by Caitlyn Champ | Aug 12, 2019 | premieres, videos
Folk-pop duo Starbird & the Phoenix – made up of Courtney Bassett and Andrew Swackhamer – are back with a groovy acoustic rendition of the hit song, “Sunbeam”. Producing a video full of summery feel-good vibes, the two are jamming out in a quaint space allowing the viewer to feel as if they’re right in the studio with the artists. Between Andrew shredding on the ukulele and Courtney hitting astronomically high notes, you can’t do anything but “groove along with me” as the lyrics suggest. Great for a pick me up, one watch through the video will have your soul feeding off the energy of the two in no time. Be sure to catch this wonderful remake of “Sunbeam” the week of August 12 and allow yourself to dive into the world of Starbird and the Phoenix.
Keep up with the band here.
by Meredith Schneider | Aug 9, 2019 | premieres, videos, wolf tracks
Fullerton-based indie rock musician The Late Innings (Vincent Sinex) is coming at us hard with the video premiere for his track “Our Secret”. The song itself takes almost a spoken word tempo, packed with entertaining lyrics. As we get an audible glimpse into simpler times in the bay area, we are drawn to the adventurous nature of topographically-designed lyrics.
Explains Vincent:
I made the ‘Our Secret’ video entirely using topographical maps. I wanted to capture the restless feeling of a traveler going from one place after another, searching for that perfect spot. I’ve always been fascinated by maps and travel. When I was younger, I would spend many hours poring over atlases and maps, studying place names and doing things like learning state capitals. To make the video, I took screen captures from United States Geological Survey topographical maps and used them to illustrate not only the lyrics of the song, but also the types of places (beaches, coves and bays) the traveler encounters in the song.
This song itself is about a guy who travels to a place he considers his ‘secret’ vacation spot, only to find out that the place is now overrun with tourists. He’s disappointed to discover that something he used to think of ‘his’ is now a place that apparently everybody now knows about. The inspiration for this song came from a trip of my own, where we went to a beach that seemingly no one knew about, and we had the whole place to ourselves that afternoon. After that trip, I thought, ‘The next time I want to go back there, will it still be a secret, especially since in the age of social media, nothing is a secret anymore?
Nothing is a secret, and we can all relate. Check out the video below!
Keep up with The Late Innings at thelateinnings.com.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 30, 2019 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
Alt folk collective Kazyak – comprised of Peter Frey (guitar), Andy Wolfe (guitar), Pat Hayes (synth, piano), Lana Bolin (bass), and Nick Grewe (drums) – is coming at us hard this Tuesday with a single premiere for their new track “Contravertical”. A swirling, psychedelic sound brings us gradually into a beautiful, soothing soundscape. Eventually, reverb-filled vocals are added in, giving it a slight otherworldly sound. When one takes into account the lyrics, it truly is stunning how well they go with that sound, as the song is about exploring the unknown and the universe around us. Enjoy the track below, and let us know what you think on Facebook!
Keep up with Kazyak here!
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 23, 2019 | albums, premieres
Rhode Island plays host to some pretty stellar acts, but who knew it would be the home of one of our latest favorite alternative rock acts? Wild Sun – a trio comprised of Glenn Kendzia, Paul Fazio, and Padraic Fazio – has a brand new, 9-track release titled Closed Door Talks and it’s one of those albums that is best enjoyed from beginning to end. We’re not saying don’t check out a song here and there right now, at your desk at work. (We won’t tell anyone!) What we ARE saying is, it’s truly an impact album full of a slew of psychedelic instrumentals that give the already edgy vocals a heightened sound. We’d consider cozying up with a nice glass of {{insert favorite summer beverage here}}, a starry sky, and your loved ones to enjoy this one. You’re in for quite the ride!
Keep up with Wild Sun here.
by Kira Cappello | Jul 19, 2019 | premieres, singles
Rolling, bright and temperate: “Looking for Anyone” is the newest single from self-described “easy listening” group Common Hours, and it’s perfect for a back porch at twilight.
This track invites us in with warm shoegazey strums met by a texturizing, Southern-esque guitar leads from guitarist Dillon VanBuren. A steady kick drum and ride cymbal, via August George, effectively secure infectious head-nodding throughout. Backed by sugary harmonies from Ariel Roxanne Cook, lead vocalist Adam Black’s croons hazily illustrate the smooth, mono-mood of “Looking For Anyone”. Cook’s bass parts are pleasantly present in the mix, supplying a satisfying foundation for the floatiness that is a marker for this track; as lead guitar mimics the chorus melody, providing a predictability that is comforting but not cliché. The lyrics are distant enough to allow for objective interpretation, but personal enough to relay Black’s qualms about rushing into love to quickly, weighed down by lingering anxieties from previous relationships. “Looking For Anyone” is about anything but, as Black wonders aloud: “I’m not just looking for anyone. Can I get you to know that I need your love?”
This single is Common Hour’s newest release since a 2018 EP titled A Life Worth Living.
Keep up with Common Hours here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 18, 2019 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
Recently, we had the wonderful pleasure of sitting down with Lulise to chat for season 2 of our podcast. We have to wait until August to experience that gem, but for now we thought we’d bide some time and premiere her new single, if you’re into it. (Frankly, we don’t care what you think. But we’re pretty sure you’ll be keen on it too.) Get a dose of gorgeous vocals, a little bit of attitude, and a whole lot of relatability as Lulise croons about a love interest that she cannot pursue!
Keep up with Lulise here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 12, 2019 | albums, premieres
Rock collective Model Citizen released their new album The Next Life this morning. The 18-piece band – under their leader Mark Ciani, with help from Josh Logan, Fernando Lodeiro, Alvaro Kapaz, Matt Musty, and Ryan Gleason – packed this release with as much grit and soul as possible, while injecting their own brand of indie-influenced rock into every track. Songs like “Hell Hath No Fury” and “The Next Life” give us pause to truly appreciate the breadth of the album, which was created to perfectly complement an evening breeze. Don’t believe us? We’re premiering it now, so check it for yourself!
Keep up with Model Citizen here!
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 25, 2019 | premieres, videos
Psychedelic-laced rock band King Ropes releases their latest video today for their enigmatic track “California Stars” from Gravity and Friction, and we’ve got the exclusive premiere. Created by Keith Martinez and Dave Hollier, the video utilizes a large portion of found footage. It’s an exquisite reel, and we’re impressed with the quality of the footage, so many years after it was shot. Take a peek below!
CALIFORNIA STARS
clark flipped his hayrig into the river
lucinda singing trying to save his soul
i did some time there in the devil’s half acre
lucinda singing trying to save my soul
now i can’t shake the feeling i’m running out of time
i can’t shake the feeling i’m running out of time
becky left brooklyn a three time loser
setting her sights on those california stars
she got hung up here in the bitteroot valley
gave not one more thought to those california stars
those california stars they shine and shine
those california stars they shine and shine
becky’s still standing here in wild eyed wonder
at the land and the water and wide open skies
and all of the wrong turns that finally brought her here
to clark who left his mark on pipeorgan bridge
i can’t shake the feeling i’m running out of time
i can’t shake the feeling i’m running out of time
i can’t shake the feeling i’m running out of time
those california stars were yours
those california stars were yours
those california stars were yours and mine
Keep up with King Ropes here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 18, 2019 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
Portland-based three piece Rum River Cult – comprised of Sarah Parson, Jed Overly, and Colin Ringkamp – is giving us a run for our money with their new single “Strangers Now”. We’ve got the exclusive premiere, and this smoky, fun, gorgeous sonic landscape is something you do not want to pass up on. As an edgy guitar riff sets in, Parson’s reverb-filled vocals make an impact. The song explodes into a beautiful, psychedelic journey that will almost intrinsically force you to dance. So get those moves ready, and check it out now!
Rum River Cult will play the Davis Music Festival this weekend. “Strangers Now” will hit all streaming platforms June 19th. Keep up with Rum River Cult here.
