SKOPE NEWS FOR DECEMBER 7, 2016

LUKAS GRAHAM EARNS THREE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

Warner Bros. Records artist Lukas Graham have earned Grammy nominations in three highly coveted categories: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, all for album track “7 Years.” The nominations round out a remarkable year for the Danish band, led by vocalist Lukas Forchhammer, who released their self-titled debut album earlier this year and since then have solidified their status as 2016’s biggest breakout act. Their hit single “7 Years” is the highest-selling single by a debut artist this year, and the third highest-selling single of the year overall.

Warden Releases Eclectic New EP ‘Visions’

Pacific Northwest native Warden continues his eclectic journey through the layers of electronic music genres with his newest 3 track EP, Visions. Originally premiered on Paste Magazine, Visions exemplifies the bold young producer’s consistent balancing of genre standards and unique experimentation.

With Visions I wanted to show off the melodic and bright side of myself. I’ve always loved that super hype, almost cheesy ravey, kind of sound. I really wanted to tie that vibe together with bass music. Plus it was a reminder for myself to not take dance music so seriously and just make stuff that’s big loud and fun. – Warden

Nilu takes your breath away on melodic new single

The Persian-American’s lead single “A Thousand Tangled Lies” premiered on Culture Collide. She’s the singer behind the popular cover of “How to Save a Life” from hit TV series Grey’s Anatomy, and has had a number of syncs as well, including on a Robot Koch track for Pretty Little Liars. She has opened for The Airborne Toxic Event and The Pacific Symphony, and has performed for The Dalai Lama. She’s currently managed by Randy Jackson.

GNAW THEIR TONGUES: ‘Entire Hymns For The Broken, Swollen And Silent’ Streaming

Cvlt Nation’s write-up accompanying the stream of Hymns For The Broken, Swollen And Silent offers, “While dark ambient and industrial create the basis of the sound, the outbreaks of the record move towards the further extreme sides of black metal and noise. The noise element is able to smear the parts, provide more character and enhance the dominance of the industrial patterns, while the black metal essence sets them ablaze. The changes to black metal modes is truly awe-inspiring, as Mories plunges the knife deeper into the wound, with vehement guitar parts, blastbeats and an overall ferocity. The extreme vocals that accompany most of these moments are brilliant, cutthroat and with ample distortion applied, they make the process that more realistic and palpable.”

Premiere Streaming: Gnaw Their Tongues – Hymns for the Broken, Swollen and Silent + Review

Jammz Watch video for new EP track, ‘Danger’

Ahead of his headline show in London this Thursday, supported by Deezer, grime MC of the moment Jammz drops a new video from his acclaimed Warrior EP, ‘Danger’ – directed by legendary grime documenter Risky Roadz and Jammz himself.

WHY? Announces New LP ‘Moh Lhean’

WHY? will release its sixth album, Moh Lhean, on March 3rd via Joyful Noise Recordings. A follow-up to 2012’s Mumps, Etc., it’s the first fully home-recorded WHY? album since the project’s 2003 debut, made mostly in Yoni Wolf’s studio and co-produced by his brother Josiah.

The album opens with lead single “This Ole King,” which finds Wolf’s fragile voice and emotionally-charged lyrics accompanied by acoustic guitar and upright bass, before the song morphs into a sea of shimmering, kaleidoscopic pop. You can hear a clip from “This Ole King” — along with a peek at the album’s cover art — in WHY?’s teaser video.

Highly Sedated – ‘Make Love’

Following their recent release “Got Some Water?” on Steve Angello’s highly regarded label, five-piece Swedish electronica band Highly Sedated announce a new single “Make Love,” out now via Size Records.

With a deep, slow beat and sultry vocals that implore the listener to “make love to the bassline,” the track stands out as an unapologetically primal anthem dedicated to losing yourself to music. Having just formed last year and with over 100k listens on their first Size Records release “Existence,” Highly Sedated is poised to shake up the musical spectrum.

Kenny Chesney + P!NK Set The GRAMMYS on Fire

Somewhere In the Sun — Kenny Chesney took a long time making Cosmic Hallelujah, because he wanted to reach a higher artistic threshold than his critically acclaimed, four-No.-1-producing The Big Revival. But no matter what changes or shifts happened, the 8-time Entertainer of the Year always believed in the power of “Setting The World On Fire,” his peak-of-the moment duet with P!NK.

Evidently, the voters with The Recording Academy agreed. When the nominations came in for the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards, “Setting The World On Fire” was nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

“You’re kidding me,” Chesney responded, when reached somewhere on the sea. “That’s fantastic. What a thing, what news to wake up to.”

Reckoning Hour Premieres “Dead Man Walking” Video

Reckoning Hour is ready to finally drop their latest music video for “Dead Man Waling” today, via Lambgoat. Check it out here.

After releasing their full length in April, the Brazilian Metal band headed out on tour supporting Children of Bodom as their opening act, and followed up the impressive feat by also attending Hell In Rio, one of the biggest Metal festivals in South America, earlier this year.

To top the successful year off, the band put together a music video made up of various clips recorded during those shows with Children of Bodom, and thus created the music video for “Dead Man Walking”, which showcases a heavier and less melodic side of the band, Surely what got them to gather crowds and laded them a spot in one of the biggest Brazilian festivals there are, alongside acts such as Sepultura.

Art Of Dying release live performance video of hope-filled song “Torn Down”

Vancouver Hard Rock icons Art Of Dying have released a new performance video for hope filled song ”Torn Down” .

The band’s Jonny Hetherington stated: “Torn Down” was inspired by the story of a teenage girl, Amanda Todd, who lived near me in Vancouver. She was targeted by a sexual predator online and eventually committed suicide. It’s a very sad story that she told personally through a self-made YouTube video. Her story affected the community deeply and it hit me hard when I discovered it. I hope the lyrics in “Torn Down” will help others who are going through what seem like hopeless struggles – see a light at the end of the tunnel.

George Nicholas – ‘Capital Gain’

US born / Germany raised rapper George Nicholas releases the first visuals off his upcoming EP “Capital Gain”, which will be released December 20th.
True to his Bay Area roots, George Nicholas delivers a smooth yet trippy joint that’ll make you roll a blunt or two.

Celeb Car Crash Releases “Enemy’s Desire” Music Video

Alternative Rock band Celeb Car Crash have released the official music video for their track “Enemy’s Desire” from their critically acclaimed new album People Are The Best Show. The “Enemy’s Desire” video is based on the most classical archetypes, but is still impactful: a starter, a couple, a “witness”, and a linear path dealing with life, encounters, obstacles, and supernatural events which hinder the main characters, hope, and the end. The video was made in Italy with the typical xenophilic taste the band has developed since their musical beginning.

The opening scene was shot with the aid of a drone, while all the rest in unique sequence shots. A single take, filmed at dawn on November 2nd “All Souls’ Day”, was completed in slow motion and a few digital effects were added in post-production. Classe’s Lido, the seaside, and its pine grove are the setting to this video.

DARK AGE PRODUCTIONS RETURNS WITH CERNUNNOS WOODS FOREST ANTHOLOGY

Dark Age Productions, the cult 1990s US label releasing medieval, dark ambient, atmospheric music, (known today as dungeon synth) has returned in 2016. Dark Age Productions was known for releasing atmospheric side-projects by artists such as Equitant (Absu), Proscriptor (Absu), Akhkharu, …The Soil Bleeds Black (Fetid Zombie), Akrabu (Crimson Moon) and many others in extremely limited cassette editions between 1994 – 1997.

The first release from the resurrected Dark Age Productions is CERNUNNOS WOODS “Forest Anthology” a remastered compilation of early material and rare compilation tracks. Written and recorded by label curator Bard Algol Eriboas between 1994 & 1998. Including the full audio track “Into Glory Ride” which appeared on ABSU’s “Mythological Occult Metal” Best Of album, under the title of “The Great Battle Moving from Ideal to Actual”. CERNUNNOS WOODS is considered one of the essential first age acts of the dungeon synth movement. Forest Anthology is available now as a Digipak CD and Cassette Tape (limited to 100 copies) as well as a Die-Hard collectors bundle with CD, cassette, T-shirt, woven patch, sticker & exclusive pin.

Saw Black shares earnest lead single off ‘Azalea Days’

Azalea Days marks the debut of Saw Black, whose songs from the heart tell the story of a once boundless love and the realization of that love’s decay. Tracked in his basement studio by the James River on a mostly-working 8-track tape machine, the Richmond, Virginia-based self-taught multi-instrumentalist and songwriter recorded the songs over the course of a year, coming to life as the relationship they chronicled came to an end.

An art handler by trade, Saw Black is also producer and co-owner of Crystal Pistol Records who lives with his dog Birdie in the South Side of Richmond. He began playing music when his grandfather, a jazz piano player, gave him an electric guitar at the age of 11. Now 28 and having taken on every role within the recording process, Saw Black releases his first collection of self-produced songs in Azalea Days.

doubleVee (mem of Starlight Mints) to release ‘THE MOONLIT FABLES OF JACK THE RIDER’ on Feb 10

Oklahoma City’s doubleVee is former Starlight Mints frontman Allan Vest and producer Barb Vest and they release their debut album, The Moonlit Fables of Jack the Rider on February 10 via CEN/RED Distribution, a division of Sony Music.

The concept album follows the story of the traveler Jack, who descends into a world reminiscent of The Twilight Zone where nothing is exactly as it seems. Pieces of Jack’s history unfold over the course of the album with his tales being told in a theatrical style. The Oklahoman spoke to Allan and Barb last week and debuted the first track from the album, saying, “Think of it as a theatrical return to form for Allan Vest whose arrangements have always tickled pop sensibilities with a lush, orchestrated flair and a chance to hear Barb Vest hold her own with harmonious vocals and electronic flourishes.”

CHANEL IMAN Stars in FLO RIDA’s New Video for “Zillionaire”

iGoLive is a live-streaming app that helps people monetize their talents and live the zillionaire lifestyle. “iGoLive is happy to be a part of the Zillionaire video and we are excited about our partnership with Flo”, said Mr. Pink, owner of iGoLive.

Ryan Chernin “Ashtray Kisses”

Singer/songwriter Ryan Chernin showed an inclination for music at an astoundingly young age.

“My mom has this one story – my grandmother swore by it too – that at three or four months old they were talking to me in my crib and I apparently gave them their exact intonation back,” Chernin recalls, laughing. “According to my mom, that was my introduction to music.” He insists that his real introduction was the Yellow Submarine tape she’d play for him in the car, and the piano lessons he begged his parents to sign him up for as a child.

Slow Caves Released Video for Single “Desert Minded”

Fort Collins, CO based band Slow Caves have signed to Old Flame Records (Heyrocco, Keeps, Ski Lodge, Gothic Tropic) and will release The Desert Minded EP on March 10, 2017.

Last week, the band was featured in The Denver Post’s – The Know. Check out their music video for the first single, “Desert Minded” HERE.

“This song expresses longing for the romantic ideals of being by the ocean. We’ve grown up listening to bands from California and have obsessed about the sounds and sights that come from out there. We wish we could go to the beach, surf, look like Stacy Peralta but we can’t. We live in Colorado and definitely enjoy it here but you always want what you can’t have. The chorus, ‘Please believe me, I’m here for you, everything you’ve made up in my head,’ is like having the idea of California as a voice inside your head telling you it’s ok, go out west where you can live in this fantasy version of California, that represents music like the Beach Boys and so on.'” – Jakob Mueller, guitarist/vocalist

ENDLESS FLOODS stream “II” in full via Cvlt Nation

Even from absolute darkness, a glimmer of hope can dawn. Bordeaux-based drone doom specialists ENDLESS FLOODS have teamed up with Cvlt Nation to unveil their second album “II”, for a 45-minute journey into lands of uncompromising heaviness.

TOY Share Video For “Another Dimension”

TOY have shared the brand new, Bunny Kinney-directed video to Another Dimension, the latest track to be taken from their recently released album, Clear Shot. Released in late October on Heavenly Recordings, Clear Shot, recorded with producer David Wrench towards the end of 2015 at Eve Studio, is the band’s third album.

ICELAND’S SECRET SOLSTICE 2017 UNVEILS FIRST LINEUP

Iceland’s largest music festival Secret Solstice has been making waves since its first edition in 2014, with a concept that several media outlets have dubbed it “the world’s most unique music festival.” And now they’ve lifted the lid on their initial lineup announcement for their 4th edition in 2017, taking place in the capital city Reykjavik on June 16-18, 2017 during the epic summer solstice featuring 72 hours of sunlight.

Rock heavyweights Foo Fighters are part of an impressive bill of artists, also featuring UK electronic legends The Prodigy, as well as Richard Ashcroft, formerly of The Verve. Pharoahe Monch, Foreign Beggars, Dubfire, Novelist, Dusky, and many other electronic acts have also been announced, with Chicago house legend Kerri Chandler returning to the event for the third time in 2017.

Iceland’s own pool of stellar talent is very well represented as always, featuring the likes of Högni, Úlfur Úlfur, Amabadama, Emmsjé Gauti, GKR, Tiny, Aron Can, KSF, and Alvia Islandia.

SHONSL “Nobody” Feat. Beka

Garage and bass house DJ and producer SHONSL releases his infectious house track “Nobody” featuring angelic vocals by songstress Beka on independent electronic label Plural Music. The track is reminiscent of greats such as Duke Dumont, Tchami and The Magician.

LÉON ANNOUNCES HEADLINE TOUR FOR FEBRUARY

Following the recent release of her captivating new track “Think About You,” LÉON has announced a North American headline tour for February. Kicking off in Boston on February 1, the tour will make stops in major cities across the U.S. and Canada including New York, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles and Austin before wrapping in Nashville on February 28 – see full list of tour dates below. Jacob Banks will support on all dates. Pre-sale tickets are available now, with the general on-sale beginning Friday, December 9.

Winter premieres video for “Dreaming” via She Shreds

LA-based (by way of Brazil) dream-pop band Winter shares the video for their latest single “Dreaming.” Originally written in 2013, the song was almost lost when the band’s laptop was stolen on tour. This summer a version of the song was miraculously recovered on a backup hard drive and was released in October.

The video for the track was developed by Samira Winter and director Kevin Kearney. The 90s-inspired video depicts Samira as she “connects with [her] child self.” Stream the video over at She Shreds and on YouTube.

Video Premiere: “Dreaming” by Winter

Jen Lane Releases Holiday Single “2000 Miles”

Inspired by current events and the holiday season, Jen Lane recruited producer and multi-instrumentalist, John MacArthur Ellis, to put her own spin on the Pretenders classic “2000 Miles”! View the classic cover here

“I think most people think this song is about the distance between two lovers over the holidays. For me, I felt a sense that it was about a father going off to war whose family hopefully anticipated his return at Christmas time. With war sadly still playing such a huge role in the headlines, I was compelled to cover it. The truth is however, that this song was written for the Pretenders’ original guitar player, James Honeyman-Scott, who passed away the year before the song was released. Whatever it means to you, I hope it brings some holiday spirit and gratitude into your hearts as it did for me!”… Jen Lane

matt pond PA PREMIERES VIDEO FOR “WHOA”

“Whoa” is featured on matt pond PA’s new album, Winter Lives, which arrived last month on 131 Records. ELLE stated, “Pond distills nostalgia, change, growing up, and staying the same into an album full of moving songs, deeply personal, yet surprisingly universal,” The Onion added, “[Winter Lives]… shimmering harmonies are perfect for setting suns, windy streets, and the cooling temperatures,” while IMPOSE called the album, “some of the most inspiring and heartbreaking compositions we have heard.”

TVD Video Premiere: matt pond PA, “Whoa”

DEE SNIDER Shows Support For Protesters At Standing Rock

Not one to shy away from any political or social cause that he wholeheartedly believes in, legendary rocker DEE SNIDER is now showing his support for the thousands of men and women at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota who are protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.

In a video for “So What” that premiered earlier today exclusively on Noisey.com, DEE and son/director Cody Snider beautifully exhibits the faces of the courageous men, women and children that are fighting for their land and offers a glimpse at the resistance and tribulation they are faced with as they stand their ground. The song can be found on DEE’s new solo album, WE ARE THE ONES, which was released October 28 on Red River Records (distributed by BFD/RED).

Seeker Surface With ‘Submit’ Video

The product of loathe and venom, SEEKER have partnered with Cvlt Nation to unleash ‘Submit,’ the first performance based video from the new album Loss. SEEKER has been tour non-stop since its release, and now the Dallas trio are on their first headlining tour with support from Hollow Earth. The track features guest vocals from TJ of Wrvth.

Video Premiere Seeker “Submit”

Jimmy Lumpkin Premieres Music Video for “My Name is Love”

Southern soul prodigy Jimmy Lumpkin has released a new music video for his song “My Name is Love”. The video premiered with Glide Magazine who describes the track as a “fiery anthem” and writes, “Lumpkin’s commanding vocals sound like a call to arms as he sings over a powerful mix of blazing guitar and explosive brass.”

Lumpkin himself relates, “This music video invokes unity. Not just unity for us as a people, but us as a world.”

MOJO x ED KEELS “GREW UP WIT IT” – DIR. MONEYBOI MEDIA

Partners in rhyme Mojo Sys and Ed Keels trade rags to riches lines over an Under Water Trax beat for this second single off of Mojo’s “Mojo Volume 2” project. While the pair may indeed have come from humble beginnings, there is nothing humble about them now. This is another one for the street soldiers out there who can undoubtedly relate, or at least aspire to. Stay tuned for release info for Mojo’s upcoming project, “King Drank.”

The DRX: Avant-Rock Group Debuts “The End Of Avoiding Consequence”

New York City-basedavant-rock collective The DRX — led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Dan Romans, and featuring members of Kayo Dot, Psalm Zero, The Riot Oak, Jerseyband, and others — prepares for the release of their expansive new concept album, Throughout Within, through Nefarious Industries at the end of the month.

Preceding the release of Throughout Within, The DRX has delivered the record’s fourth cut, “The End Of Avoiding Consequence,” through an exclusive premiere at Treble, with the respected outlet noting, “The DRX is the project of Dan Romans, and the album features contributions from members of Kayo Dot, Psalm Zero, and other bands. It’s a revolving cast of musicians with Romans at the center of it, creating a stylistically diverse and complex set of art rock that leans toward metal while taking cues from prog. It’s ambitious, heroic stuff.”

MOUTHS OF BABES RELEASE NEW TRACK “BRIGHTER IN THE DARK”

Americana duo Mouths of Babes release the title track from their upcoming full-length album, Brighter In The Dark, due out in early 2017. Comprised of Ingrid Elizabeth and Tylan Greenstein of acclaimed acts Coyote Grace and Girlyman, the now-married pair has received notable press both for their respective projects and together as Mouths of Babes; just last year MTV covered their wedding as an inspirational story celebrating marriage equality.

Both women grew up under the musical influence of famed family members. The Tony- and Grammy-winning musical Dreamgirls, which debuted the year Ingrid was born, was written by her great uncle Tom Eyen. The musical inspired Ingrid’s brassy vocal styling and her passion for performing. MTV.com notes, “The depth of emotion found in [Mouths of Babes’] lyrics is reminiscent of all that’s moving about Dreamgirls.” Similarly, Ty’s acoustic songwriter sensibility can be traced back to her father, Ron Greenstein, who is well known in folk music circles for singing and playing bass in The Chad Mitchell Trio, a 60’s era harmony group originally featuring John Denver.

Mrs. Magician’s New Single “You’ll Fall In Love”

San Diego’s dismal-pop dudes Mrs Magician are next in line to contribute to the Thrill Me 7″ Singles Series! The single includes two brand new pop gems “You’ll Fall In Love” b/w “Spiritual Awakening”. Vinyl is limited to only 100 Doublemint, 200 Coke Bottle Green & 200 Classic Black so ya might wanna act fast!

Boston Hard Rockers Neon Alley To Release New Video “That’s How It Is”

Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, Boston rockers Neon Alley are releasing a new video “That’s How It Is”!

Lorna Shore Debut Single from Flesh Coffin “Denounce the Light”

New Jersey-based metal band Lorna Shore recently announced their sophomore full-length album, Flesh Coffin, which is due out February 17, 2017 with Outerloop Records, to great acclaim.Last month, Lorna Shore, partnered with Metal Injection for the exclusive premiere of the debut track off Flesh Coffin, titled, “Denounce the Light,” who described, “Initially I thought the song was going to be some seriously heavy blackened death metal. Then things took a turn for the technical, there was a killer breakdown, and in the end I just enjoyed the hell out of the track despite having no idea what to label it.” Today, Lorna Shore announced that Flesh Coffin is now available for pre-order and fans will be treated to an instant download of “Denounce the Light.” Pre-order Flesh Coffin here.

Tino Drima Premiere “You Are My Friend” Via All Things Go

Today, Tino Drima premiered “You Are My Friend” via All Things Go. Their split EP with Spooky Mansion ‘A Space God Appears’ is set to come out December 13th, via Dingo Vinyl.

Tino Drima sings a Hero’s Tale of then, now, and what will be. Crooning hell harmonies over charmed, ripping beats, Tino channels music that has always existed. Think the inter-dimensional radio in Old Man Cooper’s house that portals classics from a better world in between government warnings of peace and goodwill. Tino Drima mixes influences from Roy Orbison, Elvis, and Can to make a unique vintage sound. They released a debut EP earlier this year which DoTheBay said to “evoke all that is sensual about contemporary popular music and will make you tingle with excitement.”

BEHEADED: Decibel Premieres New Video From Malta-Based Brutal Death Metal Merchants

Beast Incarnate is the impending new long player from Malta-based brutal death metal merchants BEHEADED.
Set for release next month via Unique Leader, the infernal, eight-track production draws upon the brutal and melodic approach to the band’s 2012-issued, critically-championed Never To Dawn long player. Recorded at MKII Recording Studio (Italy) and mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström (Teadeat, Bone Gnawer, Aeon, Those Who Bring The Torture etc.) at Enhanced Audio Productions Sweden, Beast Incarnate comes shrouded in the cover art of Gabriel Alegria Sabogal, welcomes the addition of new recruits — drummer Davide Billia and guitarist Simone Brigo – and truly stretches the boundaries of BEHEADED’s signature sound to meet new extremes.

New Track from Von Sell

Von Sell said the following about the track: “I had finished a first draft of ‘Ivan’ early last year. At that point I had never released any music before, however my friends urged me to put this track out there – as is! So I caved, and debuted with a quasi Demo version of the track; the reception was overwhelming and confirmed for me that I might be on to something with this whole Von Sell project. I always knew though that ‘Ivan’ wasn’t finished, and that eventually I wanted and needed to release a final and official version of the track. So here it is now.”