by Meredith Schneider | Mar 5, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Pop-rock talent Jillian Riscoe was gracious enough to share her new track “People in The Real World” with us to premiere during our Women’s Month Instagram Live series this week. A songstress out of Kansas City, Riscoe has found a way to balance the fine line between intense ballad and soulful anthem, while bringing in futuristic sounds to really play with our ability to classify it. Endearing work, to say the least, and the track is available to enjoy now!
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 4, 2021 | albums, review
Right now, nostalgia comes in waves. Enjoying a song from our past, Re-discovering a snack we used to love. Engaging in re-releases with new traits, flipping through memory books, and digging through the past. Memories can be healing, especially in today’s health and political climate, and the memory of a live performance can be fleeting.
Singer-songwriter Jen Grinels plays on our nostalgic hearts with the release of her Live Volume 1 full-length, recorded over three nights in early 2019 at The Music Box in Cleveland, OH, Rams Head Onstage in Annapolis, MD, and Avalon Theater in Easton, MD. The live music experience, something we haven’t been able to indulge in for an entire year, encapsulated in one gorgeous collection.
The light echoes from the sound bouncing off the walls of each venue, the magical eccentricities that live music brings with it. From the first mellow track “I Know Your Heart” through the soulful “Don’t Wanna Be Happy” and “Misery,” to the slow ballad-like presentation of “The Feeling,” Grinels powerfully champions multi-genre entertainment. And she doesn’t stop there, as “Can’t Stay Here” has roots in country with a little grunge flare. The sheer feeling (ha!) that rushes over you while playing this album gives you chills, as you imagine being at a live event in the future, singing into the open night air on a gorgeous evening.
That’s what this collection feels like. Live Volume 1 provides a little bit of hope at the end of this crazy pandemic tunnel. And doesn’t that just feel good right now?
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 3, 2021 | premieres, videos
Oregon-based folk-pop outfit Fox and Bones have curated the cutest collection of clips to create the music video for their single “A Changing of The Guard.” A song that is upbeat in nature and encouraging, the video directly reflects that.
“We wanted to find a way to bring together all of our friends, fans, and family in a way that would be fun and socially distanced. We put out the call to submit videos holding up lyrics or acting out what the lyrics meant to them. We were overwhelmed by the inflowing of videos and the level of creativity we saw from the submissions. We’ve always felt indebted to our fans for their love and support and this video felt like a great way to give back and showcase them, all without them having to leave their homes.”
Get your daily dose of happiness below. (We all need it.)
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 26, 2021 | albums, review
Our favorite botanist Mike McFadden (vocals) and his incredible bandmates are releasing their full-length in three parts. Of the project, he admitted: “We had this patchwork of songs that had never quite fit on other projects and when we looked at them all together, we realized that the songs told a story.” This is Part One of An Album Called Animal Years is the first installment, and was just released.
Comprised of five tracks, it truly ignites magic in the air as it picks up pace, McFadden’s vocal control and manipulation something otherworldly from the very first notes, 7 seconds into the first track “What I’m Fighting For.” And relatable from that very moment as well, with the first line “I’ve been so lost in the world that I used to know” something that pretty much anyone can understand, especially post-pandemic life. This song has the energy of an anthem, and that feels right for now.
“Let You In” is definitely a low-key country ballad that teeters on theatrical in a captivating way, while “Talkin’ To You” is a more hard-hitting love song. There is a bit of an attitude to the instrumentation in the track, the true twine holding each piece together residing in the soulful vocals provided by three-part harmony and admirable vocal range. So much talent in one collection of music, it’s almost not fair.
“Haines St. Station” slows everything down to the most bluesy, beautiful pace we have heard in quite a while. A song that discusses boundaries, insecurities, and doubts in an open environment, it feels a bit cathartic to enjoy this track in particular. And then the trio brings it home with a very inspiring track, upbeat and quite sticky sweet “Nobody Can Stop Me.” We’re fans, and we’re going to keep that one in our back pocket for the strange moments when we stumble. The energy is invigorating.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 24, 2021 | premieres, videos
Anie Delgado’s unique sound comes from a blend of pop influences and her Cuban roots growing up in Florida. Her new song “Dancing While The World Is On Fire” brings with it an energy all its own. Able to hold its own in a zen environment or while out dancing (or in your room dancing), the song acclimates to its surroundings, and sounds off on a topic we can all relate to after a year in a global pandemic. We are thrilled to premiere the music video for this track below, a visual that somehow speaks to our 80s, 90s, and oughts nostalgic hearts all at once while being a visual representation of hope.
Proceeds from merchandise released with “Dancing While The World Is On Fire” benefit Zero Hour, an organization bringing awareness to climate and environmental justice.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 23, 2021 | videos, wolf tracks
Have you ever been seeking out answers in a world that seems confusing and unreal? No? 2020 just happened to us? (We kid!) But, for real, soulful artist Gaidaa takes a pretty vulnerable look at life in the video for her latest single “Stranger,” which just debuted with The Fader. While the song’s lyrics highlight the fact that there is always an amount of uncertainty that comes with growth, the instrumentals provide a relaxing element to allow you to almost sink into the sound like a comfortable, plush, worn-in sofa. Gorgeous, vibrant colors light up an art studio/office setting, making the dim lighting almost a source of inspiration for the artist while the camera pans the room continuously.
We’re big fans of the song and its accompanying video. What do you think?
Director: Segraphy
Written: Segraphy & Gaidaa
AD: Johan Verhoeven
Production company: Pierette Goossens
Producer: Pierette Goossens
Production assistent: Luuk van de Ven
Edit/Grading: Johan Verhoeven
DOP: Johan Verhoeven
Gaffer: Quintijn Maas
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 18, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Gorgeous, free-flowing, poetry. Beautiful, layered, scattered instrumentals. An audible form of art that feels both nostalgic and somehow modern and brand-new. The enigma that is soul artist Adrain Younge’s incredibly artful brain is on display in his latest track “Revolutionize.” This track will carry you into the coming months with a sense of purpose and pride.
Keep up with Adrian Younge here.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 17, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Sir Sly has started 2021 off with a bang, coming at us left and right with new material and the promise of a brand new album release this spring. And while we wait (not-so-patiently) for The Rise & Fall of Loverboy, we are falling in love quickly and poetically with each new single.
Sidenote: Is it possible to so completely love an entire collection of music without ever hearing it in its entirety yet?
While Landon asks introspective questions we can all relate to, there’s a vulnerability to it all that is so obviously palpable in the tender, soft vocals. At 1 minute, 54 seconds, this song packs a punch and is such a simple way to say “I love you” in a time when it can otherwise feel so difficult.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 16, 2021 | premieres, singles
Insightful lyrics lead dance-pop artist – and actor, writer, dancer, director, producer, and filmmaker – Jack Tracy‘s new single “Prince.” Glittering synths dance along while he sings of developing despite distractions and drawbacks. The song itself serves as an anthem for Tracy, and the audience can find relatable moments throughout.
While we have your exclusive first listen to the new track here, Tracy’s new EP LOVE YAH will be out in April. So keep your eyes peeled!
