Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

BEWARE OF DARKNESS NEW SINGLE “HOWL”

Los Angeles-based indie rock band Beware of Darkness are set to release their debut album, Orthodox, on May 7 via Bright Antenna Records. Fans are now able to pre-order the bonus track version of the full-length at iTunes for $9.99. Along with the pre-order, an instant download of the album’s new single, “Howl,” is available…

ICE WATER MIKE “THAT’S HOW I’M GETTING DOWN”

Straight off a nine-year stint in a Michigan State penitentiary, Detroit rapper Ice Water Mike presents the music video for “That’s How I’m Getting Down”, his new single produced by The Closers, The Wise Guys and Joe Boom. Since age 12 IWM has been in and out of prison, where fellow inmates gave him the…

FRANK TURNER NEW VIDEO “RECOVERY”

Following a year that saw a headline sold-out Wembley Arena show and a performance at the London Olympics Opening Ceremony, Frank Turner will release Tape Deck Heart on April 23 through Xtra Mile Recordings/Interscope. Produced and mixed by Rich Costey (Muse, Weezer, Rage Against the Machine, Interpol) Tape Deck Heart is the follow-up to the…

DANISH DUO QUADRON SINGLE “HEY LOVE”

Danish electronic soul/ pop duo Quadron released their critically-acclaimed self-titled debut album in 2010. The album was ranked by New York magazine as one of the Top 10 albums of 2010. The follow up to that album including “Hey Love” will be out this spring.  

STOLI LEARNS HOW JAMES MOORE HELPS THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC SCENE

Hello to all and welcome back! Before we start, I just want to note that the NY Times had this headline last week “Music Industry Records First Revenue Increase Since 1999.” That is some great news for all of us. I personally believe that digital media is here to stay and it’s only going to…

VANESSA ELISHA VIDEO FOR “HOME TO ME”

In the last 8 weeks, singer/songwriter Vanessa Elisha, has gone from self proclaimed “unlikely R&B star” to 2013’s one to watch. Thanks to support from several hundred blogs, her debut release, “Blur” found its way onto playlists and iphones across the world, with the self-edited video teaser amassing over 40,000 views. Reuniting with production partner…

BRENDAN BENSON VIDEO “HAPPY MOST OF THE TIME”

Brendan Benson has also unveiled the new music video from his latest full-length album What Kind of World. The video for “Happy Most of The Time” features fan submitted footage of their kids dancing along to the song. The theme was inspired by Benson’s own son’s energetic reaction to the music found on the album.

BILL RYDER-JONES VIDEO “HE TOOK YOU IN HIS ARMS”

Now Ryder-Jones has completed his new album ‘A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart’, which marries his masterful capacities as arranger and composer with his first firm steps as a singer songwriter. Warmly melodic, majestically textured and bravely intimate, ‘A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart’ confirms the talent which has been recognised by admirers…

ACE AUGUSTINE VIDEO FOR “MANNEQUINS”

After releasing their Facedown Records debut album The Absolute, Christian metalcore outfit Ace Augustine seemed to fall off the face of the earth. Then last summer the band reemerged from the depths with their announcement of signing with Red Cord Records. Up until this point, the band had gone through two rounds of member changes,…

THE BEST VENUES FOR GOOD MUSIC IN LONDON

So we’re gonna talk about the best venues for good music in London —- a warm shelter, rock and pop music, scented beer where you can take refuge from the cold and be entrusted with its distinctive hop flavor and fluff. Sadly, a lot of pubs (and even bars, of which London, being a modern…

VENUES REFLECT DIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY’S MUSICAL CULTURE

Music is in the soul of Kentuckians, and not just the bluegrass music that was born in the Commonwealth and has earned international acclaim. Befitting a diverse state that mixes urban and rural traditions, country music, blues, gospel and many other genres are popular today in the Bluegrass State. Kentuckians’ love for music has spawned…

THE WILEY ONE VIDEO “KIL IT WITH LOVE”

Phoenix based band, The Wiley One recently finished a creative new music video project with speed drawing visionary Nathan Shields, and all members of the project are pumped and ready to share this artistic collaboration with the world.   The music video was created for the title track off their sophomore album “Kill it with…

TOTAL CONTROL VIDEO FOR “SWEATY”

Melbourne’s Total Control hit US roads this summer with dates including shows with Ceremony, The Soft Moon, UV Race and Thee Oh Sees.   The band will also be at this year’s Chaos In Tejas Festival in Austin.   It’s live where the band is most consistent, exploiting their punk and hardcore backgrounds to present…

MELODY FEDERER VIDEO FOR “LIE TO EACH OTHER”

Melody is a free-spirited traveler, singer, songwriter and model who was chosen to be the face of Chanel’s fragrance, “Chance,” in Paris. Unlike many other artists out there — her music is reminiscent of her own life, loves, struggles and the search for amorous relationships.

DJ MUGGS VIDEO “SOUNDCLASH BUSINESS”

Following the release of his Jan 15th full-length release “Bass For Your Face” on Ultra Music, Cypress Hill producer DJ Muggs is premiering his new video for the album track “Soundclash Business” today. In typical Muggs fashion these visuals really stir the pot for an effect that is equally out-there and fantastic. To give you…

ANDREW LEAHEY NEW VIDEO “LITTLE IN LOVE”

Andrew Leahey & The Homestead’s Summer Sleeves is the sound of the modern South: its cities, its open spaces, and everywhere in between. The Nashville-based Leahey recorded the songs with the Homestead, a group of childhood friends and Virginia-based musicians who added organ, harmonized guitar riffs, pedal steel, and three-part harmonies to the mix.

A-WAX FREE ALBUM ‘JESUS MALVERDE’

Today, A-Wax is releasing hew new album, Jesus Malverde. The 14-track project, which includes features from Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane, DJ Paul (of Three 6 Mafia), and Ca$his, along with production from Southside, Cardiak, Nonstop Da Hitman, and more, is being released for free via A-Wax’s own label, Pie-Rx Recordz, in conjunction with Illburn…

BOSTON CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL IN BOSTON MAY 25 – 26

Boston Calling will bring a heavy-hitting line-up to its two stages. The festival is headlined by The National, which is set to release a new LP later this year, and Fun., 2013 Grammy winners for Best New Artist and Song of the Year “We Are Young.” Legends and newcomers alike, in genres ranging from indie…

ARTISTS ON THE UP WITH LABELLED INDEPENDENT

We take a look at some of the top independent artists in the USA and UK in association with Labelled Independent, the new music podcast. I think it’s fair to say it’s been an eclectic month of music here in the Labelled Independent cubbyhole, hollowed out of one of the Skope Magazine Towers’ walls. As…

WIN $750 IN CASH: FREE TO ENTER COMPETITION

UK Rock band Never A Hero are offering a huge cash prize of $750 USD in a totally FREE TO ENTER competition. All you need to do is head to www.bleedbetweenthelies.com and follow the link on the homepage. The 5 piece band recently described by Rock United Magazine as “The best contemporary British metal act…

COCOROSIE NEW SINGLE “GRAVEDIGGRESS”

CocoRosie is the potently poetic musical project of American cross-disciplinary performance artists and sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady. The visionary duo approach their craft with a startling ability to tackle the most taboo of subjects with complete honesty and spiritual freedom. Creating songs that blend a myriad of styles and references ranging from folk and…

SARA JACKSON HOLMAN VIDEO “FOR ALBERT”

Portland, Oregon-based pianist/singer-songwriter Sara Jackson-Holman’s “Can’t Take My Love,” the second track on her sophomore full-length, Cardiology (Expunged Records), appeared on last night’s episode of 90210, season 5, episode 15, “Strange Brew.”   The end of January also saw her song “Come By Fire” featured on Grey’s Anatomy season 9, episode 13, “Bad Blood.”

PETE SWANSON VIDEO “GROUNDS FOR ARREST”

Pete Swanson has released a new video for “Ground For Arrest” from his upcoming EP, Punk Authority. Shot on VHS, “Grounds For Arrest” finds director Diego Cohen taking his macabre vision into the dark corners of nightclubs.

MUSIC MASTER MATTHEW SCHULTZ RETURNS WITH BANGING SOUND

Musician extraordinaire Matt Schultz has come back to the music scene with guns blazing. As a young man Matthew was always drawn to the sights and sounds of music. It helped that most of his family were musicians and valued the art of it. His uncles for starters, used to perform at family functions and…

DECKER. NEW VIDEO “KILLING ME” FROM ‘SLIDER’

Rising from the dust of a near-fatal August 2012 van rollover while on tour in California, the band still managed to record the 10-song follow-up to their third release, 2011’s, Broken Belts, Broken Bones, in three inspired months over the summer to produce their most robust, captivating and compelling record to date.

K. FLAY RELEASES WEST GHOST MIXTAPE

K.Flay states: “West Ghost is basically a conversation I’m having with myself, one that began when I left San Francisco last year.   After I moved to Brooklyn, I started to feel this crazy sense of freedom, but it was a freedom based in rootlessness and so it kind of punched me in the stomach.…

ENTER THE INTRICATE WORLD OF H.C. TURK

H.C. Turk is a personification of the word multidimensional because Mr. Turk eats & breathes diversity.   H.C. lives his life not just as a musician but also as a successful writer, painter, visual artist and photographer.   With three albums complete and a whopping 36 novels written this man of many faces has the…

NEW VIDEO THOMAS AZIER “ANGELENE”

Brand new mind-bending video from the Berlin-based electro-pop wizard Thomas Azier. “Angelene” is off Azier’s sophomore EP Hylas 002 and the video is a contemporary noir exploring his solitude as he yearns for the fascinating yet mysterious Angelene.

JUNIP WATCH NEW VIDEO “LINE OF FIRE”

Junip’s videos are always delicious spine-tingling, dark creations that take on a life of their own. Their latest video for “Line of Fire” directed by Swedish filmmaker Mikel Cee Karlsson honors the tradition. Visually unnerving, it fits perfectly into the grooves of Junip’s music, itself also hypnotically unsettling, yet delicately beautiful.

VILLAGERS POST “THE BELL” VIDEO

Ireland’s Villagers have premiered today a second video off their upcoming sophomore full-length, {Awayland}, for “The Bell”. The video was directed by Alden Volney and features a combination of animation and live footage.

GHOSTFACE KILLAH & ADRIAN YOUNGE POST SINGLE FROM NEW ALBUM

Soul Temple Records announces the release of Twelve Reasons To Die, the new album from Ghostface Killah and composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Adrian Younge on April 16. Twelve Reasons To Die is a brilliant and daring crime/horror concept album. This is the third release from Soul Temple Records, a company whose mission is to release quality music coupled…