Category Archives: Awesome

May 17, 2017 · 11:11 am

Lineup Revealed for 2017 Thrival!

The Thrival Innovation + Music Festival has announced its music lineup, featuring a blend of 19 national and local artists. Headliners Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Carnage, GRiZ, and Two Door Cinema Club and over a dozen more acts will perform at the historic Carrie Furnaces on September 29-30.

Two-day general admission and VIP festival passes go on sale Friday, May 19 at 10:00 AM EST.

Capping an extensive 2017 festival touring season — including performances at Lollapalooza and Okeechobee Music Festival — multi-platinum selling and Grammy-nominated recording artist, Wiz Khalifa, will make his only appearance in Pittsburgh in 2017 as one of Thrival’s headliners.

Logic, the 27-year-old Maryland-based rapper, will also headline Thrival, building off of a packed 28-date U.S. summer tour. His critically acclaimed, “Everybody,” sold 247,000 equivalent album units last week, earning Logic his first #1 album. The album touches on an array of societal issues that affect us all on a daily basis.

Irish alt-indie darlings, Two Door Cinema Club, are also touring the U.S., having just announced dozens of new dates across the country.

Detroit electronic funk outfit, GRiZ, and Los Angeles-based Guatemalan American DJ, Carnage, will both headline their own stages.

SuperDuperKyle will make his first-ever Pittsburgh performance after the release of his Billboard Top 10 hit, “iSpy” (currently #8). Chart-topper and multi-platinum artist, Kiiara, veteran DJ, TokiMonsta, Sirius Alt Nation mainstays, Missio, and Grammy-nominated DJ, Steve James, are all first-time Thrival artists, joined by Harts, Echos, Circa Waves, Welshly Arms, Michigander, The Garment District, Byron Nash & Plan B, Rachel B., and JRod.

“We started this initiative five years ago. To watch its growth has been pretty remarkable,” says Bobby Zappala, founder of Thrival and CEO of Ascender. “Thrival 2017 is set up to be a special experience. We’re proud to have a Pittsburgh artist headline the bill for the first time in the festival’s history.”

“Thrival Music continues to grow, and this year’s lineup is the biggest and most prolific to date. We welcome an eclectic mix of multi-platinum and chart-topping artists who will compliment a host site that has the potential to be one of the best live music venues in the entire U.S.,” says Dan Law, Director of Thrival and VP of Business Development at Ascender, the nonprofit organization that presents and produces Thrival every year.

The festival kicks off with Thrival Innovation (featuring a new partnership with San Francisco-based event and media company, NewCo) on September 27-28, a conference focused on “Intelligence: Humans X Tech” — a theme that leverages Pittsburgh’s strengths in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

After Thrival Innovation, festival-goers will transition from Pittsburgh’s East End to the historic Carrie Furnaces in nearby Swissvale, Pennsylvania for a “one-of-a-kind Pittsburgh venue” that “features a stark contrast of new sound and rustic industrial setting” minutes away from Pittsburgh city limits.

For a unique local flair, Wiz Khalifa filmed the music video for his 2012 double platinum single, “Work Hard, Play Hard” at the Carrie Furnaces.

“With the right vision, leadership, and investment, the Carrie Furnaces are primed to be a premier destination for live music fans. By doing this together, we’re turning a mill back on. But instead of producing steel, we’re producing culture,” says Law. “A show at Carrie is unique. You can’t get it anywhere else.”

The festival is the flagship initiative of Ascender, a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving early-stage startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

To help manage this growth in 2017, Thrival has partnered with Live Nation Entertainment for venue operations, talent buying, and marketing efforts.

“Ascender’s partnership with Live Nation to deliver Thrival Music allows our core team to both invest more energy in scaling Thrival Innovation and more effectively engage our dynamic local audience, with Live Nation adding significantly to the festival’s expanding national reach. We’re very excited for the opportunities this presents,” says Zappala.

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May 15, 2017 · 10:36 am

Listen: Hounded – “On My Side”

Sydney producer HOUNDED is back on the grid with a sunshine-filled track called “On My Side” and it arrives just in time to defrost us from all those winter chills.

Right from the first chime you’ll be grooving and your shoulders will be bopping while the fluttery voice of Brisbane artist Savoi makes this track all the more uplifting, and all you wanna do is dance and smile.

“I had a difficult time finding vocals that matched the energy of the song. I was fortunate enough to be in the studio with Savoi late last year and his voice just seems to fit perfectly with the instrumental. I find that Savoi’s voice really compliments my style and gives it that extra sense of movement and energy” – HOUNDED

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May 10, 2017 · 4:02 pm

Check ‘Em Out: LuvAbstract – “Risk”

 

Photo: The Video Boy

Ohio native LuvAbstract has released a track that in one way or another speaks to all of us. We’ve all got that little voice in the back of our head saying ‘go for it!’ Well, in this case, it’s saying, “You’re only young once, so let’s take a chance.”

It’s easy to create music when you write about what you see or experience, and LuvAbstract has done just that by making a song that is ballsy, unapologetic and real.

“Risk” is about promiscuity and how readily available hot sex is. In a way, this track explores the ego within us all; a notion, which can often be mistaken for cockiness, but here, it’s all about swag.

“This song is about two strangers who meet at a bar just before going home together for a one night stand. The first verse is a conversation between the two strangers. The guy flirtatiously challenges the girl by telling her that he can go home with any girl he wants so, what makes her so special. The girl playfully replies by telling him that’s not really impressive because she can have any guy she wants so, what makes him so special. The verse is supposed to show that the two strangers have met their match for the night,”  he said.

LuvAbstract has worked closely with producer and good friend Jordan Roman over the last few years, and it’s clear that their musical-mojo makes for steamy productions to get you all hot & heavy. The laid-back rap-vocals paired with vinyl cracklings certainly show that new and old school hip-hop sounds play a part in today’s musical exploration.

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April 26, 2017 · 3:12 pm

Introducing CHIMNEY

Producer and musician Dan Molad is CHIMNEY, long-time drummer/producer for Lucius and producer (Pavo Pavo, San Fermin, Luke Temple, JD McPherson, Here We Go Magic). He self-recorded and produced this breakout solo effort. His penchant for sonically adventurous melodies and harmonically complex layers, combined with a stark pop sensibility shine through the breadth of the album.

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April 20, 2017 · 3:55 pm

Listen: Panama – “Hope For Something”

Warmth, nostalgia, and melody: that’s the sound of Panama. Jarrah McLeary marks his long awaited return with the triumphant, “Hope For Something” – premiered by Pigeons & Planes. It’s the first single and title track from Panama’s upcoming EP of the same name, due for release June 23. The five-track EP is full of his richest, most moving work yet and is available for pre-order now.

“It’s about a battle with yourself. This song was a bit like therapy for me as it helped me resolve some things I had been holding on to for a very long time. Writing is, was like self-talk.”  – Panama singer/songwriter, Jarrah McCleary

Jarrah McCleary’s confessional songwriting, the piece was written about his personal demons and features a melody that soars, stadium-sized vocals and Panama’s trademark crescendos. With a blend of both live and electronic sounds, it’s a result that shows McCleary is at his most energizing.

The touch of personal lyrics to Panama’s music has been a common theme since their 2013 breakout with their ALWAYS EP, which to date has accumulated over 30 million streams between Spotify and SoundCloud, earned a place in key Australian tastemaker triple j’s Hottest 100, and received airplay on the UK’s BBC Radio 1. In the years following, Panama released the fan favorites “Stay Forever” and “Jungle”, which added to their success, allowing them to embark on US and European tours (the latter of which included Barcelona’s Primavera Sound and a sold out headline show in London).

Keep your ears open and eyes peeled for more from Panama this year, as it’s shaping up to be a busy one.

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April 14, 2017 · 3:52 pm

Newest Love: Argonaut & Wasp

Argonaut & Wasp is an indie dance band from Brooklyn, NY. Inspired by the sounds of the kick drum, the electric guitar, the bass, and the synthesizer, the group creates fashionable music for fashionable crowds.

Check out “Paradise” and fall in love like I did.

“Trey and I were attending lots of DJ sets at the time (which is one of our favorite evening activities). Anyways, we would show up at all of these hip Brooklyn venues and everyone would be glued to the walls, everyone just standing there – lost in a state of confusion. We decided to capitalize on this feeling, this need for a rhythm and the need for a beat. We rushed home one of these evenings – grabbed a cowbell, picked up the guitar, and got to work.” — Argonaut & Wasp

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April 14, 2017 · 3:39 pm

Listen to Coast Modern’s Newest Track “Pockets Full of No”

credit: Maeghan Donohue

Sometimes the only way to get ahead is to stop following the leader and start running your own race. Coast Modern flies out of the pack with a refreshingly uninhibited sound for disenchanted dreamers everywhere. Building on an admiration for the spirit of misfit alternative bands and the fearless ethos of modern hip hop, the duo creates alternative pop with a wink that aims to push the genre into the future.

The LA duo – comprised of Coleman Trapp and Luke Atlas – today release their new song, “Pockets Full of No” – a kicked back and mellowed out track that seeks to have you looking on the lighter side of life.  Speaking of the track, the duo noted; ‘Pockets’ is a song about having fun with no money. When you got pockets full of no u can still have a life full of YESSSS. 

The song comes from the band’s debut record, which is set for release later this year via 300 Entertainment / +1 Records.  Like a trip to Disneyland with each song like a stop in another world, Coast Modern’s debut album is a rollercoaster ride through a musical spectrum that spans from introspective acoustic streams of consciousness to psychedelic jams to relaxed dancehall vibes.  Coast Modern are capable of covering a large swath of musical territory, yet a strong, self-aware voice and a sense of groove tie them all together.

After releasing their debut single, “Hollow Life” in late 2015, the band has had a whirlwind of a year. Releasing a handful of tracks over the next twelve months – the anthemic “Animals,”  summer-tinged “Guru” and jungle cruise jam, “The Way It Was” (all four of which sat at the top of the HypeMachine charts), the band would later receive praise from across the blogosphere and fashion press. Their tracks would creep their way to the airwaves, garnering heavy rotation from the likes of SiriusXM Alt Nation and KCRW. The band made their live debut at SXSW, playing their first shows together as a band, and were subsequently scooped up to tour with BØRNS, The Wombats and The Temper Trap respectively.

The band will be playing the Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour this Spring with Missio, 888 and Sundara Karma, which kicks off next week in New Orleans.

Sirius XM Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement Tour:

4/4 New Orleans LA – Parish Room @ House of Blues *
4/5 Atlanta GA – Masquerade *
4/6 Nashville TN – Mercy Lounge *
4/8 Charlotte NC – Underground *
4/10 New York NY – Gramercy *
4/12 Boston MA – Brighton Music Hall *
4/13 Philadelphia PA – Foundry @ The Fillmore **
4/14 Washington DC @ Songbyrd **
4/15 Cleveland OH – Cambridge Room @ House of Blues **
4/17 Detroit MI – The Shelter *
4/18 Chicago IL – SubT **
4/19 Milwaukee WI – The Rave Bar *
4/21 Denver CO – Marquis Theatre ***
4/22 Salt Lake City UT – Urban Lounge *
4/24 San Francisco CA – Slim’s **
4/25 Sacramento CA – Goldfield Trading Post *
4/27 Los Angeles CA – Troubador **
4/29 San Diego CA – Voodoo Room @ House of Blues *
4/30 Phoenix AZ – Crescent Ballroom *
5/3 Austin TX – The Parish *
5/4 Dallas TX – Cambridge Room @ House of Blues *
5/5 Houston TX – Bronze Peacock @ House of Blues *
* with Missio and 888
** with 888 and Sundara Karma
*** with Missio and Sundara Karma

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April 14, 2017 · 12:20 pm

Check Her Out: Julie Elody

After spending three years as a lead vocalist in a funk-rock band, Julie Elody is excited to find her sound as a solo artist, working with several renowned producers. Check out her first solo track, “Sirens”. The indie-electro track is accompanied by Julie’s captivating voice and a subtle yet soothing sound of sirens in the background.

“I don’t like to write about frivolous things, and ‘Sirens’ is no exception,” Julie explains of her new track. “It is about the all-too-often times that we ignore problems in our lives instead of dealing with them head-on, and all of the ways that this affects us.”

With soulful vocals and meaningful lyrics, Julie promises to use her voice to make a statement. She has been the featured vocalist on a few electro-pop tracks, all which gained high success on both Soundcloud and Spotify. She embodies the style of popular music without singing about meaningless partying and how much she wants to be your baby. Conversely, Julie writes songs about issues that are important to her. In her song, “Mountain Lion”, she talks about her struggle with anxiety. “Pennies” is about how the over-commodified society we live in can be detrimental.

 

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March 6, 2017 · 3:08 pm

Check ‘Em Out: Paloma

Photo Cred: Danielle Ernst

Paloma have shared their new track “Touch.” “It’s about a diamond in the rough,” the band explains, “Somewhat of a tramp. A certain someone who didn’t quite know how to believe in them self. Until he meets this princess of sorts that did. When they both turn to real life, he’s banking on the idea that we’re only half way through the film. That the story isn’t finished yet.” It’s the first song released from their upcoming debut EP, Luna, out this April 28th.

Paloma was born of the struggle to navigate the harrowing societal construct typical of suburban Los Angeles. It is the answer for learning to balance the need to make ends meet while expressing the irrepressible creativity brooding inside. The band officially began in a small bedroom studio with several ideas being deconstructed over and over again as every artist can relate to. It wasn’t until Nick and Victor invited the masterful keyboardist and local legend Steven Doman to the studio that the band finally grasped the scope of their newly created sound. In a place where one’s inherent value is often picked apart according to attributes of wealth and beauty, Paloma is truly an escapist’s musical paradise.

Luna – TRACKLISTING
01. Fish
02. Touch
03. Isabel
04. Thick Of It All
05. Climbers

Luna is a (Tim Burton meets the Future of the Malibu) five track EP. The second release from Paloma is a Gothic blend consisting of psychedelic dance grooves with swampy, sad and warm melodies. It’s perfectly confused. The record was deeply influenced by various sounds born in Southern California as well as around the world. Paloma draws inspiration from artists such as: Beach House, Daft Punk, The Weeknd, Tame Impala, Pond, Gum, Dumbo Gets Mad, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, The Beatles & Earth Wind and Fire.

“We wanted the record to fully express the feeling of living in California,” the band says of the EP, “From the mountains of Malibu driving on Mulholland to the Tents surrounding 6 the street in Downtown LA. Hell, even all the people living in their vans on Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood. We have love for them all. We (Paloma) produced Luna alongside Bob Curtin who engineered, mixed and mastered the record in Simi Valley, CA.”

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February 20, 2017 · 2:39 pm

Must Listen: Julietta and Emma Jensen

julietta

Julietta has a wistful vibe that is reminiscent of alterna-pop acts like BANKS, with nostalgic sensibilities like Lana Del Rey. “Beach Break” was written while she was spending time in Nicaragua. In fact, the opening sounds in this song are actual field recordings of the jungle surroundings. You don’t wanna skip over this tune — check it out below:

emma-jensen

While you’re at it, check out Norway beauty Emma Jensen, too. Signed with Majestic Casual, she produces her own music (high fives)! Emma says, “‘Closer’ is about the feeling when you know you’re about to drift away from or lose someone, but you really want to hold on and let the person know that you’ll give it all to make things work.” 

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