by Madi Toman | Feb 17, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Off in the ever-so-mystical land of California, somewhere in a psychedelic desert dreamland, music legends write songs, record music, and do a shit ton of drugs.
After a 16 year hiatus, collaborative supergroup Desert Sessions returned with their sense of humor clearly still very much intact in October of last year with the release of Desert Sessions Vols. 11 and 12, a.k.a. Arrivederci Despair and Tightwads & Nitwits & Critics & Heels (Please refer to aforementioned sense of humor). If you aren’t familiar with The Desert Sessions, (although you probably should be) It’s described as a “collaborative musical effort” by founder Josh Hommes (Queens of the Stone Age) and features a variety of different musical players writing and recording on the spot at the famed Rancho De La Luna studio.
In The Desert Sessions’ newest release, a music video for “If You Run”, (directed by Rio Hackford) Hommes picks up a mysterious hitchhiking woman (Libby Grace) on a winding road in Joshua Tree. The two ride through the desert against hazy yellow scenery before arriving at Rancho De La Luna where Hommes introduces Grace to the rest of the musicians, which includes ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint, and Les Claypool of Primus, among others. Saturated desert skies and moody artificial colors make for dreamy aesthetics throughout the video. At nightfall, Grace doses everyone and they all trip out together in the middle of the desert (Please refer to aforementioned music legends doing a shit ton of drugs in the desert) which we get to experience through some highly psychedelic visuals.
In a statement, Hackford said “The video was inspired by Josh bringing an unknown Libby Grace into the Desert Sessions arena to show her haunting magic to the world. Homme, Sweeney, and I are some of the only people who have heard Libby’s music, so the idea of them introducing her to the players and recording process lit the fuse. The song lent itself perfectly to the lonesome desert landscape and the spell that the Rancho can cast on anyone that passes through its doors.” And Libby certainly holds her own with the titans, contributing spellbinding vocals over lonesome guitars for her first major music video appearance.
Remember that sense of humor I’ve now mentioned three times? Well, in other The Desert Session news, inspired by the, in their own words, “disappointingly” frequent misspelling of the Desert Sessions, the group have launched *drumroll please* The Dessert Sessions: Feral Recipes for the Joyful Destruction of Taste Buds, a “unique collection of otherworldly recipes created and inspired by the music of the Desert Sessions!” Yes this is real, yes there’s a website, and yes the website does challenge you to post pictorial evidence that you actually attempted to make one of the recipes, (with the challenge “Prove it, punk” included as a motivator) The recipes include cheese stuffed meat rings, sardine topped doughnut cakes, avocado and sour cream gelatin plates. Now THIS is some creative marketing I can get on board with.
by Madi Toman | Feb 17, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Dallas punk rockers CLIFFFS are big believers in the idea that perfection has ruined music. According to them, precisely triggered digital samples, autotune, and overly photoshopped album covers all attribute to the killing of the imperfections that give music character and turn it into just another product being marketed to the masses, all elements of humanity drained out of it.
CLIFFFS approaches their music a little differently.
“CLIFFFS don’t give a fuck about perfect”. Fellow Dallas musician Rhett Miller wrote. “Which is probably why, for their sophomore effort PANIC ATTACK, they went and made a perfect record”. The irony is there, but it’s not hard to see what he means.
Less is more with this project, and it pays off. The first single off of that record, “Into the Salt”, is a quick and fiery track with all of the delicious grit and raw energy that exemplifies garage rock. Their premise is simple, but their songs are explosive and their playing is tight. Short, not so sweet, and definitely to the point, one thing is for sure; CLIFFFS know how to rock.
CLIFFFS kicks off the first of three album release shows February 27th at Three Links in Dallas.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 13, 2020 | singles, soundtrack
2020 has marked a new chapter in the lives of many, and we have been overwhelmed with news of good changes in our friends’ lives, and, honestly? Not surprised. The creative force that seems to have supercharged this year shows no signs of slowing down, and it may have wrapped us up so tight in its existence — filled to the brim with gorgeous lyrics, magnetic chorus lines, incredible bass, and intrinsically alluring melodies — that we are JUST coming up for air and realizing TOMORROW IS VALENTINE’S DAY.
But you know what? That’s not what February is anymore. It took this long, but it doesn’t seem that each month is categorized by its major holiday. And that actually feels better than anything else. Knowing that music is transcending what it once was, and becoming a deeper reflection of our thoughts and emotions than ever before.
This month, let’s celebrate the wins. Celebrate the new songs that have entered our minds, the new sensations that bubble up from it all. Celebrate the creative efforts honed by talents such as Stumbleine, MOONZz, Mo Lowda & The Humble, and more!
Check back all month for more additions to the latest and greatest soundtrack to your year!
by Kendal Chandler | Feb 13, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Under the name Dead End Career Club, Canadian native Ryan Kennedy drops newest single “Cooler Than Me”. Neo-grunge and garage punk, on this newest track.
This 90s infused fuzz-pop track creates a simple melody leaving the focus on what the song itself has to say. “Cooler Than Me” is about Kennedy recognizing that everyone has done something that scares him, and that being cool is deeper than just the surface.
This track fixates on the “cool” or what society says is cool. When in a weird juxtaposition, listeners hear what we know as cool may not be so cool after all.
Keep up with Dead End Career Club here.
by Kendal Chandler | Feb 12, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Indie-folk singer Emily Keener releases new single “Do You Love Me Lately?” just days before Valentines Day. The song depicts how fragile love can be and how love is full of fear and vulnerability. Her voice, accompanied by a retro-influenced groove, creates a fantasy feeling.
Fantasy is what built this song, when Keener imagined what it would be like to date a woman. Letting go of her self-censoring and doubts. A theme that is encompassed throughout her upcoming album I Do Not Have to Be Good, set to be released in May.
“Do You Love Me Lately?” is structured in a way that sets the stage for the main album theme, of being free. Chorus and verse sway between resistance and wishfulness. Resistance what she was raised not to be and wishfully reached to defy them.
Keep up with Emily Keener here.
by Madi Toman | Feb 11, 2020 | singles, videos, wolf tracks
Swedish musician Robin Lundbäck, musically known as
Boy In
Space, has released a new single called “Caroline”. The single has been highly anticipated by fans since
Boy in Space teased it on tour last year.
The name Boy in Space itself is highly symbolic to Lundbäck, who uses his musical alter ego as a place to express his darker feelings. Of the moniker, he says “to be “In Space” is to exist in the in-between. It’s not quite the beginning but it’s so far from the end. It’s standing apart from those who’ve found their conventional fit in this world, and recognizing that to be different is special. It’s the courage to depart the familiar to a destination unknown. The “space” is the intensity of youth. The cold sting of heartbreak. The suffocation of betrayal. And the fiery passion of young love”.
The release of “Caroline” is Boy in Space’s first release in 2020 following up a big year in 2019 as he surpassed 35 million streams on Spotify. Of the single, Lundbäck says, “Caroline is that girl that you’re crushing on but is completely out of your league and untouchable,” Robin said noting that, “we all knew a Caroline growing up.”
“Caroline” is the first of three singles set to be released in spring of 2020 and tour dates are to be announced soon.
Keep up with Boy In Space
here.
by ImperfectFifth | Feb 10, 2020 | singles, soundtrack
The playlist is mostly stuff that we’ve all been listening too over the past year of so while we’ve been writing, producing, and recording our debut album! A lot of the music is pretty experimental pop like Grimes, Charli XCX and Rina Sawayama which has definitely been a vibe while we’ve been making the album. I attached the photo as well!
Keep up with Perfect Blue here.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 7, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
If you haven’t experienced the ethereal vocal wonderment that is Whoa Dakota (Jesse Ott), then why not try the act on for size with an updated version of one of your favorite 90s tracks? The indie pop songstress has mastered several throwback options — trust us, we’ve seen her multiple times live and she absolutely destroys every stage she’s on — and this is one of our favorites. And is there a more perfect time of year to be pulling this one out of our back pockets, anyway?
Happy Valentine’s Day, and every day, with this flirty, fun track!
Keep up with Whoa Dakota here.
by Madi Toman | Feb 4, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based Electro-pop artist Stefan T has just released an electric new single by the name of “Keep Me Guessing”. The Berklee College of Music alum is responsible for the vocals, instrumentation, and production of his new track, and it precedes the release of his upcoming album Night Shift.
The song explores love and relationships, specifically being caught in an endlessly toxic and manipulative cycle. Of the inspiration for the song, Stefan says, “ The song follows a conversation between two characters in a twisted relationship. In both verses, it’s character one looking for attention and wanting to give affection but in reality, they never follow through. In the pre-chorus and chorus, character two is calling out character one on their manipulation of the relationship and they’re tired of the games. In the end, both parties just keep playing the same game, because they’re too afraid to fall out of love. “The electro-pop track employs bluesy guitars and passionate and soulful vocals courtesy of Stefan T himself. Recording artist Kaylie Foster adds depth and feeling to the already soulful track with backing vocals that are simultaneously haunting and pure.
Stefan T’s new album, Night Shift, is set to be released this spring. Keep up with Stefan T. here.
