It's been a couple of years since we last shared a song from Lusterlit (time flies and all of that) so it's a big welcome back especially as their new song 'Squealer' is just so good. It's something of a departure from the last song share however it's still something special as the rhythm and vocal passion simmer together wonderfully. ===== Another band serving up some original and creative vibes are Red Spot Rhythm Section who recently shared a couple of imaginative and hook filled tunes, namely 'Hard To Give Thanks' and 'Foundation'.
With their songs created for Bushwick Book Club, BBC founder, Susan Hwang and BBC contributor and producer, Charlie Nieland, have joined forces to perform as the new, literature-inspired duo—Lusterlit. Both vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, Charlie and Susan alternate lead vocals and harmonies while supporting each other on guitar, bass, synth, traditional Korean drum and accordion.
Squealer features Marlon Cherry on percussion and was originally performed with him and Wes Spaulding for a Bushwick Book Club / Parsnip Ship collaboration in Long Island City right before elections in 2019. Inspired by George Orwell's ANIMAL FARM - lyrics:
"You do not imagine we pigs are doing this in selfishness and privilege. It’s for you day and night we grapple. It’s for you we drink that milk and eat those apples. I detest them myself. Our sole object is preserving our health. If we fail in our duty and fall flat, do you know what would happen? Yes, Jones would come back."
You do not want Jones to Come Back.
Are all the revolutions doomed? The power returning to the few. Boxer is as good as glue when you let them lie to you.
Dream of a utopia trying to hold on to the hope that you can make the world you want if you avoid the traps. Can the answer be as simple as that?
You do not want want Jones to come back. Some animals are more equal than others.
They’ll distract with songs and ceremony, spinning truth and changing history. Pigs squeal fear and distraction. Readjustments not reductions.
Don’t listen to the pig squeal telling you the hunger in your belly isn’t real. Fear and distraction from what you know is true. He’ll squeal a reality of lies to you. Who will you listen to.
Chorus You do not want want Jones to come back. Some animals are more equal than others. Four legs good two legs bad...
Red Spot Rhythm Section - Hard To Give Thanks / Foundation.
The brainchild of Chicago-based musician and multimedia artist Joshua Siegal, Red Spot Rhythm Section fuses folk, indie rock and World Beat on the new single "Hard to Give Thanks" B/W "Foundation."
In March of 2020, the Red Spot Rhythm Section went into the studio to begin recording a new two-song single, but unfortunately the studio’s doors had to close - along with most businesses - before the end of the month. Undaunted, the group continued to work with the engineer and guest artists remotely, while recording additional parts at their home.
The single features the guest talents of Shane Jonas (Akasha, Lowdown Brass Band) on vocals, Mike Bruno (Spare Parts) on drums, and Michael Bizar (AJ Croce) on lead guitar.
“Hard To Give Thanks” is a short but rollicking tune with an outlaw-country back-beat and a melancholy message. “Foundation” is a love letter to the future with a jammy feel and world-music overtones. "Hard To Give Thanks" / "Foundation" is a result of the love, effort, and hope of everyone involved.
Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion - Josh Siegal Vocals - Shane Jonas Lead Guitar - Michael Bizar Drums - Mike Bruno Engineer - Doug Bistrow Master - Rollin Weary Cover Art - Shannon Belock Words & Music by Red Spot Rhythm Section Produced by Red Spot Rhythm Section
Meat Cake is the new double-A-sided single of Lusterlit songs inspired by comic book artist and author Dame Darcy's series of the same name, and written for her Bushwick Book Club event with Brooklyn Book Festival. Lusterlit were so inspired by her renaissance-mermaid royalty that they immediately started planning a Lusterlit record.
The relentless indie drive of "Wax Wolf" and the chamber/hip-hop epic "Cutting" are now available at Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music and on blue vinyl, courtesy of Brooklynphono!
These helpings of deep hooks and vivid storytelling feature the duos dark cinematic blend of spiraling vocals over acoustic/electric landscapes of vintage beatboxes, swirling guitars, keyboards and brutal drums.
Lusterlit produces Bushwick Book Club (founded in 2009), the international performance series featuring songwriters and performers of all kinds, putting on regular shows featuring new music, art and snacks inspired by a chosen work of literature. Lusterlit formed to perform and present the songs they have written for Bushwick Book Club as fully produced recordings, alternating lead vocals and harmonies while supporting each other on guitar, bass, piano, synth, traditional Korean drum, accordion and more. WEBSITE.
The new single 'Meat Cake' comprises of 'Wax Wolf' and 'Cutting', and helps explain my attraction to the duos music (this being their fourth feature). The sharing of lead vocal duty in itself ensures a level of variety, however it goes deeper than that, their knack for enticing musical hooks, and the intrigue that the lyrics always provide are key. Add in the choice of instrumentation and the whole combination is always fresh. Enough praise, they have a book club to run...
Berlin based, American born musician Erin K is excited to announce the release of new single Happiness, taken from upcoming album I Need Sound due for release early 2019. The album features a beautiful mix of IndieFolk / Retro-Pop sounds and is the follow up to successful debut album Little Torch (over 3m Spotify streams), released last year.
Happiness explores the titles theme personified in the form of a character on a journey; who tries to connect to different individuals along the way and become disheartened as each encounter cannot engage with his emotion. The video explores the themes of liberation and rebirth. Filmed in West Cork, Ireland the video is inspired by the aos sí; celtic folklore of fairies and forest spirits; and was the second time Erin K had collaborated with director Nathan Erasmus having worked together on the video for 'Assholio' previously which aired at the Oscar and Bafta recognised Animated Encounters film festival, IndieCork; 2018 Fastnet Film Festival in Schull as well as winning the audience award for best short at the Small Axe Radical Film Festival too.
With songwriting influences including Jaymay, Lily Allen and Kate Nash, Erin is known for her fearless and original lyrics. Her mainly autobiographical songs are sometimes inspired by strange and uncomfortable events; often with a lighthearted portrayal of a harmful or weighted experience. The songs on the album are delivered with light-hearted humor and wit, showcasing a vast range of songwriting topics; from heartache… to toothache!
Erin describes Happiness as a song “that explores the theme of happiness personified in the form of a character on a journey. He tries to connect with different individuals along the way and becomes disheartened as each, for different reasons, cannot engage with his emotion. A boy, for example “who you can tell loves his band, ‘cause they all look so alike”, refuses him in favour of his own darker emotions that contribute to his creativity. In another moment, he is rejected by a girl unable to let go of the sorrow around a death for fear of losing the memories attached. In a nutshell, it’s a story narrating the complexities around perceived simple emotions, like happiness, and our ability or refusal to engage with them.” FACEBOOK.
'Happiness' is intrinsically catchy and stylish from start to finish. The lyrics add more, the video is totally aligned to the songs theme, in all this suggests that the early 2019 album release will be quite something.
The Fame ask the question (and go on to answer it) What do you see when you look in the mirror?
“Wide Awake,” our debut single, focuses on the topic of self-reflection and the happenings of everyday life.
While crafting the song, we collectively drew from personal life experience and our rock music inspirations to create something that anyone can relate to.
“Wide Awake” is the first single to be shared from our upcoming debut EP. Produced by Brian Moncarz (Our Lady Peace, Moneen, Circa Survive), the EP is set for release in early 2019. WEBSITE.
Notable alt rocker 'Wide Awake' mixes superb (and just right for rock) vocals with solid backing harmonies and a feisty and powerful musical backdrop. It's one of those songs that stands out for all the right rock and roll reasons.
10,000 Flowers is an album-closing, shoegazey mood-piece that explores the idea that one might handle things differently if given the chance. The song’s simplest message is about letting go, and the first and last line are perfect bookends for the wider story. In the first line, Frey shows angsty vulnerability and admission of fault with, ‘I may not have regrets but I might do it different.’ And the closing line, ’When are you going to let 10,000 Flowers bloom?’ can be paraphrased by asking when will you let go?
Kazyak is an indie rock band based in the Twin Cities. The band has recorded 2 EPs (1 unreleased) and an LP (unreleased) and finds it's source in a deep pool of experimental music. The live lineup includes: Peter Frey (guitar), Andy Wolfe (guitar), Pat Hayes (synth, piano), Tyler Safranek (bass), and Nick Grewe (drums).
The band finds its source in a deep pool of midwestern music, drawing on the abstract side of Bob Dylan's songwriting and lofty sonic architecture from the likes of 12 Rods, Fat Kid Wednesdays, Tiki Obmar, and Halloween, Alaska. The group has shared the stage with many, including LA indie rockers the Local Natives and Duluth-based Trampled by Turtles, and continues to collaborate closely with Minneapolis-based engineer/drummer Brett Bullion.
'10,000 Flowers' softly opens with a gentle melodic feel and some distinctive and pleasing vocals. Some beautiful acoustic guitar and subtle swirling synths add even more to this intimate yet atmospheric song.
Background - Kentucky Bluegrass band NewTown is bringing new life to the “Old World” with their new single “Naomi Wise,” an old English murder ballad written in modern times. It tells the story of commoner Naomi Wise who falls in love with a man in high-standing and what happens when forbidden love takes a dark turn.
Written by Donna Hughes, the haunting “Naomi Wise” serves as a cautionary tale, staying true to the English ballad style. Yet NewTown brings a fresh take with progressive arrangements that harken back to Appalachian roots. The song and accompanying video is the first release from the band’s upcoming album “Old World,” expected later this summer from Mountain Home Music Company. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, highlighting the vocals of both Kati and Jr. Williams and giving listeners a taste of what the band does best — bring tradition into the modern age.
“Donna Hughes is one of the most prolific songwriters in bluegrass and acoustic music, and she has written one of the best songs of her career with ‘Naomi Wise,’” says Jr. Williams. “The classic, tragic love story is portrayed here and written so beautifully and vividly.”
Songwriter Donna Hughes says, “It was more than exciting to learn that NewTown would be recording this song! The story of Naomi Wise was a very shocking tale. The legend around her hometown of Randleman, NC, is that she haunts the area still. A young orphan teenage girl with so much hope, lends her trust to a young man of means. The story of deception & betrayal is timeless, and familiar to every generation of souls.” WEBSITE.
With a classic story telling style and some top quality duel vocals, 'Naomi Wise' is a fabulous slice of Bluegrass, where expressions such as Roots, Americana, and Timeless comfortably rub shoulders together, whilst NewTown do their beautiful thing...
Background - Indie folk newcomer Ella Grace shares evocative new cut Run, her second release via Ont’ Sofa Records focusing on the pain and heartbreak of a failed relationship and her transition to a better life. Using music to sooth and heal, the 22-year-old Londoner’s therapeutic songwriting is laid bare once more in her latest single, the follow-up to acclaimed debut effort Here We Are Again out late last year.
Having developed an impressive online following (over 200,000 Instagram followers), the young female activist touches on aspects of sustainable living, mental well being and feminism whilst sharing a very raw personal journey through her teenage years, aspects of which are firmly rooted in her music. In Run, Ella’s supreme honesty and spiritual observations on 21st century life permeate her dulcet, husky vocals, exemplifying the songwriter’s burgeoning talent ahead of her debut live shows and further releases later this summer.
Speaking ahead of the track’s release, Ella stated: “Run was a super cathartic song to write and record, it was a message to someone I loved. I wrote it during a time when I was really split between two worlds. Run was this promise to try and stay with somebody whilst my heart was pulling me in other directions. It was a really bittersweet time for me and I think this track captures it perfectly”. TWITTER.
Graceful indie folk, London style, is the first description that sprung to mind when listening to 'Run'. So I go with my first instinct on this, and just throw in a couple of superlatives like imaginative and seductive, for good measure.
Background from Lusterlit - We've created a double-A-sided single, Lusterlit's ode to Jonathan Ames' new pitch-black novella/film You Were Never Really Here, with 2 songs, which we wrote for Bushwick Book Club events that included the author in Brooklyn and LA
The twisted pop of Rolodex and and the relentlessly dark River, available now on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music etc. and on vinyl 45, courtesy of Brooklynphono!
Both feature our cinematic blend of electronic and acoustic textures: vintage beatboxes, swirling guitars, Korean drum and sublimely layered vocals, all mining Jonathan Ames' noirish page-turner for more inspired songcraft about books. BANDCAMP.
Comprising of two tracks 'River' and 'Rolodex' the latest music from Lusterlit based on 'You Were Never Really Here' continues to impress me in a big way. Their somewhat darker electronic music remains at the very least absorbing, and the occasionally more "out there" moments are a delight.
Background - Empathy Test recently shared their latest single "Everything Will Work Out". The track is from their forthcoming EP 'Everything Will Work Out' (out Nov 3rd) and also appears on their new LP 'Safe From Harm' (out Nov 17). The duo explains that their latest single is about "hooking up with your ex and then waking up in the morning and realising you're not going to get back together, but it's okay; it's for the best". On November 17th, the band will be releasing two debut LPs, 'Losing Touch (Remastered)' and 'Safe From Harm', both of which contain remastered versions of previously released material as well as brand new tracks. You can pre-order the EP via iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp, and pre-order the LPs here. Empathy Test was formed in 2013 by childhood friends Isaac Howlett and Adam Relf. Sharing a mutual love for all things sci-fi, the London-based duo draw inspiration from ‘80s movie soundtracks, ‘90s guitar bands and underground dance music. Their name, borrowed from Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner, gives a clue to the DNA of a band that, since its conception just three years ago, has self-released a string of meticulously layered, life-affirming Synthpop tracks that have won them both critical acclaim a legion of dedicated fans worldwide. ‘Everything Will Work Out’ represents a bold new sonic statement from Howlett and Relf, who, in a now wholly oversaturated synth scene, have used their considerable talents to form an enthralling, standalone identity. Shedding the dark, melancholy nightscapes of early tracks like their debut, ‘Losing Touch’, which has now had over half a million plays on Spotify, this new single finds the band stepping into the light, rocking the kind of chorus you wouldn’t be surprised to find on a new Haim album. Packed full of hooks and constantly evolving, Everything Will Work Out is the perfect final taster for new LP, ‘Safe From Harm’. Fiercely independent, the band remains unsigned, having already turned down their fair share of record deals in favour of crowdfunding their twin debut albums via PledgeMusic. The hugely successful campaign is now 575% funded and counting, showing the huge weight of support they have behind them. Despite the lack of label-backing, they’re also turning in the kind of Spotify streams you would expect from the latest industry-backed buzz band, with their last single Bare My Soul already having racked up 70K+ plays. WEBSITE. FACEBOOK.
The vocals are notable from the beginning as they drift above a rich synth layered musical soundtrack. 'Everything Will Work Out' is a refreshing electro pop song with bags of feeling.
Background - Lusterlit today share thier new video for the song Flight from the List Of Equipment EP. Directed by Deb Magocsi, it is inspired by The Fortress Of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem and is filled with images that conjure the magic, the Brooklyn, and the altitude of the story, not to mention Ms. Josephine Baker. Lusterlit is having a video release show today Friday October 20th at 7PM at Communitea (11-18 46th Rd, New York, New York 11101). They will be sharing the bill with Frank Olson Twins, Neil Kelly and Jheremie Jacque, all of whom will also be premiering new music videos as well as performing. With their songs created for Bushwick Book Club, BBC founder, Susan Hwang and BBC contributor and producer, Charlie Nieland, have joined forces to perform as the new, literature-inspired duo—Lusterlit. Both vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, Charlie and Susan alternate lead vocals and harmonies while supporting each other on guitar, bass, synth, traditional Korean drum and accordion. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP.
The brand new music video for 'Flight' adds further character, interest and identity to what is a funky and fabulous song. We featured the EP earlier this year & really recommend a listen at the very least.
Background - "Mcbess is an illlustrator and musician originally from the south of France, living nowadays in London. From playing drums, saxophone and percussion in a jazz band in Cannes as a teenager, to being part of multiple rock bands in London, it’s been quite the journey. During the winter of 2014 Mcbess recorded Seabass in the south of France, between two family dinners, a way to capture the almost post-apocalyptic mood that resides in Cannes during the rest of the year in this dormant resort. Giving birth to “mcbaise”, becoming a sandbox to create some smooth tunes with the right amount of 'weird.'" BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.
There is a gentle and lazy feel to '610', a cool and laid back rocker that mixes melodic hooks with some bluesy vibes. If you like this track then check out the other twelve songs on their album 'Windowsill', I think your in for a very welcome surprise.
Background - Louise Connell is a singer-songwriter from Airdrie, near Glasgow. Previously performing and releasing her music under the name Reverieme, she has earned a considerable reputation as an outstanding songwriter, with a particular knack for framing intelligent, literate lyrics in haunting and beautiful melodies, delivered by “a voice that would melt iron” (Ravechild). Her first studio album, Straw Woman (2016), was released to consistent critical acclaim and overwhelmingly positive reviews, and was the featured Album Of The Week on several BBC Radio Scotland programmes as well as receiving general airplay on Radio 2, Radio 6 (Lauren Laverne’s “Headphone Moment”), Radio 4, Virgin Radio and Amazing Radio. Recently, her work has come to the attention of legendary artist and designer James Marsh. Famous for his wonderful illustrations for records by Talk Talk, Jamiroquai and many others, James drew inspiration from Louise’s newest songs to create a series of beautiful designs for her forthcoming releases, which will be the first records released under her own name Louise Connell. These will be a series of three 6-track EPs, each of which will reflect a slightly different aspect of Louise’s writing and performance. The first EP, Squall will be released on October 20th, with parts 2 and 3 (Echo and Rale) following in January and March 2018 respectively. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
We featured Louise Connell in February last year when she was using the Reverieme moniker & it's a pleasure to share another beautiful song from her with 'Ilo'. Her gorgeous vocals are accompanied by a refined musical arrangement and the good news is that there is plenty more to follow.
Background - LA-based (by way of Brazil) dream-pop band Winter recently wrapped up a tour opening for another female-fronted LA act, Cherry Glazerr, a show supporting Colleen Green, and a show at the Desert Daze Festival in Joshua Tree in Oct. Their stand-alone single "Just Stay" featuring Trabants has just been shared. Winter is a dreamy indie rock band whose sound was conceived in Boston. The current tour finds Samira Winter backed by Justine Brown, Chelsea Brown, and Anders LaSource of fellow LA band Summer Twins. The quartet released their first full-length album, Supreme Blue Dream, via Lolipop Records in 2015. The aptly titled album floats on with a youthful sense of nostalgia and romanticized segues into adulthood. Influences include most of the 90s holy grail of grunge/alternative music (Dinosaur Jr., Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Pixies, etc.). Winter aspires to connect others with their inner child by making blissful, beautiful and ethereal pop music. FACEBOOK.
'Just Stay' is a soothing and lush dream pop meets indie rock song. Melodic and flowing, it's very catchy and the accompanying old home movie footage (I'm guessing that's what it is) is fabulous.
Background - Twenty-year-old singer-songwriter Sophie Morgan released her debut EP Annie recently and the video for lead track Hey Annie is available to watch now.
Born in Liverpool and raised in Rainhill and Widnes, Sophie began playing piano aged 6 and wrote her first songs aged 9. Brought up on an early musical education of Nick Drake and Van Morrison, and later introduced to Joni Mitchell and Carole King, Sophie released her first single Marionette last year and followed this with Quietly, picking up BBC Introducing and BBC 6Music support along the way.
After a chance meeting with The Verve’s Simon Jones, whilst singing in church at a friend’s wedding, Sophie began recording in Simon’s Chester studio alongside Davide Rossi (Goldfrapp, Coldplay, The Verve) and it was there that the Annie EP was produced.
Hey Annie is the perfect introduction to the EP. It is a folk-tinged track with a delicate animated melody and a warming honeyed vocal. The EP is shaped by Sophie’s musical influences and is a body of work that is ahead of her young years. The video is a relaxed affair and shows Sophie and her tight-knit group of musician friends performing the track together in retro inspired footage. Sophie says;
“It encapsulates my earliest musical years, marking the end of the first chapter and the beginning of the next. The EP features the playing of all the musical friends I have made so far and is a real family affair recorded between all of our houses. I can feel that warmth and homeliness in the imperfections of the recordings - like the squeaking of my old piano stool or the creaking of the floorboards in my living room.” WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Hey Annie' is a gently melodic song where Sophie Morgan's vocals are full of feeling. The band deliver a superb soundtrack, with high quality musicianship, as can be seen (and heard) on the 'live' music video.
Background - JFDR has released the video for "Instant Patience", directed by Samantha Shay and filmed/edited by Victoria Sendra. "Instant Patience" is the fourth video from JFDR's debut album 'Brazil'. Prior videos were Airborne, White Sun and Wires. When talking about the track/video JFDR stated, "Instant patience was written trying to channel my inner triangle - making a song out of three chords in a loop.
The lyrics are taken from love letters i received a long time ago. It's about randomness, connecting with someone, knowing you'll see them again.but that's the idea of instant patience- it's really a paradox, taking all meaning from the word patience and leaving the listener quite confused. The arrangement and production was stitched together by Shahzad Ismaily and composer Úlfur Hansson, who produced electronics on top. The music video was this complete trust exercise.
I went into the desert with wonderful creatives I had never met before. they asked me to trace the stark landscape with my hands, eyes, nose and elbows. they asked me to jump into the ocean when I didn't know how to beat the current. I asked them to make it black and white, so nobody could know the colours but us." Brazil will be released on March 17, 2017.
JFDR, the latest project from Iceland's Jófríður Ákadóttir (Samaris, Pascal Pinon, Gangly), is a blend of cyclical guitar parts, soft minimal soundscapes, and poetic wanderings of a journey that ends where it began. Drawing from classical, folk, and electronic backgrounds, JFDR amalgamates the sounds of changing seasons, her voice a current that moves through rough seas to smooth waters. But perhaps JFDR shines the most in her capacity as a wordsmith, employing rich imagery to evoke the subtle emotions embedded in each song. Facebook here.
Delicate and minimalist it may be however 'Instant Patience' is heavy on atmosphere and beauty. Another song where art and music combine, something that is increasingly a hallmark of Icelandic artists. Please feel free to join me in checking out all of JFDR's other material.
Background - The grey inconclusive nature of life felt paralysing at times this year. In the midst of liminal spaces, fidelity was a reoccurring hope where there weren’t conclusions.
And though we often operated out of a grey area of knowledge, it became an ongoing observation that fidelity to hope seemed more important than having answers. Fidelity to our marriages seemed more important than being right or getting our way. Fidelity to vulnerability seemed more important than protecting ourselves from the inevitable pain of community. Fidelity to social justice and human rights seemed more important than protecting our image or privilege. Our hope for these songs is to invite you not into certainty, but into devotion to hope. A place we tried to operate in despite not being able to know or see the full outcome of that devotion. These are the poems of our year of “Grey Fidelity”. Facebook here.
Whilst I have nothing currently available to share from the new album, rather than tease you by saying just how wonderful all eleven songs are (and they are) I thought I would share a more recent video from Tow'rs in the shape of 'Helm'. At least this way you get an idea of just how good their songs really are.
Background - Charlie Nieland tells us "I'm in a duo called Lusterlit with Susan Hwang. We are part of Bushwick Book Club, in Brooklyn, a rotating group of songwriters and performers of all kinds putting on regular shows featuring new music, art and snacks inspired by a chosen work of literature. Susan founded it in 2009 and I've been a participant since 2013. Susan and I have been playing and recording together for several years and we released a couple of albums that I produced in the fall (Hopeful Monsters and Everything Is Sateen: Five songs inspired by Vonnegut) and formed Lusterlit to perform our songs about books. We alternate lead vocals and harmonies while supporting each other on guitar, bass, synth, traditional Korean drum, accordion and more. Lusterlit toured the West Coast in November from Seattle to LA playing book related events and regular sets along the way.
Now we've completed or first EP as Lusterlit called List Of Equipment. Bringing our songs written for Bushwick Book Club to full technicolor life in these widescreen productions, Susan and I have made some studio magic with music ranging from indie rock to soul to shoegaze, reminiscent of PJ Harvey, Nick Cave and more. They're inspired by the books: Mastering The Art Of French Cooking - Julia Child, Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy, The Fortress Of Solitude - Jonathan Lethem and The Day Of The Triffids - John Wyndham.
I think you'll love the cinematic first track "Ceremony", inspired by Blood Meridian, which we wrote for the Seattle chapter of Bushwick Book Club when we were touring. Or the fierce, funny and dark "List Of Equipment". Or the 90's inspired alt of "Genius Of Love". Bandcamp here. Facebook here.
Charlie Nieland and Susan Hwang (Lusterlit) may be a duo, however they create expansive music that is beautifully layered as the melodic song 'Ceremony' demonstrates. The first EP comprises of five very individual and diverse tracks, sometimes more energised or a little darker in tone, but always intriguing.
The Dream Eaters - We Are A Curse (Forthcoming Album).
Background - The Dream Eaters bring skin-tingling harmonies together as a dream-pop duo like no other. Blending the vocals of Jake Zavracky and Elizabeth LeBaron, their music will envelop and transform you. Formerly known as simply Jake and Elizabeth, the duo’s sound has evolved from classic shoe-gaze roots to a stripped down, dreamy and ethereal vocal focus. While they draw from a number of influences including dream pop, psychedelic, folk and rock genres, their sound stands in a category of its own, focused around the core of harmonious and haunting melodies.
The Dream Eaters story originated in 2015. After playing clubs with various projects and toiling in obscurity for years in his hometown of Boston and later New York City, Zavracky decided to give up the musicians dream and stop performing completely. Then, while working as a bartender at a dive bar in Brooklyn he met LeBaron, another bartender who had just relocated from Vancouver Island, BC. Discovering that they were fellow musicians, they began to collaborate and found an instant connection. As a composer and producer, Zavracky began writing songs for LeBaron to sing alone but soon found their voices blended together in harmony to create a wholly unique sound. With friends and a growing fanbase providing support, they released a number of EP’s and performed live as “Jake And Elizabeth.” As they began to further define their sound, they began performing under the name “The Dream Eaters.”
Their self-produced debut EP, Five Little Pills was released on June 23, 2016, as the first official release under their new band name. A bare-bones production that they self-recorded and released, it provided the precursor of solidifying their new sound and establishing the process they would use to record their first full-length debut album, We Are A Curse. The album is slated for release in late spring (April 14th). Website here, Facebook here.
Again at this moment I can only tell you how fabulous The Dream Eaters forthcoming album is, however I can share their debut EP from last year. Taking nothing away from their first release, the new album seemingly upgrades every aspect of their music, in part because of the stunning production. As demonstrated by the EP, melodies, vocals and harmonies are the cornerstone of the music. Everything has a natural and sometimes quite personal feel running through the songs, where dreamy vocals are never far away.
Background and we quote - it breathes like the character of its narrative; with hesitation & warm swells of choral pleasures
a magnification of before-moments seconds that simmer in undecided air love not yet unrequited nor confirmed elusive
delivered via silk vocals & synth plumes style borrowed from a cocktail of decades
laced with casual persuasion laid-back urgency & unabashed confession
oftentimes unresolved we relinquish Written by Stacey, produced by Derek Hoffman & Alan Day. Website here, Facebook here.
'First Move' is a slow melodic pop song with masses of feeling. A minute or so in to the track and the words above begin to make sense and poetically describe the musical journey you are on.
Background - Paloma have shared new track "Touch". "It's about a diamond in the rough," the band explains, "Somewhat of a tramp. A certain someone who didn't quite know how to believe in them self. Until he meets this princess of sorts that did. When they both turn to real life, he's banking on the idea that we're only half way through the film. That the story isn't finished yet." It's the first song released from their upcoming debut EP, Luna, out this April 28th
Paloma was born of the struggle to navigate the harrowing societal construct typical of suburban Los Angeles. It is the answer for learning to balance the need to make ends meet while expressing the irrepressible creativity brooding inside. The band officially began in a small bedroom studio with several ideas being deconstructed over and over again as every artist can relate to. It wasn’t until Nick and Victor invited the masterful keyboardist and local legend Steven Doman to the studio that the band finally grasped the scope of their newly created sound. In a place where one’s inherent value is often picked apart according to attributes of wealth and beauty, Paloma is truly an escapist’s musical paradise. Paloma is Victor Martinez, Steven Doman, and Nick Mariotti. Facebook here.
A smooth flowing alt rock feel with hints of psychedelic influence make 'Touch' a captivating song right from the word go. Vocals drift above the soundtrack adding some melody and even more feeling, in this blissful piece.
Background - New York City based band, Laura & Greg make catchy pop songs, blending influences from 60's pop, garage and folk with close harmonies and introspective lyrics.
Originally self-released a couple years ago, Paper Garden is excited to announce the re-issue of the album, "Forever For Sure," this coming Friday, March 3rd. To coincide with the release, Laura & Greg will be performing a free show at Chelsea Market in NYC as their official record release show - in conjunction with our ongoing "Chelsea Nights" concert series. Facebook here.
'Muscle Memory' is the first of eleven tracks on the bands 'Forever For Sure' album. Re-issued today by Paper Garden Records, a label that has a knack for finding some vibrant artists, I'm glad they did with Laura and Greg as this is a dazzling selection of songs, as the featured track demonstrates.
