Tag Archives: new single

WATCH: Pillow Queens Embrace Intoxicating Love on ‘Heavy Pour’

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We may still be a long way off from spooky season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t deliver something to haunt you.

In this case, it’s the hypnotic, churning alt-rock of Pillow Queens, who have released a video for their song, “Heavy Pour.” The video — released in advance of their forthcoming LP, Name Your Sorrow (out Friday, April 19) — was shot at the historic Glenmaroon House in Dublin, Ireland — a Tudor-style Edwardian mansion, dating back to the 1850s.

Directed by Kate Dolan, the video is inspired by classic silent films, including The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, Faust and Nosferatu.

“The song felt like a haunting and I felt the video needed to be something quite stylistic. I came up with the idea of the music video being a long lost silent film that has never been seen, a haunted piece of art buried in an attic somewhere. Then, as the band performs the cursed film is purged, burning up. The band are always up for having some fun, so the shoot was a lot of fun, and we played a lot on set.”

Sonically, “Heavy Pour” borrows influence from the guitar distortion of 1990s grunge, with moments of clarity breaking through in the bridge. The soundscape was crafted to fit the song’s theme of choosing to love courageously, even as the world’s judgment finds its way in.

“A lot of the lines in this song could convey the typical sweetness of a love song, but it has brief moments of outside perspectives that cast doubt over the conviction represented,” said lead vocalist, guitarist, and bassist Pamela Connelly. “The song tries to show the ‘heavy pour’ as a compulsion that while having moments of joy, ultimately heightens personal insecurities.”

Meanwhile in the chorus, the band tackles common gender miscorrelations with the line, “I want more, but I’m not man enough.”

“We wanted to delve into and dissect the idea that one’s gender expression is impacted by their perceived level of courage,” said guitarist, bassist, and vocalist Sarah Corcoran. “Spoiler: it’s not. All genders can be courageous and/or scared.”

WATCH: The Dip Point Us in a ‘Love Direction’

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The Dip - Love Direction

Photo credit: Jake Magraw

If you’re a fan of vintage R&B — brought to life by dynamic, modern production — you need look no further than UMC today.

Seattle-based R&B band The Dip are set to deliver their forthcoming album, Love Direction, on July 12. The title track just arrived this past Tuesday, and this right here is a soul lover’s dream.

Harkening back to 1950s and 60s-era rhythm and blues, “Love Direction” features warm guitar tones, brilliant horn arrangements, a jazz-influenced rhythm section, and a whimsical, warbling flute for good measure. All of these colorful splashes paint a vivid sonic portrait, as vocalist/guitarist Tom Eddy’s soothing vocals take us on a journey through the trickier parts of our relationships.

“As you get further along in a relationship, sometimes you lose your way. The things that came easy in the beginning get hard. The love is still there, it’s just that people and life are complicated,” Eddy said. “Sometimes, you don’t have the tools in the toolbox to figure out what you need to do to support the other person, so you have to get help and ask for directions.”

The video, directed by Jake Magraw, is a preview of a larger cinematic work to come, and serves as a visual homage to the do-it-yourself spirit of early music videos.

“We found this really cool video of Wes Montgomery playing in London with his quartet, and we noticed how beautiful that stage they created was,” said drummer Jarred Katz. “We were thinking about how, back in the day, sets were more common in videos and there were different types of production. It was more about what people could build with their hands and by using their imaginations as opposed to computers – we were really drawn to that.”

WATCH: Gloom Girl MFG Get Away with the Perfect ‘Crimes’

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Between Nashville’s established status as a country music mecca, and Music City’s ever-growing pop and hip hop ecosystem, the city’s rock scene often doesn’t get enough love here in 2024.

Gloom Girl MFG might be the band who changes that.

The high-powered punk quartet calls Nashville home, and they’re getting ready to release their EP, Polycrisis, on May 3. The lead single, “Crimes,” is out now — and it gets the whole thing off to an explosive start!

“Crimes” features relentless guitar riffs accompanied by a tight, swaggering rhythm section — calling to mind the edgy alt-punk heyday of bands like The Vines and The Hives. Meanwhile, the charismatic Paige MacKinnon establishes her undeniable presence, as she illustrates the raw complexities of our human experience.

“‘Crimes’ is about someone who’s right in the middle of an emotional explosion,” MacKinnon said. “They’re fed up trying to play the game of love as they see it. And through that we’re speaking to a truth about how intertwined our human experiences in the world are with the way we show love to one another. It can be messy and it can be beautiful too.”

LISTEN: Medium Build Loves “Knowing U Exist”

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Are you even in love, if you don’t love the little moments; the quirks and intricacies of your partner and your relationship?

Medium Build — the songwriting vehicle of Nick Carpenter — explores those quirks on “Knowing U Exist,” an earnest Americana ballad about the ways our loved ones capture our hearts.

The single’s minimalist soundscape creates an intimacy fit for a rainy Sunday morning. A gently-plucked acoustic guitar accompanies Carpenter’s warm, country-influenced baritone, while an emotive string arrangement adds an extra touch of tenderness.

“Knowing U Exist” is from Medium Build’s forthcoming album, Country (coming April 5). The 12-track album “is about the journey (both physically & mentally) Nick’s been on to this point; it’s about high-highs and low-lows, and you can feel Nick wrestle with the good and the bad on each of the album’s 12 songs.” Enjoy this gentle preview below!

Feeling Like a Victim? The Minimum Wage Offers Perspective on ‘Everyone Is’

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It’s one thing to have baggage. It’s another thing to choose to live in the suitcase.

Hailing from Southern Ontario, indie rockers The Minimum Wage are here to challenge your victim mentality with “Everyone Is,” a high-powered, guitar-driven anthem about making the conscious choice to push past our traumas.

“We all consider ourselves victims of something — past traumas, the system, perception of reality. It’s how we deal with being ‘victimized’ that defines us,” the band states. “Do you run to social media and desperately seek validation? Do you put your head down and slog out, day after day? Do you use it as a tool to better yourself?”

“Everyone Is” is the first of six new songs coming from The Minimum Wage, all of which were recorded late last year at Unified Recorders Studio in St. Catharines, Ontario. Enjoy it for yourself below!

WATCH: Miles Squiers Explores Fragile Relationships on ’24 Hours’

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Having trouble getting on the same page as your partner? If so, we think this will resonate…

Miles Squiers dropped “24 Hours” back in December as a “deep exploration of strained and fragile relationships.” Blurring the lines between acoustic pop and contemporary R&B, this fresh single provides the perfect soundtrack for some late-night introspection, as Squires details the disconnect between a woman with trust issues, and a man who falls short of alleviating them.

The music video — directed by James Gerrard, Squiers, and Josef Lloyd — shows Squiers as a male protagonist who will seemingly do whatever he can to escape facing the uncomfortable tension within his own home. From overworking, to staying out a little too late, his character does whatever he can to delay facing the inevitable questions that await him behind closed doors.

Watch the video below, and tell us if you’ve ever been there before in the comments!

LISTEN: The Trampoline Delay Confronts Social Anxiety with ‘Excuses Excuses’

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Have you ever felt like your own introversion is keeping you from living fully?

If so, you have something in common with Pete Marino of The Trampoline Delay. The indie rock songsmith penned “Excuses Excuses” as a way to address his own social anxiety — and the opportunity cost that comes with it.

“Lyrically, ‘Excuses Excuses’ is about letting your shyness or social anxiety take over,” Marino said. “(It’s about) that battle you have with your inner voice that makes excuses as to why you shouldn’t get out there and live your life.”

The song came from a moment of life imitating art; it was written and recorded in a few short hours, on a night when Marino opted to stay in, rather than go out and greet the world.

“Ironically, I came up with the verse first, which had the line,’ but excuses always keep me from my life,’ after being invited out by a friend to see a band they worked with called Excuses Excuses,” Marino said. “Like I sometimes do, my mind came up with an excuse as to why I shouldn’t go out that night… and I sort of regretted it within hours. Instead of just going to bed, I went into my home studio, wrote the verse, and basically wrote and recorded the rest of the song in around three hours.”

Sonically, “Excuses Excuses” is a bona fide alt-rock earworm, driven forth with firepower from behind the kit, courtesy of drummer Gerard Ross, while lead axe man Josh Macintosh showcases magnificent melodic sensibilities, kissed with a timeless rock and roll edge.

Check it out below, and be sure to stay tuned for more music from The Trampoline Delay later this spring!

LISTEN: Cardiac Half Makes a Comeback with ‘Gloom’

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The brothers of Cardiac Half have taken a long, uncertain road on their way to their first new, original release since 2021’s self-titled album.

The duo — comprised of real-life brothers Drew and Dylan Miller — have returned with “Gloom,” an atmospheric and contemplative electropop instrumental which serves as a sonic representation of the doubt brought forth by challenging times.

“It’s been nearly three years since Cardiac Half released a new song. Fighting for what’s important, fighting for sanity, and even fighting for the health and wellness of ourselves and our families,” Dylan Miller said. “This is why music was put on hold for a season.”

The track begins with an emotive piano dirge, as searing synth tones begin to bubble up from the surface. A electronic dance beat moves us along — ready or not — like the passage of time, inspiring the listener to collect their thoughts and uncover the best way forward amid life’s ambiguity.

“I was about to move across state lines for the birth of my son, relocating to find treatment for my unborn son’s rare medical condition,” Dylan Miller said. “Drew was dealing with the most mental health issues he had ever faced. There was no guarantee where the band and the dream of music was going, and this song was formed.”

“Gloom” was written and produced by Drew Miller, who then passed it along to mix engineer Ryan Wilson for some additional studio magic. Have a listen below!

WATCH: With ‘Take It Away’, Crow and Gazelle Offer Catharsis to Your Inner Child

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Photo credit: Carley Du Menil

Crow and Gazelle — the Texas-based Americana duo consisting of Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer Mike McClure, and his partner in music (and in life), Chrislyn Lawrence — offer healing for anyone still processing their childhood wounds with their new single, “Take It Away.”

The single — a tender ballad hallmarked by powerful two-part harmonies and heart-wrenching fiddle tones — is accompanied by a poignant music video inspired by Lawrence’s own healing journey. Lawrence leans upon her own memories to deliver an important message to anyone who has struggled to emerge on the other side of their own traumas.

The narrative for this video came from a very personal place. As a child I didn’t decide for myself that I was ‘unworthy’ and I didn’t make-believe scenes of death and overwhelming pain – in my world those messages and experiences came heavy and early and they were real. We all have childhood wounds. Whether it’s our own tragic experiences and losses, or someone else’s childhood trauma (a teacher or parent) that’s unhealed and spills over on us, we have them and they inform “who and what” we are.

My parents each carry something very deep and painful that happened when they were young. Thankfully, I know that now and have done the work to see how some things that happened in my life were trauma based responses, not done of or by free will. Most of the trauma I’ve carried has been transformed and released through mindful work, and lately a lot of that healing has happened in the presence of my parent’s healing their own wounds. Which has been an amazing gift.

The day before we filmed the opening scenes of this video, my mom shared details of something I had never known before that happened when I was four… it was very painful to hear, and brought back a flood of memories and feelings for us both. But it was also a revelation. And in that sense, it set us free because it was brought to the surface, into the light, where it could alchemize and be transformed. 

Trauma not transformed is transferred. Our hope is that this video, in some small way, moves someone else to lean into their own childhood wounds and to let that little one’s hurt be seen and heard. And that once it’s honored, hopefully it can be transformed and released. 

-Chrislyn Lawrence

Watch the video below, and stay tuned for Crow and Gazelle’s forthcoming album, As Above Now So Below, set for release on Friday, April 26.

LISTEN: On ‘Heart,’ The Atomic Age Cedes the Need for Control

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Moving forward in life can often mean learning to let go of all that we cannot control.

The Atomic Age offers an immersive soundtrack to that realization with his newest single, “Heart,” released on February 23.

“’Heart’ is a song about loosening my grip on my aspirations,” said The Atomic Age’s songsmith, JJ Schrick. “It’s so easy to white-knuckle goals like pursuing the things you love, but I’ve found that I’m most at peace when I’m not solely relying on my own abilities.”

“Heart” was constructed from the ground up, beginning with the drumbeat. The mellow rhythm guitar part was performed on a Bass VI, which combines with atmospheric elements to serve the track’s contemplative spirit.

If you’re looking for even more from The Atomic Age, you won’t have to wait long: “Heart” is the final single leading to an EP which is due out on March 20. For now, let this one resonate with you!

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