On her new single “More Love,” Toronto’s Lily Frost continues to display her musical versatility with a song that gets to the core of how many of us are feeling about the current state of the world. Over a hypnotic sonic backdrop, Frost shares the simple and direct message encapsulated in the song’s title, with the intent to make us all think about what we could be doing better to improve the lives of those around us.
“‘More Love’ is a spell,” Lily says. “It is a calling in of what I want more of and a releasing of what I want less of. I chose the word ‘less’ instead of ‘fewer’ as poetic license to keep the language simple and direct. Mitch Willer created a syncopated beat in the chorus and sang with me to give the song more edge, while the verses return to a hypnotic call-and-release feeling. The song became, in the end, an anti-war, pro-peace spell for the world and each individual toward themselves and others. I send it out from my heart in this time of global distress.” Over the past three decades, Lily Frost has journeyed through the ever-evolving landscape of music and art with poetic instinct and fearless reinvention.
After five years of touring up and down the west coast in various outfits, Lily signed as a solo artist with Nettwerk Records in 2001 for the album Lunamarium. She returned to Toronto in 2004 where she released six critically acclaimed albums on Aporia Records and toured internationally. Her songs have been widely synced in film and television, including the film Crazy/Beautiful and the television show Grey’s Anatomy, earning her recognition for her cinematic writing and vintage-modern sound.
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“‘I’m Putting You Out of My Misery’ is one of those songs that stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it,” says Jaelee Roberts of her latest single — and first new music since last year’s full-length sophomore album, Let Me Be Lonely. “Terry Herd wrote an incredible song, and I fell in love with it right away. To me, it strikes the perfect balance between that hard-driving traditional sound and a touch of contemporary bluegrass, and I absolutely love how everything came together in the studio. I’ve always enjoyed a song with a little bit of attitude, and this one definitely delivers!”
Backed by a stellar crew — Ron Stewart (Seldom Scene) on banjo; guitarist Tony Wray; Alan Bartram (Travelin’ McCourys, Del McCoury Band) on bass; award-winning fiddler Michael Cleveland, and acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Justin Moses (mandolin, dobro), with Zack Arnold (Rhonda Vincent & the Rage) adding harmony vocals — Roberts tackles the quintessentially bluegrass combination of up-tempo music and downbeat lyrics (including a bit of classic wordplay for good measures) with her signature compelling verve: Woke up today with a heavy heart - The weight of the world is tearin’ me apart - Memories callin' they won't let me stay - So I'm packin' my bags and leavin' today..
“I’m truly proud of how the track turned out,” says Roberts, “and I’m so thankful to each of these amazing musicians for being part of it. I hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it!”
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| Photo - Joe Vaughan |
Minneapolis' Toilet Rats shares "Shimmy," a new wave-inspired dancefloor jam that is perfectly postured for this Summer's "Goth Nights." "Shimmy" was mixed by Sean O'Keefe (Motion City Soundtrack, Beach Bunny, Fallout Boy) and mastered by Kris Johnson (Jayhawks, Gramma).
"Shimmy' is a heart-on-sleeve new wave romp written after arriving on the other side of an illness and surgery," says Tommy Ratz. "I wanted to dance with my friends post-recovery, even if we didn't know any good moves. Ultimately, it's an uplifting bop about checking in on your friends, 'cause people did that for me. Everyone needs a boost sometimes. Think Breakfast Club meets The Cure."
Five years deep, and Toilet Rats have never sounded bigger. Black Cats, the groups third LP on Steadfast Records and Sweet Cheetah Records spans 14 tracks of fuzz, synths, drum machines, moody '80s college rock, punk scorchers, and new wave dance floor slammers, all recorded during a period of real disruption.
If you dig songs about ghouls, calamity, surviving illness, and showing up for each other, this album is sure to find a welcome home in your collection. Black Cats sees release on June 26.
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| Photo - Ed Rode |
Today Old Crow Medicine Show shares the gorgeous new single "Last American Waltz" feat. Molly Tuttle, the latest from the band's upcoming album Union Made which releases on June 5 with Hartland Records via Firebird Music. Accompanied by a music video filmed in the dancehall of Nashville's American Legion, "Last American Waltz" unfolds with the kind of warmth and emotional resonance that has long defined American roots music.
"'Last American Waltz' is a love song to America in 3/4 time," says bandleader Ketch Secor. "We wanted it to feel timeless - the kind of song that could drift across a dancehall floor at midnight or echo through an old American Legion hall after the lights come up. Having Molly Tuttle join us on this track brought even more heart and soul to the recording.”
"Last American Waltz" follows the band's previous single "My Side Of The Mountain," a generation-spanning collaboration co-written by Secor, Tuttle and Luke Combs, and featuring bluegrass legends Del McCoury and Ronnie McCoury. The song has garnered early attention from The Bluegrass Situation, Relix, Whiskey Riff, MusicRow, AmericanaUK and more. Produced by longtime bandmember Morgan Jahnig and recorded in the band's own East Nashville studio, Union Made is Old Crow Medicine Show's most collaborative project to date, featuring appearances from nearly a dozen guests including Maggie Rose, Turnpike Troubadours' Evan Felker, Jesse Welles, Lee Oskar, John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash.
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