shaman elect, mind the ether

shaman elect, mind the ether

Shaman Elect just released their 13-track debut album, Mind The Ether. The Brooklyn-based alt-electro-psych-rock collective has some smooth feel on “Woman in Black”, very expressive about specific feelings. The band has the electric guitar in gear, striking a cord with listeners quite literally as the lyrics take hold. My personal favorite, “Ships Ahoy”, has a quick beat to it, and expresses the thoughts of a woman waiting for her love. The cool vibes with a rock feel make it worth listening to again and again.
Check out Shaman Elect on soundcloud where you can find 4 released singles, all of which have caught the attention of music seekers all around the world. Their rich rhythms and inspired performances lead the listeners to enjoy and experience a release through music.

You could find them on Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
**co-written by Meredith Schneider
boulevardia 2018 – day 1

boulevardia 2018 – day 1

For those of you who are not yet privy to the rising music scene in Kansas City, now is the time to do your research. Boulevardia – the midwest beer and music fest that started to call Kemper Arena and the West Bottoms home five years ago – has exploded into a much bigger event, drawing crowds from all over the United States to tap brand new and limited run beers, check out bands in both rustic venues and in front of a very spacey-looking building (Kemper Arena, about to become HyVee Arena), and to ride a ferris wheel in an undoubtedly urban and growing area. This year featured forty bands – including, but certainly not limited to Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, Radkey, Manchester Orchestra, Sir Sly, Guster, Bleachers, and Kansas City’s own Tech N9ne -, craftspeople and artists from around the metropolitan area, and a silent disco experience. (The best part about that? It was outside, instead of in a tent, so looky-lous could stop and watch for a bit if life called for it.)

2018 featured an array of additional rides – you know, besides that vibrant, beautiful ferris wheel – and a Royals outfield experience. And even though this event seems to happen on the hottest and muggiest weekend of the year every single year, we were too busy watching numerous parades of contortionists and acrobats and clowns and people full of PRIDE and enjoying the midwest’s best in beers that we almost didn’t even notice it.

But that’s the magic of Boulevardia. Enjoy these Day 1 photos, and check back in to see some highlights from Day 2 as well!

sarah sharp, “right through me”

sarah sharp, “right through me”

As I type this up, I’m chillin’ with Sarah Sharp‘s new track, “Right Through Me”. It is a really relaxing song as you get into it, profound music that really draws in the listener. I could also describe it as a slow jam with a little jazz feel, and it has a lovely tempo with a hint of electro involved.  People can cruise with this single.

This track was produced by Phoebe Hunt and recorded by Evan Felts and Isaac Stycker at the Magnolia Motel in Brooklyn, NY. As the producer says, “Everything about working with Sarah Sharp on this collection of songs has felt in alignment with her personal journey.”

And though Sharp has grown since her “sleeping in the living room floor” days, she is branching out in different ways and making connections with other artists through her work. Sarah’s new EP cover for Dream seems cool too; like falling in a dream. She also has 4 other EPs, soulfully made, to keep you in a consistent and beautiful frame of mind. Keep up the good work Sarah Sharp.


Keep up with Sharp here.

sunghosts’ influences

sunghosts’ influences

SunGhosts band members compiled some of their keystone musical influences. These songs and artists helped to shape the way they channel their energy into their instruments and create something new & completely original on an individual basis. Once you listen to what has inspired each band member, then you can see how SunGhosts’ sound is like sedimentary rock n’ roll (geology pun!) Be sure to pick up our album which is due out next week. It is available here.

Nik Olas’ Influences

Louie’s Influences

Jared’s Influences

mokroïé, “put your hands in the dirt”

mokroïé, “put your hands in the dirt”

Electro/hip hop act mokroïé – created by Francesco Virgilio in collaboration with singer Carol Aplogan – is at it again with the music video for their track “Put Your Hands in The Dirt”. We’ve got the exclusive premiere of said video, and we’re pretty excited about it.

In case you’re wondering, yes, the video is centered around visuals of hands. As intricate social commentary plays over a nostalgic, 80s, synth-tinged track, we see hands doing an array of different things, the video bringing to the forefront how important our hands are for every day actions.

Observe the glory of human hands – and the silly things we do with them every day – in this new video, and vibe out to a really fun song that just might make its way onto your next playlist!

Keep up with mokroïé here.

meg myers + other americans @ the riot room

meg myers + other americans @ the riot room

On Monday, June 11th – on one of the most miserably hot days of the year so far – we headed out to The Riot Room in Kansas City to pack ourselves from wall to wall like sardines and enjoy the musical stylings of Meg Myers. She admitted while on stage that it was one of her first live performances in years, and the KC crowd was pleased to have been blessed with that honor. From the very first notes of “Done”, through “Sorry”, new single “Take Me to the Disco”, “Monster”, “Make a Shadow”, and more all the way through the last notes of “Numb”, she incited an energy in her fans that is rare to find elsewhere.

Wearing mauve high waisted pants, a black crop top, and two tiny buns on the top of her head, Myers seemed to cool the room off with her robust, long-ranging vocals and the intense heart she puts into every single line she sings. Although personal favorites included “Make a Shadow” and “I’m Not Sorry”, her widest known track – “Desire” – was a riot to witness live, as the entire room was privy to every word.

The crowd that gathered was interesting as well, with no particular demographic in mind. It seems her heart and her talent is wide-reaching, touching young hearts all the way to the Jimmy Buffet-looking crowd. (You understand everything about this, don’t lie.) Her set was a reminder of the pure passion involved in the music listening experience.

Meg Myers’ cohorts on this magical night? None other than Kansas City’s Other Americans. We got what photos we could of the sold out show, between heads and as close as we could get to the madness!

**Words by Kevin Bernardi + Meredith Schneider

mallrat, in the sky

mallrat, in the sky

Mallrat’s new EP, In the Sky, is electrifying and emotional in every way. She seems to take a piece of you and a piece of herself, giving the songs a personal yet nostalgic tone with sweet pop melodies. She also incorporates the beauty of nature in many ways, whether it be in the cover art, the accompanying videos on Spotify, or in the album title itself. It’s clear that she is inspired by everything around her, which is clearly shown in each song.

The EP opens with the cool simplicity of “Groceries.” It has a steady, bouncing beat and acoustic guitar that gives it an upbeat vibe. But the lyrics are surprisingly deep: “I just want to get groceries” shows emotional depth about what you want in a relationship. “Texas” starts off as a ballad with pretty harmonies, but as the song goes on, it becomes a track that makes you want to dance around your room. “Better” is an upbeat song with painfully honest lyrics. Her voice croons about young optimism: “Everyone’s alive so everything’s alright.” At the same time, she reminds us of how fleeting everything is when you’re young and growing up: “Maybe when the summer ends / I’ll drift away from all my friends.” This song was a personal favorite, and it really shows how personal her lyrics can be. UFO sounds like a summer Top 40 hit with its electro-pop vibe and a rap verse from fellow Australian artist Allday. The EP ends with “Make Time,” which is more subdued than the rest. it allows you to daydream and think about someone you miss.

Mallrat’s cool, unique sound is taking over the world. Not only does she sing and write her own songs, but she co-produced every song on this EP. At only 19 years old, she is a powerhouse of talent and passion.

Keep up with the latest on Mallrat here.

krrum, “phase”

krrum, “phase”

Based in Leeds, skillful band Krrum mixes the likes of alternative style music along with electro-rock based instrumentals. In the songs “Still Love” and recently released song “Phase”, Krrum brings out not only alternative and electronic style music, but also hints of pop to where their music can appeal to all tastes.

In EP Evil Twin, they created a masterpiece using all different rhythms such as upbeat, slow, and even moderate, which allows you to feel an array of different moods based on each song. Following Evil Twin, Krrum will be releasing their new album Honeymoon which is projected to be even better than their recent releases, so if you are on the lookout for new music, be sure to check out Krrum in order to have all of your music desires fulfilled!  

Keep up with Krrum here.