Chicago

Honey Cellar “In Our Time”

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Folk Rock group Honey Cellar has released their debut album, In Our Time. This is the work of Catherine Krol (Vocals, piano, bass), Danny Connolly (Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Lucy Holden (Vocals, violin, mandolin), and Joey Buttlar (Drums, percussion). For this album they were joined by Christopher Elam on bass and Emma McLean on Cello.

This is nostalgia-driven, mixed with of a touch of Irish inspiration, Folk and Chamber pop complete with banjo, violin, and an array of lovely harmonies.

Austin

Russel Taine Jr. Releases “Blue Jean Baby” Single

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If you think mezcal and some brick weed make for a pretty fine summer evening, then Russel Taine Jr. might have a new anthem for you to add into your rotation. The band is back with another song for quarantine summer, this time with the rocking, radio-ready cut “Blue Jean Baby”.

Russel Taine Jr. features Aaron Winston (lyrics/guitar/vocals), Justin Winslow (bass), Brittany Long (keys) and Cory Fica (drums). As the band members continued to record through stay-at-home orders, the longing for summers past crept up in mind. “July 4th fireworks – and a dance and a drink down at the White Horse…a love song for a Texas summer without COVID.” It can be migraine-inducing to reach far enough backward for memories of a carefree August, but the sparkling guitar of “Blue Jean Baby” instantly conjures images of sun-soaked sands and glistening waters.

Right from the jump, Winston’s vocals are situated apart from the instrumental, mixed to give them just enough separation to stand out, especially in the verses. His voice sits somewhere to the left of Jack Johnson – just a little more verve, but still free and easy enough to coast this song through. It’s a smile-inducing melody that’s easy enough to pick up and hold onto, with a smashing singalong chorus.

With many country music acts forced to reckon with the pandemic and protests and alter their release plans, or scrap them altogether (except you, Kenny Chesney), Summer 2020 radio has been drier than usual. We have plenty of indie and alternative-tinged tunes to take away the pain, but when the setting just calls for good times, not too many have been willing to answer this year. Thankfully, Russel Taine Jr. decided to keep recording and releasing at their own pace. This might not be the summer they wanted, but who says they can’t pretend?

– Mike Floeck 

Chicago

Davis “Ebony Maw”

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Davis has released his latest EP, "Ebony Maw". The blistering five song collection feature production from Malci, Joshua Virtue, and 5DollarMinimum and a guest appearance from LeGrande on the EP’s closing track and longest track "Garcia Vega Forces".

Chicago

Pool Holograph “Medieval Heart”

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Pool Holograph has released the first single, "Medieval Heart", from their forthcoming album, Love Touched Time and Time Began to Sweat, which is set to be released on October 2nd. The new album will feature contributions from V.V. Lightbody and Spencer Ouellette of REZN, and was recorded in early 2020.

This is the work of Wyatt Grant, Jacob Stolz, Zachary Stuckmann, and Paul Stolz.

Chicago

Tha Keepaz “Vice Therapy”

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Tha Keepaz have release a new EP called "Vice Therapy". The group has been together since high school and through out their career have been faced with array of struggles and barriers in attempting to break through in the music industry. This is EP is a testament to never giving up and what can happen when are truly tire of being "overlooked and unheard".

The EP’s lead single and closing track is called "33" and it is accompanied by the video below.

Chicago

Psalm One “Gas Lighters”

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Psalm One has released a new single called "Gas Lighters". The local legend has used this chaotic year to really hone in on her creativity and skill, and has released a ton of fantastic new music. She has teamed up with Brooklyn’s Optiks on three singles, and local Emcee Young Silky (aka Angel Davenport) to form Big $ilky for two mixtapes.

On her latest single, "Gas Lighters", she is flowing about those men that you just need to walk away from over a beat by Albany Park’s Custom Made.

Chicago

May Erlewine & The Woody Goss Band

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Michigan’s May Erlewine has enlisted four of Chicago’s finest her latest album, Anyway. The album, which was released digitally last week (August 14th), is filled laid back, summer evening, cool breeze, Jazz. This is not the intense and unpredictable free jazz, but the more traditional piano-based vocal Jazz of Noah Jones or Diana Krall.

For this project May is joined by Woody Goss (Vulfpeck), Ben Joseph (Secret Bad Boy), Packy Lundholm (I Fight Dragons, Bethany Thomas), and Andrew Vogt.

Chicago

Cordoba “Ivy” (Frank Ocean Cover)

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Cordoba has released their remotely recorded cover of Frank Ocean’s "Ivy". The Jazz-Influenced group, consisting of Brianna Tong (Vocals), Eric Novak (Saxophone), Cam Cunningham (Guitar), Zach Bain-Selbo (Keys), Khalyle Hagood (Bass), and Zach Upton-Davis (Drums), are preparing to release their debut LP, Specter, at some point this year.

Back in March, just as all of this was beginning, they dropped the first single from Specter, "Diluvian", and in June they released "Factory".

New England

Yavin keeps the summer going in new single “Hot”

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Yavin is not letting the summer heat go to waste, pouring every last drop of it onto his new single “Hot.” Like molten chocolate on ice cream, each verse drops to sweeten and melt the listener’s heart, exploring the summer passion one feels for another, the desires that feel endless as the longest days of the year. Yavin is no stranger to intoxicating beats and sleek production, but “Hot” is a step-up in that department, showing pristine sound and execution that preserves Yavin’s trademark sound so soft. The Boston artist is working hard and enjoying himself, harder; stream “Hot” below for something to groove to this week, and the rest of the summer. – René Cobar

Chicago

T Star Verse “Balance”

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T Star Verse released her debut album, Balance, last as a gift to herself and the world on her 20th birthday. The talented emcee included her two previously released singles, last year’s "Levitate", and the recently released "Tesla Music", along side a collection of new tracks featuring the likes of Jose Cornier, T.L. Williams, RubyGld Smoke, Sister of Element.

Below is the wild video for the album’s lead single, "Levitate", which was directed by AJ Spitz and was released back in March.