Vonnie Kyle just released her newest music video for her newest single, “Imperfect Parts,” and it has such a cinematic edge to it! The feel of the video was almost theatrical, but in the best way. The video itself mixed with the vibe of the song, created this cinematic type of music video, and I really enjoyed that.
The video managed to tell a story really well. From the beginning when she is first looking into the briefcase to the different objects making an appearance throughout different parts of the video, it all flowed really nicely together. “Imperfect Parts” is also very aesthetically pleasing. I really liked the lighting that was used as Kyle was playing the instruments, as well as the scenes that took place in nature. I particularly liked the part where she is walking through the greenery, it looks so beautiful. It was really amazing that she was shown playing the instruments that are featured on this track in the video! It adds something to the music video and even shows a different part of her musical talents.
Of the song, Kyle admits:
I wrote Imperfect Parts when I fell in love with my best friend. The timing was awful, to be honest; my marriage had just failed, Covid had just started hitting the US, and I was still trying to figure out where the hell I was even going to live. I was still punishing myself daily for having married the wrong person and then letting them down. I hadn’t processed any of this, yet there I was on the phone with this other person, every single night for hours on end, somehow feeling for once like I actually did deserve some sort of joy. I hadn’t felt real joy in years. I had been a shell of a human constantly making compromises to avoid facing a harsh reality, which was that I had been living a life I didn’t belong in.
This song wasn’t going to be on the record, originally. I had already written the whole thing and had no plans to add to it. One night though, I was sitting on the floor of my practice space after a long phone call with the person who is now my partner, and this whole song just sort of fell out of my brain. It didn’t take long to realize this was going to be the title track. It perfectly summed up all of the challenges that the whole record represents, and that’s self-forgiveness, acceptance and moving onward.
So, if you can’t get enough of Portland native, Vonnie Kyle, make sure to check her out and keep up with her upcoming releases.
Directed, filmed, and edited by Joshua Rivera (Rollstars Productions) Produced by Joshua Rivera (Rollstars Productions) and Vonnie Kyle
Riley Owens just released his newest single, “Camino!” From the composition of the music to the lyrics of the song, every aspect of this single mixes perfectly together!
The guitar in the back of this track is amazing. It really adds something extra special to the already lyrically enriched song. Not only do the lyrics fit perfectly with the sound of the song, but his voice is the perfect match for all of the above. Overall, the quality of the song is amazing. It makes you feel like you are sitting on a beach somewhere. It has a relaxing and almost soothing sound, and I definitely believe that the guitar in the background adds to that feeling.
The song being about an abrupt end to a new relationship, but still giving it this rather soothing vibe, is actually brilliant and I really like that! The song is almost like a warm blanket that is making you feel better during a hard time, such as a breakup, instead of making you feel angry and riled up.
Everyone should definitely be keeping an eye out for Riley Owens and his upcoming music. From his voice to his lyricism, he is a force to be reckoned with on his music journey!
New York indie-pop artist Benjamin Lazar Davis has announced his new self-titled LP alongside a video for the first single off of the project, “Remember.”
Known for working with a diverse array of artists, ranging from Anaïs Mitchell to Okkervil River, Davis is far from a newcomer to the music industry. The collaborative efforts shine through on the LP with contributions from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros pianist Mitchell Yoshida, Lake Street Dive bassist Bridget Kearney, and Rubblebucket bandleader Alex Toth, among many others.
Girl Talk’s Sarah K Pedinotti assisted Davis with the production of “Remember,” not only by co-writing the title but also by starring in its visuals beside her cousin Desmond to represent the past and present in addition to their similarities and differences.
Davis’ directorial debut depicts the Pedinotti’s wading through a river, blowing bubbles, and running through a forest as a yellow butterfly motif periodically flashes in and out, perfectly encapsulating the song’s fusion of Sufjan Stevens’ nostalgia-ridden longing for the past and The Flaming Lips’ technicolor psychedelia.
“Remember is an old song written in London after a failed attempt to connect with a crush that had always had a boyfriend but had become single. The song foreshadowed my life on both coasts of the USA. It was recorded in my parents’ house with Lars Horntveth on the minimalist reeds and Luke Moellman (of Great Good Fine Ok) on their old Steinway upright piano. Joan As Police Woman sings some crazy effected vocals in the last verse!”
The self-titled LP will come out on November 19 and is available to pre-order now via Bandcamp.
New Jersey-based singer/songwriter Christina Nicole is not afraid to bare her soul to an audience if her music will linger as an emotional spark to others. Sculpting her vocal skills in school talent shows and academic programs from middle school to college, Nicole turned to songwriting as a special gift for her artistry.
Her sophomore single “Drifting” captures a range of different emotions washing over herself as if she’s going through a therapeutic experience shocking her system. The sparse instrumentation, with shades of Lorde’s minimalist ambient sonics, is eventually rocked by choppy spurts of synths and drums jabbing towards the back half of the track. This production choice induces a sense of disturbance of one’s moment of peace. Nicole’s pained contemplation, especially “Your oceans they took me, Your oceans they broke me/Your oceans they hurt me, Your oceans they’re too deep”, brings the song to life as an inner sensation of drowning when a special connection of love shifts from a fun ride to a turbulent one. Nicole explains:
This song is about an ocean ruining a person as they sink into it. I chose to use an ocean to represent this story using an ocean for specific reasons. Oceans appear absolutely stunning and entrancing when looking at them from a distance. But as you go in, deeper and deeper, you can no longer keep your head above the ruthless water. Something that appeared so beautiful could easily take everything from a person. This theme can apply to so many scenarios in a person’s life.”
“Drifting” by Christina Nicole is out on all streaming platforms.
A Mix for the End of the World pt. 1, the newest LP by the Provo, UT-based band The National Parks, is set for release on October 8. The eight-song collection “…was inspired by love and life, and chronicles the fear, joy, uncertainty, and peace that life might look like at the end of the world.”
A Mix for the End of the World pt. 1 is an album that you will want to hear again and again. I would recommend listening to it from beginning to end, at least the first time out. The first piece, “At the End”, serves as a short (52 seconds) introduction to the music coming next. They have incorporated the same device with “Continuum” – a 41-second interlude leading to the end of the album. Both allow your ears to adjust to the next music.
My two favorite songs on the release, “Headlights” and “Dizzy”, showcase the very lyrics, tunes, and harmonies that have made The National Parks a band that has developed a strong national following.
The National Parks will finish 2021 with a 15 city tour in support of Mat Kearney.
Porches (aka New York-based musician Aaron Maine) has just released the video for “Back3School,” the fourth single from their fifth studio album All Day Gentle Hold ! out Friday, October 8.
The visuals for the ecstatic, synth-driven track observe Maine as he glides around an all-white soundstage while performing the song for a teacher wearing a transparent nylon mask.
Over the runtime, the video evolves from having straight-on shots of Maine singing to producing sweeping camera angles and rapidly flashing lights as he draws the audience into the crashing conclusion.
This song is a mystery to me, impending doom mixed with total bliss,” Maine said about the single. “The ‘back to school’ trope, but with an underlying anxiety that something might be terribly wrong, or maybe everything is just fine.
Watch the video for “Back3School” below!
Porches 2022 Tour Dates Mar 21 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB Mar 22 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace Mar 24 – Detroit, MI @ El Club Mar 25 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Mar 26 – Saint Paul, MN @ Turf Club Mar 28 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater Mar 29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge Mar 31 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret Apr 1 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos Apr 2 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom Apr 4 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent Apr 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater Apr 6 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar Apr 8 – Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues (Cambridge Room) Apr 9 – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn Apr 10 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues (Bronze Peacock Room) Apr 12 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West Apr 13 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In Apr 15 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Apr 16 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage Apr 18 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom Apr 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg Apr 21 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club Apr 22 – Philadelphia, PA @ The First Unitarian Church May 13 – London, UK @ Lafayette May 16 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie May 17 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet May 18 – Cologne, DE @ Artheater May 19 – Berlin, DE @ Privatclub
