When Dwight Twilley wrote and released “I’m on Fire” back in 1975, he probably wasn’t expecting it to be covered decades later, complete with a fresh video. Well, maybe he was! Who’s to say? Either way, the cover, featuring vocals from Sarah Frick for Back to Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music, is stunning, and the video is a perfect visual that beautifully highlights the rock n’ roll essence of the track.
The video itself is a bit like a montage, with some shots showing Frick trying on different outfits before cutting to a scene of her rocking out, drink in hand. Of course, we also get to see Frick prancing around in the quiet nightlife, still being the rock star she knows she is. Not only do we get to see the fun nature of the track played out visually, we also get to watch an empowered badass female take on the night in true “empowered woman” fashion. I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to Twilley and the music of Oklahoma.
Eugene, Oregon singer, songwriter and producer khai dreams debuts an acoustic version of their latest track, “Good Advice”. Half Vietnamese and 21 years of age, khai dreams has been releasing music since 2017. Their sound is an eclectic blend of influences ranging from contemporary hip-hop and R&B to modern indie, surf rock, and neo-soul. This dreamy brand of intimate pop has helped them amass more than 490 million career streams and a dedicated online following. With such an impressive background and fan base, there’s still something so humbling about “Good Advice”. With just vocals and strings, khai dreams sets a tone for the listener to just breathe. This acoustic version and accompanying video is such a comforting, feel good vibe that seems to give you a hug as you take it all in. Bittersweet and honest lyrics catch up to you quickly though with this verse,
“And you seem to think that we got time / But we never seem to get it right / Everyday I’m wishing there was more.”
Take our advice and listen to this song today, and listen to even more sweet melodies and indie masterpieces by khai dreams from their spotify.
Rock/folk creative outlet Coma Girls, run by Chris Spino, is gearing up for an EP release next month. To get us started, he is giving us a taste of the title track, “Skyboxer”. In true rock fashion, the track is filled with guitar-heavy moments with sticky melodies and raw vocals. It is the perfect modern rock song, utilizing the loudness that makes rock what it is while taking the best of what modern music has to offer and blending them into a cohesive whole. Combine this with the stirring storytelling found in the lyrics and you realize Coma Girls has got it all. A story of loving and losing being turned into an explosive rock tune tells us to stay on the lookout for what Spino plans on bringing next.
Spino says of the creative process of the upcoming EP: “We were able to explore each song differently but give it a common thread as well. It’s supposed to take you places. It’s more like a form of escapism.”
Fierce electronica artist Eivør has released “Only Love” from her new album Segl, which also happens to be accompanied by a stunning visual. Featuring vocals from Ásgeir, “Only Love” is a mystical and entrancing track about how powerful it is to be in the gravitational pull of love. The song’s illustrative lyrics paint a vivid picture of what it looks like to be so deep and in love. It is full of clarity in that the feeling of love is really the only thing that can make you feel both so fragile and so powerful at the same time. The electrifying sonics and strong melodies pull you right into the intensity of not only love, but the track itself. “Only Love” is the perfect combination of haunting production and intriguing lyrics made to enthrall every listener.
Eivør says of the process of creating the track:
I wrote the lyrics with David Hopkins and when this song was written I thought about “love” and all the things it makes us do. I will never get tired of writing about this subject. It’s the most complex and yet the most basic of all things. It has so many shapes and shades and on this life journey it takes us through the whole palette of emotions. It’s both strong and fragile at once. It breaks us and makes us whole.
Though she began making a name for herself with her band Alyeska, Alaska Reid is taking the next steps of her career as a solo artist. Her newly released EP Big Bunny is a monumental step in her own direction, showing off not only her ability to illustrate a story with her music, but also her eccentric vocal ability. What is to be appreciated is the diversity of subjects that Reid covers, ranging from the hope of moving away from a town that isn’t meant for you, as heard on “City Sadness” and “Boys From Town”, or the yearning for the feeling of comfort and stability that “Warm” and “Pilot” offer up. The final track, “Blood Ice”, calls for reminiscing on old times that felt more welcoming than the current ones, and it feels like a perfect way to wrap up the stories of Big Bunny.
Reid explores the trials and tribulations that we see in our lives with a release that can easily be described as perfect for those who are looking for something more in life, whether it be a new place to call home or people in our lives who make us feel warm. With splashes of personal detail, Reid is also giving herself the chance to feel.
Standing in the fog at the end of a relationship, you may be tempted to ask that one terrifying question. Fretland are unafraid to approach this question on their new track “Do You Think of Me” with just as much grace and wonder as pain and sorrow. With two equally captivating vocalists at the mic, the story of two people going their separate ways comes to life. With the help of just an acoustic guitar and a glimmer of piano, Fretland create an intimate conversation illustrated by revealing and open lyrics that paint vulnerability on the former lovers’ sleeves.
“Do You Think of Me” is a testament to how even the seemingly simplest of situations can have their layers peeled back to reveal complex emotions and struggles. After all, we humans are complex beings and the members of Fretland know this all too well. Brainchild Hillary Grace Fretland reveals:
I want to understand all parts of me that make me human so that I can share them, and so maybe someone somewhere recognizes themselves as the villain and learns to love themselves anyway. There’s so much shame in a failed relationship, we always want to know who’s at fault. It’s never been that simple for me.
Today, we have the exclusive honor of premiering Nathaniel Bellow’s latest track “I Once Did” – along with its accompanying lyric video – ahead of the release of his third full-length Three. Bellow’s signature gravelly vocals lead the track, with a light composition to really add a calm feeling to the audio. When Bellows insists “I don’t feel the weight that I once did,” you can feel it in the instrumentals.
Each of the songs from his upcoming release was inspired by his father’s death in the three years since his passing, so hints of grief and remorse can be found throughout. What we have here is art in its purest form.
Three is out Friday, December 11. Keep up with Bellows here.
Today, we’ve got the exclusive premiere of Devil Love’s “Everywhere Leads The Sound” alongside its new lyric video. The first track off their upcoming release Broken Things (February 12), it sets the tone for an album rich in meaning and replete with the unique blend of genres the band is known for. “Everywhere Leads The Sound” clearly bends to the ’90s alt-rock scene, with lighter vocals that bring the overall tone of the song to a softer place.
Typically, when you hear a song with heavy drums and a rougher guitar riff, you don’t necessarily consider it a lullaby. But Devil Love is here to prove that theory incorrect. The band’s willingness to be vulnerable while exhibiting strength in sound is a testament to their work as men outside of the band. Explains Peter Buzzelle of the inspiration behind the track:
This song was originally inspired by my very busy first born daughter, who was later diagnosed with ADHD. The song then morphed into a more broad comment on society and the need to take in life with gratitude.
We’re excited to learn more lessons with Devil Love as they continue to tease the upcoming album.
We’ve all experienced the confusion that comes with being wrapped up in an unclear state of affairs with that special someone. Amongst other emotions, we often find ourselves asking a never-ending list of questions. Where is this going? What do they mean? What’s my next move, and what is theirs?
There’s no doubt that life would be simpler if we put an end to the constant mind-garbage that bubbles up from our brain’s most curious corners. Yet, we still can’t seem to help ourselves from spending hours analyzing the most straightforward text message, or deciding between which emoji would qualify as the most appropriate response.
If this situation hits home for you, I’m happy to present you with a solution that will remind you of how to properly respond: Southern California’s R&B star, Joyce Wrice, and her new single “So So Sick”. Not only will this track bring you back to a positive space focused on self love, but you will simply be too busy enjoying yourself to even think about anyone else.
With commandeering vocals and a self-empowered message, Wrice brings to life sentiments of rejection and pain; along with the necessary attitude to move past such emotions. The singer-songwriter’s sweet-and-cheeky sound is driven home as she conveys the unpleasant cyclicality of someone being unsure of how they feel about you, and having been through this before. As opposed to waiting for someone who’s only half-baked crazy about you, the listener is inspired to prioritize themselves and move on– an important lesson to take in stride as we move into the new year.
“So So Sick” was co-written alongside Daniel Church and produced by Grammy Award-nominee, D’Mile. The track comes from Wrice’s forthcoming album debut, set to arrive early 2021.
