by Meredith Schneider | Jan 8, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
London-based indie pop artist Natalie Shay is truly making her mark across the pond, having won multiple awards for her musical ambitions, and having sold out crowds at some of the city’s most well-known venues. Her signature blend is one of upbeat intensity, the vocals hitting points of twang every so often. This, in itself, adds a layer to the sound, setting her apart from other mainstream pop artists of the day. “This Feeling” is a definitive hip-shaker, brilliantly created to energize and excite its audience.
Check out this impossibly positive new track below, and perhaps make it your anthem of 2018 and new beginnings!
Keep up with Natalie Shay here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 8, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
On January 26th, we will have the pleasure of enjoying Dream Wife‘s debut album in its entirety, but until then we’ve got another fun surprise for you. The trio recently released the music video for their track “Hey Heartbreaker”, and we’ve got it for you to enjoy. Directed and animated (Beautifully, might we add?) by Mason London, the video is alluring in its ability to capture your attention utilizing robot cartoons. Somehow, we feel like we’re getting a little taste of the band’s actual performance chops in the video, even though their characters are animated robots. The video has the unmistakable feel of a Gorillaz classic in the way its presented, with a slightly more punk and empowered tilt to it all.
Keep up with Dream Wife here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 5, 2018 | premieres, videos, wolf tracks
East coast rap artist Kahiem Rivera is coming at us today with the premiere of his brand new video for “Throat”. Directed by Benjamin Garst and produced by Gabriel Gomez, the video is a beautiful and rough introspective piece that goes along perfectly with the single’s lyrics. Delivered with clean, artful shots, he sits in a dark room, draped in chains and looking into mirrors requesting that someone tell him how he’s “supposed” to be, as a single lightbulb sways overhead. It feels more like an interrogation, as he seems to be facing his demons alone.
As we all learn to be more introspective and guided in the new year, let this song and this video be a staple to go back to when we are feeling alone and questioning our purpose in life.
Keep up with Kahiem here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 5, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based self-proclaimed “spooky/tribal/blues” artist SPELLES released her first track of 2018 mere hours ago, and we’re big, big fans already. “Light Me On Fire” feels just the way you’d expect, like an old western meets the deepest, darkest emotions you could feel, all wrapped together with these gorgeous, deep, vocals that – at times – are reminiscent of Christina Aguilera.
Like her pseudonym, SPELLES captures you with an almost magical intuition for what will work and make the listener feel like they can absolutely destroy the world. We can’t wait to hear what’s next from this up-and-comer, and what feelings we have yet to experience with her.
SPELLES EP is out now. Keep up with SPELLES here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 4, 2018 | wolf tracks
Solo artist LUME doesn’t have too much of a reputation within the industry, but her second single “Tip of Your Thumb” dropped this week, and we’re projecting a long and prosperous career for this young songbird. She recently announced a debut EP with the same name, but we’re over here trying to scrape ourselves off the floor after listening to this treasure. The track is absolutely badass, referencing internet trolls like our own President and needless drama that comes from social media. But it’s the vocals that really captivate, as LUME produces a raspy beauty with every note.
Tip of Your Thumb is due out in March. Keep up with LUME here.
by Ron Boling | Jan 4, 2018 | review, snapshot
Deathbeat owned the stage and the crowds attention last night at Pianos. The band hails from Melbourne Australia, they played with power and enthusiasm despite the foreign arctic blast engulfing the city for much of their time here. They kicked off with “Dust The Book” a song which hinges on a hypnotic rhythm from drummer Steve Tyssen. The drum trance coupled with the hazy but precise guitar from Julian Schweitzer foreshadowed the rest of the set. Track after track the duo powered through with distorted guitar and booming percussion.
The fourth track in “Vibe Police” seemed like a tongue in cheek statement about youth and authority. Julian’s presentation of lyrics let the listener know to swallow with a grain of salt. The group next played “Heartbreaks”. This track is reminiscent of “Sabotage” era Beastie Boys. “Heartbreaks” has an accompanying video you can watch with the link below.
The band finished the set with “ZAP 5”. The song has giant Tom Morello – esque guitars that provided emotional closure on a carefully placed and muscular set list. The band will head back home to Australia next week you can keep up with them on social media via the links below.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 3, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Even if it wasn’t innately evident, 2017 gave us a lot to be grateful for. Namely, some really amazing music. It was in November that Charleston, West Virginia-based soul rock duo Farnsworth – comprised of C.W. Vance (guitar/vocals) and Jason Reese (drums/vocals) – released their latest, a robust eight track piece titled Elk City. And don’t think that the title suggests any type of back country lifestyle, though the rock roots these guys play with really give it an unmistakable edge.
The entire album will throw you through a loop of nostalgia, bringing in whirring guitars and a psychedelic feel in the majority of the tracks to really achieve that kaleidoscope effect that tantalizes the eardrums. Tracks like “American Dream” and “Free Me” make you feel like you’ve been caught in Vietnam-era America, which many of us already feel a kinship with regarding everything that’s going on in our society these days. The duo’s vested interest in vinyl is detectable, each song created to play perfectly imperfectly on a record player.
Take “Better Days” for example. As the duo croons melancholic lyrics like “Watch me as I fall / No you don’t care at all,” you can’t help but sway your hips to the innately groovy (yes, we said groovy) percussion. And that holds true with the entirety of the album, as the guys address a wide variety of topics, largely melancholic and bittersweet in their musical existence. Without perhaps meaning to, Farnsworth has created a work that can truly exist in most soundscapes, each song musically enhancing the listener as it takes them through decades of influence and insanely beautiful guitar work.
Elk City is your next jam record. We guarantee it.
Keep up with Farnsworth here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 3, 2018 | premieres, wolf tracks
Blues/folk/funk group Kings & Associates is starting the new year on the right foot, with a brand new video for their insanely beautiful track “Pabla’s Grace”. Filmed by David Resce, the video showcases the band’s incredible live performance aspect in a soulful, smoky setting that really allows their musicianship to take the forefront. When we got wind that “Pabla’s Grace” is song written in dedication to those suffering the often unspoken cruelty of mental illness, we were floored and inspired at the same time. Says the band, “There’s a dark world called mental illness only overshadowed by social stigmas and ignorance of its realty and effects. Living without the ability to trust your own actions is a reality many people have to bear. But we call them home.”
Let Kings & Associates take the stigma from the conversation, and let your ears become enveloped in a song that is smooth like honey, and just as comforting.
Keep up with Kings & Associates here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 2, 2018 | soundtrack
As we patiently (not so patiently) await the release of americana/rock/country artist Dom Wier‘s energetic new four track EP titled New Waters to properly celebrate the new year, we’ve actually got a fun little playlist to share with you. Curated by the man himself, it is full to the brim of beauty and inspiration from some of the most incredible musicians of all time. So settle in, and enjoy some of the finer things as you stay as comfy cozy as you can! (Indoors, hopefully.)
I’ve always been fascinated with songwriting. A great song is a great song no matter the genre, as they say. Here are some songs that have cut straight to the core for me. Things I listened to growing up, some new jams from some awesome tunesmiths and maybe a guilty pleasure or two.
New Waters is out January 19th. Keep up with Dom Wier on Facebook, Instagram, and at DomWier.com.
