Belying the grim name, Andy Craig formed The Gloomies in a sun-bleached surf town in Southern California. Taking cues from Southern California’s surf scene, The Gloomies are influenced by the sounds of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ariel Pink, and Lana Del Rey.
The Gloomies broke onto the music scene in 2015 with their single “LSD”. This strange paradox, mixing gritty realism and yearning optimism, is what caught listeners’ ears with the single “LSD”. The surfy track was only posted on Soundcloud for friends to hear, but ended up on countless music blogs and eventually landed them “Buzz Band of the Week” in NME.
After receiving praise from Noisey, DIY, KCRW, and many others over the last few years, combined with months of touring, The Gloomies released their “Blackout” EP in 2016. This was followed by the 2017 single “Space” in collaboration with Cults singer Madeline Follin. In 2018, they returned to New York to complete work on the debut LP “Romance”. They have spent the last year in New York recording new music, creating a hypnotic collection of songs that showcase their original vision.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thegloomies
https://twitter.com/thegloomies
https://www.instagram.com/thegloomies
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Otis Mensah – Sanctified
Otis Mensah is “a young story-teller-rapper-poet with a talent for drawing the poetic from the everyday happenings in his life.” The alternative hip-hop artist has risen from a new wave; age and era, embodying a contemporary, poetic take on hip-hop music. The music he creates sheds light on existential commonalities discovered through introspection with often off-kilter lyrics, accompanied by a sentimental vibe.
As an emerging artist, Otis has been independently releasing music, booking shows and has played around the UK & Europe including his debut performance at Glastonbury Music Festival on the BBC Introducing stage. Otis has also played as support for the likes of Killah Priest, Open Mike Eagle, Brother Ali, Lowkey, Milo, Arrested Development, The Sugarhill Gang, P.O.S, Abstract Orchestra, The Mouse Outfit, iTCH (The King Blues), and The Skints.
‘Sanctified is the stirring new release from experimental hip-hop prodigy Otis Mensah. It speaks of his restless striving to convey his truth through artistic self-expression, tempered by the burden of self-doubt and depression. Drawing deeply on the spiritual imagery of his youth, Mensah describes his obsessive yearning to realize his own potential, and face down his demons ‘in the lunar light dancing by the river.’ Produced by Elijah Bane, with music visuals from GRIT multimedia, Sanctified sees Mensah shift up another gear on his continual quest to connect with his audience through his vulnerable and honest form of experimental hip-hop’ Pink Wafer.
As an artist he perseveres in, connecting to an audience that relates to his writing and shares a mutual interest for thought-provoking lyricism and expressionism.
LINKS:
https://otismensah.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/otismensah
https://www.instagram.com/otismensah
https://soundcloud.com/otismensah/oh-jane-prod-the-intern
https://www.facebook.com/itsOtisMensah -
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 -
Doohickey Cubicle – Thinking
Doohickey Cubicle has released their new video for the single titled ‘Thinking’. Done in a sort of home movie style, the visual captures the audio with subtle beauty and highlights the music’s sublime creativity.
‘Thinking’ is a song that sneaks up on you with angelic vocals and a quiet majesty that is rare in music this young. Combine that with the unique instrument choices, such as the beautiful saxophone in the interlude, and you have a node to the postmodern with a look to the future. This is where music is going, or should be.
ABOUT DOOHICKEY CUBICLE
Doohickey Cubicle (formerly Booty EP) is a dream-inducing synth-pop duo that oozes creativity. Whether it’s their energetic and visually stunning live shows, their self-produced singles, or their wealth of DIY music videos, they’re always up to something, and it’s always interesting.
Since 2017, Doohickey Cubicle – made up of Alli Deleo on keys/vocals and Francis Hooper on guitar/synth – have been creating art in multiple mediums, and always from the ground up.
Beginning as a small project that mostly focused on self-recorded off-the-cuff late-night jams with humorous vocal improvisations, the group didn’t take themselves too seriously (hence the original, or current name). That being said, after a handful of shows, the duo began to realize that the audience felt differently, as they were visibly taken back not only by their ethereal musical presence but by their captivating projection visuals, which have since then become a staple for the band’s live show.
It wasn’t long after that they released their first EP What What and the Who Now? followed by the single Mascarpone in 2018, showing a new focus towards their work, and no lack of inspiration or momentum after being discovered as an up-and-coming power duo in Vancouver’s indie-pop scene.
Since then the group has played festivals like Reeperbahn (Hamburg), Linecheck Festival (Milan), POP Montreal (Montreal), Music Waste (Vancouver), Rifflandia (Victoria, BC), Fringe Festival (Vancouver), and Westward Festival (Vancouver). They’ve toured in Italy for the last two years in November, along with shows in Berlin and London, a Pacific Northwest tour, and shows in Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and NYC.
More recently, the duo released their new single Airbag with an accompanying music video on April 17th, which will be on their self-released debut LP Don’t Fix Anything 😉, due out in March 2021. Recorded between Montreal and their home studio The Juniper Room, and self-produced as always, Don’t Fix Anything 😉 is without a doubt their most ambitious musical venture to date, with countless collaborations with notable artists, multiple single releases, remixes, and numerous additions to their already towering arsenal of music videos.
Written by Kurtis Floyd of Sled Island.
Photo credit: Jordyn Taylor-Robins.
LINKS:
https://doohickeycubicle.com
https://www.facebook.com/Doohickeycubicle
https://doohickeycubicle.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cnv2wmWqSU2ode1U9p8BH