Buffalo-based rapper D.A Live provides complex wordplay through his release “Everything I Ain’t Been.” With a mixture of unpredictable flows and smooth melodies, Live brings an unconventional vibe to the track. Ski Beats brings a laid-back beat with a light snare and a slow, deep bass. The song goes into the struggles of everything that Live wants to be, but cannot reach in his present state. Listen to “Everything I Ain’t Been” via SoundCloud below.
Los Angeles based RaneRaps drops a song for the heartbroken through the release of his new single “Have To Go.” In question is the rapper’s love interest, who he compares as a cross between Beyoncé and Sasha Fierce. Producer Hirsh creates a confused atmosphere with some jazzy keys as RaneRaps drifts through his experiences with his love interest. RaneRaps changes back and forth from rapper to singer as he progresses through his story. At the close, he is left asking why she wasted his time in the first place. Check out “Have To Go” below on Soundcloud.
Bringing throwback tunes from the United Kingdom, Hot Collars gets a new take on their song through the remix of “Tongue Tied.” Serving as a collaboration with The Go! Team, the song takes new form as the remix adds to the already jovial single. Kicking off with bouncy steel drums and a blaring trumpet that carries through the entirety of the single, there is a theme of ’80 club dance-pop throughout. Choppy vocal effects melds with the mix of the harmonica in the background. Listen to the remix of “Tongue Tied” below.
Six-piece Glaswegian band Pronto Mama dropped “Cold Arab Spring” to promote their debut album Any Joy out now via Electric Hone. Drawing influences from Bombay Bicycle Club and Dutch Uncles, the song takes a traditional approach to indie with some surprises sprinkled throughout. Buzzy guitars lead into catchy pop hooks that are guided by gentle vocals. Stepping away from tired old sounds, the band drifted into a new direction from cultural influences. Combining influences, “Cold Arab Spring” brings it all together to create a well-rounded piece. Listen to “Cold Arab Spring” off Any Joy below via Soundcloud.
Buffalo-based emcee Short Moscato dropped a trippy new visual for his song “Steady” which came off his recent project The Colour of Air. The video goes in an experimental film route with jump cuts between rainbow-dipped images to go along with the lyrics of the song which exercise Moscato’s ability as a wordsmith. The video adds to the sporadic nature of the song, jumping from sex, drug use and the quest to find a steady mindset. For anyone that listened to the EP, the video adds another dimension to the song. Check out the visual music video for the song below.
Los Angeles trio DWNTWN just released the first single “Bloodshot Eyes” off the outfit’s upcoming debut album, Racing Time. “Bloodshot Eyes” goes into depth about making the same mistakes over and over, but wanting change without knowing how to do it. In the song, lead vocalist Jamie Leffler shies away from the somber nature of the song with her bright vocals. The harmonies between Leffler and guitarist Robert Cepeda work well with the pop direction the song goes in. Check out the music video for “Bloodshot Eyes” below.
Los Angeles-based group The Seige, dropped a music video for “Boing Boing,” the first track off their EP Act III: Atomic, which came out on March 8th. The Seige features Taz Conley on vocals and Riley Taylor on production. Conley tackles thought-provoking topics like money issues and political figures including Hilary Clinton. Taylor creates a darker sound with the deep bass and reverb in the vocal samples on the beat. In the video, the duo mocks the style of early 2000s rappers, decked out in grills, chains and baggy clothes, which makes quite the video. Check out the music video for “Boing Boing” below.
Rochester indie powerhouse Joywave dropped their second single “It’s a Trip!” earlier this month from their new album Content due out July 28th via Hollywood Records/Cultco Music. The album will be a major followup to the band’s 2015 breakout release How Do You Feel Now? “It’s a Trip!” taps into the roots of psychedelia with a groovy guitar riff and a smooth synth to back everything up. Lead singer Daniel Armbruster cracks out the falsetto, which gains some twinges of analog sound embedded in the chorus. Check out the music video for the new single below.
Two days may not seem like a lot of time to cut an EP, but Dutch artist Amber Arcades (aka Annelotte de Graaf) finished the Cannonball EP during her time off in New York from touring supporting Nada Surf. The EP follows the release of de Graaf’s debut album Fading Lines last year, which featured members of Real Estate, Quilt, and The Men. Nick Drake’s “Which Will” gets a new twist from de Graaf, trading Drake’s acoustics for an electric punch through the guitars. While it is a different interpretation sonically, the cover still pays homage to the message of the song, carrying a strong feeling of somberness as de Graaf’s vocals light the way through the hazy Krautrock instrumentals. On the third track “Wouldn’t Even Know,” Bill Ryder-Jones adds depth to the track with his somber crooning, which pairs well with the contrast of de Graaf’s lighter voice. The[...]
Albany, NY based band The Plastic Faction brings infectious pop-punk tunes through their new single “Rain Season.” The song is the first single off Trinket, the band’s first album. With a mixture of harmonic guitars and catchy vocals from singer Jake Crofoot, the band captures the essence of the mid-2000s emo movement. Listen to “Rain Season” below off Trinket, which is due out on June 22nd via Newlywed Records/Nothing Feels Good Records. Rain Season by The Plastic Faction
NV and Da-O-Boy of 23 – 10 pack a verbal punch in their new single “Oh You Mad?” Rapping out of Kokomo, IN, the group is working towards their first EP The Love Affair. The single cracked the top 5 of Def Jam and Cash Money Records producer !llmind’s “Oh You Rap?” contest. The song features production from !llmind, combining a smooth drum beat to a mix of haze that drifts into the unknown. NV and Da-O-Boy trade verses throughout the track and show great chemistry as a duo. Check out the music video for “Oh You Mad?” below.
Calicoco is the moniker of the new project fronted by Rochester musician Giana Caliolo. “Night Owl,” Calicoco’s debut single, dives headfirst into the stresses of lifestyle changes. The outfit’s upcoming Needy EP serves as the culmination of the past four years for Caliolo with the ending of the band Buckets, and the balancing of projects Pony Hand and Secret Pizza. “Night Owl” goes into the changes that Caliolo went through in her life and the anxieties that came with the choices that she made to change herself for the better. The catchy guitar riff loops as the drums set a solid punch to back up the song and pair well with Caliolo’s gentle voice. Needy is set for release via Dadstache Records on June 9th. In the meantime check out “Night Owl” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/319147863″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
One would think with a name like The Fox Sisters, the group would be a family affair. Ironically though, The Fox Sisters are not a group of sisters, but seven guys playing ‘60s style R&B out of Rochester, NY. The song serves as the A-side, with the track “Yeah Yeah” on the B-side. The song carries elements from ‘60s rock & roll music like Phil Marshall’s bouncy guitar riffs, supported by Patrick McNally’s upbeat vocals. The song also dips into R&B with the incorporation of the alto saxophone, which comes in strong during a solo towards the end of the song. Check out “Stuck On You” below. Stuck On You by The Fox Sisters
Fresh off the release of his Baby New Year’s EP, Jazz Ingram brings the heat with his new single “Mr. Krabs.” Originally from Rochester, NY, Ingram is currently based out of Atlanta, GA. The single is a change from the EP as Ingram speeds it up and goes away from a laid-back style of rap. Benny the Jet brings a heavy bass and rapid snare to the trap beat to back Ingram’s speedy verses. The song title refers to Mr. Krabs from SpongeBob SquarePants, who has an affinity to money like Ingram describes throughout the track. The song breaks down with a slowly sung autotuned part by Ingram. Check out the video for “Mr. Krabs” below.