We’re not sure what is behind the vintage-esque music videos and clips of footage that are making the rounds in the industry, but we’re big, big fans. Retro indie-pop artist Buster Baer’s entire newly-released EP, Mock Twang, and the accompanying music video for single “Get Deeper” are certainly no exception. A bit of beautiful nostalgia, the music video follows our protagonist musician and a dog… or, rather, a human in a dog costume. Beautiful views, brief violence, a baseball bat, and some marijuana are all seen under psychedelic magentas that will absolutely take you back in time.
A meandering, beautiful piano intro? Check. An ethereal, intense voice dancing along staccato notes in an endearing and almost haunting way? Check! Teghan Devon has pulled out all the stops in new single “V.I.P.,” for which we have the exclusive premiere right here. Let yourself get lost in the building momentum of a song that feels like a warm hug. Singing of engaging with true, genuine friendship and “Good vibes only,” this is a song we can absolutely get on board with in 2022. Get your first listen below, and be sure to let Teghan know how much you love her over on Facebook!
Indie folk artist Amy Jay continues to impress, carving out delicate landscapes and memories as her story unfolds in front of us all. 2 EPs and an array of singles in, we have grown quite attached to her sound. Jay’s new track “Lucid Dreaming” gives us a taste of what’s to come with her first full-length release, due out next month.
We’ve not been as impressed with a lyricist in a moment and are absolutely thrilled by the specificity that the end of each breathless line brings with it. Jay’s whisper of a voice seems to trace shadows across our skin, while we fall into the comfort of her sweet melody. Lines like “sunscreen and cigarettes/smells like childhood birthdays” give you just a hint of nostalgia attached to the simplicities of early years and seemingly unimportant memories. Explains Jay of the track:
I somehow ended up in the front subway car on the A express train zooming down Manhattan on my way to work, and was mesmerized by the prisms that were forming out of the double-paned window of the train door. As I was in some sort of hypnotic, half asleep, morning commute state, I also picked up the smells of sunscreen and cigarettes, which was probably someone on their way to the beach. But it brought me straight back to a specific, vivid just-like-yesterday memory of a childhood pool party in Miami Lakes where I grew up. Contrasting that past memory with the current state of my mind asking, ‘Am I really an adult?’ and, ‘What is truth, does it even exist?’ is what brought me to write this song. It was a strange train ride.
Sure, the idea of lucid dreaming is a magical concept; having the ability to be aware and make decisions within your dreams can make it feel like two realities exist. Daydreaming, night dreaming, lucid dreaming… what a comforting and strange thing to consider. (And no, we have never identified with a line more than with “nothing’s making sense, nothing’s making sense.”)
Awake Sleeper is out February 11. Keep up with Amy Jay here.
Ray Angry just may have been involved in crafting the most truly engaging and vibrant music video experience of the holiday season, if you ask us. That is, based on the gorgeous color play in the visual release for “#Toyland,” a seductive R&B remake that features some iconic names. Public Domain – the musical collaboration project Ray Angry operates – has released a party-themed gem that will have you getting in the mood for the new year. Explains the caption on the official music video:
‘Toyland’ is a song from the 1903 Christmas-themed operetta. The song is originally a saccharine tune about a wistfulness for childhood and how once you cross it’s borders, you can never return again.. It’s a nostalgic exploration of loss of innocence. With that theme in mind, our updated song is about an acid trip and psychedelic/spiritual experiences in general, tying it to Toyland in that once you cross the border of self exploration and rebirth in that way, you don’t necessarily return the same person. We have Perverted the original meaning and created a new narrative that explores the continued and perpetual losses of innocence that occur throughout adulthood that are sad, beautiful, and complex.
Questlove, Black Thought, Marcus King, Pino Palladino, and Liv Warfield all feature, as you watch a literal kaleidoscope of lights and theatrics through the screen. Equal parts Tim Burton, Cirque du Soleil, and Southern California rave, this video is a really fun direct reflection of its concept and lyrical twist, a psychedelic experience you won’t want to miss.
If you’ve been looking for an aesthetic that is vibrant, intricate, and akin to some of the video games you’ve been besting your PR at all pandemic long, then the EELS’ latest video for “The Magic” might just be your cup of tea. While we’re particularly fond of the music itself – with its mass, danceable appeal, and borderline-eery instrumentals – the adventurous layer that the music video adds to the concept is really quite intriguing.
While we’re quite aware that the magic we’re experiencing is CGI-based, it’s interesting to see how much detail went into the 3 minutes and 19 seconds of visual beauty that is presented.
If this is any indication, the EELS have something quite enigmatic up their sleeves for the new year. And I’ll ride that submarine anytime.
Emerging as a solo artist after her time as the frontwoman of surf-pop band High Wasted, Jessica Louise Dye returns with a new side to her musical persona under the moniker Hello Lightfoot. Taking cues from her experience DJ’ing at clubs and throwing chaotic themed parties, her solo work takes listeners into a more intimate look at herself while keeping a gritty and high octane indie-pop sound. Hello Lightfoot’s sophomore single “shame” is no different, serving as an anthem for personal release.
Backed by a punchy synth-pop instrumental, the track rebels against trauma with an emphatic drive to take back control of one’s own emotions. The beat and vocal melodies in this song does a great job of sonically painting a turbulent journey out of a storm- psychologically speaking, as if Hello Lightfoot and the listener fights through their demons with a sense of optimism and relentlessness. Whereas other songs on similar subjects captures a feeling of suffering, “Shame” feels like a middle finger to your inner self’s spiritual attacker, daring it to try hitting again. On the single’s message, Jessica explains:
The concept of feeling shame is one I can relate to and is distinctly tied to feeling embarrassed or even just shy in social situations. It’s something I’ve worked on a lot. I consider myself an extrovert with introvert tendencies. The line “muzzle be damned” is a reference to silencing your own opinions around others as a means to be more amicable. It’s very easy to lose yourself if you’re catering to the likes and dislikes of others. Being a nice guy can be a curse sometimes.
“Shame” is out on all platforms and stay tuned for Hello Lightfoot’s upcoming project.
