SKOPE NEWS FOR JUNE 2, 2016

IAN WILLIAM CRAIG SHARES NEW TRACK “THE NEARNESS”

Ian William Craig is a trained operatic vocalist who combines his voice with analogue synthesizers, reel-to-reel machines, and faulty tape decks to create sublime cascades of unpredictable decay and beauty. His music engages with the operatic and orchestral, submerging them under a shifting palette of vocal improvisations, analogue tape hiss and billowing clouds of erasure. As well as a talented musician, Craig is an award-winning printmaker. Originally from Edmonton, he began playing live under his own name in 2010 in Vancouver, where he currently works at the University of British Columbia running the printmaking studio for the fine arts department. Though classically trained and grounded in the choral tradition, Craig’s early albums were concentrated predominantly around the piano, with his voice merely a marginal presence. In recent years, however, his practice has come to focus increasingly around his powerful voice, as can again be witnessed on Centres.

http://www.npr.org/2016/06/01/479450006/songs-we-love-ian-william-craig-the-nearness

RACHAEL SAGE RELEASES OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “I DON’T BELIEVE IT”

Award-winning recording artist Rachael Sage has released the official video for her single “I Don’t Believe It”, the first video from her recently released full length, Choreographic (MPress/ILS/Caroline). The video premiered Wednesday on PopMatters. In keeping with the album’s “ballet-pop” theme, “I Don’t Believe It” features a stunning array of dancers choreographed by Megan Carvajal and starring 3-time national dance champion, Kaci King.

http://www.popmatters.com/post/rachael-sage-i-dont-believe-it/

STEVE PORCARO TO RELEASE FIRST EVER SOLO ALBUM NEXT WEEK

A founding member of the Grammy award winning rock band Toto, Steve Porcaro will release his first ever solo album, Someday / Somehow, on June 10th.

Porcaro’s first album has actually been in the making since 1983. With “Back To You” first being worked on by Toto in 83’ and “More Than I Can Take” being the most recent track he finished.

“I’ve always been writing and recording over the years, hoping to find homes for these songs with other artists,” Porcaro remarked. “Lately, I’ve been reminded repeatedly how short life is, and I think it’s finally sinking in and with the encouragement of my band, family and fans, I decided it was time to remove my excuses, throw down, let go and finish these songs the way I hear them.”

STEVE PORCARO TO RELEASE FIRST EVER SOLO ALBUM

HOLON DEBUT SINGLE

“holon” is a solo project from singer, songwriter and guitarist Ronny Pedersen. The album was recorded at Norway’s Autumnsongs Recording Studio in Trondheim produced and mixed by Rhys Marsh. Special guest musicians who contributed include Lars Fredrik Frøislie (Wobbler / White Willow), Silje Leirvik, and Geir Anfinn Halland Johansen (Anfinnsaas) as well as Marsh. The album is being released on CD, double LP set and download by Autumnsongs Records August 12.

VRITRA SHARES HYPNOTIC “QUESTION & DEMAND” WITH HYPETRAK

From Atlanta, GA comes 24 year old Vritra aka Hal Williams. Currently based in Los Angeles, rapper and producer Vritra (formerly known as Pyramid Vritra) has been making beats and writing rhymes since he was just ten years old. A prolific producer as well as rapper, Williams has worked extensively with members of Odd Future (The Jet Age of Tomorrow), The Internet, and Stones Throw Records.

http://hypetrak.com/2016/06/vritra-yellowing-question-and-demand-premiere/

BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH “MAYFLIES”

Benjamin Francis Leftwich has unveiled the video for ‘Mayflies’, the first single from his long awaited second album, After The Rain, released 19th August through Vagrant/BMG in the US and Dirty Hit in the UK.

Mayflies was debuted on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show and follows album track ‘Tilikum’, which was previewed as part of the album announcement earlier this year. Furthering the atmosphere Ben crafted with the record’s first track, ‘Mayflies’ pits subtly intertwined samples against beautifully restrained guitars, expertly layered instrumentation and Ben’s synonymous vocals, culminating in a track that perfectly encapsulates the uplifting side to an emotionally demanding record.

YOUNG GREATNESS “BALL”

New Orleans’ Young Greatness intensifies his hot streak with a brand new track, “Ball” produced by Mariibeatz (Young Thug’s Slime Season 3) – listen below. It’s the latest track from his buzzing new I Tried To Tell Em 2 project out later this year.

http://smarturl.it/YoungGreatnessBALL

BRYSON TILLER PREMIERES VIDEO FOR “EXCHANGE”

Critically acclaimed rising R&B singer/songwriter Bryson Tiller releases today the video for his single “Exchange” on Pitchfork. The introspective and intimate video was directed by Rohan Blair-Mangat.

SATE “FEEL”

The video encompasses SATE’s characteristic power in both personality and sound, alongside imagery from the civil rights movement. As Impose puts it, “this badass is insanely rock ‘n roll, in style and in sound, and her platinum blonde mohawk is leading her into the rebirth of a lifetime.”

“Feel” is a powerful single emblematic of SATE’s upcoming album RedBlack&Blue, due out next Friday, June 10th.

http://www.imposemagazine.com/tv/sates-feel-leads-us-in-to-her-soulful-rock-n-roll-rebirth

COUGH STREAM ALBUM

In just two short days, Richmond doom-bringers, COUGH, will officially unveil Still They Pray, their first full-length in over five years. Produced by Electric Wizard’s Jus Oborn and recorded by Oborn and Windhand’s Garrett Morris, Still They Pray is the kind of monolithic, cosmic doom that will take its listener to the heights of despair and the bottom of the abyss. With Still They Pray, COUGH summons psychedelic, feedback-driven melodies just to deconstruct them to their core, the end product proving nothing short of crushing.

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/cough-still-they-pray

ICE CREAM LP STREAM

Ice Cream are a Canadian duo making “molecular pop” and they just shared their upcoming debut LP ‘Love, Ice Cream’ on NOISEY who praised it as “a strong intro to the duo’s monochrome disco, neither new wave or no wave, but something else entirely.”

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/ice-cream-debut-lp-stream-2016

SLEEPING BEAUTIES “WHEELER”

Spawned in the same creepy corner of the Pacific Northwest and from the remains of the fantastically underappreciated bands The Hunches, Eat Skull and The Hospitals are the Sleeping Beauties. Big basement rock opens up on “Bobby and Suzie” with it’s gluey flypaper tempo changes that brings to mind Alex Chilton’s “Like Flies on Sherbert” and the Electric Eels mashed into a ball. Rhythm piano played with an icepick is next on “Meth” and though it may be a tale of warning somehow adds allure to the temptation of having “got a weekend sack and it’s Saturday, Sunday my life is crumbling”.

https://soundcloud.com/blankfrank13/sleeping-beauties-wheeler/s-9M9zi

TRUE LOVE UNVEIL ANOTHER NEW SONG FROM ‘HEAVEN’S TOO GOOD FOR US’ LP

Detroit straight edge hardcore band TRUE LOVE have unveiled “Kill For That” from their forthcoming album Heaven’s Too Good For Us due out July 1st. Listen to the song via Alternative Press Magazine here.

http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/true_love_bridge_nine_tear_it_up_on_kill_for_that_exclusive

THE ACCIDENTALS RELEASE ‘PARKING LOT’ EP

The Accidentals are a critically-acclaimed, genre-bending, female-fronted trio and today the band releases the new self-produced EP Parking Lot, exclusively through NoiseTrade. For a band that launched their career in high school with over a thousand concerts, to becoming Billboard Magazine’s top breakout artist at SXSW 2015 with the fastest growing global streaming audience in 2016, their story is packed full of opportunity, pitfall and resilience.

http://noisetrade.com/theaccidentalsmusic/parking-lot-ep

“FREEDOM”

Hyper Fenton (Seth Jacob Fenton) is a kid at heart. From his youthful exuberance and emotional connectivity to his wildly vivid imagination, his debut album, Kindergarten Dreams, has no hidden meaning, it’s portrayed as the dreams that Fenton has held since childhood. Press play to Kindergarten Dreams and you’ll feel like you’ve just a made a new childhood friend.

Growing up in Plano, Texas, Hyper frequently found himself on the wrong side of trouble. However, when he wasn’t getting suspended from school he was busy being the lead in many performances. Whatever it was he was doing one thing was clear, he held a HYPERactive, explosive, many times impulsive, passion. Hyper had a longing to dream, to perform, and a desire to express himself.

ODDITY “SETTLE DOWN”

Chicago trio ODDITY are gearing up to release their debut album ‘Settle Down’, produced by Steve Albini; before it lands however, you can check out the album’s title track HERE:”

DIXIE CHICKS LAUNCH DCX MMXVI TOUR

Multi-platinum selling act DIXIE CHICKS launched the 50+ date North American leg of their highly-anticipated, top-selling DCX MMXVI Tour last night in Cincinnati at the Riverbend Music Center showcasing a hit-packed set of fan favorites to 20,000+ capacity venue.

Check out exclusive photos of DCX MMXVI Tour kick off here:

http://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr432309509

AARON NEVILLE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM + “BE YOUR MAN”

Apache, the new album from multiple Grammy award-winner Aaron Neville—member of the world-renowned Neville Brothers and one of the most recognizable voices in American music history—set for release on July 15 via Tell It Records and Kobalt Label Services. The album celebrates Neville’s 75th birthday, while 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of his first number one single, “Tell It Like It Is.” Additionally, the lead track off the record, “Be Your Man,” premieres on The Wall Street Journal. Listen here:

http://smarturl.it/an_bym_wsj

ARKELLS SHARE VIDEO FOR “A LITTLE RAIN”

Today, rock quintet Arkells shared the video for their new song “A Little Rain” from their highly anticipated new album, Morning Report, out August 5 via Last Gang Records/eOne in the U.S. and Universal Music Canada. The video premiered yesterday on Clash Music, who called the song “an open, emotive return, one that is both lyrically rich and musically engrossing.” The song was released last month when it was featured in an official Toronto Blue Jays promo spot. “A Little Rain” is also featured in a current episode of Netflix’s Bloodline.

http://clashmusic.com/videos/arkells-deliver-a-little-rain

SHOVEL BRAND LAUNCHES 1 FOR 1 CAMPAIGN

Davey Muise, best known for his unparalleled vocal abilities in the post-hardcore group Vanna, launched Shovel Brand at the tail end of 2015. With much preparation and planning, Muise is thrilled to unveil the next layer of achievement with Shovel Brand today. Shovel Brand is thrilled to announce it’s highly anticipated 1 For 1 Campaign, in which for every merchandise item purchased, the exact item will be printed and shipped to help clothe homeless teens across America. To start, Shovel Brand will begin with a homeless teen center in Davey’s hometown where he and his wife work and volunteer. But, this is just the start for the Shovel Brand! Muise wishes to open the opportunity up to homeless teen centers throughout the country and needs your help to continue spreading the positive message.

http://www.daveymuise.com/shovelbrand

PAPERTWIN “THE POOL”

Vacation, the forthcoming EP from Papertwin via Druyan Records represents their third studio collaboration. Self recorded in their New York apartments and mixed by Abe Seiferth (yeasayer,DFA Studios), mastered by Heba Kadry (Neon Indian, Beach House) the EP continues the band’s unique sense of synth-pop. Dreamy, dark, nostalgically sci-fi, Vacation features analog synthesizers, melodic guitar lines, driving percussion, and reflective vocals. Drawing on influences from The Cure to Gillian Welch, this EP builds upon the bands previous recordings.

http://bullettmedia.com/article/brooklyn-synth-trio-papertwin-give-the-pool-video-the-found-footage-treatment/

ELONIOUS “RAISE ‘EM UP”

Swirling and cinematic, “Raise Em Up” shows off Vancouver’s Elonious at his very best. The Canadian bass wonder has been hard at work crafting Boom Boom Snare Part II, a 4-track EP dropping tomorrow showcasing a diverse array of bass-driven electronic music, pushing the boundaries of mere EDM. “Raise Em Up” is pure fun, the type of thing that’ll make you jump around. Grab the free download ahead of tomorrow’s EP drop.

THE VISION BLEAK NEW SONG

Atmospheric metal band THE VISION BLEAK will release its new album, The Unknown, on June 3 via Prophecy Productions. The German group’s sixth full-length release, The Unknown, sees THE VISION BLEAK shed songwriting patterns of its past; gone are the tried-and-trusted nods to horror classics and fictional terror, to legend and lore, replaced with intimate tales of personal demons and the horror that lives within themselves. In advance of the record’s release, the band debuts the new song “The Whine of the Cemetery Hound” via Bloody Disgusting, who claims the track, “takes inspiration from Type O Negative but has a far more sinister twist.”

The Vision Bleak Channel Type O Negative With “The Whine of the Cemetery Hound”

STARS SHARE COVER OF MIKE POSNER’S “I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA”

“The music industry is an abattoir,” the band explained. “But fuck it, it was something to do. We will later be releasing our remix of this cover of a remix. And perhaps at some later date, a re-remix of our cover of this remix of an original. Content is king, kids, in the age of the glowing box. And it don’t mean a thing if ain’t got that cha-ching. This one’s for Steve Miller, for some reason. Enjoy.”

THE KENNEDY CENTER ANNOUNCES BJ THE CHICAGO KID WILL JOIN SPRING GALA

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces BJ The Chicago Kid has been added to the talent for its upcoming Spring Gala, How Sweet It Is: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye, on Sunday, June 5, 2016, in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall alongside artists such as Andra Day, Ledisi, Jussie Smollett, and more.

The evening’s program celebrates Gaye’s enigmatic and innovative contributions to the Motown sound during the peak of his career in the 1970s and 1980s, and his musical influence that spans generations. Hosted by actress, comedian, and television host Whoopi Goldberg, the gala performance is headlined by multi-Grammy Award®–winning artist Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Leslie Odom, Jr. (currently playing Aaron Burr in the Broadway hit musical Hamilton).

http://www.bjtck.com/

“HEY ELVIS”

The official music video for Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Hey Elvis” will exclusively world premiere on “CMT Hot 20 Countdown” this Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5. Following its debut, the video will be available on CMT Music, CMT.com and CMT Mobile. A preview of the video is now available here.

“Hey Elvis” features Cyrus in what he describes as an, “’Elvis’ Where Art Thou” theme.

http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/1409429/watch-billy-ray-cyrus-world-premiere-of-hey-elvis-on-cmt-hot-20-countdown.jhtml

NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS’ VIDEO FOR “WASTING TIME”

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’ music video for “Wasting Time” premieres on Vevo. The song appears on their breakout self-titled debut album, released last August on Stax Records, which continues to receive overwhelming acclaim. Watch the video here:

http://vevo.ly/J21gHS

EARTH HEART “HOMESICK”

Boston garage rock outfit Earth Heart announces their debut full length Homesick (August 5, 2016) and shares the first single, “Homesick,” off the record.

In 2013, Katie Cordiner (vocals/guitar) happened to meet Matt Axten (drums) at All Asia Cafe in Cambridge, MA as she was looking for a drummer to accompany her solo show the very next day. Without hearing the music and no time for rehearsal, Matt volunteered to play the show and they never looked back. Katie and Matt continued as a duo and have been making music as Earth Heart ever since.

ALEXIS KEEGAN NEW SINGLE

“There Will Be Love” features Alexis’ uplifting, hopeful lyrics, accompanied by her radio-ready pop vocals and extensive range. Alexis is an LA-based soul-pop singer, that has played shows with Kate Voegele, Tyler Hilton, Howie Day, and more. Her single “Worry No More” charted on the AC and Hot AC Mediabase charts and the Billboard AC Indicator chart. Alexis was recently the #1 most added independent artist at indie radio in the country. After a debilitating thyroid condition and a long recovery process put her out of commission for a year – and ultimately changed the creative course of her life, Alexis’ intense desire and work ethic following this helped her create this single, as well as several others. She will be releasing new singles this spring and summer.

SARABANTE NEW SINGLE

A new track hailing from SARABANTE’s impending second LP, Poisonous Legacy, bursts into the public domain through a premiere at No Clean Singing, as the popular underground mag premieres the album-opening “A Day With No Sun To Rise.” NCS breaks down the LP’s lead track, including, “the song is more than a righteous slugfest – the dark, tension-ratcheting melody paints a vividly desolate portrait of people who have lost their way, with no light ahead. True to the song’s name, there’s a hopeless quality to the sound, and you feel a bitter wind blowing even when the band are in rampaging mode. It makes a gripping song even more potent.”

http://www.nocleansinging.com/2016/06/01/an-ncs-premiere-sarabante-a-day-with-no-sun-to-rise/

TR/ST DATES

TR/ST is the musical project of Toronto artist Robert Alfons.

After years of extensive touring, and garnering glowing praise from top international critics at Pitchfork, VICE, and The Guardian UK for the 2012 Juno-nominated debut album “TRST”, the follow up album ‘Joyland’ is out now on Arts & Crafts. ‘Joyland’ is an eruption of guts, eels, and joy.

Catch TR/ST on the road in the US this September with Cold Cave.

TOUR DATES

09.08 – San Diego, CA – Music Box
09.09 – San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine
09.10 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
09.11 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
09.14 – Chicago, IL – Metro
09.16 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
09.17 – Boston, MA – The Middle East

https://www.facebook.com/dressedforspace

MARTIN SOLVEIG NEW VIDEO

Following on from its global release on Friday May 20th, Martin Solveig reveals the playful video for “Do It Right” ft. Tkay Maidza.

Laced with colourful aesthetics from start to finish, directed by Parisian filmmaker Mr L’Argent, the video is a true testament to Martin’s signature bounce and electronic flair pumped throughout the record. Set in a tropical location on the Spanish coast, Martin explores his vibrant playground dressed in an array of bright suits, all the while Tkay Maidza sings throughout.

DARK SUNS “SPIDERS”

German progressive metal band DARK SUNS will release their fifth studio effort, the double album, Everchild, on June 3 via Prophecy Productions. Recorded in Berlin’s Funkhaus Studios (Europe’s largest studio complex) with producer Yensin Jahn (Alice Cooper, Yo La Tengo), the album is the respected band’s fifth full-length effort and follows 2011’s Orange, which was hailed as “an album which embraces the sounds of early and vintage progressive, psychedelic, and jazz rock”. In celebration of the record’s release, the band premieres the new song “Spiders” via Burning Ambulance magazine.

Dark Suns

BROOKE CANDY UNVEILS “NASTY” MUSIC VIDEO

Directed by renowned photographer and filmmaker Rankin, the video for ‘Nasty” is a mesmerizing and tongue-in-cheek experience, described by Brooke Candy as “one part Charlie Chaplin…one part John waters…one part Pam and Tommy’s sex tape…. the 2016 pop music version of ‘How to Marry a Millionaire’”.

http://www.hungertv.com/feature/premiere-brooke-candy-n-a-s-t-y/

MONET “YOU”

Introducing Monet (/moʊˈneɪ/;) – a multi-faceted artist who lists directing and modelling on his repertoire – and now adds singing as the China born and bred talent releases his debut single ‘You’..

‘You’ is an infusion of electronic rhythms and pop sensibilities. It is a ballad about falling in love once again. “It came to mind in a stormy dusk when I was on holiday on an island last year,” says Monet. “I was sitting by the ocean watching the lightning striking over the horizon then some old memories rekindled themselves and from them came this song.”

MANE ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘BITTER’

The enigmatic chanteuse, MANE has today announced her new single, Bitter to be released on June 10, alongside a fast-paced, abstract video directed by Benjamin Lancaster Powell. Bitter is the first taste of MANE’s debut EP House of Horror, a bluesy exploration of darkness, set for release on June 24. MANE will be hitting the road to celebrate the release in July, kicking off in Adelaide at The Bluebee Room on July 15, moving through Whole Lotta Love in Melbourne on July 24, and wrapping up in Sydney at The Newsagency on July 29.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXBmVdYbaU8