@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope
MARBLE have just released a music video for their song ‘What Leads Us To’
‘S.A.V.E.’ focuses on the three theological virtues and the seven deadly sins, and digs deep into the human behaviors of these sins and virtues. Eleonora’s voice blends with powerful and complex rhythm parts in the 11 songs of the album, mixed by Giulio Capone (Moonlight Haze), with the artwork made by Jan Yrlund (Darkgrove Design)
Amiena – Halo – Out Now!
International alt-pop artist Amiena confidently stands out in today’s music scene with her unique blend of genres, powerhouse vocals, and unique storytelling.
Her electrifying new single, “Halo,” is a snarky, fun track about hypocrisy.
To bring the single to life, Amiena teamed up with 2-time Emmy winner Lars Deutsch, resulting in a bold and boombastic sound bound to make the floor shake.”
Katie Malco covers Kate Bush’s ‘Cloudbusting’
Critically acclaimed UK singer-songwriter Katie Malco released her debut album ‘Failures’ on 5th June via 6131 Records – a coming of age record that, through soul-baring songwriting and gut-punch guitars, documents Malco’s life growing up and facing adulthood. Seven months later, she returns with a tender cover of Kate Bush’s ’80s cult hit, ‘Cloudbusting’.
A stirring and heartfelt rendition of the classic song, Malco’s interpretation of it is somewhat different to Kate Bush’s original lyrical intention. She says; “Cloudbusting was the song that made me understand Kate Bush. I’d never truly got her before I heard it, and it really was a gateway for me. Although it’s lyrically pretty dense (it’s based on Peter Reich’s “A Book of Dreams”), when I first listened to it as a young girl, I interpreted it differently, particularly the chorus. I took away from it this deep feeling of looking forward with optimism and a meeting of the past and the future – melancholy yet hopeful. I loved the synth strings and Kate’s rich, soaring voice.”
‘Dancing With The Devil’: Cozy Powell tribute from Garry Bowler of Magpie with Neil Murray, David Stone, Frankie Aiello and late, great Bernie Tormé
3MS Music are delighted to release a Garry Bowler [Magpie] re-invention of a left-field rock classic ‘Dance With The Devil’ originally recorded by Cozy Powell. The new version of the track, now titled ‘Dancing With The Devil’, will be made available digitally on 23 April 2021. This incredible version features three musicians who worked with Cozy, Neil Murray (Hammer, Black Sabbath, Whitesnake) on bass, David Stone (Rainbow) on keys, Frankie Aiello (The Truth, Bedlam) on vocals and also the late, legendary guitarist Bernie Tormé (whose last recording this was).
New Video: Minneriket – Hjemlengsel (Single)
“I wanted to really present the beauty of melancholy” Akslen says. “My music is very visual in its compositions, painting within the soundcapes… I think the whole world needs to take a deep cleansing breath, and this is two minutes of pure serenity”.
Cooperating with session musicians Misstiq (keys), Margarita Chernova (strings) and Norlene Olmedo (cello), ‘ Hjenlengsel ‘ is a taste of what’s to come where Stein Akslen of Minneriket has joined forces with a huge roster of session collaborators to bring forth a hybrid of black metal, goth and classical all presented in 50 shades of blackness.
JESSICA WILDE drops new double A-side ‘Wasted’ / ‘F*ck U I’m Sober Now’
With it being a particularly wild 2020 in more ways than one, singer Jessica Wilde is set to slide into 2021 in spectacular fashion with Double A side ‘Wasted’ / ‘F*ck U I’m Sober Now’ out today!
Wilde’s raw, honest lyrics take you on a ride through her personal journey of mad parties, hazy drunken nights, regret, love, heartbreak, self-loathing, self-empowerment and going sober.
Out Now/New Video: Western Column – Glasgow based DIY artist unleashing guitar-centric layers of feeling
Western Column is the songwriting project of Glasgow based DIY musician Christopher Devine (Dutch Wine/Stock Manager) whose second single ‘Hear not Say’ is due for release via Negative Hope Records on February 12th 2021.
‘Hear not Say’ gives delicious guitar-centric layers of feeling with a shoegaze bent, as Devine’s dreamer vocals float over a driven guitar wall that spills over with a momentum that will have you wanting to listen again.
UK ARTIST / PRODUCER THE SANCTUARY RELEASES “KORA”
The Sanctuary is the moniker of a rising London-based producer, composer and artist. He will be self-releasing four songs, and today “Kora” comes with a whirlwind, and at times sinister, momentum-filled video, which was shot over a 3 days stint just north of Toronto, CA by HUMYN (directors Simon Ahmadi and Ram Accoumeh).
Ballaké Sissoko (No Format) | new single + video ‘Djourou’
Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko today releases the title track of his forthcoming 11th album, ‘Djourou’, now due for rescheduled release on April 9, 2021 via Parisian label Nø Førmat! (Oumou Sangaré, Blick Bassy, Mélissa Laveaux). Having previously partnered on projects with Toumani Diabaté, Taj Mahal and Ludovic Einaudi, the new album draws together solo compositions alongside thoughtful collaborations with Nouvelle Vague’s Camille, African legend Salif Keita, French rapper Oxmo Puccino and French cellist Vincent Segal (with whom Sissoko has released two albums for Nø Førmat!) amongst others. ‘Djourou”s title track – available now as a single release – sees Sissoko duet with leading female kora player Sona Jobarteh, from The Gambia. The new track arrives alongside a live performance video – both are now streaming on all platforms from here.
Haich Ber Na declares his pop era with EP ‘From Then ‘Til Now’
London based artist and producer Haich Ber Na continues his journey into avant-garde pop for the new decade with the release of his EP ‘From Then ‘Til Now’ on 17th February via HQI.
Beginning to take his journey as an artist seriously, the self-taught musician started in rap and grime production, eventually shifting to avant-garde electronica in 2017, releasing a slew of genre defying EPs and singles over the last two years.
TROLLFEST Releases New Single “Happy Heroes”
TROLLFEST transform energetic hits into pure Norwegian Balkan Metal K.A.O.S. with Happy Heroes!
After announcing their new EP, Happy Heroes (out March 19 via Napalm Records), the kings of True Norwegian Folk Metal TROLLFEST release the EP’s title track, “Happy Heroes”, along with a truly Kaotic animated music video. Viewer discretion is advised!
TROLLFEST unleash their next troll adventure as soon as this tune kicks off! The video is a Kaotic, mad and colorful mess, where our trolls attempt to become powerful super heroes – however their plans to save the world don’t end up as planned. “Happy Heroes” takes you on a ride through an absurd world, musically accompanied by triumphant saxophones, heavy riffs and a whole lot of TROLLFEST’s very own True Norwegian Balkan Metal!
EADES sign to Heist or Hit | ‘Former Warnings Cluster’
Arriving close to fully-formed in 2020 with a slew of exhilarating singles, and a debut EP that earned praise from, amongst many others – FADER, NME, DIY and BBC 6 Music, Radio 1 (Jack Saunders), KCRW – Leeds quintet Eades could be forgiven for resting on their laurels for a time. No such move. The collective are brimming with confidence, and have harnessed their stakhanovite work ethic to explode into 2021 with raucous new single ‘Former Warnings Cluster’, their debut release with Manchester tastemaker label Heist or Hit (Her’s, Pizzagirl, Hannah’s Little Sister).
“Immaculate Juxtaposition of Intriguing Noisiness & Warm, Alluring Melody”- Crystal Canyon is Shoegaze Heaven!
Portland, Maine based band, Crystal Canyon’s latest album, ‘yours with affection and sorrow’ is more than just a nod to classic shoegaze sounds. Released on January 29, 2021 via Repeating Cloud, the album is a shimmering example of the genre at its finest.
Lynda Mandolyn’s “honeyed vocals” are beyond dreamy, gliding over reverb soaked guitars, swirling synths, and melodic distortion. ‘yours with affection and sorrow’ is a dream pop triumph.
Wings Of Desire share new single “Chance Of A Lifetime” | Debut EP “End Of An Age” out today
Through three previous singles – “001”, “Runnin”, “Be Here Now” – Wings Of Desire have held a mirror up to the intensity of modern life, questioned our well-worn paths of existence, and asked important questions on the subjects of conformity and living in the present. Drawing inspiration from visual arts and 20th century counterculture, the two-piece confront themes of ignorance and identity to create shape-shifting soundscapes that cut deep, flitting between the woozy and euphoric, to the propulsive and emotional.
MONSTR Brand New Single ‘ECHO’ Out Now, Video Stream Posted
S hard rock band, MONSTR, have released a brand new single for ‘ECHO’, out on all digital platforms now. MONSTR is the brainchild of American Jetset vocalist Ian Kaine MacGregor. The song can be streamed on YouTube here:
José González shares first song in five years; his first-ever Spanish-language release
“Every now and then I try to write lyrics in Spanish – this time I succeeded! I guess talking to Laura in Spanish every day helped. I started writing ‘El Invento’ around 2017 when she was born. The song is about the questions – who we are, where we’re going and why? Whom can we thank for our existence? Historically, most traditions have invented answers to these questions. Thereof the name of the song: The Invention (god).”
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “someone whose subtle, carefully crafted music delivers rewards to listeners who know how to wait,” González recently debuted “El Invento” with a special live performance as part of the 2020 Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies.
Viral TikTok Trend Helps Dirty Heads’ Single “Vacation” Make A Global Impact While Propelling It Beyond RIAA Gold-Certified Status
Southern California’s alt-rock band Dirty Heads are making a splash with their 2017 track “Vacation,” which earned great charting and streaming success and garnered a TikTok trend in summer 2019 that was catapulted in early January 2021. TikTok is driving discovery, converting fans and skyrocketing streams for the Dirty Heads across all digital streaming platforms.
GOJIRA ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘FORTITUDE’
As if shedding skin and baring armor in its place, “Born For One Thing” represents a natural evolution for the acclaimed French band: hyper-focused but unhinged, confrontational and yet compassionate. “We have to practice detaching ourselves from everything, beginning with actual things,” vocalist / guitarist Joe Duplantier says of the song’s anti-consumerist message, which was partially inspired by the Tibetan and Thai philosophers he read in his youth back in France. “Own less possessions, and give what you don’t need away, because one day we’ll have to let everything go, and if we don’t, we’ll just become ghosts stuck between dimensions.”
’68 share high energy new track “Bad Bite” from upcoming full-length
The noisy Atlanta duo ’68 shared the latest single “Bad Bite” from their highly anticipated full-length album Give One Take One, due out March 26th via Cooking Vinyl. The high energy track weaves dizzying riffs between the band’s colossal guitar tones and Nikko Yamada’s precision drumming. The accompanying music video was painstakingly hand-drawn and animated entirely by vocalist and guitarist Josh Scogin (The Chariot, Norma Jean), mixing in subliminal notes from his 2020 experience. In true ’68 fashion, the single and visuals are swaggering and raw, pulling the listener in with blistering instrumentals, Scogin’s one-of-a-kind delivery, and plenty of fun.
Video: DUSTY LOCANE – “INTRO 2 ME, PT. 1”
Known for his bone-deep rasp and confident demeanor, Brooklyn rapper DUSTY LOCANE his his borough on his back. Taking a moment to clarify to the fans and the opps what he’s all about, DUSTY LOCANE shares the new video for “INTRO 2 ME, PT. 1.” Armed with an atmospheric, guitar-heavy, and drum-free instrumental by Jovohn & Sxber, the Canarsie native cuts through the haze with his commanding delivery, alternating between brute force and lilting melody: “Take a step into my shoes, see what I’ve been proving/The facts of life is that n****s think they winnin’ when they losing.”
ENFORCED To Release Highly Anticipated Album ‘Kill Grid’ on 3/12
“Also known as ‘the creeping barrage,’ curtain fire is an artillery tactic used in tandem with advancing ground troops”, singer Knox Colby explains. “It’s meant to soften up defenses or wipe them out completely. The lyrical narrative is on the defending end of curtain fire; ruminations on the death of soldiers, their grieving families, and how they’ll eventually be forgotten through time (a folded flag in a garage). The last few lines flip to the perspective of the attacker. With a very apathetic and unsympathetic attitude towards all the damage created, paving a parking lot over the conflict.”
[out today] Lindsay Reamer’s Single “Today” on Dear Life Records in Advance of EP Lucky out 02.26.21
Lindsay Reamer’s second single “Today” from her debut EP Lucky is out…today on Philadelphia-based Dear Life Records. Lucky is a fascinating document of a young musician finding her voice while drawing on the idiosyncratic approaches to pop found in Arthur Russell and R. Stevie Moore.
Sara Watkins To Release “Under The Pepper Tree” March 26th
Sara Watkins of the Grammy-winning groups Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, as well as The Watkins Family Hour will release Under the Pepper Tree on March 26th via New West Records. The 15-song set was produced by Tyler Chester (Sara Bareilles, Margaret Glaspy) and is the follow up to her critically acclaimed 2016 solo album Young In All The Wrong Ways. Created with families in mind, the personal project encompasses songs Sara embraced as a child herself and brings storytelling, solace, and encouragement to the listener, no matter the age. In addition to two stunning original songs, the album includes Sara’s renditions of “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Beatles’ “Good Night,” “Moon River” (originally sung by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s), and more.
Vershon – ‘Stick By Me’
The dancehall infused single was created in a studio session in Jamaica with producers The FaNaTiX, who have produced tracks such as ‘Baby’ by Giggs and the Pa Salieu x Backroad Gee joint ‘My Family’. The single was also co-written in Jamaica by BRIT and Ivor Novello award winning artist and songwriter Plan B.
Jose Gonzalez Unveils “El Invento”
Visionary singer-songwriter-guitarist José González has announced today’s premiere of his first new song in more than five years. “El Invento” is available today via Mute at all DSPs and streaming services. “El Invento” – which follows the 2015 release of González’s acclaimed third solo album, VESTIGES & CLAWS – marks the Gothenburg, Sweden-based artist’s only publicly released song to feature lyrics in Spanish, for which he credits his young daughter with helping him during the writing process. The song is joined by a deeply thought-provoking lyric video streaming now on YouTube.
Vincent LaRussa Recuits An All-Star Cast to Record on His Debut Album Before The Storm
In 2020 Vincent LaRussa began to record with established artists such Jeremy Asbrock (Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons Band), Eric Levy (Night Ranger),Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big,) and Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Cher, Trans-Siberian Orchestra.). Vincent, an accomplished musician himself who plays Guitar, Bass, Keyboards and Drums felt honored that these incredibly accomplished artists were interested in contributing their time and talents to his project.
Amiena Releases Electrifying New Single “Halo”
Diving into her personal experiences, the song’s storytelling mocks hypocrisy with snarky lyrics and reality checks. Lyrics such as “Go print more cash before you run out of ink” and “Just stage more pics for all to see” tackle the need for constant validation in an ironic way. With a daring beat combined with the sassy, warm tone of Amiena’s voice, “Halo” is a bold anthem that deserves a spot among the heavy-hitters of the alternative-pop genre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n21XnN0v8_s
KID CONGO & THE PINK MONKEY BIRDS NEW 4-SONG EP “SWING FROM THE SEAN DELEAR” OUT THIS FRIDAY 2/19 ON IN THE RED RECORDS
The new EP by Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds on In The Red Records celebrates a dreamlike bridge between life and memory. Recorded and mixed with Jim Waters (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Sonic Youth, etc.) at Waterworks Recording this past year in Tucson AZ, “Sean DeLear”, is a tribute to the late, magical, non-binary, African American singer Sean De Lear, a ubiquitous, Los Angeles underground institution. The rocking first song on the EP uses the metaphor of those passed on as swinging from a chandelier, a festive image we all hope is true! The next song “(ARE YOU) Ready, Freddy?”, is a Pink Monkey Birds live standard, where everyone and everything is going for it full tilt!
