@skopemag news – tuesday – september 21, 2021 @ 3 pm est
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope
Rising Rap Star Kaliib Shares New Single “Famous”
Rising rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Kaliib has shared his brand-new single, “Famous”. Although only releasing music since 2018, the Denver-born, Atlanta-raised independent artist has built up an impressive discography over the past few years with a series of releases, such as the brilliant “Toxic” and “Easy”, which have resulted in a growing fanbase. And the DIY musician looks set to increase his momentum even further with this latest release.
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS drop new single ‘Super Cool’ from forthcoming new album ‘BOOK’!
BOOK finds TMBG expanding their own worldview through multiple mediums while continuing to refine their songwriting craft. A 144-page full-color, cloth-bound hardcover book and brand new full-length album, the project was born through a series of brainstorms with longtime collaborator and graphic design legend Paul Sahre when they decided to team up with Brooklyn street photographer Brian Karlsson.
Rock Band IMPERIAL ASHES Shine a Light on the Darkness of Neocolonialism & Indigenous Injustice in “A Toxic Life”
In an urgent call-to-action to address injustices and atrocities that have plagued Indigenous communities for centuries, Toronto, ON-based rock band Imperial Ashes dive to new lyrical depths to shine a blinding light on neocolonialism in this, their new song, “A Toxic Life” — available now.
Since his earliest infatuations with guitar, Buffalo Nichols has asked himself the same question: How can I bring the blues of the past into the future? After cutting his teeth between a Baptist church and bars in Milwaukee, it was a globetrotting trip through West Africa and Europe during a creative down period that began to reveal the answer.
ULTRA Q RELEASE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “HANDHELD”
Oakland-based four-piece band Ultra Q have released their new single and video “Handheld” today (via Royal Mountain Records). The song will be featured on their upcoming EP Get Yourself A Friend dropping November 19th. The band have also announced two headline shows this fall; the first will take place in Los Angeles on November 10th at El Cid and the second in San Francisco on November 12that Bottom of the Hill. Ultra Q is fronted by Jakob Armstrong and features brothers Enzo and Chris Malaspina as well as Kevin Judd.
Jimmy Carter, Co-Founding Member of The Blind Boys of Alabama, To Release Debut Solo Album “Blind Faith” Sept 20, 2021
Jimmy Carter, the last original member of The Blind Boys of Alabama will be releasing his, the long awaited first solo album titled “Blind Faith” on Sept 20, 2021. The album was produced and co-written by songwriter, guitarist Ron Pullman. Jimmy’s hope is to bring to the world through the music on “Blind Faith” a Gospel message and a source of peace.
“This is my first solo album and I am excited to be able to sing some original music that’s in harmony with traditional Gospel, while using a range of different musical genres that embrace the Gospel sound with an up-lifting message.” – Jimmy Carter
Dee Watkins Continues the Run-Up to ‘Problem Child 3’ with “See It In Me”
Doggedly determined to become Florida’s next breakout rap star, Dee Watkins doesn’t have time for those who can’t recognize his sky-high potential. Coming through with a message meant to convince those non-believers, Dee shares “See It In Me,” a new video. Playing into the sentimental qualities of Yung Tago’s warm, piano-led instrumental, Dee Watkins bares his soul, reflecting on his days as a troublesome school kid, praises the woman who’s been holding him down, and calling his grandma just to make sure she’s ok. Representing a personal evolution from the character depicted in his ferocious past hits, “See It In Me” emphasizes the Macclenny, FL native’s desire to better himself to benefit the ones he loves: “If I tell you that I love you, I’m gonna f*ck with you regardless/And what’s the point of trying if you can’t finish what you started.”
If 2020 marked the birth of She/Beast, then 2021 is the year it evolves. When the pandemic cancelled Katja Nielsen’s best-laid plans, with her acclaimed punk outfit Arre! Arre! forced off the road, the singer and guitarist used the free time to develop her own identity as a singer-songwriter. That identity is She/Beast, and the fruits of her isolation writing sessions were two incendiary EPs: In the Depths of Misery, released last December, and This Too Shall Pass, which arrived back in March.
Stream my newest single “Rendez-Vous”
I was super infatuated with this guy. We had an unspoken connection, but didn’t act upon our feelings at the time. My new single expresses all of the thoughts I never had the courage to say.
NEWS: NRBQ’s first new album in eight years, ‘Dragnet,’ coming from Omnivore on November 12
Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true … NRBQ’s first new album since 2014 is about to unleashed! No names have been changed and no one is innocent.
NRBQ released its self-titled debut in 1969, and toured and recorded consistently until its 35th anniversary in 2004, when they took a hiatus until 2011’s Keep This Love Goin’. The band’s lineup is keyboardist Terry Adams, guitarist Scott Ligon, bassist Casey McDonough, and drummer John Perrin.
Sub Pop signs Aeon Station, the new project of Kevin Whelan (The Wrens) | Listen to “Queens” now | Debut album “Observatory” out December 10th
Sub Pop has signed Aeon Station, the new project from Kevin Whelan of The Wrens, to release Observatory, the group’s debut record, worldwide on December 10th, 2021. The 10-track album came together carefully for Whelan, over the course of 14 years, specifically, as clusters of demos and sketches. These were eventually assembled and recorded largely by Whelan himself, with assistance from Wrens’ bandmates Jerry MacDonald and Greg Whelan, as well as Tom Beaujour in his Union City recording space. Additionally, his wife Mary Ann provided backup vocals.
Legendary Guitarist Carlos Santana Releases “Whiter Shade of Pale” Featuring Steve Winwood
Taking on a classic is sometimes risky, but Santana’s pairing with fellow legend Steve Winwood on the Procol Harum gem “A Whiter Shade of Pale” puts all fears to rest. It’s a resplendent, marvelously realized retelling, a nourishing hymn for the modern age, on which the two musical giants discover new pockets of beauty at every turn. As it was on the original, there’s an elegiac feel throughout, but there’s also a romantic element that never existed before. Winwood’s voice, a wondrously singular instrument, is stirring and deeply moving, and Santana channels Matthew Fisher’s original organ lines on guitar with reverence while putting his own unique stamp on the timeless melodies. With each passage, he lifts us higher and higher into bliss.
Jon Patrick Walker Shares “The Stars, the Moon & the Sun”
A highly respected actor appearing on Television, in Film, and on Broadway (most recently playing King George on the National Tour of Hamilton to raves), Jon has increasingly turned his creative energies to songwriting and recording, an early passion sidelined by his acting career until the death of his mother provoked a mid-life reassessment of priorities. Since his debut LP, 2013’s The Guilty Party, he has put out two records co-produced with the Grammy-nominated Josh Kaufman (2016’s People Going Somewhere and 2018’s You & I), the self-produced and critically lauded demo collection Welcome to the Edge Times in 2019, and last year, the lockdown home studio EP, The Great Unravelling!
HAIDUK Release New Album Diabolica
Releasing today, Diabolica is the fourth full length album from solo project HAIDUK. Fusing punishing melodic black metal and high speed death-thrash, HAIDUK is the demonic brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Luka Milojica.
In Luka’s own words, Diabolica is: “Pure evil, speed and darkness!”
With lightning-fast songs HAIDUK returns to the hyper-speed riffing approach, following 2018’s more hypnotic sounding album Exomancer. Thematically, the new album is a continuation of the lore explored in the previous releases, with new short stories, maps, and a timeline included in the CD booklet.
Watch the new video from The Ophelias for “Crocus,” the title track off their upcoming LP, out this Friday 9/24 on Joyful Noise!
Crocus retains the complexity of Almost, but revels in the newfound confidence bolstered by the growth and change the band has undergone. “Knowing that I was sharing this intimate side of myself with the world made me want to say exactly what I meant instead of relying on vague images,” Peppet muses. That candor shines on album highlight “Neil Young on High”, a track that finds Peppet’s firefly vocals backed by harmonies from Julien Baker. “I regret never celebrating/ Smaller victories that we saved/ I would do that part over,” Peppet sings, detailing the murky line between the things we mourn and the things we remember.
INTERESTING TIMES GANG: Treble Premieres “Fentanyl Theme”
Over the course of the past thirty years, Ian Miller has provided bass for bands in nearly every corner of the heavy music universe. As part of acts like Kowloon Walled City, Puig Destroyer, Strangelight, and many others, he’s shown a rare degree of versatility that’s underscored by his work as INTERESTING TIMES GANG. Originally an outlet for interests that lay outside of his work in heavier, more aggressive music – with a particular emphasis on long-distance collaboration – Miller has self-released several albums featuring songs that often dart back and forth between styles as if each was a well-crafted mixtape.
New Single & Video from The Shacks “Trip To Japan”
The Shacks are back with a dreamy tune about an imaginary journey to Japan with a profound effect. “Trip To Japan” starts out with a woman talking about her dream last night where she was dancing with The Shacks in her living room. When Shannon starts singing about how a visit to Japan rejuvenated her soul over the lo-fi backing track you have little choice but to take the ride with her.
NOGA EREZ ANNOUNCES ‘KIDS (Against The Machine)’
Today Noga Erez announces the upcoming release of ‘KIDS (Against The Machine)’ – an album that mirrors her highly acclaimed second LP with each track recreated as bold non-electronic big band productions. The record will be released on November 5th through City Slang, and today she shares a freshly carved version of ‘KIDS’ album track “Knockout”.
From Dublin: CAT DOWLING releases ‘Animals’ single
Dublin-based Kilkenny-born indie pop artist Cat Dowling presents her new single ‘Animals’, a song of movement, sensuality, wildness, love and freedom. This is a song about that beautiful part inside the human make-up that can’t ever and should never be tamed.
Love Jimo Shares His Love Lost With Single ‘Lost In Time’
Featuring Love Jimo’s warm soulful vocals, accompanied by arrangements, where pop unites with dancehall and afrobeats, ‘Lost In Time’ also provides comfort for anymore who is trying to regain a sense of normality from great loss of any form.
TK & The Holy Know-Nothings Release Sinister Video For “Hell of a Time” Off THE INCREDIBLE HEAT MACHINE Out October 15, AmericanaFest Showcase September 23
Portland, Oregon’s TK & The Holy Know-Nothings have released the brand-new video for “Hell of a Time”, the third single out from the band’s much-anticipated sophomore album The Incredible Heat Machine out October 15th (Mama Bird Recording Co.). The creative clip features a disillusioned character, frontman Taylor Kingman, in a threadbare room, contemplating nefarious deeds, misguided by a TV prophet.
Neal Francis releases new song/video from upcoming album out Nov 5
Chicago singer, songwriter, and pianist Neal Francis releases his second song from his soon-to-be-released album. “Alameda Apartments” is available now at all DSPs, and a companion video filmed in the church in which Francis lived as well as wrote and recorded the album is streaming on YouTube. “Alameda Apartments” is the opening song on In Plain Sight, mixed by the Grammy-winning producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, MGMT) and out via ATO Records on November 5. The song makes for a majestic introduction to the album’s unveiling of Francis’s inner demons.
