rosa, “phone”

rosa, “phone”

Continuing to cement himself as an artist to watch in 2020, self-taught singer, songwriter, producer, and composer ROSA reveals his newest single, “Phone”. This track follows his debut single “Drunk Girl” released back in 2017. 

“Phone” is a hip-hop infused left-pop track that tackles our ongoing fascination and dependency sought after on our cellphones. Nowadays, these hand-held devices connect us to a world far beyond our reach. “Phone” dives into what that means and its impact on our lives. 

With musical influences ranging from Phil Collins and Snoop Dogg, ROSA is able to channel an array of sounds and ideas into his music. 

In the coming year ROSA is set to showcase his music ability with his debut EP FEMALE. The EP centers around female empowerment and the need for men emotional maturity. FEMALE resembles an auditory diary for ROSA to bare his vulnerability on his personal battles

With “Phone”, ROSA kicks off the theme of expressing vulnerability by welcoming listeners to break masculine barriers and own their your own quirkiness. ROSA is able to powerfully combine undeniable melodies with infectious beats and create music that provokes danceability and deep thought. 

 

handsome ghost, “vampires”

handsome ghost, “vampires”

Massachusetts duo Handsome Ghost have just released “Vampires”, a nostalgic ode to youth and the wild moments found in the infancy of love. The track precedes the release of their forthcoming album, Some Still Morning, due to release this May. The record is centered around the feeling of a new dawn when you’re finally able to look at everything with fresh perspective and fresh eyes, a theme that feels all too appropriate during these crazy times.

The ethereal duo, comprised of Tim Notes and Eddie Byun, tie the aching track together with delicate production and acoustic guitars over whispered lyrics. Airy background vocals exist as distant siren calls while muted piano continues to quietly drive the song forward. Every nuance feels purposeful and perfectly placed, the track sprinkled with numerous moments of magic that manage to exist both subtly and powerfully. The duo reflects on grasping spontaneity and passion for life over the passage of time, with a touch of bitterness over the unreachability of the past and what will never be lending that hard-to-capture feeling of finding beauty through pain.

“Vampires” is out now for your quarantine streaming consumption and Some Still Morning is scheduled for release in May of 2020 on Photo Finish Records, followed by a series of European tour dates. Keep up with Handsome Ghost here.

meryem aboulouafa, “ya qalbi”

meryem aboulouafa, “ya qalbi”

Meryem Aboulouafa offers an introduction to herself in the music video for her track “Ya Qalbi” alongside the release of her debut album. “Ya Qalbi” is a magical and stunning Algerian song from the Arab-Andalusian repertoire. With the help of producer Franceso Sanalucia, the addition of modern effect brings the track into the 21st century.

The video is moving art, simply put. The color schemes are lush, highlighting simple visuals layered behind footage of the artist singing in black and white. It packs maximum impact in a quick 2 minutes.

Her debut album excels in the ‘game of reference.’ Being able to track all influences of this album is almost impossible, as she has many. Parallels can be made of her limitless imagination to Kate Bush, her creation of intimacy and emotion to James Blake, and her ability to hypnotize the universal language of music without denying the musical traditions of her origins from Oum Kalsoum.

by: meredith schneider + kendal chandler

charming liars, “blame”

charming liars, “blame”

Alt group Charming Liars have followed up their recent success with the release of new track, ‘Blame”. Charming Liars’ journey began in the west-end London music scene, with guitarist Karnig Manoukian and bassist Mike Kruger writing and playing together in a series of bands in their teen years (these boys go way back) before moving to LA where they connected with vocalist Kiliyan Maguire to solidify the band’s lineup.

The group kept busy in 2019, releasing their debut album Thought, Flesh, and Bone, a follow up acoustic EP, Bare Bones, and (as if that wasn’t enough) a live collection called Live 2019. To top things off, Charming Liars also did a headline run on the West Coast, toured Europe with The Faim, did a U.S. run in support of Angels and Airwaves, and were on a UK and European tour with Palaye Royale before it got cut short due to COVID-19.

Of the song, the band says “Blame’ is an explosive anthem asking for one more shot at love from your last late night call. What happens when the lights fade and the drinks dry up? When your memory starts to dive deep into the wreckage of lovers past? Blame.”

Explosive indeed, the new track combines electrically-charged beats with Maguire’s effortlessly cool and stylish vocals, skyrocketing the tune into the alt-pop atmosphere. It’s an anthemic love song that begs for forgiveness and another shot, but the instrumentation and delivery softens the hard corners of the serious subject matter, keeping the track feeling light as a feather and full of hope.

“Blame” is out on all streaming platforms now and the cancelled European dates in support of Palaye Royale have now been rescheduled for August and September this year.

RESCHEDULED EUROPEAN TOUR W/ PALAYE ROYALE
AUGUST
19th – Circolo Magnolia, Milan IT
24th –Technikum, Berlin DE
26th – Plaza, Zurich CH
27th – A38, Budapest HU
28th – Lucerna Music Bar, Prague CZ
31st – Razzmatazz, Barcelona ES

SEPTEMBER
1st – Sala Cool, Madrid ES
3rd – Akakao, St. Petersburg RU
4th – The 1930, Moscow RU
6th – Bel Etage Event Club, Kiev UA

Keep up with Charming Liars here.

the radio dept., “you fear the wrong thing baby”

the radio dept., “you fear the wrong thing baby”

Swedish duo The Radio Dept. just released their latest track “You Fear the Wrong Thing Baby” on March 20th, perfectly showcasing their quintessential dream-pop style that we have all come to know and love. Edging on ethereal, the reverb in this track makes it feel like a glittering kaleidoscope soundscape before we even reach the words. The lyrics of this track, coincidentally enough, fit perfectly with the current global health crisis. “When we recorded the song we had no idea what was coming,” expresses the duo. “The text is against conservatism and a tribute to youth as a progressive force.”

Keep up with The Radio Dept. here.

big fox, “let love in”

big fox, “let love in”

Charlotta Perrier, under the alias Big Fox, returns with new single “Let Love In” off her sophomore album See How the Light Falls. Both were released the same day, and are ready for our listening pleasure.

When talking about her newest release, Perrier said, “I thought a lot about the unsaid. All the words that I constantly avoided, held back, and how they slowly created a wall between me and others … And I finally realized that I was the one stopping myself. So, I think I subconsciously wrote this song to push myself off that cliff, to let love in.”

“Let Love In” signifies that feeling of wanting to be more open with others and taking the steps to get there. Combining classic pop and melodic indie sounds, Perrier creates a sophisticated and mature sound.

Keep up with Big Fox here.

 

elrichman, “i mostly consume”

elrichman, “i mostly consume”

Toronto-based artist Elrichman (also known as Paul Elrichman of Ducks Unlimited and Germaphobes) has just released his new single, “I Mostly Consume”, which is from his upcoming sophomore LP, Heaven’s Mayor. The record is the follow up to his 2014 effort, Young, Healthy and Wonderful, and is to be released this summer via Bobo Integral. It features a wealth of Toronto-based talent with Alex Gamble on production duties (Fucked Up, Alvvays) and contributions from Zach Bines (Weaves) and Jon Pappo (Hooded Fang) as well as the Boston-based Anh Phung (Twisted Pine).

Speaking of the track, Paul says: “‘I Mostly Consume’ is about feeling like you exist on this earth mostly to consume, which is the sense I have sometimes. The bridges set scenes of impending doom, but everything else is pretty cheery so I guess I’m a blissful consumer!”

The song is quite bright and poppy for a topic as serious as impending doom, and Elrichman juxtaposes serious topics (the album itself focuses on the notion that we only exist on this planet for the purpose of consuming) with upbeat 80s jangle-pop vibes. Elrichman explores a variety of tempos and strips back mid-tune for a thoughtful instrumental section comprised of piano and strings in the middle of the track before launching back into a high-energy second half for a strong finish.

“I Mostly Consume” is out now on all streaming platforms and Heaven’s Mayor is to be released in summer of 2020 via Bobo Integral followed by a string of North American tour dates.

the slow readers club, the joy of the return

the slow readers club, the joy of the return

Manchester pop band The Slow Readers Club has recently released new single “Jericho” ahead of their highly anticipated new album, The Joy of the Return, out today via Modern Sky UK, which will be followed by a UK/European tour.

“Jericho’s our ‘sunniest’ track to date, and hopefully a good indicator of the variety people can expect from the album,” says frontman Aaron Starkie. The track is written from the perspective of his teenage self and focuses on the moment when you’re on the brink of a new relationship and you start to surrender yourself to the other person. It’s one of the bands’ personal favorites, and it’s easy to see why. Infectiously upbeat and featuring a bright blend of guitars and propulsive drums, the song is both danceable and anthemic. Ah, young love!

The album’s first single, “All I Hear” was recorded at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool produced by long-standing collaborator Phil Bulleyment. The Joy Of The Return marks a significant change in the band’s process, with their extensive touring allowing them time to write and develop tracks and arrangements through sound checks and back-of-van jams.

Keep up with The Slow Readers Club here.

the color study, “open the windows”

the color study, “open the windows”

A welcome slice of warm levity, “Open The Windows”, the freshest release from Oregon-based project The Color Studyis what happens when The Microphones’ “The Glow Pt. 2” meets the demos from Hippo Campus’ latest album Bambi.

Beginning with sunny tambourine met by frontman Scott Oliphant’s chorused vocals, the indie-folk sweetness quickly launches into a dusty, lo-fi indie-punk banger marked by sleigh bells, muddy electric bass, and grounding bass drum as the only things rooting the sky-high dream back down to Earth. Oliphant welcomes the change of scenery, and perhaps the company, musing, “Invite all the ghosts that look inside at me / Open the windows and set them all free.”

Oliphant launched The Color Study in response to the sunset of a 16-year relationship – which makes “Open the Windows” all the more gratifying. Said the musician, “It was an incredibly tough time. I was living in my recording studio while trying to figure out which end was up. I threw myself into making something instead of passing the time doing what I was doing which was not very productive or healthy.”

With “Open The Windows”, Oliphant seems to be taking a deep breath of much-needed fresh air following a period of seclusion – A seclusion not unlike the process of self-recording his first releases as The Color Study, singles “Without” and “Dead Leaves”, both released in 2019. While The Color Study is a solo project, Oliphant is often joined by up to six other members for live performances, including Matt Jackson on bass and Andy Jacobs on drums.

Keep up with The Color Study here: FacebookInstagramWebsite