by Leigha Stuiso | Jul 6, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Neo-soul artist Ego Ella May released her debut album Honey For Wounds, an album of honest lyrics backed by smooth instrumentals. A year after the release of her debut EP, So Far, this comes as the first release off of John Boyega’s UpperRoom record label. The album has a solid foundation to be a hit with May’s effortlessly warm vocals taking you through a journey of pain, love, and power. The South London artist took to Instagram to share her feelings about the release saying, “I made it to heal myself, but in turn my intention was and is to provide music to heal to for you as well! I hope I’ve done so. I hope it helps you feel validated, and held.”
“Alright” featuring Theo Croker is a great introduction for what is to come on the album. There are few vocals, but they stand strong alongside the delicate sounds of the trumpet. It is the most calming track off the album, although they all have this similar relaxing vibe. “Tonight I’m Drowning” is the end of a relationship, but still missing that person. The steady click of the drums keeps the song moving against the lyrics. Similar to “Song For Bobby” with light melodic patterns, May faces changes and deals with running through memories. Like many others after a relationship, there are these past memories that are haunting. Her vocals effortlessly float through lyrics like, “Raindrops, minimal light, and Etta James / Always the cure when you leave / You show up out of the blue, I cloud you with green / This distant thing still haunts me.” Not only does she reference Etta James, but in “Give A Little” she mentions Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”, “Joni said You don’t know what you got / Til it goes away.” In the midst of her lyrics, she shows some of her music taste, while remaining graceful. Here May is trying to navigate a neutral ground and find her footing, after being down a familiar path of heartbreak.
However, she is not afraid to sing about things other than relationships and heartbreak. Both “Girls Don’t Always Sing About Boys” and “How Long Til We’re Home” bring up current societal issues like environmental pollutants, problems for same-sex couples, and with the government and media. Songs about love and breakups might be easy and what sells, but May is not afraid to go beyond those and she does it effortlessly. If one doesn’t listen closely to the lyrics they might end up liking the song without realizing the messages weaved into it. “How Long Til We’re Home” is a perfect example of creating a beautiful song with an important message, but not having it overpower the song. “In The Morning” is a fresh start, indicating the struggles of women with lyrics like, “Reading about trauma In our daughters / Has got me shook I got things to learn, / I got fears to burn … Been here before, kinda sick of myself / But also quite proud / It’s hard, being at the mercy of man / And dealing my cards with my wrong hand.”
“Never Again (Marlissa Interlude)” showcases May’s sweet vocals, with a repeated set of lyrics throughout. It echoes the struggles and feelings she has put into the other tracks. In “Science” the lyrics are very poetic and a personal look into her life. Mentioning little details like a blue Cadillac and her roots in Igbo, provide a clear background about memories in her life. “Table For One” might be the best song on the album. With all the right elements packed into a six-minute track, it shows her vocal range and unique style. May shines here brighter than ever before. She finds her way through all of this on “For Those Who Left”, coming out with lyrics at her most confident. It is simple, but a fitting ending to all the emotions in the tracks before it.
Honey For Wounds already is catching people’s attention and recently was Tidal’s Rising Album of the Week. The production on these 11 tracks is strong with graceful touches of horns and drums to match her delicate vocals. Ego Ella May released a powerful record that comes from navigating and experiencing the ups and downs in life. If you are looking for something new to listen to right now make sure to check out this album, you won’t regret it.
by Katy Mombourquette | Jul 6, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
DC-based Soul and R&B project Summer Dennis & Rhymes address some hard truths about the US in their recent single “Ghetto Rona.” Rhymes is a composition and performance powerhouse spearheaded by Bill Moore and Summer Dennis. Moore brings with him a deep experience with performance in multiple genres. Together they produce powerful, independent songs interwoven with femininity. Rhymes has appeared on several media outlets, including EARMILK, Soulbounce, Celebmix, Great Day Washington, and Blog Talk Radio. “Ghetto Rona” is the product of the difficult lessons learned about America in the past year. It’s a soulful indictment of the country, and aims to redefine the idea of “ghetto.” About the underlying theme of the song, Rhymes says “For so long Black and impoverished communities have been referred to ‘the ghetto’ even though we live in a nation that can’t house its taxpayers, can’t feed its children, and imposes police brutality on its citizens. How can a society with so little to offer refer to anyone as ghetto? We all know where the ghetto really is now, and it’s not race-specific. We can see the truth as clearly as ever.”
The song itself begins with the spoken words “And now, this is America,” leaving no room to mistake what the track is going to be about. A funky bassline and drum beat and tensile surrounding harmonies provide the foundation for Dennis’ sleek vocals. Her soulful voice decorates the melody lines with deft runs that give us a taste of her wide range. However, the lyrics remain the focal point of the song, coming through clear and concise. Halfway through, harmonies join in, lifting Dennis’ voice and words up to augment their meaning.
Summer Dennis & Rhymes are a mighty duo who say what they have to say using a mix of rock, R&B, Latin, pop, and reggae music to appeal to a wide demographic. Check out their most recent album Second Summer to hear more of this eclectic pair.
by Leigha Stuiso | Jul 3, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Tell all your friends that Magic Bronson is back with another single off their upcoming album. “Surfin” is a spacey four-minute break-out track from the Long Angeles based duo. Matt Lieberman and Michael Nicastro have made waves in the indie-pop rock scene, gaining attention from names like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, who used the duo’s song, “Nervous”, in an Instagram ad for their fashion line. Magic Bronson is breaking boundaries while delivering powerful and unique music.
They are not afraid to switch things up, giving us different combinations of sounds to create a discordant soundscape. Although you can get lost in the pop-rock beats in the track, it is important to listen to the lyrics. The duo has a way of writing lyrics that fit perfectly together with the beats. With “Surfin”, it gives you the perfect vibes for a trip to the beach, although the lyrics don’t deal with actual surfing. If you’re just finding out about Magic Bronson, they’ll have you wondering where have you been all my life.
Check out “Surfin” streaming now!
by ImperfectFifth | Jul 2, 2020 | singles, soundtrack
Here’s a little playlist of some of my favorite songs over the years. These are the type of songs I can listen over and over on repeat (and I have) and all of them just pull you in from the very beginning. They all evoke a certain strong emotion and are all driven by strong melodies and strong guitar parts. Each one of these songs have been an obsession of mine at some point during my career.
by Katy Mombourquette | Jul 2, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
A true nomad, Evelyn Cools has found herself exploring the world all throughout her life. As a child in Belgium she studied piano, flute, choir, and musical theater. Eventually, she made her way over to Hong Kong and Budapest. At her university in London, Cools found herself captivated by the music scene and made some musical friends, and together these things provided the foundation for her career. Finally, in 2018 she moved to Los Angeles. Inspired by the nature of California, the new people she met that would eventually become her creative team, and the unparalleled love she found, Cools decided to bring to life her upcoming EP Misfit Paradise. Her penchant for wandering and connection to other people and nature are the driving forces behind this record.
Regarding Misfit Paradise, Cools says that it “explores the complex relationships we have with ourselves, others, and our environment, and how we find peace and meaning within it all. It is about life’s greatest joys – love, acceptance, nature, adventure – but also its greatest sorrows. It aims to capture little specs of magic against a world of unknowns.”
Her new single off the EP, “Gold Woman”, reflects some of the qualities that you can expect to hear in Misfit Paradise. Cools‘ personal songwriting is enchanting, with her ethereal voice and strong emotional resonance. Her sound lies somewhere within folk, indie-folk, alt-country, and folk-pop music. That being said, don’t think that the single is simply a girl fingerpicking a guitar and singing simple melodies. This music grabs you and commands you to listen to it. You can definitely hear undercurrents of country, but overall this track sounds a lot like alt-rock. It places a strong emphasis on the guitar which has a heavier quality to it. On top of this, amidst countless songs today which are making heavy use of harmonies (although fabulous in their own way), Cools isn’t afraid to let her voice stand on its own. She shows impressive control over her robust chest voice and delightfully airy head voice, both of which are showcased in the adventurous vocal lines throughout the song. Her accessible lyrics and storytelling abilities reveal her folk roots, however, reinforcing who she is at her core.
by Katy Mombourquette | Jul 1, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Some may feel as though the music of today lacks the fire and fervor which used to be so plentiful in music from days gone by. If you find yourself agreeing with that sentiment, then let spunky girl group Drama Dolls fill that void with their new single “Favorite Girl.” The LA based band produces rampant brat-punk music that has the grit and energy of the Misfits and the Ramones, but also the musicality and power of the Bangles and the Go-Go’s. The single will be on the group’s upcoming EP Over The Shoulder / Boulder Holder which was recorded at the legendary Larrabee Studios, the same place where the Foo Fighters, Blink-182, Tool, and countless other iconic artists recorded their music.
When asked about the meaning behind the track, Drama Dolls stated (somewhat cryptically) “WE WANT TO BE THE GIRLS WITH THE MOST CAKE.” While you make sense of that, settle into the nostalgia of “Favorite Girl” and feel its energy seep into your veins. Right away you hear the rugged guitar, and the punchy drums remind the listener of the opening drums in The Go-Go’s “Vacation.” The lead vocals are bold and full-bodied, sounding both fresh and familiar. The high energy established at the beginning of the track is further magnified by the key change in the courses. It culminates in the instrumental bridge/interlude that hits you with rapid-fire drums and heavy, distorted guitars. The reverberating harmonies after the final chorus are like a choir in a resonant church: resounding, and glorious. With its spirit and spunk, “Favorite Girl” is loads of fun and definitely one to rock out to.
by ImperfectFifth | Jul 1, 2020 | singles, soundtrack
Playlist by Floyd. Songs with attitude, grit and heart.
by Leigha Stuiso | Jul 1, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Following the release of his last EP, bandaids, Keshi is back with a new track, “More”. With global streams exceeding 500 million, the singer-songwriter continues to expand his fanbase and forge his own path. After teasing the single in a tweet earlier in the year, fans were eager to hear the track. He even delayed the release of this single to avoid taking the focus away from the Black Lives Matter movement that is happening in the United States and across the world.
After two weeks, Keshi released “More” and it definitely was worth the wait. With lo-fi beats and a catchy chorus, he might have another success on his hands. The 25-year-old opens up about being away and this relationship taking a hit, especially with the pre-chorus, “Like hasta la vista, dyin’ to see ya/ In a dream that I had where I sing in arenas/ Hasta la vista, dyin’ to see ya, baby/ It ain’t so bad when there’s nothin’ between us.” Keshi wrote, recorded and programmed the song, showing his talents don’t just stop at his smooth voice. His passion for music definitely shows here so don’t sleep on Keshi, because he might just become your new favorite artist.
Listen to “More” out now!
by ImperfectFifth | Jun 30, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Songs to resonate with you on heavy days, to remind you you’re not alone. With many artists coming from the gray sky capital of the world, my musical hometown, Seattle. Shoutout to some of my local favorites and friends, “Lemolo”, “Abby Gundersen”, “Deep Sea Diver”, “Racoma”, “Temple Canyon” and more…
