SKOPE NEWS FOR JUNE 8, 2016

THE BLACKHEART ORCHESTRA NEW VIDEO

Manchester based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist duo The Blackheart Orchestra bring a heavenly fusion of acoustic folk, progressive pop and modern classical composition with new single “Keep The light In” released Friday 24th June.

“Beautiful and powerful. Their music is inspiring.”
Steve Hackett, Genesis

Minimalist and fragile, “Keep The Light In” weaves melodies and atmospherics to create an ethereal musical landscape drawing comparisons with the likes of The Cure and London Grammar while Chrissy Mostyn’s captivating vocals soar, reminiscent of Kate Bush. Combining ancient synthesizers and modern songwriting, The Blackheart Orchestra create an enchanting masterpiece leaving the listener with no choice but to cling on to every note through to the track’s rich and rewardingly layered climactic end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmHziz2ASTU

SHANTAK “FOR THE DARKENING”

Shantak, a Melodic Death Metal project from Northern Italy recently signed a worldwide deal with Sliptrick Records.

The Heavy, Doom and Thrash Metal influences mixed with Melodic Death and Old School Death Metal are perfectly blended, as Shantak perfectly craft their songwriting transcending into gloomy yet bright melodies, with lyrical themes focused on literature, dreams, love and the universal power of Nature, while the main themes are landscapes painted of death and mortality.

GLASS ANIMALS “LIFE ITSELF”

Today, Glass Animals have announced the release of their highly anticipated new album How To Be A Human Being on August 26th via Harvest Records, available for pre-order now. This announcement coincides with the reveal of their new video for ‘Life Itself,’ which is the first single to be taken from the album. Watch ‘Life Itself’ here:

http://smarturl.it/GA_ofLifevid

THE HEIRS’ “WHAT YOU WANT” VIDEO

“What You Want,” the new video from The Heirs’ forthcoming album, premieres via Teen Vogue who are calling it “your ultimate feel-good pop song for the summer.”

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-heirs-what-you-want-music-video

CALAN MAI “CUP”

Australian singer-songwriter Calan Mai has released ‘Cup’, the new single from his upcoming sophomore EP, ‘This Isn’t How You Get Home’. Recorded with richly-textured harmonies and a sublime fusion of droning folk guitars and expansive, electropop drum loops, ‘Cup’ sees Calan Mai subverting listener expectations and continuing his exploration of new and exciting modes of production.

https://soundcloud.com/calan-mai/cup

COLVIN & EARLE PREMIERES IN ITS ENTIRETY ON NPR’S FIRST LISTEN

Colvin & Earle will celebrate the album’s release with a worldwide tour that kicks off June 10th at New York’s famed City Winery and continues through the summer and fall. Highlights include a two-night stand at London’s historic Union Chapel, Islington (June 13th and 15th) and an eagerly awaited performance at Bruce Hornsby’s inaugural Funhouse Festival, taking place June 25th on the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. For complete details and ticket information, please visit funhousefest.com.

http://www.npr.org/2016/06/02/479638355/first-listen-colvin-earle-colvin-earle

FIGS VISION NEW VIDEO

Today, via a premiere with booooooom.com, LA pysch pop duo Figs Vision gave us the first look into the world of Fig; a pivotal character in the story behind their upcoming album. The video for “Elle You’re Walking” is a visually stunning, pseudo-psychedelic thriller. It serves as the first chapter to the band’s bizarre yet true story of origination and inspiration. The full tale will be revealed episodically as the songs and videos from their forthcoming album are released, each one centered around a specific character encountered along the way.

DJ PRINCE HAKIM RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “MANNEQUIN GIRL”

As DJ Prince Hakim prepares to kick off another whirlwind summer of performances starting with the music festival Bonnaroo on June 10th, he is proud to announce the release of his debut single, “Mannequin Girl,” featuring Bryan Scott. DJ Prince Hakim is making his second appearance at the Manchester, TN event’s Silent Disco.

THEE OH SEES CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND STREAMING LIVE VERSION OF “GELATINOUS CUBE”

Today, Thee Oh Sees have shared another track from their Live in San Francisco double LP- a live version of brand new track “Gelatinous Cube” at Consequence of Sound. Recorded over three nights at SF’s The Chapel and presented on a double gatefold LP, the record is composted of live video shot by Brian Lee Hughes, photographs and recording.

Thee Oh Sees premiere live version of new song “Gelatinous Cube” — listen

TUNJI IGE DROPS BRILLIANT NEW VIDEO FOR “WAR”

Tunji Ige just dropped a stunning visual for the standout track “War” produced by Noah Breakfast, from his recent Missed Calls project. The video is directed by Glassface who also directed Lil Yachty’s “One Night” video. As premiered by NPR and shot on a sun drenched secluded beach in Malibu, California, the scenery in the video includes crisp aerial views of the ocean and freeze frames turned vibrant paintings. It’s the perfect backdrop for Tunji’s summer love anthem.

http://www.npr.org/event/music/480977118/first-watch-tunji-ige-war

AEPHANEMER ‘MEMENTO MORI’

French Melodic Death metallers AEPHANEMER have revealed the cover artwork of their debut full length, ‘Memento Mori’. The album will be released via Primeval Records on September 16th, 2016. On this special occasion, AEPHANEMER had the honor of collaborating with Niklas Sundin (DARK TRANQUILLITY) who designed the album artwork and Maciej Dawidek (WIDEK) who took over the audio production.

http://store.primevalrecords.fr/

LIL LONNIE NEW MIXTAPE

Rising Mississippi rapper Lil Lonnie has a strong sense of melody and a radio-ready autotune tone that could make him the next star to explode out of the South. With his new mixtape TKWGO 2, released as a free download via LiveMixtapes, the Jackson-native is sure to turn heads with his self-assured confidence and earworm hooks. TKWGO 2 is the sequel to last year’s underground hit They Know What’s Goin’ On, which was the top-downloaded independent mixtape on LiveMixtapes in 2015. Featuring appearances from Bryson Tiller, K Camp, and Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd and production from Big Fruit, Will-a-Fool and others, TKWGO 2 is sure to be one of the most talked about mixtapes of the year.

http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/39367/lil-lonnie-tkwgo-2.html

LITTLE BOOTS ANNOUNCES “AFTERHOURS” EP

Little Boots has returned this summer with yet another undeniable dance-floor banger titled “Staring At The Sun.” The track — which premiered via NYLON.com — is available now, as part of her forthcoming “Afterhours” EP released via her label On Repeat Records on June 17th.

“Afterhours” is the follow-up EP to Little Boots’ last album “Working Girl” and features two tracks, the latest “Staring At The Sun” which was produced by Richard X and “Face to Face,” a collaboration with Sam Sparro.

http://www.nylon.com/articles/little-boots-staring-at-the-sun

LAUREL “SAN FRANCISCO” VIDEO

Southampton-raised, 21 year old London-based singer, songwriter and producer Laurel Arnell-Cullen reveals her DIY/self-directed video for new single ‘San Francisco’, after time spent away concentrating on producing her debut album. Read more about the video over on i-D now.

http://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/premiere-laurel-san-francisco

VERWOED NEW SINGLE

Offers the blog alongside the “Bodemloos” stream, “this one man musical machine of audio torture has created a suffocating record that will be coveted by many. What impresses me about VERWOED’s creative spirit is the depth of anguish you will encounter while listening to his music.”

Premiere Streaming VERWOED “Bodemloos”

LAWRENCE PREMIERES “MISTY MORNING” VIDEO

After being raised on a steady diet of Stevie Wonder, Janis Joplin, and of course, Eggo waffles, New York City’s Lawrence served up Breakfast, its debut album, in March. Following runs at SXSW and Crawfest, an impressive list of sold-out U.S. shows and an immediate rise to #6 on iTunes R&B/Soul, the sibling-led, soul-pop outfit rolls out an official video for “Misty Morning” with Popdust before continuing its nationwide run.

STILL PARADE ALBUM STREAM

Berlin-based Still Parade has announced his debut full-length album, Concrete Vision, will be arriving June 10 via Lefse Records and Heist or Hit Records, stream the album now via Stereogum. This will be a big year for Still Parade, who made his North American live debut at SXSW, and will be performing at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival in June.

Stream Still Parade Concrete Vision (Stereogum Premiere)

MAGIC GIANT ANNOUNCE IN THE WIND TOUR

Southern California-based MAGIC GIANT is most definitely a band on a mission. Fresh off performing at famed Lightning In A Bottle festival, they need to make a record, and FAST! With a whole season of festivals (Electric Forest, Wanderlust, Chinook) in the books the band presented themselves with two options: run back and forth to LA for ten weeks, OR trade in their subterranean bomb-shelter-turned-recording-studio for a portable one. Enter their bus-turned-tricked-out-studio on the go. Remodeling the tour bus into a solar-powered mobile recording studio will allow the band to book sessions out on the road in between shows. Lucky for MG, their tour weaves across some of North America’s most mind-blowingly scenic locations. From the Rocky Mountains and breathtaking southern Utah, to northern Vermont and Ontario farmland, to the national parks of Washington state and Lake Tahoe–they have plotted to stop at a range of inspiring and experimental locations to finish their album.

http://www.magicgiant.com/

RO JAMES’ DEBUT ALBUM ELDORADO ENTERS AT #3 ON THE BILLBOARD R&B ALBUMS CHART

Singer/songwriter Ro James has claimed the #3 spot on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart and #8 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart this week with the release of his debut LP, ELDORADO, according to Nielsen/SoundScan. The high chart debut follows an exclusive weeklong digital release of the album on Apple Music. The album was released on all other digital platforms worldwide on June 3rd.

ELDORADO marks James’ first release since signing with Mark Pitts’ ByStorm Entertainment joint venture with RCA Records.

https://www.facebook.com/rojames1

COMPLEX.COM PREMIERES MACKENZIE NICOLE’S “ACTIN LIKE YOU KNOW” FEAT. TECH N9NE

Complex today premiered the video for Mackenzie Nicole’s “Actin Like You Know (feat. Tech N9ne).” The self-penned debut pop single is already receiving airplay on Kansas City Top 40 station KMXV (Mix 93.3) and has been remixed since it first appeared on Strange Music’s Tech N9ne Collabos – Strangeulation Volume II, where it was the No. 1 most downloaded track on the album. “Actin Like You Know” is available on iTunes and Spotify now.

http://www.complex.com/music/2016/06/mackenzie-nicole-tech-n9ne-actin-like-you-know-video-premiere

ALLISON IRAHETA + HALO CIRCUS RELEASES DEBUT LP “BUNNY”

Refreshing, arresting and completely original, Allison Iraheta + Halo Circus have boldly gone their own way since forming in 2012. This June 24, after an EP, a successful solo record Iraheta and several years of honing their craft at live shows across Southern California, Allison Iraheta + Halo Circus will release their very first full-length album, Bunny, on June 24. The LA-based quartet have created a bilingual, hard-hitting album of 13 original songs delivered with verve, passion and utter precision—so much so they recorded the album twice.

http://www.halocircus.com

VIDEO AGE UNVEIL FIRST SINGLE “THROWING KNIVES”

Video Age and Inflated Records are extremely pleased to announce the band’s debut LP, Living Alone, today. Due out July 29th, you can pre-order the album from Inflated Records here and on Bandcamp here.

FREE PIZZA “SIGHING”

Building upon their love for rock and roll, Free Pizza has cultivated what is considered an off kilter, post-punk, pop country drive that gets you far past the band name and way into something deep and meaningful. Today on Under the Radar, Free Pizza shares the second track and video for “Sighing” off their upcoming album Berlin, DE.

Free Pizza’s debut LP Boston, MA was released, and sold out shortly after, in the Spring of 2014 on New England’s trademark labels BUFU Records and Feeding Tube Records. Born in South America and raised in Miami, Jesus Vio and Santiago Cardenas have been collaborating together on art and music since high school. However, it wasn’t until the duo moved to Boston to attend art school that Free Pizza was finally formed. Out of the same DIY scene that gave birth to such bands as Quilt, Guerilla Toss, Happy Jawbone Family Band, and more, Free Pizza has a sound that takes influences from their rich surroundings and peers.

http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/premiere_free_pizza_sighing_video/

INFINITE SPECTRUM “FEDERAL HILL”

Engineered by Grammy award-winning engineer Chris Theis, INFINITE SPECTRUM’s ambitious Haunter Of The Dark is the band’s first release for international progressive juggernaut, Sensory Records, its more than seventy-minute-long duration containing ten movements based on the H. P. Lovecraft short story of the same name, with extensive artwork by Claudio Bergamin fitted to the tale. Alongside Prog Magazine’s exclusive premiere of Haunter Of The Dark’s “Federal Hill,” INFINITE SPECTRUM breaks down more inside details of the song’s creation and placement in the sprawling storyline.

http://teamrock.com/news/2016-06-07/infinite-spectrum-premiere-federal-hill

VERNY VARELA NEW SINGLE

Arranger, composer, singer and flautist, Colombian Verny Varela, presents his single “Vive el Momento” (Live the Moment), co-produced by GRAMMY nominees, Luis Bonillas and Luisito Quintero, who also played on percussion. A song inspired by the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, “Vive el Momento” is a musical arrangement by Verny Varela where the influence of his different social contexts reveal a style that fuses street music and his academic world. It was recorded at Sky Light Studios by engineer Guido Diaz, Latin GRAMMY winner as Best Salsa Album for Celia Cruz’ La Negra Tiene Tumbao.

TEN SHOW-STOPPING PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2016 TONY AWARDS

The Tony Awards have announced ten show-stopping performances for the 2016 Tony Awards, which will broadcast live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City, on CBS, on Sunday, June 12th 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay). The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The high-energy evening will feature performances from the 2016 Tony-nominated Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical shows, including Tony nominees Brandon Victor Dixon and Adrienne Warren and the cast of Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed; Tony nominees Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi and Jane Krakowski and the cast of She Loves Me; Tony nominee Alex Brightman and the cast of School of Rock; Tony nominee Danny Burstein and the cast of Fiddler on the Roof; Tony nominees Danielle Brooks and Cynthia Erivo and the cast of The Color Purple; Tony nominees Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson and Daveed Diggs and the cast of Hamilton; Tony nominees Sara Bareilles, Christopher Fitzgerald and Jessie Mueller and the cast of Waitress; Tony nominee Carmen Cusack and the cast of Bright Star; and the cast of Spring Awakening. The Tony Awards upholds a valued tradition of recognizing the excellence of the entire Broadway season each year. The telecast will also feature a not-to-be missed performance by Gloria Estefan and the cast of On Your Feet!

http://www.tonyawards.com/

EPIC DEATH NEW LYRIC VIDEO

Black / Thrash / Death Metal band Epic Death have released a lyric video for their track “Karma’s A Bitch”, off their album Witchcraft. The video, which originally premiered with Metal Underground, was created by Tommy D Kat of Grindhouse media. The album is available for order on Epic Death’s CD Baby Page.

Many times in life things happen that you’d like to handle but you know that Karma has your back and sometimes she will make death seem better than living when she’s done with you. – Dennis Dorsett (Epic Death)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O51Ka775Yuo

“COPPER MINES” VIDEO

Rising Athens, GA quartet Mothers are confirmed to support Band Of Skulls on the UK band’s upcoming fall North American tour. In addition to shows at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA on September 23rd and Terminal 5 in New York on October 6th, the run will find Mothers performing in some of their biggest rooms to date, beginning on September 6th at the Royale in Boston, MA and wrapping up on October 7th at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA. The band plays next tonight supporting Built To Spill in Atlanta, GA and will also head to Manchester, TN this weekend for the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c9jfjq4Y24

BALLROOM BABIES “I WON’T CHANGE”

The track incorporates key elements of our music such as vocal harmonies, bluesy riffs and a tight bass/drum rhythm section. If this is the first you are hearing of our music it is a great introduction to our sound. The single is paired with a music video and is the first of two tracks which we will be releasing this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7X16rqy8RQ

MORKOBOT NEW VIDEO

Commented the MoRkObOt outfit,”The cover hit us really hard at first sight! We immediately felt like it was a great representation for the music in this album, a record that pushes our boundaries in many different directions. The contrasting, eye flashing, power colors and iconic figure melt together perfectly, direct and weird as we feel about the musical ingredients in GoRgO.”

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/morkobot-kogromot

“SET LIST” FEAT HALL & OATES

In this episode of Set List, Live Nation TV sits down with Hall & Oates in New York to talk about the story behind their hit “Sara Smile,” and go deep about some of their (many) acclaimed hits, like “She’s Gone” and “Maneater.”

Over the course of the episode, Daryl and John thoughtfully look back on their formative beginnings and biggest moments — from the first R&B station in Ohio that decided to play “Sarah Smile” to the humble reggae origins of “Maneater.” “We’ve always felt like strangers at the party,” explains Hall. “It wasn’t about fame or fortune, it was just about expressing yourself.”

https://lntv.com/watch/set-list-hall-oates

RIVER TIBER “I’M A STONE”

River Tiber has just shared “I’m a Stone” from his forthcoming debut LP Indigo. Steeped in atmosphere that rolls in like midnight fog, the hazy R&B track joins a growing catalog of subtle earworm singles for the Toronto producer, off the heels of collaborations with Kaytranada, Pusha T, Daniel Caesar, and more.

https://youtu.be/17bmZfFgFDo

NICKY DAVEY “OXYGEN”

Nick Green and Dave Rosser officially formed the project in 2011. They started out just making records together under various aliases until they carved a sound they could truly call their own.

Constantly striving to reinvent the modern pop song, they were given the opportunity to work closely with Odd Future affiliates, The Internet. Lead Singer Nick Green’s vocal production on The Internet’s Ego Death helped earn it a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Back in February, Nicky Davey were the only duo unsigned to a major label to be featured on the NOW 57 compilation.

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

TANGERINE NEW VIDEO

Playful and bittersweet, Tangerine’s latest EP, Sugar Teeth, explores a chaotic relationship, the bravado of youthful rebellion, and the nostalgia of faded friendships. Comprised of sisters Marika and Miro Justad, and Toby Kuhn, Tangerine make shimmery, guitar-based pop, likened by the press to Best Coast, Camera Obscura, and Speedy Ortiz. Initially a high school band, the three went their separate ways after graduation, but soon found themselves missing the vitality of performing together.

http://sheshredsmag.com/premiere-tangerine-sunset-video/

M!NT NEW EP

Through Darkness is the musical backdrop to M!NT’s 2015 and early 2016. Recorded during a transformative time in Cody Yozipovic’s life after moving to New York City, Through Darkness represents the transformation we all endure when we face times that try our will.

Brooding and dissonant, Through Darkness as an EP is a fully cinematic descent into bass-driven sonic experimentation that remains an engrossing listening experience throughout. Styles from jungle to juke are dabbled with to swift, smooth results – a rare end product encased in darkness that never loses itself too heavily in emotion or message.

AGES AND AGES FIRST SINGLE “THEY WANT MORE”

Partisan Records is excited to announce the next record from Ages and Ages, Something To Ruin, due out August 19th. Today, they share lead single “They Want More” on NPR’s All Songs Considered, with co-host Robin noting “it’s a song about learning to let go of other people’s expectations of you.”

If Ages and Ages’ debut album Alright You Restless declared independence from the cynicism and self-consciousness plaguing a generation; and the follow-up Divisionary was an exercise in confronting change, conflict, and loss; Something to Ruin addresses the debris of our collective failures and asks whether we might be better off letting go and starting over.

http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/06/07/481100495/new-mix-songs-on-letting-go-and-believing-in-yourself