by Meredith Schneider | Dec 5, 2017 | wolf tracks
Australian beach pop duo Geowulf – comprised of Star Kendrick and Toma Banjanin – released their infectious, sun-drenched track “Hideaway” today. Even though we feel like we’re floating through a summery soundscape with this track, we recognize the easily relatable lyrics as somewhat of a different season, as they sing about discomfort in a relationship, as the object of their affection – friend, foe, or love interest – does nothing but “hideaway.”
Let the lazy, beautiful structure of this song carry you away today as you gaze out a window wherever you are…
Keep up with Geowulf here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 20, 2017 | wolf tracks
As if they’re not already beginning the narrative with a pretty intense band name, Sweden-based psych garage rock collective Baby Jesus – comprised of Fredrik Kristoffersson (guitar/vox), Elis Jäghammar (bass/vox),Svante Pålsson, and Rasmus Högdin – took it a step further earlier this year with the release of their full-length album titled Took Our Sons Away. Clearly developed with a different frame of mind than their 2015 self-titled debut, the guys of Baby Jesus have somehow managed to bottle their live show energy into their sound, something that many bands never have the knack – and perhaps not even the want- for.
Starting with “Feel For You Girl”, you’re looped into this false sense of nostalgia with the rough production and beautiful, lush ambiance to the instrumentals. It makes you just want to prep for a progressive/badass sock hop, and we’re pretty sure you’ll know what we mean when you hear those first chords. While “Over and Over Again” really goes wild, waning guitars and the mostly-yelled-but-sometimes-delivered-with-finesse-vocals that Baby Jesus has really become known for allow you to settle into the sound. “All Out” and “Down South” carry similar toe-tapping beats, while “That’s All Right” carries an album slow down that we were starting to need. Really, the track has the same freeing garage sound as its predecessors, though it feels more like a garage ballad if we were to categorize it.
But those first five tracks don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what there is to enjoy about Took Our Sons Away. A delectable collection of diverse and captivating moods, whirring instrumentals, and a pension for the spotlight drive these four men into our hearts as they take us on a fourteen-track journey through parts of the last two years of their lives. From the 50s doo-wop feels of “Hold My Hand” to the hint of 13th Floor Elevators in “Ain’t Got No Place To Go” (among others), to the eerie static sounds of “Baby Jesus – The Beat”, we’re floored by the band’s ability to keep us on our toes for this long.
But that’s not all. At the time of release, the masters for Baby Jesus’ 3rd full-length were being prepped, and we’re expecting new music in early 2018 already. So consider yourselves spoiled. We know we do.
Took Our Sons Away is out now on Yippee Ki Yay Records. Keep up with Baby Jesus here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 13, 2017 | wolf tracks
On November 3rd, Kansas City, Missouri native and contemporary blues artist Samantha Fish released her latest work, an album titled Belle Of The West. Riddled with catchy hooks, beautiful melodies, and a flare for the dramatic, Fish has pushed the envelope slightly more than with her previous work, challenging her own sound at times and really coming at us with guns a-blazin’ with attitude, fun, and intensity that is a surefire reflection of what the live performance of this album will be like. Admits Fish of Belle Of The West:
To me, this is a natural progression. It’s a storytelling record by a girl who grew up in the Midwest. It’s a personal album. I really focused on the songwriting and the vocals and the melodies and the emotion, and on bringing another dimension to what I do. I wasn’t interested in shredding on guitar, although we did end up doing a few heavier things. I love the Mississippi style of the blues; there’s something very soulful and very real about that style of music, so this was a chance to immerse myself in that. It’s definitely a song record and an emotional record, and I’m really excited to play these songs live.
And we’re excited to see them live, as each of the eleven tracks could stand on its own with personality and attitude to boot. Take first track “American Dream” for example, with percussion that drives the track into an uplifting sound space, a song that has more attitude than its followup “Blood in The Water”, but is less confrontational. In fact, when Fish belts, “there is blood in the water” it seems like she is coming to this realization in a soothing environment, or that’s the way her vocals make us feel. “Need You More” picks up the pace slightly, making your heart ache with loneliness as Fish sings about her desire for love with a certain someone.
“Cowtown” is more about escapism from the mundanity of the every day no matter where you’re at, while “Daughters” is a dark reflection of a push and pull relationship with your roots. “Don’t Say You Love Me” brings back more of the strong belting we have come to know and love from Fish, really emphasizing the need to have things done on her own terms while she’s “playing with fire.” The title track once again lightens up the mood a bit instrumentally – though keeps the tempo slower – a somehow positive ending in the melancholically-delivered lyrics “she’s southbound for glory.” But nothing picks up like the pace and the mood in “Poor Black Mattie”, which brings out more of a southern flare than its predecessors, something we’ve come to expect and enjoy from producer Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars).
“No Angels” feels devious from the start, and we imagine that if Sons of Anarchy were still being made, this song would get placement in a heartbeat. “Nearing Home” has a positive title, slowing the album down to a crawl that a good last song would round out the album at. But this bittersweet track is only second to last, the track “Gone For Good” painting a more finite picture for us amongst standout guitar and smooth as butter vocals as the final in an eleven-track stunner.
Belle Of The West is out now. Keep up with Samantha Fish here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 2, 2017 | wolf tracks
French jazz-pop musician Laure Z might reside in Los Angeles now, but she’s brought a wealth of knowledge over the pond from her years in music education. Right now, she’s preparing for the debut of her new EP, a 6 track work titled Girls Don’t Wait due out in November. But while things are going on behind the scenes, we’ve actually got the exclusive premiere of the next piece of that work, a song titled “I Will Follow You”. Whistling leads you into this soft, emotional release. Laure Z’s vocals seem to float effortlessly over the instrumentals, giving off the feeling that you’re in a garden, surrounded by brilliant landscape under a bed of twinkling stars. The song is a testament to love, inviting trust and acceptance into a relationship, spun blissfully together with simplistic and ethereal instrumentals.
Girls Don’t Wait is due out soon. Keep up with Laure Z here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 14, 2017 | 5 to 7
Maddie North is a New Zealander who has found her gorgeous self in Los Angeles, doing what she does best–making music. She released her first EP last year under the moniker of “So Below,” and we can’t get enough. Her music is ethereal, her voice tranquil, and her sound extremely unique. And then there’s her personality.
Maddie is a doll. We got to know her a little bit, and we’d like for you to know her too. Because she’s about to be a really big deal, and you don’t want to miss out. (Do you?) So check out this fun interview, and tell us what you think of miss Maddie (so) below!
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If you could introduce yourself to our readers in any way, with money not being a factor, how would you do so?
Hahaha! I’m not one for being the centre of attention, OR parachuting, so I guess just a quick blurb.
Hi! My name is Maddie and I have a musical project called So Below. I just put my debut EP out about 2 weeks ago, it’s a sort of dark style of electronic pop! I like red wine and watching terrible tv. I put way too much sriracha on all my food and if I’m not working, I’m usually walking around the house in my pajamas, I know, I’m crazy.
You’re from Auckland, New Zealand. How do you think that has aided in shaping who you are and how you live your life?
Well NZ is such a great place to grow up I think. I feel like it’s quite a relaxed place, the people are amazing and nature and beaches are such a part of it too. Moving to Los Angeles I definitely had to live in a place that had some sort of backyard garden area. I knew if I was cooped up in an apartment I would go crazy hahaha.
We feel you on that one! How old were you when you started getting into music?
I started taking music more seriously about two years ago. Before that I just made crappy little demos on Garage Band, drowned in reverb and delay. I was always pretty embarrassed to play them to anyone hahaha.
Other than that I played piano since I was 5ish and was in a choir in high school!
We have all of that in common. (Seriously. All of it.) When did you head out to the west coast, and how has that experience been for you?
I moved to LA about 3 years ago! It’s been great, definitely took a while for me to find my footing though. My tracks “Luna” and “Sleep” are both about LA, in fact. Different aspects of it but definitely inspired by my time here.
Where did the stage name “So Below” come from?
I just wrote a ton of potential names down on a list and that was the one I liked the most! The funny thing is I’m also in another band called Space Above, and didn’t even see the correlation until a few weeks later when someone asked, “You did that on purpose right? Space Above, So Below?” Hahaha maybe I did it subconsciously.
That’s awesome! What do you find is absolutely necessary in the writing/recording process for you?
I really enjoy writing by myself, but it can sometimes be challenging. Its definitely easier when you have someone else in the room to bounce ideas off of. My friend Leroy Clampitt and I work really well together, we wrote “Drift” and “Luna” together and a bunch of stuff that I haven’t released yet. He’s just fun to be around and has a really positive energy which is molto importante. Coffee yes, always a must, and a good night’s sleep hahaha.
You describe your sound as “goth pop.” Who would you cite as influences for your music?
I wrote “gothpop” on Soundcloud for a laugh, and it sort of stuck. I’ve been a massive Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails fan for a long time, huge influence.
Great influences! If you could tour with any act in the industry, who would you choose and why?
Well, Radiohead or Nine Inch Nails?? Hahaha actually Grimes seems like a super cool chick, I bet she would be heaps of fun to tour with. Or Lorde, she’s such a lovely person.
And touring with those two would make sense with your sound. OK. We stalked your Instagram, and we see you have a sweet tooth. What is the best donut you’ve ever eaten?
I honestly don’t really have a sweet tooth, I don’t crave it. But hey if it’s in front of me, I’m not NOT gonna eat it I mean that’s just crazy talk. But there’s a pretty cool place called Donut Friend in Highland Park. You build your own dream donut. <3 <3
Bookin’ the next flight out! What are you currently listening to?
The new Moderat album is really great! It just came out, definitely check it out.
What are your favorite things to do/places to go/people to see in New Zealand?
I honestly haven’t really travelled around New Zealand! So I can’t give a good answer to this hahaha my bad. Its definitely on my to do list, but every time I go home I just want to hang with my family and friends in Auckland.
Fair enough! What do you do when a baby just stares at you in public? (Yup. Bizarre question. Owning it.)
Ummmm I’m not super great with kids, and I feel like they can sense my fear sorta like how dogs can hahaha. I guess my immediate reaction would be look away??
We’re cut from the same cloth. What’s the best video/movie/TV show you’ve seen lately? Why?
I saw a film last week called The Lobster it was really great! Its got Collin Farrell in it who is one of my fav celeb hotties. Although in this movie he’s not looking tooooooo great hahah.
We have been wanting to see that! YES. Your voice is absolutely gorgeous. Ethereal, really. This makes us wonder: if your music were to be featured in a movie or television show, which one could you imagine it as a background to?
The one that offered me the most money obviously!! Haha JOKES umm I’m a big sci fi fan, so maybe something like Ex Machina, or Under The Skin. TV shows maybe Girls? Or True Detective? Not sure if it’s a good fit though.
We kind of want to hear your stuff everywhere, though! What’s up next for SO BELOW, darling?
Maddie: Live Show!! I’m super excited but also hella nervous. I’ll probably invite people to like my 3rd show, by then I would have fallen on my face and forgotten all the lyrics a few times, so it will be out of my system by then hahaha.
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Find out more about So Below on her Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter. Plus, her SoundCloud is pretty rad!
**Originally published on Moshery, April 2016
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 12, 2017 | wolf tracks
Goth pop musician So Below has been fascinating us for over a year now, with the way her audio art and subsequent visual art never fail to impress. Directed by Sam Kristofski, her new music video for dance track “Ruin” is an absolute stunner. Focusing on minimal jewel tones in each frame, there’s a sullen feel to the buildup of the track. As it picks up, frames layer over each other quickly, swapping between three major shots to piece the story together. But, to be fair, there was a necessity to present the video in pieces, as there is a broken feeling to the song that is now echoed in its visual presence. After all, the title is “Ruin”, so you start to feel it before you even press “play”.
We must admit, Maddie (So Below) is capable of one of the most simultaneously threatening and alluring facial expressions we have seen thus far. (See: Staring at the camera in the pool.)
Keep up with So Below here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 11, 2017 | wolf tracks
Today, Ashland, Oregon based indie collective Slow Corpse – comprised of Mitchell Winters (vocals, guitar), Brenton Clarke (guitar), Cole Zollinger (bass), Sean Siders (drums), and Dash Curtis (keys) – is bringing a tasty treat to your eyes, just in time for Halloween. Their crawling, darker recut of Kendrick Lamar’s intense “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” has its own music video, and we’ve got your first look.
Filmed and edited by Jordan Kourupes at with Novum Visuals, the video for “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” was written and directed by Slow Corpse’s own Brenton Clarke. Bathed in cool jewel tones, the video is the modern version of every turn of the century rapper music video, but created for hipsters. Slow motion dancing, covered in smoke, no personal space, people wearing all types of clothing and participating in cultish activities.
You know, that.
Check out the mesmerizing, smooth version of “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and don’t let anyone kill your vibe, no matter what you’re into.
Keep up with Slow Corpse here.
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