New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Ryan Burns (of Distant Brothers) recently released a new single called "Mistakes Were Made". This is his first single since rebranding to include his live band, The Vocal Ghosts, in all marketing. This is the first new music from Burns since last year’s EP "The Institute", and the first single single from the band’s forthcoming album.
You can hopefully catch Ryan as part of the Distant Brothers on May 11th at Montrose Saloon and as Ryan Burns & The Vocal Ghost on June 11th at Cole’s Bar.
Self-isolation-bred productivity can come in many forms, and whether it’s reading a good book or posting on Instagram about your sourdough starter, there’s really no wrong way to do it. Erring on the side of the creative is Brooklyn indie outfit Onesie’s new video for “Unsolved Mysteries,” which, through iMovie magic and a photo scanner, lovingly displays the mid-80s childhood drawings of bandleader Ben Haberland. Scoring these high resolution scans of Mortal Kombat (or G.I. Joe?) inspired illustrations is Onesie’s power pop inclined sound, albeit on the scuzzier side; Haberland’s winding vocal delivery modulates between the bright melodic quality heard on the band’s 2019 effort Umpteenth, breaking on the chorus to deliver some frothy sing-speak disharmony. Bolstered by driving, interlocking guitar work and lyricism drawing parallels between mental subjugation and sheltering-in-place, it’s a progressive bop for fans of 90s / early 00s alternative, or those seeking to enliven the feeling of being trapped — either way, watch and listen below.
Wons Phreely + The Horses have created a breathtaking new piece of music for these claustrophobic times called "Restless To Run". The new single, with its crashing synths and singer Justin Wonsly’s soaring voice, makes for a great wake-up track, a song to blast during a sanity walk down the block, or music for any occasion that needs a little brightness. The Australian singer-songwriter has come up in the LA scene over the past few years, sharing bills with Gotye and Bright Eyes; the band’s videos have earned them spots on year-end best-of lists alongside Beyonce and Childish Gambino. The video for "Restless To Run" keeps things simple, consisting mostly of shots of Wonsly singing while playing the drums, but it does show off his musical prowess. Take a look for yourself down below. – Will Sisskind
It’s been an engaging (and exciting) experience to see the through-line developing on Capsules, the forthcoming debut record by New York-based folk soothsayer Hayfitz, something one could liken to reading sections from a diary non-linearly. New track “Kitchen” maintains a similar environment to previous single “Daylight,” as Brandon Hafetz’s quiet, impressionistic recollections of the past drift over evenhanded guitar chords and lush analogue synths, but while Hafetz’s last single detailed the harsh truth of being honest and having “sober conversations,” “Kitchen” feels like a fresh start. A repeating chorus of questions (“What’s your name? What’s your story?”) emphasizes the different kind of intimacy the single details, the terrifying prospect of knowing someone else and being known yourself. Once more, Hafetz’s focus on the vulnerable nature of the human condition, the pain inherent to our interconnecting lives, is rendered brightly, beautifully, and softly, through trembling falsetto and an intrepid blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. Give it a listen below ahead of his LP’s release on May 29th. —Connor Beckett McInerney
Hausu Mountain is preparing to release a new 80 minute mixtape on April 24th. Back in 2018 the label heads Doug Kaplan and Maxwell Allison released Mixtape I recapping the label’s first five years of existence. For this collection they take the listener from 2018 to current and future releases and include tracks from Bonnie Baxter, Tiger Village, RXM Reality, Lockbox, and Khaki Blazer, Wobbly, Quicksails, Mondo Lava, and so many more.
The mixtape’s preview track, "Rainbow ∞ Bridge", is taken for the forthcoming album, Rainbow Bridge, from Fire-Toolz.
The Edwards have released a new single, "Slow Fade" b/w "Giddings", and are donating all proceeds to fundraising campaigns to support the staffs of local Chicago businesses currently closed due to the Coronavirus. This is the groups second single and first since 2018’s "Nothern States".
This is the work of Kyle Maurisak, Chris Murphy, Stuart MacFadyen, Emma McCall, and Chris DePorter.
Wildered is the atmospheric rock of Nate Bjorge. He recently released a new single called "Deep March Frost", the first new music from him since 2019’s single "Your Ghost".
Bjorge recently released a video where he breaks down the writing and production process of this single.
Dav Paris recently released his second single of 2020, the Hip Hop influenced "Somedays (I Got Issues)". The song is accompanied by the Michael Kettenbeil directed video below.
Back in February Paris dropped an introductory track called "Hello World" and made it clear that he is approaching music in a new way this year. Both tracks follow-up his 2018 debut EP "Lost" and demonstrate a more introspective approach to songwriting.
When I first saw Shade live I was taking a leak after the set when the singer walked in. I said hey what was the fourth song you played? He said “Combat Rave”. I knew that was the tune. This riff is top notch. The whole song and video oozes 90’s. It hits the spot for sure. This is the title track of their debut LP which is set for release May 1st. Stay safe, clean and tuned into Shade for details on the eventual LP Release Party. – Kris Gies
International Anthem has released a new and timely single, "Stay Beautiful", from Damon Locks & The Black Monument Ensemble. The track was recorded live in 2018 at Garfield Park Conservatory and is accompanied by the video of that performance below.
The musicians featured on this song are Angel Bat Dawid (clarinets), Dana Hall (drums, percussion), Damon Locks (electronics, bells, voice), and Arif Smith (percussion).
The label and Locks felt that this song was more than fitting for the times we find ourselves in and felt it needed to be shared.
Here is what Locks had to say about this song; "An ode to Chicago: In a hospital room, doctors and nurses come in and out, evaluating, recommending, prepping, and testing. But once visiting hours are over the patient is left alone with their thoughts, ruminating on the intimidating lack of agency and loneliness of losing control of their own circumstances. Drifting towards despair, they discover flowers in the room. There is a note attached that expresses what I would say to Chicago in its most precarious condition. We see you. We love you. Stay beautiful. I am very happy to be able to share this song at this time. It is a fitting message for this moment we are living through. I hope you all stay safe."
Netherfriends (aka Shawn Rosenblatt) has released a pandemic-theme new album called Stay Safe. Shawn really found his footing in the Chicago music scene years ago before leaving for Austin and eventually setting up camp in LA. He is currently based in Florida after having to cancel the majority of his 2020 Fifty States Tour. To coincide with the tour he had launched a road diary podcast called "Tessie Talks" with Kannabis Kat that you can find on all podcast platforms and on Youtube. It will be interesting to hear how the podcast evolves now that the tour has been cancelled.
On this new album, Stay Safe, he has enlisted rappers from around the country, including Chicago’s Iowa Rockwell, to share insight and humor about the times we find ourselves in.
Portland, Maine’s Kidhimself is quite serious about his feelings in his latest track “Hooked On You” which is a cool, laid-back pop song that is gooey with dreamy thoughts sprung from love and recreation. The atmospheric song recalls amid its swelling ambiance and snappy rhythm someone worth remembering, in a haze or otherwise. If love is fleeting, the music of Kidhimself is forever ever, mostly because its chill/wavy vibe is a keen sonic translation of the coastal New England winds that surely inspired it. For something to get lost in, for someone to remember, “Hooked On You” is streaming below. – Rene Cobar
