Makaya McCraven has announced that his next full-length album, Universal Beings, will be released by International Anthem on October 26th.

This will be a double album and will feature contributions from many of McCraven’s talented friends including harpist Brandee Younger, Dezron Douglas (Bass) , Joel Ross (Vibes), and Tomeka Reid (cello). Below is the trailer video for the new album.

You Can also stream the LP’s first two singles, “Black Lion” and “Atlantic Black”.

We recently had the opportunity to talk with Shannon Pounds of Decoy Dungeons about their new album, his health, and the future of this collective. Decoy Dungeons also recently released an amazingly creative video for the lead single, “Arcade Smasher”, from their debut album, Dripping With Death.

You can see that video below, and you read our full interview with Shannon Pounds here.

Jared Rabin released a new single today called “Almost Too Late”. This is the follow-up to the EP he released back in May, “Wondering About The Weather”.

You can catch Jared at The River’s Edge (Batavia) on October 26th.

Like Language is the Alt-Pop duo of Kristen Donnelly and Matthew Murray. They released their debut EP, “Keep You Here” back in 2016 and have been touring, recording, and getting married in the meantime.

This year they have release three singles in preparation of a new album coming this Fall. The latest single, “So In The End”, was released today and is a tale of living for the moment when times seems to be at their toughest.

You can catch Like Language at Fitz’s Spare Keys (Elmhurst) on Sept. 9th with Fairview, at the Egyptian Theatre (Dekalb) with Plain White T’s on Sept. 30th, and at Schubas on Oct. 28th with Hey Ocean! And Shi La Rosa.

Funk band The North 41 are preparing to release their latest LP, World on Fire, on September 14th. This is the band’s first full-length since 2015’s debut album Dancing & Praying.

Back in June the band released a collection live tracks called “N41 Live, Vol. 1”, and that collection included the fun dance track “The Funk”. You can see that video below.

You can help The North 41 celebrate the release of the new album on September 14th at Martyrs’ with Stampy.

Last Month Spocket released their first single, “What Was”, in three years. The track, the first from their upcoming EP, is a sprawling blend of jazz and Psych Rock. It features Konstantine Stebily, Carl Kennedy, Pondstar, Alex Blomarz, Josh Torrey, Luke Angle, and Paul Van Altena.

You can catch Spocket on September 28th at Bourbon on Division (2050 W. Division) opening for New Orleans band Papa Grows Funk.

Ethan Helfrich (aka Rest You Sleeping Giant) released a new EP this week called “Leaving Shore”. This project was inspired by an island in Japan called Enoshima, and is beautifully minimal. Ethan created the ambient sounds on this EP by utilizing several pedals, a looper, and a guitar.

“Leaving Shore” follows Ethan most recent LP, Celestial Orchestra, which was released back in April.

Uma Bloo has released the video for her single “Lullaby”. The video was directed by Violet Royal and is as dark and sultry as Uma Bloo’s vocals.

You can catch her at Hideout on Sept 28th with Seasaw and Dream Version.

Ivy Dye is preparing to release their latest EP, “Diminish”, on September 21st via 1212 Records. This is the Alt Rock band’s first release since 2016’s LP, Regality.

Ivy Dye is the work of Chris Adams, Bryan Dalle Molle, and Connor Boyle. You can hear the EP’s first single, “Skin You Knees”, below.

The Streets on Fire are back with their first album in eight years, Dead Styles. The band has been working on this project for seven years, and it features both former and current bassists Sebastian Brzek and Scott Van Buren with Yuri Alexander on guitars and keyboards, Gabriel Palomo on drums and beats, and Chadwick Anderson on lead vocals.

This new album is well worth the wait, and triumphant collection of danceable synth rock.

withGRACE is the lush blend of jazz and R&B from the heart of Grace Kinter. Last month she released her latest collection of song, “hate/love songs”. The EP features a contributions from DIVMOND, Solvega, False Poet, Brandon Burgos, and more.

Grace’s intense and dynamic vocals are the true center of this project and make each track a journey love, hate, soul, jazz, and funk.

Chicago’s Lillerne Tapes released the debut full-length album from Brin, “Talea”, today, Sept. 5th. Brin is the moniker of Colin Blanton (Ant’ltrd) of Baro Records.

This is a collection of masterfully constructed sample-heavy beats and loops. Brin has the ability to balance ambient music with downtempo pop and experimentation with beauty.