by Abby Trapp | Apr 3, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Brooklyn based Las Rosas just released their video for their single “Christa.” “Christa” opens to child-like imagery. It opens in a kids room, where they are lying on their bed wearing a “monster” suit (think “Where The Wild Things Are”). The video follows a pre-teen girl with short curly red hair who is keen to her vintage camera and has a smile for everyone she meets. The “monster” and “Christa” don’t cross paths until the end of the night when they end up in a club. One may argue that “Christa” displays no kids in this video. After all why would they be in a night club?
To me, “Christa” purposely cast kids for a specific purpose– to display the endless hope and search for young and middle age adults to find “innocent teenage love.” The garage band’s “Christa” is coming from their sophomore album Shadow By Your Side which will release on May 11th.
Keep up with Las Rosas here.
by Madison Blom | Apr 2, 2018 | review, wolf tracks
From the deepest parts of the Missouri Ozarks, Jodee Lewis grew up surrounded by the beautiful backdrop of the dense, lush forests that surrounded her home. However, within the seclusion of the looming trees, Jodee found herself surrounded by more than just greenery. As she matured, she would later leave the serene setting of her childhood to escape the paina nd abuse that she had endured for so long. In Chicago, she found a new life and love that was deeply rooted in her music. With the heartbreaking experience of her past, she is able to connect on intimate levels with her listeners as she revisits the past and expresses the dark details of the secret she kept inside for so many years.
Hauntingly beautiful with lyrics that will leave you pondering, Jodee Lewis is releasing her new album Buzzard’s Bluff that contains everything that fans of Americana love and look forward to. In the past, Lewis’ sound has been associated with that of other well known artists such as Lee Ann Womack, EmmyLou Harris and Alison Krauss. Not only does her music come with an introspective message that will both inspire and mesmerize, but she has the vocal skills that will draw new and old fans to her.
Buzzard’s Bluff is out on Friday and is available for preorder now. Keep up with Jodee here.
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Apr 2, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Forest Ray’s “Laughing” takes a glimpse into what the band is actually about, psychedelic rock with a mix of a country sound. Laughing sounds like a song straight out of the 60s and 70s with a new touch to it.
“Laughing” is filled with a psychedelic rock sound mixed with country with minimum words. The song is just in time with the spring/summer season as it sounds like the perfect song to take a spring/summer ride to. The song is full of groves and tunes that are guaranteed to give you a vintage feel. The song is relaxing, leaving you wanting more.
Keep up with Forest Ray here.
by Meredith Schneider | Apr 2, 2018 | 5 to 7, snapshot, visual
David Rosales was waiting for me on a street corner in Austin when I meandered up to him for the second time that day. In fact, he had been waiting patiently as some of my other interviews ran late, his back certainly weighing heavy with his luggage and guitar strapped on him and sitting next to him. Despite the 88 degree weather – and what should have been the most aggravating conditions – he brought with him a sense of ease and a feeling of calm that I hadn’t felt yet on 6th Street during SXSW 2018. He was kind, and ready to chat freely about his SX experience, his musical journey, and everything in between.
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Let’s do this. I know – get your stuff situated, or hold it on your back the whole time, that’s fine too.
David: I’m sweating. I’m not used to this. I’m used to California.
Right? OK, so speaking of, how long have you been out here for South By? When did you get in town?
David: A couple days ago I got in on a Greyhound from Dallas. I flew to Dallas and then took a Greyhound down here with like my guitar on my lap, you know, because I didn’t want it to sit underneath with luggage and didn’t want it to sit in the overhead. Cause it’s not like a plane, you know, it’s a bus…
That’s scary.
David: So I’m sitting there with like a book in one hand and a guitar in the other, cramped up, you know, I’m six foot one so it’s uncomfortable. Those Greyhounds are kind of small. But, yeah, I know, it sounds like the beginning of a song. I think it’s got a song in there somewhere. I got into Austin on a Greyhound. And it was late, it was like three hours late, so…
Meredith: So everything was going correctly?
David: You just need to be mellow when you’re touring. You’ve just to realize that, you know, you just got to flex and flow. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.
Did you come into the industry with that thought process or did it take a while for you?
David: I don’t know, I guess I’ve been in the “industry” for a long time. I was in a hard rock band for like ten years. I was in garage bands before that through high school, junior high and stuff. Just growing up in L.A., it’s a big market. So I did the whole Sunset thing and touring around the country on an indie label. Then at about thirty, my band kind of dissolved at that time and I had written this EP that was just because I had a baby coming and I went from writing songs about death, and just rock themes, dark and stuff like that. I went in the studio and started writing some about love and stuff I wasn’t really comfortable with before. And when my band dissolved, I was like “well might as well follow this because it is the only thing I have”.
It wasn’t meant for anybody and it was this first EP that I released called Smile. I just went with it because it was the only thing I had. I didn’t have my band anymore and I just had these songs and I just started playing them, people were digging them, buying them. I sing with a girl named Olivia and we kind of did our thing and then we came out with an EP, the duet EP. We were Dave and Olivia for a bit. I did another solo EP called Along the Way that came out in ’14. I’ve just kind of been playing a ton of gigs and stuff since then, writing this new material, recording it, and getting the cash flow up to come out and do something proper with it.
This album we have coming up called Brave Ones is the culmination of all that. It’s eleven songs of love, loss, despair, triumph, you know, everything that’s kind of like the human experience. It’s a lot of relatable stuff. It’s crazy looking at myself as this thirteen year old skateboarder that would jump off rooftops into pools and stuff like that with my garage band and go to like, where I am now. Music’s always been there for me, but it’s changed and it’s grown as humans do. We’re not the same people we were when we were thirteen…
What?!
David: Or even eighteen…
Yeah we are!! (laughs)
David: (laughs) So it’s like, that’s the beauty of life, is kind of accepting those changes and stuff, and just kind of walking kind of gracefully. Fortunately for me, this kind of step that happened six years ago just kind of came at the right time and you just kind of flex and flow with it.
So with your new work, how can you imagine someone listening to it in its’ entirety? With a glass of Scotch sitting by a fire Anchorman style, out with their friends, is there an atmosphere you want to create with this?
David: It’s crazy to picture anybody listening to a complete album anymore…
I know, but I do it. I still do it!
David: That’s why we write these albums and that’s why I am, like, going over and over and over sequencing the songs, because I believe in it. I believe in the story that I’m telling. I believe in a whole vibe of an album. My album’s very round. It has a beginning and it has an end. It has arcs and stuff of a story and it kind of follows this path. I’m a student of songwriting completely so I love the whole story telling. I read Stephen King “On Writing”. I read great writers, I’m a student of it so what do I picture?
I picture somebody driving. It’s kind of like driving music. I think it’s somebody who could be cruising. Maybe like on the 101 in California, or just a long distance where they have…they can just kind of…Did you ever start a drive and you, “OK, I got to my location but I don’t really remember too much of the in between. I was vibing on it, but I just got here.” I want to take people away. I want to have them kind of look at – and relate to – what I’m writing. I think that I’m writing about relatable human experiences.
That’s the great thing about songwriters. Songwriters are, we’re just like you or somebody else that maybe doesn’t play music or something like that, but we just kind of recognize these mundane human experiences. These day to day things and we kind of put them in a song so that you go “Oh I had that same experience” or “I can relate to that” or “I can vibe on that”.
Absolutely. Here’s a quick, off the cuff, question: What’s been your favorite food at South By?
David: I’m staying with my cousins, so my cousin’s chorizo. She makes it like my mom where it’s not too greasy.
Dammit. Makes us all jealous. I’m going to tell people his favorite thing in Austin is this, but you can’t have it, sorry.
David: I really haven’t eaten too much food – I’ve been drinking a ton here. I’ve been kind of hydrating, that’s what I’m doing. Hydrating. So I haven’t been eating a ton of food when I’m playing gigs. It’s tough to eat and play and talk to people, so it kind of gets lost. I’m one of those people where I forget to eat, just in general. I run a lot and I’m almost forced to eat, so that kind of keeps me eating. I forget because I’m just so busy. It’s tough. So being a dad, running, my wife, just everything, I think about myself last in a way because everybody else comes before me.
Meredith: You’ve performed already at South By clearly, you’ve been here a little bit…
David: I’ve done three shows and done some interviews and press and stuff like that and I have two more shows tomorrow. We’re playing at the Westin Rooftop on the 20th floor for Chive TV at 1pm, and then an hour later at 87 Rainey Street.
Meredith: That’s a quick turnaround! You sound fancy!
David: I don’t know if I’m fancy. But I love it!
Keep up with the wonderful David Rosales and his intricate and beautiful musical path here.
by Annjelica Houston | Apr 2, 2018 | soundtrack
The creative rule of thumb seems to be that with great pain and suffering, comes great art. If that’s true, then it would appear that black music and entertainment is in the beginning of a Renaissance period.
From incredible television shows like Insecure and Atlanta, to blockbuster films like Black Panther, and undeniably black albums like A Seat at the Table, Lemonade, DAMN and 4:44, representation is gradually getting better (we still have a long way to go). With that in mind, I set out to create a playlist that transcended genre, and had only two rules: be black and be dope. A lot of the artists featured on this playlist are relatively new and up and coming—that’s intentional. ‘Black Excellence’ is a playlist created to highlight artists that deserve to be recognized for their incredible talent, and introduce music lovers to names, and songs they may not have heard before.
This playlist is long, and is being added to continually for endless listening pleasure. Having said that, here are a few highlights:
Masego – “Tadow” ft. FKJ – This song will catch you completely off guard with a sleek combination of sensual vocals and saxophone.
Curtis Harding – “Wednesday Morning Atonement” – It’s 1960, and you’ve walked into a small smoky bar where Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye are casually jamming together. Oh, no, sorry it’s 2018 and you’ve been introduced to the genius that is Curtis Harding.
Charlotte De Santos – “It’s Over, Bobby” – Charlotte De Santos makes breaking up sound fun against a Cubano backdrop and vocals as silky as a scarf used to wrap your newly pressed curls.
Celeste – “Milk & Honey” – A minimalist beat reminiscent of James Blake or Radiohead provides the foundation for this sultry single. Celeste has a voice like smoke and bourbon concealed by rose petals.
Brent Faiyaz – “Insecure” – Feeling insecure in a relationship never sounded so sexy. ‘Please don’t think I’m insecure/I just feel safe by myself.’ Carried entirely by Faiyaz’s vocal performance, this track is a cut above most R&B songs permeating the airwaves right now.
Vagabon – “Cold Apartment” – The combination of vulnerability and strength in this young woman’s voice is what epic stories are made of. Subtle, quiet, determined and then all at once, powerful, commanding, and fierce.
Sterling Rhyne – “Remedy” – Music runs through Sterling Rhyne’s veins. It’s evident in the arrangement of this track; the nuances and subtle sounds that she combines to tell a story is pure genius. Not to mention her voice—not that it needs an adjective, but let’s give it one: tranquil.
Sunni Colon – “Little Things”— A classic blend of funk and R&B. Heavy bass and drums set the scene of this single. If Groove Theory, Maxwell and Tony! Toni! Toné! raised a child together, it would be Sunni Colon.
Kadjha Bonet – “Remember the Rain” – Imagine Dionne Warwick, and Diana Ross…. Now, imagine the both of them as one single electrifying entity. Yes, that’s Kadjha Bonet and this track oozes Motown circa 1963.
Abi Ocia – “Running” – There’s something cathartic about Ocia’s voice. Any emotion you’re feeling can be found in the song. Imagine standing alone and perfectly still in a bright white room, and then closing your eyes slowly. That’s what this song feels like, infinite space that overwhelms you and suddenly reminds you of your place in the vast universe.
Justin Michael Williams – “Here With Me” – Words cannot describe the versatility of this amazing singer. This song is only a taste of what he has to offer. The track is powerful and delicate, and his falsetto is otherworldly. Only seconds into the single and you’re blown away; you think you know what to expect from “Here With Me,” but you truly have no idea.
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Keep up with the stunning Annjie Houston here!
by Madison Blom | Apr 2, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Brooklyn based Swimming Bell have released a new single that is sure to bring them closer to the dream that they once thought, at one point, unteachable. Their newest release, “Desert Song (a lullaby)” was written in a cool October night while band member Katie Schottland was driving after attending a wedding. Before long, she found herself lost with a phone that had little to no battery. After pulling off the road to stop for the night and after many failed attempts to reach a satisfactory slumber, the words for this new release came to her as she tried to soothe her wild imagination.
Swimming Bell is a solo project that was created by Schottland after participating in several different bands over the past few years. With relatively no musical training, Katie has approached music with pure skill, talent and a highly developed ear for good sound. With the release of this new single, Swimming Bell hopes to also release a full length album by the end of this year. Along with these plans for future releases, it has also been announced that this group will be turning around the United States in order to share their music with anyone who is willing to listen.
Keep up with Swimming Bell here.
by Abby Trapp | Apr 2, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Clay Priskorn just release a video for his latest video “Orange Sky.” With a classic all-American feel, the video takes on a cross country road trip with two lovers. Shots of motel rooms, arcades, and cruising in a Rolls Royce, these two girls are hot and taking on the world with each other. Soon they have reached the “big city” as if this is their place to begin again. While the couple seems truly in love, it’s not all fun and games. The end of the video for “Orange Sky” leaves you with an unexpected and dark twist.
Decide for yourself whether or not “Orange Sky” is about two reckless lovers, or a tale of sabotage and revenge.
by Abby Trapp | Apr 2, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
L.A. producer /artist Koda just released his latest single “Touch”, which is melancholy, intense, and seeps into your feelings. The song begins with lyrics from Koda stating “We touch ourselves to distant memories/I feel what you felt when you were lying next to me.” His voice is drawn out and breathy giving the song a haunting mood to it. While he track tells the tale of a past love, the whole thing isn’t so bleak. Koda finds hope through the heartbreak on “Touch” proclaiming “Next time I’ll hold you close, I’ll never let you go– I need another dose so you can make me whole again.” “Touch” encompasses all the things that went wrong, but all the things that can go right should you make the decision to go the second time around.
Keep up with Koda here.
by Madison Blom | Mar 30, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Back again after the successful release of their last single, Lume is back with the release of their second single, “Unending” from their next album Wrung Out. Not only is a perfect complement to their previous release, “Unending” is full of a new excitement, rhythm and beat that is a new angle fans have yet to see in their previous releases. Originally, when the band began their journey of writing and producing their new album, they were inspired by the weight that society tends to place on certain subjects. Highly affected by the death of three friends, taken too soon from this earth and who suffered from drug abuse and suicide, Lume was motivated to speak out and express these deep emotions with their music. Although the themes of their lyrics are of great societal concern, “Unending,” avoids being dismal and bleak. Instead, it takes the listener on a journey that is beautiful, but also leans far over the edge until you are forced to take a plunge into their crashing finale.
With two singles from their next album out on the market, band members of Lume are preparing for the release of their full length album that is scheduled to drop on April 20. Also, more exciting news from this budding band includes the announcement made recently of the their upcoming tour with REZN. With a new album scheduled for release and a tour just around the corner, Lume is finally getting the attention from the music community that they so crave and rightly deserve.
Keep up with Lume here.
