This week Sydney singer, songwriter and producer Nick Pes is revealing the self-directed music video for his new single “California”, the first track to fall from his upcoming debut EP.
“The video for California is inspired by the works of David Lynch and California itself. I shot it on location in Los Angeles and around Yosemite – there are a few nods to Twin Peaks that tie in to the other worldly ness of the dreamland of California – I’ve tried to create a dreamscape with the synths and guitar in the the song itself, and the video is meant to be a continuation of that dreaminess. It’s less a narrative but more a series of vignettes. I wanted it to feel like someone had found an old video-tape that had been recorded over again and again – like a time capsule” – Nick Pes
“California” was written about Nick’s love for the “land of dreams”. He remembers first reading about the early European discovery of California, where explorers thought it was actually an island, and were attracted by stories of Amazonian women, pearls and gold.
While the single is mainly based on those ideals, it also has an underlying metaphorical meaning for a relationship; when you need to say goodbye to someone simply because the timing just isn’t right. The hope is that you never let go of one another, and that one day you will be together again.
A steady retro-fuelled beat drives the summery, nostalgic charm of “California”. Nick’s voice holds a warm calming presence as the song continues to flow with atmospheric indulgence, distant guitar whispers and golden showers of shimmering synth.
“California” delivers on its intentions of empowerment as it rewards you with the feeling of being ready to take on anything the world throws your way.
Check out the new video for “Gone” from JR JR (formerly known as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jr.)
TOUR DATES
September 12, 2015 – NeoCycle Fest – Cleveland, OH
September 13, 2015 – Chill on the Hill – Sterling Heights, MI
September 25, 2015– Midpoint Music Festival – Cincinnati, OH September 29, 2015– Turf Club – St. Paul, MN October 1, 2015– Firebird – St. Louis, MO October 2, 2015– The Bottleneck – Lawrence, KS October 3, 2015– Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO October 6, 2015– Neumos – Seattle, WA October 7, 2015– Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR October 9, 2015– Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA October 10, 2015– Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA October 14, 2015– The Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ October 16, 2015– Mohawk – Austin, TX October 18, 2015– Warehouse Live Studio – Houston, TX October 20, 2015– One Eyed Jacks – New Orleans, LA October 22, 2015– Mercy Lounge – Nashville, TN October 23, 2015– Terminal West @ King Plow Arts Center – Atlanta, GA October 24, 2015– Downtown Milledgeville – Milledgeville, GA October 26, 2015– Club Downunder – Tallahassee, FL October 27, 2015– State Theatre – St. Petersburg, FL October 28, 2015– Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL October 30, 2015– The Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC October 31, 2015– Haw River Ballroom – Saxapahaw, NC November 2, 2015– Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA November 3, 2015– Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA November 4, 2015– Webster Hall – New York, NY November 5, 2015– The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA November 6, 2015– 9:30 Club – Washington, DC November 7, 2015– The Hollow – Albany, NY November 11, 2015– The A&R Music Bar – Columbus, OH November 12, 2015– Deluxe @ Old National Center – Indianapolis, IN November 14, 2015– Metro – Chicago, IL
Indie rockers Foreign Tongues has premiered a new video for their song “Fools of Love” from their recently released record Fragile, As Said Before. Fans can purchase the new album now!
The band’s stunning new video for “Fools of Love” was shot and directed by Erik Rojas. “Cam and I had talked about this idea for a music video several months ago, and after getting some talented friends on board, we decided to go for it,” Rojas says. “From a narrative standpoint, I think it’s safe to say it’s a story about realizing that sometimes you’re not alone, even though that may seem like the case.”
““Fools of Love” is more a story song introducing the record,” says singer Cam Moretti. “It mainly discusses the last year of my life and the ebb and flow I went through. To me life is a series of highs and lows and understanding and grasping that is how I learn to feel content. I wanted the video to be more of a narrative piece that portrays that.”
Follow the band on Facebook for additional updates.
“There are deep, medicated grooves and purposefully rough patches. It’s the sort of record that reveals something different every time—circumstantial, temperamental, and yet somehow definitive.” – NME
To coincide with the release of Iglomat’s 3rd album the band have produced a new video for the track “King Of The Sun”.
“King Of The Sun” features haunting vocal performances from Rachel Sermanni and Jennifer Austin. Rachelis one of the UK’s most respected young singer songwriters and Iglomat are thrilled that she could be involved in the album. Rachel and Jennifer contributed vocals to “King Of The Sun” and to “No Place Like Home”with Jennifer also contributing piano on the aptly named “Jen 68”.
Produced by the band the video is a portrait of loss of innocence and regret. A melancholic reflection on growing up and what it means to come to terms with the realities of life.
“He stood at the window of the empty cafe and watched the activities in the square and he said that it was good that God kept the truths of life from the young as they were starting out or else they’d have no heart to start at all.”
― Cormac McCarthy
Melbourne singer-songwriter Myami has released her official film clip for debut single “Soldier“. The track, produced by beatmaker and collaborator Wayfarer//, has enjoyed nods of approval from online publications including Complex, Pigeons and Planes, and other internationally reaching blogs. The single, and subsequent video is largely based on themes of being a female going into the music industry, communicating the weight of the fears and expectations she has, as well as working out how to navigate the ins and outs of the industry.
It begins in a white pristine room, paying reference to a new beginning and clean fresh start. The black paint symbolises the entrance of her own, and other people’s expectations, contributions, opinions and rules. Through the clip MYAMI is very aware of their presence and grapples with the combination of her own vision and the constant flood and permanency of black.
Progressively, she is able to figure out how to make the industry and her vision work together (as shown in the neon scenes) – thus forming the branding of MYAMI.
With the release of At The End Of A Day coming late last week, YuTaNi continues his role with the debut of his new music video for “Mt. Minakami.” Directed by acclaimed visual artist and Montreal native Jason Voltaire (Jacques Greene Live, Skunch), the video is a perfect compliment to the ambient textures of Mt. Minakami, at once soothing and engaging all the same. Examining and tearing apart the relationship between tangible and digital, the sounds of Yutani blend into smooth symbiosis with Voltaire’s visuals as the ambience renders it impossible to tell the synthetic from the organic.
Mt. Minakami is just the first of many peaks in At The End Of A Day, which is quickly finding it’s way into the ears and hearts of discerning tastemakers the world over — don’t miss out on what’s quickly becoming a sleeper hit of the summer.
All Signs Point To Yes is the first solo release from Tokyo Police Club bandleader Dave Monks. Made up of six songs, including the lead single “Gasoline,” the EP was released on Tuesday, June 16 via Dine Alone Records.
Dave has now shared his first music video from the EP for the lead single “Gasoline.” Premiering on BlackBook, the video is simple and clean, with the camera trained on Dave as he performs his single with just an acoustic guitar. It was directed by Chris Schoonover and features camera work by Tyler Kufs, Stephanie Dimiskovski, and Jonathan Schoonover.
All Signs Point To Yes was written and completed over the latter half of 2013, while Monks was falling in love with a new person and a new place. Inspired by that romantic relationship and a move from Toronto to Brooklyn, Monks sought to hone in on the honesty in his songwriting, stripping away other sounds in order to focus the spotlight on his voice and acoustic guitar. The result is an EP of fully formed, earnest, and insightful songs that serve as both a natural evolution and familiar embrace of Monks’ music.
Removing the other instruments also revealed a creative freedom for Monks, inspiring a simplicity and directness to which all songwriters aspire. “As I was writing these songs I just thought, ‘What if this is the song, what if it just starts with me and I don’t have to add anything else and I can embrace all the things that come most naturally to me?’ There’s definitely less stuff to hide behind.”
Settled in his new place in Bushwick, Monks embraced the collaborative spirit and structure of New York City, adding a new bass player and drummer to the project while sharing songs constantly with his girlfriend and other musician friends. “It’s definitely honest,” he says of his voice on the EP, which he recorded himself in his apartment before handing over to be mixed by Rob Schnapf. “It could be too honest for some people but I’m in a really good spot and wrote a bunch of sweet songs. I appreciate the connection that comes from sharing something that somebody might not have seen, that’s not visible to the naked eye. People do relate to it, and I find that super rewarding; that drives me in a lot of ways. I’m trying to understand what people really want to get out of music.”
Despite all its sincerity and intimacy, All Signs Points To Yes still manages to avoid being too wistful or overly serious while still giving us a very real look into the life of its singer. It is a small record with a big heart, a snapshot of a man in a new time and new place who is learning to expand his reach, all while stripping away the superfluous and concentrating on connecting through trust, humor, and sincerity.
All Signs Point To Yes Tracklisting
Vegas
Gasoline
The Rules
Miss You
Heartbeat Blues
Summer Dream
Brick + Mortar will release their highly anticipated EP on 7/17. But, right now, they are thrilled to premiere their new video for “Train”. The video plays off of the trops of the star-crossed lovers by reenacting some of the most iconic scenes from famous love films to create an epic ode to love.
The video plays homage to such films as:
Romeo + Juliet
Say Anything
Annie Hall
Titanic
It’s a Wonderful Life
Dirty Dancing
American Beauty
Sixteen Candles
Grease
Blue Valentine
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Requiem for a Dream
Love Actually
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Lost in Translation
The Graduate
Tour Dates
7/16/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe 7/17/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Fountain Square w/ The Ting Tings 7/18/15 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s 20 Lanes 7/19/15 – Columbus, OH @ Woodlands Tavern 7/21/15 – Detroit, MI @The Shelter 7/22/15 – Chicago, IL @ The Beat Kitchen 7/23/15 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada 7/24/15 – Denver, CO @ Underground Music Showcase 7/25/15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Music Garage Live 7/27/15 – Seattle, WA @ El Corozon 7/28/15 – Portland, OR @ Analog Cafe 7/29/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop 7/30/15 – Redlands, CA @ Hangar 24 Brewery 7/31/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite 8/01/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge 8/02/15 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress 8/04/15 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk 8/05/15 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 8/07/15 – Tampa, FL @ New Wrold Brewery 8/08/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Wrecking Ball 2015 8/09/15 – Orlando, FL @ Backbooth 8/11/15 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle 8/12/15 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter 8/13/15 – Washington, DC @ DC9 8/14/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary 8/15/15 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall Studio 8/16/15 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
“Brick + Mortar’s songs may have a gritty edge to them, but the experimental pop duo of Brandon Asraf and John Tacon’s main goal is to encourage and spread positivity and self-motivation through music.”– Pure Volume
“There’s an undeniable energy that charges through New Jersey-based duo Brick+Mortar…” – NYLON Magazine
John Tacon and Brandon Asraf have truly been building a movement. Spreading a message of empathy, positivity, and self motivation… The two artists have been playing gritty, bright yet sinister, witty alternative pop for inspired audiences throughout the country. John Tacon started by playing in a few short lived bands. He suggested his friend, Brandon Asraf, pick up an instrument. He chose the bass guitar and it not only offered distraction, it changed the course of his life. While Tacon’s upbringing was reasonably normal, Asraf, on the other hand grew up “like wolves” amid five siblings in a New Jersey household headed by a conman father. Dad’s schemes ultimately tore the family apart. “Mom didn’t take everything that happened the best,” he says. But you can learn more about that in VICE’s article: “My Buddy’s Dad Was a Blood Diamond Smuggler”. Google it.
Asraf and Tacon jammed together for many years instrumentally before deciding to try writing songs. Asraf was initially concerned about his voice, but like with everything else, his confidence grew alongside his mastery. After giving their project its name in 2008, they followed in 2010 with Brick + Mortar’s first EP, 7 Years in the Mystic Room. It captured some buzz and, after lots of touring, the Bangs EP followed in 2013. For the past 2 years, Brick + Mortar have been criss-crossing the continent, playing their energetic anthems of empowerment. The band has given the two best friends an outlet to share their beliefs with the masses. Brandon says, “Music gave me a sense of value. I realized I could tell a story and express myself. It’s positive. I’m meeting these people in the outside world that are making me feel like I can be the part of something positive on Earth, instead of being destined to this scumbag existence.”
Coming from the wrong side of the tracks, Asraf knew what Janis Joplin meant about the freedom of having nothing left to lose. “I was just a poor kid growing up. I didn’t have an identity. I wasn’t really good at anything,” says Asraf. “I didn’t have a fear of failing or of dying or of any of that, because I figure that was just what was going to happen anyway. Because of my life at the time, I just didn’t give a fuck.” The two have started assembling a following of believers. People who can relate to where they are coming from. If the songs weren’t catchy enough, the authenticity of the artists behind the music is relatable on so many levels.
Brick + Mortar is an escape for both the listeners and creators alike. The honesty of songs on Dropped can be heard July 17th. This release is the first time Brick + Mortar are truly free to do things their way. They are taking control of their future, and doing all the things the label would never let them do. They can’t wait for you to hear the new songs, and experience the live shows they will bring to you. Every song on the record will have a music video. They already have released the sleek sci-fi video for “Move To The Ocean” which was directed by Asraf’s brother Corey, and stars his youngest brother, EJ. This communal hand’s on approach is powered by the fans, because it’s all for them. “We are the band that only exists because of you. The Dropped EP is for anyone who ever believed in Brick + Mortar. Thanks for believing in us.”
7/16/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe 7/17/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Fountain Square w/ The Ting Tings 7/18/15 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s 20 Lanes 7/19/15 – Columbus, OH @ Woodlands Tavern 7/21/15 – Detroit, MI @The Shelter 7/22/15 – Chicago, IL @ The Beat Kitchen 7/23/15 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada 7/24/15 – Denver, CO @ Underground Music Showcase 7/25/15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Loading Dock 7/27/15 – Seattle, WA @ El Corozon 7/28/15 – Portland, OR @ Analog Cafe 7/29/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop 7/30/15 – Redlands, CA @ Hangar 24 Brewery 7/31/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite 8/01/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge 8/02/15 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress 8/04/15 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk 8/05/15 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 8/07/15 – Tampa, FL @ New Wrold Brewery 8/08/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Wrecking Ball 2015 8/09/15 – Orlando, FL @ Backbooth 8/11/15 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle 8/12/15 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter 8/13/15 – Washington, DC @ DC9 8/14/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary 8/15/15 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall Studio 8/16/15 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
Today Surfer Blood reveal its full national headline tour in support of 1000 Palms, the band’s third full-length and first release with acclaimed indie imprint Joyful Noise out May 12th. In addition to the upcoming 30+ date tour (listed in full below) the band also announces details of a NYC benefit show for guitarist Thomas Feteke’s cancer treatment May 12th at Bowery Ballroom (album release day).
Surfer Blood have organized a benefit concert for their guitarist Thomas Fekete, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. Friends of Thomas will join Surfer Blood for special performances at Bowery Ballroom (New York) on Tuesday, May 12. Performers will include Julianna Barwick, Kip Berman (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart), DJ Allen Blickle (Alpaca), Andy Boay (Tonstartssbandht), Cults, POP ETC (acoustic), Marnie Stern & The Figs (w/ members of Les Savy Fav & Girls Against Boys), We Are Scientists. More about Thomas at: http://www.surferblood.com/thomas
1000 Palms is the band’s return to indie label life after a frustrating experience on Warner Bros. The new record – which features stunners such as “Dorian”, newly-revealed track “Island” and first single “I Can’t Explain” – was written and recorded at home entirely by the band, free of major label tinkering. The record is Surfer Blood at its most adventurous and carefree.
Today also sees the reveal of the first video from the album for lead single “I Can’t Explain” – which you can check out below. Speaking of the video, Surfer Blood’s John Paul Pitts provided insight on the track and making of:
“The lyrics to “I Can’t Explain” are about a romantic encounter on a New Year’s Eve, so we wanted the video to show the events of a New Year’s party sped up. We ended up slowing down the song to half-tempo and choreographing all the background action in real time. This way the movement would appear to be sped up when played back at the normal tempo. Thankfully a lot of our friends showed up to help, I think a lot of them wanted an opportunity to throw cake at each other in their favorite bar… The video concept was created by our friend Ates Isildak: a local musician, videographer, promoter and clairvoyant.”
SURFER BLOOD NATIONAL HEADLINE TOUR
5/8: Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival
5/9: Richmond, VA @ The Camel
5/10: Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
5/11: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 5/12: Bowery Ballroom – Thomas Feteke Benefit Show
5/14: Philadelphia, PA @ Boot and Saddle
5/15: Asbury Park, NJ @ The Saint
5/16: Lancaster, PA @ Lizard Lounge
5/18: Akron, OH @ Musica
5/19: Indianapolis, IN @ Joyful Noise Recordings
5/20: Lansing, MI @ The Loft
5/21: Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
5/22: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
5/23: Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
5/24: Madison, WI @ The Frequency
5/26: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
5/27: Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room (Outdoors)
5/28: St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
5/29: Cincinnati, OH @ Fountain Square
5/30: Nashville, TN @ Exit In
6/8: San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
6/10: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
6/11: Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile Cafe
6/12: Vancouver, BC @ Venue Nightclub
6/13: Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett
6/15: Provo, UT @ Velour Live Music Gallery
6/16: Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge
6/19: Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
6/20: San Diego, CA @ The Irenic
6/25: Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
6/26: Charlotte, NC @ Fountain Plaza
6/27: Athens, GA @ Georgia Theater
7/11: Columbus, OH @ Seventh Son Brewing Co.
7/17: Rehoboth Beach, DE @ Dogfish Head Brew Pub
7/18: Frederick, MD @ Flying Dog Brewery
Musically Amusing 