THE WEEK IN #INDIE Archives | Page 7 of 14

Bentley Jones Premieres 'I Want to be Your Girl' Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)

Bentley Jones Premieres ‘I Could Be Your Girl’ Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)

Bentley Jones has just dropped his new video titled ‘I Could Be Your Girl’. Bentley is one of those artists that, when he releases something, I quietly think to myself ‘About time…’. I say this because he is a constantly and truly evolving artist. Each release is somewhat of a reinvention of both the artist and the music. This is just as true with ‘I Could Be Your Girl’.

The video is at times hypnotic and captivating yet gives that sense of solace and yearning. A dark longing for love and romantic closeness in a time of social distancing lending to that certain something we all feel at times, especially these times, in that we all need someone. I hear the words ‘Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’ when I first watched this video and now those words have a meaning to me. This is a message to the world that beauty is more than sexual and sultry; it’s something we all have, and by knowing that you can get the deeper meaning of the music.

to me, Bentley is an artist who deserves everything he’s worked for and worked very hard for. Now entering his tenth year as an artist, he is just as fresh and new as ever and it shows.

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ABOUT BENTLEY JONES

Bentley is continuing his reign as an independent pop pioneer by wrapping up his 10th anniversary before launching a brand new 2020 album. He has single-handedly amassed over 40 million sales and gathered remix credits for the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears, Kygo & Whitney Houston, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga (who also follows him on Twitter).

If that wasn’t enough, he’s contributed scores to some of the world’s best-known franchises like “The X-Files”, “Tekken”, “Sonic the Hedgehog”, “Gradius”, “Titan Wars” and “QQ Dance”. With a taste of international success as a producer Ben looked further afield to make his debut as a recording artist before planting his roots – unintentionally – as far away from home as possible.

After taking a risk signing the first-ever British artist to release a Japanese album on a major label, EMI-Universal tested audiences with the debut single “Sunaoninaretara FINAL NIGHT”. Without any promotion or radio play, Bentley sold over 30,000 copies placing the song in the top 5 of Japan’s International Chart and cemented his stature as an international breakthrough artist.

Bentley continued his success in Japan with various projects including the 2012 album “UPGRADE 1.0” which saw him collaborate and perform with native artists for the first time including May J. She was enamored by Ben’s sound and called on him to write and produce for her next album. Ben’s work also caught the attention of May J.’s record label AVEX who signed him to their management arm as he became the first-ever foreign writer and first-ever foreign producer to join Japan’s biggest music company. Ironic that it was also the same management label of Ayumi Hamasaki who offered her personal approval of Bentley’s debut at the start of his Japanese career.

His first independent English EP “So Much More…” including the title track which was featured in the number 1 selling video-game “SEGA All-stars Racing”. It also featured 1 of 3 songs that received a staggering 1.1million streams in just 5 days after a promotion with the US social network Gaia Online. The sequel album “TRANS//LATION 2” made Bentley the 19th most viewed musician on YouTube the week of its release and his adaptation of the theme from “Devil May Cry 4” has accumulated 1.7 million streams.

Realizing he could continue his success as a fully independent artist, Bentley unleashed 2015’s “The Rebellion” to critical acclaim; “Articulate, brilliant and haunting.” (BuzzJack) “The must-listen-to album of 2015.” (Muzikman) “Let this album be an inspiration to us all.” (J-Wave’s 25 Best Indie Albums of 2015). 2017’s “Unravelling” was also a smash with critics being described as “powerful and meaningful… Bentley has bounced back better than ever!” (Essentially Pop) and became his highest-earning independent album at the time with over 310,000 sales.

Bentley’s 10th anniversary has been the colossal celebration we’ve come to expect from such a reputable artist. Proceedings kicked off at the end of 2018 with a live performance on Japan’s prestigious music show “Nodojiman THE WORLD!” (12.1 million viewers) which coincided with the release of his Japanese single “Lay Down on My Heart”. The song was premiered in the UK by BBC Radio and was the first-ever J-pop song broadcast by BBC Introducing leading to Bentley being awarded the “Sound of 2019” (BBC).

His 10th-anniversary album “Translated” – a celebration of his Japan debut – gained 270,000 sales during its summer release resulting in his decision to reside in Japan where he headlined at the Tokyo Summer Bon Festival. He’s even found time to compose music for the upcoming “Titan Wars” video-game, the theme song for From Aqua Mineral Water commercial, the main theme of the AVEX Influencer Academy as well as continue working with Asian artists such as Carrie Lai and DJ KOO (TRF).

ABOUT ‘I COULD BE YOUR GIRL’

His bold new image – an enticing amalgamation of muscles, stilettos, lace, and skin that celebrates his fluidity, sexuality, and defiance – is a telling statement of the difficult journey he’s been on to get here. Following acclaim from Billboard Japan (“a must-listen-to artist”), BBC Radio (“incredible”, Sound of 2019) and Miami Beach Pride (“an LGBTQ+ icon”), independent pop juggernaut Bentley Jones is finally delighting fans with lead single “I Could Be Your Girl” (out now) – a delicious slice of sultry, sexy pop R&B that (according to Jones) “was composed almost entirely in a dream.”

Bentley has enjoyed a considerable amount of success in Japan, which is why last year he turned his entire life upside down and moved to Tokyo. At first, he flourished; performing on the prestigious TV show “Nodojiman THE WORLD!” to 12.1 million viewers and headlining the Tokyo Bon Summer Festival.

However, the company promising to sponsor his visa – as well as provide promotion and touring for a new album – suddenly about-turned and began pulling their support from a contract they had been negotiating for months. As Bentley explains in a video blog, the company said he was “too controversial” and became “worried about what people will think”.

Ben made the heart-breaking decision to walk away from the contract and return home to the UK.

“After working so hard and risking everything, it was soul-destroying,” Ben expresses. “But this album and these songs are fundamental to who I am and what I stand for. It feels amazing to finally start releasing them exactly the way I intended.”

Last month Ben helped raise over $14,000 for community aid performing at Pride Collective – a virtual festival formed by the several US Prides. Miami Beach Pride was so impressed they selected Bentley to represent them at Global Pride on June 27th where he will make the first-ever live performance of “Girl” alongside such legends as Adam Lambert, Kesha, Todrick Hall and more.

“I Could Be Your Girl” is out everywhere now, with the music video following on June 19th.

LINKS:
http://www.bentleyjones.com
http://www.facebook.com/BentleyJonesMusic
http://twitter.com/Bentley_Jones
http://www.youtube.com/BentleyJonesMusic
http://www.soundcloud.com/BentleyJones

Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie for 6/22/2020

In this episode of ‘The Week in #Indie’ we have video premieres from Bentley Jones and Ask Carol as well as single and album premieres from Bailey Coats, Dives, Lakes, Shawn O’Donnell, The Asteroid No.4, Mile Me Deaf, and The KillerHertz.

About Bentley Jones

To me, Bentley is an artist who deserves everything he’s worked for and worked very hard for. Now entering his tenth year as an artist, he is just as fresh and new as ever and it shows.

LINKS:
http://www.bentleyjones.com
http://www.facebook.com/BentleyJonesMusic
http://twitter.com/Bentley_Jones
http://www.youtube.com/BentleyJonesMusic
http://www.soundcloud.com/BentleyJones

About Ask Carol

Ask Carol have released their new video for the track titled ‘Run With You’. And, with this being their first actual music video, there is no better way to make their visual debut than with the eye candy set forth with ‘Run With You’. Constructed not only as a visual accompaniment to the song but as an artistic statement in of itself, the video gives visual punctuation to the percussiveness of the song while highlighting the hook and becoming almost a canvas for the song to paint on instead of the music becomes a soundtrack. This is essential because, as someone who reviews music every day, is exactly what a music video should be; an introduction to the music.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/askcarol
https://www.askcarolmusic.com

About Bailey Coats

Beginning as a vocal exercise, Baily starts the song off with a subtle bang of reminiscing of life and love with that message of no other way, sent to us just in time as a pick me up and mental reassurance that is well needed and deserved with the state of things being the way they are.

Featuring a unique duet between the percussive yet melodic vocals versus the staccato beat and lush piano-driven music, ‘No Way Out’ showcases a solid artist at the introduction of her career.

LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/baileycoatsofficial
https://www.facebook.com/BaileyCoatsMusic
https://twitter.com/bailey_coats

About Dives

DIVES is set to release their new single titled ‘100 Times’ on June 17, 2020. We get an advanced listen, however, of the suave new track in all of its glory and shimmering originality. The track is a showcase of sorts and a perfect introduction track to what DIVES’ sound is and creativity can bring. The song is a strong blend of solid chord progressions and harmonies that soar and dive in unison causing that inevitable hit of the repeat button.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/DIVESvienna
https://divesmusic.com
https://www.instagram.com/divesvienna
https://dives-vienna.bandcamp.com

About Lakes

Lakes drop their new single titled ‘Kids’ featuring Dan Lambton, formerly of Real Friends. Besides being a modern-day guitar juggernaut, ‘Kids’ has that carefree summer feeling that’s awash with the hook and swimming in that aural splendor that gives you a smile as you search for the repeat button because of that magical section you heard that captivated your ears. I love the subtle instrumentation, especially the horn (listen for it), along with the solid rhythm that gives everything that special and precise pronouncement that exclaims ‘I’m here’.

LINKS:
https://www.ourbandlakes.com
https://www.facebook.com/ourbandlakes
https://twitter.com/ourbandlakes
https://www.instagram.com/ourbandlakes
https://ourbandlakes.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5TizUcJWoPu6QwTZnlsqVA

About Shawn O’Donnell

Shawn O’Donnell premieres his new single titled ‘Quicksand’ right here on Jammerzine. The first thing you capture at that first listen to the song is Shawn’s nearly perfect and natural voice. And what’s more, is that Shawn has that songwriter’s mentality that knows exactly what not only compliments his voice musically but what music can surround that vocal prowess to become an all-encompassing self-made style that lets the listener in and welcomes them to the next experience of their life.

‘Quicksand’ is a song that is all too aware of itself and, while having that introverted quality found in the best music and art, lets the listener in just enough to share that experience in a way that they feel like a part of the music and, in turn, the music becomes a part of their heart.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/shawnodonnellmusic
https://www.instagram.com/shawnomusic

About The Asteroid No.4

The Asteroid No.4 are set to drop their new single titled ‘The After Glow’ tomorrow. In addition to that, however, we get the title track of the upcoming album ‘Northern Songs’ coming out later this summer. And within those two open windows of expression, we get a magnitude of sound both in scope and in vision. Both lush with thick and ‘wall-of-sound’ style guitars from shimmering to that beautiful 12-string and everything in between, The Asteroid No.4 creates a stage for the music and a theater for the mind with what I believe will be an imaginative album.

As of June 19, ‘The After Glow’ is available digitally online, including via Bandcamp and Spotify. The full album ‘Northern Songs’ will be released later this summer.

LINKS:
https://theasteroidno4.com
https://www.facebook.com/theasteroidno4
https://theasteroidno4.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/theasteroidno4
https://twitter.com/theasteroid4
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Sz2gqTwJDGHcFFb0WiDVb?si=rSwNKPMATRefrpbu80AmDg
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-asteroid-no-4/1391476929

About Mile Me Deaf

Mile Me Deaf has released their new album titled ‘Ecco’ via Siluh Records. Featuring a much more synthesized and refined sound, Wolfgang Möstl, the mind behind the music, give that signature sound a kick with a solid set of hooks within the electronic realm and sends out a solid set of tracks each with their own purpose with the love of an artist and the care of a producer.

LINKS:
http://www.milemedeaf.com
https://www.facebook.com/milemedeaf
https://twitter.com/milemedeaf
https://milemedeaf.bandcamp.com

About The KillerHertz

The Killerhertz has officially dropped their new EP called ‘Innocent Sinners’. Packed with that ‘purrfect’ smooth and thick set of guitar tones most guitarists spend their whole lives seeking, and combine that with valid and thought out songwriting and hook mentoring, and you have The Killerhertz.

Every song is laid out like a well-planned attack. And each band member is solidly in step with each other as the songs vary from moods and manners yet remain true to the original vision capped off with the well-fitting vocals of Thomas Trold.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thekillerhertzband
https://www.facebook.com/NoiseGateRecordsDK

I Like Trains Premiere ‘The Truth’ Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)

I Like Trains drops their new video for the track titled ‘The Truth’. Almost in a style set in its own noir, I Like Trains begs the question ‘Is that the best you can do?’. Set in these unique and trying times, I like Trains gives that tell-all to the truth with a hard-hitting ode to social questioning in a time of social distancing. And it works.

While the single is available across digital platforms now, the full ‘KOMPROMAT’ album will be released on August 21 on black vinyl LP, limited edition silver vinyl LP and CD, as well as digitally.

ABOUT I LIKE TRAINS & ‘THE TRUTH’

Leeds-based trailblazers, I LIKE TRAINS present ‘The Truth’, an eye-opening lead track that forebodes their potent, hard-hitting new album ‘KOMPROMAT’, written as an instinctive gut reaction to a world that has changed beyond all recognition. This is a record that digs beneath populism’s rise, from the divide and conquers tactics that caused Brexit in the UK, to Trump’s ascent in America and the subsequent reign of lies and misinformation, to discover the grubby hands that have engineered it all.

The British quintet will release their fourth studio album via Schubert Music’s newly founded Atlantic Curve label in late summer. This is the band’s first record since 2012’s ‘The Shallows’, which focused on how the internet and smart technology is re-wiring the human mind and affecting our concentration spans. Now, with ‘KOMPROMAT’, it’s clear that this same technology, in the wrong hands, has taken an even more sinister turn. The game has changed – and I LIKE TRAINS have changed with it.

The accompanying deep-fake karaoke video was directed by the previous co-conspirator Michael Connolly, a Leeds born artist and designer. “The track is relentless and I wanted the film to feel the same. Claustrophobia and confusion were my watchwords. I combined deep-fakes, distorted visuals, and digital cut-up techniques to create an intense level of disorientation. It sums up the last four years in geopolitics for me,” says Connolly.

‘The Truth’ was the last track to come together during the group’s recording sessions – a summation of the way in which facts are bent and, in many cases, utterly dismantled. Over a burring build of disco-inflected post-punk that recalls LCD Soundsystem and early DFA Records, “The truth is no longer concerned with the facts”.

“I’d been writing this list on my phone for a couple of months, adding a couple of lines
to it every so often. I’d read a news article or a tweet and I’d make reference to it. I decided to dig out this list in the last couple of days in the studio [for this track]. It’s pretty much the order I wrote it in – it came together on the fifth take and it was a pretty cathartic process,” says the group’s vocalist and lyricist David Martin.

Formed in 2004, I LIKE TRAINS is made up of David Martin (vocals/guitar), Alistair Bowis (bass), Guy Bannister (guitar/synths), Simon Fogal (drums) and Ian Jarrold (guitar). They have never shied away from confronting the possibility of humanity’s collapse. Earlier records, like the towering Godspeed-influenced ‘Progress Reform’ (2006) and ‘Elegies to Lessons Learnt’ (2007) took tales of tragic characters and events from history and applied them to the modern-day, while ‘He Who Saw The Deep’ (2010) looked uneasily ahead to the climate change battle we are on the verge of losing.

While ‘KOMPROMAT’ sounds like none of those records, it contains DNA from all of them. I LIKE TRAINS has essentially gone back to go forwards in some ways, returning to some of the primary influences that inspired the band’s formation: Joy Division, The Birthday Party, Gang of Four, Television and The Velvet Underground.

“An I LIKE TRAINS record doesn’t really start to take shape until there’s a theme. That point came following Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks in 2013,” says David Martin.

“We didn’t set out to write a record about current affairs, but the path we set out on converged drastically with that daily discourse. The album inadvertently became about populist politics across the world. Brexit, Trump, Cambridge Analytics and covert Russian influence ended up at the centre of it all”.

At the time, Martin started writing about low-key, insidious intrusions on our privacy. As global events unfolded, however, so did the importance of those themes: the perception of what is true and what isn’t truly being challenged on a daily basis and how that confusion could be used to manipulate populations into thinking and voting in certain ways.

Several years ago, British filmmakers Ben Lankester and Matt Hopkins released the feature documentary ‘A Divorce Before Marriage’, which follows the band members over three years, capturing their struggles first-hand. Then, as now, one thing is for sure – while I LIKE TRAINS often look back and also to the future, ‘The Truth’ speaks very much of the here and now.

LINKS:
https://iliketrains.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/iLiKETRAiNSmusic
https://twitter.com/iLiKETRAiNS
https://www.instagram.com/iLiKETRAiNSmusic
https://soundcloud.com/iliketrains
https://music.iliketrains.co.uk
https://www.youtube.com/user/iLiKETRAiNSofficial

Tarah Who? Release ‘Pantomath’ Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)

Tarah Who? officially drop their new video titled ‘Pantomath’. One thing I absolutely love about Tarah Who? is the fact that they clearly evolve from one release to the next. Not just with music but stylistically and visually as well. ‘Pantomath’, as a video, has an almost Tarantino approach to it. But, more-so than that, there is this symbiosis between the song and the video that captures that essence that is not only Tarah Who? but independent music itself, or at least where #indie music should be. And that is a beautiful place to be.

Check out our other features with Tarah Who? HERE.

ABOUT TARAH WHO? & ‘PANTOMATH’

Tarah Who?, the in-your-face, high energy L.A. duo, are back with a killer new video May 29, 2020, for their explosive and rousing song “Pantomath”.

Tarah Who? is Tarah G. Carpenter (vocals/guitar) and Corale Hervé (drums/backing vocals). These ladies are not afraid to stand up and say what they mean, especially to those who think they have all of the answers.

Carpenter says, “Pantomath” is a Punk Rock song. I wrote this song after a conversation I was having with another musician who had the constant speech of a “know it all”. He was criticizing every musician and their decisions and I was telling him in short that, “thankfully we do not all want the same kind of success.” She continued, “then later in the conversation, now talking about success, I was telling him, ” there is no one formula to success, otherwise it would be known and there would be no point in having a story and standing out.”

“Pantomath” was shot in the high desert of the Antelope Valley, CA. and produced by Nupur Mehrotra (@nupsmehra) and Apoorv Arora (@apoorvarora_10). It was directed by Ellinor Skeppström (@ellinorskeppstrom).

LINKS:
http://www.tarahwho.com
https://www.facebook.com/Tarahwho
https://twitter.com/TarahWho
https://www.instagram.com/tarahwho

Deleo Releases ‘Mythomania’ (The Week in #Indie Segment)

Deleo drops their new single titled ‘Mythomania’ on June 19, 2020. By the first listen it is apparent that Deleo has that certain something where they can show that they’ve not only found their sound; they’ve crafted it. And crafted it in such a way that they are recognizable within those first few precious notes; within the timespan, it takes to grab the attention of even the most casual of listeners.

‘Mythomania’ has that beautiful hook that forces one to hit the quick rewind a few times just to recapture that initial ‘aha’ moment. There is nothing more perfect than to be introduced to a band or artist with such a track.

Check out our other features of Deleo HERE.

ABOUT DELEO & ‘MYTHOMANIA’

After the tantalizing foretaste of the toxic ballad ‘Unfair’, Deleo continues to distill the fruits of its 4-track EP with a new teaser in anticipation of the EP’s release. This time, with ‘Mythomania’, the Montpellier-based group reveals a more prickly and Rock side to its sweet poison.

The track begins innocently enough: a simple Folk guitar rends the air – I wouldn’t say ‘vulnerable’ since it’s a bit fast, a bit tense, but subtly – and then a few seconds later, a futurist city suddenly appears and you’re like rats. Watch out if you’re in the front row seats! Rats, but as lovely as the sounds of the dolphins in The Big Blue soundtrack by Eric Serra. Dolphins, but like androids that dream of electric sheep. Industrial dreams, tubular bells, and layering inspired by Archive’s Londinium, the dystopia of Blade Runner and The Fifth Element are all there. When it reaches the bridge, it all suddenly stops in the space of an instant: hypnotic, something expands naggingly and creepily like Radiohead’s ‘Dollars and Cents’. An impression of overlooking the underworld of Gotham or Dark City. With Emy Eris, the fire dragon and Daenerys, who spreads her wings with the passion of youth.

Yes, this new song by Deleo is a veritable short film. A tricky single – but what an experience and what a cliffhanger at the end! Once again, the maestro of British producers James Sanger (Suede, Dido, Keane, The Cure, Manic Street Preachers, etc.) had a lot to do with it.

With this second single, Deleo shows its Rock influences. It makes defining their music elusive while it is still firmly Pop. The reason for this? The band doesn’t know either! Far from being binary, they have multiple facets that sparkle like a gem. Corporeal yet radiant.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/deleoofficiel
https://www.instagram.com/deleo_officiel
https://twitter.com/Deleo_Officiel

Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie for 6/8/2020

Deleo premieres their new single ‘Mythomania’ plus album, and video premieres by Speed of Sound, The Swagger, Vision Video, Darwin, Harry Stafford, I Like Trains, Tarah Who?, and Shishi.

About Deleo

Deleo is set to drop their new single titled ‘Mythomania’ on June 19, 2020. By the first listen it is apparent that Deleo has that certain something where they can show that they’ve not only found their sound; they’ve crafted it. And crafted it in such a way that they are recognizable within those first few precious notes; within the timespan, it takes to grab the attention of even the most casual of listeners.

Check out our other features of Deleo HERE.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/deleoofficiel
https://www.instagram.com/deleo_officiel
https://twitter.com/Deleo_Officiel

About Speed of Sound

Speed of Sound will drop their new single titled ‘Glide On By’ on June 26th. Ahead of that date, we have a sneak-peek of things to come; and those things are original. The style and sound are quirky and original in that way that is Speed Of Sound, yet there is something more here. There is that feeling of coasting and freefall within the music trapped inside the lyrics. This is that new inner dystopia found in us all.

LINKS:
https://thespeedofsounduk.com
https://thespeedofsound.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/TheSpeedOfSoundUK
https://twitter.com/SpeedOfSoundUK
https://www.instagram.com/thespeedofsounduk
https://www.youtube.com/user/660mph

About the Swagger

The Swagger dropped their new single titled ‘Loaded Gun’ on May 25th, 2020. The band continues that magic momentum began years ago with a progression of the originality within the sound and the heaviness of the riff and rapture within the track. Combining what has inspired with what is contrived, The Swagger gives that hope within the hook that gives us that light at the end of the tunnel with a stadium worthy foot-stomper that is steady in the beat and gritty to the core with an inspirational interlude fit for the times.

Check out our other articles about The Swagger HERE.

LINKS:
https://theswagger.bandcamp.com
https://facebook.com/theswaggerofficial
https://facebook.com/groups/theswaggermusic
https://twitter.com/theswaggermusic
https://instagram.com/theswaggermusic
https://musicglue.com/theswaggermusic

About Vision Video

Vision Video officially releases their double-single titled ‘In My Side’ & ‘Inked in Red’. If you like the age of Joy Division/New Order, The Smiths, Bauhaus, and that era in general, then you are going to look at Vision Video as a breath of fresh air from the lungs of that genre.

‘In My Side’ gives that classic-style bassline underneath the glistening chime of the guitars with that disclaiming and bellowing style of vocals that needs to come back in earnest.

‘Inked in Red’ gives a different take, or side of the same coin, in that the stylistic percussion in concert with the synth and guitars is blistering in appeal and captivating in attention. These two tracks combined give bookends to that certain feeling you get when you hear the classic bands you love. Savor that.

‘In My Side / Inked In Red’ is out now across digital platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. Their debut album is expected later this year.

About Darwin

Darwin has released their video for the track titled ‘Dance Alone’. With a suave execution and a smooth demeanor, Darwin adds a dark cool to the dance floor with introversion seen only in an earnest and true #indie artistry. Capturing that moment when originality meets the silent masses wanting more yet expecting less this is a solid surprise for all.

As of June 1, ‘Dance Alone’ is available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. The video for ‘Dance Alone’ premiered on May 31.

LINKS:
http://www.darwinmeiners.com
https://darwinmeiners.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/darwinmeinersmusic
https://twitter.com/darwinmeiners
https://soundcloud.com/darwin-meiners
https://instagram.com/darwinmeiners
https://open.spotify.com/album/22T8ChhXtv1MXVoLV8dtdR
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/darwin/1423812480

About Harry Stafford

Harry Stafford has officially dropped his new video for the track titled ‘Gothic Urban Blues’. With a cheeky demeanor and a penchant for originality, Harry gives a single and video rife with personality and charm with that jazzy bravado and grit between the seams brimming with hooks and retro with style. Let this song sink in with a nice brandy.

The ‘Gothic Urban Blues’ single is out on May 15. The full album is available everywhere, including iTunes and Spotify, and can be ordered on vinyl and CD via Bandcamp.

Check out our other articles featuring Harry Stafford HERE.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Harry-Stafford-Gothic-Urban-Blues-109044650629860/
https://harrystafford.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/harrystaffordmusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoQwIg9zEAmDoNuThXul2Uw/videos
https://vimeo.com/user53168912
http://twitter.com/harrystaf62
https://www.instagram.com/stafford2838/

About I Like Trains

About Tarah Who?

Check out our other features with Tarah Who? HERE.

LINKS:
http://www.tarahwho.com
https://www.facebook.com/Tarahwho
https://twitter.com/TarahWho
https://www.instagram.com/tarahwho

An Interview with The Mystery Plan (The Week in #Indie Segment)

Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with Jason Herring of The Mystery Plan. They say that originality comes in many forms and has many influences. That is no more evident than in The Mystery Plan’s new album titled Zsa Zsa (review HERE). And today we get to talk with Jason about that new and varied album as well as the beginnings of The Mystery Plan and how that magnificent sound came to be. We also get a glimpse of the gear behind the sound and how The Mystery Plan is making plans in this current global situation and where those plans will take them. This is a wonderful conversation disguised as an interview. Enjoy!

Check out our other features featuring The Mystery Plan HERE.

Check out the full episode of The Week in #Indie HERE.

ABOUT THE MYSTERY PLAN

Produced by the legendary John Fryer and Jason Herring, this record also features such notable guests as Micah Gaugh (The Veldt / Apollo Heights), Ian Masters, That Guy Smitty, and Snap Nation. This is not the first time The Mystery Plan has worked with Fryer, having previously collaborated on their fourth full-length release ‘Queensland Ballroom’, released in late 2017, and the ‘Electric Love’ single.

Based in Charlotte, NC, the band is comprised of Jason Herring, Amy Herring, Jeff Chester, Otis Hughes, and Patty McLaughlin. Since forming in 2010, they’ve managed to release 10 EPs and LPs combined.

“JC Quinn was an actor from NYC with many films and television credits, including “Barfly”, “the Abyss”, “Visionquest” and countless others. He moved to Charlotte in the late 1990s to be closer to his grandchildren. We met at a downtown watering hole called Cafe 521, owned and operated by his good friend from New York, Peter Herrero. That’s where I met JC, along with many other actors, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Bernadette Peters, etc.. They would always stop at the café when in town to visit their good friend Peter,” says Jason Herring.

“JC and I struck up a nice friendship. He was a fan of ours and would come to shows and stand right up front so we could see him. A very lovely man indeed. Sadly, JC died in Mexico while shooting a film a few years ago. I’ve always wanted to pay tribute to him, and we have finally done so with this song. The lyrics are a blend of what we would do with him now if he were still here, and iconic lines from some of his films.”

‘Zsa Zsa’ was recorded at Catalyst Recording and various local studios over a 2+ year stretch following a number of Southeast U.S. tours in promotion of the band’s ‘Queensland Ballroom’ album. This new record touches of several different styles – everything from deep mellow shoegaze and folky ambient to upbeat danceable trip-hop and electronica.

‘Zsa Zsa’ finds the quintet moving further afield of its earlier psych-folk leaning to land on something more akin to the down-tempo approach of Portishead and Zero 7, mixed with early 4AD action. That later is in no small part due to the return of band collaborator, producer John Fryer (too many A-list credits to list here), and new Mystery Plan friend Ian Masters, former bassist-vocalist of influential British shoegazers Pale Saints.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Mystery-Plan-1498248636862179
https://www.facebook.com/10mmomega
https://soundcloud.com/10mmomegarecordings
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5SN1Udgyeoxvu7nEiJosx1
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoUq0Xz_tBvIeOPc6oL59HA/videos
https://www.reverbnation.com/jasonherringthemysteryplan

BOAT Premieres ‘Loneliness Kills’ Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)

BOAT drops their new video for the track titled ‘Loneliness Kills’. Besides being the perfect track for the hiatus breaching band’s comeback, the song is just plain simply catchy as hell. Not having missed a step in the evolution of the music, BOAT keeps a timely pattern and relevance with a wonderfully quirky video filled with personality and that smile making certain something that makes us bright on the inside. Especially in times like these.

Check out the full episode of The Week in #Indie HERE.

ABOUT BOAT

Such fitting words for perilous times, but those words help launch Tacoma / Seattle indie rock legends BOAT’s fantastic comeback record, Tread Lightly. Returning after a seven-year on hiatus, Tread Lightly was released May 1st via Magic Marker Records.

But don’t call it a comeback, as they never really broke up. They just spent some time focusing on other things. According to frontman David Crane, the band’s friendship has always been the greatest component of its existence, so even though they weren’t making music, the crew of BOAT sailed on.

“We all have busy lives, but just generally enjoy hanging out with one another and eating pizza and playing songs,” Crane says. “I focused on Unlikely Friends, J. Long focused on his work at KEXP and recording bands, J. Goodman focused on his other band Brackets, and M. McKenzie continued to be mysterious. Things really picked up when J. Long and I started sending each other demos. He creates crazy drum loops, and I make a song around them, and send them back. He adds extra melodies on keyboards and vocals, and chops them up and sends them back to me for more layers. “

Considering their close bond, it isn’t surprising that Tread Lightly doesn’t sound like a band coming back after nearly a decade. The album’s dozen crunchy but harmonically honey-coated songs swiftly and succinctly hit that Superchunk/Shins/Billy Joel/Ben Folds/Presidents Of The United States sweet spot you didn’t realize you’ve been missing.

And speaking of Presidents…if you listen closely, you’ll discover a President tucked away in “Zombie State Of Mind,” Mr. Chris Ballew in all his glory.

“He is awesome,” declares Crane. “He gave us a bunch of different ideas, and we just put them all together. Listening back to the Presidents of the USA albums, he does so many cool little vocal things that I didn’t even realize until after he contributed to our song. He’s just a true Seattle artist. Much respect for Ballew!”

Yet if you listen close enough, you’ll discover that the ominously titled Tread Lightly actually contains positive, uplifting, and empowering messages about life and getting older. Lead single “So Many Reasons Your Hair Turns Grey” will make you laugh, but when you think about the lyrics a little harder, you’ll completely appreciate it on a different level. The songs on Tread Lightly offer something more cerebral–healing vibes from someone who’s been through trauma and wants to help the world heal, yet leaves you thinking and finding comfort/wisdom in. Crane agrees. “I think more than almost any other album, this one captures what is going on in my mind. It was subconscious, but I think the record kind of plays like a diary to me. Maybe a 40-year-old’s diary?

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/BOAT-99933840627/
https://boat.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/sloppypopstagram
https://twitter.com/boat_music

Lazaris Pit Premieres ‘You Don’t Tag Me in Memes Anymore’ & ‘Cloudsculpting’ Singles (The Week in #Indie Segment)

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.

Watch the full episode of The Week in #Indie HERE.

ABOUT LAZARIS PIT

Raleigh-based rock outfit Lazaris Pit have announced they will release their new ‘Coniphers’ album. Ahead of that, they present the lead single ‘You Don’t Tag Me In Memes Anymore’, a modern-day break-up song, often detached from the moments that make life worth living and musing on the deeper workings of it all with the grim reality that someone important has moved on. They also present a video rendition of this single, live in Athens, Georgia.

The B-side ‘Cloudsculpting’ showcases another facet of this album, evoking the image of spending a dreamy tranquil day, gazing up at the clouds and imagining what it might be like to live peacefully high up in the fluff and blue sky.

Formed in June 2017, this self-named “pack of cosmic dogs” consists of Ely “Salted Sweet Cream” Yarbrough (guitar and lead vocals), Cameron “Sugarfoot” Preston (bass) and Jon “Dok Tok” Castro (drums and backing vocals).

‘Our album ‘Coniphers’ is named after a brother of ours lost along the way. Included are 8 tracks of the good stuff, heady grooves and sweet pop tunes, funk breakdowns to zero gravity ambiance…. 42 minutes of rock n roll,” says Cameron Preston.

“Lead track ‘You Don’t Tag Me In Memes Anymore’ is a microcosm of the album as a whole, embodying our familiar Lazaris Pit sound. Is ‘Memes’ a pop song with a punk twist or is it a shoegaze song with some pep in its step? We aren’t quite sure what to call it, but we know it has been lighting up faces whenever mentioned and burning down dance floors when played live,” says Ely Yarbrough.

‘Coniphers’ was recorded live in-studio from November 2019 to January 2020, showcasing a band playing like a pack of hungry dogs, sinking their teeth into a meaty T-bone for the first time in ages. Recorded and mixed by Artem Smirnov at Common Thread Studios in Raleigh with additional engineering and creative input from Michael Graziano and Matt Graham, this album was mastered by Alexander Kretov at Ummagma Studio.

Lazaris Pit freely improvises a dreamy blend of punk, funk, soul, psychedelia, reggae, jazz, noise, and ambiance into a one-of-a-kind dance party. The result: a mind-meld of musical tapestries that take the listener on an emotional journey through time and space, and ourselves in the process.

They’ve brought their unique brand of rock-n-roll far and wide, having played shows up and down the east coast and southeast from Philly to Atlanta and New York to New Orleans, their sound filling large festival fields, historic college campuses, and the most intimate of dive bars and clubs.

Noting music aesthetic and sound inspirations in the sense of a launchpad rather than as blueprints, Lazaris Pit’ counts Fugazi and Grateful Dead among their inspirations, as well as classic R&B, Phish, Curtis Mayfield, Cream, Pink Floyd, Ween, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Primus, Flaming Lips, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, and Yo La Tengo.

Featured image by Travis Merchant.

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

Indie Allstars Release Chasing Rainbows NHS Tribute Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)

The 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 on board.

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.

Every penny you donate will go to the NHS.

Also, download the original ‘Chasing Rainbows’ by Shed Seven to get it to #1!

Thanks to Creation, Dan Townley, Mark Askew, Toura Toura, High Violet PR, b_creative_prints, Plug and play promo, everyone who sent in videos and photos. Speedomick, Paul Chuckle, Hacker, and all the stars!

Watch the full episode of The Week in #Indie HERE.