by Meredith Schneider | Apr 17, 2019 | Uncategorized
To many, April is truly what the first weeks of Spring are made of. New beginnings, fresh flowers, allergies abound. But for myself – and a good amount of our contributors – it symbolizes new beginnings because it is also birth month. (Shout out to all of my Aries comrades!) Though the fire of nw beginnings burns bright in other aspects of my life, never before have I witnessed such a jam packed month of new music releases.So, here are a host of our favorites released over the month of April. With new tracks from Uppermost, Ramonda Hammer, Calexico, daste, MARBL, Simon XO, Don Cherel, and more, this is a soundtrack you won’t want to miss out on. Check back for more over the course of the month, and be your friend group’s most influential music suggester!
by Meredith Schneider | Apr 17, 2019 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
Electro-pop artist Nix is coming at all of our emotions with new track “Playing With Fire”, which premieres right here with iF. From the first stream of lyrics, her incredible and vibrant vocals draw you in, the instrumentals only holding up her vocal range as she croons about a toxic relationship. Incredibly relatable and full of soul, this is the type of song you’re going to want to belt when you’re ready to establish your own boundaries. Now is the time.
Keep up with Nix here.
by Meredith Schneider | Apr 16, 2019 | videos, wolf tracks
Imperfect Fifth is largely located in the midwest. So, we kind of get the brunt of the weather, to say the least. It should be all showers and sunshine, and we went from weather in the 30s this weekend to 83 today. Who even knows what’s going to happen? I guess the only reliable thing this time of year is new music and incredible new music videos, that truly seem to be popping up like flowers everywhere! So take a break from the allergies and any stress to get lost in our favorite new video releases of the month.
(Check back all month for more additions!)
by Meredith Schneider | Apr 16, 2019 | videos, wolf tracks
Scott Lavene‘s latest video for his track “Broke” is quite the theatric accomplishment. The song itself has its quirks – as Lavene seems to be known for his tongue-in-cheek references already -, comprised of spoken word over ridiculously calming layers of instrumentals. If it were up to us, it’s your time to get lost in the fabulousness of this new visual. Check it out below, and let us know what you think! (Then perhaps down some champagne in a top hat in a park somewhere?)
Keep up with Scott Lavene here.
by Karina Marquez | Apr 12, 2019 | albums, review
The musical duo Mrs. Greenbird have created a deeply soulful sound with lyrics to match in their latest album Dark Waters. The folksy harmonies of Steffen Brückner paired with Sarah Nücken’s unique voice are what makes this a truly beautiful record. It’s reminiscent of another duo’s sound — Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of The Swell Season and Once fame. While Mrs. Greenbird has a similar aesthetic, they manage to create something that is entirely their own. Their voices, along with the gentle guitar and melancholic lyrics, result in the kind of music that is brutally honest as well as poetic.
The album is quite well-rounded in terms of theme. The darker, more cynical sides of life and love are highlighted in songs such as “Careless Heart,” “1965,” and title track “Dark Waters,” while others like “One Day in June” and “Learn How To Love You” are more idealistic and romantic. One of the stand out songs is called “The Simple Things.” While every song is hauntingly beautiful, something about this particular one struck a chord in me. It’s about experiencing loss and trying to find yourself afterwards, how we tend to forget the pleasure of simple things in life.
Dark Waters is a feat of folk indie pop with a hint of country and a splash of blues, yet it works to form a great record. It’s perfect for almost any mood — a scenic walk, a long drive, a rainy day, a time to let out a much-needed cry.
Be sure to check out their latest album on April 12th, and keep up with the latest on Mrs. Greenbird here.
by Meredith Schneider | Apr 12, 2019 | singles, wolf tracks
In anticipation of the May 10th release of Shadows in The Shallows, Gold Light + Snakemusk have just released an easygoing new track titled “One Thing After Another”. Beautiful twangy vocals agains the backdrop of slow, practiced instrumentals paired with immense amounts of reverb, this song is just the southern gem we’ve been craving. Check it out below!
SPRING DATES
04.12•New Belgium Brewery (Asheville, NC)
05.10•Harvest Records – 3:00 PM Duo In-Store (Asheville, NC)
05.10•Static Age Records – 10:00 PM Full Band (Asheville, NC)
05.11•8th State Brewery (Greenville, SC)
05.14•Go Bar (Athens, GA)
05.15•El Rocko (Savannah, GA)
05.17•Pablo (Clemson, SC)
05.18•White Mule (Columbia, SC)
05.19•The Royal American (Charleston, SC)
06.13•The Pour House Music Hall (Raleigh, NC)
06.15•Little Amps (Harrisburg, PA)
06.16•O’Brien’s (Boston, MA)
Keep up with Gold Light here.
by Ian Schneider | Apr 11, 2019 | albums, review
With the single “Spelling Lessons” garnering over 15k plays on SoundCloud, artist Birch is ready to take the indie pop landscape by storm with her debut album. She has been making noise in the Brooklyn music scene for a couple years now, but the NYC-based feminist is ready to break out nationally. Producing, songwriting, and singing come naturally to Birch, something that is rarely said about any artist these days.
With echoing vocals and the perfect amount of synth, Birch is able to hone her indie pop sound over the course of the nine track record. femme.one is full of impact statements that are motivated by the feminist movement. As stated on her website, Birch is “Incredibly motivated by raising the female voice in society, Birch brands her music as feminist synth-pop. Female empowerment and gender equality are two causes very important to Birch. She often participates in marches, donates to Planned Parenthood, and strives to use her platform to make a difference.” With this being said, Birch’s music is not only for those who believe in these righteous causes, but also for those who truly enjoy indie pop. It is for those who may not necessarily know how to express themselves. Also, it is for those who may not want to share their incredible talents with the world, similar to how Birch was early in her music career.
femme.one comes to us at the perfect time. When activism and controversy are at the forefront of our society, Birch stands out as an artist who stands for what she believes in, expressing it through beautiful music. Birch is of a dying breed, artists who will not conform for stardom, but she might just get that for being herself.
You can listen keep up with Birch at her website http://www.birchmusicnyc.com/.
by Meredith Schneider | Apr 11, 2019 | videos, wolf tracks
Today, rhythmic R&B collective Tank and the Bangas – comprised of Tarriona Ball (Lead Singer/Poet), Norman Spence (Aux Keys), Joshua Johnson (Drummer/MD), Merell Burkett (Keys), Etienne Stouflet (Tenor Saxophone), Albert Allenback (Alto Saxophone/Flute), Jonathan Johnson (Bass), Anjelika Joseph (BGVs), and Kayla Jasmine (BGVs) – releases the live performance version of their gorgeous, fun track “Nice Things”. The amazing news is that those of us who are not lucky enough to have ever witnessed them alive will be able to catch up with the rest of the world. Their style, energy, and talent are insanely palpable in this video, and we’re over here just ready to make some new best friends.
Check it out below. Then catch them next time they’re live in your city. Because, honestly, there isn’t much better than that.
Keep up with Tank and the Bangas here.
by ImperfectFifth | Apr 10, 2019 | soundtrack, wolf tracks
I created this collection of songs because they represent what inspires me in music. They all have an essence of authenticity. It’s that mix of an infectious melody and a rebellious spirit that ultimately drives me as an artist, and influenced my upcoming second album, True Nature.
I included “Electric Chapel” by Lady Gaga because she inspired me tremendously when I was 17 and decided I was going to be a pop star. That song is so specific to her. I love the twisted romance of it all, and the distorted guitar that ties the whole song together.
When I was 18 and moved to New York City, David Bowie, Prince, and Madonna became the soundtrack to my life. I have vivid memories of listening to “Rebel, Rebel” in my headphones while strutting through the East Village, or sitting in my dorm room at night watching Madonna’s early music videos.
I had to include one of my favorites by Chet Baker. Once I was a senior in college, I began writing songs more prolifically than ever, and I would let the smoothness of Chet’s singing and trumpet playing guide me. I also included my favorite song of mine, “Luvline”, off my new record out this Spring. “Luvline” is my favorite track of mine because it sounds like my heart is singing, even when I hear it now, and that’s how I feel about the songs I chose for this playlist. I’m attracted to music that doesn’t hide from the truth, and these songs are a piece of the artist’s soul.
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Keep up with Wilder Daze here.
