Kicking off the new year with a brand new release that is full of artistic music content is electro-pop artist Lillian Frances and her newest single, “Phone Keys Wallet.” This is just a small piece of an even greater work that Frances has in the works that was released on May 4, 2018, however, this particular track highlights everything that has fans raving over this young, but talented, artist. Unlike many of the songs that are now flooding the music platforms around the world, this track has the emotional depth and lush soundscapes that leave listeners eager to hear more.
The emotional origins of this lyrical masterpiece are deeply rooted in an experience that Frances encountered after spending time away from her passion as a musician. In her own words she explains:
This song is about the parts of us we lose. For me, that was getting tendonitis and having to put down my guitar. An acoustic amputation, the loss of a limb. A year after putting down my guitar, when I was just about healed, I was encouraged by an audience of new friends and strangers to play some songs on my guitar. I took my place in front of everyone, and my fingers settled into a familiar G. But the next chord never came. I couldn’t remember a single song I’d written. Smiling faces looked up at me, telling me I could do it. But really, I could not. The words were all gone. Finally, I sat back down, startled.
Obviously, much time has passed and the old expectations have been far exceeded as Frances continues to produce music that is both moving and electric.
Kicking off this season with a single that is bone chilling beautiful is multi-faceted young talent Nick Lopez and his latest release, “Carousel.” Not only is this incredibly mature piece a wonderful tribute to the intense emotional ride that many of us find ourselves on, but musically and vocally speaking, it is composed in an artistically complex manner that seems to inject the listener with the push and pull of Lopez’s emotional tide. With each passing beat, fans find themselves swaying with the beat that is so full of meaning that, like the song declares pulls them back in again and again. After making hundreds of sacrifices for the music career that he has been dreaming of since his teenage years, the rewards are finally starting to match the hard work of this young artist.
Ever since a young age, Nick Lopez has dreamed of a life on stage and decided at age 17 to move from the comfort of his childhood bay-area home to Los Angeles to pursue a goal that he has come to achieve over and over again. His alluring vocals and talented duet counter-pieces have added to his musical credibility and has raised the bar of expectation even higher. Coupled with his layered pop-sensibilities, Nick Lopez’s incredible thirst for success will continue to drive him to the top of the billboards and allow him to take his current streams from the current millions to billions.
Since the release of the Shapeshifter I: ConstructEP from TAUK, there has been a huge amount of hype surrounding this wildly popular release. The buzz from their latest release, however, will continue to garner success and spread throughout the country in the coming months as they advertise the new release on several stages. Most recently, TAUK released a live video of their hit track, “Malware,” which was expertly performed by everyone involved which resulted in a visual spectacle that is both unique and completely captivating. As neon light flash and flicker throughout the entirety of the recording, fans hang on each beat and movement of this incredible performance. In this recording of the live show in Minneapolis, featuring PHO band members Lukas Skrove on trumpet and Aaron Levin on sax, there seems to be a live tension in the audience that becomes nearly tangible.
One of the greatest aspects of rising electro-pop band, TAUK, is that they have the distinctive ability to take what we all know as electronic music and manipulate it into something that is all their own. Regarding their sound, it is clear and direct as opposed to the muffled style that has seemed to dominate this genre’s releases for the past several years. Undoubtedly, as TAUK continues to perform, the hype will continue to grow and gain them then success that their music deserves.
Tugging on the heart strings of fans throughout the world is Brooklyn-based artist Yoke Lore who recently released a music video for his rising single, “Fake You.” Vocally speaking, Lore has a hypnotizing range that matches the mood and atmosphere that the instrumental undertones lay out perfectly. One of the greatest aspects of this compilation, however, is how the music ticks in artistic time with each lyrical line of genius. In every aspect, the video, created by Lore and his friend Kenny in Austin, is a work of art that has layers of metaphorical meaning and depth. Unlike so many of the straight forward videos that have recently flooded the internet, there is an incredible amount of artist merit to this wonderfully choreographed video. Constantly fading between two separate realities, “Fake You,” is mind blowing song with a trippy video to match.
Since the release of the video, Lore has garnered thousands of streams – a number that will continue to grow as their music credibility with fans and critics continues to grow as more time passes. In the future, fans hope to see more of this budding musician. As the new musical venture of Adrian Galvin, previously of Yellerkin and Walk the Moon, the expectations are mounting, but no doubt that we will continue to receive quality work from Yoke Lore.
Coming out of an artistic hibernation, Australian alternative-rock artist AViVA is back with sass and spunk that is both enticing and intriguing. In the past, AViVA has released songs that have made it to the hot new release lists throughout the world. Most notably, her single “GRRRLS” garnered over 24 million streams–a number which continues to grow as this budding artists gains a fan following who’s dedication and enthusiasm strongly resembles the strength and determination of a wild fire. With all of this success behind her, AViVA continues to look forward to the future with the release of her latest single, “BRN”–a wonderful addition to the ever growing playlist that AViVA has been diligently developing since her debut.
“BRN” is a fierce battle cry meant to ward off anyone who dares to put this feisty artist’s back against the wall. With every moment of this incredibly powerful single packed with hooks and driving beats that are just as intense as they are meaningful. As each second passes, listeners find themselves hanging on each word, each beat, and most importantly, each addicting chorus which triumphantly declares, “You’ll find I’m here to stay.” With all of this strong emotion behind her music, there is no doubt that this same spunk inspires her to continue to develop and increase her musical credibility. Soon enough, the world will come to know as she so boldly states that she is “here to stay” with the vocal skill of an artist far beyond her years and the drive to achieve her life long goals.
Together, Laura Larson, Corrie Harrigan, and Liz Elton have come together to form the shape shifting and ever evolving minimalistic punk trio Kitten Forever and have just released their fourth and latest album, Semi-Permanent. One of the greatest attractions that this trio can offer is their seamless ability to switch instruments as well as roles mid-performance and deliver a stunningly complex and dynamic show. United by their equal abilities in each area of their performance, it is no wonder that this band has come produce four successful full length albums together. As these three friends continue to develop both their skills and talents, not only will they develop a stronger presence in the punk/pop world, but they will also gain priceless credibility among their peers.
Throughout their track, it is clear that they have clung to their roots as each song is infused with anthemic rhythms, fast and furious beats and melodic tendencies all within two minutes. Each song is laced with powerful drums and exciting bass loops that keep the toes tapping and bodies moving. If nothing else, one thing is clear-it is hard to stay still while listening to such enthusiastic and exciting music. Overall, Kitten Forever has found their niche within the realm of punk that is cleverly mixed with pop sensibilities which enhances and creates a unique sound that is specific to this Minneapolis-based band. Another notable aspect is their incredible ability to mimic the beautiful growl of the base and drums with their voice, truly becoming the third instrument in this tricky trio. This album as a whole explores the juxtaposition of all things with its lyrically dynamic tracks that discuss self-trust in a world of dishonest decay. As this budding group continues to garner success from the general public they prove over and over again that the punk genre is alive and thriving with each beat of the drum and strum of the bass. In a recent review of Semi-Permanent, an author wrote, “Kitten Forever is proof, once again, that punk is in fact not dead.”
Coming from a background that includes a mixed bag of past careers–including children’s book author and fine artist–Scott Mickelson has finally found root in a career in music that suits him perfectly. Since moving from Massachusetts to the Bay area in the 80’s, Mickelson has been known to be seen performing on big name stages such as the Filmore and Great American Music Hall. No small feat for an artist that took a break from the music world after producing five full length releases with his band Fat Opie. Since his return to stage, Mickelson has released one full length album and in now preparing to drop his second on May 4th. This album, A Wondrous Life is a compilation of songs that overall tell the story of everyday life in stark and, at times, uncomfortable detail. “No Such Luck,” a track found on this album is a perfect example of this lifestyle clarity. “We tend to keep ourselves in a state of stress, many times by choice. We seem to take on more than we can comfortably handle, then blame ourselves for not doing it well enough.”
Not only does Mickelson perform some of his finest vocals in this album, but unlike his last album, A Wondrous Life was a solo effort meaning that Mickelson performed all of the instrumental components ranging from drums to horns. With all of the effort that went into producing such a meticulous and intricate album, it is clear that this set of tracks fall among some of the greatest work that Mickelson has every has his hand in. Throughout each individual song, the listener is walked through the reality of several aspects of daily life experiences. Not only does this add the Mickelson’s credibility, but it will also allow his music to maintain relevance over the coming years. Unlike some of the one-hot-wonders of the 00’s, Scott Mickelson has the staying power to be known throughout the ages.
Out with their second ever single is up and coming Chicagoland-based band Golds who are hoping to continue the success garnered from their last single. “Craving” is a creative mesh of several different genres that was inspired by some of the most iconic names of the 90’s such as Michael Jackson and Duran Duran. Not only does this song have lyrical weight that is perfectly juxtaposed by the warmth of the music, but it highlights the vocal strength of the band as a whole. As each note perfectly melts into the next, listeners are completely hypnotized by each passing synth loop and intoxicating heavy hitting drums. Although this band is young and still has so much potential to grow into the spotlight, they have done a fantastic job of producing a single that is well composed and displays a sound that is both stunning and memorable.
Throughout the song, listeners explore the yearning that is so often experienced in daily life–a need that can never be met, water that can never quench the dry thirst of summer. The journey encompasses each carefully crafted verse and every slight change in the direction of the song. Without a doubt, with the release of their new single, Golds will find new opportunities and continue to find success in the career that they love.
Since her debut EP Necessary in 2017, up and coming Australian artist San Mei has been working on releasing more of her more refined sounds. After waiting quite some time, fans from around the globe are welcoming in her newest single, “Wonder” which is a beautifully composed precursor to the rest of her EP which has been scheduled to drop later this year. From the time Mei began on this journey in the world of music, she has gained experience on stages throughout her native country and hope to push that boundary even further in the near future. Along with all of this recent success on stage, this budding dream pop musician has clearly spent countless hours evaluating and perfecting her unique sound that her fans have come to love and expect.
“Wonder” is a well written and composed single full of beautifully lush and complex soundscapes that have a distinct psych-tinged feel that San Mei wields with power and authority. While discussing her latest release, she said, “It’s about that classic butterfly moment you get when someone unknown to you captures your attention, and you’re not sure why. It’s that person becoming a daydream to you, wondering who they are, what they’re about, and not necessarily wanting them to become anything more than some intoxicating illusion.” What is not an illusion, however, is the sheer amount of talent and promise that is displayed in the revolutionary use of synth melodies that captivate and move listeners. With this new single out and even more that has been promised in the coming months, San Mei is one to watch.
