Conan Gray has always made heartbreak sound cinematic, but in the music video for “This Song,” he leans fully into visual poetry, backdropped by small-town Texas skies, the nostalgia of youth, and the ache of something left unsaid. Shot on film and directed by Moon Shynin, the video stars Gray and actor Corey Fogelmanis, both playing lovers locked in a quiet, unresolved orbit. From stolen glances across dimly lit diners to an emotionally loaded first on-screen kiss, it’s a haunting introduction to Wishbone, Gray’s upcoming album, due out August 15.
The music video doesn’t tell a story in linear terms. It floats. Much like the song itself, the visual narrative exists in memory and metaphor more than clear chronology. It’s nostalgic without being kitschy, romantic without requiring words. The intimacy between the two characters feels lived-in… gentle, familiar, and quietly devastating in its mundanity. These aren’t grand cinematic lovers; they’re real people in the in-between, suspended in the echo of something that might have already ended.
Then, the kiss. A moment fans have buzzed about as Gray’s first on-screen kiss, it lands with more sadness than celebration. It’s not a moment of passion, but one of acceptance. A soft surrender to everything left unsaid. That’s the power of “This Song.” Nothing explodes. Nothing resolves. It just lingers.
Produced by Ethan Gruska, “This Song” doesn’t rely on sonic spectacle to hit hard. It simmers in longing, filled with slow, pulsing instrumentation and restrained vocals that unravel like a late-night journal entry. The lyrics linger in that liminal space when memories start looping louder than reality. Fans are already calling it Gray’s first true love song, and in many ways, it is. It’s vulnerable without being self-pitying, romantic without being grandiose, and devastatingly honest in how it captures the feeling of being left behind.
Gray’s reflections on the track (shared via Instagram) make the video all the more poignant. He compares relationships to a wishbone ritual: two people making a wish, pulling until something breaks, and only one person walking away with the long end. That metaphor shapes the emotional palette of “This Song.” There’s no revenge arc here, no triumphant solo glow-up. Just the ache of an ending you didn’t see coming until it shattered in your hands.
What makes this video stand out in Gray’s visual catalog is how understated it is. There’s no high-concept drama, no surreal worldbuilding like in some of his previous videos. Instead, it’s the color of Corey’s sweatshirt, the distant look in Gray’s eyes, the awkward space between their hands in the car. Director Moon Shynin lets us sit in the discomfort of things unsaid. Combined with the grain of the film and the dusky, warm palette, the video feels like something found in a box years later, watched with a lump in the throat.
“This Song” marks the beginning of Gray’s Wishbone era! An album born from 300 unreleased tracks, written in basements and between tour stops, in hotel sheets and long cab rides. And if this single is any indication, Wishbone might be his most personal work yet: disillusioned, self-aware, and softly soul-searching. A story of choosing people who are already halfway out the door and finally asking why.
Watch the video and prepare yourself for the August heartbreak. This is Conan Gray not as the heartbroken teen pop star, but as a young adult sifting through what it means to trust, to lose, and to love anyway.
Lyn Lapid, Filipino American singer & songwriter, released a cover of Pixies “Where is my mind” on Friday. You may have heard her hits such as “Producer man” and “In my mind”, as well as her 2023 EP to love in the 21st century. She recently released her debut album Buzzkill. Lapid performs a variety of genres, including pop and R&B, and is known both for her original songs and her viral covers on Tiktok.
The Pixies’ original version of the song was released in 1998, alternative rock with bass and guitar. Lyn Lapid provides a distinctly different version. Her version has a more dreamy production, with echoed vocals and strings. Lapid’s version definitely updates the song in a way that fits with the indie pop style of many artists now.
I think this production style still fits the original song, and seems to touch on a fun, dreamy element that’s present in the Pixies version. While the original song is produced in an alt-rock style, “Where is my mind” is about Black Francis’s trip to the Caribbean and his experience with the small fish he saw while snorkeling. Lapid’s production fits this “story” of the song well in my opinion–the slower, more echoey sound is fitting for swimming underwater.
The release of this cover comes while Lyn Lapid is on the North American leg of her Buzzkill tour. She still has shows in various North American cities until June 28th.
UPCOMING BUZZKILL WORLD TOUR DATES: June 13 // Charlotte, NC // Amos’ Southend June 14 // Atlanta, GA // Center Stage – The Loft June 16 // Orlando, FL // The Social June 19 // Houston, TX // Warehouse Live – The Ballroom June 21 // Austin, TX // Antone’s Nightclub June 22 // Dallas, TX // Trees June 25 // Phoenix, AZ // Crescent Ballroom June 26 // San Diego, CA // The Observatory – North Park June 28 // Los Angeles, CA // El Rey Theatre
Boulevardia really brought the heat – as it does every year – for its tenth anniversary, set with a backdrop of the skyline in Kansas City, Missouri. The festival grabbed local headliners for the decade anniversary of its existence on one of the hottest weekends of the year, a lineup that featured The Greeting Committee at 6:30pm as the sun started to make its way down into the trees. We caught some highlights from the performance, below.
Have you ever wanted to laugh while nerding out on a topic you have limited information on? Enter: LabX’s “Wrong Answers Only,” the comedy show hosted by Chris Duffy that entertains a deep-dive topic with one expert and three comedians.
“Wrong Answers Only” has hilariously introduced truths on topics like cybersecurity and bees. On June 17th, they will cover the fan-favorite topic of ICE CREAM. (I mean, who doesn’t love ice cream?) Chris will be joined in his ice cream, adventure by Expert Dr. Maya Warren and comedians Lily Du, Alyssa Limperis, and Aparna Nancherla at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 17th.
National Ice Cream Month kicks off in July, so it’s time to get your knowledge on. We got to ask Chris Duffy a few questions while he preps for a night of sweet, sweet comedy and entertainment.
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WRONG ANSWERS ONLY is a real treat for people like me who like to fully understand topics. Have you had a favorite deep-dive yet? What would be a future topic you’d want to talk to a scientist about?
Honestly, so much of the fun of doing a show where comedians interview scientists is that every topic ends up being surprising and hilarious. That being said, I think one of the most mind blowing topics was when we interviewed Dr. Moogega Cooper who works on making sure Earth’s spaceships don’t accidentally send out a bacteria or organism that could wreak havoc across the galaxy.
As for a dream topic, I always think scientists who study animals are fascinating and hilarious so I’d love to talk to a rat expert. I bet there’s a lot of comedy there. But actually, now that I’m thinking about it, I’d probably have to look at a lot of photos of rats, which is disgusting and terrifying. So let’s say a guinea pig expert instead. They’re like the friendly cousins of rats.
Where was the show topic of ice cream born from for this upcoming Dynasty Typewriter event?
The idea to do a comedy show about ice cream came from: 1) how good it is to eat ice cream 2) us hearing about a scientist who studies ice cream 3) me realizing this would mean I’d get to eat ice cream for work and 4) us realizing we could give the audience ice cream during the show and have them love us forever.
Can’t argue any of that! Dr. Maya Warren is going to be your guest for this ice cream deep dive. What qualifies her as an ice cream expert, and how did you get into contact?
Well, if you go to her website, it says in giant letters “Ice Cream Scientist™” so that’s definitely a clue that you might be dealing with an ice cream expert. But also, she’s got a PhD in Food Science and has traveled the world studying and creating new flavors of ice cream. One of the amazing parts of doing a comedy show for LabX (a program of the National Academy of Sciences) is that they just know people like this. They’re the only people I could ever meet in my life who would go “Oh, we actually met this ice cream scientist the other night, do you think that might be a fun topic for the show?” The answer, of course, was yes.
Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to bringing up with Dr. Warren and the comedians?
I am most looking forward to ice cream. But also to hearing about Dr. Warren’s work helping create new flavors for Snoop Dogg’s ice cream company, her research studying the “behavioral properties of frozen aerated desserts,” and asking her what the scientifically best and worst ice cream flavors are.
Do you have any pre-show rituals when you’re performing in front of an audience, or even just in general?
My pre-show ritual is to panic, sweat through my shirt, rethink all of my life choices, and then go out onto the stage.
What is your idea of the perfect night out at Dynasty Typewriter, in particular?
I love Dynasty Typewriter! It’s my favorite comedy venue in Los Angeles. It’s also right next to Wi Spa, so you could always catch the show and then immediately soak in several different tubs and get a full body scrub. That’s a really bold combination for a night out, but it is technically possible! A tad less unhinged would be to grab a drink and some food at The Prince**, one of the most fun and classically LA spots in the city. I love the ambience and also the addition of mozzarella to almost any food you order there. The HMS Bounty is another classic LA spot that’s close by and has surprisingly good food. Plus, I don’t think this is true, but I always tell people I bring there that it’s made from an actual ship. Don’t fact check that.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Frankly, I think it’s hard to beat a good vanilla with hot fudge on top. But when I go to Handel’s in Los Feliz (my current favorite ice cream shop), I love to get their taro flavor.
Where do you draw inspiration from in your work?
I am largely inspired by typos on signs.
Incredible. Anything else you’d like to share with your sweet toothed crowd?
Please come to this show, it’s on Tuesday, June 17th at 7:30 p.m. at Dynasty Typewriter and I will personally guarantee you get ice cream during the show. PROVE YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH BY COMING AND BRINGING ALL YOUR FRIENDS!!!!
(Much of the way I promote my comedy veers between aggressive yelling and begging for people to attend. It’s kind of my signature.)
As a quick side note, your podcast “How to Be a Better Human” is incredibly sincere and eye-opening. Is there a singular episode or anecdote you have in your memory bank that really solidifies your commitment to the self-help genre?
My memory bank is experiencing a dramatic run on the reserves and it is not FDIC insured. It’s a very unreliable bank. That being said, I loved the episode we did this season with Clint Smith III about history and memory.
**The Prince is absolutely worth it if you want to feel like you’re on set. You may recognize it from several of your favorite productions, including as Nick Miller’s bar in New Girl. Right across the street sits Los Angeles High School of The Arts, which is also a big piece of history and a filming location.
Brooklyn’s hardcore trailblazers Cash Bribe are back, delivering a knockout punch with their latest EP, Demonomics, out today via Futureless. This third offering, their first under the label, solidifies their position as one of the fiercest voices in modern punk and hardcore. If their 2023 release, Escape From New York, was a warning shot, Demonomics is an all-out assault on the systems that keep us subdued.
Recorded and mixed by Zach Miller at the iconic Landmine Studios, where hardcore luminaries like Year of the Knife have made their mark, Demonomics takes Cash Bribe’s chaotic energy to new heights. Guitarist Kirk McGirk aptly describes the EP’s incendiary spirit: “It’s like they’re pissing on your head and telling you it’s raining.” That unflinching rage fuels every riff and lyric, creating a visceral, unrelenting listening experience.
The EP opens with its title track, an ominous and heavy anthem that sets the tone for the journey ahead. “Bay of Pigs,” the lead single, bursts through the speakers with low-tuned swagger, sharp edges, and an unmistakable punk attitude. Rooted in powerviolence and hardcore, the track also nods to the noisy hardcore of Cursed and the raw aggression of mid-era Black Flag.
Tracks like “Faith Aversion” push the boundaries further, diving into metallic riffs that lend an apocalyptic depth to the record’s core. Fans of classic NYHC and those who crave a dose of rock ‘n’ roll spirit will find a balance of chaos and cohesion that speaks directly to the heart of the genre.
Lyrically, Demonomics is a razor-sharp critique of wealth inequality and societal gaslighting. Vocalist Joey Dahlstrom’s delivery pulls no punches, channeling fury and frustration into every line. These themes resonate deeply in today’s climate, adding an intellectual edge to the EP’s unfiltered aggression.
Formed in 2019, Cash Bribe’s lineup—Joey Dahlstrom (vocals), Kirk McGirk (guitar), Brian Jackson (bass), and Larry Koch (drums)—has evolved to match their increasing ambition. From their raw debut, Facemask City (2022), to the polished chaos of Escape From New York, the band has consistently upped the ante, drawing acclaim from major punk and hardcore outlets.
Demonomics isn’t just another EP; it’s a statement. With its heavier riffs, darker tones, and unrelenting fury, it’s Cash Bribe’s most refined and furious release to date. Whether you’re a hardcore aficionado or a punk purist, this EP is bound to leave a mark.
Stream Demonomics on Spotify and other platforms starting today. For those lucky enough to be in Brooklyn, catch the album release show at Lucky 13 Saloon and witness Cash Bribe’s chaos in real time.
Rising California punk band Heartwells, made up of Justin Tauch (guitar), Dave Mariano (bass), Chris Stout (drums), and Sam Peterson (guitar) are releasing their new EP Ollie on July 8th. Heartwells’ new single “Piss n’ Gums” is out now, as is the music video for the song. Heartwells is a relatively new and upcoming band, releasing their debut album “The New Old School” in June 2024.
A rage room filled with graffiti and broken skateboards is where we find the band in this music video. The video cuts between shots of the band performing and a rage room, all in the same background of neon green and red graffiti. The aesthetic feels like you’ve just entered a skate park in 2005, and despite the smashing of glass and loud punk production, there’s something comforting about it. For the two minutes of the video, you’re at a house party in an era that no longer exists.
The rage room serves for more than just a background, as “Piss n’ Gums” is about how sometimes life feels like beating after beating. But it’s also about learning to deal with these troubles, and embrace the challenges of the world as part of life. As Justin Tauch (or JT) says about the song: “Life is like a Dom ready to crack a whip on you when you least expect it. Might as well learn to enjoy it!”
“Piss n’ Gums” feels like a familiar comfort to those who miss the era of punk. In an era where pop music and electronic sounds dominate the charts, hearing bass licks and straight up drums is a nice deviation from the norm. And maybe this comes from the more natural production of the song. JT said his vocals for “Piss n’ Gums” were done in one take.
The song and video are an eclectic mix of both punk rage and some fun moments, which I think do a wonderful job reflecting what is so compelling about Heartwells as a whole.
