Moving into the spotlight is dynamic duo Nightseason who released their debut single, “Nothing Calms My Mind” last week via Noon Pacific. Their unique sound, however, is not the only thing that sets this group apart. Before releasing anything, Nightseason wrote their first EP by communicating through emails without ever even meeting each other in person. This, however, would not stop Patrick Zeinali and Jordan Caiola from collaborating together to form what has been marked as potentially one of the most successful singles in the world of rising new artists. Both of these band members were inspired by recent heartache that eventually led to the formation of Nightseason.
With the hopes of conveying a specific message that was full of both feeling and emotion and also dreaming of turning the world of rock on its head, Nightseason has worked tirelessly to produce, “Nothing Calms My Mind.” Looking ahead, fans can expect the debut of their 5-track EP later in in the year. Musically, this band features raw vocals from Caiola together with the production magic of Zeinali, there is nothing stopping this band from moving up in the world of music and accomplishing exactly what they set out to do originally.
From Guildford, England comes the voice of Annabel Allum. A small framed casually put together woman who you wouldn’t expect to have such an elegant tonal quality. “Rascal” is the 2nd single released this year following up her 2017 release “All that for what?”
“Rascal” is a very honest approach that gets more inwardly intimate than most. Revealing truths most bury, ignore, or deny. The slow tempo swaying verse begins with “I’m just a rascal woman, I take home people I meet in bars, I tell them I can see their soul, I can count their scars.” Pretty straightforward.
I always research each artist I review to get a little insight into their personality and how its applied to their approach to music. Annabel is quoted saying, “Rascal’ is about me accepting what people think of me, and trying to get on with it anyway. No one’s perfect and I’m certainly not.” The sincerity in that is very respectable. After hearing “Rascal” Annabel projects her truth exactly as it is. The chorus comes in like the morning twilight transitioning into a breathtaking sunrise. You know something is coming, your anticipation rises, the volume increases and like an orchestra director you raise your hands at the same moment the cymbals crash and the full spectral sound comes flooding in.
It is difficult to categorize Annabel as to me she is a woman with a guitar playing her heart, which is something that cannot be duplicated.
If you took Delores from The Cranberries(RIP), Liz Phair and Peri Gilpin(she played Roz on Fraider) ripped out their vocal chords and blended them like your morning smoothie, that combination would closely then resemble Annabel. While the music isn’t pop or rock it is very listener friendly.
“Rascal” is as powerful musically as it is lyrically. It’s raw yet mature. For those who aren’t afraid to admit they can be a “Rascal” at times, it’s a great song to relate to and reassuring that you aren’t terrible alone. We all have our moments. Accepting it is easy to do when there is a song to sing along to.
To purchase the single and albums prior visit her website, and don’t forget to follow her on facebook.
D.C. based four-piece Babbling April just self-released a brand new EP titled Holy Gold. Babbling April is made up of Dave New, Vivi Machi, Ben Medina, and Ben Melrod. February of 2015 saw their debut release, On Breath. Now, Babbling April is back better than ever with the release of Holy Gold. With a unique indie sound and always authentic by self-releasing, Babbling April seeks to be truly themselves and bring joy to others through their music.
Tracklist:
“Reputation”: Reputation seems to be a popular subject these days, and this unapologetic track flips it upside down with the idea that reputation doesn’t actually matter. Need to shake off the haters? Put this song on.
“Blighted Years”: this track starts off with some excellent instrumentals and an inescapable beat. “Blighted Years” combines harmony, hitting lyrics, and great percussion to tie up a fantastic song.
“In the Vulgate”: A rocking, quirky track, “In the Vulgate” is an instrumental interlude halfway through the EP that carries the listener into the second half of Holy Gold.
“If Hearts Really Do Break”: Starting with a foreboding, almost extraterrestrial sound leading into a more gentle and acoustic instrumental track.
“Without A Care”: Following in the vein of “Reputation”, this track lends itself to a bittersweet sound and some emotional lyrics.
“Alliances and Rifts (and Separations in the Holy Gold)”: closing out Holy Gold is another instrumental track that has excellent composition and balance of instruments.
Overall, one of the best aspects of Babbling April’s EP is the careful instrumentation and attention to balance.
Holy Gold is available for vinyl preorder now. Keep up with Babbling April here.
Seattle based dream-pop band Headwaves has just released their latest music video for their rising single “Left Right.” Lead singer Ryan Barber started this journey with a love of writing music that portrayed emotion and feeling. With effortless talent, Barber originally wrote folk songs, however, it soon became clear that folk music could not move an audience like he wanted. Over the span of two years and the addition of friend and musician Larson Haakenstad and producer Randall Dunn, Barber was finally able to create sound around his lyrics that had a deeply satisfying effect on his listeners. With the help of their producer, this dynamic duo feature fantastic synth rock rhythms with lush, dreamy “dance driven” beats.
The most recent music video for “Left Right,” highlights everything that listeners look for when they think of dream pop. The videography features hazy scenes and muted color schemes that seem to allow viewers the escape that they so desperately desire. Along with their creative use of color and screen writing, they were able to create an atmosphere with their music and movements that is enticing and completely envelops the listener. Now that they have several singles and the addition of this new music video, music listeners from around the country are starting to pay attention to this budding dream pop band from Seattle.
Formed in 2012, Asa Eisenhardt and post-punk outfit Nostalgist has announced the release of their next full length album Disaffection by the end of March. Not only are they releasing digital copies of their album, but they have also produced vinyl records that can be purchased as well. The six-track album offers the very best of Nostalgist with all of the same undertones, nuances and flares that have rocked their fans since the beginning of the band. Disaffection is meant the follow bands prior albums, Of Days Long Ago (2015) and 2013’s EP Monochromatic. Since the release of their last album three years ago, the band has been working tirelessly to produce more music that not only captures their unique sound in an album, but also to make music that their fans around the country could enjoy.
Nostalgist’s music is comprised of heavy, ethereal post-punk rhythms and sounds that are completely their own. This has not changed with the release of their new album. Before the release of the full collection, Nostalgist has release “Present:Tense,” which is the first single of the forthcoming album. Within the music there is increasing tension and pressure that seems to rise with each second that elapses. With the release of their successful single, we have all the expectations and hopes that the music community will react similarly to the release of the full album.
Disaffection is out Friday, March 30th. Keep up with the band here.
Band of Gold just premiered their single “Well Who Am I” off of their forthcoming album Where’s The Magic. PopMatters describes the band sound as “A really unique take on pop music… an intriguing sound.” It is in fact an intriguing sound as the track is quirky, unique, and very zany. What you think is going to start off as an alt-pop song, leans into a rock guitar solo, but not until the vocals pick up the pace and end the song abruptly.
The most interesting part of “Well Who Am I” is the bands’ seemingly random lyrics. It starts off “I like the way you comb you hair” and is followed by “I like the neatness of your hair….but I don’t think you’ll ever dare.” The uniqueness and array of sounds/genres is what makes this song so fascinating, and addicting.
New tune from Pizzagirl not only rocks and rolls as much as it brings the house down, but it also come with a guarantee from Liam Brown himself. Speaking of his latest single “Coffee Shop,” Liam promises that “each listen of ‘Coffee Shop’ is blended expertly in the bedroom of Pizzagirl to ensure maximum taste for your ears. One spoonful of nostalgia with a dash of 1998 ensures a listening experience like no other.” With this pledge to his listeners, Brown hopes to move into the limelight of the dance floor with his quirky, introspective electronica. As he is neither a girl or an over enthused connoisseur of pizza, even his moniker matches his wonderfully fresh and innovative style of music.
As a performer, Pizzagirl stands solo on his stage accompanied solely by his trusty laptop representing the idiosyncrasies of the introvert and over exuberant extrovert with zany beasts, rhythms and electric sense of style. This new release, however, is not the only news from this new performer. Brown has also released new tour dates that will bring him all over the United Kingdom. Also, Brown has announced that he with be releasing his all new EP this coming April titled Extended Play. With all this news coming from Pizzagirl, it is sure to rally the fans in Brown’s favor in the future.
Atlanta based folk-rockers Pony League are gearing up for the release of their sophomore album, A Picture of Your Family, on March 23, having already released the title track. Now, they’ve dropped their second single off the LP, “Mile Marker Dance”. Pony Leauge is Jay Howell , Gus Fernandez, Charlie Mills, Mason Turner, Justin GreeEver since their debut Fresh Start, Pony League has been building traction and evolving their own sound, aided by their first LP, 2016’s “Harder Than A Rick Ankiel”. Now, they are excited to release their second full-length record, and if “Mile Marker Dance” is any indication of how the rest of the album will sound, we’re here for it. “It’s an exploration of human perseverance in the face of such obstacles as extreme pressure, anxiety and depression,” says singer Gus Fernandez of the music.
“Mile Marker Dance” takes on folk melody and lyrics with a rock spin, complete with rollicking guitar and drum solo. The musical communication between instruments displays the tight bond and connection that the band possesses. Fresh, yet familiar, Pony League has truly made the mark with “Mile Marker Dance” What are you waiting for? Give “Mile Marker Dance” a listen today.
Theses songs shaped my love for many levels of rock and metal. Continuously bringing me back to my roots and defining me as a musician. Reminding me why i love playing music and what its all about.
Kept my feet tapping and my head bobbing. These are nostalgia to me.
Songs:
Deftones – Nose Bleed
Korn – Blind
Orgy – Stitches
Slipknot – People Equal Shit
Ovtlier – Vice
Powerman 5000 – When Worlds Colide
Static X – Push It
Periphery – The Parade Of Ashes
My Ticket Home – Hot Soap
Papa Roach – Infest
The Finalist – Leave The Broken Hearts Behind
Novelists – Voyager
Blindside – Pitiful
Deftones – My Own Summer
Rammstein – Buck Dich
Pantera – Cowboys From Hell
Emmure – Shinjuku Masterlord
Limp Bizkit – Nookie
Eighteen Visions – Tower Of Snakes
Atreyu – Right Side Of The Bed
Ovtlier – Buried Me Alive
Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People
Rob Zombie – Demonoid Phenomenon
Korn – Good God
Slipknot – Wait And Bleed
The Dillinger Escape Plan – 43% Burnt
The Human Abstract – Vela, Together We Await The Storm
Between The Buried And Me – The Primer
Every Time I Die – Ebolarama
Norma Jean – Charactarantula : Talking to you and the Intake of Glass
