evelyn cools, “gold woman”

evelyn cools, “gold woman”

A true nomad, Evelyn Cools has found herself exploring the world all throughout her life. As a child in Belgium she studied piano, flute, choir,  and musical theater. Eventually, she made her way over to Hong Kong and Budapest. At her university in London, Cools found herself captivated by the music scene and made some musical friends, and together these things provided the foundation for her career. Finally, in 2018 she moved to Los Angeles. Inspired by the nature of California, the new people she met that would eventually become her creative team, and the unparalleled love she found, Cools decided to bring to life her upcoming EP Misfit Paradise. Her penchant for wandering and connection to other people and nature are the driving forces behind this record.

Regarding Misfit Paradise, Cools says that it “explores the complex relationships we have with ourselves, others, and our environment, and how we find peace and meaning within it all. It is about life’s greatest joys – love, acceptance, nature, adventure – but also its greatest sorrows. It aims to capture little specs of magic against a world of unknowns.”

Her new single off the EP, “Gold Woman”, reflects some of the qualities that you can expect to hear in Misfit Paradise. Cools‘ personal songwriting is enchanting, with her ethereal voice and strong emotional resonance. Her sound lies somewhere within folk, indie-folk, alt-country, and folk-pop music. That being said, don’t think that the single is simply a girl fingerpicking a guitar and singing simple melodies. This music grabs you and commands you to listen to it. You can definitely hear undercurrents of country, but overall this track sounds a lot like alt-rock. It places a strong emphasis on the guitar which has a heavier quality to it. On top of this, amidst countless songs today which are making heavy use of harmonies (although fabulous in their own way), Cools isn’t afraid to let her voice stand on its own. She shows impressive control over her robust chest voice and delightfully airy head voice, both of which are showcased in the adventurous vocal lines throughout the song. Her accessible lyrics and storytelling abilities reveal her folk roots, however, reinforcing who she is at her core.

 

yuto., “apple & peach” ft. boy soda

yuto., “apple & peach” ft. boy soda

If you’re a fruitarian or otherwise obsessed with all things sweet, Australian duo Yuto.’s new track “Apple & Peach” will appeal not only to your eardrums, but to your tastebuds. The song itself is smooth as honey, the rhythm something that makes you want to both bounce and just sit completely still, perhaps being a fly on the wall in a club somewhere. (Don’t act like you can’t envision a really awesome, slow-motion music video to this track.) Collaborating with BOY SODA for a second time was the right move, as this track wouldn’t feel complete without his emphatic vocals.

Check out the track below. Add it to your playlists. It’s going to put you in the right mind this Monday.

Keep up with Yuto. here.

oscar louis, “noodle”

oscar louis, “noodle”

New release “Noodle” from up-and-coming project Oscar Louis totters whimsically between resignation and acceptance. The solo venture of Canadian singer-songwriter Oren Lefkowitz, Oscar Louis blends blog era hip hop with detached chillwave, presenting a placid, steady head-nodder.

While Lefkowitz has explained that “Noodle” touches on tensions between Louis and his father, it stays light, with Lefkowitz’s raspy hum meandering through hip-hop verses over a minimalistic backdrop. Lefkowitz describes the conflict, explaining,

“I began writing “Noodle” after getting into a bad fight with my dad. I had just gotten really drunk at my cousin’s wedding, and ended up puking in front of my parents. This incident opened up a tricky scab rooted in my father’s disapproval of me and my decision to pursue music. “Noodle” is my attempt to show him love regardless.”

“Noodle” is Lefkowitz’s third single, following “Your Call is Important to Us” and “Find a Way,” both released earlier this year. His work has been featured on several Spotify playlists.

kathleen, “the longest year”

kathleen, “the longest year”

Has anyone else felt a little ruffled throughout the new year so far? 2019 has been pretty thrilling, and pretty unexpected in several ways. Well, we haven’t found a track yet this year that captures that feeling quite as poetically as Kathleen‘s “The Longest Year”. Theatrical in its disposition, the song perfectly displays the artist’s emotion-driving vocals, and we’re hooked.

Keep up with Kathleen here.

spectator, “waves”

spectator, “waves”

Megan Rooney and Jeffrey Albert project their emotionally vibrant lyricism into the ether with the latest single, “Waves”, from their musical project Spectator. As Albert implores the object of his affection to take him “on a ride on the other side of [their] mind,” you begin to realize how vastly similar significant others and relationships can be to waves in an ocean. At times, relaxing and glowing. At others, turbulent and exciting. Either way, we’re on board with the track and think you will be too!

Keep up with Spectator here.

pup, “kids”

pup, “kids”

Toronto-based punk rock four-piece PUP released the first single off their upcoming full-length Morbid Stuff, a track aptly titled “Kids”. The song is endearing, beginning at the quick clip it exists at, a fun, anthem feel to the vocals between yell-singing in disdain. Our favorite line? “How about some goddam subtlety for a change?” This, perhaps, sums it all up for us. And solidifies “Kids” on our latest soundtrack.

The Morbid Stuff Tour-Pocalypse 2019
3/26/19 – Calgary, AB @ Commonwealth
3/27/19 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite
3/29/19 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall
4/3/19 – London, ON @ Rum Runners
4/9/19 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece &
4/10/19 – London, UK @ The Garage &
4/11/19 – Leeds, UK @ Community Room at Brudenell Social Club &
4/12/19 – Glasgow, UK @ Cathouse &
4/14/19 – Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire &
4/15/19 – Dunkirk, FR @ Les 4Ecluses &
4/16/19 – Brussels, BE @ AB Club &
4/18/19 – Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia &
4/19/19 – Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang &
4/20/19 – Cologne, DE @ MTC Club &
4/21/19 – Amsterdam, NE @ Upstairs @ Paradiso &
4/25/19 – Boston, MA @ Royale # ^
4/26/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^
4/29/19 – Philly, PA @ Union Transfer # ^
4/30/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ REX Theater ^
5/1/19 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom ^
5/3/19 – Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom ^
5/4/19 – Chicago, IL @ Metro ^
5/5/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe ^
5/6/19 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
5/8/19 – Dallas, TX @ Trees ^
5/9/19 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk ^
5/10/19 – Houston, TX @ Rockefeller’s ^
5/11/19 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks ^
5/13/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West ^
5/14/19 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ^
5/15/19 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle ^
5/17/19 – Washington, DC @ The Black Cat ^
6/7/19 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall # ^
6/19/19 – San Diego, CA @ The Irenic ^
6/20/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom ^
6/21/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom ^
6/22/19 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore ^
6/24/19 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge ^
6/25/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox ^
6/27/19 – Boise, ID @ The Olympic ^
6/28/19 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue ^
6/29/19 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre ^
7/1/19 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf ^
7/2/19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar ^
7/3/19 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room ^
# – with support from Diet Cig
^ – with support from Ratboys
& – with Milk Teeth

Keep up with PUP here.

gabriella rose, “welcome to the dollhouse”

gabriella rose, “welcome to the dollhouse”

A feeling of nostalgia almost bleeds from Gabriella Rose‘s vocals as she croons over the easygoing instrumentals in latest track “Welcome To The Dollhouse”. A song that specifically addresses Rose’s own mental health struggles, it is both vulnerable and inspiring in its simple existence, led entirely by those angelic vocals. And when you stop to think that this songstress is still sitting at the tender age of 16, you realize the number of doors that are about to open before her. So, while we are reminiscing on some less-than-happy topic matters, we’re also simultaneously getting excited for Gabriella Rose’s future, which seems to be the cherry on top of it all.

Be sure to check Gabriella Rose out on February 8th in Spokane, WA at The Bartlett for her EP Release Show.
Follow Gabriella RoseFacebook // Twitter // Spotify // SoundCloud // Instagram
last crush, support c.e.n.t.e.r.

last crush, support c.e.n.t.e.r.

Even though that one unavoidable holiday is right around the corner, you may have to wait until December 28th to feel like it’s Christmas. That day will yield the official release of Last Crush‘s EP SUPPORT C.E.N.T.E.R. The project – which is the brainchild of Mitchell Todorov (KLOZAPIN) – is synth-led, bursting into glittering cacophonies of sound in many of the tracks, as the vocals fluctuate from 80’s-inspired, to a yelling volume, to absolute scream-o. Displayed vocal range is impressive, each of the six tracks leaving a true impression.

Well, it looks like Christmas came early. You have to wait to add the collection to your music log for a few more days, but we’ve got your first listen in its entirety to celebrate all weekend long.

by emily burke

Keep up with Last Crush here.

fleurie, “love has no limits”

fleurie, “love has no limits”

If you’re looking for a cinematic chord progression, bedazzled with ethereal vocals reminiscent of Imogen Heap, then Fleurie‘s new track “Love Has No Limits” is the way to go. Anthemic from just the title of the track, this new single takes its time reaching its angelic crescendo. We’re big, big fans and ready to share this one with the crowd at some upcoming holiday festivities! What about you?

Keep up with Fleurie here.