I created this collection of songs because they represent what inspires me in music. They all have an essence of authenticity. It’s that mix of an infectious melody and a rebellious spirit that ultimately drives me as an artist, and influenced my upcoming second album, True Nature.
I included “Electric Chapel” by Lady Gaga because she inspired me tremendously when I was 17 and decided I was going to be a pop star. That song is so specific to her. I love the twisted romance of it all, and the distorted guitar that ties the whole song together.
When I was 18 and moved to New York City, David Bowie, Prince, and Madonna became the soundtrack to my life. I have vivid memories of listening to “Rebel, Rebel” in my headphones while strutting through the East Village, or sitting in my dorm room at night watching Madonna’s early music videos.
I had to include one of my favorites by Chet Baker. Once I was a senior in college, I began writing songs more prolifically than ever, and I would let the smoothness of Chet’s singing and trumpet playing guide me. I also included my favorite song of mine, “Luvline”, off my new record out this Spring. “Luvline” is my favorite track of mine because it sounds like my heart is singing, even when I hear it now, and that’s how I feel about the songs I chose for this playlist. I’m attracted to music that doesn’t hide from the truth, and these songs are a piece of the artist’s soul.
UK-based band Saltwater Sun’s newly released EP may only have three songs, but each one is unique and provides a truly electric listening experience. “Trying” is the funky opening track with some really great guitar riffs paired with a showcase of lead singer Jen Stearnes’ strong vocals – especially towards the end of the song as she belts out a disclaimer about somebody she can’t seem to forget about:
“It goes to show that’s the way I go on, still thinking about you.”
“The Great Deceiver” serves as the title track and has a more subdued vibe compared to the rest of the EP, but that doesn’t mean the lyrics are any less biting. As the title suggests, the song is all about how we are our own great deceiver. And amidst the indie pop sound, the lyrics explore the ideas of self-worth and confidence.
The final song, “Blood,” was my favorite of the three tracks. It opens up with an atmospheric ten seconds before bursting through with an alternative rock song that fills you up with a catchy guitar jam and deeply existential lyrics. It’s energetic in the way an uplifting pop song is, but deals with the angst of personal loss. Stearnes’ voice sings out for those we’ve lost, but her lyrics also bring about an important message – that those who die never really leave us:
“Every thought, every time, this is how you never die.”
The Great Deceiver is a truly beautiful collection of songs with an undeniable vigor, approaching things like self-worth, love, and grief in an unconventionally upbeat way that allows their listeners to feel a sense of hope by the end of it.Be sure to check out their music, and keep up with Saltwater Sun here.
With a synthy R&B sound, Atlanta native Zaia is paving his own way, all while being compared to the likes of Childish Gambino and Kid Cudi. While you can feel the elements he has inherited from the previously mentioned mega stars, Zaia is able to curate a unique tone that is put on display in his new single “BLUE”.
“BLUE” gives the listener everything they could want in a synth funk centric R&B track. The pulse thumping drum machine, smooth vocals, and a touch of electric guitar create the ultimate vibe out song. Some say that vocals are just another instrument, and Zaia’s voice is perfectly lain over the beat with a smoothness that rivals the greats. If the single wasn’t enough, it is accompanied by a trippy visual that sees Zaia in a hazy/colorful house, stumbling around while singing the words. It is the complete embodiment of what the single means to Zaia and the listener.
Zaia has already established himself in such a short period of time, but this is only the beginning for the 20 year old artist. You can keep up with Zaia on all streaming platforms.
Today, indelible songstress Haley Reinhart releases her latest collection of songs, a full-length titled Lo-Fi Soul. Full of layered, beautiful instrumentals, the entirety of the album is packed to the brim with Reinhart’s soulful, glittering vocals that take you back in time with each new breath, starting with “Deep Water” and leading you all the way through to the last chords of thirteenth track “Baby Doll”. Second track “Oh Damn” slows things down a bit after its predecessor ends, addressing the protagonist’s want to find their one and only. The title track speeds it up a bit more, adding a bit more edge to the collection. “Don’t Know How to Love You” is true blues, both the guitar and the vocals equally as heart-wrenching.
Both “Strange World” and “Shook” are love songs in their own right, both addressing the world in curious and insightful ways, slightly less attractive and way more quirky than other love songs. And while “Crack the Code” is a little more introspective and pondering, while “Lay It Down” sings of a past love, and leaves us questioning what went wrong. “Honey, There’s the Door” brings that sass back, a truly refreshing song of note, and that sass carries right on into “Broken Record”, making these two our favorite tracks on the release.
But she doesn’t stop impressing there. If you listen through to “Some Way Some How”, you will experience a truly breathtaking ballad, not unlike other prior releases of hers. I pity the fool she sings about in “How Dare You”, as karma has clearly been assessed in that situation. And she rounds everything out so gracefully with last track ‘Baby Doll”, the beginning giving us hints of Mariah Carey goodness with Reinhart’s impressive vocal range. But don’t just take our word for it. Enjoy!
Catch her on tour!
04.02.19 – New York, NY – City Winery
04.03.19 – Boston, MA – City Winery
04.04.19 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theatre
04.06.19 – Bay Shore, NY – Boulton Center
04.07.19 – Annapolis, MD – Ramshead On Stage
04.08.19 – Washington D.C. – Jammin’ Java
04.09.19 – Charlotte, NC – Booth Playhouse
04.11.19 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
04.14.19 – Chicago, IL – Park West
04.15.19 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
04.16.19 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
04.17.19 – Dallas, TX – Dada
04.19.19 – Denver, CO – Globe Theater
04.20.19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
04.22.19 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile
04.23.19 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
04.25.19 – San Francisco, CA – Slims
04.26.19 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy
04.27.19 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
A gorgeous string section lures you effortlessly into London-based power punk musician Hana Piranha‘s new single “Silk and Poison”, released to celebrate new album Waiting To Burn. The song unfolds into a rough, guitar-driven beauty, a cacophony of crashing cymbals, and loud, proud vocals. Just as the title insists, it’s the perfect blend of silk and poison… much like this incredible songstress.
Eighteen-piece Brooklyn-based soul pop collective Model Citizen recently released their new single “Magic Trick”, a high profile track riddled with crashing cymbals, insane guitar riffs, and loud, proud vocals that make the single that much more decadent to rock out to. We’re particularly fond of this track for its horn section, though the intricate layers of instrumentals are absolutely mesmerizing, as it seems to be for most of their incredible music.
Throw some magic into your March below!
The Next Life is out this July. Keep up with Model Citizen here.
Taken from her new album Texas Honey, blues/rock songstress Ally Venable drops the new music video for her track “One Sided Misunderstanding” right here, right now. Comprised of beautifully shot footage from what looks to be a studio session, the video displays a little bit more of Venable’s attitude and a whole lot of her live performance flare. You’ll fall in love with the guitar chords, as they dance around her vocals and make you feel just a little more alive than you already did. Explains Venable of the track, “This song is about when you are you are in a situation that seems as if you’ve been put on the back burner, and blamed for something that you didn’t do.”
Recently, Kansas City’s own indie rock ensemble Fathers – comprised of Kenneth Storz (Voice, Guitar, Keys), Brooke Honeycutt (Voice, Bells, Percussion), David Littlewood (Voice, Keys, Bells), Matt Guilliams (Bass, Percussion), Bryce VZ (Vibraphone, Voice, Percussion), Josh Seerden (Guitar, Keys, Bass, Percussion), and Celeste Tilley (Trombone, Voice, Percussion) – released their new EP High Horses. In fact, if you want to hear our (very impressed) thoughts, here are some words we wrote about it. To celebrate this release, they hosted an EP release party at 2016 Main in Kansas City, MO on Saturday, March 8th. This performance made us wonder what could possibly be better in life.
Imagine: a beautiful, warmly lit room with vaulted ceilings, a mellifluous performance put on by an ensemble with a drum line that just won’t quit. Their music is unique and enigmatic, therefore it goes to assume that their live performance is as well. The way they layer in the instrumentals – provided by eleven ensemble members – is absolute magic, and watching each member of the collective work so diligently to bring this beauty to the surface is an absolute honor.
Seeing Fathers is an emotional experience. Just the thought alone of being able to correctly communicate to create such beautiful music with so many helping hands is extraordinary, but the way they chose this EP release space to cater to their esthetic and the overall feel to the band was exceptional. The way they play with dissonance here and there is admirable, but most importantly it is the energy with which Fathers performs that makes them such a standout act. The evening was a truly curated experience, a night of tranquility with a band that is undoubtedly going on to great things together.
Philadelphia-based indie rock collective Readership – comprised of Matt Lee, Gregory Matthew, Gabe McCall, and Adrian Morse – releases their new track “Weather Underground” today, and we’ve got the premiere. In the beginning, the instrumentals slowly build in volume, until they expand and the vocals set in. With bits of punk stirred around in there with the way the vocals lean and the delivery of the guitar at times, this song is simply something that will keep you moving. We’re thinking it has a little bit of 90s inspiration in it, as we can definitely see it being played in the background of a montage scene in a movie. (Hey Hollywood, you hear us?)
Get pumped for an impending change in weather with “Weather Underground”.
