We were joined by an artist with the most extraordinary – and borderline believable – backdrop. Sam Himself allowed us all a little space to pretend we were deep breathing in the mountains. The music wasn’t too bad, either. If you like what you hear, as always, please consider donating!
**Apologies for the modest screen shots that were taken as the cover photos for these features. We did what we could with what we had.
Nicole Kiki Jaffe was one of the celebrated artists who donned our “stage” during the Cancelled Plans Music Fest on April 17th, 2020. Celebrate her set below, and feel free to donate to her virtual tip jar if you love what you see and hear as much as we did!
(Yes, we did screen cap the main photo. This one – though blurry – is so delightful, we couldn’t resist!)
As things get weird outside, we like to create our ambiance every day. Most of that involves music videos, and we get to see our fair share. So, per usual, we have sifted through all the new stuff and given you a (random) soundtrack of all the best ones! So get lost for a while… seriously. These videos will inspire.
Keep coming back all month long for new additions to the soundtrack. Because, really, what else are you doing?
LA indie duo Carrousel continue an incredible year with the release of their new album Magnificent Desolation. This 10-track album examines the dystopian direction of current life and the spiraling process of depression, both in ourselves and the world we live in.
Joel Piedt (songwriter, vocals, production) and Sharon Piedt (songwriter, vocals) craft pop melodies that are more futuristics and lean towards the prophetic. Carrousel’s music seamlessly lives on the plane of several genre styles cohesively.
Standout track “Exile in NY” focuses on the feelings of depression and its toll on the individual and how that affects those around them. By playing with echo and atmosphere, this track feels like it’s being pulled straight from your inner thoughts. With a slow build up by the middle of the song all sounds and feelings overlap to create a state of unrest. Ending the track with recorded voicemails help show separation between the two subjects of this track, as we know see them drift away from one another.
Consistently, the duo creates music that looks to disorient the understanding of the present, and the over-digitization of knowledge, and does so in a way that does not hold back.
Last Friday, soulful songstress Emily Chambers debuted her new track “Real Talk”, and we’re absolutely smitten. The lyrics are highly-relatable – I mean, we have all been in relationships we didn’t anticipate – and so stunningly delivered that this is hands-down one of our favorite spring releases. While she croons about that no-good feeling of confusion, we get a look into her ferocity with edgy instrumentals and attitude to match.
Keep up with Emily Chambers here.
On Tuesday, April 16th, Haley Reinhart made a spectacular appearance at The Granada in Lawrence, KS. Photographer Elizabeth Messina made the trek out on the beautiful spring evening to enjoy an opening set by Jennah Bell, and an incredibly alluring evening with Reinhart, who drew a diverse, energetic crowd of onlookers. Highlights below.
Keep up with Haley Reinhart here.
Indiana-based self-proclaimed “psychedelic Motown” act Diane Coffee released their full-length Internet Arms today, and we’re swooning. From the very first, glittering notes of “Not Ready To Go”, we’re drawn in, carrying us through the slightly quicker tempo of “Like A Child Does” and into the slowdown of instrumental intro “The Look”. The fourth track remains at that slow pace, landing us in a neon trance while “Stuck In Your Saturday Night”.
It’s at this point that we recognize not only Diane Coffee’s palpable influence from The King of Pop, but there is a tad bit of Chromeo peeking through that seems to amplify the lyrics. While “Simulation” is one of our favorite tracks on the album, the title track definitely takes a more disco-like approach to its soundscape. “War” is another quick, swirling instrumental, leading into “Doubt”, which seems to be the most modern, intricate track of the bunch so far and a perfect staple for your latest playlist.
“Work It” is a new anthem for those reaching for their dreams, perfectly displaying the vocal range and attitude of this act. And while “Good Luck” slows it all down again, it is with “Lights Off” that we go deeper sonically, swapping the 80s synth for a more modern, dance hall beat. “Turn On” is a short instrumental, and sounds like you’re turning on a pretty complicated machine or robot. Though we agree with the inclusion of this quick transition, we think it’s better placed elsewhere – perhaps at the very beginning of the album -, as it then leads into the very slow, gorgeous “Company Man”. Once again, this track could easily have been placed in any one of our favorite 80’s movies, and therefore is the perfect way to round out such a wonderfully influenced and lyrically nuanced album.
Keep up with Diane Coffee here.
Brooklyn-based Son of Cloud released his self-titled full-length, a 10-track album that seems to mellifluously solve the world’s problems. We know that’s a strong claim, but if you even start to take a listen to first track “How to Love You Today”, you will absolutely melt. Admitting that he’s learning from the start is the most incredible way to stir up empathy, and even without the conscientious and gorgeous lyrics he provides, the listener is immediately enthralled by his vocals.
And if you think all of the beauty lies in that first track, you’re in for a true treat. The album in its entirety is a soothing, entrancing work of art, riddled with self realizations and honest, heartfelt emotions. Tracks like “Who Could Ask For More?” and “I Am Not An Island” are thrown in with slightly more twang than the rest, as tracks like “Parade” and “I Love You More” infuse more of a soulful, robust sound into the equation.
We could go on at length about this album, but are truly so enveloped in the reality of it that we just think it’s pertinent for you – for anyone – to hear it. We want you to experience the magic that flows from this work, and to enlighten us with your thoughts on it as well! Take a listen below when you’re ready to slow things down a bit.
Keep up with Son of Cloud here.
To many, April is truly what the first weeks of Spring are made of. New beginnings, fresh flowers, allergies abound. But for myself – and a good amount of our contributors – it symbolizes new beginnings because it is also birth month. (Shout out to all of my Aries comrades!) Though the fire of nw beginnings burns bright in other aspects of my life, never before have I witnessed such a jam packed month of new music releases.So, here are a host of our favorites released over the month of April. With new tracks from Uppermost, Ramonda Hammer, Calexico, daste, MARBL, Simon XO, Don Cherel, and more, this is a soundtrack you won’t want to miss out on. Check back for more over the course of the month, and be your friend group’s most influential music suggester!
