Isabel Bailey on her “Favorite Color in the Summer”
It was almost still summer when I saw the Isabel Bailey Band for the first time, performing at WTJU’s Offbeat Roadhouse. I was standing behind a camera to the side of the stage, but I was also swimming in the moonlight Piney River, then splashing through gutter puddles in bright rainboots. What I mean is […]
Twisting mood and soaring vocals on Nótt’s ’Frost’
“In Norse mythology, Nótt is night personified.” Intriguing (thanks Wiki). What’s also intriguing is an artist who doesn’t give out a whole lot of information about themselves, instead letting the music do the talking. Nótt (real name Kate) is one of these. On her Spotify biography, she tells us she is “fiercely rooted in rock […]
Thomas Flynn’s “Following” and Norwegian Rest Stops
I’ve been watching a lot of travel documentaries. Something about the cozy-ness of staying home, sludged into my couch like a burrowing animal, watching some of the greatest landscapes pan out on the TV screen – it strikes a perfect balance of marvel and comfort. The most recent one I watched was on Norway; they […]
“On My Mind” from Front Row Seats: Magical Musicianship and Contagious Passion
Don’t get me wrong: The entire six minutes and fifty-one seconds of “On My Mind”, the new release from Dublin-based, genre-blending project Front Row Seats, is a groove. But there’s a particular part, a little over three minutes into the track, where you realize that the music has leveled up into magic. The chorus has […]
Sorcha Richardson is All Smiles After Returning to Dublin
Irish singer-songwriter Sorcha Richardson – just like London artist emie nathan – went to college in the U.S. before returning home. Consequently, Sorcha understands the world a lot better than most of who didn’t study abroad – and her songs have gravitas and wisdom. Every song on Sorcha’s new album Smiling Like An Idiot lures […]
Twin City’s “Let the Music Rock” Is a Cyberpunk Party
In the debut music video for “Let the Music Rock, the first song from their aptly-named pop project, Twin City, real-life twins Anjali and Bhavani Pitti prove that their sibling chemistry carries over onto the screen and pervades their powerfully catchy music. The video begins with the two sisters controlling a buzzing board of futuristic […]
The Infectious Groove of Bedouin Soundclash and The Skints’ “Shine On”
Bold pianos, strong voices, and socially conscious lyrics drive home the latest single by Bedouin Soundclash and The Skints. Canadian duo Bedouin Soundclash have been making some noticeably big waves in the alt-rock/reggae scene since 2005, with singles such as “Brutal Hearts” and “When the Night Feels My Song” gaining tens of millions of streams […]
The A.M.s Stay Up All Night On “Ignite the Sky”
Since March of 2020, we’ve been in an age of long-distance; pretty much every interpersonal connection, except for those with our families and roommates, became a long-distance relationship. You don’t need me to tell you that this has been hard, or that it has posed particular challenges for musicians. But I can tell you about […]
Gemma Laurence’s “Lavender” Blooms with Finesse and Flair
Gemma Laurence kick-starts her 2022 with the enchanting and brave “Lavender.” Indie-folk singer/songwriter Gemma Laurence has had a slow and steady set of releases thus far. It all began in summer of 2019 with the singles “Judas” and “Leave Me out to Dry,” both in support of her debut full length LP Crooked Heart. Since […]
Talel McBriar’s “Little Hell” and Autumn Walks
As autumn threatens its coldness – and the certainty of winter in its wake – I do what any music-obsessed nerd does. I make a Fall playlist. This is one of the fun things about seasonal shifts: the rituals. There are universal things, like pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween decorations, raking and crunching the fallen leaves. […]
