The valiant band Beautiful Dudes have channeled their determination and spunk into their newest single, “Nite Nite.” The single is first to be released from their upcoming EP Nite Songs, out August 14, the soundtrack to the current state of the world as it traverses dark, melancholic times with refreshing optimism. From Nevada City, frontman Tom Bevitori and the Dudes have always aimed to capture serious topics with infectious hooks and heavy riffs. There’s more to the band than meets the eye, however. Among the band’s brazen sounds are intimate lyrics that add a deeper dimension to their music.
“Nite Nite” embodies the courageous energy of four dudes who have tons of spirit and spite: “We are not afraid, we fear nothing.” It’s simple in structure– the opening combination of clashing drums, Bevitori’s turbulent voice, and the rumbling guitars including the persistent rising triplet figure continue basically throughout the entire song. This creates a feeling of static but excited energy, as though something is coming. And indeed, the first words we hear are “the revolution is coming.” The release of Nite Songs is coming as well, making this song the perfect first release to generate eager anticipation for the EP.
“Nite Nite” will only be released on a flexi vinyl record included with the purchase of their limited edition Skateboard deck. Beautiful Dudes will also be featured on the upcoming compilation album for the Nevada City Film Festival in August with their new song “Beverly Hills” and live performances and interviews.
Philadelphia-based duo Dom & Jesse share their latest single “Can’t Help Myself”. It is a mix of pop melodies with soulful rhythms, destined to be a song used in the next TikTok trend. In a time like we are in right now, you want to break all the rules to be with the one you love and that’s what the duo is trying to convey here. Sometimes there is just a magnetic connection that is so hard to resist, it will pull you in.
Produced by Grammy-nominated producer Dilemma, they were able to create an upbeat track that is perfect for their sound and will pull in new fans. Blending current styles and classic storytelling, Dom & Jesse have a similar style to artists like Liam Payne, Charlie Puth, and the Jonas Brothers. It is easy on the ears and would be a great addition to a pop workout playlist. Their vocals float through the track with a beat that will keep your head bopping. You won’t be able to help yourself from playing this song on repeat, so dive into the sounds of Dom & Jesse now.
There’s something about 6/8 time that can really amplify emotion in music. Sarah Barrios exploits the time signature and the passion it nurtures in her new single, aptly titled “Emotional.” The pop/indie/blues singer-songwriter has found great success in her musical career so far, including being a finalist in the Guitar Center’s National Singer Songwriter Competition. She has also won various musical awards, but she maintains that her music’s main purpose is to foster connections with her fans.
Her single, “Emotional”, is about the inner frustration that comes from being too sentimental, too emotional. This feeling manifests itself in the song in two ways. First, as the song begins, Barrios sings on top of soothing guitar and nothing else except hints of other instruments. This creates a wistful atmosphere, quiet and thoughtful. The song builds, however, and by the time it reaches the second verse it becomes stronger. Three pounds of a beat mark the first bar, and while they are subdued and fit the relaxed vibe of the song, they evoke– just for a moment– the image of someone pounding their fist on a surface in frustration. Barrios’ voice embodies the essence of “pop,” singing her varied vocal lines with an expert fluidity. For instance, “why am I so damn emotional” is a lovely, lilting melodic line. “Emotional” is a pop treasure that bonds with Barrios’ fans and first-time listeners alike. It’s now available to stream, as is her newly released EP Letters I Never Sent.
Beabadoobee, one of music’s most talked-about artists, dropped her new single, “Care”. The track is from her highly-anticipated debut full-length album Fake It Flowers, which is set to release later this year. “Care” is all about rejecting sympathy from people who aren’t interested in really getting to know and understand her. A cathartic, to-the-point chorus is a new and explicitly vulnerable direction for her music.
Bea Kristi, beabadoobee, gives fans another bedroom pop song to jam out to. You can feel the real emotions and the anger behind the lyrics, without overdoing it. Some of the first lyrics in the song that stand out are, “I need some help to forget about it / I don’t want your sympathy, stop sayin’ you give a shit / ‘cause you don’t really / care”. Everyone can relate to this feeling at some point in your life and can connect with the frustration felt in this type of situation.
Accompanied by a music video full of outrage and different trippy graphics shot in quarantine, it makes the song more personal. It’s the type of music video that you would love to see premiere on MTV in the early days. Talking about the track and the video, Bea explained, “This song has end-of-a-90s movie vibes, like you’re driving down a highway. It is pretty much me being angry at society, or people around me who I just don’t think know me and don’t care. I don’t want you to feel fucking sorry for me. I just want you to understand what I’ve been through. I never expected to be making the first video from my album during a pandemic! I was so lucky to be locked down with the bedroom guys, it feels like it turned out as one of the most personal, real videos I’ve made.”
“Care” is another great addition to her repertoire and the fans are all for it. The song is brutally honest and exemplifies her struggles, but shows how she still is the same person she’s always been. With praises from Rolling Stone and NPR along with her feature in the worldwide chart-dominating hit “deathbed (coffee for your head)”, which includes a sample of her song “Coffee”, beabadoobee really is something special.
Kacy Hill released her new album Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again on July 10th, and we’ve been wrapping ourselves in its loving embrace ever since. But the official music video for “Everybody’s Mother” dropped recently, and we’re absolutely floored by the beauty.
Beauty in the color palette — look at those gorgeous oranges and greens — and in the artist’s bone structure. But aside from that, beauty in her movement, her lyrics, her vocals. There is both a helplessness and a hopefulness in her eyes that is so relatable, so emotional, so vulnerable. And this sense of loneliness has been amplified in recent months for absolutely everyone. So, for the first time in Imperfect Fifth history, I’m going to let the delicate lyrics and vibrant video speak for themselves.
I’m staring at the ceiling no sleep
Thinking what I’d do if you forget me
I know I can be a lot, but I just wanna talk
I just wanna give you all I’ve got, I need distractions
I’d do anything, do anything for a reaction
I’m everybody’s mother and nobody’s baby
been giving too much to feel lonely lately
And I think that I care more than you do, maybe
I’m everybody’s mother and nobody’s baby
Maybe I’m afraid of what’s next
Maybe I’m afraid of success
Am I even making sense?
I’m just asking for a friend
I wanna say it really doesn’t matter, but it’s deeper
The hours everyday move way too slow until I need them
I’m everybody’s mother and nobody’s baby
been giving too much to feel lonely lately
And I think that I care more than you do, maybe
I’m everybody’s mother and nobody’s baby
Toronto-based R&B dancehall artist Lexxicon will soon be releasing a single and video from his upcoming EP Tropical R&B, called “I Don’t Deserve You.” Lexxicon is known for fusing his Jamaican roots with pop and world music genres. For this single, the producer, singer, and songwriter used this fusion to create an ultramodern ambiance that combines the genres of dancehall and electro-R&B. The track hones in on the feelings of desolation and detachment that loom over us during quarantine. Lexxicon found solace in the moodiness of R&B and decided to use it to express his feelings during the lockdown when he wrote Tropical R&B. As he reminisced about better days in the past, he developed “I Don’t Deserve You” to be about finding someone who you can brave the world with. The song is bittersweet, however, because although it expresses a deep love, a feeling of unworthiness is also present. “Sometimes when you finally get the love you deserve you don’t know how to accept it and you feel unworthy,” says Lexxicon.
A somber tone engulfs the music video. It alternates between several different scenes, but Lexxicon is alone in each one. His melancholic vocals gently sound in places like a vacant street or empty home. The loneliness in these settings is augmented by the somewhat sparse texture of the music. Some scenes are under a cover of darkness, others are a room with a soft red light. Even Lexxicon’s facial expressions are solemn, his eyes staring into the camera with a look of poignant longing. There is also a subtle tension within both the music and video. Flickers of overlaid patterns, colours, and scenes put you slightly on edge, and the buoyant beat and melodic ornaments clash against another, gloomier countermelody. On top of the rich scene-setting provided by the visuals and music, Lexxicon’s lyrics are compelling and all-embracing.
To listen to “I Don’t Deserve You” is to feel understood in these trying times. Stream it and watch the video when they are released this Friday, July 17th.
I don’t know how it happens, but every month I am more and more impressed by the talent that ends up in my inbox. In fact, since I’ve been largely holed up in the apartment since March, I look forward to diving into said inbox more often and even scrolling through Spotify to find new sounds. With the lack of chatter around me, less driving music, and experiencing new music by happenstance in everyday situations, it has been easier to really curate my environment and create an ambiance. And it feels like all of the new music coming out is insightful, artful, and speaks to my soul.
Sometimes we face challenges in life and these struggles tend to be portrayed negatively or stereotyped. Artist DanCroll is no stranger to the feeling and is upfront about how mental health has affected his life, showing the struggles he has faced. “Hit Your Limit” emphasizes the need for each of us to offer empathy to anyone who has run out steam. Now, artists are more open about their struggles, but not many tend to tackle these issues in their songs like Croll does. Not only does he give us these songs, but he has a Dial Dan line which provides an outlet for those who need help easing the pressures of loneliness. Embracing his emotions has created such a positive environment for not only him but for a whole community of people.
Croll’s soothing voice makes for easy listening, in addition to the light instrumentals. The track sounds like it could be a part of a coming of age movie when the main character is reaching their breaking point. “Everyone succumbs, everyone’s got their point/everybody bends and breaks/believe me when I say it’s as clear as night and day / you’ve hit your limit” These personal, yet encouraging lyrics are meant to calm people’s fears. Everyone needs this reassurance, especially in a time like the one we are in right now.
Cincinnati, 2003. “Heartless Bastards” was incorrectly answered when a multiple-choice trivia game question asked, “What is the name of Tom Petty’s backing band?” From this amusing origin Erika Wennerstrom’s band “Heartless Bastards” was born. It began as a recording project but eventually evolved into a live band backed by a revolving collection of musicians. After playing regularly in the Midwest, Heartless Bastards got into the game when Patrick Carney of the Black Keys was taken with the band and passed on their demo to his label at the time, Fat Possum Records. By 2009 David Colvin, Jesse Ebaugh, and Mark Nathan had joined on drums, bass, and guitar to complete the group. Between 2009 and 2015 the 4-piece recorded several critically acclaimed albums, but for the last 5 years, fans have been craving something new. Well, some good news: the wait is finally over! Heartless Bastards are back in the studio to record an album featuring the same tried and true musicality that their fans have come to know and love: Wennerstrom’s paradoxical vocals that simultaneously exist in the planes of sweetness and intimacy but also grit and depth, and the band’s smoky blues sound.
Wennerstroms describes “Revolution” as a lesson in self-love and how it’s the key to a more tolerant society. She believes that humanity needs to learn how to be satisfied with less and to stop needing to feel like they’re better than others in order to validate themselves. For her, “Revolution” is both a mantra and a reminder for herself to avoid playing the commercialism-driven game and to focus on connecting and helping people rather than “beating” them at this game. She states “Dave Chapelle said at a show years ago “Poverty is a state of mind.” That really stuck with me. I was in the Amazon several years ago, and it struck me how little people had materially, and children were running around and they all seemed so happy. Aside from the basic necessities of sustaining our lives I think giving and receiving love is really what we need the most. All the rest is just a bunch of noise.”
“Revolution”, however, is anything but noise. It begins with a soft acoustic guitar that rivals the passionate title. Then it builds steadily, layering heavy guitar and marching band-like drums under Wennerstrom’s unique vocals that remind one of Colin Meloy (The Decemberists). It continues on like this until it revolts into this classic blues-rock song decorated with short guitar licks. The chorus’ recurrent phrase “the Revolution is in your mind” recalls the quote from Chapelle, “Poverty is a state of mind,” perhaps nodding to its sentiment. This is a song that is immediately gratifying on the first listen, but if you dig a little deeper there’s a whole lot of insight to be found.
The track is out on Bandcamp, and a portion of the proceeds will be going to the ACLU in support of civil rights. Listen here!
