Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 149
February 21, 2025
MARINA Marks New Era With "BUTTERFLY." Unveils Music Video
MARINA MARKS NEW ERA WITH SINGLE“BUTTERFLY” – OUT TODAY
UNVEILS OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO - WATCH
CONFIRMS APPEARANCES AT COACHELLA, WORLD PRIDE, GOVERNORS BALL, OSHEAGA AND BONNAROO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
WATCH
|
LISTEN
BUTTERFLY
2025 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
04/11 - Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Indio, CA
04/18 - Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Indio, CA
06/06 - World Pride Music Festival - Washington, DC
06/07 - The Governors Ball - Queens, NY
06/13 – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival - Manchester, TN
08/03 - Osheaga Music and Arts Festival - Montreal, QC
Internationally acclaimed, award-winning artist and author MARINA returns today with her highly anticipated new single, “BUTTERFLY.” Her first release since 2022, “BUTTERFLY” marks a welcomed return for the beloved British chanteuse who is considered a Mount Rushmore figurehead, heroine and trailblazer in alternative pop. With global superstars such as Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo both publicly declaring their love and admiration for the multi-platinum Welsh artist, MARINA’s influence and impact in modern pop music and culture is undeniable, with “BUTTERFLY” serving and solidifying her from cult to iconic status, as she readies the world for a new era.
Listen to “BUTTERFLY” HERE .
“BUTTERFLY” comes with an official music video, directed by Aerin Moreno. The video also made its broadcast premiere today on MTV Live, MTVU, MTV Biggest Pop and on the Paramount Times Square billboards. Watch HERE .
This year, MARINA is confirmed to play both weekends at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 11 and 18 in Indio, CA (TICKETS), World Pride Music Festival in Washington D.C. on Friday, June 6 (TICKETS), The Governors Ball festival in New York on Saturday, June 7 (TICKETS), the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN on Friday, June 13(TICKETS) and hitting the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal on Sunday, August 3 (TICKETS).
Last year, the BRIT and Ivor Novello-award nominee made her literary debut with Eat The World: A Collection of Poems . Combining MARINA's flair for powerful, evocative lyrics, and stories of resilience and self-discovery, the book was hailed by The New York Times for “redefining songs about coming of age, and the aftermath, with bluntness and crafty intelligence.”
Stay tuned for more news and music from MARINA, coming soon.
“BUTTERFLY” is available worldwide today. Check out the official music video HERE .
About MARINAMARINA burst on to the scene in 2009, and has since released five acclaimed albums including Electra Heart (2012), which debuted at Number 1 on the UK’s Official Charts, FROOT (2015), Love + Fear (2019), which debuted TOP 5 in the UK and Top 10 on the U.S. Albums chart, and most recently Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land (2021), which featured the Ivor Novello nominated hit Man's World. Each of Marina’s records have been accompanied by global sell-out headline tours with shows at some of the most prestigious venues in the UK and US.
High-Res “BUTTERFLY” Artwork – Available HERE
FOLLOW MARINA
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | X | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK
Irma Thomas & Galactic Share New Song; Album Out April 11
NEW ORLEANS LEGENDS GALACTIC AND IRMA THOMAS
SHARE NEW SONG, WHERE I BELONG - LISTEN
NEW ALBUM, AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN,
ARRIVES VIA GALACTIC’S OWN TCHUOP-ZILLA RECORDS
ON FRIDAY, APRIL 11
DIGITAL PRE-ORDERS/PRE-SAVES AVAILABLE NOW
VINYL PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW
New Orleans’ one and only Galactic and the legendary Soul Queen of New Orleans, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer Irma Thomas, have shared the second song from their all-new collaborative album, Audience With The Queen. The buoyant “Where I Belong” puts the listener squarely in Thomas’ world as she reflects on an incredible life in music. From her vocal growls to the bright and joyful tone of her rich contralto, Thomas exudes positive energy and strength against the backdrop of high-energy horn lines. During a spoken word pause sheathed in barely-there effects, Thomas assures us she still loves what she does and has no plans to stop. When she belts out, "I still got a love affair / with the sound of music in the air,” it’s hard not to feel her elation."
“This is a fun song where Irma sits back and reflects on the life she’s lived and the things that make her content with how she’s lived it," says Galactic's Robert Mercurio. "I particularly love the line, ‘I was in Paris drinking Champagne, when you were in diapers and crying.’ It’s funny and light but also so true.”
“This one’s a horn-heavy New Orleans party track built around Miss Irma’s confidence and happiness in knowing she’s right where she should be at this point in her life – making music and singing songs," says Ben Ellman. "The lyrics couldn’t be more true. Her vocal chops are still amazing and she constantly pushes us to play at a higher level.”
LISTEN TO "WHERE I BELONG"
Audience With The Queen arrives Friday, April 11 on Galactic’s own Tchuop-Zilla Records. It was heralded in January with the release of the fiery first single, “Lady Liberty," alongside an official music video streaming now on YouTube. Bolstered by a hooky horn riff, growling guitar line, and the unbreakably tight ensemble playing that has long been Galactic’s signature, the poignant, powerful track explores racially fueled violence and social justice, with Thomas singing, “Another black man shot down last night and they keep adding up / Is this the world that we’re living in? The one we raise our children in? / Lord save us all, Lady Liberty took a fall.” Album pre-orders are available now.
Audience With The Queen marks a landmark departure from Galactic’s 10 previous studio LPs, most of which revolved around the band’s core instrumentalists – Ellman (saxophones, harmonica), Mercurio (bass), Stanton Moore (drums), Jeff Raines (guitar) and Rich Vogel (keyboards) – accompanied by a mix of different vocalists. Here, the 83-year-old Thomas retains the spotlight across eight brand new songs written specifically for her famously warm, blues-drenched voice, as well as a reimagined take on Nancy Wilson’s classic “How Glad I Am.” Thomas worked hand in hand with producers Ellman and Mercurio to select and fine-tune the lyrics and other details, finding her own special way inside the story of each song. Audience With The Queen is heralded by today’s premiere of the fiery first single,
“It’s about what’s happening now,” says Irma Thomas, “and now isn’t going anywhere. No protesting is involved, it’s just that what’s happening around us needs to be sung about and heard. I’m making people more aware, through song, to pay attention to what’s going on.”
“The music is super funky on this track but I was also really excited to hear Irma Thomas tackle lyrics about such important social issues,” says Galactic co-founder Robert Mercurio. “The subject matter is a departure for her. She gave me goosebumps when we were recording this song in the studio. Hearing a person of her stature sing about social injustice in America really hits home for me.”
“Irma puts so much energy and heart into her vocal performance on ‘Lady Liberty’ that it makes the lyrics’ message that much more powerful,” says Galactic co-founder Ben Ellman. “You can hear this strength in her tone that just insists we have to look seriously at what’s been happening around us and take a stand for justice. I also love hearing her interpret a song that’s not about love or relationships. It’s different from what people may associate her music with but Irma’s voice is incredibly versatile.”
LISTEN TO “LADY LIBERTY”
WATCH “LADY LIBERTY” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN DIGITAL PRE-ORDERS/PRE-SAVES AVAILABLE NOW
VINYL PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW
Photo Credit: Katie Sikora
Galactic has been bringing their big, bold brand of hot New Orleans funk to fans across the frozen Northeast on a headline run accompanied by longtime vocalist Jelly Joseph and special guests including Parlor Greens, Jah Works, Honey Marmalade, and The Jungo Partners. On February 22, the band will return home from JamCruise just in time to celebrate Mardi Gras with a pair of shows at their own historic Tipitina’s, set for February 22 and March 1. Additional dates will be announced. For complete details and ticket availability, please see galacticfunk.com/home/tour-dates
GALACTIC - TOUR 2025
FEBRUARY
22 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
MARCH
1 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s w/79rs Gang
APRIL
26 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's
MAY
2 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's
4 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
31 - Sussex, NJ - Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest
JULY
27 - Naeba Ski Resort, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival
# # #
Mt. Joy Release New Single "More More More." Announce Forthcoming Studio Album
MT. JOY RETURNS WITH BRAND NEW SINGLE“MORE MORE MORE” – OUT TODAY
ANNOUNCES FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM HOPE WE HAVE FUN
OUT MAY 30 (VIA FUTURES x BLOOM FIELD RECORDS)
EXTENSIVE NORTH AMERICAN ARENA TOUR INCLUDES FESTIVALS INCLUDING THE PRESTIGIOUS NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL, BONNAROO, AND GOVERNORS BALL
LISTEN“MORE MORE MORE”
PRE-ORDER
HOPE WE HAVE FUN (ALBUM)
1. More More More
2. Coyote
3. In The Middle
4. Pink Lady
5. God Loves Weirdos
6. Scared I’m Gonna Fuck You Up
7. Lucy
8. Groove in Gotham
9. Wild And Rotten
10. Highway Queen
11. She Wants To Go Dancing
12. You Are Who She Loves
13. Hope We Have Fun
Mt. Joy returns today with a brand new single and album announcement; “More More More” is the first single [OUT NOW] from forthcoming studio album Hope We Have Fun, their first album release on Bloom Field Records, their own imprint under Futures, releasing on May 30 [PRE-SAVE]. Mt. Joy’s fourth studio album arrives at a time when the band has seen massive growth. Since forming in 2016, the Philadelphia-based indie-rock band — Matt Quinn (vocals, guitar), Sam Cooper (guitar), Jackie Miclau (keys, piano), Sotiris Eliopoulos (drums), and Michael Byrnes (bass) — has put in their 10,000 hours preparing for this very moment.
After nearly a decade of touring and recording three critically acclaimed albums (2018’s Mt. Joy, 2020’s Rearrange Us, and 2022’s Orange Blood), the five-piece reached new heights in 2024, selling out New York’s Madison Square Garden, Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheater, and more; their 70-date North American and European headline tour also sold more than 180,000 tickets. Mt. Joy’s momentum stemmed from years of hard work on the road cultivating an unforgettable stage presence and their laser focus on organic growth.
Now, Mt. Joy sits on the precipice of another breakthrough year, with the release of their fourth LP, Hope We Have Fun, on May 30. For Quinn, the record speaks directly to the band’s long journey together — "We've all worked incredibly hard together and done ridiculous things in sickness and in health. You just kind of look up and you're at Madison Square Garden with these people, and it makes you emotional — it feels like something you never could have dreamed. The album is a realization that we pushed ourselves into this crazy world, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. Its a lot about sticking together in relationships, living a crazy lifestyle and just kinda saying, ‘I hope we have fun.'" The album’s thirteen tracks explore the high, lows, and intimate moments of a life lived on the road, with Quinn’s soulful vocals floating over intricate, rootsy instrumentals.
The band's upcoming single “More More More” deals with the dichotomy of road life and the stillness of coming home - A theme consistent throughout the album being how depression can creep in when one slows down. As the track builds to a crescendo, Quinn breaks his own cycle, howling “I got all I want” — a chill-inducing moment of catharsis. This single joins two other previously released standout songs, in the sparkling, acoustic guitar-driven track, “Highway Queen” (also out now as a duet with Grammy-winner Maren Morris) Quinn ruminates on falling for a twin flame who lives for the escapism of transient life. But it wouldn’t be a Mt. Joy record without a party, too. There’s the unapologetically grooving “She Wants to Go Dancing” written for a lover who brings you out of your shell at the club.
SEE MT JOY PERFORM “SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING” ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
To date, Mt. Joy has garnered over one billion global streams and has sold more than half a million tickets, with the singles “Silver Lining,” “Jenny Jenkins,” “Lemon Tree,” “Strangers,” “Highway Queen,” and “She Wants to Go Dancing” all charting in the Top 5 on AAA radio. The band has earned critical acclaim from major media outlets including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR, and PEOPLE; they’ve also graced the stage at top festivals around the world, as well as on late-night TV shows including James Corden, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel. In 2025, Mt. Joy will embark on an extensive North American arena tour, as well as festival stops at Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo, and will be headlining at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival.
“More More More” is out everywhere now.
Hope We Have Fun! is out May 30 – pre-order/add/save HERE
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
04/19- John Paul Jones Arena- Charlottesville, VA
04/21- KEMBA Live! Outdoors- Columbus, OH
04/25- Skyla Credit Union Ampitheater- Charlotte, NC
04/26- High Water Festival - Charleston, SC
05/04- Beachlife Festival - Redondo Beach, CA
06/06- Michigan Lottery Ampitheater- Sterling Heights, MI
06/07- Stage AE Outdoors- Pittsburgh, PA
06/08- Governor’s Ball- New York City, NY
06/10- Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Expo- Essex Junction, VT
06/12- Megacorp Pavilion- Newport KY
06/13- Midweather Post Pavilion- Columbia, MD
06/14- Bonnaroo Festival- Manchester, TN
06/17- Everwise Ampitheater at White River State Park- Indianapolis, IN
06/19- Thompson’s Point- Portland ME- SOLD OUT
06/20- Green River Festival- Greenfield, MA
06/21- Mountain Jam- Highmount, NY
07/05- Zootown Festival- Missoula, MT
07/23-25- FloydFest- Floyd, VA !
07/27-Newport Folk Festival- Newport, RI
08/09- Scotiabank Saddledome- Calgary, AB * new
08/10- Edmonton Folk Festival- Edmonton, AB * new
08/12- Twilight Concert Series at Library Square- Salt Lake City, UT * new
08/14- Red Rocks Ampitheatre- Morrison, CO SOLD OUT
08/15- Fiddler’s Green Ampitheatre- Greenwood Village, CO
08/17- Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre - Boise, ID *new
08/19- Deer Lake Park, Burnaby, BC *new
08/20- WAMU Theater- Seattle, WA
08/22- Hayden Homes Ampitheater- Bend, OR
08/23- The Greek Theater- Berkley, CA
08/24- Santa Barbara Bowl- Santa Barbara, CA *new
08/26- The Rady Shell at Jacob’s Park- San Diego, CA *new
09/11- Budweiser Stage- Toronto, ON
09/13- United Center-Chicago, IL
09/16- Armory- Minneapolis, MN
09/17- Kohl- Center- Madison WI
09/20- TD Garden- Boston, MA
09/23- Koka Booth Ampitheatre- Cary, NC *new
09/24- ExploreAshveville.com Arena- Asheville, NC *new
09/26- TD Pavilion at The Mann- Philadelphia, PA
09/27- TD Pavilion at The Mann- Philadelphia, PA
About Mt. Joy:
The Philadelphia based band—Matt Quinn [vocals, guitar], Sam Cooper [guitar], Sotiris Eliopoulos [drums], Jackie Miclau [keys, piano], and Michael Byrnes [bass]— take their name from the quiet and rural National Park in Southwest Pennsylvania, about four hours from their Philadelphia base. Forming in 2016, they made their mark two years later when their self-titled Mt. Joy (2018) debut album spun off platinum single "Silver Lining," an uplifting power ballad that went to #1 at AAA radio (Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay) and has eclipsed over 240 million streams across platforms. Their second album, Rearrange Us (2020) drew widespread critical raves, with title track gaining 92 million Spotify streams since the release. Their third LP, Orange Blood (2022), came out of the pandemic and further cemented them with another #1, Lemon Tree, at AAA and a 70 date headline tour that sold over 180K tickets. Over the past five years, Mt. Joy has amassed over half a billion streams and earned acclaim from NPR, Billboard, Rolling Stone, The Line of Best Fit, and more. Throughout their career, the band has performed at a variety of festivals such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo. Additionally, the band has performed on Stephen Colbert, CBS Morning, Samantha Bee, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Conan. Upcoming plans for 2024 include new music, live show, and world tour including shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and more.
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Nina Nesbitt Releases Deluxe Edition of "Mountain Music." Releases New Track 'Crooked Teeth'
NINA NESBITT RELEASES DELUXE EDITION‘MOUNTAIN MUSIC (THE SUMMIT)’
OUT NOW
[APPLE TREE RECORDS]
FEATURING THE NEW TRACK “CROOKED TEETH”
WATCH
“CROOKED TEETH” (VISUALIZER)
LISTEN
MOUNTAIN MUSIC (THE SUMMIT)
Pages
I’m Coming Home
Mansion
On The Run
Painkiller
Anger
Alchemise
Big Things, Small Town
Treachery
Hard Times
What Will Make Me Great
Parachute
Enough*
The Mountain & The Man*
Crooked Teeth*
Good Years*
*New Tracks
From exceeding a billion streams to being championed by Taylor Swift and playing shows with everyone from Coldplay to Stevie Nicks, Nina Nesbitt’s career has taken her from highlight to highlight - with her most recent being the release of ‘Mountain Music’ last year. PASTE Magazine hailed the album as “Cinematic” and “Americana-inflected,” adding “her inherent gentleness and earnestness make this an album that will speak to many” while saying “her empathy connects the songs on Mountain Music, weaving a silvery gossamer web that is just as dainty yet strong as her magnificent voice.” Currently on a UK arena tour with Snow Patrol, Nina now releases the deluxe edition ‘Mountain Music (The Summit)’ via her independent label Apple Tree Records.
Listen to ‘Mountain Music (The Summit)’ HERE.
The new deluxe edition features four new tracks including the previously released “Enough,” “The Mountain & The Man,” “Good Years,” and new fan favorite “Crooked Teeth” – a song which reminds you to lean into your relationships despite their flaws and through all of life's challenges. Each track is accompanied by a new live session video at Middle Farm Studios as part of the Mountain Music Sessions.
Watch the visualizer for “Crooked Teeth” HERE , including clips from the album recording at Middle Farm Studios.
Speaking about the new deluxe edition of ‘Mountain Music,’ Nina reveals, “I’m so excited to be releasing 'Mountain Music (The Summit)' edition today. It includes 4 brand new songs that I wrote shortly after delivering the album. These songs explore different topics from the initial album drop and are some of my favorites yet. 'Enough' explores self-esteem, The Mountain & The Man and Crooked Teeth are lyrical love songs interwoven with nature and nostalgia, and Good Years is a big building track about changing your perspective on a failed relationship with someone. It feels like the perfect next stop on our journey and I can't wait to share these songs with everyone.”
‘Mountain Music’ is a record in which authenticity flows through every moment. Its impetus was a moment of crisis: Nina had become overwhelmed by the need to be always active on social media and realized it was a huge distraction from her songwriting. So instead, she paused and went back to basics. What emerged was a set of songs which were informed by the Americana and folk music that she has always loved. Their narratives also became more personal than ever. She reflected on everything that has happened in her life: growing up in a small Scottish village, breaking into music while living in the bustle of London, and now looking back at all of her life experiences from her new home in the countryside.
The album’s organic, resonant feel also comes from a recording process which placed a sharper focus on the importance of live performances. Accompanied by a band of musicians, Nina and Peter Miles produced sessions at Middle Farm Studios in South Devon in the UK, with Peter completing the record with mixing and mastering.
Earlier this year, Nina Nesbitt shared a special release for fans as she shares her take on the beloved Scottish folk ballad, “Caledonia,” which she performed as part of BBC Scotland’s Burns Night. Last month, Nina also attended the Americana Music Awards UK, where she was nominated for Album of the Year for ‘Mountain Music’ and Song of the Year for ‘Pages’. She also joined Americana Music Week for the in-depth conversation event ‘A Journey To Americana’.
Listen to Nina’s version of “Caledonia” HERE. Watch the lyric video HERE.
Speaking about the album, Nina Nesbitt shares, “’Mountain Music’ feels like the most authentic and honest piece of work I’ve created so far. I was inspired by a lot of the American folk music I grew up listening to, and revisiting it made me fall back in love with writing music again. I knew I wanted to take inspiration but to also write my own story. This album celebrates that small town girl, puts an arm around the big city twenty-something and looks back at the view with me now from the calm and the quiet. ‘Mountain Music’ held my hand through some of my hardest moments and I hope it can hold yours too.”
Having recently completed a dream tour as special guest to Stevie Nicks last year, followed by her own UK headline tour, Nina is on the road again, currently in the midst of a UK arena tour with Snow Patrol. For a list of upcoming tour dates, please visit ninanesbittmusic.com.
Stay tuned for more music and live dates, coming soon!
The deluxe edition of Mountain Music (The Summit)’ is available worldwide today.
UK TOUR DATES WITH SNOW PATROL:
02/21 - Ovo Hydro - Glasgow
02/22 - Co-Op Live Arena - Manchester
02/25 - 3Arena - Dublin
02/27 - SSE Arena - Belfast
02/28 - SSE Arena - Belfast
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MONONEON, GEORGE CLINTON, KATT WILLIAMS & JAMES FAUNTLEROY Release New Single “God Reason”
MONONEON, GEORGE CLINTON,
KATT WILLIAMS & JAMES FAUNTLEROY
RELEASE NEW SINGLE
“GOD REASON”
Today, MonoNeon - the bass virtuoso and funk originalist teams up with comedian Katt Williams, the legendary George Clinton and the GRAMMY winning producer, songwriter and rapper James Fauntleroy (Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, SZA) to release “God Reason” - an interstellar journey out today via Floki Studios (Color Red). Listen HERE and watch the animated visualizer directed and created by Cody A. Banks.
The song began germinating when MonoNeon came across a podcast interview with Katt Williams where Katt mentioned “God Reason” as a sort of catchall explainer for phenomena in life. It was an incredible prompt for a songwriter who is always trying to commune with the ethereal. He sent the track to Katt who immediately wanted to rap on it and came into Court Square recording in Memphis to work with Mono. “The reason… God Reason… makes you question everythang, only to realize it was never meant to understand it, just live it and feel it,” says MonoNeon. Shortly after Katt had laid down his vocals, MonoNeon shared the song with George Clinton who added a more cosmic layer to the intro. Even more fortuitously, MonoNeon ran into producer/songwriter/rapper James Fauntleroy in a hotel lobby in Memphis. They got to talking about what they were working on and when Mono told him the story of the track, Fauntleroy jumped at the chance to add a verse.
MonoNeon is an American bassist and experimental musician from Memphis, Tennessee. He is known for his presence on YouTube playing bass guitar and being one of the last people to work with Prince. MonoNeon is a Grammy Award-winning artist, for his participation on the 2020 Nas album King's Disease. On November 1, 2022, Fender released the MonoNeon Collection, which included the MonoNeon Jazz Bass V Signature.
MonoNeon has collaborated with artists such as Mavis Staples, George Clinton, Pete Rock, Ne-Yo, Mac Miller, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Ghost-Note, and more. Known for his otherworldly live show, MonoNeon has played Newport Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and more. Stay tuned for more new music later this year.
MASMA DREAM WORLD (Wire Magazine Cover Star) Releases New Album 'PLEASE COME TO ME'
MASMA DREAM WORLD
WIRE MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2025 COVER STAR
RELEASES NEW ALBUM
OUT NOW VIA VALLEY OF SEARCH
BANDCAMP LISTENING PARTY AT 2PM ET
PERFORMING IN LOS ANGELES NEXT WEEK
“A matrix of lucid electronics.. On PLEASE COME TO ME, Masma Dream World plumbs the abyssal depths of the divine feminine, charting a path of devotion to the Mother Kali” - The Wire ‘Cover Story’
"music rooted in drones and ritual rhythms..like a visitor probing a dark cavern, occasionally knocking something loose that clatters noisily into the void" - New York Times
"a strange, discomfiting document of the singer-composer’s energy..tangles together traditional African sounds and rhythms with Western electronic styles ranging from ambient to harsh noise" - The FADER
"a divine, spectral source of unease..“mother” is the only lyric in the song, but it hits you like a paragraph, rummaging through your skin until it crawls" - Paste Magazine
"The astonishing new record from Masma Dream World obliterates all genres to arrive at something haunting, potent, and powerful." - Bandcamp Daily
“by turns meditative, tortured, and exultant, it transmutes the abyssal language of devotion and the divine feminine through cavernous electronics, spine-chilling noise, and a powerful voice” - Our Culture
“a striking and viscerally powerful experience” - Outside Left
Masma Dream World is the experimental project led by artist and healer Devi Mambouka. With roots in Gabon and Singapore, Mambouka is a child of the world. She recalls rainforest rituals and the presence of ghosts and spirits throughout her childhood in Gabon before immigrating to The Bronx. Here, instead of forests, she lost herself in record stores and began a spiritual, educational journey, DJing and immersing herself in NYC’s nightlife. A former Catholic school student, she studied religions of all kinds but found her guides in magic, maternal Hindu ancestors, the Black Madonna and Kali, the Hindu goddess of creation and destruction, and the mother of the forgotten ones.
Today, she releases her sophomore album, PLEASE COME TO ME, out via the venerable avant garde label Valley of Search, run by Nabil Ayers. The album was culled from sessions over the course of two weekends with no specific concept in mind, but the result was years in the making, time focused on deepening her spirituality through meditation, Hindu mysticism, and Advaita Vedantic texts.
Her father was from the indigenous Bahoumbou tribe of Gabon, while her mother is Bengali and Cantonese from Singapore. Her influences are global in scope. The mystical experiences of her travels are incorporated into the music, like the church bells on today’s single, or spontaneous singing inspired by a visit to La Vierge Noire (the Black Madonna) in Rocamadour, France. While walking through a cave, the spirits led her to record her voice, so she pulled out her phone. That recording appears on “The Island Where the Goddess Lives” and the sound is echoey and distant, reversed language going back through time. There are field recordings from her visits with her family in Singapore and the temples and rice paddy fields of Bali.
In the isolation of a bitter Wisconsin winter surrounded by the Northwoods, her connections to the spiritual unseen world deepened. When she returned to her mother’s apartment in New York City, she stumbled upon old, damaged tapes of spiritual lectures from her late aunt’s collection and saw it as a sign to begin work on the album.
PLEASE COME TO ME was preceded by singles “O, Dark Mother,” “Pordeno Me,” “PLEASE COME TO ME,” & “Ancient DNA.” Devi graced the cover of Wire Magazine this month, and the singles have been praised by The FADER, Paste Magazine, Bandcamp Daily, and The New York Times, among others.
LISTEN/PURCHASE PLEASE COME TO ME
Masma Dream World turned heads with her 2020 debut Play at Night, a record that established the multi-instrumentalist as a singular voice, combining field recordings, throttling bass, skittering electronics and traditional Gabonese rhythms for an awe inspiring, transportative sound.
To celebrate the release of PLEASE COME TO ME, Masma Dream World performed at New York’s Public Records last night alongside Zola Jesus, who performed under her Noise Project NIKA for a night celebrating Parashakti, an invocation of the "Ultimate Divine Feminine Power." At 2pm ET this afternoon, she’ll host a Bandcamp Listening Party and answer questions about the record. Tomorrow at 2pm ET she’ll DJ the Lot Radio, and on Monday at 8pm ET she’ll guest on NTS Radio.
Next week she’ll head to Los Angeles to perform at Gold Diggers on February 28th presented by Desert Daze.
TOUR DATES
Feb 28th - Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers TICKETS
Masma Dream World by Courtney Sofiah Yates for The Wire Magazine
Tracklist:
01 Only Wish
02 Hells Bells
03 Pordeno Me
04 Seeking Your Protection
05 PLEASE COME TO ME
06 O, Dark Mother
07 Ancient DNA
08 The Island Where The Goddess Lives
09 What If It Was True
10 The Last Poet
11 Without A Body
Glixen unveil new EP 'Quiet Pleasures' via AWAL / Wichita Recordings
GLIXEN SHARE SEARING SOPHOMORE EP
QUIET PLEASURES - LISTEN
VIA AWAL AND WICHITA RECORDINGS
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WITH SHE’S GREEN
AND SUZY CLUE BEGINS TONIGHT IN LAS VEGAS
SET TO PLAY COACHELLA, NOISE POP FESTIVAL
AND SUPPORT JIMMY EAT WORLD
[image error]Photo credit: Jocelyn Pacheco
"A crucial contributor to the ongoing American shoegaze renaissance."
- STEREOGUM
“Listening to the guitars is akin to the feeling of being squeezed from above, a slow dreamlike compression.”
- THE FADER
“A plush yet dark soundscape that crashes over you in emotive and powerful waves.”
- COMPLEX
“Just when you thought the shoegaze revival had reached its logical endpoint, along comes Glixen with the audacity to explode that notion.”
- NME
“Towering, sensual shoegaze.”
- ALTERNATIVE PRESS
“Pummeling, breakdown-esque riffs.”
- FLOOD MAGAZINE
“Intertwines shoegaze tropes with spurts of spiritual jazz.”
- GLIDE MAGAZINE
Glixen are excited to share their sophomore EP, Quiet Pleasures, available now digitally via AWAL and on vinyl via Wichita Recordings. Across five songs, the Phoenix shoegazers combine syrupy vocals, heartfelt lyricism and humming riffs to deliver an emotional and reverb-drenched EP. quiet pleasures was produced by Sonny DiPerri (DIIV, My Bloody Valentine), mastered by Dave Cooley (Paramore, Rancid) and recorded at Pale Moon Ranch in Juniper Hills, CA.
“‘quiet pleasures’ explores change, desire, devotion, sensuality and lovingness," explains bandleader Aislinn Ritchie. “We used layers of fuzzed-out and gritty guitars to introduce a darker, more intense iteration of Glixen while still capturing the fluttery charm of shoegaze.”
LISTEN TO QUIET PLEASURES
Last year, the band released “lick the star,” “lust,” “foreversoon,” and “sick silent” to preview today’s release. Each track marked a step forward within their sound; atmospheric and drenched in distortion, continuing a sonic evolvement that feels fresh and completely locked in. The final preview of the EP, “all tied up,” arrived last month. As guitars churned around vocalist Aislinn Ritchie’s pleading vocals, hard-hitting drums anchored the sonic hurricane, showcasing the band’s growing sound-melding abilities.
LISTEN TO “ALL TIED UP”
LISTEN THE “LICK THE STAR” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
WATCH THE “SICK SILENT” OFFICIAL VISUALIZER
LISTEN TO “LUST”
WATCH THE “FOREVERSOON” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Glixen had a massive 2024. From playing SXSW (see Rolling Stone) and Treefort Festival to supporting genre stalwarts like Interpol, DIIV, Nothing., Tanukichan, Turnover and Glare, Glitterer, Softcult and Fish Narc, they’ve played to packed crowds across the country. The run continues this year with their first-ever headlining North American tour with support from contemporaries she’s green and Suzy Clue and appearances at Coachella, Noise Pop Festival and Freakout Weekender. For more information, see below for a complete list of Glixen’s upcoming shows.
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★ GLIXEN LIVE 2025 ★
FEBRUARY
21 - Backstage Bar - Las Vegas, NV
22 - The Great Room - Fresno, CA
23 - Starlet Room - Sacramento, CA
25 - Noise Pop Festival - San Francisco, CA
27 - Polaris Hall - Portland, OR #
28 - The Shakedown - Bellingham, WA #
MARCH
1 - Freakout Weekender - Seattle, WA #
2 - Neurolux - Boise, ID #
3 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT #
5 - Hi-Dive - Denver, CO #
7 - 7th St.Entry - Minneapolis, MN #
8 - Howdy - Kansas City, MO #
9 - Schubas - Chicago, IL %#
10 - Lager House - Detroit, MI %#
11 - Bottlerocket Social Hall - Pittsburgh, PA %#
13 - Monarch Tavern - Toronto, ON %#
14 - Cabaret Foufounes - Montreal, QC %#
15 - Baby’s All Right - Brooklyn, NY %#
16 - PhilaMOCA - Philadelphia, PA %#
17 - DC9 - Washington, DC %#
18 - The Pinhook - Durham, NC %#
20 - DRKMTTR - Nashville, TN %#
21 - The Masquerade - Altar - Atlanta, GA %#
22 - LCY Media - Birmingham, AL %#
24 - Club Dada - Dallas, TX %#
25 - The Ballroom - Austin, TX %#
26 - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX %#
28 - Sister Bar - Albuquerque, NM #
29 - Club Congress - Tucson, AZ #
APRIL
4 - Tarros Chicali - Yuma, AZ
5 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ #
10 - Fox Theater - Pomona, CA*
11 - Coachella - Indio, CA †
18 - Coachella - Indio, CA †
# - w/She’s Green
% - w/ Suzy Clue
* - w/ Jimmy Eat World
† Festival Appearance
IDER Releases New Album 'Late To The World' | North American Headline Tour Starts In April
IDER
RELEASES NEW ALBUM
LATE TO THE WORLD
+ FEATURING NEW SINGLE “KILLING THE GAME”
+ NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR IN APRIL
Photo Credit: Sami Weller
February 21, 2025 - After teasing their next full-length project over the last few months with the singles “Know How It Hurts,” "Unlearn", “Girl,” “You Don’t Know How To Drive,” and “Attachment Theory,” leftfield alt-pop UK duo IDER have today shared their third album Late To The World alongside focus track “Killing The Game” out now via Nettwerk.
Produced by Dann Hume (Laura Mvula, Troye Sivan, Tkay Maidza) and recorded on residency in his church-cum-studio between summer and autumn 2023, Late To The World pushes IDER’s tender sound in a tougher direction. It is both bigger in scale and deliberately restrained, honing its contrasting textures of lush electronics and blistering indie rock. The result, they say, is the album they’ve “always wanted to make”.
Drawing on a mix of dejected British new wave, euphoric electro-pop and swooning alt rock in the vein of Mazzy Star, the resulting sound is as cinematic as their storytelling – with an added dash of grit and the introduction of live drums (while they’ve always used a live drummer on tour, this is the first time they’ve been laid to record) that reflect the album’s real world footing.
As liberated in subject matter as it is in sound, Late To The World represents IDER’s long and continuous journey of self-discovery both as individuals and as a band. It’s an album borne from weathering the confusion of your twenties and stepping into the clarity of your thirties; its 12 tracks acting as rallying cries for rejecting societal pressures and turning up to life at your own pace.
New single “Killing The Game” is the penultimate song on Late To The World and wholly embodies the central theme of the album; being a late bloomer. A calm yet powerful electro-pop track, lyrically it looks at how the world can sometimes feel it moves on without you, unable to keep up and unsure if you want to. The band say: “‘Killing The Game’ is for the socially anxious. Set at a party, watching people enjoy themselves whilst you feel like you’re on the outside - the perception that everyone is ‘killing the game’ whilst you are being left behind.”
IDER recently announced a world tour for Spring 2025, including headline dates in North America. Tour dates below.
LISTEN TO LATE TO THE WORLD:
https://idermusic.ffm.to/latetotheworld_album
North American Tour Dates:
April 10th, 2025 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
April 11th, 2025 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
April 12th, 2025 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
April 15th, 2025 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
April 16th, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
April 18th, 2025 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas (Sold Out)
April 19th, 2025 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake (Sold Out)
April 22nd, 2025 – Washington, DC @ DC 9
April 23rd, 2025 – Boston, MA @ The Rockwell (Sold Out)
April 24th, 2025 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Sultan Room (Sold Out)
April 25th, 2025 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
LATE TO THE WORLD LP Tracklist:
1. Late To The World
2. Attachment Theory
3. Unlearn
4. Girl
5. Know How It Hurts
6. Hard Enough To Let You Go
7. Zero
8. You Don’t Know How To Drive
9. Quiet Violence
10. Good Fight
11. Killing The Game
12. Encore
North American Tour Dates:
April 10th, 2025 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
April 11th, 2025 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
April 12th, 2025 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
April 15th, 2025 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
April 16th, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
April 18th, 2025 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
April 19th, 2025 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake
April 22nd, 2025 – Washington, DC @ DC 9
April 23rd, 2025 – Boston, MA @ The Rockwell
April 24th, 2025 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Sultan Room
LATE TO THE WORLD LP Tracklist:
1. Late To The World
2. Attachment Theory
3. Unlearn
4. Girl
5. Know How It Hurts
6. Hard Enough To Let You Go
7. Zero
8. You Don’t Know How To Drive
9. Quiet Violence
10. Good Fight
11. Killing The Game
12. Encore
IDER Socials:
Isabel Pless makes the mundane feel massive on debut album 'Workhorse'
ISABEL PLESS MAKES THE MUNDANE
FEEL MASSIVE ON
DEBUT ALBUM WORKHORSE
OUT TODAY — STREAM
SEEKING NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN HER LIST OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE “I JOINED A CULT”
OFFICIAL VIDEO — WATCH
Press photo by Patrick McCormack
“The straightforward instrumentation allows for the lyrics to take center stage. Armed with a linguistics degree from Wellesley College, Pless has a knack for writing lyrics that paint vivid images.”
“Isabel Pless twinkles and croons over acoustics that all but bring goosebumps to each and every listener. The spirit of the moon and the stars fill every fiber of her being, which makes her vulnerable compositions and whimsical poetry a true universal experience.”
“Rhythmic and enchanting”
Today, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Isabel Pless makes everyday life feel monumental with the release of her debut album Workhorse. The ten-song project spans mellow folk to headbanging pop, but her writing consistently honors each tone and notion. Isabel is your older sister reminding you of your self-worth, she is your best friend crying in your passenger seat about a breakup, and she is you wondering when things will finally start going your way — Stream.
Produced and co-written by Ariza, each song offers a new sound and a different perspective from the last: Workhorse’s charm stems from its range. There are no right or wrong emotions, and Isabel feels them all with humor to spare. And she invites you to feel them all alongside her.
“‘Workhorse’ is the debut album I’ve been dreaming about since I started writing songs in middle school and that makes me feel incredibly fulfilled,” shares Pless. “Creating these songs helped give me perspective on my life. I feel simultaneously nervous and hopeful that now this album will make its way into other people’s lives.”
Opening with the self-titled track “Isabel,” this song arose out of a moment of need. Pless’ lyrics dictate an inner monologue that rails at people-pleasing and gives grace to imperfection. Winding our way to another standout track like “The Bite,” there’s more of a dark, spell-like energy. This essence mirrors a shift in lyrical and compositional tone from Pless’s previous works, making the song a sonic tug of war between anger and anxiety.
By the time the listener reaches “Blonde,” Pless is her most witty and candid self. A raging, headbanging, pop-romp, Pless is backed by an entourage of electric guitars and a hefty choir of vocals, that allows the track to maintain its drama right up until the final acoustic down-chorus. Reaching the capstone of the album’s honesty with its closing, title track, she is in a self-inflicted battle with complacency. Leaving the body of work open ended, the final line “I'm worried this is the best version of me” feels hollow but not defeated.
Today also sees the release of the official video for “I Joined a Cult.” The track examines the pattern of falling into toxic friendships and relationships, a balance of confusion and remorse. In the video Pless has a sense of childlike wonder as she tries to recruit more people into her circle, constantly seeking out connection — Watch.
Workhorse Track List
“Isabel”
“Nobody’s Funeral”
“The Bite”
“I Don’t Feel Pretty”
“I’ll See Him in Hell”
“Shirley Temples”
“Blonde”
“(Transition) Company”
“I Joined a Cult”
“Workhorse”
Press photo by Patrick McCormack
ABOUT ISABEL PLESS:
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Isabel Pless is a self-proclaimed “word girl.” Born and raised in Vermont, Isabel began writing songs at age 12 following in the footsteps of musical inspirations such as Joni Mitchell, The Chicks and Alanis Morissette. Her songs are personal, playful and smart — she often calls into question the contradictions and challenges of what it means to be a young woman.
In 2020, she started posting clips of her original songs on TikTok and has since amassed an audience of 117k followers. Isabel’s 2023 EP Bad Luck Letting You Go has accumulated over 1.4 million streams across streaming platforms and was featured on Spotify playlists such as New Music Friday and All New Indie, and Apple playlists like Acoustic Chill and New in Singer-Songwriter. Over the past year, she’s recorded an Audiotree session, toured with Donovan Woods and Henry Jamison, and played headline shows across the US and in London. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and an ability to write relatable yet hyper-specific songs, Isabel is redefining what it means to be a singer-songwriter in the age of social media.
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For more information on Isabel Pless, please visit:
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | TikTok
February 19, 2025
John Belushi, Jerry Nolan join the Dead Boys for a special night at CBGBs
John Belushi, Jerry Nolan join the Dead Boys for a special night at CBGBs
Los Angeles, California: With the Dead Boys’ first all-new album in over 40 years drawing closer every day, Cleopatra Records continue preparing for its release with the latest in a series of deep dives inside the Cleveland punks’ archive… the night that the Dead Boys became, for one show only, the Dead Dolls.
With regular drummer Johnny Blitz hospitalized following a murderous street attack, and in desperate need of funds for his medical costs, guitarist Cheetah Chrome conceived a benefit show at the band’s regular hang-out, CBGBs.
Swiftly, one concert became a full weekend, as the great and good of the New York punk scene turned out to perform. Blondie, Suicide, the Ramones, the Dictators, Sic Fucks, the Erasers, James Chance and the Contortions, the Student Teachers, the Fleshtones, the Mumps, Helen Robbins, Shrapnel, the Dots, the Rudies, the Senders and Divine and the Neon Women all stepped forward.
Even more excitingly, Blitz’s place at the drum kit was filled not only by New York Doll Jerry Nolan, but also Saturday Night Live regular John Belushi, a long time friend of the band’s.
“He was really concerned about Blitz,” recalls Cheetah. “In fact. the doctor who worked on Blitz was one of Belushi’s.” He was also, the guitarist continues, “into really good meat and potatoes, like a blues drummer. He was high on the blues from Chicago. He had a studio in his basement, with a full kit set up. We used to go down there and bang around.
“He could hold a beat very well, he was very straightforward. For a blues drummer, he was good.”
The Dead Boys’ set tonight was split almost equally between their own material and, in tribute to Nolan’s past, the Dolls’.
“Me and Blitz grew up on the Dolls,” says Cheetah. “We played a lot of Dolls music while we were fucking around at rehearsals, and the Dead Boys did as well, just jamming on them.
“It was a labor of love. We were rehearsing with Jerry the week before the show, and I remember I was really looking forward to doing the Dolls stuff.”
Even Dolls vocalist David Johansen’s love of the harmonica did not prove an obstacle. Dead Boys frontman Stiv Bators, says Cheetah, could already sing anything. It turned out he could play anything as well, or at least make it look that way.
“He would do the harmonica parts with his hands. Like on ‘Pills,’ he didn’t have a harmonica to play. He’d just put his hands up to his mouth and make the noise, and it sounded just like the real thing.”
Night of the Living Dead Boys is released on both CD and green and black spattered vinyl.
Track listing
1. Looking For A Kiss
2. Bad Girl
3. Tell Me
4. All This And More
5. Trash
6. Calling On You
7. Pills
8. I Need Lunch
9. (There's Gonna Be a) Showdown
10. Sonic Reducer
11. Hey Little Girl
12. Hard Headed Woman
13. It's All Over Now
CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=dead+boys+night+of+the+living+dead+dolls
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/d1jp6a4
Night of the Living Dead Boys is the sixth installment of Cleopatra’s Dead Boys archive collection, following on from the out-takes and live Ignorance In Action (The Rarities), the 1977 concert recording Live in San Francisco, the Halloween 1986 reunion show Return of the Living Dead Boys, the out-takes collection Younger, Louder And Snottyer and the lost sessions collection Third Generation Nation.
