Chicago-based synth/pop group Course has announced their new album Hue Mirror will release on April 25th. Their third full-length offering, Hue Mirror marks their most raw, vulnerable, and poignant collection of songs to date, written by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jessica Robbins in the wake of a traumatic, life-altering diagnosis. Today they shared the lead single and title track “Hue Mirror,” a song that captures a moment of whirlwind confusion, fear, and shock.
Since their debut, Course has established themselves with a sound that mixes lushly layered melodies and electronic instrumentation into dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes across two acclaimed albums: 2021’s A Late Hour and 2023’s Tight Feathers. They earned praise from the likes of Consequence of Sound, Chicago Tribune, American Songwriter, Under The Radar, and Atwood Magazine who raved “Course has quickly established itself as a reliable source of exhilarating, radiant, and shimmering indie pop.” In recent years, however, Robbins found it increasingly difficult to ignore the pain that had been creeping up her spine ever since college, turning her everyday activities - walking, sleeping, holding her guitar, even breathing - into a struggle.
Hue Mirror began taking shape last year during several months of intense uncertainty, before Robbins received the medical news that would change her life forever: a diagnosis for an aggressive autoimmune disorder called Ankylosing Spondylitis. An incurable disease that targets the spine and joints causing long term damage, severe chronic pain and discomfort, the news left Robbins in shock as she began coming to terms with a future that is now shrouded in ambiguity. Dreaming of a life that didn't involve so much discomfort, she continued writing songs with renewed conviction and resilience, confronting her illness with bold, beautiful music that pulled no punches. As the inflammation in her body intensified, so did her decision to create the best album of her life, one that would turn the uncertainties of her future into something raw, real, and undeniably present.
“‘Hue Mirror’ is the first song I wrote after my AS diagnosis on April 11, 2024,” stated Robbins. “My head was spinning. I was in a haze when I wrote this. I wasn’t given much explanation about the disease, just that they were ordering a strong drug to suppress my immune system and lower the inflammation. I felt confused and scared, not understanding what was happening. I wrote this song during that time of uncertainty about my future. The song touches on the idea of how medicine for this disease comes at a cost, the pain I had been enduring for so long, and the unpredictability of not knowing when the next flare will hit. No matter how much you work out, take medicine, or eat healthy, this disease is here forever. It will never go away. I want to raise awareness for this disease, which affects so many but remains relatively unknown to the general population. It took me a decade to get a diagnosis, and nobody should have to go through that.”
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| Photo - Ross Wightman |
Amanda Ekery - Stitching.
Amanda Ekery's forthcoming album Árabe is due in May and explores Syrian and Mexican shared history on the El Paso border through enchanting vocal jazz / pop and remarkable, personal essays, her first single, "Stitching" is something quite special and is released today.
The fourth full-length release by vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Amanda Ekery, Árabe invites audiences to explore Syrian and Mexican shared history and culture on the El Paso border - the story of Ekery’s life, lineage and identity. It features twelve original songs and accompanying essays with the stories and history behind each track covering everything from food, gambling, and evil eyes, to immigration law, biracial identity, and the fraught relationship between immigrant entrepreneurship and workers’ rights.
Each track conjures a rich creative world informed by research and Ekery’s distinct personal style. Ekery spent over 5 years developing Árabe, conducting interviews with her family and the Syrian Ladies Club of El Paso, working with Yale SWANA scholar Dr. Mark Eggerman, researching Syrian and Mexican immigration and migration, and completing an artist residency at the Arab American National Museum located in Dearborn, MI which is home to the largest population of Arabs outside of the Arab world.
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"Being in lust or in love can be such a deliciously un-peaceful and volatile feeling. Inside you’re going absolutely batty, but outside you’re trying to keep it cool as a cucumber. The director of this video, Alice Teeple, is a dear friend of mine and also a free spirit––fearless with her artistry.
Her mere presence egged me on to let loose and express the mania and mayhem that goes on in the mind. Truth be told, it’s not just love or lust that drives me bonkers these days. I think that this video works on a number of different levels, not the least of which is this: I’m a woman—passionate, opinionated, rebellious, in a world that would prefer me to be humble and docile. The video shows that this woman is not about to be held down by anything." —Janita
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Close to Monday, synth-pop’s next wave of innovators Ann and Alexander, release their highly anticipated "World Turtles" EP. Anchored by the spellbinding lead single Turtles, the project weaves evocative narratives with intricate, driving production along with an urgent message about ocean conservation. The EP also features four of their most pivotal titles from their 2024 monthly single series. Altogether, this five-track collection solidifies the duo’s reputation for blending emotional depth with transportive soundscapes.
Accompanying the release, the band unveil the visually arresting music video featuring captivating projections of vast oceans and giant sea turtles, complemented by an enchanting light show. The visuals are designed to mesmerize and raise awareness about the beauty and fragility of marine life, further amplifying the duo’s message of awe-inspiring wonder beneath the waves.
Timed perfectly to coincide with Earth Hour (March 22) and World Water Day, "World Turtles" is not only an artistic statement but also a powerful call for environmental action for ocean conservation. To amplify the message, Close to Monday are collaborating with iSea, asking their fans to donate in supporting vital efforts to protect the world’s oceans. "Now more than ever, it is crucial for artists to seize the opportunity to promote environmental protection and inspire their audience to take action. After all, nature has always been a source of inspiration for art," Anastasia Charitou, Communication Officer, iSea.
At the heart of the EP, Turtles pulses with the kinetic energy of late-’70s Berlin discotheques, colliding with the sharp edge of ’80s synth nights and the vibrant spirit of ’90s club culture. The track's driving rhythms and cascading textures create an urgent yet hypnotic state. It’s the soundtrack to a late-night odyssey, where the adrenaline of the dance floor dissolves into the surreal calm of the ocean, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its restless currents.
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Junior Scaife returns with two strikingly soulful sides produced and co-written by Penrose staunchman, Anthony Masino. As one of the most gifted vocalists on today's soul scene, Junior Scaife injects profound soulfulness into every syllable.
With its vibey groove and infectious background melody "Nobody Gets My Love" marries the visceral rawness of late sixties Detroit sides ala Hestor and Wylie with a relaxed West Coast je ne sais quoi.
On the flip is "Too Much Too Soon", a rugged ballad dripping with wah wah and class, sure to turn heads on the low-rider scene.
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