Gilanares - Lauren Freebird - The Jaws of Brooklyn

Photo - Eden Mili

Gilanares - Cat's out of the bag / If Chaos killed the dinosaurs.

New York-based artist Gilanares releases “Cat’s out of the bag” via Neon Gold / Futures, the celebrated independent label that first put out Charli XCX, Tove Lo, Marina, Christine and the Queens, and many more, a roster to which this new, emotionally charged alternative artist surely fits alongside.

Gilanares adds: "This song is a perfect embodiment of East Coast grit. To me, it reflects the New Jersey/New York lifestyle—the relentless hustle to turn passions into something profitable in a world that often undervalues creativity."

Be sure to embark on a profound musical journey with Gilanares, an artist who fearlessly explores the intricate landscape of mental health, media's impact on youth culture, and complex, ever-changing relationships. Earlier last month, she released “if chaos killed the dinosaurs”, alongside a visualizer directed by her creative collaborator, Eden Mili.

Through a kaleidoscope of genres, Gilanares delves into the raw and often unspoken experiences of the mind, offering solace and understanding to those who have faced the labyrinth of emotions.


============================================================================

Lauren Freebird - Liar’s Disguise.

Lauren Freebird’s new single, "Liar’s Disguise," is a bold, unflinching anthem that cuts straight to the heart of betrayal, blending raw southern grit with the soul of blues. The song opens with a sharp jolt — “I didn’t see it coming / You looking back at me” — instantly pulling listeners into a world where deception takes center stage. Freebird wastes no time calling out the smokescreens and false images we hide behind, asking, “Who you pretending to be?”

Her voice is a weapon in itself, cutting through the pretense with razor-sharp clarity, unmasking the illusion with every word. The lyrics “Cause I see… Right through your empty… Hollow eyes / You seem to think that you can hide / You can’t hide” expose the raw emptiness of a love built on lies, as Freebird strips away the facades people try to build with filters, fakeness, and Photoshop.

The production, drenched in soulful undertones and outlaw country swagger, mirrors the tension and release of her voice — a deep, smoky atmosphere that makes each line feel like a confession, each guitar riff a warning. As the song reaches its emotional peak, she delivers the stinging lines, “You said… Times what you needed… Needed to forget / We both know that just ain’t right / It’s just your liar’s disguise,” exposing the lie that time could ever heal the wounds caused by dishonesty.

There’s no escape here — no retreating into the shadows. Freebird’s lyrics pierce the heart, and her voice demands truth, bringing a level of vulnerability that leaves no room for pretense. "Liar’s Disguise" isn’t just a song; it’s a confrontation with the lies we tell ourselves and each other, and a rallying cry for anyone brave enough to stand face-to-face with the truth. This is Freebird at her most fearless, creating a sound that’s both timeless and personal.

Lauren Freebird · Liar's Disguise

============================================================================

The Jaws of Brooklyn - Crush on You (Album).

The official SXSW act, The Jaws of Brooklyn, is back with their sophomore album, Crush on You, which has just been released. Marking a new chapter for the band, the album celebrates resilience, reinvention, and the sheer joy of making music together. The band launches into their sold-out Seattle album release show tonight at Baba Yaga, with performances on Fox 13, King 5’s New Day Northwest, and airplay on KEXP.

The Jaws of Brooklyn, now a seven-piece live act, builds on the retro-infused rock and soul sound that defined their debut album, The Shoals. Crush on You embraces the spirit of renewal. “We love playing together, and when we lost our first lead singer, we knew we wanted to keep going,” the band shares. “We have a crush on Jaws of Brooklyn—being in this band is an adventure. The title represents that sense of playful fun and the energy we’ve rediscovered.” The album was again recorded at Sundrop Sound in Florence, Alabama, with Grammy-winning producer Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Maggie Rose).

After performing at 2023’s Capitol Hill Block Party, the band parted ways with their lead vocalist. In 2024, The Jaws of Brooklyn saw a pivotal change with the addition of new powerhouse lead vocalist Gretchen Lemon, revitalizing the lineup of Dana Dysart (keys), Bryan Cohen (guitar), Paul Christofferson (bass), and Zia Uddin (drums). With renewed energy, they returned to Florence, Alabama, where they recorded 15 new songs. The recording features a return of background all-star vocalists, Shannay Johnson (Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard, Roger Waters) and Karita Law (Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard) to round out the sound and expand their sonic exploration.

The album’s seven tracks encapsulate The Jaws of Brooklyn’s signature blend of ’60s garage-inspired guitar licks, girl-group harmonies, pounding rhythms, and infectious choruses, with expanded sonic elements that push their sound even further.

============================================================================

Lux Interna - Eleyet McConnell - heddlu

Lux Interna - No Arrow.

Lux Interna reveal the music video for the lush and warm track 'No Arrow' as the final advance single taken from the American dark folk innovators' forthcoming new album "New Wilderness Gospel", which is chalked up for release on May 2, 2025.

Lux Interna comment: "In 'No Arrow', a tangle of voices and moments meet, intertwine, and transform each other", guitarist and singer Joshua Levi Ian explains on behalf of the band. "Here, it's always 4:00 am. You're stepping out of the roadside bar as the desert winds gently stipple flickering red neon with grains of sand, while the lights from the town in the valley shimmer below like ghosts in the darkness.

Or perhaps you're waking up in the Mojave heat and lighting a cigarette in the motel bed as you watch your sleeping lover bathed in shadows and the shards of electric light that creep in through the holes in the curtains. Or maybe you're still driving, tired but full of flame, as the car's headlights are continuously humbled by the vastness of a great nocturnal kingdom. Either way, you feel a mix of calm resolve and wildlife surging up inside you.

Your body is awake, a beautiful animal of flesh and fire. It feels like everything that came before has intentionally led you to this moment. But you know that he's out there, waiting and watching. And there's a cold and calculating malice in his eyes. This thought used to terrify you. You would have done anything to shake him off your trail. But not anymore. Now you're ready. You welcome the encounter. Now he's the one that best beware."

============================================================================

Eleyet McConnell - Bed of Roses.

Beloved husband-and-wife Americana duo Eleyet McConnell return with their soul-stirring new single “Bed of Roses,” out on April 18, 2025, alongside an emotionally raw and visually intimate music video. The release marks another milestone for the award-winning pair, as the single has already climbed to #26 on the UK iTunes Country Songs chart, continuing their upward trajectory on the international music scene.

“Bed of Roses” is a poignant anthem of resilience and love, showcasing Angie McConnell’s powerful, blues-laced vocals paired with Chris McConnell’s evocative 70s-inspired guitar work. Together, they craft a musical tapestry that feels both timeless and urgent—steeped in emotion, authenticity, and storytelling. With influences ranging from Beth Hart and Fleetwood Mac to Pink Floyd and The Doobie Brothers, the duo once again proves their unique ability to blend grit with grace.

This release follows a string of recent successes for Eleyet McConnell, including a Top 5 single and multiple Top 30 hits on the UK iTunes charts. Their 2023 marriage added a deeper personal layer to their music, which continues to resonate with fans across generations. Their ability to channel shared life experiences into poignant musical expressions makes “Bed of Roses” not just a song, but a testament to love’s ability to thrive through adversity.

With accolades from the International Singer Songwriter Association (ISSA) and the Josie Music Awards, Eleyet McConnell are quickly becoming staples of the modern Americana landscape. “Bed of Roses” is yet another heartfelt chapter in their ongoing story.

============================================================================

heddlu - Paid Becso Am Dim

heddlu is the new musical project by Rhodri Daniel. The Ceredigion native was a founding member of renowned Welsh band Estrons who had a major impact on the industry having gained rave reviews from the likes of NME, Vice, DIY and Clash to BBC Radio, Radio X, Ultimate Guitar, The Guardian and Independent.

After finishing the band in 2019, Rhodri became aware that his hearing was severely damaged. Years of touring the live circuit had taken their toll, Rhodri ultimately being diagnosed with hearing loss, tinnitus and severe sensitivity to noise. The effects were so acute, Rhodri was unable to play live music, leading to him composing his critically acclaimed debut album (Cantref, 2022) in his head whilst completing the entirety of the Wales Coastal Path (900 miles). His family and namely his sister, were great sources of comfort and hope during this difficult period. Serendipity led Rhodri back to music, and heddlu was born. Meaning ‘Police’ in Welsh, from the words ‘peace-force’, heddlu's music has been true to its’ name, offering a force of peace to the songwriter.

Rhodri spent the next few years writing and experimenting with new sounds and instruments as his hearing slowly recovered. Whilst writing and recording his 2nd album, life found a way of both disrupting and influencing the creative process, leading to multiple re-writes and an entire album being erased. Eventually, despite the interruptions, heddlu’s 2nd album, ‘Tramor’ - was completed.

Meaning ‘Overseas’ in Welsh, ‘Tramor’ is series of intimate and volatile songs, detailing years of loss, estrangement, trauma and hope. “Paid Becso Am Dim”, is the 1st single from heddlu’s 2nd album ‘Tramor’, meaning ‘Don’t worry about a thing’ in Welsh, it was written for Rhodri’s sister who over the past few years, has been fiercely fighting breast cancer. Singing messages of optimism and hope, the song is Rhodri’s small attempt to show the same comfort and support his sister had shown him during his own struggles with hearing damage a few years ago. His sister is now in remission!

============================================================================

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."

============================================================================

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.

============================================================================

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.

============================================================================

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

============================================================================

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.

============================================================================

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.

============================================================================

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.


============================================================================

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

============================================================================