Gorgeous, free-flowing, poetry. Beautiful, layered, scattered instrumentals. An audible form of art that feels both nostalgic and somehow modern and brand-new. The enigma that is soul artist Adrain Younge’s incredibly artful brain is on display in his latest track “Revolutionize.” This track will carry you into the coming months with a sense of purpose and pride.
Keep up with Adrian Younge here.
Sir Sly has started 2021 off with a bang, coming at us left and right with new material and the promise of a brand new album release this spring. And while we wait (not-so-patiently) for The Rise & Fall of Loverboy, we are falling in love quickly and poetically with each new single.
Sidenote: Is it possible to so completely love an entire collection of music without ever hearing it in its entirety yet?
While Landon asks introspective questions we can all relate to, there’s a vulnerability to it all that is so obviously palpable in the tender, soft vocals. At 1 minute, 54 seconds, this song packs a punch and is such a simple way to say “I love you” in a time when it can otherwise feel so difficult.
Insightful lyrics lead dance-pop artist – and actor, writer, dancer, director, producer, and filmmaker – Jack Tracy‘s new single “Prince.” Glittering synths dance along while he sings of developing despite distractions and drawbacks. The song itself serves as an anthem for Tracy, and the audience can find relatable moments throughout.
While we have your exclusive first listen to the new track here, Tracy’s new EP LOVE YAH will be out in April. So keep your eyes peeled!
Welp, indie (dream) pop duo Eighty Ninety just released such a gorgeous track heading into Valentine’s Day weekend. We apologize for not sharing before the holiday, but there’s only so much time in a day. BUT WOW.
You know those moments when you consider different outcomes to your life? Contemplating your puppy love, celebrating your forever love, reminiscing on old love. Well, “Forever” is one of those moments. “Forever is about reconciling the desire to be with the person you love with the understanding that they don’t feel the same way anymore,” admits the duo. “It’s like a daydream in a song — what if we were in love again?”
Vocals smooth like butter (as always), gorgeous lyrics, and a rhythm that is easy to move to make this song just like a sugary dream. What a beautiful dichotomy and a wonderful song to deep breathe to.
This weekend is the first one where we’ve felt awake and like we’re gaining momentum for the first time this year. Perhaps that’s because we’re lucky enough to host the exclusive premiere of Danger // Chain‘s 5-track Roses In A Glass EP, and it’s been playing on repeat since it landed in our inbox.
Eighties-inspired synth and inspired bass lines almost dance around the dark, eery vocals as we spin into what can only be explained as a Tim Burton-esque existence. Hauntingly beautiful, it’s actually served as the soundtrack we needed to get our asses in gear.
Says Heather:
I don’t think anyone has all the answers for how to make a better world, but certainly we should be able to imagine one through art. As an artist, it’s my job to reflect what’s going on around me. I believe it is the responsibility of artists to speak on matters of a political nature. Roses In A Glass is my interpretation of the world as it is today, told through a retro futuristic lens. We may not be able to escape the current times, but we can still listen to music. I believe very much that music heals.
Let the dark ambiance envelope you this weekend.
Sharkk Heartt, a moniker born from a period of starting completely anew in life, has released just 3 singles as such. But Lara Ruggles – the mastermind and solo artist behind the project – has seen transformation like no other throughout her music career. We are lucky enough to have the exclusive premiere of the new music video for her single “Work Fires” in advance of its release. And what a ride this particular video is!
Vivid, heart-stopping performance set to the backdrop of bold, gorgeous outdoor mural art made to look like natural landscapes. And all of this, from just the first two frames. Other ecosystems and landscapes are introduced to the fold, as a very literal interpretation of the lyrics can be seen played out by Ruggles and a male cohort in front of a mural, while she performs the song with grandeur to his unaware character.
Featuring talented dancers Kevin Hainline, Na-il Ali Emmert, Andrea Connolly, Emily Truman, Taylor Eason, Terry McCants, Betsy Ganz, Nanette Knight, and Micheila Karringten in differing habitats with the collective choreography stylings of Chezale Rodriguez, this music video enhances the very necessary need for community, especially in this time. Each movement perfectly timed to the danceable rhythm that has been created with Ruggles’ minimalist instrumentation approach and full, energetic vocals.
“Work Fires” was created in a moment where Ruggles realized she might sometimes like to be a work fire for someone. Her personal anecdote? A music manager promised to come to her show and she was excited at the idea of being managed by him professionally. Yet, he ended up changing plans last minute. Explains the artist, “He’d gotten ‘caught up in a work fire. I had this fleeting, petulant thought of ‘I want to be one of your work fires.’ And then that became this catchy phrase that I kept tossing around in my head and started to add onto while I was still on the road.”
Is there a better way to describe the type of genre-bending, nostalgia-brimming sonic experience Texas-based pop duo Tele Novella delivers than to call it, simply, “whimsical?” This can be said for the entirety of their first full-length release, a ten-track piece titled Merlynn Belle. Sure, the very pointed pop, folk, and psychedelic influences leap quite fluidly from one to the other, but there is a type of theatrical quality to their delivery that makes even spooky nuances in their tracks feel positive and hopeful.
Except “Crystal Witch.” That is still very intense and largely dark. But, if you choose to enjoy the short 3 minutes and 9 seconds this track takes up, you’ll still feel that theatrical positivity by the end. (Don’t ask. We don’t make the rules.)
It’s no surprise that the duo’s sound is so reminiscent of past beauty, either. The premise of their art is that it comes from a town – Lockhart, Texas, specifically – that is “a small town, lost in time.” Lyrics like “Send me a postcard when you get to” (Words That Stay), “I’ve got her bonnet and her gloves” (One Little Pearl), and “In my Technicolor Town” (Technicolor Town) reaffirm the fact that the music is to have come from that time, and is not just heavily influenced by that trend. However, the duo has done a stand-up job at making sure the majority of the lyrics translate and are not tied to one timeframe or one particular circumstance.
One overarching theme to this album is that it is there to paint a picture. Where the lyrics wouldn’t indicate context in some ways, the bassline and cadence paint their own pictures. This is truly an audio adventure, meant to be enjoyed in order, from beginning to end.
At just 32 minutes long, we have faith you can set aside some time for this energetic and truly phenomenal release in its entirety.
Los Angele’s latest blessing to the music world is a noteworthy new artist named Alonzo. Last week, he released his new single “Respect” and we couldn’t help but put this one in the mix for new shares. The song’s pace is like a slow walk through a scenic park – a romantic movie montage, perhaps, in its speed – making the words that much more healing in their overlay.
Once Alonzo’s breathy, sensual vocals hit the track, the Prince comparisons are boundless. And his admirable way with words makes this release that more striking. It’s no coincidence that a song that demands African American worth is being released during Black History Month, but the way it hits will undoubtedly keep it in heavy rotation for months to come. Says Alonzo of the track: “I wanted to release this song to kick off Black History Month as an affirmation. A new anthem that Black people can sing from the rooftops with pride & confidence.”
It is with great pleasure that we wait with bated breath for Kansas City’s own Amy Farrand and The Like to play the official record release show for their debut album One this Saturday, April 28th. The band – adequately self-described as genre-defiant – is comprised of a group of incredible musicians, including, of course, esteemed songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (and band namesake) Amy Farrand, who has been working on this musical project since 2015. Having entertained at some incredible local events – including, but certainly not limited to, Kansas City’s Middle of The Map Fest and Apocalypse Meow – the sextet is amped to let their work reach more ears, and to continue with their incredibly endearing live performance tactics with the new tracks.
One was recorded at Weights and Measures Lab with Duane Trower and is an eleven track stunner you absolutely do not want to miss. If you haven’t heard it already, it was released recently, following the success of the single “Scared To Death of Dying”, which is the perfect jam track. A musical journey alongside Amy Farrand and The Like includes some incredibly soulful vocal vibes, accompanied by a robust-sounding horns section and high energy percussion that really bring everything to life and create some versatility to the tracks. While tracks like “White Girl Wasted” and “Scared to Death of Dying” actually address some common social commentary, the band is laser-focused on tracks like “Dragon Woman” and “Sweet Thing”, two of our absolute favorites from this collection.
Join Amy Farrand and The Likes in celebration of this honest and beautiful collection of songs on April 28th at 8pm at Davey’s Uptown Rambler’s Club (3402 Main Street, Kansas City, MO). Inviting the warm weather in with this crowd is going to be an absolute delight!