San Francisco Indie Hip-Hop Trailblazers RPxSB Release Their Triple Album "Creatures"
San Francisco-based Indie Hip Hop trailblazers RPxSB (or Roddy Picante and Stay-Bizzy or Rock Plaid and Survive Bullshxt) have unveiled their ambitious and heavy-themed triple album entitled "Creatures (Acts I-III)".
San Francisco-based Indie Hip Hop trailblazers RPxSB (or Roddy Picante and Stay-Bizzy or Rock Plaid and Survive Bullshxt) have unveiled their ambitious and heavy-themed triple album entitled "Creatures (Acts I-III)". Act I was released August 26th, followed by Act II on September 2nd, and Act III on September 9th. The project is released through the artist's Vibeland label imprint.
Bold, genuine and uncensored, this project delves into real life themes and all their inherent problems while musically experimenting along the way with reckless abandon. Fans of artists ranging from Dom Kennedy, Earth Gang, Odd Future and Larry June should find something to enjoy in this wide-ranging collection.
“Creatures is a three act project. Each act is a different tone or mood that embodies our brand of RPxSB, an abbreviation for our names and our mantra, Rock Plaid and Survive Bullshxt. Act I (Things That Kill Me Inside) is the moodier, more melancholy side of us. When your friends and family and personal problems consume you to a state of anger and angst. Act II (Boar) is the aftermath of Act I. When you indulge in the vices and say f**k it. Nothing matters. This is the turn up. Act III (JOPO, an acronym for Jack Off Pass Out) is the aftermath to the aftermath. The come down if you will. A stop and smell the roses moment. Nothing still matters, yet everything does.”
Electronica/Synth Pop Producer rx1f Will Release His New Album "r8c180” on November 13th
Vancouver-based Electronica/Synth Pop musician and producer rx1f champions his unique style self-dubbed 'music for robots', on the far-reaching new album "r8c180", due out November 13th.
Vancouver-based Electronica/Synth Pop musician and producer rx1f champions his unique style self-dubbed 'music for robots', on the far-reaching new album "r8c180", a release not only themed around space, but one that actually sounds like space. Freely experimenting and travelling the outskirts of the universal mind is a natural process for this electronic music innovator.
"This album is an end-to-end re-imagination of a maximalist indie punk album that I made with a friend a few years ago, which I can no longer bear to listen to. Shortly after finishing that, I went to see a documentary about the 808, and fell headfirst into making electronic music. The old album has been put into a capsule and shot into space.
There are a lot of samples from NASA and other space-related sources on r8c180, you can hear planet sounds on pretty much every track. My favorite sample was this thing called an earth whistler, which is apparently a radio wave caused by lightning in the atmosphere. It sounds like a quick little filter sweep."
The "r8c180” album’s release on November 13th is right around the corner, but in the meantime, check out rx1f’s new music video for “Accidents”, stream it on Spotify and connect with him on his website.
Stream and Share “Accidents” on Spotify
Connect rx1f: Website
Toronto Supergroup UWUW Release Captivating Retro-Soul-and-Pop Influenced Debut LP
UWUW have just released their debut, self-titled LP on We Are Busy Bodies Records. With some of Toronto’s most experienced and revered musicians making this project possible, it’s no wonder why the sonic presence of this project demands your attention and doesn’t let you go.
UWUW (pronounced you-you) have just released their debut, self-titled LP on We Are Busy Bodies Records. With some of Toronto’s most experienced and revered musicians making this project possible, it’s no wonder why the sonic presence of this project demands your attention and doesn’t let you go.
The impressive cast of players includes Jason Haberman of Dan Mangan and Yaehsun, Jay Anderson of Badge Epoque Ensemble, Biblical and Lammping, and Ian Blurton of Ian Blurton’s Future Now, Change of Heart, and C’mon. Giving the songs a voice are two of Toronto’s most distinctive songwriters: Chris A. Cummings (aka Marker Starling) adding his distinct, easy-glide, story-telling charm to Box Office Poison and Scattered Ashes, and Drew Smith (Bunny, The Bicycles), providing his trademark, 60s harmony pop and lyrical prowess to Staircase and Landlord.
Drew Smith, while commenting on his song writing process for their debut album, said “the overall theme to the songs was nature reaping what is sowed.” There’s a lot to unpack in this album, which contains old-school soul grooves, slow burning instrumentation, pounding rhythms and thoughtful lyrics that bring energy and life to the superbly-crafted songs.
The catchy lead single “Scattered Ashes” breathes soul and rock, while blurring sounds and influences which call to mind James Brown’s horn section and the compositional layers of experimental Beach Boys recordings. The track titled “Staircase to the End of the Night” is another wonderfully symphonic composition that gets in your head and won’t let go. It contains tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a heavy rhythm that surprises and delights.
Regarding the song, Smith mentions being influenced by The Doors: “The first rock n’ roll band I ever loved, for better or worse, was The Doors. That must play into the lyrics of this song a little bit - “The End, End Of The Night.” It's not a big leap to see that those tunes are imprinted in my musical DNA. Most of the lyrics and harmonies were suggested by the music. It's already in there. It's not even a case of heavy lifting, just listening. I was just interpreting what Ian, Jay and Jason put to tape. My job was more fun than work.”
Listen to the S/T EP now, stream it on Bandcamp and connect with UWUW on their social media.
CD Baby Signs Deal with Laylo to Offer Fan Engagement Platform to Artists
CD Baby continues to expand their direct-to-fan promotional offerings for artists, working with fan engagement platform Laylo to offer CD Baby users an exclusive discount to Laylo's Pro tier.
CD Baby continues to expand their direct-to-fan promotional offerings for artists, working with fan engagement platform Laylo to offer CD Baby users an exclusive discount to Laylo's Pro tier. Laylo enables artists to notify their fans the moment they release new music, content, merch, or event announcements, via text, email, and/or Facebook Messenger.
Artists can share their drop and notification signup link directly with fans across socials, with Spotify auto-follow and one-click pre-save features built in. DIY artists can track which of their messages are landing and who is engaging with their drop, through key insights and analytics. Laylo is a proven platform with notable customers including Sam Smith, Dixie D'Amelio, Kodak Black, Miles Teller, The Black Keys, and the Friends With Benefits DAO.
Laylo’s offering joins the extensive range of marketing, distribution, and royalty administration services and tools available to CD Baby users, which help artists find and engage with their fans.
"At CD Baby, we always strive to find the latest and most innovative partners for artists to market their music. Laylo is just that,” said Alex Trevino, Strategic Partner Manager at CD Baby. “I am excited to see our artists give their fans an incredible experience while driving more streams and sales.”
“CD Baby has set the standard for offering easy, inspirational ways for artists to define and reach success,” said Stephanie Allen, VP and Head of Partnerships at Laylo. “Our companies share a lot, including a deep commitment to supporting creative work. I really felt this when I spoke at CD Baby’s DIY Conference this August. The excitement the artists showed was overwhelming. For us, this partnership feels like a perfect fit.”
About CD Baby
CD Baby, a Downtown Music Holdings company, is home to over 1 million artists and 10 million tracks, and has paid out over $1 billion in artist royalties since its founding in 1998. CD Baby empowers emerging, niche, and amateur musicians with everything they need to successfully distribute, publish, promote, and monetize their music around the globe. Our expert guidance simplifies and streamlines the complexities of global music distribution through tools, partnerships, education, and 20+ years of community-building and advocacy. Our complete artist-services platform connects independent artists with new audiences and revenue streams so they can enjoy creative autonomy and thrive on their own terms. Founded and run by artists for artists, CD Baby exists to make success in the music business accessible to all.
About Downtown
Downtown is the world's leading music services company with over 1.7 million clients in over 145 countries with a catalog of over 23 million music assets in a wide variety of genres and languages. Downtown's service offerings support creators and businesses in all facets of the music industry including music creation, distribution, marketing, royalty collection, financing, accounting and payment services. Downtown clients can choose to opt-in for only the services they need, in any territory they want, for as long as they want, without having to give up ownership or control of their work.
About Laylo
Laylo is a CRM and Drops platform for creators and brands, helping them drive more sales & streams through direct fan engagement. Launched in 2021 by Alec Ellin and Saj Sanghvi, Laylo powers drops for some of the world’s biggest musicians, podcasters, celebrities, and brands allowing them to automatically notify fans about new content, merchandise and tickets through SMS, Email, Instagram DM, Facebook Messenger, and Discord. Laylo further empowers creators by giving them complete ownership of their fan data.
Indy Punk Rock Quartet Bomb Cats Share Their New EP "Third Street Melody"
Indianapolis-based Punk Rock quartet Bomb Cats deliver equal parts heaviness, catchiness and fun on their hook-filled new EP "Third Street Melody". Listen to the “Third Street Melody” EP now.
Indianapolis-based Punk Rock quartet Bomb Cats deliver equal parts heaviness, catchiness and fun on hook-filled new EP "Third Street Melody". The Bomb Cats signature sound comes from their dedication to a lineage of legendary punk and rock bands, namely The Ramones, Social Distortion, Thin Lizzy and X. Their sound is proof that some musical traditions should be upheld and honored by sharing it with new generations. Punk is one such tradition. On "Third Street Melody", audiences can expect a dense, 5-track collection showcasing the band's raw, original, no-frills take on rock n' roll.
“This EP is the culmination of everything we have worked on to this point. It is both heavier and catchier than our previous work. It is more polished but also more raw than anything we have done before. We could not be more proud of this effort and we believe there is something here for everyone.”
“Third Street Melody is dedicated to the kinds of venues that allow bands like us the opportunity to perform: small, independent venues that care about original music from artists who do it for the love of the music.” - Russ Webster (Bass/Vocals)
“We’re super proud that everything you hear on this record is us, playing live in a room together. That’s our sound and our songwriting.” - Chris Farrell (Guitar/Vocals)
Listen to “Third Street Melody” below and connect with Bomb Cats on their social media.
Stream "Brighter Days", the Brand New Album by Composer/Producer Blunda
Blunda is the solo project of LA based composer/producer Andy Blunda; his new album "Brighter Days" contains both instrumental and vocal tracks geared towards taking you on a journey to wide open spaces.
Blunda is the solo project of LA based composer/producer Andy Blunda. Blunda, a classically trained pianist in college, was the guitarist and keyboard player for the bands Fastball and Paloalto in the late 90s and early 2000s. He also toured with artists Jason Falkner (Jellyfish, Beck, St. Vincent) and Zoe Bonham playing guitar and keyboards.
There isn't a single one of us who hasn't wondered over the past few years if better days are coming, of if they're even possible. Blunda wonders the same thing. Luckily, he's been perfecting his musical craftsmanship for so long that he's able to seamlessly portray familiar feelings and atmospheres through his surreal yet accessible compositions. His new album "Brighter Days" contains both instrumental and vocal tracks geared towards taking you on a journey to wide open spaces.
“This album came out of wanting to creating a space and feeling that would transport the listener. I found myself going on tons of hikes this past year with my son and exploring all these amazing places just outside of the city. I really wanted to create something that gave the feeling of being in all these wide open spaces. Especially after all the lockdowns of the last couple of years. I love music that takes you out of reality and puts you into a feeling or place. That inspired me as I worked on the songs and gave me the freedom to let them be. With or without vocals.”
Check out “Brighter Days” below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Blunda on his social media.
Stream and Share “Brighter Days” on: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Soundcloud
Rock Musician Andrew Ruoti Drops His Conceptual Album "Odyssey"
New York-based rock musician and storyteller Andrew Ruoti has released "Odyssey", a new 5-track conceptual album spanning a daunting range of genres, themes and emotions.
New York-based rock musician and storyteller Andrew Ruoti has released "Odyssey", a new 5-track conceptual album spanning a daunting range of genres, themes and emotions. Throughout this new release, Andrew reflects on his own personal journey as well as the human collective, all through the unique lens of a multi-instrumentalist musician and meditation teacher. Much of Andrew Ruoti's personal philosophy revolves around transformation, specifically overcoming adversity and trauma and transforming it into resilience. This is expressed musically through a boundless exploration of complimentary sounds and subgenres coupled with a fearless experimental spirit.
The 5 new tracks correspond with 5 original paintings intended to express Odyssey concept. The art was done by Shelly Luan and digital art editor William S. Pierce.
Produced by the very talented two-time Emmy award winning producer, Uly Millan, Andrew Ruoti’s new concept album has something to offer everyone. The album draws from a wide range of eclectic styles and genres including rock, hip-hop, R&B, orchestral and even tribal. Odyssey is a musical journey that evokes a wide range of emotions from dark to gritty, energetic to hopeful and tranquil to triumphant.
With the urge to do something a little different and influenced by the current state of the world, Ruoti started writing on the album in spring of 2020. Despite a hectic work schedule as a full-time music teacher, as well as following another passion as a meditation teacher, Ruoti has put together a thought-provoking journey with his new album “Odyssey”, which he hopes will translate well to listeners from all around the world.
“Diversity is key with this album. Diversity and resiliency.” Ruoti shared energetically during a recent interview. “The big motivation for me was to write something from the heart that people could connect to. During this pandemic everyone feels a certain level of isolation and to a degree even social deprivation. With social media nowadays, you can reach people anywhere at any time. It’s amazing to think someone on the other side of the planet can be listening to your song and establishing a connection with you.” Ruoti goes on to say, “The album is not only about my own personal journey, but the journey of the collective…everyone in the world navigating through these challenging and uncertain times. In that way the album has a very relatable quality to it.” Ruoti continued, “For me, it’s all about connection. Like many, music has always been an outlet for me, so to share what I love and possibly give others an outlet for their feelings and introspection….well that’s a beautiful thing and nothing beats that. I’m really excited about this album.” Ruoti continues with thoughts regarding his producer who he has collaborated closely with on the album, “I love all of his work and I’m a huge fan. His overall vision, scope and talent with regard to producing is immense. He has every studio session working from an authentic heart space, in real time, with spontaneity, which helped with driving home the essence of what the album is all about!”
Speaking of “driving home”, Ruoti says, “Odyssey is all about the journey home, the connection to the untapped reservoir of inner peace at your own heart center”.
Listen to the “Odyssey” album now, and connect with Andrew Ruoti on his social media.
Chicago Indie-Rock Band Red Scarves Release Their Folkier EP "Ghost Hunter"
Chicago indie band Red Scarves collected their leftover recordings after working with Dave Vettraino (DEHD, Lala Lala, etc.), putting together a new EP that shows their folkier side. Listen to “Ghost Hunter” now.
Chicago indie band Red Scarves has been writing and releasing music over the past decade ever since two of their members first met in a class on Bob Dylan in college. They moved to Chicago six years ago after graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University. Now with a solidified lineup, each member contributes to songwriting.
Chicago Magazine recently recommended the album (at the bottom of Ari Lindo’s album review), writing “The jangly pop quartet marries throwback sounds with 21st-century neuroticism on this EP, ahead of a full-length album in 2023.”
NPR-affiliate station WGLT in Bloomington, IL wrote their 2017 album Sort of Scarlet is a "pop-rock gem," highlighting the band members' background in jazz and classical makes for "catchy and at times complex pop songs."
Ghost Hunter is simpler but layered, and their jazzy and classical influences still pop up on the EP — just more subtly. The songs range from more baroque pop on the title track “Ghost Hunter” to the wistful twang of "Robin,” featuring pedal steel from Ben Carbone.
They recorded both Ghost Hunter and their upcoming album, Nice Try, on tape with Dave Vettraino (Dehd, Lala Lala, Makaya McCraven) last year.
As songwriter Ayethaw Tun told Psychedelic Baby Magazine, “Tying the EP together is the band recording each song live as a four-piece on 16-track tape at Palisade Recordings in Chicago by local studio wiz, Dave Vettraino. The majority of the songs were born out of living in that space of unease and uncertainty back in 2020, with songs dealing with loneliness, memories of childhood, and inspiration itself.”
He continued, “The term ‘ghost hunter’ comes from the first song, written by our bassist/guitarist, Ryan Donlin. He describes the feeling of having big ideas form in our heads for the next big song/project/solution to a problem/etc. But when we sat down with an instrument and a pen in hand, those ideas begin to escape him and the harder he tries to capture that incredible feeling of that idea, the further it slips away. This EP features the rare moments those ideas are captured and realized in full.”
Interview: Austin TX Based Artist Jonny O'Brien Talks About His New Single "Sabotage"
Big thanks to Austin based artist Jonny O’Brien who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his new song “Sabotage”, produced by Cameron Shephard and Evan Wynne, and much more.
“This record is really a claiming of power, a recognition that I can stand on my own and that my music can have an impact. When people listen to this record, I want them to hear something honest, and real... ”
If you had to describe your music to a stranger in three words, which ones would you select?
in three words, sincere, passionate, inspiring
Your awesome new single "Sabotage" is a featured song on your upcoming EP "Phases"; tell us about your creative process for its development, alongside producers Cameron Shephard and Evan Wynne.
I started writing this record or these songs at the beginning of the pandemic. I had no intentions at that point of actually putting out a record. it was more just to get some of the ideas and feelings i had had out on paper.
After I made the move to Austin, the songs started to take on their own life and once I linked up with Cam, the ball really got rolling and the record started to come together. I had never worked with Evan at playground sound before, that was a connection of Cam's through school, but once we met and shared the vibes/ideas I had for the record, I knew this was the team I needed to make it happen.
"Phases" is due out for release in November; what are you most excited about the EP's unveiling, and when people listen to it, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
This will be my first solo release since I was 18 years old. I have been primarily occupied with other bands and projects since and never really spent too much time working on my own material. I think I'm most excited about being able to share who I am and how I've grown over the last 10, 15 year; especially to those friends and fans that have been following me since way back when.
This record is really a claiming of power, a recognition that I can stand on my own and that my music can have an impact. When people listen to this record, I want them to hear something honest, and real. Yes, I love writing catchy hooks and choruses that get stuck in your head for days but I also want the listener to be able to place themselves within these songs and experience the stories firsthand.
Being based in Austin as an artist, what are some things you like about the city and dislike when it comes to music?
Austin is a great city for music! Some would argue the best. The main reason I moved here was to be surrounded by a community that values art, music and the pursuit of passion.
There are a ton of great artists here! The down side, there are a TON of great artists here haha. It's difficult to get recognized or make a name for yourself when the caliber of musicianship is so high. But in saying that, being surrounded by those artists pushes you to be better, to work harder at your craft. And that's where that great community vibe comes into play.
What is your all-time favorite song by another artist/band, and why?
I can’t really pick out an all time favorite song, but one of my favorites that come to mind is Johnny Clegg - Dela. It was the first song my wife and I danced to at our wedding and has been a song that resonated with me since my childhood. I challenge you to listen to that song and not want to dance.
Interview: Shreveport, LA Based RnB Artist Donalveon Discusses His New Song "Tell Me"
Shreveport, LA based R&B artist @Donalveon connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to talk about his new single “Tell Me”, which appears on his upcoming debut album “Sodium.Chromium.Uranium”, and much more.
“...here I am a 29-year-old man, living on some real grown man shit, seen some things and been through more. So I actually have something to sing about now.”
1. Your brand new single "Tell Me" is great; what inspired you to write and record it, and who produced it?
I really appreciate that! “Tell Me” was produced by Kevin Posey.
Myxr App, this great L.A. music platform is where it all started. The owner LJ Moody made the link with Kevin possible and he laced me with the track in June, I cut the record that same month. Bryan Johnson, the studio engineer for the session, came through with slick assistance by laying a dope mix on the outro that sealed the deal with me, when I heard it I knew we made something special.
The instrumental alone was on a sexy vibe, so I kind of just put myself in that mode mixed with some personal experiences, the words just fell in place. Very smooth session and I love how the track came out.
2. "Tell Me" will be featured on your upcoming debut album “Sodium.Chromium.Uranium”; what can you tell us about this project, and what are you most proud of with it?
“Tell Me” is actually the very last song added to this album! Mane if I had the pages to tell you the full story on this album I would, but in short it’s my long awaited debut and how it all came to be is what I’m most proud of!
I wanted the playlist to reflect not only just things I felt and went through, but more so the chronology of the tracklist. From start to finish, I want my fans to know Sodium is sequenced as songs I chose as early as 2007!
Yea, I literally was a 14-year-old freshman at CE Byrd in my hometown Shreveport, LA in the embryo stages of what is to eventually become my first LP. My heart kind of smiles when I think back on how far my brother(and executive producer) El “E:R” Robinson started working on this album because I wasn’t even old enough to sing some of the material that I chose to sing. My parents were strict but still trusting enough to allow me to develop my sound so it all worked out.
Fast forward unbelievably 15 years and 4 underground EPs later, here I am a 29-year-old man, living on some real grown man shit, seen some things and been through more. So I actually have something to sing about now.
This album is a life soundtrack in a sense on a sensually rhythmic tip, but it also introduces my New Age R&B sound that I plan to seep into the genre’s soundscape of tomorrow! Very galactic and strange, I use new sounds and classic reminders along the way, it’s a beautiful entry into this R&B music game!
3. How did you initially become interested in music? Have there been any artists in your life or that you heard on the radio that really motivated you to start songwriting and perfecting your craft as a musician?
I started singing at age 4 and I got initial influence from both sides of my family with music basically; my Mom’s mother was the choir director of our family church choral department for many years and almost everyone on my Dad’s side is musically inclined!
My cousins are in a classic R&B band called Profyle that went on to top the charts and it really opened my eyes at an early age to R&B; although I credit Usher and Timbaland’s work with Ginuwine and Aaliyah for inspiring me at age 5 to slide through this R&B game with my own next-era sound!
I started building my style around age 9, the same year I started writing along with the Space Age idea I worked into my brand; an angle inspired by my Dad who’s big on Sci-fi and all things time travel and it made me love futurism and incorporate it into my music.
I want what I’m doing now to become the standard or an inspiration to the standard of the R&B scene of the 2040s! New sounds, instruments, melodies, languages and foreign samples are kind of my formula to creating the magic I’m creating; no one knows what I’m going to do next!
4. When someone listens to "Tell Me" or “Sodium.Chromium.Uranium” for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience?
“Tell Me” is a straight up baby maker *laughs* so my fellas out there they have to score on me; just play this track I swear you in there!
My ladies I want them to escape for those almost 4 minutes and channel the sexiest mindset they can: it’s a time and place for everything and this track will do it, every time! I want my fans to get a prophetic R&B experience from Sodium, it’s truly like no other sound out there and I want them to know I will take R&B into another era!
5. With 2022 winding down, what are some of your goals musically for 2023?
I plan to definitely release this album in this last quarter! My birthday is November 24th and the title of this album actually represents that, just in periodic element form: Sodium 11, Chromium 24 and Uranium 92, so this album is the biggest mark on my agenda in addition to releasing visuals for the first single “Get Better” and “Tell Me” to follow.
Connect with Donalveon: TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Interview: Casey Smith of the Casey Smith Project Talks About His New Single/Video "Red Carpet"
Big thanks to Fairbanks, AK based artist Casey Smith of the Casey Smith Project who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his new single/video “Red Carpet”, and much more.
“Creatively, tapping into the sad emotion is easiest, and it can trigger me to write a beautiful tragedy. “Red Carpet” was inspired by an argument I had with someone...”
Congratulations on the release of your new single/video for "Red Carpet"; tell us about your creative process for the song's development overall and what inspired you to write it initially.
Creatively, tapping into the sad emotion is easiest, and it can trigger me to write a beautiful tragedy. “Red Carpet” was inspired by an argument I had with someone; it sucked, I felt bullied and taken advantage of.
Somehow though, I took the high road, and managed to write a song about it. Like the chorus says, “Every time it rains it’s all the same?”
How did the trio that comprised the Casey Smith Project come together? Are your two bandmates based in Alaska as well?
The core of the band currently is Scott Joyce on bass, Derek Haukaas on drums and myself. We have been together for about a year and a half in some form or another.
We all currently reside in Alaska, however, Scott and Derek both live in Anchorage and I live in Fairbanks. I met Scott through his old band, Good Hank when he lived in Fairbanks and Derek joined the band after mixing and mastering our last album, Lose Face.
Our chemistry developed quickly performing live together as Scott and Derek have similar backgrounds in music and a love for jazz.
What about "Red Carpet" sonically made it the right choice as the lead single for your upcoming album "Red Lights and Whiskey", and to shoot a music video for?
I think “Red Carpet” has all the elements I wanted in a single; it’s not overly complicated, there are lots of studio production tricks especially on the vocals, it’s groovy, sexy and it doesn’t follow any one set of rules like verse chorus etc.
“Red Carpet” has delicate acoustic guitar, heavy synths, and pop drums. I think it covers everything that I was shooting for on the new album.
I worked with Landsick Media for the music video, and they are just so fun and easy to trust. I pretty much let them run with their vision for the video and we had a blast making it.
Speaking of the upcoming album, what can you tell us about it? How many songs will be featured, and was it all self-produced and written?
There are eight tracks on the new album, “Red Lights and Whiskey”. These songs were written and recorded over a year and a half period during the pandemic at Wattage Studios in Anchorage, Alaska.
We self-produced all of the songs, wrote and arranged them by sharing demos back and forth before going into the studio. Derek Haukaas mastered the songs at Frostline Studios.
How would you say that your surroundings in Alaska, whether it be nature or the people you interact with, inspire the music that you create?
I have always been inspired by bands from the west coast. Bands like Modest Mouse, Built to Spill and Fleet Foxes. You can hear those influences on the new album.
Music from Alaska is primarily blue grass, but there are so many great bands that we love locally like Medium Build, and Matt Hopper & the Roman Candles to name just a few.
Alaska is unbelievably beautiful and pristine. Sonically, those dark winter nights and open blue skies in the summer bring a soft ambient texture to our sound and mood.
Stream and Share “Red Carpet” on Spotify
Connect with Casey Smith Project: Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp
vi0let Releases Her Debut EP "Believe Me When I Cry", Alongside Her New Single "Cream and Peaches"
Brighton-based singer-songwriter vi0let unveils her debut EP ‘Believe Me When I Cry’, alongside her beautiful new single ‘Cream & Peaches’.
Brighton-based singer-songwriter vi0let unveils her debut EP ‘Believe Me When I Cry’ alongside her beautiful new single ‘Cream & Peaches’.
Standout vocals and floating production depict those euphoric early moments of falling for someone. The soulful focus track comes as a dreamy moment on the EP, offering up a sweet 3.44 mins of escapism. Explaining more vi0let shares: "I was in the honeymoon stage with someone and one morning we woke up and it was a sunny day in Brighton. I had to go to the studio that morning so I left early, grabbed a coffee on the way and felt like I was on cloud 9. I never wanted this feeling to end, feeling so safe and comfortable.
I got in the studio and wrote Cream and Peaches in about 15 minutes, it just flowed out. It's one of my favourite songs I've ever made especially because vocally I really put myself out of my "safe zone" and it motivated me to continue to push myself with what I'm capable of doing. Cream and Peaches is a flirty and fun love letter to the honeymoon stage."
Finding solace in songwriting, vi0let has benefited greatly from the emotional outlet. The EP plays out as a coming of age journey, touching on many feelings.
Sharing more behind the EP vi0let explained: “After many years of chaos I feel like I'm finding my two feet again. I describe the EP as letters to every person in my life and it covers all the relationships in my life - some songs apply to multiple people. There have been times I've felt so much anger and frustrations at life and writing songs like Audience and Over and Over really helped me process the journey of becoming an adult. This EP has helped me communicate my thoughts and feelings and I feel it represents my personality so well, covering all aspects from love to hurt to naiveness. Musically I really pushed myself to honor some of my favourite genres, I loved blending the sexiness of R&B with the excitement pop and melancholy of soul. I'm honored to have worked with the tiny little team I have, it made every minute special."
Earlier this year, vi0let shared “Over and Over” which arrived as a sultry and dark moment that Wonderland described as Empowering and unapologetic, leading the way for ‘Audience’ which followed in July.
Emerging artist vi0let has always had a huge passion for singing as well as producing her own vocals and harmonies. Born in Germany, she spent her early years in Ireland singing, performing and immersing herself in Irish culture— her father’s country of origin. When she returned to Germany she was ready to showcase her immense potential.
She has now spent almost four years in the UK, based between Brighton and London, where she writes, records and performs her own music. She uses her songs as an open diary to help people relate to their own experiences, touching on topics such as relationships, feminism, self-love, and self-empowerment.
Blessed with a breathtaking voice and an incredible songwriting ability, she effortlessly infuses R&B, Pop and elements of Hip-Hop in her music.
Listen to vi0let’s debut EP ‘Believe Me When I Cry’, which features ‘Cream & Peaches’, below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with her on social media.
British Producer LAR Delivers His Dreamy Melodic House EP "Haze" on Monstercat
Following his transportive EP ‘Coast / Together’ with Bound to Divide and miksklim, Stockholm-based producer LAR returns to Monstercat with his deep melodic house EP, ‘Haze.’
Following his transportive EP ‘Coast / Together’ with Bound to Divide and miksklim, Stockholm-based producer LAR returns to Monstercat with his deep melodic house EP, ‘Haze.’ Spanning four soothing instrumental tracks on the package, “Haze” is backed by an elegant blend of jazz-fueled notes and calming piano chords, while “Hardway” immerses listeners in a groovy rhythm of atmospheric breakbeats. LAR continues to shine on Monstercat Silk with this package demonstrating his genre-bending palettes.
LAR shares, “I wanted to create an easy, smooth listening experience but still maintain an organic house groove."
Listen to “Haze” right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with LAR on his social media.
Review: "Funhouse Mirror" Album by Vinyl Floor
“Funhouse Mirror” shows off the good taste of Vinyl Floor for they deliver an album that has a true sense of timelessness to it. Read our in-depth review of the band’s new project now!
Danish rock band Vinyl Floor craft sophisticated, triumphant chamber pop on the downright lovely album “Funhouse Mirror”. The melodies here have a thoughtfulness to them. Lyricism seems drawn from a life lived to the fullest. Rhythms keep a steady pace always with a laid-back attitude to them. Pop reigns supreme on the album, whether it is indie pop, art pop, and other elements brought into the fray.
Instrumentally vibrant, Vinyl Floor’s interplay feels soul-affirming. So much love gets poured into each moment that is easy to get swept up into their hopefulness. For, right at the very core of thing, is a sense of hope that guides the entirety of the journey along.
There are a lot of reference points in this one. For the sheer level of fidelity that the production presents I am reminded strongly of Grizzly Bear’s early output. You can virtually hear ever single creak in the studio from them for it is that clear. The elegant verses recall some of Jon Brion’s pop work, with the urbane sensibility very much there.
Beach Boys also present a bit of Vinyl Floor’s influence, as the choruses and the emotionally complex arrangements feel just pitch perfect. All of these though are mere touchstones, as what they create from these points is something quite uniquely their own.
The quite literal fanfare of “Anything You Want” opens things up in a majestic sweeping fashion. With a hint of playfulness to it, “Click with No Hands” spins about in a theatrical way. Contemplation reigns supreme on “Between Lines Undone”. Elements of jazz pop on through “Dear Apollon” which has an old-school Ben Folds Five aspect to it.
Aptly named “Ever, The Optimist” rolls on through with gleeful abandon, all the way down to that perfect percussion. Vocals soar up to the sky on the epic “Pretty Predictable”. Easily the highlight comes through on the title track “Funhouse Mirror”. Little snippets of nostalgia poke through. Quite an expansive work they end the album off with the ambitious “Days”.
“Funhouse Mirror” shows off the good taste of Vinyl Floor for they deliver an album that has a true sense of timelessness to it.
Stream and Share “Funhouse Mirror” on Spotify
Interview: Danish Rock Band Vinyl Floor Discuss Their New Album "Funhouse Mirror"
Thomas Charlie Pedersen & Daniel Pedersen of the Danish rock band @VinylFloorband connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to discuss their newly released album “Funhouse Mirror”, and much more.
“During the demo process I brought in the song ‘Funhouse Mirror’ and it kind of seemed to wrap up the entire feel of the album in just three verses. We´ve always tried to come up with album titles which weren´t the title of one of the tracks but this time it seemed to fit.”
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new album "Funhouse Mirror"; tell us about your creative process for the development of its ten songs, and how long it took to complete the project.
Thomas Charlie Pedersen: Thank you! I think we started out demoing songs for ‘Funhouse Mirror’ during 2019. When we did the demos for our ‘Apogee’ album way back in 2015/2016 we quickly discovered that we had one batch of rock songs and a different batch of songs & ideas for a somewhat more mellow and melodic album but also material which was a bit more dramatic in texture and which perhaps demanded bigger arrangements.
Thus, we decided to do the first batch for ‘Apogee’ and save the rest for later. I seem to recall songs like ‘Between Lines Undone’, ‘Dear Apollon’ & ‘Death of a Poet’ were already in the 2015 batch. At least as instrumentals. The work on ‘Funhouse Mirror’ intensified and really took off during lockdown in 2020. We don´t do a lot of talking, we kind of instinctively know what to do.
I wrote a lot during that time, mainly as a way for me to stay sane and focused. We also did some writing together and demoed the songs in different versions.
Songs like ‘Death of a Poet’ and especially ‘Pretty Predictable’ have been through many stages and different versions. So, yeah, it actually started out as a left-over project and we always spend a lot of time on the demos.
The album preparations took years but once we hit the studio we knew exactly what we wanted to do and it was recorded fairly quick.
What inspired the title of the album, "Funhouse Mirror", and would you say that there is an overarching concept or theme throughout the songs?
During the demo process I brought in the song ‘Funhouse Mirror’ and it kind of seemed to wrap up the entire feel of the album in just three verses. We´ve always tried to come up with album titles which weren´t the title of one of the tracks but this time it seemed to fit.
The album had quite a few working titles until Daniel got the idea of making a funhouse mirror the theme for the artwork. During lockdown it felt as if we were living in some kind of parallel world and everything just felt so uncertain. I wouldn´t say we decidedly aimed for an album concept since we did talk about our desires to avoid just that, but again, it seemed to fit. Daniel suggested that we put ourselves on the front cover for once and that we presented some sort of distorted image of ourselves.
The album deals a lot with communication and some of the lyrics deal with how easy it has become to be misunderstood on social media platforms. Humans are generally quick to judge one another and you will set foot on not very solid ground if you don´t tread carefully. I would say there´s a certain theme running through the album – especially during the second half.
At what point when you both were younger did you first discover your love of music and that you were talented enough to make it your career?
Being brothers and being raised in a musical family with instruments laying around everywhere it was something that perhaps was just supposed to happen. I think I started drumming at the age of five and Daniel likewise so.
When I was three and before Daniel was even born, our father took me to a show in Copenhagen to see the Swedish singer Björn Afzelius. That was my first concert and something I still remember vividly. I discovered I wanted to play myself. I spent years just noodling around with instruments, curious, self-taught. It wasn´t until I became a teenager that I found out that songwriting could be the thing for me, the one thing I should try and figure out.
Already in high school I played with people who were much better musicians than me, so I decided that writing songs might make a difference. I´m sure Daniel has felt much the same way. And we still love doing it. Though the band is still pretty much underground, I might add. And by the way, I fricking still love Björn Afzelius.
What does the band name, Vinyl Floor, represent and how did it originate?
It doesn´t really mean anything and some days I think it´s a silly name haha but you’ve got to call it something, right? It probably does represent our love for vinyl records though and if I remember correctly I came up with the name when I visited Daniel one day and he was sorting some records lying on the floor. He lives in an apartment on the first floor so we both thought, well that´s it. We do opt for a vintage sound when we write and record so maybe we could have done worse with it.
With the album now released, what can we expect next musically from Vinyl Floor? Also, with the world opening back up now, are you planning to tour a lot in 2023?
Because we take our time with the preparations for a record we´re always ahead songwriting-wise which means that we already have new songs in the can as we speak. We´re in the very early stages of discovering what exactly we´ve got so I don´t know which direction we will go from here.
The variety of ‘Funhouse Mirror’ can take us down many paths, I believe. I could envision us doing a more low-key, folky record. Or maybe a weird record in which we do some more experimenting. I´d love for that to happen. Either way, I do think we have some wonderful stuff waiting around. And we might go out and perform acoustically as a duo. We´ve talked about that so we´ll see. Come 2023 I´m sure we also will be recording new demos once again.
DJ/Producer Maggie Tra Delivers Her Introspective New Album "Kingdom of Her"
Australian born Khmer/Vietnamese producer @MaggieTra delivers a project filled with substance, graft and timeless Cambodian cultural influences with her debut introspective album ‘Kingdom of Her’ (K.O.H).
Maggie Tra continues to demonstrate why she’s one of the most highly regarded artists today, and it seems that her versatility and creativity knows no bounds. Australian born Khmer/Vietnamese producer Maggie Tra delivers a project filled with substance, graft and timeless Cambodian cultural influences with her debut introspective album ‘Kingdom of Her’ (K.O.H).
Walking through the album, the contrast in sounds, styles and vision is vast and refreshing. From Electronic, Disco, Techno to Experimental to Meditative Ambient, Maggie pours her heart and soul into K.O.H that brings forth suffering, growth and falling into acceptance, softness and eventually being grounded.
Going back to her roots and her foundational sounds, the 10-track album is a homage to her Cambodian upbringing. With her dark Asian skin and strength from growing up with a single mother, the album is a homage to her mum and The Kingdom of Cambodia which is what inspired the album name.
K.O.H has field recordings from hospital visits with her mum and Khmer interpreter in ‘Tra Family,’ a dark eerie ambient track that follows her mother’s heartbeat as Maggie founds out that her mum’s heart is failing her. To ‘Strong Srey’ where the Khmer vocals prayers repeat ‘the right path’ underneath a Techno beat that represents Maggie’s struggle with anxiety and people pleasing, alongside her current need to be better and strong but also soft to survive in the world. The lead single ‘Kingdom of Her’ is a dance-disco beat that channels the fun and ever-loving character that Maggie omits into the world. A song that represents that the foundation she builds are fun, loving and playful.
“This album is me in its purest forms, from working on it during a heart-break, to then my mum suffering from a heart-attack, those elements pushed me to follow my own true path, my own heart as it will. And to no longer suffer at the hands of others, my ancestors and parent’s trauma that they passed down to me”.
“I want this album to represent a lot of first generation kids who grow up wanting to change and break the cycle that our Asian parents bestow upon us. We can learn so many patterns from our families, and this album is me breaking the cycle. It’s me liberating myself from my past”.
K.O.H is the beginning of a new phase in Maggie’s evolution as an artist. From humble beginnings Maggie continues to embrace her culture by representing her birth countries and ancestry bringing forth awareness to South East Asia and beyond.
Following what’s already been a successful run for the multi-talented artist, Maggie’s infamous debut EP ‘U.L.A’ brought the emerging producer to the forefront where she was featured on DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Bandcamp, Mixmag Asia, NTS and Worldwide FM. She’s released singles with labels FuFu Records, Shika Shika Collective & Juba’s Assurance Compilation.
With music as her home, Maggie is also the founder of music label & collective SYS Sister Sounds which aims to release music from Asian female and non-binary music producers. Her persistence to fight for equality and to provide a platform for emerging Asian artists’ stand with the time is unsurpassed.
A weaver of musical fibres, her creations entwine melody, genres and tempos to create her own tapestries.
Vibe out to Maggie’s new album “Kingdom of Her” right now and connect with her on social media.
Connect with Maggie Tra: Twitter | Soundcloud | Facebook