LA’s volatile four-piece rock band fanned the flames of discontent with their critically praised record, Fake History, for a new generation of fans three years ago, and today have announced their long-awaited return with one of the year’s most anticipated albums, The Blackest Beautiful, due out on July 9th via Epitaph Records. letlive. has…
Category: FEATURES
Feature stories and artist interviews
BIG REENO “IRON MAN 3” FT. KOLTEN LEE
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No stranger to stadium-sized crowds, Big Reeno was an act on the Blizzard Music Tour 2011 (Now known as The Snowstorm Music Tour), an arena tour which averaged 5000-8000 screaming fans a night. This up and comer has already performed and toured with nationally known acts such as Machine Gun Kelly, Flo Rida, Talib Kweli,…
SHAUNA CASE RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO FOR “SOME KIND OF FAIRYTALEâ€
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Shauna Case, the teenage actress known for her role on Cartoon Network’s Incredible Crew, has just released her first music video for a single from her debut EP. The autobiographical track about a young woman leaving her small town to chase her dreams in the big city, “Some Kind of Fairytale,” was written by Case,…
WIRE: TOAD THE WET SPROCKET BACK WITH NEW SINGLE ON ROLLING STONE
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Today, the band’s first single from the album and title track “New Constellation” premiered on Rolling Stone’s site. In a statement about the track, Glen Phillips said, “After not having recorded as Toad the Wet Sprocket for over 16 years, we finally decided to make a new record for our fans. “New Constellation” was…
KATIE EKIN VIDEO “A GROWN UP FAIRYTALE”
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Katie Ekin’s music reflects the laid back, happy style of the small town where she grew up in Santa Cruz, CA. Bursting on the music scene with the beautiful sounds of her new EP, Caught Up in You, Katie puts poetry to music in the six songs offered. Some are playful, some have lingering melodies,…
HANDGUNS VIDEO “STAY WITH ME”
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Pop punk band, Handguns has released a new music video for their song “Stay With Me” off their album Angst. To watch their new music video. Handguns will be playing all dates on this summer’s Warped Tour. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E2UD_Tn6S0 Since their start, Handguns, made up of Taylor Eby (vocals), Kyle Vaught (guitar), Brandon Pagano (lead…
REMIX DON’T STOP THE PARTY FOR DR PEPPER & PITBULL
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International music sensation Pitbull has teamed up with Dr Pepper to find a new remix that is truly one of a kind. Renowned equally as an international style icon and globetrotting entertainer, Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull is looking for a track that can ignite the nightlife from Miami to Milan. In true “always one of a…
CHELSEA WOLFE TEASER VIDEO FOR ‘PAIN IS BEAUTY’
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Chelsea Wolfe is set to unveil her third studio album, Pain is Beauty. A self-described love letter to nature, many of the album’s 12 tracks veer in a decidedly more electronic direction than previous recordings, while at the same time capitalizing on Wolfe’s trademark penchant for the morose and otherworldly. Teaser: http://youtu.be/D8fU_pxLWKM As she explains,…
PAT LEPOIDEVIN POSTS “WINTER PARK, CO”
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Pat LePoidevin premieres “Winter Park, CO,” the first single from his forthcoming album, American Fiction (released Tuesday, August 27). He will be previewing material from the album on a string of Eastern Canadian tour dates this June. https://soundcloud.com/matt-21-1/winter-park-co American Fiction, the fourth album from Pat LePoidevin, is a heartfelt tribute to family, youth, and…
DIRTY STREETS FREE “STAY THIRSTY” MP3
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Formed by Thomas Storz (bass, percussion), Justin Toland (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Andrew Denham (drums, percussion), and originally from Mississippi, the power trio Dirty Streets now calls Memphis home. That’s where they recorded their new album Blades Of Grass, at the legendary Ardent studio, under the guidance of sound engineer Adam Hill. The core trio…
WITNESS AYRON MICHAEL BECOME ‘UNLEASHED’
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Good morning world. Before I get started I just want to offer my prayers & support for the innocent men, women, & children who are caught in the disturbing violence in Syria. The situation makes me so upset & sad and I hope that Russia & the US can help diffuse the massacres instead of…
SIMPLE WAYS TO TAKE YOUR PRESS KIT FROM GOOD TO GREAT
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If you have been trying to make a career in the music industry, you likely already know how important having a good press kit is for your band. But you may be wondering why, even though you have an interesting band history and some great songs, you are only receiving a lackluster response from agents…
THE 88 POST NEW VIDEO FROM SIXTH STUDIO ALBUM
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Los Angeles band The 88 (www.the88.net) announced today the release of their sixth studio album, Fortune Teller, available June 11, 2013. It will be available on CD, digital and for the first time ever, vinyl formats. The following day, on June 12, The 88 will be holding their record release show at the Troubadour,…
PRO ERA VIDEO FOR “LIKE WATER”
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Brooklyn’s Pro Era are sharing a video for “Like Water” from their 2012 mixtape, PEEP: The aPROcalypse. The track is a cathartic slow burner jam that showcases Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly & the late Capital Steeze. Watch the video here. Capitalizing the name “Capital STEEZ” is now as good as remembering any credible historic leader…
LOREN BENJAMIN POSTS “LIVE ABND DIE”
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NYC-based singer-songwriter Loren Benjamin announces his debut EP on May 21st while embarking on his first Northeast regional tour spanning sixteen dates from North Hampton, MA to Nashville, TN this spring. Loren Benjamin’s main musical influences range from The Beatles to Elton John, which are evident in his classic rock ‘n’ roll songs. …
WATCH CO LA’S “MAKE IT SLAY”
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Co La is the primary project of musician and producer Matt Papich, whose explorations of sample-based electronic music have culminated in Moody Coup. Papich describes the working Co La method on Moody Coup as “employing the hegemony of delete.” He likes to be interrupted, and is fond of working in places where domestic concerns are…
SKILLET FLYAWAY TO ‘RISE’ VIP EXPERIENCE
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Skillet are heading out on tour starting June 14th to support their upcoming new album, Rise, releasing June 25th. During the tour, Skillet will stop in Nashville and Chicago to give fans a VIP experience to hang out with the band all day. Skope is launching a flyaway contest to send a winner plus a…
CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES LEAD SINGLE “I LOVE AMERICAN MUSIC”
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Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are happy to announce the release of “I Love American Music” on iTunes. The song is the lead single from White Teeth, Black Thoughts, the forthcoming full-length album from the Eugene, OR based band. Out July 16th on Space Age Bachelor Pad Records, the album marks CPD’s first jazz and swing-powered outing…
ELI MARDOCK OFFERS TITLE TRACK TO NEW ALBUM
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Speaking on the forthcoming full-length debut LP, Eli Mardock says “I think things that are dark can also be uplifting to our universal consciousness. Creating music that is always uplifting is boring in the same way that creating music that is always dark is boring. Life isn’t like that, it is more complicated.” Mardock’s…
GRENOUER VIDEOS FROM SEVENTH ALBUM “BLOOD ON THE FACE”
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Russian rock metallers GRENOUER, who have been active since 1992, have signed with Mausoleum Records, the legendary label from Belgium. In previous years GRENOUER were famous for playing extreme kind of music, yet today these ambitious performers switched over to songs with clean signing and high profile melodies. Their seventh brand new full-length album “Blood…
ARTISTS ON THE UP WITH LABELLED INDEPENDENT
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We take a look at some of the top independent artists in the UK in association with Labelled Independent, the new music podcast! At Labelled Independent, we pride ourselves on keeping our minds open. For those who may have read our contributions to Skope before, you’ll hopefully remember that the artists we recommend have only…
ADRIAN LUX NEW SINGLE “DAMAGED”
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For many, the name Adrian Lux will be synonymous with his breakout hit from 2010, ‘Teenage Crime’, a bona fide smash, which exceeded platinum sales in Australia and appeared on Swedish House Mafia’s debut album, Until One. Not only did it rocket to top the Dance Charts through out the world, it also went large…
VISAGE TO RELEASE FIRST ALBUM IN 29 YEARS
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Founding fathers of the New Romantics and pioneers of the ’80s sound, Visage return with a new album Hearts and Knives. “It has been 29 years since the last Visage album and during that period it often seems like we have all lived through several lifetimes,” comments Steve Strange, the band’s creative force and flamboyant…
SAIDAH BABA TALIBAH VIDEO “HIGH”
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Toronto-based “stalwart soul-rock firebrand” Saidah Baba Talibah is excited to release a brand new video for her crowd-favourite “High”, off of her debut album “(S)Cream”. Aside from satiating hungry Saidah fans, the new video also serves to fuel the crowd-funding campaign for Saidah’s sophomore album. As a follow up to her crowd-funded debut album (S)Cream,…
COLUMBIA RECORDS SIGNS NINE INCH NAILS
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Columbia Records has signed Nine Inch Nails. The band will release a new studio album later this year. “I’ve been less than honest about what I’ve really been up to lately,” said Trent Reznor. “For the last year I’ve been secretly working non-stop with Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder on a new, full-length Nine Inch…
CONTINENTS PREMIERE NEW MUSIC VIDEO “PEGASUS, PEGASUSâ€
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Hardcore band CONTINENTS have premiered a music video for “Pegasus, Pegasus”, the dynamic track from their Victory Records’ debut album Idle Hands, on VEVO. Watch the video for an exclusive look into their explosive live performance and crazy antics as they transport music fans from all over the world, straight into the middle of…
THE BOOTLEGS’ NEW VIDEO IS NSFW
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After releasing their debut E.P “Knock Me Down” for free online, Toronto’s hottest indie rock band The Bootlegs are at it again, dropping a video for their single Fail to Recall. But The Bootleg’s first visual release isn’t your typical music video–the band and the video’s director Mitchell Sturm wanted to make sure of that.…
STOLI LEARNS WHAT IT TAKES MIKE REPEL TO RUN REFORMATORY RECORDS
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Hello to all on this rainy Wednesday in New England. It feels so good to be back at it. Last night I did what I like to call some “drunk downloading” on my Kindle Fire. For those that do not know, that is when you indulge in some cocktails and download every song you love…
AXWELL RELEASES “CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE” + WTP13
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Fresh off the back of Swedish House Mafia’s sold-out world tour, International DJ & Producer Axwell, today unveils a sneak peek of his long awaited track “Center of the Universe”. Anticipated for a few years now by his fanbase, the remix debuted on Pete Tong’s BBC Radio 1 on May 10th. The original…
DESRAN POSTS “JUST THE SAME” VIDEO
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Desran’s new Promo CD “Spotlight” was recently released on Dec. 9th and features three hot singles “Spotlight, Not Trynna, and 1Way Call.” Presently Desran is shooting scenes for his online video single “Back To The Basics” and his first commercially released single “Find Our Way”, which will be released this summer 2013 and as well…
DEVON ALLMAN NEW VIDEO
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Here’s the Devon Allman video, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”, from his Ruf Records solo-debut, Turquoise, released on February 12th. This rock classic is a duet with label mate and Blues Music Award winner, Samantha Fish, whose vocals are sassy and smart; melding with Devon’s strong rich voice. I am hoping you will be interested…
JIMMY RAE ON POINT WITH MAXIM SENIN
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Get ready to wrap your brain around this lyricist from Latvia enjoying the sunny side of California. Whether it’s good, old-fashioned “California Dreamin’”or a dream of one day playing with Sting or Eric Clapton, Maxim Senin is definitely on the right path. Maxim had an excellent quote that I’d like to share with…
EXCLUSIVE: FERESHTA UNLEASHES THE MAGIC BEHIND ‘CULTURAL COLLISON’
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Back from an incredible recording session in Rio de Janeiro, Afghan-American rocker and peace activist Fereshta is determined to show the beauty that can be made when three great cultures collide. Produced by Grammy Award winner Alan Sanderson, the record combines Fereshta’s love for American rock n’ roll with her exotic Afghan heritage and takes…
LEONARD FRIENDS REMIXES HAIM “FALLING”
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R&B whiz kid Leonard Friend takes on the catchy single from the the buzzed about Los Angeles sister trio HAIM. Friend re-imagines the song with sparkling synths, a slowed down drum that gives a nod to Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit” (aka the sample for Biggies “Juicy,”) old Zapp records, Phil Collins and TLC. https://soundcloud.com/leonardfriend/haim-falling-leonard-friend…
NEW MUSIC HAYES “ON THE BLOCK”
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Hayes is back with a new single, it’s called “On The Block”. The Floyd Mayweather / Money Team backed Hayes releases his newest single off of his upcoming EP, rolling out this summer. Check out Hayes’ new single “On The Block”. In case you missed it check out “Images” below. Feel free to post it…
STEVE RYAN’S NEW ALBUM ‘BOUNDLESS MOMENTS’
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Energetic is the first thing that comes to mind upon hearing the opening track “Real Time” from Steve Ryans latest album “Boundless Moments”. Hearing an actual band is a refreshing change of pace for this writer, usually Singer/Songwriter types heavily rely on electronic arrangements to convey their lyrics and vocal abilities. Steve’s band is more…
KYLER ENGLAND VIDEO “WE RISE LIKE SMOKE”
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Chances are, you’ve heard Kyler England, who “sings like the clouds opening up from heaven” (Pen’s Eye View) – you just might not know it yet. But the combination of being featured on Tiesto’s single “Take Me” – the first from Club Life Volume 3: Stockholm, and her new video “We Rise Like Smoke,” is…
NATALIE GELMAN VIDEO “MOST THE WHILE”
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The video was shot in a very eco-friendly way with one camera in Los Padres National Park and in Ojai, CA, where Natalie currently resides. It was shot, directed and edited by Brent Florence with no other crew or hair/makeup involved. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU4GCIXoGjw Born and raised in NYC, Natalie Gelman is an incredibly driven singer-songwriter whose…
HAPPY LIVES FOCUS TRACK “FEELING RIGHT”
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“The idea of the band isn’t to be one style; we change and want to make different music. The goal is to trust yourself to get weird and follow an idea regardless of yourself. If it gets ugly, or gay, or electronic, let it.” explains the Neo-pop group. Happy Lives strive to stray from their…
MAY 2013: MKM NOTES FROM THE SOUND TABLE
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APPETIZER: As summer approaches, I impress upon you to stay abreast of what’s going on with my favorite people, like the Georgia Music Industry Association, where THE SONGWRITER comes first! We’re making some BIG THINGS happen, so log on and JOIN at www.gmia.org. My other favorite people include the ANYTHING BUT MONDAY girls. This hit…
