by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Mar 1, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
New Hampshire-based brother duo Mines Falls – consisting of bCarson and Erik Lund – releases their latest single “Easy Now”. “Easy Now” is a really beautiful song, a powerful piece that – from the moment it starts – moves you.
A post-breakup song, it is about the hostility of a breakup and feeling bad about yourself afterward. The song talks about yearning to reconnect with your lost love and perfectly catches the feeling of being heartbroken and what it is like to lose the one you love. “Easy Now” is a beautiful song that sets the bar for Mines Falls.
Keep up with Mines Falls here.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 28, 2018 | premieres, wolf tracks
Nashville-based pop/rock quintet Pet Envy – comprised of Shelbi Albert, Jake Diggity, Matthew Singler, Jordan Kiatt, and Emma Lambiase – has really created some magic with their new dual track release Stripped Down Mixed Up Vol 1., due out Friday March 2nd. A luscious, sweet sound comes withe vocals and instrumentals, and mental struggle unwinding with the lyrics. We find ourselves completely captivated by Shelbi’s penchant for silky smooth harmonies.
Contrastingly, we are brought into a more EDM soundscape by the Foxy Lingo remix of their already stunning track “Lock and Key”. This time around, the vocals reach Ellie Goulding-esque ranges, and we’re moved to dance into the wee hours of the morning with this fluid, seductive vibe-inducing track as the backdrop.
Keep up with Pet Envy here!
by Madison Blom | Feb 28, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Matt Woods’ new release “Rearview” is pumped full of retro vibes that is sure to get those hips swinging and toes tapping all over the globe. This new artist has spent countless hours preparing his new single that pays tribute to smooth dreamy pop. Not only has time been spent working on the vocal side of this new release, but the team has also put together their first official video that matches the tone and feel of the song without a single hiccup. It features arcade game inspired graphics that is not only appealing to the eye, but also has significant personal value to Woods himself. Growing up, Wood spent hours in arcades owned by his father and while writing “Rearview,” the sounds reminded him of his childhood and he decided to pay homage to this memory by making it the theme of his very first video.
This song is also the first to be lifted from Woods’ forthcoming EP, the tentatively titled “Fauxstalgia.” Wood wrote this song in order to come to terms with his firsthand experience with not being able to be with a person that he loves. The message, however, is that is acceptable to not completely move on, but to still hold a piece of those feelings forever. This exciting new release will have the fans and critics around the world raving. Matt Woods plans to hit all of the major cities in Europe within the coming weeks to spread his talent abroad.
Keep up with Matt Woods here.
by Veronica DeFeo | Feb 28, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Ontario-based four-piece Ellevator will be dropping their self-titled EP on April 20. Their latest single, “Hounds” will appear on the EP, featuring a pleasing mixture of soft electronic sounds with emotional vocals. Ellevator is made up of Elliott Gwynne, Michael Boyd, Tyler Bersche and frontwoman Nabi Sue Bersche. Says Nabi Sue Bersche of the single: “Hounds” is an acknowledgement that we need each other to survive. There’s safety in numbers. We’ve seen how ‘every man for himself’ turns out, and we need to do better.”
With some killer guitar moments, floating vocals, and well-placed percussion, “Hounds” is a fantastic balance of musical technique and creativity. With the release of “Hounds”, Ellevator provides the listener with a glimpse into their well-structured musical composition. Keep an eye out for Ellevator’s EP, dropping April 20. They’ll also be heading to SXSW next month, and definitely a band to watch.
Keep up with Ellevator:
FACEBOOK // TWITTER // INSTAGRAM // YOUTUBE
by ImperfectFifth | Feb 28, 2018 | soundtrack
As an African-American woman, when I say I write and play “roots” music, too often folks assume I only play blues. Though I love blues, black folks in America have created a variety of “roots” music — blues, gospel, folk, bluegrass, spirituals, country — since arriving on slave ships 400+ years ago. Africans brought with them traditions that became early forms of the banjo and certainly through the 19th and early 20th centuries, banjo and fiddle were mainstays of African American music. I’m inspired by the renaissance interest many Americans have in roots music, including that made by African Americans, and the new “old” music created today. This movement along with the music I make inspires me to explore the great music that came before. I’m awed by how sounds of yesterday influence what we hear and make today. I decided to focus on black women because much of their roots music is less known and so hopefully listening to this playlist will promote music discovery. The playlist features the famous, aspiring and obscure — those no longer with us and those pushing every day the envelope of how we define roots music. Enjoy!
Keep up with Paula Boggs here.
by Veronica DeFeo | Feb 28, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Two-piece band The Lagoons (brothers Joey and Ryan Selan) are back at it again with a perfect single, “Close My Eyes (And I Wonder)”. Originally from Los Angeles, they moved to Austin, TX and started The Lagoons together. After the success of their 2016 track, “California”, the duo is gearing up to release their EP, Escape, on April 6th. Now, they have released “Close My Eyes (And I Wonder)”, which will appear on Escape.
Full of smooth-synthy indie pop vocals and sax, The Lagoons have cooked up quite a fantastic track with “Close My Eyes (And I Wonder). Fans of Fitz & the Tantrums or COIN will definitely vibe to this song, as well as fans who are new to alternative/indie music. One of the best aspects of “Close My Eyes (And I Wonder) is its universal appeal to a variety of ears. Older listeners will appreciate the 70s nostalgia of the track, while a younger crowd will inevitably dig its on-trend indie sound. Keep an eye out for The Lagoons’ new EP, Escape, out April 6th.
Stay connected with The Lagoons:
Instagram – Twitter – Facebook
by Veronica DeFeo | Feb 28, 2018 | 5 to 7
Amsterdam based singer-songwriter VanWyck (irl Christine Oele) dropped her album, An Average Woman, in January of 2018. The LP features not only the insane talent of VanWyck, but the accompanying vocals of Marjolein van der Klauw and bass player/arranger Reyer Zwart. Having a widespread musical background ranging from classical piano to jazz-dance to rap and hip hop, VanWyck released An Average Woman as an answer to her own longings to share an authentic and creative thoughts on women today through a musical canvas. Her songs bring on chills as the listener delves into the all-encompassing soundscape of the album.
We were lucky enough to catch up with VanWyck to discuss her latest album, thoughts, and message.
The title of your album, An Average Woman, instantly caught my attention. How’d you come up with the name?
I wrote the song – that is the title track – a while back. It was during my one song a week project, where I tried to write and record one song every week for a year. I instantly knew it was a strong song, but also a difficult one to record properly, so I kept it for myself until the recording of the album. In a way it is a response to the way our media celebrates success in terms of uniqueness and individualism. I was so tired from the bombardment of perfect superwoman everyday, all the time. Sometimes it feels like only perfect women are allowed to be visible and to have a voice. There is so much pressure on women to be a certain kind of way and it so hard to rid yourself of that pressure, to find your own voice and your own values. It’s almost impossible. But in a way that was my assignment for this album.
What do you want to be the biggest takeaway from your music for your female listeners?
Maybe I hope for two things – one is that they feel supported in allowing themselves to be who they are – to free themselves from the pressures of having to be every woman, or to live up to certain ideals. That they find the strength to seek out their own ideals.
Next to that I hope they enjoy the magic and enchantment that I felt when I wrote these songs. After a lot of struggle and hard work I’ve come to the conclusion that there is this pool of infinite joy and creativity inside all of us – that we can always tap into that, but that we are often sidetracked by all the humdrum of modern life and obligations. I really think that inside each of us there is this river of knowledge and strength – we just need to find ways to tap into it.
Listening to tracks like “Red River Girl” gives me chills – how do you pack so much emotion into a few minutes of song?
Well “Red River Girl” was a very special writing process for me too. It really felt like someone else was writing the song. That I just had to let it wander through me. I think the subconscious really plays a big role in songwriting and the better you become at surrendering yourself to it – the stronger the songs will be that you find there. I think for this song I surrendered myself completely and maybe that is what you feel as well.
What’s your favorite view or landscape?
Anything wild and free will do. But I live in The Netherlands and we have hardly any wild and free left. It’s mostly cities and cultured grounds here – so sometimes I really have to free myself from that. Luckily we do have an amazing sea here with beautiful beaches and dunes and I try to travel to mountainous areas whenever I can.
The music video for “An Average Woman” is so beautiful! Where did the inspiration for it come from?
Thank you! I was very lucky to have met the artist and photographer Koen Hauser who directed the video. He was so moved by a song on my first EP that we got in touch. I was also very moved by his work and I guess there was this instinctive feeling between us that our work is connected in some ways. Like it deals with the same sort of themes. He also had strong opinions about how social media makes so many people feel like they are not good enough. So we decided to make a video with as many normal everyday woman we could find and to just let them be.
Where’s the best place to create music?
I can do it almost anywhere! As long as I have a guitar – but getting away from other people and noises is always good. I sometimes need some sort of silence and calm to be able to better hear all the voices in my head. But then again sometimes it’s the excitement of new experiences and new people that bring on new ideas.
If you could describe your music in a single word to someone who’s never listened to you, what would that word be?
Moving?
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Keep up with VanWyck: Website I Facebook I Twitter I Soundcloud I Spotify I Bandcamp
by Katie Pugh | Feb 28, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Brooklyn-based indie quartet
RANN just released the second track from their upcoming EP,
Renegade Holiday.
RANN’s sound has been described as indie rock, dream pop, and psych punk which all seem fitting as their latest release, “Renegade Holiday,” has a variety of musical elements creating the perfect eclectic mix.
“Renegade Holiday,” the album’s title track, starts with a heavy drum rhythm that eases into an electronic synth instrumental. When the vocals appear, the song takes a dreamy, ethereal direction that is both calming and exciting at the same time. The song’s pounding rhythm and uplifting instrumental propel the song forward as the airy vocals create the perfect indie atmosphere. RANN’s “Renegade Holiday” cohesively blends instrumental and vocals to create an impeccably constructed track that makes the perfect edition to any playlist.
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Feb 28, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
UK based musician Superheart recently released his follow-up to “Count On Me”, the surprising bit of necessity titled “After Midnight”. A song you would listen to outside in the cool summer breeze late at night or during a late night drive. The song has this “cool” tropical sound to it with a guitar sound to add to his vocals.
The song is warm, a soundscape like a comforting blanket.
Keep up with Superheart here.
