Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

TAL NATIONAL UNVEILS NEW CUT FROM ‘KAANI’

Tal National are from Niamey, the capital city of Niger. Their music is joyously hypnotic, a highly unique contribution to West African guitar music. With its lightening fast rhythms and rotating cast of vocalists can be heard the history of Niger as a cultural crossroads along ancient trade routes. Collected within the former French colony…

LOWLAND HUM POST “WAR IS OVER”

Lowland Hum, the multisensory artistic collaboration of husband and wife duo Daniel Levi Goans and Lauren Plank Goans will self-release Native Air, their first full-length album on August 6. The self produced Native Air was recorded at Daniel’s parents’ home and mixed by Rick Parker, who’s recent work with Lord Huron they admired. The album…

GRAVEYARD LOVERS POST “LOVE AND HUNGER”

  The spirit of rock ‘n roll is exhumed, drenched in heavy blues riffs, and smeared with earthy grit by Brooklyn’s Graveyard Lovers, a band   “unmatched for both quality and energy.” (CMJ.com) Comprised of Zach Reynolds (guitar,vocals), Tricia Purvis (Drums), and Orion Wainer   (Bass), the three intertwine their deepest, darkest melodies and passionate…

JIMMY RAE QUESTIONS STOLEN IDENTITY ON ALL ACCOUNTS

Watch your back because here comes Stolen Identity stealing the show!   SI is a trio of two female singers and one male vocalist with crazy good harmonies and one Popilicious sound.   This UK-based group mixes Pop and Dance to make up one fun ‘n’ bouncy groove.   Promoting their debut single “Entice You”…

TARTU POPI JA ROKI INSTITUUT NEW SINGLE

It’s not very often that you hear about psychedelic pop music coming from Estonia, but that’s about to change. Tartu Popi ja Roki Instituut, (translated: Tartu Pop and Rock Institute) is from the university town of Tartu, Estonia. The eight-piece rock collective drew inspiration from their time spent growing up in the once Soviet governed…

KEZNAMDI HERALDS HIS ARRIVAL WITH NEW EP

The fast rising contemporary reggae artiste Keznamdi has been blazing a trail across the musical landscape with thought provoking lyrics woven together to form infectious melodies and has now heralded his arrival to the reggae scene by releasing his first EP, appropriately dubbed, Bridging the Gap. Watch Keznamdi: http://www.youtube.com/user/keznamdi/videos Listen to Keznamdi: https://soundcloud.com/keznamdi Keznamdi, who…

SKILLET RELEASE TITLE TRACK OFF NEW ALBUM

Skillet have just released the title track off their forthcoming album, Rise, which is available June 25th. The song “Rise” is part of the band’s first ever concept album, as singer John Cooper explains, “The narrative idea happened after we had 10 or 11 of the songs chosen. As we recorded them, we started to…

DALE EARNHARDT JR JR CLAYMATION VIDEO

“Dark Water” is off the band’s brand new EP, Patterns, which came out a couple weeks ago. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are booked to perform their hit in the making “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)” on CONAN June 11th. “Dark Water” Official Video on YouTube http://youtu.be/z9W8Fuzk0Uc The guys have…

CSS VIDEO “HANGOVER”

While nothing can compare to the fondness one has to their hometown, the temptation to live in sunny and glamorous Los Angeles is hard to resist. Some of LA’s newest residents include the ladies of CSS; natives of Brazil, they have temporarily set up residence to record their new album Planta and to prepare for…

JESSE SAUNDERS RELEASES “CHAMELEON”

  Featured on the 3rd installment of Jesse Saunders’ OLD SKOOL NEW SKOOL compilation series is the DUB version of his new single CHAMELEON. The Originator is back again, this time to take you on a musical journey with his new single CHAMELEON! Herbie Hancock was the inspiration for this Jazz meets Funky booty shaking…

CYBERPUNKERS NEW VIDEO IS NSFW

CYBERPUNKERS have released their action packed Sci-Fi / Horror themed (NSFW) “Whatta Mask” music video! Featuring our masked bass-heroes in a thrilling, high speed chase with equally disguised, heavily armed pursuant antagonists, the video culminates in the unveiling of new and ever more sinister masks. Check out the video below! If you would be willing…

BOSNIAN RAINBOWS VIDEO FOR “TURTLE NECK”

Bosnian Rainbows have added more dates to their touring schedule in support of the June 25 release of their self-titled debut, now adding more shows across the east coast and midwest. The band has also just been announced on the stellar line up this year at Mountain Oasis Festival in October. The group just released…

BRYAN J FEAT TYGA ON “CAUGHT UP”

IDJ’s former label boss L.A. Reid decided to become CEO and Chairman of Epic Records in 2011, he also hired Stewart to head the label’s A&R department. With Reid’s full support, Stewart was able to take Bryan with him to Epic where the young artist could work with a label that had an interest in…

KRIS KELLI POSTS “I GOT UR MAN”

The Jamaican beauty follows up the success of her first single and self-empowerment anthem “Warrior” with a new dancehall-inspired record. Kris Kelli, a rising star in the industry and Block Entertainment’s newest signee, partners up with Roc City produced track for her new single “I Got UR Man” — an authentic dancehall-inspired record — from…

NEW VIDEO BY BATTLESHIPS

Following from their successful debut mini album ‘To You’ earlier this year, Sydney’s Indie Rock/Folk quartet Battleships have revealed their new video for album highlight ‘As You’d Begun.’ They have found themselves in high rotation on Triple J, with further support from 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne and Radcliffe and Maconie. http://youtu.be/-xcFr2ZFrpg Song By Toad called…

ETHAN JOHNS VIDEO “DON’T REACH TOO FAR”

Acclaimed British musician and producer Ethan Johns will release his debut album If Not Now Then When? on July 30th 2013 through his own Three Crows Records label here in the U.S.   Released earlier this year in the UK off the back of an extensive record store tour and sold out headline run, to…

STOLI IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TRACY WALTON’S NEW ALBUM OUT NOW

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well out there! I just want to note that Skope traffic from China is surpassing all other countries on the regular these days so I just want to say “Ni-Hao”. A few weeks back I noted that legal music consumption will come through digital downloads and streaming.…

DEMIGODZ NEW VIDEO “RAIDERS CAP”

Demigodz (Apathy, Celph Titled, Ryu of Styles Of Beyond, Esoteric, Motive, Blacastan) first official full-length LP, KILLmatic, featuring appearances from RA The Rugged Man, Termanology, Panchi (of NYG’z), Planetary (of Outerspace), Scoop Deville & Eternia with production from DJ Premier, Marco Polo, The Snowgoons, Apathy, Teddy Roxpin, Chumzilla, Skammadix & Will C is now available…

EVERYONE DIES IN UTAH RELEASE NEW MUSIC VIDEO

Temple, Texas band Everyone Dies In Utah recently released a video for their song Desoto 55, which appears on their latest album +//- (Polarities). The video was created by Oliver Broadbent, a filmmaker from Leeds, UK. It features Lego characters acting out the storyline with additional animation.   http://youtu.be/mNAT_38B5a8 Teetering between breakneck brutality and elegant,…

ISRAEL: MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT

  “Shirim Bakikar” (Songs in the square) was held on Sunday, April 14, 2013 in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square. Songs in The Square is the main ceremony of the Tel Aviv municipality to mark The State of Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism. Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8uWdencL3M With well over 10,000 people in…

CLIFFTOP VANDLAZ POST “LIFE IS GOOD”

“Life Is Good” is the first release off the upcoming full length album “Global Vandalizm” which is entirely produced by Swiss duo “Clifftop Vandalz”and will be dropping for free download in June. It features a lot of young, unknown mc’s who are hungry and always down to work but also some already well known artists.…

THE WOES OF A TRAVELING BAND

The perception of a traveling band to someone who has never been in one, seems glamorous and adventurous. Truth is, it is rarely glamorous but often adventurous. The stories are endless, you have to live it to understand. However, I’m sure we have all been in this predicament at one point or another. The rain…

DOWN WITH WEBSTER “ONE IN A MILLION” VIDEO

Platinum Canadian genre-bending outfit, Down With Webster has now released the official video for their latest single, “One In A Million.” The video, which was directed by Aaron A (Nelly Furtado, mynameiskay), gives fans a look into the DWW live experience. The band spoke about it stating, “we wanted to create a video that captured…

PI JACOBS SINGLE “URBANICANA”

  Pi Jacobs is a singer-songwriter you’ve probably heard, even if you haven’t heard of her! Her music has been licensed to cable television networks such as MTV, Oxygen and Nickelodeon and most recently her song “Trying to be Loved,” appeared on ABC Family’s hit show “Pretty Little Liars.” She collaborated with renown producer Eugene…

HUNTER HUNTED VIDEO “END OF THE WORLD”

Los Angeles based band Hunter Hunted are excited to release a music video for their song “End of the World.” Watch the video at the link below. To say that they’ve accomplished a lot in a short amount of time would be an understatement. Since the bands inception in January of 2013, they’ve been included…

FIDELIS NEW SINGLE “I COULD DO BETTER” DESTINED TO BE CLASSIC

Fidelis is an up and coming songwriter and singer with a flair for hooks with soul. Part neo-soul, pop, piano and even country blues, Fidelis’ single demonstrates that you don’t have to follow the rules to create something articulate and memorable. Skope: Tell us a little about your single “I Could Do Better”. Is it…

THE HUSSY’S AUDIO & VIDEO FROM ‘PAGAN HISS’

The Hussy’s “Pagan Hiss” comes out on Southpaw Records. The Hussy describe themselves as “a psych punk duo from the politically charged cheese rectum that is Madison, Wisconsin.”   The new album has already seen praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Spin, Ad Hoc, Impose, Get Bent, Raven Sings the Blues, and others. “Blame” MP3:…

BEN CARON RELEASES FAN-FUNDED SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM

Los Angeles-based pop singer/songwriter Ben Caron has been working on his debut album for a solid year. The project, which will be released on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, was recorded as a series of three fan-funded EPs, each one consisting of three original songs. Donations were collected via his own personal website, without the assistance…

J.DREW POSTS ‘NEVER COMING BACK’ EP FOR ALL TO HEAR

Multi-talented artist J.Drew flexes his musical muscle on the EP “Never Coming Back” available for download here. J.Drew is the first and youngest producer signed to the Pharrell Williams imprint StarTrak. On “Never Coming Back” the Detroit native personifies the term “triple threat” by singing, writing, rapping and producing his way into your speakers. J.Drew…

THE COURTNEY JOHN PROJECT VIDEO “BLACK CINDERELLA”

Jamaica’s The Courtney John Project release the official video for the single, “Black Cinderella,” just days after their debut LP Future was released on the FiWi Music Label. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLeFIWDzTrU One of the most moving and electrifying award winning writers, Courtney John returns with his eagerly awaited collaboration The Courtney John Project, with long time producer-cohort…

AARADHNA VIDEO FOR “GREAT MAN”

Aaradhna, the standout vocalist from New Zealand is back with a new video, it’s called “Great Man”. Directed by Jared Khai, “Great Man” is a visually alluring video, flanked with backgorund dancers, and her band, Aaradhna continues to solidify her status as one of the rising elite vocalist in music today. The critically acclaimed vocalist…

EMMA LOUISE “MIRRORS” VIDEO

Emma Louise is smart enough to know that having a breakout hit like Jungle brings with it as many challenges as it does opportunities. And that knowledge has never been far from her mind during the writing and recording of ‘vs Head vs Heart’. Produced in the Brisbane studio of Matt Redlich (Hungry Kids of…

GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV POSTS “SAINT VALENTINE”

The Weatherman, the new album from acclaimed singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, will be released July 9 on Suitcase Town Music. This is Isakov’s third full-length release and follows 2009’s This Empty Northern Hemisphere, which the Denver Post praised as “an artistic masterwork” and Paste Magazine described as “quietly lush” and “deeply vibrant.” In celebration of…

LISTEN TO BRAND NEW VAMPIRE WEEKEND TRACK “YA HEY”

As Vampire Weekend gear up for the release of their highly anticipated third studio album Modern Vampires of the City, the band have unveiled a lyrical video for brand new track “Ya Hey,” directed by Greg Brunkalla. Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-BznQE6B8U Already hailed in a 4.5 star Rolling Stone lead review raving “dark…

WELCOME TO THE ZU

OnPlanetZu is creating a scene all their own in LA, delivering high energy dubstep mixed with punk and hiphop. With a new single “Speakers” out and gaining an onslaught of new fans daily, OnPlanetZu is one of those rare acts that you just can’t help but rock out to, tap your foot or raise a…

SKY BLU NEW LATIN SINGLE FOR CINCO DE MAYO

Sky Blu of LMFAO delivers his highly-anticipated Latin single “Salud” just in time for your Cinco de Mayo Fiesta! The new record features Pitbull protégé Sensato (Crazy People, Watagatapitusberry), Wilmer Valderrama (That 70’s Show), and Reek Rude. “SALUD” – Sky Blu ft. Reek Rude, Sensato, & Wilmer Valderrama http://soundcloud.com/bigbaduniversity/sky-blu-salud or http://youtu.be/7–SbbzOirI www.bigbad.com

BIBIO EXPLAINS NEW VIDEO

“Many years ago I was in Wolverhampton library looking for music to take out. I was in the cassette section and there was an album cover which stood out to me – it was the self-titled album by ‘Free’. The cover is of a blue sky and a naked woman’s silhouette striding over the camera.…