian expands on the core concept: "The idea of the song was to wrestle with sincerity, to poke fun at your new friend at the bar, telling you how much they love you (they don't!) and want to hang out soon (you won't!)." He notes that the song found its footing as a white-soul track, a choice that "both gives it conviction and adds to the joke."

Musically, the song plants itself in a groove-driven soul pocket. Its vintage soul foundation, built on jazzy brass undertones and a warm, swaggering rhythm section, creates an earnestness that beautifully contrasts the lyrical cynicism. Ian’s delicate, feel-good vocals float over the arrangement, performing a tightrope walk between irony and genuine emotion.

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Photo - Robert Georgeff

Julian Taylor - Anthology Vol. 2 (Album).

After more than two decades of writing, performing, and recording his consistently potent, genre-defying music, acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Julian Taylor unveils Anthology Vol. 2, A reflective, expressive, wide-ranging compilation that traces the evolution of an artist who's never confined himself to a single lane. Featuring songs recorded over the span of 25 years, the album captures Taylor’s enduring commitment to storytelling, live musicianship, and emotional honesty. The focus track “Hunger” written by Graeme Williamson is released along with the album, today January 23rd, on all major platforms. 

Across Anthology Vol. 2, Taylor re-visits songs recorded in vastly different circumstances, from early-career material with his old band Staggered Crossing, to recent collaborations with the likes of Jim James (of My Morning jacket), unified by recurring themes of love, resilience, kindness, nature, and perseverance. Much of the album was recorded live-off-the-floor, with real instruments, a deliberate choice that reflects Taylor’s belief in authenticity over polish. "It’s really important to venture in all sorts of new directions," he says. "But you should always go back to see where you came from – so that you can forge a path to where you’re going.” 

Anchoring the release is the single “Hunger,” a traditional-style folk song with a Celtic feel, written by Graeme Williamson (of 1980s Toronto band the Pukka Orchestra). Taylor was inspired to record the song after it was shared with him by his friend, and Canadian Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee, Frank Davies. “When I first heard the song, it was the lyrics that really struck me,” Taylor explains. “With everything going on in the world right now, hunger remains such a devastating and unnecessary reality. There are people with enough money to eradicate it in 24 hours, but they choose not to. Frank and I decided that we would donate a portion of the song’s sales to the Band Aid Charitable Trust.”

juliantaylorband · Anthology Vol. 2

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Gwenno - Josienne Clarke - Lou-Adriane Cassidy - The Slackers

Gwenno - War.

'War' is the brand new single from Gwenno's new album 'Utopia.'which is set for release on July 11th, 2025. Having released three albums in Welsh and Cornish, 'Utopia' is Gwenno Saunders’ first album recorded predominantly in English, and presents a very different side to her life and songwriting.

Forty-three years into her life, Saunders has been many people. The disaffected Cardiff schoolgirl; the teenage Las Vegas dancer; the singer in indie pop group The Pipettes. There was a turn in a Bollywood film, a nightclub tour, a stint cleaning floors in an East London pub. Long before she would become an acclaimed solo songwriter in both Welsh and Cornish, a winner of the Welsh Music Prize, a nominee for the Mercury, a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, there were the days of Nevada, London, Brighton; of Irish dancing, techno clubs, messiness and chaos.

'Utopia', Saunders’ fourth solo album, is an extraordinary exploration of all of these selves. If the singer regards her first three solo records — 2014’s Y Dydd Olaf, 2018’s Le Kov and 2022’s Tresor as “childhood records”, rooted in her upbringing, her parents, her formative identity, then Utopia captures a time of self-determination and experimentation. These are songs of discovery, of the years between being someone’s daughter and becoming someone’s wife and someone’s mother. They range from floor-fillers to piano ballads, via contributions from Cate Le Bon and H. Hawkline, and encompass William Blake, a favourite Edrica Huws poem, and the Number 73 bus. It is her finest work to date.

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Josienne Clarke - Tiny Bird’s Lament.

Critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist Josienne Clarke announces her raw and intimate new album Far From Nowhere, due out this autumn via Corduroy Punk. Alongside the album announcement, Clarke shares the first single ‘Tiny Bird’s Lament’, a haunting, minimalist track recorded direct to tape in a remote Scottish cabin. The single offers the first glimpse into the stripped-back sound and emotional clarity that define the new record.

The album will be accompanied by a short film titled Deluded, directed by Alec Bowman_Clarke, offering a candid, behind-the-scenes portrait of the album’s creation. Currently screening at festivals, the film will be shown throughout Clarke’s UK tour this October - full dates now announced - before its general release on November 30th.

Long admired for her crystalline voice and unflinching lyrical gaze, Clarke has always had an ability to evoke a communal melancholy. But with this LP, recorded at a remote Scottish cabin, she’s achieved the feat of stripping away the barriers between artist and listener. What emerges is a record of remarkable intimacy and integrity as Clarke embraces stillness and vulnerability. She sought total isolation but ended up creating something even more profoundly connective.

Also born of practical constraint, Far From Nowhere is a natural step and defiant response to the logistical and emotional tolls of trying to eke out a living in the music industry in 2025. “Making music today, for me, often feels like an exercise in retreat,” Clarke says. “The structure of the industry slowly suffocates the spirit of artists, starving them of the self-esteem that comes from remuneration for a job well done, so retreating to a cabin in the woods to make my album made sense.”


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Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Triste Animal (Album)

Yesterday, fresh off the critical acclaim of her last project, Journal d’un loup-garou, Canadian singer-songwriter Lou-Adriane Cassidy returns with a bold and unexpected follow-up: Triste Animal. A raw, genre-defying album recorded entirely live to tape with zero edits, the album arrives just three months after her previous release, and marks a daring turn toward spontaneity and artistic freedom.

While wrapping up Journal d’un loup-garou, an album celebrated in Quebec for its cinematic scale and theatrical live shows, Cassidy found herself craving something looser, more instinctive. "After two years of deep focus on that project, I just needed to let go," she explains. That urgency led to Triste Animal: eight songs captured live over four days by eight musicians, with no overdubs or polish. The only exception? A guitar solo on “Adieu”, because, as Cassidy puts it, “our guitarist couldn’t make it that day.”

The result is a stripped-down, emotionally potent record that foregrounds Cassidy’s mesmerizing voice and sharp compositional instincts. Backed by some of Quebec’s top musicians (Alexandre Martel, Thierry Larose, Vincent Gagnon, PE Beaudoin), and with vocal arrangements crafted and sung alongside her longtime collaborators Odile Marmet-Rochefort, Ariane Roy, and Lysandre Ménard, the album captures lightning in a bottle: real-time performances that breathe and bleed.

Stylistically, Triste Animal is Cassidy’s most eclectic effort yet, weaving together threads of folk, soul, West Coast country, chamber pop, samba, jazz, and even traces of acoustic grunge. Tracks like “Tout le monde dans autour” (penned by filmmaker-musician Stéphane Lafleur) showcase heart-wrenching tenderness, while the brooding intensity of “Adieu” and the driving, dissonant “Valse frustrée” highlight her dynamic vocal range and emotional grit.

Lou-Adriane Cassidy · Triste Animal

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The Slackers - My Last Star.

New York City’s longtime ska/reggae legends The Slackers have released their newest single “My Last Star,” now available everywhere fine records are sold as a 12” UV Printed Single from Pirates Press Records.

“My Last Star” began as a dream that Greg Lee of Los Angeles’s Hepcat had the week before his death in March of 2024. Greg dreamed of a Slackers song. The Slackers have completed this song, and released it into the world.

Now that the song is finally out for all to hear, and The Slackers, along with a team of close associates head up by writer/direct Pat Byrne, have crafted a poignant music video to accompany this beautiful collaboration with - and tribute to - their longtime friend.

The Slackers are currently stationed in the Los Angeles County area, where they are gearing up to perform five shows in six nights from May 7th through the 11th. These shows in Hepcat’s hometown will function as the record release for “My Last Star,” and they will be playing the song every night.

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Lauren Monroe - The Slackers - Maddisun - Cynthia Hamar - Cozy Slippers

Lauren Monroe - Void Of Course.

With messages of healing and exploring the multiple facets of love - both dark and light - Messages from Aphrodite by Lauren Monroe will be released on September 9, 2022. In anticipation of the album, she has released the new video “Void of Course.” 

The term “void of course” is an astrological term defining a state of the moon where it appears isolated as it transitions away from one planet and moves toward another. Monroe used this as a metaphor to explore the struggle of an unhealthy relationship. “I thought it was important to explore the shadow side of love, which is painful but has gifts for us to receive.

The lyrics tell the tale of feeling void of connection and wanting to leave a toxic partner but not having the inner power to go through with it,” she explains. “In these darker textures of emotion and pain can live tremendous potential to see oneself and become stronger.”

One of the most rock-based songs on the album, “Void of Course” offers listeners a different side of Monroe, whose previous offerings have leaned more towards Americana and roots/folk. The smoldering tune is powered by Allmans-style double drumming from Rick Allen (Def Leppard) and Beth Goodfellow (Iron and Wine, Allison Russell) and topped off by Monroe’s urgent vocals. The track derives its Physical Graffiti-like exoticism from the droning of a djembe played by Monroe, further deepened by the bowed cello and upright bass of Steve Uccello (Latin Jazz Collective, Dayan Kai) and lightning-flash guitar riffs of Tyler Bryant (Larkin Poe, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown). These sounds deepen the mood of the astrology-inspired lyrics.

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The Slackers - Second Best.

The Slackers, whose latest "Don't Let The Sunlight Fool Ya" hit #1 on the Current Reggae Charts in the spring, have released an animated music video for "Second Best."  

The record is now available on Pirates Press Records’ web store. The band will be touring in support of the record all year long across North America and Europe.

"Spending time being the runner up. There's always a bright shiny object that is more exciting than the one who is there year in and year out. The 'impossible' is always more exciting than 'the possible' because it never happens and thus can be a perfect ideal," says saxophonist Dave Hillyard.

To create these illustrations and animations, the band enlisted the help of Brazilian designer Paulo Rocker who wanted to showcase theme of unity and peace with The Slackers playing a show in heaven.

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Maddisun - Running.

Maddisun (aka singer/songwriter Maddison Keiver) is an authentic, visceral, and magnetic artist whose unique music melds together indie-folk, soulful R&B, and electro-pop. Maddisun crafts incredibly inspiring and uplifting music true to her heart, sharing emotional journeys of love, heartache, growth, and resilience.

Maddisun's genuineness, raw vocal talent and pure musicality sparkle on her new LP, Home Is Where The Music Is, co-produced by Nick Noto and Chloe Chaidez of PSY SOUND.

Classic country and soul influences shine in the feature track “Running,” about transitioning into the next phase of her career. Maddisun is taking a chance on herself to pursue her passion; not holding back despite any obstacles, while staying true to her rural British Columbia roots.

Home is a feeling, not a place. About the album inspiration, she explains, “When I’m travelling all over and the concept of ‘home’ is a little messy, I find myself leaning towards my music and yearning to connect with that part of myself. Once I find it, I’m home no matter where in the world I am.”

Maddisun · Running

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Cynthia Hamar - Light A Fire.

With her anticipated new EP Joint & Marrow on the way, Alberta-born Métis singer-songwriter Cynthia Hamar today shares its second single "Light A Fire."

The track combines a country groove with reggae overtones, which adds extra resonance to Cynthia's unmistakable voicals. She says, "I wrote this song feeling extremely burnt out from struggling with ambition. I was thinking how a tiny spark can set a whole forest on fire and I wrote the melody attempting to kindle some fresh creative joy inside me.”

Produced by Paul Johnston, and featuring her son Zadok Hamar along with acclaimed Alberta session musicians Chris Andrews, Jamie Cooper, Paul Johnston and Toronto’s Joel Schwartz, “Light A Fire”didn’t initially come together easily in the studio.

“This song almost didn’t make it on the album. I was struggling to communicate my vision for the tune and I was close to pulling it feeling deeply exhausted," she says. "We ended up setting up the studio so the musicians could all see me and just let it fly. It ended up being one of my favorites and I’m so thankful I pushed through and allowed that spark to fire up in me again. The theme of the tune was truly manifested in the recording of it.”

Joint & Marrowcontinues to enhance Cynthia’s reputation for making hauntingly introspective songs rooted in her Métis heritage. Citing Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tom Waits and Feist as primary influences, she has performed across Canada through the VIA Rail Artists On Board program, and had her music chart on stations throughout North America, including attaining the #1 spot on the Indigenous Music Countdown.

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Cozy Slippers - Nobody Knows Me, Anyhow.

Seattle dreamy jangle-pop trio Cozy Slippers debuted their new single / video "Nobody Knows Me, Anyhow." A perfect indiepop track to help wind down the summer. A nice mix of Sundays, Sarah Records, and a guitar tone that would make Will Sergeant take notice. The video depicts a polar bear trapped in the middle of a climate change dilemma on a shrinking iceberg that transplants it all the way to a beach in Florida. Cozy Slippers debut album on Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten / Subjangle is a total treat for the anorak scene, light, breezy, topical, and catchy.  

Cozy Slippers announce their return with the release of their self titled debut album on Kleine Underground Schallplatten (vinyl) and Subjangle (CD) on October 14th, 2022. The First single from the album is "Nobody Knows Me, Anyhow", a love letter to alienation. A trapped narrator finds solace in knowing that anonymity makes space possible.

"Haunting Her" explores the tension when trying to support a friend, even as they make damaging decisions. "I Can’t Keep You Safe" is an eerie jangler that addresses major pandemic fear - that protecting loved ones was not possible.

Previously Cozy Slippers released the 7" "A Million Pieces" (Kleine Underground Schallplatten 2019), and two EPs: ‘Postcards’ (Jigsaw Record 2018) and ‘Late Night In Summertime’ (self-released 2017). In 2019, the band toured the UK, including an appearance at the Cambridge Indiepop All-dayer. The band largely recorded the album themselves, and it was mixed by Dylan Wall (Versing, Great Grandpa, and High Sunn) and mastered by Paul Gold (The Chills, Allah-lahs).

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The Slackers - The Cactus Blossoms feat. Jenny Lewis - Tom Jenkins - Colatura

The Slackers - Hanging On.

New York City reggae legends The Slackers have released “Hanging On,” the second single from the band’s upcoming record “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” which comes out April 15th. This record, their first in 7 years and 15th full-length in their career, is now available on Pirates Press Records’ web store.

“Hanging On” is a mantra that almost every band, including The Slackers, have had to deal with during the pandemic. “Being in NYC in March of 2020 was an experience I wouldn’t wish upon my enemies. People talk about how great it was to get off the road or spend extra time with their family, but I was already tight with my family. We rallied and my apartment became a law office, a college classroom, a recording studio, a mail-order merch warehouse, and a high school classroom. We did what we had to do to keep going,” said saxophonist Dave Hillyard.

The process for bringing this album to life was, by all accounts, one that was met with twists and turns that would make most bands implode. The band used their sound engineer’s house to practice and record while also trying to accommodate everyone’s personal situations. “The main challenge/s we had to overcome in making the record had to do with distance, finding a way to involve Vic and Glen, who live on the West Coast and thus 3000 miles from the rest of the band. We put half the band in one room, half the band in another, we continued to wear masks around each other, put a giant shield around the drums and just hoped for the best. Glen and Vic very graciously gave up their West Coast lives to live at Marc Critelli’s house for 2 months while we completed the majority of the record,” remarked drummer Ara Babajian.

The band previously released an adorable and hilarious puppet video for the title track “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya.” The song was written by the band after the initial wave of COVID was over but it was certainly not the end of the pandemic.

Rootfire · Hanging On

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The Cactus Blossoms feat. Jenny Lewis - Everybody.

Acclaimed Americana duo The Cactus Blossoms have released a new video for the song “Everybody,” featuring Jenny Lewis. The song is featured on their recently released album One Day.

The Cactus Blossoms will also be kicking off the next leg of their U.S. tour on March 19th starting in Red Wing, MN. Jack Torrey, who launched the band with his brother, Page Burkum, writes, “When I wrote the song it was originally from one person’s perspective, but one morning when I was drinking coffee it hit me as a conversation between two people and really came alive for me. I heard Jenny singing it in my head and couldn’t hear it any other way, so I hopped on the phone and called her to see if she’d be interested in singing on it. I’m so glad she was into the idea.”

Page remarks that “We had the chance to open a little run of shows with Jenny a few years ago and to hear her amazing voice and watch her cast her spell over her audience night after night was truly inspiring. She’s a heavy hitter in every way possible so it's a dream come true to hear her voice on one of our songs.”

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Photo - Drew Roxanne

Tom Jenkins - Back Roads.

Tom Jenkins has announced his signing to independent label Xtra Mile Recordings. The ex-Straight Lines frontman has also unveiled the video for new single “Back Roads”, a twinkling, country-tinged track that nods to Jenkins’ rural roots, highlighting the solitude and struggle of the job that has taken lives in the rural community.

Speaking of his excitement around the new signing, Tom says: “I’ve had the privilege of sharing almost my whole journey in music with Xtra Mile Recordings. From the label releasing some of my favourite bands and artists, to eventually putting out my own music as a teenager and through to my early twenties with two Straight Lines album campaigns. I’m very excited to begin this new chapter as a solo artist and grateful to be working once again with a great group of people with a great vision and ideas for their roster.”

Likewise, Xtra Mile Recordings add: “Everyone at Xtra Mile is thrilled to be reacquainted with Tom. We loved Straight Lines and have been floored by his new album. We can’t wait to start the campaign and continue our work with Tom in 2022 and beyond.”

The news comes off the back of successes with his self-released 2019 solo album “Misery In Comfort” and 2020 EP “When The Coal Dust Settled”, a patriotic folk release in support of the victims of the South Wales Valley flood.

Tom Jenkins hails from the high country of the South Wales Valleys, with the ex-coal mining communities and rugged farming landscape forming his identity and ingraining itself in the singer-songwriter’s sound. Born into a hill farming family, a life in music seemed worlds away but somewhere along the line Jenkins’ path changed: at first playing in local rock bands before eventually fronting Straight Lines, releasing albums with his old school friends and touring with the likes of Motorhead, The Presidents of the USA and more.

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Colatura - Kids Like Us.

In the midst of their debut appearance at SXSW in Austin, New York City trio Colatura has released their latest single, “Kids Like Us” this week. The track is featured on Colatura’s debut album, And Then I’ll Be Happy, set to arrive April 22, with a hometown performance set for that night in Brooklyn at The Sultan Room. 

Discussing the track, guitarist/vocalist Meredith Lampe noted, "This song is about collective family baggage, mental illness, and destructive patterns that can repeat generation after generation. We wrote it from the perspective of one sibling calling another to remind them that they made a pact to never have kids in the hopes of cutting off the negative cycle and to stop passing down traits that they wish they didn’t have themselves. The music video was made by our friend Matt Sklar (of the band Phantom Handshakes) using a collage of footage from each of our childhoods.”

Featuring the triple songwriting attack of Jennica Best (bass/vocals), Digo Degorio (guitar/vocals) and Lampe (guitar/vocals), Colatura has been called, "Fleetwood Mac with shoegaze guitars," by Fadeaway Radiate, and described by Popmatters as, “Drawing on a range of influences from '50s female-fronted outfits to Manchester post-punk and all manner of noisy things, Colatura sounds both of and out of its time, delivering music that seems to have always been.” Sonically, their foot is in a number of genres, writing music that is sometimes dreamy, sometimes heavy, with pop-leaning melodies and post-punk atmospherics.

Formed in 2019, the trio, joined by a drummer live, has played notable shows throughout New York City supporting acts such as Nation of Language, Pom Pom Squad, and Oceanator, amongst others, receiving praise from NYC tastemakers and music blogs alike. The band announced And Then I’ll Be Happy in January, with the single, “Team Sport,” which Brooklyn Vegan called, “a dreamy, warm treat in the dead of winter,” and led Under The Radar to state, “The upbeat surf guitar, blissful washes of synths, and brilliant bursts of melody make for a decadent dream pop reverie, recalling classic influences like Cocteau Twins as well as contemporaries like Alvvays or Yumi Zouma.” They followed with “Scars” last month, leading The Revue to say that Colatura create "melodies that have the same effect of a cool ocean breeze on a hot day.”



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