Autogramm Release Their New LP, "Music That Humans Can Play", and Accompanying "Born Losers" Clip

Autogramm, synth-driven power-poppers from Seattle, Chicago and Vancouver, have just released their latest LP “Music That Humans Can Play”. Their first album in over two years was released on vinyl and digital formats world-wide last November on Stomp Records (and Beluga Records EU).

Accompanying this official release is the video for the track “Born Losers”. Keeping with Autogramm’s tongue in cheek brand of video making, “Born Losers” was shot and directed by Tyler McLeod on location at Sasquatch Mountain Resort in British Columbia. The video features a sasquatch, an epic backflip on skis, Kokanee beer and a banana on a shrimp platter. “Born Losers” is a song about being an outsider and finding your place in the world. The encouraging refrain of the song tells the listener, “We're all born losers until someone lets us win, we're all just outsiders until somebody lets us in.” The music video reinforces this narrative by portraying a story of acceptance among friends in a hilariously silly plot.

With their new album Music That Humans Can Play the band dedicated themselves to bringing in sounds from influences like The Fixx, David Bowie, Cheap Trick, The Boys, The Dickies, Jay Reatard, and Prince. The result is a decisively cohesive album that will fit in easily to the 80s section of your record collection, with songs so well-crafted they probably deserve to be on the soundtrack of Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Music That Humans Can Play explores a myriad of lyrical themes ranging from hilarious to tragic. Most notable are songs like “Love is for Fools” examining the topic of love during the time of Covid, “Born Losers” embracing failure, feeling left out and being okay with it, “WannaBe” encouraging loving one another in whatever physical forms we take, and “Why do we Dance?” promoting Autogramm’s MO: Dance like nobody's watching! CC Voltage described the background to the third track on the album, “The song Hey Allie materialized at the end of a long, depressing winter. I was digging through old demos trying to find something worth using for the new album, when my partner encouraged me to write something for our unborn daughter. This gave me the inspiration to make something new instead of rehashing old ideas. It was a tough year for our family in a number of ways, and writing this tune was me offering a ray of sunshine for when we find ourselves in those gloomy periods of our lives.”

The new album, “Music That Humans Can Play”, was written while Autogramm ultimately reconsidered their future as a band in the time of the global pandemic. Despite the many factors which lead to being separated between their respective cities, sharing ideas remotely became the fodder that would ultimately become “Music That Humans Can Play”. In fact, drummer The Silo was finishing writing songs for the album on his flight from Chicago the day before hitting the studio. Part of the spark that reignited the band's fire was asking their friend Lars Von Seattle to join the band.

The legendary guitarist of Sub Pop’s late 90s and early 00s teenage heartthrobs, The Catheters had this to say, “Joining Autogramm was kind of a no-brainer since I was a big fan of the music, as well as genuinely enjoying their gracious company over the years– a rare combination, indeed. Planning the recording remotely was a new, and at times, challenging process but I think the record is more interesting and unconventional (dare I say eclectic?!) as a result. When we finally convened in Vancouver, long hours were spent diligently rehearsing and recording, but we also made plenty of time for extracurricular and memorable hot summer hangs– which I think can be heard on the record. It’s a total honor and a new pleasure to be inducted into such a dynamic, fun-loving, and multi-talented band of plastique punques.”

Listen to “Music That Humans Can Play” below, stream it on your preferred music service, and connect with Autogramm on their social media.

Stream and Share “Music That Humans Can Play”

Connect with Autogramm: Instagram | Facebook | X

Stream "BEATZ ON THE RUN", the Newly Released EP by Elovet

Los Angeles based artist Elovet has just delivered his brand new EP entitled “BEATZ ON THE RUN”, featuring six tracks, including the very dope single “LABRYNTH”.

Elovet was on quite a run in the final quarter of 2023 releasing two EPs and a handful of visuals since mid October like “RUNN!”, and we expect this incredible music output trend to continue into 2024 and beyond.

Vibe out to “BEATZ ON THE RUN” EP right now, also listen to it on Apple Music and connect with Elovet on his social media!

Stream and Share “BEATZ ON THE RUN” on Apple Music

Connect with Elovet: Instagram | TikTok | Bandcamp

Olivia Rodrigo Shares Live Performances from Her "GUTS" Album Exclusively for Vevo

Vevo, the world's leading music video network, announces the release of Olivia Rodrigo’s Official Live Performances of “all-american bitch” and “get him back!” off her GRAMMY® nominated sophomore album GUTS, out now. Vevo’s Official Live Performances are the result of close creative collaboration with artists and their teams, resulting in a series of very special exclusive performances. Olivia Rodrigo previously worked with Vevo in 2021 for her Vevo LIFT performances of “deja vu” and “favorite crime.”

Official Live Performances are the flagship original content for Vevo, working with the biggest names in music - they are the result of close creative collaboration with artists and their teams, resulting in a series of very special exclusive performances. Specifically tailored creatives meant to fit the vision of each individual artist chosen, these performances connect artists with their global audience of fans adding to their visual library.

Olivia Rodrigo worked closely with Vevo’s team to create a world that showcased the unrivaled intensity of grunge, punk and female energy. “all-american bitch” kicks off with Olivia in a sequined mini-dress, wandering around a dimly-lit hallway. The walls showcase decades of vintage show flyers plastered on top of one another, accented by chaotic scribbles of love and break up notes. Olivia ambles around the dark backstage before jumping into the spotlight on stage, giving an intense, rabble-rousing performance for the ages. “get him back” sees her backstage with the band, clad in sequined shorts, white tank and sneakers, jamming under muted overhead lighting.

JP Evangelista, SVP of Content, Programming and Marketing, Vevo, said “Olivia had a clear vision for this series, and it was a privilege to be her creative partner and help her execute exactly what she had in mind. She's an immense talent - between her knack for storytelling, powerful lyrics and dedication to deep fan connections, there's no doubt that this is such an important moment for Olivia.”

Stream and Share “GUTS”

Connect with Olivia Rodrigo: Instagram | X

About Vevo:

Vevo is the world's leading music video network, connecting an ever-growing global audience to high quality music video content for more than a decade. Founded by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment in 2009, Vevo offers fans worldwide a vast array of premium content to choose from, showcasing official music videos alongside a constantly developing lineup of live performances and innovative original programming. From top superstars to rising new talents, Vevo brings incomparable cross-promotional support to artists across the musical spectrum, at every stage of their careers.

Vevo has consistently evolved over the past decade to lead within today's ever-changing media landscape, embracing partnerships with a number of leading distribution platforms to deliver extraordinary content within ad-supported environments. With more than 25B views across television, desktop and mobile devices each month, Vevo brings music videos to the world – when, where, and how fans want them.

Vevo is available on YouTube, Samsung, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Echo Show, PlutoTV, Apple TV, Roku, Comcast (Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex), VIZIO, Sky (NowTV and SkyQ), Foxxum, XITE, NetRange, Redbox, T-Mobile Play, Virgin Media, Xumo, Telstra, Foxtel, Fetch, Rogers, Shaw, Local Now, and Vewd.

Review: "Legends of the Underside" Album by Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee

A post-modern hip-hop radio play, UK based Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee craft an otherworldly stage with their newly unveiled “Legends of the Underside” album and accompanying award winning visuals. So much gets incorporated into the mix that it becomes impossible to sort out. They have an intense amount of confidence for the sheer amount of narratives they bring into the fray, with Biblical references, addiction, lovely seaside beach towns, and surrealist elements brought in for good measure. Volume is a must, for this sound needs to wash over the listener to surrender to it.

The existential aspect of the lyricism by Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee and some of the production choices recall the Weeknd’s uncanny ability for deep introspection. On the more mind-melting side of things, the sheer swath of different approaches alongside tying these constantly shifting genre-blends touches upon the utter complexity of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, as there’s a similar sense of playfulness in the monologues.

A kaleidoscopic approach makes Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee the equivalent of the UK Outkast, as they take on many other approaches. Drill, honky-tonk, funk, and more get filtered within their strange vision. For all these reference points, they make sure they are all woven together.

“Intro” starts the album on a demented note, like a play gone awry. Setting the tone of the album “Ladies and Gentleman” has this sprawling, dreamy tenor with many different suites interacting, ambient and hip-hop together. Excellent pop vibes come through as “Pingu, Legends Edition” as the sheer number of references from musical tastes to the death of a family by a killer whale.

The violence adjacent to “Barroom Brawl Part 1” is unhinged with its approach. Relatively goofy comes the melted funk of “Camber Sands.” “Outsider Artist” has a darkness punctuated by the world’s bleakness. “Pingu’s Trip to the Beach” nicely brings the two main characters together for the first time. Spaciousness defines “Intermission.” A great guitar lick anchors “The Echoes, Clockwork,” as the song reflects the meaninglessness of modernity’s cycle.

Completely bleary with its exploration of its surroundings, “Bish Bosh, Do Ya” seems to move at a breakneck pace. Pure swagger with a nice tempo stride emerges in “Jehovah.” Layers blend with “Barroom Brawl Part 2” as the sparkling melodies give it warmth. “When I Were a Lad” has a gleefulness. Elegance pours from the sheer beauty of “Our Hero’s Journey.” Heavy synthesizer stabs give “Pingu the Creator” a beautiful, blissed-out approach. Tying it all together is the unique “Outro.”

The “Legends of the Underside” album and visual present a different take on the concept of self-discovery, with Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee at the forefront of artistic innovation as we enter 2024.

Stream and Share “Legends of the Underside” on Spotify

Rising Manchester UK Rap Artist Meduulla Unveils Her Debut EP "Oblongata"

With retro-fitted samples and warm, jazzy undertones, Meduulla’s “Oblongata” EP offers a passionate overview into the ethereal mindset of the Zimbabwean heritage artist, laced with sharp lyricism that paints vivid expressions of love, ambition, development and belonging when seeking solace in your creative journey. Delivering genuinely authentic hip hop that feels as nostalgic as it does contemporary, Meduulla’s spellbinding debut EP will mark her as one of the UK rap’s next breakout stars in the making.

Setting a vibrant tone from the offset, “Road To Damascus” opens with emotive pianos bursting with melodic intimacy. Quickly shifting into the infectious cut “Money Manifesta”, UK cult rapper Lunar C joins the fold and delivers high-octane bars that depict a vigorous lifestyle flourishing the fruits of his success. Before the heavy-set backing breaks down into a choppy, sample-driven space - the perfect setting for Meduulla to flex her potent storytelling with typical finesse.

Further notables include “Limbo” and “Life’s Like A Box Of Chocolates”, where we see Meduulla at her most effortless. Smooth, glossy production from UK favourites The Mouse Outfit are on full display, as the electric collaboration elevates Meduulla’s conscious raps to blazing new heights. She explores the wonders of our existence with deep-rooted influence and visionary conviction as clear markers of a growing talent.

Continuing to develop her free-form musically shining with purpose and authenticity, Meduulla released her infamous record “Mish Muulla”, earning serious support from BBC 1XTRA and landed her an incendiary performance at Reading & Leeds Festival last year. With attention spreading across the UK, the 24-year-old talent unleashed her breakout single “Life’s Like A Box Of Chocolates” ft. The Mouse Outfit (200K streams independently), all building towards key support slots alongside veterans AZ and Souls Of Mischief. Now with critical acclaim across the likes of WONDERLAND, GRM DAILY and GUAP MAGAZINE, the young star announces herself as a significant new voice fast on the rise.

Listen to “Oblongata” below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Meduulla on her social media.

Stream and Share “Oblongata”

Connect with Meduulla: Instagram

Watch "Legends of the Underside", the Newly Released Visual Project from Ultra_eko

Hip-Hop artists Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee have just unveiled a unique and completely original, award winning musical feature using hip-hop to tell a story through the visual medium. “Legends of the Underside” is truly quite unlike anything else.

With this new album, Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee tell an absurd metaphysical story, in which a supernatural penguin, aided by a senile pensioner, battles a demonic materialist, the Outsider Artist, in a more subtle realm of reality known as the Underside.

The visuals for “Legends of the Underside” are insane, and that’s how you should truly absorb the album, but you can also listen to it on Spotify. Do so below, connect with Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee on their social media, and be on the lookout for our in-depth review of the album.

Listen to “Legends of the Underside” on Spotify

Connect with Ultra_eko: Instagram | X

Connect with DaRealMrLee: Instagram

merci, mercy Releases Her 3rd EP "Like An Orchid", Plus New Single "If You Had Any Friends"

Alt-pop artist merci, mercy shares her third EP, “Like An Orchid”, out now via Liberation Records; part of Mushroom Music which is home to beloved alternative acts including DMA'S, Gengahr and Demob Happy. With this new body of work she delivers sparkling alt-pop anthems with heart, including recent releases ‘Shovel’, ‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Silver Lining’, along with unreleased cuts ‘If You Had Any Friends’ and ‘Mouldy’.

The songs bounce around merci’s thoughts on big topics including the ups and downs of relationships, struggles with addiction and anxiety, and everything in between. With support from BBC Radio 1 on Jack Saunders' Future Artists show and Mollie King’s Future Pop show, on all of her material to date, merci, mercy has never been afraid of exploring emotional vulnerabilities. Navigating mental health issues and overcoming personal hurdles surrounding anxiety and growing up in relationships, she has poured newly gained insights and perspective into “Like An Orchid”.

"My new EP Like An Orchid is the roller coaster of emotions you have during your first relationship and how extreme they can feel especially when you are someone who has anxiety. This EP will take you on a journey of my inner demons while also showing you into my heart a little bit. The songs in Like an Orchid are a family in terms of the lyrics but distant relatives in terms of the way they sound. Each story has its own sound."

“Like An Orchid” saw merci, mercy once again work with her longtime collaborator and friend, producer Chris Collins (‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Mouldy’) along with fellow Sydney-based songwriter and producer Robby De Sa (‘Silver Lining’ and ‘If You Had Any Friends’) and the one and only Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy of The Wombats (‘Shovel’).

With over 24 million streams to her name thanks to the success of her first two EP releases: no thank you, no thanks (2020) and is it me, or is it you? (2022), the demand for new music from merci, mercy has grown in a consistent and organic way.

Widespread support via renowned outlets including triple j, Beats 1 and Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1, Paper Magazine, NME, Clash Magazine, Flaunt and more, has positioned merci, mercy as part of a new vanguard of fresh Australian pop artists who have the potential to establish themselves as a long-standing presence internationally.

Extensive radio support throughout the UK and Europe, as well as continued global editorial playlist support across DSPs (she was one of the first global ambassadors of Spotify’s RADAR series and recently featured on the cover of Apple Music’s Superbloom playlist), has ensured merci, mercy’s front-of-mind status on the radars of industry and a fast-growing fanbase alike.

Perfecting her live show through support slots for international acts Valley and Lights, merci’s headline shows at Melbourne’s The Wesley Anne and Sydney’s The Vanguard are selling fast, and will see her perform songs from the new EP along with fan favourites. For those who cannot wait until January, merci will appear at Melbourne's SoundBox tomorrow, followed by Mushroom Group’s huge Mushroom 50 Celebration on Sunday and also at Changing Tides Festival beside acts like Spacey Jane, PNAU and The Temper Trap in December.

“Like An Orchid” is the next chapter in what has become one of Australian pop music’s most exciting and intriguing stories. Her dynamism was present from the jump but here, merci, mercy holds her space with a rejuvenated sense of self-awareness and ultimate happiness. A moment of blooming we can all wish to experience.

Listen to “Like An Orchid” now and connect with merci, mercy on her social media.

Connect with merci, mercy: Instagram | TikTok

Grammy Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter and Actress Monica Nominated for "Soul Train Awards" 2023 'Certified Soul Award'

Multi-platinum 25-million-plus selling Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and actress Monica has been nominated for "Soul Train Awards" 2023 'Certified Soul Award' alongside Usher, Ashanti, Ciara, and more. The 13x Nominee and Winner of 2020's 'Lady of Soul' Award is thrilled to receive this latest recognition for her decades of hard work and commitment to her craft. Tune in Sunday November 26 at 8/7c to watch the "Soul Train Awards" presented by BET.

The nomination comes as Monica is promoting her new single “Letters.” Released this summer via her label MonDeenise Music, the song is the latest from her forthcoming R&B album Trenches. "Letters" was written by Monica along with Grammy Award-winning songwriter Tasha Catour (Tinashe, Lecrae), Ciara, Brian (Killah B) Bates (Usher, Ariana Grande, Seven Streeter) and Alicia Renee Williams (Rihanna) and produced by Catour and Dana Johnson (Indie.Arie, Avery Sunshine). The “Letters” single release was accompanited by a stunning music video directed by Richard Selvi from Swiss Made Entertainment, the award winning creative and production studio responsible for numerous Lil Nas X visuals as well as Eminem ft. 50 Cent’s “Is This Love '09” and the highly influenced VFX (visual effects) video also features The Game, watch now.

“Letters” follows last year’s “Friends (ft. Ty Dolla $ign),” which scored a Top 20 spot on the R&B Billboard chart and was accompanied by a music video directed by Sarah McColgan (H.E.R., Miguel, Charli XCX), choreographed by Parris Goebel (Rihanna, SZA), and racked up more than 2.2 MILLION plays in the first week. Both singles will be featured alongside “Trenches (ft. Lil Baby)” on Trenches – Monica’s first new studio album since 2015’s Code Red. The new album will also be the first LP for her own imprint MonDeenise Music, which was launched in 2019 with the #1 Billboard R&B hit “Commitment.”

In addition to releasing new music, this summer Monica launched her Apple Music show MoTalk Radio with an interview with basketball Hall of Famer & entrepreneur Shaquille O’Neal followed by a talk with Country Music Star Mickey Guyton and just last month, Monica joined Quavo and NBA great Lou Williams for a special episode of The Shop's UNINTERRUPTED Live Tour in Atlanta, where she talked about motherhood, her career and more - watch now.

Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Monica began her career at 12-years-of-age and was the youngest female ever to have two #1 back-to-back hits on Billboard’s R&B chart. “The Boy Is Mine,” the title track from her sophomore album, garnered Monica pop success with a record-breaking 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her success has continued throughout her exceptional and longstanding career. She achieved six number one hits on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming the first artist to ever have chart-topping singles in three consecutive decades, a distinction she now shares with an elite group of acts including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, James Brown and Marvin Gaye.

Connect with Monica: Instagram | TikTok | X | Facebook | Website

Interview: Alt Rock Artist Iddie Mo Talks About His Debut Single/Video "It's Chronic"

“...at our very first meeting I told Nol K that if he felt something didn’t work he shouldn’t hold back and tell me, also that if there was anything that he wanted to try out, experiment with, this is the opportunity and vice versa.”

— Iddie Mo

Congratulations on the completion and release of your debut single "It's Chronic"; tell us about your creative process for its development and what it was like working with its producer Nol K?

Thank you. I actually intended to write a happy song at first, but even before I started writing the lyrics, I had already been going through a state of depression for about 3 months.

It was an attempt to force myself to get out of the slump but eventually the pretense bothered me too much because my words felt disingenuous, so I scrapped most of it halfway and leaned into my feelings at the time.

This bittersweet track about hanging onto hope and getting over adversity called “Seize the day” turned into “It’s Chronic” a song pretty much about being aware of your depression and going through the motions while you wait for the darkness to pass.

Sounds cliché but “keeping it real” is important to me.

The demo I came up with had a more mellow vibe and bringing it to Nol K transformed the piece giving it more power whilst still maintaining a lot of my original demos’ integrity.

When it comes to the more technical process of making this song, I like to start with establishing the melody first, then it’s a back and forth against the lyrics. Once I feel like the main melody is decent, I lay down layers of different instruments, almost always starting with a basic piano track to get the right chords. Then I either play around with making patterns on my DAW or have the track on a loop while I vocalize accompaniments and try to translate them into instruments by ear. Sometimes occasionally looking at various tutorials online; to help polish my Frankenstein track.

See I had this long running fear that not knowing how to properly read notes and having limited music theory knowledge meant that I couldn’t be a songwriter; not that I didn’t try to learn in the past, but life kept getting in the way somehow.

At some point I decided to just jump into it and remind myself that there are a lot of successful artists out there who couldn’t either; not to compare myself to the Beatles, but even John Lennon admitted that none of them in the band could read music.

I was introduced to Nol K by Professor Alex Fischer of the Mahakarya Institute of Arts Asia (a.k.a. MIAA). Professor Alex Fischer was looking for an artist to collaborate with for one of his modules, to give his students the experience of working with a client to work on a music video.

He had shown Nol K (producer and front man of the indie band Hurricane Honey) my demo and he apparently loved it. Funny story, in return the professor showed me Hurricane Honey’s song “Through your mind” and I thought “Wow, these guys sound just like “I Mean The Snakes”” a band I was a fan of in high school, who I thought had disbanded and stopped making music- I was wrong. After I connected the dots that they were one and the same I became a blubbering idiot.

Now, whenever I work with someone, I have it in principal that they must enjoy what they’re doing. So at our very first meeting I told Nol K that if he felt something didn’t work he shouldn’t hold back and tell me, also that if there was anything that he wanted to try out, experiment with, this is the opportunity and vice versa.

We went back and forth experimenting with different sound fonts and effects I’ve heard used in other songs, adding harmonies on the spot. We’d add and take away things, for example an electronic glitch effect which I ultimately felt was too distracting; he even encouraged me to try doing some metal vocals that I didn’t think I could do until I just went for it in the recording studio.

Working with Nol K is heaven, like I literally did not realize I could get so happy before, I’m not even exaggerating I cannot for the life of me remember a time I was that happy. People who say “you should never meet your heroes” have some pretty terrible heroes, ‘cause honestly, it’s like the more I got to know him the more I’m like “Yeah, this guy is Bruneian Keanu Reeves” and it’s not just me, it seems everyone who’s ever met him at least once only has good things to say about him.

Sorry for getting off on a tangent and gushing about Nol K, but seriously, meeting him in person only made me a bigger fan. Aaaand I know he’ll probably see this interview, but I’m pretty sure I’ve embarrassed myself enough getting all red and blubbering gibberish every time he complimented my singing.

You've also just released a very intense music video for "It's Chronic", directed by Minori Ramzi. What's your favorite memory of filming the clip and would you say that your treatment was fully visualized in the final product?

I’d say that it was almost completely different from my initial idea, though I did come into the project with an open mind and wanted to give Ramzi (along with the other students) the opportunity to express her own creativity.

My initial treatment had the music video be more like a twisted version of “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” but Ramzi pitched something more inspired by late 90’s goth and early 2000’s emo (citing Marilyn Manson and Panic at the disco to name a few). She appeared very enthusiastic about the idea and I just couldn’t say no.

Nothing major really comes to mind, but one of the dancers did get locked up in the toilets for a while (the door got jammed) and we had to pull them up from out of the cubicle, oh and my hair did get singed a bit during the scene where I was laying down surrounded by candles- thankfully no one got hurt 👍🏽

How would you describe the alt rock scene in Brunei Darussalam, and would you say that there is a huge audience for the genre?

I’d say that the scene is steadily rising in recognition. I hear about alt rock bands in our mainstream more now than I did, say 16 years ago, although you’d still have to seek them out yourself. Classic rock, rap and pop still dominate the airwaves.

Who have been some of your influences that inspired you artistically, especially early on when you began making music?

Being a lover of different types of music means that I have way too many influences and that makes it a little difficult to know where to begin.

I did have my start making background music for games, so it’d be safe to say that most of my early influences came from the soundtracks of some of my favorite games; music from composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Yoko Shimomura.

I had also been a fan of Indonesian singer Anggun Cipta Sasmi (Often referred to as just Anggun in the west) since a very early age- I don’t even remember how old I was when I first heard her music, I may have been a toddler. She used to be an absolute rocker at the start of her career but in 1997 came out with ‘Rose in the wind’ which was a fusion of several genres, pop, rock, traditional Indonesian folk, funk, etc. It could have been the catalyst for my love of fusion music.

There really are just too many influences, I’d like to honorably mention Philippe Jaroussky, Natalie Dessay, Jojo (Joanna Levesque), Kings of Convenience, Cannibal Corpse, Ella Fitzgerald, Mariah Carey, Bjork, to name a few. I should stop here or else this interview is never going to end if I don’t.

With 2023 winding down, what are some of your goals musically in 2024?

I am eager to release more music, I’m working on a couple of demos right now and plan on working with Nol K once again, hopefully for a whole EP. However I’d like to believe that my music taste is vast and I would really love to make music in a plethora of genres to reflect that.

Stream and Share “It’s Chronic” on: Spotify | Apple Music

Connect with Iddie Mo: TikTok | X | Instagram

Interview: Los Angeles Based RnB Artist/Producer Hermosa

“I feel that when you’re creating music, you’re telling a story, almost like something out of a book, but in a very melodic way...”

— Hermosa

Big congrats to you on the completion and release of your debut, 6-track EP "Chapter 23", which includes our featured song, "Searching". Tell us about your creative process for the development of the project, and how long it took to finish.

Creating “Searching” was really short and sweet. I think I finished it all the same day. I started the hook first and then worked my way around the song. I wasn’t expecting it to come out the way it did. I had a completely different direction for the song when I started it, sometimes you just have to let the music take over and see what comes of it.

Were there songs that you wrote or recorded for the EP that did not end up on the final tracklist? If so, why did they not make it?

I record as much as I can, but I barely scrap. “Chapter 23” is capturing a specific timeline of my life, and that’s what these songs were specifically for and about. They were handpicked.

What does the EP's title, "Chapter 23" represent and would you say that there is an overall theme or concept for the project?

I feel that when you’re creating music, you’re telling a story, almost like something out of a book, but in a very melodic way. That’s what I felt like this project was, a chapter in my life, so I named it, “Chapter 23”.

You're originally from Spartanburg, SC; is your music career what led you to move to Los Angeles?

I’ve always loved to travel and of course I’m traveling more often because of music, but I enjoy it. I love it.

As both a singer-songwriter and producer, do you solely create for yourself or do you write/produce for other artists as well?

I create my own music, and I help others with their creative process as well. I’ve always had a really good ear for music, so I enjoy collaborating and sharing my ideas with other artists.

With 2023 winding down, what are some of your goals musically for 2024?

I just want to continue to drop amazing music and stay consistent. I’ve got some great visuals that I’m working on that. I can’t wait for everyone to see.

Stream and Share “Chapter 23”

Connect with Hermosa: Website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

'May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story' Set To Premiere In Five U.S. Cities

Last year, Little Brother fans were first teased with a trailer for the group's new documentary May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story. Now, the group finally announced premiere dates for the film in five U.S. cities. LB's Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh are set to hos free screenings for fans in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Georgia, Los Angeles, California, and New York, New York.

The full list of dates and registration info:

11/9 @ Eaton DC in Washington, DC

11/10 @ Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, GA

11/12 @ Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw in Los Angeles, CA

11/15 @ New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York, NY

11/16 @ Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC

All of the film screenings are free and open to the public. Space is very limited, so be sure to register early.

Fans can make a donation to the film via the Southern Documentary Fund here.

MORE ABOUT THE FILM:

May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story follows the rise, breakup, and reunion of Little Brother, the critically acclaimed and widely influential Hip-Hop group from Durham, North Carolina. A music documentary in the tradition of films like Beats Rhymes & Life, Zappa, or 20 Feet From Stardom, May the Lord Watch details the vast impact of the preeminent 2000s group, composed of rappers Phonte, Big Pooh and (formerly) producer 9th Wonder.

The heart of the documentary lies in the unraveling and reconciliation between members Phonte and Big Pooh. Their relationship begins in the wake of their challenging upbringings in the South, strains while coming of age together in the music industry, and resolves with an enduring friendship, as the two men reunite and record their 2019 album May the Lord Watch. Told through never before seen archival footage, contemporary vérité scenes, and interviews from the group's members, peers, and family, the film’s story unfolds in intimate detail under the framework of a 'UBN Made-for-TV Documentary', riffing on the fictional UBN Network created through comedy sketches on Little Brother albums.

Directed by filmmaker Holland 'vacay' Gallagher and written by 'Yoh' Phillips (of Rap documentary studio 'Rap Portraits’), the film includes a notable list of Hip-Hop's most influential people – from Questlove and DJ Drama, to cultural critics, industry execs, and more.

“When you meet someone at the Uber line at LAX rarely does it coalesce into a years-long, soul-searching and feature-length-documentary-creating endeavor, but so it happened with Phonte and I in 2018. Four years, two scrapped cuts, and a pandemic later, we're rounding the corner on completing the project that will tell the Little Brother story once and for all. I don't take that responsibility lightly and I hope our film reflects that.” - Holland Randolph Gallagher

MORE ABOUT LITTLE BROTHER:

Little Brother is a critically acclaimed hip-hop group from Durham, North Carolina. Credited as one of the first buzzing rap acts in the pre-streaming era of online message boards, Little Brother emerged during the new millennium renaissance of alternative rap in the early 2000s. Ranked among Rolling Stone's "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time", Little Brother’s 2003 debut album The Listening helped pioneer "grown man" or "every man" rap, relating to the working-class and everyday person. The group’s members-- rappers Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh --formed as college students at North Carolina Central University in 1998.

Over the course of their illustrious careers, Little Brother has worked with some of the biggest names in music: Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil' Wayne, and many more. He also co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast alongside Questlove of The Roots. Pooh currently manages Dreamville artist Lute, and DJ’s under the moniker RPM. Outside of his work under Grammy-nominated soul outfit The Foreign Exchange, Phonte has written music for Sesame Street, AMC's Sherman’s Showcase, and VH1's The Breaks. Now recognized as one of Billboard's "Greatest Rap Groups Of All Time", Little Brother has helped bridge the gap between The Roots and Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest and J. Cole, De La Soul and Drake.

In 2023, Little Brother celebrated the 20th anniversary of their debut album The Listening, starting with a sold out, four-city tour in March. The year-long celebration was eventually brought back to its roots with "Made In Durham: A Little Brother Block Party".

Connect with Little Brother: Website | X | Instagram

Hip Hop Legend The RZA Named Official Ambassador of the 2023 Urbanworld International Film Festival

The 27th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival has announced that Grammy and Emmy-nominated producer, actor, musician and filmmaker The RZA will serve as official ambassador of this year’s festival.

A founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA is co-director of the documentary A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with Gerald Barclay. The film, which will make its world premiere at Urbanworld on Friday, November 3, chronicles the Wu-Tang's iconic 2021 performance with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

“I’m completely honored to be a part of a platform like Urbanworld which supports storytellers from all walks of life,” says RZA.”As a filmmaker, I understand the work that goes into not only getting a film made but getting it seen. There aren’t a lot of film festivals that intentionally shine light on the works of Black Men and Women in our industry. Our growing number of directors and producers need more outlets. Urbanworld gets it and this opportunity to serve as ambassador to this year’s festival is an honor and a privilege.”

Urbanworld is also proud to announce that the festival’s Opening Night Film will be the Toronto International Film Festival award-winner American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson.

The festival takes place November 1-5, 2023 at AMC 34th Street and the SVA Theatre. HBO returns as Founding Partner for the 27th year and Warner Bros. Discovery serves as Prestige Partner. Tickets and passes can be purchased at urbanworld.org.

Additional highlights of Urbanworld 2023 are: Misty Copeland will participate in a post-screening discussion of her short film “Flower,” directed by Lauren Finerman and executive produced by Nelson George and Leyla Fayyaz; NBCUniversal will showcase their new television series “Found,” starring Shanola Hampton; and National Geographic Documentary Films will sponsor over 100 New York City students to attend a screening of The Space Race, directed by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Lisa Cortès. Astronaut Leland Melvin will be in attendance for a Q&A.

The festival will also feature a Friday night tribute to music videos sponsored by Hulu entitled “Lights, Cameras, Rhymes: 50 Years of Hip Hop on Screen.” The retrospective will be followed by a panel discussion of industry icons including director Benny Boom and artist Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter.

The Urbanworld Innovation Conference & Panel will return on Friday, November 3 at the SVA SOC DOC Theater for another year of networking and building community among diverse creatives. This one-day convening will feature filmmakers, industry leaders and content creators from media, technology and storytelling who will discuss topics such as AI, culture, sports and content distribution.

Connect with Urbanworld Film Festival: Website | Instagram

AleXa Makes History as First Korean Solo Artist to Perform at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball

Female powerhouse, AleXa, makes history as the first Korean solo artist to perform at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball. Join her as she hits the stage on 11/28 for 106.1 KISS FM in Dallas/Fort Worth and 12/16 for Y100 in Miami where she’ll be performing alongside household names such as Shaggy, Big Time Rush, Flo Rida, Marshmallow, Ludacris and more. Named by Elle as an artist who’s “breaking the mold of the typical K-pop star”; AleXa will be performing all her hit songs including her latest release “Juliet.”

AleXa has been on an fast-paced upward trajectory here in the U.S where she performed the National Anthem to nearly 50,000 fans at Los Angeles’ iconic Dodgers Stadium in 2022, and went on to sell out three fan-meeting stops during her first U.S. visit in September. Going on to clinch a win at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards, one of the most celebrated award shows in Korea, the Oklahoma-born star also became the first K-pop artist to host a fan-meeting event in the metaverse, attracting thousands of fans for a party in a special arena built inside of first-person shooter game Scavengers. After a breakthrough comeback with mid-tempo dance track “Tattoo,” AleXa’s song “Wonderland” earned a resounding win on NBC’s American Song Contest, a remake of Europe's hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest. “Wonderland” ranked #38 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay Chart, propelling AleXa to the 6th most played Korean artist on U.S. Radio, and the first female Korean act to present at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. AleXa’s American Song Contest Win took the world by storm with coverage from Billboard, iHeart, People, E!, BBC, Insider, Cosmopolitan and more; along with signing to UTA.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: https://www.iheart.com/jingle-ball/

Connect with AleXa: Instagram | TikTok | X

Vancouver Synthpunks Phuture Memoriez Release Their New Album "Play Cobra"

Phuture Memoriez have just released their latest full length LP Play Cobra out now on Nerve Wracking Collections with accompanying video-single for “Ear Blue”. Phuture Memoriez is a dark synth-pop-punk band from Vancouver BC and is composed of Marc Blaquiere and Jessica Blaquiere. Their third release, Play Cobra, is a concept record dedicated to the musical improv game Cobra. Created by jazz legend John Zorn, Cobra utilizes a series of hand jesters, cue cards, drawings, etc. and a conductor leading a group of improv artists creating noise, chaos, and beauty. Phuture Memoriez used each of the 10 chapters in the Cobra manual as inspiration, pulling all of the lyrics and song titles for each of the 10 songs on their new album Play Cobra, creating song titles like Mouth Yellow, and Ear Blue.

Aiming to create a hypnotic listening experience, all 10 songs are the same tempo of 138 BPM. All songs were written, recorded, and mixed by Jessica Blaquiere (Synth/Pedals/Sampler) and Marc Blaquiere (Vocals/Bass Guitar/Sampler/Production) and mastered by Doug Fury at Fortissimo Sound in London, Ontario. The band describes the album as “our best record to date, the cobra’s bite is intoxicating!” After Play Cobra was completed, Tylor David joined Phuture Memoriez on guitar. Tylor’s guitar compositions offer an enhanced live version of the Play Cobra songs, providing rich texture, tone, and harmonics.

The songs on the LP are short, fast, visceral blasts that are rooted in early punk and hardcore and have elements of Krautrock and foundational industrial music. Each track is an explosion, an expression of internal turmoil and angst against discordant hooks and symphonic feedback. Phuture Memoriez’ sound transitions constantly - not surprising because of their desire to test new sounds, tools, and techniques, which range in quality from lo-fi to professional level. They use tools like the Akai MPC Live, a cohort of digital/analog synths, pedals, noisemakers, electric bass guitar, among others, and vocals affected by other-worldly tones and textures. Their sound has been described by some to encompass “twisted tones and haunting synth vocals, pulling the listener down into a shadowy soundscape”. In other instances, some say Phuture Memoriez is “grungy with a metallic edge”.

Listen to “Play Cobra” right now, and connect with the band on their social media!

Connect with Phuture Memoriez: Facebook | Instagram | Label

SEMA Fest Las Vegas Announces Day x Day Music Festival Line-Up

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), producers of the SEMA Show, the major trade-only automotive event held annually in Las Vegas, is celebrating its 56th anniversary in 2023 with the launch of SEMA Fest, an open to the public two-day full-throttle festival that fuses motorsports, music, and car culture.

The event has announced details of its day by day line up with Incubus, Wiz Khalifa, Bush, Third Eye Blind, Ludacris and more set for Friday November 3 and Imagine Dragons, AJR, Walk The Moon, The Struts, Badflower and more set for Saturday, November 4. The full line up follows below. Single day tickets among other options are on sale now here.

SEMA Fest, happening at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, brings together some of the biggest names in music across the gamut of rock, hip-hop and pop and the hottest automotive brands and their enthusiasts in a large-scale festival format. In addition to the world-class music programming, it will also feature a full slate of immersive automotive lifestyle events, a consumer marketplace, world-class drifting, motorsports competitions, freestyle motocross, BMX demos and more.

The all-ages two-day event marks the conclusion of SEMA Week, which runs around the 2023 SEMA Show on October 31-November 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Whether you are a diehard car enthusiast, a motorsports fan, a music lover or just like to have a good time, SEMA Fest is an event not to miss.

The official SEMA Fest day by day line-up is:

Friday, November 3

Incubus

Wiz Khalifa

Third Eye Blind

Bush

Ludacris

Chase Matthew

Rome&Duddy

Ayron Jones

Bones UK

Starcrawler

Paper Idol

Saturday, November 4

Imagine Dragons

AJR

Walk The Moon

The Struts

Badflower

Meg Meyers

Dead Sara

renforshort

Brooke Alex

Hot Crazy

Good Boy Daisy

The Foxies

About SEMA

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $51.8 billion specialty-automotive industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. Association resources include market research, legislative advocacy, training and product development support, as well as leading trade shows such as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information, visit www.sema.org, www.semashow.com, or www.performanceracing.com.

Viral Creator Tiko Announces New Album "Introduction" and Releases New Single "Keep My Cool"

YouTube creator and artist Tiko has announced the release of his third full length album, Introduction, out October 20th via ONErpm. Alongside the announcement, Tiko has also released his new single, “Keep My Cool,” an uplifting and energetic track that melds youthful infatuation with ambition over an airy soundscape while he sings about keeping his composure and trying to stay on top of his game.

“This song is one I think a lot of people can relate to, it’s about keeping your cool around a girl you like,” says Tiko. “Its breezy and lighthearted vibe is meant to make you feel like you’re driving in a car with all the windows open with your best friends!”

Utilizing his signature voice changer, Tiko is the moniker of emerging singer Jayden who debuted his original vocals on his sophomore album UPSIDE DOWN last fall, sharing a side of himself he hadn’t before with his fast-growing audience. Inspired by the response to the record, which quickly amassed over 4.6 million streams, Jayden dives into the spotlight on Introduction as he showcases his multi-versatile prowess and ability to meld the Tiko world with his pop leaning sound.

“Keep My Cool” is the third track from the album and at its heart is an uplifting song about passion, pursuits, and prevailing. It follows previous offerings “Daylight,” a jaunty synth track layered in ambiguity as the person you’re with begins to see you in a different view, and effervescent single “Don’t Call Back” where Jayden sets boundaries while navigating through heartbreak. The 8-track LP — produced by The Ready Set's Jordan Witzigreuter (Lindsey Stirling, AWOLNATION, UPSAHL, The Mowgli's) — finds Tiko swimming in a new direction while Jayden explores the sounds and styles that inspire his artistic vision. Full track listing for Introduction is below.

Introduction Track Listing:

1. DON’T CALL BACK

2. DAYLIGHT

3. Keep My Cool

4. STINKY

5. CATCH A VIBE

6. Obsessed

7. Introduction

8. Distraction

Additionally, this fall, Tiko will invite players to experience his fishy world firsthand in an upcoming creator concert map in Fortnite. Keep an eye out for more information coming soon!

Tiko began launching content on his main YouTube channel in 2018 and has since garnered more than 6.9 million subscribers and 1.3 billion views, making him one of the biggest stars in the creator community. In 2020, he was recognized by YouTube as the #5 Top Creator, #2 Breakout Creators in the U.S., and one of the Top 10 Breakout Creators on the planet. In addition to his gaming videos — which focuses on Fortnite, Minecraft, VR, and IRL content — he ventured into music after his viral hit single “Fishy On Me” swam to the top of Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 (#2) and Global Viral 50 (#4) playlists, accumulating over 185 million streams to date. Tiko has two full-lengths under his gills with his debut album Wave and his sophomore album UPSIDE DOWN where his original vocals were introduced for the first time. His lighthearted electro-pop music resonates with audiences around the world with over half a billion global streams and over half a million monthly listeners, carving a lane that is all his own. He has also received media support from the likes of Entrepreneur, Game Rant, Sweety High, Ones To Watch, and Spindle Magazine as well as playlist support from Apple Music's Kids Party, The Kids Table, Going To School, and Social Distancing Social Club, Spotify’s New Music Friday, Game Time, and Viral 50 Malaysia, and Filtr TikTok Songs among others.

Part of the next generation of dynamic multi-platform artists, Tiko’s unique ability for developing compelling story lines while connecting with his fans creates a strong sense of community and a tight-knit network of fishy followers.

Connect with Tiko: Website | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok