After playing a few acoustic shows over the past week, we decided to put together an acoustic style playlist for everyone. We as a band have a pretty big range of artists we follow. So there’s a little variety going on, but ultimately stripped down songs all kind of connect with each other regardless of the genre. We enjoy when artists do a different take on their own original song, broken down to get a different feel.
We ourselves also enjoy doing this with our songs, because it’s just another way to be creative and give another angle to the emotions of a song. On this mini tour we just went on, we had to recreate our full band songs to fit on the acoustic stage and it was a great experience to hear what our songs are capable of. Hope you enjoy our playlist!
You can get your ears on the quintet’s latest single “Apogee” right now!
Keep up with alternative indie collective The Racer here.
New York’s alternative rock duo Black Satellite – from the talents of Larissa Vale and Kyle Hawken – have been creating music together for six years, their new ten track album Endless being the latest in their musical adventure. Packed to the brim with dark, alluring vocals and tortuous, cacophonous instrumentals, the album is something out of a profound, badass dream. Replete with crash cymbals to emphasize the intensity of the lyrics, Endless is a particularly moody masterpiece.
In honor of their new release, the band created a playlist titled “Forged In Fire” exclusively for Imperfect Fifth. Says the band, “We made sure to showcase our inspirations as well as include songs we are currently listening to. We also aimed to highlight slightly lesser-known tracks by our favorite artists that we’re sure listeners will enjoy.”
We also had the divine opportunity to throw the duo a few questions, and they happily obliged.
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What is the first song or album you ever remember hearing, and who introduced it to you?
Larissa: When I was in elementary school, my brother’s bedroom shared a wall with mine and I could hear him blasting his music every night. The funny part is he is 9 years older than me and I ended up really getting into Eminem in 3rd grade!
Kyle: When I was very young I sang “Kryptonite” by Three Doors Down acapella at a school talent show. I hilariously found the song because it was featured on the track list of this strange 90s compilation album called “Now That’s What I Call Music.”
Was there a moment that it struck you and you realized you were going to pursue music, or did it kind of slowly evolve?
Larissa: I was always very into music. I don’t have a specific memory of when I started, I just always did it. Whether is was piano lessons, guitar lessons, choir, cello lessons etc.
Kyle: When I was 15, my Dad bought me a guitar to make my Mom jealous on Christmas. That kind of started it all.
Your track “Valkyrie” got a lot of love, and understandably so. What made you choose it as your lead single?
Wefelt it was a strong introductory track that was really representative of our sound as a whole. We are super happy with the decision!
Endless is such a striking release. Was this a concept album, or something that just kind of fell together?
Some of the songs on Endless were written 5 years ago, although we also came up with many new songs for the album. It’s a conglomeration of our greatest work at the time and truly showcases our range.
What was studio life like?
We tracked our record 16 hrs a day for about 10 days. This meant a lot of long nights working until 4am! We relied mainly on delivery food and hardly left the building. We were so prepared with our preproduction that we knew exactly what we needed to accomplish for the day and actually knocked it out much faster than expected. It really came down to us taking turns with our engineer making cappuccinos for each other all day!
How do you imagine people listening to this album?
Our hope is that this album becomes a part of the listener’s everyday life.Whether it’s to pump them up or get them through a rough time. That’s the ultimate goal.
As a still relatively new act, what are your thoughts on the modern music industry?
There are a lot of new ways to do things in the modern age, which means you need to reorient yourself on how to navigate the constantly changing industry. It’s important to always be on top of things and be prepared for a good opportunity when one is presented.
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Endless is available now. Keep up with this vivacious duo here.
Recently the most upbeat alternative rock live act we know, AWOLNATION, released the official lyric video for latest track “Passion”. The track itself serves as a mellow backdrop between the bravado of the repeating chorus – allowing itself to showcase Aaron’s softer vocal abilities than, say, “Sail” – to the contrast of the simple, black and white setup for the video. Shot from the Red Bull E-Sports Studio, the video is comprised of several individuals singing into the camera, a single light shining down on them and contrasted in black and white, their décolletage exposed as though to equalize all of them. The simplicity is striking, and the lyrics will certainly stick with you.
Keep your eyes peeled for AWOLNATION’s next release – set to drop in 2018 – right here.
Toronto-based alternative folk collective Birds of Bellwoods – comprised of Stephen Joffe, Adrian Morningstar, Chris Blades, and Kintaro Akiyama – are no strangers to attention. Having garnered accolades like crazy in 2015 and 2016 for their work, they continue to release catchy, lyrically intense songs that hook their listener and draw them into their beautifully painted world. In honor of their first official music video premiering with Hollywood Life last week, they answered a few questions for us and brought us behind the scenes on honing down material for the album, early music memories, and Billy Murray.
Check out the video for “Let You Go”, then get to know Birds of Bellwoods a little better below.
What is the first album/song you remember hearing, and who introduced it to you?
Stevie: Honestly, and it’s hard to admit, but the first song I really remember listening to front to back is “All Star” by Smash Mouth. And singing along at the top of my lungs during a road trip with my family (they weren’t singing).
Adrian: I think my earliest memory of music would have to be my dad singing “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” to my sister. Definitely played a big role in defining my relationship with mortality.
Kintaro: Hard to say, but “Graceland” by Paul Simon is definitely deeply ingrained in my childhood memories. I feel like that album was the soundtrack to many road trips for me as a young one.
Chris: Either Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette or a Peter, Paul, and Mary album, both of which were cassettes that my family brought on a road trip to Quebec when I was 3 or 4.
Your single “Catching Up” is absolutely mesmerizing. How do you imagine your fans enjoying that music?
Thank you so much! We’re glad you’re enjoying it. We hope our fans can enjoy that music in a lot of different situations. For us it’s a “looking back” kind of song, so a long drive, or returning to your old neighbourhood, or maybe slipping it on just as your plane takes off. And then when the heavy drums kick in halfway through it would work well to hit some light turbulence. It goes over really well at Tupperware parties too!
Victoria is a stunning album. Did you find it difficult to hone down your material to 10 tracks, or were you building toward this album with a concept in mind already?
Honing down the material is always a difficult process. There were definitely songs we knew would make the album but we purposefully left a lot of room for experimentation and exploration. There are songs we have been playing live for a long time that still don’t have a recorded form because they didn’t suit the project. Luckily, there’s always the next one. In the end from a large selection of songs it became pretty clear which ones told the most cohesive story and supported each other best.
Your track “Melatonin” is kind of an exact description of our lives. (And one of our favorites from the album.) What inspired that track, specifically?
That is a song that in some form or another Adrian and Stevie have been playing for several years, but it didn’t take on all the elements that truly make it “Melatonin” until it came together in the studio. It was originally inspired by a time in Adrian and Stevie’s lives when they were both coming to terms with unhealthy relationships that, after several failed attempts, were finally ending. Stevie wasn’t sleeping well so he went pretty deep into the melatonin, and then started taking it while he was awake to see what would happen, and there you have the song.
What is your favorite track off the upcoming release? Any particular reason?
Stevie: I think that changes for us every day. Today my favourite track would have to be “Let You Go.” It’s got all the elements of urgency and romance that I love, wrapped up in a driving beat that always gets the crowd moving. It also started as an acoustic ballad so the development has been very exciting to experience.
Adrian: “Don’t Look Back” is probably my favourite track on the record. Since it’s inception, I’ve held it very close to my heart, and have kept it as a sort of mantra ever since.
Kintaro: Picking a favourite song is like picking a favourite child. They all have their individual personalities and characters. That being said my favourite “child” is probably “Kiss Me.” That song was born in the studio, but has grown into a whole new beast in a live setting.
Chris: My favorite is “Catching Up” because it’s a simple concept and a simple musical idea that I think conveys a feeling with some level of clarity. It also starts soft folk and ends hard rock so it’s a kind of like a liminal zone between our two sounds.
If you could collaborate with any artist on any medium to help promote the album, who would you work with and what would you do?
Stevie: I would love to do an extended collaboration with a company in Toronto called “Vazari Dance Projects” with whom I work occasionally and the French circus company ‘Sept Droigts De La Main’. Ideally we’d take them on tour and expand the nature of our shows and music like David Bowie did with La La La Human Steps.
Adrian: Bill Murray is currently travelling the world on our behalf, spreading the word. He’s a great guy to have on board supporting us, and Reddit loves the stories!
Kintaro: In line with Bill Murray, I think it would be great to work with a big director like Wes Anderson. Someone who has a very specific style, but continues to grow with every new project.
Chris: I would get Justin Roiland from Rick and Morty to do a freestyle vocal part over the instrumentals to our song “Kiss Me” on the first listen and then release the first take.
Which celebrity Ryan is your favorite? Substantiate that claim.
We have agreed that Rye’an Ginger always gets the job done.
Anything else you’d like to add?
We have two singles out already, “A Year Ago” and “Catching Up,” which are available on all streaming and purchase services. “Let You Go” will be the third single, available October 20th, and will also be our first ever music video.
Catching Up:
A Year Ago:
Also we are currently on tour, with dates throughout Canada, and would love to see you there! Check here for dates. Hope to play for you soon!
Southern California-based alternative rock act DAVIS is still flying high off the critical acclaim and crowd reaction from 2016’s EP Crooked Finger. And – as you may remember – idobi Radio premiered his video for “Los Angeles” in September. (And he curated a playlist just for us to celebrate!) So it’s safe to say it took a few moments for us to sit down and pick his brain a little bit. But we did it, and got some good behind-the-scenes explanations, as well as a silver lining to the future of music. Check it out!
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What is the first song or album you ever remember hearing, and who introduced it to you?
Bob Dylan and John Lennon were the first artists that really spoke to me at a young age. “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and “Imagine” were the coolest sounding songs to me. Growing up, my Dad had a huge collection of vinyl. My family and I would sit in the living room and dig through his records and just play tons of music together. We listened to everything: Cat Stevens, Prince, Nirvana, Michael Jackson, everything! And everyone got a chance to pick out a record and add to the experience. It’s funny cause that’s basically what I do these days whenever I have people over to my house: I make a Spotify playlist and everyone gets a chance to add to it. Music brings people together. That’s what it’s all about. My favorite songs are always the ones that remind me of sharing an experience with family or friends.
What made you choose to pursue music as a career? Was there a defining moment?
I started a punk band in junior high and we got to play at high school parties. That was the best feeling ever. I knew from then on that I wanted to pursue music. Eventually I went to college and got a degree so that my parents were happy, but as soon as I graduated I started doing music full time. But writing songs isn’t just a career choice for me, it’s something I have to do. It fills my soul. It’s my purpose in life.
You have had quite a bit of attention surrounding your work as of late, including some stellar premieres under your belt. How does it feel, getting this type of positive exposure?
It’s rad. As a songwriter you always hope that people will enjoy what you’re offering to the world. I’m very thankful for all the positive energy people are giving me in return.
What was the production process like on your video for “Los Angeles”? Seems like you had a really fun time!
Yeah, it was! There was a lot of pre-production that went into the video. The director, Haley Reed, had a really unique way of filming it, using all kinds of weird projections and stuff. Her and I have worked together for all of my previous videos, and each time we completely change the process like we are starting from scratch. That’s what makes it fun. I like challenges and breaking the rules.
Just like my music, my videos are all about juxtaposition. One minute we might be filming in a huge studio with all this super posh equipment, and the next we might just grab a GoPro and shoot in an alley. Making this video was rad because I got to drive all throughout every pocket of LA.
The Crooked Finger EP has been out for a hot second. What has the reaction been to it? The songs from the EP are really best experienced live at my shows. They’re really fun tunes to play and people seem to really connect with those songs when they hear them live. Everyone loves to sing along to the song “Fuck You.” Which is awesome.
If you could have any superhero help you promote your favorite song from the EP, who would you choose and why?
I would say Thor, I think! He always lays down the hammer. That’s what I strive for with my music: laying down hammers. “Touch The Sky” is my favorite song off the EP. It’s a hammer.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Rock n roll is the future. Come with me. I’ll take you there.
Electronic musician Devereaux (W. Heyward Sims) has been busy in 2017, releasing his first new music since 2014’s Pineapple Flex LP to critical acclaim. Earlier this year, he released his most recent single “Kapowski”, and now it has an accompanying music video animated by Brian Caiazza, packed with visuals that will keep your mind adjusting to its explosions of brilliance for the duration of the track. “Kapowski” is a clear party track, something to jam to when in an energetic mood or – alternatively – an altered state. Pops of color and the usage of multitudes of instruments and different delectable looking fruit visuals makes the video one tasty treat, as though it simultaneously gives us cravings and satisfies them.
On Friday, October 13th, Columbus-based rock and roll musician Lydia Loveless will be releasing her new album Boy Crazy and Single(s) alongside her band members Todd May, Benjamin Lamb, Jay Gasper, and George Hondroulis. As with her 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2016 releases, Lydia captivates her audience and takes them on a journey with her writing, something that isn’t always a feasible task. Boy Crazy and Single(s) is mostly one-track in its subject matter, and it also exhibits a more folk-influenced facet to Lydia’s writing that we haven’t necessarily seen – or at least noticed – before.
Rough guitar, a solid drum beat, and we’re off. Lydia’s nabbed a country feel for her first track “All I Know”, beginning in a place where she questions how she got to this place in her life, and then leading us through a narrative where she admits she might not know what could happen, but she is very aware that she will see this person – this significant lover or love interest – again. Her intuition leads her right through the first track into “All The Time”, which picks up the pace slightly but has more of a melancholic feel to the lyrics, a more bluesy feel to the song overall. Third track “Lover’s Spat” has a 90’s alternative feel to the instrumentals, carrying at a quick clip that directly contrasts with its follow up, an all-too-relatable track called “Boy Crazy” that builds from a darker place with the instrumentals into one of the more dance-worthy tracks from this release.
“The Water” feels like pure country from the very beginning, waning guitar and soulful vocals dipping you into a suffocating world where you’re being ripped from your significant other repeatedly. “Mile High” brings the pace back up, allowing Loveless to talk/sing the majority of the lyrics in a cheeky way. “Blind” is another heart-wrenching track, Loveless singing to a past lover about letting go and allowing them to wallow in regret. With lyrics like “I’m sick and tired of the mess you made” and “you’ll miss me til the day you die,” “Blind” is the ultimate “fuck you” to the person who didn’t handle your love with the care and appreciation it deserved.
In pretty direct opposition to its predecessor, “Come Over” is a track about the push and pull you feel in the wake of a relationship, when part of you wants to work things out. “Falling Out Of Love”, however, isn’t tip-toeing around the feeling of loss in the relationship. Almost as though she wants to show every facet of heartbreak, Loveless has taken the perspective of being torn up about the relationship, not struggling for one moment with how she feels like she had in “Come Over”. “I Would Die 4 U” further proves the theory that she might want to cover all her bases, because breakups aren’t as clean as many musicians would have you believe. While Joe Blow is over here writing 12 concise tracks about being better alone and Tawny Gift is over here playing the victim, Loveless’ work goes through all of the major emotions and thought patterns that a person can truly go through in this situation, making it exponentially more relatable. Loveless rounds the work out with a beautiful, steady love ballad, more stripped down than the rest of the work.
Luckily, the speed with which music can be produced these days allows many bands and musical acts to blend genres seamlessly. Even so, it’s difficult for a known act to swap to a whole different genre in the midst of their career, and is still looked at as an adrenaline-inducing, often not ideal, move. The fact that Loveless can do something like this on her fifth full-length release – and do so successfully – shows that she isn’t afraid of anything in her art. After all, you never know who will blow you out of “The Water”.
Boy Crazy and Single(s) is out October 13th. Keep up with Lydia Loveless here.
While you were all over there waiting for new music, everyone’s favorite alternative group The Naked and Famous has been re-recording stripped down versions of some of their favorite gems. Having already released the stripped version of “Higher”, their latest single is a simplified acoustic medley of tracks “A Stillness” and “Hearts Like Ours”. Continuing to engage lead vocalist Alisa Xayalith’s gorgeous voice in soft echoes, the song envelopes you in a tranquil, light blanket of fresh thought.
The Naked and Famous does a phenomenal job of playing with dissonance in their sound, even moreso in this reworked track. If you’re looking to relax, this is your new jam.
“A Still Heart” is available now, as is the latest album Simple Forms. Keep up with The Naked and Famous here.
Alternative music project Holy Wars – helmed by the incredible Kat Leon – recently released the official music video for the whirring, fierce single “Back to Life”. Even with its dark instrumentals and slow, hard tempo, there is still a slight silver lining. At least, that is, every time she belts out “I’m coming back to life/I nearly lost my mind,” right?
Artwork in itself, the video begins with Leon washed up on shore, lost in murky confusion. Then the story begins to unfold. Faceless people. Being thrown in the water. Being buried alive. A whole other existence. Adrenaline-inducing and mysterious, “Back to Life” will keep your mind turning long after you stop watching it.
