@skopemag news – weekend – may 9 & 10, 2020 @ 10 am est

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Texas, Turn Up: Yella Beezy & Trapboy Freddy Unite for I’m My Brother’s Keeper Mixtape

Dallas rappers Yella Beezy and Trapboy Freddy are kindred spirits, connected by their shared hometown, drawly bars, and raw authenticity. Combining their complementary sensibilities for a full-length project, Yella and Freddy share verses on I’m My Brother’s Keeper, a new mixtape. Spanning 13 tracks, the mixtape springs from the rich Texas trap tradition, alternating between bass-boosted strip club bangers like “Throw Them Dollas,” aggressive street anthems like “Ride,” and come-up tales like “Raccs.”

BUJU BANTON AND JOHN LEGEND RELEASE NEW SONG, “MEMORIES”

Grammy winner, multiple Billboard Hot 100 chart topping artist and international reggae icon, Buju Banton, today releases the first single from his much-anticipated album, “Upside Down,” his first full-length studio album in a decade.

“Memories,” a tour-de-force vocal match with Banton and multi-Grammy winner, John Legend, is a love song for the ages. It marks the second time the artists have collaborated, having worked on Legend’s spring 2009 release, “Can’t Be My Lover.” Buju Banton appeared at Madison Square Garden for a live performance of the song with Legend that rocked a sold-out summer crowd, a few months after the song’s release.

GARZI Drops ‘STUCK IN THE MIDDLE’

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE blends GARZI’s alt-rock influences with trap and hip hop vibes creating a uniquely brooding, energetic fusion. An approach he calls “throwing up my emotions on a track”. A punk spirit tears through the EP with GARZI firing through the five tracks in eleven minutes; vocals and lyrics starkly exposed up-front with instrumental sections kept to a minimum. No doubt the punk attitude gets an injection from the addition of scene veterans John Feldmann (who co-produced/co-wrote the entire record), and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker (who performs on the single “SICK OF ME” and takes co-writing/co-producing credits on three of the albums five tracks).

CHART-TOPPING PRODUCER CHILLPILL RELEASES FIRST SINGLE

Already having written and produced records for artists like DJ Khaled, Nikki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Panic! At The Disco, Future, Major Lazer, and more, you may have heard rumblings of the mysterious chillpill, but today sees his official entrance to the universe with new single “FUCK THE CLUB” feat. GOLDN. “FUCK THE CLUB” (and quite literally, “taking a chill pill”) is exactly what our quarantine needed: a feel-good, melodic track that makes listening from our couch and not the club suck a little less.

Godlands Drops Rhythmic Trap Banger “Drop It Low”

Bass champion Godlands taps up-and-comer Yung Bambi to spit high-octane bars over her rhythmic trap banger “Drop It Low.”

Hailed by DJ Mag as one of “Australia’s most promising voices,” Godlands continues her global takeover with another standout record on Dim Mak. “Drop It Low” arrives on the heels of “Smoke Em Up (feat. SAMPLEGOD)” released earlier this spring, and continues to showcase her bass-driven cohesion of hip hop and trap.

Out now: Reignwolf’s latest single “Cabin Fever” recorded in his garage

Reignwolf shares new song “Cabin Fever,” out today. The track was recorded entirely in his garage. In classic Reignwolf Thrash N Dash style, the new track was created with a sense of urgency. Holed up in his home he was forced to trade in the safety and comfort of the studio for his 4-track recorder and one microphone. Reignwolf was originally booked to play Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium this Saturday, May 2.

The song was first shared in the form of an angsty black and white video shot and where he’s seen drumming, playing guitar and singing. Now, it’s streaming everywhere.

Critics Praise Ashley McBryde’s “Never Will”

Reigning ACM New Female Artist and CMA New Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde and her new album Never Will continue to gain critical acclaim since its release on April 3, including NPR, Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Variety and more:

“McBryde sings and writes with a high degree of emotional acuity.”
– New York Times

“She sings these songs that are classic, but they’re also rock ‘n’ roll. And they touch the heart of the heartland. She tells these story songs. And on this album, she goes more rock ‘n’ roll than she ever has before.”
– NPR

“McBryde’s lyrics almost always stick up for the wounded, the flawed, the lonesome and the misunderstood.”
– Washington Post

Ashley McBryde Tells Stories of Career Struggles and Small Town Drama on ‘Never Will’

BANKROL HAYDEN RETURNS WITH “RICH BITCH”

Atlantic recording artist Bankrol Hayden erupts back on the scene today with his latest offering “Rich Bitch.” Bankrol Hayden serves up this track as an appetizer to his highly anticipated Pain is Temporary mixtape, due to drop later this spring. “Rich Bitch” is available to stream and download at all available DSPs –

THE FIVE HUNDRED Share New Single “Black Dogs” – New Album Coming This Fall

“When you’re suffering from mental health issues, you feel completely alone in your head, standing on the edge, descending into darkness. No one can jump inside of you and help you fight your demons. You’re just on your own. We live on a beautiful planet, but an ugly world. We’re surrounded by breath-taking beauty, but all we want to do is set it on fire…that depresses, terrifies and angers me in equal measures. Look around us at what we have created. Plagues, floods and fires. You can’t make this shit up. It’s fucking biblical!”

Bono Reveals “60 Songs That Saved My Life” Playlist

In celebration of his 60th birthday today, U2’s Bono has shared a playlist of 60 songs that saved his life. Note from Bono and his first group of thank you letters to the artists on the playlist can be found at U2.com –

South London, UK Ska/Punk 5-piece Call Me Malcolm Sign With Wiretap Records

South London, UK Ska/Punk 5-piece Call Me Malcolm has signed with LA-based label Wiretap Records, to unleash their new full-length album “Me, Myself and Something Else” on Friday, May 15th.

RISING STAR AUDREY MIKA RELEASES NEW TRACK “JUST FRIENDS”

19 year-old rising star Audrey Mika releases her new track “Just Friends” via RCA Records. This follows Audrey’s latest release of “Y U Gotta B Like That” feat. KYLE which has garnered over 1.7M combined audio/video streams worldwide.

Kacy Hill shares new track “Unkind,” new album out June 19

“‘Unkind’ is about falling deeply in love and knowing that it may not last forever,” Hill says. “It is the hope that even if we move on from one another, there can still be kindness and love in that move.”

Los Angeles Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist David Haerle Releases Sophomore Album ‘Death Valley’

The 15 songs included on Death Valley were selected “based on a feeling and what I thought would make a good listening experience,” HAERLE explains. “Death Valley is the culmination of where inspiration took me during this period in my life. We rock pretty hard in places. We take it way down in others. I sing about renewal, how we lose our way and then find our way back. There’s a lot of love and gratitude expressed on this record and hopefully people find beauty in some of what we have done.”

Breakout Singer/Songwriter Hope Waidley releases debut EP “Wonder”  

Today, breakout singer/songwriter Hope Waidley releases her debut EP, Wonder, a story-telling project that speaks to the soul. Throughout Wonder Hope Waidley gifts listeners with a collection of songs that feel personal and intimate, showcasing her signature raspy vocals that will leave listeners speechless.

PUBLIC RELEASES BRAND-NEW SINGLE “HONEY IN THE SUMMER”

Comprised of singer/guitarist John Vaughn, drummer Ben Lapps and bassist/keyboardist/singer Matthew Alvarado, the trio are further staking their claim within the pop landscape with their new track which is an openinvitation to dream of a colorful, vibey summer. In these seemingly endless, colorless days, “Honey In The Summer” is the song everyone needs to keep their spirits soaring.

New Album from David Myles out TODAY with new single shared via American Songwriter

“Home” is a composition that highlights his band’s musical interplay and David’s ability to write authentically across genres. The track is a bluegrass-inspired tune that gives his longtime support musicians time to shine. David said, “Sometimes I make music for my band. Most of the time that band is Alan Jeffries on guitar and vocals and Kyle Cunjak on upright bass and vocals. These are the guys I’ve been traveling with for over 10 years. They are both originally from Fredericton (like myself) and are a huge part of what I do. I feel lucky to get to play with them and in many ways think of David Myles as a trio much of the time. Anyhow, I wanted to write a song that would suit us. What we do well and the music we share in common (we listen to a ton of bluegrass in the van). Alan grew up playing bluegrass since he was 5. A prodigy who has never stopped. And he has pulled Kyle and I into this wonderful world. I wanted to write a song that paid tribute to that. That we would love singing and playing night after night. For me, it’s a song about seeking unity with others. It’s about our deep human desire to feel understood and to be part of a community, whether among two people or just the random folks we see on the streets everyday.“

Make Yourself at “Home” with David Myles’ New Single

JOSIE DUNNE UNVEILS LATE TEENS/EARLY TWENTIES EP

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Josie Dunne has announced today’s release of her eagerly anticipated new EP. LATE TEENS/EARLY TWENTIES is available now via Atlantic Records at all DSPs and streaming services.

Mumford & Sons share garage demo recording of “Delta” album track “Forever”

The song was originally written and demoed a few years ago when writing initially commenced on their third album, Wilder Mind. It exemplifies the journey that a song can go on from this much more raucous and raw initial late-night live recording to the more reflective, torchlit anthem that it ended up becoming for Delta some years later.

This demo recording was performed almost completely live at Aaron Dessner’s garage home studio in Brooklyn and was recently rediscovered while going through some of the recording archives during the Coronavirus lockdown.

SINGER-SONGWRITER ANDREW HIBBARD’S NEW SELF-TITLED ALBUM IS OUT TODAY

Andrew Hibbard is a musician, songwriter, singer and writer of poetry. Born in Hamilton, Ohio in the late months of 1995, he began playing guitar at the age of six when his father showed him some basic chords. Since high school he’s been picking and roaming, following the paths cut by his musical forebears — Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Neil Young, Hank Williams, Chet Atkins and Lightnin’ Hopkins.

“The Ohio singer-songwriter delivers 12 twangy, transportive tunes that evoke many of Hibbard’s beloved country and folk forebearers, such as Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, and Chet Atkins.” – Matt Wallock, AMERICAN SONGWRITER

“A genuine talent” – Andrew Frolish, AMERICANA UK

BENJAMIN TOD: Cvlt Nation Premieres “Cannon Fodder” Video From Lost Dog Street Band Frontman

Founding Lost Dog Street Band vocalist/guitarist BENJAMIN TOD has issued a new video from his second solo album, A Heart Of Gold Is Hard To Find, which saw release through Anti-Corporate Music in November. A video for the somber “Cannon Fodder” has been premiered at Cvlt Nation.

This heart-wrenching Dark Country visual by BENJAMIN TOD is powerful!

Illumin Records Announces Mother’s Day Relaunch with J. Graves Single

This is not your mother’s record label, but it is founder Jessa Graves’. In the early 90s Annie Graves started Illumin Records to independently release her own music. Twenty-six years later, her daughter Jessa Graves (front woman of J. Graves and entrepreneur) resurrects Illumin Records with a revitalized mission at the intersection of music, tech, and advocacy. Illumin redefines the role of record label for womxn and gnc led projects through education, transparency, empowerment, and new deal structures leveraging tokenization and blockchain technology.

¿Téo? Returns With “UNI2”

Speaking on the release, he states:

“UNI2 translates to “UNITED” (Unidos). I’ve lived with the song for over a year, yet it seems like it couldn’t be more relevant to today. I feel like the meaning continues to evolve, but the song provokes the feeling of coming together and the sentiment was to bridge a language barrier that too often disconnects us.”

NOTD & ASTRID S JOIN FORCES ON NEW SINGLE “I DON’T KNOW WHY”

Swedish duo NOTD team up with award-winning Norwegian songstress Astrid S for a brand new single titled “I Don’t Know Why.” This marks the first collaboration between these two international powerhouses, who together deliver a shimmering slice of pop-dance accompanied on release day by an equally emotive official music video.

ILLITERATE LIGHT PAYS TRIBUTE TO BOSTON’S GREAT SCOTT WITH LIVE VERSION OF “SOMETIMES LOVE TAKES SO LONG”

Indie folk-rock duo Illiterate Light has released a live version of “Sometimes Love Takes So Long,” recorded during a sold-out show at Allston’s Great Scott + accompanied by an electrifying and intimate performance visual –

The recording was long planned as the fourth installment in the band’s live series “In The Moment,” which the band has been building out with recordings and videos from their incredible live shows.

What was unplanned, however, is that the release now comes just days after Great Scott’s owners announced the venue will sadly not be re-opening its doors. In that way, the video now serves as a fitting homage to the historic club. In fact, the series as a whole has taken on new meaning over the last couple of months – becoming a tribute to the power of live performances and the community formed during the duo’s live shows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geI3dfqdTPg&feature=youtu.be

Choir! Choir! Choir! invites you to sing “Across The Universe” with Rufus Wainwright

Choir! Choir! Choir! and Rufus Wainwright invite singers from all around the world to help create an epic live video of the timeless classic “Across The Universe.”

Unveiled this morning, the open call asks singers to record themselves at home singing harmonies to The Beatles song, which was featured on their final album Let It Be in 1970. The submissions will be collected and edited together into a piece featuring Wainwright on lead vocals.

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