Montreal based pop quintet Stars – comprised of Torquil Campbell, Evan Cranley, Patrick McGee, Amy Millan, and Chris Seligman – just released the latest single off their upcoming album There Is No Love In Fluorescent Light, a relatively mellow track titled “Alone”. Slowly building up from silence at the beginning, the strong vocals indicate an inner struggle, perhaps, with the idea of being alone. As they croon “I want to live where there’s room to breathe/Take one step closer and I’ll swear I’ll live alone” there is almost a claustrophobic feeling, though you also feel free with the space-establishing words that come from their lips.
There Is No Love In Fluorescent Light is out Oct. 13th. It is available for preorder now.
Fresh off his incredible September 24th show at Pianos, New York’s own solo pop genius Gianni Paci has a new track – and its accompanying video – reading and raring for us. “Pine Hollow Road” is soft, melancholic but sweet, and includes an autumn road trip-ready melody that will keep you infatuated for weeks to come.
The video is beautiful in its simplicity, at times reaching for comedic relief while Gianni sings and plays within the frame of a woman confused and frustrated. It becomes obvious that she doesn’t want him in her dance space, and the comedic relief stands strong, as we’re sure it was hard for Gianni to keep a straight face at times. We’re absolutely smitten with the the work, self-directed and produced by the artist.
Explains Gianni:
I wrote “Pine Hollow Road” about the tension and unrest of being caught up in an abusive relationship. It is an ode to both my old pseudonym, The Pine Hollows and the street that I grew up on in Oyster Bay, New York. The accompanying video deepens the narrative, as the actor’s emotionally charged performances work in tandem with the dauntlessly plaintive lyrics. In an attempt to acknowledge my own loss of irreproachability, the roles were reversed for the video in the sense that I play the aggressor, while my voice chronicles the actress’s inner dialogue as she seeks her own brand of justice.
Glasgow synthwave musician Michael Oakley is channeling the 80s – and we’re guessing a musical great or two – with his latest release, a music video for his single “Turn Back Time”. As though in homage to the decade itself, the title already throws it back for us. But the track itself – though glistening with that synth lightness we cherish close to our hearts – definitely marches to the beat of its own drum.
We can’t say it’s any less cheesy than an 80s music video, but it’s definitely an updated, modern, fun take on love, that falls further to the pop side of the spectrum in all of its “last glance at summer” glory.
Brooklyn garage pop collective Best Behavior – comprised of Alex Gruenburg, Jon Mann, Chris Jimenez, and Daniel Jacobson – recently released the music video for their track “Say”. The upbeat, insanely catchy track plays behind a young girl playing hooky from her private elementary school, and going for a day at the boardwalk. It’s actually insanely adorable and clever, a welcome departure from some of the more serious commentaries we have been witnessing in music videos as of late.
Watch a girl get her footing as an individual in the blissful video for “Say”.
“Say” is available now. Keep up with Best Behavior here.
Brooklyn’s electronic duo NØMADS have been releasing one single per month since February 2017 as part of their Phøbiac EP project. This month, we got the endearing “Autophøbia” and its accompanying video, which showcases the duo’s performance abilities as they play through the track in a warehouse in real time. The song itself has a darker, trance feel to it, and the name itself lends to the tone, as “autophobia” is “the fear of being alone.”
With autumn upon us, our first instinct was to imagine ourselves in a haunted house with this playing in the background. The instrumentals would heighten an experience like that, which makes “Autophøbia” perfect for this time for year. (But you should really catch up on the entire project, because it’s been a doozy to watch it unfold!)
San Francisco psych pop artist John Dylan has dropped his third single “(I Can Feel Myself) Getting Over It” – a track off his upcoming debut album – along with its accompanying video. Shot in black and white during what looks to be the recording process, the video showcases Dylan’s involvement in the entire process, while he plays the drums, shreds on the guitar, sings, and more.
The song – written during a depressive dip, with inspiration pulled from The Smashing Pumpkins – possesses aspects that are lighter than the lyrics and tempo could possibly carry. Let its lightness carry you through the rest of the day.
Peripheral Drift Illusion is set to release January 9th, 2018. In the meantime, keep up with John Dylan here.
While you were busy soaking in the last days of summer, Ann Arbor, Michigan’s avant-rock outfit Throwaway – comprised of members Kirsten Carey and Nicole Patrick (MI) / Oliver Dobrian (CA) – was busy releasing their latest video “Family Cry”, the intro to which is slightly terrifying. Despite the cringeworthy red glow, the masks that make the subjects of the video faceless, and the white noise in the background, the strangest – and most intriguing aspect – of the video is the text that scrolls over the visuals, which doesn’t always make sense. You will find it almost impossible to keep up with the wording while simultaneously listening to the lyrics.
“Family Cry” will entrance you from beginning to end thanks in part to its director, Chicago-based performance artist Corey Smith. The colors, words, and acted scenes will confuse you, but there is a sense of thrill to it all when the song’s tempo-changing, unique, garage-tinged experimental rock backs it up.
In collaboration with Margrét Seema Takyar, Masma Dream World (Devi Mambouka) has concocted a focused, beautiful, but almost anxiety-inducing world that will have you questioning your reality and comfort at the same time. Swedish designer Tove Berglund had the right idea with the costume design, which is simple but bold and highlights the beauty – and perhaps fear – of its subject.
An interesting aspect to the video is that Devi invited Tove to collaborate on this performance project in 2014, after being inspired by weave culture. Tove spent hours weaving the outfit (blond hair) onto Devi’s body, and Margrét then applied her vision of light and dark space in the visual representation of Devi’s dance.
While the track is experimental and plays with simple percussion and sound effects, Masma Dream World mesmerizes with movement – jerky, concerning, yet wondrous. Check out the video (just released today!) below, and let us know what you think in the comments!
This week, Hopeless Records‘ star children – the guys of pop punk band New Found Glory – released not only the next music video in their stream of assets from latest album Makes Me Sick, but a fun behind the scenes video as well. Tropical, vibrant, cheesy, amazing. Though there is absolutely more of an island vibe to the tempo and instrumentals in “The Sound of Two Voices”, the fact that it’s still Chad Gilbert’s high pitched punk-tinged voice keeps it 100% NFG, 110% of the time. And it definitely could just be us, but does part of this video remind you of a modern version of the dance scenes in Back To The Future?
New Found Glory kicks off their fall tour soon. Check out the dates to find out which show you’re going to!
