Forest Bees - Tenci - Bear - High Wasted - Julia Logan

Forest Bees (aka San Francisco solo artist Sheetal Singh) has just released 'Alone Together' after some time away from the music scene, this is a fresh, creative and genre spanning track. === Tenci has a new single entitled 'Forgot My Horse's Name', it's a mixture of modern folk with some Americana feeling to it and a refined musical backdrop. === Bear shares 'Matched & Gasoline' which is a gently paced country song, that gradually adds musical layers behind her really fine vocals. === Today NYC rockers High Wasted have released their new album 'Sick Of Saying Sorry' and it's playing in full below, the bands often feisty indie rock is matched with some clever pop sensibilities, making for a vibrant sound throughout. === Julia Logan has shared her debut single 'To Be True' which is a refreshing and beautiful song, with a strong melodic hook running through it.
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Forest Bees - Alone Together.

At a glance, the genesis of Forest Bees (aka San Francisco solo artist Sheetal Singh) reads like standard music biz fare: a critically-acclaimed indie band has a brush with the big time, fizzles in the face of industry frustrations, and a former member goes it alone.

Only Forest Bees is going it alone fifteen years later, as a mother of two and, as she puts it, “a brown woman in what is still a very white indie rock world”. And Forest Bees explores themes rare in such dream pop, from postpartum depression and loneliness within marriage, to cultural expectations and humanity’s intersection with artificial intelligence.

In the early aughts Singh played bass for San Francisco shoegazers The Stratford 4 which, after two acclaimed indie albums, was signed to Elektra Records by Cars legend Ric Ocasek. Ocasek produced their third record, but it got lost in the post-Napster music industry meltdown and the band split. The Stratford 4 reunited in 2015 to rave reviews but also, for Singh, a realization.

“I was bored. It wasn’t what I wanted to do. In fact, it never really was,” she recalls. “I never felt like I was able to express myself in the Stratford 4, which was a white, male-fronted, guitar-heavy shoegaze band. I did love the music and my bandmates … [But] I knew I needed to do it on my own terms.”

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Tenci - Forgot My Horse's Name.

"Forgot My Horse’s Name” follows a string of previously-released singles and videos, including “Joy,” “Earthquake,” and “Serpent.” Throughout, Shoman’s voice is soft and enchanting, her distinct vibrato lulling over waltzing guitar. The accompanying video, directed and filmed by coool (John TerEick and Jake Nokovic ) over a weekend in Minnesota, reflects the song’s beautiful simplicity. It features Shoman riding a horse, illuminated by a golden sunset.

“‘Forgot My Horse’s Name’ is quite literally about a time I went horseback riding and afterwards forgot my horse’s name,” says Shoman. “The horse and I weren’t really getting along. She wasn’t listening to me and kept running me into trees because she didn’t want to get mud on her feet. By the end of it I was all scratched up and her name was erased from my mind.

Since then the song has taken on a deeper meaning about relationships. You can put so much time into nurturing and creating something meaningful, but sometimes by the end you are left with something that’s bruised and nameless.”

Tenci began as the bedroom-folk project of Jess Shoman in December 2018. The band name comes from Shoman’s grandmother's name Hortencia, who she feels is her kindred spirit. Her memories of hearing her sing while cooking or cleaning influenced some of the same qualities in her own voice. Shoman’s music is vividly introspective, blooming with her sweet and shaky vibrato.

These days Shoman collaborates with a lineup of Chicago musicians she met playing some of her earliest shows— Curt Oren (saxophone, flute, and guitar), Izzy True’s Isabel Reidy (bass) and Joseph Farago of Joey Nebulous (drums).

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Bear - Matched & Gasoline.

Bear’s sassy and fresh take on songwriting is exactly what country music needs. Originally from Chicago, she earned the nickname, Bear, during her time in Texas.

Inspired by Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Dolly Parton, her songwriting transcends generations. Performing since the age of 7, Bear is no stranger to entertaining crowds. Bear is one of county music’s rising stars!

Matches & Gasoline is a song about a toxic relationship that has finally come to an end. This pop country track will make you want to sing at the top of your lungs!




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High Wasted - Sick Of Saying Sorry (Album).

NYC-based rockers High Waisted have released their new record, Sick of Saying Sorry, out everywhere today.

High Waisted's Jessica Louise Dye (lead vox, guitar) shares, "This is an unapologetic record about finding hope in a hopeless situation and the strength to get up when the world is screaming at you to stay down.

Our first record was about living in the moment and being the life of the party—it captured the carelessness of youth. Our sophomore album embodies what happens when you leave the party at dawn to go home to your tiny apartment, alone.

High Waisted’s music has always been dreadfully sad songs disguised as happy ones—the tracks on our new record follow the same pattern. Songwriting is like spell casting. That’s why I’ve used the writing as my own personal time machine. I get to rewrite history and edit out the parts that are too heavy to bear. I get to finally say all the things I wish I had. Never date a songwriter, because we always get the last word."

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Julia Logan - To Be True.

Julia Logan just released her debut single "To Be True"!

“It’s about the desire to break through the invisible piece of space that seems to separate us from someone else, and what can happen when you, somehow, manage to break through”, says Stockholm, Sweden, based Julia Logan about her first single, released via Playground Music today.

Logan has played on the same bill as acts like Courtney Marie Andrews and Neko Case, whose drummer Kyle Crane (Daniel Lanois, M. Ward, Bon Iver) turned up for the studio sessions. The song was written and recorded in close collaboration with Daniel Bengtson of Studio Rymden.

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Immaterial Possession - Violent Vickie - AMJ Collective - Casual Fan - banfi - Nichole Wagner

The first track from Immaterial Possession forthcoming album is 'Midnight Wander' and it's accompanied by a suitably matched video as the bands dramatic doom-dance quickly demands more than a little attention. === Los Angeles based Violent Vickie releases 'Circle Square' today, where sweeping synths glide over techno/electro beats as the shimmering vocals drift in and out. === AMJ Collective have shared their extended single 'Earth Is Calling' where instrumental reggae and some fabulous dub music shine beautifully. === Casual Fan just released 'Runners' a melodic indie song which exudes natural personal feeling through the vocals. === The brand new album from banfi entitled 'Colour Waits In The Dark' is an absolute feast of wonderful music and is streaming in full below. Creative and superbly delivered musical ideas cover considerable ground on what is a really fine album, one to take time out for. === Nichole Wagner releases her new E.P 'Dance Songs For the Apocalypse' with five distinctly different songs Nichole covers a lot of musical ground her consistently fine vocals keeping the overall feel together, this is a high quality collection.
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Immaterial Possession - Midnight Wander.

Midnight Wander is an energetic, doom-dance song, navigating the throws of impending earthly catastrophe, not without an uplifting shimmering view through the dark clouds.

Immaterial Possession was conceived by Atlanta natives, Cooper Holmes and Madeline Polites, whom share a history of the underground DIY Atlanta music, theater, and arts scene. The duo moved to Athens and was soon granted the seasoned drummer, John Spiegel, and eventually fulfilled with Kiran Jeremy Fernandes (keyboards, clarinets, flutes)- descendant of Elephant 6's beloved John Fernandes (Circulatory System, Olivia Tremor Control, Cloud Recordings).

All members bring forth a spectral hue unique to the ear- with Holmes' dark and driving punk-rooted base interwoven with Spiegel's vast repertoire of drumming artistry and sacral ardor. Polites, inspired by the musical scales of the Greeks and Spanish, weaves from her haunting bedroom classical guitar and transposes to a grittier electric. Fernandes' hands dance fearlessly along the keyboard as well as clarinet, offering windows into far away eastern lands as a light in the looming darkness.

The group's vocal charm is shared by both Holmes and Polites, tying the dynamic of the band into an intricate bow- sometimes in relatable rawness, other times by billowing operatic impulses. All together they create a sort of entrancement exclaimed as distinctly rare. "Immaterial Possession", the debut LP to be released on Cloud Recordings, is as much a visual journey as auditory. With Holmes, Polites, and Fernandes all sharing ties to surreal and abstract theater, each song on the album creates a distinct 'world' of impression and mystery.

The album commences with the apocalyptic fury of "Midnight Wander" to "See Through Stares"- the catching pop tale of altering the past through the present. It takes you through the psychedelic landscapes of "In the Loom", the hallucinatory darkness of "Accidental Summoning", towards the final 'Night Cap'- a soft, but inescapable ushering into the depths of the ancestral dream state. Cover tin-type by Salvage Sparrow.

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Violent Vickie - Circle Square.

Los Angeles-based Dark Synth-Riot artist Violent Vickie, is launching her latest track “Circle Square" today.

After being featured in EDM Joy, Brutal Resonance, and Fresh on the Net for her music video/single "Serotonin", Violent Vickie returns with "Circle Square", a gloomy, noisy electronic track with forlorn and haughty vocals that explores the illusion of not belonging.  The second single from her upcoming Division LP, Circle Square is a mix of techno/electro beats and noisy synth texture, reminiscent of the dark techno tunes Vickie partied to at Oakland warehouse parties.

Violent Vickie is a Los Angeles based Dark Synth-Riot artist consisting of Vickie and co-producer/recording guitarist E.  Vickie has toured with Hanin Elias of Atari Teenage Riot and supported Jessie Evans (The Vanishing), Trans X, Them Are Us Too, Aimon & The Missing Persons.

Her track "The Wolf“ was featured in a National Organization for Women film and she was interviewed for the documentary “GRRRL”, part of the museum exhibit “Alien She”.  Her LP "Monster Alley” was voted best album by KALX and her tracks have been remixed by 25+ artists.  Violent Vickie’s “Division” LP will be out in the fall of 2020 on Crunch Pod.

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AMJ Collective - Earth Is Calling.

Earth is Calling is a powerful instrumental lamenting the state of our planet with an uplifting call for a wiser, positive future. It was recorded live in the studio with the band.

The mixes feature once more the skills of Rob Smith at the controls. This tune will grow, there are more versions to come (including vocals), but we thought we’d share what we have with you right now and send some good energy out to the world. - Bless. AMJ

Led by producer John Hollis, the AMJ Collective is a group of musicians, thinkers and creators originating from the UK, Jamaica, Cuba, Colombia and Africa.

AMJ have been releasing fresh, modern dub tracks since 2011, steadily building a solid reputation for an original sound. Their first album, Sky Blue Love, a collaboration with dub maestro Rob Smith (RSD, Smith & Mighty), came out in 2016 to wide acclaim across the world. This was followed in 2017 with the Believe album. Now they embark on the 2020 Series, a collection of their latest recordings.

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Casual Fan - Runners.

It’s early March and you’re sitting in your car at a lookout on top of the ocean, looking down on the beaches you grew up on, thinking about a city you’re moving to and already missing the people you won’t get to see all the time.

You stay there a while and it gets to 6:30pm and cos of daylight savings it’s still light outside. The surfers are still all out there, and the sun setting over the hill shoots beams into the blue and orange haze and it’s like everything stands still, just for a moment.

Recorded in Cairns in late 2019 by Mark Myers (The Middle East) and mixed by Tim Fitz (Middle Kids), “Runners” is a song about the slow jog of life, and the rare moments you get to sit and watch it all run by.

Casual Fan · Runners

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banfi - Colour Waits In The Dark (album).

Having relocated from North West England to South Wales via Edinburgh, Cornwall, Sheffield and 6 years in London, Joe Banfi has settled amongst the stark beauty of the Gower Peninsula. He entirely self-produced and recorded the album here, before heading to Eastcote Studios in London to mix the record with Eliot James (Two Door Cinema Club, Noah & The Whale).

Thus far 2 singles have been released from the album - the summertime-reckoning pop-hooks of ‘So Bright’ and the hypnotically addictive ‘Always Goodbye’.

Talking about these tracks and the album, Joe explains "Time and natural landscapes in relation to how I feel... I'm just trying to weave these things together for the listener... love and the passing of love among ancient things. Time and love entwined with the blood in the sky blessing my heart and the shells down on the beach that will go on sighing without me.

I've tried to voice a kind of void-fear amongst hope... John Keats’ gravestone (“Here lies one whose name was writ in water”) evokes a dread of time leaving each moment behind in a centreless dark, like goodbyes written on pages that'll one day float away.

But then there are no real grounds for believing that an afterlife, or lack of one, is any more eternal or real than the fact that you have once existed and always will have, forever in the past. We tend to project our linear view of time onto death, and maybe that's a mistaken view of the world. For me these answerless trails of thought create a flowing, bird-in-the-wind feeling of surrender to the force of time that I’ve tried to capture”.

banfi · Colour Waits in the Dark

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Nichole Wagner - Dance Songs For the Apocalypse (E.P).

Born and raised in the small town of Louviers, Colorado, Nichole Wagner grew up with a love of music and an extraordinary voice, but she had no way to really share her passion with the world. “I grew up writing song lyrics and wanting to be a musician, but I didn’t really play an instrument,” she says, “so that was a problem.”

At eighteen Nichole moved to Arizona to study journalism at Arizona State University, a career path that would offer a steady paycheck while also allowing her to indulge her love of photography.  But she found that it’s not so easy to let go of a dream.

“I wanted to be Stevie Nicks,” she laughs, “but I had no idea how to start playing music out in public, and I still didn’t play an instrument with any degree of skill.”  So I put that dream up on a shelf and said ‘well that’s probably a thing I’m not going to get to do.’”

After college, she moved to Austin, where she photographed the music scene and wrote articles from the sidelines. But the dream refused to die, and one day she found herself onstage at an open mic. She started writing new songs, learned to play guitar, and like wildfire the long-buried dream flared back to life.

In 2018 Nichole’s first album, And the Sky Caught Fire, was released, a terrific collection of country-rock that balances commerciality and integrity. It earned high praise from none other than Americana sage and No Depression magazine founder Peter Blackstock, who wrote in the Austin-American Statesman, “Wagner’s first full-length record establishes her as one of Austin’s most promising young singer-songwriters.”

Her new EP, Dance Songs for the Apocalypse, is another great leap forward. The first single, a funky, soulful take on the Talking Heads’ Life During Wartime, is a stunner: a deep and danceable track that takes David Byrne’s dystopian vision one step further and highlights Wagner’s abilities as an interpreter as she takes the song into deeper and darker territory. Those interpretive skills show themselves again in an intimate and mournful eight-minute take on Neil Young’s Ambulance Blues, a gorgeous piano and violin trip through sadness and reflection. Yet somehow none of it comes off as doom and gloom. There is the triumph of Better Son and Daughter, which starts off with an acoustic guitar and Wagner’s front porch delivery, but then builds as the band comes in, gathering steam and force. Finally, Bird Set Free shows off an electric piano and strings and carries you off to an ethereal and poignant place.


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Grace Inspace - The Jerry Cans - Gaygirl

Grace Inspace returns with 'Off The Grid' a song that typifies her sharp thoughtful lyrics along with a sophisticated musical backdrop for her gorgeous vocals. === The Jerry Cans have released 'Swell (My Brother)' ahead of their fourth album and it's an expansive indie rocker with plenty of engaging hooks throughout. === Today South London band Gaygirl have released 'Killing It' a track that ebbs and flows with forceful energy as their mixture of Grunge rock and pop demands attention.
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Grace Inspace - Off The Grid.

During the onset of the evolving covid-19 crisis, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Grace Inspace found herself fleeing a rental apartment in LA for the unpopulated safety of rural California. Sleeping in the back of a pick-up truck and bathing in the icy waters of the Smith River, she headed for her family homestead in the Six rivers region of the Siskiyou Mountains. Her new song, Off The Grid is the sonic embodiment of the premonitory dream you have right before everyone is donning masks and growing their own kale.

Born in California and raised in London, Grace introduced herself last year with debut EP Lazy Grace’s Apocalyptic Kitchen, pt. 1. Off The Grid is the first song in her upcoming collection, Lazy Grace’s Apocalyptic Kitchen, pt. 2, and is out now on all major platforms via AWAL.

“This song is born of two worlds and a pick up truck. It was recorded in a home studio in Los Angeles with one of my drumming heroes Stephan Perkins sitting in before all this started melting down. Now is the time for this song, these worlds are colliding; there is a great learning going on.”

“I live somewhere between central London and an extremely rural outpost in California, where the pot plants grow high and the second amendment posters sit amicably alongside rainbow flags. Peace and tolerance!”

23-year-old Grace has a mature head on her young shoulders, with politically charged character-driven lyrics amidst collaged soundscapes. She’s currently sequestered in that 100-year-old cabin in the woods, writing and recording a second collection of songs.

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The Jerry Cans - Swell (My Brother).

Iqaluit’s The Jerry Cans have always been, and will always be, a band from and for the north. But on Echoes, the JUNO Award-nominated group’s upcoming fourth full-length record, they’re not the band they used to be. The record arrives with a wash of glassy, slashing electric guitars, thundering drums, effects-warped throat singing, and darkened violin work. These are sounds of love, anxiety, desperation, and grief, and the tangled relationships between these things. It is intense and heavy, a charred, deep-blue Arctic indie rock soundscape.

From the start, The Jerry Cans—guitarist/vocalist Andrew Morrison, vocalists/throat singers/accordionists Nancy Mike and Avery Keenainak, violinist Gina Burgess, bassist Brendan Doherty, and drummer Steve Rigby—have been committed to making music that honours and dialogues with their home communities. With Echoes, they reaffirm this commitment, but do so with a collection of songs that burns their usual blueprint.

The band recorded in early 2019 with producer Jace Lasek (Besnard Lakes) at Lasek’s revered Breakglass Studio in Montreal. Here, they bucked expectation and routine. Avery Keenainak, the granddaughter of legendary accordionist Simeonie Keenainak, joined the band full-time, adding new depth and energy. Morrison ditched his acoustic guitar for an electric (Echoes is the only Jerry Cans record without any acoustic guitar), while he, Mike, Keenainak, and Burgess raided Lasek’s extensive effects pedal collection for rare and unusual sounds to tense the record’s sonic boundaries. Lasek’s cult-classic production pedigree (Wintersleep, Wolf Parade, Patrick Watson, Stars) hasn’t changed what The Jerry Cans are saying—it’s just changed how they’re saying it. Mike and Keenainak also conducted recording sessions in an igluvigak (igloo) which they constructed behind Mike’s home near Iqaluit.

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Gaygirl - Killing It.

South London band Gaygirl return today (20th May) with new single "Killing It", lifted from their debut EP Pleasurehead, out this Friday 22nd May via Permanent Creeps.

A schizophrenic grunge-pop track and the final showpiece of the EP, singer Bex Morrison said this on the ferocious new single: ""Killing It" is about feeling stuck and the flitting emotions between trying to make things okay, and being on the verge of having a complete meltdown. The extreme up-and-down contradicting lyrical content is reflected throughout the song and as it progresses, falls more and more out of control."

Pairing the raw, emotional grunge of PJ Harvey with the immersive, bold alt-pop moments of early Garbage, each of Gaygirl's 4 band members bring a unique set of influences to the table. As a unit, not only do they create a sound that is hard to pin down, but with every twist and turn – they make an impression that’s unshakable.

Speaking a little more on how "Killing It" came together when recording, Bex said: "When we play the song live it's pretty chaotic and we wanted to make sure we got that across in the studio by experimenting with various vocal and guitar effects, and just having a lot of fun with it. The process from writing to when we took it into the studio was really just playing around with lots of different ideas and inspiration, adding things in and taking things away until we knew it felt right."

Consisting of songwriters Bex Morrison (vocals, guitar) and Lewis Clark (guitar), and completed by Louis Bradshaw (drums) and Tom Coyne (bass) – Gaygirl have earned a reputation for their hypnotic and visceral live performances; playing shows with the likes of Sorry, Automatic and Calva Louise in 2019.

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Lavender Diamond - Anne Freeman - Stony Sugarskull

Los Angeles based trio Lavender Diamond return after an eight year hiatus with 'Look Through The Window' and it's a really beautiful and imaginative song accompanied by a colourful video. === Anne Freeman shares 'Days Go By' a track that exudes refined indie pop with a hint of country along the way. === We have two tracks from the new 'Lioness' album from Stony Sugarskull namely 'Empty' and 'House On Fire' both of which shed some light on this collection of multi genre songs influenced from punk to Krautrock along with plenty of other styles.
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Photo - Shervin Lainez

Lavender Diamond - Look Through The Window.

Lavender Diamond return with the official video for "Look Through The Window," their first release of new music in more than 8 years. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles-based trio of Becky Stark, Steve Gregoropoulos, and Ron Regé, Jr. announced their signing to Petaluma Records and a now-cancelled tour with Bright Eyes.

"This song resounded in my heart and mind for months - it was all I wanted to sing," said Becky Stark. "It felt so mysterious - a song about such deep isolation, separation and rebirth. When the quarantine began it suddenly seemed that this song had come to speak to this moment of trial and transformation - and contained within it a prayer for the healing of our world."

The song was recorded by Jason Soda at Palomino Sound and Steve Gregoropoulos at Ransom Notes and mixed by Tucker Martine. The recording also features an 8-piece orchestra featuring Bright Eyes' Nate Walcott on trumpet and Sasami on french horn.

Lavender Diamond has been on hiatus since the release of their 2012 album Incorruptible Heart. Becky Stark is also a member of the Living Sisters alongside Eleni Mandell and Inara George, and has collaborated with John C. Reilly, The Decemberists and She & Him. In their review of Incorruptible Heart, Pitchfork stated, "It would be easy enough to call these 'side-projects,' but it's more helpful to think of Lavender Diamond as just one nook in Stark's glitter-spackled pantheon of boundless creative joy."

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Anne Freeman - Days Go By.

The new song by an indie-folk artist Anne Freeman who grew up in the Mississippi Delta, not far fro Bobbie Gentry’s hometown.

She caught the ear of Graham Hamaker (also of fat Possum) and he signed her to his new label Muscle Beach. The single “Days Go By,” was mixed by Matt Ross-Spang (John Prine, Margo Price, Jason Isbell)

She’s just starting out but she’s already played festivals in her home state and been on Mississippi Public Radio as well as American Songwriter.

Anne says, “’Days Go By’ is about struggling to cut ties with a toxic friend but constantly getting lured back in. Everyone has someone or something in their life that makes them feel incredible for a while, but eventually leads them down a dark path.”

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Stony Sugarskull - Empty / House On Fire.

The album 'Lioness' represents the female who fights for a positive change and protects the weak. The songs on this album are arranged according to a breakdown (which we're currently suffering) and the re-organization of this chaos. On the A-Side, a climax is reached with the B-Side going back to a beginning, an effort to reach a meaningful synthesis of the technological advances and an inner and societal return to nature in order to save humanity/future generations. In this album, each song is imbedded in certain healing sound frequencies. Musically, the album is an attempt of combining several music styles such as krautrock, punk- and psych rock, shoegaze, jazz, pop, or blues not only to mirror our current time but also to attempt to go ahead and create something new.

After having finished her PhD on the biophilic healing functions of music in African-American literature in London/New Orleans/Berlin, Dr Monika Demmler started her musical project, Stony Sugarskull in 2015 where she has channeled her academic music-philosophical inquiry into her creative works of songs, lyrics, and sounds. Dr Monika Demmler has produced three releases so far: Trust (EP), Gaia (EP), and Butterflies (Single), available on all major online platforms. “Trust”

The self-released “Gaia” appeared in March 2017 and was issued worldwide on vinyl, cassette, & through online digital distribution services. The work is based on the philosophical ideas of a return to Gaia, the first goddess or “mother nature,” in our overtly synthetic technologized age. The EP’s first performance was live at the 8mm Bar in Berlin after which followed additional gigs in Berlin and London (e.g. Madame Claude, Berlin, Fete de la Musique, Berlin). These performances included her local band members (Gael Pettinaroli, Colin Dayer, Dr Hans-Dirk Düngen).

Her third self-release, “Butterflies” was a single recorded by Guido Wolters at her home studio in Berlin. Following this recording, Dr. Demmler expanded her musical horizons by traveling to Los Angeles and immersing herself in that reputable music scene. It is in LA where Reid Murray (drums), Denee Lee (lapsteel guitar) and Landon Reed (bass) joined her project for live performances in the US followed up by a five-week-long European tour across the UK, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Serbia, Greece, Spain and Switzerland.

In 2020, her debut album, LiONESS; a mix of psychedelic, punk rock, krautrock style, mirroring the socio-political background/moods of the 21st century, along with the inbuilt music healing frequencies of guitar and drum sounds derived from her philosophical studies.


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All Things Blue - Deidre Thornell - Cuddle Magic - Aura Davis

LA based band All Things Blue have a new single entitled 'Chad' and it's a delicious mixture of psych rock with some catchy pop overtones. === We have a video for the acoustic version of 'Keep On Loving Me' by Deidre Thornell  which sees the song in stripped back mode allowing her gorgeous vocals to really stand out. === Cuddle Magic are back just a month since we first featured them with their new single 'Working On Me' and again the chamber pop band are refined and creative. === From Aura Davis we have her first single 'Secrets' a song that is personal and based on her own life experiences, and yet both catchy and warm.
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All Things Blue - Chad.

LA-based dream-punk band All Things Blue are sharing new single “Chad”. Led by frontwoman India Coombs (or simply, Blue) and collaborator Jon Joseph, All Things Blue traverse genres and sounds; one moment flirting with abrasive garage-punk, the next – soaring psych-pop – with “Chad” sitting somewhere between the spirited psychedelia of Melody’s Echo Chamber and the exhilarating alt-pop of St Vincent.

Speaking about the track, singer India said: “See-saws are fun until you're riding an emotional see-saw; when you want someone that doesn't want you, but makes sure to keep you around. Sometimes you only realise in retrospect; that person was just a Chad. Also during the whole vocal take I was holding Jon's week old baby boy which is why I laugh at the end cause he fell asleep.”

“Chad” is lifted from All Things Blue’s forthcoming debut full length album, due for release later this year. Covering everything from pensive love songs to directly addressing social issues and political ironies; India herself compares the album to Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s ever-relevant novel Love In The Time of Cholera. Indeed, the the band's new material promises love, however ethereal it may seem, at the end of a very dark tunnel, if not somewhere along the way.

India and Jon originally met in LA at the age of 18, having both independently moved to the city; Coombs driving across the country in her broken down pickup truck from Philadelphia, and Jon hailing from further south in California. The pair wasted no time becoming friends and firing out an eclectic assortment of demos. They did so namelessly for some time, but eventually settled on "All Things Blue”.

The name itself was coined by India's late mother, who, when India was having trouble getting by in the rough and overpriced world that is Los Angeles, told her that she was just feeling blue and sometimes all things are blue for a bit but they'll get better.

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Deidre Thornell - Keep On Loving Me.

In April of 2020, Deidre released her newest single “Keep On Loving Me” and on May 11th a video featuring an acoustic version of the song premiered on YouTube.

Deidre Thornell is a rising Country starlet. Her first big success came in 2013 when she was one of five finalists in the 2013 Texaco Country Showdown, leading to a performance on the stage of the infamous Ryman Auditorium, which aired on Great American Country Television.

More recently in 2018, Deidre was voted “Most Entertaining Songwriter” at Lyrics on the Lake Songwriting Fest and sold out a full band show in Dallas at The Rustic. To date, Deidre has released a full-length album 'Destination Unknown,' followed by her EP 'Dallas,' now followed by her most recent single 'Keep On Loving Me.'

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Cuddle Magic - Working On Me.

Cuddle Magic—the New York / Philadelphia-based chamber-pop sextet—today shared a new single, “Working On Me,” packaged in a short EP alongside the previously released “What If I” and new track “Still In Touch.” Their upcoming full-length Bath is due July 3rd on Northern Spy Records.

“Working On Me” is a tender ode to self-improvement propelled by Kristin Slipp’s emotive vocals. Slipp, who has also been a member of Dirty Projectors since 2018, humbly requests patience from her partner in this delicate earworm. In her own words, Slipp explains the songs content:

"So much of what I've written in the past three years has referred either indirectly or, in this case, very literally, to my pursuit of self-improvement. 'Working On Me' is a tender request for patience from a partner or a friend. The spare arrangement conveys hope, which reaches a fever pitch by the final chorus when the whole band joins in.”

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Aura Davis - Secrets.

Aura Davis interest in music and arts started at a very young age. She wrote poems and novels already at the age of 9. Around the age of 13, she found herself in a rollercoaster of feelings, which lead her to put down arts and music. Soon finding back to it, to deal with the struggles of finding her own way at the age of 15.

Now ready to reveal her personal story through her songwriting and carefully put together melodies. Davis will take you through a journey of her own personal heartaches and struggles, while showing that nothing is too hard to overcome.

'Secrets', her very first single, is a catchy tune and not only talking about opening up about your inner fears and anxiety, but also about acceptance. Auras ability to write honest, pure and deep lyrics and combining them with catchy melodies makes her stand out.

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Francine Honey - Anya Hinkle - Commonwealth Choir - Snake - Charlotte Rose Benjamin

Francine Honey has shared two versions of 'I Carry On' the second one includes Robert Gray who co-wrote the song, both are beautiful heartfelt tracks. === From Anya Hinkle we have a new video for 'Road of the Winds' which is a mixture of exquisite country and bluegrass. === Commonwealth Choir have released 'Light' accompanied by a cracking video as the band serve up some energised hook filled indie rock. === Three months after we featured 'Falling' Snake are back with 'Lost Girl' last time we described their song as "one feisty and fabulous rocker" and the new one is just as potent. === Charlotte Rose Benjamin shares 'Autopilot' along with a self made video (due to Covid lockdown) and both are captivating as she continues to gain trans-Atlantic interest.
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Francine Honey - I Carry On.

“I Carry On ” is a testament to the human spirit and its ability to overcome the challenges that life throws our way.  Where does this courage come from?  When the path through is unclear, there are unexpected heroes that appear with help.  Whether it is a partner, a caregiver, a parent, a child, a friend, or one’s faith in something larger than life, this song expresses gratitude to those that light our world and help us through.  There is nothing like seeing the light of love beaming from someone’s eyes when we need it most.

“I Carry On ” is the second single being released in anticipation of her upcoming fifth project entitled 2020 Vision; a chronicle of her life story so far in song, as a double album due out later this year.  It follows the single “Red Sky ” released in Oct 2019 and a full-length Holiday album entitled Take Me To The North Pole released in December 2019.

“I Carry On” was co- written with song writing friend and neighbour, Robert Gray.  Honey says “I have had my share of challenges in life struggling to make ends meet as the sole provider for my two children and somehow I always knew I’d get through them.  Robert and I were outside chatting one day as neighbours do and he told me he was going through a major health challenge with cancer.  We bonded over our mutual feeling about overcoming challenges with the help of a positive attitude, gratitude, love and song writing! We talked about how others have inspired us in the past. We wrote about how people are there for you when you need them and the strength that we as humans find to survive and overcome our challenges.  You just do what you have to do to get through it.”

It took the duo a few months to find the time to sit down to write this song that they had  talked about writing.  When they did finally meet, it came together pretty quickly. In fact, Honey was headed down to Nashville to record her recently released Holiday album, Take Me To The North Pole. She loved the song so much that she asked producer Neilson Hubbard if they could record the song for release in 2020.  So, Honey invited Gray to Nashville to be there if he wanted to see the song being recorded.  After recording the song, Francine asked if Robert wanted to take a stab at singing the song himself in the studio.  Luckily, he agreed and found his way to the vocal booth and sang the song.  It became clear that a duet brings new meaning to the song.  For this reason, there are two versions of “I Carry On ” being released together.  The solo more country version with Honey’s vocals and a duet featuring Robert Gray which adds another dimension to the song.


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Anya Hinkle - Road of the Winds.

Anya Hinkle has released a video for "Road Of The Winds". The song is the first single under her own name, and it captures the raw honesty of her personal songwriting.

Alternating moody verses with a singable chorus, “Road Of The Winds” expresses a longing for motion that defines both an end and a beginning for the song’s narrator.

Throughout, Hinkle’s distinctive voice is framed by a hand-picked group of musicians drawn from the rich musical community around western North Carolina: fiddler Julian Pinnelli, mandolinist Thomas Cassell (Circus No. 9), renowned resonator guitarist Billy Cardine, bass player Johnny Calamari, and harmony singer Mary Lucey. Produced by Jon Weisberger, the single is an auspicious start to the new stage of Hinkle’s career.

About Anya Hinkle - With vivid storytelling, vibrant musicianship and arresting honesty, Anya Hinkle explores the beauty of song craft through the lens of the Appalachian string band tradition. Originally from the mountains of Virginia, Anya’s music is steeped in the tones of folk and bluegrass and seasoned by travels across the world. A founding member of Asheville-based bands Dehlia Low (Rebel Records) and Tellico (Organic Records), Anya will release tracks from her first full-length album under her own name this year on Organic Records.

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Commonwealth Choir - Light.

Philadelphia’s Commonwealth Choir is constantly searching for the space between light & dark... somewhere to crack a smile while the storm rages on.

What began as a folk rock project loosely stemming from the likes of AA Bondy & Rocky Votolato, rough iPhone demos quickly attracted a mountain of influences as the band’s lineup took shape in late 2011. Pop-punk influences like Saves The Day & Brand New collided with formative behemoths such as Elvis Costello & Tom Petty - all while holding the power of simple storytelling above all else.

After relocating from Doylestown, PA to Philadelphia in 2012, the band began connecting with musicians near & far. Attracting the attention of WXPN, the band found success with their first single “Rest” & soon found themselves collaborating with producer Dan Pawlovich (Mosey, Valencia, Illinois, Panic! At The Disco) for their subsequent releases. The following years included countless shows & collaborations (including their short-lived cassette label Philly Tapes Philly). After supporting the release of 2015’s “Palace”, the group slowed their live schedule as they began to explore what was to come next. Multiple lineup changes & countless demos later, they found themselves recording what came to be their upcoming EP No End. No End will be out June 19, 2020 via Know Hope Records.

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Snake - Lost Girl.

Four years after their debut album ”Cradle of Snake” was released Snake is now back and their new single ”Lost Girl”.

Snakes music consists of brilliant and explosive indierock characterized by what happens when Tess De La Cour, Madeleine Frankie and Mia Maria Johansson play together in a room. With strong vocals, screaming guitar and and a steady beat this single is the second glimpse of on album recorded with Stefan Brändström in the Dustward Studio, which will be released in the fall of 2020.

A lot happened for Snake around their debut album - gigs all over the Sweden and in Europe, support gig to Refused and also awarded the "Rock of the Year" award at the Swedish Indie-awards: Manifestgalan. Shortly thereafter, a natural break occurred, which then became a few year break

However, The members have been constantly moving on with other interesting projects - Mia Maria Johansson has released an album with Majvor and earlier this winter a new single with her self-titled solo project, Tess De La Cour has been acclaimed internationally for her dark project Memoria and Madeleine Frankie have, In addition to playing live with Memoria, has released music including Night Terror. Both Tess and Madeleine have also participated in the prestigious Riot Grrrl Sessions.

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Charlotte Rose Benjamin - Autopilot.

NYC singer-songwriter Charlotte Rose Benjamin announces her new single, “Autopilot”, taken from the Neon Gold Records / Moshi Moshi released Party City EP. Stuck in isolation, along with the rest of the world, Charlotte set about making a video for “Autopilot” at home, primarily using PhotoBooth.

It’s latest cut from her sterling debut Party City EP, which has already garnered attention on both sides of the Atlantic with support from CLASH, Huw Stephens and BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X, and Spotify's global New Music Friday.

Charlotte says: "I've always had a hard time controlling my emotional compass and tend to inwardly dwell. I kept having this dream, which I hear is common when living in a tiny New York City apartment, where I discover a whole new room in my home through a door in the closet or someplace unexpected and realize I have so much more space than I ever thought. When I wrote it I was sort of caught between fantasizing about being totally alone, pushing people away and then feeling super lonely and reaching out to anyone I knew who might give me attention. Someone told me to "just go on autopilot" as if there was a switch I could flip somewhere inside me that would make me function normally. I told them I wasn't f***ing flying a plane.

So, making a music video for "Autopilot" alone in a room on Photo Booth during the COVID-19 crisis kinda made sense. I think a lot of people are struggling with feeling desperately lonely right now. Little creative projects like this have been saving me from losing my mind." Charlotte, who starred in the video for Gus Dapperton’s breakout hit “I’m Just Snacking” and counts The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne as a fan, is certainly One To Watch for 2020.

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Discovery Zone - Jessy Yasmeen - Pete Gardiner - Ynys - Greg Klyma - Blake English

Discovery Zone has just released 'Dance II' which follows on from 'Blissful Morning Dream Interpretation Melody' which we featured four weeks ago, the new track is another refined electro piece with dreamy vocals. === Jessy Yasmeen just released the beautiful song 'Dreams' where both the musical arrangement and vocals really impress. === Pete Gardiner is back with 'Pick Your Side' a song that is vocally and lyrically mesmerizing, it takes a second listen to take it all in. === We featured Ynys last July and now we have 'Aros Am Byth' as the Welsh language singer once again shares a melodic and beautiful song. === The latest Greg Klyma video for 'Coffee and Weed' was made entirely during social distancing, it's described as a country waltz, an expression that kinda say's it all. === Blake English mixes Glam rock and punk together wonderfully on his brand new 'Spiders Make Great Poets' E.P, it's energized, imaginative and addictive.
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Photo - Colette Pomerleau

Discovery Zone - Dance II.

New York born, Berlin based musician and film maker JJ Weihl is set to release her debut solo record as Discovery Zone having previously played bass and sang in acclaimed experimental pop band Fenster. Remote Control is out via cult Berlin label Mansions and Millions on June 5th. Discovery Zone announced her debut album with trippy video Blissful Morning Dream Melody which received praise from the likes of Loud & Quiet, Gorilla Vs Bear and NPR.

Now, Discovery Zone shares lead single ‘Dance II’. On the single, Weihl says “I remember finding this beat on an old Yamaha keyboard and playing the chords on the guitar in my studio. I was absolutely elated. I was dancing around the room. In the beginning stages of writing the songs that ended up on this record, I lacked a lot of confidence. I’ve been making music and touring for the past several years with my band Fenster, but this project is the first time I ever tried to write and record music on my own.”

“At a lot of moments throughout the process, I really had to trick myself to keep going, to not give up out of frustration or fear of failure. I think the lyrics of this song really capture the struggle and ongoing conversation I was having with myself at that time” she continues. “Dance II deals with inner conflict, paradoxes, and the endless digital archiving of reality. Some funny thing I’m trying to find and capture in myself and in the world and save but can’t quite. The thing I’m chasing. A feeling. A song. Myself. Whatever it is. It’s a Dance, too!”

Her album Remote Control, with its palette of chimes, chirps and shimmers, is a glowing meditation on our contradictory moment in history. In her hands, the limitations of the default setting form a territory of unbounded experimentation, from the system-notification synth funk of “Dance II” to the trance incantations of “Blissful Morning Dream Interpretation Melody.” There are bits of sound collage and a lot of operatic robot choirs woven through tight emotional electronic pop.

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Jessy Yasmeen - Dreams.

Meet Jessy Yasmeen, the latest addition to This Could Be Your Music Label! With both Dutch and South American roots, she brings the best of both worlds. Her dreamy indie folk is inspired by acts such as Ben Howard, Bon Iver and Matt Corby. She fits right in with current day artists like SOAK and Waxahatchee. With her songs she wants to challenge listeners to be vulnerable and help conquer personal battles like fear and desire.

Over the past three years, Jessy Yasmeen played more than 80 shows on stages in The Netherlands and Germany. Last year her debut EP saw the light of day, she won a big Dutch music award, 'Grote Prijs van Rotterdam' (category: singer-songwriter), and earned nominations for the Rotterdam Music Awards (categories: ‘the promise’ and ‘best track’).

Jessy Yasmeen has a lot of new songs and an EP ready to be released, starting with new single Dreams: "Dreams is written in third person, telling about "she", but it could be anyone. It is about someone who has a yearning desire, and from the uncertainties that it entails she dares to walk the path, but in fact all she wants is to dream.

From society, but also from your parents for example, you feel the pressure to do certain things related to which life phase you are in. Or you are in a relationship where you set yourself aside and lose yourself. But if you really listen to your heart, you may find that you are doing things that don't make you happy. Neglecting you true passion out of fear. But that is what you can overcome."

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Pete Gardiner - Pick Your Side.

Pick Your Side is a lot like my last single “Bourbon” in that it begins with introspective observations and self-analysing lyrics before getting onto the big picture and what's really going on in the world.

The first verse was written out of frustration. I'd been living alone in a caravan for three years with no real association with a town or a community (Long story, but let’s just say I was self isolating long before it was the done thing) and I wasn't feeling inspired.

I felt like I was missing all the elements required to write a decent song. The elements that were so easy to come by in my late teens and early 20s when I was surrounded by the colourful cast of criminally insane characters I called my friends back in Northern Ireland. The melodrama and alcohol laden adventures of whom provided the perfect backdrop for any aspiring songwriter.

But somewhere along the way the realisation kicks in that although my personal life may be a little calmer than it was ten years ago, the rest of the world certainly isn't. I learn quickly that my boredom and lack of inspiration is completely unjustified and that the drama and chaos I believe to be necessary to write a song worth writing are more present than ever: I focus my frustration outward on problems like Brexit, Climate Change, Trump, and more recently Covid 19. Everyone's got to pick their side with all of these issues. But it seems no matter which side you're on “there ain't no lucky winners and there's no one keepin' score” – Pete Gardiner

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Ynys - Aros Am Byth.

‘Aros am Byth (Waiting Forever) is the new single from Ynys. Recorded at Tŷ Drwg studios in Cardiff with Ynys’s producer Frank Naughton and mixed by Iwan Morgan (Cate Le Bon, Richard James, Islet, H.Hawkline)

‘Aros am Byth’ brings together 70s Italian disco synths and 90s power pop harmonies which will be THE sound of 2021. Full of hopeful longing and possessing a magical combination of melancholy and star eyed wonder.

As Dylan Hughes (singer/songwriter) explains “the vibe I was trying to get was Jeff Lynne taking over the studio after being at a Tame Impala listening party”. Music's future, present and past all coming together in a perfectly crafted pop song.

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Greg Klyma - Coffee and Weed.

The latest Greg Klyma video, was made entirely during social distancing.

It's a performance featuring Greg (in Boston on guitar and vocals), Melanie Brulee (in Toronto on backing vocals), Guy Forsyth (in Austin on the saw!!), and Ed Croft (on upright bass, in Buffalo, NY).

It's a country waltz called "Coffee & Weed". Greg's earned raves from Wide Open Country, American Songwriter, Boston.com, airplay on WFUV.

Most recently, he raised $565 for the Boston Music Maker COVID-19 Fund and another almost $500 for Band Together Buffalo (where he's originally from). He's been on a roll, releasing three albums last year.

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Blake English - Spiders Make Great Poets (E.P).

Blake English was born and raised in Athens Georgia, home of many musical juggernauts such as REM and The B52’s. He has always been interested in honing his skills in all forms of performance art, using the instrument of his body to express his artistry. He has been heavily involved in the theatre and dance scene since he was a child. He has quickly gained the attention of many with his debut EP “Spiders Make Great Poets.” His unique glam-punk sound is not only retro but fresh. Every song on the EP is inspired by a real-life experience so fans can really get to know more of who he is.

His musical influences are David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Manson, and My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way. He is also heavily influenced by the cinematic horror universe and all of its creatures, which come across brilliantly in each of the videos he releases.

“Above all, it’s about the art of storytelling,” English says. “I want to tell a story in everything that I do whether it be from my personal experience or an observation of the world around me. I’m more of a journalist, taking in what’s going on and reporting it back to you through the lens of my own experience.”

The first single “Sad Girls Dance Party” tells a story of a boy growing up and dealing with issues of his father limiting his freedom of self-expression. With the help of his imagination and the characters he creates in his head, He is taken on a journey to meet his future self which helps him accept who he is. With the use of practical creature effects and a narrative storyline, the music video is nominated for “Best Song” in the 2020 Berlin Music Video Awards.

While Blake’s primary focus is as a musician and performance artist, he also has a passion for directing music videos for others. Not only does he write and direct his own work, but he has also directed videos for artists such as Leland and Miss Benny. Blake has headlined for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation events, danced on The Ellen Show, performed at SXSW Music Festival, been featured on School’d (The Goldbergs ABC) and shared a stage with his life long mentor Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls).

“Spiders Make Great Poets” is just the beginning of many great things to come.


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oh!no?ok - Café Spice - Jess Knights - Rett Smith

Making their fourth appearance here in under a year oh!no?ok are back with another classy alt rocker entitled 'Firemouth'. === We featured Café Spice twice last year and they are back with 'She Loves And Leaves' where they shift genres towards indie pop doing so with grace and quality. === We were introduced to Jess Knights back in January and the new song 'Baby Won't You Stay' sees the artist serving up some gorgeous and timeless soul vibes. === And we have to go back a whole ten days since Rett Smith was last here, the quick follow up 'Luck Burns Deep,' is a potent stomping rocker, the video is pretty cool as well.
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oh!no?ok - Firemouth.

oh!no?ok. is comprised of high school friends Ryan Osborn, Cole Miller, Jackson Ludlow, and local guitarist Nick Storey. The band is a year old, and has been working closely with locally-renowned producer Nate Pyfer (The Moth & the Flame, Kaskade, Sego).

Lead vocalist Ryan and Nate laid the groundwork for the band’s music, though each member brings his unique flair, making the process a cohesive collaboration. They play the kind of music you’d hear blasting forth from a suburban garage in the height of the alt-rock boom of the 1990s but they update this scruffy aesthetic with sleek but-not-too-polished production and a dose of raw skate punk.

Their songs feature cleverly abstract lyrics, bold musical dynamics, experimental textures, adventurous arrangements, and sharp pop-rock hooks. This melding of tuneful and arty conjures an array of classic and current alt-rock innovators such as Weezer, Pavement, The Presidents of the United States, Butthole Surfers, and Spoon, FIDLAR, Car Seat Headrest, and PUP.

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Café Spice - She Loves And Leaves.

She Loves and Leaves sees Café Spice release their first track in their full “girl band” outfit, and marks a turning point in their sound. Having crafted a reputation amongst the country’s key folk tastemakers, the trio hailing from England, Scotland and Ireland now push the boat out into the mellow waters of indie-pop.

The track opens with a serene a cappella rendition of the Chorus, fast becoming a trademark of the group. Their alluring and interweaving melodies begin to colour a blank musical canvas before a delicate guitar rises from the harmonic haze. However, soon the band arrive in new sonic territory, as a series of effortless brush strokes introduce new drummer Sophie Wozencraft, elevating a beautiful acoustic with an elegant indie skip. The added percussion skims like a pebble, rippling the tranquil waters of what has gone before.

Existing fans should not be surprised by the turn, with an element of unpredictability always finding a way into Café Spice’s repertoire in one way or another. However, this particular introduction is a clear statement of intent from a band determined to turn more heads onto their well-seasoned sound.

The sonic is equalled by the trio’s reflective and contemplative lyricism. In the words of Café Spice: “How can you understand what you want when you're twenty and so ready to love the world and everyone in it, so ready to lose yourself in somebody else? If you've ever been confused about love, nestle down and plug in your headphones - this song is for you.”

She Loves And Leaves demonstratesthepotpourri of musical influences that pervade throughout the Café Spice songbook. At times they are reminiscent of The Mama’s & The Papa’s; on other occasions more attuned to indie-folk contemporaries HAIM or The Staves. Either way, She Loves And Leaves is the latest testament to the collaborative songwriting that makes the music of Café Spice so unique.

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Jess Knights - Baby Won't You Stay.

Calgary soul-roots revivalist Jess Knights returns with the simmering “Baby, Won’t You Stay,” off her upcoming debut LP, Best Kind of Light, set for release on a new postponed date of June 19.

Filtered through transcendent hip-swaying instrumentation from some of Toronto's best songsmiths and sidemen, including R. Grunwald, Dean Drouillard, Mark McIntyre and award-winning producer Joshua Van Tassel, the track is a playful plea to hang back after the sun’s come up. Brimming with soulful throwback energy and Knights’ coy vocal conviction, “Baby, Won’t You Stay” muses on love in the moment.

“This song is a nod to the music I grew up with and love the most with its Dap-Kings groove,” said Knights. “It's a happy, upbeat and soulful song that gets you moving, and I think the world could use a happy song right now. It’s a weird time to be releasing music, but my hope is that this ditty brings a little joy to you all. Brighter days are ahead and for now we've got to keep our spirits up with feel-good music.”

Best Kind of Light brings into focus the moody, dimly-lit spectrum of Knights’ classically-trained voice, which has drawn comparisons to U.K. luminaries Amy Winehouse and Eliza Doolittle. Able to traverse sultry ballads and raise-the-roof-off-the-church soul with ease, Knights is a dynamo performer that's bound to leave an impression.

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Rett Smith - Luck Burns Deep.

Texas born singer/songwriter/guitarist Rett Smith shares the new single,  “Luck Burns Deep”. The  Bluesy rock and roll anthem  comes from his new album Giving Up On Quitting due for release on May 22nd via Imperial/Republic. The track follows “Hardship Highways” and the debut single from the project “Better Day,” which was a featured 'Best New Music’ pick by American Songwriter.

As one of the more stripped down tracks on the album, “Luck Burns Deep” serves to showcase Smith's evolution as a songwriter, yet he still manages to work in plenty of the guitar shredding many fans know him for. Between the guitar chops and old soul lyricism, Rett Smith’s work gives the impression that he has been a musician his whole life. In fact, Smith only discovered his talent for playing music after walking away from a successful career as an internationally ranked downhill skier. Though Smith no longer competes as a professional athlete, that same intense drive and focus that allowed him to flourish as a successful athlete is what pushes him as a musician.

The previously released “Hardship Highways” is one of the best examples on the album of Smith turning the bumpy road of life into a sonically rich song. The track is a tale of a life lived on the edge as Smith recounts bad choices and mistakes fueled by drugs and alcohol. He isn’t looking for redemption or pity; he is simply sharing his life knowing some listeners might relate to the journey. Even with the undeniably morose tone of his songs, Smith insists that making music is something that fills him with gratitude and joy.  He says, “I feel an undying need to create, to translate my most extreme feelings and emotions through song...” Smith’s  love for writing songs  while also using it as a therapeutic outlet is what keeps pushing him forward. “I want things to get better and I don't want to live in this space of just being miserable.” Dealing with these issues and fighting to get better is a recurring theme across the songs on Giving Up On Quitting.

Compared to previous albums like his 2015 debut Tularosa, 2016’s Oscuro and his heavier 2017 side project SAENTS, with the self-produced Giving Up On Quitting Smith is carefully layering instrumentation to create his own distinctly Western sound inspired by his roots in Texas and New Mexico. Smith says these songs, “are about being on the road and escapism. The realization that you’re still there, no matter how far you run.”

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