SKOPE NEWS FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2018 @ 3 PM EST

VICTORY IN SOUTH KOREA FOR 47 DOGS RESCUED FROM DOG MEAT HORROR

Dozens of dogs destined to be eaten have been saved from the butcher’s knife by In Defense of Animals and Jindo Love. 47 puppies and dogs were among the survivors rescued from horrific conditions in slaughterhouses and backyard dog meat farms across South Korea. The American-Korean partnership aims to save 200 dogs this year from the dog meat trade in South Korea and is calling for an outright ban on dog meat.

“We are delighted to have saved 47 dogs from one of the worst fates imaginable,” said Marilyn Kroplick, President of In Defense of Animals. “Puppies were forced to eat garbage on the hellish dog meat farms before we rescued them from a brutal, bloody end. With our brave South Korean partners, we are aiming to save 200 dogs this year and bring them all to new lives in the U.S. and Canada.”

Shakka Drops Track “Man Down” Featuring AlunaGeorge

Two-time MOBO Award winner SHAKKA commenced a stellar new chapter in his career when he released ‘Heart The Weekend’ late last year. Praised by Wiley, the track earned radio support from Radio 1 (Huw Stephens), 1Xtra (MistaJam, Twin B, A. Dot, Charlie Sloth, Yasmin Evans), Beats 1 (Julie Adenuga) and Kiss Fresh.

B-Reel Named Top 10 Most Innovative Company in Music by Fast Company

Global creative agency B-Reel announced today that it has been named among the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Music for 2018 by Fast Company. The honor is part of the publication’s Most Innovative Companies issue, which celebrates the leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in business and innovation.

B-Reel earned the No. 6 spot on the Top 10 music list this year for its award-winning partnerships with the Gorillaz, Bang & Olufsen, Google, and Spotify. In 2017, B-Reel helped the Gorillaz launch their highly anticipated new album, ‘Humanz,’ after a seven-year hiatus. B-Reel’s strategy was to create a completely new digital platform, reinventing the traditional album launch by putting on a virtual house party with unparalleled access to the band and live listening events that combined the real world, AR, VR, and 360 degree elements. When the Gorillaz album launched, it was #1 in over 30 countries. The experience won multiple industry awards, including three Cannes Lions and seven Clio Awards.

Cinderpop Shares Greatest Hits Album, “Bricolage”

Cinderpop emerged from a Vancouver indie punk band called A Murder of Crowes in the mid-nineties. Heralding no fear of “Don’t Go Here”, Cinderpop explored all kinds of music terrain, and after the release of its first album “Violet Gamma Rays” was once compared to My Bloody Valentine having a spat with XTC in a back alley. Violet Gamma Rays will be available digitally for the first time in March 2018.

Y.O.U.N.G release life-hacking video for ‘Lazy’

Genre-blending Manchester collective Y.O.U.N.G have shared the video for their latest single ‘Lazy’, featuring their own ‘lazy hacks’. It premiered on Clash who said, “New single ‘Lazy’ is fast becoming their calling card, a tongue-in-cheek response to parents, teachers and other buzzkills”,

Confidence Man Share New Track “Don’t You Know I’m In A Band”

Today Melbourne band Confidence Man are pleased to announce details of their debut album, Confident Music For Confident People, that will see release on April 13th, 2018 through Heavenly Recordings. Alongside this news they have shared another new track from the forthcoming record titled “Don’t You Know I’m In A Band”.

Riot Ten Releases Anticipated Hype or Die : The Dead EP

Riot Ten firmly establishes himself as a leader of dubstep’s next wave with his highly-anticipated seven-track EP Hype Or Die: The Dead. Teaming up with fellow headbanger Sullivan King as well as legendary Three 6 Mafia member DJ Paul for the lead track “Pit Boss,” the trio set the EP’s tone on this moshing anthem. Next up, MC Rico Act joins Riot Ten and Germany’s Badfella on the destructive riddim anthem “WTFLEX.” Additional songs “Graves,” “Back At Em” (with Dim Mak alums ARIUS) and the EP’s title track “The Dead” are also included in the package. This murderous selection is rounded out by BadKlaat’s vicious remix of “Pit Boss” and a special bonus track: Sullivan King’s thrashing remix of the fan-favorite “Rail Breaker.” The EP arrives amidst Riot Ten’s massive 55+ show North American tour with Datsik.

Leikeli47 “Attitude” video

If you tuned into the Golden Globe nominated, critically acclaimed show “Insecure” this season you probably heard the stylings from another critically acclaimed communicator and artist Leikeli47. Prolific and thoughtfully calculated in visual output check the video for “Attitude”, the seventh video from her debut LP Wash & Set (HARDCOVER/RCA Records) and inaugural song from the season 2 soundtrack of Insecure (RCA Records) w/ references inspired by the show. The video features Leikeli47 and her co-star Buffy Khan.

EARTHGANG Release New Single

Atlanta’s brightest rap duo, EarthGang, have today released a new song titled “Nothing But The Best” featuring fellow label mate, Ari Lennox. Produced by Childish Major, the shimmering and addictive track highlights the pair’s pension for melodic bars and vibey material. “Nothing But The Best” comes off of EarthGang’s upcoming third EP, Royalty, out this Friday, February 23rd.

L-VIS 1990 DROPS NEW TRACK

In October of last year, renowned UK producer, DJ and Night Slugs label co-founder L-Vis 1990, aka James Connolly, released his 12 Thousand Nights mixtape. A progressive vision of hip-hop, R&B, dancehall and pop, 12 Thousand Nights was well received by critics; with Pitchfork declaring it “a testament to L-Vis 1990’s ear for raw talent.” Noting that “Yeah Yeah (feat. Flohio and Cassive) is a take-no-prisoners anthem, one that proves (L-Vis 1990) hasn’t lost his touch for helping usher in the next generation.”

Happy. Release “Don’t Overdose and Drive” Produced by Will Pugh (Cartel)

Happy., comprising of Tate Logan (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), Jack Eskridge (Guitar), Caleb Rucker (Drums), and Sean Bowick (Bass), is more than just a pop punk band from Columbia, SC. Formed in 2016, Happy. released a successful EP entitled, The Endless Bummer, before signing with independent record label, Rude Records in early 2018. The band’s mission, to provide a sense of nostalgia for listeners with a sound that is full of infectious melodic hooks, oozing with catchy harmonies. Today they are thrilled to announce “Don’t Overdose and Drive,” an infectious track recorded, produced and engineered by Will Pugh of Cartel and mastered by Cameron Boucher of Sorority Noise.

BETTY WHO DEBUTS MUSIC VIDEO FOR “IGNORE ME”

Just before kicking off the third leg of her Party in the Valley Tour, BETTY WHO premieres the music video for her latest track, “Ignore Me,” exclusively via Refinery29. Directed by Buffalo & Bear and with creative direction and choreography from Khasan Brailsford, the visual finds Betty showcasing her signature dance moves in a single take from start to finish. With its playful imagery and vibrant energy, the music video is the perfect companion to “Ignore Me” – Watch here.

Me Like Bees Release New Single “Long Gone”

Joplin, MO’s indie pop darlings Me Like Bees are gearing up to release their new EP Songs From The Realm on March 30th, but today you can hear the new single “Long Gone.” The EP is a collaborative effort with the Image Comics series The Realm and acts as a soundtrack of sorts for the comic. “Long Gone” is a song about Ben, a character in comic that is a relentless one man force.

Black Moth Super Rainbow announces first new album in six years & 2018 tour dates

If you haven’t panicked lately, you’re either blissfully ignorant or have gone completely clear. For the rest of us attempting to navigate the political, economical, and cultural carnage, Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” succinctly captures the statue of psychic dislocation. Or N.W.A.’s “The Panic Zone.” Or Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Panic Blooms, the latest disorienting dystopian masterpiece from the experimental pop arsonists that haunt the black-leaved Pennsylvania woods.

Bear Family’s box set ‘Battleground Korea’

There has never been a box set quite like Battleground Korea: Songs and Sounds of America’s Forgotten War, due out in the U.S. on March 23, 2018. The award-winning folks at Bear Family Records have assembled an impressive four-CD anthology that is part ’50s American soundtrack and part historical document, representing the most comprehensive examination ever assembled of songs inspired by the Korean War. While the music of the World War II and Vietnam War eras garnered a lot of attention, far less is known about the sounds of the Korea War period, even though it stands as a significant time in American society, from the post-WWII boom years to dawning of the ’60s.

CHAPPO Premiere New John Vanderslice-Produced LP DO IT with AllMusic

This Friday, February 23, Brooklyn’s CHAPPO return with DO IT, their third studio album and second release on Votiv Music. The album was produced and recorded by John Vanderslice at his studio Tiny Telephone Recording in San Francisco, CA. Today, AllMusic premiered the album in its entirety and said it is “…filled with upbeat anthems of perseverance and honors the pursuit of passion.”

Aukai shares two new tracks from upcoming ambient-acoustic album ‘Branches of Sun’

Markus Sieber is no stranger to solitude and frugal living. Born near Lepzig, East Germany, 15 years before the Wall fell, his parents moved to a village outside Dresden when he was six. Fast forward to today where he returned to Germany to mix the new album with Martyn Heyne (7K!, Nils Frahm, The National, Dustin O’Halloran) at Berlin’s Lichte Studio. Branches of Sun was announced for a March 9th release date.

YOUNG VALLEY TO RELEASE THEIR NEW SELF-TITLED LP APRIL 20TH

Jackson, Mississippi’s Young Valley offers points of view from songwriters Zach Lovett, Dylan Lovett and Spencer Thomas with a trading of ideas and styles from traditional country to southern-tinged rock ‘n’ roll. Since the release of their debut album No Filter in 2014, the boys have toured 34 states over the span of a couple years sharing the stage with Shooter Jennings, Lucero, American Aquarium, Phosphorescent and Futurebirds.

SONG PREMIERE: Young Valley Shine With Fiddle-Charged Alt-Country Tune “Hang Me”

Exale Ascends “To The Stars”

Boston-based Exale delivers shimmery nu-disco vibes on his New Noise debut “To The Stars,” a feel-good production with a funk-infused bass line.

Creep Show (John Grant + Wrangler) Share Video For “Modern Parenting”

Of this heartwarming tale of typical family life Turner says: “I wanted the video to employ a kind of twisted take on 1980s ‘body swap’ movies such as Big and Vice Versa. In Modern Parenting the adult acts up like a delinquent kid, as the child looks on in disappointment, until their roles finally begin to mutate and distort.” Stephen Mallinder of Creep Show adds. “Upside down, inside out, a converse family in disarray… Welcome to the modern world!”

Rich Brian takes to the ice in new music video “Cold”

Rich Brian delivered his debut LP Amen only days before the 2018 Olympic Winter Games kicked off in Pyeongchang, South Korea earlier this month. Fittingly, the rapper has taken up a winter sport in a new video for album cut “Cold.” Courtesy of 88rising, the aesthetic was conceptualized by Sean88 and his wife while watching the U.S. National Championships. Thus, we find Brian lacing up his skates and hitting the ice for a graceful figure skating routine with some
impressive triple axles.

Patty Griffin Announces Spring Tour

GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter Patty Griffin has announced an acoustic tour beginning May 1 at The Blue Door in Oklahoma City, OK, and ending May 19 at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX. All dates except the Gruene Hall show will see Griffin performing with her deeply talented long-time guitarist David Pulkingham. The Gruene Hall show will be a full-band performance featuring David Pulkingham on guitar, Craig Ross on bass and Conrad Choucroun on drums.

The Men share “Killed Someone” single

The Men are sharing the final single from their upcoming LP, Drift before its release on March 2. “Killed Someone” harks back to the Leave Home or Open Your Heart era of the band with a breakneck pace and huge fuzzed-out riffs that put that band on the map to begin with.