If you haven’t heard of Paper Suit, you might be feeling a little left out right now. But the fact of the matter is, Paper Suit is just now being brought into the fold. Launched just last month, the five-artist collective is a collaborative project between internet friends who also happen to be rappers. Together, they blend their styles, intonations, and perspectives to make this a beautiful and fun experience for all.
We sat down to get to know the guys recently, and it inspired an interview series. Tune in to part one below, and let us know what you think of the new project on Instagram!
Brooklyn-based indie pop collective The Davenports – masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Scott Klass and a rotating cast of artists – has been riding high off of critical acclaim over their fifth album, You Could’ve Just Said That, and for good reason. Klass’ mastery of the production process – from concept to recording and mixing – is on full display, as it is the first release charmingly self-recorded at home. This allowed him to really do whatever experimenting and manipulation he wanted to with the tracks, resulting in a powerhouse audio adventure.
Today, The Davenports focus on the release of their official music video for “We Know We Want To.” The song itself? A layered, stripped down-yet-sweet confection for the ears, calling for simplicity and honesty. Explains Klass of the track:
This is essentially a love song, but with a polyamory spin, based on a story I heard. I don’t know how common it is. Two people were part of a friend group that believed strongly in polyamory, and it just stopped working for one-half of that couple. They loved their primary partner and reached a point where sharing was painful and stopped making sense. It was pretty heartbreaking to hear about how they just put up with it for a while, just fighting their truth. It’s a question about the balance between your honesty and your principles in situations where the two might not be aligned.
The refrain: “It’s principle we all have sold / that one-on-one is tired and old / let’s put the party line on hold…and hold each other like we know we want to.”
When it came to the official music video for the piece, Klass knew he wanted to work with Mount Emult, who he has worked with previously. The artist creates gorgeous collage-style stop-motion by hand that “blows everyone away.” And Klass’ praise is not wrong. The video was pieced together so masterfully, there’s a sense of magic, nostalgia – and the simplicity the song is asking of us – to it all.
“I wanted someone great to interpret it their own way,” explained Klass. “This is essentially a love song, and the rush of imagery is, to me, as fitting of the rumination related to heartbreak as it is a visual juxtaposition to the song’s theme.”
You can get your first peek at the video for “We Know We Want To” here, now.
Keep up with The Davenports on Instagram, and pop some of their tunes into your library.
Maddie Zahm’s latest single “Sheets” was performed on tour last year, and was a huge highlight of the performance. It was a long wait to have a studio cut version, but finally, it’s arrived. “Sheets” is also part of an exciting, yet-to-be announced project.
An anthemic breakup song, “Sheets” is a massive fuck-you to a woman Zahm dated that quickly moved on from their relationship—a bit too quickly. The scenario is all-too relatable for many. Zahm explains:
And like every dramatic, you know, young gay in Los Angeles, I got updates from my friends that my ex was kissing blondes at a party. It crossed the line for me. So I went home and I wrote “Sheets” and pretty much I just was like, ‘did she even change her sheets before she’s making out with other people?’ That’s insane.
Her can’t-miss Sad & Sexy tour begins next month, and we’re betting she’s coming to a city near you. Grab tickets for your date, below:
3/21 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater 3/22 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler 3/24 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville 3/25 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground 3/26 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre 3/28 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club 3/29 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia 3/30 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza 4/1 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club 4/3 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland 4/4 – Columbus, OH – The Athenaeum Theatre 4/5 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House 4/7 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall 4/8 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Annex 4/10 – Chicago, IL – Metro 4/11 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue 4/12 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada 4/14 – Denver, CO – Gothic 4/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex 4/18 – Seattle, WA – Neptune 4/19 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre 4/21 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall 4/23 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren 4/24 – San Diego, CA – Music Box 4/26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
Indie rockers Julien Baker and Torres (Mackenzie Scott) have released the second single off their highly-anticipated country record, Send a Prayer My Way, out on April 18th.
The latest song after December’s “Sugar in the Tank,” “Sylvia” is about Scott’s dog.
The morning I went to pick up Sylvia from an upstate shelter, I was at home making my coffee and I turned on WFMU and Dolly Parton’s “Cracker Jack” was on. I burst into tears—it felt like the universe was telling me she was going to be mine (Sylvia was only meant to be a foster). I remember thinking that I’d love to write a song like that, a song that people could feel in their chest within five seconds of turning on the radio, because anyone who has ever had the honor of sharing a home with a beloved pet knows that a pet is family—they’re the best friends you could ever have.
The video for “Sylvia” includes scenes from their sold-out surprise show at the Mercury Lounge back in December.
Dick Prall is a sentimental man. The Iowa-based indie rock singer-songwriter has been going by the nickname his mother affectionately knew him by, Dickie, for the last decade as he’s unraveled his genius on the world. His talents have led him in a variety of directions musically over the last few years, but the same heart is at the center of every piece.
Dickie’s latest offering, Head Full of Hiss, is an EP that is equal parts honest and beautiful. The first track “Shakes You” is the piece’s gorgeous new single, and we are absolutely enthralled by it. The almost five-minute song is soft and folksy in its presentation early on. This allows you to be humbled by the man’s incredible vocal range.
At 2 minutes and 40 seconds in, the instrumentation becomes bolder and more drawn out. The song is from an observer’s perspective, identifying strength in another person. Wanting to emulate someone is such a bold form of flattery, but it is also a self-acknowledgment that there is room for improvement. And while the lyrics are a bit vague at times, there is a strength to it all that give this song strength to the ever-present, supportive, affirmative line “No one ever shakes you.” It feels brought to life in this moment, a song cut in two, a journey with a definitive “before” and “after.”
Dickie’s thought-provoking music is heartfelt, layered with emotion and raw talent in a unique and, honestly, addictive way. The new EP feels like the right listen at the right time.
“Shakes You” is now streaming everywhere you listen to music!
Americana sensation Eddy Lee Ryder releases her first LP titled Sweet Delusions today. This NY-based artist is gracing us with 11 beautifully made songs, each piece delivering a romantic and almost magical experience.
Ryder’s voice has a distinct country twang to it, with soft-spoken and whimsical tones. I absolutely love the layering done with her background vocals– it truly adds an angelic element to the entire ensemble. As a previous string musician myself, I believe the album’s classical musicality is nothing to gloss over; almost every song is blessed with a symphonic melody, made possible by effortless violin and piano riffs.
“Highwaymen”, the focus track of the album, is a perfect representation of the youthful side of Sweet Delusions. Ryder yearns to travel and finds solace in being on the road. In order to be with her, you have to understand that sometimes she needs to get away from it all– but that doesn’t mean she wants to be alone. Ryder is looking for a partner-in-crime to accompany her on all life’s journeys. As a homebody, I cannot relate, but I can definitely see the appeal of “Highwaymen” for people my age. This song was made for all the free-spirited girlies out there! The chorus goes:
I hear the highway’s my man Left my man for the highway If you want to be free you must do it my way~
Her song titles do well in describing the message underlying each song, gracing the audience with straightforward and relatable phrases. Songs like “Sweet Delusions”, “Bad Decisions” (my favorite of the whole album), and “Joke is on Me” showcase the self-deprecating aspect of looking back on romantic relationships. As the titles imply, Ryder holds onto beliefs that she knows are not likely, but desperately wants to believe in them. She even fantasizes about her love interest ditching his current lover to go after her instead– delusional right? She wants to be with him forever, quite literally singing that she refuses to let these delusions go.
The rest of Sweet Delusions is filled with purely delightful symphonies and vivid imagery. “Smoke and Mirrors” implies the obvious– everyone puts on a front; Ryder and everyone else knows the lives people display on social media are not real, but what she does know for certain is that her love and connection with her partner is real. There’s a verse in the song that goes “Now they’re all changing their looks, buying self-help books” which I can relate to wholeheartedly!
The last couple of songs of the album are what really bring the whole LP to life. In “Only Real Cowboy”, Ryder depicts herself as a cowboy-era vixen at a nearby saloon; she is watching in awe as her love interest takes on the big, bad sheriff in town. In “County Fair”, Ryder does a wonderful job at illustrating the almost surreal county fair experience: summer heat, loud attractions, and fast crowds. Best of all, this song encapsulates being in the moment. Going to the county fair is a great first-date idea for young couples. Ryder is once again reflecting on past times, looking back on a romantic experience she had with a boy in her youth.
