New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Aadi Rip released his latest album, Shelter Belt, earlier this month. This is the soulful electronic pop in the vein of How To Dress Well and Active Child.
Rip is a part of the Still Love Sounds label and appeared several times on their first compilation, “Still Love Romance Tape Vol. 1” earlier this year.
Dear Forbidden recently shared a new single, “Pledge”. The buzz of distortion mingles with the momentous build of the rhythmic backend to create a suspenseful sense of purpose. Expressing frustration over the ever-swirling, spiraling out of society that we’re witnessing in real-time, the song balances the chaos with a melodic foundation. The power trio will be part of a billing on Sunday, December 16 at Kung Fu Necktie that will also include Full Bush, Babe Grenade, and FuzzQueen.
Natalie Claro’s music is a menagerie of influences – her full length debut Disconnect is a fluid collection of songs equal parts garage, singer-songwriter, and folk, with additional nods to electronic R&B and classical piano composition. It may sound like a lofty undertaking for a single record, but Claro’s strength comes primarily from her ability to channel a variety of genres into a cohesive, exciting sound, one united by her explosive vocal performances. Throughout Disconnect, Claro shows that she’s equally comfortable hollering with an acoustic guitar on “Mountains” (streaming) as she is interpolating elements of Für Elise on “Interlude The Disconnect,” while still finding time to croon against colder, moodier synths on “Blood” and album closer “Poor Boy.” Today’s musical landscape frequently pushes artists into comfortable shticks and niches, and Natalie Claro’s decision to circumvent the norm is fearless and admirable.
Claro will perform at the upcoming Women That Rock show, supporting Starbender alongside Scarlet Sails and Astra The 22s. Until then, stream Disconnect below. –Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)
Blush Scars has released a new self-titled EP, their first as a full band and first since 2016. This is the Post-Punk noise of Sean McCormick, Lindsey Sherman, Mason Vaughn Hammond, Drea Gonzalez, and Asa Von Hagen.
Earlier this year there was a great live video released of them performing “Once” at The Bowling Alley and clearly having a great time together.
New Jersey band Wyland offers an heartfelt blend of melodic rock and folk rock, and they have big plans for the upcoming months. They just unveiled single "Nowhere Now" (streaming) from their upcoming EP to be released in early 2019, and also announced a supporting tour with Universal Canada artist Valley. Our local readers will be able to see them at the Asbury Park Brewery on 12.08 and at Rough Trade on 12.15.
The Inventors have released the lead single, “Beautiful”, from their forthcoming self-titled album. This is the rock sounds of Joe Mango (Vocals/Guitar), Ray Skamay (Guitar/Vocals), Nick Kieta (Bass/Vocals), and Tommy Mendoza (Drums).
You can catch The Inventors at Underground Lounge on Nov. 30th with Big Night In and The Limbos.
Sleepwalk has released the first single, “Bumblebee”, from their forthcoming sophomore album, Splatter, with is due out on November 28th via Emma’s House Records.
This is the modern shoegaze sounds of Ryan Davis (Guitar, vox), Mike Kennedy (Guitar), Dave Jedlecki (Bass), and Steve Burton (Drums).
You can catch Sleepwalk on December 1st at The Drunken Donut in Joliet with Blind Shrines, The Weekend Run Club, and Brother Rust.
If Courtney Love had decided she wanted to make psychedelic music instead of punk, I imagine it would have been quite similar to the music Mad Honey produces. The band has a number of songs up on their SoundCloudloud, each one full of grungey, trippy, angsty noise. Without a doubt, the band’s strongest song is “Don’t Forget to Smile.” Maybe I’m just a sucker for some good surf guitar, but those quick, tricky riffs really got to me. The swirling notes of resentment and disquiet dance circles around the fast, almost cheeky guitar solos. Mad Honey also has an unexpectedly potent sweetness underlying much of their music. This is true especially in “10th and Burnside.” The synth notes fall into the subdued cymbals like water droplets hitting your bedroom window. Given that we have a lot of wet weather heading our way this week, I’ll make sure to keep Mad Honey in mind for my rainy days playlist.
-By Avril Carrillo
Chaz McKinney has had a big year releasing music as Spazz Cardigan, the electro-pop songwriting vehicle which has put out four Spotify New Music Friday featured singles in 2018 alone. The most recent of those singles is "DOIDOIT", an introspective pop jam smacking of Mark Ronson’s work. More upbeat than some of his other singles to come out this year, McKinney’s "DOIDOIT" asks the question of "Why do we do the things that we do?" in many ways, such as: "Did I see it in a movie? Do I do it just because?" This electric track will be among the many McKinney plays at The Basement East as an opening act for Smallpools, who are releasing their EP So Social at the gig. That show will take place on December 2nd, and it’s sure to be a big one. Catch Spazz Cardigan live then; until then, take a listen to "DOIDOIT" below. – Will Sisskind
Krust Toons: "…But It Wasn’t Really Historically Accurate" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
Last month, The Safes released a 7" Tribute to Julianna Hatfield and great video (below) to accompany the release. We recently had the opportunity to ask Frankie O’Malley of The Safes a few questions about that project, the band’s longevity, and more.
You can read full interview with Frankie here, and you can catch The Safe at Schubas on Nov. 21st with The Differents, Baby Money and The Down Payments, and The Marcatos.
In the best synthpop tradition, Brooklyn trio Jaguar Dreams makes music that yes melodic, but features an aftertaste of mystery and darkness. Lead single "Mean Somethin" (streaming below), progresses seamlessly from a mid-tempo verse to a catchy, dance-inducing chorus, reinventing ’80s post-new wave electronic atmospheres supported by soulful vocals that conjure up an imaginary summer. Second single "A Real Woman" (video streaming underneath) is a more edgy tribute to that same decade, with references to Talking Heads, David Bowie and Depeche Mode.
