Interview: bleed moxie Talks About His Track "out on my own" and Upcoming Album "women's society"

“I get excited about things and have a really hard time being patient and taking my time with the creative process, but I’ve forced myself to do that with this album.”

— bleed moxie

Congratulations on the release of your new track "out on my own", which features fellow Denver based musicians Kate Fern and Sarah Hubbard. How did you connect with them initially and what made them the right fit for your song?

I've been working on my new album, "women's society", at CCM Studios in Denver with Engineer/Producer Hayden Hallatt. As we were crafting "out on my own", Hayden had the idea to bring a female vocalist to the track as a means of giving it some depth and adding some layers to the song. I absolutely agreed and Hayden contacted Kate, who's band May Be Fern is making big moves in the Denver scene recently, and she came in the studio and knocked it out of the park, so much so that we decided to feature her on several songs on the record. She's amazing.

Then, as we were in the final mix/master of the song, Hayden had another brilliant idea to add some live violin (as you can see, Hayden is a genius in the studio) and we got connected with Sarah. She came in, laid down some terrific violin for us, and the song really came together.

I love that it's such a collaborative piece of music featuring all Denver musicians, especially as someone new to the scene out here, it feels really great to make those connections with fellow musicians.

Tell us about your creative process for the development of the track from a lyricist's perspective and how you decided on the beat.

This new album mostly came together out of nowhere, I really wasn't expecting to write another solo record and honestly hadn't thought about making any new music, possibly ever again. But I came across some beats from a friend of mine who used to DJ for me back in the Twin Cities, DJ Hayes, who is now DJ'ing for Nur-D who's making a lot of noise in the scene. I started listening to some of Ryan's beats and started writing to one of those beats in particular, suddenly had a new song written and it really took off from there. I started scouring for beats, came across a bunch I really thought were dope from a lot of producers, and before I knew it I was fully writing my first solo rap record since 2015.

This particular beat for "out on my own" comes from Black Lions Beats and as soon as I heard it, the idea for an anthemic, emotional roller coaster of a breakup song came to me b/c that's how the beat felt as I listened to it, it almost forces you to feel the highest of highs and lows as you're moving through the beat, so the song topic came pretty naturally.

"out on my own" will be featured on your upcoming album "women's society". What can you tell us about the project and is there an overall theme or concept for it?

I've really taken my time with crafting "women's' society". Like I mentioned, I didn't have any plans to make new music at this point in my career, I have been focused on a lot of other things outside of music the last few years, so as this process came together, I've really wanted to take my time and enjoy it, be patient with it, and create the absolute best album of my career.

I get excited about things and have a really hard time being patient and taking my time with the creative process, but I've forced myself to do that with this album. And I really wanted to make a hip hop album, back to my roots and back to where it all began. A straight up rap record.

Now, the album definitely blends a lot of elements of pop throughout, that's just how it developed as I wrote and Hayden and I created in the studio, but at it's core, its a rap record with pretty dope ass lyrics and some killer beats. And the album touches on lots of themes that I experience at this point of my life (in my early 40s): aging, relationships, death, regret, optimism, pain, and ultimately, hope.

What does your name bleed moxie represent for you at this stage of your musical career?

The name bleed moxie came pretty naturally to me as I started writing this album. I put out music under the moniker of Moxie for over a decade, then retired that character as I moved into working on other projects. As I wrote this album, it felt like going back to the start of my career in many ways-- wanting to make a straight up hip hop album. It felt very nostalgic to me, like I was experiencing writing some of those first records of mine way back in the 2010s. So I wanted to bring pieces of the Moxie character with me but the full character no longer fits at this point in my life, he's slowly bled out of me over the years as I've gotten older. But I still have that moxie to my personality, it still oozes and bleeds out of me at times, so the character bleed moxie was born. An homage to my past and an encapsulation of the enigmatic parts to my being at this point in my life.

You now call Denver home; would you say that the city inspires the concepts that you write about and how would you compare the hip-hop scene there to Minneapolis/St. Paul?

Denver has been great for me. I moved here about a year and a half ago and it's definitely been an inspiring journey. The mountains, the landscapes, the activities, the energy and the people, moving to Denver has provided a lot of new perspectives on life and motivation to do lots of things. It's also been a straight up refresh and reset in relation to my love of music and creating that was necessary.

The music scene in the Twin Cities is amazing, especially the hip hop scene, but I had grown out of it in my ways. Moving to Denver has allowed me to start over, feel energized with a new scene and new people and new venues. I didn't dive into the scene right away when I moved here, I'm only now slowly starting to get myself in the mix, so I don't know a ton about the scene here yet but I've already met a lot of wonderful musicians.

The Twin Cities hip hop scene is legendary and established, I'm not sure that Denver has the same established scene yet, but that might also be b/c I haven't fully immersed myself yet.

I'm excited to get this album out, make some moves, and see what the full scope of the scene is here in Colorado. It's a new chapter for me, a new journey and it seems as if Colorado is the perfect location at this point in my career.

Watch the “out on my own” Lyric Video

Connect with bleed moxie on: Website | Instagram | X | Soundcloud

San Francisco's REPTIEL Release Their Fifth Album "Down Below World"

San Francisco based REPTIEL was formed in 2009 by members of Bay Area underground indie rock bands The Cubby Creatures, Thee More Shallows and The Druggles.

The REPTIELians claim to practice “ritual musick” in order to summon their stories and sounds, and only rarely do they perform live due to the various members’ agoraphobia, superstitiousness and excessive stage fright.

The band has just released their fifth album “Down Below World” and third in their SciFi/Fantasy, Psychedelic Prog Rock series that began with 2015’s “Hobbitozz … A Land That Never Was”, and proceeded with 2018’s “The Planet of Progkp”. “Down Below World,” resumes the story of protagonist Sine and his transgalactic guide the Spirit Usher. This time they have found themselves *inside* the planet of Progkp as they confront Progkp’s deity, Thos, after a journey to the planet’s core.

Fans of Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and The Borschlatts will be blown away by this “Down Below World” album, so listen to it below, delve into the story of the album HERE, connect with REPTIEL on FB, and be on the lookout for our exclusive review and interview, both coming soon.

Stream and Share “Down Below World” on Bandcamp

Connect with REPTIEL: Facebook

BLACKOUT PROBLEMS Announce UK and European Headline Tour for Autumn 2024

BLACKOUT PROBLEMS have announced a UK & European headline tour for autumn 2024 in support of their recently released new album “RIOT” out now via Sony Music. The tour will find the Munich-based electronic rock band performing the album in full alongside fan favourites from across their back catalogue.

The tour will start in October with 14 dates across Europe with support from Sperling and Lake Malice, before hitting the UK in November for eight dates. UK support announcements will follow soon.

Full dates are listed below and tickets go on sale at 9am GMT Friday 1st March via http://www.blackoutproblems.com/

HEADLINE RIOT TOUR 2024

Europe

02.10.2024 DE Frankfurt, Batschkapp

03.10.2024 DE Köln, Carlswerk Victoria

04.10.2024 FR Paris, Supersonic

05.10.2024 BE Aarschot, De Klinker

06.10.2024 NL Amsterdam, Paradiso

10.10.2024 HU Budapest, Dürer Kert

11.10.2024 AT Wien, Chelsea

13.10.2024 CH Winterthur, Gaswerk

18.10.2024 CZ Prag, Rock Cafe

19.10.2024 POL Krakau, Hype Park

20.10.2024 POL Warschau, HYDROZAGADKA

31.10.2024 DE Leipzig , Conne Island

01.11.2024 DE Berlin, Festsaal Kreuzberg

02.11.2024 DE Hamburg, Markthalle

UK

08.11.2024 UK Brighton, Manchester Street Art Club

09.11.2024 UK Birmingham, O2 Academy 2

10.11.2024 UK Glasgow, Cathouse

12.11.2024 UK Leeds, Key Club

13.11.2024 UK Manchester, Academy 3

14.11.2024 UK Nottingham, Rescue Rooms

15.11.2024 UK London, The Dome

16.11.2024 UK Bristol, Thekla

Europe

07.12.2024 DE München, Muffathalle

BLACKOUT PROBLEMS new album “RIOT” is a potent record bursting with socio-critical, political, apolitical, personal and soulful themes. RIOT finds the balance with searing riffs and emotive choruses, paired with pensive moments and melancholic electronics, alongside frontman Mario Radetzky's thought-provoking lyrics which rain down on the harsh world of reality.

The album is available now HERE

Connect with BLACKOUT PROBLEMS: Website

Interview: Mike Collins of Rooftop Screamers Discusses His Single/Video "Dead In The Water"

“ I do have a core group of musicians I like to work with that I know will always bring something fresh and exciting to the music. But I also like to branch out from that circle and reach out to musicians who’s work I admire.”

— Mike Collins, Rooftop Screamers

What is the origin of the Rooftop Screamers music project, and what does the name represent to you?

Rooftop Screamers is an outlet to write and record my own original music. I play in a few bands in the Portland (Oregon) area and do a fair amount of session/studio work as well. That keeps me pretty busy. But as a songwriter, I need a vehicle to express myself and Rooftop Screamers is that vehicle. Prior to Rooftop Screamers I was the drummer and predominant songwriter in the Power Pop band Throwback Suburbia. Once we disbanded in 2013, I had about a dozen or more songs I had written and instead of trying to form a new band to record and perform those songs, I decided instead to invite some of my favorite local musicians and singers to make guest appearances on the songs. I also tested my luck and reached out to some of my musical heroes and as luck would have it, I got positive feedback and several of them expressed interest in working together.

I've had the honor to work with some heroes, including: Cy Curnin (The Fixx), Tim Smith (Sheryl Crow, Noel Gallagher, Jellyfish), Earl Slick (John Lennon, David Bowie), David Paton (Pilot, Alan Parsons, Elton John), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.), Mark Plati (Prince, David Bowie, The Cure), Dan Reed (as mentioned before) and local producers like Rob Daiker, Kevin Hahn and Gregg Williams, to name a few.

As far as the name goes, I think it conjurs up an image of getting something off your chest and that pretty much describes the therapeutic value of songwriting for me.

How do you go about deciding which artists and musicians you will work with creatively?

That's a good question. I do have a core group of musicians I like to work with that I know will always bring something fresh and exciting to the music. But I also like to branch out from that circle and reach out to musicians who's work I admire. Especially in the vocal department. I guess once the song is written and demoed (before taking it into a nice studio), I try to hear in my head what kind of voice would be the right fit.

Whether it's a man or woman, a clean voice or a more gravelly voice. It's like casting someone for a role. So far I've been very happy with each musician and singer that has leant their talents to this project.

How would you say that your surroundings in Portland impact and/or influence the music that you write and record?

Well, it rains here a lot and can get pretty dreary in the Fall/Winter seasons. So that lends itself to more inside activities and maybe a little bit of self reflection. I tend to be most productive during those seasons and write a lot more than say the Spring/Summer months. It's fun to tinker in the studio and be creative when you don't feel like you're missing out on much. And when the Spring/Summer rolls around, then you have material to take into the studio and start the process of releasing new music. It works for me!

Congratulations on the release of your new single "Dead In The Water"; tell us about your creative process for the song itself, and how you connected with featured artist Rob Daiker.

“Dead In The Water” was one of those songs that came fairly quick, and those are usually the best ones. When the song practically writes itself and all the components such as the chord structure, melody and lyrics are aligned.

This song is a bit more in the modern rock genre and less like the power pop stuff I typically write. Although there are certainly pop sensibilities in the song. I think I was listening to a fair amount of Porcupine Tree and Muse when I started working on the song and those influences crept in. Knowing that this particular song was a little bit darker than some others I have written, it made sense to me to reach out to my friend Rob Daiker. Rob's productions for other artists (Dan Reed Network, Royal Bliss, Loyal Order, etc.) as well as his own material have a bit more modern and darker pop/rock vibe to them. I knew “Dead In The Water” could benefit from his touch.

This is actually the third Rooftop Screamers song Rob has produced as well as sang and played the bulk of the instruments on. We have also played in Dan Reed's solo band together and I have played drums in Rob's band in the past. So, working together is comfortable and familiar. His work on “Dead In The Water” is no exception to his amazing artistry.

The "Dead In The Water" animated music video is incredible. How did you and the director devise the visual treatment and how long did it take for it to be completed?

The video was done by Daphne Ang at TCOMAS Studio. This is the second video she has done for me. The first being for the previous single: “Another Life”. I discovered her work last year and was blown away! Her videos are visually stunning and her vision was perfect for “Dead In The Water”.

I had some basic ideas of how the video should look, but she definitely ran with it and brought the song to life with her multimedia approach, using animation, stock footage and her imagination. The video ended up looking like a mini disaster movie with some dystopian undertones that serviced the song well.

With the "Dead In The Water" song and visuals now unveiled, what is next for you and Rooftop Screamers musically?

Next is getting back in the studio and recording new songs. I have about a dozen or so, but have narrowed it down to 4-5 that I want to record first. I'm really excited about the direction of a few of the songs. They represent a little bit of a departure from the previous, more pop based stuff. There's some Pink Floyd and more progressive rock vibes that I'm playing with.

In the meantime, I'll be releasing a five song EP that includes “Dead In The Water” alongside four previously released singles. Stay tuned!

Stream and Share “Dead In The Water”: Spotify | Bandcamp

Connect with Rooftop Screamers: Facebook

HARD Summer Music Festival Announces Dates and New Venue for 2024 Edition

HARD Events has announced the dates and new venue for the 2024 edition of HARD Summer Music Festival. For the first time, HARD Summer will take place at Inglewood’s Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium, on August 3 and 4, 2024.

Since its debut edition in 2008, HARD Summer has remained as a staple of the Southern California festival scene, growing steadily while showcasing its signature multi-genre curatorial ethos and Y2K aesthetic. The festival is now the largest electronic music event in Los Angeles and a stronghold for the city’s diverse melting pot of musical styles and influences.

This year, HARD Summer is relocating to the expansive Hollywood Park, situated on the renowned grounds of SoFi Stadium and YouTube Theater. Spanning 300 acres, this mixed-use development promises a fresh experience for attendees. With its spacious layout, Hollywood Park offers ample room for dancing and exploration, interactive features, and innovative activations, ensuring a fully immersive music festival experience.

“We are thrilled to partner with HARD Events to bring another festival featuring diverse programming to Inglewood,” said Adolfo Romero, VP, Programming and Booking for SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “This partnership not only amplifies Hollywood Park’s influence in the festival space but also solidifies our dedication to curating global entertainment that authentically mirrors our vibrant local community.”

The HARD stage will play host to the festival’s marquee mainstage acts, while you can find the scene’s most in-demand house and techno names at the Pink Stage. The HARDER Stage will continue to place a focus on acts spanning multiple genres, while the Green Stage leans heavily into bass and dubstep. The always evolving and forward-thinking Purple Stage will shine light on high-energy, club-minded DJ sets and larger than life live performances.

HARD Summer’s 2023 edition featured a return to Los Angeles with an array of electronic and hip-hop headliners including Kaskade, John Summit, Skrillex, Four Tet, Kid Cudi, 21 Savage, Dillon Francis, Ludacris, Black Coffee, Oliver Tree, DIESEL, and more in the festival’s milestone 15th year. Fans can expect the same level of world class talent to grace HARD’s stages for this year’s edition, with more details on the 2024 lineup to be announced in the coming weeks.

Two-day GA, GA+, and VIP festival passes will be available for purchase beginning February 16th at 10am PST. Fans will also have an opportunity at an early jump on passes via the SMS presale beginning February 16th at 9am PST. Visit HARD’s official website for more info and to sign up for presale. Additionally, in celebration of the festival’s relocation to the 310 area code, HARD is also offering a $3.10 deposit available only on February 16th.

Connect with HARD Summer: Website

SoCal Alt Rock Band The Disassociates Drop Their Debut Album “No Reason This Can't Be Fun”

SoCal's The Disassociates have just released their debut album “No Reason This Can't Be Fun”.

Vocalist Brie Marie says, “No Reason This Can’t Be Fun is a fun, wild, and completely open & honest look into coping with life and all the struggles that come with it. Whether you want to laugh, cry, or rage, No Reason This Can’t Be Fun has a song for you.”

The Disassociates are an electrifying alternative rock band emerging from Southern California, fusing elements of alternative rock, power-punk, and catchy melodies with relatable, authentic, and at times hilarious lyrics. Debuting in 2023 with their singles "I Don't Wanna" and "30mg", this enigmatic band is comprised of longtime friends vocalist Brie Marie, guitarist Jordan Sutton, drummer Michael Bonanno, and bassist Justin Pittman, each bringing a unique musical perspective to the table.

Known for their thought-provoking lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, The Disassociates navigate the realms of introspection and rebellion through their music with influences ranging from from pop punk to classic rock to metal. The band creates a sonic tapestry that is both familiar and groundbreaking.

The Disassociates' debut album, “No Reason This Can't Be Fun”, showcases the band's ability to push boundaries both lyrically and musically. If the clever yet true-to-life lyrics don't grab you, the melodies will be stuck in your head for at least 3-5 business days.

Listen to the new album below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with the band on their social media.

Stream and Share “No Reason This Can’t Be Fun”

Connect with The Disassociates: Instagram | TikTok

Rezz Announces Upcoming Album "CAN YOU SEE ME?" and Releases New Collaboration "DYSPHORIA" With HOLLY

Electronic visionary Rezz has announced her forthcoming album CAN YOU SEE ME? with a new collaborative single ‘DYSPHORIA’ with HOLLY out now via HypnoVizion.

A foreboding introduction to CAN YOU SEE ME?, ‘DYSPHORIA’ echoes the eerie outliers and desolate tones that soundtrack Rezz’s self proclaimed “bass era”. Complex and enigmatic, ‘DYSPHORIA’ distends the usual curves of electronic music with its perilous basslines and cryptic drum patterns. As galvanizing slow builds give way to catastrophic drops, ‘DYSPHORIA’ brings listeners to the brink before catapulting back to reality.

“HOLLY sent me this idea for a collaboration and I immediately knew I wanted to work on this record. This is the perfect entry to this new bass music era for my project.” – Rezz

“This one means a lot. I’ve been looking up to Rezz since I came across her music in 2015. I have always respected the world she has built with her art and how true to herself she has been since day one. There’s a lot I learn from Rezz as a fan and now I am very grateful for the opportunity to create together. I hope this is our first of many records!” – HOLLY

Quickly following the release of ‘Black Ice’ with Subtronics, ‘DYSPHORIA’ marks the latest piece of Rezz’s forthcoming album CAN YOU SEE ME? due out March 14th. Shifting gears from 2023’s goth-themed IT’S NOT A PHASE EP, CAN YOU SEE ME? encapsulates Rezz’s ever-evolving sound and new bass era. Fans can get a live taste of CAN YOU SEE ME? at Rezz’s upcoming headline shows in Miami and Phoenix and festival performances at EDC Mexico, Beyond Wonderland, Project GLOW, and more.

Portuguese producer/DJ HOLLY is a magnetic force on the music scene. Having racked up accomplishments since 2017, HOLLY’s production discography includes collaborations with artists like CL, Danny Brown, 24hrs, Machinedrum, Zeds Dead, and Baauer, the latter of which earned him a Grammy nomination for his work on Planet Mad. In 2023, HOLLY unveiled the first two installments of his EP trilogy, collectively known as Minha Vida: Love, Hope, and Sadness and also released his collaborative 天の川 (River of Heaven) EP with Machinedrum on Vision Recordings. Featured as one of Dancing Astronaut’s ‘Artists to Watch in 2024’, ‘DYSPHORIA’ marks HOLLY’s debut release on HypnoVizion with more to come this year.

Stream Rezz and HOLLY’s new collaboration ‘DYSPHORIA’ available now on all platforms and pre-save Rezz’s upcoming album CAN YOU SEE ME? due out March 14th.

Rezz Upcoming Tour Dates

January 19 – Igloofest – Montréal, QB

February 10 – Brooklyn Hangar – Brooklyn, NY

February 24 – EDC Mexico – Mexico City, MX

March 9-10 – ILLfest – Austin, TX

March 22 – Beyond Wonderland – San Bernardino, CA

March 23 – MANA – Miami, FL

April 20 – Phoenix Raceway – Phoenix, AZ

April 27-28 – Project GLOW – Washington, DC

May 2-5 – Sol Fest – Ponce De Leon, FL

September 2-8 – Dancefestopia – Kansas City, KS

HOLLY Upcoming Tour Dates

January 19 – The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

January 20 - Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA

January 22 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR

January 23 – Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, BC

January 24 – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA

January 26 – Sonia – Boston, MA

January 27 – Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO

January 30 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN

January 31 – Metro – Chicago, IL

February 1 – Majestic Theater – Detroit, MI

February 3 – The Concert Hall – Toronto, ON

February 6 – Royale – Boston, MA

February 7 – Webster Hall – New York, NY

February 8 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA

February 10 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC

February 11 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC

Buy/Stream “DYSPHORIA”: https://hypnovizion.lnk.tt/DYSPHORIA

Pre-Save “CAN YOU SEE ME?”: https://hypnovizion.lnk.tt/CYSM

Connect with Rezz: Website | X | Instagram

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