L.A.

The Deli LA Premieres: Karmic bring the house down on “X Marks the Spot”

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Karmic invites listeners to let go and live in the moment on "X Marks the Spot." The latest electro-pop bash by the six piece—led by duo Kylee Katch and Laura Baruch—has an energetic bounce that sounds tailor-made to end an encore on a high note. They intersperse jubilant, soulful vocals over prominent synth stabs, expressing their simple lyrical sentiments with a playful eye-wink. Make that two for two for Karmic after their equally infectious "Higher Self," a confident introduction that shows their impeccable flair for lush, dance-oriented pop.

"X Marks the Spot" is the second single off of Karmic’s forthcoming EP, due out in late May. 

Philadelphia

New Track: “Fill the Sea” – Psalmships

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“Fill the Sea” is the new single from Psalmships, and it is featured on Joshua Britton’s forthcoming EP Keep Your Words. A twisting riff leads into a quaking backend as treacherous, sonic seas are entered. The weight of the instrumentation is sliced through by the guiding, ghostly vocals. Psalmships will be taking the stage at PhilaMOCA on Saturday, May 18, on a billing that also includes The Bones of J.R. Jones and Dan The Movie.

Chicago

Jordan Reyes “Close”

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Jordan Reyes has released the first single, “Quicksand”, from his forthcoming album, Close. The album is set to be released via his label American Dream in June 14th and will be available in vinyl with a very cool limited JJ Cormer print.

This is music that Reyes has made on the modular synthesizer and, from the sound of “Quicksand”, it is beautiful, haunting, and introspective.

NYC

Jangula experiment heavily in new EP Ataraxia, play Trans-Pecos 05.07

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Johnny Jewel and Daniel "Baby D" Bachrach are back at it again. Known collectively as Jangula, in their latest EP Ataraxia the duo offers music that’s as stirring as ever. The eight-track festival of experimentation features an incredible pace with flashes of electronic textures, loose and fast guitar solos, swelling organ melodies, and deep vocals from Jewel that rip and tear themselves with frightful ease. From the indie-folk sound of “My Jubilee Gang” to the synth-driven tune “Experimental Alchemy” the band shows an ability to dabble in genres, picking and choosing what they see fit. Jangula will be bringing their sonic experiment to Trans-Pecos in Brooklyn on May 7. – Rene Cobar

Chicago

Sick Gazelle “Odum”

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Experimental Jazz Trio Sick Gazelle recently released the lead single, “Atlantic”, from their forthcoming debut album, Odum. The album is set to be released via War Crime Recordings on May 3rd, and was fully improvised as good Chicago jazz should be.

Sick Gazelle is the work of long time Chicago musicians and friends Eric Block (Saturna) and Bruce Lamont (Yakuza) with legendary drummer (Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth, Sun Kil Moon)

NYC

Lotushalves, Ohene Cornelius, and Sol Liebeskind take over National Sawdust on 04.27

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Brooklyn and Harlem-based artists gather once again to showcase their talents at The Revolution Vol. 38 this Saturday, April 27th. The performance series will once again highlight independent pop culture and musicians who go beyond the confines of their genre. The showcase will feature three prominent acts who epitomize the messages of the movement: Ohene Cornelius, Sol Liebeskind, and Lotushalves.

Ohene Cornelius mixes synthesized beats with a natural flow and delivers messages directly to independent  artists, urging them to remain themselves in spite of industry pressures. The fluid R&B of Lotushalves examines identity, grapples with relationships, and promotes personal growth. Sol Liebeskind’s soulful vocals have a high class to them that mix well with the urban breadth of her music, in a style similar to R&B New York City legend Alicia Keys. All three of these artists have something important to say and on Saturday night they surely will.

Chicago

Acquaintances “And It Went Black”

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Supergroup Acquaintances recently released the first single, “And It Went Black”, from their forthcoming sophomore album, 8 1/2 Lives, which is due out May 31st via the local label File 13. This is the first new music we have had from the five member rock group since 2013.

This is the work of Jered Gummere: Guitar, Vocals (The Ponys, Bare Mutants), Patrick Morris: Bass (Don Caballero, The Poison Arrows,), Stephen Schmidt: Guitar, Vocals (Thumbnail, Chino Horde), Justin Sinkovich: Guitar, Organ, Vocals (The Poison Arrows, Atombombpocketknife, Thumbnail), and Chris Wilson: Drums (Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Shake Ray Turbine).

You can help Acquaintances celebrate the release of their new album on June 8th at Empty Bottle with Gnarboyz.

Nashville

Great Peacock to perform live on DittyTV 04.28

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Maybe you have wanted to hear Great Peacock‘s Americana stylings live, but don’t like the idea of leaving the comfort of your own home. With the advent of streaming services, you can make your dream a reality. Great Peacock will perform live on April 28th on DittyTV, available on TiVo, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or any other major streaming service. The performance follows a recent string of shows supporting the Infamous Stringdusters, and will kick off a series of tour dates throughout May and June to support Yonder Mountain String Band. If you miss the performance on DittyTV, select songs from the show will appear in the channel’s archives on YouTube. And if you want to listen to Great Peacock’s unconventional and atmospheric Americana now, take a listen to "Oh Deep Water" from 2018’s Gran Pavo Real below. – Will Sisskind

Philadelphia

New Shamir Album Available for Streaming & Purchase

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Shamir recently shared a new album, Be the Yee, Here Comes the Haw. It’s a multi-genre collection of tracks from the multi-talented Las Vegas transplant. These recordings churn in a perpetual motion. The vocals pull in a personal manner, while an omnipresent energy hovers in the periphery. Shamir is scheduled to perform next in Philly at Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday, May 25, opening for The Dove & The Wolf.

Chicago

WaxWorks @ Moe’s Tavern (4/27)

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WaxWorks released their latest EP, “Jellyfish Style”, last month along with the video below for the EP’s lead single “Magic Umbrella”.

This is the Grove and Blues-based Rock of Frank Valenzano (Vocals), JB Bartlett (Guitars), Alex Fritzel (Keyboards), Dan Gianaris (Guitars), Harrison Ashley (Bass), Julian Daniell (Drums), and Alex Santilli (Percussion).

You can catch WaxWorks at Moe’s Tavern on April 27th with Broken Robots, Silvertone, and Eye & I.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Observatories” – Jeff Zeigler & Dash Lewis

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“Observatories” is the latest collaboration between Jeff Zeigler (Valley Exit, Inlets, Arc in Round) & Dash Lewis (Gardener). Synth-fueled atmospherics envelope as one explores a pensive, pacifying state. The rhythmic, percussive motion steadies as the soft, bright touches of keys accent. Take it all in – just a little somethin’ to help ease ya into your day. You can also find them opening for Meg Baird & Mary Lattimore this Monday, April 29 at Johnny Brenda’s.

Portland

Caroline Mason Can Keep You Floating

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Instrumentalist and composer Caroline Mason has an EP coming out this fall, and she released a new single this past March. The song is called “Floating”, and that’s exactly the headspace the song takes you too. Sometimes it can be hard to maintain an ethereal, enigmatic space in a song with a faster pace. That doesn’t seem to be a problem Mason faces. Her voice echoes and floats above the percussion. Fittingly, this effect happens most noticeably as she sings about her feet being on the ground. It’s very easy to connect with the song. Mason is able to control the flow of both your mental intake of the song, and the physical responses your body has to her instrumentals.

Mason is responsible for all the instrumentation on this track. This becomes incredibly clear in the songs music video. The video consists of very close up shots of each instrument – her hands on the keyboard, her fingers on the guitar, her mouth as she sings. Occasionally we get wider shots of Mason, standing on a rocky dessert playing a single drum set, or the camera panning farther away as she strums on her guitar. It’s intimate and disconnecting, without feeling jarring. Check it out below.

-By Avril Carrillo, Photo by Christal Angelique