by Meredith Schneider | Jan 5, 2018 | premieres, videos, wolf tracks
East coast rap artist Kahiem Rivera is coming at us today with the premiere of his brand new video for “Throat”. Directed by Benjamin Garst and produced by Gabriel Gomez, the video is a beautiful and rough introspective piece that goes along perfectly with the single’s lyrics. Delivered with clean, artful shots, he sits in a dark room, draped in chains and looking into mirrors requesting that someone tell him how he’s “supposed” to be, as a single lightbulb sways overhead. It feels more like an interrogation, as he seems to be facing his demons alone.
As we all learn to be more introspective and guided in the new year, let this song and this video be a staple to go back to when we are feeling alone and questioning our purpose in life.
Keep up with Kahiem here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 3, 2018 | premieres, wolf tracks
Blues/folk/funk group Kings & Associates is starting the new year on the right foot, with a brand new video for their insanely beautiful track “Pabla’s Grace”. Filmed by David Resce, the video showcases the band’s incredible live performance aspect in a soulful, smoky setting that really allows their musicianship to take the forefront. When we got wind that “Pabla’s Grace” is song written in dedication to those suffering the often unspoken cruelty of mental illness, we were floored and inspired at the same time. Says the band, “There’s a dark world called mental illness only overshadowed by social stigmas and ignorance of its realty and effects. Living without the ability to trust your own actions is a reality many people have to bear. But we call them home.”
Let Kings & Associates take the stigma from the conversation, and let your ears become enveloped in a song that is smooth like honey, and just as comforting.
Keep up with Kings & Associates here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 26, 2017 | wolf tracks
Earlier this month, indie pop newcomer Bülow released a visual to go with her mellow, “set him straight” single “Lines”. The video itself is mesmerizing, as it is essentially a repeating gif of the singer, blowing smoke out of her mouth and looking at vinyl on her bed. Comprised of several camera angles, the video traces her profile in dim light, as we make out a simplistic decor behind her, a big map spread out behind her headboard. The video seems to be a good little look behind the scenes into the life of the young musician, as she mellifluously sets boundaries to a steady beat.
Keep up with Bülow here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 15, 2017 | wolf tracks
With Bohnes‘ new music video comes a new sense of badassery to alt-pop. The musical project mastered by Alexander DeLeon (The Cab) continues to impress, maintaining the same versatile, soulful vocals he’s been dazzling us with for years, while putting a new spin on the way they are delivered. His most recent release – a music video for his track “My Friends” – is dark and brooding, yet somehow incredibly inspiring in that it prompts you to evaluate your own “demons.” While DeLeon really draws that raw, rock feel into the track with hard guitar riffs and solid, impactful percussion, we find ourselves drawn to the subject matter with brilliant visuals of a life in the dark, DeLeon’s skeletal makeup at the forefront.
Keep up with Bohnes here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 12, 2017 | wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based rock quintet We’re No Gentlemen – comprised of Amanda Gabel (vocals), Rikki Juarez (rhythm guitarist), Daniele Boneddu (bass), Vince Gudino (drums), and Dan Schiz (lead guitar) – debuted the official music video for their track “Night” just today. This song wraps you up in intricate guitars while Gabel’s vocals claim a Kelly Clarkson-meets-Amy Lee sound to them, dragging us into this rock ballad with its ferocity and beauty.
The video is no different, directed by Henry Arres and shot with a dim and intense feel to the visuals, as we follow each member of the band through times of stress and turmoil. Between visually stunning shots of each individual’s distraught facial expressions, we get a look into the band’s live performance chops as frames of them playing the song together in a dark room almost hold each story together like a thread of escape from this twisted world and the issues we face.
We’re No Gentlemen is out now. Keep up with We’re No Gentlemen here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 4, 2017 | wolf tracks
Just ahead of the release of his new album Magic Boy, Bartees & The Strange Fruit (Bartees Cox) has released a music video for his drop dead gorgeous track “IDK”. Even though we’re not big on acronyms, we are incredibly happy we gave this one a shot. Bartees’ voice is voluptuous almost in its delivery, beautiful and far-reaching in its range. But even without the accompanying guitar, his voice holds its own and essentially drives the entire track, something that brings us back to the beauty and simplicity of utilizing the voice as an instrument. The slow motion, precise movements in the video just really allow you to focus on the bittersweet, heart-driven lyrics as you gaze at the Manhattan skyline behind Bartees.
We love everything about this.
Magic Boy is out December 8th and is available for preorder now. Keep up with Bartees & The Strange Fruit here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 30, 2017 | wolf tracks
Solo musician Stephen Rubinosky might just be starting out with his craft – his debut release is a fun acapella cover of Niall Horan’s behemoth of a soulful pop song “Slow Hands” – but he’s showing he’s got the chops to support a long-lasting career. He recently released the cover as music video depicting several screens of acapella recordings, and it’s absolutely mesmerizing. Working with contrasting colors – white backdrops with blocks of color made of black, red, and gray shirts – the video is simple, but easy to watch, as Rubinosky’s dancing and choreographed movements entice the watcher to dance along. Plus, it lets his new audience really get to know him, as we are exposed to 16 frames of Stephen as he serenades us.
Stephen Rubinosky will be opening for Drake Bell at Club Diesel on December 3rd. Tickets are available now. Keep up with him here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 27, 2017 | wolf tracks
In The City of Angels, one often finds themselves in taxicabs with strangers. One such chance encounter led to the conception of pop duo Thunder Jackson. And we’re in luck, as their debut single “Guilty Party” – which has already hit #1 on the main chart on Hype Machine – now has its own official music video.
Made of what seems to be random, old, pieced together clips, we get to witness a lot of people dancing and rocking out from past years. In fact, it seems to be made exclusively of those scenes from 80s movies where the protagonist has to “dance it out” and, quite surprisingly, we adore the energy it brings to the table. Set with the backdrop of the smooth sounds of “Guilty Party” – which, even at such a sassy mid-tempo, still makes you want to get up and dance – these are some dance moves you’ll want to emulate very soon.
Keep up with Thunder Jackson here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 20, 2017 | wolf tracks
Recently, futuristic pop collective – and self-proclaimed “intergalactic archeologists” – Moviestar released their music video for hard-hitting, electrifying track “Stupid People”, which will be found on their upcoming 2018 release Stupid People/Happy Days. As the band recites the many reasons we avoid society at large as much as possible, a video game made of paper cutout puppets and a pretty intricate “level up”-type of backdrop commences. As the protagonists overcome obstacles to earn all of their instruments and to work together, the music keeps your feet tapping and your mood vibrant. Check it out, and you’ll see what we mean.
Stupid People/Happy Days is out February 9th. Keep up with Moviestar here.
