WEEKEND EDITION: SKOPE NEWS FOR FEBRUARY 10 – 11, 2018

Belgian Alternative-Stoner Metallers Black Strike shared new music video

A few days after posting their past EP for full stream on Bandcamp and then the single “Tiger” at the same location, Belgian alternative/stoner metallers Black Strike just unveiled a new official music video illustrating the song “Tiger”, released by Otra Vista Production crew and available right now on YouTube with the courtesy of Score A/V Digital.

Austin, TX’s Dryspell (members of White Reaper, Hovvdy) share single at Gold Flake Paint.

Bringing a crafted approach to pop rock & roll, Dryspell emerged out of the tight-knit DIY scene in Austin, Texas. The band was formed by vocalist/guitarist Hunter Thompson, with bassist Samuel Jacobson, guitarist Chad Doriocourt and drummer Hugh Vu in early 2015 while the four were playing in different bands on the same tape label. More recently, Thompson began touring with Louisville band White Reaper while Jacobson played in local Austin band, Hovvdy. Despite involvement with other groups, the boys of Dryspell found time to continue working and writing together.

New Music: Dryspell – Can’t Wait

Refrigerator’s ‘High Desert Lows’ Out Today via Shrimper/Revolver

Refrigerator has released High Desert Lows, its eleventh full-length album in 27 years, via Shrimper/Revolver. Produced by Omaha-based songwriter Simon Joyner, who also plays and sings on much of the record, it features all of the band’s original members (including Shrimper Records founder Dennis Callaci and vocalist Allen Callaci.)

The Minnesota Child shares “life-affirming” new EP via Impose

The EP premiered along with a track by track breakdown from the band’s Ethan Bruckner on Impose who called it, “life-affirming, joyful collection of songs that find the beauty in both the dark and the light.”

Paul Thorn Releases Lead Single “Love Train”, Video Debuts on Billboard

Don’t Let the Devil Ride, Paul Thorn’s collection of soulful songs originally recorded by black southern gospel groups, was co-produced by Billy Maddox and Colin Linden and recorded in 3 legendary locations: Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, and Preservation Hall in New Orleans. Don’t Let The Devil Ride features contributions from the Blind Boys of Alabama, The McCrary Sisters, the Preservation Hall Jazz Horns and Bonnie Bishop. Today, Thorn releases the album’s lead single “Love Train,” a gospel reimagining of The O’Jay’s classic hit which debuted this morning on Billboard.

LAUNCH Music Conference & Festival Announces War on Women Performance

Entering its tenth year, LAUNCH Music Conference & Festival is set to return to the beautiful Lancaster, PA on April 12 – 15, 2018. The jam-packed event not only showcases musician performances, but also provides an educational tool for industry go-getters. Today, LAUNCH is thrilled to announce that War on Women will be performing in the Galactic Room at the Lancaster County Convention Center on Saturday, April 14th. Baltimore’s War On Women were born screaming-at the world, at the status quo, in the face of oppression. The band has announced their forthcoming album, Capture The Flag (April 13th, Bridge Nine), which calcifies that rage and no one in its wake is safe. Much more than a collection of songs or sonic experiment, Capture The Flagis a call to action that cannot be ignored. To celebrate their forthcoming release, War On Women are ecstatic to perform at this year’s LAUNCH Music Conference & Festival. Tickets are $10/ADV – $12/D.O.S and free with VIP Badge – $6 with Standard Badge.

THE FRONT BOTTOMS SHARE “EVERYONE BUT YOU” OFFICIAL VIDEO

The New Jersey-based band will embark on an epic U.K. and European headline tour which begins tonight, February 9th at Manchester, England’s Albert Hall (see itinerary attached). The trek will feature special guests The Smith Street Band and Brick + Mortar and is set to continue through the end of February. The Front Bottoms will then make their return to the states for a performance this June at Cincinnati, Ohio’s Bunbury Music Festival (June 1-3).

Mija releases debut EP ‘How To Measure The Distance Between Lovers’

Mija has released her highly-anticipated debut EP, How To Measure The Distance Between Lovers, out today as a DIY self-release run by the artist herself. The EP sets a few milestones as her first full body of work as well as her singing debut on five of the seven tracks. Throughout the project, Mija combines her talent for vibrant electronic maximalism with an unexpected turn towards slow-burn atmosphere and poignant vocal melodies, earning praise for her fresh approach to this new chapter of her career. In her own words, “This is the first step into what I would consider to be my canon.”

Alternative Band Cup Check Drops New EP “Continuity”

Chicago alternative rock band Cup Check shows determination and heart on their brand new EP “Continuity”, out TODAY. With the EP also came a brand new music video premiere last week for “It’s A Beautiful Day To Save Lives,” a rather personal alternative pop song that successfully portrays a range of human emotions; depression, anger, fear, but most importantly, hope. The five track collection is not only a solid representation of Cup Check’s musical identity, but simultaneously an experimentation for the band, as they dabbled in out-of-the-box elements from their previous work. About “Continuity”, the band states:

“We took our time bringing every element of the record together. Being able to step outside our comfort zones and experiment with new elements and ideas was crucial for what we wanted to achieve. We wanted to create something unique that takes influence from a variety of genres.”

SHIRT’s ‘Pure Beauty’ out today on Third Man Records

PURE BEAUTY includes the acclaimed track, “Flight Home,” available now at all DSPs and streaming services. The track is joined by a uniquely provocative companion visual in which he travels around his beloved Big Apple atop a truck adorned with (unauthorized) Nike and Adidas logos. Directed by SHIRT and Dave Svedosh, “Flight Home” is streaming now at SHIRT’s always-inventive YouTube channel.

Boosie Badazz Launches New Headphone Collection

Boosie Badazz just took to Instagram to officially announce his latest partnership with entertainment electronics company, Fanstereo.

Fanstereo, which is new to the market, is working with artists of all genres to release their own celebrity capsule collections of headphones and speakers.

Last week the company announced its collaboration with Ayo and Teo, with plans for more artists to launch their own collections in the coming weeks.

What makes this so disruptive and different than any other headphone/speaker collaboration is that each artist Fanstereo partners with have inked a deal that essentially makes them partners in the company, allowing for a new, creative revenue source for the artist.

Bad Royale Joins Forces with Richie Loop on “Lock Off Di Dance”

Combining dancehall and twerk into a powerful one-two punch, Bad Royale joins forces with Jamaican vocalist Richie Loop on “Lock Off Di Dance,” premiered today on Run The Trap. Led by chopped-up robotic lyrics suspended over a rising riddim, the single climaxes into an electro-fueled heater. “Lock Off Di Dance” arrives just in time for Bad Royale’s winter run on Steve Aoki’s Kolony US Tour.

NOAH CYRUS’ ANTICIPATED NEW TRACK “WE ARE…” FEATURING MØ OUT NOW

Cyrus’ star began to shine in 2017, as her debut single with Labrinth “Make Me (Cry)” went straight to #1 on Spotify’s Viral Global Chart within hours of release, and has since surpassed 420 million global audio and video streams. Her follow up songs, “Stay Together,” “Almost Famous,” and “Again,” have continued to rack up streams and views and her budding fanbase grows daily.

Company of Thieves sing an ode to friendship on “Window”

“Great friends can see something in us that we can’t yet see in ourselves- the ability to make it through, the light at the end of the tunnel. This song is about seeing the best in each other and ourselves, finding windows where there were once only walls” says front woman Genevieve Schatz of their new song, “Window”.

RAVYN LENAE RETURNS WITH “CRUSH” EP

“Sticky” is drawing wide-ranging critical acclamation, with Pitchfork declaring it “Best New Track” while raving, “‘Sticky’ is a steamy affair with a slinky R&B beat, but Lenae sounds like a playfully annoyed lover, glued into a relationship that’s falling apart. She uses Lacy’s wide-open production – electric organ and psychedelic guitar strums – to experiment with her vocals…The pacing mirrors all the frantic ups and downs of a teetering relationship, with Lenae storming around Lacy’s instrumental, changing her tone and her mind over and over again. Even through all this relationship drama, Lenae makes falling out sound very fun.” The FADER named “Sticky” one of its “11 Songs You Need In Your Life This Week,” writing, “is an incredibly apt title for this Ravyn Lenae song, which Steve Lacy provided the beats for. Those organ sounds and Lenae’s wild high notes really sound like a gooey sweet treat.”

Millionyoung announces upcoming album ‘Rare Form’

Millionyoung, the pseudonym for Miami’s Mike Diaz, has released his latest single “Never Be The Same”. Check it out now on Northern Transmissions. “Never Be The Same” is the first single from his upcoming album ‘Rare Form’ which is due April 13 on Mishu Records.

Emily James Releases Debut Album “Til the Morning”

Today, February 9th, 2018, Emily James released her debut album, Til the Morning. The album is a collection of original songs all written by Emily and inspired from her personal experiences and those of others. The 12- song album is weaved with themes of empowerment, love, life, coming of age, making mistakes, learning from them, and following dreams.

Walter Martin Releases Pensive New Song “Me & McAlevey”

Today, Martin released the lead song from the album called “Me & McAlevey,” a pensive new track inspired by an old friend which was debuted earlier this morning by Under The Radar.

He Is We to Launch US Tour with Vendetta Red

Seattle rock band Vendetta Red have announced that they will be joining He Is We on their North American tour run launching March 8 in Seattle with dates throughout the West Coast and into Nevada and Utah before finishing up March 19th in Portland, OR.

The Good Graces Releases The Hummingbird EP

The new EP from indie folk collective The Good Graces strikes an unflinchingly introspective chord that is both atmospheric and intimate. The album combines a plaintive, utterly appealing vocal drawl and a raw, honest homespun warmth. The Hummingbird EP is out now on Pretty New Songs.

DOOL Debuts New Video “The Alpha”

“The video for “The Alpha” is as well a celebration of will power as it is an ode to transformation, in parallel with the lyrics of the song,” comments Ryanne van Dorst. “It has been truly inspiring to work on this video, and we hope it empowers you as much as it empowers us”.

Indie-Pop Artist Jena Rose/ #18 Billboard Dance Chart

Her current single “Sweet Love” is quickly rising up the Billboard Club Charts, currently sitting at #18, making it her first song to make it to a Top 20 chart position. The track was the debut single off of her upcoming EP, which is set to be released in May. She will also be opening up for Echosmith on their “Inside a Dream Tour” kicking off in April.

HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR RELEASE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “MY CURSE AND CURE”

Hercules & Love Affair today unveil the full video for “My Curse And Cure,” the latest single from the critically acclaimed fourth album ‘Omnion’ currently on rotation at BBC 6music.

Pow Pow Family Band Releases ‘All Right’

Today, Pow Pow Family Band release their debut LP ‘All Right’ via Modern Sky USA. The band will perform at the Park Church Co-Op, tomorrow February 10th, 2018, to celebrate the release. Joining them are record label-mates Cotillon and Navy Gangs. Tickets for the show available here.

STRIKING MATCHES’ NEW EP, RETROGRADE, IS OUT TODAY

The three-track collection follows the duo’s ShamelessEP, which was released last fall. Striking Matches – comprising Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis – are sharing the stories behind the songs on both EPs in a series of videos that launched today on the band’s social media. In the first clip, they talk about how “Retrograde,” the new EP’s title song, came to meld dance beats with bluesy pentatonic grooves.

Austin’s Très Oui, led by Literature frontman Nate Cardaci, releases its debut LP, Poised To Flourish, today via Shrimper/Revolver. The album also features previous Literature members Steven Garcia (of Rose Selavy) and Seth Whaland, along with synth player Ian Jensen and drummer Doran Rawlinson. Made up of ten jangly indie-pop trracks that have drawn comparisons to everyone from Aztec Camera and Prefab Sprout to the Smiths, the full album is streaming via Self-Titled, along with a track-by-track breakdown of the record by Garcia.

Mobley Shares “Torch” Track Via Magnet

Today, Magnet Magazine has premiered Mobley’s new track entitled “Torch”. It’s the second single off his forthcoming project ‘Fresh Lies, Vol. I’ — out April 27th. ‘Fresh Lies’ will be presented as a song cycle, a living compilation, that will see future volumes added (and sent to invested fans) over the months and years to come. Mobley recently premiered “Tell You,” the first single off ‘Fresh Lies,’ exclusively with The 405. Coming off a Consequence of Sound-celebrated ACL Fest performance and winning a Black Fret grant, Mobley released “Tell You” as the companion to his last single, “Tell Me” which premiered via Billboard last year. The full release will expand upon the growing canon of Mobley’s multimedia work and immersive live performances with several conceptual, live and interactive videos to follow.

Felix Jaehn Unveils His New Single ‘Cool’ Ft. Marc E Bassy & Gucci Mane

Felix Jaehn does not follow the rules when it comes to producing music. His latest surprise for fans comes in the form of the “Cool”, the lead single off his debut album set to release February 16. Bouncy, chock-full of groove, and totally unforgettable, “Cool” brings together three knockout talents. Vocals come by way of Marc E. Bassy, while legendary rap star Gucci Mane lights up the score with his unforgettable bars. To go with the track, Jaehn presents an epic video shot in Los Angeles by director Drew Kirsch, who’s worked with blackbear and Louis The Child. Highlighting dance and self-expression, the video follows an array of characters, each with their own unique message.

The Britanys share new track via NME

New York City quartet The Britanys are proud to share their latest single “When I’m With You.” The track debuted via NME, who called it “not too dramatic a departure from their past, but one that feels fresher than last time we heard from them.”