Singer-Songwriter Rob Benny Releases His Debut EP "From the Rooftop"
Listen to “From the Rooftop”, the newly released 3-track EP by New York based alternative folk/Americana singer-songwriter @robbennymusic
Rob Benny is a talented singer-songwriter from the New York metropolitan area who taught himself piano and guitar from a very young age, which led him to successfully pursuing a college degree in Music from William Paterson University of New Jersey.
A multi-instrumentalist with many years of performing and recording experience in the Tri-State region, Rob decided to launch his solo career in 2020. His style is in the Alternative Folk, Americana genre, loosely inspired by musicians such as Leonard Cohen, Son Volt, and Crash Test Dummies. Lyrically, Rob writes music based on his own experiences with heartache, isolation, alienation, and finding the silver lining of hope within each black cloud.
Rob just released his 3-track, self-produced debut EP entitled “From the Rooftop”, and we’re excited to share it with you right now.
Listen to “From the Rooftop” below, stream the EP on Soundcloud, and connect with Rob on his social media. Hang close to DCWS because our exclusive interview with Rob and review of the EP are both coming soon.
Stream "Southern Wonderland", the New Mixtape by Houston Rapper Troy Lux
Houston based rapper and songwriter @TroyLux has just released his new mixtape entitled “Southern Wonderland”; listen to it right now!
Houston based rapper and songwriter Troy Lux first began making music in 2012 and went on later to release his first mixtape in 2016. Unique in his approach, Troy is not afraid of exploring different sounds and scapes, and has managed to reinvent his artistry with every project or song he has released. He is known for his witty yet smooth delivery and ever-changing flows
Troy has just dropped his mixtape entitled “Southern Wonderland”, a very DOPE project consisting of 15 tracks and featuring Nikiajnae, Jay Chose, and GodIsMikey.
Speaking about the new release, Troy Lux says, “In this project, I wanted to capture the essence of the South, and Southern music. I'm from Houston, Texas so that was the center of my creative process, but I also wanted to touch on other places such as Atlanta, New Orleans, and Memphis. I wanted pay tribute to some of the Southern rappers that influenced me growing up. I called on a few of my Hometown friends (Nikiajnae and Jay Chose), as well as Atlanta rapper GodIsMikey”.
“Southern Wonderland” is the perfect audio accompaniment to the spring/summer seasons, especially now since we are all starting to venture back outside from indoors; let this mixtape be your soundtrack.
Check out “Southern Wonderland” right now, and connect with Troy on his social media. Also, be on the lookout for our exclusive interview with Troy and our review of the mixtape!
Khruangbin Announce Their New Album, "Mordecai", and Present Lead Single/Video "Time (You and I)"
Houston-based group, @Khruangbin, has announced their new album, “Mordechai”, out June 26th, as well as the release of the lead single/video “Time (You and I)”.
Khruangbin, the Houston-based group comprised of bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, guitarist Mark Speer, and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson, are pleased to announce their new album, Mordechai, out June 26th on Dead Oceans, in association with Night Time Stories. Mordechai comes two years after the release of their beloved and acclaimed breakthrough, 2018’s Con Todo El Mundo, and was preceded earlier this year by Texas Sun, the group’s collaborative EP with Leon Bridges. Now, they present the vibrant, Felix Heyes & Josh R.R. King-directed video for Mordechai’s lead single, “Time (You and I)”.
Khruangbin has always been multilingual, weaving far-flung musical languages like East Asian surf-rock, Persian funk, and Jamaican dub into mellifluous harmony. As a first for the mostly instrumental band, Mordechai features vocals prominently on nearly every song. It’s a shift that rewards the risk, reorienting Khruangbin’s transportive sound toward a new sense of emotional directness, without losing the spirit of nomadic wandering that’s always defined it. And it all started with them coming home.
By the summer of 2019, Khruangbin had been on tour for nearly three-and-a-half years, playing to ever-expanding audiences across North and South America, Europe, and southeast Asia in support of both Con Todo El Mundo and their 2015 debut, The Universe Smiles Upon You. They returned to their farmhouse studio in Burton, Texas, ready to begin work on Mordechai. But they were also determined to slow down, to take their time and luxuriate in building something together.
It’s a lesson Lee had recently learned with the help of a new friend, a near-stranger who had reached out when she was feeling particularly unmoored, inviting her to come hiking with his family. That day, as they’d all made their way toward the distant promise of a waterfall, Lee had felt a dawning clarity about the importance of appreciating the journey, rather than rushing headlong toward the next destination. When they reached the waterfall at last, Lee’s friend urged her to jump, a leap she likens to a baptism. As she did, he screamed her name—her full name, the one she’d recently taken from her grandfather. In that instant, Laura Lee Ochoa was reborn. She emerged feeling liberated, grateful for what her friend had shown her. His name was Mordechai.
Ochoa’s rejuvenation found its expression in words—hundreds of pages’ worth, which she’d filled over a self-imposed day of silence. As Khruangbin began putting together the songs that would make up Mordechai, discovering in them spaces it seemed like only vocals could fill, they turned to those notebooks. Khruangbin had experimented with lyrics before, but this time Ochoa had found she had something to say. Letting those words ring out gave Khruangbin’s cavernous music a new thematic depth.
Chief among those themes is memory—holding onto it, letting it go, naming it before it disappears. The sun-dappled disco of lead single “Time (You And I)” evinces the feeling of a festival winding down to its final blowout hours. Its accompanying video features comedian Stephen K. Amos and Lunda Anele-Skosana. The duo wander around London, placing singular sandcastles throughout the city’s various scenery.
Musically, the band’s ever-restless ear saw them pulling reference points from Pakistan, Korea, and West Africa, incorporating strains of Indian chanting boxes and Congolese syncopated guitar. But more than anything, Mordechai became a celebration of Houston, the eclectic city that had nurtured them, and a cultural nexus where you can check out country and zydeco, trap rap, or avant-garde opera on any given night. It is a snapshot taken along a larger journey—a moment all the more beautiful for its impermanence. And it’s a memory to revisit again and again, speaking to us now more clearly than ever.
Watch the “Time (You and I)” music video now, stream it on Spotify, and connect with Khruangbin on their website and social media. Also, pre-order the “Mordecai” album below.
Interview: Nashville Rapper Z. Smith Talks About His New Album "Scorched"
Major thanks goes out to @SmittyZTop who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his newly released album “Scorched”. Check out our conversation with Z. Smith now as well as our in-depth review of “Scorched”.
“When I wrote “Scorched”, I was in a place where I was looking back on who I used to be compared to who I was then, and who I would become if I continued down the path I was on.”
Congratulations on the completion and release of your "Scorched" album; describe for us your creative process for the development of its 13 tracks.
Hey thank you! It definitely took on a lot of different shapes, but I really can't see it turning out any other way than the final product.
Back in 2018 I didn't exactly go about it the right way. I didn't have a plan for an album at all; no budget, no structure in mind. I was just putting together some singles when we recorded "Split" and "Hades." After those two were finished, I started to play around with the idea of a project based on the seven deadly sins, with "Split" embodying Wrath, and "Hades" personifying pride. With that template in mind, I really wanted to try to experiment with different sounds that I hadn't personally tried yet. Something with more live instruments and more of a rock/metal/alternative sound, which is what led to making "Cut The Lights!", "Press Play", "Am I Crazy?" and finally "Scorched."
When I wrote “Scorched”, I was in a place where I was looking back on who I used to be compared to who I was then, and who I would become if I continued down the path I was on. I started thinking about my life like a vinyl record and as I finished the song, I was, like, simultaneously finishing the concept for the album as a whole and had no idea until after it was done.
From there I was able to build some structure with the tracks I had finished and also get an idea of the blanks I needed to fill in, and I just kept making new songs until I felt like it told the story that I wanted it to. Each track was like a piece of the puzzle that helped show the shape the next song needed to fit, and by the time I got to "Pretty Boy Floyd" it was like I knew how it would turn out before it was finished.
You've got some very dope features on several of the album's songs. How did you go about determining which artists would fit best on each song?
The featured artists are insanely talented, and they were each found in very different ways. Sometimes the song will be finished first and then you try to find a feature that you think will match the energy and complement what's already laid out.
Take "Black Pen" for example: we had looked at a couple different artists to feature on the 2nd verse after the song was already done, but once we found Ryan Oakes, it was just one of those things where you could already hear his voice fitting what he had in front of us. When we got his verse back, he didn't just meet our expectations, he really killed it all together and it felt like he made it his own.
Looking at "Am I Crazy?" though, that song was made so KNOX could feature. I had found a clip of KNOX singing on Twitter like several months before I reached out to him, and when I saw the video I immediately saved it because I knew I wanted to get him on a song. Didn't know what song, or when it would be, but knew I had to send something his way down the line. So when we got in the studio and made the instrumental, it was made with his voice and style in mind.
Were there any other songs that you recorded for the album that did not make the final track list? If so, why didn't they and will we ever hear them?
There were a lot of songs that I had written that didn't make the cut, but there was only one that we had taken the time to produce, record, and mix & master but didn't end up on the album. It's called "Was It Something I Said?" and it was meant to go right between "Split" and "Pretty Boy Floyd."
It was made pretty early on, but when it came time to play the album from front to back, it felt like it was sort of forced and didn't really fit with everything else. It's not a bad track, it has some pretty hard lines and I still like the overall message. I don't know if I'll end up putting it out as a single or stripping it down and using the bars from it on something new down the line. I'll keep you posted on that one.
If you had to pick one song from the album that is the most representative of you as an artist overall, which one would it be?
That one's tough. Like real tough. I feel like each song represents a very real side of me, just in different ways. I think "Hades" is the most representative of me as a rapper/artist, but "Scorched" definitely shows my most honest self.
With the "Scorched" album now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2020?
We had a plan this year to get on the road, play show after show, and start getting face to face with the people who have been so supportive and want to see this grow into something more. I've definitely got some time mapped out for new music, but as soon as venues start booking again my energy will be spent getting that plan back on track. 2020's still young, we'll get it there.
Did you have a favorite album and/or artist growing up that inspired you to start writing rhymes?
The first rap song I ever really paid attention to and liked was Eminem's "Mockingbird." I heard it in 7th grade on the way to a basketball game when a friend put a headphone in my ear and that's what really got me to take an interest in hip-hop.
I didn't start writing until I was 15 and that was when I had first heard Jake Miller, back when he was still rapping. Something about his videos, cadence, voice, it was just something that I was really able to relate to at that age and inspired me to start writing my own stuff.
The album that got me to take things a little more seriously, though, was MGK's "General Admission." "Merry Go Round" is still one of the darkest but most beautifully written songs I've heard and that whole album kind of opened my eyes to what it takes to move someone with music.
There are so many songs, albums and artists I could name that have contributed to what I make, but GA just hit me at the right place, right time.
Stream "Shades of BLUE", the Just Released Mixtape by Lagos, Nigeria Based Artist Ivory Blue
Eclectic Lagos, Nigeria based artist @iivory_blue has just released his new mixtape, "Shades of BLUE", a 7 track project which arrives with a mix of different feelings, while embracing the Afro music vibe.
Eclectic Lagos, Nigeria based artist Ivory Blue has just released his new mixtape, "Shades of BLUE", a 7 track project which arrives with a mix of different feelings, while embracing the Afro music vibe.
“Shades of BLUE” features production from amazing Nigerian producers including Flowzy, Danybazz, Whizzbeat, and featuring the likes of Buckwylla, Dayz and Jlorrd.
Ivory Blue returns to DCWS with another certified banger and we’re very excited to share it with you right now, so check out “Shades of BLUE” below, and connect with him on his website and social media. Also, be on the lookout for our interview with Ivory Blue, and the review of the mixtape, both coming very soon.
Connect with Ivory Blue: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Future is Interactive: Maestro Hands Artists the Keys to Full Live Stream Control
As live streaming takes center stage in the music industry, tech platform @maestro_io brings artist-focused tools into performances by allowing musicians to interact with fans in creative ways and customize the entertainment experience.
Popular live streaming platform gets interest from big-name artists during COVID-19
Interactive live streaming platform Maestro insists that artists, not platforms, should be at the center when the live music industry rebuilds in the wake of COVID-19. They should control their live streams, just as they can control many aspects of their IRL performances. Highly customizable in look and monetization options, Maestro streams live on artists’ own sites or apps. It lets artists and their teams own the meaningful data that streams generate, giving full insight into its users. It’s about viewers, not views.
“We give artists more interactivity than Twitch with the ease-of-use and full customizability of Squarespace,” explains Maestro founder and CEO Ari Evans. “You can give people exactly the experience you want, set the parameters for monetization you need, and own your audience data, creating opportunities to stay directly connected.”
With more than 20 million users, Maestro lets artists sell tickets to their livestream at whatever price point they choose. They can create themes and overlays that reflect their visual identity, set up engagement features like polls or trivia questions, and prompt viewers as much or as little as they want to buy merch or “show love.” Once the show’s over, artists can access invaluable data for marketing, including viewer emails, that allow them to break down their audience into segments, figure out what features their audience enjoyed most, identify superfans, and promote their next livestream directly to people who care.
This all adds up to a livestream that benefits the artist, not the platform, and on better terms than many in-person appearances.
Maestro was built for the music business by a team of music fans. Though the platform got picked to stream major festivals like Ultra and Coachella and events by electronic music heavyweights like deadmau5, Porter Robinson, and Armin van Buuren, Evans was disappointed by the often cool response he got from music execs, ranging from wariness to confusion. He got a far warmer reception from the esports and gaming world, however, where livestreaming has long been an integral part of the business. Inking deals with big esports franchises (Fortnite, Overwatch League) and then sports leagues like the NFL, Maestro continued to thrive, though Evans and crew still longed to bring better live stream experiences to the music world.
Everything changed in March 2020. Live events vanished overnight. Labels and management companies were looking for solutions that addressed their needs but didn’t hand their audience over to the big tech players. “Numerous blows have been dealt to public trust in platforms and user data stewardship over the past few years,” Evans reflects. “Now, artists and managers realize that they, not some platform, need to own their data. Paying to build an audience and then paying again to reach that audience is a one-sided model.”
Maestro offered the perfect alternative for musicians. Evans’ phone started ringing and hasn’t stopped since. One call, late on a Friday night, was from Erykah Badu, who had a plan for a series of quarantine concerts. Performing from home, each concert would have a different interactive experience. During Apocalypse One, the audience chose the setlist in real time. During Apocalypse Two, the setlist was predefined and the fans were able to choose which room for the band to perform the song, each with a different vibe, instrumental setup, and visual flair. When she first called, Badu had already announced the first show and needed to find a partner to execute her vision in a matter of days, something simple to achieve with Maestro.
As musicians and fans are diving into live streams with unprecedented enthusiasm, the medium itself is at a turning point, transforming from niche novelty to general necessity in a flash. “We’re seeing livestreaming become the quintessential medium of communication. We’ve received requests to set up events like graduation and wedding livestreams, use cases no one would have thought about two months ago,” Evans muses. “We’re experiencing a permanent and profound shift that will impact how we communicate and relate. All ages are affected. It’s the transformative moment we needed to unlock the true potential of live streaming. Music stands to benefit most from embracing this opportunity.”
Evans sees the future of the internet in video and the future of video as interactive. “The great tragedy of live streaming is that we have this swiss army knife of the internet, and so far most live streaming options force us to use the dullest, simplest blade,” Evans says. “For years, people have been more or less making a TV broadcast and putting it on the web instead of thinking about an internet-first experience shaped by personalization and interactivity. Now that live streams are mainstream, that’s changing. Now we get to explore new formats.”
Review: "Scorched" Album by Z. Smith
Check out our exclusive, in-depth review of the recently released album, “Scorched”, by Nashville based rap artist @SmittyZTop
Nashville based rap artist Z. Smith embraces the darkness with the stark reality of his recently released “Scorched” album. A deft storyteller, these narratives come from a life lived to the fullest. Such tremendous heartache alongside a sense of defiance ties the whole of the journey together. Vivid detail about how Z. Smith came up intermingles with the hard-edged arrangements. Distorted samples, intense bass, it all forms a picture of what needs to be overcome in order to move forward. Thus, while there is a heaviness to his delivery there is also an element of hope that helps to balance it out somewhat.
Z. Smith’s focus on the struggles of the day to day draws from Kendrick Lamar’s highly personal vision. Like him, Z. Smith too has had a long trip to arrive. By going for this tact, the whole of the “Scorched” album garners a brooding quality. Going beyond Lamar’s influence is the slow but steady delivery that comes to define the pieces. Worth taking in as a singular whole, every track works as a chapter in an ever-growing story, one rich with intricate detail.
After the short “Intro” things begin in earnest with “Hades”. Nimble beats cascade onto each other in a way that feels majestic. Eerie atmospherics come through on the tense “Black Pen”, feat. Ryan Oakes. Spit like fire, “Premonition” works as a brutalist track, one that becomes ever more cryptic. The hybrid quality of “Press Play”, feat. Jack DeCraene, serves as the highlight of the album. Dance and hip-hop merge into one. Dollops of distortion with a rock flair anchors “Cut the Lights!”. Truly unhinged is the feral “Manson. Dahmer. Bundy.”.
Going for a gentler, more reflective stance is “Am I Crazy?” feat. Knox Morris and Kelsey Tegenkamp. Usage of choir samples adds to the dramatic of “Split” while Z. Smith lets loose on the mic. Going for the right amount of hustle is the powerful “Pretty Boy Floyd”. “Charlie Hustle”, feat. Keagen Gulley, ends things on a high note, neatly summarizing all that came before it.
The “Scorched” album shows off Z. Smith’s fiery flows in speaking truth to power, showing the inequality and suffering that people toil under.
Stream and Share “Scorched” on Spotify
Interview: Minneapolis RnB Singer-Songwriter Cariah Brinaé Discusses Her Song "The Space"
We connected with Minneapolis based RnB singer-songwriter Cariah Brinaé for an exclusive Q&A to discuss her recently released single “The Space”, which was produced by Mixtape Seoul, and much more.
Photo Credit: Twiss Smith Photography
“My life experiences inspire me to write. Writing is like poetry and love letters, it should be handled with care.”
Congratulations on the release of your song "The Space". Tell us about what initially motivated you to write the song and how you connected with the producer Mixtape Seoul.
Thank you so much. Yes, “The Space” was written so beautifully by me and a friend of mine. We pretty much freestyled the whole song in one sitting. In the next two days we rehearsed it a couple times and it was complete.
I’m an internet junkie and I love beats. So I found this beat on YouTube.
Will "The Space" be a part of an upcoming EP or album you release this year? If so, what can you tell us about it?
Yes, I think since “The Space” is doing so good right now, I will add it to my EP. Not really speaking on release dates but an EP is definitely in the works.
What are some things that have inspired your creativity as a songwriter?
My life experiences inspire me to write. Writing is like poetry and love letters, it should be handled with care.
If you had to describe your music to a stranger in three words, which ones would you select?
Passion, Love, Warmth
What are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2020?
To get connected with a producer that will be a full time producer for me. Also to drop a EP.
REAPER Drops His Explosive "RENEGADE" EP On Monstercat
After two previously released singles, "HEATSEEKER" and "BARRICADE", @reapernoises shares his drum and bass driven EP, "RENEGADE" on @Monstercat. Jam-packed with high intensity bass, there isn't a dull moment from beginning to end.
Shrouded in mystery, the REAPER project is one of the most exciting acts to burst onto the dance music scene in years. His sound can be described as chaotic, transcendent, and evil. The drum and bass influence coupled with modern sound design illustrates a dark, aggressive picture of what bass music can evolve into. The journey has only begun, but the impact is already evident with support from industry leaders such as Illenium, RL Grime, Zeds Dead, Slander, Kayzo and more. Since the debut of his RAPTURE EP with Monstercat in the summer of 2019, he’s amassed over 3,000,000 streams across digital platforms with no sign of slowing down. REAPER is the voice of the future, the culmination of over two decades of bass. His music is a portal to the new era, the scene’s gateway to drum and bass.
After two previously released singles, "HEATSEEKER" and "BARRICADE", REAPER shares his drum and bass driven EP, RENEGADE. Jam-packed with high intensity bass, there isn't a dull moment from beginning to end. With two new tracks, "RAVEPUNK" and "HEADHUNTER" showcased on the RENEGADE EP, REAPER continues to bring to the forefront uniquely crafted music for the bass world. With a long career ahead of him, we are excited to see what REAPER releases next!
Listen to the “RENEGADE” EP right now, stream it on your preferred music service, and connect with REAPER on his social media.
Interview: Joseph Baldwin Talks About His New Single "Mymind"
Friend of the DCWS brand, @MaggieTra from @stimulateursoul connected with Melbourne based singer-songwriter Joseph Baldwin for an exclusive interview to discuss his new single “Mymind”, which we’ve recently featured.
““Mymind” was created in a time where I was feeling kind of isolated and alone. I had just moved out and was living by myself at the time. I wanted to create something that kind of helped me in that situation, something that explores loneliness but still finishes with a sense of hope”
Tell us about your latest release and what inspired it?
“Mymind” was created in a time where I was feeling kind of isolated and alone. I had just moved out and was living by myself at the time. I wanted to create something that kind of helped me in that situation, something that explores loneliness but still finishes with a sense of hope. So whenever I would listen to it, it would remind me of the loneliness and how I got out of it.
I thought it would be a good time to release it at the moment because so many people are faced with loneliness right now, and I hope this song can uplift them in whatever way that may be.
What is one of your guilty pleasures?
Binge watching The Office, I'm a lame Office fan!
How did you first start in the music industry?
I'd been writing for a few years and wanted to share what I've created with my family and friends, so I decided to release a collection of my music as an EP late last year, 'On My Way to Her'. I guess that would be my starting point!
What are you working on next?
I'm currently working on my next EP. I'm about 3/4 of the way through, so hopefully that will be out late this year or early next!
What advice would you give others?
I think in terms of music, to just make as much stuff as possible. That's the only way to get better! My philosophy is that you have to write a certain amount of bad songs before you find a good one, so keep on writing!
If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be?
Jon Bellion. He is my biggest influence and I think it would be awesome to work with him on something! You gotta dream big!
Who is the dopest artist you know?
I don't know many artists personally, but those I do know are pretty dope! Earnest Jackson is one of my favs!
What’s your favourite studio snack?
Snowpeas, especially when they're cold! They're so crunchy and funky and I love them.
Review: "Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker" Official Soundtrack by Netflix
Between the politically charged soul track “rise up” by The Freedom Affair to Rapsody and Leikeli47’s braggadocios, competition nagging “Oprah”, it’s hard to pick a favorite on the "Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” official soundtrack.
Madam C.J. Walker is an unsung black history icon that carries just as much clout as Malcolm X or Martin Luther King. In the early 1900s, she created the first beauty products for black hair, which were practically non-existent at a time.
She was rescued from an abusive marriage by a saleswoman who would first become her mentor, and then her competition. Although it takes place over a century ago, much of the soundtrack is composed of contemporary tracks, surprisingly. You’d think it would end up looking kitschy of choice, but in reality, it’s sublimely curated. More notably, the soundtrack is entirely made up of female POC.
We start out with a pulsing and raw “Dance Or Die” by Janelle Monae, a funk-infused electro rap jam feels like it comes from the future and the past all at once. Then, we have the ferocious Little Simz on “Offence” whose syrupy voice hits just right against her jazzy band with a killer flute. Just like Madam C.J., these artists are all about confidence, the hustle and female empowerment. Other feminist icons sing their hearts out in anthems of self-respect and self-esteem, like Ndidi O’ “Call me Queen” a fuzzy Black Keys reminiscent, garage rock track.
In a way, it feels like a message that strong women prevail through generations - they pass on threads of invincible perseverance that are relevant 100 years backwards, or 100 years future. “I am woman, hear me roar,” screams this soundtrack, but in a completely understated glory. Our favorite song on the soundtrack that embodies this mood is “Woman” by Diana Gordon, an artist that also draws some parallels to Walker. Gordon has been a ghostwriter and behind-the-scenes collaborator for many more visible celebrities such as Beyonce, but is an undeniable force of nature. These days, she’s putting herself in the forefront with her own song and album releases, just like C.J. finally shone on her own.
Although tons of modern artists are featured, homages to various generations of black history inspirations of the past such as Sippie Wallace and Mamie Smith, a 1920s vaudeville jazz and blues artist who became the first African American artist to make a vocal blues recording. Queen Latifah’s horn-filled “Nature of a Sista’” also hits harder than we remember, and makes us wish that Latifah still rapped along with her illustrious acting career that exists today.
Between the politically charged soul track “rise up” by The Freedom Affair to Rapsody and Leikeli47’s braggadocios, competition nagging “Oprah”, it’s hard to pick a favorite on the Madam C.J. Walker soundtrack. Most importantly, the soundtrack is a love letter to every young girl and woman - each song is a mantra of self-worth and the beautiful complexity of womanhood in each of its different journeys.
Stream and Share “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker" Official Soundtrack on Spotify
Stream "Ghost", the Debut Album by Alternative/Metal Band Fervence
Alternative/metal quartet Fervence has recently released their debut album entitled "Ghost". Listen to the album now.
Fervence is an alternative/metal band hailing from the western United States (Salt Lake City, UT & Reno, NV). Their music blends a wide variety of influences into a focused sound that is described as melodic, violent, and methodical. Taking inspiration from bands such as Silent Planet, Northlane, Saosin, and more.
Originally formed in 2017, members of previous projects such as Walk Away Alpha, Machines of Man, and Cyborg Octopus came together with Fervence as an expression of the greater issues in both personal life and with others alike.
The band has just released their 7-track debut album "Ghost". Speaking about the project, the band says, “Our debut album "Ghost" is a dialogue on the greater thoughts of what lies beyond the pale, the idea of life again, and the tragic way of contemplating everything in between. The album also delves into the duality of personal value, relationships, toxicity, and what it feels like to be human.”
Listen to the “Ghost” album right now, and connect with Fervence on their social media.
UK Avant Pop Artist Zilla With Her Eyes Shut Releases Her Self Titled Album
UK based pop surrealist @zilla_eyesshut recently released her new full-length album entitled “Zilla With Her Eyes Shut”. Listen to the album right now!
UK Avant Pop artist Zilla With Her Eyes Shut has just released her new full-length album “Zilla With Her Eyes Shut” via Accidental Records. Zilla is a classical pianist turned pop surrealist whose music coaxes the subconscious to come out and play.
First releasing with Accidental in back in 2017, the working partnership between Zilla and label boss Matthew Herbert has been more than fruitful. There work together thus far has seen support from respected taste makers including Huw Stevens, Don Letts and John Kennedy and their first single ‘Get Your Way’ sound tracked Elle UK’s most successful campaign ever #MoreWomen #ELLEFeminism.
Sitting somewhere between the crunch of the avant garde and the joy of a good hook, Zilla With Her Eyes Shut is an album of deeply personal stories from Zilla’s life. These range from memories of childhood trauma, mysterious injuries sustained sleepwalking and coming to terms with the voices in her head, all delivered through Zilla’s powerful, arresting and at times haunting vocal performance.
The sonic narrative parallels this lyrical content with tracks being built from the sounds of objects relating to the song’s subject matters. These include a book, a lightbulb, a hair pin, a stone and Zilla’s own sleep talking. Speaking about this approach, Herbert commented, I like the fact that Zilla can sit at a piano and bash out some Rachmaninov and Debussy, but chose instead to make an ahead-of-its-time record out of the ephemera of ordinary life. It bristles with the friction of real life as opposed to the comfort of the recording studio.
Connecting dots between RnB, vocal pop and leftfield electronic experimentalism, the album opens with the bold and menacing statement ‘Get Ready’, before getting settled into pace. The interplay of Zilla’s catchy harmony led vocals and Herbert’s playful production provide plenty of engaging moments throughout, with earworms like ‘Remember’ and ‘In My Head’.
At the half-way mark the album takes a sharp turn further to the leftfield with the off-kilter timings and staccato samples of ‘Cut Me Boy’, before making way for the softer sonics of ‘Rainbows’ and ‘Desire’. Following the latest single ‘Whisper Whisper’, the record closes with the melancholic triumph, ‘Paris’.
Listen to Zilla With Her Eyes Shut’s new album right now, stream it on Bandcamp and connect with her on social media.
Amy Rage Announces Her Debut EP "Solitude" and Shares Lead Single "Doin It Right"
NYC-based, indie pop artist Amy Rage shares her new single "Doin' It Right", the lead single off her debut EP “Solitude”, due out June 26th.
NYC-based, indie pop artist Amy Rage was born from an existential crisis in January 2020. All she ever wanted was to make music influenced by the classic pop and R&B legends who never cease to inspire her, like Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince, Robyn, and Mariah Carey. But like so many thirty-somethings, she was feeling lost in the world and stuck in the 9-5 rut. Then one day, she hooked up a small MIDI keyboard, plugged in her mic, and taught herself how to produce her own breed of fun and feminine pop that celebrates her favorite music from the 80s and 90s, when it was all about big beats, lush vocals and catchy, emotional hooks.
Amy Rage shares her new single "Doin' It Right", the lead single off her debut EP “Solitude”, due out June 26th. With hammering synths backing her vocals, Amy sings about how having the right person by your side can lessen the world's constant insanity and chaos. "Doin' It Right" is a glitzy, pop anthem heavily inspired by Robyn -- the entire EP is a nod to beloved mainstream pop legends and bops, but is rooted in Rage's DIY ethos and creative process. Rage successfully taps into the energy that these icons exude, putting her own personal spin on these sounds and styles having self-produced and recorded the 3-track release entirely in her home studio.
The “Solitude” EP is the result of many endless days she spent locked in her guest room in Jersey City while feverishly learning how to put music to her voice, lyrics, and melodies. Amy Rage became her alter ego and now the songs are pouring out of her.
Listen to “Doin’ It Right” below, and connect with Amy Rage on her social media.
Review: "Pray for Paris" Album by Westside Gunn
Hailing from Buffalo, NY, “Pray for Paris” proves @westsidegunn has mastered the art of the album in a time of streaming one-hit wonders. Check out our in-depth album review now.
Also known as rapper Conways’s brother, Westside Gunn has proven to be a formidable addition to the NY rap game. Hailing from Buffalo, New York, “Pray for Paris” proves Gunn has mastered the art of the album in a time of streaming one-hit wonders.
Westside Gunn’s style harkens back to a time when instrumentals and sick piano riffs made up hip hop instead of sound effects and bubble gum editing. “George Bondo” is a clear banger, and how could it not be with his bro Conway the Machine and cousin Benny the Butcher on the track? It’a fast and delirious ride on the keys back in time to NY in the ‘90s, before trust fund brats used it as their playground.
The classy “327” also features some jaw-dropping features, including Tyler, The Creator and Joey Bada$$. This track has a more laidback, jazzy instrumental and vocals to match. A hazy tune to light one to, this ambient provokes thoughts more than parties.
“$500 Ounces” snags a collab from the coveted Freddie Gibbs, a somber tune that goes between a sordid past and a lavish future with lines like: “I got skeletons in my closet right next to Balenciagas.” It’s hard to tell what we like more in this track - the beat or the verses. Both bring their A game.
Although the album is percussion dominant, “Versace”, produced by Jay Versace, lets Gunn’s chops shine without drums, and just some background vocals to lift up his ever-changing flow. In the following track, “Clairborne Kick,” fans are treated to a chopped and screwed, angelic and drunken celebration of lyricism thanks to Boldy James.
“Party wit Pop Smoke” is a turnt up tribute that comes in high on our list as well, especially with that poetic and velvety spoken word by Keisha Plum, sweetly delivering lines like “gun and drug charges give me butterflies” and “he started to cry, I kissed his cheek then drove the ice pick in his eye.” Damn.
Stream and Share “Pray for Paris” on Spotify
Check Out the Season 1 Premiere of the HiDEF Cypher, LA's Newest Hip Hop/RnB Cypher Series
Watch the Season 1 premiere of the HiDEF Cypher, presented by Track Martians Music Group, and featuring artists, Deverio, Sp_ce Phantom, and GT3MP.
As a creative brand, Track Martians Music Group takes pride in providing unique platforms and advancement opportunities catering to aspiring creatives across the country, especially in their hometown of Los Angeles, CA.
In the fall of 2019, Track Martians Music Group launched their newest division, HiDEF Cypher, LA's newest interactive and energetic HipHop/R&B cypher experience. Each episode in their 12 episode season features various talented unsigned artists performing over indie music productions.
This is only the tip of the iceberg as they plan to not only create breathtaking content with LA locals, but aim to expand and provide this experience for creatives across the country as they plan to film seasons in other major cities this upcoming year. Track Martians Music Group asks for your support as they continuously birth platforms for the ones who need it.
Check out the HiDEF Season 1 premiere below and subscribe to the HiDEF Official YouTube Channel and tune in every Tuesday at 7PM (PST).
Connect with HiDEF: YouTube