New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Los Black Dogs have released a new single called "Cúrame el Alma". This is the band’s second single and follow-up to 2019’s "Fuego". The Mexican Rock band blends Spanish and English in through out their lyrics and traditional and Psych Rock elements through out their sound.
This is the work of Juan Valdez (vocals/voz), Ricardo Orozco (guitar/guitarra), Joel Ezquivel (bass/bajo), and Gerardo Varela (drums/bateria).
Social isolation, distancing, and the decline of the music industry has caused indie artists like Fuller to seek success wherever they can. The rising songwriter uploaded some of his music to TikTok at the beginning of the year as an experiment, but the success led to the official release of his debut single "Favorite Poison" back in March. The single, which has already racked up over 100,000 streams, has continued to gain Fuller new fans even during these trying times; the college radio vibe and lyrics like "She’s got me high but the highs got me low" stick with listeners. In response to the positive feedback, he’ll release the video for "Favorite Poison" on May 8th. Take a listen to "Favorite Poison" below. – Will Sisskind
Whales recently released what they are calling a half EP consisting of two previously unreleased songs. The first, "Shadow Boxer", was recorded last year and the second is an outtake from the band’s 2010 self-titled debut.
This is the work of Randall Murphy, Mike Janas, Michael Agustin, Maigin Blank.
Brooklyn multi-instrumentalist anjali.rose hones in on the unnerving quietude of life under quarantine in new single “Reach For It,” featuring Noah Drielblatt, a atmospheric offering that melds swirling synths with guitar-driven songwriting. Methodical acoustic arpeggios, underscored by murky electronic instrumentation, provide background for Rose and Drielblatt’s hushed vox — a centering performance amid a sea of disorienting (and at times disconcerting) ambient accents. In this way, Rose conveys a quiet in the eye of the storm, an indoors meditation while the outside world is marked by muted chaos and the occasional ambulance siren (which joins the sonic tapestry towards the song’s conclusion); in many ways, “Reach For It” mirrors our own individual efforts to maintain some degree of composure throughout the strange times we’re living. Give it a listen below, and check out the rest of the tracks on the Quarantena Contigo mixtape, which features a slew of international artists and highlights the Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund, who are providing micro-grants to working musicians seeking relief throughout COVID-19.
Much like its lunar namesake, “The Moon Is Full” waxes gradually from the quiet piano and somber vocal performance of singer-songwriter Mare Berger to full chamber-pop instrumentation, becoming luminescent while maintaining a central, melancholy energy. The track, centered around Berger’s vox and lyricism, details the “sudden loss of a loved one and the pain and healing that comes after,” its impassioned theme amplified by the track’s increasingly expansive instrumentation — “I pray that the seed will grow,” Berger sings, their voice becoming more confident, transitioning from raw pain to acceptance as cinematic background strings expand in a flush of raw emotion. Dramatically-rendered yet wholly human, it’s an arresting effort, one that promises more raw, orchestral offerings on Berger’s forthcoming LP The Moon is Always Full, out June 5th — until then, stream the single below. Photo by Ilusha Tsinazde
Varsity is planning to release their latest album, Fine Forever, via Run For Cover on May 29th. This week they released the album’s latest single, "Reason To Run", and it accompanying visuals below.
This is the band’s third album follow-up 2018’s acclaimed Parallel Person, and "Reason To Run" is the album second single following-up the album’s lead single and opening track "Runaway".
Putting a collection together of one’s work is no easy task, each piece is part of a greater story being told, and it must be told well. Boston’s Alan Scardapane does this brilliantly with his collection titled Winter House. Each track showcases Alan’s easy-going approach to music and serious melodic chops. Songs like “Camden Yards” drop you into a place of comfort: the music, with its lingering harmonies, and soft acoustic guitar plucks, flows like a cool river or a spring breeze you want to listen to, to breathe in, take in. “Without You” is folk-rock for the moodiest of days and the warmest summer evenings. Alan has collected his best tunes of 2014-16, and it shows; stream the edgy “Whiskey Girl” below for a proper weekend greeting. – Rene Cobar
Synth Rock group Ember Oceans has taken the time to look on the brighter side of things and have released a new single called "Cheap Flight (Hawaii)".
This is the work of Freddy Tyler Paul {Vocals, Keys} , Joe Cox {Guitar, Vocals} , Parker John Elmo {Drums}, and Sean Groebe {Bass}.
The group is currently putting the finishing touches on their debut full-length album. They have previously released two EP’s, their 2015 self-titled debut EP and 2019’s "Sleepwalk EP".
Gateway Drugs‘ new track "Slumber" stands at an intersection between U2, The Smashing Pumpkins, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, blending shoegaze and fuzzed-out arena rock into a song that could blow out your speakers. But instead of going big with the video, the band chose to film it themselves, using a Handycam to record a day in their lives at Josh Homme’s Pink Duck studios. The resulting video comes out more intimate and chaotic than anything a big budget could create; it also provides a look back to when you could just walk outside and fool around with your friends. "Slumber" appears on Gateway Drugs’ sophomore LP PSA, which drops on May 8th. Take a look at the video for "Slumber" below. – Will Sisskind
Indie Christian Pop singer Holly Halliwell has released her first two singles, "Before Me" and "Your Love", this month. Both tracks are filled with a much needed positivity and hopefulness that should transcend genre or classification.
She collaborated with her husband Walter Halliwell and producers Seth Mosley and X O’Connor of Full Circle Music for these tracks and seems poised for something big in the coming months.
Sonny Falls has released a new double single, "Lives Unlived" b/w "Hidden Coyotes". This is the first new music from the Ryan “Hoagie Wesley” Ensley fronted band since the release of 2018 their critically acclaimed 2018 album Some Kind of Spectre.
Ensley is currently working of the band’s third album, but wrote these two song just after the shelter-in-place order came down in Chicago.
Black Metal group Dismalimerence has released the lead single, "Negligence of the Forgotten", from their forthcoming debut album, Tome: 1, which is due out June 26th via Transcending Records.
This is the work of Elijah Cirricione (Guitar/Vocals), Matt Mifflin (Guitar), Craig Hamburger (Bass), and Joey Casillas (Drums).
You can catch Dismalimerence on June 6th at Bourbon on Division with Harakiri for the Sky, Numenorean, and Eneferens.
