Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 1165
July 29, 2020
SWANS "Where Does A Body End?" doc coming 9/11
SWANSWhere Does A Body End?Coming to DVD, Blu-ray, and Deluxe Blu-ray on September 11th PRE-ORDER HERE
"There really is no other force of music like Swans. Swans stand alone, integral, drenched in pathos. A band to end all bands." - Thurston Moore
Where Does a Body End?
is an intimate portrait of the band SWANS, from their roots as a brutal, confrontational post-punk band that emerged from the same early 1980s era NYC that gave us Sonic Youth (and, somehow, Madonna) through their ill-fated bid at mainstream success in the 90s indie-rock gold rush, through breakups and chaos (on and offstage) to their odds-defying current status as one of the most accomplished and ambitious bands in the world, one whose concerts are more like ecstatic rituals than nostalgic trips back through their most popular songs.
SWANS has always been a collection of singular performers, but there's been one constant since its formation in 1982--singer, songwriter Michael Gira. With unfettered access to hundreds of hours of Gira / SWANS archives of never-seen-before recordings, videos, and photographs, the film brings us along the path they needed to carve for themselves. The film is many things, a musical history, a time-capsule, a tour diary, a concert film, but mostly it's the story of a life in the arts, frequently difficult, spanning decades without a safety net, creating the work because Gira says "What else am I going to do?" As bandmate Thor Harris notes, "Michael is not a fearless person, but he is a fearless artist."
Where Does A Body End?
has enjoyed festival success around the world from Chicago Underground Film Festival, Doc N Roll Festival (London and several other UK cities), Cinemateket Music Film Festival (Copenhagen), In: Edit Festival (Barcelona), Taoyuan Film Festival (Taiwan), Pop Kultur (Berlin), Sydney Underground Film Festival, Dok Station Film Festival (Bucharest), LUFF Lausanne Underground Film Festival (Switzerland) and many others.
Swans:
Michael Gira, Jarboe, Norman Westberg, Kristof Hahn, Thor Harris, Paul Wallfisch, Chris Pravdica, Phil Puleo, Bill Rieflin, Algis Kizys, Clinton Steele, Larry Mullins, Bill Bronson, Jonathan Kane, Vinny Signorelli
Cast Includes:
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Jehnny Beth (Savages), JG Thirlwell (Foetus), Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten), Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs),
Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps / The Gun Club), Jim Sclavunos (The Bad Seeds), Daniel Miller (Mute Records), Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Dana Schechter (Angels Of Light),
Devendra Banhart, Anna Von Hausswolff, Amanda Palmer, Ben Frost, Martin Bisi
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/324870530
Photos: https://mvd.cloud/press/MVD4099BR/
Additional Info: http://mvdb2b.com/s/MVD3893BR
# # #
"There really is no other force of music like Swans. Swans stand alone, integral, drenched in pathos. A band to end all bands." - Thurston Moore
Where Does a Body End?
is an intimate portrait of the band SWANS, from their roots as a brutal, confrontational post-punk band that emerged from the same early 1980s era NYC that gave us Sonic Youth (and, somehow, Madonna) through their ill-fated bid at mainstream success in the 90s indie-rock gold rush, through breakups and chaos (on and offstage) to their odds-defying current status as one of the most accomplished and ambitious bands in the world, one whose concerts are more like ecstatic rituals than nostalgic trips back through their most popular songs. SWANS has always been a collection of singular performers, but there's been one constant since its formation in 1982--singer, songwriter Michael Gira. With unfettered access to hundreds of hours of Gira / SWANS archives of never-seen-before recordings, videos, and photographs, the film brings us along the path they needed to carve for themselves. The film is many things, a musical history, a time-capsule, a tour diary, a concert film, but mostly it's the story of a life in the arts, frequently difficult, spanning decades without a safety net, creating the work because Gira says "What else am I going to do?" As bandmate Thor Harris notes, "Michael is not a fearless person, but he is a fearless artist."
Where Does A Body End?
has enjoyed festival success around the world from Chicago Underground Film Festival, Doc N Roll Festival (London and several other UK cities), Cinemateket Music Film Festival (Copenhagen), In: Edit Festival (Barcelona), Taoyuan Film Festival (Taiwan), Pop Kultur (Berlin), Sydney Underground Film Festival, Dok Station Film Festival (Bucharest), LUFF Lausanne Underground Film Festival (Switzerland) and many others. Swans:
Michael Gira, Jarboe, Norman Westberg, Kristof Hahn, Thor Harris, Paul Wallfisch, Chris Pravdica, Phil Puleo, Bill Rieflin, Algis Kizys, Clinton Steele, Larry Mullins, Bill Bronson, Jonathan Kane, Vinny Signorelli
Cast Includes:
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Jehnny Beth (Savages), JG Thirlwell (Foetus), Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten), Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs),
Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps / The Gun Club), Jim Sclavunos (The Bad Seeds), Daniel Miller (Mute Records), Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Dana Schechter (Angels Of Light),
Devendra Banhart, Anna Von Hausswolff, Amanda Palmer, Ben Frost, Martin Bisi
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/324870530
Photos: https://mvd.cloud/press/MVD4099BR/
Additional Info: http://mvdb2b.com/s/MVD3893BR
# # #
King Buzzo Debuts New Single "Delayed Clarity" As Aug. 14 Release of Gift of Sacrifice Nears
KING BUZZO DEBUTS NEW SINGLE "DELAYED CLARITY"
GIFT OF SACRIFICE ARRIVES ON AUG. 14 https://lnk.to/KingBuzzo
“... the musical pioneer is still hungry to find new sounds” – Rolling Stone
“Equally unsettling and satisfying. The best thing to do is simply lose yourself in the peculiarities of two eccentric minds locked together on an unpredictable journey.” – Prog
“He sings as if possessed by the spirit of prime Ozzy. This seven-track album has a similar stripped down, raw feel to its acoustics and shivery spooked vocals: experimental in places, the way is all laid so bare on the torched Junkie Jesus, mesmeric and with severe mantra-like properties in the beautiful buzzed guitar sound of Bird Animal, even a nod to White Album-era Beatles.” – Classic Rock
Photo credit: Mackie Osborne July 29, 2020, LOS ANGELES – King Buzzo, the venerable Melvins’ frontman, shares the final preview track “Delayed Clarity" (https://lnk.to/KingBuzzo) from his forthcoming release, Gift of Sacrifice (Aug. 14, Ipecac Recordings).
The nine-song album finds Buzz Osborne joined by longtime friend and Mr. Bungle bass player Trevor Dunn. Gift of Sacrifice follows King Buzzo's solo debut, This Machine Kills Artists (2014). Consequence of Sound said the album is “the negative bizarre Dylan Goes Electric,” adding “”Osborne’s jump across the electric/acoustic tracks succeeds much the way Dylan’s did: by keeping the strengths while adjusting the settings.” Pitchfork succinctly dubbed the collection “a refreshing breath of unplugged f**k-it-all folk.”
Gift of Sacrifice album cover Gift of Sacrifice track list:
Mental VomitHousing, Luxury, EnergyI’m Glad I Could HelpDelayed ClarityJunkie JesusScience in Modern AmericaBird AnimalMock SheAcoustic Junkie
# # #
Instagram.com/realkingbuzzoFacebook.com/melvinsarmyTwitter.com/melvinsdotcom
GIFT OF SACRIFICE ARRIVES ON AUG. 14 https://lnk.to/KingBuzzo
“... the musical pioneer is still hungry to find new sounds” – Rolling Stone
“Equally unsettling and satisfying. The best thing to do is simply lose yourself in the peculiarities of two eccentric minds locked together on an unpredictable journey.” – Prog
“He sings as if possessed by the spirit of prime Ozzy. This seven-track album has a similar stripped down, raw feel to its acoustics and shivery spooked vocals: experimental in places, the way is all laid so bare on the torched Junkie Jesus, mesmeric and with severe mantra-like properties in the beautiful buzzed guitar sound of Bird Animal, even a nod to White Album-era Beatles.” – Classic Rock
Photo credit: Mackie Osborne July 29, 2020, LOS ANGELES – King Buzzo, the venerable Melvins’ frontman, shares the final preview track “Delayed Clarity" (https://lnk.to/KingBuzzo) from his forthcoming release, Gift of Sacrifice (Aug. 14, Ipecac Recordings).The nine-song album finds Buzz Osborne joined by longtime friend and Mr. Bungle bass player Trevor Dunn. Gift of Sacrifice follows King Buzzo's solo debut, This Machine Kills Artists (2014). Consequence of Sound said the album is “the negative bizarre Dylan Goes Electric,” adding “”Osborne’s jump across the electric/acoustic tracks succeeds much the way Dylan’s did: by keeping the strengths while adjusting the settings.” Pitchfork succinctly dubbed the collection “a refreshing breath of unplugged f**k-it-all folk.”
Gift of Sacrifice album cover Gift of Sacrifice track list:Mental VomitHousing, Luxury, EnergyI’m Glad I Could HelpDelayed ClarityJunkie JesusScience in Modern AmericaBird AnimalMock SheAcoustic Junkie
# # #
Instagram.com/realkingbuzzoFacebook.com/melvinsarmyTwitter.com/melvinsdotcom
Melanie C Announces New Album. Releases New Single and Video, 'In And Out Of Love'
MELANIE C REVEALS RELEASE DATE, ARTWORK AND TRACK LIST FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FORTHCOMING STUDIO ALBUM ‘MELANIE C’ IS OUT OCTOBER 2 – PRE ORDER/SAVE HERE
NEW SINGLE AND OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR
‘IN AND OUT OF LOVE’ OUT TODAY
PRE-ORDER/SAVE
MELANIE C
WATCH | LISTEN
“IN AND OUT OF LOVE”
'MELANIE C' - LP TRACKLISTING
'Who I Am'
'Blame It On Me'
'Good Enough'
'Escape'
'Overload'
'Fearless'
'Here I Am'
'Nowhere To Run'
'In And Out Of Love'
'End Of Everything'
Today, global superstar Melanie C has announced the release of her highly anticipated eighth studio full-length. The remarkable self-titled ‘ Melanie C ’ album is due October 2, 2020. The album will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl, both in standard edition and as x2 deluxe CD edition with bonus tracks, exclusive colored vinyl, and special limited deluxe vinyl with exclusive 12” singles -- PRE-ORDER/SAVE now.
Accompanying this exciting news, is her brand new single and official music video for “In And Out Of Love,” out today! Speaking about her latest single, Melanie C reveals “It’s so brilliant to release a pure pop, up-beat, positive fun tune. I think it’s exactly what the world needs right now!" Watch the Graham Cruz-directed music video, shot in the legendary Alexandra Palace, HERE .
Listen to “In And Out Of Love” HERE
On ‘ Melanie C’ the legendary pop-icon wears her heart on her sleeve in this refreshingly honest and reflective collection of dancefloor gems. Through-out, Melanie takes the listener on a heartfelt, foot-stomping journey of introspection, growth and acceptance, all the while reminding us of her undeniable knack for always remaining so effortlessly relevant and ahead of the curve when it comes to her music.
By embracing her life-long love of dance music and classic pop, this splendid new album continues to reaffirm the Spice Girl as one of the most loved and critically acclaimed pop starlets of our time. With this new chapter underway and reflected in her choice of collaborators, such as Shura, Rae Morris, Little Boots and Nadia Rose, as well as longtime Spice Girls legend Richard “Biff” Stannard, and an impressive 21-years since the release of her highly lauded Northern Star solo debut, “Melanie C” is destined to satisfy both lifelong fans of hers and a whole new generation of “Team Sporties”.
Her latest single—out today— “In And Out Of Love” serves as the follow up to ‘Blame It On Me,’ another blast of empowering, unapologetic pop, and before that, “Who I Am,’ a track that embraced the power of vulnerability and self-love. All of which, prove to be an irresistible first taste of what fans can expect from the new album, coming this October 2.
Watch the Sylvie Weber-directed music video for ‘Blame It On Me’ HERE . Watch Melanie explore the past, present and future Melanie “Who I Am” HERE and check out the song’s late night television debut on CBS” The Late Late Show with James Corden HERE .
2020 has seen Melanie C return to the solo pop stage on her own unequivocal terms. A vital voice in the modern discourse on depression, body positivity, and the LGBTQ community, her trailblazing influence has arguably never been more apparent. Whether presenting her friend Billie Eilish with a BRIT Award, being remixed by the esteemed Joe Goddard or discussing her journey thus far on a recent episode of BBC’s Desert Island Discs, Melanie C is ready to share with fans her greatest music to date.
With over 100 million records sold and multiple BRIT, Ivor, Billboard and Olivier Awards under her belt, her forthcoming album nonetheless feels like new, assured ground for Melanie C - and a glorious new chapter for Girl Power.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE
Phoebe Bridgers Shares New Video For "I Know The End"
Phoebe Bridgers Shares New Video For “I Know The End”
Watch “I Know The End” HERE
(Photo credit: Frank Ockenfels)
Wednesday, July 29 - Los Angeles, California
Last month, Phoebe Bridgers released her second solo album, Punisher, to international acclaim. A deluge of rave reviews was followed by her first #1 on a Billboard Chart - “Emerging Artists” - and two #1 Radio Chart Placements - on FMBQ’s Non-Comm and College Radio Charts - plus a debut in the Top Ten UK Album Chart at #6.
Today, she unveils the third video from Punisher, a creepy and dramatic companion to the album’s rousing closer “I Know The End”. Directed by Alissa Torvinen, the video includes a finalé shot at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Described by Rolling Stone as a “sound-collage crescendo... with a disorienting jolt of choking pop dystopia, as Bridgers zooms out on a fractured American heartland of slaughterhouses, outlet malls and slot machines that pass by endlessly.”, “I Know The End” has been singled out by fans and critics alike as one of Bridgers’ most potent songs to date.
Watch The Video For “I Know The End” HERE
The video release follows Bridgers’ previous videos “Garden Song” and “Kyoto.” (Watch her perform “Kyoto” as karaoke for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert HERE.)
Bridgers was also announced as part of the line up for Newport Folk Festival’s Folk On Revival Weekend. She’s featured in the ticketed event as part of the Mavis Staples Birthday Celebration, recorded in LA at The Theater at the Ace Hotel in May 2019. Tickets for the virtual event - taking place July 31st - August 2nd - are available from https://newportfolk.org/revival. Proceeds go to support the work of Newport Festivals Foundation for artists and music education.
One of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year so far Punisher follows Bridgers’ debut, Stranger in The Alps (2017), the boygenius EP with Julien Baker & Lucy Dacus (2018), and Better Oblivion Community Center, a collaboration with Conor Oberst (2019).
Praise for Phoebe Bridgers & Punisher:
“Punisher is a fully realized work, crafted with foresight and intention.” - The New Yorker
“Strange and exquisitely moving.” - New York Times
“A masterpiece in mood setting, the apocalyptic Punisher aches with sadness, but Bridgers doesn't wallow. ... The end of the world rarely sounds this good” - Q Magazine
"Bridgers has garnered fans by skillfully blending beauty with darkness, and on her first new solo material since Alps, she nails it." - Rolling Stone
"Bridgers has already made an indelible mark on contemporary music and Punisher goes a long way in reinforcing the fact that she is a songwriter of intense and passionate depth, capable of crafting melodies that are tender and delicate, while displaying the strength and resiliency that supports her honest and heady lyrics." - WFUV
“The LA songwriter’s ability to paint this lingering feeling of dread so vividly is perhaps the biggest factor in her rapid rise to cultish indie household name.” - NME
“Whether she intended to do so or not, Phoebe Bridgers has created a musical monument to our dissociative age with Punisher. It’s an album about sleepless nights and sinking feelings in the pit of your stomach, wrapped in a musical package that’s both feather-light and lush enough to run your fingers through.” - AV Club
“Punisher is a dazzling record, one filled with sadness but not overwhelmingly so, full of moments that sting the first time you hear them but burrow deeper into the soul with each listen.” - Consequence Of Sound
“The record glows with this strange self-sufficiency, an instinct to push forward against bad odds.” - Pitchfork (Best New Music)
"Her music is the soundtrack for this age." - The Fire Note “Bridgers’s modernity is actually a kind of timelessness, yet delivered in an emotional and lyrical lexicon that speaks directly to this moment.” - The Daily Telegraph (UK) “Bridgers keeps getting better and Punisher affirms this.” - Exclaim!
“Great songwriters build fully realized worlds in their songs, but on Punisher Bridgers is often able to do it in just a few lines.” - PopMatters
“Punisher ends with a thunderstorm of manic, discordant brass and drums and a pained scream, the physical culmination of the undercurrent of doom that has lurked throughout. But you emerge feeling not deflated but purged” - The Independent (UK)
Punisher - Album ArtKeep Up With Phoebe Bridgers:Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Web
Watch “I Know The End” HERE
(Photo credit: Frank Ockenfels)Wednesday, July 29 - Los Angeles, California
Last month, Phoebe Bridgers released her second solo album, Punisher, to international acclaim. A deluge of rave reviews was followed by her first #1 on a Billboard Chart - “Emerging Artists” - and two #1 Radio Chart Placements - on FMBQ’s Non-Comm and College Radio Charts - plus a debut in the Top Ten UK Album Chart at #6.
Today, she unveils the third video from Punisher, a creepy and dramatic companion to the album’s rousing closer “I Know The End”. Directed by Alissa Torvinen, the video includes a finalé shot at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Described by Rolling Stone as a “sound-collage crescendo... with a disorienting jolt of choking pop dystopia, as Bridgers zooms out on a fractured American heartland of slaughterhouses, outlet malls and slot machines that pass by endlessly.”, “I Know The End” has been singled out by fans and critics alike as one of Bridgers’ most potent songs to date.
Watch The Video For “I Know The End” HEREThe video release follows Bridgers’ previous videos “Garden Song” and “Kyoto.” (Watch her perform “Kyoto” as karaoke for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert HERE.)
Bridgers was also announced as part of the line up for Newport Folk Festival’s Folk On Revival Weekend. She’s featured in the ticketed event as part of the Mavis Staples Birthday Celebration, recorded in LA at The Theater at the Ace Hotel in May 2019. Tickets for the virtual event - taking place July 31st - August 2nd - are available from https://newportfolk.org/revival. Proceeds go to support the work of Newport Festivals Foundation for artists and music education.
One of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year so far Punisher follows Bridgers’ debut, Stranger in The Alps (2017), the boygenius EP with Julien Baker & Lucy Dacus (2018), and Better Oblivion Community Center, a collaboration with Conor Oberst (2019).
Praise for Phoebe Bridgers & Punisher:
“Punisher is a fully realized work, crafted with foresight and intention.” - The New Yorker
“Strange and exquisitely moving.” - New York Times
“A masterpiece in mood setting, the apocalyptic Punisher aches with sadness, but Bridgers doesn't wallow. ... The end of the world rarely sounds this good” - Q Magazine
"Bridgers has garnered fans by skillfully blending beauty with darkness, and on her first new solo material since Alps, she nails it." - Rolling Stone
"Bridgers has already made an indelible mark on contemporary music and Punisher goes a long way in reinforcing the fact that she is a songwriter of intense and passionate depth, capable of crafting melodies that are tender and delicate, while displaying the strength and resiliency that supports her honest and heady lyrics." - WFUV
“The LA songwriter’s ability to paint this lingering feeling of dread so vividly is perhaps the biggest factor in her rapid rise to cultish indie household name.” - NME
“Whether she intended to do so or not, Phoebe Bridgers has created a musical monument to our dissociative age with Punisher. It’s an album about sleepless nights and sinking feelings in the pit of your stomach, wrapped in a musical package that’s both feather-light and lush enough to run your fingers through.” - AV Club
“Punisher is a dazzling record, one filled with sadness but not overwhelmingly so, full of moments that sting the first time you hear them but burrow deeper into the soul with each listen.” - Consequence Of Sound
“The record glows with this strange self-sufficiency, an instinct to push forward against bad odds.” - Pitchfork (Best New Music)
"Her music is the soundtrack for this age." - The Fire Note “Bridgers’s modernity is actually a kind of timelessness, yet delivered in an emotional and lyrical lexicon that speaks directly to this moment.” - The Daily Telegraph (UK) “Bridgers keeps getting better and Punisher affirms this.” - Exclaim!
“Great songwriters build fully realized worlds in their songs, but on Punisher Bridgers is often able to do it in just a few lines.” - PopMatters
“Punisher ends with a thunderstorm of manic, discordant brass and drums and a pained scream, the physical culmination of the undercurrent of doom that has lurked throughout. But you emerge feeling not deflated but purged” - The Independent (UK)
Punisher - Album ArtKeep Up With Phoebe Bridgers:Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Web
Black Pumas Announce Deluxe Edition of Their Grammy-Nominated Breakout Self-Titled Debut Album
BLACK PUMASAnnounce Deluxe Edition of Their Grammy-Nominated Breakout Self-Titled Debut Album
Featuring Bonus Tracks of Unreleased Originals, Live In-Studio Versions, and Covers of Tracy Chapman, The Beatles & More
Out Digitally August 28 / Physically October 9
Watch the Incredible New Live Video for “Confines” HERE
Photo credit: Jackie Lee Young
Black Pumas, the Austin duo of frontman/songwriter Eric Burton and producer/guitarist Adrian Quesada, will release a deluxe version of their breakout self-titled debut album on August 28 digitally and October 9 physically. Since its release in 2019, Black Pumas has sold 155K+ album equivalents worldwide, spawned the massive hit single “Colors” - which hit #1 at AAA Radio and has been streamed over 60 million times - and seen the band nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammy Awards. The new 2-LP deluxe edition will feature new artwork and a gatefold with unpublished in-studio and live photographs, as well as a bonus 7-inch featuring three new unreleased originals; three live in-studio versions (“Colors,” “Oct 33,” “Confines”); a live version of “Know You Better” recorded at C-Boys Heart & Soul, the Austin club where the band first made a name for itself; and covers of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” Death’s “Politicians in My Eyes,” Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” and Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a cover they premiered live on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last month. Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) is available for pre-order HERE.
Black Pumas’ official live session of “Colors” is a huge viral hit on YouTube, with nearly 27 million views, and today they share a new video of the live version of “Confines” that appears on the deluxe album, an incredible rendition that features a string quartet. The Fader premiered the video today, with Burton saying of the song, "It is a reminder to remain equanimous in life during trials and tribulations while also not being afraid to have dreams."
DELUXE TRACK LISTBlack Moon Rising Colors Know You Better Fire OCT 33 Stay Gold Old Confines Touch the Sky Sweet Conversations
BONUS TRACKSFast Car (Tracy Chapman Cover)I'm ReadyRed RoverBlack CatPoliticians In My Eyes (Death Cover)Colors (Live in Studio)Oct 33 (Live in Studio)Confines (Live in Studio)Know You Better (Live at C-Boys)Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles Cover)Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City (Bobby “Blue” Bland Cover)
PRAISE FOR BLACK PUMAS:
“Few artists seem to tap the collective unease of the national moment quite like Austin’s Black Pumas... never missing a beat is the tireless, charismatic energy of singer Eric Burton.” — Rolling Stone
“A debut so perfectly realized by the standards they’ve set themselves that you wonder what could possibly come next.” — The Guardian
“So much more expansive than retro soul...sounds like a record that The Black Keys would do with Marvin Gaye.” — NPR Music
“The duo’s flair for drama is so stirring, they can seem acutely cinematic.” — Pitchfork
“Mesmerizing” — Essence
“Wu-Tang Clan meets James Brown…radiates soul at a wattage that may not be exactly street legal.” — KCRW
“Staggering…the world does indeed need Black Pumas and their message right now.” — MOJO
“Stirring retro soul.” — FADER
MORE ON BLACK PUMAS:
Sometimes, a life-changing connection can be closer than you think. In 2017, singer and songwriter Eric Burton made his way from California to Texas. Born in the San Fernando Valley, he grew up singing in church and then got heavily involved in musical theater. He started busking at the Santa Monica pier, where he brought in a few hundred dollars a day and developed his performance skills. Burton traveled through the Western states before deciding to settle down in Austin, TX—setting up his busking spot on a downtown street corner, at 6th Street and Congress, for maximum exposure. Meantime, Grammy Award-winning guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada was looking to collaborate with someone new. He reached out to friends in Los Angeles, in London, but nothing seemed right. A mutual friend mentioned Burton to Quesada, saying that he was the best singer he had ever heard. The two musicians connected, but Burton took a while to respond (“My friends were like ‘Dude, you’re a mad man, you need to hit that guy back!’”) Finally, he called Quesada and sang to him over the phone. “I loved his energy, his vibe, and I knew it would be incredible on record,” Quesada says. “From the moment I heard him on the phone, I was all about it.” The results of that inauspicious beginning can now be heard on the acclaimed 2019 self-titled debut album from Black Pumas, the group that Burton and Quesada assembled. In just a couple of years’ time, Burton and Quesada turned their unplanned meeting into a Grammy-nominated act with songs that have racked up millions of streams and won overwhelming critical praise and multiple sold-out tours across North America and Europe. The album won acclaim from Rolling Stone, who praised “the tireless, charismatic energy of singer Eric Burton,” Pitchfork, who raved, “The duo’s flair for drama is so stirring, they can seem acutely cinematic,” NPR, The Fader, The Guardian, Billboard, Essence, and many more. Their anthemic single “Colors” hit #1 at AAA Radio and has been streamed over 57 million times across all platforms. Meanwhile, the official live video of “Colors” has been viewed over 26 million times on YouTube. Quesada had a storied reputation from playing in bands like Grupo Fantasma and Brownout, accompanying artists from Prince to Daniel Johnston, and producing such acclaimed projects as 2018’s Look At My Soul: The Latin Shade Of Texas Soul. For the tracks that kicked off this project, though, he had a different direction in mind. “I was looking for somebody with their own identity,” says Quesada, “who liked Neil Young as much as Sam Cooke.” Burton’s taste, range, and experience proved to be exactly what Quesada was seeking. “We just take to the same kind of music,” he says. “I listen to East Coast hip-hop, old soul music, folk music. We were on the same wavelength from the get-go.” KCRW would eventually describe their sound as “Wu-Tang Clan meets James Brown.” The first day they got together in the studio, they wrote and recorded the dusty funk that would become the Black Pumas’ first two singles, “Black Moon Rising” and “Fire.” Quesada had produced the music for “Black Moon Rising” on the day of the 2017 solar eclipse, and Burton took that concept and ran with it. “Right away, the hair stood up on the back of my neck,” says Quesada. “I knew, ‘This is it—this is the guy.’”
The duo also knew that they didn’t want their sound to be too retro or imitative. “We didn’t want to just do throwback soul and pretend that hip-hop never happened,” says Quesada. “It had to feel sincere coming from us. I have a certain aesthetic in the studio, Eric has a voice that evokes a certain era, but I don’t think we reference that too directly.”
“Adrian has had the time and the interest to really dive into a specific sound, to recreate something he heard on a Motown record,” adds Burton. “And because of that specific knowledge, he provides an interesting sandbox for me, whose background is in theater, to do something super-unorthodox—to be an art student and play with all the colors I have, but to put it on something that’s more familiar to listeners’ ears. With Black Pumas having evolved from an idea to a session and eventually an album, they decided to put a band together to see how the music sounded live. They booked a residency at Austin’s C-Boy’s Heart & Soul. “We only rehearsed twice, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” says Quesada. “But with the first show, we knew it was unique, special—the chemistry and fire were there immediately. And what Eric could do as a frontman was like nothing I’d ever seen.” As word got out, the C-Boy’s shows turned into a local phenomenon (“the hottest party in town,” according to the Austin American-Statesman), with lines around the block despite the fact that the band had only released one song. That strong local support led to Black Pumas being awarded Best New Band at the 2019 Austin Music Awards. The release of Black Pumas was followed by an incredible breakout year, crowned by the duo’s nomination for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammys alongside the likes of Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Lil Nas X. The band sold out multiple tours across North America and Europe, thanks to a massive fanbase now known as the Puma Pack. They have brought their incredible live performances to The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS This Morning, PBS’s Austin City Limits, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and most recently, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, who premiered their powerful live version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a song that has a particular resonance for Burton and his nomadic past. Quesada and Burton both return, over and over, to the almost mystical connection they felt from the beginning. It’s this sense of common purpose, of shared vision, that gives Black Pumas its focus and power—and that points to even more great things ahead. “It’s so seamless, it’s like we’re musical brothers to some degree,” says Burton. “It feels so easy to meld together that what’s most important for us now is to continue to look for new sounds—to make sure we’re feeding ourselves the knowledge to continue to evolve. Every time we get together, it’s better than the last time.”
theblackpumas.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Featuring Bonus Tracks of Unreleased Originals, Live In-Studio Versions, and Covers of Tracy Chapman, The Beatles & More
Out Digitally August 28 / Physically October 9
Watch the Incredible New Live Video for “Confines” HERE
Photo credit: Jackie Lee YoungBlack Pumas, the Austin duo of frontman/songwriter Eric Burton and producer/guitarist Adrian Quesada, will release a deluxe version of their breakout self-titled debut album on August 28 digitally and October 9 physically. Since its release in 2019, Black Pumas has sold 155K+ album equivalents worldwide, spawned the massive hit single “Colors” - which hit #1 at AAA Radio and has been streamed over 60 million times - and seen the band nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammy Awards. The new 2-LP deluxe edition will feature new artwork and a gatefold with unpublished in-studio and live photographs, as well as a bonus 7-inch featuring three new unreleased originals; three live in-studio versions (“Colors,” “Oct 33,” “Confines”); a live version of “Know You Better” recorded at C-Boys Heart & Soul, the Austin club where the band first made a name for itself; and covers of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” Death’s “Politicians in My Eyes,” Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” and Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a cover they premiered live on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last month. Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) is available for pre-order HERE.
Black Pumas’ official live session of “Colors” is a huge viral hit on YouTube, with nearly 27 million views, and today they share a new video of the live version of “Confines” that appears on the deluxe album, an incredible rendition that features a string quartet. The Fader premiered the video today, with Burton saying of the song, "It is a reminder to remain equanimous in life during trials and tribulations while also not being afraid to have dreams."
DELUXE TRACK LISTBlack Moon Rising Colors Know You Better Fire OCT 33 Stay Gold Old Confines Touch the Sky Sweet Conversations BONUS TRACKSFast Car (Tracy Chapman Cover)I'm ReadyRed RoverBlack CatPoliticians In My Eyes (Death Cover)Colors (Live in Studio)Oct 33 (Live in Studio)Confines (Live in Studio)Know You Better (Live at C-Boys)Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles Cover)Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City (Bobby “Blue” Bland Cover)
PRAISE FOR BLACK PUMAS:
“Few artists seem to tap the collective unease of the national moment quite like Austin’s Black Pumas... never missing a beat is the tireless, charismatic energy of singer Eric Burton.” — Rolling Stone
“A debut so perfectly realized by the standards they’ve set themselves that you wonder what could possibly come next.” — The Guardian
“So much more expansive than retro soul...sounds like a record that The Black Keys would do with Marvin Gaye.” — NPR Music
“The duo’s flair for drama is so stirring, they can seem acutely cinematic.” — Pitchfork
“Mesmerizing” — Essence
“Wu-Tang Clan meets James Brown…radiates soul at a wattage that may not be exactly street legal.” — KCRW
“Staggering…the world does indeed need Black Pumas and their message right now.” — MOJO
“Stirring retro soul.” — FADER
MORE ON BLACK PUMAS:
Sometimes, a life-changing connection can be closer than you think. In 2017, singer and songwriter Eric Burton made his way from California to Texas. Born in the San Fernando Valley, he grew up singing in church and then got heavily involved in musical theater. He started busking at the Santa Monica pier, where he brought in a few hundred dollars a day and developed his performance skills. Burton traveled through the Western states before deciding to settle down in Austin, TX—setting up his busking spot on a downtown street corner, at 6th Street and Congress, for maximum exposure. Meantime, Grammy Award-winning guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada was looking to collaborate with someone new. He reached out to friends in Los Angeles, in London, but nothing seemed right. A mutual friend mentioned Burton to Quesada, saying that he was the best singer he had ever heard. The two musicians connected, but Burton took a while to respond (“My friends were like ‘Dude, you’re a mad man, you need to hit that guy back!’”) Finally, he called Quesada and sang to him over the phone. “I loved his energy, his vibe, and I knew it would be incredible on record,” Quesada says. “From the moment I heard him on the phone, I was all about it.” The results of that inauspicious beginning can now be heard on the acclaimed 2019 self-titled debut album from Black Pumas, the group that Burton and Quesada assembled. In just a couple of years’ time, Burton and Quesada turned their unplanned meeting into a Grammy-nominated act with songs that have racked up millions of streams and won overwhelming critical praise and multiple sold-out tours across North America and Europe. The album won acclaim from Rolling Stone, who praised “the tireless, charismatic energy of singer Eric Burton,” Pitchfork, who raved, “The duo’s flair for drama is so stirring, they can seem acutely cinematic,” NPR, The Fader, The Guardian, Billboard, Essence, and many more. Their anthemic single “Colors” hit #1 at AAA Radio and has been streamed over 57 million times across all platforms. Meanwhile, the official live video of “Colors” has been viewed over 26 million times on YouTube. Quesada had a storied reputation from playing in bands like Grupo Fantasma and Brownout, accompanying artists from Prince to Daniel Johnston, and producing such acclaimed projects as 2018’s Look At My Soul: The Latin Shade Of Texas Soul. For the tracks that kicked off this project, though, he had a different direction in mind. “I was looking for somebody with their own identity,” says Quesada, “who liked Neil Young as much as Sam Cooke.” Burton’s taste, range, and experience proved to be exactly what Quesada was seeking. “We just take to the same kind of music,” he says. “I listen to East Coast hip-hop, old soul music, folk music. We were on the same wavelength from the get-go.” KCRW would eventually describe their sound as “Wu-Tang Clan meets James Brown.” The first day they got together in the studio, they wrote and recorded the dusty funk that would become the Black Pumas’ first two singles, “Black Moon Rising” and “Fire.” Quesada had produced the music for “Black Moon Rising” on the day of the 2017 solar eclipse, and Burton took that concept and ran with it. “Right away, the hair stood up on the back of my neck,” says Quesada. “I knew, ‘This is it—this is the guy.’”
The duo also knew that they didn’t want their sound to be too retro or imitative. “We didn’t want to just do throwback soul and pretend that hip-hop never happened,” says Quesada. “It had to feel sincere coming from us. I have a certain aesthetic in the studio, Eric has a voice that evokes a certain era, but I don’t think we reference that too directly.”
“Adrian has had the time and the interest to really dive into a specific sound, to recreate something he heard on a Motown record,” adds Burton. “And because of that specific knowledge, he provides an interesting sandbox for me, whose background is in theater, to do something super-unorthodox—to be an art student and play with all the colors I have, but to put it on something that’s more familiar to listeners’ ears. With Black Pumas having evolved from an idea to a session and eventually an album, they decided to put a band together to see how the music sounded live. They booked a residency at Austin’s C-Boy’s Heart & Soul. “We only rehearsed twice, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” says Quesada. “But with the first show, we knew it was unique, special—the chemistry and fire were there immediately. And what Eric could do as a frontman was like nothing I’d ever seen.” As word got out, the C-Boy’s shows turned into a local phenomenon (“the hottest party in town,” according to the Austin American-Statesman), with lines around the block despite the fact that the band had only released one song. That strong local support led to Black Pumas being awarded Best New Band at the 2019 Austin Music Awards. The release of Black Pumas was followed by an incredible breakout year, crowned by the duo’s nomination for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammys alongside the likes of Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Lil Nas X. The band sold out multiple tours across North America and Europe, thanks to a massive fanbase now known as the Puma Pack. They have brought their incredible live performances to The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS This Morning, PBS’s Austin City Limits, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and most recently, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, who premiered their powerful live version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a song that has a particular resonance for Burton and his nomadic past. Quesada and Burton both return, over and over, to the almost mystical connection they felt from the beginning. It’s this sense of common purpose, of shared vision, that gives Black Pumas its focus and power—and that points to even more great things ahead. “It’s so seamless, it’s like we’re musical brothers to some degree,” says Burton. “It feels so easy to meld together that what’s most important for us now is to continue to look for new sounds—to make sure we’re feeding ourselves the knowledge to continue to evolve. Every time we get together, it’s better than the last time.”
theblackpumas.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Lomelda shares new single "It's Infinite" from her upcoming album 'Hannah'
LOMELDA
SHARES "IT'S INFINITE" VIDEO
NEW ALBUM, HANNAH, OUT 9/4 VIA DOUBLE DOUBLE WHAMMY
Photo Credit: Tonje Thilesen
"Hannah Read doesn't need much beyond a guitar and her mighty voice to craft songs that continue to leave an impression long after they've finished. 'Wonder,' evokes just what its title suggests, facing down the expanses of the unknown with wide-eyed determination."-The FADER
"Offers encouragement in the face of uncertainty... The arrangement is straightforward-assertive drums, a medley of guitars-but Read imbues this foundation with emotion."
-Pitchfork
"Meditative and beautiful."
-NPR
"Hannah Read breaks down and reassembles the indie rock that made her an underground treasure, ending up with something similar yet intriguingly transformed."
-Stereogum
"In usual Lomelda fashion, the song is cathartic and vulnerable. It's soft but it builds into something powerful and poignant."
-Paste
Lomelda, the musical project of Hannah Read, has shared a video for "It's Infinite," the latest single from her anticipated new album, Hannah.
Of the song, Read says "'It's Infinite' is about missin shots and missin dogs and deciding that even if I get all mad and muddy runnin after 'em, I'm still gonna. I am still gonna sing songs and truck along towards heaven on earth til I die."
On Hannah, Read sings stories of strangers, suns, dogs, moms, brothers, favorite bands, "oh god!"s and big shots as well as herself, by name. She rejoices and reviles her god-given name and then flips it around to name herself Hannah once again. It is an album of confession and transformation made ultimately singable.
Hannah is available for pre-order now and due September 4th via Double Double Whammy.
WATCH THE "IT'S INFINITE" VIDEO
In swampy, sweaty, Silsbee, TX, Hannah Read first formed Lomelda with her high school best friends. Throughout the next decade, Lomelda made a habit out of stretching to fit new friendships and shrinking down to solo strummings. Four albums and a never-the-same live show chronicle these shifts in shape and sound.
Hannah was produced by Hannah and her brother Tommy Read at his studio in Silsbee, TX. Over the span of a year and some change, it was recorded three different times before Hannah called it complete. In this, its final 14 song shape, Hannah will be released on September 4, 2020, by Double Double Whammy.
LOMELDA HANNAH DOUBLE DOUBLE WHAMMYSEPTEMBER 4, 2020 PRE-ORDER
1. Kisses2. Hannah Sun3. Sing for Stranger4. Wonder5. Polyurethane6. Reach7. It's Lomelda8. Stranger Sat By Me9. It's Infinite10. Hannah Happiest11. Both Mode12. Big Shot13. Tommy Dread14. Hannah Please
lomelda.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/lomeldaTwitter @lomelda4e | Instagram @lomelda
SHARES "IT'S INFINITE" VIDEO
NEW ALBUM, HANNAH, OUT 9/4 VIA DOUBLE DOUBLE WHAMMY
Photo Credit: Tonje Thilesen
"Hannah Read doesn't need much beyond a guitar and her mighty voice to craft songs that continue to leave an impression long after they've finished. 'Wonder,' evokes just what its title suggests, facing down the expanses of the unknown with wide-eyed determination."-The FADER"Offers encouragement in the face of uncertainty... The arrangement is straightforward-assertive drums, a medley of guitars-but Read imbues this foundation with emotion."
-Pitchfork
"Meditative and beautiful."
-NPR
"Hannah Read breaks down and reassembles the indie rock that made her an underground treasure, ending up with something similar yet intriguingly transformed."
-Stereogum
"In usual Lomelda fashion, the song is cathartic and vulnerable. It's soft but it builds into something powerful and poignant."
-Paste
Lomelda, the musical project of Hannah Read, has shared a video for "It's Infinite," the latest single from her anticipated new album, Hannah.
Of the song, Read says "'It's Infinite' is about missin shots and missin dogs and deciding that even if I get all mad and muddy runnin after 'em, I'm still gonna. I am still gonna sing songs and truck along towards heaven on earth til I die."
On Hannah, Read sings stories of strangers, suns, dogs, moms, brothers, favorite bands, "oh god!"s and big shots as well as herself, by name. She rejoices and reviles her god-given name and then flips it around to name herself Hannah once again. It is an album of confession and transformation made ultimately singable.
Hannah is available for pre-order now and due September 4th via Double Double Whammy.
WATCH THE "IT'S INFINITE" VIDEO
In swampy, sweaty, Silsbee, TX, Hannah Read first formed Lomelda with her high school best friends. Throughout the next decade, Lomelda made a habit out of stretching to fit new friendships and shrinking down to solo strummings. Four albums and a never-the-same live show chronicle these shifts in shape and sound. Hannah was produced by Hannah and her brother Tommy Read at his studio in Silsbee, TX. Over the span of a year and some change, it was recorded three different times before Hannah called it complete. In this, its final 14 song shape, Hannah will be released on September 4, 2020, by Double Double Whammy.
LOMELDA HANNAH DOUBLE DOUBLE WHAMMYSEPTEMBER 4, 2020 PRE-ORDER
1. Kisses2. Hannah Sun3. Sing for Stranger4. Wonder5. Polyurethane6. Reach7. It's Lomelda8. Stranger Sat By Me9. It's Infinite10. Hannah Happiest11. Both Mode12. Big Shot13. Tommy Dread14. Hannah Please
lomelda.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/lomeldaTwitter @lomelda4e | Instagram @lomelda
Mina Tindle Shares “Give A Little Love” Feat. Sufjan Stevens
Mina Tindle Shares“Give A Little Love” Feat. Sufjan Stevens
Watch Video For The Single
New Album SISTER Out October 9th via 37d03d
(cover art by Indira Dominici)
Mina Tindle, the project of Parisian singer/songwriter Pauline De Lassus, has shared a shimmering new single, “Give A Little Love” Feat. Sufjan Stevens - listen HERE. The song, written, arranged and produced by Sufjan Stevens is featured on her forthcoming new album, SISTER, her third full-length due out October 9, 2020 via 37d03d. Pre-order the album HERE.
“Give a Little Love” channels intense lonesomeness and longing, its soulful melancholy magnified by Stevens’ warm background vocals. The song is accompanied by a beautiful video shot by De Lassus on a beach in Puglia, Italy features the dancing of Moira Cappilli. Watch the video HERE.
“I have always deeply loved Sufjan Stevens music,” commented De Lassus. ”His words and melodies have resonated in me for the last 15 years. He is also a dear and generous friend. And I am so grateful he gave me this beautiful song to sing for the album.”
WATCH VIDEO FOR “GIVE A LITTLE LOVE” FEAT. SUFJAN STEVENS HERE
In a departure from the radiant alt-pop of De Lassus’ first two albums, SISTER brings that depth and contrast to a more heavily contoured yet beautifully nuanced sonic backdrop. The album was mostly made in New York City with producer Thomas Bartlett (Joan as Police Woman, Yoko Ono, Florence + the Machine), with additional production by Sufjan Stevens and Bryce Dessner.
SISTER is an album populated by mythic creatures of all kinds: lions on parade, lovers turned to cannibals, kings and Sirens and women with wings. Like any great fabulist, she threads her storytelling with a fragile wisdom, revealing essential truths about all the danger and wildness within the human heart. With each moment elevated by her spellbinding vocal work—a gift she’s shown in recording and touring as a singer for The National—SISTER ultimately makes for a transportive listening experience, at turns impossibly dreamlike and profoundly illuminating.
“With my first two records I was on a quest, searching for the meaning of life and love and absolutely everything, but in making this album I felt much more grounded,” says De Lassus, who notes that becoming a mother closely informed her songwriting on SISTER. “Instead of feeling nostalgic for the past or worried about the future, I’m living more fully in the present, and it makes all the colors feel deeper and more contrasted than they were before.”
Listen to the previously released singles “Lions” HERE and “Belle Pénitence” HERE.
SISTER TracklistJessaLionsGive A Little Love (Feat. Sufjan Stevens)Indian SummerLouisBelle PénitenceFire & SunTriptyqueIs Anything Wrong
(photo credit: ©rgm)
A work of both extraordinary subtlety and storybook grandeur, SISTER expands on the graceful musicality first displayed on her 2012 full-length debut with Taranta, produced with famed French songwriter JP Nataf. The album drew critical acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork and her French language single “Pan” achieved widespread success at French Radio as well as regular play-listing at international stations such as Los Angeles’s KCRW. Soon after wrapping up more than two years of touring in support of Taranta, she returned with her 2014 sophomore effort, the critically-acclaimed Parades, produced by Olivier Marguerit. De Lassus later appeared as a featured soloist on The National’s 2019 album I Am Easy to Find and toured extensively with the band. During the last few years as she was writing and recording SISTER, De Lassus and her Mina Tindle project have also been an integral part of the PEOPLE Festivals at the historic Berlin Funkhaus in 2016 and 2018, where she worked with a vast range of musicians and artists in the community.
Watch Video For The Single
New Album SISTER Out October 9th via 37d03d
(cover art by Indira Dominici)Mina Tindle, the project of Parisian singer/songwriter Pauline De Lassus, has shared a shimmering new single, “Give A Little Love” Feat. Sufjan Stevens - listen HERE. The song, written, arranged and produced by Sufjan Stevens is featured on her forthcoming new album, SISTER, her third full-length due out October 9, 2020 via 37d03d. Pre-order the album HERE.
“Give a Little Love” channels intense lonesomeness and longing, its soulful melancholy magnified by Stevens’ warm background vocals. The song is accompanied by a beautiful video shot by De Lassus on a beach in Puglia, Italy features the dancing of Moira Cappilli. Watch the video HERE.
“I have always deeply loved Sufjan Stevens music,” commented De Lassus. ”His words and melodies have resonated in me for the last 15 years. He is also a dear and generous friend. And I am so grateful he gave me this beautiful song to sing for the album.”
WATCH VIDEO FOR “GIVE A LITTLE LOVE” FEAT. SUFJAN STEVENS HERE
In a departure from the radiant alt-pop of De Lassus’ first two albums, SISTER brings that depth and contrast to a more heavily contoured yet beautifully nuanced sonic backdrop. The album was mostly made in New York City with producer Thomas Bartlett (Joan as Police Woman, Yoko Ono, Florence + the Machine), with additional production by Sufjan Stevens and Bryce Dessner.
SISTER is an album populated by mythic creatures of all kinds: lions on parade, lovers turned to cannibals, kings and Sirens and women with wings. Like any great fabulist, she threads her storytelling with a fragile wisdom, revealing essential truths about all the danger and wildness within the human heart. With each moment elevated by her spellbinding vocal work—a gift she’s shown in recording and touring as a singer for The National—SISTER ultimately makes for a transportive listening experience, at turns impossibly dreamlike and profoundly illuminating.
“With my first two records I was on a quest, searching for the meaning of life and love and absolutely everything, but in making this album I felt much more grounded,” says De Lassus, who notes that becoming a mother closely informed her songwriting on SISTER. “Instead of feeling nostalgic for the past or worried about the future, I’m living more fully in the present, and it makes all the colors feel deeper and more contrasted than they were before.”
Listen to the previously released singles “Lions” HERE and “Belle Pénitence” HERE.
SISTER TracklistJessaLionsGive A Little Love (Feat. Sufjan Stevens)Indian SummerLouisBelle PénitenceFire & SunTriptyqueIs Anything Wrong
(photo credit: ©rgm)A work of both extraordinary subtlety and storybook grandeur, SISTER expands on the graceful musicality first displayed on her 2012 full-length debut with Taranta, produced with famed French songwriter JP Nataf. The album drew critical acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork and her French language single “Pan” achieved widespread success at French Radio as well as regular play-listing at international stations such as Los Angeles’s KCRW. Soon after wrapping up more than two years of touring in support of Taranta, she returned with her 2014 sophomore effort, the critically-acclaimed Parades, produced by Olivier Marguerit. De Lassus later appeared as a featured soloist on The National’s 2019 album I Am Easy to Find and toured extensively with the band. During the last few years as she was writing and recording SISTER, De Lassus and her Mina Tindle project have also been an integral part of the PEOPLE Festivals at the historic Berlin Funkhaus in 2016 and 2018, where she worked with a vast range of musicians and artists in the community.
RUSSIA'S PUSSY RIOT RELEASE VIDEO FOR PROTEST SONG "RIOT" FEATURING IXXF
PUSSY RIOT RELEASE VIDEO FOR
PROTEST TRACK "RIOT" FEAT. IXXF HERE
please credit for the artwork: @kstihu"Yeah sex is great, but have you ever fucked the system?"
"RIOT" is about our fights for equal rights that are happening on our streets globally, inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. and the recent arrest of Pussy Riot’s Peter Verzilov. "Hate to hate, and my religion is resistance. Fuck the state, men love when women only whisper" - screams Nadya Tolokonnikova. The track was released on the July the 3rd, and was warmly welcomed by critics; Anthony Fantano called the track "a banger".
Pussy Riot believe that the police as an institution should be abolished, and an institution that truly serves the people has to arise from police's ashes.
Pussy Riot updates: Pussy Riot's Peter Verzilov is going through a painful criminal investigation currently in Moscow. His flat and flats of his relatives were searched by the police eight times so far; all his documents and documents of his family are seized. Peter can't leave Moscow while the investigation. He's being accused of failing to declare dual citizenship (Russian and Canadian) and faces fines. It's clear that this criminal case has a goal to intimidate Peter Verzilov, Pussy Riot and other activists and to prevent protest actions from happening while Putin loses his popularity and support.
"RIOT", an official protest music video, is directed, edited, colored and styled by Pussy Riot's singer and a founder Nadya, because it's crucial for the collective to maintain DIY production. The track "RIOT" is recorded in collaboration with IXXF, a Berlin-based hyperbolic IDM artist.
"RIOT" credits:
Directed, edited, colored, styled by Nadya
Music: Nadya, IXXF, Madge, Jess Jacobs
Artwork: kstihu
Choreographed by Julienne Mackey, Kat Sauma and Camila Arana
Exec. producer: Jess Jacobs
Pussy Riot’s latest releases:
"HANGERZ": https://youtu.be/HNZymIIAUJk (a project on female reproductive rights)"1312": https://youtu.be/Pm1wkT1vgH0 (a project against police brutality; "1312" stands for "ACAB", "all cops are bastards") "НОЖ" / "KNIFE": https://youtu.be/dX8ePP2ungo (a project against domestic violence)Earlier this year Pussy Riot established an award against domestic violence and paid 3.000 euros to 3 winners of the award who made the best media materials on the topic.
“RIOT” (lyrics):
yeah sex is great
but have you ever fucked the system
hate to hate
and my religion is resistance
gatorade
the only thing they water plants with
fuck the state
men love when women only whisperhear me scream
your silence won't protect u
(x4)boom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
boom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
Like a baby with a knife
Like a baby with a knife
Piss me off, we’re gonna fight
(Yeah yeah we’re gonna fight)
And you’re fucking swine
(Yeah yeah you’re fucking swine)
Not even worth the time
You’re not even worth the time
Because a baby with a knife’ll
Fucking keep you up at night
When I cry you’re gonna see
Gonna riot in the streets
And you’re fucking swine
(Yeah yeah you’re fucking swine)
Not even worth the time
But I’ll make you worth my time ha
all this cop cars give me anxiety
all these killers give me anxiety
politicians give me anxiety
all these fascists give me anxietyboom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
boom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
About Pussy Riot:
https://xxpussyriotxx.com/
http://www.twitter.com/pussyrrriot
http://www.instagram.com/nadyariot
https://www.facebook.com/wearepussyriot/
https://www.youtube.com/wearepussyriot
https://zona.media/ (= Pussy Riot’s independent publication focused on Russian courts, law enforcement, and prison system)Support Pussy Riot on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pussyriot
Get Pussy Riot's merch: https://pussyriot.store/
PROTEST TRACK "RIOT" FEAT. IXXF HERE
please credit for the artwork: @kstihu"Yeah sex is great, but have you ever fucked the system?""RIOT" is about our fights for equal rights that are happening on our streets globally, inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. and the recent arrest of Pussy Riot’s Peter Verzilov. "Hate to hate, and my religion is resistance. Fuck the state, men love when women only whisper" - screams Nadya Tolokonnikova. The track was released on the July the 3rd, and was warmly welcomed by critics; Anthony Fantano called the track "a banger".
Pussy Riot believe that the police as an institution should be abolished, and an institution that truly serves the people has to arise from police's ashes.
Pussy Riot updates: Pussy Riot's Peter Verzilov is going through a painful criminal investigation currently in Moscow. His flat and flats of his relatives were searched by the police eight times so far; all his documents and documents of his family are seized. Peter can't leave Moscow while the investigation. He's being accused of failing to declare dual citizenship (Russian and Canadian) and faces fines. It's clear that this criminal case has a goal to intimidate Peter Verzilov, Pussy Riot and other activists and to prevent protest actions from happening while Putin loses his popularity and support.
"RIOT", an official protest music video, is directed, edited, colored and styled by Pussy Riot's singer and a founder Nadya, because it's crucial for the collective to maintain DIY production. The track "RIOT" is recorded in collaboration with IXXF, a Berlin-based hyperbolic IDM artist.
"RIOT" credits:
Directed, edited, colored, styled by Nadya
Music: Nadya, IXXF, Madge, Jess Jacobs
Artwork: kstihu
Choreographed by Julienne Mackey, Kat Sauma and Camila Arana
Exec. producer: Jess Jacobs
Pussy Riot’s latest releases:
"HANGERZ": https://youtu.be/HNZymIIAUJk (a project on female reproductive rights)"1312": https://youtu.be/Pm1wkT1vgH0 (a project against police brutality; "1312" stands for "ACAB", "all cops are bastards") "НОЖ" / "KNIFE": https://youtu.be/dX8ePP2ungo (a project against domestic violence)Earlier this year Pussy Riot established an award against domestic violence and paid 3.000 euros to 3 winners of the award who made the best media materials on the topic.
“RIOT” (lyrics):
yeah sex is great
but have you ever fucked the system
hate to hate
and my religion is resistance
gatorade
the only thing they water plants with
fuck the state
men love when women only whisperhear me scream
your silence won't protect u
(x4)boom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
boom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
Like a baby with a knife
Like a baby with a knife
Piss me off, we’re gonna fight
(Yeah yeah we’re gonna fight)
And you’re fucking swine
(Yeah yeah you’re fucking swine)
Not even worth the time
You’re not even worth the time
Because a baby with a knife’ll
Fucking keep you up at night
When I cry you’re gonna see
Gonna riot in the streets
And you’re fucking swine
(Yeah yeah you’re fucking swine)
Not even worth the time
But I’ll make you worth my time ha
all this cop cars give me anxiety
all these killers give me anxiety
politicians give me anxiety
all these fascists give me anxietyboom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
boom boom boom
riot boom boom boom
About Pussy Riot:
https://xxpussyriotxx.com/
http://www.twitter.com/pussyrrriot
http://www.instagram.com/nadyariot
https://www.facebook.com/wearepussyriot/
https://www.youtube.com/wearepussyriot
https://zona.media/ (= Pussy Riot’s independent publication focused on Russian courts, law enforcement, and prison system)Support Pussy Riot on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pussyriot
Get Pussy Riot's merch: https://pussyriot.store/
TOKiMONSTA RELEASES COME AND GO REMIXED EP AND SHARES NEW RE-SHAPE
TOKiMONSTA RELEASES COME AND GO REMIXED EP
SHARES NEW DAMIAN LAZARUS RE-SHAPE
STREAM / PURCHASE COME AND GO REMIXED EP HERE
COME AND GO REMIXED EP TRACKLISTTOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Dombresky Remix)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Damian Lazarus Re-Shape)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Promnite Remix)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Halogenix Remix)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess and KingJet) - Come and Go (Falcons Remix)
LA-based producer TOKiMONSTA returns today with the release of her Come and Go Remixed EP. The EP features five original remixes by both upcoming and mainstay producers, including Dombresky, Falcons ft. KingJet, Promnite, Halogenix, and Damian Lazarus. The EP serves as the first installment pack from the upcoming Oasis Nocturno Remixed album slated for release later this Fall via Young Art Records. The remixed album is a unique follow up to TOKiMONSTA's well-received fourth full-length album released earlier this year, Oasis Nocturno, which resulted in recognition from Hypebeast, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Consequence of Sound, NPR, Dancing Astronaut, DJ Mag, and more.
Speaking on the EP, TOKiMONSTA shares: "The best thing about a remix is how a single song can be infinitely reimagined and rebirthed. All the artists involved in this project gave "Come and Go" their own unique and amazing touch. Now we all get to enjoy an amazing slew of danceable bops."
Coinciding with today's release is the second single and focus track from the EP-a reimagined re-shape by one of the most respected producers from the dance underground. Damian Lazarus transforms the tranquil and serene song into an exuberant house-infused transcendental production filled with glittering breakbeats and a booming kick. Providing a perfect bookend to the five rebirthed "Come and Go" imaginations and a satiating precursor to the upcoming remix pack ahead of the Oasis Nocturno Remixed album release.
Listen to Damian Lazarus' re-shape, purchase the Come and Go Remixed EP, and stay tuned for more news to follow as some of the world's most talented producers put their signature touch on TOKiMONSTA's Oasis Nocturno.
STREAM / PURCHASE COME AND GO REMIXED EPhttps://ingroov.es/come-and-go-remixed
STREAM / PURCHASE OASIS NOCTURNOhttps://ingroov.es/oasisnocturno
Photo Credit: Bethany Vargas
FOLLOW TOKiMONSTAhttps://twitter.com/tokimonstahttps://www.instagram.com/tokimonstawww.facebook.com/tokimonstahttps://www.youtube.com/user/tokimonstahttps://soundcloud.com/tokimonsta
SHARES NEW DAMIAN LAZARUS RE-SHAPE
STREAM / PURCHASE COME AND GO REMIXED EP HERE
COME AND GO REMIXED EP TRACKLISTTOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Dombresky Remix)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Damian Lazarus Re-Shape)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Promnite Remix)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess) - Come and Go (Halogenix Remix)TOKiMONSTA (feat. VanJess and KingJet) - Come and Go (Falcons Remix)
LA-based producer TOKiMONSTA returns today with the release of her Come and Go Remixed EP. The EP features five original remixes by both upcoming and mainstay producers, including Dombresky, Falcons ft. KingJet, Promnite, Halogenix, and Damian Lazarus. The EP serves as the first installment pack from the upcoming Oasis Nocturno Remixed album slated for release later this Fall via Young Art Records. The remixed album is a unique follow up to TOKiMONSTA's well-received fourth full-length album released earlier this year, Oasis Nocturno, which resulted in recognition from Hypebeast, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Consequence of Sound, NPR, Dancing Astronaut, DJ Mag, and more.
Speaking on the EP, TOKiMONSTA shares: "The best thing about a remix is how a single song can be infinitely reimagined and rebirthed. All the artists involved in this project gave "Come and Go" their own unique and amazing touch. Now we all get to enjoy an amazing slew of danceable bops."
Coinciding with today's release is the second single and focus track from the EP-a reimagined re-shape by one of the most respected producers from the dance underground. Damian Lazarus transforms the tranquil and serene song into an exuberant house-infused transcendental production filled with glittering breakbeats and a booming kick. Providing a perfect bookend to the five rebirthed "Come and Go" imaginations and a satiating precursor to the upcoming remix pack ahead of the Oasis Nocturno Remixed album release.
Listen to Damian Lazarus' re-shape, purchase the Come and Go Remixed EP, and stay tuned for more news to follow as some of the world's most talented producers put their signature touch on TOKiMONSTA's Oasis Nocturno.
STREAM / PURCHASE COME AND GO REMIXED EPhttps://ingroov.es/come-and-go-remixed
STREAM / PURCHASE OASIS NOCTURNOhttps://ingroov.es/oasisnocturno
Photo Credit: Bethany VargasFOLLOW TOKiMONSTAhttps://twitter.com/tokimonstahttps://www.instagram.com/tokimonstawww.facebook.com/tokimonstahttps://www.youtube.com/user/tokimonstahttps://soundcloud.com/tokimonsta
July 28, 2020
Perfume Genius Announces Winners of "Without You" Video Competition, Shares First Fan-Created Video
PERFUME GENIUS
ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF “WITHOUT YOU” VIDEO COMPETITION
SHARES FIRST FAN-CREATED VIDEO TODAY
SET MY HEART ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY OUT VIA MATADOR
LISTEN/PURCHASE HERE
Photo Credit: Camille Vivier
Around the release of his critically acclaimed new album Set My Heart On Fire Immediately (Matador), Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas), announced the “Without You” video competition. Hadreas asked his fans to submit music video ideas for the track which is taken from the album and while the competition was fierce, 3 winners have now been chosen. Each director received $1,000 to make their vision come to life as well as $1,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice. The winners are Liz Lian, whose video will premiere today, Samantha Mitchell whose clip will release August 4, and Kristin Massa whose video will come out August 11.
Watch Mike’s conversation with the winners HERE.
Liz Lian’s statement on her video: This song, and Mike's artist's statement about it, reassures me that moments of comfort and clarity are just as certain to appear as confusing, lonely moments are. It reminds me to be patient and to turn toward conflict within myself and view it as a beautiful, imperfect metamorphosis, rather than hide from it. This music video is about the exploration and discovery of self through the natural world. I aim to depict the unfamiliar, abstract, and jumbled parts of ourselves through elements of surrealism and magical realism. Narratives of self-discovery in media often center around coming-of-age stories of young white people as they enter adulthood. But self-discovery and reinvention occur throughout our lifetimes. Seeds of change sown within us can blossom into exciting, life-altering experiences when we least expect it. Annie Tezuka, who stars in this video, did a beautiful job embodying this experience. I wanted to shine a particular light on the experience of women who, as they age, are increasingly seen as they are in relation to others – mothers, wives, grandmothers – and for this video to be a tribute to the complexities and constant change within all of us, especially those women.
Watch the clip here:
Lian has chosen to designate The ACLU of Southern California as her charity of choice. SoCal’s long history of advocacy, litigation, and education defends civil rights and liberties regarding racial and economic justice, freedom of speech, government transparency, LGBTQ rights, privacy, gender equity, reproductive justice, immigrants’ rights, criminal justice and drug policy reform, and police practices. You can donate here, to the national chapter, or your local chapter. https://www.aclusocal.org Samantha Mitchell will donate to the Baltimore chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project.Sex work is work. The Sex Workers Outreach Project is committed to ending violence and stigma against sex workers. Their national social justice network that advocates for the fundamental human rights of sex workers, including harm reduction, positive representation, and decriminalization.
Kristin Massa will donate to RAICES.RAICES is a non-profit organization in Texas that provides legal services and advocacy for immigrant children, families, and refugees. Every immigrant deserves the right to human dignity, and RAICES defends this right by providing legal services for thousands of children in tent cities, bond assistance, and by training pro-bono lawyers to aid detained clients forced to navigate the ICE detention system. By donating to this organization, you will directly contribute to the quality of life for immigrants caught up in the deliberately oppressive immigration policies in the United States.
Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas) recently performed performed the album’s single “On The Floor,” on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. In addition to the televised performance, Hadreas also shared an online-only performance of his ballad “Jason.” Hadreas was backed by a band of notable performers including his long time collaborator Alan Wyffels and Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy. Watch “On The Floor” HERE. Watch “Jason” HERE.
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately was produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Blake Mills and features contributions from musicians Jim Keltner, Pino Palladino, Matt Chamberlin and Rob Moose. It was recorded in Los Angeles, where Perfume Genius settled in 2017 with longtime partner and musical collaborator Alan Wyffels. The album explores and subverts concepts of masculinity and traditional roles, and introduces decidedly American musical influences. "I wanted to feel more open, more free and spiritually wild," says Hadreas, "and I'm in a place now where those feelings are very close-- but it can border on being unhinged. I wrote these songs as a way to be more patient, more considered -- to pull at all these chaotic threads hovering around me and weave them in to something warm, thoughtful and comforting"
Photo Credit: Camille Vivier
ACCLAIM FOR SET MY HEART ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY:
"Mike Hadreas’ fifth album glides between sublime melodies and grimy, guttural dissonance, embracing the joys and burdens of the human body and its innumerable, intangible yearnings." Pitchfork 9.0 “Best New Music”
"The sturdy structures of pop only go so far in Perfume Genius songs. They provide reassurance that others have found ways to capture similar feelings. But they can’t hold back the immediacy of longing, the all-consuming physical need. " The New York Times
"Hadreas the performer emerged in full technicolor, standing front and center as the defiant face of his, now decade-long, musical project." Vogue
"’Describe" features a gloriously fuzzed-out guitar tone and Hadreas' lovely, ethereal voice." NPR
“a pop-perfect two and a half minutes.” Rolling Stone on “‘Describe”
"If the early albums were coming-of-age records, this is Perfume Genius, of age. The music isn’t any one thing. It’s everything, occasionally at once, playing with the ideas of hard and soft, innocence and danger, chaos and control, vastness and intimacy, leather and lace. The characteristic — thrilling — strangeness remains, particularly when Hadreas indulges the deeper registers of his singing voice." New York Times
“‘Describe’ is Perfume Genius at their finest as Mike Hadreas takes us through a trip of multiple dimensions, unveils a screeching guitar and unleashes a heavy rhythm section on this ‘90s rock-feeling single" Billboard
“a bouncy bop of a tune” Time (5 Best New Songs of the Week) on “On The Floor”
“it is grandiose and beautiful." Fader on “‘Describe”
“‘Describe’ captures both sides of Perfume Genius perfectly, as pointedly dissonant as it is quietly rapturous." Pitchfork
“Between this and excellent lead single "Describe," the LP is shaping up to be something truly special." E! On “On The Floor”
"He recast what we understand as music into a weather of feeling and thinking, one where the body (queer, healing, troubled, wounded, possible and gorgeous) sings itself into its future." V Magazine
"Everything about ‘Describe' is huge - set to IMAX, surround-sound scale. Those guitars! Ornately cloaked in some of the most beautiful distortion this side of the 21st century - with some ethereal slide work thrown in for good measure - they're the perfect vehicle for a haunting, but incredibly captivating ballad for the ages." Guitar World
"’Describe’ is all corroded distortion and guttural guitars, until these flickers of beauty start to cut through the murk." Stereogum
"Stunning and strange." PAPER Magazine
"Set My Heart sees him embrace American rock ‘n’ roll glory. It still preserves his enthralling tenderness and idiosyncratic pop palette, but it adds torched guitars and classic rock melodies. Songs like “Describe” are led by a dreamy, prevailing calm while still shaking the ground with guitar distortion. It’s Hadreas at his most abstract and carefree. " Paste Magazine
"It’s a heavy, slow burn of a song. Distorted, bluesy guitars back Hadreas as he sings." Vulture on “Describe”
"“On The Floor” finds him almost going in a funk/disco direction, and he does it in that way that only Perfume Genius can. It’s another very promising single and judging by these two songs, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately doesn’t seem like an album you’re gonna be able to easily pigeonhole into one sound." Brooklyn Vegan
"This is the Perfume Genius I've been wanting: heartfelt songwriting delivered through sunny, sumptuous pop-craft." PopMatters on “On The Floor”
"On ‘Describe,’... the distorted guitar and dense wall of low-end sound gives way to an ambient, twinkling atmospheric outro. But the real throughline that connects his (very good) older music to his (even better) newer material is his underlying tenderness, the intimacy in his lyrics and dynamic vocal delivery. " The Daily Beast
"The soundscape of Perfume Genius has snowballed, from intimate piano-driven ballads of heartache to bombastic anthems of swirling synths and strings." AV Club
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately Tracklist1) Whole Life2) Describe3) Without You4) Jason5) Leave6) On the Floor7) Your Body Changes Everything8) Moonbend9) Just A Touch10) Nothing At All11) One More Try12) Some Dream13) Borrowed Light
Website * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook
ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF “WITHOUT YOU” VIDEO COMPETITION
SHARES FIRST FAN-CREATED VIDEO TODAY
SET MY HEART ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY OUT VIA MATADOR
LISTEN/PURCHASE HERE
Photo Credit: Camille VivierAround the release of his critically acclaimed new album Set My Heart On Fire Immediately (Matador), Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas), announced the “Without You” video competition. Hadreas asked his fans to submit music video ideas for the track which is taken from the album and while the competition was fierce, 3 winners have now been chosen. Each director received $1,000 to make their vision come to life as well as $1,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice. The winners are Liz Lian, whose video will premiere today, Samantha Mitchell whose clip will release August 4, and Kristin Massa whose video will come out August 11.
Watch Mike’s conversation with the winners HERE.
Liz Lian’s statement on her video: This song, and Mike's artist's statement about it, reassures me that moments of comfort and clarity are just as certain to appear as confusing, lonely moments are. It reminds me to be patient and to turn toward conflict within myself and view it as a beautiful, imperfect metamorphosis, rather than hide from it. This music video is about the exploration and discovery of self through the natural world. I aim to depict the unfamiliar, abstract, and jumbled parts of ourselves through elements of surrealism and magical realism. Narratives of self-discovery in media often center around coming-of-age stories of young white people as they enter adulthood. But self-discovery and reinvention occur throughout our lifetimes. Seeds of change sown within us can blossom into exciting, life-altering experiences when we least expect it. Annie Tezuka, who stars in this video, did a beautiful job embodying this experience. I wanted to shine a particular light on the experience of women who, as they age, are increasingly seen as they are in relation to others – mothers, wives, grandmothers – and for this video to be a tribute to the complexities and constant change within all of us, especially those women.
Watch the clip here:
Lian has chosen to designate The ACLU of Southern California as her charity of choice. SoCal’s long history of advocacy, litigation, and education defends civil rights and liberties regarding racial and economic justice, freedom of speech, government transparency, LGBTQ rights, privacy, gender equity, reproductive justice, immigrants’ rights, criminal justice and drug policy reform, and police practices. You can donate here, to the national chapter, or your local chapter. https://www.aclusocal.org Samantha Mitchell will donate to the Baltimore chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project.Sex work is work. The Sex Workers Outreach Project is committed to ending violence and stigma against sex workers. Their national social justice network that advocates for the fundamental human rights of sex workers, including harm reduction, positive representation, and decriminalization. Kristin Massa will donate to RAICES.RAICES is a non-profit organization in Texas that provides legal services and advocacy for immigrant children, families, and refugees. Every immigrant deserves the right to human dignity, and RAICES defends this right by providing legal services for thousands of children in tent cities, bond assistance, and by training pro-bono lawyers to aid detained clients forced to navigate the ICE detention system. By donating to this organization, you will directly contribute to the quality of life for immigrants caught up in the deliberately oppressive immigration policies in the United States.
Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas) recently performed performed the album’s single “On The Floor,” on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. In addition to the televised performance, Hadreas also shared an online-only performance of his ballad “Jason.” Hadreas was backed by a band of notable performers including his long time collaborator Alan Wyffels and Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy. Watch “On The Floor” HERE. Watch “Jason” HERE.
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately was produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Blake Mills and features contributions from musicians Jim Keltner, Pino Palladino, Matt Chamberlin and Rob Moose. It was recorded in Los Angeles, where Perfume Genius settled in 2017 with longtime partner and musical collaborator Alan Wyffels. The album explores and subverts concepts of masculinity and traditional roles, and introduces decidedly American musical influences. "I wanted to feel more open, more free and spiritually wild," says Hadreas, "and I'm in a place now where those feelings are very close-- but it can border on being unhinged. I wrote these songs as a way to be more patient, more considered -- to pull at all these chaotic threads hovering around me and weave them in to something warm, thoughtful and comforting"
Photo Credit: Camille VivierACCLAIM FOR SET MY HEART ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY:
"Mike Hadreas’ fifth album glides between sublime melodies and grimy, guttural dissonance, embracing the joys and burdens of the human body and its innumerable, intangible yearnings." Pitchfork 9.0 “Best New Music”
"The sturdy structures of pop only go so far in Perfume Genius songs. They provide reassurance that others have found ways to capture similar feelings. But they can’t hold back the immediacy of longing, the all-consuming physical need. " The New York Times
"Hadreas the performer emerged in full technicolor, standing front and center as the defiant face of his, now decade-long, musical project." Vogue
"’Describe" features a gloriously fuzzed-out guitar tone and Hadreas' lovely, ethereal voice." NPR
“a pop-perfect two and a half minutes.” Rolling Stone on “‘Describe”
"If the early albums were coming-of-age records, this is Perfume Genius, of age. The music isn’t any one thing. It’s everything, occasionally at once, playing with the ideas of hard and soft, innocence and danger, chaos and control, vastness and intimacy, leather and lace. The characteristic — thrilling — strangeness remains, particularly when Hadreas indulges the deeper registers of his singing voice." New York Times
“‘Describe’ is Perfume Genius at their finest as Mike Hadreas takes us through a trip of multiple dimensions, unveils a screeching guitar and unleashes a heavy rhythm section on this ‘90s rock-feeling single" Billboard
“a bouncy bop of a tune” Time (5 Best New Songs of the Week) on “On The Floor”
“it is grandiose and beautiful." Fader on “‘Describe”
“‘Describe’ captures both sides of Perfume Genius perfectly, as pointedly dissonant as it is quietly rapturous." Pitchfork
“Between this and excellent lead single "Describe," the LP is shaping up to be something truly special." E! On “On The Floor”
"He recast what we understand as music into a weather of feeling and thinking, one where the body (queer, healing, troubled, wounded, possible and gorgeous) sings itself into its future." V Magazine
"Everything about ‘Describe' is huge - set to IMAX, surround-sound scale. Those guitars! Ornately cloaked in some of the most beautiful distortion this side of the 21st century - with some ethereal slide work thrown in for good measure - they're the perfect vehicle for a haunting, but incredibly captivating ballad for the ages." Guitar World
"’Describe’ is all corroded distortion and guttural guitars, until these flickers of beauty start to cut through the murk." Stereogum
"Stunning and strange." PAPER Magazine
"Set My Heart sees him embrace American rock ‘n’ roll glory. It still preserves his enthralling tenderness and idiosyncratic pop palette, but it adds torched guitars and classic rock melodies. Songs like “Describe” are led by a dreamy, prevailing calm while still shaking the ground with guitar distortion. It’s Hadreas at his most abstract and carefree. " Paste Magazine
"It’s a heavy, slow burn of a song. Distorted, bluesy guitars back Hadreas as he sings." Vulture on “Describe”
"“On The Floor” finds him almost going in a funk/disco direction, and he does it in that way that only Perfume Genius can. It’s another very promising single and judging by these two songs, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately doesn’t seem like an album you’re gonna be able to easily pigeonhole into one sound." Brooklyn Vegan
"This is the Perfume Genius I've been wanting: heartfelt songwriting delivered through sunny, sumptuous pop-craft." PopMatters on “On The Floor”
"On ‘Describe,’... the distorted guitar and dense wall of low-end sound gives way to an ambient, twinkling atmospheric outro. But the real throughline that connects his (very good) older music to his (even better) newer material is his underlying tenderness, the intimacy in his lyrics and dynamic vocal delivery. " The Daily Beast
"The soundscape of Perfume Genius has snowballed, from intimate piano-driven ballads of heartache to bombastic anthems of swirling synths and strings." AV Club
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately Tracklist1) Whole Life2) Describe3) Without You4) Jason5) Leave6) On the Floor7) Your Body Changes Everything8) Moonbend9) Just A Touch10) Nothing At All11) One More Try12) Some Dream13) Borrowed LightWebsite * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook
