hana pirahna, “silk and poison”

hana pirahna, “silk and poison”

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.

Keep up with Hana Piranha here.

model citizen, “magic trick”

model citizen, “magic trick”

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.

ally venable, “one sided misunderstanding”

ally venable, “one sided misunderstanding”

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.”

Take it for a spin below!

Keep up with Ally Venable here.

natalie lynn, “one”

natalie lynn, “one”

Pop/rock musician Natalie Lynn has released a sparkling, fun track as her debut with “One”. Starting with upbeat synth and incredibly invigorating percussion, Natalie’s vocals are introduced amidst a cloud of cotton candy sound, strength and vulnerability dripping from her lips. The bridge brings with it more 80s and 90s influence, and we’re fully on board with the freeing, incredible feeling it brings out in all of us.

Natalie Lynn describes the track like a rollercoaster. “Pure excitement and vulnerability. The feeling like you might just be on the top of the world.

Keep up with Natalie Lynn here.

the head and the heart, “missed connection”

the head and the heart, “missed connection”

The Head and The Heart have announced their new album Living Mirage will be out May 17th, and leading up to this release that have debuted a new track titled “Missed Connection”. Containing a smooth bass line, heavenly vocals and harmonies, “Missed Connection” holds a little bit of a different sound from the rest of what The Head and The Heart has had to offer, according to drummer Tyler Williams. “A lot of the beats on that song are quicker, and there are high hats that were never in our music before”.

With that being said, “Missed Connection” still has that feel that we have grown accustomed to experiencing from TheHead and The Heart. This means a perfect combination of alternative, pop, and indie-folk, creating another hit for the six musicians. This upcoming album suggests that this will beThe Head and The Heart’s best work to date. Member Jon Russell has stated proudly that, “this is literally the most work we’ve ever done on an album,” and it definitely shows in “Missed Connection”. Let’s hope for more of the same when “Living Mirage” releases on May 17th.

You can keep up with The Head and The Heart at their website http://www.theheadandtheheart.com/.

david leonard, the wait

david leonard, the wait

Singer/songwriter David Leonard released his highly anticipated, 13-track debut album The Wait today, and we have been melting into it since the very first lines of “Wanderer” hit our ears. Leonard’s vocals are raspy, robust, and evoke more emotion than a beach proposal. With “Wanderer”, he establishes his immense talent and his ability to make the listener feel every word deep in their bones. And though the soundscape picks up a bit with “By My Side”, it still has this deep-rooted, freeing feeling associated with that would otherwise be completely unexpected.

But that’s what happens when you find a talent of Leonard’s capacity. You come to expect this reeling sense of self when you listen to their music, each track accompanying you on your life journey in this gorgeous soundtrack. “Signs of Life” brings a more upbeat, pop rock influence to the album, while “Know Your Heart” slows everything down again for an insane love ballad. “Come As You Are” and its intro are two of our favorites on the album, though you’ll have to get a good listen to every track to make that decision for yourself.

Once you are introduced to “Share This Burden”, there is almost a sense that Leonard has taken all of his most vulnerable moments over the years and created this album as a method of identifying with his audience, to create a community rather than just simply release music for the sake of releasing music. The listener gets an idea for how carefully crafted this work was through the Imogen Heap-esque intro of “There’s Nobody”, the ambient “I Will Wait”, and the introspective, more spiritual “Distant God” and “You Know Me”. He rounds the album out perfectly with the chorus in “Threads” and then the simplifying soundscape and heart-breaking, honest lyrics in “The Little That I Know”.

Take The Wait for a spin. We’re dying to know what you think!

Keep up with David Leonard here.

silence is the noise, “soothing”

silence is the noise, “soothing”

Neo-soul artist Silence Is The Noise (Jewell Bell) has a new single titled “Soothing”, and it is accompanied by a visual that matches the beauty in her voice. All about battling one’s demons, “Soothing” takes the listener on a trip of reflection and inner struggle.  Silence Is The Noise has the perfect vocals to convey pain and strife, but with a powerful undertone that suggests overcoming said pain. The Detroit-based artist has drawn comparisons to the likes of Nina Simone, drawing high praise since her beginnings as a pianist at age 12.

The song and visual project “Soothing” describes the emotional labyrinth of grief and loss, and the desperation to escape the overwhelming pain and anxiety lying in its wake. The lyrics speak to the artist and songwriter’s attempt to use meaningless physical intimacy as a distraction, while falling deeper into despair and the realization that there is no avoidance of her devastation and grief.”

“Soothing” is the perfect single for Silence Is The Noise to showcase her strong voice and story telling ability.

You can keep up with Silence Is The Noise through her socials listed below.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thesilenceisthenoise/
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/silenceisthenoise
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3TAV8Lk1PpuzoixhjUhz55

upsahl @ riot room

upsahl @ riot room

If you haven’t witnessed UPSAHL live, now is the perfect time. This female act is about to be major, and if her recorded music is not already any indication of that, then her live performance is absolute proof. And we couldn’t have thought of anyone better to open Max Frost’s show at The Riot Room on Monday, March 11th.

Rolling through . And during “All My Friends Are Rich”, you could tell the entire crowd was identifying with the lyrics in some way or another. (Hi. Yes. “Now where in the hell is my money?”) In fact, we were thrilled to see her perform any of the tracks off of her new Hindsight 20/20 EP, as it is such a vulnerable and theatrical work of art. Lucky us, UPSAHL’s vocals are just as raspy and enticing in real life as they are recorded, so her entire performance felt as though we were inside the EP itself. Not to mention, “Drugs” gave us all the confidence.

We walked away from that set to the bar like the badasses we had always dreamt of being, and we owe it all to an evening of fun with UPSAHL.

Keep up with the artist here.

matt shapiro, fade in

matt shapiro, fade in

On March 8th, Matt Shapiro released a 6-track EP that is absolutely thrilling from start to finish. You can see why, too, as Matt admits he approaches his music-making a lot like film. “I approach making a record like I’m making a movie,” he admits. “My last album Metaphysical was very layered and wide-angle and made to sound kind of epic. With this new EP FADE IN, I made the conscious decision to go the other way. This one’s more disciplined, and really stripped down to essentials…more like a scrappy little indie. And it has more bite.”

If you think for a moment that he doesn’t mean the phrase “scrappy little indie,” then you’re in for a treat. “Rockaway Girl” is very theatric, throwing you into this one-man performance that is equal parts modern indie rock and 80’s pop fury. “The Addict” darkens the soundscape a bit, but the collection doesn’t forget the attitude that came with the first track, as it weaves into the slow burner “Is There Something Going On”. “Johnny” is for the human who feels like walking on the wild side, while “Water’s Edge” is much slower, simple and soft in its disposition. Shapiro’s vocals feel like water as they glide amidst the instrumentals. This tranquil feeling is put to an abrupt halt with the first staccato notes of “Genievieve”. It seems as though the pace and volume change might have to do with the way a significant other disrupts your life, and makes things ten times louder. We’re fond of the impact it has on the EP’s trajectory, and couldn’t have placed a more defining last song.

Keep up with Matt Shapiro here.