by Meredith Schneider | Jul 23, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Looking for a quirky new track that is also highly relatable? (At least, in the music world it is.) Sean Padilla – or, in this case, The Cocker Spaniels – is releasing snippets of his upcoming album The Cocker Spaniels Are Still Alive And So Are You, and the new release, titled “Nobody Wants To Play Last,” is just that. The logistics around a concert and the lineup can get really dicey, so anyone who has found themselves in stage performance will feel for this one. We’re particular fans of the percussion.
Padilla was, admittedly, feeling lots of emotions during the pandemic-long creation of this impressive 20-track album, due out August 13th. Of the “brand new song,” Padilla explains:
From the spring of 2014 to the beginning of the pandemic, I supplemented my household’s income by working as a booking agent for touring artists of various genres. This song was directly inspired by my experiences as a booking agent, and the lyrics summarize most of my grievances about the live music industry.
This was one of the last songs that I recorded for the album. The drums were recorded in one take, while my toddlers were in the room with me. I sat them on the opposite side of the music room, then gave them art supplies to occupy themselves with while I played.
While I was practicing the lead guitar part, Layne texted me the news that Derek Chauvin had been found guilty of murdering George Floyd. I took a few minutes to cry, then recorded the part in two takes.
Keep up with The Cocker Spaniels here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 20, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
North Carolina-based musical collective The Collection really hit a beautiful stride with their latest release, a call to action called “Loud.” The indie-alt pop group has created a string of gorgeous tracks together, each with underlying tones of hope. “Loud” follows this pattern, with an expansive and freeing nature.
Lead singer Wimbish was inspired to write the track after protesting last summer following the George Floyd murder.
I watched as peaceful, angry protesters were cornered and attacked by the police. I was one of those maced in the face, alongside many. Over the next many months, I grew angrier and angrier watching white moderates and even “liberal” friends of mine argue over the validity of the protests – how they were being carried out, etc.. and it was astonishing to me – their refusal to lend their voice, to this very necessary movement.
The song serves as an anthem for protest, unity, and a sense of empathy for the times ahead. You can check out the beautiful melody and intrinsically catchy lyrics below.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 5, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Oughts influenced pop-punk outfit Young Culture has certainly stayed busy during the pandemic. Made up of childhood friends Alex Magnan (vocals), Gabe Pietrafesa (guitar), and Troy Burchett (guitar), the group spent one day a week during the lockdown portion of the pandemic writing and creating together. Their collective efforts will be shown off with the release of their record Godspeed later this month. But today, we have a taste of it with the title track.
A glittering summertime track, we will be playing this track at all of our backyard shindigs for the rest of the season.
Godspeed is out July 30th.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 23, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Fiona Apple fans, rejoice! Within the first 9 seconds of Lizzie Loveless’ new track “Window,” you can feel a familiarity in the vocals that absolutely trace back to Apple. Plus, the instrumental composition the song transitions into by the 58-second mark is absolutely reminiscent of some of our 90s favorites. And yet, the melancholy you can feel in the track is still somehow all Loveless’ own. Coming from an entirely vulnerable space, the song bursts forth with an energy that is both magnetic and intrinsically sorrowful at the same time. Explains Loveless of the track:
I wrote “Window” a few years ago. The song was first written when I knew my relationship at the time had ended. He had gone for a walk to take some space and I was waiting for him to come back, looking out the window. But I could feel a shift. I knew what was coming. I knew when I looked at him, he had already left. It was as if in a single moment his face had changed and I no longer knew him.
So, I was thinking, then what? What comes next? Essentially all you can do is wait, wait for the heartache to pass. This song definitely captures a chapter in my life, a painful ending… I’m thankful it’s in the past.
For those going through a rough time, you may have found your match in this track. Enjoy a listen (or five) to “Window” below.
Synths: Lizzie Lieberson
Bass: Josh Werner
Drums, Drum Programming: Daniel Schlett
Produced by: Lizzie Lieberson and Daniel Schlett
Engineering: Miles Francis and Daniel Schlett
Assistant Engineering: Garret De Block
Mixed by Daniel Schlett
Mastered by Alex Deturk at Strange Weather Studio and The Bunker Studio (Brooklyn, NY)
Recorded at Cornelia Street Studio (Greenwich Village NY), Strange Weather Studio (Brooklyn NY), Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS) and Ellen’s house (Halifax, NS)
Keep up with Lizzie Loveless here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 21, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
While we wait with bated breath for Jessica Luise’s debut EP, Going in Blind, to release on July 9th, the stunning songstress has given us some ear candy to play with until then. A light, 90’s rock-inspired track, “a.m.” begins at the same clip that will carry it through the entirety of its 3 minutes and 28 seconds of existence.
While reverb plays along through the chorus, you find yourself daydreaming about your next road trip or adventure into the unknown. Her mellifluous vocals pay homage to flings, bringing in a bittersweet string of lyrics to consume from the inside out. A welcome treat for our ears, this track makes it more enticing than ever to venture out into the world (for the first time in what feels like forever).
Says Jessica of the upcoming EP:
To think that I would be the proud creator of a piece of work like this after being in this industry for such a short time baffles me. ‘Going In Blind’ comes from how I was blind to the red flags in relationships I’ve encountered over the years, and a bit of a comment on how when I first started in music I knew nothing. I am still learning, but maybe I’m not as much of a newborn in this industry as I was a year ago.
Keep up with Jessica Luise here.
by Elizabeth Schneider | Jun 11, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
After 15 months of online shows and showcases, I am getting excited to see live music again. The best lead-up to seeing new artists in person is the new music that is being released. The first captivating song of the summer arrived on June 10, “Losers”. BXB LOVE, the musical alter-ego of Natasha Pheko, has brought us a tune that is buoyant and thoughtful at the same time.
Written and performed by LOVE, “Losers” employs the use of an upbeat melody and spot-on lyrics to convey the message that we can all relate to:
Too cool for falling love
Taking yourself way too serious
It’s time to rip off the bandaid babe
And smile through the pain (ya)
BXB LOVE “encourages people to take a good look at all of the parts of themselves – the good, the bad, and the ugly – with acceptance, love and compassion”. “Losers” speaks to the part of us that wants to fit in with what is ‘normal’, in a world where ‘normal’ is not a reality. You will find yourself humming – or singing – this song long after it has ended.
BXB LOVE Links:
Instagram
Twitter
Spotify
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 9, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
PRIDE is such a fabulous time of the year. But, honestly, we’re trying to push the feeling and the amazing people behind it every day of the year. Today, the genre-bending GIULIA. releases her new track “Baby D*ke,” written about the outpouring of love and the welcoming feelings she had when embraced by the LGBTQ+ community for who she is. Expands the artist:
It recognizes that – hey, you’re new to this, you’re a ‘baby’ in our eyes, but we’re happy to have you. So yes, I’m just a baby dyke, and I may be self-conscious and unsure of how to navigate this, but at least I’m here, and I can finally say that much, which is better than saying nothing at all.
With light-as-a-feather vocals, she puts your head in a space that makes you feel like anything is possible, while simultaneously making you want to dance. Lines like “we’re so afraid to be forgotten” hit hard emotionally, especially after the pandemic. It’s heart-wrenching and also incredibly beautiful. And all delivered with Giulia.’s impossibly positive energy.
Keep your eyes peeled for Giulia.’s EP Night Before, out June 25th.
by Meredith Schneider | May 7, 2021 | singles, soundtrack
The outside world is getting more vivid, as more people get vaccinated and the days get longer, summer quickly approaching. Take this time to get outside, get grounded, and love on yourself a little bit. But in the in-between, feel free to play our May soundtrack in the background of whateverthehell you’re spending your time on and with these days. We promise you’ll find some gems to add to your personal collection, and there might be some fun ones built-in for your next vacation playlist! 🙂
by Meredith Schneider | Apr 22, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Singer, rapper, and bassist Trip Carter has the ability to make every situation feel free-flowing and fancy-free. While the subject matter of his new track “Heavyweight” is about how much pressure or weight he puts on his support system at times, the cadence would suggest a calming, transformative atmosphere. And thats exactly the brand of acceptance and calm we expect in an ebb and flow relationship.
Hear “Heavyweight” below, and be sure to add it to your rotation for the summer months. You’ll be happy you’ve got it in your collection, trust us.
