@skopemag news – friday – april 16, 2021 @ 2 pm est

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

Oliver Wood Shares “Kindness” – Second Single Off Debut Solo Album ‘Always Smilin”

“The idea for the lyric ‘kindness is my religion,’ comes from the Dalai Lama who has expressed this sentiment in his teachings,” explains Oliver Wood. “There are a handful of people in my own life who inspire me and seem to live that way. I was really thinking about them when writing this one. In fact, they helped me make this record.”

Babygirl Release ‘Losers Weepers’ EP

“Losers Weepers is a collection of songs written for anybody who feels like an underdog, whether it be in their relationships, careers, whatever,” says Babygirl. “Some of the songs, like ‘Easy’ or ‘Nevermind,’ are written about a break-up where one person was much more invested than the other. Other songs, like ‘Million Dollar Bed’ or ‘Today Just Isn’t My Day’ are more about navigating life with a gnawing sense of disappointment. We made an effort to offset some of the bummer lyrics by making the productions playful and sweet, almost hopeful. We always want to make it feel bittersweet.”

NEWS: Van Dyke Parks collaborates with Verónica Valerio for BMG’s ‘Van Dyke Parks Orchestrates Verónica Valerio: Only in America,’ due out June 11th.

In a North American musical summit, two musicians have collaborated to produce an extraordinary EP of four songs. Verónica Valerio is a singer, songwriter and harpist born in Veracruz, Mexico, while Los Angeles-resident Van Dyke Parks is a sui generis musical polymath. One is young, one is not. One sings in Spanish, the other communicates in English. One plays the harp, while the other “plays” an orchestra in his role as arranger. They’ve come together with mutual respect and shared belief in the towering power of music to transcend the stifling gag of borders.

MADDOX JONES releases hopeful pop anthem “Can’t Wait for the Summer”

“This release is a fun, optimistic guitar driven pop record perfect for now as we all can’t wait for this summer and for lockdown to finally be over!” – Maddox Jones

New > O’Flynn > launches new imprint Panthus with single ‘Talia’ > announces new Phonox residency > Listen Here

London producer O’Flynn returns with new single Talia, due out 2nd April 2021 via Panthus, a brand new sister label to his Hundred Flowers imprint,.

Conceived during lockdown, Talia is a shimmering, atmospheric roller featuring sparkling synths and an evocative vocal sample, capturing the quiet introspection and longing for better days encountered within isolation.

OUT TODAY: RYANHOOD’S NEW LP “UNDER THE LEAVES”

Today, award-winning, Tucson, Arizona-based acoustic duo Ryanhood, comprised of Ryan David Green and Cameron Hood, has released their latest LP Under The Leaves. This new album sees lead guitarist Green stepping into the role of sole producer, weaving a tapestry of lush strings and rich harmonies. Like their shows, Under The Leaves is driven by strong acoustic guitar performances and is at turns energetic, hopeful, and quietly moving—a musical invitation to breathe, and to soak in a river of melodies and harmonic hooks. Hood, the band’s primary lyricist, has waded into those musical rivers with dream-like verses about seeds and forests, breath and wind, and the cycles and seasons that frame our lives. Throughout the album’s songs, a question is asked: How do we create meaningful and lasting change in a world filled with division and turmoil? The offer on Under the Leaves is to slow down and face the one thing we have the power to change: ourselves. As the duo sings on the album’s second track “The Fight,” “the only revolution is the one within.”

Out Now! France’s PATHFINDERS’ Debut Album “Ares Vallis” (Music-Records) + Music Video “Impostors”

Fans of bands such as Lamb of God, Periphery, Parkway Drive, and In Flames will be intrigued to enter the undiscovered metal terrain that Pathfinders are offering up. A blend of progressive groove, thrash, djent, and melodic tones, the twelve-track album is an introduction to their stellar adventure into their fascination for space exploration, specifically recent odysseys to Mars, thus the reason behind their band named after the NASA space probe “Mars Pathfinder” and album “Ares Vallis” named after an outflow channel on the red planet.

Toosii Shares New Single And Video, “what it cost”

“My mom is a real hard worker. That’s where my hustle comes from. She taught me to never quit,” says Toosii.

BIRDY REVEALS NEW TRACK ‘SECOND HAND NEWS’ AHEAD OF LONG AWAITED ALBUM ‘YOUNG HEART’ – OUT 30TH APRIL

Today, 16th April, Birdy announces new track ‘Second Hand News’ taken from her long awaited fourth album, Young Heart. Following Deepest Lonely ‘deeper, darker territory…authentically haunting – The Guardian’ Second Hand News is a rousing piano ballad that details drifting apart from a partner based on speculation and conjecture.

Ida Maria The Viking Queen Punk Rocker Reverses Gender Roles in the comical “I’m Busy” + Announces New EP

Norwegian punk rocker Ida Maria returned in a big way earlier this year with “Sick of You,” a definitive kiss-off to her recent past and to 2020 in general. Now, she follows that single with “I’m Busy,” on which Ida Maria tackles issues of misogyny in music by approaching the song like a rap record and reversing the gender roles. Maria describes it as an “experiment with trying to write a hip hop song, and using a woman as objectifying the man. Larger than life with my bling.” Co-produced with Mark Ronson, and co-written with Oscar-winner Anthony Rossomando (who wrote “Shallow” for Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper). The two songwriters had a good dynamic and felt they had learned a lot from each other in the process.

OUT TODAY: TEXAS SINGER/SONGWRITER KEETON COFFMAN CASTS A SPELL WITH “MAGICIAN” SECOND SINGLE OUT NOW

Keeton Coffman has released his second single “Magician” from his forthcoming album Hard Times. A dark tale about deception, “matching the tonality of Coffman’s words perfectly, the music behind “Magician” creates a palpable mood,” says American Songwriter who debuted the track as a Daily Discovery earlier this week.

Daily Discovery: Keeton Coffman Broods Over Human Nature On Smoky New Single “Magician”

HOWLING GIANT: Metal Injection stream new EP ‘Alteration’ in full!

Nashville heavy psychedelic rock goldsmiths HOWLING GIANT bring the goods with their breathtaking new EP ‘Alteration’, premiering in its entirety on Metal Injection. ‘Alteration’ will be released on 4/20 through Bandcamp, alongside a special Facebook livestream for all riff lovers around the world.

HOWLING GIANT Streams Sludgy, Riff-Heavy New EP Alteration

OUT TODAY: ‘Quarantine Psycho’ from LA-Based, Heavy Alt-Rock Project, Soundhoose

Soundhoose is a blend of multiple influences, including Green Day, Linkin Park, Yungblud, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Rise Against, Twenty One Pilots, Muse, All Time Low, and My Chemical Romance, to name a few. Soundhoose was formed by Brandon Smith in 2018 while going to school in Minneapolis, MN. He attended the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis and formed the band while he was there. Smith writes, records, produces, and mixes everything himself. His debut full album, Mr. Bad Luck, and EP, Into The Wild, were recorded at IPR. While creating Mr. Bad Luck, Smith also introduced the “character” Mr. Bad Luck, the name under which he performs (similar to the Blurryface character for Twenty One Pilots). In March of 2020, Smith finished school, moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles, CA, and completed Quarantine Psycho. The group have recently recruited Paul Burns on drums and Erik Netland on bass.

Satsang Welcomes Spring With Vibrant New Single, “I’m The One”

On the heels of announcing a 30-date, coast-to-coast tour spanning spring, summer, and fall, the Montana-based quartet Satsang is unveiling “I’m The One,” the vibrant new single from ‘All. Right. Now.,’ out June 4th via SideOneDummy. Featuring a steady, dynamic rhythm and shimmering acoustic guitars, evoking the sonic energy of Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland,’ “I’m The One” is a breath of fresh air, conjuring images of the summer sun, reuniting with friends, and long drives with the windows down. The single follows the release of “This Place,” featuring singer/songwriter Trevor Hall, and the album’s “warm, inviting” title track (American Songwriter).

Satsang Readies Americana Album With Title Track, “All. Right. Now.”

SUECO AND TRAVIS BARKER TEAM UP FOR “SOS”

Produced by Barker and dwilly (Mike Posner, Ty Dolla $ign, Trevor Daniel), with additional production by Colin “DOC” Brittain (5 Seconds of Summer, All Time Low, Papa Roach), “SOS (Feat. Travis Barker)” sees Sueco – f.k.a. Sueco the Child – further continue to fuse electric, alt-pop energy to his already wildly inventive sonic approach.

News: Sueco Joins Forces with Travis Barker for New Single ‘SOS’

FL Riser Taleban Dooda Packs Heat in “Chopstix” (Produced by Internet Money)

In the video, directed by Joshua Valle, Dooda gives a glimpse into his illicit organization, as he embraces his inner Tony Montana takes care of business in all senses of the phrase. “Chopstix” is the latest energetic visual from the Tampa native’s upcoming debut album Fallen Angel, following “Trappin Ain’t Dead,” the Helluva-produced Detroit-style anthem with a standout guest spot from 42 Dugg.

UK Pop Singer AJ Wander Shares “Eye To Eye”

Today, UK pop singer AJ Wander has shared his brand new single “Eye To Eye”, alongside an accompanying video. “Eye To Eye” is the latest track to follow on from debut single “Time Out”, which was released at the end of 2020 and has racked up over 3 million streams on Spotify to date. The song is an electric ballad detailing the difficult side of relationships. Produced by Brad Mair (Dean Lewis, Jamie Cullum), with a video directed by Louis Berry (JP Cooper, Emily Burns), the song is a real-life take on the hard-charged emotions that eventually surface in romantic relationships.

John Moods’ So Sweet is out now on Arbutus Records

To read Moods’ Track by Track breakdown of the EP, head to Under The Radar where they called it “simultaneously is unsettled and carefree, alternating between tender dreamy soundscapes and relentlessly catchy pop heights. But uniting it all is John’s sharp ear for melody and jubilant explorations, making for some of his strongest work yet.”

Hitmaking producer CHILLPILL recruits YBN NAHMIR, COUSIN STIZZ & TEEJAYX6 for “Moonwalk”

The way chillpill tells it, “Moonwalk” came together organically: “I was in the studio with Stizz and he just went in the booth & freestyled his verse and hook all in one take! After that, whenever I was in a session, I would just play it – and everyone just started jumping on it! Actually, if you listen closely to the record – in the background you can hear everyone in the studio chanting having a good time. I love that and really tried to keep the rap cypher type vibe.”

Slothrust announces new album ‘Parallel Timeline’ and shares new single “Strange Astrology” + video today

Slothrust announce their highly anticipated fifth album, Parallel Timeline, due out September 10, 2021 via Dangerbird Records. Today, the band share the new single “Strange Astrology,” along with a fun and fruity video that’s as much a celebration of the cosmic make-up of romantic relationships as it is a love letter to LGBTQ+ culture. Slothrust bandleader Leah Wellbaum pours her gigantic, golden sunshine Leo heart into the lyrics, “and I don’t mind / our strange astrology / I hope we find / you bring the best out in me.” Describing the single, Wellbaum says:

ARLO THE ALLIGATOR BOY MUSIC FROM THE NETFLIX FILM OUT TODAY VIA CAPITOL RECORDS

Today, Capitol Records released Arlo the Alligator Boy Music From The Netflix Film. Ryan Crego, the film’s director/executive producer, worked closely with composer Alex Geringas to build a collection of songs that is the driver of the story. The music brings brightness, levity and energy to every aspect of the animated musical movie, which was released globally on Netflix today.

CHILLEMI shares hypnotic new track “Evil Eye,” a swirl of harmonic dark country and alternative rock

CHILLEMI shares, “I wrote Evil Eye during a very tumultuous time in my personal life and had to convey what I was feeling, in some way, to better understand it. Having a shared experience, along with some lyrical assists, the duet evolved and is the first time Nasa and I sang together.”

Premiere: CHILLEMI – “Evil Eye”

SYML unveils highly anticipated new EP DIM today

“This EP is largely about losing those close to us,” says SYML. “Calling it DIM really applies to the light we carry during our time here. When those lights go out, it’s this sort of dimming process, but rather than living in that sadness – even though I think that’s a really healthy thing to do, to stay in that cozy, warm blanket sadness sometimes – it’s about honoring what that light was, and realizing that there’s still that same light in all of us that are still here.”

Doss debuts “Look” video today! EP out 5/7

The EP came out on the taste-making label Acephalé (SALEM, Memory Tapes/Memory Cassette, Korallreven, Elite Gymnastics), Pitchfork called it “an exploration of the pure joy of sensation.” As a DJ, she built a reputation for her nimble, light-hearted approach to bridging ’10s EDM and ’00s electro with classic trance and drum & bass—never quite serious but always sincere.

TOM THE MAIL MAN RELEASES NEW ALBUM, ‘SOMETIMES SORRY ISN’T ENOUGH’

Sometimes Sorry Isn’t Enough shows off the wide range of Tom The Mail Man’s diverse influences – from the hip-hop single “Forever” to the recently-released track “Last Night,” which is an interpolation of the Foo Fighters’ smash hit “Everlong.” This is also reflected in the praise from both fans and critics alike – Pigeons & Planes praised his “unwillingness to be put in a box,” and Alternative Press highlighted him as an “Artist You Need To Hear In April 2021.”

Jayde Embraces Sadness on Debut EP ‘sad songs about sad things’

On the inspiration behind her debut project, Jayde shares, “With the way society works and the way the world is, I think we are conditioned to think that happiness is this ethereal state of being, and that happiness is a choice. What people fail to realize is that sadness isn’t a choice. We all end up having days, weeks, even months where we feel like the world is against us, like we are isolated and alone in our experiences and feelings. These things are inevitable.”

Matt Berry Shares New Track “Summer Sun”

In contrast to 2020’s stripped back, Dylan/folk-inspired Phantom Birds, The Blue Elephant finds Matt in full-on psychedelic mode, enthralled to his love of the genre, and the associated production techniques of the time.

Alex Cameron & Roan Yellowthorn’s Jackie McLean Discuss “Stranger” Single at Talkhouse

“It was a nice email to read. And I was in a place where I was like, I want to listen to some music. And probably because I was in a lot of pain at the time. I was very sad. For no specific reason. Just life. And I fucking cried when I first heard your music. I was outside in the rain in Wales. In Cardiff. It was night. And I had my little headphones in. And I just wept. That song is so beautiful…It has this really classic, lasting quality to it. It feels like it could be in a songbook of folk songs in a hundred years. It’s just so good. And it’s got such a good singalong quality. It’s really good to sing along with. That’s the best kind of song, where I could imagine a lot of people singing it together in a room just for the fun of it.”

LONDON DUO ELI & FUR ENLIST DISCIPLES FOR SHIMMERING HOUSE TRACK “THE PRESSURE”

The listener is plunged fervently into Disciples and Eli & Fur’s experimental new world of depth-charged vocals and sub-aquatic sound design – “The Pressure” is a project which has been masterminded through the global pandemic, eagerly waiting to be unleashed upon the new-world as we begin our descent back to normality.

Pink Elefants Release New Single/Video “Sound of Violence”

Today, genre-blending duo Pink Elefants are releasing their new single “Sound of Violence” & the accompanying music video. PopWrapped exclusively premiered the single & video, complimenting the duo’s “dynamic and out-of-the-box musicality” that shines through on this release.

Pink Elefants Unveil New Single “Sound Of Violence” & Its Video

Progressive Metal Trio APPEAL TO AUTHORITY Goes Extraterrestrial with New Video for “Pulling Me Inside”

“I had been binge watching a lot of Bob Lazar videos on YouTube and watching a lot of UFO documentaries and became very enthusiastic on the idea of life beyond ours on earth,” says bassist and backup vocalist Stan Martell. “The task of making a video to tell the lyrical storyline was a challenge we were willing to take.”

Video Premiere: Appeal to Authority – “Pulling Me Inside”

GEORGE RAGAN THE DEAD SON RELEASES NEW SINGLE “ALL GONE”

“’All Gone’ is about finding out who we really are, sifting through ashes to find the spark that started the fire,” Ragan shares about the emotional single. These lyrics are reflected in the heavy metaphorical visual, directed by Sam Shapiro, which depicts Ragan symbolically finding forgiveness for himself.