by Tiffany Czech | Oct 30, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Rainy car rides in the fall could use more songs like Irene Skylakaki’s “Sutherland Avenue”. Complete with emotional lyrics and a gentle sway-like melody, it makes you want to embark on a journey of self-discovery of sorts, searching for all the answers as to how you ended up here. Maybe by the end, you will find what you are looking for, as suggested by how the track accelerates into a completely new world after the two-minute mark. It is a story of perplexity, maybe even frustration, about something you love ending and feeling like you have no understanding of how it happened. In her search for her own moment of clarity, she actually provides us with clarity as we are able to work to fully understand not her emotions that inspired the song, but our own emotions that become comprehensible after listening to it.
Irene says of her hope for the track:
I would prefer it if anyone who listens to ‘Sutherland Avenue’ connects with it through their own experiences. The lyrics to the song are quite self-explanatory and raw and after various tries, I insisted on keeping them as they are unsophisticated and honest.
by Tiffany Czech | Oct 30, 2020 | albums, review
As winter nears, Miloe wanted to shine a light on his brisk state of Minnesota with his new EP, Greenhouse. He wastes no time working up the sunshine, either. The opening track, “Winona” is a bright and optimistic tune that relies on youthfulness to give the illusion of summertime warmth. The opening riff of the title track is a perfectly ear-catching novelty that immediately draws you into the heaviness of life struggles. The driving rhythm makes for a soothing ride. With “Change Your Mind”, he sings about wanting to be with someone and is willing to sit around and wait in case they change their mind for him. It works as a sort of ditty, one whose melody alone brings a smile to your face.
The most beaming song is “Marna”, a musical love letter to somebody who seems to be the light of his life. The simple guitar strums once again bring out the brightness of Miloe’s craft. The final track is “Everything (That Should Go)”, the perfect outro that reveals his vulnerability to not only the person he is singing to, but also you and I.Greenhouse is a sonically bright album that does indeed shine a warm light on even the coldest of states. Beyond the brightness is a raw, real body of work about finding and understanding love, along with the many other complications that come with life.
by ImperfectFifth | Oct 30, 2020 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
by: sabrina thurber
Today, Kristen Schaeffer presents us with her rendition of the classic hit, “Don’t Dream It’s Over”.
Taking an altogether new approach to the piece, Schaeffer’s dreamy-yet-powerful cover illuminates a side to the song we didn’t even know we were missing. Compared to the upbeat original by the Australian rock band, Crowded House, Schaeffer takes the time to slow things down. The singer-songwriter proves the strength in simplified instrumentals, and allows us to appreciate her angelic vocals in their purest form.
Behind Schaeffer’s voice there is a story encompassing a multitude of experiences. Growing up in New York City, Schaeffer’s love for music and theatre became clear at an early age. After studying at Berklee College of Music, Schaeffer developed a sound for herself — one that combined her love for theatre with a folky/pop twist. Schaeffer’s most recent successes include her track “Shadows” being featured on the television drama, Charmed.
This cover is brought to us by Salinger Songs as the second installment in The Salinger (*not our) Songs Cover Series. The series showcases artists re-inventing various works, allowing their own interpretations and personal style to take charge. The series will continue throughout the upcoming months, featuring the roster and friends of the Virginia-based publishing company.
Schaeffer reflects on her cover of “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, describing it as even more relevant today than she originally thought:
It felt to me like an urgent call for hope and reflection. Are you who you want to be? Are you prepared to fight for truth, love, and optimism? Can you wade through all the noise to find what really matters? It’s never too late to ask yourself these questions and change course.
by Tiffany Czech | Oct 29, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
As Jenny March gears up to release her EP, she steers right down the lane of 90s pop for her electrifying single, “All In”. This aesthetic comes from her growing up as a 90s kid, bringing to the table all of the music and style from the decade and allowing them to define her with this track, complete with the correlating visuals. Strengthened by the electronic music of the times, “All In” could very well be mistaken for the exact time period she’s aiming for, while also being strikingly analogous to current music trends. You get the feeling that you can conquer everything with the one you love, which is exactly what she wants her lover to know.
The use of a stomping beat and direct lyrics help get her message across that she is willing to go as far as she is expected to go. It is no doubt that March is capable of creating the power anthems we all know and love. From the ear-catching melodies to the fetching musical layers, there’s no reason this shouldn’t be on everybody’s next dance playlist.
by Sadie Battle | Oct 28, 2020 | videos, wolf tracks
New York City-based band, Imaginary People, are pleased to present their new single “1999 – Just Vote” as a public service message to encourage fans to get out and vote. You guessed right – it’s a Prince Cover and you didn’t know you need it until you listen to it. The accompanying music video has one clear message that’s delivered by Leila Rita, who stars as the uninspired yet serious voter of today. Leila is actually a family member’s niece, and as she holds her handmade sign for the entire duration of the video that reads “VOTE”, her serious glare is enough of a reminder of the many reasons to get out there and vote today.
The band originally had begun the promotional campaign of their third LP back in February. With the Covid-19 pandemic halting their original scheduled releases, fans can now expect the release of a few singles in the next coming weeks. The forthcoming album Alibi is expected in 2021. Fans can stream two pre-release singles now, “Hometown” and “Crazy Eight” on all streaming services.
About the song and video Imaginary People’s Dylan Von Wagner says:
Using an old unused cover of 1999 recorded years and years ago, I thought this song might be appropriate for the moment for election day in the current climate of shit show theater that we live in. We ended up with just one take which myself and my wife [The DP] had a tough time keeping a straight face for. We didn’t count on Leila’s spot on commitment to character and her unwavering sober glare. After one take, she said “I got it, I’m done with show business,” and walked off…..
by Tiffany Czech | Oct 28, 2020 | videos, wolf tracks
R&B singer-songwriter Emanuel has released the visual for his chilling song, “Black Woman”. This visual proves to be both thought-provoking and chilling. Singing the praises of black women, it was created to celebrate and honor what they contribute to this world. It does so by showcasing the beauty of many different black women living their lives. This makes for an incredibly captivating and beautiful video that tells the stories of these different women simply through visuals. As the lyrics send shivers down your spine, each part of the visual manages to capture the feeling that the song strives to instill in each viewer. He is telling the world that black women should be admired and are worthy of more respect than they receive. In a way, it is almost like an apology that they are not treated with more respect. Emanuel notes:
Black Woman’ is about reconciliation and also a celebration—celebrating how strong our women are and how they hold us up. People might think this song was written as a response to the moment right now but it’s saying the exact same thing it was saying when it was written a year ago—‘I see you, I recognize you, I appreciate you and I love you.
