Hot Summer recently shared 'Fire And Ice' along with a video for the track, musically the song opens with a soothing and melodic flow, the vocals perfectly match the mood and flourishes of additional synths and drums gently up the power. ===== From POSTDATA we have the new song 'Twin Flames' also with a video. Paul Murphy's distinct and emotion filled vocals are central to the song however there are some gorgeous soundscapes simmering beneath, there are moments when the structure brings Leonard Cohen to mind, see that as the complement it is intended to be.
The Shins’ Jon Sortland joins EV Kain’s Brian Belier to form the band, Hot Summer. Fresh off The Shins release of “The Great Divide”, co-written by Sortland, Hot Summer are set to release their debut single and video, “Fire And Ice” is out now on Dowd Records.
The track “Fire And Ice” is indirectly related to the collision of fire and ice. The era in which Hot Summer emerges is one of great disparities between ideals socially and politically. We are also a byproduct of shut-in pandemic isolation and a desperation to generate sparks to light the gloom from solitude and gold coast fire haze. Through futuristic electronic interludes and Belier’s soothing vocals, “Fire And Ice” provides the sonically infused anecdote to the collective malaise.
The song was created during the Covid-19 quarantine where the two musicians were separated by 470 miles. Sortland came up with a short musical loop that all the vocals were sung to, while the remainder of the music was developed to suit the vocals. The main vocals on the track are the actual voice memos Belier sang into his iPhone and texted to Sortland. Later when the two were able to get together in person they shot the impromptu iPhone video that features Belier’s neighbor, John Tait, a former NFL veteran that also happens to be Sortland’s doppelgänger.
Hot Summer is a journey of musical freedom between longtime friends and creative collaborators. Jon Sortland is the co-songwriter and performer on The Shins’ recently released track, “The Great Divide”. Sortland was also the creative director of the video for “The Great Divide”. Brian Belier is a creative tour de force and brings unexpected melodies and a unique vocal approach to Hot Summer. Belier is also the frontman of the much loved psych-rock band EV Kain and has been a figure in the San Francisco music scene for years.
POSTDATA is the solo music project helmed by Paul Murphy – beloved as much for his two prior solo album releases: Postdata (2010) and Let's Be Wilderness (2018) as for his work within his Juno award-winning and multi-nominated band, Wintersleep.
POSTDATA returns with Twin Flames, a breathtaking and introspective new album, brimming with deep wonderings and intricately excavated soundscapes, for release on March 5, 2021 via Paper Bag Records. In-line with announcing the new record, he's today sharing the album-titled single – watch the video, directed by Canadian director/animator, Christopher Mills, here.
Twin Flames – which comes co-produced by Bristol-based Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius, Portishead) and finds longtime friend Andy Monaghan of Frightened Rabbit and Wintersleep’s Tim D’Eon contributing borrows its namesake from the centerpiece song on the album. “Twin Flames,” revealed today as an eye into the album's center, is about a storm, but perhaps more importantly, it’s also about a fire burning through it. Paul says that being in a storm can be a freeing and powerful experience. “You’re navigating this place…you can’t really see super far in front of you,” he says. “I kinda like that place.”
"This was initially an instrumental track," notes Paul of the subtle and powerful lead single. "I think that’s all I was going for at first. Ali suggested slowing it down and maybe trying to do some spoken word over top. I worked on it that night and made some headway. I took a couple days to really work out the melody and structure of the lyric/song within it. It’s a love song but also felt really poignant personally during full pandemic lockdown this idea of weathering storms. Enduring them. Inhabiting them. Becoming them."
As a full album, Twin Flames brims with intricate sounds, soft things ruffling on the edges, emerging in the choruses, rising in the quiet and the subdued spaces. Murphy has with this third LP, crafted the most intimate and timeless POSTDATA record yet; a bright, compassionate text of major-key romanticism. Murphy says the record is inward-looking and “focused on creating or surrounding itself in hope and warmth.” This tone is realized thanks in part to both process and content. Twin Flames was recorded and co-produced in isolation by Murphy in Halifax/K’jipuktuk and with Chant in Bristol, UK.
Rob Kovacs is an indie rock pianist and singer-songwriter whose latest song 'Here in the Future' has just been shared. Unsurprisingly the music is centered around a piano arrangement that in itself is impressive, add in the other instruments, the melody and Rob's dreamy vocals and we have an outstanding song. ===== Helsinki, Finland pair Pearly Drops have just released their debut album along with a video for the title track 'Call For Help'. A smooth flowing and rhythmic track with beautifully embedded vocals, this is a highly addictive song. ===== Samana were featured a couple of times in September and it's great to have them back with a song and video entitled 'Live For The Road'. Once again we can indulge in some heartfelt and beautiful music, the vocals and harmonies just pour out, and are backed with a gorgeous musical soundtrack.
Indie rock pianist and singer-songwriter, Rob Kovacs, has released his debut solo single, “Here In The Future.” “A song of frustration, pain and anger, loss and rejection,” “Here in the Future” is about the end of a relationship, and wondering how you’ll feel years from now, Kovacs explains. “Everything we had was discarded. All that could have been, has been erased. Will I always feel the same? Will the love ever dissipate? Will I have regretted this? Will she regret her choices?”
A multi-faceted talent who embraces his inner nerd, Kovacs’ works have ranged from daring classical feats and compositions to recreations of music from video games to vulnerable originals. He has a storied history of bands, monikers, and awards and recognition, but is now taking a step into original music under his own name. “Every job I’ve taken, every gig I’ve done, every song I’ve written, every project I’ve been a part of, has helped me grow as a musician, composer, songwriter and performer, but now I'm ready to use my own name,” he explains of the decision to step out as a solo artist. “I can't hide behind it and distance myself from it if I decide I don't like it later, I can't change it down the road. In a way, it’s a commitment to myself. The music I write is a reflection of me.”
Growing up, Kovacs was inspired by his older sister to learn the piano. He wrote his first song at the age of 10, recorded his first piano album in 7th grade to give to friends, and has been making music ever since. While studying piano on scholarship at Baldwin-Wallace University, Kovacs became the first pianist to perform both parts of Steve Reich’s Piano Phase, simultaneously using two pianos to accomplish the feat. He moved forward with classical compositions, won awards for film scores, and found some of his first successes with a band in Return of Simple. Since then, Kovacs has found success as a film score composer and sound designer for video games. Under the moniker 88bit, he records and performs note-for-note piano arrangements of Nintendo soundtracks.
With “Here In The Future,” Rob Kovacs establishes himself as a true master of his instrument and a writer who is able to wield the language of music fluently.
Crafting soul-stirring pop dirges all the way from Helsinki, Pearly Drops is the moniker for Sandra Tervonen and Juuso Malin. The Finnish outfit have just released their debut album Call For Help.
Concocting succinct compositional methods with dynamic synths and percussion; Pearly Drops have honed their musical talent to create a sound in which they hope will keep the internal desires alive and the implausible away.
Its title track is an entrancing, I instantly memorable yet slightly abrasive pop tune that has all the trappings any Grimes fan will love. The band tells us "For us ‘Call For Help’ is the key track to set the boldly sore tone of the full album. For us, it’s as if the narrative and the song itself couldn’t decide whether to be happy or not, to be pop or not, to stay or to vanish - it just needs your final attention. Musically it's an ode to the new wave and post-punk of the late 70s and the 80s”
Recent single ‘Make Water’ weaves through jarring synths within a sombre landscape to create a beautifully serene backdrop for Sandra’s vocals. An impression of a tortuous emotional state, illustrating something that might be ambiguous for the mind but recognizable for the heart.
Although Pearly Drops are a new act to land on the horizon, Sandra and Juuso are experts in the music field, having run the Helsinki-based FEF Corp. label. Their music as Femme En Fourrure has been recognised from the likes of The Fader, Wonderland Magazine and Nylon; as well as being picked for BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mixes.
The pair have also worked with well-respected artists including ALMA, Nightwave and Inga Copeland. Their productional work for other artists has been awarded with golden records and one of the biggest art prizes in the Nordic countries, the Teosto Prize by the Finnish Composers' Copyright Society.
With multiple plays on BBC 6Music from Elbow frontman Guy Garvey, alongside plays on BBC Introducing and Radio X, Wales-based duo Samana follow the October release of their ‘The Spirit Moving’ EP with new single ‘Live For The Road’.
Self-produced, recorded and mixed whilst holed-up in a remote part of France and the world was locked down earlier in the year, ‘Live For The Road’ is a song of celebration. The band explain "It reconciles the power of freedom, the power of instincts, the power of fate and of decision. It speaks of life as a path; a dream, an open road. It recognizes the importance of the present moment and the realisation of the journey. To believe, is to radiate the will of truth and honesty, never to fade”.
The video for ‘Live For The Road’ is a montage of footage taken from the band’s year long voyage through the breadth of Europe. It in fact captures the beginnings of Samana as a band... writing in the wilderness of nature and performing on the streets of every town and village they passed developed into a way of life that they continue to live to this day.
Having recently received support from the Arts Council Of Wales, “Live For The Road” is the first track from the 2nd EP in a new series of releases by the band.
THE MOORS have released their debut E.P '15 Minutes'. Comprising of seven songs this is a refreshing mixture of old school indie rock and new wave, expect plenty of hooks as the band serve up 15 minutes of high octane and addictive music. ===== Deidre & the Dark has just released 'Can't Believe You're Mine' the folk singer songwriter's new and short song is beautifully melodic and her gorgeous vocals are put simply, captivating. ===== Swedish psychedelic rock band Phogg share 'Mon Ami' which is both notably original and intriguing and at just over two minutes duration it's over in a flash and for me, impulsively needing another listen. ===== Whilst we are in Sweden the duo POOLS new release 'Walk' is definitely worth featuring. This is highly creative and original music which mixes Americana and Gospel vocals with so much atmosphere it's quite breathtaking. Those who remember the Swedes Please blog which sadly closed down in 2009 might be taken back in time with Phogg and POOLS who would have perfectly fitted in there.
THE MOORS just released their debut EP, "15 Minutes.” It’s the music in that fever dream you once had---where you’re hanging out with Paul Westerberg and Alex Chilton while Joan Jett and Ric Ocasek are out back shooting pool, smoking cigarettes and watching the ’87 World Series in an old Bowery flophouse. Finally, Westerberg pulls a cassette from his pocket, looks at you, and says, “I gotta play you this.”
Written and recorded during the global pandemic, “15 Minutes” clocks in at about 14:55. The record was produced by JP Bowersock (The Strokes, Julian Casablancas, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Norah Jones, Zerobridge) Front man and songwriter Din says, "I didn't want to waste anyone's time with the tunes. Our mantra was 'don't bore us, get to the chorus.' We recorded everything live, and when things really got bad with the lockdown, we worked remotely. This record could only have been made in New York, and its sound and attitude hopefully reflect that---celebrating the City, while also trying to provide some hope, solidarity, and maybe even a little insight and levity during such a tumultuous time."
Formed in 2018, THE MOORS is comprised of lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter Din (Mubashir Mohi-ud-Din) and lead guitarist, producer, "consigliere" JP Bowersock, both of whom were previously in the band Zerobridge. Din, who was born in the UK and whose family immigrated to the US from the disputed region of Kashmir, eventually settled in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. After a chance encounter between Din and JP at the Delancey/Essex subway stop, a close friendship and musical comradery ensued. Joined by a supporting cast of seasoned NYC musicians, THE MOORS ethos is simple: just give 'em good tunes, and keep it New York AF.
Brooklyn-based artist Deidre & the Dark is sharing a new single, "Can't Believe You're Mine," off of the soundtrack for the documentary Record Safari.
Deidre & the Dark is a cinematic, technicolor world of music conceived by Brooklyn-based songwriter, vocalist & instrumentalist Deidre Muro (founder and former frontwoman of Savoir Adore). With her distinctive voice, she seamlessly blends her love for 60s pop with cinematic arrangements and touches psychedelic and electronic production, resulting in songs that feel like modern classics.
The latest single “Can’t Believe You’re Mine” has just made its first appearance on a limited vinyl release for Record Store Day (10/24/20). It is an exclusive track on the vinyl soundtrack for Record Safari, an upcoming documentary that follows record collector/addict Alex Rodriguez across America as he discovers and curates vinyl for Coachella’s on-site record store, buying records and swapping stories with some of the industry’s most knowledgeable enthusiasts along the way.
“I’ve known Alex Rodriguez since 2012 when he pressed a vinyl 7” single of my song “Classic Girl,” shares Muro. "So when he was working on the film and looking for music, I was psyched to share some of my newer, unreleased ideas with him. “Can’t Believe You’re Mine” was an unfinished demo at the time, but overnight the song seemed to finish itself, largely inspired by just having had my son. Considering he is such a music collector, I was really honored that Alex was so enthusiastic to use it in the soundtrack, along with a few of my other songs.”
“Can’t Believe You’re Mine” is the first single since Deidre & the Dark’s 2019 debut album Variety Hour - "an album that's so lovingly crafted" (Shindig!) of “nostalgic noir-pop enhanced by modern stereophonics” (Culture Collide) and “...that delivers the kinds of hooks and euphoria found only in the very best pop records.” (WFMU, Sheila B)
The Swedish psychedelic rock wonder Phogg is back with a new album. An album sprung out of a pandemic, 30-year crisis and heartbreak. Today we see the release of the first single "PP" with a gorgeous music video.
The year 2020 has not been easy for anyone and Phogg is no exception.
“What does it really mean to be a rock band these days? Does anything even matter? The legendary days of rock have faded into the ruthless fart of the pandemic-era. It's not fun to make songs about the end times when you are in the middle of it.”
In September 2019, Phogg's second album "Mofeto: Mashine Adamkosh" was released, an album "about robots that take over the world" which was well received and praised in Sweden and internationally. After the cheers of "Mofeto", Phogg took on the challenge of recording two albums at the same time. The goal was to work on these albums in parallel and release them at the same time.
Recording two albums at the same time would prove to be an extremely bad decision and the band was burning out mentally. For a time they floated around with neither direction nor goal, just waiting for their instincts to come to life again.
Swedish duo POOLS’ debut record is a collection of affecting, haunting lullabies. The band is the collective vision of multi-instrumentalist Fredrik Forell and singer Arvid Hällagård. Reminiscent of bands like The National and The Tallest Man On Earth, the pair combine Americana, Folk and even Gospel to create something unique.
There are echoes of the pair’s previous life as electro-pop outfit WYRES, with elements of electronic noise and creative production adding twists and turns to the recordings.
Arvid was going through a divorce as the theme of the album took shape. This theme of loss and rumination is evident on upcoming single ‘Walk’.
He explains the track is “a reflection of the emotions I’ve gone through and how I’m trying to move on. All the ache described in pictures and a cry for help. How you sometimes need something higher to hold your hand when it feels like your life is over.”
POOLS is a departure from another life in more ways than one for Arvid, also of successful stoner rock band Greenleaf, the arrangements might be a little more delicate, but the artistic intensity remains the same.
Emma Miller first came our way just over a month back with 'Sail Away' a track taken from her new E.P 'Set Me Down' which we have the pleasure of sharing in full below. Comprising of five songs this is truly beautiful music from a clearly talented folk singer songwriter. ===== Jessy Yasmeen latest single 'Forbidden Fruits' is taken from her new three track E.P 'Dreams' where each original song simmers with personal and genuine emotion. ===== Nico Ev new release is 'Floating Free' an exquisite singer songwriter piece with refined and natural vocals set against a melodic backdrop. ===== From Kate Davis we have her brand new single 'Oh No' and the artist serves up a mixture of refrained and punchy indie rock as this gorgeous song twists and turns. ===== Plants and Animals have shared a video for 'The Jungle' taken from their fifth studio album of the same name, opening with drum lead rhythms and bass licks the song builds layers of sound and superb hooks. ===== Julia Bardo shared It’s Okay (To Not Be Okay) a couple of days back, the song has been described as "a contemplative song about survival, self-acceptance and positivity," it's also one impressive indie rocker.
Set Me Down, the second EP from Elgin, Scotland based singer Emma Miller follows the beautiful pattern raised from singles ‘Honey’ and ‘Sail Away’, sharing songs about heartache and letting go, while also representing the artist’s own small musical liberation, allowing all her imperfections and contradictions to be on show.
The songs truly represent an arc in Emma’s songwriting: bridging the organic and more produced sounds, into soft electronics and back to stripped down piano and vocals. Emma has been finding her voice over the last three years and doesn’t shy away from sharing that process here.
“Although the majority of the music was written and recorded in London, I wrote ‘Low Light’ at home in Scotland fairly recently, and it seemed to embody a lot of the theme of Set Me Down. It’s another song about letting go and returning to the small everydayness of life, and finding peace there.
"I wrote ‘Set Me Down’ nearly two years ago when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed by the music industry and all that that entails. It has quite a literal meaning really, I wanted to be wrapped up in cotton wool and gently set down, away from the hubbub and franticness of London.
“Funnily enough, a year later that’s just what happened. I left London, dropped the pretence of my music having to pay the bills and came back home to the north east of Scotland. Listening to the song now, it’s like hearing a small piece of my life being played out, things have come full circle in a way and I get a strong sense of peace from that."
Releasing music since 2017, Emma has taken a noticeable step back over the past 2 years. Instead, as she quietly watched and supported her peers to find success in their own musical projects, she chose to diligently focus on her songwriting and began working on a body of music she could be proud of.
Like many artists and songwriters who’ve found themselves jaded by the music industry, it wasn’t until Emma let go of the idea that music had to pay the bills that she fell head over heels in love with it. Today, amongst other things, (such as roaming the Scottish hillsides and looking after her dog, Gracie) Emma is pursuing a Diploma in Counselling Psychology, supporting people in the quest to navigate their mental health.
With both Dutch and South American roots, Jessy Yasmeen brings the best of both worlds. Her dreamy indie folkpop is inspired by acts such as Ben Howard, Bon Iver and Matt Corby. With her songs she wants to challenge listeners to be vulnerable and to help conquer personal battles like fear and desire.
After her EP 'Isolation Tapes', her new EP 'Dreams' opens with a long version of the eponymous single which was released this spring, her latest single 'Forbidden Fruits', and new track 'No Man Is An Island'.
Jessy about the story behind the Dreams EP/trilogy: "Society, and often upbringing and education, all steer you in the direction to walk the beaten path. Go to school, study and then the white-picket-fence life. But when do you really learn to think outside the box, or big? And if you already think big, are you brave enough to say it out loud? And to chase your dreams? The assurance that you presumably get when you graduate, you cannot achieve with a dream. You only get the approval of your surroundings when you have already achieved it. And in the time prior to that you can feel misunderstood and alone.
With this EP I want to invite people to just go for it and chase your dreams. Better the "oops" than the "what if". No one else can walk your path of life for you. That is actually pretty cool, right? You can shape your life the way you want!"
Over the past three years, Jessy Yasmeen played more than 80 shows on stages in The Netherlands and Germany. Last year her debut EP saw the light of day, she won a big Dutch music award, 'Grote Prijs van Rotterdam' (category: singer-songwriter), and earned nominations for the Rotterdam Music Awards (categories: ‘the promise’ and ‘best track’). Despite all ongoing restrictions these days she is dedicated to perform at local live shows as much as possible!
Background from Nico - Based in Glasgow, I started writing and composing at the age of six. Over the last few years, I have carved out my place in the Glasgow music scene, through hosting regular music nights across the city and providing a platform for other local talented singer-songwriters to showcase their original material.
Unable to perform live due to current restrictions, I have concentrated on live streaming and recording my debut EP which has new brought me many new fans, increased media attention and radio play throughout the UK, Europe and the USA.
Floating Free is the second track from the EP HUNTER, due for release this December.
Kate Davis (who's album Trophy was released late last year and who co-wrote Sharon Van Etten's "Seventeen") is releasing her second single "Oh No" today November 20 off the forthcoming cover album Strange Boy (out Jan 15).
Strange Boy is a cover album of Daniel Johnston's Retired Boxer and we've been lucky enough to team up with DJ's charity the Hi How Are You Project for the release, with a portion of the proceeds from sales/streaming going to the charity.
As part of this partnership, Kate was part of the Hi How Are You Mental Health Day Fundraiser and performed over livestream with Jeff Tweedy, Bully, Molly Burch, Lucius, Tunde Adebimpe (of TV on the Radio) and a bunch of others.
Plants and Animals released a new music video for the title song “The Jungle,” off their critically acclaimed fifth studio album out now on Secret City Records.
“This song grew out of the ashes of one that we had recorded for the previous record but didn’t ultimately make the cut," stated the band. "Nic, who had sparked the song in the first place way back when, wanted to try to salvage some of the parts and give it another shot—the chord changes and the “yeah yeah yeahs” at least, which were inspired by Jorge Ben and the band’s eternal love for Brazilian music.”
The animated video was directed by Yann-Manuel Hernandez, who also directed the “Le Queens” and “Love That Boy” music videos.
“The Jungle” starts with electronic drums that sound like insects at night. A whole universe comes alive in the dark. It’s beautiful, complex and unsettling. Systematic and chaotic. All instinct, no plan. Every song is such a landscape. They are personal experiences made in a volatile world, and they reflect that world right back at us, even by accident. There’s one song Nic sings to his teenage son who was dealing with climate change anxiety and drifting into uncharted independence. The band carries it out slowly together into a sweet blue horizon. Warren wrote the words to another shortly after losing his father. It’s about the things we inherit not necessarily being the things we want. In a broader sense, that’s where a lot of people find themselves right now.
Plants and Animals is an iconic Montreal-based trio that began playing together as kids and emerged on the international scene in 2008 with “Parc Avenue.” The band has developed a varied cult following ever since, built on the shoulders of their self-produced records and their intense live shows.
Manchester-via-Italy singer, songwriter and guitarist Julia Bardo has shared new single and video It’s Okay (To Not Be Okay), which follows her recently released covers EP The Raw via Wichita Recordings.
Strangely fitting to current events, It’s Okay (To Not Be Okay) is a contemplative song about survival, self-acceptance and positivity; it’s a song for everyone. The video, directed by Hannah Cobb, is raw and introspective with 90’s retro-tinged visuals starring Julia herself. She says;
“‘It’s Okay (To Not Be Okay)’ is about a journey of the self. It can be hard to accept a certain situation we’re living through, to accept ourselves and to appreciate who we are. Sometimes we feel stuck in the same circle of negative thoughts. It’s okay to not be perfect. It’s okay to not feel good. It’s okay to be ‘different. It’s okay to be who we are.”
“The video is inspired by Video Art, hence why we used a television. I imagined it being in an art gallery and having images and shots that show my natural self, doing spontaneous things following the music.”
Julia recently released The Raw EP, which followed the release of her Phase EP earlier this year. Through its 3 tracks, it marked a further experimentation in Julia’s wistful and mysterious sound, explored through a host of unexpected influential artists, including LCD Soundsystem, Silver Jews and Fleetwood Mac, with lead track Only Over You.
Julia Bardo’s musical journey began in Brescia in Northern Italy, where she sang and wrote lyrics for a local band between shifts at her father’s bar. A free spirit craving new inspiration, she relocated to Manchester and it was here she developed her striking style as a solo musician before also meeting and joining post-punk band Working Men’s Club. Never losing her strong desire to have full creative control over her music, she returned to become a solo artist again, and her first two EPs are just the start of what is yet to come, as she continues the evolution of her sound through every new release.
With her candidly open lyrics illustrating her world through journal-like observations and poetic visions, Julia Bardo is a special talent and an authentic and curious alternative pop star in the making.
