by Veronica DeFeo | Mar 22, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
British Columbian duo Violet Night is gearing up to show the world what they can do. Violet Night is made of vocals and guitar from Connor Pohl and T.J. Rounthwaite on keys. Violet Night is set to release their debut record Colours Of You which will be out May 4.
Pohl says of the upcoming album:
We grew up on everything from heavy metal and rap, to emo and pop. We try to create a colourful mosaic of all those influences when we write; we’ve never created with borders or put limitations on what we are allowed to sound like. We’ll always do whatever feels most honest to us at that moment in our lives and I think we’ve done that here. We are really proud of the album and hope the hues presented complement yours: the colours of you.
Featured on the album is lead single “North”, along with an accompanying studio music video. The song captures a spirit of adventure, longing, and energy. “North” encompasses the emotion that Violet Night does so well at capturing. We look forward to their upcoming album and we think you will too.
Stay connected with Violet Night:
Website: www.violetnight.org
Instagram: www.instagram.com/violetnightmusic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/violetnightmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/violetnightband
by Veronica DeFeo | Mar 21, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Anna Robins, an indie folk/Americana artist heralding from South Dakota has just put out her brand new record, Chronicle. The 12 track LP was entirely written by Robins as the result of a 2016 Song-A-Week challenge, so the title of her album is aptly named, as it chronicled her thoughts, experiences, and feelings at the time. Not only did Robins songwrite the entirety of Chronicle, but also played mandolin, piano, acoustic guitar, and tin whistle, with accompaniment by several artists’ instrumentals as well.
We love a good overture, and Robins does not disappoint, starting her album with “Intro”. Anything with a musical prologue helps create the tone, and for Robins, sets the stage for what’s to come. Coming right up with the first ‘real’ track is “Pulse”, a yearning, strings-focused song that displays Robins’ musical heartbeat. Foreshadowed in the intro is the next song, “Driftwood”. This one shows the first bit of what Robins can do with Americana, especially in the chorus. Next up, “Thief” amps up the mood with a rollicking, harmony-infused track highlighting some excellent banjo playing. This is the kind of song that gets you stomping your feet and clapping your hands. After the whirlwhind of the preceding track, “Amelia” is a change of pace, a lovely, emotional song. Halfway through the record is the sassy “Burn It Down”, full of attitude and quite a beat; this song is unlike any other on the album.
Following up “Burn It Down” is “Trespassin”, a folk song if there ever was one. Robins again masterfully utilizes harmony and strings to make a well-composed track. “The Fox The Rabbit” starts off acapella, and brings in some well-placed bass and electric guitar to further compliment her vocals. Easily a fan favorite is “A Girl’s Gotta Be Goofy”, an absolutely fun and relatable song. While a satirical song, Robins remains down-to-earth and raw in this one. An Americana album would not be an Americana album without a locale-themed song, and “Destination Colorado” is that song – with a twist. Robins does an excellent job of painting the scene with her lyrics, yet tells the listener that this place isn’t for her.
“Call Off The Dogs” follows up the previous song with heartfelt piano and full of authentic lyrics. Closing out Chronicle with an outro called “Raise Your Glass”, Robins nicely ties up her album with a track that reminisces on what has passed while looking hopefully to the future. Robins does a fantastic job of putting her own spin on what an Americana/folk record sounds like, and we’re eager to see her do big things.
Keep up with Anna Robins
https://www.facebook.com/AnnaRobinsMusic/
www.annarobins.com
www.youtube.com/annarobins
www.soundcloud.com/annarobinsonmusic
www.reverbnation.com/annarobinsonmusic
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Mar 21, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Plutinos is a solo project from Denver based Nate Barnes who was previously in the band Rose Hill Drive. Nate decided to go on to release his own music under Plutinos after spending years touring with other artists. Plutinos is here with the release of his new single “Falling Away”.
The track starts out with a guitar sound that is later accompanied by Nate Barnes’ voice. The song continues with a bass and drums that echo throughout the track. The song is about trying to fit in without destroying yourself first, and gets you lost in its sound until the end.very
“Falling Away” is great from start to finish. Plutinos definitely has a hit on his hands with his one.
Keep up with Plutinos here.
by Veronica DeFeo | Mar 16, 2018 | premieres, wolf tracks
Allow us to shed a little light on the subject: today, The Lampshades are dropping their brand new single, “Astrology II”, which appears on their upcoming LP, Astrology. The Pittsburgh-based trio is made up of lead vocalist Jaren Love (who also plays guitar), drums by Daren Adelman, and Chris Kibler on bass. The inter-genre group puts out absolutely authentic and unique music, and “Astrology II” is no exception, as well as the rest of their forthcoming record.
“Astrology II” is unlike any song you’ve heard before; it is beautifully chaotic. With an almost eerie, otherworldly melody, this track fits it’s space-themed title perfectly. About 3:30 in, the song takes the listener for a spin with a surprising fiddling solo, but it works. It’s the kind of song you have to listen to more than once to fully appreciate. “Astrology II” is truly a unique sonic experience.
The Lampshade’s fifth full-length record, Astrology, will be released on March 23, but until then, be one of the firsts to give “Astrology II” a listen today!
Stay connected with The Lampshades here.
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 16, 2018 | show review, snapshot, visual
On one of the most gorgeous nights of 2018 so far, Thursday, March 15th, P!nk regaled a massive crowd at Sprint Center in the heart of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Bursting into the room in her signature aerial acrobatic harness, she came swinging in from a chandelier to “Get This Party Started”, as if there were any better way to make a grand entrance. Decked out in so much glitter the audience probably should have been wearing sunglasses, she bounced right into “Beautiful Trauma” and then a little throwback rendition of “Just Like a Pill” for the loyal fans who have been around to enjoy her incredible career for the last two decades. There were a lot of them, as the event itself sold out so quickly that the arena had to open more seats on the side to accommodate her midwest fanbase.
Which is really no surprise, as this woman has been setting the world on fire – literally and figuratively, if you count the pyrotechnics during “Just Like Fire” – since she started back in the last 90s. With a flare for the most athletic endeavors, her stage performance has taken a turn from upbeat pop maneuvers, to an intense and beautifully artful experience, replete with Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics and bright, fun pops of color amidst glitter for days. Slowing it down for a soulful rendition of “Barbies” and “I Am Here” brought the crowd to their feet, belting out the lyrics with a fiery passion we haven’t witnessed at another show in quite some time. But not all the magic was found in the lyrics, though so relatable in so many ways.
But if ever our hearts stopped during a cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, this was it. Dressed in a more grunged up look, the crowd went wild with her slightly more soulful vocals layered over those unmistakable guitar riffs and edgy flare.
P!nk incorporated her moving and incredibly heroic 2017 MTV VMAs acceptance speech into her set, bringing faces of every color, race, and ethnicity to the forefront in a little video that played while she was changing outfits. But the message hit very close to home, as we continue to deal with issues of sexism, racism, and other types of hatred. P!nk’s message is just as resounding as in tracks like “What About Us?” where she seems to call out people in power with her questioning, much like she did in 2011’s “Dear Mr. President”. And though she didn’t get to sing that song in particular, her rally cry could probably be heard for miles while thousands of women joined her in powerful, captivating song.
I personally got to enjoy the show with my mother and my sister, both of whom I have gone with to see P!nk’s previous shows. I will say it once and then say it a million times after, this woman knows how to impress. Not even for the sake of others, but you can tell she does this to prove everything to herself and to pave the way for other dreamers, which leaves little room to be disappointed in the work she does. We even got a treat this time, as the last show she came through held no encore goodness – Though, really, who is complaining? – with an exciting, Tinker Bell-esque performance of “So What” and “Glitter In The Air” before she disappeared into the night, most likely to get into a cuddle puddle with her adorable traveling family.
Keep up with P!nk here, and make sure to check out her Beautiful Trauma tour in a city near you!
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Mar 16, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Belle Mare is made up of songwriters Amelia Bushell and Thomas Servidone. Bushell and Servidone met at a bar in Brooklyn and managed to work their way up to the Electric Lady Studios in Manhattan. They are currently working on new material, but, in the meantime, they have released their new single “Liars”.
“Liars” sets Bushell’s vocals at the beginning of the track, putting her delicate vocals on top of a guitar melody. Bushell’s vocals are soft and delicately laid on the track. “Liars” is an easy listen that is perfect for relaxing day when you just want to relax. The song is dreamy, with a touch of acoustic. The song leaves the listener feeling relaxed. “Liars” is a good song that made Belle Mare’s absence worth the wait.
Keep up with Belle Mare here.
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Mar 15, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
24-year-old singer/songwriter WAYI is thriving in music with her debut single “The Way I Am”. The song is a song with a refreshing taste of honesty and a theme of love. WAYI draws from her own experiences in “The Way I Am” stating that “I almost lost myself to a man who liked me but not enough to accept me with all my flaws. Unconsciously, I started changing just to please him. Now that I’ve learned from it, I just say ‘fuck it’. You take the good and the bad or you leave it all!”.
The songstress performs “The Way I Am” with Spanish guitars in the background and a hint of R&B. The song is a song that inspires women not to lose their self-worth in the midst of love. “The Way I Am” comes from a position of love and not power. In 2018, WAYI is the name to remember.
Keep up with Wayi here.
by Kayla Hutton | Mar 15, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Datarock‘s latest album, Face the Brutality, dropped March 9th through YAP records. DATAROCK is an 80’s recreating synth-rock band hailing from Norway, a place known more for its black metal. The band says the album’s title comes from a phrase they had heard prior and that, “coming from a city of black metal, and with a background in punk and trash metal, we found the title so utterly wrong for DATAROCK.”
Face the Brutality‘s first track, “BMX”, kicks off in good ol 80’s drum machine style. Joined in by an arpeggiated synth line that takes you back in time. I dropped a line to the band and asked,” why re-create that period of time?” Fredrik responded, “Probably just the fact that I grew up back then and have fond memories connected to those kinds sounds.” Seems, he isn’t alone. It’s becoming a trend and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon with aqua net and 80’s fever. There are contemporary sounds in this 80’s mix alongside some spunky lead guitar riffs, old school wah-wah, and some great group back up singers. Fredrik’s voice can range in the stylings of Beck, Sting, and even Sisters of Mercy as you get into the albums 4th track “Laugh in the Face of Darkness”, with its seductive sound. DATAROCK is a surefire for 80’s party like entertainment, not only through audio alone. Their stage show is top notch and made famous by wearing red tracksuits, in which you can purchase through their website. More than just a synth-driven pop band with punk influence the lyrics throughout have a poetic depth that can be thought pondering. When asked what track he was most stoked about Fredrik stated, “Today my favorite is the one named after a soap opera featured in Twin Peaks’s first season – Invitation to Love; a track that reinvents the ballad as a dance floor genre … and puts the reverb back on Kjetil Møster’s saxophone.” The track begins with drum and bass that is smoother than a baby’s butt. Mysterious like a hitman, and as sleek as a leatherette in an 80’s Porsche. The album ends on a punk-ish note with “Darkness at the Edge of the Pit.”
Overall the album hosts a series of hidden gems when it comes to musical diversity. DATAROCK have revamped the 80’s genre and polished it to perfection. When asked about the international reception Fredrik comments,”Over the years it’s been great! Like how we been able to play a thousand clubs and festivals in 36 counties on 5 continents – and how we ended up as 36 on NME’s list of albums of the year, or how Rolling Stone Magazine made Computer Vamp Love 88th beat of the yeast, etc. So far the best international response on the new album has been 5/5 in Music News and 4/5 in Classic Pop.”
In closing, what have we learned, Norway, more than just black metal, they’ve got DATAROCK. Go purchase your copy of Face the Brutality (or a tracksuit) from the bands’ website.
by Veronica DeFeo | Mar 15, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Calagary-based rock-n-roll duo Miesha & the Spanks have just released a brand new record, Girls, Girls, Girls, produced by Paul Rawson and Danny Farrant. Miesha Louie’s guitar and vocals paired with Sean Hamilton’s drums make for a two-piece bursting with energy, volume, and authentic yet unique garage rock. Here’s the run-down of Girls, Girls, Girls:
First Blood – the record starts with a rollicking track, appropriately titled “First Blood”. Miesha & the Spanks waste no time getting the listener comfortable, and immediately introduce their nostalgic yet modern sound.
Motorin’ – picking right up where “First Blood” left off, “Motorin” is one of the most rocking tracks on Girls, Girls, Girls.
“Come Undone” – an unapologetic track with a bit of a retro sound, “Come Undone” showcases Miesha’s vocals magnificently
“Lost Boy” – with a beat that will have you jumping up and down, bass that will take you to another time, and an angsty, lost sound, “Lost Boy” is the band’s garage rock at its best.
“Girls” – the title track of the record, this song is a combination of groovy nostalgia on a punk backdrop.
“Atmosphere” – this is a song for anyone who’s been told to keep it down. One listen and you’ll be hooked by beat, contagious chorus and lyrics. You can also check out the lyric video for Atmosphere that Miesha & the Spanks have already released.
“Be Alright” – an unapologetic, feel-good song, “Be Alright” shows a bit of the lighter side of the duo while maintaining their sound.
“Stranger” – with a bit of a girl-group sound to it, “Stranger” is reminiscent of the days when you looked for a love that no one else had.
“Witch Hunt” – the penultimate song on the record, “Witch Hunt”, is filled with devil-may-care attitude, rocking “yeah-yeah-yeah”s and individuality.
“Summer Love” – the final track on Girls, Girls, Girls, “Summer Love” closes out the album on a bittersweet, lighter note. Just like a summer love, you won’t want this record to end (that’s why you put it on repeat).
Stay connected with Miesha & the Spanks (and maybe catch them on tour!)
Website – Facebook – Spotify – iTunes – Instagram – Twitter
