Every couple of years, my twin sister and I would look at each other in a moment of confusion and wonder out loud, “Where the f*ck is Fefe Dobson?” And I’m not saying this just to say it. It’s been getting even more bothersome over time. Her albums Joy and Sunday Love dropped a decade ago, and it seemed to us that the Canadian wunderkind went even more underground after that. How did such an incredible, edgy songstress who helped lead the femme pop/punk world into what it is today, just kind of vanish? The world deserved her energy. The world needed her art.
Flash forward to a few weeks ago. My sister noticed Fefe’s IG changing a bit first. Once word of a new single dropped, she was all over it. So, you know we had to weigh in on the first single drop in ten years. “FCKN IN LOVE” is out now, and it’s honestly a new staple in the music library. Bringing her quintessential Fefe attitude and vulnerability, she attacks the topic of true love in a way that most can relate to. The song packs a punch, a love anthem if you will, and is inherently joyous to listen to.
Ever felt just blissfully in love? Feeling it now? Give the track a listen. (Especially if the person you’re in love with is yourself, quite honestly.)
Alt-pop entertainer Maude Latour is certainly making a name for herself in the industry. Her sold-out North American tour kicks off next month, a result of the popularity of her sound on streaming platforms. Latest track “Headphones” is no different. The song is a testament to her talent, letting her play with autotune around natural vocals that are no less than entrancing. Explains Latour of the track:
“Headphones” starts exactly after where the “Strangers Forever” EP left us — heartbroken and experiencing loss, but slowly finding strength, as we say goodbye to a person of our past. “Headphones” is an opening of a new world; it is the first ray of light as the storm begins to end. I was lying on a hardwood floor, realizing I was truly alone in my head, no more romantic partner to lean on, when I first heard a voice in my head. It was my own. I wanted to learn to love myself, I wanted to grow within. “Headphones” is that terrifying leap into our future, and into our deeper selves.
Latour released a video accompanying the new song. Latour gallivants around New York City in good spirits, driven by her own beautiful words and the track in her headphones. The idea that words or a song could set the tone for your day – or be the underlying soundtrack to your incredible life – is reason enough to get through the tough shit.
We understand the allure, and are excited to see what her live performance entails.
Polymathic artist extraordinaire Miles Francis released a new single and its accompanying music video, and we’re absolutely intoxicated by the light as a feather soundscape that carries it all. “Nature” – at its core – is a song of acknowledgment and acceptance. Seeing the darkness in ourselves and addressing it, but not necessarily trying to change it. Embracing inescapable flaws, and learning to make them into art.
LYRICS Wave up ahead, all that I see I go red and let it wash over me In just a moment, I submit I cannot own it, I cannot quit Ego inflated, intoxicated Loaded with pride, must be my
Nature Something in my nature Governs my behavior And I can’t see it through Until I’ve hurt you
Swimming with my father I feel the current bring me closer to him Something in the water Has turned these clean hands into phantom limbs Ego inflated, emasculated Loaded with pride, please forgive my
Nature Something in my nature Governs my behavior And I can’t see it through Until I’ve hurt you
Miles Francis dances in a field in an oversized suit, softened colors creating a dream sequence unlike any other. Take a gander for yourself!
The micro-dosing community isn’t the only group of people that are currently into the wonders of mushrooms. Los Angeles-based indie outfit GOON – expertly comprised of Any Polito, Dillon Peralta, Tamra Simons, and Kenny Becker – have been intricately evolving their sound for years. But mushrooms seem to have aided in the organic (pun intended) development of their new music. Expands Kenny:
The inspiration for this track came from a long walk I took on a rainy gray day in November 2021. During that time I would often walk along the path that follows a waterway which feeds into the LA river. Passing a patch of mushrooms gave me the idea to title the song “Fruiting Body.” The term refers to the spore-producing structure of fungi.
The song itself makes you feel as though you are safely nestled in a bed of trees, surrounded by infinite light. The video – directed and edited by Kenny – mimics this exact feeling. We’re just fans of watching each band member experience pure joy over the course of the video. It’s a snapshot of nature that wholeheartedly encourages play, with the creepy repetition of the line “blood red” dancing in the background.
Country artist Ashley Ray brings many core thoughts and memories from her youth in Kansas to her unique and beautiful music. “Just a House” was inspired by her father’s memory. Her family lost him 15 years ago, but grief is not linear. Allowing it to move through her music, Ray has developed a heartwrenching take on the world, a melancholic feel to her art that helps the listener empathize deeply.
The music video – which depicts a young boy trying to raise money to support his dying grandmother – is an absolute treasure of a short film. Stephen and Alexa Kinigopoulos heard the song, and chose to pull from their own feelings and memories of loss for the video’s concept. Explains Stephen:
When I first heard this song, it triggered me in the best way. I re-lived my family’s loss. It triggered me to think of the loss and the whole process in a montage sort of way… I could see and feel what Ashley’s mom was feeling. That dug up some skeletons for me.
The video may stir up some emotions, so be aware of the company you keep while you enjoy it. 😉
We’re not sure what is behind the vintage-esque music videos and clips of footage that are making the rounds in the industry, but we’re big, big fans. Retro indie-pop artist Buster Baer’s entire newly-released EP, Mock Twang, and the accompanying music video for single “Get Deeper” are certainly no exception. A bit of beautiful nostalgia, the music video follows our protagonist musician and a dog… or, rather, a human in a dog costume. Beautiful views, brief violence, a baseball bat, and some marijuana are all seen under psychedelic magentas that will absolutely take you back in time.
A meandering, beautiful piano intro? Check. An ethereal, intense voice dancing along staccato notes in an endearing and almost haunting way? Check! Teghan Devon has pulled out all the stops in new single “V.I.P.,” for which we have the exclusive premiere right here. Let yourself get lost in the building momentum of a song that feels like a warm hug. Singing of engaging with true, genuine friendship and “Good vibes only,” this is a song we can absolutely get on board with in 2022. Get your first listen below, and be sure to let Teghan know how much you love her over on Facebook!
Ray Angry just may have been involved in crafting the most truly engaging and vibrant music video experience of the holiday season, if you ask us. That is, based on the gorgeous color play in the visual release for “#Toyland,” a seductive R&B remake that features some iconic names. Public Domain – the musical collaboration project Ray Angry operates – has released a party-themed gem that will have you getting in the mood for the new year. Explains the caption on the official music video:
‘Toyland’ is a song from the 1903 Christmas-themed operetta. The song is originally a saccharine tune about a wistfulness for childhood and how once you cross it’s borders, you can never return again.. It’s a nostalgic exploration of loss of innocence. With that theme in mind, our updated song is about an acid trip and psychedelic/spiritual experiences in general, tying it to Toyland in that once you cross the border of self exploration and rebirth in that way, you don’t necessarily return the same person. We have Perverted the original meaning and created a new narrative that explores the continued and perpetual losses of innocence that occur throughout adulthood that are sad, beautiful, and complex.
Questlove, Black Thought, Marcus King, Pino Palladino, and Liv Warfield all feature, as you watch a literal kaleidoscope of lights and theatrics through the screen. Equal parts Tim Burton, Cirque du Soleil, and Southern California rave, this video is a really fun direct reflection of its concept and lyrical twist, a psychedelic experience you won’t want to miss.
The warm lighting found in a late-night destination illuminates Brian Straw’s face as the depth of his robust vocals fill the atmosphere. Emotionally charged single “Out of Doors” has been a long time coming, and today we have the pleasure of premiering its beautiful accompanying video.
Admits the artist of the song:
I carried “Out of Doors” around in my pocket for a couple years until I formed the band that ultimately helped me fully realize it. It was apparent to me after the first rehearsal that I had something special. It clicked. With the perfect combination of musicians the song just bloomed. I wanted the chorus to feel like a huge wave of intensity and for the verses to sit back and slowly unfold. I feel like we captured that by paying close attention to dynamics and flow. The words were a ton of work. I wanted the lyrics to emote the way the performance does. the words build along with the music and that was intentional. It was important to me that the music and words sit at the same table.
It turns out that “Out of Doors” takes you on an audible adventure in just the way he had imagined. The music video simply serves to amplify the emotional journey the song takes you on. A kaleidoscope of colors ensues, as we follow Straw on what would otherwise be considered an (often) rather lonely journey, that of the creative mind. Expanding into the way the music video unfolded, Straw explains:
The story for the video developed organically while we were shooting. I intentionally didn’t want to put a storyboard together so we wouldn’t be locked into any formulaic approach. We cultivated each scene with a blank slate. The director, Ryan Girard, brilliantly diagnosed the meaning of the song when I myself was struggling with what the song meant to me. He estimated that “Out of Doors” was all about the struggle of the creative process. He was dead on and that’s effectively what the video captures. It’s an abstract window into my creative mind.
We are thrilled to share a view into that creative mind. Get your first look at the incredibly thought-provoking video below.
