SKOPE NEWS FOR APRIL 6, 2018 @ 4 PM EST

L.A. Salami Shares “City of Bootmakers” Album on NPR First Listen

On L.A. Salami’s second album, The City of Bootmakers, his ideas have never been more grandiose, as the song titles announce upfront. “Terrorism (The ISIS Crisis)” tackles its subject point-blank, with a jaggedly blurted chorus to hammer home the intensity. “England Is Unwell” diagnoses and dissects the ills of his home country, while “Science + Buddhism = A Reality You Can Know” comes closer than you’d think to living up to the loftiness of its title. – NPR First Listen

MEGHAN TRAINOR RELEASES ACOUSTIC VIDEO FOR “NO EXCUSES”

Shot as one take in London last month!

ARKELLS UNVEIL BRAND NEW SINGLE ‘PEOPLE’S CHAMP’

Arkells unleash their brand new single, “People’s Champ” today via Last Gang Records. On the heels of their meteoric hit single, “Knocking at the Door,” “People’s Champ” is the first single to be announced off the upcoming fifth studio album from Arkells, set for release later this year.

RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE UNVEIL DEBUT ELEKTRA FULL LENGTH “HOW TO: FRIEND, LOVE, FREEFALL”

Today, North Carolina-based quintet Rainbow Kitten Surprise unveiled their much-anticipated Elektra Records debut LP. Produced by GRAMMY® Award winner Jay Joyce (Cage The Elephant, Sleeper Agent), “HOW TO: FRIEND, LOVE, FREEFALL” features the band’s current single “Fever Pitch” and is available now at all music retailers and streaming services.

DAN WEISS: Twin Peaks-Inspired Starebaby LP By NYC Metal-Tinged Jazz Act

Encompassing elements of improv jazz, avant rock, technical metal, and suspenseful soundtrack auras, Starebaby was recorded at Systems Two Recording Studio, Brooklyn, New York by Ron Saint Germain, mixed at Saint’s Place, Kinnelon, New Jersey, also by Germain, and mastered at Masterdisk, Peekskill, New York by Scott Hull.

Album Stream: Dan Weiss – ‘Starebaby’

Bedouin reveal plans for second season of SAGA at Heart Ibiza

Bedouin and Heart Ibiza reveal plans for the second season of Saga. Returning every Sunday from the 27th May to 30th September, the series will once again take over Heart.

Inviting an impeccably curated and diverse selection of some the world’s most sought-after artists, the series will see the acts perform on the club’s upgraded sound system within an innovative and immersive production. The Saga team have created a sensory audio-visual experience that truly compliments the magic of the most avant-garde venue on the island.

Building on the original concept of telling a story in an enticingly beautiful yet dramatic way has been essential to the duo’s musical direction and artistic vision of the night. In just one year, Saga has become one of the most celebrated nights in Ibiza, pulling in a mature audience that is looking for a dynamic musical experience.

Little Boots Releases “Burn” EP Today!

Today, British artist, musician and DJ Little Boots (aka Victoria Hesketh) releases her highly anticipated new EP, “BURN”. The new 4-track EP, a collaborative project boasting some of the finest female/femme talent in the production world, sees Little Boots shifting even closer to the dance-floor, claiming a darker, more atmospheric territory while retaining her signature pop sensibilities. The result is a non-stop dance party, an electrifying fusion of forward thinking dance production layered over Victoria’s trademark melodies and introspective lyrics. The “Burn” EP is out worldwide now.

Ginette Claudette Releases Her New Single “Twisted” Today

R&B singer Ginette Claudette releases her new single “Twisted” today via RED MUSIC. The singer’s addictive vocals ride smoothly over GRAMMY award-winning The Stereotypes’ [Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige] production. The track is available across all digital service providers today.

New Synth pop from Stockohlm, Sweden

Stockholm-based synth pop group Visiteur is releasing their debut EP next Friday, the 13th, and here’s a preview listen:

Hannah Gill Releases New EP Lost In Words Today!

New York City based Hannah Gill releases her new EP Lost in Words today! The lead single “Lose” recently premiered via KCRW on Jason Kramer’s program. “Lost in Words” highlights Hannah’s soul, blues and rock roots and shows the mature direction of her new music. Backed by her band, The Hours, the five-track EP was recorded at Whitewater Studio and produced by Danny Jonokuchi and John White.

JOHNNYSWIM + Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors Drop Powerful Single “Ring the Bells”

JOHNNYSWIM and Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors are thrilled to release their powerful new single “Ring the Bells” today! The song is one of several the two acts recorded together for a collaborative EP Goodbye Road, that also features Penny & Sparrow on several tunes and is due out on May 4th, 2018 via new joint venture imprint Goodbye Road.

Tom Misch releases debut album ‘Geography’

Tom Misch has released his debut album, Geography, out now via Beyond The Groove / Kobalt. The album was written and produced by Tom in his bedroom studio and features guest collaborators GoldLink, De La Soul, Poppy Ajudha and Loyle Carner. Tom’s penchant for connecting the dots between genres without boundary has earned him critical acclaim and solidified him as a sought-after producer. The album dances between disco, soul, jazz, and hip-hop, a testament to Tom’s diverse sound and genre fluidity, and the reason why Geography is such an evocative, exciting listen.

Jill Barber Announces New Album Metaphora, Shares First Single “Girl’s Gotta Do”

On Friday June 22nd, Jill Barber will unleash her new album, Metaphora, on the Outside Music label. A bold entrée into the world of contemporary pop music, the record reveals a Jill Barber we’ve never heard before. Metaphora showcases her power and vulnerability as both an artist and a woman. Evolving over the course of many albums from folk to jazz, R&B and pop, Jill’s success is defined not by genre, but by her undeniable songwriting chops and distinctive voice. Metaphora is a continuation of Barber’s musical story that confidently tackles everything from issues of empowerment, sexual politics, the complications of love, and depression. It’s introspective and personal. It’s also a dance party.

Willie Nelson’s “Something To Get Through”– New Song and Video

Nelson’s 11th studio album for Legacy Recordings, Last Man Standing is the eagerly-awaited successor to Willie’s God’s Problem Child, which showcased seven Willie Nelson-Buddy Cannon compositions and debuted at #1 on the Country charts. Last Man Standing is comprised entirely of songs newly-penned by Willie and Buddy. The pair have been working together since 2008 with Cannon helming more than a dozen of Willie’s albums including 2014’s acclaimed Band of Brothers.

Jim Jones and Juelz Santana Turn Back the Clock for the Ferocious “Still Dipset”

Representing for Harlem with his signature flow and ad-libs, Jim Jones took a winding road from rapper to businessman to mogul. Digging back to where it all began, Jones shares “Still Dipset,” a fiery new banger. Tearing up an apocalyptic instrumental courtesy of hitmaker Jahlil Beats, Jones perfects his flex on the track, boasting about his expensive clothes, his droptop whip, and his hustling prowess. Reuniting two of the most prominent members of The Diplomats, “Still Dipset” finds Jones trading verses with Juelz Santana, who impresses with his percussive flow: “I see through these n*ggas like they Windex/Keep that bug spray for you insects/Still pushin’ weight and I ain’t talkin’ bout no bench press/5K a day just to get dressed.” “Still Dipset” is the latest single from Wasted Talent, Jim Jones’ upcoming album. Boasting the Yo Gotti-featuring video single “Chicken Fried Rice,” Wasted Talent arrives on April 13th.

Update: JPNSGRLS are now Hotel Mira!

“How do you sleep at night? As babies, we longed for someone to hold us and sing softly to make the bad thoughts go away. All of us, on one level or another, desire the feeling of being safe and loved. We don’t believe that desire ever actually ends – it just evolves and shapeshifts. That void, loneliness and pain, still exists in us well into adulthood so… what now?” Hotel Mira

New Kendra Morris Single “Playing Games” b/w “Virgin” Out Today (stream)

Kendra Morris has been releasing music under her own name since 2010, working closely with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Page and collaborating with a long list of talented musicians along the way. 2012’s Banshee (Wax Poetics), her 2013 covers album Mockingbird, and 2016’s Babble EP racked up critical acclaim, earned notable film & TV placements, and kept her on the road with extensive international touring. In between, she found time to release a single with Scarlett Johansson, Julia Haltigan, and Holly Miranda, and most recently, she directed and animated the music video for Czarface and MF DOOM’s single “Bomb Thrown.”

E-40 Goes Back to His Roots

One of the most celebrated rappers of all time, Vallejo, CA’s E-40 has attained legendary status in hip-hop. Teaming up for a project with his cousin and first collaborator B-Legit, 40 shares Connected & Respected, 40’s first full-length collaborative album as a duo with another rapper. Displaying the chemistry they’ve perfected since the Reagan era, 40 and B-Legit form a brilliant yin and yang, with B-Legit’s deep-voiced manifestos grounding E-40’s wordplay and elastic flows. Delving deep into the duo’s extensive history together, the album boasts a cover featuring a vintage photo of 40 and B-Legit together in their junior high band uniforms. Packed with classic Bay Area slappers like the P-Lo-featuring dancefloor jam “BOY,” Connected & Respected is a master-class in rhyming and a treatise to the importance of keeping it in the family.The Click, P-Lo, Rexx Life Raj, Uncle Murda, 4rAx of The Mekanix, Stresmatic, JT the 4th and others, Connected & Respected arrives via Sick Wid It Records.

MOLLY KATE KESTNER RELEASES “NOT OVER YOU”

Atlantic singer-songwriter Molly Kate Kestner has released her latest anthemic track “Not Over You” – available today via all DSPs. “I know way too many who have wasted tears on people that are not worthy of them” said Kestner of the song. “I wanted to write a song that someone could sing along to, and one that would actually give them the power and the words they need to get over the person who took them for granted. So if that’s you… turn it up & sing it ’til you believe it.”

Sara Vanderheyden “Dementia” – Single and Video Out Today

Second single from Sara Vanderheyden​ out now via Epictronic​ / The Orchard​. Written and produced by Ville Oravala​ at Titans Lab Recording Studio​.

Wilderado Announces New EP, Debuts First Single ‘Sorrow’

As Wilderado prepares to set out on a Spring tour that will culminate at Sasquatch! the band is pleased to announce their forthcoming EP Favors with the release of the first single, “Sorrow”. Favors was produced by Phil Ek (Father John Misty, Fleet Foxes, Vance Joy, Band Of Horses) and will be available on May 25. For more information please visit wilderado.co.

Miss Eaves Wrote The Title Track For An Animated Series About Obama and Biden Saving the World.

Barry & Joe: The Animated Series is an adult animated concept that tells the story of best friends Barack Obama and Joe Biden as they leap through the past to save the future. The team which includes Executive Producers Conan O’Brien, Chris Prynoski and Ben Kalina from Titmouse (Big Mouth, The Venture Bros.), is now shopping the series pitch. Vice said about the project, “It’s basically Jonny Quest meets Quantum Leap if Jonny and Hadji were actually former Democratic leaders and the entire Hanna-Barbera writing staff was on mescaline during development.”

Sting & Shaggy Drop New Song Today “44/876”

Today, Sting and Shaggy release a new song – the title track – off their forthcoming collaborative, island-inspired album 44/876. The album will arrive physically and on all digital platforms on 4.20 via A&M/Interscope Records and is available now for pre-order.