Sarah Banker - The Julies - ZKIN - Peter Donovan

Sarah Banker - Into the Heart.

Sarah Banker is a heartfelt singer/songwriter based in the mountains of Colorado. Drawing inspiration from her childhood experiences performing in theatrical productions, Sarah found her true voice through songwriting after learning guitar, following her degree in Cultural Anthropology. After only three months of playing, she had her first guitar performance. Instantly hooked, 18 months later, she sold most of her belongings and set out on the road with just a backpack and her guitar. Her journey of exploration and curiosity has taken her from the jungles of Hawaii to the forests of the Pacific Northwest, down to the deserts of southern Utah, and up to the peaks of Colorado—each place influencing her musical releases and touching others along the way.

Her new EP, Into the Heart, is a collection of authentic and transformative songs centered around resilience. The vibrant four-song folk-pop EP was recorded and produced by Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation) in his studio, at 9,000' feet elevation in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado. The result is a musical journey that is touching, sonically playful, and organic.

Sarah Banker's ability to capture the complexity of emotions in simple yet expressive lyrics is a consistent strength across her music. Her songs feel both universal and deeply personal, inviting listeners to reflect, heal, and embrace what’s to come.

Ultimately, her musical intention is to be a source of light and love through sound. She also hopes her music inspires others to be the best version of themselves, sharing, "You are the ONE, the one who has the potential to make the changes that lead to a fulfilling life experience. You have everything you need within you to take charge of your life."

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The Julies - The Heartbreak Life.

After taking more than two decades to return to music-making with their last release (and first full-length), Always & Always, The Julies have taken less than two years to return yet again. This time with new single, "The Heartbreak Life," an ode to the reality that life isn't just endless possibility but also certain heartbreak.

Memories and reconciliations collide as the track builds from a rumbling rhythm and bittersweet jangle into a powerful, emotive dreampop anthem. "It's a very visual song for me," says singer Chris Newkirk, "so I wanted the lyrics to feel a bit like scattered polaroids."

"The Heartbreak Life" is more than just a single for the band—it's a product of their first attempts at self-recording (unless you count a very obscure 4-track demo contributed to an indie compilation in the mid-'90s). The song is part of a larger effort by The Julies to release music while they continue work on their next album. Conceived late in the Always & Always sessions, it continues its spirit, even though it didn't quite make it across the finish line in time.

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ZKIN - Shadows.

If David Lynch had a band it would have sounded like Swedish synth duo Zkin

ZKIN is a Swedish duo formed in Linköping by Jonas Gustafsson and Malin Jeraeus,(2022), two musicans who wanted to create a dimension where they move beyond genres and labels. Their music has a strong rythm, mysterios melodies and an electronic vibe.

They describe their music as Dessert Soul, Bristol Blues and Cinematic Industrial synth rock. The song “Shadows” is about love, urges and desire. It is about the beauty of secrets, and experiencing the forbidden fruit in the protection of the darkness. The song is produced and mixed by ex-Ghost member Simon Söderberg.

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Peter Donovan - Everything in Between.

Seattle-based musician Peter Donovan releases "Everything in Between," the second single from his anticipated album Community Theatre. The track premiered this week on Rock & Roll Globe, offering listeners another glimpse into the ambitious narrative that unfolds across the full album.

"Everything in Between" continues the story of Lorelei, the central character of Donovan's concept album, as she navigates the complexities of relationships and personal growth. The song features Kate Dinsmore's evocative vocals, which perfectly capture the emotional depth of Lorelei's journey through love's varied landscapes.

Rock & Roll Globe praised the single as "an early taste" of what they describe as Donovan's "magnum opus," highlighting the theatrical nature of the project and its potential for "off-broadway immortality." Donovan elaborates on the track: "'Everything in Between' reflects on the highs and lows of love as Lorelei revisits the spectrum of her past relationships to make sense of her current one. The song navigates through emotional landscapes — joy and sorrow, connection and solitude — painting a nuanced portrait of love's complexities."

The recurring line "We've been everything and everything in between" serves as a mantra of resilience throughout the song, celebrating the endurance required to weather love's unpredictable nature. Through Lorelei's reflections, listeners witness how past relationships, despite their imperfections, continue to shape her understanding of connection.

Peter Donovan · Everything in Between

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Lightheaded - Blue Rose Code - Waiting for Smith - The Hengles

Lightheaded - Same Drop.

Skep Wax have teamed up with legendary US label Slumberland Records to release Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming, the new album from Lightheaded. Carrying on the long tradition of sentimental jangle pop songwriters, Lightheaded distil decades of lovelorn tunes into sounds for modern softies. They have the sunshine sparkle of The Left Banke and Margo Guryan, the C86 charm of Dolly Mixture and Would-Be-Goods, and the cinematic swell of Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura.

Formed on the shore of New Jersey in 2017 by Cynthia Rittenbach and Stephen Stec, Lightheaded took time to hone their sound with a rotating crew of drummers, guitarists and backup vocalists. They found a community of like-minded bands in a vast but tight-knit international indie pop scene, which eventually led them to the iconic California label Slumberland Records. Their debut cassette EP Good Good Great!, a collection of five perfect pop songs, landed in 2023, followed by the full-length Combustible Gems in 2024. A European tour and gigs opening for bands like Heavenly, The Softies and The Ladybug Transistor rounded out their breakout year.

Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming is their most collaborative and earnest release to date. A side of five brand new songs is combined with the five tracks from Good Good Great!, now available on vinyl for the first time. The opening track (and first single) Same Drop sets the tone. An uncanny pop song, it sounds like it comes from the past and from the future, all at once. There is something unusual about this band - something truly special.

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Blue Rose Code - Easy As We Go.

'Easy As We Go', the third single from Blue Rose Code's Scottish Album Of The Year nominated 'Bright Circumstance' is out now. A clarion call for Spring with an unapologetic optimism for new energy and new life. Easy As We Go is a meditation on the interdependence of the human condition, the changing of the seasons, and the turning of the tide.

Featuring some of Scotland's finest jazz musicians and in-demand Conor Smith on pedal steel. 'Bright Circumstance' was awarded five stars in the Scotsman and named a folk album of the year, the Times said - 'Wilson makes wide screen Soul in the spirit of Van Morrison, full of sincerity and holy fire' and the Spectator said - 'a beguiling execution of the age-old Caledonian reel between the light and the dark.'

To coincide with the release, Blue Rose Code are excited to announce a stripped back duo UK tour spanning Spring / Summer 2025, as well as four Edinburgh Fringe appearances: see bluerosecode.com. Blue Rose Code is a band led by singer-songwriter, Ross Wilson. At once, one of Edinburgh's favourite sons and still one of Scotland's best kept secrets. Containing within their music, the tenderness of John Martyn, the Caledonian Soul of Van Morrison, and the powerful roots mastery of Nathaniel Rateliff, Blue Rose Code channels the spirit of these masters with a sound that is bold, authentic, and undeniably their own.

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Photo - Tobias Tiedeman

Waiting for Smith - I Like Life.

Waiting for Smith is the musical project of Harry Lloyd, a British artist whose journey has been shaped by both extraordinary challenges and transformative experiences. After breaking his back at 24 and spending a year in recovery, Lloyd rediscovered his passion for music, picking up the guitar and writing songs with newfound purpose. His eclectic life path – from traveling across the world, learning languages, and becoming a ski instructor, to overcoming mental health struggles and healing in South Africa – has deeply influenced his music. Now based in the Netherlands, Waiting for Smith creates music with a mission: to help others live a happier state of existence, feeling less worry and more love and joy, offering a sense of lightness and hope through his soulful, heartfelt sound.

His latest single, “I Like Life,” encapsulates this ethos, inviting listeners to reflect on the simple yet powerful question, “Do you like life?” As Harry explains, “It’s a question we all feel, and it’s so simple but profound.” The song also introduces the concept of “Love Town,” a place described in the lyrics as “Hey, won’t you come down to the place I call the Love Town.” While open to interpretation, the idea behind it is clear: it's about choosing to view life through a lens of love, shifting from the mind to the heart, and embracing a positive, more joyful state of being.

“This song came about 4 years ago when I turned up to a writing session in Amsterdam. I didn’t wanna go that day because I felt kinda unmotivated - Ironically the song that appeared was the most uptempo thing I’d ever created.”

Written with fellow musicians Jara de Werd and Ramon de Wilde over coffee, the three spoke about life, about the books that inspired them, about changing tastes, early bedtimes, philosophy and the power of now. The result is a single that radiates a feel-good vibe with its melodic bassline and toe-tapping rhythm, complemented by infectious harmonies that will have you chanting along in no time. It’s the perfect anthem for lifting your spirits and spreading smiles.


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The Hengles - Yes & No.

Experience the sonic tapestry of Yes & No, the new single by The Hengles. A captivating blend of influences that transcends time.

The track opens a portal to "things I've never felt before," blurring the lines between reality and dream. Imagine the pulsating synth soundscapes of seventies German Krimi-like soundtracks, interwoven with the melodic sensibilities and driving beats of late 80’s Manchester sound. This unique fusion creates a compelling backdrop for raw, introspective lyrics.

"All I want, all I do, all I see, all I fear…is a lie," the chorus declares, a powerful statement of vulnerability. The Hengles challenge listeners to question perceptions, confessing "I'm not that cool, nor the fool that you take me for." From wistful reflections on aging to distorted realities, the song explores the complexities of self-discovery. Yes & No culminates in a poignant reminder of life's transient nature: "I'm living in a world of come and go." Listen now and let The Hengles take you on a journey you won't soon forget!

TCBYML · The Hengles - Yes & No

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Ledher Blue - The Riptides - The Cravens - Mona Lissa Chanda

Ledher Blue - Fait Divers (Album).

Ledher Blue’s new album ‘Fait Divers’ came from an existential crisis. Admittedly, it was shameful to accept that the most generic of internal conflicts were at hand: the “what’s the purpose of life?”s and the “why am I here?”s out of every self-help book seemed adequate, but needed to be articulated in a particular way. What was the purpose of my life until now; “Why am I here?” Zé from Ledher Blue thought as he got into Dublin.

Ledher Blue are the product of two distinctively different individuals that the waves of life comically decided to beach in a northern town of Portugal - Guimarães. The city is known for its historical meaning in the birth of Portugal, for its nasty hooligans, for its emigrant parvenus, its domestic parvenus, its humble proletariat, its shame, envy, resignation and most importantly a mystical ability of seeing the depressed times - which have long been in the region - united in empathetic jealousy, certain that betters days are coming. The club keeps losing but we’ll be champions, the people are poor but we’ll get better, everything may be bad but he will rise in a foggy sunrise.

Zé and Pedro, the pair behind Ledher Blue, encapsulated the diversity of the town in an existential way. One was always happy, one was always longing, one found a girl, the other found the one, one flourished, the other stagnated when one fell in love with the bars and was now bored the other said, “don’t gamble your life for a couple of poems”, but impressively they would always converge from different perspectives to the same idea. Certainly, one loved Illiad for Aquiles and the other for Hector, one for Vronski another for Levin, one for Grey the other for Vane, one for Liam another for Noel… what matters is that instinctively - or “zoroastrianly” - the pure meaning for their message was not what each wanted to say but the product of the pressure. This conflict was in their youth the birth of friendship and in their slope the birth of the band.

That is why one can say that one song looks happy with mournful feel, or rebellious with fearful grooves; it can be satirical in lyricism and classical in structure, it tries to be a singular unitarian message independent of the peripheral chatter. It’s alternative sometimes, post punk in the others, even poppy on some choruses, but most importantly it always feels original and unique.


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The Riptides - Anti Social.

25+ year Canadian pop-punk veterans The Riptides have just released their new music video for the song “Anti-Social,” off their new LP Burn After Listening, the band’s first for Pirates Press Records. The album is available now on 12” Colored Vinyl, and the new video is available on the PPR YouTube channel, perfect for watching on the clock from your work computer!

The Riptides teamed back up with Petr Maur, director of the “End of the World" video, to create a video for one of the most popular tracks on the new record, "Anti-Social." The video perfectly captures the lyrics' relatable frustrations with the professional, technological, and social obligations of our modern world, presenting the band members raging in a video format that - let's just say we've all become a bit too familiar with!

Ever since the first single and video for "End of the World" dropped in January, followed by the second single, “My Hearts Tattooed On My Sleeve” on Valentine’s Day, people everywhere have been going crazy for the new album Burn After Listening.

Once the whole record came out last month, the accolades started piling up, from reviews to radio play to fans declaring it the band's best work to date!

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The Cravens - Big Ole Sky.

Formed by Bill and John Storch along with Ron DeSaram in 2014, The Cravens are a rock ensemble whose roots trace back to the vibrant alternative scene in South Florida. Renowned for their eclectic mix of classic and hard rock, glam pop with an alternative twist, and Americana, The Cravens have been a mainstay on the South Florida club scene, performing everywhere from Port St. Lucie to Ft. Lauderdale.

Their discography boasts three studio albums, a live recording, an EP, and a variety of singles. Noteworthy albums include “On The Line” (2018), the EP “Early Bird Special” (2018), “Dark Side of Love” (2019), “Cravenology” (2021), and the live album “Live From The Funky Biscuit” (2022).

The 2019 single “Dakota Rose” had resonated across more than 250 commercial, college, and internet radio stations, amassing 50,000 Spotify streams. Other popular tracks like “Distance of One” (2020), “Don’t Come Home” (2021) and “More Than Sorry” (2024)have each surpassed 20,000 streams.

Following Ron DeSaram’s exit in January 2024, The Cravens have been diligently crafting their next project in the studio, a much-anticipated successor to “Cravenology.” Enlisting guitarist David Simone, The Cravens have completed “Strangers To The Truth” , an eleven song outing, due for release in May 2025. “Big Ole Sky” is the first single from this collection.

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Mona Lissa Chanda - Queen Of Games (Album).

Mona Lissa Chanda is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter who was born and raised in Northern Quebec to a German mother and an East Indian father. She crafts torch songs that blend the sophistication of timeless classics with the allure of catchy pop hooks. Her inspirations include Amy Winehouse, Tracy Chapman, Melody Gardot, Sade, and Lake Street Dive. While Mona Lissa likes to explore the dark side of human nature, her music is imbued with wit, charm, and a nostalgic feel.

In 2014, Mona Lissa recorded her debut EP, Tip Of My Tongue, in collaboration with Juno Award-winning sound engineer Robert Heaney (collaborator of Cirque du Soleil and Patrick Watson). Critics praised the haunting folk-pop release, comparing it to Sarah Brightman’s acclaimed album DIVE. Over the years, Mona Lissa has graced the stage at renowned festivals such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival and POP Montreal, showcasing her ability to connect with diverse audiences through her versatile and engaging performances.

Mona Lissa’s first full-length album titled Queen Of Games, released on April 11th, 2025, was self-produced with major contributions by veteran songwriter-producer, Paul Cargnello, who musically arranged and recorded the album in Montreal, Quebec. On Queen Of Games, Mona Lissa explores her love of blues-rock and classic soul/R&B, with a tip of the hat to Americana. It features Mona Lissa’s sultry vocals and haunting melodies alongside Cargnello’s powerful guitar hooks and rhythm sections. This timeless collection makes you feel as if you are discovering hidden vinyl gems from the 60s and 70s. However, Mona Lissa keeps it fresh through her use of contemporary themes and creative genre-blending.

Mona Lissa began writing for Queen Of Games in 2022, which was a challenging year for her. After emerging from the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was hit by significant personal loss. The grief prompted her to do some much-needed soul-searching. As a neuroscientist who has studied the effects of music on the brain, Mona Lissa was well aware of its therapeutic properties. Harnessing the power of music as medicine, she turned to songwriting as part of her healing journey. Thematically, her songs express feelings of ambivalence towards relationships and intimacy. Love is a fundamental human need, but it can lead to pain and a loss of autonomy. This dance between vulnerability and self-preservation is where Mona Lissa finds her sweet spot as a songwriter.

Mona Lissa Chanda · Queen Of Games [Album]

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Agora Sci-Fi - Nouvelle Vague ft. Hannah Hu - OK Go

Agora Sci-Fi - sloppy.

The enigmatic Agora Sci-Fi return with their fresh new hit, “sloppy” . Serving as the second single from the forthcoming EP Finding It Hard to Explain Something So Obvious, the new track is now available on all streaming platforms.

"Keep your job, but lose your mind", Agora Sci-Fi hums with sheer bliss on the new lo-fi pop tune. It’s one of the first lyrics we hear throughout “sloppy”, and although they may appeal bleak to some, they are far too relatable to those feeling stuck in a rut.
 
Crafted for a bright, dreamy day,  "sloppy" offers a relatable narrative to those feeling tangled in the death grips of capitalism. Untangling the desire to escape from the social, economic, and psychological restraints of contemporary life, "sloppy"  flirts with dynamics by gradually getting louder towards the end of the track, as Agora Sci-Fi highlights the injustice of the metaphorical shackles we are chained to.

Speaking in further detail about “sloppy” is Nathania Rubin herself: “Weaving in the fictional narrative in “sloppy” allowed me to really ramp up the stakes of the song. I was picturing a singular sane person, in a world with completely maddening and inhumane mandates. I imagined it as two separate songs in one, two personalities of the same person too, that kind of smash into each other at the end. Like many songs on the EP, it speaks to a desire to escape social confines, and the fracturing of self that happens when playing different roles in various areas of your life. The person who doesn’t conform, gets gaslit from inside and out, and labeled something like sloppy.” 

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Photo - Linda Bujoli

Nouvelle Vague - Sorry (ft. Hannah Hu).

Marc Collin has been following Terry Hall since The Specials. "Sorry" was originally a B side of Hall's project The Colourfield, released in 1984. Collin immediately fell in love with this song, revealing the beauty of Terry Hall's vocal and songwriting. When Terry passed away, he asked Hannah Hue, who had worked with Terry and whose voice he liked, if she wanted to do a cover of "Sorry" for the Nouvelle Vague album. She came to Paris to record probably the only cover existing of this beautiful song.

Hannah Hu is a singer-songwriter based in London, UK. In recent years, Hannah has collaborated with a diverse range of artists including names such as Terry Hall, The Specials, I Monster, The Moonlandingz and Primal Scream. Hannah has been described as a chanteuse of torch songs. Her voice channels the spirit of pop noir and sixties girl groups. It is a whirlwind of romance, violence and vulnerability, wrapped up in a candy shell.  

Speaking about the track, Collin said: "I’ve followed Terry Hall since The Specials, and I had the chance to work with him on the cover Nouvelle Vague has done of "Our Lips Are Sealed" in 2009. “Sorry” was released in 1984. I remember I’ve bought this maxi single at Champs Disques in the 'export' row. I immediately fell in love with this song, revealing the beauty of his vocal and his songwriting.

"When Terry passed away, I saw a message of Hannah Hue that was working with him, I liked her voice and asked her if she wanted to do a cover of Sorry for the Nouvelle Vague album. She said yes and came to Paris to record it. I think that’s the only cover existing of this beautiful song."

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OK Go - And the Adjacent Possible (Album).

OK Go returns with And the Adjacent Possible, the band’s ambitious fifth studio album and first full-length release since 2014’s Hungry Ghosts. Even for a band known for pushing boundaries, the album is wildly eclectic—postmodern and genre-dissolving, with nods to Phil Spector, Toni Visconti, and Nile Rodgers sandwiched between the fuzzy, psychedelic opener, “Impulse Purchase,” and the meditative, Zen-like closer, “Don’t Give Up Now.”  Glued together by the distinctive mixing of the band’s longtime collaborator Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Tame Impala, MGMT), the twelve tracks collectively paint a portrait of a band comfortable in its own chameleon skin.

The band will deliver an extra special performance of “Love,” its new single, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, April 15. Like the album’s first track, “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill,” “Love” is written from a father’s perspective, but the weighty concerns of the first song give way to wonder and joy on this soaring new anthem.

Damian Kulash says, “You know that dream where you’re somewhere familiar, maybe your childhood home, but there’s a door, one that was never there before, leading to some impossible magical place? Having children did that to my understanding of love. Suddenly, a huge new ballroom opened up off of the little apartment I’ve inhabited so long: a whole new wing of love, grand and soaring and utterly overwhelming. It is endlessly amazing that we exist — little, conscious clusters of stardust occurring, apparently by chance, in the vast emptiness of the universe. And we get to experience love. It is unbelievable.”

And since this is OK Go, of course there is a mind-melting music video. It always seems like the band can’t possibly top themselves, but with the release of the video for “Love," they’ve done it again. The single-take video features complex choreography between the band, 29 robots, and upwards of 60 mirrors to create a dazzling — and this time deeply moving — spectacle of infinite reflections and human-scale kaleidoscopes. Shot in the faded glory of a Budapest train station, the clip was concepted in partnership with creative agency SpecialGuest, co-directed by Damian Kulash, Aaron Duffy, and Miguel Espada, and produced by 1stAveMachine, with technology integration by SpecialGuestX.


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