This song is about the concept that life is going to happen so you can either be an observer or a participant. Action is more important than words, so since participating will ultimately make you happier, get off your duff and take charge of your life.
"'Sh*t happens' and you can’t always rely on other people that you think are in your corner and when they do let you down, their remorse is fleeting, reflecting the immediate gratification that this social media world delivers in almost faster than real time," shares Eric Selby. "So what do you do? Well, hope is not a strategy so you must plan and execute your life your way because the promises and intent of others are often thrown around without care."
When not being a single Dad to four awesome daughters and spoiling his cat (who thinks he's a dog), Eric is a sought-after artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist. After many years behind both the drumkit and mixing board, Eric has stepped out front, releasing his first solo, original music in 2020, including the Do, Baby EP, as well as two singles: “Anxious Zen” and “Another Page.”
Julian Never have released "Grassharp," the second single from their debut LP, Pious Fiction. The song is clearly inspired by the Flying Nun catalog, Prefab Sprout and other odd underground pop hits by Chris Spedding and Dwight Twilley.
Pious Fiction sees release via Mt.St.Mtn. (100 copies on Natural vinyl, 200 copies on Black vinyl, very limited “Meyyer Lemon” for Monorail Music in Glasgow) on January 13, 2023.
Julian Never is the latest vehicle for former Mayyors drummer Julian Elorduy’s jangle pop alter-ego. An evolution in songwriting that produced the short-lived, but much loved Fine Steps. Pious Fiction is 15 tracks of bittersweet, sun-warped jangle self-recorded off and on over the last four years in a variety of Sacramento homes and warehouses with the help of former Mayyors bandmate Mark Kaiser (also of Castle Face goth punks Male Gaze), a Tascam half-inch reel-to-reel and a borrowed mixer.
The album is built upon a solid base of guitar-centric pop that is richly layered with ethereal synths and piano, and intertwined with themes of love, loss and the ghosts of Elorduy’s Catholic upbringing, all delivered with his captivating tenor.
The Trouble Notes - Never Dream Alone (featuring Carola Zerega & Freddy Dubois).
The Trouble Notes’ “Never Dream Alone” is a fantastical folk-pop ode to dreamers inspired by the cosplay community. Sitting between traditional folk, modern classical, and tribal dance music, The Trouble Notes have released their new fantasy-tinged folk-pop anthem “Never Dream Alone”
Written for and filmed at the 2022 Summer edition of Elfia, Europe's largest outdoor Cosplay festival, the video showcases the energy of the song with vibrant visuals and eclectic costumes - inspiring listeners to embrace their dreams and imagination
A call to embrace the fantastic, wonderful and weird, “Never Dream Alone” showcases the band’s quintessential classical-cross-over style, holding elements of an epic film score within the structure of a modern Folk Pop song. The fantasy-tinged violin melodies and string arrangements are a nod to the epic scores of the genre, while the operatic vocals of Carola Zerega and Bennet Cerven carry the message of unity in diversity. On full display is the energetic rhythms of the mind-blowing percussionist Oliver Maguire, whose unique hand drumming techniques elevates the listener to new heights.
Florian Eisenschmidt’s rock inspired riffs on guitar are the backbone on which pianist Frederic Dubois creates the harmonic soundscapes that shape “Never Dream Alone” and bring the listener into a fairytale realm with unity at its core. “‘Never Dream Alone’ is an epic ode to the dreamer,” says Bennet Cerven, Violinist for The Trouble Notes. “It was an easy song for us to write because we have always identified ourselves as such. We wanted to create a piece of music that captures the fantastic spirit of our favorite films and stories while being inclusive and easy to sing along to!” Overall, this track will take you on an auditory journey through realms unknown - so be sure not to miss it!
Things have certainly come full circle for Jake Thistle. The rising singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist knew he wanted to be a musician at three years old, when he saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Now, Thistle is 18 years old; and yet, his resume boasts performances with – you guessed it – the Heartbreakers. Not to mention a performance slot at Tom Petty’s posthumous (and virtual) 70th birthday celebration.
Thistle has just released his newest single, “Ghosted Road,” along with the accompanying video. Both the track and the video are available via all streaming platforms now. "Ghosted Road began less out of story and more from trying to paint a scene,” shares Thistle.
“I actually wrote the song under a blinking traffic light outside a house I was staying at, so the song came from wanting to convey how lonely that atmosphere seemed at that time of night. The song is a continuation of my love of writing about roads, traveling, and the overall mystery of going to new places."
The video for “Ghosted Road” was shot live, as Thistle recorded the track at Lakehouse Studios in New Jersey. The video captures the process of crafting the song as well as a particular moment in Thistle’s career.
The Legendary Ten Seconds - Jolly Summer Scarecrows / Jack Rattenbury.
The Legendary Ten Seconds started off as the solo music project of Ian Churchward during the time when he was the lead guitar player of The Morrisons who were featured on John Peel's radio one show back in 1987.
In 2013 Lord Zarquon joined Ian's music project and since then the line up has gradually expanded and various guest musician's and vocalists have helped out in the recording studio.
Jolly Summer Scarecrows is a song about the annual summer scarecrow competition in Torquay. The song is taken from the new Sagas of the South West album.
All about St Marychurch And down along Babbacombe way Jolly summer scarecrows Put on a bright display Jolly summer scarecrows Put on a bright display.
We also have the story of the smuggler Jack Rattenbury who was born in Beer in 1778.
Jack Rattenbury the smuggler Was born in the village of Beer Where his family lived in poverty With no comfort throughout the year Jack Rattenbury the smuggler Was born in the village of Beer.
Catholic School - Suicide at Sun Studio (Sessions Mixtape).
Memphis' Catholic School uploaded four more songs from the previously unreleased Suicide at Sun Studio session to Soundcloud.
When Catholic School has released all the music from the session is released, the band plans to upload the release to Bandcamp as a "pay what you wish" download. The effort, which was recorded at the famous Memphis studio, follows the "Needle In The Storm" single released earlier this year, and which Brooklyn Vegan called, "dark-hued, post-punk-inspired rock."
After undergoing many musical shapes and forms over the decades, West Tennessee multi-instrumentalist John Christie started making solo material in 2019. These songs caught the ear of other better-known artists, one of whom urged him to come up with a new name for his project. Christie chose Catholic School as a new moniker and took to the studio in 2020, reaching deep into his past as a recovering drug addict.
He constructed a debut, self-titled EP built on the memory of lost loved ones, incarceration and undying friendship. With the help of local Memphis artist Ben Ricketts, the album was completed over a year later and was released on Cercle Social Records as a cassette and digitally by Christie’s Maudlin Jerk Records.
Gary Sohmers & Various Artists - Beasties: A Sci-Fi Rock Opera Act One - Impulse.
“Beasties: A Sci-Fi Rock Opera Act One - Impulse” has been released across all digital services this week, soon to be followed by CD and Vinyl releases in early 2023. Act Two is being mixed and will be released in April 2023.
Following along the path paved by other cult classics, this cast concept album is just the beginning of a pop culture work of art aimed at saving the planet and humanity from climate destruction and societal corporate corruption.. Gary Sohmers crafted a story around these songs in early 2017, having written several of the songs over the course of his life, he wrote 9 new ones, along with 3 novels from the perspectives of 3 of the main characters. Having a 50+ year career in pop culture and showbiz, Sohmers releases his first record since his initial release in 1980.
Beasties: A Sci-Fi Rock Opera On the brink of planetary climate destruction, an otherworldly impulse rallies humans and their out-of-control beasties to save terra firma from corporate corruption in the midst of a concert in Central Park.
"Beasties: A Sci-Fi Rock Opera" is a story about a rock band that finally has a hit record after years of touring, performing a free concert in Central Park that attracts a huge crowd. But, without telling the band, the promoter sold a sponsorship to a corrupt politician, Dick T.Raitor, who interrupts the concert in an attempt to hijack the audience's attention. The hero, Grā (pronounced: Gray), currently a stagehand and a retired singer, is affected by an alien intervention from an otherworldly impulse—which infuses within him a schizophrenic identity with special powers—to make humanity aware of their inner Beasties. Two intertwined rock and roll love stories, one between humans and one between the universe and the sci-fi rock known as earth, to save the planet from climate destruction by societal corruption.
The cast concept recording to be released Dec. 14, 2022 features singers Dave Bickler (Oscar nominated, Grammy winning vocalist of "Eye of The Tiger") as Grā (an alien impulse from the cosmic universe); British rock star Chris Farlowe (1966 hit "Out of Time" with Mick & Keith, also sings with Jimmy Page, Van Morrison, among others) as the villain Dick T.Raitor; rock n soul singer Barrence Whitfield (of The Savages) as the "star" of the concert, Voice; and new-comer Liz Proteau as the female lead Terra. Orchestrated, arranged and co-written by Bill Holloman (Nile Rodgers, Bruce Springsteen, others). Record mixed by Paul David Hager (Miley Cyrus, Katie Perry, Jonas Bros., Devo).
Rama Lama Records 2022 - A compilation with the best from 2022.
2022 is coming to an end! As usual, we’ve put together a compilation with some of our favourite releases from the year, this time a year which we were awarded the "Indie Label of the Year" award at the Swedish Indie Awards Manifestgalan.
In 2022, we released a great album called "Swedish Punk" by a Danish act called Kindsight who doesn't play punk, either way there's no doubt that the album is an instant classic in the Rama Lama catalogue and the band is set to play SXSW 2023.
Talking about classics, Melby returned with their second album packed with psych/indie/folk-pop/rock bangers and six years in you're probably tired of hearing us declare our endless love for the band. Fun fact - Melby are the only ones who's managed to release something every Rama Lama year so far.
NOVA BLAST's melodic, dynamic and LOUD debut album showed how rowdy we can be. The EP game was strong with Guds Pengar's long lost debut EP getting an official release and Wy treating us with three beautiful songs once again showcasing why they are one of Sweden's best songwriters (probably parents to). Gula Blend's Jesper charmed us once again with his JERKA project and Per och Olof's hits were gathered on one incredibly strong and handy album.
On the singles side, we released everything from slow jams to experimental hypnotic rock from both newcomers such as Mary Anne's Polar Rig (more on them early next year...) to familiar faces such as E. Björklund, Jo Yonderly, Meet Me At The Quarry and Hippopotamus, with the two last being a part of the brand new Rama Lama Family Club.
There’s already a lot to look forward to in 2023 with some of these acts and some secret ones we can’t wait to share it with you. Huge thanks to everyone who’s supported us and the acts we work with this year, we hope you will enjoy this compilation and see you in 2023!
1. Mary Anne's Polar Rig (Malmö) - "Summer Girl" - single 2. Guds Pengar (Malmö) - "Innehåll" from "Solens uppgång och fall" EP 3. Melby (Stockholm) - "Waiting Game" from "Looks like a map" LP 4. Kindsight (Köpenhamn) - "Hi Life" from "Swedish Punk" LP 5. Per och Olof (Malmö) - "Jag drömde om dig inatt" from "Rädd häst" LP 6. NOVA BLAST (Stockholm) - "IndoorSong" from "Eccolalia" LP 7. Wy (Malmö) - "High Score" from "Something Amazing" EP 8. Meet Me At The Quarry (Lund) - "Daydreaming" - Rama Lama Family Club #2 9. E. Björklund (Stockholm) - "Jag ser bara fel" - single 10. Jo Yonderly (Malmö) - "I think I've got it, alright?" - single 11. Kindsight (Köpenhamn) - "Love You Baby All the Time" - single 12. Per och Olof (Malmö) - "Jag ska göra allt för dig" from "Rädd häst" LP 13. Melby (Stockholm) - "Other Nations" from "Looks like a map" LP 14. Hippopotamus (Uppsala) - "Horse Race" - Rama Lama Family Club #1 15. NOVA BLAST (Stockholm) - "Lurad" from "Eccolalia" LP 16. JERKA (Malmö) - "Annika" from "JERKA" LP
The Toronto-based cosmic country band Honey Harper has released the official video for “Heaven Knows I Won’t Be There” from their new album Honey Harper & The Infinite Sky out now ATO Records. The video was directed by Angus Borsos and was filmed in Golden, British Columbia.
“I found the original version of this song on my friend Matthew Deloach’s Soundcloud in 2016,” explains frontman William Fussell. “We fell in love with the track and immediately asked if we could cover it for Starmaker. We made multiple versions of it but felt we couldn’t get it just right so we held on to it. When we were recording in LA, we decided to give it another shot with The Infinite Sky. This version was originally inspired by Harry Nilsson’s ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ but ended up somewhere in between that and ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd. When we were listening back home in Toronto before finishing the vocals, Alana decided to add a new chorus that gave a Lou Reed ‘Perfect Day’ dynamic to the song.
The video was filmed exactly a year ago to this day in Golden, BC by our dear friend Angus Borsos. We convinced someone to forklift a piano to an abandoned helipad on the side of the mountain, so we could pretend we were John and Yoko for a day. A very cold day.”
Honey Harper & The Infinite Sky emerged from a deliberate revamping of the band’s creative approach with Honey Harper co-founder and keyboardist Alana Pagnutti taking on a far greater role in the songwriting process alongside Fussell. The 12-song collection marks their first time recording with their stacked band The Infinite Sky, featuring their longtime bassist and contributing writer Mick Mayer, pianist John Carroll Kirby (Solange, Steve Lacy), Spoon keyboardist Alex Fischel, guitarist Jackson MacIntosh (Drugdealer, Jessica Pratt), pedal-steel player Connor Gallaher (Black Lips, Calexico), and TOPS drummer Riley Fleck. The album was mixed at Wowcat Studios in Los Angeles by Joel Ford (yes/and, Ford & Lopatin).
Karen Harding - It's Okay / Greener On The Other Side (feat. Cologne Chamber Orchestra)
Following on from previous single, ‘Strong For You’, Australian Singer-Songwriter, Karen Harding reveals the second half of her musical project with Argentinian P&M Records, with the dual release of ‘It’s Okay’ and ‘Greener On The Other Side’, featuring the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, on Friday 16th December 2022.
Written by Karen Harding and produced by P&M Records, ‘It’s Okay’ tells a story of self-frustration.. of believing that you should be somewhere, someone or somehow different than where you are.. and then allowing yourself to drop it and let go in compassion for yourself, letting yourself know that it is truly ok for things to be exactly as they are.
Co-written with P&M Records and featuring the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, ‘Greener On The Other Side’ was written when considering some big changes. It highlights the fears that come up with the change and questions whether what you imagine on the other side of change is truly the reality of how it is. Is the grass really greener on the other side?
“It was such an incredible honour to be able to have the Cologne Chamber Orchestra play on ‘Greener On The Other Side’. It has always been a dream to work with an orchestra, and to work with such a talented and world class orchestra is beyond my dreams” Karen Harding
Since her debut single release in May 2021, ‘I Didn’t Realise’, Melbourne, Australia singer-songwriter, Karen Harding has been on a journey of musical and personal exploration, determined to see what is truly possible in music and creativity.
Karen Harding has recently collaborated with Argentinian P&M Records, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Canadian producer, Landao, Melbourne Hip Hop artist, Serif, and a stunning inspirational project with Misia Julia, as well as winning the 2021 Bendigo Bank sponsored Radio Eastern songwriter talent show and being nominated as top 10 winner for the World Songwriting Awards, and a nominee for Best International Artist on Crags Radio Independent Artist Awards in February 2022.
Dutch Uncles have released their new single “Poppin’" - the second track to be lifted from the band's long-awaited sixth album, True Entertainment, out 10th March 2023 on Memphis Industries. Named after the original demo of the track (as is tradition for one song on each of Dutch Uncles' previous albums), "Poppin'" was primarily composed by the band's guitarist and synth player Peter Broadhead and was partly inspired by Talking Heads' Brian Eno-produced albums.
Speaking on the lyrical inspiration behind the new single, vocalist/lyricist Duncan Wallis said: "Poppin' is a minimal take on the age-old anxieties, dread and fear we all experience at certain times - bumping into old faces hungover (or worse, not hungover), taking too long to answer the question ‘you alright?’, forgetting everyone’s name and constantly assessing if old faces were present at any moments of particular cringe in your past.”
Taking inspiration from Yellow Magic Orchestra, Prince, Steely Dan, Ennio Morricone, The Blue Nile, Kate Bush and Roxy Music, new album True Entertainment is the long-awaited follow up to Big Balloon (2017) and features guest vocal contributions from Metronomy's Anna Prior and Everything Everything's Jonathan Higgs.
Sharing new insight into the new album, Wallis commented: "True Entertainment is a soundtrack for the pursuit of anonymity within ever-changing societal norms, and the trappings that come with it. Those trappings are presented in a series of life-changing scenarios and epiphanies that include: abandoning one’s identity and accepting one's generation as a useless vessel; to suffering for betterment and dealing with challenges from other generations."
Brian Dunne makes his debut on legendary indie rock label Kill Rock Stars with his new single “Sometime After This.” A transcendent embodiment of the phrase “this too shall pass,” the new single is accompanied by a music video that finds Dunne in the role of a barstool philosopher wandering the empty streets of New York City searching for what it all means. Dunne has also announced an east coast tour kicking off next spring, with stops in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Nashville and more.
“At its core, this song is my way of saying ‘this too shall pass’ but in a way that feels honest, and not like a HomeGoods wall stencil,” says Dunne. “It starts with a big idea and gets smaller with each verse. The first one addresses the social and political state of things, and how sad it is that we can't even agree on what it is that we disagree about (and also has the first, and likely last use of the word ‘email’ in one of my songs). Verse two is about everything that led me here, to this particular song, and finds me asking a classic NYC vampire - a sacred character to me - what exactly to do with it. And verse three is just about a single cup of coffee and how it all just comes down to that; being grateful for a hot beverage.”
Slim Moon, founder and head of Kill Rock Stars, explains why Brian Dunne is right at home on the label: “KRS means different things to different people, but we’ve always had a wing in the building for great singer-songwriters. In the 90’s we had Mary Lou Lord and Elliott Smith. In the 00’s we had Thao Nguyen and Colin Meloy (Decemberists). In the 10’s we had Corin Tucker and Justin Ringle (Horse Feathers). Now, we have Mya Byrne and Brian Dunne.”
Maraschino - Walking On Thin Ice (Yoko Ono Cover).
Here's a non-album cover song from Maraschino that will fit right in on your Winter playlist (but maybe not your Xmas playlist!). A cover of Yoko Ono's classic "Walking On Thin Ice" from 1981. When John Lennon was shot, he was famously holding in his hand a tape with the final mix of this song on it. So sing along friends.
Walking on thin ice I'm paying the price For throwing the dice in the air Why must we learn it the hard way And play the game of life with your heart?
I gave you my knife You gave me my life Like a gush of wind in my hair Why do we forget what's been said And play the game of life with our hearts? I may cry someday But the tears will dry whichever way And when our hearts return to ashes It'll be just a story It'll be just a story
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
"I knew a girl who tried to walk across the lake 'Course it was winter when all this was ice That's a hell of a thing to do, you know They say the lake is as big as the ocean I wonder if she knew about it?"
A couple of months after the release of 'dark is the path', French cold-wave/post-punk/dark-pop/indie-rock five-piece The Last Waves just released another EP called 'under a black sun'.
These five new songs lead us immediately to worry, anguish, loneliness. New uninhabitable space, he shares with us his distress and his despair. The music of The last Waves offers us the sound image of an inaccessible world, it convinces us of its reality. 'under a black sun' was recorded, mixed by the band and mastered by Benjamin Joubert at the Biduloscope studio in Paris.
The Last Waves is a new band created in the middle of the pandemic around three boys and two girls. The name of the band is a wink to the new wave of the eighties, the famous new-wave whose name was borrowed from the new wave of the French cinema of the 50's and 60's and carried notably by the British Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode or Simple Minds.
Concerts suspended, venues padlocked, this period of forced silence was the spark that made the band's first two EPs spring up in late April and late June 2021. 'Revenge of the blue' and 'In cold colors avenue' were composed by founding guitarist Romain Champiot in an urgent, visceral and uncompromising way, like the last waves of an uncertain period.
The tracks are a mix between New Wave, Cold Wave, Pop and Indie-Rock. The harmonies are put forward, precise and often dancing. The Last Waves is inspired by the independent music of the 80's and the pop rock of the 2000's, adding a touch of electro rock when the intensity requires it.
Shira shares of the stunning track: "The holidays can be a tough time. Three years ago was extra hard for me when I was alone, sheltering in place, during the pandemic, while my partner was stuck on the other side of the ocean and I was dreaming of having him here with me in NYC. There's a certain magic in NYC around the holiday that really doesn't exist anywhere else. I hope this song brings comfort to whoever is listening and reminds them that they're not alone. "
Born in upstate NY to Israeli parents, Shira split her time growing up between Israel and the States. After finishing her service as a singer in the Israeli Army Band, Shira moved to NYC where she studied music and theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and The New School.
After graduating, Shira met music producer Paul Carbonara (Blondie) as a performer in New York’s vibrant theatre community. She starred in his Off Broadway musicals Solitary Light and Evening 1910 to much critical acclaim. Shira went on to record two albums produced by Carbonara along with an ace six-piece band, including Israeli-American Grammy-nominated drummer Dan Pugach.
In memory of my good friend Rainbow George Weiss "The wondering jew" who sadly passed away around this time last year 2021 on the 1st December aged 81. Myself & George co wrote these 2 songs together. George was a mystic visionary that was 100 years ahead of his time. He was definitely the most eccentric person I ever met who became a kind of guru for me even though some of his ideas where totally outlandlish. Rainbow George lived in Hampstead, London where he had some very interesting friends like Ian Jury & his once next door neighbour Peter Cook. When I once visited him in Hampstead to my amusement he was then living in a flat over a shop named "Over the Rainbow" which Rainbow George found very mystical. George had a great way with words as an example of one of his last quotes was "Everything is relative & we are all related".
I was first introduced to George in 2001 by Belfast legend Terri Hooley in Good vibrations record shop. When I walked into the shop Terri said - "here is the very man you are looking for George" As George was looking for an Irish musician to put music to these revolutionary lyrics he had written which was U People and he wanted it in a Reggae style. I may have tweaked some lyrics here and there to make it work better as a song - U people was first recorded in 2005 in Eastcote recording studio in London, produced & mixed by Philip Bagnell who worked with bands like Aswad. The song was recorded on the same recording console as Bob Marleys Exodus album so U People has got the spirit of Bob. The song and video was used as a BBC party political broadcast when George created The Rainbow party with the campaign slogan "Make politicians history" to run in the N.Ireland elections of 2005. I stood as a candidate in Derry and got 33 votes. A very mystical number for George which he thought significant.
The song U People features great London based Jazz musicians Gilad Atmon on Soprano saxaphone, Dylan Howe on Drums, Yaron Stavi on bass & Frank Harrison on keys. Scoring Goals was recorded around 2008 in Tuff Paddy studio Tralee Co Kerry with Alex O'Brien & Miguel Lonergan on beats & mixing. Spoken word by Judd Charlton & backing vocals from Cathrine Taylor Dawson & Sugar Rainbow. I play guitars and sing the vocal. George imagined that it would become an anthem at soccer grounds so I made a special video for the song with some great classic goals from the World Cup. George was a big soccer fan and would surely be enjoying the present World Cup. A lot of people don't know that he once played with QPR reserves as a left winger before a broken leg ended his career. It's funny that he was a left winger as I think he was the most far left person I ever met. Hopefully now he is scoring goals in Rainbow land.
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