@skopemag news – friday – december 4, 2020 @ 3 pm est

@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope

Out Now: Pikes ‘Power Ranger’

“Power Ranger is a song about an introvert dating an extrovert and trying to keep up with the other person. There’s something beautiful about wanting to devote yourself to a another person and wanting to give up yourself to make the other part feel good.”– Pikes on his new single “Power Ranger”.

MAX APOLLO (Switzerland): New EP ‘Power’ out now

Zürich solo artist MAX APOLLO will release his new EP “Power” on November 27th via Young and Aspiring. With a knack for sophisticated arrangements and great melodies, the 24-year-old multi-instrumentalist skilfully closes the gap between Pop and Rock!

Two years have passed since MAX APOLLO unleashed his debut album “In Absolute Silence” with a bang. It didn’t take long for MAX APOLLO to gain the attention of the media – songs like “Fever” and “A Million Drums” enjoyed a lot of airplay on Swiss radio stations and even made it into various commercials as well as the German Bundesliga as opening track for Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 23 year old artist – accompanied by his four-piece band – also knows how to convince his audience with his energy driven live shows and thus managed to sell out numerous gigs and scored support slots for Pete Doherty (X-TRA) or Hecht (tour support).

AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS Share New Single & Music Video for “Stranger In The Mirror”

British melodic post-hardcore six-piece AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS have dropped their new single, titled “Stranger In The Mirror,” along with an accompanying music video. “Stranger In The Mirror” is the third single taken from the band’s upcoming debut album, ‘Within Each Lies The Other,’ which will see a March 26th, 2021 release via Long Branch Records.

Alice Ray shares debut EP ‘Lost In The Dark’

London singer-songwriter Alice Ray has shared her debut EP, Lost In The Dark. A deeply cathartic collection, the EP chronicles the emotional highs and lows of meeting someone who provides hope after a difficult time, but who eventually becomes a destructive force.

“I wrote these songs at the end of 2018 as a form of self-expression and to try to navigate how I was feeling at a time of great uncertainty,” explains Alice. “I felt lost and confused, and wanted to understand how change was happening when I wanted to resist it so much.

British Artist Ava Lily Releases Long-Awaited Alt-R&B Debut EP Higher Love , Out Now.

Rising British artist Ava Lily releases her highly anticipated, enthralling debut EP Higher Love, which includes the stunning addition ‘Remind Me’ – independently released and available to listen now.

Co-written and produced with long-time friend and collaborator Gareth Esson, and New York poet Allen Vartanian – alt-R&B Higher Love EP is an introduction to a more authentic sound from the emerging artist. The candid four-track debut project is the soundscape to Ava Lily’s relatable emotions and experiences of life, love and overcoming tough break-ups. Her gorgeous honeyed vocal resonates throughout from the empowering first release of ‘Blameless,’ to additive, lo-fi ‘Closure,’ the liberating ‘Higher Love’ and the new sultry, atmospheric track ‘Remind Me’.

AMY MACDONALD SHARES THE NEW SINGLE ‘FIRE’ – WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE

‘Fire’ opens the album and quickly takes flight. From its calm, mood-setting intro, it unfolds to become a widescreen indie-Americana anthem which captures the latest evolution in Amy’s sound. Its optimistic atmosphere is matched by its lyrics, which celebrate the power of commitment while also opening up the vulnerabilities that come with it. Amy is not one for love songs, but marriage does strange things to people. Produced by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian), ‘Fire’ is a heartfelt homage to her husband.

Sainted Sinners Release ‘Early Light Of Day’ Music Video

German hard rockers, SAINTED SINNERS, have released a music video for ‘Early Light Of Day’, it’s the third single taken from their new album ‘Unlocked & Reloaded’, which is out today via El Puerto Records. The YouTube video can be viewed here:

Starling shares the festive new single ‘Underneath The Mistletoe’, out today

Speaking about the new offering, she said, “Normally I’m Miss Scrooge but 2020 has been fucking unbelievable so love is the touchstone. I had to write a song. A year like no other means people know what “social distancing” truly and deeply means and how we have to look to the temporary nature of this to help the pain of missing the one we love. Written about standing underneath the mistletoe waiting for a call – this is 2020 Christmas. Facetime will have to be the connection, until soon though, next year isn’t far and this is all temporary.”

BINNY’s new single “Prime”

BINNY is a bedroom pop artist born and bred in Maryland. Having sung before he could even talk, BINNY’s musicality runs deep in his veins. Growing up in a family of musicians, he learned piano from the early age of six, before self-teaching the guitar and eventually onto songwriting and producing.

Back after two decades… Departure Lounge release ‘Mercury In Retrograde’

Critically-lauded indie-experimentalists of the millennium era, Departure Lounge, hinted at a permanent reformation with two, rare London live shows in Autumn 2019 and now, with a series of digital reissues behind them, the transatlantic four-piece announce a new album, their first in two decades, with the single, Mercury In Retrograde. Seeing light on Violette Records, the single sets both feet firmly in the future, whilst echoing the past as a well-aired live favourite.

INTRODUCING TULLIAH WITH ‘JUST MY TYPE (A LITTLE BIT LONELY)’ – WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Beginning its life as a piano ballad called ‘Imagine’, the single took on numerous lives with Tulliah and producer Dean Tuza (Stella Donnelly, The Rubens) who tinkered, tampered and peeled away the song layer by layer until it found its ultimate home in its final form as the extraordinary ‘Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)’. “I remember the exact moment when I sat at the piano and the first verse flowed out of me. I felt like it was something special even at its earliest stage,” Tulliah reminisces.

Greta Van Fleet announce new album ‘The Battle At Garden’s Gate’

After three years, one million concert tickets sold across five continents, four consecutive #1 singles, a GRAMMY Award, and performances on ‘The Tonight Show’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’, GRETA VAN FLEET are hurtling into the future with their second album, The Battle at Garden’s Gate due April 16, 2021 via Lava/Republic Records and EMI Records in the UK.

Ex-Jellyfish members reunite as THE LICKERISH QUARTET for incredible new EP

Of “Snollygoster Goon” Eric Dover says “The music is Adderall-based, in theory, to reflect the absolute breakneck speed at which the corruption flourishes. A frenetic forensic foray into classic old-as-civilization themes involving greed, graft and corruption as applied to any political sphere. The snake oil salesman kissing babies, the saccharine unimaginative public image.”

NEWS: Harry Dean Stanton with the Cheap Dates’ ‘October 1993’ gives glimpse into musical life of legendary actor.

Harry Dean Stanton, the beloved actor with a career spanning more than six decades, also loved to sing and play music. His trusted musical partner for 15+ years was Jamie James (The Kingbees, Dennis Quaid & the Sharks), as evidenced in the acclaimed documentary and soundtrack Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction. Omnivore Recordings released the soundtrack to the movie in 2014.

HURRICANE ON SATURN Release New Lyric Video For ‘Coma’!

Italy-based HURRICANE ON SATURN self-released their debut album “Killing Field” on November 13th. Today the band has unleased a new lyric video for the song ‘Coma’, taken from the debut album.

INTRODUCING KILDER – DEBUT EP ‘DON’T HIDE’ OUT NOW

Don’t Hide is a whirlwind ride through club music as heard through Kilder’s ears: emotive house, hard-edged bass and divine indie-disco bring the energy, while more cerebral ambient tracks wind things down. Although it’s largely club music, there’s a pop sensibility at play throughout, with punchy song structures and a keen ear for melody that poke at the pop zeitgeist. Guests on the EP range from established names like underground legend Trim and Japanese soulstress Friday Night Plans to art-school-upcomers Jasper Lotti, LYZZA, k_anti and LYAM. As a debut body of work, it’s a product of self-discovery and a bold first statement that speaks of big things to come.

Greta Van Fleet Announces New Album

A bold evolution from the band’s 2018 full-length debut Anthem of the Peaceful Army, The Battle At Garden’s Gate came together primarily on the road or while in the studio after the runaway success of 2017’s “Highway Tune” led to the band packing up, leaving home, and eagerly soaking up new experiences on an extended road trip around the world.

GAVIN JAMES SHARES THE EMOTIONAL NEW TRACK ‘MAN ON THE MOON’

With 1.5 billion streams, 5.6 million monthly listeners at Spotify and sold-out arena shows, Gavin James has achieved phenomenal global success by simply letting his songs speak for themselves. He excels at music’s essential qualities: immediately memorable songwriting and telling engaging stories that are delivered with a voice that can seemingly effortlessly hone in on the depth of the sentiment.

Blxst releases highly anticipated deluxe version of No Love Lost

Out today via Red Bull Records, the multi-hyphenate continues his unstoppable run of hits with six new tracks, each showcasing his signature finesse, nimble lyricism, and soulful melodies. Tapping fellow West Coast heavyweights Ty Dolla $ign, Tyga, Dom Kennedy, and Bino Rideaux, the deluxe release of No Love Lost continues to explore the themes that laid the groundwork for its predecessor – loyalty, love, and life in the streets of Los Angeles.

BYRON (feat. former members of CHURCH OF VOID, HORNA, BATTLELORE) signs with THE GOATMANCER RECORDS

Soon after the Finnish heavy doom band Church Of Void ceased to exist in 2017, drummer Johannes Lahti, aka Byron V, started planning the release of few songs he had made during the years and were buried in the drawer.

He had just joined the band Neon Angel and finished recording drums to their debut album “Neon Light District” (Sliptrick Records 2020) when he felt the time was right to get his songs to be heard. Enlightened by the realization of the few songs finally being pushed out, Johannes started composing more material in late 2019 and what started out as a studio project EP, first became two EPs and finally formed as a full-length album. A band called Byron was born.

OUT NOW: NAIM RECORDS’ HARRY JAY-STEELE SONICALLY ADVENTUROUS DEBUT ‘BOUNDARIES’

Defying easy categorisation, ‘Boundaries’ is equally influenced by the L.A beat scene including, Flying Lotus, Taylor Mc Ferrin and Gonjasufi, the UK post-dubstep electronic scene, as well as African artists such as Blue Note jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke, Mumford & Sons collaborator and Senegalese super star Baab Maal and Tinariwen. Steele worked with Jordan Rakei’s co-producer and drummer Jim Macrae to create the textured sound of the album, “by setting a bed of drums for each track. A lot of this was highly processed and often looped with live drum takes layered with samples which were sent into the modular sampler and filtered with effects”.

JVCK JAMES RELEASES BRAND NEW TRACK ‘FAVOURS’

‘Favours’ is the first new music from JVCK since his summer lockdown single ‘Overseas’, and hints at more new exciting music to come from the East Londoner, who will be releasing theEP ‘JOYRIDE’ in February 2021. ‘Favours’ takes advantage of JVCK’s natural smoothness on the mic, and collaborating with producer Jacob Manson, shows off a laid back delivery that clearly sets him apart from his peers. The video, shot with his friends & family around his home in East London, gives an insight into JVCK’s world and shows him as one of key components in a burgeoning UK RnB landscape. On the track, Jvck explained;

OUT TODAY: Kutiman shares ‘Wachaga in Dub’ / thrilling dub reconstructions (Dec 4)

Kutiman’s Tanzania-meets-psych-jazz album, ‘Wachaga”, released earlier this year, is an epic and incredibly uplifting work of art, blending traditional Tanzanian sounds with free jazz, psychedelia, afrobeat and soul. New EP ‘Wachaga In Dub’ which sees Kutiman turn inward, amplifying the deepest sounds within the album’s standouts, in turn creating a far more psychedelic experience.

New Music: Indigo Eyes releases debut EP ‘Close To You’ today, with lead track ‘Jaded (with Georgie O’Brien)’

Having already impressed us with his previously shared singles ‘Forbidden’ (With LissA), which went onto be premiered by This Song Is Sick and racked up more than 13k streams during its first week on Spotify, thanks to placements on their New Music Friday Germany playlist, and follow-up offering ‘Close To You’ (With De Rien) which premiered with Wonderland earlier this year, emerging producer Joseph Robson aka Indigo Eyes now returns to release his highly-anticipated new EP, also called ‘Close To You’.

Ripple Music and Vegas Rock Revolution Say Goodbye to 2020 by Issuing Massive Free Sampler, The Revolution Lives!

2020 has been hard on everyone, but perhaps not harder for anyone than for all the bands that had tours canceled, festivals postponed, gigs flatlined. So to properly say goodbye to the nastiness that was 2020, Ripple Music and Vegas Rock Revolution have teamed up to release the massive free compilation, The Revolution Lives!, celebrating all the Ripple Family of bands that Vegas Rock Revolution has brought out to Las Vegas to rock some live shows. Whether during massive weekend festivals like the Planet Desert Rock weekends, or individual shows and packages, Vegas Rock Revolution has a history of bring the very best of the underground heavy scene to clubs throughout Vegas, and Ripple has always been a huge part of that.

Tchami & Gunna drop video game inspired official video

The engrossing official video for ‘Praise’ channels an old-school 8-bit video game aesthetic, with both Tchami and Gunna featuring in cartoon style amongst visuals that crank up the nostalgia vibes. Incorporating a myriad of influential and classic gaming styles, the evolution of the technology runs in parallel with the tracks development leaving the nostalgia-drenched official video for ‘Praise’ as the ideal complement to the infectious house vibes of the track itself.

Solardo drop nostalgia-tinged new single ‘Enough’

Combining high-energy synth stabs, euphoric rave sirens and Rowetta’s iconic, soul-drenched vocals, ‘Enough’ successfully captures the essence of the illustrious 90s rave scene. An ode to a vital moment in British dance music culture, this year has seen the clubbing industry across the world negatively affected due to COVID-19. From club closures and cancelled shows, the difficult year has left the music scene needing support and togetherness now more than ever. With this latest single, Solardo’s mission is to spark those feelings of being in the club, while drawing influences from the golden age of rave to show what we’ve missed out on this year. The release coincides with the announcement of a special Lost Horizons live stream that Solardo will perform on Boxing Day.

THE NINTH WAVE release new single “Everything Will Be Fine”

Glaswegian band The Ninth Wave today (4/12/20) release their new single “Everything Will Be Fine”, the first new music to be heard since the band’s Faris Badwan (The Horrors)-produced EP ‘Happy Days!’ and their AIM Award and Scottish Album of the Year-nominated debut album Infancy.

“Everything Will Be Fine” is a portent mantra to shout from the rooftops amidst some of the most confusing and unsettling times our generation has faced. Brimming with prudent positivity, the track is a product of the last 6 months the band have spent together in Glasgow.

ESCHES Returns With New Single ‘D.O.T.’ + Lyric Video

Having grown up between South Florida and West Germany, ESCHES’ music is influenced by a variety of musicians and styles, drawing from voices such as D’Angelo, Caetano Veloso and Joni Mitchell, as well as non-musical artists like Alberto Giacometti and Andrei Tarkovsky. ESCHES triumphantly merges his lush, marshmallow melting, indie-soul sensibilities with deeply personal lyrics and warm vocals and guitar tones on ‘D.O.T.’.

Metalomaniacs – Last Day On Earth – (Heavy Metal)

Metalomaniacs is a metal band from Brazil and they have just launched their first all English Album, called “Last Day On Earth”. They are new to the scene and hitting the ground running, reaching out to all metal heads all across the world! The album was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by the guitarist Pedro Antunes at his own home studio — Panga Studio. He also composed all songs and lyrics and recorded all bass and guitar tracks.

FLAWES SHARE THE NEW SINGLE ‘WHAT’S A BOY TO DO’ – WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

The music community has shown a huge amount of ingenuity in trying to connect with fans while conventional shows can’t happen. But no-one has done anything quite like what Flawes did to bring their recent single ‘Holding Out For The Win’ to attention. They aimed to break the world record for the most individual live streamed performances of a single song in a twelve-hour session. And that’s exactly what they achieved, completing a staggering 60 performances of the track – and all without frontman JC Carruthers losing his voice.

Rachel Foxx delivers highly anticipated ‘FLUORESCENT’ EP

A vibrant, musically diverse release, FLOURESCENT incorporates everything from funk and soul to R&B and UKG across its eight tracks. The project kicks off with ‘Need You (Intro)’, a laidback cut which sets the tone for the second track ‘Morning’, a sexy slice of soul that sees Rachel’s vocals climb in the seductive hook, “you have to remember me in the morning, we’ll make love till the morning”.

Mella Dee drops ‘Mexicanas’ EP.

A two-track release, ‘Mexicanas’ opens with the title track, a hypnotic seven-minute journey centred around an unrelenting, stripped-back bassline. Next up, ‘Mi9nimal Loopy Pumper’ does what it says on the tin, combining minimal grooves, steady kick drums and frequent synth stabs to create a track brimming with understated dancefloor energy. It marks the Yorkshireman’s fourth EP release of 2020, following on from the floorfilling trio of ‘Sidney Street’, ‘Toe To Toe Vol. 1’ and ‘Ridgewood’.