Los Angeles-based “evoca-pop” artist R E L is providing quite the ambiance for our 2019 via her track “Nanagrams”. The accompanying visual utilizes a contrast of light and dark to bring both an ethereal aesthetic to the project, as well as a sense of struggle. The struggle itself stems from the artist’s personal struggle with an eating disorder, something she is very upfront and honest about. Through her music, she provides healing energy for both herself and others who struggle with health issues.
“Music has the power to heal,” expands R E L. “I developed anorexia at a very young age (7). It permeated my life through my sophomore year of college. The struggles I faced affect many women, and men. Side A is about the first stage of healing – facing the problem, hitting a low. I’ve developed the EVOCAPOP project in three “sides”, so I can address each phase of healing as its own story & as part of a bigger story. Self love is the first step towards happiness, towards peace.”
R E L’s vocals convey a calming presence, perhaps her first step toward that peace, something that continually makes us feel at ease with each new play of the track.
As the lead up to the release of True North revs up – due out in early February – Michael Chapman is releasing pieces of the work to an anxiously awaiting audience. “After All This Time” is a beautiful work of art, allowing us a very unique look at love lost. The arrangement complements Chapman’s vocals perfectly, allowing for a soft and ethereal look back in time.
Expands Chapman, “In a bookshop, I met a beautifully dressed woman of a certain age, who said, ‘It’s Michael isn’t it?’ I said ‘Yeah?’ It wasn’t a difficult question. A lengthy pause followed, then she said, ‘We were married for four years.’ Not my finest hour. Out of that, came this song.”
Los Angeles-based alt-folk rock musician Sean Pawling has released his enigmatic new track “Rio Grande”, a soundscape that seems to span across the Rio Grande itself. Sprawling, fun instrumentals run the gamut while Pawling’s vocals bring you a sense of ease and contentment. It’s like a vacation in a song, and – as people who didn’t get that mid-winter break we so desired – we’re all for it!
Dial up internet noises in the beginning, and we’re already in love. Sophie Strauss‘ new video for “I Was” captures the visuals in a very ethereal and light way, much like the vocal delivery. The song itself is an introspective anecdote, while Strauss susses out the complicated feelings she had for and around women growing up. Even if it wasn’t created on film directly, the video is shot with an esthetic as though it was, which goes with the throwback theme of the song. Self analysis sometimes requires us to delve into the past in order to create our futures more fully. Take this track as your opportunity to do so.
As you lean slowly into the gentle and mellifluous soundscape of Jane Willow‘s Onward Still, your mind starts to wander, and wonder what the inspiration for this work of art exactly was. From the first caress of vocals in “Onward Still”, to the last defining, harmonic moments of “Comfort”, this 6-track EP is nothing if not the perfectly watercolored canvas to hang over your blooming ideas and goals and adventures for 2019. “On My Mind” hits you with introspective and intense lyrics, sad strings to really rip into your heart’s deepest cavities. “Nobody Knows” has a strangely poignantly placed feeling of freedom to the delivery of the vocals, subtle yet defining nuances throughout.
“Hannah” brings the pace up, the Dublin-based artist’s most notably uplifting track to the work. “If I Did Love You” is quite the ballad, theatric and haunting in its presence. “Comfort” truly rounds the release out nicely, with a sound that makes you feel as though you’re basking in the glow of the sun on a patio somewhere amongst vineyards. This song itself evokes the title in an effortless and wonderful way, which seems to be the artist’s intention. We’ll be using this as our adult lullaby for a while, and we’re not even remotely ashamed.
As if the cover art weren’t enough to draw you in – HELLOOOOO Earle Rock Studios -, Holy White Hounds‘ sophomore full-length release is absolutely extraordinary. Blending in the signature “eff you” style that they established with 2016’s Sparkle, Sparkle, Say It With Your Mouth is an established alt-rock adventure, with high stakes energy from beginning to end. While first track “Thirsty” insists that “I’m not excited,” the intense lead-in would say otherwise, as “Lucid Kid” establishes an energy that we’re ready to bump from now into the summer months. “Perpetrator” feels like the perfect addition to “Guitar Hero,” catchy as all get out with a visual that will keep your mind reeling.
The quirky name of the project can be found in the lines of “No Teeth”, while “Big Heavy” boasts the perfect sound to be played during an NFL game. (Shameless plug.) While Dean struggles with his perspective in “Trifection”, the attitude continues – complete with a whole different level of percussion – in seventh track “Violence”. This one is a real banger, so make sure to allow plenty of space to move around when you press “play” on it.
Dave Keuning joins in on the fun with “What I Am”, and “Burnt Tongue” speeds things up even more than originally anticipated, guitar licks and a beat that doesn’t just pull you in, but drags you in by your shoelaces – or bootstraps, or whatever gets you going – and does not let go. The drums set the scene for “The Void”, coming in with bass that sets one of those “walking like a badass” vibes for the remainder of the track. (AKA add this to your life soundtrack and when you’ve got to raise that confidence, play it and strut your stuff!)
If you are really paying attention to the lyrics instead of just the mood the soundscape sets for you, you’ll notice a variety of emotions, stemming from personal anecdotes that have been woven throughout the work as a whole. Dean’s vocals drag more of that emotion out of us, highlighting moments of darkness and a questioning mentality while we all learn how to feel through it. “Tracy Free” is one of those introspective tracks that really entices you to think, though the title of its follow-up, “Aids Chimp”, kind of detracts from the weight of the words.
But that’s what we’ve come to respect and love about this band. They can sing about some dark, dark shit and keep this weightless feel to it all, and you can tell that they are a ton of fun live simply from listening to a few lines from Say It With Your Mouth, if you haven’t yet been graced by their live performance tactics. “New Blood” will further enforce the theatrical nature of the band, though they may be the last to admit it. With bits of comedy mixed in with self realization and that clear, gorgeous edge, we’re big fans of this album as a journey, and are stoked you get to hear it from beginning clear through “Thirsty Outro”.
Say It With Your Mouth is available now. Keep up with Holy White Hounds here.
We made it through the holidays, and for some of us that means winding down a bit. For others, that means revving back up the productivity. (Hello, running a publication!) In either case, Beatrix Sky‘s latest track “Love Drug” is the perfect soundtrack to make the next chapter of your life happen, no matter what you’re going for. With luscious, ethereal layers and the perfect blend of Sky’s brooding vocals, this is one you won’t want to miss. Try it on for size below!
Even though that one unavoidable holiday is right around the corner, you may have to wait until December 28th to feel like it’s Christmas. That day will yield the official release of Last Crush‘s EP SUPPORT C.E.N.T.E.R. The project – which is the brainchild of Mitchell Todorov (KLOZAPIN) – is synth-led, bursting into glittering cacophonies of sound in many of the tracks, as the vocals fluctuate from 80’s-inspired, to a yelling volume, to absolute scream-o. Displayed vocal range is impressive, each of the six tracks leaving a true impression.
Well, it looks like Christmas came early. You have to wait to add the collection to your music log for a few more days, but we’ve got your first listen in its entirety to celebrate all weekend long.
I stumbled upon Larkin Poe in late 2016. I was on a YouTube music spree, as one will occasionally do, and they happened to pop up in my “Up Next” column. It was a Jam in the Van video of the song Jailbreak. The video had been posted in 2014 so it was roughly 2 and half years old by the time I found it. The song had a good pop to it and both Rebecca and Meghan had a good energy for the song. After the video ended, I began to dig into more of their stuff, Don’t, Sugar High, Stubborn Love and Trouble in Mind. Every song I listened to was solid, but the studio recordings lacked that something that separates music you throw on in the back ground from music you throw on to really listen to.
Flash forward to the Garage at Knuckleheads Saloon on a Monday night. I was unsure of the following that Larkin Poe would have, especially with it being a Monday night, in December, in Kansas City Missouri. We got to the venue 20 minutes before the opener was scheduled. I assumed this would be plenty of time to grab a seat, grab a drink and talk before the show started. What’s that they say about assumptions? The venue was packed. We were fortunate enough to find a couple lonesome bar stools in the corner. Other than those, it was standing room only.
It’s important to point out the composition of the crowd for this event. There were plenty of adults in attendance and the usual crowd that seems to attend Knuckleheads religiously, regardless of what type of artist or music it being played. The best part about the crowd for me were the parents that brought their kids with them. Live music is an important thing to support and it’s even better when the band is on fire like Larkin Poe was that night.
When Larkin Poe took the stage, I immediately understood why the place had sold out. The energy they brought with them left the crowd with one option, buckle up and enjoy the ride. Their opening song “Summertime Sunset” brought the house down and it only got better from there. Meghan’s slide guitar outro for Look Away was a good for lesson for any guitar player in patience, tone and control. Rebecca’s vocals have gotten stronger and more confident since I first heard her, and the entire concert was a showcase for that talent.
The show was refreshing and genuine and as a soon to be father of a daughter, it was awesome to see two sisters absolutely dominating the stage. I cannot wait for them to come back around or anywhere close, I will be dragging my friends and most likely a certain family member, you know who you are, to see them again.
