by Meredith Schneider | Aug 13, 2019 | soundtrack
August has been a fascinating month for music. More so than ever, we have heard soundscapes diversify into such different categories, keeping our minds busy with guessing games of what’s to come. But while we suss all of that out, it’s time to enjoy this soundtrack with a collection of our favorite new tracks of August 2019. Playlist artists include Blandlord, Young Guv, Mike Posner, Wiz Khalifa, James Vickery, the bird and the bee, Fox and Bones, and more. Check back all month for more additions to the feature!
by Caitlyn Champ | Aug 12, 2019 | premieres, videos
Folk-pop duo Starbird & the Phoenix – made up of Courtney Bassett and Andrew Swackhamer – are back with a groovy acoustic rendition of the hit song, “Sunbeam”. Producing a video full of summery feel-good vibes, the two are jamming out in a quaint space allowing the viewer to feel as if they’re right in the studio with the artists. Between Andrew shredding on the ukulele and Courtney hitting astronomically high notes, you can’t do anything but “groove along with me” as the lyrics suggest. Great for a pick me up, one watch through the video will have your soul feeding off the energy of the two in no time. Be sure to catch this wonderful remake of “Sunbeam” the week of August 12 and allow yourself to dive into the world of Starbird and the Phoenix.
Keep up with the band here.
by Christie McMenamin | Aug 9, 2019 | Uncategorized
With two sold-out shows in the New York City area at both Brooklyn Steel and Webster Hall, Snail Mail, fronted by Lindsey Jordan, is blowing up. At just 20 years old, Jordan already has two records under her belt: 2018’s Lush and 2016’s Habit EP. With Habit’s irresistibly infectious opening track, “Thinning,” Jordan began to catch the larger industry’s eye.
Signing to seminal indie label, Matador, Lush was an immediate success, gaining Jordan a devoted fanbase. She set to work playing show after show, no matter how big the venue. Between smaller shows at Brooklyn’s Warsaw and then larger shows, such as her performance at the legendary Madison Square Garden, opening for Interpol, Jordan knows how to work a crowd. And frankly, the reason why she resonates so much with others is that she is simply and unapologeticly herself. Nowhere is this more evident than in her lyrics. With sparse, straightforward lines, Jordan is able to effectively and powerfully communicate day-to-day emotions in an understated way. In “Pristine,” Lush’s opening track, Jordan sings about never loving anyone ever again, a statement that, at first glance, seems hyperbolic. However, when one is in the throes of love lost, it’s this emotion that seems to grab us and take hold, as unrealistic as it is. That feeling in and of itself is worth exploring, and listening to Jordan express sentiments that many prefer hide is cathartic. The act of saying something out loud, no matter how seemingly silly or embarrassing, is important. It holds up a mirror to ourselves and our experiences, and compels us towards reexamination.
Further, Jordan’s fans are of all different ages. At Webster Hall, the crowd, many of whom lined up hours early in order to obtain first-row spots, ranged from teens to those in their mid-forties. This speaks directly to the shared human experience and the way music can bring people of various generations together.
Jordan’s set, consisting of both records, was mostly sung with the audience in tow. Almost every track, especially that of “Pristine,” was a group effort. And “Pristine” itself had the added effect of the venue’s disco ball, with lights streaming around the room as squeals from the crowd heralded their addition. Ending with “Iris,” a Goo Goo Dolls cover, Jordan’s dynamic performance came to a close.
Jordan’s career is just beginning, and she’s already accomplished so much. Snail Mail is taking over the world.
Snail Mail Setlist
1) Intro
2) Heat Wave
3) Dirt
4) Slug
5) Golden Dream
6) Thinning
7) Deep Sea
8) Full Control
9) Let’s Find An Out
10) Pristine
11) Speaking Terms
12) Stick
13) Iris (Goo Goo Dolls cover)
by Meredith Schneider | Aug 9, 2019 | premieres, videos, wolf tracks
Fullerton-based indie rock musician The Late Innings (Vincent Sinex) is coming at us hard with the video premiere for his track “Our Secret”. The song itself takes almost a spoken word tempo, packed with entertaining lyrics. As we get an audible glimpse into simpler times in the bay area, we are drawn to the adventurous nature of topographically-designed lyrics.
Explains Vincent:
I made the ‘Our Secret’ video entirely using topographical maps. I wanted to capture the restless feeling of a traveler going from one place after another, searching for that perfect spot. I’ve always been fascinated by maps and travel. When I was younger, I would spend many hours poring over atlases and maps, studying place names and doing things like learning state capitals. To make the video, I took screen captures from United States Geological Survey topographical maps and used them to illustrate not only the lyrics of the song, but also the types of places (beaches, coves and bays) the traveler encounters in the song.
This song itself is about a guy who travels to a place he considers his ‘secret’ vacation spot, only to find out that the place is now overrun with tourists. He’s disappointed to discover that something he used to think of ‘his’ is now a place that apparently everybody now knows about. The inspiration for this song came from a trip of my own, where we went to a beach that seemingly no one knew about, and we had the whole place to ourselves that afternoon. After that trip, I thought, ‘The next time I want to go back there, will it still be a secret, especially since in the age of social media, nothing is a secret anymore?
Nothing is a secret, and we can all relate. Check out the video below!
Keep up with The Late Innings at thelateinnings.com.
by Matt Hinsz | Aug 8, 2019 | snapshot, visual
The Nude Party began in the dorms of Appalachian State University, when a group of friends decided to form a band…and play naked. Their reputation as “the naked party band” evolved, and was eventually adopted as the band’s name. Unfortunately, the group was required to wear clothes for their set at Hinterland Music Festival. Despite that, The Nude Party still brought their unique brand of Psych Rock and party-like atmosphere that they are now known for.
Keep up with The Nude Party here.
by Matt Hinsz | Aug 8, 2019 | snapshot, visual
The Dead South wrapped up their US tour with an appearance at Hinterland Music Festival, playing a raucous set in front of an enthusiastic afternoon crowd. The folk-bluegrass band from Saskatchewan put their exceptional musicianship and infectious energy on display. The set included songs spanning the band’s entire catalog, including the newly released “Diamond Rings” from their upcoming album “Sugar and Joy” to be released October 11.
Keep up with The Dead South here.
by Caitlyn Champ | Aug 8, 2019 | singles, wolf tracks
Set to release on August 8, “Cold” by Boy in Space is a great new R&B track that packs a mighty punch in the depth of its lyrics. With opening sounds reminiscent of a lullaby, this song will launch you deep into your feelings, “Both you and me no we gotta let it go/ Laying on the ground wondering why it’s so cold”. Deeply questioning the problems in a relationship, there is something we can all relate to with this track.
For fans of Fletcher, SHY Martin, or Chelsea Cutler there is a lot to look forward to here with Boy in Space. His R&B meets pop culture sound will have him on the up and up for many years to come, so be sure to keep up with him here.
by Kira Cappello | Aug 7, 2019 | singles, wolf tracks
“Live It Up”, the newest single from LA up-and-comer James Delaney, opens to the playful bounce of a video-game bop and a twinkling tropicality – but don’t let that fool you. A closer listen reveals an ennui that borders on ironic.
To clue you in, the very first lyrics paint a picture of a certain brand of indulgence that feels very 2019: “We’ve been wasting time getting high and watching shitty tv shows / Feeling comatose in our dirty clothes.” Split right down the middle, the lyrical content of “Live It Up” resorts to indulgence and lethargy to escape life stress; while sonically, it’s neutrally cheery – a notion that is paralleled in the song’s structure, as the verses bear the weight of Delaney’s approach. Radiating synth and an unchanging mellow tempo meet Delaney’s clear-cut chorus, ringing with a might-as-well attitude: “Live it up, live it up, live it up.” The last few bars close out on a sax solo, whose hum suggests that Delaney is already off to follow his own advice.
Keep up with James Delaney here.
by Caitlyn Champ | Aug 6, 2019 | singles, wolf tracks
Montreal born Chiiild has recently dropped an idyllic hit single in “Count Me Out”, with hazy vocalism gently pressed over the top of true R&B beats creating delicious soul food for the ears. Picture Tame Impala teaming up with D’Angelo for this celestial sound that crosses genres from the classical beginning to the jazzy blues ending. If the sound itself isn’t enough to draw you in then the lyrics will by promoting feelings of self-love with the insistence that you can bounce back from anything. The chorus, “Don’t count me out because I’ll come back” will get your head slow nodding along to the beat within the first thirty seconds.
Chiiild will also be heading overseas towards the end of this year but has promised more music for Fall of 2019. One thing is for certain though this is definitely an artist to keep your eye on moving into the future.
9/14 — Vancouver, BC — Vogue Theatre
9/15 — Seattle, WA — The Crocodile
9/17 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
9/19 — San Francisco, CA — The Regency Ballroom
9/21 — Los Angeles, CA — Fonda Theatre
9/24 — Houston, TX — The Studio at Warehouse Live
9/25 — Dallas, TX — Trees
9/27 — Atlanta, GA — The Loft
9/30 — New York, NY — Brooklyn Steel
10/1 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of Living Arts
10/2 — Toronto, ON — Phoenix Concert Theatre
10/4 — Detroit, MI — Magic Stick
10/5 — Chicago, IL — Metro
10/7 — Boulder, CO — Fox Theatre
10/9 — Salt Lake City, UT — Metro Music Hall
10/11 — Santa Ana, CA — Yost Theater
Keep up with Chiiild here.
