Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 487
July 7, 2023
1990’s Underground Pioneers Heroin Release Extensive Discography on Southern Lord
1990’s Underground Pioneers Heroin Release Extensive Discography
Available now on Bandcamp and from Southern Lord. // Out on DSP's and retail stores on July 28th.
Heroin photo by: Melanie Whitman.
One of the vanguards of the 90’s underground, punk/hardcore community, San Diego’s Heroin released their first 7” in 1991 before disbanding in 1993. In that short time, the band went on to influence countless post-hardcore and screamo bands of that era and into today. Heroin’s first 7” also marked the first release for the legendary independent label Gravity Records, which was central in developing and promoting the “San Diego sound” and also branched out into other forms of experimental music across their extensive catalog.
Southern Lord revealed the band's long-awaited discography exclusively for Record Store Day last April. The extensive discography contains all of the Heroin’s out-of-print 7”s and 12”s, compilation tracks, as well as the session the band recorded at the infamous Inner Ear Studios in Washington, DC, and never-before-heard unreleased songs. A double LP Gatefold “tip on” jacket is beautifully packaged with a special zine with tons of photos and liner notes by Sonny Kay.
Check out Heroin's Discography on Bandcamp here.
“Heroin was a product of our time and our youth so I’m sure we would be unrecognizable if we kept putting out records for thirty years… I think our overall spirit could be relevant today because our lyrics and message were mostly existentialist observations and kind of just poetry," the band comments.
Read the rest of the new, in-depth interview with Heroin here.
Heroin, Discography track listing:
Side A (1)
Meaning LessA PortionThe ObviousWe Can Never KnowIn GeneralMoving PartsAnotherSide B (2)
LeaveWanderBlindWith No NameHead ColdUndertakingIndecisionSide C (3)
This TimeNever EverHas BeenI’ve Got MineCost*Wander*Things Change*Side D (4)
Comes To MindHow Could I*Compelled*This Time*A Portion*Undertaking*Has BeenDestinationSecond Coming*previously unreleased
July 6, 2023
FIRST AID KIT SHARE THE DELUXE VERSION OF THEIR FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM PALOMINO
LISTEN TO PALOMINO DELUXE (CHILD OF SUMMER EDITION) HERE ;
WATCH THE VISUALIZER FOR “EVERYBODY’S GOT TO LEARN” HERE
EAST COAST RUN OF NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE DATES KICKS OFF IN NASHVILLE JULY 12 WITH A PERFORMANCE AT NYC’S RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ON JULY 18
Photo Credit: Olof Grind Ahead of the East Coast leg of their North American headline tour, First Aid Kit has released the deluxe version of their fifth studio album Palomino . Listen HERE. Featuring five additional tracks, Palomino Deluxe (Child of Summer Edition) builds on the themes of their November LP that touch on life in the wake of loss and love. See full tracklist below. The deluxe album is accompanied by a visualizer for “Everybody’s Got to Learn,” which was shot on Super8 by their frequent creative collaborator Olof Grind – watch HERE.
In speaking about today’s release, First Aid Kit says: “When it comes to creating our albums, we tend to write more songs than we actually need. This was the case with our latest record Palomino . During the studio sessions, we recorded four new songs that we felt were incredibly special, along with an acoustic string version of our song ‘Angel.’ We couldn’t imagine not getting to share them with our listeners. Among these new tracks, ‘Everybody's Got To Learn’ holds a deep personal meaning for us. The song revolves around the idea that everyone has their own unique journey in life, and no matter how much you may want to guide or influence someone, they ultimately need to find their own way. We love the positive 1960s vibe that contradicts the lyrics and hope you do too!”
Following their sold-out West Coast trek in May, First Aid Kit will return to North America next week for the East Coast run of their international ‘Palomino Tour’ with The Weather Station supporting. The Swedish sister duo will kick things off in Nashville with a sold-out show at Ryman Auditorium on July 12 followed by dates in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and more. First Aid Kit will play New York City’s infamous Radio City Music Hall on July 18, a marquee moment for the girls who are revered for their live performance. See full routing below and visit https://www.firstaidkitband.com/ for more information.
With regards to their upcoming tour dates, First Aid Kit adds: “We love touring North America so much. We have formed a deep connection with our listeners here, and it feels like we share a unique bond. We can’t wait! Radio City Music Hall is such an iconic venue. A decade ago, we had the incredible opportunity to open for Rodriguez there, and we were absolutely amazed by the grandeur of the place. Ever since that unforgettable experience, our dream has been to headline our own show at Radio City. And now, finally, that dream is coming true, and we couldn't be more thrilled!”
Palomino, available digitally as well as in various physical configurations HERE, was originally released last November to the praise of critics and fans alike. Under the Radar claimed, “[First Aid Kit] strike melodic gold once more with some of their most uplifting and pop-centric songs to date…” while Mojo stated, “once heard, wild horses won’t drag you away.”
Palomino Deluxe (Child of Summer Edition)
Everybody’s Got to LearnChild of SummerSan Gabriel ValleyOnce Upon a TimeOut of My HeadAngelReady to RunTurning Onto YouFallen SnowWild Horses IIThe Last OneNobody KnowsA feeling that Never Came29 Palms HighwayPalominoAngel (Acoustic String Version) NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE DATES:
07/12/23 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium # (SOLD-OUT)
07/14/23 Washington, DC The Anthem #
07/15/23 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia # (SOLD-OUT)
07/16/23 Boston, MA Roadrunner #
07/18/23 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall #
07/20/23 Toronto, ON HISTORY # (SOLD-OUT)
07/21/23 Grand Rapids, MI Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park # (SOLD-OUT)
07/22/23 Chicago, IL The Salt Shed # (SOLD-OUT)
07/23/23 St. Paul, MN Palace Theatre # (SOLD-OUT)
# with The Weather Station
Follow First Aid Kit:Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Julee Cruise "Floating into the Night" re-issue
REISSUED BY SACRED BONES RECORDS
We have a very special re-issue announcement today: Sacred Bones Records are re-issuing the landmark Julee Cruise album Floating into the Night. Check out the beautiful vintage-style commercial we made for the record here.
Julee Cruise’s 1989 album Floating into the Night is a hauntingly beautiful, critically acclaimed work that showcases her unique vocal style and the atmospheric, dreamlike music of composer Angelo Badalamenti. The album was produced by Badalamenti and David Lynch, who had previously worked together on the soundtrack for Lynch’s film “Blue Velvet.” Today in the wake of both Julee Cruise and Angelo Badalamenti’s passing its important to honor their musical legacy and contribution to both the sonic and cinematic landscapes.
The album is widely regarded as a masterpiece, a definitive moment in the development of the Dream Pop genre, and the unofficial soundtrack to the cult classic television show Twin Peaks. And while the album’s best known song may be the show’s iconic theme song ”Falling,” it also contains many of Cruise’s most beloved hits including “Rockin’ Back Inside My Heart” and “The Nightingale.”
Each of the album’s 10 tracks showcase Cruise’s ethereal vocals, which have often been described as “angelic” and “otherworldly,” gliding over Badalamenti’s lush, cinematic arrangements, perfectly complementing his combination of retro styles and modern ambience. Her lyrics often touch on themes of love, longing, and loss, adding an emotional depth to the already evocative music.
Floating into the Night was a critical and commercial success, receiving widespread praise for its innovative sound and moody, atmospheric vibe. It remains a beloved classic of the dream pop and indie rock genres, and a must-listen for fans of Lynch’s cinematic work and experimental music in general.
This magical genre defining and era defying opus has continued throughout time to enchant new audiences and reveal new layers of cultural significance. The music’s juxtaposition between soothing and somber, which have always paired particularly well with Lynch’s psychedelically saccharine worlds filled with underbellies of vast darkness, perfectly straddles the razors edge of humanity, an edge that has become increasingly precarious in modern times. The album is at once a gorgeous romantic narcotic and a bottomless container for fear and sadness.
LISTEN HERE: https://lnk.to/FloatingintotheNight
Julee Cruise’s Floating into the Night is now available on various formats, including our Sacred Bones mail-order exclusive pink and black galaxy color vinyl, while supplies last! Limited edition bundles come with a special 11x17 poster and a copy of our release Three Demos.
Glasser shares new single / video "Drift"
GLASSER SHARES NEW SINGLE / VIDEO "DRIFT"
CRUX DUE OCTOBER 6TH VIA ONE LITTLE INDEPENDENT RECORDS
press photo credit Yis Kid
"Drift"
WATCH:
LISTEN:
crux
PRE-ORDER/SAVE:
“A methodical, computer-tethered expedition into the vast, wild expanse of human feeling...chilly digital perfection"
Pitchfork
"an eerie, enveloping benediction"
The New York Times
"Striking"
The FADER
“Potent, sexually charged and teeming with life”
Dazed
(July 6, 2023) - Glasser shares a new single and video, "Drift," from her upcoming anticipated album, crux, arriving on October 6th via One Little Independent Records. The song features Eleonore Oppenheim on bass, Jason Yang on violin, with Patrick Ford contributing string arrangements. Glasser shares, "The song was written a really long time ago. I was so excited about it that when I wrote it I made like fifty different versions of the song and the one that's on the record is an amalgam of three different versions. That lyric is just something that came out of me, 'What a good life / Except for all those times / When you want to die' It was kind of meant to be a joke, but sounds quite serious in the context of the entire record. But also, jokes are serious sometimes too. It's good to joke about serious things, for me at least. I made so many versions. And I really wanted the final version to have a dark disco vibe because dancing about death is better than weeping. They're both good, but I wanted to dance about that."
Adding about how the concept for the video came together Glasser notes, "The concept for the video originally came together from an earlier visual I shot with Niles Roth in the Poconos in an abandoned love motel. We shot a video there which was my face projected onto my face in the rubble of this space. The original video never came out and when it was time to shoot a new video for this song we were inspired by the original footage we captured and incorporated a similar concept."
The new track follows her lead single "Vine," which was accompanied by a Julia Crockett visual. Her first album in ten years, crux discusses the death of an old friend, her meditations on the fragility of life and the delicacy of relationships in times of uncertainty. More than anything it’s about the importance of creativity and writing while healing, and on an individual level, looking inward and the examination of one’s grief, anxiety, and insecurities. Musically it searches outward, including the use of traditional folk, Celtic to communicate her Scottish roots, and Eastern-European styles, all introduced to her lush, atmospheric production, intricate vocal harmonies, and complex rhythms.
Apart from her majestic 2022 single "New Scars," crux marks a return following her sublime Sextape mix in 2018 and two critically acclaimed albums, Ring and Interiors, released in 2010 and 2013, respectively. In this time Glasser performed at MoMA, PS1, The Walker Arts Center, MOCA, Coachella, Primavera, Latitude, Field Day, and she toured with the XX and Sigur Rós' Jónsi. She’s also collaborated on remix projects with the likes of Fever Ray, Jamie XX and John Talabot.
Explaining the hiatus, Glasser shares; “Just getting back to making songs was hard for me after the last album. When I made my first album, I didn’t have an established routine of trying and failing, it was very immediate. The second record was made after a few years of touring, which is a very unstable life, and I still didn’t establish a relationship to creating things regularly. After its release, I didn’t have a center from which to recompose myself. The thing that finally brought me back to music as a positive experience was that I began taking lessons to learn Balkan singing. I wanted to try to learn all this vocal gymnastic stuff that I was listening to in the Bulgarian state television choir records. I started writing songs and working toward an album.”
The tracks on crux weave disparate elements together into a cohesive, complimentary whole. They make up an album that seamlessly marries an eclectic array of sounds to create a complete, immersive concept piece about the search for meaning and answers through the creation of art. Coming back to the making of an album after a decade (released 10 years and 2 days after to be precise) wasn’t only therapeutic but necessary to process notions of life and death.
Cameron shares, “I guess it’s just about the sort of inevitability of us coming to our own fate, and some of the lyrics are about my voice and the fear of my voice disappearing. Itself a kind of death. This record for me is texturally and thematically half heaven and half earth. crux was a word that stuck with me always, as it’s onomatopoeic, it literally sounds like a vital aspect of intersection. It’s a cross in Latin, and it’s a horizon to me. I’m the crux of this project and I’m on the earth and heaven is inside of me. And in us all.”
Born in Boston, raised in the Bay Area by musician parents, Mesirow crafted GarageBand demos that pitted her delicate, swooping vocals over sparse electronic rhythms and circular melodies that evoked avant-garde music and global folk. These tracks made their way to labels True Panther and Young Turks, which released both her albums. She self-released Sextape, an intimate project that built her production around conversations on formative sexual experiences, which was praised by fans and critics alike. She is now signed to One Little Independent Records.
Listen to "Drift" and pre-order/save crux above. Stay tuned for more music from Glasser coming soon.
crux artwork
Glasser
crux
One Little Independent Records
October 6th 2023
1. A Guide
2. Vine
3. Easy
4. Knave
5. Mass Love
6. Thick Waltz
7. All Lovers
8. Clipt
9. Undrunk
10. Drift
11. Ophrys
12. Choir Prayer
Connect with Glasser:
Stream “1970” From Boris’s ‘Heavy Rocks (2002)’
Stream “1970” From Boris’s Heavy Rocks (2002)
The celebrated album, never-before released on vinyl or digital formats, will arrive 8/18 (DL) and 9/8 (CD/LP) from Third Man Records. // See Boris on tour with Melvins this summer + fall.
Photo by: Miki Matsushima
Boris and Third Man Records are excited to present Heavy Rocks (2002) on LP and digital formats for the first time ever (+ a CD format re-press), 21 years since it first surfaced. Its original release in 2002 circulated only domestically in Boris’ home base of Japan, leaving worldwide listeners eager for physical copies of the album. At the time, as record pressings were in production, a fire broke out at the plant and the stamper was lost, rendering the album out-of-print for many, many years — and it quickly became a cult classic. The long-awaited reissue, out digitally on August 18th and physically on September 8th, was restored from the original TD master.
Lauded Heavy Rocks (2002) single "1970" arrives today on streaming platforms.
Listen / Share / Playlist "1970" on DSP's here.
Listen / Share "1970" on YouTube.
The release of Heavy Rocks (2002) will coincide with the newly-announced Boris + Melvins U.S. tour this summer and fall. The bands have circled each other with reverence for many years; they first played a show together in 1999 during Melvins' first time in Japan, and ever since they have deepened their friendship and enjoyed opportunities to play together whenever possible. This time, for their first ever tour together, Boris and Melvins will be playing a full set of songs from their classic albums: Bullhead from Melvins and Heavy Rocks (2002) from Boris.
Pre-order Heavy Rocks (2002) here, check out a new line of Heavy Rocks merch here, and stay tuned for more news on Boris's inimitable output to come.
Heavy Rocks (2002), track listing:
Heavy FriendsKorosuDyna-SoarWareruraidoSoft EdgeDronevilDeath ValleyKoeiThe Bell Tower Of A Sign1970RattlesnakeWareruraido (Demo Version)1970 (Demo Version)Heavy Rocks (2002) cover art:
Heavy Rocks (2002) vinyl mockup (orange variant available at indie record stores worldwide):
Boris + Melvins, on tour:
August 24 Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theater
August 25 Pomona, CA @ Glass House
August 26 Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s
August 27 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
August 28 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
August 29 Petaluma, CA @ Mystic Theatre
August 31 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
September 1 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
September 2 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
September 3 Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
September 5 Fargo, ND @ The Hall at Fargo Brewing Company
September 6 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
September 7 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
September 8 Chicago, IL @ The Metro
September 9 St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag
September 11 Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
September 12 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
September 13 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
September 14 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
September 15 Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian
September 16 Maspeth, NY @ DesertFest NYC
September 18 Albany, NY @ Empire Live
September 19 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
September 20 Bethlehem, PA @ MusicFest Cafe
September 21 Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia
September 22 Washington, DC @ The Howard Theatre
September 23 Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27
September 24 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
September 26 Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
September 27 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
September 28 Savannah, GA @ District Live
September 29 Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
September 30 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s
October 2 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live - Studio
October 3 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
October 4 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
October 5 Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall
October 6 Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
October 7 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
October 9 Denver, CO @ Summit
October 11 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
October 13 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
October 14 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
For more on Boris:
Dexys (fka Dexys Midnight Runners) Share "My Submission" Single | 'The Feminine Divine' LP Due 7/28
Share "My Submission" Single
September UK & IRE Headlining Tour, Tickets Available Now
The Feminine Divine LP Due 7/28 via 100% Records,
First New LP of Original Material in Over a Decade
Photo by Sandra VijandiLISTEN & SHARE: Dexys - "My Submission"Stream
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Dexys - "Coming Home"
Stream / YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Dexys - "The Feminine Divine"
Stream / YouTube
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Dexys - "I'm Going To Get Free"
Stream / YouTube"Deeply impassioned vocalist and smartly emotive songwriter Kevin Rowland has made lyrical intensity and melodic contagion with dramatic flair (and a dress sense of sartorial splendor) his calling card"
- FLOOD Magazine
"Rowland — as singer and songwriter with Dexys Midnight Runners — gave us some of the great pop moments. From the bolshy vision of Searching for the Young Soul Rebels through the celtic-gumbo of Too-Rye-Ay and '85's neglected masterpiece, Don't Stand Me Down, his is a towering contribution to British music, both visually and musically."
- UNCUT Magazine
"Dexys, the band who confound you with their strangeness – and then their brilliance."
- The Guardian
"Dexys are one of the greatest groups to emerge from the United Kingdom and in Kevin Rowland they have one of the most intelligent songwriters and charismatic frontmen that ever graced a stage."
- PopMatters
"A timely reminder of Kevin Rowland’s and Dexys' impact and importance"
- The Quietus
Read the Stereogum + Brooklyn Vegan Features
Storied English pop-rock band Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners) — who are perhaps best known for their Brit Award-winning commercial smash-hit "Come On Eileen," which reached number one in 8 countries and became the best-selling single in the UK and US in 1982 — are finally returning in full swing with their first new record of original material in over a decade, The Feminine Divine, due July 28 via 100% Records.
To introduce the record, they recently shared its first few singles ("I'm Going To Get Free," "The Feminine Divine," and "Coming Home"). In continuation of the album rollout, today, Dexys share the record's newest single, "My Submission."
Speaking on the track, Rowland wrote: "In the previous track 'Goddess Rules,' during which she lays down the law, he agrees to her rules. Now, in 'My Submission,' he attempts to convince her that he is ready to submit by declaring his undying love. He’s at his most vulnerable now but he’s excited at where the relationship is heading."
The Feminine Divine is Dexys’ fifth album of original material produced once again by Pete Schwier, along with acclaimed session musician and producer Toby Chapman. After taking some time out to refocus his energy, Kevin Rowland came back to music with a fresh perspective and new-found positivity. A personal, if not strictly autobiographical, record portraying a man whose views have evolved over time. Not just on women, but the whole concept of masculinity he had been raised with: an education and an un-learning that is traced across the arc of The Feminine Divine with dizzying effect.
To support their new LP, Dexys recently announced a full UK and European tour, and they are now expanding to include dates in North America (this will be their first appearance in the States since 1983).
On the forthcoming tour, Kevin Rowland wrote: "I’m totally delighted to be coming back to the US, and most importantly, on our own terms, and not on the revival circuit. We will be playing theatres presenting a dramatic performance {acting the songs out} of our new album ‘The Feminine Divine’, followed by Dexys favourites."
Full dates below and tickets on-sale HERE.DEXYS LINKS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
AMAARA Unveils “Still” Single + Video | LP out Friday | Echoes “CD of the Month”
AMAARA
Unveils “ Still ” Single + Video
Available across platforms here .
Echoes Radio July “CD of the Month”
Debut Album Child of Venus out Friday
Singles: “ New Love’s Mortal Coil ” “ Bright Lights ” “ Still ”
“I'm enthralled by a six-song EP from the artist known as AMAARA” – NPR, Bob Boilen
“one of the most beautiful and incisive dream pop albums of the year” - Echoes, CD of the Month
“surreal and nuanced.” - Exclaim!
"'New Love’s Mortal Coil” is a slickly produced. atmospheric bop that sounds indebted to 80s synth pop and hip-hop but rooted in modern production." - The Joy of Violent Movement
“ambient-infused pop music that will leave you either in a state of trance
or singing along or both!” - AudioFuzz
Child of Venus is the striking debut full length album from Canadian-born singer, songwriter, producer, filmmaker and actor Kaelen Ohm (she/they) who performs under the musical moniker AMAARA. Released Friday, the collection is classic-era dream pop at its core, drawing influence from jazz, R&B and folk music with reverb drenched guitars, soaring synths, layered vocal harmonies and expansive percussion. Early singles “New Love’s Mortal Coil” and “Bright Lights” earned acclaim from GLAAD, FEMMUSIC, Full Time Aesthetic, AudioFuzz, Ghettoblaster Magazine, and more. Arriving today alongside a brand new official video, new single “Still” swoops and bends like Treasure-era Cocteau Twins as Ohm immerses herself in what living through love really means. “It’s about looking at love as a journey,” shares Ohm. “At the other side of it, there can be so much reflection and beauty - and questioning where the other person is at in their process.”
Child of Venus is the culmination of a lifetime of artistic pursuits - a document of rediscovery and transition, with Kaelen Ohm coming up for air as an artist and human being truly reborn. As AMAARA, she is reflecting on love and loss throughout the album, as well as the healing power of pure psychedelia and the act of connecting with her inner child—which has led her to reflect on her own adolescence at large. “I’ve been on a journey of looking into my own childhood conditioning, and the notion of unbounded creative genius as well as where that goes wrong in adolescence,” she explains. A reflective work that zooms in on the things we hold close and what manages to escape our grasp, Child of Venus is a record that leaves a mark on anyone who hears it, in the best way possible.
Kaelen Ohm is the definition of a multidisciplinary artist. Cutting her teeth in various Canadian indie bands as a front woman, guitarist and keyboard player, she has opened for a broad range of acts like St. Vincent, RY X, Shannon and the Clams, Vance Joy and The Counting Crows. Over the past six years, Ohm has nurtured a very successful career in film and TV. Following her starring role in the Netflix original series Hit and Run, she was cast in Season 2 of the hit horror series FROM (MGM+/Paramount+), by the creators of Lost. She has also appeared in various American shows and films including Taken (NBC), Condor (MGM) and Flint (Lifetime).
Credit: Christian Sorensen Hanson
Oracle Sisters Share New Single + Video "Cigale Song"
ORACLE SISTERS
SHARE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO “CIGALE SONG”
SOLD-OUT INTIMATE LONDON SHOW WITH STRING QUARTET AT LADBROKE HALL JULY 11TH
SUPPORTING PULP AT SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE JULY 9TH
US HEADLINE TOUR + GLOBAL SUMMER FESTIVALS INCLUDING END OF THE ROAD
DEBUT ALBUM HYDRANISM OUT NOW VIA 22TWENTY
Credit: Ella Herme
“Hydranism is one of the most authentically beautiful debuts to be released this decade.”
8/10 CLASH
“an incredibly impressive debut record that weaves elements of Jazz, Baroque, Indie and Surf Rock harmoniously with each element feeling at home and the sense of a group that has deep musical knowledge.”
7/10 Gigwise
“Adventurous and unique..there’s no hiding the ambition and ability in their songwriting” -
★★★★ - NME
“The undisputed riders of the heart” - So Young
“With one listen, you’ll probably fall in love with the melodic mastery apparent in each finely crafted track” - V Magazine
“This trio of young Paris-based (but not born) friends swap instruments and harmonies with nauseating ease” - The New Cue
“This is Oracle Sisters, and they’re just masters, this band…these beautiful little melodies that worm their way inside your head and then stay there. They’re really really soft, acoustic-ey, beautiful beautiful songs…” - Matt Wilkinson
“Glorious” - Huw Stephens
“Lovely” - Radcliffe & Maconie
Today - July 6th, Oracle Sisters release a new video for “Cigale Song,” drawn from their acclaimed debut album Hydranism out now via US indie label 22TWENTY. The video comes ahead of two intimate headline shows; Paris Galliera and a unique London Ladbroke Hall show accompanied by a string quartet (sold-out), with the band also set to support Pulp at Scarborough Open Air Theatre this Sunday (9th). These dates follow a US tour of headline shows and support dates with longtime friend and collaborator Declan McKenna, SXSW + Bonnaroo, and sold-out spring UK & EU tours. Later this summer the band will play a string of European festivals including End Of The Road before embarking on another North American headline tour in September.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “CIGALE SONG” HERE
At the tail end of 2020, Oracle Sisters decamped to the island of Hydra, Greece to write and record their debut album, Hydranism. Recorded over the course of two months, the acclaimed 11-track album reflects a world suspended in time between the future and the past, and embraces larger than life ballads, intimate folk songs and table thumping rousers spun with the silk of poetic reveries.
Having released 2 critically acclaimed EPs in Paris I & Paris II in 2020 and 2021 respectively, Hydranism has been years in the making, merging the band’s influences of folk, rock, jazz and blues. The band’s sprawling epic of an album opener “Tramp Like You” was praised by the likes of DORK, DIY, CLASH, The New Cue and more as well as earning widespread global radio airplay from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music (Cerys Matthews, Apple Radio (Matt Wilkinson), KCRW (Morning Becomes Eclectic), Belgium’s Radio 1, France’s FIP (where they were album of the month), and college radio across the USA. The band’s music has been used in campaigns by the likes of Ralph Lauren, Michelob, Victoria’s Secret, and Patagonia.
Oracle Sisters make music that is at once melodic, poetic, and visionary. Working with the lightning speed afforded by the simplicity of a piano and a guitar, they construct complexity through their lyrics which stem from observations of everyday life to the broader planes of symbolism. Their melodies, intertwined with harmony, always strive to uplift and surprise in the spirit of a great pop song coupled with the depth and feeling of a timeless folk song. For Hydranism, Oracle Sisters enlisted an elite collection of talent to help them create their distinct sonic vision, including Grammy Award Winning Mixer Noah Georgeson (Marlon Williams, Cate Le Bon, The Strokes), Maxime Kosinetz (Papooz, Cola Boyy) and Philip Shaw Bova (Andy Shauf, Feist).
Oracle Sisters Live Dates 2023
07 July - Palais Galliera, Paris (FR)
09 July - Scarborough Open Air Theatre w/ Pulp (UK)
11 July - Ladbroke Hall, London (UK)
14 Jul - Boomtown 2023, Gent (BE)
29 July - 17 Degrees Ribeira Sacra Festival, Lugo (ES)
19 Aug - Esférica Rioja Alavesa, Guardia (ES)
01 Sep - Into The Great Wide Open, Vlieland (NL)
02 Sep - End Of The Road Festival, Salisbury (UK)
North America Headline Tour:
13 Sep - Bar Le Ritz, Montreal, QC
14 Sep - Garrison, Toronto, ON
16 Sep - The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls, Millvale, PA
17 Sep - DC9, Washington, DC
19 Sep - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
22 Sep - Turf Club, St. Paul, MN
23 Sep - Schubas, Chicago, IL
25 Sep - Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA
26 Sep - The Jack London Revue, Portland, OR
28 Sep - Popscene/Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA
29 Sep - The Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Benét announces debut album + shares lead single
BENÉT ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM
CAN I GO AGAIN? DUE SEPTEMBER 22ND
SHARES LEAD SINGLE "INSENSITIVE"
press photo by Grade Solomon
"Insensitive"
LISTEN:
https://bayonet.nyc/insensitive
WATCH:
PRE-ORDER:
Can I go again?
(July 6, 2023) - Richmond Virginia artist Benét is back to announce their debut album, Can I go again?, due September 22nd via Bayonet Records. Alongside the announcement comes lead single "Insensitive." The classic rock love song showcases personal growth and maturity through organic instrumental accompaniment and refined songwriting. Filmed at The Branching, the accompanying video directed by The Sunroom keeps in line with the fun with a live performance video that features clever editing and an abundance of shadow play.
Can I go again? is an album that explores a wide range of indie-pop, rock, and soul tracks, evoking deep emotions and captivating listeners. The songs delve into the experiences of relationship breaks and personal growth during Benét's early 20s. With Can I go again?, Benét embraces more organic instrumentals and refined songwriting, symbolizing a reset with greater knowledge, maturity, and confidence. the music encourages individuals to take their time, grow intentionally, and confidently express their joy and vulnerability. Through collaborations with various groups of friends and musical partners in Richmond Virginia and Philadelphia like Garret Russ (guitar), Stephanie Young (bass), and Lance Holmes (drums), Benét infuses a healing quality into the album. Ultimately, the album aims to connect with the audience and inspire them to find their own place amidst the complexities of human relationships.
The album marks a transition from Benét's previous 2021 EP, Game Over, which showcased self-reflection through electronic dance and disco sounds. Since its release, Benét has dropped a remix version of the EP, Game Over: Reloaded as well as last year's singles "Will I See U?" and "Try."
Listen to "Insensitive" above and stay tuned for more from Benét coming soon.
single artwork
album artwork
Benét
Can I go again?
September 22nd, 2023
1. The Real Me
2. Missin' Out
3. Overpowering
4. No Alarm
5. Things Change
6. Insensitive
7. Facts
8. If it Happens Again
9. Lose You
10. Try (Alt Version)
Connect with Benét
Lily & Madeleine announce 5th studio album 'Nite Swim' & share track + video "Windowless Bedroom" out today
FOLK-POP DUO
LILY & MADELEINE
ANNOUNCE FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM
NITE SWIM
DUE OUT OCTOBER 6
& SHARE SOOTHING SINGLE + VIDEO
"WINDOWLESS BEDROOM"
OUT NOW
SEE THE BAND LIVE
THIS MONTH IN
COLUMBUS, OH
AND NASHVILLE, TN
"On their melancholy song "Self Care,"...Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz harmonize over a dreamy piano waltz, surveying the disconnect between a lover’s “beautiful eyes” and “blank stare."
"The thing that flags them as extraordinary is their sibling vocal blend, deep and seamless and relaxed."
"Their music — a restrained, homespun mix of folk and pop with undeniably sweet harmonies — certainly ranks among the loveliest we've heard."
"Cinematic, swirling, joyous"
Photo credit: Anna Powell Denton
Today, Indianapolis-based folk-pop duo Lily & Madeleine announce their enchanting fifth studio album Nite Swim available to pre-order now. Alongside the announcement, the band share the soothing official first taste of the project, the track and video, "Windowless Bedroom" out everywhere now. Plus, the pair will hit the road this summer with stops in Columbus, OH and Nashville, TN and tickets are on sale now via lilandmad.com.
Nite Swim, Lily & Madeleine's forthcoming fifth studio album is an expansive journey introducing the listener to various vignettes of the duo's lives over the past five years. Its central thesis explores vulnerability, acceptance, embracing shame and acknowledging one's feelings rather than running from them. Lily says the project dives into the feeling of "wanting to be intimate with someone but feeling like they’ll reject you when they see how complicated you are inside." Over ten tracks, the listener is led through intimate scenes of Lily & Madeleine's lives, collectively as sisters and individually as artists. The foundation of the songwriting was built when the band began taking stock of their lives and who is important to them. Madeleine explains, "As we go through personal hardships, it’s worth noticing the people who remain at our side and the people who disappear. What would it have been like if they stayed? Are we truly better off without them?" The album was produced by longtime friend and collaborator Shannon Hayden and other instrumentation was provided by Devon Ashley, Heidi Gluk, and Jared May.
Over a slow, grooving beat, "Windowless Bedroom," out today, embraces self-discovery and uncertainty in hopes of finding a bright spot in a dark time. Lily & Madeleine's signature dreamy harmonies float in and out throughout, with an unwavering warmth and honesty. Madeline explains, “'Windowless Bedroom' is about romanticizing and finding humor in the uncertainty and inevitable disappointments of life. The metaphor of a drab, lonely bedroom with no windows becomes a canvas for one's imagination to create a more ideal reality."
Directed by Austin Webster, the video brings viewers into Lily & Madeleine's dream world inside their hometown art studio, Healer. Between pillow forts, old video games and hanging art installations, there's a specific, dreamy haze that Webster captures throughout the video. Webster shares, "We decided to crank the shutter down on our second camera to make this jarring, wispy look that transformed Healer into a chaotic, ethereal, fantastical dreamscape for Lily & Madeleine to explore."
On the goal of the video and special location, Madeleine explains, "We wanted to create a surreal, imaginative landscape in this music video, and we knew that the immersive art installations in Indianapolis' Healer would be the perfect place to shoot. Videographers Austin Webster and Anna Doak helped us create a fun, playful video that reflects the somewhat cheeky message of the song, which is that life is messy and beautiful and all up for interpretation."
Watch "Windowless Bedroom" (Official Music Video)
Most recently, the band shared a re-imagined version of the fan-favorite track "Come to Me." Originally released in 2013, the track has over 50 million streams across platforms and has become an all-time fan favorite. Ten years later, Lily & Madeleine teamed up with longtime friend and creative partner Shannon Hayden to put their growth and evolution as artists and as people on full display. On this new version, producer and multi-instrumentalist Hayden combined folk elements of acoustic guitar and shimmering mandolin with edgy ambient electric guitar, distorted cello, and 80s-inspired synth to create a track that reflects the darker imagery of the song’s new lyrics. Madeleine explains, "The original version of 'Come to Me' presents a promise: if everything falls apart, will you come to me? This new reimagined version revisits that promise after all this time, saying: I've been with you through it all and I'll be with you forever."
Folk-pop sisters Lily & Madeleine Jurkiewicz were born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and began songwriting at ages 15 and 17 respectively. Their debut, self-titled album arrived in 2013 and their second full-length album came out in 2014, both via Asthmatic Kitty Records. In 2016, the band shared their third album Keep It Together, and the following year toured with acclaimed folk musicians John Mellencamp, Emmylou Harris, and Carlene Carter. Plus, the duo have had their music featured on fan favorite TV shows like Parenthood, Pretty Little Liars, and on the official soundtrack of the film Promising Young Woman. The pair's celebrated fourth album Canterbury Girls was released in 2019 via New West Records and solidified the band as a promising folk band to watch.
With an NPR Tiny Desk and a CBS News appearance under their belts, and 210K+ Spotify monthly listeners alone, the pair have earned fans far and wide and show no signs of slowing down. NPR raved, "Their music — a restrained, homespun mix of folk and pop with undeniably sweet harmonies — certainly ranks among the loveliest we've heard." Billboard described their 2019 album Canterbury Girls as "Cinematic, swirling, joyous." On their 2019 track "Analog Love," Refinery29 praised the pair's voices together, writing, "Their harmonies are of an otherworldly sort that can only come when people have a connection that goes far beyond one the develops from standing in proximity to each other in the studio." The New York Times echoed that sentiment, writing, "The thing that flags them as extraordinary is their sibling vocal blend, deep and seamless and relaxed." The band has fans in plenty more notable tastemakers including LA's KCRW, WXPN's World Live Cafe, Under the Radar, American Songwriter and more.
Now in 2023, Lily & Madeleine are ready to re-introduce themselves and expand their lush sonic world as they enter an all-new chapter. With a more refined sound and subject matter that cuts deeper than ever before, the pair is gearing up to share more later this year. See the duo live later this month in Columbus, OH on July 13, and in Nashville, TN on July 18. Grab tickets now at lilandmad.com.
"Windowless Bedroom," the romantic ode to self-discovery and self-love by Lily & Madeleine is out everywhere now along with its eccentric video. Nite Swim, the forthcoming fifth studio album by Lily & Madeleine is due out October 6 and is available for pre-order now. Don't miss the duo live later this month in Columbus, OH and Nashville, TN with tickets on sale now. Connect with the folk-pop duo on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube and stay tuned for much more to come.
Lily & Madeleine Bio
Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz create candid music with deep emotional and personal resonance. Born and raised in Indiana, the sisters came from a music-loving family and explored their individual musical tastes in adolescence. They began their own songwriting journey in 2012 at the age of 15 and 17 respectively. They have released four full-length albums: Lily & Madeleine (2013) and Fumes (2014) on Asthmatic Kitty Records, and Keep It Together (2016) and Canterbury Girls (2019) on New West Records. Lily & Madeleine's music has chronicled their coming-of-age as modern women and artists, and the sisters' early folk-pop sound has evolved, with a mature rock edge and their trademark “blood harmony" at the core. They toured with John Mellencamp, Emmylous Harris, and Carlene Carter in 2017 and have had their music featured in the TV shows Parenthood, Pretty Little Liars, among others, and on the official soundtrack of the film, Promising Young Woman.
One of the central themes of their work has been the growing pains of getting older and navigating adulthood. Now with over 300 live performances, 100 million lifetime streams, and a decade of experience under their belt, the sisters are poised to release their 5th full-length album Nite Swim. Lily and Madeleine joined forces with their longtime friend and bandmate Shannon Hayden to produce, arrange, and mix the album over the course of 2 years. Shannon, a virtuosic cellist and multi-instrumentalist, contributed much of the instrumentation on the record. Over ten tracks, Nite Swim guides the listener through scenes of Lily and Madeleine's lives, collectively as sisters and individually as artists. Each song reveals the wins, losses, and lessons learned over the last 10 years, the sisters' voices pristinely set within Shannon's beautifully choreographed instrumentation. It is an album that reveals a hard won maturity and offers a greater vulnerability than their past albums, though it is a vulnerability from a place of deep confidence and reclaimed ownership of their musical careers.
Lily & Madeleine Live
Summer 2023
Jul. 13 - Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe
Jul. 18 - Nashville, TN - School Night
