by Kira Cappello | Jun 27, 2019 | albums, review
For fans of Hayley Kiyoko, Sia, Carly Rae Jepsen, Dua Lipa, Charli XCX
Punchy, deliberate, and honest: On 6-track EP Uni-Fi, we meet many sides of X. ARI. Never holding back from her truth, X. ARI tells stories of her most confident and vulnerable moments alike over glittery soundscapes full of synth, undulating basslines and pounding club beats. The work covers a handful of essential topics for young people today: mental health, gender and sexuality, and of course, heartache.
Early on in the EP, X. ARI characterizes her “I don’t give a f—“ attitude that many, many artists have learned to embody over the years as a means of making a name in pop. This declaration, paired with a glicthy chorus peppered with onomatopoeic vocals, blast X. ARI through her own video-game-sounding world on track two titled La La La
ARI is well known as a fierce advocate for mental health, and this EP addresses her daily battles directly; specifically on tracksBreak-Point, Uni-Fi (ft. IRA X.), and Yin Yang (ft. IRA X.) The first track, Break-Point, is an effective invitation for listeners to dive into an alt-pop experience that could be characterized as an interpretive dancer’s dream come true.
Title track Uni-Fi feels wistful and hopeful, both sonically and lyrically. X. ARI explains her feelings of displacement, confessing, “I’m a little bit damaged…I’m together in fragments, a mosaic I’m trapped in”; but the tone of this song is optimistic, especially through the resounding chorus. While IRA X.’s contributions on the EP aren’t necessarily overwhelming, they complement X. ARI’s vocals nicely; adding dimension and even more synth, as well as highlighting notions of living in a gendered world. She divulges, “I’ll tell you a story of a girl and a boy trapped in the same body, just fighting for some space”.
The most telling narrative of X. ARI’s personal journey with mental health has got to be Yin Yang, also featuring IRA X. Considering how sensitive and emotional of a topic this must have been for X. ARI to write, one is almost left wishing that the song’s dynamic conveyed just a little bit more of those extremes than it does. That said, sometimes the pen is mightier than the- well, synth, and X. ARI scores a 10 for the vulnerability of Yin-Yang’s lyrics.
Perhaps one of the most enticing melodies on the EP lie in the token heartbreak track of the work, titled Everywhere. Contrasting the thrust of her alt-pop anthems, X. ARI uses a slightly softer vocal inflection and a floaty, oscillating hook that mates perfectly with the twinkly, echoing backdrop. The track is punctuated by muted, reverberating beats that could be a slowing heartbeat, or an explosion off in the distance. The most expressive song by far, it seems that on Everywhere, X. ARI is experiencing the feeling of both.
You can keep up with X. ARI on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram below.
http://www.xariofficial.com/
www.facebook.com/xariofficial
www.instagram.com/xariofficial
www.twitter.com/xariofficial
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 26, 2019 | snapshot, visual
We started our last day at Bonnaroo sleeping in a little bit more than usual. We heard a pop up performance amongst the trees at an ungodly hour in the morning, and then dozed until it was time to wander in and catch Kikagaku Moyo‘s set. The Japanese psych band was absolutely mesmerizing, and we believe you catch a small bit of that feeling from the photos alone.
Keep up with Kikagaku Moyo here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 25, 2019 | snapshot, visual
The last performance we saw before the epic set from Childish Gambino on Friday night at Bonnaroo was Courtney Barnett‘s set at THAT. She came out, fiery and forceful, and the energy kick really gave us the inspiration we needed to keep partying into the night. Highlights below.
Keep up with Courtney here.
by Ashleigh Lee | Jun 25, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On Sunday night, the weather was slightly sticky but with a breeze. When the storm warnings had cleared, it was the perfect night to enjoy music outside. Cue: Jimmy Eat World and Third Eye Blind, who regaled us with some of our favorite tracks during a beautiful end to our weekend. Staples like “How’s It Going to Be” and “Semi-Charmed Life” brought more energy to the crowd, of course, with the silhouette of the near-sold out audience looking ethereal against the night sky.
This is our happy place.
Third Eye Blind Set List
Screamer
The Kinds
Never Let You Go
Back to Zero
Can You Take Me
Graduate
Wounded
I Want You
Slow Motion
Motorcycle Drive By
Company of Strangers
Jumper
Bonfire
Something in You
Company
How’s It Going to Be
Encore
Losing a Whole Year
California Blue Boy
Semi-Charmed Life
God of Wine
Keep up with Third Eye Blind here.
words: Meredith Schneider | photos: Ashleigh Lee
by Sarah Hess | Jun 25, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On June 20th, we prepped for summertime with a little bit of love at the Young & Sick and Linney show at The Echo in LA. Highlights from our wonderful photographer Sarah Hess can be seen below.
Keep up with Young & Sick here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 24, 2019 | singles, videos, wolf tracks
Last week, indie musician Skela released a music video alongside her track titled “Elvis”. With soft light and a gorgeous color palette, the video leads us on a journey with the singer, through sprawling landscapes and simple, natural backdrops. Her dusty, captivating vocals lead the track, allowing a visual moment for the viewer/listener to breathe deeply, and truly enjoy the coming of summer.
Check it out below.
Keep up with Skela here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 24, 2019 | snapshot, visual
Bonnaroo 2019 was absolutely spectacular. One of our favorite sets? Hippo Campus, of course! High energy, amazing lyrics, and a dose of that gorgeous sunlight made this the perfect set!
Keep up with Hippo Campus here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 24, 2019 | snapshot, visual
Saturday afternoon. Your phone has rarely been touched since your time on the farm began. It’s sweltering, and it’s just past 2pm on Saturday, which means there is still plenty of daylight left to mess something up. It’s a series of texts and a missed call by bands you’re scheduled to photograph soon. They’re both finished with previous engagements early, and both ready to take some quick photos.
Liily — an intriguing Los Angeles-based alternative quartet comprised of Maxx Morando – (drums), Sam De La Torre (guitar), Charlie Anastasis (bass), Dylan Nash (vocals) — has found one of the coolest areas on the farm, both in temperature and in vibe. It made it easy for us to round out some incredibly cool, relaxed photos.
Keep up with Liily here.
by Kira Cappello | Jun 21, 2019 | singles, wolf tracks
For fans of: Young the Giant, COIN, St. Motel, Phoenix, The Wombats
On their newest single “Rhythm & Gold”, Paper Lions shows off some of their finest indie-pop skills: that ability to implant a radiant summer’s day right into your speakers. With a thumping bass line that’s sure to increase your heart rate, the Canadian four-piece tell a tale of the electricity of falling in love with playing music – as well as dealing with the trials and tribulations that come with life as a touring band. The song’s unblemished cheeriness never falters, as call-and-response vocals and upbeat hand-claps encourage the listener to join in with every beat of the chorus.
“Rhythm & Gold” not only supplies the glitteriest aspects of indie pop sweetness, it also gives some insight to the group’s journey in working together to make it in the music world. Vocalist John MacPhee reaches out to his bandmates with reassurance in the resounding chorus: “This is where I wanna stay, where we started loving rock and roll,” referencing their roots that trace back to the early 2000’s. Originally formed in 2004 under the Chucky Danger Band, the quartet (brothers John MacPhee and Rob MacPhee, Colin Buchanan and David Cyrus MacDonald) began going as Paper Lions officially in 2008. They have since been nominated for 8 music awards, and won an Independent Music Award for their 2012 EP At Long Creek. Aside from a Christmas tune titled “Where Is My Love For Christmas”, this new track is the band’s first release since their most recently debuted album, titled At Long Creek II (2018). Here’s to a summer full of “Rhythm & Gold”!
Keep up with Paper Lions here.
