“Sophie Stern hit us like a brick with her catchy, infectious pop jam “Pray.” – Refinery 29
“Just when you thought things couldn’t get any catchier than Sara Bareilles, Katy Perry, or even Britney Spears (yeah, we went there…), Sophie Stern comes along.” – NYLON Magazine
“… indeed the songwriter knows a thing about creating tunes that resonate with girls.” – Yahoo!
“Sophie and The Bom Boms will make their mark on the pop scene in the next coming months…soon become a name associated with Jessie J, Betty Who, Tove Lo, and Katy Perry.” – Earmilk
Back in July, I posted about Sophie and the Bom Boms and included two of their songs, “Woman,” and “Pray”. Now, they’ve released their debut EP, The Schmixtape.
SBTRKT has collaborated with director Fons Schiedon to create a unique animated video for the track “New Dorp. New York (feat. Ezra Koenig)”. The video sees the creature (that graces the cover of Wonder Where We Land) come to life, and roam through the surreal, shadow filled streets of an imagined American metropolis.
Alongside this, SBTRKT follows a run of new material with the release of “The Light (feat Denai Moore)” ahead of his much-anticipated second album Wonder Where We Land, released on October 7th on Young Turks.
Check out this song, “Runners”, which is a new track from Teeel’s album Hydrostatic (out digitally now via Mush Records, followed by the physical release in November). “Runners” is the follow-up to Teeel’s first single “Disk Go”, which also has a super fun music video (see below).
On Hydrostatic, intricate synth and guitar work dance around bouncing basslines, laying foundation for an album full of vocal hooks. Teeel switches up styles from track to track, delivering dancefloor-ready grooves, dark washes of synthesized brooding, and pop hook after pop hook. If you dig folks like Holy Ghost! or Chromeo, you’ll probably love Teeel.
NYC based club stalwart Cazwell announces his highly-anticipated sophomore full-length album Hard 2 B Fresh to be released September 30th via Brooklyn-based indie Peace Bisquit. Today he debuts his “Dance Like You Got Good Credit” video. The track and video features Cherie Lily, who was pregnant at the time of filming of a healthy baby with husband Andrew WK. This not-so-random white dude gathers an impressive and illustrious list of collaborators include Richie Beretta (Major Lazer, Jillionaire), Justin de Nobrega (Die Antwoord), Nicky da B (Diplo), Peaches, Jesse Novak (M.I.A., Santigold), Big Dipper, RedTop (Beyoncé, Goldfrapp), Manila Luzon, DJ Fresh Direct and others tomake for a ridiculously fun mix of electrified club music and old school hip hop.
Cazwellwas inspired to write the title track, “Hard 2 B Fresh” while “getting fresh” at the legendary Russian Turkish Baths in New York City’s East Village. An old-school spa he often visits to “detox” and brainstorm new ideas. The rapper enjoys referencing comical and sexy situations he experiences when titling his tracks.
Notable tracks on “Hard 2 B Fresh” include “No Selfie Control”– a song Cazwell wanted to dedicate to narcissists like himself and anyone who has been guilty of taking more than 4 selfies in a day, “Dance Like You Got Good Credit” featuring Cherie Lily, which tackles the U.S. debt crisis – a situation Cazwellfinds amusing because “we go broke trying to make ourselves look rich”, “Unzip Me” with Peaches– a track picked by the revered “Fuck The Pain Away” singer about getting a handjob at the club and “Guess What?” –the gnarly, horn-ridden electro collaboration with British pop star Luciana (Tiësto, Hardwell), that became a top 15 Billboard Club Play hit in the USA and UK.
Earlier in the year, beat impresario and DJ, Richie Berettaproduced Cazwell’s track “Helen Keller” – a term the rapper made up for when a person ex-communicates someone from his or her life (“I don’t see you, I don’t hear you, I’ve Hellen Keller’d your ass”)
Don’t get it twisted, the Massachusetts-born Cazwell has proven himself a hard worker for sure. He tours the world every year playing to enthusiastic crowds and festivals, has had over 10 million combined video views on Vevo / You Tube and has managed over 1 Million download / streams of his independently-released music. Earlier this year, he co-wrote the hardstyle anthem collaboration “This Is Your Life” for Dutch duo Psyko Punkz, David Guetta’s divo Chris Willis and the legendary MC Lyte. Additionally, of note, Cazwell’s “Get My Money Back” (from his debut full length, Watch My Mouth) was recently used for an HBO’s ad campaign for Eastbound and Down.
From becoming a You Tube sensation after a million people viewed the ridiculously popular and oft-imitated “Ice Cream Truck” music video in a single week, to producing a steady flow of singles and videos that capture his engaging charisma, self-effacing humor and personality, Cazwell has earned credibility on and off the floor with a slew of anthemic and danceable hip hop tracks. This big ‘ol bag-o-tricks includes future hits like Latin twerk nugget,”¡Spicy!,””I Blocked Your Number,” the neo soul-laced“Cats and Dogs,” and Caz classics like “Rice & Beans,” the disco-sampled “All Over Your Face” and Courtney Love’s personal favorite “I Seen Beyoncé At Burger King.” Cazwell’s new album, Hard 2 B Fresh impressively showcases his hypomanic yet insightful take on pop culture. We’re proud to present to you a musical force who has been described as “what would have happened if Eminem had grown up on Madonna’s front lawn.”
Cazwell – Hard 2 B Fresh – Track list:
01. “Hard 2 B Fresh” Feat. Cherie Lily
02. “The Biscuit” With Naaldekoker
03. “Dance Like You Got Good Credit” Feat. Cherie Lily
04. “Don’t Get It Twisted” Feat. Nicky Da B and Dai Burger
05. “No Selfie Control”
06. “I Blocked Your Number”
07. “Unzip Me” With Peaches
08. “¡SPICY!” featuring Cherie Lily
09. “Rice and Beans”
10. “Sprung”
11. “Catz N Dogs”
12. “Downtown”
13. “Sneaky”
14. “Helen Keller” With Manila Luzon Feat. Richie Beretta and Roxy
15. “Get It In”
16. “Guess What?” With Luciana
17. “What’s the T?” Feat. Cherie Lily, Craig C. and Guest Starring Alyssa Edwards
“an anthem for rebels and rule breakers everywhere.” — NYLON
“…Sneakout exhibits a rowdier side of Fleming’s stylistic repertoire.” — Impose Magazine
Sneakout’s Robert Fleming crafts upbeat, electro-tinged indie-pop with a fun and mischievous vibe, so it’s only fitting that his new video for “The Art Of Hanging On” would feature drinking, partying, and general rowdiness. The twist is in the crew of characters he’s cast: a grandfather and his buddies, eager to teach one lucky grandson how to have a good time. Directed by Andrew Hines, who’s shot videos for A$AP Ferg & The Head and The Heart.
Shedding his previous moniker Victory — whose tracks were featured in national ad campaigns for Cadillac and iPhone & Burberry, as well as HBO’s Girls— Fleming chose to call his new project Sneakout, a name that embodies his values of living in the moment and not taking life too seriously. As an introduction to Sneakout, he put together the Letting Go Mixtape, which features brand new tracks alongside reworkings of some old Victory favorites. You can stream the full mixtape via Soundcloud.
1. The Art of Hanging On
2. Thought I Had It All
3. West Coast (Lana Del Rey cover)
4. Soothing Me So (acoustic)
5. Play It (acoustic)
6. The Art of Hanging On (acoustic)
7. The Art of Hanging On (Enso remix)
Sneakout will play a free show at LA’s Bootleg HiFi on Monday, September 22nd alongside Toronto artist Lowell (more information & RSVP here.)
Colorado based indie pop band Hillary Hand & The Roseliers announce the release of their new music video for “Run Like A Rabbit.” The video premiered exclusively on CREEM Magazine. This past year, MileHIMusic chose them as one of the “Standout CO Artists from SxSW 2014,” where they raved, “Hillary’s soaring vocals are reminiscent of Adele’s 21 album, with traces of Fiona Apple.”
Frontwoman Hillary Hand has been trained in classical piano since the age of 6, and performs as a solo artist as well as with her five piece band from Colorado Springs. She recorded her first EP Paper Doll, in 2012 where the single “Domino” was heard on MTV’s “Awkward.” Since her first EP, she has recorded a few standalone singles, including “Tameless Tongues” which was featured on ABC’s new hit drama “Black Box.” The band has performed at venues across the Colorado Springs and Denver area, including the UMS Denver Summit Music Festival. Currently, the band is recording and self-producing their next album, set to release in the beginning of 2015.
Pop Vulture raves, “With lyrics that suggest a maturity usually reserved for those far older than Hillary, and arrangements that captivate, you can expect nothing short of brilliance from this artist in the years to come.”
“There’s something about his diverse past that’s met by his music – a hybrid of disco, electro, pop, and soul (to name a few)…” -SPIN
“He sings, he DJs, he produces, he stuns…Tantalizing disco-inspired harmonies will no-doubt get you dancing.” – VIBE
Mastermind electronic artist, producer and singer, Mystery Skulls AKA Luis Dubuc, has announced his upcoming residency at one of LA’s hottest establishments, Dirty Laundry, for the month of October. Each consecutive Thursday from October 2nd through 30th, Luis will bring his dynamic set with live vocals, trigged samples and beats that come together in a dazzling fashion. He will also be joined by an array of supporting acts which will be announced later.
Hailing from Dallas by way of South America, Mystery Skulls has a knack for creating insatiable pop anthems, which blend hints of 70s and 80s pop and dance music with futuristic elements. He has also already captured the attention of legendary figures such as Nile Rodgers and Brandy, of which will be featured on his forthcoming debut album, Forever.
Earlier this year, I posted these videos — but here they are again, as a little reminder of the awesomeness that is Mystery Skulls:
“…what if Neil Young and Stevie Nicks were in the same band?” – Herald Sun
“Australian siblings Angus & Julia Stone consistently put out spectacular recordings…” – KCRW
“The whole thing is heart-breakingly beautiful and brilliantly recorded…” – BBC
“Angus & Julia Stone, the sibling darlings of the indie folk scene” – The Australian
“You know when a band you’ve dismissed utterly blindsides you? Cue a belated crush on this brother-sister duo… this album is the best thing this band have ever done” – The Guardian (UK)
“It goes without saying that if the renowned, elusive music producer and Def Jam Records co-founder Rick Rubin gets excited about someone, they’re probably destined for great things.” – The New York Times
“… a self-titled album brimming with sunny harmonies that will transport you to the idyllic shores of Australia’s northeastern coast – or at least to California.” – Details Magazine (US)
“Angus & Julia Stone reunite for a self-titled new album full of their signature moody grooves…” – Elle Magazine (US)
“…despite their best efforts, the universe – or rather, Rick Rubin – conspired to bring Angus & Julia together again.” – Interview Magazine
“Angus and Julia are truly unique musicians. They are authentic and pure people who do things from the heart.” — Rick Rubin
Australian duo Angus & Julia Stone released their highly anticipated full-length album Angus & Julia Stone on August 1st via American Recordings. The Rick Rubin produced full-length, which has already hit #1 in France, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia, is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and in all good records stores worldwide.
In support of their highly anticipated album release, the band recently premiered a new video for their single “A Heartbreak” with The New York Times and now reveal a brand new official video for their track “Grizzly Bear,” also taken from their Angus & Julia Stone album.
Currently on a worldwide tour that has taken them across Europe and now on the road Down-under, the siblings will be making a welcomed return to North American shores this fall where they’ll kick things off on their sold out tour which starts on October 6th at the House of Blues in San Diego, California, winding through the mid-west, north and ending on the east-coast.
After building palpable buzz and drawing widespread critical acclaim, Milky Chance unlock the pre-order for their full-length debut, Sadnecessary [Republic Records]. Preorder and receive an instant download of “Flashed Junk Mind.” Following a special limited-edition vinyl release of the record on September 30, the album officially arrives in stores and at iTunes and all digital partners on October 14th.
Milky Chance have turned out to be the hottest ticket of fall 2014! Last week, the German duo revealed their first-ever North American tour dates at New York’s Bowery Ballroom [October 13], Toronto’s Virgin Mobile Mod Club [October 16], and Los Angeles’s Troubadour on [October 20]. All three shows literally sold out instantly, while New York and Los Angeles specifically sold out in less than five minutes.
Press continues to sing their praises. Rolling Stone recently named them one of “10 Artists You Need to Know Now”. Nylon called their first single “Stolen Dance” a “breakout smash”. Buzzfeed dubbed it one of the “songs you need in your life this summer”. Idolator declared it to be “absolutely undeniable”. Radio has already caught on to the international smash as it has hit #1 at Triple A (four weeks straight), and top 5 at Alternative.
Online “Stolen Dance” hit has gone viral with over 136 million streams across Spotify and YouTube. The smash song has taken over Spotify with over 75 million streams, hit #1 on the Spotify Viral Chart, and is currently #20 on the Spotify overall chart. However, the band is only beginning to make its mark on the United States. On YouTube, the official video for “Stolen Dance” just crossed the 61-million mark and counting. Check out the official video below.
In addition, the music community has embraced the group with Ásgeir recently covering “Stolen Dance” which accumulated over 200,000 views, while Imagine Dragons recently did their own live rendition of the song while performing in Hamburg, Germany with the crowd singing along. Check out those videos below.
Internationally, “Stolen Dance” has quickly become something of a sensation. To date it has gone double-platinum in Australia, platinum in Canada, Germany, and The Netherlands, and gold in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Moreover, it landed in the Top 10 of iTunes in over 50 countries.
Longtime friends Clemens and Philipp came together during high school in Kassel, Germany and founded Milky Chance shortly after. Initially, they released Sadnecessary independently in Europe through their own label Lichtdicht Records and saw major success, hitting #1 in France and going Top 10 in 9 countries, while “Stolen Dance” took off online. Given their impressive debut and the power of “Stolen Dance”, they inked a deal with Republic Records earlier this year.
Sadnecessary is the beginning of something very special for MILKY CHANCE. Keep a close watch for a full- fledged North American tour in 2015.
Musically Amusing 