This week Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with hip-hop legend R.A. The Rugged Man as well as new music and videos from Prof, Black Needle Noise, Diamond Shake, Drew Davies, Ethan Gold, Lazaris Pit, Lycio, and the new charity video from Indie AllStars for the British NHS titled ‘Chasing Rainbows’.
About R.A. The Rugged Man
R.A. The Rugged Man is one of those artists who remains humble despite having a career that has not only spanned decades but has crossed genres and included the likes of Ice-T, Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and many others as well as spanning music and film. But what really impresses me is that he remains both humbled and grateful for what he has worked for. And that, to me, is the mark of a true artist. Someone who not only remembers his roots but holds on to them with reverence.
And it is that reverence that shines throughout his latest album titled ‘All My Heroes Are Dead’ released April 17, 2020, via Nature Sounds Records.
In this interview, we talk with R.A. about his beginnings as well as the new album and how it further advances his evolution of revolution that is his music and much, much more. Check out the album below!
Check out our other articles about R.A. The Rugged Man HERE.
LINKS:
https://ratheruggedman.net
https://twitter.com/ratheruggedman
https://facebook.com/RATheRuggedMan
https://www.instagram.com/ratheruggedmanofficial
https://www.youtube.com/user/RAtheRuggedManTV
About Prof
Prof has dropped his new video for the single titled ‘Squad Goals’. This has got to be the most original and interesting video I have seen this year, by a longshot. I know that’s a hardcore way to start a review, but this video demands that declaration. I mean, Mr. Rogers, PTSD, pill-popping, and more in under four minutes. Try fitting that many lucid subplots together in anything, even involving music.
Having said that, this music is brilliant. Steady. Rhythmic. Staccato. Each deserving itself as a sentence. One thing I like about the Rhymesayers artists is that they bring entertainment and introspective reflection back into music, but now Prof brings the fun.
LINKS:
https://rhymesayers.com/artists/prof
https://facebook.com/profgampo
https://instagram.com/profgampo
https://twitter.com/profgampo
About Black Needle Noise
John Fryer, the globally recognized producer and curator of the project known as Black Needle Noise, has dropped his new video titled ‘Seed of Evil’ featuring <PIG> a.k.a. Raymond Watts of KMFDM fame. A contoured divide between the industrial overtone and gothic underpinnings, ‘Seed of Evil’ crosses that great divide into a darkly original mindset with grinding rhythm and a purely black chord progression.
The video adds to the musical mindfuck just short of epileptic orgasm designed to muse as much as it is to shock. Decadance now has a soundtrack.
‘Seed of Evil’ is out now, available digitally across online stores, such as Apple Music, and streaming platforms such as Spotify. It is also available directly from the artist via Bandcamp.
Check out our other articles about Black Needle Noise HERE.
LINKS:
https://www.blackneedlenoise.com
https://blackneedlenoise.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/BlackNeedleNoise
https://www.facebook.com/John.Fryer.Official
https://www.instagram.com/black_needle_noise
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTC_bNQDfUviTBDiBHYAiSg/videos
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3KkYK2dnIfRb9EDrCRndB6
About Diamond Shake
Diamond Shake continues his momentum with the release of the fourth video in his series titled ‘Shake’. Continuing his video partnership with French animator Dominique Bloink, the visualization and integrity of style are maintained with brilliance and the marriage of panache and originality are excelled with the dark beauty of the video and the emotional grit of the song. Almost its own undefinable thing, ‘Shake’ becomes it’s own in such a way that you find out who did what, if you don’t know who this is, just to see who could come up with such a thing. Let this sink into your memory.
Check out our other articles featuring Diamond Shake HERE.
LINKS:
http://www.diamondshake.com
https://www.instagram.com/thediamondshake
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUT0cqzCanrCsAlqgaZRqhQ
http://www.soundcloud.com/diamond-shake
About Drew Davies
Drew Davies has just released his new single titled ‘X and Y’. Sounding like a song that gets right down to business, that business seems to be the sound of an original artist. When I first hear the name Drew Davies I think of originality. And that is not a word to toss around. Listen to ‘X and Y’ for example. It sounds signature from the first note. And the passion is evident in everything from the voice to the hi-hat and everything in between. Beautiful chord progressions accompanied by stellar vocals and a steady backbeat, ‘X and Y’ continue the evolution of Drew’s musical journey that is rapidly defining itself into a wonderful legacy.
Speaking of the single, Drew Davies tells us, “I wrote ‘ X and Y ’ on women’s day a few years ago. It’s a song that on one hand calls for equality for all people, no matter their age, sex, or orientation; whilst on the other hand, calling out hypocrisy stemming from the kinds of people who say one thing publicly and another behind closed doors. It was originally written on piano but for the single and album we decided to add a pseudo-Tarantino vibe with vintage guitars and synthesizers.”
Check out our other articles about Drew Davies HERE.
LINKS:
https://www.drewdaviesmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/drewdaviesmusic
https://www.twitter.com/drewdaviesmusic
https://www.instagram.com/drewdaviesmusic
https://drewdaviesmusic.bandcamp.com
About Ethan Gold
Ethan Gold has officially released his new video for the single titled ‘Not Me. Us’. Beginning as a somber anthem the song slowly builds up to the hook with pop-sensibility and a craft only a good songwriter can achieve, ‘Not Me. Us’ gives a poignant reflection on the better qualities of humanity with the craft of a poet and the form of an artist.
‘Not Me.Us’ is out now everywhere digitally, including stores such as Apple Music, and streaming platforms like Spotify.
About Lazaris Pit
Lazaris Pit drops their new single titled ‘You Don’t Tag Me in Memes Anymore’ plus the B-Side ‘Cloudsculpting’. This is the perfect ‘capture the band in the moment’ moment. We get that garage-perfect sound with that quirky attitude and tight-yet-loose feeling in the vein of Dinasaur Jr. and the like but all Lazaris Pit in execution and scope.
With ‘Cloudsculpting’ we get the same side of a different coin with an adventurous song climbing to the top with varied guitar chord progressions and a hypnotic varied beat with that lovely feeling of falling apart at the seams while sticking together tightly in that true alt-rock sound at its purest.
‘You Don’t Tag Me In Memes Anymore’ is available everywhere digitally, including Spotify and Apple Music. The full ‘Coniphers’ album will be released on May 22.
LINKS:
https://www.lazarispit.com
https://lazarispit.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/lazarispit
https://twitter.com/themLPboys
https://www.instagram.com/lazarispit
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_mbHlwbaZgIBhb56ybbiAg
About Lycio
Lycio has officially dropped their new single titled ‘Somebody’. The sweet combination of electronic and soul collide in glorious fashion with a solid rhythm and backbeat that throws emotion on the dancefloor and showcases vocalist Genie Mendez’ beautiful vocal range oozing with feeling and meaning every word.
Speaking of ‘Somebody’, Genie Mendez tells us, “I actually thought I’d try a different lyrical approach with this song. I’m rarely one to write about romance and our songs are usually entangled with expressions of my own mental health. So to have such a lyrically open chorus where I’m so clearly talking about unrequited love is definitely a first for us. Although I’ve still kept the verses dark and mysterious, this song is definitely about wanting someone so bad but them not quite wanting you back. Then you get this really catchy chorus, and I did want it to be as catchy as a Jess Glynne or Fickle Friends track, ‘cause they’re really good at grabbing the listener like that. So I hope you all enjoy listening to it the way we enjoy performing it.”
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/lyciomusic
https://twitter.com/lyciomusic
https://www.instagram.com/lyciomusic
About #Indie Allstars
he Covid19 pandemic has proved how essential they are and funding cuts need to be addressed. Stoke-on-Trent DJ, Terry Bossons wanted to thank them by the power of music. The rainbow has been the symbol of the NHS, so the song ‘Chasing Rainbows’ by Shed Seven is a fitting tribute. Terry asked Rick Witter of Shed Seven to get involved with the video project and without hesitation, he jumped onboard.
Next, a crescendo of indie music royalty joined the fold: Nigel Clark and Matthew Priest (Dodgy), Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets), Gary Powell (The Libertines), John Power (Cast), Keith Mullin (The Farm), Chris Helme (Seahorses), Dave McCabe (The Zutons), Alan McGee (Creation Records), Baz (The Fratellis), Ryan & Jack Dooley (All The Young), Alfie (Holloways), Matt Bowman (Pigeon Detectives), Johnny Dean (Menswear), Leon Meya (Northern Uproar), James McColl (The Supernaturals), Rikki Turner (Paris Angels), Billy Bibby (Catfish and the Bottlemen) teamed up with radio royalty Mark Radcliffe and Eddy Temple-Morris (plus a few surprise guests) to make this happen in just seven days.
To donate to the UHNM (University Hospitals of The North Midlands Charity) to fund equipment, facilities and research to enhance the care of patients in the hospital please click HERE.
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An Interview with King’s X
Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with dUg Pinnick of King’s X. Today is the release of the first King’s X album in 14 years titled ‘Three Sides Of One’.
In this interview, we talk with dUg about the process of getting the band back together and recording the new album while getting reacquainted musically and continuing the ever evolving legacy that is King’s X.
Check out our previous interview with dUg HERE.
Check out our interview with Jerry Gaskill HERE.
About King’s X
Lifelong friends communicate in a language of their own peppered with shared memories, inside jokes, and dreams fulfilled. King’s X partake in a similar musical conversation informed by over four decades together as a band. The trio—Dug Pinnick [bass, vocals], Jerry Gaskill [drums, vocals], and Ty Tabor [guitar, vocals]—lock into an unspoken groove where each element shapes a signature sound singular to these three individual souls alone. No other band in history has pushed hard rock, alternative, metal, progressive, and soul into a galaxy quite like the one King’s X occupy.
Along the way, they architected a catalog of seminal releases. KERRANG! famously scored their 1988 full-length debut, Out of the Silent Planet, with a rare “5-out-of-5-stars.” On its heels, the landmark Gretchen Goes To Nebraska continues to inspire think pieces with Ultimate Classic Rock going as far to proclaim, “no one else has crafted anything remotely like it.” They notably appeared on the soundtrack to Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, and Guitar World christened the self-titled King’s X one of “The 30 Greatest Rock Guitar Albums of 1992” (a year notably highlighted by Pantera’s Vulgar Display of Power, Alice In Chains’ Dirt, Megadeth’s Countdown To Extinction, Dream Theater’s Images and Words, and many more). Following Dogman, the group graced the stage of Woodstock 1994 and toured with everyone from Pearl Jam and AC/DC to Mötley Crüe and Iron Maiden. They also attracted one of the most diehard fanbases in music with Ear Candy [1996], Tape Head [1998], Please Come Home… Mr. Bulbous [2000], Manic Moonlight [2001], Black Like Sunday [2003], Ogre Tones [2005], and XV [2008].
In 2019, author Greg Prato’s book King’s X: The Oral History featured testimonials from the likes of Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Andy Summers of The Police, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, Rex Brown of Pantera, and more. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone crowned them “Internationally renowned cult heroes,” Devin Townsend included Gretchen Goes To Nebraska on “The 5 Albums That Made Me,” and VH1 touted them among “The 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.”
About ‘Three Sides Of One’
Their first full-length studio offering in 14 years, Three Sides of One [Inside Out Music], represents the culmination of this trip and of a bond forged way back in 1979.
“When I think of it, King’s X feels like a couple of old best friends coming together, shooting the shit, and having a good time,” affirms Dug. “It’s instinctual. When I would listen to demo tapes of Jerry and Ty for the record, it gave me a great perspective on how blessed I am to be in King’s X. What they did on Three Sides of One sounded so good. For as familiar as it is, it’s like I’m in a new band.”
“This time, we sat around, listened to each other’s ideas, and would collectively say, ‘Let’s work on that’,” recalls Ty. “It was the most enjoyable album I’ve personally ever recorded in my entire life, period.”
“I’ll cherish what we did in my heart forever,” agrees Jerry. “Everything lined up perfectly.”
During 2019, the members congregated at Black Sound Studio in Pasadena, CA with producer Michael Parnin to bring Three Sides of One to life. Despite consistent touring, they hadn’t cut a new LP since 2008. Nevertheless, the guys picked up where they left off. Creative confidant and collaborator Wally Farkas rolled through, and they channeled their incredible chemistry on tape. During the sessions, Ty and Jerry sang more and expanded the vocal interplay. At the same time, they hung out in the house and enjoyed the summer—even listening to a nearby Rolling Stones concert from The Rose Bowl outside one evening.
“We wanted it to be very special,” Jerry goes on. “We all brought in songs we believed in. We were excited to see each other. We had a wonderful house to stay in, and it was the best situation.”
“We didn’t want to make a record until we knew our fans would love it,” Dug goes on. “It took us a while, but we got there. Once we did, we got on the same page and said, ‘Let’s make this thing the best we can’.”
The opener and first single “Let It Rain” kickstarts this chapter. Clean guitar echoes over a steady beat before a deluge of distortion submerses the chorus’s plea, “So let it rain.”
“I wanted to write a heavy song about the world as I see it,” Dug states. “It was like a prayer to the unknown god to do something. It seems like everything is a mess, and we’ve got no solutions. I was trying to agree with everyone and join the program.”
A bluesy lick swings like a wrecking ball into a swaggering groove on “Give It Up,” which culminates on a manic gang chant. “After I turned 71, death was on my mind every day,” Dug confesses. “Chris Cornell killed himself, and I was thinking of that. Lyrically, it’s about not giving up until you naturally die. I want to ride it out until it’s over. I’m laughing about how I haven’t gotten a will yet, but I should have one. Musically, I wanted it to be really simple, so you can dance to it.”
Then, there’s “All God’s Children.” A dreamy clean guitar melody sets the tone before a trudging groove kicks in. It builds towards a towering chant.
“It’s probably going to be one of the most misunderstood songs of the bunch,” muses Ty. “I was looking around at all of these people who call themselves Christians, but they believe a whole lot of non-Christian things. They choose to believe anyway despite everything collapsing with all of the death and ugliness around their beliefs.”
On “Flood,” a pummeling polyrhythmic riff bludgeons and bruises as Dug croons an apocalyptic affirmation, “I used to say that all we need is love, now I’m thinking that what we need is a flood.”
“Back in the day, we used to do songs where the rhythms changed like ‘We Were Born To Be Loved’ or ‘Far, Far Away’, so we wanted to do a couple of songs that lent toward that,” Dug elaborates. “I looked around and said, ‘Man, we need a reset’. It’s only my opinion. Maybe it’s not a very positive record,” he laughs.
“She Called Me Home” slips into a delicate darkness uplifted to the light by the siren’s call of a soaring guitar solo. “I was thinking of when I was kind of dead and had to recover,” admits Jerry. “I didn’t think I was ever going to play again, but a friend said, ‘You are going to play. You will get out there’. It came from those conversations.”
The closer “Every Everywhere” hinges on a powerful last word, “The world is crying for love, every everywhere.”
“I tried to write a Beatles-type song everyone could sing along with,” Dug adds. “It says what it is.”
In the end, Three Sides of One is everything King’s X were, are, and always will be.
“To me, the train is rolling, and I’m on it like we’ve been doing for 43 years,” Dug leaves off. “We’re just old friends.”
LINKS:
https://www.kingsxrocks.com
https://www.facebook.com/KingsXofficial
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPi0krtGBOdUP9iSIyaB4A
https://twitter.com/kingsx
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPi0krtGBOdUP9iSIyaB4A?feature=gws_kp_artist&feature=gws_kp_artist
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3tn79LMMIdIT1T0TXumjaH?autoplay=true
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC8sh_EbAtbYvJHLg302q1Tg?feature=gws_kp_artist&feature=gws_kp_artist
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=miR15886 -
An Interview With A Shoreline Dream
Talking with Shoreline Dream was a complete joy. I have to start this out by saying that. As a musician myself, Ryan and Eric epitomize the namesake of musician in the truest sense of the term. They are not out to impress anyone, they are out to connect. They don’t label their music for anyone, they leave their music up for your interpretation. As far as music itself goes, this is how classics are made. And today we talk to both of the main components that is A Shoreline Dream, and in turn, get a glimpse into the minds behind the music. Enjoy!
Check out our review of their latest single ‘Room For The Others’, which was released July 14th, 2017. Buy links below.
About A Shoreline Dream
‘Room For The Others’is the fourth single from their ever-evolving new album, which is being released digitally one track at a time, before the full vinyl-only album is finally ready. After fine tuning the song over the winter months, it has become a favorite for the duo to play, partially due to the resonance of the song’s message.The song deals with the struggle to come to terms with, and attempting to overcome, the biggest fear in life…change. With the recent loss of close family and friends, A Shoreline Dream frontman Ryan Policky has instead taken those potential negatives and turned them into a message of personal reflection.
“Given the nature of all the amazingly overwhelming things going on these days politically, socially, etc., this track became a personal reflection on it all. Both the good and the bad. The love and the sadness,” says Ryan Policky. “I found myself feeling emotions from all sides of the spectrum, and room for the others is just that… a spectrum of emotions. This song goes out to those who may have ever felt just a little bit of place… who just wanted to stand in line with the rest.”
While the original wave of shoegazers chose textures and otherworldliness over conventional clarity and 90’s post-rockers opted for progressive and fluid structures rather than traditional form, A Shoreline Dream are the keepers of both of those flames. Delivering a heady cocktail of dream-pop, shoegaze, neo-psychedelia, goth and progressive rock, the new single also brings a gothic undertone set against a pulsing, energetic rhythm and is, on the whole, more in keeping with northern European atmosphere than the warm sidewalks of Denver’s suburbs.
A Shoreline Dream, comprised of Ryan Policky and Erik Jeffries, originate from Barnum, Colorado. Their music is often referred to as “progressive shoegaze,” indicating their blending of lush sampled textures, organic instrumentation and vocals layered like a synth. But it is the studio’s final treatment of the song that is the real joy, affecting a cavernous production style, and haunting and ethereal resonance in keeping with the semi-lucid and sonorous nature of this music.
While A Shoreline Dream have not re-invented this particular musical wheel, they have certainly re-treaded it, painted it interesting colors, and added some shimmering gloss before taking it out for a spin, ultimately leaving multi-colored vapor trails throughout the neighborhood.
Over the past 10 years, A Shoreline Dream has churned out numerous acclaimed releases under their own label (Latenight Weeknight Records), working with legends such as Ulrich Schnauss, Mark Kramer and The Engineers (for whom they remixed a song for progressive label gods K-Scope). They also opened for Chapterhouse for their final appearance.
“Room for the Others” by A Shoreline Dream is available through iTunes and can be ordered via Bandcamp.
Featured image credit Ryan Policky.
LINKS:
http://www.ashorelinedream.com
http://www.facebook.com/A-Shoreline-Dream-173485236012279
http://ashorelinedream.bandcamp.com/
http://twitter.com/ashorelinedream
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3hfpwdCJzLO3epBifJcBSA -
Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie for 2/18/2019
Exclusive interviews with Michael Ciravolo from Beauty in Chaos, Marty Willson-Piper from Noctorum, Scottish band The Rah’s. Exclusive premieres from Desert Ships, Crooked Ghost, Parabola West, Jamel Thomas, The Mootekkis, and Foxfeather.