If you have been sitting around looking for the perfect way to entertain yourself as a cure for your boredom, it is perhaps most appropriate to turn to Antidote to Being Bored, Oscar Lang’s folk-rock experiment. Lang promises a high-volume experience with his newest release, starting with the EP’s title track all the way down to the final track, “Something Has Changed”, and every track in between. The entire track list is a blesses us with piercing electric guitars and bewitching melodies, perfect for both your winter run around the block or your quiet fireside music listening sessions. What makes this release stand out is the ability of every song to fit different moods and still be a fantastic choice.
Lang says of the EP:
I wrote Antidote to Being Bored to be an absolute blow-the-roof-off-the-stadium rock banger and I think it lives up to that. I wanted to get a little darker with this EP, while continuing the sound of the previous one. I feel like I really found a style of music that I love and am just excited to play. So, this release was all about developing that sound further.
Today, we have the exclusive honor of premiering Nathaniel Bellow’s latest track “I Once Did” – along with its accompanying lyric video – ahead of the release of his third full-length Three. Bellow’s signature gravelly vocals lead the track, with a light composition to really add a calm feeling to the audio. When Bellows insists “I don’t feel the weight that I once did,” you can feel it in the instrumentals.
Each of the songs from his upcoming release was inspired by his father’s death in the three years since his passing, so hints of grief and remorse can be found throughout. What we have here is art in its purest form.
Three is out Friday, December 11. Keep up with Bellows here.
It’s not too hard to find a good song that focuses on pain, loneliness or loss. Similarly, there’s never been a shortage of music that pays attention to life’s beauty. It is a unique uncovering, however, to come across a piece that acknowledges both sides of the coin. The result is a sense of connection between the artist and the listener, with both parties realizing that life’s emotional oscillations are a part of the human experience.
Mikey Ferrari’s new single, “standoff”, creates a space in which listeners can appreciate this connection. In the track, Ferrari opens himself to sheer vulnerability, reflecting on the loss of a close friend. Beginning with an electronic celestial sound, Ferrari adds color to his description of the longed for “space boy”. To enchant us even more, the Los Angeles-based singer puts to use his impressive falsetto, making it all too easy for us to indulge in his delicacy. By showing us his soft side, Ferrari only heightens the significance behind his words.
Despite the pain, profound beauty can be found when we are faced with a loss– along with an appreciation for what the loss teaches us. Ferrari reminds us of this lesson in “standoff”, coming off his upcoming album, SPACEBOY, set to release in early 2021.
Today, we’ve got the exclusive premiere of Devil Love’s “Everywhere Leads The Sound” alongside its new lyric video. The first track off their upcoming release Broken Things (February 12), it sets the tone for an album rich in meaning and replete with the unique blend of genres the band is known for. “Everywhere Leads The Sound” clearly bends to the ’90s alt-rock scene, with lighter vocals that bring the overall tone of the song to a softer place.
Typically, when you hear a song with heavy drums and a rougher guitar riff, you don’t necessarily consider it a lullaby. But Devil Love is here to prove that theory incorrect. The band’s willingness to be vulnerable while exhibiting strength in sound is a testament to their work as men outside of the band. Explains Peter Buzzelle of the inspiration behind the track:
This song was originally inspired by my very busy first born daughter, who was later diagnosed with ADHD. The song then morphed into a more broad comment on society and the need to take in life with gratitude.
We’re excited to learn more lessons with Devil Love as they continue to tease the upcoming album.
Sitting in his third-grade math class, Mike Richards, aka A Note Two Self, realized that he would much rather join the kids who were playing music. That is exactly what he did. Fast forward to the present and A Note Two Self is releasing a new track called “Love Drunk”. What starts off as a simple guitar-heavy track quickly turns to a big band, acoustic production, complete with pumping percussion and electric riffs. The story is that of somebody who is willing to give their entire self to the person they have fallen for, and it almost resembles a worship song, one you would hear in the grandest of cathedrals. Perhaps this is because the track is essentially that feeling of worshiping and wanting to shower your person with love. “Love Drunk” takes you to one of the happiest places a song can go.
A Note Two Self explains:
“Love Drunk” was inspired by that feeling of unconditional love and being so enamored that you’re super caught up in the moment. No matter what happens through the good times, the bad times, when you’re in the middle of the whirlwind you’ve got an anchor keeping you grounded.
We’ve all experienced the confusion that comes with being wrapped up in an unclear state of affairs with that special someone. Amongst other emotions, we often find ourselves asking a never-ending list of questions. Where is this going? What do they mean? What’s my next move, and what is theirs?
There’s no doubt that life would be simpler if we put an end to the constant mind-garbage that bubbles up from our brain’s most curious corners. Yet, we still can’t seem to help ourselves from spending hours analyzing the most straightforward text message, or deciding between which emoji would qualify as the most appropriate response.
If this situation hits home for you, I’m happy to present you with a solution that will remind you of how to properly respond: Southern California’s R&B star, Joyce Wrice, and her new single “So So Sick”. Not only will this track bring you back to a positive space focused on self love, but you will simply be too busy enjoying yourself to even think about anyone else.
With commandeering vocals and a self-empowered message, Wrice brings to life sentiments of rejection and pain; along with the necessary attitude to move past such emotions. The singer-songwriter’s sweet-and-cheeky sound is driven home as she conveys the unpleasant cyclicality of someone being unsure of how they feel about you, and having been through this before. As opposed to waiting for someone who’s only half-baked crazy about you, the listener is inspired to prioritize themselves and move on– an important lesson to take in stride as we move into the new year.
“So So Sick” was co-written alongside Daniel Church and produced by Grammy Award-nominee, D’Mile. The track comes from Wrice’s forthcoming album debut, set to arrive early 2021.
If holiday cheer is something that seems a little hard to find lately, then check out Toddie Time, a unique collection of holiday classics from Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies. On all six holiday songs, The Hot Toddies dive into nostalgic hits while reinterpreting your favorite Christmastide classics that range from toe-tappers that swing to sweet ballads that pull on your heartstrings. Their fun new arrangements all their own that display Malone’s vocal prowess and Doug Kees guitar skills. Malone and Kees are joined by Tommy Dean on upright bass, and occasionally Chris Burroughs on drums.
A particular stand out is “Blue Christmas”, as their version features an electric guitar solo with extra rifs all around. Malone’s vocal style and mood on this track is such a fresh and new take on this bittersweet classic. Their arrangement on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” really showcases a great pairing of upright bass and electric guitar – making you feel like you’re back at your favorite neighborhood dive bar this holiday season, tapping your feet at some live music, and ordering a Hot Toddie. So go on, stream this holiday gift of songs today and be swept up in the cheer you’ve been looking for!
Jenny Lewis has unexpectedly teamed up with Chicago-based rapper Serengeti for the new track and subsequent music video for “Unblu”. As the lyrics create the feeling of yearning for someone who doesn’t seem to be emotionally available yet, the video enhances this longing desire by getting closer to the listener than would be possible had they not shot it with simple iPhone technology. In a way, it feels like a series of video diaries, put together to present to the person you are waiting for so they can see how your life has been while you have been waiting. “Unblu” is a not-so-subtle display of loneliness and fervor, tied together in a package of smooth and rich sonics.
Lewis and Serengeti say of the process of creating the song and video:
To accompany the music, Jenny made videos on her phone during the witching hours, editing while under the covers. Then Jenny texted the tracks to another People alumnus–Andrew Broder in Minneapolis—who co-produced and mixed the songs, taking them from Garageband phone music to music that gently thumps you. Music to dance around your living room in a Day-Glo bathing suit to. Music to go bananas to while watching the news & Forensic Files on mute.
The indie pop world welcomes new talent Elise Eriksen with her debut single “Less” featuring Shoffy, a song already proving that new fans will only want more and more from this young and talented soul. Norway born, Manhattan raised and LA based; 17-year-old Elise Eriksen juggles her schoolwork with her passion for writing and recording songs. After devoting years to playing piano, refining her vocal skills, and honing her songwriting craft, the 17-year-old has mined inspiration from artists as eclectic as Stevie Nicks, Alicia Keys, and Don Toliver to form her own emotionally honest yet feel-good form of pop.
The bass-heavy grooves and subtle 80’s texturing on “Less” bittersweetly complement the verses Elise and Shoffy trade on feelings around growing apart in a relationship. Elise’s vocal presence is this bright, up-tempo force that stays with the listener throughout the entire song. The harmonious balance of the lyrics delivers the hope still within the relationship with this verse: “’Cause I want less space between us / Less room between our skin and the bed / Less ways to keep us / From drifting apart the way that we did.”
With more music to come, make sure to keep an eye on Elise as she gears up for an exciting 2021! Stream “Less” today and keep up to date with Elise Eriksen on her Instagram page.
