NATALIE SCHLABS PREMIERES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO “THAT EARLY LOVE” VIA POPMATTERS

NATALIE SCHLABS PREMIERES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO  

“THAT EARLY LOVE”  VIA POPMATTERS 

NEW LP DON’T LOOK TOO CLOSE  SET FOR RELEASE   

ON OCTOBER 16TH  

Photo: Fairlight Hubbard

Schlabs’ voice possesses an audible kindness to it that allows her to carry her performance with the calmness and sincerity necessary to portray a song crafted on the kind of love that overreaches any one type of relationship. - American Songwriter    

Stirring songs...defined by the seamless convergence of her crystalline vocals, introspective lyricism and soaring melodies  - Albumism 

Delicate harmonies and swaying effects feel like a fresh breeze blowing through a field of flowers - Ones To Watch  

 Lyrical sincerity with gorgeous melodies...Natalie Schlabs delivers gilded, Americana-infused sweetness in a song that feels immediately timeless" - Atwood Magazine  

If your life feels like an endless struggle right now...Natalie Schlabs has a message of hope for you. - Audiofemme 

Brings to mind the timeless and melodic pop of the ’70s (plus some crisp Rilo Kiley-esque guitar hooks) with sweet lyrics about someone coming into your life” - Spectral Nights   

Mellow, yet upbeat, and it fills the heart and mind with thoughts and feelings about those that you hold dear. - The Indy Review 

WATCH: “THAT EARLY LOVE” 

LISTEN: “THAT EARLY LOVE” 

Today, Natalie Schlabs released her latest single “That Early Love,” a track from her forthcoming album Don’t Look Too Close, due out October 16th. “Nashville-based artist Natalie Schlabs not only writes what she knows but conveys the meaning of an emotionally charged experience with such tender-hearted expression that it's so easy to fall in love with her songs,” says PopMatters’ Michael Bialas in the premiere. “Just listen to the gorgeous tone to her voice on 'That Early Love' and follow the steady but merciful pull of a singer-songwriter with a solid grasp of the significant details worth contemplating in life…If there was a song made for these desperate times, ‘That Early Love’ on repeat should start to ease the pain. Heal thyself, then let the good feelings linger.” 

The song’s accompanying video, filmed and directed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard, features an older couple in daily life, interspersed with images of a little boy and girl wearing the same clothes as the grown-ups in the video. The visual is a metaphor for how the older couple feels - that their hearts are still young, their love is enduring and doesn't grow old. 

“That Early Love” follows “Go Outside,” which Ones To Watch said is “the perfect indie soundtrack to a summer afternoon,” encouragement anthem “See What I See,” and lead single “Home Is You,” the accompanying video of which features fellow artists and friends like Robby Hecht, the members of Oliver the Crow, Betsy Phillips, and gospel/soul powerhouse Liz Vice. 

LISTEN: “GO OUTSIDE”  

LISTEN: “SEE WHAT I SEE”     

LISTEN // WATCH: “HOME IS YOU” 

The nine tracks that comprise Don’t Look Too Close, the second full-length effort from the Texas-bred Nashville-based artist, live in the tension between the beauty and heartbreak surrounding our closest relationships. The songs were written when Schlabs was pregnant with her first child, which caused a lot of reflection on her own upbringing and how she wanted to raise him. The album’s title came from the idea that "he’s going to see all the worst of me, be hurt by the worst of me, as much as I don’t want him to, and, as much as I want to be the best for him. I was thinking about how to raise a child, how to pass down values. There’s a dismantling of what I thought I knew,” she explains. “What do I value in my life and where did those things come from? What do I want to share with my children and what do I want to spare them from?”   

Don’t Look Too Close steps into indie territory with a compelling mix of instrumentation laced with solo vocals that bloom into easy, delicate harmonies. Co-produced by Juan Solorzano and Zachary Dyke, with Caleb Hickman on saxophone and Joshua Rogers on bass, the album swells and ebbs with elegant, absorbing shapes. The songs are moody, candid, and tender, each featuring Schlabs’ characteristically sleek vocals front-and-center, backed by charming instrumental moments that add form and depth to the melodies.  

CONNECT WITH NATALIE SCHLABS:  

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GLENN THOMAS REIMAGINES THE GRATEFUL DEAD’S “BLACK MUDDY RIVER” TO COMMEMORATE “JERRY WEEK”

GLENN THOMAS REIMAGINES THE GRATEFUL DEAD’S

“BLACK MUDDY RIVER”

TO COMMEMORATE “JERRYWEEK”

Photo: Deven Bussey

LISTEN: "BLACK MUDDY RIVER"

 Today, Nashville-by-way-of-New England singer/songwriter Glenn Thomas shares his version of The Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy River” to commemorate “Jerry Week.” “The beginning of August serves as a memorial for fans of the Dead,” says Mother Church Pew in the song’s premiere. “It marks both the birth and death of the band’s iconic frontman, Jerry Garcia—August 1st and 9th respectively. Sometimes called ‘Jerry Week,’ fans connect with their passion for the beloved artist not just by appreciating the Dead’s rich history, but also through creative expression. It’s not easy to stand out in a world full of Grateful Dead covers. It takes something sung from the heart to embrace the soul of the song, while giving it a life of its own. Thomas lets gentle, crisp acoustic guitar carry the melodies while building on the song’s inherent folk qualities with touches of dobro, mandolin, and strings. Full of reverence, it connects to the legacy of the Grateful Dead graced by the personal connection that pours from Thomas’s vocals.  With ingrained devotion, Thomas’s ‘Black Muddy River’ feels like it is being sung directly to Jerry Garcia—flowing with veneration from one artist to another.”

“Growing up in a musical family, I was listening to The Grateful Dead when I was really young, says Thomas. “American Beauty was among the few CDs I listened to on the bus ride to and from school. As a kid, I loved the songs and the vocal harmonies. As I got older and started playing guitar, their songs shifted into a rich musical landscape that has stayed with me and informed my own music ever since. ‘Black Muddy River’ is a later song in their catalogue, and lyrically a resonant, timeless reflection on life. The Grateful Dead are such a participatory band in the multitudes of ways their fans share in the music, even after Jerry’s passing. This is my interpretation of what is feel is one of their most beautiful songs.” 

LISTEN: REASSURE ME THERE’S A WINDOW

On May 15th, Thomas unveiled his beautiful new LP Reassure Me There’s A Window to praise from Billboard, PopMatters, Folk Radio UK, and more. “This album was a long-time dream of mine,” recounts Thomas of the LP. The tracks on Reassure Me There’s A Window, which feature tight fingerpicking guitar-based tunes with introspective lyrics fleshed out with resonant string arrangements, all come from a deeply personal place, and the more Thomas played them for his audiences, the more he realized how much others could relate to them. Each song touches on personal truths and what it means to be human—what connects us and motivates us, as well as the struggles and difficult facts of life. 

In each of the album’s 11 tracks, Thomas puts life and the human condition under the microscope in order to articulately observe the big questions with small details, paying careful attention to his understanding of himself and the seasonality of life. He has the ability to lyrically turn the world on its side and explain the human condition and its accompanying array of emotions from a beautifully unique perspective.

Thomas, who cut his teeth fronting Rhode Island rock outfit Wild Sun, has shared stages with bands like Langhorne Slim, The Wombats, and Blitzen Trapper. He began writing songs that didn't fit within the rock-centric framework and decided he would strike out on his own, stretching his creative muscles. The album was produced by Jordan Lehning (Rodney Crowell, Andrew Combs, Joshua Hedley); with its throwback flair, Reassure Me There's A Window is a lush, sweetly-arranged collection of articulate folk-tinged songs.

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IMOGEN CLARK PREMIERES ANIMATED VIDEO FOR “PAPER BOAT” SINGLE ON GLIDE MAGAZINE

IMOGEN CLARK PREMIERES ANIMATED VIDEO FOR

“PAPER BOAT” SINGLE ONGLIDE MAGAZINE

+ THE MAKING OF ME EP OUT AUGUST 21

PRE-ORDER NOW

WATCH ‘PAPER BOAT’ MUSIC VIDEO HERE OR LISTEN

 Singer-songwriter IMOGEN CLARK releases her forth single “Paper Boat” forthcoming EP, due for release on August 21 (Potts Entertainment/MGM). The Making Of Me EP is available to pre-order NOW.

The beautifully animated video for “Paper Boat”  was produced and directed by Anita Lester. It brings to life the isolation of a relationship that has turned toxic. Glide Magazine in its premiere describes it as “a quiet rage and hypnotic bliss mixing up folk and modern in the vein of Neko Case and Laura Veirs.” And adds, “there is a mystical quality to Clark’s songs that conjure up themes of both inspirational and healing.”

Explains Imogen, “Paper Boat was written in Melbourne, Australia with stunningly talented singer/songwriter/visual artist Anita Lester. I met Anita last year at an awards show, and we had an instant connection.  We got together to write soon after and were opening up to each other about toxic love affairs and the fear and burden that comes with them. That image of a paper boat, something that should be sturdy and protective against stormy seas, but is really thin and fragile – it seemed to encapsulate passionate but tumultuous relationships like that, where the feeling of happiness and stability could at any time give way to a terrible storm.”  

Recorded in LA and produced by Mike Bloom (Jenny Lewis, Julian Casablancas), Imogen Clark’s The Making Of Me EP features the likes of Alex Lahey, Clare Bowen, Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Attractions) and more across six tracks.  

Lead single ‘Found Me’ and follow up ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ and The Making Of Me’ have already garnered praise from US and Australian tastemakers.  

“With powerful vocals and an infectious drumbeat, Clark sets out to cure a broken heart. This breakup anthem will pick you up off the floor, dust you off and have you feeling ready to start seeing the world in color once again" – Parade

"Putting a more upbeat, optimistic spin on a more somber subject of breaking up, the delicate pop of “Found Me” gently pricks the pain and ultimate bravado of coming out on the other side of heartache, imbued in lyrics: I gave you every piece of me, but you never had your fill… The strongest thing I did is gently let you go… I thought you were my home, so I will make my way."   –  American Songwriter

"What's remarkable about Clark's performance and the song itself, is the steady, understated quality of her performance. Rather than reaching for the obvious emotions, she performs the song with steady resolve and confidence. It's ultimately a song about recovering one's self and leaving the pain of the past behind for good." – Popmatters

“… a song of defiance, strength and a bold celebration of her new-found situation. Imogen’s vocals carry you along on a euphoric wave of positivity.” – The AU Review

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TWO BIRD STONE RELEASES NEW TRACK “THE 99 (ft. SARAH SISKIND & KENNY VAUGHAN)”

TWO BIRD STONE RELEASES NEW TRACK  

“THE 99 (ft. SARAH SISKIND & KENNY VAUGHAN)” 

  DEBUT LP HANDS & KNEES OUT SEPTEMBER 11TH VIA SOUNDLY MUSIC  

LISTEN: “THE 99 (ft. SARAH SISKIND & KENNY VAUGHAN)” 

Two Bird Stone has released their latest single, “The 99 (ft. Sarah Siskind & Kenny Vaughan),” a track from their forthcoming debut album, Hands & Knees, out on September 11th via Soundly Music. The song was inspired by the parable of the lost sheep: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!” “This lost sheep declares his inability to adhere to standing policies and asks the creator/universe if this circumstance will result in some kind of cosmic favorability,” explains frontman Liam Thomas Bailey of the song. Supported by Sarah Siskind, the lush choruses are answered by a patient rendition of the traditional Irish fiddle tune, “Mickey Callaghan’s Fancy.” 

“The 99 (ft. Sarah Siskind)” follows previously-released singles “When Somebody Can See Your Soul,” “If You Wanna Come Back,” title track “Hands & Knees (ft. Sarah Siskind),” and “Shoebox Money.” Each song on the endearing album showcases the band’s reverence for the traditional as they forge their own style of timeless Americana - each song heart-wrenching and heartwarming at once.  

LISTEN // WATCH:  “WHEN SOMEBODY CAN SEE YOUR SOUL”  

LISTEN // WATCH:  “IF YOU WANNA COME BACK” 

LISTEN // WATCH:  “HANDS & KNEES ft. Sarah Siskind” 

LISTEN: “SHOEBOX MONEY”  

Two Bird Stone was founded by string master Bailey and features some of Nashville’s and New York’s finest musicians. Hands & Knees was co-produced by Bailey and friend and frequent collaborator Dan Rowe, who also contributed keys and vocals to the album.  

The music of Two Bird Stone is fueled by Bailey’s contemporary Americana songwriting and the group’s deep appreciation for the traditional fiddle music of Ireland, Scandinavia, and North America. Paying tribute to the many swirling cultures that make up the American identity, Two Bird Stone also carefully incorporates traditional melodies and musical tendencies of cultures abroad to reflect the dimensions of this land’s powerful diversity. In lieu of the preservation of traditional material in any strict sense, Two Bird Stone likes to function as a lens through which an audience gets a fresh look at the culture of traditional tune sharing and the instruments upon which we would generally hear them played. 

Before spinning off to form Two Bird Stone, Bailey was a highly sought-after Nashville studio and road musician; he also worked in commercial post-production with bandmate, Chad Kelly (accordion), a two-time Emmy Award nominee who has composed original music for numerous award-winning and critically acclaimed films and documentaries. Bailey and bandmate Judd Fuller (bass, mandolin, background vocals) traveled the world together for 11 years as members of Nashville country star Rodney Atkins’ touring band. Fuller has also toured and performed with Peter Wolf from The J. Geils Band, Bo Diddley, Carly Simon, and more. New York-based percussionist, composer, and educator Rohin Khemani rounded out the lineup. Known as an extremely versatile and eclectic musician, his sound can be heard on a wide variety of projects weaving through the worlds of jazz, world music, rock, folk, and electronica. Khemani was a founding member of Red Baraat and co-leads the band Surface To Air with guitarist Jonathan Goldberger and bassist Jonti Siman. He has performed for audiences at some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Monterey Jazz Festival, and more. 

 CONNECT WITH TWO BIRD STONE: 

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BABY FUZZ RELEASES NEW TONGUE IN CHEEK SINGLE “WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!”

BABY FUZZ RELEASES NEW TONGUE IN CHEEK  SINGLE 

“WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!”  

FROM HIS FORTHCOMING SOPHOMORE ALBUM 

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE

“Similar to The Jim Carroll Band’s “People Who Died,” the multi-talented musician, who has worked with the likes of Madonna, Max Martin, Elle King, Avicii, Lana Del Rey, Britney Spears and more, has put his own quirky spin on the topic of dying with his latest track “We’re All Gonna Die!!!” - The Noise

Art Credit - Benjamin Cabral

Listen to “We’re All Gonna Die!!” : HERE 

Austin Texas by way of Los Angeles artist and provocateur Baby FuzZ has released his newest single, the fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek pop-punk track  ”We’re All Gonna Die!!!” from his upcoming sophomore concept album Welcome To The Future, due out this fall.

The intention of this song is to state the inevitable that at some point we all will no longer be here. It's one of the few things that unifies us as human beings. “Not to be a total downer,” Baby FuzZ told The Noise, “but we’re all gonna die. Eventually. Oh well. Life goes on. Make the most of it and don’t be an asshole.” “We’re All Gonna Die!!”  is the second single from Baby FuzZ’s forthcoming sophomore album Welcome To The Future,  it follows "Weekend Blues, "  the  jangly mariachi inspired emo pop song released in June. All proceeds from “We’re All Gonna Die!!” will be donated to Doctors Without Borders. 

“....with the single “Weekend Blues,” Baby FuzZ presents an uninhibited mariachi and pop-influenced single that gives the listener a taste of what’s to come from the wild concept album. “ - V13

“Imagine a kind of surreal Jungle or The Go! Team re-imagined by an American melody guru and you'd be close, with Baby FuzZ matching addictive songwriting to some other-worldly tendencies.” - Clash 

Baby FuzZ is the audiovisual absurdist glam rock  brainchild of producer and  songwriter Sterling Fox. After co-producing Lan Del Rey’s “Video Games,” Fox was on his way to becoming one of the most in-demand and successful pop songwriters in the business  having written with and for artists such as Madonna, Max Martin, Elle King, Avicii, Lana Del Rey, Britney Spears and more (see the full list HERE). Upon the election of Donald Trump, at the peak of his songwriting career he disappeared from music and split for Canada, spending a year in Montreal, reemerging as Baby FuzZ.

“.....wildly creative, and refreshingly relatable.” - FLAUNT

Baby FuzZ unapologetically jumps all over the genre map, with songs ranging from folk ballads to punk anthems and everything in between. As diverse as the music is, the lyrics are a singular and hyper self-aware narrative with strong political and social undertones. Last year Baby FuzZ, released his debut album Plastic Paradise independently and embarked on a 100 date DIY tour around the US. Last year was just the start for Baby FuzZ rising from the death rattle of a previous life of overthought pop demos that had finally eaten itself alive with a sense of ennui.

If Plastic Paradise was the first contact, this new album, Welcome To The Future, coming this fall, is sure to be Baby FuzZ's full-blown alien invasion. The majority of Welcome To The Future was written and recorded during quarantine with heavy doses of conservatism, disguised symbolism, and good old fashioned American absurdity, and “We’re All Gonna Die!!” is just the tip of the iceberg for what’s in-store with Welcome to the Future. 

KEEP UP WITH BABY FUZZ

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OUT TODAY : MARKET JUNCTION’S NEW LP BURNING BRIDGES

OUT TODAY :

MARKET JUNCTION’S NEW LP  BURNING BRIDGES 

The Houston band has been a fairly successful country dancehall act for years, but the members recently found themselves wanting to get away from that designation in favor of a more Americana approach. That’s wonderfully apparent on Burning Bridges…which comes across much more like a lost classic album from the late ‘60s than the electric honky-tonk sound that’s so prevalent these days - The Houston Chronicle   

The 10-track album was born out of trials and triumphs, stops and starts and major life changes. The result is a sweeping soundtrack to heartaches and starting over - Wide Open Country 

Reminiscent of the Lumineers…Prolonged sadness and heartache are palpable in Market Junction frontman Matt Parrish’s voice - The Boot 

Particularly poignant…the album features the kind of deft songwriting that has earned [Matt] Parrish and guitarist/keyboardist Justin Lofton accolades since the band’s debut - American Songwriter 

Market Junction plays smooth, thoughtful country folk that’s sure to appeal to fans of John Baumann, Adam Hood, and Jason Eady…beautiful, understated harmonies and a pointed loneliness that saves its sharpest arrows for the final lines - Farce The Music   

On the new album Burning Bridges, the band delivers lyrical depth and beautiful melodies that are well worth the nine years it took them to arrive at this point - Americana Highways   

A melodic, well-crafted collection - Americana-UK 

  It’s not long before you’ll be making comparisons to The Eagles with their lilting country rock and flowing melodies...it’s Market Junction’s lyrics, their sense of humor and relatable insights that make Burning Bridges striking and endearing - Making A Scene 

  'Nebraska' is a beautifully vulnerable account of brotherhood, and stepping firmly on whatever path is  placed before you - Underground Music Collective   

Folk-infused, alt-country...worthy of being on everyone’s playlists - Mother Church Pew   

A thoughtful exploration of love, longing and consequences, the songs here connect to the roaming souls and aching hearts we’ve all experienced, and make for a beautiful and moving collection...Burning Bridges has everything to break a heart while also acting as a salve for the wound - The Indy Review  

Americana is a genre often dismissively generalized as a sibling of Country, if not Country in shabbier clothes. Market Junction, like any legit practitioner of Americana proper, shatters these perceptions with the power of their lyricism and soulful vocals - Gas Mask Magazine 

  The vocals are fabulous and the musicianship comfortably on par - Beehive Candy   

Rich, lush…really showcases the beauty of Matt Parish's vocals - Chimeo 

The combination of golden-voiced frontman Matt Parrish and fretboard wizard Justin Lofton is a match made in music heaven - USACOUNTRYUK 

Today, Houston, Texas-based Market Junction released their new album Burning Bridges. Produced by co-produced by band founders Matt Parrish and Justin Lofton with Richard Barrow and Ty Robins, its 10 carefully-crafted tracks tell the story of a young man learning about love.   

LISTEN: BURNING BRIDGES   

Album opener “When Your Heart Begins To Ache” begins with a young man about to marry his high school sweetheart - unsure about love’s depth and its consequences. “Out of Love” finds the young man a bit older and having been married for a while. The spark is gone and the love has soured, which causes him to make the difficult decision to leave in “I Hope It Breaks Your Heart.” He hits the road searching for his “new normal” while dealing with a simmering sense of regret in “Nebraska” and “Western Coast.”  

Burning Bridges begins its second act with the reflective “A Stone Will Sink” and “Hello My Dear” as the man comes to grips with the casualties of love and dealing with his damaged relationships. Now much older, the man reflects on life and begins to accept its broken nature, owning his shortcomings in “Bird In A Cage” and “Livin’ A Lie,” as the heartbreaking story comes to an end with the album finale and title track.   

The electrifying combination of golden-voiced frontman Parrish and fretboard wizard Justin Lofton are a rock-solid foundation for the band, their folk-infused alt-country style has resulted in some of the most beautiful music in the current landscape. Burning Bridges was forged in the midst of the members' personal tribulations - changing direction in the middle of recording, a trip to the emergency room, a divorce, the births of children, a hard drive crash costing weeks worth of work, and releasing a record in the middle of a global pandemic. The band was still able to create magic in the midst of the struggle. 

WATCH: "NEBRASKA"   

WATCH: “A STONE WILL SINK” 

WATCH: “OUT OF LOVE”   

WATCH: “WESTERN COAST”   

Parrish and Lofton, both award-winning songwriters, set out on a journey to create the kind of music they not only loved to listen to but music that they loved to play. Since those early days, the band expanded its lineup to include Taylor Hilyard on bass guitar and Michael Blattel on drums, sharing stages with Cory Morrow, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jack Ingram, Radney Foster and more. Their sound is rooted in place and time, but transcends both.   

Burning Bridges is available on CD and vinyl at their website, and for download at iTunes and Amazon Music. On Saturday, August 8th, Market Junction will celebrate the release of Burning Bridges with a full-band show streamed live from their studio at 10pm EDT/9pm CDT. Click HERE for more details. 

BURNING BRIDGES  TRACK LISTING    

When Your Heart Begins To Ache 

Out Of Love 

I Hope It Breaks Your Heart 

Nebraska 

Western Coast 

A Stone Will Sink 

Hello My Dear 

Bird In A Cage 

Livin’ A Lie 

Burning Bridges 

CONNECT WITH MARKET JUNCTION: 

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KILLER WHALE SHARES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO “PLENTY OF TIME” VIA POPMATTERS

Art: Lizzie Bilbrey

KILLER WHALE SHARES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO “PLENTY OF TIME” VIA POPMATTERS 

NEW LP TASTES LIKE YESTERDAY OUT SEPTEMBER 18TH VIA DEVIL IN THE WOODS

WATCH: “PLENTY OF TIME" 

LISTEN: “PLENTY OF TIME” 

New Orleans-based band Killer Whale has unveiled “Plenty Of Time,” the latest single and video from their forthcoming album Tastes Like Yesterday, out September 18th via Devil In The Woods. “At once deeply in tune with contemporary sensibilities, dream pop keyboards and harmonies, it also taps into classic '70s soul sounds, culminating in a piece of pop that moves the heart as often as it moves the feet,” says PopMatters in its premiere. "This song is about struggling with your lover on how to move on or move away, and trying to remind yourself there's plenty of time to work it out,” frontman Thomas Johnson explains. “Plenty Of Time” follows the release of lead single and its hypnotic accompanying video “Comfortable,” which V13 called “truly a gratifying audio-visual experience.” 

WATCH: “COMFORTABLE”  

LISTEN: “COMFORTABLE”  

Somewhere between the rustic Louisiana bayou and dreamy California shores lies Killer Whale. With their colorful rhythms and rock n’ roll daydreams, they create a space that invites you in, tells you to make yourself at home, and hugs you as you walk in the door. Killer Whale, much like its creator, wanders between New Orleans, Austin, and San Francisco, bearing the melodic scars all that travel brings him. A mixture of genres, Killer Whale doesn’t subscribe to any one camp. Instead, it exudes them all.  

This kaleidoscope of sound oozes from every dreamy groove of the album’s 10 psychedelic, surf-infused, funk n' soul-tinged gems. With that kind of concoction, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched to think that the songs would be a melee, an atonal mishmash that harkens back to the days of being different for different’s sake. Under the leadership of another musician, such might be the case, but Killer Whale melds everything together in the name of freaky good fun.  

“I’m not a perfectionist,” admits Johnson. “Yet I do want each new record to demonstrate some progression from what came before. I don’t necessarily want it to sound radically different, and I think Tastes Like Yesterday accomplishes that. I like the idea of each album hinting at what’s coming next without really being specific about that direction.” Though one can hear echoes of the band’s previous release Casual Crush, this album finds Johnson’s muse immersing him in a very seductive, mellow soul. “I’m from Louisiana, and New Orleans culture and music have always been an influence on me, whether consciously or not,” Johnson says. When asked how he describes his music, Johnson laughs and suggests it’s “Pontoon Soul.” Lead single “Comfortable” offers an example of this new genre; it’s swampy and murky, yet Johnson’s heavenly voice transcends, resulting in a song best described as drop-dead gorgeous.  

 Be sure to tune in HERE on Saturday, August 1st at 4pm PDT/7pm EDT to see Killer Whale’s Jam In YOUR Van session benefiting the Equal Justice Initiative. 

CONNECT WITH KILLER WHALE: 

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JON REYNOLDS & THE ACHES PREMIERE SINGLE “LOVE BLIND” VIA ATWOOD MAGAZINE

  JON REYNOLDS & THE ACHES PREMIERE SINGLE  “LOVE BLIND” VIA  ATWOOD MAGAZINE    

NEW EP PETRICHOR  SET FOR RELEASE  ON SEPTEMBER 4TH 

Jon Reynolds & The Aches have unveiled their latest single “Love Blind,” a track from their forthcoming EP Petrichor, due out September 4th. "Heartbreak permanently alters our outlook on life and love, impacting how we interact with the world. Nashville’s Jon Reynolds & The Aches captures heartbreak’s lasting scars in his effervescent new single 'Love Blind,' a catchy pop/rock expression of lessons learned and minds changed," says Atwood Magazine in their premiere. "A rollicking pop/rock tune that breathes as much of the ’80s and ’90s as it does of today, “Love Blind” feels like a classic pop hit. Big melodies and crying guitars keep us excited for every chorus climax, and a storyline love, loss, and growth – that personal journey we must all embark on – keep us hooked to the each verse...Petrichor's songs are the truest representation of this young, still-evolving artistry – and if 'Love Blind' is any indication, we can’t wait to hear the full package." 

LISTEN: “LOVE BLIND” 

“It was the first song I wrote after the pandemic shut everything down,” explains frontman Reynolds. “I was discovering how much I had compressed myself in order to maintain the work schedule I had volunteered for over the last two years. I was finding my voice again. I was connecting the artist back to the art. ‘Love Blind’ was born out of that reconnection. As I allowed my mind to rest, memory - and the emotion associated with that memory - came back to me. I was able to connect more personally to my own experiences which led to more granular lyrics. It’s not another heartbreak song. It is a commentary looking back on what the first heartbreak creates in a person and the undeniable truth that you are permanently changed after experiencing it,” he continues. “Love Blind” follows the release of “Come Now Spring,” the first single from  the five-song Petrichor EP.  

LISTEN TO “COME NOW SPRING” via SPOTIFY // SOUNDCLOUD  

Miles Davis once said, “Sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself.” That concept has been a muse for Jon Reynolds since moving to Nashville in 2015. Following his well-received grass-root singles “Undertow” and “Tomorrow’s News,” Reynolds buckled up for a challenging year and a half. “Most of my song ideas came to me while driving in the car because it was the only time I had to think,” he explains. But over-extending himself forced him to be honest with his music. “I didn’t have time to self-sabotage.  I just wrote what came naturally.”    

Rebalancing his life and signing with the UK’s Frictionless Music, Reynolds buried himself in the studio with engineer Owen Lewis and drummer Matt Singler, settling into the producer chair with a clear sense of purpose: sounding like himself. “I'd rewrite lyrics minutes before tracking, scrap a day of work because it didn’t hit the right vibe, and had to address some personal struggles all in the name of creating my most authentic expression.” 

Petrichor  was born from this effort. “These songs preserved me while I was lost in a cycle of excessive work and distraction,” he explains. "They are the foundation that existed when I finally came back. Now, they are the representation of who I am.”   

The word “petrichor” refers to the smell of earth after rain breaks a long drought. Centered on revitalization themes, the EP’s tracks delve into depression, heartbreak, and self-discovery.  Surrounding the dense, humanistic lyrics is Reynolds’ musical signature - an evolution of modern pop-rock and larger-than-life vocal arrangements, resting on an ethereal hum propped up by verb-y slide guitar. Be sure to follow Jon Reynolds & The Aches via the links below to stay updated on the band’s latest news.  

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IZZY HELTAI ANNOUNCES DEBUT LP - FATHER - SET FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 9TH

IZZY HELTAI ANNOUNCES DEBUT LP FATHER SET FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 9TH  

NEW SINGLE “THE STRANGER YOU’VE BECOME” PREMIERES VIA FOR FOLK’S SAKE  

Photo: Joanna Chattman

Massachusetts-based singer/songwriter Izzy Heltai has announced his forthcoming debut full-length album Father, due out October 9th, with the release of single "The Stranger You’ve Become." "Through his debut album, Father, Izzy Heltai observes human relationships from dawn to dusk," says For Folk's Sake in their premiere. "There’s a special focus on what’s in-between the beginning and end, where the sinew of these complex bonds are woven. It’s a lot to take in for the 23-year-old artist, but his intimate interest in the topic at-hand makes for a precocious songwriter developing informed, heartfelt Americana...'The Stranger You’ve Become' is a perfect encapsulation of the heartfelt essence that makes Heltai’s work so compelling." "An honest, kind, genuine person generally believes their interpretation of a world at face value," Heltai explains. "The majority of us choose to engage in the realities of other people with the best of intentions, not wanting to deceive. We aren’t faced day to day with the reality of how malleable our words and truths can actually be. Our realities are just collectively agreed-upon terms, rules, and conditions. The fact that I can look at a rubber duck, point to it, and claim that it is a rubber duck is only possible because we have all agreed that that is in fact what the physical object is. But what happens if someone comes along, points at that same object and tells you with absolute certainty that you’re wrong, and that object is indeed a hat? If no one else is there to tell you otherwise, who are you to believe that your interpretation of this object is based in more truth than theirs?" he continues. "When you’re intimately involved with someone, it is often difficult or nearly impossible to identify when this is happening. When you finally get out, it can be earth-shattering. The idea that you’ve been with a stranger, that you’ve been tricked. It’s a type of trust that can be extremely difficult to recultivate."   

LISTEN: “THE STRANGER YOU’VE BECOME”  

With brutal honesty towards himself and forgiveness for those around him, Izzy Heltai’s music walks the elusive line between confessional and relatable. On his debut album Father, Heltai dives deep into his fascination with human relationships, and specifically the way that those relationships change and reorganize themselves over time.    

Heltai sees his own coming of age reflected in the album, which includes songs written over the past four years. “A lot of this record is about seeing memories and situations turn to grey, where black and white previously existed,” says Heltai. “Finding myself as an adult has largely been about how the people who have always been there for me can fit into my life in a new way.” 

On the album’s opening track “To Talk About Yourself,” Heltai, who is trans, looks back at the way society fixates on his identity as the only story that he has to tell. “Being trans is a part of me that is worth talking about” he says. “It’s a really cool thing that happened in my life, and informed a lot of how I see the world and how I know myself, and how I reflect on things… but as a marginalized individual, there comes a point where you feel commodified and exploited for your identity, and I’ve always had a fear, as an artist with many stories to tell, that my being trans is the only aspect of my work that people would take interest in.”  

Throughout the record, Heltai braves the exploration of not only interpersonal and societal relationships but also his own relationship to himself, and reckons with the ways that periods of depression have caused him to abandon those he loves. “I think as I’ve grown up I’ve been able to realize that sometimes when your self-worth is so low, you don’t think you can be worth anything to someone else, but that can actually cause you to hurt people that need you,” Heltai explains.   

Father was recorded by Heltai’s longtime friend Andy Cass and produced by Sophie Buskin. The production is raw and full, with subtle harmonies and guitar lines weaving their way unexpectedly through the mix almost as if they were grown in the song. There is no sign of musical overthought, allowing Heltai’s emotional vocals to shine organically.    

At a time when any conversation with a stranger can quickly become a sociopolitical battle, Heltai’s introspective and thought out songs are a breath of fresh air. With an overwhelming empathy for humanity, and willingness to search for personal responsibility, Heltai’s Father will not leave your heart or your ears unchanged.  

FATHER TRACK LIST  

TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF 

THE STRANGER YOU'VE BECOME 

MARCHING SONG 

HUMAN 

SONGBIRD 

WHET YOUR APPETITE 

ANYONE TO ANYBODY 

CATACOMB 

FATHER 

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GARRETT OWEN SHARES NEW SINGLE “HOUR IN THE FOREST”

GARRETT OWEN SHARES NEW SINGLE

“HOUR IN THE FOREST” VIA V13

NEW LP QUIET LIVES SET FOR RELEASE ON

SEPTEMBER 18TH

Photo: Jason Allison

Garrett Owen is a consummate artist, with lyricism beyond his years and an inimitable playing style that has him earning new fans all over the place. - NPR

After a life of travel and introspection, Owen may have finally found his place after all. - Dallas Observer

He writes from and to the heart, his impassioned vocal work and emotional finger-picking second only to his stunning, evocative lyricism. - Atwood Magazine

Garrett Owen has released “Hour In The Forest,” the newest single from his forthcoming album Quiet Lives, due out September 18th. The song, inspired by interactions with three different women - one of which sports a tattoo of Harriet Tubman with a machine gun and Joan of Arc with a sword - is one of the more experimental tracks on Quiet Lives. “The new single is one of his most expansive creations yet, a full on epic that starts off like your typical folk song before breaking out into an all out boogie, with a vintage solo provided by blues prodigy Matt Tedder,” says V13 in the song’s premiere. “Each of ‘Hour In The Forest’s’ three verses were inspired by three very different situations that have arisen in Owen’s life…With such a diversity of subject matter, it’s quite clear that Owen has got a lot on his mind to draw from when it comes to songwriting.” 

LISTEN: “HOUR IN THE FOREST” 

“Hour In The Forest” follows the release of lead single “These Modern Times,” which Atwood Magazine called “a gust of sweet, somber, and seductive folk.” “These Modern Times” features Owens’ take on our society’s addiction to technology and constant digital connection, fleshing out the lyrics on one of his regular sojourns to the Brazos River, where he finds peace in the “dis-connection” of being in nature. Owen’s love of nature is ingrained in his DNA - his earliest memories involve frequent trips across the Serengeti and backyard wildlife most of us only experience at our local zoos. The son of missionaries, he grew up in Tanzania and Kenya, riding on the luggage rack of the family’s Nissan Patrol, with vast clear skies above him and gazelles running beside.  

LISTEN: “THESE MODERN TIMES”  

After leaving Africa, the family completed a stint in Ecuador before Owen’s parents moved the family back to Texas. Life as he knew it became a difficult endeavor; rimmed with the sharp edges of reality in an unfamiliar place, his attempts to settle into a culture he didn’t understand resulted in distress and a suicide attempt - a far cry from the idyllic landscape of his upbringing.      

Now, the award-winning artist, who calls to mind legends like Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, and Jesse Winchester, is gearing up to release his second full-length album, Quiet Lives. Though he revisits familiar subject matter such as the push-pull of relationships, love, and loss, Quiet Lives is about growth. The diverse 10-track collection delves into more experimental musical territory, as Owen toyed with complex chord changes, melodic dissonance, and intriguing storylines.  

“At its core, all art is based on a ‘true story,’ and by true, I mean the version we carry in our head and heart - the one that can lift or crush your spirit with equal capacity,” the golden-voiced Owen, who has shared stages with artists like Parker Millsap, Charlie Sexton, and Marty Stuart, explains. “Some suggest that your upbringing explains quirks of personality like my shyness, a tendency for introspection, and streaks of perfectionism. Maybe. I’m not so fatalistic as to believe our earliest experiences necessarily determine the arc of adult life, but my slightly foreign childhood never leaves my music or me. Everybody’s got a story to tell,” he adds. “I’m no different.” 

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MARKET JUNCTION UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “A STONE WILL SINK” & MORE ...

Photo: Jason Allison

MARKET JUNCTION UNVEILS NEW SINGLE  “A STONE WILL SINK” 

SHARES NEW VIDEO “WESTERN COAST”  VIA FARCE THE MUSIC  

BURNING BRIDGES  LP SET FOR RELEASE  ON AUGUST 7TH

Houston, Texas’ own Market Junction released new single “A Stone Will Sink” a track from their forthcoming album Burning Bridges, due out August 7th. The band also shared a new video for album track “Western Coast” this week. “If a heart has loved, it has been broken," says frontman Matt Parrish of “A Stone Will Sink.” "This is old news, yet we speak of love with a romantic grandeur that implies we are oblivious to the inevitable. Just as we expect a stone to sink, we should expect a heart to break. It’s what hearts do.”  

 LISTEN: “A STONE WILL SINK”  

“Market Junction plays smooth, thoughtful country folk that’s sure to appeal to fans of John Baumann, Adam Hood, and Jason Eady,” says Farce The Music, who premiered the band’s new video “The Western Coast,” calling the song “a wistful tune with beautiful, understated harmonies and a pointed loneliness that saves its sharpest arrows for the final lines.” “You can change the scene, chase a dream, leave your hometown, put a couple thousand miles on your old truck, and even put down new roots...but you can’t outrun a heartache,” adds Parrish. “Even a prize fighter runs out of gas in the later rounds. Old habits are hard to break, so just plan on waiting them out.”  

WATCH: “WESTERN COAST” 

The electrifying combination of golden-voiced frontman Parrish and fretboard wizard Justin Lofton are a rock-solid foundation for the band, their folk-infused alt-country style has resulted in some of the most beautiful music in the current landscape. Burning Bridges was forged in the midst of the members' personal tribulations - changing direction in the middle of recording, a trip to the emergency room, a divorce, the births of children, a hard drive crash costing weeks worth of work, releasing a record in the middle of a global pandemic. The band was still able to create magic in the midst of the struggle. “A Stone Will Sink” and “Western Coast” follow album singles “Out Of Love,” and “Nebraska.” 

LISTEN: “OUT OF LOVE” 

LISTEN: “NEBRASKA” 

WATCH: "NEBRASKA" 

Parrish and Lofton, both award-winning songwriters, set out on a journey to create the kind of music they not only loved to listen to but music that they loved to play. Since those early days, the band expanded its lineup to include Taylor Hilyard on bass guitar and Michael Blattel on drums, sharing stages with Cory Morrow, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jack Ingram, Radney Foster and more. Their sound is rooted in place and time, but transcends both. Each of the 10 tracks on Burning Bridges tell one story - one of a young man learning about love and its consequences. Sometimes the heartbreak spurs the traveling, and other times the traveling is the cause of the heartbreak. Either way, Burning Bridges will break your heart in the best kind of way, and have you reaching for the keys.    

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Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Announces Let the Music Play On…

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Announces 

 Let the Music Play On…

Bringing the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Experience 

to Backyards & Living Rooms Across the Globe This October

July 27, 2020 - San Francisco, CA - The Bay Area’s beloved  Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is launching its new global and community-driven initiative  Let the Music Play On to bring the spirit of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass to backyards and living rooms all over the world with a global broadcast taking place the weekend of October 2nd.  In compliance with safety concerns and California’s statewide mandate against large public gatherings, the festival will not be taking place in its traditional setting of Golden Gate Park. The festival, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, was founded by Warren Hellman on ten pillars: community, joy, creativity, collaboration, freedom,  peace, love, respect, gratitude, and spirituality.  It was Hellman’s gift to the City of San Francisco, offering a free outdoor festival in the historic Golden Gate Park that is a celebration of American roots music.   

The October broadcast will feature new performances from the expansive range of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass artists that include first-time performers to legends of American Roots music, along with archival footage from the festival’s past two decades and memories from fans, performers, and staff and priceless gems from the festival’s rich history. The HSB community is what gives the festival life, so fans are encouraged to send their favorite memories via stories, videos, and photos to memories@hardlystrictlybluegrass.org.  All contributions are welcome and appreciated, and will be considered for the broadcast in October.  

“While we know we can’t replace the feeling of being together physically, the safety of our attendees, artists, volunteers, and staff are our highest priority and our team has been hard at work creating a vibrant broadcast in line with what attendees have come to expect from HSB: community, discovery, and the all-time best in roots music, ” says festival advisor Mick Hellman. “We’re excited to share parts of HSB that aren’t feasible in a festival environment such as screening archival footage,  sharing memories, and shining a spotlight on our non-profit partners.”

This  year the festival  has launched Hardly Strictly Music Relief Fund: Bay Area, a $1.5M charitable initiative to support the local music community during the COVID-19 pandemic. American roots musicians living in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, and Sonoma Counties are invited to apply for one-time, unrestricted support grants up to $2,000.  The fund is also open to Bay Area music venues with a track record of presenting and supporting roots music of all kinds. Venues are encouraged to nominate themselves for the grant opportunity. From those nominations, a select number of venues will be invited to submit a formal application for up to $200,000 in grant funding for  operating expenses, capacity building, or planning related to reopening, and must include funds dedicated to front-of-house and back-of-house staff.  For more information on the grant opportunities visit  http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2020/music-relief/

Additional information on the broadcast and line-up will be announced in the upcoming weeks at  www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com. To stay up to date sign up for the newsletter, and follow HSB on social media.

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Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Presents : A Live Stream with Los Lobos

Presents: A Live Stream With Los Lobos

Featuring a Live Performance, Q&A and a Special Announcement about  Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2020

July 21, 2020 - San Francisco, CA  - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will be presenting a live stream on July 25th at 4 pm PT with Los Lobos.  The Grammy award-winners have a rich history with Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, having played the festival in 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2018. “After months of lockdown, Los Lobos is honored and happy to report we will be doing our first show all together again for our friends at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,” says Steve Berlin. “We have a special relationship with HSB going back decades and many epic shows, so we are really looking forward to getting back on stage together and ushering in the festival’s 20th anniversary.”

The broadcast will be hosted by the festival’s Artist Relations Manager Bonnie Simmons and will include a live performance and a Q&A where the band will be sharing some of their favorite memories from HSB and taking questions from fans. In addition, Bonnie and Los Lobos will discuss what Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has in store for fans and the music community this October. The live stream will be broadcast through the HSB Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Nugs.tv pages and at  HardlyStrictlyBluegrass.com. Additionally, fans can sign up to be a part of the interactive portion of the Live Stream, where Los Lobos will be taking questions and talking to fans,  HERE.  Fans who sign up will be alerted via email on the morning of the 25th with a Zoom link to join the event.  Safety is a top priority for the live stream, and HSB has developed a strict protocol for artists and crew working on the event observing the social distancing guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control. Los Lobos have been major advocates for COVID-19 safety, most recently participating  in the Los Angeles County Medical Association’s “Put It On Campaign.”

“Los Lobos is the consummate live experience, delivering great energy and musicianship,” says HSB Executive producer Sheri Sternberg. “They really define all the elements that are important to the HSB community, fostering roots music, and the joy it brings to others. Their epic HSB  live sets have yielded incredible contributions to our archives, including covers of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ and Merle Haggard’s ‘Silver Wings.’ We are really excited they agreed to partner with us for this live stream.”

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass was founded by Warren Hellman in 2001.  The free annual outdoor festival celebrating American roots music in the historic Golden Gate Park was Hellman’s gift to the City of San Francisco.  What started as a venue for Hellman’s favorite artists to perform for the Bay Area community has grown into a festival that attracts several hundred thousand music fans from around the world, with over 80 bands on six stages.

"This is the great gift of Warren Hellman, the one and only, to not only the City of San Francisco,  but the world of music." - SF Chronicle

 Honoring the beautiful legacy of Warren and Chris Hellman, the festival is the single largest activity of the Hellman Foundation. Unlike any other major festival, it is offered free to the public with zero corporate sponsors or advertising. The Hellman Foundation supports organizations and initiatives primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area emphasizing social inclusion,  education,  youth development, and health and basic needs programs.

Please visit www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com, sign up for the newsletter,  and follow HSB on social media for more updates and information.  For more on the Hellman Foundation visit https://www.hellmanfoundation.org/. 

We are taking every precaution to protect our artists and crew from exposure to the pandemic, as noted above. We continue to monitor the situation in Los Angeles County,  including advisories from the CDC and the LA County Department of Public Health and will inform you if we change our program in response to changing circumstances.

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SHELLY PEIKEN RELEASES “HUMAN” FEAT. CHRISSIE HYNDE ON BACKGROUND VOCALS

SHELLY PEIKEN RELEASES 

“HUMAN” 

FEAT. CHRISSIE HYNDE ON BACKGROUND VOCALS

LISTEN TO “HUMAN”: HERE

Hit Songwriter Shelly Peiken has released her stunning version of “Human,” a song she co-wrote with  Mark McEntee from Divinyls. The song was released by the Divinyls in 1996 under the title “Human On The Inside,” and by the Pretenders in 1999, which was titled “Human,” which went on to become a chart  hit in the U.S., Uk and New Zealand. 

“To have a legend who writes mega-hits of her own, record YOUR song, is something that doesn’t happen for a songwriter every day…if ever,” Peiken told Guitar Girl Magazine. “I saw Chrissie backstage at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this year, and she confessed that the reason she cut “Human” is because it sounded more like The Pretenders than the material she was writing at the time. Now I’m excited to be releasing a version of my own. AND the icing on the cake is that CHRISSIE IS SINGING BACKING VOCALS WITH ME!”

Peiken wrote the lyrics to a song after having her feelings hurt by a close friend. The lyrics just poured out of her and onto a napkin she brought into a ladies room.. She was feeling raw and disappointed that a ”friend” could be so cruel. The next week she went into her very first session with Mark McEntee and the words on that napkin married beautifully with the major 7ths he was playing. 

“Human,” is just one of the many hit songs Peiken has penned throughout her incredible career. Peiken is responsible for the very first number one song of the new millennium, Christina Aguilera’s "What a Girl Wants" along with Aguilera’s "Come on Over Baby,” Meredith Brooks' "Bitch," Mandy Moore's "I Want to be With You," Brandy's "Almost Doesn't Count," Jessie J’s “Who You Are,” “Rotten To The Core” from Disney’s Descendents and hundreds more songs for artists such as Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Reba, Natasha Bedingfield, N'Sync, INXS, Celine Dion, Keith Urban, Mark Wills, Cher, Smash Mouth and more. Collectively her songs have sold an excess of 50 Million records (see the full list HERE). 

This year, for the very first time in her career Peiken is releasing an album of her own, 2.0 etc. coming out on August 28th.  The album sees Peiken revisiting a number of her biggest hits, along with a number of originals that include “Notebook,” a song written for her daughter, and  “George & John,” her love letter to the Beatles, that Parade Magazine called a “...beautifully dreamy original track laden with Beatles analogy and simply performed as a tribute both to the Fab Four and her own brilliance.”

Peiken got her start as a young writer in New York in the 90's, and has navigated the ever changing digital landscape and economy of the music industry. She has been a long time advocate for songwriters rights and is a founding member of SONA (Songwriters of North America), a creators’ rights advocacy organization that has been making a name for itself preserving the value of songs and songwriters in a new music marketplace.  

In 2018 she penned a memoir, Confessions of a Serial Songwriter, which gave a humorous and honest look at her career as a working songwriter who has navigated the shift from physical to digital, weathered ageism, sexism and most importantly, showcases her love for music and the pure joy that she gets from the creative process. The book was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Spoken Word Album at the 60th GRAMMY Awards. 

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TWO BIRD STONE RELEASES NEW TRACK “WHEN SOMEBODY CAN SEE YOUR SOUL” VIA AMERICAN SONGWRITER

 TWO BIRD STONE RELEASES NEW TRACK  

“WHEN SOMEBODY CAN SEE YOUR SOUL”  

VIA AMERICAN SONGWRITER 

 DEBUT  LP HANDS & KNEES OUT SEPTEMBER 11TH  

VIA SOUNDLY MUSIC 

LISTEN: “WHEN SOMEBODY CAN SEE YOUR SOUL”  

Two Bird Stone has released their newest single, “When Somebody Can See Your Soul,” a track from their forthcoming debut album, Hands & Knees, out on September 11th via Soundly Music. “When listening to a band for the first time, it’s endearing to come to the realization that the music one hears projects a first impression far different than what one might have been perceived if the group’s credentials on paper had been viewed first,” says American Songwriter in their premiere. “The new quartet comes together with a slew of accolades in performance, supporting musician roles, widespread touring, and impactful composition. On the other, Two Bird Stone presents a new song that, as opposed to the star-studded iconography of the band’s collective resume, comes across innocent and emotionally warming as a someone who wears their heart on their sleeve.” “There is a deep and beautiful mystery in a soul’s ability to recognize another in an instant,” says frontman Liam Thomas Bailey says of the song’s inspiration. “While ‘When Somebody Can See Your Soul’ tells a familiar romantic story in line with the concept of ‘love at first sight,’ the spirit of the song suggests that this phenomenon is platonic as well.” 

Two Bird Stone is a dynamic new band founded by string master Bailey which features some of Nashville’s and New York’s finest musicians. “When Somebody Can See Your Soul” follows previously released singles “If You Wanna Come Back,” the album’s title track “Hands & Knees” featuring Sarah Siskind, and “Shoebox Money.” Hands & Knees was co-produced by Bailey and friend and frequent collaborator Dan Rowe, who also contributed keys and vocals to the album.  

LISTEN: “IF YOU WANNA COME BACK” 

WATCH: “HANDS & KNEES ft. Sarah Siskind”  

LISTEN: “HANDS & KNEES ft. Sarah Siskind" 

LISTEN: “SHOEBOX MONEY” 

The music of Two Bird Stone is fueled by Bailey’s contemporary Americana songwriting and the group’s deep appreciation for the traditional fiddle music of Ireland, Scandinavia, and North America. Paying tribute to the many swirling cultures that make up the American identity, Two Bird Stone also carefully incorporates traditional melodies and musical tendencies of cultures abroad to reflect the dimensions of this land’s powerful diversity. In lieu of the preservation of traditional material in any strict sense, Two Bird Stone likes to function as a lens through which an audience gets a fresh look at the culture of traditional tune sharing and the instruments upon which we would generally hear them played. 

Before spinning off to form Two Bird Stone, Bailey was a highly sought-after Nashville studio and road musician; he also worked in commercial post-production with bandmate, Chad Kelly (accordion), a two-time Emmy Award nominee who has composed original music for numerous award-winning and critically acclaimed films and documentaries. Bailey and bandmate Judd Fuller (bass, mandolin, background vocals) traveled the world together for 11 years as members of Nashville country star Rodney Atkins’ touring band. Fuller has also toured and performed with Peter Wolf from The J. Geils Band, Bo Diddley, Carly Simon, and more. New York-based percussionist, composer, and educator Rohin Khemani rounded out the lineup. Known as an extremely versatile and eclectic musician, his sound can be heard on a wide variety of projects weaving through the worlds of jazz, world music, rock, folk, and electronica. Khemani was a founding member of Red Baraat and co-leads the band Surface To Air Trio with guitarist Jonathan Goldberger and bassist Jonti Siman. He has performed for audiences at some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Monterey Jazz Festival, and more. 

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LOS ANGELES BAND LOVE GHOST RELEASE “OUTER SPACE” SINGLE

“ The L.A. rockers sound as bratty as any of multi-platinum miscreants who’ve had hits on KROQ, but they fall in more with the play-actin’ bad boys. What the song reflects, though, is having come of age in an era when popular culture glorifies materialism and hedonism, which makes it the saddest kind of parody: funny but true.” - Buzzbands

“Drawing on the grungy, hip-hop-meets-rock, sardonically sunny ‘90s, these guys come across as nostalgic – for those of us that remember the decade – but with enough modern shaping to remain original and fresh.” -V13

LISTEN TO “OUTER SPACE” : HERE

 “….tinged in a backdrop of grunge, the song sounds perfectly tuned with just the right melodic atmosphere." - Grimy Goods

Introspective Los Angeles based band Love Ghost has released their grunge-inspired single "Outer Space." “When I was younger I would lay on our roof at night and look at the stars, thinking about escaping my problems,” lead singer and guitarist Finn Bell told Grimy Goods. “The vastness of space can humble and inspire you at the same time.” The song, like much of Bell’s songwriting, reflects and feeling like an outsider.  This song is the follow up to their last single, "I'll Be Fine" released for Mental Health Awareness month in May. The poignant track that mixed elements of trap and rock,  had a powerful reaction from fans for its honesty and rawness garnering over 500K streams on Soundcloud with 500+ comments, over 1 Million views on Youtube with 1,000 comments and over 387K streams on Spotify. 

“Love Ghost invite their listener into a dark and gritty underworld of trap, emo rap, and rock influences on ‘I’ll Be “Fine”’, an emotionally dense track that chimes and writhes with despondency, suspense and toxic emotions.” - When the Horn Blows

“  Intermingling rock, hip hop, and trap influences into their music, Love Ghost has captured the angst that most teens are experiencing these days.” - Ghettoblaster Magazine

This song is one of many produced for Love Ghost by Danny Saber (The Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper,  the Charlatans, Public Enemy etc.), for what will be two full EP's to be released this fall.  "I'll Be Fine" was the somber follow up to the lighthearted "Chasin Money and Bitches " single that was a comedic and hedonistic look on what it is that our culture values most, from the viewpoint of a teenager living in Los Angeles in 2020. Prior to that, the band released the grunge era-inspired  "Let It All Burn," with the accompanying scorcher of a video, directed by Dean Karr (Queens of the Stone Age, Mark Lanegan).  The song was featured on Spotify’s coveted "New Noise" playlist in addition to Apple’s "Breaking Hard Rock" and "Fresh Blood" playlists, having garnered over 1 Million streams since its release.

Love Ghost is Finnegan Bell (guitar and lead vocals), Ryan Stevens (bass and background vocals), Samson Young (drums and background vocals), Daniel Alcala (guitar) and Cory Batchler (keyboards). All of whom are fresh out of high school but have been playing together and writing songs since Junior High. Despite their young age, the band are seasoned international road warriors. Last year they toured Ireland, Japan, played the mainstage at Festival fff in Ambato, Ecuador, and most recently played a sold-out hometown show at Resident in Los Angeles. They have supported Buckcherry, Berlin, Smash Mouth, The Young Dubliners, The Tubes, Fuel, and Irish singer/songwriter Mundy. Their music videos have won numerous awards from over 30 film festivals around the world and the band was awarded Best Alternative Rock Band by the Hollywood Music in Media Awards and received The Jean Luc Goddard Award from Cult Critic Magazine.

KILLER WHALE RELEASES TRIPPY NEW VIDEO & ANNOUNCES NEW LP

KILLER WHALE PREMIERES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO 

“COMFORTABLE” WITH V13

NEW LP TASTES LIKE YESTERDAY OUT SEPTEMBER 18TH VIA DEVIL IN THE WOODS

Art: Lizzie Bilbrey

New Orleans-based band Killer Whale has shared “Comfortable,” the lead single and video from their forthcoming album Tastes Like Yesterday, out September 18th via Devil In The Woods. “Truly a gratifying audio-visual experience, the video takes you through many unconventional, at times hypnotic, scenes pulled right from the wildest side of your imagination,” says V13 in their premiere of the “psychedelic-tinged” new single and its accompanying “sensory-stimulating” video. “You’ll witness a set of eyes growing flowers, a rainbow-coloured dancer, and even an old-fashioned station wagon driving itself. Experiencing the video is like taking a walk down a winding road of twists and turns where the human mind is left to run wild. “‘Comfortable’ was inspired by growing more comfortable with my own self and the shedding of societal expectations of one’s own self,” says Killer Whale frontman and creative force Thomas Johnson. “I had reached a point in my life when I started feeling confident in my personality which in turn gave me more confidence in my art. This song tries to express that feeling when you begin to really feel comfortable just being who you are.”

WATCH: “COMFORTABLE”

LISTEN: “COMFORTABLE”

Somewhere between the rustic Louisiana bayou and dreamy California shores lies Killer Whale. With their colorful rhythms and rock n’ roll daydreams, they create a space that invites you in, tells you to make yourself at home, and hugs you as you walk in the door. Killer Whale, much like its creator, wanders between New Orleans, Austin, and San Francisco, bearing the melodic scars all that travel brings him. A mixture of genres, Killer Whale doesn’t subscribe to any one camp. Instead, it exudes them all. 

This kaleidoscope of sound oozes from every dreamy groove of the album’s 10 psychedelic, surf-infused, funk n' soul-tinged gems. With that kind of concoction, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched to think that the songs would be a melee, an atonal mishmash that harkens back to the days of being different for different’s sake. Under the leadership of another musician, such might be the case, but Killer Whale melds everything together in the name of freaky good fun. 

“I’m not a perfectionist,” admits Johnson. “Yet I do want each new record to demonstrate some progression from what came before. I don’t necessarily want it to sound radically different, and I think Tastes Like Yesterday accomplishes that. I like the idea of each album hinting at what’s coming next without really being specific about that direction.” Though one can hear echoes of the band’s previous release Casual Crush, this album finds Johnson’s muse immersing him in a very seductive, mellow soul. “I’m from Louisiana, and New Orleans culture and music have always been an influence on me, whether consciously or not,” Johnson says. When asked how he describes his music, Johnson laughs and suggests it’s “Pontoon Soul.” Lead single “Comfortable” offers an example of this new genre; it’s swampy and murky, yet Johnson’s heavenly voice transcends, resulting in a song best described as drop-dead gorgeous. 

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MARKET JUNCTION RELEASES NEW SINGLE “OUT OF LOVE"

MARKET JUNCTION RELEASES NEW SINGLE 

“OUT OF LOVE" VIA THE BOOT

NEW LP BURNING BRIDGES SET FOR RELEASE ON AUGUST 7TH

Market Junction has released “Out Of Love,” the second from their forthcoming album Burning Bridges, due out August 7th. "Out of Love" tells the story of a couple that's, as the song's title track suggests, fallen out of love and are just going through the motions,” says The Boot in its premiere, calling the song “delicate” and “a cautionary tale.” “Melodically, ‘Out of Love’ is reminiscent of the Lumineers' hit "Cleopatra": A quiet piano opens the track, and is eventually joined by an acoustic guitar and simple drums. Prolonged sadness and heartache are palpable in Market Junction frontman Matt Parrish's voice. "When romance turns to routine, love gets flipped upside down," Parrish tells The Boot. "We see it all around us: nice family/home/job, little league, carpools, Sunday school, yet, another marriage eaten by the system. They pretend. It’s easier that way."

LISTEN: “OUT OF LOVE”

“Out Of Love” follows the release of lead single “Nebraska,” which explores the idea that home is not a physical place, but rather a connection to others, and that when we lose those connections, we feel uprooted. “Being out on the road is hard on a relationship, yet the constant war inside us wages between the dreams we chase and the people we love. Sometimes the road wins and we are left with nothing but our own wanderlust,” Parrish told American Songwriter, who called its lyrics “particularly poignant,” saying they “perfectly capture this sense of lonely restlessness.”

LISTEN: “NEBRASKA”

WATCH: "NEBRASKA"

Parrish and Market Junction co-founder Justin Lofton, both award-winning songwriters, set out on a journey to create the kind of music they not only loved to listen to but music that they loved to play. Since those early days, the band expanded its lineup to include Taylor Hilyard on bass guitar and Michael Blattel on drums, sharing stages with Cory Morrow, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jack Ingram, Radney Foster, and more. 

“We’ve done nothing the conventional way”, says Parrish. “It’s taken us nine years to figure out who we are and what direction we want to take our careers,” adds Lofton. The combination of lyrical prowess and Lofton’s fretboard mastery has resulted in a sound that is rooted in place and time, but that transcends both. While the band has found success in their beloved home state of Texas, they are ready to show the rest of the world what they can do. The wait will have been well worth it for Americana music fans across the country - each of the 10 tracks on Burning Bridges tell one story, one of a young man learning about love and its consequences. Sometimes the heartbreak spurs the traveling, and other times the traveling is the cause of the heartbreak. Either way, Burning Bridges will break your heart in the best kind of way, and have you reaching for the keys.

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MATT LOVELL RELEASES DEBUT LP "NOBODY CRIES TODAY"

OUT NOW: 

MATT LOVELL’S DEBUT LP NOBODY CRIES TODAY

Photo: Jason Lee Denton

"Lovell lends his smooth tenor to well-crafted and soulful songs about love, loss and finding his way in a complicated world. It’s a promising if not especially groundbreaking debut for a singer willing to range around with confidence even when he’s wrestling with complicated subjects. The songs…hold together in a soothing package that conveys a healthy disregard for musical boundaries" - The Associated Press

“Need some escapism? Matt Lovell has you covered” - PopDust

"Lovell knows how to tap into a part of himself that can bring the emotions…to the surface and doing so is all the more honorable, knowing the story he’s trying to tell, isn’t a made up screenplay; it’s one man being willing to revisit challenging parts of his life and do so with performative solemnity and grace." - American Songwriter

“Inspired by Lovell's own experience with pain and trauma…intended to serve as a light, reminding others it's possible to make it to the other side of their grief or misfortune” - Variance Magazine

“Singer-songwriter Matt Lovell grew up learning to sing three-part harmonies in a household steeped in soul and Southern gospel, influences which have wound their way into the music he makes today. Those roots anchor the tracks on his forthcoming LP, Nobody Cries Today” - Glide Magazine 

“The album offers great variety and showcases Lovell’s natural songwriting and lyrical talent... the album ebbs and flows, offering the listener something new at every turn…this album has something for everyone. We are excited to share it with the world”  - Groundsounds

"And while Lovell likes to ‘tell stories by first explaining how they end,’ this project feels like it’s just the beginning of something bigger" - Euphoria. Magazine

"The time is now right for Lovell to share his songs with the world, and you’ll be glad for that...Lovell writes and sings songs that easily put him on the same plane with Ray LaMontagne…and make no mistake. You can’t help but feel something when you hear the lyrics in these songs" - Americana Highways 

“A bit celebratory, and a bit haunting” - The Indy Review

“Ultra-soulful, expressive vocals…pure and honest emotion" - Sound Thread

“Matt Lovell boasts a vocal that is somewhere between Bernhoft, Adam Levine, and Ray LaMontagne. The combination is a winning one as it is a voice that seeks out your soul and connects with it immediately." - Chimeo 

“A beautiful country-soul album” - Adobe & Teardrops

“Beautiful riffs and calming guitar notes” - Unheard Gems

“Give it a listen. This is one you won’t want to miss.” - LA On Lock

"The moment I clicked play...I started smiling immediately" - Music is My Life

"This artist creates bewitching combinations...a gifted and talented singer-songwriter" - Independent Spirits

_____________________________________________________________

Nashville-based singer/songwriter Matt Lovell has released his debut album, Nobody Cries Today. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Jars Of Clay’s Matt Odmark, the album’s nine tracks encompass an eight-year journey of survival and self-acceptance. “Lovell’s gentle spirit shines throughout,” said The Associated Press in its review. “From the slow-roll gospel cuts, ‘Be Free’ and ‘The Gospel’ to the nostalgic closer ‘The Way That It Was,’ he always sounds at peace with himself….Lovell’s wheelhouse is blue-eyed soul, but the mix regularly suggests a variety of influences.” "There are two things that immediately stand out when listening to the record,” remarked Euphoria Magazine. “The first is Lovell’s beautiful, raspy voice that colours each song wonderfully. The second is the reliance on acoustic guitars throughout the album. This should come as no surprise – the singer-songwriter is based in Nashville, after all. But as tempting as it is, it would be a disservice to the distinct variety of influences to pin Lovell down to just one genre." 

LISTEN: NOBODY CRIES TODAY

“I often tell stories by first explaining how they end. Somehow the destination of a tale creates something like a center of gravity to draw all the details of the past towards the final point,” Lovell has said of his process. “The story told in these songs has had several endings and several beginnings, a natural byproduct when a project spans the course of so many years. In these years of writing and recording, I have gathered quite a wild palette of paints. In a way, Nobody Cries Today has actually been my teacher. As I have written these songs, each of them has been like a tiny rowboat to get me from one day to the next,” he said. “These songs have witnessed me in the years that I was in the throes of trying to find acceptance for myself and for the world I’m living in.  As a gay man of Southern origin, this proved to be a tall order. These songs have also helped me to explore things like zest for life, discontent, hunger, truth, and hope.”  

WATCH: “TROUBLE”

WATCH: “BE FREE”

WATCH: “ALLIGATOR LILLY” 

WATCH: “90 PROOF”  

All but one of the album’s songs were recorded in 2016 - just months before  Lovell nearly lost his life. On January 20, 2017, he was shot in the chest in Nashville by a sixteen-year-old who attempted to steal his car. Miraculously, he lived. “This moment created a new center of gravity and re-ordered my understanding of everything I’ve experienced in this lifetime,” he explains. “Many people who experience acute trauma go through somewhat of a euphoric period immediately after the incident occurs, and this was definitely my experience. The level of peace I felt was something I had never touched before. I wrote profusely, I gardened, I brought new life and vigor to my musical ventures, and I made peace with complicated friendships. More than anything, I found a level of great self-acceptance and this created space for me to begin to learn how to live this life.”  

This era ended with the abrupt onset of PTSD, causing the most difficult time Lovell had ever faced. He began to question everything and struggled to find a way to articulate the horrors he was experiencing.  Now, on the other side of recovery, Lovell is excited to sing these songs again for anyone who will listen. “In these years of writing and recording, I have gathered quite a wild palette of paints,” he says. “In a way, Nobody Cries Today has actually been my teacher.  As I have written these songs, each of them has been like a tiny rowboat to get me from one day to the next. They have witnessed me in the years that I was in the throes of trying to find acceptance for myself and for the world I’m living in.  As a gay man of Southern origin, this proved to be a tall order. These songs have also helped me to explore things like zest for life, discontent, hunger, truth, and hope,” he continues. “Nobody Cries Today contains every bit of earnestness, desire, and love that I have to give.” 

Nobody Cries Today is available for download at iTunes, Amazon Music, and Google Play. The album will be available on vinyl this fall - be sure to follow Matt Lovell at the links below for updates. 

NOBODY CRIES TODAY TRACKLIST

TROUBLE

90 PROOF

SABOTAGE

ALLIGATOR LILLY

BE FREE

NOBODY CRIES TODAY

DIME ADIOS (SAY GOODBYE TO ME) ft. Leigh Nash

THE GOSPEL

THE WAY THAT IT WAS

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