deal casino, “french blonde”

deal casino, “french blonde”

New Jersey band Deal Casino’s latest single is cool and crazy and presents the band’s ability to diversify their sound. Before listening to the track, the title led me to believe that this would be a romantic ballad about an unrequited love for a beautiful girl with blonde hair. But, the grating instrumentals and twisted lyrics said otherwise. Speaking of the lyrics, they are quite jarring. They tend to paint a detailed and gruesome picture. The song opens up with a bit of gore:
I’m a dead animal.
You’re used to seeing my guts.
“You see me lying on the street,
Just drive right over me,
While you’re putting on your makeup.”
The opening, as well as some of the other verses in the song, are spoken rather than sung, showing a contrast that results in a layered track with a unique vibe that still feels like a solid and cohesive track. “French Blonde” has shown that Deal Casino is the real deal when it comes to a band that can showcase their talent in the coolest of ways, and that way is gritty pop-rock.

Be sure to check out Deal Casino’s upcoming full-length album “LLC,” which is due out soon. Keep up with them here.
fox and bones, “little animal”

fox and bones, “little animal”

On the rise folk duo Fox and Bones have released their new single “Little Animal” along with a fun energetic video to follow! Made up of Sarah Vitort and Scott Gilmore, the duo use their talented songwriting, along with their unique vocals in order to captivate new audiences and build their fan base. Prior to their new song, the duo has released an ample amount of their own music which has allowed them to skyrocket over the past few years and create better music each and every time. “Little Animal”, a fun and upbeat song has a perfect video to match just as well with the song. The video holds an amusing vibe that includes both animal and human characters running around and having fun on a sunny summer day. Not only does this video send a free spirited message, but it also matches the statement that the song itself portrays. Although this is a folk song, Fox and Bones adds a hint of pop to it to give it something a little extra, so it can fit into almost any genre for everyone to enjoy!

Make sure to keep up on all of their new music here!

van bobbi, “kickdrum heartbeat”

van bobbi, “kickdrum heartbeat”

We’ve been a fan of pop artist Van Bobbi for quite some time now, and with the release of his latest single “Kickdrum Heartbeat”, that fandom only increases. Approaching the track with a more earthy sound than we are used to, he utilizes gorgeous percussion to really get the message across through the instrumentals, utilizing the words almost as backup. The song is catchy, fun, and something we anticipate making everyone’s “Summer 2018” playlist.

Keep up with Van Bobbi here

elegant slims, “hemisphere”

elegant slims, “hemisphere”

A dark, synthesized soundscape. Light as a feather vocals cascade down, singing of adventuring “out of this hemisphere” with someone. (Presumably, her love.) This call for adventure is what our souls ache for at this time of year as things settle back into a routine in the Northern Hemisphere, and elegant slims has the anecdote. Check out her new track “Hemisphere” below, and keep your ears open for more ambient music from this electro-pop commodity.

Keep up with elegant slims here.

jay som + justus proffit, “nothing’s changed”

jay som + justus proffit, “nothing’s changed”

The collaborative efforts of new musical duo Jay Som & Justus Proffit is a result of a casual jam session in Som’s home studio, which eventually turned into multiple sessions, thus leading to the creation of their collaborative EP. They both worked together on vocals and guitar; Proffit was in charge of lyrics and drums, and Som handled the editing and mixing, in addition to playing the bass and keyboard. Their first single is the charming  “Nothing’s Changed,” which is their upcoming EP’s title track. The overall vibe is a subtle country ballad with gentle vocals and guitar strums. The overall sound is soft and beautiful, but the lyrics are surprisingly somber:
I chew it up, spit it out, and give it up.
Still I climb to reach the top,
I feel the same,
Nothing’s new, nothing’s changed.
Proffit’s vocals seem to take the lead on this one, with Som’s gentle vocals contributing to the harmony throughout the track. Together, they sound like one strong unit. Their compatibility shines throughout he song, and that collaborative work ethic shows. The EP is entirely written, recorded, and produced by the two artists, showing their passion for this project. A lot of work and a lot of love was put into this, and it definitely shows.

Be sure to check out their EP, which will be released on September 28th. Keep up with Jay Som here, and Justus Proffit here.
ekaruz, “sigh”

ekaruz, “sigh”

Electro-pop duo Ekaruz is back with silky new track “Sigh”, the second in their musical journey together. And though it’s only their second single, they’ve pulled it off with precision and maybe a little bit of grace, as smooth as honey vocals lead the words through a captivating soundscape. Explains vocalist Nicolas of the track:

We wrote the song towards the end of our university-career when we discussed real world dreams and goals with our peers. We realized that mostly status and materialistic aspects seemed to be prioritized,” says the duo’s guitarist Marius. “Nico and I played along for a while, however, we couldn’t help but feel torn – just like the person in the song. We’re extremely happy that we went with making music after all.


Keep up with Ekaruz here.

bobey, “melon cauliflower”

bobey, “melon cauliflower”

Oakland-based solo musical force Bobey has mastered percussion and loops in an amusing and beautiful way. This fact is evident in new track “Melon Cauliflower”, which can be found on his brand new full-length Siblings. “Melon Cauliflower” gives off an ambient vibe, perfect to set as the backdrop at your Labor Day barbecue or end of summer soiree. We’re actually thrilled with the bit of melancholy in its disposition, as it slows us down and preps us for the coming of autumn.

Keep up with Bobey here.

zamaera, “z vs z”

zamaera, “z vs z”

Malaysia-born emcee Zamaera is experiencing quite the whirlwind romance with music lovers across the globe. In the wake of her success with debut music video “Helly Kelly“, she recently released new track “Z vs Z” with an accompanying music video. The video itself was shot in black and white, and features an full orchestra. What’s beautiful within the simplicity of this video is that you can truly appreciate Zamaera’s live performance tactics. You can tell she truly feels the lyrics as she’s saying them, as they’re dripping with emotion as her facial features are full of conviction. It’s beyond captivating, and we’re ready for a live show, but even more pumped for her forthcoming EP.

Keep up with Zamaera here.

marlon chaplin, the circle

marlon chaplin, the circle

Toronto-based artist Marlon Chaplin has just released his full-length debut album and it is, to put it simply, a powerhouse record. Chaplin clearly has the range of a true rock performer and these ten tracks embody his style flawlessly. It is diverse, passionate, and an inimitable listening experience that will leave you wanting nothing more but to see the live performance (and to play the album on a continuous loop).

The record opens up with “The Circle.” As the attention grabber, the title track is very high energy, complete with a full-bodied opening instrumental. It is the perfect opening, capturing the adrenaline of that momentous first song of a rock concert. It sets the pace for other similar rocker tracks, such as “Drain Me,” “Imaginary Mary K,” and “Elevation.” The album slows down with two acoustic ballads: “Back to the Start” and “Take Me There.” They are dreamy and buoyant, complete with pretty harmonies. Chaplin’s more vulnerable side is at the forefront of these songs, making them even more beautiful.

“A Single Drop” is a cool song with a biting edge. It swings us back around from the romantic ballads, showing Chaplin’s diversity in sound and genre. Listeners are treated to yet another change of pace with “One Man Show” and “Where Did We Go.” Their upbeat sound reminds me of the band Bleachers, with the vintage upbeat aesthetic and catchy guitar riffs. And the final track, “Out on the Wing,” brings a flawless ending to a very well-rounded album. It’s slower and sad, but full of life, focusing on the magnificent sound of strings.

The amount of work put into this strong debut is clear. Released via Möbius Recordings, the album was produced by Chaplin, mixed by Chris Shaw (Partner, Weezer, Bob Dylan) and mastered by Joao Carvalho. With such a stand-out debut, The Circle is bound to impress anyone and everyone who listens to it.

The Circle is out now, and is available for purchase here.. Keep up with the latest on Chaplin here. Also, be sure to check him out on tour, including the album release show in Toronto on August 30th.