SKOPE NEWS FOR MARCH 22, 2016

SAVE US FROM THE ARCHON ALBUM

Save Us From The Archon is extremely proud to release their Tragic Hero Records label debut album, “L’Eclisse”. The band is excited for fans to hear the direction they took this album in musically. Guitarist Andrew Cresto explains, “with L’Eclisse, we’ve created a soundscape that mimics our internal consciousness and all the emotions contained within in an attempt to clearly identify one’s true persona. Shifting between fast paced punk stanzas and soft melodic interludes, L’Eclisse is our truest and most violent sound to date.”

“L’Eclisse” got it’s title from a 1962 Italian movie with the same name. Cresto describes the correlation between the two, “the film is a monument of Italian Neo Realist Cinema and directly reflects the themes of existentialism and alienation that the album reflects upon.”

http://www.merchbucket.com/product/SUA-LECD.html

“BEN UP” VIDEO

The Posterz rocked 2015 with their heavy-hitting Junga EP, and today they’re continuing the momentum, sharing a powerful visual for “Ben Up” via Complex. Rapper Kris the $pirit stands front and center, laying down raw verses while Hu$$er jumps on the hook with Montreal/New York singer Kali Pop on vocals. “Ben Up” presents a grittier, darker sound from the trio, who have come up on top of life’s toughest situations. “Ben Up is Ghetto Rock,” The Posterz explain. “Kris the $pirit learned how to maneuver the Concrete Jungle, and is almost schooling the listener on how to survive in it. Kris’ verse was initially a freestyle about our lifestyle and how we were in a bad situation selling dope with a bunch people in the same predicament. Despite our hardships, we handle them the only way we know. Sometimes life doesn’t always give you the best people or circumstances, but we think above it and continue.”

http://ca.complex.com/music/2016/03/the-posterz-ben-up-video-premiere

LA FEMME “SPHYNX”

LA FEMME reveal hallucinatory video for brand new single ‘Sphynx’. “Sphynx is neither a japanese influenced fairytale happening in Egypt in 3087 before J.C, nor a chemical introspection questioned by Sphynx. Sphynx may not be what Sphynx is meant to be, but Sphynx is Sphynx. Sphynx is big, Sphynx is deep. Sphynx does not exist but Sphynx is always there” – La Femme

EMPIRE STARS JUSSIE SMOLLETT & YAZZ TAKE THE AMERICAN IDOL STAGE TO PERFORM NEW TRACK “NEVER LET IT DIE”

Empire stars Jussie Smollett and Yazz took the American Idol stage on Thursday to perform a brand new song from the upcoming spring season of the show. Watch their moving performance of “Never Let It Die” HERE.

RAY STEVENS, DOLLY PARTON, KENNY ROGERS, AND A TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO JOEY FEEK

The Pickup, classic country music’s only syndicated video news program, continues to grow with the latest episode being added to The Heartland Network, as well as on the websites of such stations affiliated with the Nash Icon, HankFM and DukeFM brands.

http://www.viewbix.com/v/The-Pickup–29/a60b8c22-b8e6-4df1-8249-ddd1bc0a2a65

JOSH KELLEY RELEASES “IT’S YOUR MOVE” MUSIC VIDEO

Singer-songwriter Josh Kelley released his brand new video for “It’s Your Move” today, co-starring with his wife, actress Katherine Heigl, who also directed the very personal video in her directorial debut. View the new video exclusively on ETonline HERE.

http://www.etonline.com/news/184846_exclusive_katherine_heigl_re_teams_with_husband_josh_kelley_for_emotional_directorial_debut/

CHASE LEON “SHOOK”

Seattle-based rapper Chase Leon has slowly but surely been working on creating a buzz around his name. A little less than 6 months ago, he began releasing new tracks and then he released his LEON EP earlier this month, garnering much positive attention. Now he is back with his debut music video off of the project entitled “Shook”. Featuring production from SELVSSE, the ethereal visual gives a proper introduction to Leon, showing that his musical depth reaches far beyond the confines of the studio.

amfAR RAISES MORE THAN $4 MILLION FOR AIDS RESEARCH

Uma Thurman, Adrien Brody, Karolina Kurkova, Michelle Rodriguez, Pansy Ho, Aloe Blacc, Elle King, Michelle Yeoh, and amfAR Chairman of the Board Kenneth Cole were among those who gathered at the second annual amfAR Hong Kong Gala at Shaw Studios to honor Victoria Beckham for her commitment to the fight against AIDS. The event, presented by Harry Winston and Calvin Klein Collection, raised over $4 million for amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programs.

Other guests in attendance included Liu Wen, Carina Lau, Coco Lee, amfAR Global Fundraising Chairman Milutin Gatsby, Francisco Costa, Italo Zucchelli, Kevin Carrigan, Elvis Han, Zhou Xun, So Ji Sub, Lang Lang, Rosamund Kwan, Valentina Zelyaeva, Anita Yuen, Josie Ho, Laurinda Ho, Sabrina Ho, Cathy Chow, Niki Chow, Amanda S, Ying Claudine Lauren, Yvette Yung, Harris Chan, Oscar Wang, Hwang Chi Yeul, Shui He, Yan Lv, Maisy Ho, Angela Leong, Arnaldo Ho, Orlando Ho, Maria Ho, Bao Bao Wan, Andy Chen, Paolo Diacci, Vinay Dube, René Koneberg, Vincent Roberti, Victoria Tang, Ying Claudine Lauren, Michelle Ong, Winnie Chiu, Yvette Yung, Jean-Marc Lacave, Achille Boroli, Y C Koh, Wendy Yu, Rachel Lehmann, David Maupin, and Bill Zhao, among others.

https://gettyvideo.digitalpigeon.com/msg/zMlvgO4XEeW1mgbiYUDn_w/pmlTmGKAbqSf9RokY_eLAQ

BLACKLIST UNION “EVIL EYE”

Los Angeles, California based Hard Rock band Blacklist Union have released a music video for their track “Evil Eye” from their latest album “Back To Momo” which is available for purchase now on iTunes. The video, which originally premiered with REVOLVER Magazine, was directed by Matt Zane (John 5, Wayne Static, Zakk Wylde, DMC, Orgy) of Lord Zane Productions.

http://www.revolvermag.com/news/blacklist-union-premiere-new-music-video-evil-eye.html

THE ELLE “YOUR LOVE”

R&B/Soul Singer The ELLE has been previewing tracks from her upcoming full length project Soul Art Music due out next month. The latest track is Your Love produced by Keith Virgo who hails from South Africa and it features an audio clip from the late Eartha Kitt

https://soundcloud.com/the-elle/your-love-prod-by-keith-virgo

DAY OF THE DEAD EP STREAM

Day Of The Dead is an instrumental 3-piece band that formed in 2005. Taking the haunting tremolo sounds of vintage spy movies, and the twisted feel of spaghetti western soundtracks, Day Of The Dead infuse modern energy into a Frankenstein monster of surf-guitar fury. These guys sound straight out of a Tarantino film not yet seen.

The band was formed by Ben Frichot, the creative force behind instrumental hard case outfit, Storytime. Frichot is a WAM! “Guitar Player of the Year” winner and has been creating instrumental guitar music for over 20 years. During his career he has featured on numerous surf movie soundtracks for Billabong, Rip Curl and Rusty, and performed with artists such as Dick Dale, The Cruel Sea, Suicidal Tendencies, The Fireballs, The Mark of Cain, Midnight Oil and many others.

https://soundcloud.com/the-a-3/sets/day-of-the-dead-heartbreak-island-ep

MARK MALLMAN PREMIERES NEW ALBUM ‘THE END IS NOT THE END’

Minneapolis rock legend, Mark Mallman, is premiering his new album, The End Is Not The End, all this week via Popmatters, prior to its release this Friday, March 25 on Polkadot Mayhem. Twin City celebrations take place this Friday and Saturday at the Icehouse.

In this age of cynicism, with too many people believing rock is dead, Mallman has created a sincere telling of an emotional trial we all must face at some point.

http://www.popmatters.com/post/mark-mallman-the-end-is-not-the-end-album-stream-premiere/

KIIARA UNVEILS FIRST MUSIC VIDEO FOR HER SINGLE “GOLD”

With early support from industry tastemakers Zane Lowe, The Fader, Nylon and more, brand new pop sensation KIIARA is primed to be one of the most anticipated and exciting new artists of 2016. After Kiiara and producer Felix Snow uploaded “Gold” to SoundCloud last summer, the brilliant track with finger-click beats, crisply filtered vocals and chopped and screwed melodies has been streamed over 45 million times worldwide. The viral smash was also featured in an Apple Watch ad starring Chloë Sevigny:

FRIGHTENED RABBIT “GET OUT”

Canvasback Music/Atlantic recording group Frightened Rabbit will be performing the U.S. television debut of their lead single “Get Out” on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on March 28th (check local listings). “Get Out” comes off the Scottish rock band’s eagerly awaited fifth studio album, “PAINTING OF A PANIC ATTACK.” Produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, the record is set to arrive on April 8th.

Dessner – a longtime fan of Frightened Rabbit – had this to say about the record and frontman Scott Hutchison: “Great songwriters touch a nerve, and I think Scott really touches a nerve with these songs. To me, lyrically, this album is a step above anything he’s written before.”

HEIDEMANN “LAST CHANCE”

HEIDEMANN has also announced a few live dates in support of the EP, with more expected soon. HEIDEMANN is the solo project of the NYC-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Monika Heidemann, who performs minimalist pop songs with electric bass, synthesizers and pulsing analog drum machines that support her fearlessly intimate vocals.

When not performing and touring as HEIDEMANN, Monika plays synths in The Juan MacLean’s live band (MacLean also contributes a remix to the Detectives EP), and she’s also heavily featured on James Franco and Tim O’Keefe’s new project, Daddy, having contributed vocals to seven songs on their new album.

YOUNG DOLPH NEW VIDEO

“They ain’t gotta like me/ But I guarantee they gonna have to respect me,” Young Dolph raps on “Money Power Respect,” a single from his acclaimed 2015 release 16 Zips, which has accumulated 560K+ listens and 160K+ downloads via DatPiff. With a stronghold on his hometown of Memphis, the prolific artist is now making waves around the country, inviting them into his world on his debut album, King of Memphis, which released earlier this month via EMPIRE. Young Dolph proves he can deliver a compelling full-length all on his own, shouldering the 11-track load without any guest rappers. Noisey, who debuted the album, says “King of Memphis is a solid debut album from one of the most quietly popular artists in the South right now, and it’s well worth your time.”

DAVE PEARCE’S NOSTALGIC BIG ROOM TRACK “TRANCE SANCTUARY”

Legendary UK DJ Dave Pearce flexes his Trance vibes on his new, driving big room tune “Trance Sanctuary,” out on now Beatport via his own Delirium Recordings imprint. Major support comes from Armin Van Buuren, Paul Oakenfold, Corti Organ, Anske, Antillas, Johan Geilan, Maarten De Jong, Mike Push, Victor Dinaire and Manuel LeSaux.

YOUNG THUG SETS OUT ON “Hy!£UN35” TOUR

300 Entertainment recording artist Young Thug has unveiled plans for his second ever US headline tour. The eagerly awaited date’s get underway May 1st at Philadelphia, PA’s Trocadero Theatre and continues through the end of the month wrapping in Chicago, IL with VIP packages and tickets going on sale this Friday at aeglive.com.

http://www.yearofthethug.com/

ANDY BLACK MUSIC VIDEO

For the upcoming album ANDY BLACK teamed up with producer John Feldmann [Panic! at the Disco, 5SOS, All Time Low]. Moreover, they tapped the talents of collaborators such as Fall Out Boy vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump, Ashton Irwin (5SOS), Rian Dawson (All Time Low) and Joel Madden (Good Charlotte) and more! Look out for “The Shadow Side” soon!

BIFFY CLYRO NEW SINGLE PREVIEW

Biffy Clyro follow 2013’s critically acclaimed U.K. #1 double-album Opposites with their seventh studio album Ellipsis which will be released on July 8th on Warner Bros. Records / 14th Floor Recordings. Pre-orders for the album are now open with the first single “Wolves of Winter” now streaming and available as an instant grat track. Click here to pre-order.

POP. 1280 SHARES NEW VIDEO FOR ALBUM TRACK “PHANTOM FREIGHTER”

Pop. 1280 recently released their new LP Paradise and just finished a U.S. tour in support. Now they are about to head out again for a slew of European tour dates. To help kick off the tour in the correct fashion, the band are a sharing a new, unsettling video staring themselves & directed by Dave Ebel.

Ebel had this to say about the video:

The blasted soundscapes of Pop. 1280’s “Phantom Freighter” take visionary form as the insurrection begins! Home viewers submit to the signal as it interrupts their regularly scheduled Nowhere is safe, not even your couch.

http://www.tinymixtapes.com/chocolate-grinder/listen-pop-1280-phantom-freighter

MA BAKKER ALBUM STREAM

Rejected Scripts is filled with imaginitive tales. Every song is a compact story, with subject matters ranging from gleefully crafted nightmarish scenarios to playful commentaries on contemporary literature (and sometimes both!).

The music is funky, offering unexpected melodies, rich harmonies and playful arrangements. A sophisticated mixture of pop, jazz, blues and funk influences.

https://mabakker.bandcamp.com/releases

ROLLERCOASTERWATER NEW SINGLE

Los Angeles band Rollercoasterwater’s new single “Avey Tare Said”, which Consequence of Sound describes as ‘lush, dreamlike soundscapes…’ , is inspired by an experience that one of the members of Rollercoasterwater had opening for Avey Tare a couple years ago. With its unique combination of electronic and live instrumentation, this captivating song is just the first peek at their upcoming EP ‘Umami Sounding Fireballs’, out April 15th.

Rollercoasterwater share Animal Collective-inspired single “Avey Tare Said” — listen

THE WESTIES NEW ALBUM PREVIEW

The Westies’ Six On The Out is the chilling second chapter from this unflinching group – bold and broad in scope. The masterful and exquisite storytelling coupled with the stark yet cinematic landscapes, create an entire world of what John Ellis from No Depression describes as “Americana music embedded in the rivers of Rust Belt cities, with connections to Ireland, coal streaked miners and how closely related inner city grit and grime is with the softness of a serene Appalachian mountaintop.”

With stories not for the faint of heart, The Westies will take you on a journey of an America in desperate times – one that few people see, yet everyone knows exists. Six On The Out is an unforgettable collection of stories and songs that will leave the listener haunted by its honesty and brutality and, in spite of long odds, hope to go on living. The Hollywood Reporter sums it up best: “Despair never sounded so good.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5w22_8lzLk

LES CLAYPOOL + SEAN LENNON FORM NEW BAND: THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM

Two worlds have collided, and what glorious and odd worlds they are. After Primus and The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger completed a successful summer tour, Les Claypool and Sean Lennon decided to combine their abstract talents into a project called The Claypool Lennon Delirium. Their efforts thus far have spawned the upcoming full-length release Monolith of Phobos.

http://pitchfork.com/news/64277-sean-lennon-and-primuss-les-claypool-announce-album-as-the-claypool-lennon-delirium-share-mr-wright/

RIHANNA’S “ANTI” RETURNS TO #1 ON THE BILLBOARD 200 ALBUMS CHART

Westbury Road/Roc Nation/UMG global superstar Rihanna’s new album ANTI (released January 28th) returns to the top of the charts this week as the #1 album on Billboard’s 200 Album charts. The album’s lead single “Work” (featuring Drake) remains the #1 song in the country for the 5th week in a row, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for another week. “Work” is currently also #1 on Billboard’s Urban and Rhythm charts. The track’s initial debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart earned Rihanna her fourteenth #1 single, making chart history with the third-most #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits since Billboard’s launch of the chart.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7263934/rihanna-anti-returns-to-no-1-on-billboard-200-albums-chart

SKYDYED NEW SINGLE + ALBUM

Today, young live-electronic rockers Skydyed announce the release of their debut full length studio album, A Quantum Dream, on April 1, 2016. The band celebrates their album release with a show at the Aggie Theatre in their home town of Ft. Collins, Colorado on April 1, and continue on with headlining club plays and festival performances at Euphoria Music Festival, Sonic Bloom, Arise Music Festival, Backwoods Festival, and others throughout the spring/summer.

“NO” VIDEO

Meghan Trainor premieres video for new single “NO” today!

http://www.vevo.com/watch/meghan-trainor/NO/USSM21600504

SAMAVAYO “OVERRUN”

Germany’s stoner rock trio SAMAVAYO have just announced the spring release of fifth album Dakota through Setalight Records, also unveiling their in-your-face new track “Overrun”, streaming exclusively today on The Obelisk.

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2016/03/21/samavayo-dakota-details-overrun-premiere/

JAMES MCCARTNEY NEW SINGLE

On Monday, March 21st, The Los Angeles Times exclusively premiered singer-songwriter James McCartney’s new single, “Unicorn,” from his upcoming album, The Blackberry Train. The record was engineered by Steve Albini, (Nirvana, The Pixies and PJ Harvey) and will be released worldwide on Friday, May 6th 6th on James’ own Magybenot label (via Kobalt Label Services). Today, fans can pre-order the album and get an instant download of “Unicorn”.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-james-mccartney-unicorn-blackberry-train-20160321-story.html

ILL NICKY “YOUNG”

San Diego-based rapper Ill Nicky presents the Leto Films-directed music video for “Young”, his Taylor King-produced single from Beware The 8, his forthcoming album set to feature “Westside” singer TQ as well as production from Snoop Dogg/Rick Ross producer Anno Domini.

CARLY VAN SKAIK NEW SINGLE

Last week LA chanteuse Carly Van Skaik premiered her single “Blue Diamond Eyes” on PopMatters who noted the single has a “Nocturnally opulent, smoky vibe…Its understated baroque pop is most immediately reminiscent of Mazzy Star with its dreamlike sweep and anachronistic aura.”

http://www.popmatters.com/post/carly-van-skaik-blue-diamond-eyes-audio-premiere/

‘JACKIE LYNN’ ALBUM PREVIEW

This is what we know: Born and raised in Franklin, TN, in May of 2010, Jackie took a Greyhound bus from Franklin, TN to Chicago, IL. Upon her arrival in the city of Chicago, Jackie found a cheap sublet on the south side of Chicago. She soon became acquainted with Tom Strong (real name unknown) on a short CTA bus trip to the Chicago Loop. We believe that Tom & Jackie together ran a multi-million dollar business distributing the illegal substance of cocaine around Chicago & the Chicago tri-state area for over four years. Authorities believe that a local automobile shop was used as the main distributions headquarter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUOtnCh21Qs

MARTIN BARRE US TOUR

Martin Barre is returning to North America to perform more shows this April. Look for concerts in New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. More dates this fall in September and October.

For the past five years Martin has toured the world with his own band to play the “classic” music from the Jethro Tull catalogue, and also many new tracks written by Martin from his albums AWAY WITH WORDS and ORDER OF PLAY, plus his latest album, BACK TO STEEL. BACK TO STEEL will be released in North America later this year on 71st Street Music.

For 43 years Martin Barre was the renowned guitarist of Jethro Tull, and his role in the band cannot be overestimated. Bruce Eder wrote on allmusic.com, “His playing has provided much of the energy that allows the band to soar on record and in concert.”

http://www.martinbarre.com/

OH WONDER COVER BEYONCE

Having recently wrapped a string of sold-out North American headline tour dates, Oh Wonder stopped by BBC Radio 1 to perform Beyonce’s hit song. The duo will return to the states this summer to play festivals including Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, and Firefly.

http://bit.ly/1UfOxum

DAM GILA NEW VIDEO

Adam Gil, frontman of Chicago-based band YAWN, will release his new Face the Sun EP on April 1st. His second solo release under the moniker Dam Gila, it features sunny psych-pop made up of bright guitar tones and plenty of catchy melodies. Today, Adam shares a video for EP track “The Undertow,” which pairs trippy imagery and distorted colors with the song’s upbeat, spirited vibe. You can watch the new video where it premiered with Impose Magazine or via YouTube.

http://www.imposemagazine.com/tv/dam-gila-the-undertow

GERYON TITLE TRACK FROM ALBUM

NYC-based investigational death metal duo GERYON — formed by Krallice bassist Nicholas McMaster and drummer Lev Weinstein — has partnered with underground metal source No Clean Singing for an exclusive premiere of the title track to the band’s impending The Wound And The Bow, as the album comes within three weeks of its street date.

“Like the conceptual underpinning of the album, the song conveys both psychological trauma and the kind of creative bursts of energy that are fueled by pain or even derangement,” the meaty slab of text accompanying the stream of the new track includes. “On further listens, you can dive more deeply into an appreciation of the musicians’ technical skill and inventiveness, but that sense that you’re losing your grasp on reality and tumbling into a vision of madness never really goes away.”

AN NCS PREMIERE: GERYON — “THE WOUND AND THE BOW”

WHEEZ-IE NEW FREE EP

Producer, DJ and label owner, Wheez-ie, has released his four-track Questionable Taste EP via Skrillex’s free label NEST. Wheez-ie specializes in a wide range of dance music and was one of the first producers outside of Chicago to pick up on the local juke and footwork scenes. He gained attention from late Chicago hero DJ Rashad and founded Southern Belle Recordings in tribute of that sound.

http://www.factmag.com/2016/03/17/wheezie-questionable-taste-stream-skrillex-nest/

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Dave Matthews Band will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special hometown benefit concert at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA on Saturday, May 7. To express its gratitude for the incredible support the community has provided from the beginning, the band will donate all net proceeds from the concert, totaling over $1 million, to charitable programs in the Charlottesville area via its Bama Works Fund.

In 1999, Dave Matthews Band established the Bama Works Fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation and has subsequently contributed a portion of each concert ticket sold to the fund. To date, the fund has raised more than $40 million and made over 1,300 grants, primarily to charitable programs in the Charlottesville area community. It has also responded to a variety of national and international needs.

http://davematthewsband.com/