What happens when you mix over-the-top theatrics with hardcore? Certainly not something well-received in the militant Syracuse scene from whence horror-influenced screamo band One Last Shot hail. However, the perception of others is no longer a concern for this band who, after their singer Jeremy Romance’s brush with death in 2016, understand there is no time to waste trying to satisfy anyone’s vision for them but their own.
What exactly that vision entails comes from a lineage of hope inspired by artists like The Used and MCR, who are not only influential to OLS for their musical fearlessness and theatrics, but the hope and positivity they gave Romance as a young music fan.
“I want to do the same thing those bands did for me growing up,” he explains. “I want to be that escape and let kids know that dreams can come true.”
These days, One Last Shot have transcended the world where they never fit in, spitting in the faces of those who impede them and carving a path where they’re well on their way to carrying those heroes’ torches. They’ve even had the chance to complete the musical circle with some of them—Jeremy, having sung with the Used, and the band having been opened on Aiden’s 2015 farewell tour. They have also played alongside Creeper, Neck Deep, State Champs, and Beartooth among others, as well as made appearances on Warped Tour annually since 2014.
One Last Shot is:
Jeremy Romance – Vocals
Zak Phillips – Guitar
Angelo Zinkovitch – Guitar
Adam Vlassis – Bass
Ryan Sheldon – Drums
SOURCE: Official Bio
Featured image by Ron Bonk.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/onelastshot
https://twitter.com/onelastshot315
https://www.instagram.com/onelastshot315
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ShapeShiftingAliens – Showing My Face
ShapeShiftingAliens is a Swedish duo, consisting of Niklas Rundquist and J.P Cleve on vocals. Together they create music and unusual and eccentric videos. Their inventive approach appealed to Nolan Cook of The Residents, leading them to collaborate with one another on ‘Shadows’, the final track from their 2017 eponymous album.
Rundquist and Cleve met when they were both working with Iodine Jupiter. Cleve is a producer and composer, live musician and studio musician (guitar) for artists and film, as well as touring and performing. Inspired by various film music composers and especially horror films, their music has also been influenced by the likes of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Goldfrapp, Air, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, and Massive Attack.
In the early 80s, Rundquist participated on Lustans Lakejer‘s first record and performed with The Leather Nun. Since then he has been composing music for films, documentaries and commercials (i.e. the vignette for Sandrew Metronome) and has created music for Cirkus Cirkör, Iodine Jupiter, and various artists on the London scene. Today, Rundquist is once again part of The Leather Nun (on violin) and stands behind Brainshadow.
ShapeShiftingAliens signed to Swedish indie label The Sublunar Society in 2016. Since that time, they have released three singles – ‘Just a Boy’, ‘Stay’ and ‘Cut To The Bone’ – followed by their full-length ‘ShapeShiftingAliens’ LP.
The Sublunar Society is a record label and publishing company, founded by Marie Lundvall and Peder Bjoerk in 2013. Sublunar releases music and publishes literature for the international and national markets. The company also produces exclusive limited edition art products for collectors. The guiding spirit behind The Sublunar Society is one of artistic freedom and creative exploration beyond the conventional.
The ‘Showing My Face’ single is now available across online stores and streaming platforms, as well as through The Sublunar Society’s own Bandcamp.
LINKS:
http://www.sublunarsociety.net/artist/shapeshiftingaliens
http://www.facebook.com/shapeshiftingaliens
http://shapeshiftingaliens.sublunarsociety.net
http://twitter.com/shapeshal
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/shapeshiftingaliens/477620386
http://open.spotify.com/artist/32gDLBQt0KvaMsWTdXHgC8 -
KnightressM1 – Lock and Key
KnightressM1 has just released her new video for the track titled ‘Lock and Key’. the addition as a violin as a frontal instrument is captivating enough. If gives the song a whole new set of tonality and range that would not be there if a guitar or keyboard handled those melodic duties. however, that adds much flavor to an already flavorful track that the video really does a symphonic justice to.
But what KnightressM1 delivers is a complete and full track with a visual aid that adds a new and original cinematic flare that otherwise would not be there had this been another artist.
As of August 17, ‘Lock & Key’ will be available across digital outlets such as Apple Music and streaming platforms such as Spotify. The full ‘Dreams and Devastation’ LP is slated for release on September 25.
ABOUT KNIGHTRESSM1
KnightressM1 is a rock / metal power trio based in Oakland and the brainchild of violinist, vocalist, pianist and composer Emily Palen. Formed in 2011 with support from drummer Rob Ahlers (50FOOTWAVE, KrIstin Hersh), KnightressM1 was joined by bassist Uriah Duffy (Whitesnake) for the studio album.
Recorded at Foo Fighters’ acclaimed Studio 606 near L.A., this album was co-produced by Palen and esteemed producer John “Lou” Lousteau (Foo Fighters, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett). This 12-song collection is an ambitious concept album that explores both the emotional depths of personal transformation and the journey of cosmic awakening.
‘Lock & Key’ is inspired by the current planetary battle for human souls to break free from oppression waged down upon us by the hidden power structures. Ironically, this song became a personal anthem as Palen struggled to break free from domestic violence during the time of the album’s recording, ultimately illuminating that art/music is an unbreakable exit plan from the lethality of relational abuse.
“Recording gave me the courage to end a toxic relationship. It was like living in the sun, then going into the pits of hell. I trusted myself that I would get out of it, I just had to gather my resolve and courage. I always saw the truth of the situation but it was the being fully immersed with the recording of this album at 606 that helped me experience who I was, rather than how brutalized I felt in the relationship. I stepped towards the truth ultimately and broke out of that situation.
Music, art, expression, living in the depth of purpose, is a way to connect with the most powerful part of you. You will bring forth aspects of yourself that are strong enough to deal with one of the most difficult situations one can go through,” says Emily Palen.
KnightressM1’s sound is the sonic manifestation of Palen’s heart – relentless, always reaching for beauty and absolutely driven by intensity. Their music is fascinating in the integration of specific musical frequencies into her compositions. The further her journey with this band, the heavier and heavier the sound gets. The crushing intricate rhythm section blends harmoniously with her driving, searing electricified violin tone as the lead.
Fueled by a deep-seated necessity to defy limitation, they harness an intense internal life to fuel the trajectory of the band over the edge of the impossible. Their heavy driving bass and rhythm are rounded out with lots of harmonic layering and beauty.
KnightressM1 is the embodiment of musical manifestations, based on the thematic concept of a female galactic warrior, who comes to Earth to bring justice, hunt corruption and restore truth. Within universal language, M1 is code for unity. This is her identifier. Her frequency. KnightressM1 (KM1) is the vessel through which Palen creates and shares her unique contributions to what is more commonly known here on earth as the music industry.
“KM1 is me imagining my whole consciousness in a superhero avatar, a limitless being. A universal example of who we can all be, The power of harmony can break your heart wide open while the powerful rhythm and bass give you the strength to move through that opening. It’s heavily grounded while reaching very high. As with love and life, you must embrace all aspects of the spectrum to fully embody it,” explains Palen.
“You can’t change anything until you tell the truth about it. Once you expose the pain, the lies and the liar, then you have power. You can become free. You must first have the courage to face it.”
A violinist from the age of four (her mother was a professional cellist and violin/cello teacher), the classically-trained virtuoso has spent her life mastering violin, piano, singing and composition via rigorous training and practice. As a young adult, she began exploring the concept of transmitting consciousness through improvisation. Emily explored this power through sacred solfeggio in the steadfast belief that these specific audio tones have transformative power.
Since releasing her first solo violin improv album ‘Glass ~ Live at Grace Cathedral’ in 2012 and ‘Creation’ a year later, she’s become a sponsored artist with Engl Amps, a crucial part of KM1’s tone, and has played or recorded with Foo Fighters, Eric McFadden and Gretchen Menn, among others, both as a live performer and a compositional recording artist, Earlier, she became a finalist in the ‘My Grammy Moment’ competition and played live with orchestra at the Grammys, conducted by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
“This album has saved my life in many ways. Everything that I have ever been through, every love gained and lost, every heartbreak that slipped away without justice now makes sense in the context of this album. It was all so I could write these songs and experience their alchemizing power. Music has always lifted me into an untouchable space, even when everything around me is breaking, even when I am breaking beyond what I can bear, beyond what I myself can repair, the music heals it.
When I’m completely honest with the music, it alchemizes the deepest pain and unforgivable betrayal into an unbreakable strength and love. We become greater because of the life we have lived, not in spite of it,” says Emily Palen.
LINKS:
https://www.knightressm1.com
https://www.facebook.com/knightressm1
https://www.instagram.com/knightressm1_band
https://youtube.com/emilypalen
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rTKwDlXBNJnuOvmUhEQVy
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/knightressm1/id941125533 -
Swindy – Reflection
Tucson, AZ-based Electronic Pop Rock band Swindy has released the Official Music Video for the single “Reflection,” off of their debut, self-titled EP. “Reflection” was directed by Isabel Uzcategui at Originate Design Productions.
Swindy began life as the solo project of Randall Swindell (frontman for Ensphere) when presented with a sudden opportunity to play a show. He teamed up with drummer Mike Jenney (Alter der Ruine and Assemblage 23) and guitarist Jeff Sargent (vocalist for Industrial Band 51 PEG) for their debut in July 2016 in Tucson, AZ; Steven Escalante has since joined the band as the newest permanent and live drummer while Mike has moved over to synthesizer position. Classical vocalist Alyson Precie joined in September 2016. Conceived at the start as a fast-paced project designed for a flexible, modular live performance, a Swindy show can be executed with as few as one or as many as nine musicians.
Their sound has been described as “Electronic Pop Rock – with a twist of Industrial”, but the diverse musical backgrounds of the members combine to create a sound that’s not quite definable. Swindy has quickly gained momentum, releasing their first single “Reflection” (ft. John Russell) on November 17th, 2016, followed by their next single “Ignite My Love” on January 12th, 2017. The full 5 track self-titled EP, produced by Matt Good (From First to Last), was released on February 23rd. Not content with just the studio, Swindy has shared the bill with Orgy, Powerman 5000, Trapt, Otep, Dope, Combichrist, William Control, and many others. Swindy recently welcomed the addition of Jonathan Russell on guitar, replacing Jeff Sargent for the upcoming live performances. Swindy continues to book out 2017, and a full-length record is in motion for early 2018.
“During my time in 2012, I began to discover the strength found in pop music. I fell in love with the influences of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kesha and more. It was from there that my solo project, Swindy (a nickname given to me), began to take off. It has developed itself quickly into a style that brings a variety of music styles together and is supported by a complete band lineup.”
– Randall SwindellLINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Swindymusic
https://twitter.com/Swindy_Official
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQE5ZESBxfVEyGvLBLmptA
https://www.instagram.com/swindy_official