JAMES HOLT “THE MIRROR”
Manchester-based multi-instrumentalist James Holt, with his deep blend of alternative rock and folk, is set to release his second EP ‘Sanguine On the Rocks’ on Friday 29 April 2016.
Make no mistake, this intense new material is not set to a template – it’s more a living circus of intoxicating blues, modern rock, vibrant orchestration, dour and sharp monologue, buckled in the 23 year-old’s Mancunian spirit: the EP’s theme a collection of his own ghosts, despair and redemption.
SKATERS NEW EP & UK TOUR
Since forming in 2012 via text message between members from Boston, LA and Hull, SKATERS have become renowned for their youthful, creative, energetic guitar-laden post-punk. After relentless touring, critical acclaim, and impressive radio momentum across the globe, the band eventually parted ways with Warner Bros Records at the end of 2015.
It’s fair to say, the band were less than impressed with their major label experience and now announce their return via Gary Powell, from The Libertines’, independent label ‘25 Hour Convenience Store’. The band will release ‘Rock and Roll Bye’ EP on 13th May 2016, which they are supporting with a full UK Tour, including a string of dates with snot-pop kid of the moment Rat Boy.
https://www.facebook.com/skatersnyc
COMMODO NEW SINGLE @ SPIN
U.K. bassmaker Commodo has shared a new track from his forthcoming debut album “How What Time” on Black Acre.
“My Liege” – meaning a term of obligatory obeisance from the feudal system – is the second listen off of his ten-track effort. Described by SPIN as a “medieval dubstep torture chamber.”
“How What Time” follows Commodo’s impressive collaborative LP with Kahn and Gantz, released on the bastion of low frequency excellence, Deep Medi Musik. An artist with deep roots in bass music’s history and present, Commodo experiments with a variety of underground elements, with components of hip-hop, grime, dubstep, and more in the mix.
Commodo Sculpts a Medieval Dubstep Torture Chamber on ‘My Liege’
KIDNAP KID REMIX
Kidnap Kid recently launched his new label Birds That Fly with the anthemic Moments EP, clocking up over a million plays in the past month and reaching #2 on Hypemachine.
Featuring 20 year old BBC Introducing star Leo Stannard (Black Butter), the track now sees a rework from Norwegian star Finnebassen. Catapulted to fame by releases on Noir music, Finnebassen has since been asked to remix for Parachute Youth on Warner and become a regular on BBC Radio 1 playlists.
http://thump.vice.com/en_ca/track/listen-to-finnebassens-extended-house-remix-of-kidnap-kids-moments
TV ONE ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL SCREENPLAY COMPETITION SPONSORSHIP
Offering budding writers the chance to showcase their talent and win the opportunity to see their project come to life, TV One announces its second annual sponsorship of the American Black Film Festival’s Screenplay Competition. Created to encourage and promote the production of creative, site contemporary, engaging and relatable screenplays, the 2016 TV One Screenplay Competition will highlight three new writers who will vie for a $5000 cash prize and a chance to have their screenplay produced into an original, made-for-TV movie, which will debut in 2017 on TV One and at the 21st American Black Film Festival (ABFF).
“Renewing our Screenplay Competition with the American Black Film Festival, an organization dedicated to showcasing quality content which reflects and appeals to African-American audiences, aligns beautifully with TV One’s commitment to represent all facets of the Black cultural experience,” said D’Angela Proctor, TV One’s SVP, Original Programming & Production. “We are looking for a contemporary story that is entertaining and heartfelt; one that is especially relatable to the Black community.”
PILE OF PRIESTS US DATES + PROMO VIDEO
US death metallers PILE OF PRIESTS released their latest album “Void to Enlightenment” on December 2015. In order to promote their latest work, the trio will tour US during April.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUpwDMd8gT0
RICH JONES “CALL FIRST”
Chicago’s own souldful Hip-Hop artist, Rich Jones is at it again with the release of his brand new video for the single Call First. The new single is featured on Rich Jones’ latest album release Pink Slips, which was released just this past February.
Pink Slips found Rich Jones working with such members of the Chicago Hip-Hop scene as: Na$im Williams, LOWTONE, Jack The Wolf, Rez, LOWTONE, Netherfriends, Peace To Mateo, and Montana Macks.
RICHIE STEPHENS BAND NEW ALBUM
With his captivating voice and a sound that exhibits his passion from every note, Grammy award winner Richie Stephens and The Ska Nation Band will release their new studio album Internationally, April 15th (Pot of Gold, Adriatic Sound/Zojak World Wide).
The 14-track album available for pre-order today, comes with the instant-grat track Fire Fire, a tribute to ska. Richie Stephens and the Ska Nation band (based out of Italy), came together to create this masterpiece, which listeners can appreciate and become educated at the same time. The album starts with a single title ‘Foundation’, which mentions some of the ska greats and states that ‘ska a the original sound, Jamaica’s first big music”.
“I truly think ska music should be preserved and respected by us as Jamaican people for being our first international music” says Richie Stephens.
https://www.facebook.com/theskanationband/
IMPERIAL & K.I.N.E.T.I.K “HIGHER”
Higher is the latest single from your friendly, local ‘hope dealers’, Imperial and K.I.N.E.T.I.K. This second selection from their upcoming album finds the idiosyncratic duo flooding every block with jubilation, exuberance and vitality. Imperial’s chest thumping production serves the fiends with an instantaneous adrenaline rush through their veins, whilst K.I.N.E.T.I.K. unashamedly basks in a state of faith induced euphoria without materialistic hedonism.
Audio: Imperial & K.I.N.E.T.I.K. “Higher”:
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE PARTNERS WITH BUDWEISER TO AMPLIFY ITS SUMMER TOUR
Powerhouse country duo Florida Georgia Line has partnered with Budweiser as part of the brand’s continued support of country music.
Budweiser will sponsor FGL’s Dig Your Roots tour as well as an album release event pegged to their upcoming album later this year. In addition, there will be co-branded products displays at retail and FGL will be doing radio commercial voiceovers and music video integrations. FGL will also work with Budweiser to make surprise appearances at festivals and concerts this summer.
http://floridageorgialine.com/
SAVE “THE LIGHT”
‘The Light’ is the first taste of the weird world created by American vocalist Craig Louis Higgins Jr. and French composer Marc Nguyen Tan.
Marc is best know for recording under the name Colder for Trevor Jackson’s OUTPUT in the 00s. 2016 see’s him back after a ten-year hiatus with two records, the SAVE! LP and a new Colder one called ‘Turn Your Back’.
WIRE SHARE “INTERNAL EXILE” WITH NPR ALL SONGS CONSIDERED
Following the release of their self-titled album last year, Wire return with news of their new mini album Nocturnal Koreans, due April 29th via pinkflag. This week, the band shared “Internal Exile” from Nocturnal Koreans with NPR’s All Songs Considered and the track is streaming to share via SoundCloud. The synthetic, waltzing gait of “Internal Exile” channels the spirit of under-appreciated ’80s Wire but relocates it in a broader organic landscape, intriguingly fleshed out with Matthew Simms’s lap-steel guitar and, for the first time in Wire’s history, trumpet.
FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY HOSTS ANNUAL CAN-DO AWARDS DINNER, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016
The star-studded Can Do Awards Dinner, presented by Bank of America, is instrumental in helping to provide support for the 1.5 million New Yorkers who rely on Food Bank For New York City’s programs and services. Since its inception, the Can Do Awards have raised more than $14 million dollars, helping to provide 70 million free meals.. Every dollar donated to Food Bank helps provide five meals to a New Yorker in need.
Cipriani Wall Street
57 Wall Street, Manhattan (VIP Entrance)
18+ “DRAMA”
Today, 18+ have returned with their brand new single ‘Drama’, taken from their forthcoming album COLLECT, out May 20th via Houndstooth.
Spanning 13 tracks, COLLECT explores the duo’s aggressive evolution as musicians. Frequently radical and genre-defying, together Justin and Samia have produced their most ambitious and powerful work to date. On COLLECT, the duo explore the relationship of public vs private in a more invasive style, exemplified by the sampling of phone calls and personal field recordings intertwined between tracks.
BLKFLANL NEW VIDEO
Just over a year after debuting, the Kansas City group BLKFLANL, consisting of Barrel Maker (emcee) and Conductor Williams (producer) has returned with its 2nd full length release.
The album, BLKFLANL II: For the Imperfect, For The Dilligent is available now on iTunes. Check out the video for their single “Keep Me Safe” and full album stream below.
LA SYNTH POP DUO MAN MADE TIME TO RELEASE NEW EP APRIL 8TH + “SAIL AWAY”
LA based pop duo Man Made Time are happy to announce that they will be performing at LA’s Globe Theatre on March 24th. They just released the video for their first single “Sail Away” and it premiered on the popular Huffington Post website.
TANCRED’S NEW ALBUM STREAM
Tancred and Polyvinyl Records are excited for fans to hear the new album, Out of the Garden, streaming in full now at THE FADER ahead of its April 1st release. Produced by That Dog’s Anna Waronker and Off!/Redd Kross member Steven McDonald, Out of the Garden has already been hailed as a “phenomenal” new album by NPR Music, with lead single “Sell My Head” being praised by Stereogum for how it “simmers with a uniquely bold energy” and most recent single, “Control Me,” receiving USA Today’s seal of approval with the declaration, “If you’re a fan of The Breeders (and how could you not be?) this is a song you will love.” Tancred are in the midst of a national spring tour in support of the album.
http://www.thefader.com/2016/03/30/tancred-out-of-the-garden-stream
BLACK MILK X NAT TURNER
Rapper/producer Black Milk is one of the most prodigious and versatile talents in the world of Hip-Hop and his latest left-turn might be his most ambitious yet. Enlisting his powerhouse live band Nat Turner, Black Milk is set to release The Rebellion Sessions, an instrumental album which he calls “a fusion of Jazz and Funk orchestrated from a Hip-Hop producer’s standpoint,” on April 4th. Today, Black Milk & Nat Turner release “The Knock,” a Latin-flavored soul/jazz jam evocative of Fela Kuti and Chick Corea, with a brilliant walking bassline, liquid keys and energetic wordless singing. “The Knock” debuts via AFROPUNK, who notes that the track “cuts straight to the point, opening with a pleasant and steady stream of afro-beat-laden jazz rhythms which are adorned with ambiguous and complimentary backing vocals.”
DAVEY SUICIDE TOUR
Davey Suicide has announced the dates for “The Anti-System Revolution Tour” with special guests Deadstar Assembly and The Funeral Portrait (presented by High Road Publicity). The band will be on the “Juggalo Invasion Tour” tour with Twiztid for much of April with “The Anti-System Revolution Tour” kicking off on April 25th in New York City and working its way throughout the U.S., wrapping up on May 14th in Los Angeles, California.
https://soundrink.com/#/tour/davey-suicide
“BLOOD SANDWICH”
Aesop Rock just dropped a new song/video from his forthcoming album The Impossible Kid (out 4/29 on Rhymesayers). In “Blood Sandwich” Aesop shares two intense stories about his brothers growing up and the video brings them to life in vivid detail
JUSTIN MORELLI NEW VIDEO
New York-based pop R&B artist, Justin Morelli, announces the release of his brand new music video “Can’t Say Nothing” via PopDust. With recent praise from Yahoo! Music(“Look out, boy bands: There’s a new voice in town making the girls swoon with his smooth moves and tunes.”) and PopDust (“Justin Morelli is ready to take the pop world by storm”), Morelli is gearing up to release his forthcoming album, I’m Ready. The new project features the new singles “Ain’t Easy” and “Can’t Say Nothing” and is slated for release in early summer 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbAgBO_hMC0
WOLF ALICE KICKS OFF U.S. HEADLINE TOUR
London-based rock band, Wolf Alice, is gearing up to embark on their headline U.S. tour. Kicking off the tour in Philadelphia, the critically acclaimed four-piece will be making stops in major cities across the U.S. including New York City and Chicago. Wolf Alice will also be joining the 1975 on their U.S. tour, as well as supporting electronic band, Chvrches, for shows in Oakland and Las Vegas. Further, The London rockers will be making a number of festival appearances including Coachella, Sasquatch!, and Shaky Knees.
LONESOME SHACK’S NEW SINGLE “TO THE FLOOR” VIA PUREVOLUME
Lonesome Shack started in the early 2000’s when songwriter Ben Todd developed his musical voice in the isolation of rural New Mexico. After moving to Seattle in 2007, Todd teamed up with drummer Kristian Garrard and they found an instant chemistry. As a duo they released Bound To Die (2008) and Slidin Boa (2010) and brought their primitive boogie to every corner of the USA. In 2011, Lonesome Shack were joined by bassist Luke Bergman and the trio released the live album City Man (2012), which was recorded in one night at their favorite neighborhood bar, Cafe Racer. With More Primitive (2014), Lonesome Shack continued to hone their skills as an elemental rock group: stripped down, raw, expressive and danceable.
http://www.purevolume.com/news/PREMIERE-Lonesome-Shack-To-The-Floor
MANTAR “PRAISE THE PLAGUE”
Ode To The Flame is the smoldering, Nuclear Blast-bound new full-length from Northern Germany-based infernal metal duo, MANTAR. In advance of its April 15th worldwide street date, today Cvlt Nation spews forth the antagonistic sounds of “Praise The Plague” for mass digestion.
HASAN SALAAM “MILE HIGH CLUB”
New Jersey MC, activist, philanthropist, fitness studio owner and adult entertainer Hasan Salaam presents the Alex Ghassan-directed music video for “Mile High Club”, produced by Smoke DZA/Fashawn producer Remot. Available in both censored and uncensored versions, the video shines a light into Hasan’s “double life” of music and porn.
HOLY 57 NEW SINGLE “VENICE, CA”
London’s Holy ’57 has unveiled his brand-new single Venice, CA. The practitioner of tropical-laden indie has teamed up with respected music blog Surviving the Golden Age to bring forth the latest single which will be released this coming May on his EP, titled O (via his own DIY label, The Tennis Club).
http://survivingthegoldenage.com/holy-57-venice-ca/
IAMTHEMORNING, ALLMUSIC.COM STREAM UPCOMING ALBUM “LIGHTHOUSE”
Russian progressive duo iamthemorning has teamed up with AllMusic.com to stream the band’s new album Lighthouse before it releases this Friday on Kscope. Stream Lighthouse today, exclusively at:
http://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-iamthemorning-lighthouse
ARIANA GRANDE RELEASES FIRST VISUAL FOR “DANGEROUS WOMAN” TODAY
Ariana Grande has released the first visual for her hit single “Dangerous Woman,” on VEVO today.
THE BODY NEW VIDEO
The Body has just released a gorgeous, mesmerizing video for the track “The Fall and the Guilt” from their new record No One Deserves Happiness. Directed by Joe Martinez (who has also filmed videos for Tortoise and Oozing Wound), the video magnificently matches the song’s mournfulness and sense of longing.
The Body will be embarking on an extensive North American tour this spring, including a set at Moogfest in North Carolina alongside acts such as Sunn O))), GZA, Gary Numan, Sun Ra Arkestra, and more. This will follow their European tour alongside Full of Hell in April.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNuzOkhBLjE
THE BRUISER IS UNVEILED
All Music Inc. and Rocknroll Amps recently came together in an effort to bring guitar players a great sounding amp that is easy and light enough to transport but with the power and sound to play gigs. The result- The Bruiser! A clean, rich sounding amp that is small enough to carry around (about 30 lbs.) and can stand up to any overpowering band members. Completely hand wired and built by special order, the prototype can be seen and heard at All Music in Plainview- 397 South Oyster Bay Rd!
The idea for the Bruiser was to narrow the differences between similarly named blackface and silverface circuits ie – deluxe – deluxe reverb while maintaining a full bodied, clean robust sound. Blackface and silverface amps containing reverb are more powerful and robust than their non reverbed counterparts, and the idea was to build an amp that was as potent as a reverb amp but did not contain reverb. The challenge was to get the dry circuit to behave without the parallel reverb circuit. A non reverb black/silverface amp contains 2 gain stages of preamp before the phase inverter. In a black/silverface reverb amp the clean signal sees 3 gain stages of preamp before the pi. The issue was to balance out the clean signal and compensate for the lack of having it’s reverbed partner. Once the reverb circuit is removed all hell breaks loose! So a way had to be figured out to lose gain in small amounts thru each stage, and The Bruiser has accomplished this goal. The trend today is for more portable, lightweight, maximum headroom, pedal board friendly guitar amps, and that is exactly what this amp is perfect for!
http://www.rocknrollamps.com/the-bruiser.html
GROOVE CRUISE 2016
Groove Cruise, the founders and leaders of the floating dance music festival movement, will once again set sail this October, charting a course to Cabo San Lucas, a first for any musical cruise.
The trailblazing cruise liner today debuted the official teaser video for Groove Cruise Cabo, transporting veteran cruisers and newfound fans alike to the Groove Cruise paradise.
Featuring sweeping shots of Cabo San Lucas and stunning visuals of Groove Cruise’s renowned parties, Groove Cruise Cabo’s official teaser trailer showcases the unique vibe that is found only on-board the ship. It is through this lens of unabashed revelry that the Groove Cruise experience is revealed. For its loyal attendees, Groove Cruise is much more than another party– it is a reunion of family from across the globe, an off-the-grid escape into extravagance, and an opportunity for endless spontaneous adventure.
http://thegroovecruise.com/cabo
BOOGIE FEATURE STORY
This 26-year-old Southern California MC has an innate ability to inject grit and paranoia into party music, or to bring joy and optimism to the grimmest situation.
http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/9854-boogie-a-rapper-of-consequence
SATE NEW VIDEO
The video premiered on Relix today; it perfectly exemplifies everything SATE is about – raw emotion, a fierceness and strength that are unparalleled, and of course, the pure epitome of blues-rock. The release of “Know My Name” sets the stage for SATE to take the rock world by storm, and prepares listeners for her debut album, RedBlack&Blue, coming out on June 10th.
http://www.relix.com/blogs/detail/video_premiere_sate_know_my_name
YAWL RELEASES NEW VIDEO ‘WOAH’
“Woah” is the first single off their debut album, A Pile to Keep, A Pile to Burn on Berlin based label, Anette Records. On the 14-track album, which will be available on May 5, Ancient Mith tackles subjects like heart break, remorse, angst, personal growth, and the subtleties there in–over Dot’s equally brooding, self-reflective beats.
MAIZE REMIXES ALEX NEWELL’S NEW SINGLE “BASICALLY OVER YOU (B.O.Y.)”
After releasing 3 massive remixes from the likes of Gwen Stefani, Marina and the Diamonds and MS MR, Los Angeles based, British/Australian bred electronic duo MAIZE are back with their latest remix effort; this time putting their own spin on vocal powerhouse Alex Newell’s new single “Basically Over You (B.O.Y.)”.
SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM NEW VIDEO
Multi-platinum selling Australian duo Sneaky Sound System, have unleashed a stunning new video to accompany their latest dance smash “I Ain’t Over You.” Created by Dreamcatchers Dreamtime, the animated artworks augmented hyper-real landscapes to create a seamless visual aesthetic across the Sneaky Sound System experience. The striking visual aesthetic of Art Directors George Barnes & Sacha Kenyon and Director Nathan Lewis take Connie in and out of the superimposed background, breaking the ‘fourth wall’ and honestly revealing the illusion of green-screen and the studio beyond.
STILLS FROM NEW RIHANNA VIDEO
Check out Rihanna’s new video for her single “Kiss It Better” from her latest album ANTI, shot by Craig McDean.
Two stills from the video:
https://rocnation.box.com/s/37m9u3q7cf41z3w87559hjyrv0ahssej
https://rocnation.box.com/s/8jprwh8h3dbsdsolvg18mteyd87qyz5j
BISHOP NEHRU ANNOUNCES BRAND SINGLE
After recently coming off of Joey Bada$$’s World Domination tour and a current nomination for XXL’s Freshman List, NYC-based hip hop prodigy, Bishop Nehru, announces brand new single, ‘$acred Visions, from his upcoming eleven track mixtape ‘Magic 19’, out this June 3rd.
“THE RAIN BREAK” VIDEO
April showers bring May flowers, but this April Claude VonStroke brings you “The Rain Break.” Inspired by two different songs from the 80’s (Raze’s classic “Break For Love” and Oran Juice Jones’ “The Rain”).
Claude replayed and re-sung all the music from scratch to make a special cover tune of both tracks, then changed and combined into a surefire DIRTYBIRD classic.
ERICA & WARRYN CAMPBELL NAMED BMWK 2016 STANDARD AWARDS CELEBRITY HONOREES
As a young, successful and creative couple, Erica and Warryn Campbell have reached an exciting milestone not only as multi-Grammy® Award winners and multiple award winners within the music and entertainment industries, but together now have been honored for the 2016 Black And Married With Kids (BMWK) Standard Awards. The acknowledgement highlights the recording and television star couples’ efforts in the African American community, using their talents to set positive examples for black marriage couples.
The Black & Married With Kids organization celebrates its 2nd Annual BWMK Standard Awards. The “Standards” are presented to couples in the African American community who set a positive example for black love and marriage. The 2016 honorees were handpicked as positive examples for setting a public standard for healthy, positive and supportive relationships. The couples are honored in three categories: Celebrity Couples, Couples in Business and Couples in Ministry.
https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/
