New Music Friday 5/31/24
Category
Nostalgia Is a Thing of the Past - Jacob Kulick
IYL: April Rose Gabrielli, The Faim, KROWNS
Jacob Kulick has been learning to let go. It’s a theme on Nostalgia Is a Thing of the Past, the Nashville-based singer, songwriter and producer’s new album. Though Jacob has released albums before, this one feels like a fresh start, which brings us back to the idea of letting go.
Jacob pared back the big rock sound of his earlier work, shed the impulse to play all the songs himself and even dropped KULICK, the persona he had adopted during his stint on a major label. Comprising eight songs, Nostalgia Is a Thing of the Past is his first album as Jacob Kulick in nearly a decade. “KULICK was me anyway, but the Jacob Kulick project, this is what I write in my bedroom,” he says. “It feels so much more vulnerable because it’s not hidden behind all this production.” Indeed, these songs emphasize Jacob’s mesmerizing hooks and forthright lyrics exploring the human condition. He strikes a balance between urgent and wistful on “Motel 6,” where finger-picked acoustic guitar blends with subtly cascading keyboards. Soulful electric guitar powers “Same Way to Me,” as Jacob reflects on his life and how, in spite of it all, some things haven’t changed. He considers an eternal question on “Running in the Cemetery” before exchanging the hereafter for the here and now, accompanied by a swift beat and tendrils of guitar.
Better Love (Reimagined) - Better Love
IYL: Jaclyn Heuser, City Mouth, Rare Candy
Better Love are Jackie Heuser, Bradley Harvey, and Kay Provencher, who came together with a goal to write songs about connection and the human experience. On the surface level, their music is driven by upbeat arrangements, unforgettable melodies, and the layering of Heuser and Harvey’s vocals, but it’s the transparency and vulnerability of their songwriting that continues to set them apart. Through songs like “Stay With Me" and "Pretending," Better Love has connected with a very wide listenership. As they continue to develop into their coming of age as musicians, dig in to "I Spend Too Much Time", available everywhere now via Secret Friends Music Group!
Sawed Off Shotgun - Chloe Lilac
IYL: Sophie Cates, L Devine, Maude Latour
i’m from brooklyn
Whips and Chains - Scene Queen
IYL: Delilah Bon, Chrissy Chlapecka, Banshee
Hi I’m Scene Queen! I’m plastic, fantastic, and musically dramatic. This is a catalog of my mental illness.
TUESDAY - Flavor Wave
IYL: Angel Envy, Bears Have Hearts, Tea Head
Flavor Wave is an independent alternative rock band out of West Chester, a suburb of Philadelphia. They consist of five best friends who grew up together and decided to pursue musical creation and performance with each other and the world. With a wide array of influences in the alternative world, Josh (drums/vocals), Kyle Loedel (vocals), Pat (rhythm guitar), Matt (lead guitar), and Noah (bass guitar) incorporate various sounds in their work. Although they jammed for many years prior under a few different names, they finally landed on the name Flavor Wave years later. In August of 2021, they played their debut show as Flavor Wave in West Chester, followed by many others throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia area. Their debut album, “A Taste of Something Sweet”, was released on April 14th, 2023.
Should've Been You - Southcourt
IYL: Electric Football, LVRBOY, Tiris
Holding On - Dizzy Days
IYL: The Dandys, Monet's Pond, Happy Valley
Meanjin/Brisbane's latest dance band Dizzy Days is fronted by the goose-bump-inducing vocals of Aisling O’Byrne, adroit guitar work of EJ Carey, hypnotic bass of Bridgette Dabinett, and the whirlwind percussion of drum prodigy Mikaela Swan. Dizzy Days offers a sound that entices indie scenesters whilst still being unquestionably global in scope.
Believe Me Now? - Becky Hill
IYL: Joel Corry, Nathan Dawe, Jax Jones
With an irrefutable aptitude for writing chart-smashing pop songs and a reputation as a pioneer in electronic music, BRIT Award-winning Becky Hill is one of Britain’s most in-demand music artists. Described by David Guetta as “one of the very rare queens of dance of music”, Becky has written and/or performed on 17x UK Top 40 singles, including five Top 10 singles and one UK #1, and amassed over 4 billion streams on Spotify alone. Her BPI certifications total 13x Platinum, 11x Gold and 14x Silver records, and she was the third most streamed British female solo artist on Spotify in 2021, behind only Dua Lipa and Adele. Her Gold selling debut studio album, ‘Only Honest On The Weekend’, released in August 2021 and peaked at #7 on the UK Albums Chart, spawning Platinum-selling UK #3 single ‘Remember’, which also ended the year as one of the most streamed and best-selling songs of 2021. Alongside her solo career, Becky has also collaborated with everyone from Rudimental to Little Simz over the last decade, as well as writing songs for and/or releasing with a whole range of artists; from dance titans like MK, Tiesto and Jax Jones right the way through to pop royalty in MNEK and Little Mix.
ISTAY - Moontower
IYL: The Holy Dark, The Orphan The Poet, The Wrecks
take care of yourself, take care of each other <3
22nd Century Beautiful People - Chanelle Albert & The Easy Company
IYL: Like a Girl, White Hot, Big Wreck
Hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Chanelle Albert & the Easy Company create indie folk rock that's as heartfelt as it is unique. Fronted by bilingual singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chanelle Albert, the band features Andrew Gagnon on drums, Jacob Tyler on bass, and Josh Myre on guitar. Since their inception in January of 2018, the group has been making waves across Ontario with a series of captivating live performances, drawing inspiration from a diverse array of musical influences, including folk rock and progressive rock, crafting a sound that is both evocative and relevant. Chanelle Albert and the Easy Company began independently producing and releasing their original music with their first 2019 single "From the Top", followed by their second single "Si la nuit" in 2020. The band's website, chanellealbert.com, received the 2020 Folk Music Ontario Website Award sponsored by Bandzoogle. On May 20th, 2022, they released their five song live-off-the-floor EP album The Birds. Marking a promising evolution in their musical journey, they dropped a single titled "Scratches" along with a music video on August 18th, 2023. Now, having just unveiled three new singles, the group is gearing up to release their first studio LP album 22nd Century Beautiful People on May 31st of 2024. With a growing repertoire of original music and a magnetic live presence, the four musicians have crafted a unique sound that resonates with audiences far and wide.
the bed i lie in - Chloe Star
IYL: Feezy Lebron, Agxny, Mike Sarge
Chloe Star is an indigenous singer, songwriter, visual artist and tribal advocate. Growing up she split her time between Los Angeles and her family’s reservation in San Bernardino. With a childhood that was chaotic and often unstable, she found solace in journaling and writing poetry. She taught herself to play piano and guitar and soon started transforming her prose into lyrics. After spending the past few years finding and cultivating her sound, Chloe is now ready to make her introduction to the world.
All I Ever Wanted - Dean Lewis
IYL: Lewis Capaldi, Tom Walker, Anson Seabra
Songwriter from Australia. Trying to write genuine music about things that happen in my life.
Everything is Something (I Never Saw Coming) - talker
IYL: Desperate Hauswives, Dan Sadin, Fiona Grey
Glittery indie rock ✨
Family Business - Lawrence
IYL: Couch, Melt, Sammy Rae & The Friends
As NPR writes, “siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence are not your typical pair.” Clyde Lawrence and Gracie Lawrence have been writing songs and listening to countless Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, and Aretha Franklin records in their family’s New York City apartment since they were little kids. After years of playing together, they officially created Lawrence, an eight-piece soul-pop band comprised of musician friends from childhood and college. The band has since gained a devoted following for its high-energy, keyboard-driven sound, which features tight, energetic horns and explosive lead vocals. In July 2021, Lawrence released their album, Hotel TV, and became the first band to release music under Beautiful Mind Records, the label of Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/artist Jon Bellion, who co-produced and co-wrote the songs on the album. The album’s lead single, “Don’t Lose Sight,” was featured in an international Microsoft commercial, which propelled it into the Top 20 on the USA Shazam Pop Charts, and also hit #33 on Top 40. In 2023, the band joined The Jonas Brothers on their four month, sixty-five show tour across North America. In 2024, they have released singles "i'm confident that i'm insecure," "23" and "Guy I Used To Be" while working on their upcoming album. They played “23” and other new music live during their set at Jingle Ball in 2023. The band recently announced their upcoming album, Family Business, along with North America and Europe tours this year.
was it always this easy? - Letter To Elise
IYL: Mom Said No, tuesday nite, Tsavo Highway
With a full-bodied sound characterized by catchy hooks, dynamic pop-rock sensibility, intricate guitar work, and being one of the first bands in the last decade to feature an electric cello, indie-rock group Letter to Elise is proving itself to be one of the hottest new acts coming out of the Western New York area.Drawing inspiration from influences such as Cage the Elephant and the Killers, Letter to Elise provides a sound that is both familiar and unique. Commanding the stage is their frontman, Elliott Hunt, whose charisma channels the spirit of icons like Harry Styles, captivating audiences with each move. Started as a COVID-19 side project by Hunt, Letter to Elise initially served as a platform for him to record musical ideas he had kept to himself for several years. After recording and releasing the music, a band was put together to play a one-off show, only to then disappear from the public swiftly thereafter - that is until Elliott and guitarist Jon Gordner met when playing together at a session gig. In 2023, after a 3-year hiatus, Letter to Elise returned as a fully formed 4-piece band and began to make huge rumblings in the Buffalo music scene, including being voted ‘Best New Band’ at the 2023 All WNY Awards. However, as fate would have it, another big moment for Letter to Elise was to come. In early 2024, the band added electric cellist Alex Cousins, bassist Benny MacFadyen, and keyboardist Chris Lillis. Solidifying the 6-piece’s lineup.