Psychedelic Prog Rock Quartet What Strange Beasts Unveil Their 26-Track Album "Starlight's Castaways"

Psychedelic prog rock quartet What Strange Beasts may hail from Washington, but they have their sights set for deep space on their dazzling, sprawling new 26-track album "Starlight's Castaways", out now on streaming platforms. Made up of a group of friends who connect like family, this band tackles deep subject matter, science, philosophy and the human predicament with ample emotion and personal touch. Lyrically and musically, they are in sync and collectively setting the controls for the heart of the Sun.

From the band: "When we write a song, it's personal. It's always personal. The characters and concepts in the music are metaphors for emotions we are all experiencing to varying degrees and the stories give us a way forward with those feelings."

On their seemingly quantum entangled connection, Aaron Kremer says "The chords for Ocean Glass came to be in response to a long time relationship fading away, and wishing that wasn't so. While playing it one day in the rehearsal space, Ben started singing words about trying to reconnect with someone, someone not spoken to in a long while. Stopped playing and asked him "How'd you know that's what this song is about?" "I could tell by the chords you were playing," he said.

Jonathan added lyrics from his own similar experience, and Mo added both gentle and searing lines that fit the theme perfectly That's the level of connection and communication between all of us"

A thematic sequel to their immersive debut album "The Maestro's Tale", "Starlight's Castaways" showcases What Strange Beasts as a formidable melodic force, brimming with vocal harmonies, celestial arrangements and an ever-pulsing rhythm section. Ample technical wizardry abounds, and yet you get the clear impression that these are real people with real emotion behind the curtain.

"We built this album around a space theme to reflect on feelings of distance, isolation, loss, introspection, and ultimately the relief of interpersonal connection. We wrote that which we felt while hunkered down in our own 'space ships' through the harrowing trials, and the few stolen moments of joy, of a global pandemic. As a lyric notes: "Every hour's a gift: The signals, the noise, the sorrows and joys.""~ Jonathan Maxwell

"Because of the pandemic, instead of playing live, all we could do was write. And so what wrote what was on our minds and in our hearts. Six feet apart in a garage with masks on, we pressed forward, adding more and more as time went on. And once more, what seemed like an eclectic and disparate bucket of ideas from the four quadrants of our galaxy came together like a kind of cohesive constellation that pointed a way toward the stars. Our grief and frustration was punctuated by wry humor and a persistent hope that we would all find our way--together.

"And maybe it's best to let sleeping dogs lie / You can't clear away all the clouds in the sky."" ~ Benjamin Ruby

Listen to "Starlight's Castaways" now and connect with the band on their social media.

Connect with What Strange Beasts: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

NYC Multi-Instrumentalist Musician Andrea Ward Shares Her Newly Released Album "Ribbon of Water"

NYC multi-instrumentalist musician, dancer, choreographer, filmmaker and untethered mystic Andrea Ward occupies a realm all her own. This one-of-a-kind artist merges music and movement as one on ethereal, wholly atypical, label-defying album "Ribbon of Water", out now. Undisturbed and unaffected by current trends, Andrea Ward's uniquely inspired musical alchemy melds a harmonious collection of subgenres, drawing inspiration from Icelandic Pop, Norwegian Rock, Experimental, Alternative Pop, Permanent Wave and Avant-Garde sounds. Not succumbing to stylistic limitations helps Andrea uses music as a tool to delve deep within, to welcome the dark, broken aspects of our selves and let go of that which we cannot control.

About the new release, Andrea shares “The album is influenced by water, and water is the ultimate guide for letting go, for yielding to forces beyond our control. I developed injuries this year and came to a point where my body broke down from anything, and my voice as well. Unable to do a lot of things and unable to speak, I was forced to relinquish control of life, and just flow. One song on the album is “Visiting Rooms,” inspired by Alzheimer’s which runs in the family. It’s just about visiting the different rooms of consciousness, and of life, as if we’re all walking each other through experiences that slowly teach us to let go, which is what we’ll have to do completely in the end. And each experience leaves a mark on us, mentally, physically, and I can look at a person and see the way that life has beaten them up, has shaped them. It’s made me proud of my broken-ness in a way. It makes life’s endeavors all the more meaningful when we’re dealing with limitations. When I think of life as something that’s slowly devouring me, slipping me away, it makes me want to give myself to life all the more."

By combining musicality with her immense knowledge of movement and a direct, intimate relationship with the subconscious mind, Andrea Ward speaks her truth from a wellspring of great depth and limitless creative energy. With a creative spark that greets reality yet borders on the esoteric, Andrea's work encompasses a unique and sacred space all it's own for listeners to access.

Life often imitates art, and this was the case in Andrea's life. In December, the house she recorded the album in burned down, the same week that she'd decided to let go of some massive ideas about life.

"I had just done a meditation that night of painfully saying goodbye to ideas and projects I had once held closely to my life plan. It was Dave Pelletier's house, basically a majestic art sanctuary in the woods he had built 20 years ago. Jump ahead 20 years and I met Dave by such interesting means. I was traveling through Europe and needed a place to settle to record. I intended to stay for a few months, I ended up staying for a year. We were connected in really deep ways. I created absolutely everything there, the music videos, the underwater footage, I threw Dave's drum set in the pool for some cool underwater shots, I healed my spine there, I healed my grief. Dave is like no other human being. His channels are all open, plants grow faster around him, technology goes haywire...That house, and the fact that it's no longer there, makes the memory of my time there even more of an enigma. The way that art projects assembled quickly in that house was as if the Earth energy was stronger there, or maybe the house had escaped the modern conventional world. I feel that Dave saved my life. He saved my life and I burned his house down! Just kidding, we don't know how the fire happened, but Dave was really strong through it all, losing such special works of art, incredible paintings and sculptures. The designer of the house (Steven Henry Lee) claimed it was his big "Magnum Opus." For me the fire was like a wild animal, like nature throwing its divine fit. It's not like the anger that throws dishes across the room. It's simply a shove out the door, and a wordless thank you for the time spent.”

Listen to “Ribbon of Water” now, and connect with Andrea Ward on her website and social media.

Stream and Share “Ribbon of Water” on Bandcamp

Connect with Andrea Ward: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Hannibal Buress and Skyzoo to Join Little Brother's Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh for 20th Anniversary Tour

Legendary Hip-Hop group Little Brother released their seminal debut album The Listening on February 25th, 2003. Ranked among Rolling Stone's "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time", The Listening helmed a pre-social media era where Alternative Rap found its audience through online message boards, and helped pioneer "grown man" or "every man" Rap relating to the working-class and everyday person.

This year, Little Brother co-founders Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh will celebrate the masterwork's 20th anniversary with a special four-city tour stopping in San Diego, California on Friday, March 3rd; Santa Ana, California on Saturday, March 4th; Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday, March 16; and Brooklyn, New York on Friday, March 17.

The San Diego show on March 3rd will feature a special opening DJ set by Soulection's AbJo, while comedian Hannibal Buress (aka rapper and instrumentalist Eshu Tune) will open in Santa Ana on March 4th. Brooklyn's own Skyzoo will join the the March 16 and March 17 shows in New York and Boston, respectively.

Tickets can be purchased here.

The group's new documentary May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story is coming later this year.

Connect with Little Brother: Website | Instagram | Twitter

The Dimitris Kakavoulis Quartet Will Unveil Their Debut Album, "Curves", on March 3rd

There are no straight lines, only curves — This is the conceptual basis of the debut album from the Dimitris Kakavoulis Quartet, captured in the recording studio over a decade ago, now released officially in collaboration with Thinkbabymusic Collective.

The quartet’s discernible style stems from several musical traditions, while undoubtedly derived from mid—to—late 20th century African American idioms, which themselves are an amalgamation of earlier and more traditional genres of various forms, there is a paradoxical element that renders through their sound; one that could be studied in the Western and European sense i.e. through music notation and theory, as has been the case in the academic industry, but also one that can be perceived as an oral tradition via the African culture. A live bearer of meaning and custom that is only communicated orally like it has been shown to occur in the wider African region in tribal culture, where written word has been absent for millennia and yet the cultural norms and existential suppositions survive in a vivid way, seemingly intact.

Composition is the vehicle through which one can unleash their creative potential and, though musical traditions, can serve to differentiate themselves from what has already been, and find their own voice. In improvised music, it is often thought that there is endless freedom and choice of what one may play at any given time, whether a progression, vamp, or orchestration; but in the true search for meaning, one will invariably choose the musical structure that they’ve committed to as its’ foundation, almost in a religious or ideological sense. For Dimitris Kakavoulis, this was communicated through original compositions finding their own unique means of expression.

The recording session came about unbeknownst to its members, having set out to record a demo in order to book a few live performances. One single studio session was booked for this purpose, a six-hour session in June of 2011, where they set up and tested for two hours, and left the remaining time purely to play and run takes. The band had only been together for a few months before that, but all the members had worked together before in various projects, the chemistry was there.

The session featured Dimitris Kollias on tenor saxophone, Dimitris Kakavoulis on piano, Pericles Trivolis on double bass and Leandros Fratnik on drums. In a meeting leading up to the session, the band was going over key points relating to the structure of the compositions where drummer Leandros, a man of few words, proclaimed: “I think we all know what to do”. This statement ultimately wrapped up what may be described as the main preparation for the session. Eight tracks were intended to be recorded that day, and one or two takes were eventually done of each composition, except for “Conviction in Blue” which was played three times. It was important to the band not to go through repetitive takes, not only did the time available not permit it, but the improvised sections would lose their most vital elements such as spontaneity, the element of surprise or self, and the creative energy of novel exploration.

The vibe was amazing and the execution was great. Shortly afterwards, it was decided this experience was to be turned into a release and include 7 of the 8 tracks recorded on that session. With no artistic or commercial direction, and no involvement from a record label or producer, the result was a self—produced and self—funded CD in 2012, with the cover art based on photographs by Fotini Romaliadou, shot in a strange cave somewhere in Cyprus. Ironically, the band never booked too many shows after this, and never managed to get the artistic support necessary to maintain the momentum created by this project. Other factors that contributed to this was the expatriation of Dimitris Kakavoulis for not less than 20 months.

However, a strange curve in the time—space realm would indeed become visible, despite the interval between the recording of this project and the present time, it appears that a meeting point was approaching between two separate entities without any previous knowledge of one another, preconception or foresight. The artist, Dimitris Kakavoulis, and Thinkbabymusic Collective; a label that has shown a true appreciation of the work, an honest comprehension of the musical and aesthetic concept, and a taste for sound. This release marks the beginning of a new collaboration that will serve as the springboard towards new projects of similar and diverse productions in the near future.

Pre-order the album on Bandcamp HERE, and connect with the Dimitris Kakavoulis Quartet on the Thinkbabymusic Collective website.

Connect with Dimitris Kakavoulis Quartet: Website

Interview: The Velvoids Discuss Their Latest Single "While You Shine"

“In 2022 we had pretty much decided on the tracks for the new album and finished recording everything when we rediscovered “Shine” on the Tascam, it was just a keyboard melody and a guitar vamping on C, so we started messing around with it.”

— Vice, The Velvoids

Congratulations on the release of the band's incredible new single "While You Shine"; tell us about your creative process for the track, especially with 2 new bandmates added to the group, and the restrictions you were under during the CV lockdowns.

Thanks! “Shine” was done during a series of home recordings Dorah and I did shortly after those lockdowns happened in 2020, our album ‘MOTHER’ had just come out in late March of that year and we were suddenly locked indoors, it was bizarre. We eventually recorded a bunch of songs and when the lockdowns lifted, we had about 3 or 4 artists on our label looking to put out new material they’d also done during that time, so our project kind of took a back seat for a while.

In 2022 we had pretty much decided on the tracks for the new album and finished recording everything when we rediscovered “Shine” on the Tascam, it was just a keyboard melody and a guitar vamping on C, so we started messing around with it. I was also involved with the individual solo projects from both Yorgos Elàson and George Sapuntzis, which gradually turned into hanging out together more until things just clicked and we ended up playing together.

We were as restricted as anyone else during that period, it just so happened we had a couple decent microphones lying around along with a 24-track, all our gear was there, it was inevitable.

Speaking of the new bandmates, George and Yorgos, how was it decided that they would be essential additions to the 2-piece?

George (Sapuntzis) got in touch with me last year about a project he was working on, which I got involved in because it’s phenomenal, and I ended up co-producing it with him. I had known him scarcely for a few years but we got close after that, I think I just called him one day and asked if he wanted to swing by and do some guitars on the song. As a guitarist, I’m generally into the basics like finding a good rhythmic part or creating situations, I like playing around the melody while my use of pedals extends to a Fuzz Factory, a Crybaby, and my Boss tuner. George is far more well-rounded as a player and into exploring the sonic potential of a song in a totally different way, he’s got his 20-something pedals going which brings a unique tone to the band.

I’ve known Yorgos (Elàson) for 20 years, he was the guitarist with our band back in 2003 when we were starting out, such a talented musician on so many levels. We collaborated on one of his solo tracks last year during a 12-hour session in his studio, there’s a good flow when we’re creating, it took off from there.

As of now, do you expect that "While You Shine" will be featured on your upcoming album due out later this year? Also, can we expect a music video for it?

Not really, “Shine” wasn’t intended on being on the album, those songs are pretty different in vibe and feel, but yea, we could potentially do a video for it, everybody’s into it.

What can you tell us about the album thus far? How many songs have been completed and do you have a working title yet?

We did 15 songs on those home recordings but we’re putting out about 8. (Laughs) yea I’ve had a working title for it from the start but no one else in the band likes it.

The new stuff is pretty much a continuation of what we’ve been doing, maybe stripped down more, sonically, considering the circumstances they were recorded in. We’re also tweaking a few things with George and Yorgos aboard now.

How do you go about sequencing your albums? Using "Mother" as an example, why did you decide to place "Let It Breathe" as the first song, followed by "Annah", and end the tracklist with "Psycho Death Poem"?

We'll usually put out the songs in the order that we record them in, we've gotten used to it and probably prefer it. We tend to write most of the material while we're tracking it so the sequence plays a role in all that.

On ‘Mother’, we just took on those songs in that particular order. ‘Psycho Death Poem’ was a track I surprised Dorah with because I wrote it for her, that’s why it’s last.

Stream and Share “MOTHER” on Spotify

Connect with The Velvoids: Instagram | Facebook

Interview: Denver Rap Artist DD Talks About His New Single/Video "Came A Long Way"

“I just focus on me, as I’m way different than the rappers around me and don’t care about what they are doing. P.S. I don’t really like other rappers lol”

— DD

Big salute to you on the release of your new single "Came A Long Way"; tell us about your creative process from a lyrical perspective and what inspired the song itself.

Thank you! The main inspiration behind the creative process and lyrical perspective was mainly to illustrate how I myself have made big progress by being consistent and most importantly getting up when life knocks you down. We all know life can get hard!

To add onto that, the viewer also can relate if they have been on the same path as well and they could see themselves in me, which is the entire goal and purpose of the song.

@directorave did not just produce "Came A Long Way", but he shot and directed the visual as well. How did you and he connect with each other, and why did you decide to film a clip for it?

I've known @directorave for 5+ years and we have made many songs and music videos together. We decided to film this and make this song as @directorave was moving away from Denver where we stayed at the time to LA to progress in his videography career.

We felt this song would be a good ending to us being around each other everyday for years. That's the main inspiration behind why we shot this.

Will "Came A Long Way" be featured on an upcoming EP or album this year? If not, do you have another track pending release soon?

Possibly, in the lab cooking up new songs daily, it could be an absolute possibility y’all will see "Came A Long Way" on the next EP/Album.

Tell us about the rap music scene in Denver; are there a lot of venues for artists to perform at and is there a huge fan base of the genre there?

The rap scene in Denver is pretty tricky. I'd say there are a lot of venues and a lot of artists, but no one has ever really broken out of the scene here, meaning, being known on a national level.

To be honest, I don't really follow the scene here, I just focus on me, as I'm way different than the rappers around me and don't care about what they are doing. P.S. I don't really like other rappers lol

With “Came A Long Way” now available for the world to hear and see, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of the year?

My main goal is to have 3-4 more high quality videos shot and released as well as drop an album or EP before years end.

To add to that, since I'm independent and doing all marketing myself with my own money, another goal would be to become a better marketer and understand the music business as a whole on a deeper level, as we all know this industry is 90% business/marketing and 10% music. That 10% music assumes you have great content.

Connect with DD: Website | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok

Alt-Indie Pop Artist RIZ LA VIE Shares His Debut LP "Haven", Plus Title Track and Video

Los Angeles-based alt-pop musician RIZ LA VIE shares his highly anticipated debut album “Haven” out everywhere now including a limited run on vinyl. Alongside the release, LA VIE shares the album's title track with an accompanying video. Plus, RIZ LA VIE will hit the road across North America this spring on The World Could Be A Haven Tour beginning in Phoenix, AZ with support from Johan Lenox and Ayleen Valentine. Tickets are on sale now, along with brand new merch.

The album's title track explores loss, but even in the deepest depths of sadness, it sees LA VIE determined to find the silver lining. The track swiftly embodies the thesis of the album as its themes speak to the album as a. whole. On its subject matter and overall message, LA VIE explains, "The lyrics speak to the choice one can make to not dwell on negative emotions, but instead to find refuge in the power of one's own mind. The message is one of personal strength and the constant effort needed to nurture one's own inner haven."

Its accompanying video, directed by Quinton Dominguez, opens with LA VIE seated in a movie theater, ready to watch a movie of his newfound life in Los Angeles. The film and the track's lyrics follow LA VIE's emotional effort to hold onto optimism, freedom and safety. Dominquez explains, "Reflecting the framework of the mind in real time, 'Haven' takes us on a trip through RIZ’s world in LA." The director continues, "We collaborated on this video over a period of 4 months, putting our energy into making an expansive video that encapsulates RIZ LA VIE in his current form."

With “Haven”, RIZ LA VIE expands on the vibrant sonic world he's built with previous releases, but this time, shares more of himself with his fans. Experimenting with new production elements and blending genres, LA VIE pushes boundaries like never before, culminating in his most realized, ambitious work to date. Over 15 tracks, LA VIE embarks on a search for a sense of safety and security, both internally and externally–within himself, in his relationships, community, environment, and in the world at large. "The album," explains LA VIE, "reflects my journey facing the struggles of trying to find a home in a city like New York, during a recession and eventually having to move to another city like Los Angeles. It showcases the ups and downs of forming new connections, and the impact of losing some friends temporarily and some permanently, both for the better and for the worse."

In perpetual pursuit of hope and optimism, the project chronicles LA VIE's courage in the face of adversity as he ultimately discovers his own strength and confidence. LA VIE continues, "The album also expresses my determination to not fall victim to fear-mongering, and trying to find light and positivity in difficult times."

Collaborators on the album include Vic Wainstein (Tyler the Creator, Mac Miller), Daniel Hartzog (Tom the Mailman, ericdoa), Lucy Blomkamp (6LACK, Mallrat) and Johan Lenox (BROCKHAMPTON, Metro Boomin, Shawn Mendes). It was mixed by KES (Ed Sheeran, Jacob Banks) and mastered by Mike Bozzi (Kendrick Lamar, Steve Lacy).

Speaking to the album title, LA VIE explains, "It evokes imagery of a safe place for boats and ships, representing the artist's journey as a metaphor for their own life journey, much like a ship navigating through storms and troubled waters to find a safe haven. The album is a reflection of the journey the artist had to go through to find that inner and outer peace and stability, and it comes across as an album that is relatable, reflective and empowering."

The previously shared single "FYP," offers LA VIE the space to express the discomfort and fear that accompany a cross-country move, and the aftermath of leaving home to land in a new environment, surrounded by new people while the place he once called home remains. LA VIE says the track, "is a representation of my love affair with New York City, even while living in Los Angeles. It reflects my feelings of longing, FOMO, and passion as I see my beloved city moving on without me, such as through concerts and billboards, while LA tries to capture my attention. It's a story of my longing for my true home and my deep emotional connection to it."

Listen to the “Haven” album now, get your tour tickets HERE, and connect with RIZ LA VIE on his website and social media.

Stream and Share “Haven”

Connect with RIZ LA VIE: Website | Twitter | Instagram

London Based Alt-Pop Duo REYKO Unveil Their Third Album "Fantasía"

REYKO - a London based alt-pop duo composed of Spaniards Soleil and Igor - have gathered a loyal fanbase and millions of streams in the last few years with their eclectic, genre-defying amalgam of ridiculously infectious pop songs and inventive, quirky sounds inspired by anything from psychedelic pop, electronica to art-punk. You have probably already heard many of REYKO's songs in a series or a commercial– 'Cruel Summer', 'Élite' or 'Toy Boy', just to name a few – but you just don't know that you did.

After spending last year touring the UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Spain and Serbia to promote their second album 'Pulse', now REYKO present 'Fantasía', their highly anticipated third effort. Just like the album's artwork, with 'Fantasía' REYKO have created a multicolour universe: a kind of collage of themes, sounds and styles that, when you listen to it, takes you on a trip through the duos inspirations, seen through Soleil's and Igor's eyes. Glimpses of influences that can be heard in the duo's sounds are as wide-ranging as Jane Birkin, Beatles, Kraftwerk, Ramones, Manu Chao or Billie Eilish.

In 'Fantasía', there are songs sung in English, and others sung in Spanish. There's even a couple of instrumentals, such as the album closer '6pm'. There are love stories (the opener 'Tú y Yo'), euphoric anthems (the luminous 'Already There'), tales of heartbreak (the jazzy 'Josephine') and romantic ballads ('Siempre Estaré Contigo'). There's psychedelic electronica, fuzzy rock guitars and jazzy pianos. In 'Fantasía', REYKO opens the door to their own world, full of overlapping layers. The world created by Soleil and Igor is, after all, a big celebration of life with all its ups and downs, angles and nuances.

Listen to 'Fantasía' now and connect with REYKO on their website and social media.

Connect with REYKO: Website | Instagram | Twitter

NxtNow Unveils Its Independent Artist and Music Producer Focused Music Accelerator

NxtNow is excited to announce the launch of its pioneering new platform, which is the world's largest directory of free and low-cost tools and resources for independent artists and music producers. NxtNow’s Music Accelerator is a cutting-edge website designed for music creatives that makes it easier for them to find what they need by gathering everything in one convenient location.

According to the website's co-founder, Carlton Boyd, "We created the Music Accelerator to make it as simple as possible for artists and producers to find relevant tools and resources for their musical careers. Time is money, and they should be focused on making the best music possible rather than spending hours online searching."

What is the Music Accelerator?

The revolutionary Music Accelerator is a collection of growing databases that contain extremely valuable information that a musician, band, or music producer would require to begin making music, establish themselves as a brand, grow a fan base, and generate revenue from their musical creations.

Furthermore, the carefully curated directory is designed to generate a wide range of useful searches, as well as a music submission list that is filtered by music genre and lists 500+ platforms.

The need to manually search through traditional search engines for hours on end is now a thing of the past thanks to NxtNow's Music Accelerator, which provides musical creatives with the tools and resources they require quickly, effectively, and easily.

How does the Music Accelerator work?

The Music Accelerator is simple to use, and musical creators can get started in four simple steps.

1. Users can choose to pay a one-time fee for all databases or subscribe to a low-cost monthly subscription.

2. Gain access to the live Airtable databases.

3. Search and discover the tools, resources, services, and music platforms they will need.

4. Users are notified via email when updates are made to the databases.

By musicians for musicians, NxtNow’s Music Accelerator was developed to centralize and streamline the search for essential resources. The Music Accelerator has "All the Best Music Tools and Resources You Need to Take Your Music Career to the Next Level," as the company motto puts it.

The NxtNow Music Accelerator team invites music creators to browse their website for more information on this exclusive directory of cost-effective and free tools and resources.

About NxtNow: NxtNow was founded by Charles Shaw, Carlton Boyd, Muhan Song, and Josh Whyte to drive connectivity throughout the music industry, particularly with music fans, emerging artists, producers and relevant brands.

Musical creatives are able to showcase their music on the NxtNow Music website, and will be able to connect directly with music fans, brands and other musicians through the NxtNow mobile app, which is currently in development.

Connect with NxtNow: Website | Instagram | Twitter

French Sisters Ibeyi Make Their American Live Return With March and April Tour

French sisters Ibeyi will start their highly-anticipated North American headline tour dates in Los Angeles on March 10th. Following their third album Spell 31 released last May and the unfortunate postponement of their American tour, Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz will finally bring their powerful new show, including a full live band, to fourteen major American cities. See all live tour dates on their website: https://ibeyimusic.com/tour/

Ibeyi’s latest release Spell 31 included songs “Lavender & Red Roses” featuring Jorja Smith, the beautiful “Sister 2 Sister”, and the phenomenal “Made of Gold,” which features Gambian-British rapper Pa Salieu. “Ibeyi’s Spell 31 is Ibeyi’s boldest offering yet, an antidote to apathy in a divided world,” explains activist and storyteller Janaya Future Khan in an essay on Spell 31. Read the full essay here.

After tackling subjects like womanhood, racism, and activism on their 2017 release Ash and familial history, death and origins on their 2015 self-titled release, on Spell 31 the twins set out to remobilize the power of their birth given destiny as Ibeyi, which has led them on a path to restoration in pursuit of true harmony, healing and magic. Featuring 10 new songs, written by Ibeyi, who worked again with their long-time producer Richard Russell (Ash, Ibeyi), over the course of 2021 in London, Spell 31 features appearances from Jorja Smith, Pa Salieu, BERWYN, Ibeyi’s father and mother and a reimagining of Black Flag’s “Rise Above.”

Ibeyi North American Spell 31 tour:

Fri 3.10 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent

Sat 3.11 - San Diego, CA @ Music Box

Sun 3.12 - San Francisco, CA @ August Hall

Tue 3.14 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater

Wed 3.15 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

Sat 3.18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater

Sun 3.19 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall

Thu 3.23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

Fri 3.24 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

Sat 3.25 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live

Sun 3.26 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

Tue 3.28 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat’s Cradle

Wed 3.29 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West

Sun 4.02 - Miami, FL @ Miami Beach Bandshell

More on Ibeyi:

Since the release of their critically-acclaimed sophomore album Ash and the duo’s globally acclaimed, eponymous debut album, Ibeyi’s music has garnered fans and collaborators in some of the most iconic artists of today including Beyoncé, Residente, Alvin Ailey, JR, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Prince, Roy Hargrove, Adele, Kamasi Washington, David Byrne and Emicida; a result of Ibeyi’s uniquely, captivating blend of Yoruban music with modern jazz, pop, electronic, soul and hip-hop. Their music and original compositions have been featured in the films ROMA and How to Stop a Recurring Dream, and in campaigns for Chanel, Nike, and Louis Vuitton.

Connect with Ibeyi: Website | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook

Stream "Dead Reckoning", the New Album by Canadian Singer-Songwriter Kate Fenner

Canadian singer-songwriter and lionhearted truth teller Kate Fenner's new album "Dead Reckoning" carries the existential weight of life, death and shared trauma on it's shoulders, and as such becomes a challenge to sum up in words. It's the palpable and unprecedented depth of the emotion and raw energy that is Kate Fenner's currency here. When facing genuine hardship, wisdom may rear it's elusive head and all else seems trivial compared to it's looming presence. Out of struggle and self-reflection, Kate Fenner has created an album beyond simplistic definitions and worthy of study. Kate's uniquely powerful voice is both haunting and fragile throughout. For anyone dealing with loss, death or the relentless struggle in between, there are ample gems to discover throughout "Dead Reckoning". In the tradition of artists like Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Patti Smith, this is indeed serious music dealing with intensely human themes.

Warren Zanes on Kate Fenner’s Dead Reckoning: "Dead Reckoning approaches the territory of popular music as a notably wide territory, establishing outposts in a number of traditions without ever settling anywhere. Perhaps because this type of nomadism is a liability in the marketplace—where in the shop do we put this recording?--we don’t see it as much as we once did, and it’s music’s loss. The sheer scope of Dead Reckoning struck me. As pianist Jason Moran so rightly puts it, Kate Fenner’s songs “think beyond region.” It’s an arresting effect that found me unable to place this music and grateful for that.

Dead Reckoning has elegance about it. While it has moments that are elemental, just voice and piano, it also goes big when a song’s emotion calls for it. At times there’s a grandeur in the layered sound that reminds me of Dusty Springfield’s best, some of Leonard Cohen’s most memorable, even if it resembles neither. In the way Dead Reckoning suggests certain musical pasts (even as it dislocates them), whether girl group harmonies or nineties drum loops, the recording has a sophistication to its knowingness. There’s a hauntedness to the beautiful, almost Beatles-like madness of “Soul-maker,” the distant background vocals on “Cautionary Tale” and “Son of a Gun,” producer Scotty Hard’s piano and string arrangements animating “Received Wisdom”. And while the cast of musicians includes several of New York’s most notable players, at the center of it all is Kate Fenner’s voice, as singer and writer. As Hard puts it, “Her voice is so powerful, in both subtlety and dynamics. As I kept saying to the band while we were tracking the basics, ‘Just follow Kate’s voice. She’ll show you the way’.”

Unsurprisingly, Kate's singing style falls outside the easy categorizations by genre that so often organize voices, particularly women’s voices: R&B, Americana, Pop. There’s a homelessness to her singing style. She’s in very good company in this regard. Like the handful of singers who faced the “what is this?” reaction to their individuality as singers--Dylan being the most notable, but Morrissey, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Waits being others--Kate sounds too much like herself to be stored under any other name. There are beautiful swells, emotional peaks, just as there are moments of an almost spoken, confessional intimacy. Her wide vibrato conveys an unmistakable sense of the voice-as-instrument. But the singing always hangs on the word, reminding me of the song’s place as a poetic form. This is a writer gifted with a singing voice.

Thinking of Dead Reckoning as a literary thing, I see it as work written in the face of life’s accumulations. Meaning, it’s a recording that could only be made after the other records were done, after first and second and third apartments were frail memories, after years of touring and eating shitty food on the road, after raising children in the city, after saying goodbye to lifelong friends who once seemed like they might cheat death. People throw out words like “mature” and “adult,” but I’m not sure that’s what I’m after. Dead Reckoning doesn’t lose itself beneath the weight of seriousness, though. Musically or lyrically. It’s punctuated by a spirit that has humor, acceptance, even joy. It’s the kind of record you can bring to many people and many places. As collaborator Tony Scherr adds, “Kate is one of my small stash of artists whose music I need near wherever I go.” So take Dead Reckoning with you. It will probably follow you there regardless."

Kate Fenner on Dead Reckoning: "When my friend Mike was dying in December of 2019, I came across an Amy Hempel poem about the failure of language when faced with things like death— “

At the end, I wanted to comfort him.

But what I said was, Sing to it. The

Arab proverb: When danger approaches, sing to it.”

Mike was not the first loss, nor was he to be the last, in the past few years of my life. My parents went, naturally; but it was the consecutive losses of my friends—bandmates, soulmates, mentors—that stung and bewildered; each one barely fifty years old when cruel variations on cancer made their way through my friends’ bodies, turning off all the lights.

In some cases, I was fortunate enough to be with them through this process, allowed to love and care for them at this most intimate juncture. In every case, I was tempted by the idea that I could make it better for them. That I could give them something to take with them, and they could leave something behind for me to hold, something slight but durable to set me in my life. In the end, all I felt I did was walk them to the threshold and watch them disappear. The term “dead reckoning,” apart from it signifying in this case just what it sounds like, is a navigational strategy to recalculate your position by estimating the direction, the drift, and the distance you’ve travelled.

I know life by definition is contoured by the loss of it. This time feels particularly burdened with loss, real and impending; maybe every time has felt that way. I’m left with love as the only defense—loving people and letting them know they were loved by you. Dead Reckoning really is a reckoning during a period of seemingly endless loss and an attempt to determine a “way of living that is not waiting,” as I recently heard poet Jorie Graham say in an interview. Singing is my way of loving, loving even danger. Here I sing to my friends, my parents; their ghosts; and to you. I hope you can hear it."

Check out “Dead Reckoning” now, and follow Kate on her social media.

Connect with Kate Fenner: Facebook | Instagram

Cinematic Rock Project Globus Release Their New Album "Cinematica"

Cinematic Rock project Globus craft a dense, headphone-ready experience on a mesmerizing new full-length album, appropriately titled "Cinematica". "Cinematica", released via the artist-run Imperativa Records, Inc, finds band founder, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Yoav Goren joined by a stellar cast of guest musicians.

Yoav Goren is no stranger to the music industry. As a composer working in Hollywood, he got the chance to score film trailers for franchises such as Spiderman, X-Men and Harry Potter with real live orchestras in large lush-sounding halls. This experience of working with soundtracks on an grand scale became a gateway to his current artistic expression which could be classified as Epic or Cinematic Rock.

Globus’ brand of music focuses on storytelling within various social and historical backgrounds, and as principle songwriter, Goren felt this was best accomplished via multiple and distinct vocal stylings. So the Globus body of work purposefully features many unique vocalists. Lisbeth Scott, whose voice has graced many enduring film scores (Passion Of The Christ, Munich), and is an accomplished film composer herself, is regularly featured on several songs. Anneke Van Giersbergen, whose had a long and storied career as a singer-songwriter in her native Netherlands, is a frequent collaborator. Dann Pursey from the UK and Ryan Hanifl of the US are the primary male rock and alternative vocalists, while Goren himself sings lead on a few of the more personal tracks. Legendary musicians Robert Fripp and Gregg Bissonette have lent their talents to the band lineup, which otherwise has remained a steady roster throughout the production of three studio albums - Epicon, Break From This World, and Cinematica.

Thematically, "Cinematica" covers a massive amount of ground telling deeply human stories, thematically drawing from war, peace, religion personal healing, inner politics, mystical, life-affirming wisdom and a healthy dose of the abstract unknown. The result is a truly monolithic, forceful expression worth a listen from any serious fan of progressive rock, psychedelic rock or soundtrack music in general. To top it off, there is a superb, rather cut-throat cover of David Bowie's standout 90's track "I'm Afraid Of Americans" Bowie fans should find original and worthwhile. "Cinematica" is musically grand, but manages to immerse the listener rather than overwhelm. Every element is carefully pre-meditated, with nothing out of place.

"With Cinematica, I wanted to create a musical journey, much like the best of cinematic experiences, which takes the listener through a myriad of visual landscapes and deep connections to the essential fibers of the human condition. The album contains a diverse representation of musical genres, with lyrical explorations of complex relationships, mental health, tyranny, war, unifying struggles, healing and hope. Much of the inspiration came from a familiar production process for Globus - using original orchestral instrumental compositions to evoke and inspire new melodies and additional arrangement elements, creating new Cinematic Rock songs. It’s vital to me that the intended result is a visceral, immersive, bigger-than-life aural experience for the listener." - Yoav Goren

Listen to “Cinematica” below, stream it on Bandcamp and connect with Globus on their website and social media.

Stream and Share “Cinematica” on Bandcamp

Connect with Globus: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Israel Based Electronica Musician and Producer Lamedd Drops His New EP "Permit"

Electronica musician and producer Lamedd showcases an atypical and shapeshifting creative approach on intensely personal, explosive new EP "Permit", released December 4th independently. With equal attention given to horror and beauty, rage and love, we get an unflinching and unfiltered glimpse into the mind of a fascinating artist at the peak of his powers, so far. Leading with the notion "Express what you are not allowed to", this is an artist who keeps the art at the forefront, allowing for some personal mystique and unique interpretation. Walking the line between Experimental Electronic/IDM, Noise, Ambient and Avant-Garde, Lamedd expresses himself freely.

"Permit boasts the ability to express my violent urges, weakness, softness, impulsiveness and power in the same breath.

I allowed my music to scream, wail, cry; To express without any filters. I improvised the tracks without fully knowing where I was going.

But above all, I think, Permit describes my experience as a gay man in a somewhat violent and rough place." - Lamedd

"Permit" is Lamedd's 3rd album and is available now on streaming platforms. Currently, Lamedd is busy working on album #4.

Listen to “Permit” now below, stream it on Bandcamp, and connect with Lamedd on his website and social media.

Stream and Share “Permit” on Bandcamp

Connect with Lamedd: Website | Instagram

Los Angeles Punk Band Get Out Release Their New Album "The Violation of Terms and Conditions"

Los Angeles punk band Get Out showcase their knack for heavy hooks, pummeling rhythms, devilish lyrical wit and an unfiltered rebellious spirit on new full-length album cheekily titled "The Violation of Terms and Conditions". Founded in the mid-90's, Get Out have had a long and storied career thus far, having released 8 albums and shared the stage with bands like Voodoo Glowskulls, Streetlight Manifesto, and Suburban Legends. With song titles like "Six Feet Apart", "The Right is Wrong" and "The End of Florida", Get Out have no shortage of grievances to air out on this dynamic new collection.

The band expand on the album's title theme: "When we released our last album “We Were Here First” in 2019 it was taken off Apple Music after one week because Apple claimed our album art “violated the terms and conditions”. After we changed the artwork and resubmitted, Apple Music listed it as Metal (it is not) and placed it under a different artist of the same name (we’ve had this name since 1994). We have tried to contact our distributor as well as Apple music so many times and no one will respond to us about it. The first song written for the album Rotten Apple is a criticism of a corrupt corporation that only cares about the elite. Other tracks were inspired by the pandemic of 2020 as well as the state of affairs in our country and society."

Listen to Get Out’s new album right now, watch the music video for “The Right is Wrong” HERE, and connect with Get Out on their website and social media.

Connect with Get Out: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Usher, 50 Cent, and More to Perform at Lovers and Friends

Following enormous success with its inaugural year, Lovers & Friends returns May 6, 2023 to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds with a massive collection of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest artists, highlighting the ongoing evolution of the genres. The incredible lineup will treat fans to over 45 artists with impeccably curated and nostalgia-fueled performances from female powerhouses including Missy Elliott, marking her first billed performance since 2019, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, alongside Usher, 50 Cent, Nelly, Pitbull, with additional performances from contemporary fan-favorites Miguel, Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller, PARTYNEXTDOOR and many more.

GA, GA+, VIP and VIP Cabana presale tickets will go on sale Friday, January 20 at 10 AM PST at www.loversandfriendsfest.com and any remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, January 20 at 2 PM PST. Layaway payment plans start at $19.99 down. VIP packages include preferred viewing areas, charging stations, a dedicated entry lane at the festival entrance, air-conditioned restrooms and more. VIP Cabanas are available with exclusive viewing areas with VIP service including food vouchers and select complimentary beverages, expedited entry and more. Hotel and ticket packages are available with discounted rates at select Las Vegas hotels, 24/7 hotel concierge, and exclusive add-ons including access to the Lovers & Friends Official Open Bar inside Zouk Nightclub and brunch packages from Resorts World Las Vegas. For tickets and the full list of amenities available in each ticket package, please visit www.loversandfriendsfest.com.

Sign up for official Lovers & Friends SMS and email lists to be the first to receive new information and follow along on social media.

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SUN's Upcoming EP "Brutal Pop 2" Drops on January 13th

Straight from the German Black Forest and Paris, brutal pop artist SUN has made a huge name for herself in the music industry with her in-your-face mix of metal and pop music. Continuing to fuel her fans with more of her intricate music, SUN is back with her new “Brutal Pop 2” EP dropping on January 13th.

“This is my second EP, and I would like to dedicate BRUTAL POP 2 to my dear cousin Karine, who passed away in 2017. Karine was a very talented painter who combined collage, painting and tearing up layers of paper to create breathtaking artwork”. SUN continues, “I only know how to express myself through my songs and since my first EP, so many untold emotions had built up in me.”

SUN meticulously wrote, composed, arranged and produced her “Brutal Pop 2” EP. She has finally, as she put it, “put on my producer cap, once and for all, and stopped hiding behind others.”

Be on the lookout for SUN’s new EP on January 13th; in the meantime, connect with her on social media and check out the first “Brutal Pop” EP below.

Connect with SUN: Instagram | Facebook