sam hyken of nu deco ensemble shares some of his “favorite arrangements” in new soundtrack

sam hyken of nu deco ensemble shares some of his “favorite arrangements” in new soundtrack

Miami-based contemporary hybrid orchestra Nu Deco Ensemble recently released a magical album with roots-rock sister duo Larkin Poe. “During the challenging times of this past year, music served the critical purpose of connection to one another,” Jacomo Bairos and Sam Hyken of Nu Deco Ensemble explain. “Among those valuable connections was our first collaboration with the amazing duo Larkin Poe and the live album that resulted from it.” Paint the Roses: Live in Concert reimagines a previous release from Larkin Poe. A recorded live music experience, the instrumentation in this work is absolutely electrifying.

Sam Hyken of Nu Deco has taken some time to curate an eclectic – and electric – body of music into a soundtrack exclusively for us. Made up of his favorite songs that he has arranged for Nu Deco, you will get a taste of what inspires and delights this duo while having a uniquely enjoyable time. So turn your phone on airplane mode and zen out for a while with some of their “Favorite Arrangements.”

Keep up with Nu Deco here.

katelyn tarver utilizes a split-screen to take you on an emotional ride in new video for “nicer”

katelyn tarver utilizes a split-screen to take you on an emotional ride in new video for “nicer”

After the releases of her singles, “Shit Happens” & “All Our Friends Are Splitting Up” Katelyn Tarver just released a music video for her most recent relatable single, “Nicer.” In this split-screen video, the feeling of being emotionally drained from always trying to please everyone, to being happy with who she is now, were portrayed by Tarver perfectly. 

The concept of splitting the screen and having one going in reverse definitely added something special to the music video. The contrast in bright colors on the left side to the sad, blue tones on the right show exactly where she made it known that she is no longer the girl she used to be, and that is perfectly okay! Steering away from being a people pleaser is 100 percent not an easy thing to do, but this video and song are an amazing portrayal. 

I particularly liked the ending shot of her in the car driving carefree and happily on one side to sitting completely drained and unhappy on the other. The two different sides of her that are being seen here show just how happy she is being her and not caring that she has grown from being a people pleaser. This song should inspire others and let them know that it is okay to not want to always be the “Nicer” one in every situation. 

Director: Fiori (@fioricarmen)
DP: Patrick Jones (@patrick_jones)

Be sure you check out Katelyn Tarver’s upcoming album, Subject to Change, on November 12!

pearl & the oysters reveal nostalgic music video for title track off latest release flowerland

pearl & the oysters reveal nostalgic music video for title track off latest release flowerland

Pearl & The Oysters are celebrating not only the release of their third album Flowerland, but the title track has itself a gorgeous music video to accompany it now. Filmed as though it’s aged decades to mirror the French-American Psych Pop duo’s audio energy, the art lies in the video’s visual “imperfections.” The lime green hues in the feedback add a boost of color to the otherwise largely dual-tone shots.

Hints of navy blue and flashes of magenta give the video dimension, and a sense of nostalgia, as we enjoy Juliette Pearl Davis (lead vocals, flute, synths) and Joachim Polack (keys/synths, backing vocals, bass, guitar, violin, percussion) enjoy an afternoon amongst the flowers.

Directed by Pearl & The Oysters
Edited by Juliette Pearl Davis
Analog system video processing by Vinyl Williams
Music by Pearl & The Oysters

madeline hawthorne explores the “strange familiar” with gorgeous new single

madeline hawthorne explores the “strange familiar” with gorgeous new single

Do you thrive with routine, or with a life that throws new situations at you left and right? How do you think you would fare on the road, having every day be a new adventure? On one hand, it could be an incredible and mind-blowing existence. On the other, having stability can really be a must for mental health.

Musicians don’t often have the luxury of choosing, since touring is such an integral part of the business. While artists cope with the pitfalls of van life, touring can be an eye-opening experience. Madeline Hawthorne’s new track “Strange Familiar” examines the concept in a way that is almost thrilling. Her angelic vocals float across stirring guitar chords, humanizing a life that is strange, yet also familiar.

“Strange Familiar” for me is about struggling to find normalcy in a world where everyday is new and different. It’s about trying to find a place where I can thrive everyday without routine; routine like waking up at the same time, waking up in the same place, going to bed at a normal hour…those aren’t routines afforded to most touring musicians, especially when you’re just getting started. And yet we all have to find a way to be in it and enjoy it; even in the dark crevices of 4ams, 10 hour days on the road, empty shows and long stretches of time away from home.

I remember closing my eyes when I wrote the first line of this song and put myself back in the tour van with the band. The van (affectionately known as Loretta) was my normal life. Getting to Loretta after a show and being with the band felt like being with family. So I just tried to paint a picture of what I’d see everyday, getting into the driver’s seat and taking off for the next town. The rest of the song fell into place pretty easily after the first few lines. I know many of us are struggling to find normalcy everyday, regardless of whether or not we go to bed at the same time or wake up in the same place. This is a song that encompases that feeling for me and I love the groove we came up with in the studio. Hope you enjoy!

The release is technically out tomorrow, but we’ve got your exclusive first listen.

“next day you turn around, and it’s fall” | best new tracks of september 2021

“next day you turn around, and it’s fall” | best new tracks of september 2021

September is already halfway over. Don’t ask us how it happened, we feel like we blinked and the month is already gone. However, the level of talent in the music industry just. Doesn’t. Quit. With so many incredible project releases on the horizon toward the end of the year, we’re raking in the single releases like crazy. Here are a few of our favorites.