Guitarist Adam Hawley’s second album, “Double Vision”
When your debut album scores three Billboard No. 1 singles, including the longest running No. 1 single of the year, and helps you win two Debut Artist of the Year titles, your priority becomes avoiding a sophomore slump. That was guitarist Adam Hawley’s mindset as he entered the recording studio to construct “Double Vision,” his Kalimba Records disc that drops on Friday.
“My number one goal was to have my second album not only live up to the first, but hopefully surpass it. I was overwhelmed with the support and feedback I received and definitely wanted to repay the listeners with a fitting second offering rich with strong grooves,” said Hawley, about the new ten-track set he wrote and produced highlighted by collaborations with Grammy winner Jeff Lorber and contemporary jazz chart-toppers Dave Koz, Darren Rahn, Marcus Anderson, Julian Vaughan and Greg Manning.
SPAER (experimental psych-pop) shares new single “Critter”
SPAER is the new avant-garde psych-pop side project from the audio/visual artist and producer Peter Spears, one of the founding members of the acclaimed Brooklyn psych band Psymon Spine (also within the Axis Mundi family). Like a baby with a mustache, the sounds on Vol. 1 are inviting but ominous. Joined by a host of vocalist collaborators, soothing harmonies and bright guitars sit on top of a bed of skull-rattling bass and geometric drums; the springs under the mattress jab the listener when least expected, while precise electronics stand side-by-side with raw organic vibrations, like a vendor selling hard drives and bok choy.
Rob Drabkin “It’s A Beautiful Day”
Although his musical talents make it easy to believe he’s always been a full-time musician, Rob Drabkin attended Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, where he graduated with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with the intention of becoming a doctor. His focus quickly changed after a family trip to New York. “My Dad played Jazz full time for 30 years before he got into medicine. On that trip, we re-connected with his old musician friends, and it was inspiring to see them giving their lives to music night after night for so many years. That was the night I dropped science and dedicated myself to music. After that moment, I spent every possible minute singing and honing all of the songwriting skills that I could.” He adds, “It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but I had an epiphany while watching the Broadway musical “Chicago.” I decided right then and there that I didn’t want to work in a research lab for the rest of my life and that I wanted to pursue music full time even though I had never sung a note up to that point.” He took to Denver’s music scene quickly, and set his career into motion.
Chris Orrick is gearing up for his new solo album that is coming May 4th. Today, Wax Poetics debuted his first visual accompaniment from the album for the new single Design Flaw produced by L’Orange. The music video, directed by Malcolm Critcher, finds Chris Orrick once again delivering his truth with such complete vulnerability that it breaths and pulses with life. The raw, soul-searching depth Orrick is best known for is not only the place great art & music comes from, but also comedy. Chris reveals his unabashed muppet-self spiraling out of control, locked in a hotel room with a beautiful woman and a snout, on a bender.
BRAZILIAN POP DUO SEAKRET RELEASE VIRAL TRACK
Seakret is a dance-pop duo formed by brazilian always in demand producers Pedro Dash and Dan Valbusa, responsible for countless radio hits by artists such as Anitta and Projota. Today they launch their new single “Kika”, alongside MC Zaac (“Vai Malandra” brazilian funk-star) and Feid, colombian singer-songwriter known for his work with the biggest names in Latin music, including worldwide phenomenon J Balvin. “Kika” song and music video are now available on all streaming services.
White China Shares “Freak Dreams” Track Via The 405
Today, White China shares new single “Freak Dreams” via The 405, who says the track is “warm and crackles with life”. White China’s Gianluca Buccellati explains that the track was inspired by “a phase where I was staying out late. I would see the sunrise frequently,” and asking yourself “are we going to keep this up, or is it time to go home?” The single is from their forthcoming debut LP, I, due out this June. Stay tuned for more new music coming soon.
New Music: Reliant Tom “SOS” – Out Today
The first single from Reliant Tom’s forthcoming sophomore album, “SOS” finds the band expanding their sonic pallet to include a greater range of synthesis and real time guitar processing by Monte Weber’s custom MAX-based guitar system. Lyrically and sonically, “SOS” is a recounting of childhood anxiety and repression from institutionalized patriarchy and guilt. The leading polyrhythmic and jittery synth line counters against a steady hook of beats, electric bass, and chord progressions, topped by the smooth cooing of Claire Cuny’s vocals to create an uneasy yet hypnotic groove.
WHIPPED CREAM & KTRL Make New Noise Debut with “Gray”
Los Angeles, CA – Buzzing producers WHIPPED CREAM and KTRL channel heavy, late 00’s industrial-tinged electro on their ominous New Noise debut “Gray,” premiered on NEST HQ.
Holy Wave share second track and video “Habibi” via Self-Titled
Holy Wave is back with a new album Adult Fear which arrives March 30 via The Reverberation Appreciation Society. Today, Holy Wave share the second track and video “Habibi” off their upcoming album via Self-Titled Mag.
Tengil Releases New Song “And the Best Was Yet to Come”
Swedish post-hardcore band Tengil is a constellation of musicians playing atmospheric, experimental heavy music that is at once nostalgic, quasi-symphonic and spiritually violent. The band will release its new LP, shouldhavebeens, on April 13 via new label Prophecy Productions (Alcest, Sun of the Sleepless). In advance of the record’s release, MetalSucks premieres the new Tengil song “And the Best Was Yet to Come”, adding, “Tengil’s sonic palette mashes post-hardcore, shoegaze, black metal, progressive rock and even pop into a shimmery, atmospheric formula that’s absolutely captivating.”
IN HONOR OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY DAIZA RELEASES “MANNERS”
In honor of Women’s History Month and the #TimesUp Movement, Daiza latest single “Manners” empowers women to stand up against objectification. The track’s relaxed and low tempo vibe contrasts the weight of the topic, allowing the listener to focus on the objective of the lyrics. It also features a section of Elise Bryant’s, National President of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, moving speech during the Women’s March on Washington this past January. Inspired by Bryant’s call to action, Daiza proclaims to objectifiers to “take the hint and turn around”.
New track from Boston’s Will Dailey
This song is from his new album The Golden Walker coming out June 1. It’s about commitment and embodies the album’s main theme of connection, in three short minutes.
Since that midnight meeting in France, Dailey has spent many nights lying awake wondering about communication and connectivity. We are told we are disconnected. Maybe we are just over connected in the wrong ways? He gets to thinking that there may be nobody in the world who needs to hear one of his songs and is then reminded of the sculptors call for true connection, and the great human pay-off of being in a live concert venue or recording studio full of people engaging in one moment together, and that is where “It Already Would Have Not Worked Out By Now” came from.
Singer-Songwriter Mitch Bradford Releases Breezy Debut Single “Love Is Kind”
Singer-songwriter Mitch Bradford is celebrating the release of his debut single “Love Is Kind.” The breezy, twangy heartfelt ballad is the first release off of his forthcoming debut album Love Is Kind. The track premiered with PopMatters and is also available to stream on Mitch’s official Soundcloud page.
BEHIND THE FALLEN Premiere Newest Video For Single “Revenant” on Pure Grain Audio Today!
OC Hard Rockers BEHIND THE FALLEN premiered their haunting new video for “Revenant”, on Pure Grain Audio today! “Revenant” was recently featured on the AltPress #spotify playlist AP Discover and also on the AltPress website, under “songs you need to know.”
Oslo-based rapper tbFrs releases album ‘In reference to’
Oslo based rapper tbFrs has been building momentum with his latest album ‘In reference to’. ‘In reference to’ is an intimate insight into the mind of someone who isn’t afraid to criticize the status quo. With technical prowess and undeniable charisma, the album evokes strong feelings of 90s nostalgia. tbFrs has an excellent sense of balance with his compositions and he’s created something truly memorable and engaging.
ETERNAL FLAME Reveal ‘Smoke On The Mountain‘ Album Details
German Neoclassical Heavy Metal band, MICHAEL SCHINKEL’S ETERNAL FLAME, have announced the release of their third album ‘Smoke On The Mountain’ on May 18th, 2018 via ROAR! Rock Of Angles Records. The album includes 13 tracks, and featuring Mark Boals (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring of Fire) and Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum) on vocals. The Album artwork was made by Gustavo Sazes (Angra, Firewind, Iced Earth, Dream Evil).
Mastersystem – new single (Frightened Rabbit x Minor Victories collab)
Today Mastersystem unveil new single Enlightenment ahead of their debut album release on April 6th, via Physical Education. A project comprised of two musical siblings, a collaborative effort featuring Scott Hutchinson and Grant Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit), Justin Lockey (Editors), James Lockey (Minor Victories).
Denis Sulta shares details of new 12″
Berlin-based DJ and producer Denis Sulta (real name Hector Barbour) has his announced new record, ‘Sulta Selects 3’ — the third volume of his essential 12″ series.
Scheduled for March 23rd as a limited, vinyl-only release, the maverick producer’s latest record follows on from the mystical ‘Sulta Selects 2’ and will again be released on his own Sulta Selects imprint.
‘Sulta Selects 3’ zeroes back in on his sweeping and exuberant, house sound, pushing his signature style to its outer limits across three high-energy, peak time club jams.
Nina Diaz video “For You”
Nina Diaz, lead singer of punk rock trio Girl In A Coma, punctuates a prosperous 2017 while setting the stage for an incredible 2018- this time with her Jeff Buckley-esque “For You” from her critically acclaimed debut album The Beat Is Dead. The B-Side to the track is the Spanish language Adapted version “Por Ti”. The “For You” video which was Directed by Miami-based director Milcho, was also filmed in Miami 2 weeks after Hurricane Irma, providing a swirling emotional backdrop for the production team and artist alike.
Hawktail to Release Debut Album Unless on May 11
Hawktail (Haas Kowert Tice Leslie) are pleased to announce the release of their debut album, Unless, produced by Chris Eldridge (The Punch Brothers), available everywhere on May 11. Today, Fretboard Journal names Hawktail as one of their “favorite new groups” and premieres the album’s title track “Unless” — listen here.
This album is a mixture of recordings from a studio (House of Blues in Nashville, TN), a church (Downtown Presbyterian in Nashville, TN), their bassist’s house, and two live shows (recorded in California at Harlow’s in Sacramento and The Old Steeple in Ferndale).
Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards) streams debut solo album
Erika Wennerstrom shares her debut solo album, Sweet Unknown, today on Consequence of Sound, complete with a track-by-track description of each track. COS says, “positivity can be heard throughout the album’s nine tracks. Songs like the slow-burning, almost meditative “Be Good to Yourself” promote self-love, while “Like A Bird” advises that we “open up and let the good things come.” The LP will be on shelves this Friday, March 23rd, via Partisan Records.
Erika Wennerstrom breaks down her debut solo album, Sweet Unknown, Track by Track: Stream
NORA ROTHMAN ANNOUNCES REMIX EP
Folk/soul singer-songwriter Nora Rothman has spent the last year fine-tuning her craft as an artist. Last summer she released her debut self-titled EP featuring ukulele melody “Truth or Dare” and spine-tingling single “Note to My Ex Lover,” which received praise from Teen Vogue, Yahoo! Music, and Paste Magazine. Following Inauguration Day 2017, the former Clinton campaign staffer gathered an all-womxn team to create a project with the purpose of raising the female voice. Today, Earmilk announced the project, a remix EP featuring five tracks re-imagined by a team of female-identifying producers and sound engineers including Birch, Ah-Mer-Ah-Su, QRTR, Suzi Analogue, and Libra Rising. The EP, titled Nora Rothman – Remix EP, will be out on April 20, 2018 via Electric Bird Records at a pay-what-you-want price with 50% of proceeds going to Planned Parenthood and 50% going to the womxn behind the release.
Phoenix O’Neill – “Cruel World”
Last year, her amazing voice and her intricate and dark songs caught the interest of producer James Sanger (Dido, Keane, Brian Eno). Since then, the two have been working together to develop her unique style. Her spellbinding vocals have been compared to Amy Winehouse, Elle King, Massive Attack and Portishead.
