As if last week didn’t give us enough to be thankful for, the week ended with a stunning EP release from Lilla Vargen, titled We Were Thunder. (As an Irish singer/songwriter, Thanksgiving meant nothing outside of the continental United States, but we’re still reeling about how perfect the timing was on this release.) Beginning with the powerful, building ballad that is “The Shore”, Lilla sets the bar high with her strong — yet ethereal — vocals commanding the voyage. Heart-wrenching, the lyrics speak of torment over past love. But the song’s gorgeous melody holds with it hope for the future. “Solitary” brings another tortured love to the forefront, as Vargen sings of a relationship that feels cold even when those involved are together.
The idea of drifting apart and feeling “solitary” matches the soundscape perfectly, which is something that is so uniquely Vargen. She continues to rip our souls apart with “Why Wait”, where she sings of the loneliness of unrequited — or perhaps not yet realized — love. This one hit home. “Trouble” plays with the notion of timing always being off between two flames. Another highly relateable — and infinitely gorgeous — track to center yourself in knowing you’re not truly alone in this. She winds down the EP with “On My Mind”, leaving the open ended question asking why her love interest is always on her mind.
We are clearly going to have this magical EP on repeat for a while. But it begs the question, will there be a resolution in coming work to this heartbreak? Or will it be like your new favorite indie film, leaving you with a cliffhanger that keeps it cult status for years to come? Let us know what you think on Facebook!
We would tell you to catch Lilla with one of our favorites, Dermot Kennedy, on December 17th at the O2 Academy Leeds, but the event is sold out. And we get it.
Raise your hand if you’ve also been waiting with bated breath for an update from the HINDS camp. The collective — a foursome that hails from Madrid — has been creating fun, pop-tinged tunes to bop to for quite some time, but this is their first release of 2019 and we are 100% here for it. Hazy, dreamy, fun — as always — with a bit of edge and a real affinity for making life sound adventurous.
Check out the track below, and don’t forget to let us know what you think over on Facebook!
Tedy may have a more evolved sound than most — he originates from Haiti, but has lived in many places and is now taking North America by storm — but his grit and intensity is so relatable, that there is no fixed genre and even more room for music fans of all types to find themselves in his work. He just released the video for his single “Stuck”, and we’re enthralled.
A video that is every bit as dramatic as the music that inspired it, Tedy makes strobe lights and mental breakdowns seem poetic. But, after all, when it involves love, doesn’t that make it even more tragically beautiful? Though the visual is a little difficult to watch at times — we all know it’s fiction, but that doesn’t make us want to hug him any less — we are big fans of the impact it has at first watch.
If you’ve been looking for instrumentals that will touch your soul simply and evoke emotion before the vocals even hit, check out Steven King‘s new full-length Steven King on Ice. In fact, try on the first track “Water” for size, and you’ll already see what we mean. Not to mention the fact that King’s pace switches pretty fervently between slow ballads (“Seams Are Splitting”, “Fly to the End”, “Run to the Back”, “Wine”) and a relatively danceable pace (“Water”, “Black Mood”, “Champion the Idiot”, etc.) throughout the nine track album.
Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, King has crafted melodies that make most of these tracks streamlined for television and movie placement. We are floored by the talent on Steven King on Ice. “Champion the Idiot” has pulled some obvious inspiration from 60s favorites, while songs like “Milkshake” have a bit more of a 90s appeal to them. And — even though there are a myriad of topics addressed in the album and, in that way, it can feel kind of scattered — it all seems to come back around to introspective thoughts, highlighted with lines like, “What’s this world to you?” in last track “Wine”.
We’re very into this album in its entirety, and will probably be championing it all week on Spotify. Take a listen below, and let us know what you think on our Facebook page!
It’s been quite the year for powerful female vocalists. We’re totally on board, and it doesn’t look like a trend that is going to let up anytime soon. Take fresh Norwegian songstress HALIE, for example, with her new track “Circling”. Equal parts mysterious and beautiful, this song really takes you to a dark, oftentimes emotional, place. Her immense talent is palpable, as she is just gaining her footing in the industry. This song is simply one of a handful of singles she has released in the past. Let HALIE’s vocals put you in a trance today by putting the track below on repeat.
You’re into mid century modern decor, correct? I mean, aren’t we all? Especially after Marie Kondo helped us clear out our closets last year, and Bobby Berk started re-designing them! Well, imagine what you love about that style. The simplicity, the boldness, the beauty. This is what experiencing Cayley Thomas‘ music is like. Her vocals are delicate, yet wide-ranging, the emotion put into her work most palpable. “Midnight Hours” is no exception, and the music video is just as luxurious as our decor dreams. An emptiness is felt, encouraged by the vocals but entirely detectable in the video, yet it is alongside a beauty we cannot shake.
Take a moment to appreciate a gorgeous voice and a captivating music video below.
On the chilly evening of Thursday November 21st, Chase the Horseman and Whoa Dakota entertained an enthusiastic crowd at The Brick in The Crossroads district of Kansas City, MO. To experience either is an absolute joy, but we will always sing the praises of Whoa Dakota. The project — championed by singer/songwriter Jesse Ott — is so much fun to watch. In fact, this is an act we urge you to see live. Though the song recordings are incredible, they still give no justice to Ott’s far-ranging, angelic vocals, the true instrumental leader of the project. If you get a chance, check them out next time they’re through town!
KP Wolfe introduced herself to the world this week as a vocal powerhouse with the music video for her single “Take Back The Ring”. Grit pours from her lips as she energetically sings about heartbreak. The video itself is pure drama, shot in low light gorgeousness. Equal parts attitude and natural beauty, the song itself is highly relatable. The next breakup anthem, perhaps?
We’ll be belting out “Take Back The Ring” for the rest of the day.
San Francisco-based indie rock outfit Bells Rang is ramping up to release their new single “Tone Poem” on November 22nd. But we’re jumping the gun (so to say) to bring you the exclusive premiere first! Smooth, assertive, bluesy. This is a soundscape we can get on board with, and we’re certain you’ll get lost in the whirring guitar and reverb the way we have. Check it out below, and let us know your thoughts on Facebook!
