Katy Kirby is a songwriter and indie rock practitioner with a writerly focus on unspoken rules, misunderstandings of all kinds, and boredom. She has just released a new video for the gorgeous song 'Juniper'.
Kirby was born, raised, and home schooled by two ex-cheerleaders in small-town Texas, where she started singing in church amidst the soaring, pasteurized-pop choruses of evangelical worship services. After high school, Kirby moved to Nashville, where she managed to graduate college with a rapidly expanding circle of artistic allies, an amorphous collection of leftist beliefs, and a few handfuls of songs.
After a series of painful failures to complete a record that reflected the temperament of those songs, Kirby finally turned to dear friends and co-conspirators to form a band capable of constructing a satisfying full length.
Willie tells us - "I'm excited to share "Need Your Love," a song that captures the live vibe of my band: upbeat, rowdy, and very old school."
He adds - "My single has that rowdy, angsty mood of being young and restless as we follow two people who want to break out of the confines of their current world and experience something more daring."
In our opinion the song is all of that, the simmering energy and slick guitar break along with a no nonsense pulse are all notable on what is a mixture of old school rock & roll with modern & fresh production. This is a come & see us live song, if ever there was one!
At the heart of Hamilton, ON group King Park, you'll find childhood friends/musical co-conspirators Timon Moolman (vocals, guitar) and Tyler Heemskerk (bass, vocals), accompanied by the animated Nate Wall on drums. The trio's new album, Everett (out this Friday October 29th), is a collection of elegies for ordinary, apocalyptic losses.
Fitting together lyrically and thematically, Everett is not so much a story of heartbreak about not getting the girl, but more about being heartbroken that something beautiful could end up so hurtful – that so much love could turn into hate. It's a story of being stuck in a moment, unable to move forward – surrounded by fear, guilt and shame.
Title track, "Everett," sets the theme for the entire record as it tells a coming-of-age story, speckled by the loss of innocence. It's a snapshot of a time when the rigorous set of black and white lines one grows up believing in finally faded away, forcing re-evaluation.
Today, the UK-born, Paris-based artist ALA.NI released her video for “Le Diplomate,” featuring guest vocals from Iggy Pop. The video stars an unrecognizable ALA.NI in special-effects makeup and prosthetics as “Le Diplomate” On her decision to portray “Le Diplomate” in whiteface, and her reason for the two year delay in releasing the video, ALA.NI says in a statement:
So much has changed in the world. The covid pandemic and all of its challenges, being a main global issue to currently tackle. Also the acknowledgement and conscious movement that Black Lives should Matter. A statement that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Why must I even need to ask for this in our so-called equal and free modern society? Asking to be counted, when we still pay our taxes. Very saddening. We must fight for this change. TOGETHER.
My heart has been deeply hurting along with the rest of the black communities all over the world. On top of all of that, the entire human race has forbidden close contact with our fellow humans. No hugs, no kisses, so we really have much international healing work to do. TOGETHER.
Nearly two years after shooting this video, does it finally feel right to release it? I had to take a few huge steps back. A black woman doing white face in today’s new "conscious" climate could be contentious.
My message for this piece of a capella music and video was always a political one. After a brief encounter with a diplomat from the Sarkozy administration 4-5 years ago, I was left with an impression and aspired to convert my experience into some art expression. Luckily, Iggy Pop was up for the ride too and shared in my vision.
The job of the diplomat is to be neutral, amicable and not to exploit his position by acting as a legal gangster. So what do we do when those trusted figures are corrupt from the very core? We the people must fight for truth, honesty and transparency. After all, governments are there to serve us, the people, the population. NOT their pockets. Sadly this deception and system of corruption is global and rife. So we must speak out. Through art, communication with true dialogue, and confronting the universal key issue that power must not be only for the wealthy, but for the good of heart, as we move into the future to make lasting change. TOGETHER.
ElectroBluesSociety feat Boo Boo Davis - Lowdown Dirty Blues.
Single number 9 from the ‘transatlantic quarantaine sessions”.
Between 1998 up to 2019 Boo Boo Davis used to come and tour in Europe several times each year and a lot of music was written and recorded during these tours.
The current pandemic put that "tradition' on hold. But with the help of the internet and mutual friend Chris Brown in St Louis, the guys from ElectroBluesSociety (Netherlands) started to exchange idea's and demo's with Boo Boo in East St Louis (USA). So despite the fact that they had the Atlantic Ocean between them, they were still able to write and record new music.
Covid can stop live shows (for a while) but it can not stop the creation of new music.
Sydney-born, Berlin-based indie singer-songwriter Jackson Dyer follows up his recent 'Losing Light' single with the release of the new dreamy indie pop, 'At Ease'. The single is taken from Dyer's upcoming EP.
"'At Ease’ is a song about mornings at home, when the coffee is freshly brewed and the sun is filtering through the curtains. It’s about those moments of absolute contentment when you wake up with someone special besides you and the day is pure and untouched by the stress and obligations of the outside world. ‘At Ease’ was a calming song for me to produce, almost meditating on the warm optimism of mornings and love." - Jackson Dyer
Since arriving in Berlin, Dyer has shared the stage with Hozier, Hiatus Kaiyote and Alice Phoebe Lou, as well as playing a host of festivals and touring Europe extensively in support of acts like Mighty Oaks and Dennis Lloyd. His laid-back songs are often influenced by nature and he brings a mix of soul, folk and indie to his spacious production and evocative lyricism. Dyer is set to release a new EP this year, featuring a mix of collaborations with fellow Berlin artists, further developing his distinct style.
Love can mean taking a leap of faith without really knowing where you're going to land – exposing yourself to the uncertainties that lay outside your comfort zone.
Earth and Venus are two planets whose orbits result in a stunning flower pattern centred around the Sun. This is a dance that is so beautiful, but impossible without both moving parts.
Along the way, one may find Winter, used here to personify a beautiful and delicate being whose appeal is suppressed by their cold, unwelcoming touch.
One can only hope that they are not stifled by their Winter, and continue the search for their Venus.
Rock band, Wild Giants, dropped their new single, “Why Aren’t We Freaking Out?” a thought-provoking anthem that makes listeners stop and think about the acknowledgment of aliens. With constantly changing news cycles, some major news events do not get the attention they may deserve. “Why Aren’t We Freaking Out?” brings attention to a topic that we may need to be freaking out about. The indie-rock single is now available to download and stream on digital music platforms worldwide.
With heavy guitars and strong vocals, “Why Aren’t We Freaking Out?” brings the listener on a musical journey that blends between science fiction and current news. Lead singer Austin Walashek took inspiration for this song from his own interest in sci-fi and conspiracy-related events. He calls this single his “best piece of work” so far. As the song transitions from a single guitar to a frenzy of instruments captivated by a controlled yet chaotic guitar solo, listeners get a taste of what the band was freaking out about in music form. “The day the Pentagon opened the lid on UFOs by publicly confirming their existence and alien origins, I assumed the world as we knew it would be changed forever,” says Walashek.
Wild Giants reminds us that it is okay to take some time to “freak out” about some things that deserve more headlines. The combination of Walashek on vocals and guitar, Lyman Lipke on bass, Todd Flaming on guitar, and Corey Batorski on drums, meshes perfectly. Their synchronicity allows listeners an experience to absorb the music itself along with the unique content in the lyrics as well. “The revelation was seemingly swept under the rug by the general public, but I couldn’t keep my mind off of it… I kept asking myself, ‘why aren’t we freaking out,’” he explained, “I channeled my inner Tom Delonge for this track in hopes of bringing the spotlight back on the subject.” Produced by Dan Parker, “Why Aren’t We Freaking Out?” is the third single off of the group's forthcoming EP, Hey There, Slow Down, Help Me.
We are really excited to share the third single and video from the Chicago D.I.Y stalwarts Desert Liminal's upcoming LP Glass Fate out this fall. "Watercolor" opens the album and it was the first song to ever catch my ear.
It's a brooding and meditative composition led with a strong melodic lead with eliding keys. A song that's downcast with a sweet core. The subverted power-trio of Desert Liminal offer a simmering and soaring composition featuring Sarah Quillin's fluid vocals, Mallory Linehan's violin and Rob Logan's understated and deep percussion. It's a bold volley from a Chicago Indie Rock band that takes its cues from Tony Conrad and Haley Fohr. We hope you enjoy it.
A pretty unprecedented vinyl manufacturing disruption have caused us to switch up our release strategy a bit. We will be releasing a new single each month from 3 LP's out in November from Whited Sepulchre Records artists Zvrra, Desert Liminal and Allison Lorenzen.
In 2020 Meg Remy's long-running project U.S. Girls released the album Heavy Light, the latest in a run of critically-beloved releases from the acclaimed artist, and with its line up of 20 plus session musicians, perhaps the most collaborative of Remy's career to date. Remy is returning with a truly unlikely collaboration, a track called "Good Kinda High" that is a collaboration with the Classical Music icon Glenn Gould (1932-1982).
The track arrives nearly forty years after the death of renowned pianist, and is being released as part of a project from producer Billy Wild called Uninvited Guests, in which he uses samples of Gould performances to build new works in collaboration with contemporary artists in a wide range of genres.
The project was initially incubated with Wild’s Division 88, a Toronto-based collective, who dug deep into the Gould catalog with the goal of retaining the musical integrity of the original recordings, while making new songs that could resonate in modern context. The pianist was himself shunned by the Classical community in his day for his views on the future role of technology in music, and Wild contends that the project is a fitting tribute to Gould's adventurous artistic spirit, and something Gould would have approved of.
"This started 7 years ago as a challenge on whether or not Glenn Gould could be made to sound current," says Wild. "The main thing I learned on Gould is that he truly belonged in this generation."
Recently, Megan Nash shared the new single “Coffee” from their upcoming LP, Soft Focus Futures, arriving November 3 via acronym. Now the Saskatchewan songwriter is revealing the video for the track.
“Once again, I am collaborating with the wonderful Andrew Friesen (‘My Own Heart’, ‘Artifact’, ‘Wait’) on a music video,” says Nash. “My friends and I filmed footage during the Summer of 2021. We had all these little snippets of friendship and I wanted to tie them all together with some footage of me singing the song.
This song is so vulnerable for me. And sometimes being open and vulnerable can just make you feel silly and uncomfortable. I wanted to look like how I feel singing this song. So here it is - a video of a hotdog singing lyrics about being worried that someone will leave them once they find out they have anxiety. Hope you enjoy this video. It's a snapshot into my life and who I am - equal parts serious songwriter and total goofball.”
Following on from the enormous success and praise for his recently shared efforts ‘A.A. Gill’, ‘2666 (Love Is On Its Way)’, ‘You’ve Got That Look’ and ‘Mayurqa’ in recent months, fast-rising singer and songwriter Jonny Woolnough continues the support for his highly-anticipated debut album, also called ‘Mayurqa’, with the soaring new effort ‘A Fish Upon A Line’.
Channelling a sweet and atmospheric direction on this new offering, ‘A Fish On A Line’ showcases more of the new record’s more tranquil and endearing moments. With its light and euphoric production, subtle piano-led composition, and his own powerfully distinctive voice leading the charge, his newest gem marks a rich and powerful addition to his forthcoming full-length, and delivers one truly magical experience throughout.
Speaking about ‘A Fish On A Line’, Jonny said, “It was an attempt to write a classic Gershwin-esque ballad. It’s metaphorical, choosing between giving up or carrying on, life and death. The chords are beautiful.”
Originally written and conceived whilst living between mainland Spain and Palma De Mallorca during 2018/19, his new album ‘Mayurqa’ documents a self discovery and emotional rebuilding of sorts. Jonny took an indefinite break from making music after forming the critically acclaimed bands Tomartyrs and The Bazaars, and as touring guitarist for Finley Quaye. ‘Mayurqa’ constantly hints at its place of conception, yet draws its deft, classic beauty from Woolnoughs obvious deep pallet of influence.
Alt Country/Alternative Rock Artist Seneko has announced the release of his 4th EP entitled "'69 Camaro", out now via Torrez Music Group. This new release finds Seneko plugged in with a guitar-focused rock sound, likely inspired by some of his own favorite bands, Wilco and The Jayhawks, the latter whom he's seen live over 20 times. Expect strong song craftsmanship, jangly guitar melodies and impeccable production from this inspired 5-track collection recorded at Nashville's County Q Studio.
Stan "Seneko" Olshefski's music been described as "Think country meets Radiohead" by Wail Music Magazine and featured in the Huffington Post, who wrote "Seneko brings to mind the whimsey of the Gin Blossoms".
From the Artist: I really wanted to make something fresh and have always wanted to do a guitar driven Rock record - So I did. The down time during the pandemic gave me an opportunity to write a lot so there was plenty to choose from. I also helped produce it along with Mike Purcell and Paul Scholten which was a first for me and a total blast. I went back to the the studio (County Q, Nashville) where I made my first record ("Seneko") mainly because co-producer Paul Scholten is also a drummer and I really wanted his powerful driving beat. Plus Paul works with Luis Espillat, a terrific bass player who layered in very cool bass lines and provided the BGVs. Jon Conley, the guitar BEAST, lead the charge and cranked it up - I'm really thrilled with the result. At the same time beyond of delivering a big rock vibe, I wanted my vocals to not get lost because the songs tell five little stories so they're right up front.
New Zealand's French for Rabbits are in a constant state of creation with their warm and nuanced music. Their songs and accompanying videos are the result of the masterful storytelling that we've come to expect from the group, and the dynamic they've built together over nearly a decade. Today, the band have shared "Walk the Desert," the fourth and final taste of their stellar new record, The Overflow, out November 12th via AAARecords (NZ/AUS), Reckless Yes (UK) and A Modest Proposal (Italy). The album will be released digitally, on CD and limited edition vinyl (with two unique colour variants out of New Zealand and the UK).
"'Walk the Desert' is another song that fits into the canon of this album – it’s about big feelings, and trying to keep them contained. That feeling that if someone asks if you’re alright, you know you’d burst into tears," front-woman Brooke Singer explains of the emotive lyrics.
The Overflow was recorded with NZ producer/musician Jol Mulholland (Tami Neilson, Neil Finn, Delaney Davidson, Troy Kingi) in Wellington at The Surgery and in Auckland at The Lab, with mastering by Carl Saff in Chicago. The result on "Walk the Desert" is premium indie-pop, that Singer has proclaimed her pride in, "I think we’ve managed to create our biggest, most solid pop song, and I’m really proud of that."
On the new album, the group sweeps forward with their most dazzling body of work to date. Written and recorded mostly in 2020, the songs on The Overflow cover a wide range of relevant topics, with the common threads of introversion and anxiety woven throughout. "The Overflow is our album for introverts and deep thinkers - it is sort of a constellation of all the different ways in which someone can be anxious.
Taxiway releases “Four Star,” a song for late-night lonely hotel rooms, October 21 on Seven Plates Records. It is off the album, Absence, due out November 5. The single partially inspired by the film “Up in the Air” depicts a drunken conversation with a hotel’s front desk and the broader message that everything is temporary.
The song tells the story of a man who travels frequently for his job and learns that his company plans to lay him off and replace him with the overseas workers he’s been training. He runs up an enormous hotel room service tab and charges it to his company credit card out of spite. The song’s rolling snare gives a marching undercurrent of war waged on the soon-to-be-former employer. It serves as a reminder that a comfortable way of life can be one phone call away from completely falling apart. And corporate America will cut you loose without a second thought if it results in a temporary boost in their stock price.
The album is bookended by songs where the narrators feel unseen, unnoticed, and unappreciated. The characters in these songs aren’t just looking to leave; They want other people to *feel* their absence. The songs and atmospheric music that accompanies them, invoke the lonely, unfamiliar world of airports, hotels, offices, and empty city streets, centered by narrators whose lives are in a state of transit.
Rebecca McCartney returns to the city where she was raised by a family of musicians and nerds, now with her own sound and much to say. She grew up immersed in NYC’s classical music world and her early songwriting eventually led to the release of an indie-folk record under the duo name Garden Party (2020) with her close friend, Jakob Leventhal.
Now, after a college career studying jazz and playing in an R&B band, McCartney is preparing to release her genre-bending debut EP, How You Feel. Calling on her eclectic musical influences and experiences, the upcoming record generates an edgy, ethereal sound that celebrates McCartney’s buttery vocals and absorbing lyrical insights.
Rebecca is stoked to share her new single out on October 22nd. Here's what she had to say about it: "I wrote this song about a relationship that was softly suffocating. It was the feeling of, I love this person, but being with them takes up more of myself than I'm able to give, and I need to figure things out with a little more space. Like most of my songs, it started with me processing my emotions with my guitar and my voice, then turned into a more ambient soundscape when we produced it in the studio, something that was more evocative of the mellow sorrow of the song".
LA’s “Behind-the-Scenes Indie King” (LA Weekly) Joel Jerome has released the demo version of his new single “When You Land” as a stripped down, solitary performance. An off-the-cuff take, the “Porta One Demo” leans in close with its heartbreaking narrative, and without the orchestral flourishes of the polished studio version manages to find its own delicate wings to soar.
An artist who is no stranger to the other side of the board, Joel has a long history of recording himself and others, adding, “My life in recording music began with a simple four track and I still believe there is magic that it imparts on any sound, an intimacy and almost private one on one conversation with the listener. It’s like listening to someone singing to you over an answering machine message.”
Joel Jerome first gained acclaim with his pioneering South Bay indie band dios (malos), founded with his brother Kevin in Hawthorne, CA, also the hometown of The Beach Boys and Redd Kross. The release of their self-titled debut album in 2004 led to the placement of their music in the Fox series and early-aughts cultural juggernaut The O.C. Jerome has since established himself as a producer, engineer, mentor and champion for scores of up and coming LA bands such as Cherry Glazerr, while continuing to write, produce and release his own music.
“‘When You Land’ is about waiting for someone to come back from a dark place” Jerome commented. “Questioning your stamina in doing so. Hanging on to hope even though you know it may be pointless. Ultimately it's about the tender torture of unconditional love.”
Jerome’s first full-length album with Dangerbird is due out next year and is a stunning showcase for his vast gifts as a singer, songwriter and lyricist. Recorded and produced by Jerome and mixed by Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck, Kurt Vile), the album shines a light on his creative journey as well as the unique mix of influences that shape his work: the timeless melodic pop (Beatles, Kinks, Beach Boys) and classic 70’s-era Mexican singer-songwriters that surrounded him growing up.
Emerging singer-songwriter, Zach Churchill, has just released his debut single, “Bartender.” The California native opens up about a near-death experience in a powerful ballad. The song is written out of gratitude for the bar manager who saved his life after finding him dying of an overdose on the bathroom floor. “Bartender” is available to download and stream on all digital platforms worldwide.
Zach Churchill balances raw, honest lyrics with moving instrumentals, resulting in a gut-wrenching portrayal of his battle with addiction. The swelling guitar alongside a driving drumline will captivate his audience as they are engulfed in the emotional undertones that vibrate through each verse. “In 2014, I overdosed on heroin at a bar after performing there,” Churchill explains his inspiration for the single. “Everyone left, and the bar closed. The bar manager was getting ready to leave when he saw the lights still on in the bathroom. He went to turn them off, but the door was locked. He got a key from the back office and returned to find me on the bathroom floor, dying.” The release coincides with National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and “Sober October”; two causes that hit home for Churchill. “If [the bartender] had just gone home that night without checking the bathroom, I wouldn’t be here today,” he states. “I have been sober from all drugs and alcohol ever since that event and it has completely changed my life. He gave me a second chance.” The song was written by Zach Churchill and Julian Coryell, who also produced and played on the track. Churchill also recruited Stevie Blacke on strings and Eva B. Ross on backing vocals to complete the sound.
With an expressively vulnerable voice, singer-songwriter Zach Churchill breathes life, love, and gratitude into absorbing narratives. His folk-rock style is influenced by legendary alternative and rock artists such as Elton John, Radiohead, and David Bowie. He attributes his vocal inspiration to jazz musician Chet Baker and Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. Churchill began singing as a child, learned how to play the acoustic guitar at age 13, and began writing songs a few years later. He earned a degree in Music Industry Studies from CSUN after studying vocal performance at Saddleback College and CSUF. "Bartender" is the first single off of his debut collection, Heartbreak and Hope.
“Bartender” is a folk-rock ballad that embodies the pain of living with addiction and the hope that recovery provides.
Big Little Lions continue their monthly releases with 'Beat You Up' (not in that way!).
"Beat You Up" is a calming song written as advice to ourselves, our loved ones and anyone else who beats themselves up over even the smallest things. A song telling us all to be kind to ourselves.
Beat You Up was written, recorded and produced by Big Little Lions who are Helen Austin and Paul Otten.
Hey, you don't have to worry it’s only human to get it wrong Hey I know that you're sorry I want you to know that you’ll always belong You let it beat you up again Beat you up again I wanna wake you up again Wake you up again So forgive yourself Like I forgive you You know, it’s so far behind us and it’s time to walk with grace I know you try to be flawless But it’s such an impossible weight You let it beat you up again Beat you up again I wanna wake you up again You let it beat you up again Beat you up again I wanna wake you up again So hey, let go of the worry Look for the better days ahead we’re all on a difficult journey so take care of the words in your head You let it beat you up again I wanna wake you up again You let it beat you up again Beat you up again I wanna wake you up again Wake you up again So forgive yourself Like I forgive you
