Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 70
June 18, 2025
Kokoroko shares "Just Can't Wait" + 'Tuff Times Never Last' due July 11th
KOKOROKO DROP NEW SINGLE “JUST CAN’T WAIT”
SECOND STUDIO ALBUM TUFF TIMES NEVER LAST
DUE OUT JULY 11TH
HEADLINE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR BEGINS JULY 30TH
Kokoroko by Kemka Ajoko
“It’s almost like these magical creatures from another dimension listened to jazz and said ‘we think we can do that’ … you can hear them venturing out into neo-soul, american funk, lovers rock… it’s so expansive, so diverse in sound, so diverse in ideas.”
NPR
“a beauty that draws in a casual listener with a catchy, heartfelt harmony or memorable riff, but also provides a rich melange of inspirations for a trained ear, from afrobeat to jazz, soul, funk, and beyond.”
HYPEBEAST
"an entrancing, groove-rooted concoction informed equally by jazz, Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and the larger Black music diaspora."
SPIN MAGAZINE
“an irresistible ray of sunshine, danceable and joyous.”
BROOKLYN VEGAN
“a vital example of not only jazz’s new form but the shape of things to come for British music.”
THE GUARDIAN
“Kokoroko are harnessing the transformative nature of Afrobeat for a new generation.”
CRACK MAGAZINE
“Just Can’t Wait”
LISTEN: https://kokoroko.lnk.to/justcantwaitIN
Tuff Times Never Last
PRE-ORDER: https://kokoroko.lnk.to/tufftimesneverlast
(June 18, 2025) - London-based Jazz collective Kokoroko have unveiled their new single “Just Can’t Wait,” the latest taste of their forthcoming second studio album Tuff Times Never Last. Conveying a feeling of exuberance, celebration and high spirits, “Just Can’t Wait” is a soulful and optimistic meditation on memory, reconciliation and renewed love after a period of hardship.
The lyrics capture the poignant moment when longing finally gives way to fulfillment, marking a joyful transition. Evoking a sense of nostalgia and desire for reconnection, the song opens with the lyrics “I told you once, that I was waiting for the night that we could step again”.
In what has become customary with many songs by Kokoroko, “Just Can’t Wait” is the sum of a vast pot of influences and references. Over the course of the 6 minute runtime, the track pays homage to the Brit-funk sounds of British bands like Loose Ends, the 80s jazz-funk stylings of Don Blackman, all the while subtly incorporating elements of Ghanaian highlife and Congolese guitars—each brought vividly to life through Tobi Adenaike’s expressive guitar work.
Co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey whose stunning and rich alto leads the vocal on the song said: “It’s a song with a congregational feeling for the steppers. One that people can listen to on a Saturday or Sunday morning and feel uplifted. A big reference for the track were the horn melodies from Tom Browne’s ‘Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)’”.
“Just Can’t Wait” marks the latest offering from the septet’s upcoming album Tuff Times Never Last which is set for release on July 11th via Brownswood Recordings. The new body of work is a spirited and vibrant collection of songs serving as an optimistic reminder to tightly hold and embrace the many dualities that occur in life. Over the course of the 11-song suite, the album explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss and above all perseverance.
The accompanying artwork was painted by Luci Pina, the acclaimed illustrator whose work has been sought and commissioned by the likes of The Cut, Soho House, DICE, Apple Music and It’s Nice That. Embedded within the image is Kokoroko’s ode to London in the summer.
While the afrobeat jazz of their previous work is a core part of the record’s sonic design, the new album largely pulls from British R&B from the 80s, neo-soul, West African disco, bossa nova, lovers rock and funk.
Last month, the album’s second single “Closer To Me” - an avant-garde funk and neo-soul-tinged track with nods to releases from the fabled Soulquarians era - dropped. Upon its release, the single earned praise from PAPER Magazine, Hypebeast, NOTION, TRENCH, CLASH, Official Charts, New Wave Magazine and a plethora of others.
To coincide with the release of Tuff Times Never Last, Kokoroko will be heading on a full North American tour beginning in July. The tour starts in Philadelphia before heading to Brooklyn, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and more. See full tour routing below and purchase tickets at www.kokorokomusic.co.uk.
Listen to “Just Can’t Wait” above and see tour details below. Stay tuned for more from Kokoroko coming soon.
“Just Can't Wait” artwork by Luci Pina
Upcoming Live Dates
7/30 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
8/01 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
8/02 - Newport, RI @ Newport Jazz Festival
8/03 - Washington, DC @ 930 Club
8/05 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
8/08 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theater
8/10 - Telluride, CO @ Telluride Jazz Festival
8/12 - La Jolla, CA @ UCSD Ampitheatre
8/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent
8/14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
North American tour flyer
Kokoroko
Tuff Times Never Last
July 11, 2025
Brownswood Recordings
1. Never Lost
2. Sweetie
3. Closer To Me
4. My Father in Heaven
5. Idea 5 (Call My Name) (feat. LULU)
6. Three Piece Suit (feat. Azekel)
7. Time and Time (feat. Demae)
8. Da Du Dah
9. Together We Are
10. Just Can’t Wait
11. Over / Reprise
Tuff Times Never Last artwork by Luci Pina
Kokoroko Full Band Personnel:
Sheila Maurice-Grey (co-bandleader, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals)
Onome Edgeworth (co-bandleader, percussion)
Anoushka Nanguy (trombone, vocals)
Tobi Adenaike (guitar, vocals)
Yohan Kebede (keyboards, synthesizers, vocals)
Duane Atherley (bass, vocals)
Ayo Salawu (drums, vocals)
Additional Personnel:
Chelsea Carmichael (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute)
Connect with Kokoroko
Mark Stewart Shares New Track “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)” || New Album 'The Fateful Symmetry' Out 7/11
LISTEN TO NEW TRACK “EVERYBODY’S GOT TO LEARN SOMETIME (BÉBE DURMIENDO CUMBIA BOOTLEG)”
THE FATEFUL SYMMETRY OUT 7/11 ON MUTE
Photo credit: Chiara Meatelli & Dominic Lee
“As the songs swoop from industrial disco to piano balladry, Stewart is a steadfast, dramatic and charming grand dame – as commanding as he ever was as frontman of The Pop Group, and as sentimentally wounded as a torch singer.” - The Wire
“The Fateful Symmetry finds this political/music-making radical at his most approachable and reflective.” - 4/5* MOJO
“Mark Stewart is my hero” - Daddy G (Massive Attack)
“A fearsome vocalist & unbelievably exciting frontman to whom I am deeply indebted” -Nick Cave
“Bristol would be a very different place artistically & politically if it had not been for Mark’s influence on all of us” - Geoff Barrow (Portishead)
Ahead of the release of The Fateful Symmetry, Mark Stewart’s eighth solo album, completed shortly before his untimely passing, Mute have shared a new track, “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg).”
With a melodica-driven, Cumbia-influenced rhythm provided by producer Elijah Minnelli, Stewart’s heavyweight rework of The Korgis’ 1980 hit “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” transforms the original into a masterstroke of soundsystem militancy, as mighty as a lost dubplate by Yabby You, one of Stewart’s many heroes. Mixed by studio acolyte and On-U Sound originator Adrian Sherwood, it’s a remake steeped in Stewart’s transformative methods: “I grew up doing montages; I did this collage of Ronald Reagan's head on this gay porno cowboy. In fact, I've never really grown up at all. I'm still trying to put round things into square holes.”
Watch the animated video for “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg),” with images by long-time collaborator Peter Harris, created by Katie King HERE.
Two events have been announced for July in conjunction with the release of the album. Both events will exhibit Mark Stewart and Peter Harris’ collaborative BombArt series, described by Stewart as "an embassy for the imagination." The events will also feature unseen art pieces and archival material by Mark Stewart, as well as previously unseen photos by legendary Bristol photographer Beezer and more.
London’s Farsight Gallery will be hosting the exhibition at their central London space on 4 Flitcroft Street WC2H 8DJ from July 16-18 (July 16 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and July 17-18 from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00p.m. – free entry). Sign up for tickets for the Private View on July 16 HERE.
Bristol will then host the exhibition at the “Mad Max meets The Good Life” setting of Rockaway Park as part of a weekend of musical and artistic homages to Stewart from July 25-27. Musicians from Bristol taking part are DJ Milo [aka DJ Nature], Smith & Mighty, Pinch, Tessa Pollitt of The Slits and Janine Rainforth of Maximum Joy, with more to be confirmed. The event will be on a donation basis, with proceeds going to Help Bristol’s Homeless charity, whose flagship project converts shipping containers to a secure accommodation for the unhoused. More information on the event HERE.
The new track follows “Neon Girl”and “Memory of You.” “Neon Girl” was co-produced with Youth (Killing Joke) and features backing vocals by longtime affiliate Gina Birch (The Raincoats). On it, Stewart’s eloquent, singular lyricism is as prescient as always and evermore poignant now: “His arms were too short to box with God (sorry the irony’s lost on me).” On the album opener “Memory of You,” also co-produced with Youth and featuring backing vocals by Hollie Cook, Stewart unfurls a propulsive, post-disco torch song, a surging neo-noir of yearning vocals (“I could’ve wrote a love song”) and sleek, imposing synthesis, representing one of Stewart’s most dramatic and affecting performances.
Across an illustrious career of pioneering music with The Pop Group, Mark Stewart & Maffia and as a solo artist, Stewart has produced a seminal body of work, galvanized by the DIY ideals of punk, radical politics, protest movements, theory, philosophy, technology, art and poetry. With The Fateful Symmetry, Stewart’s abiding legacy as a “revered countercultural musician” (The Guardian) is sustained, with an album as fearless and visionary as his best work.
Testifying to Stewart’s prolific, unrelenting ingenuity and signifying one of his most intimate, empowering statements, The Fateful Symmetry is an astonishingly expressive and innovative record, a fierce and beautiful manifesto for a better world. The inimitable, titanic Mark Stewart, never normalized, always extraordinary.
Pre-order The Fateful Symmetry HERE.
High res artwork and press photograph HERE.
The Fateful Symmetry track listing:
1. Memory Of You2. Neon Girl
3. This Is The Rain
4. Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)
5. Stable Song
6. Twilight’s Child
7. Crypto Religion
8. Blank Town
9. A Long Road
CONNECT WITH MARK STEWART:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | WEB
Renny Conti Announces EU/UK Shows, Plays Pitchfork Paris + London Festival l US Shows w/ Merce Lemon + Samia l 'Self-Titled' Debut LP Out Now
Plays Pitchfork Paris + London Festival
US Shows w/ Merce Lemon + Samia
Read Paste and Line Of Best Fit Features
Self-Titled Debut Out Now via DSPS
Photo Cred: Tate ShockleyLISTEN & SHARE: Renny Conti- Renny ContiStream
WATCH/LISTEN & SHARE: Renny Conti - "Looking at the Geese"
Stream | Watch
WATCH/LISTEN & SHARE: Renny Conti - "Room to Room"
Stream | Watch PRAISE FOR RENNY CONTI
"I find Conti’s songwriting somewhat redolent of Elliott Smith’s—not merely because he’s a folksy, acoustic-leaning singer-songwriter who lives on the quieter side of the street, but more so because of his innate ear for melody and penchant for building simple arrangements from the ground-up into layered, lofty constructions. Indeed, at the heart of both Conti’s loosest ditties and most blown-out rockers is a smart pop sensibility that’s undeniably magnetic."
-Paste
"No matter what he’s writing about, though, Conti has the kind of delivery that simply begs you to stop and listen."
- Line of Best Fit
"Renny finds a way to pull in even the most casual listener with his universally relatable story-telling"
-The Big Takeover
Brooklyn based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Renny Conti is a gifted and singular storyteller who’s quickly emerging as an artist to watch. The introspective and wise young talent released his self-titled breakout album this past January, earning him comparisons to Elliott Smith and Sufjan Stevens.
Rooted in the Brooklyn DIY scene, Conti's self-titled LP was a labor of love recorded in Williamsburg at Red Convertible Recordings with contributions from multiple friends. The result is a heartfelt, playful, and moving collection about love, grief, and nature.
Following the success of his debut, Conti will perform at Pitchfork Festival in both Paris and London, and will also embark on a string of EU and UK tour dates—a major next next step for one of indie music’s most promising new voices. He’ll be joining Samia on tour later this fall as well.
Tickets for Renny Conti EU/UK dates are on sale now.
11/1- Amsterdam, Netherlands - London Calling Festival
11/5 - Antwerp, Belgium - HiFive Concert Series Trix
11/6 - Paris, France - Pitchfork Paris Festival
11/8 -London, United Kingdom - Pitchfork London Festival
11/9 - Manchester, United Kingdom - YES Basement (w/ No Windows)
11/10 -London, United Kingdom - Brixton Windmill
Supporting Merce Lemon:
July 16 — Burlington, VT — Foam Brewers
July 17 — Portsmouth, NH — The Press Room
July 18 — Montreal, CAN — L’Esco
July 19 – Boston, MA - Rockwell
Supporting Samia:
9/19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre
9/20 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
9/22 - Portland OR - Wonder Ballroom
9/23 - Vancouver, BC - Hollywood Theatre
9/24 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
9/26 - Salt Lake City, UT - Soundwell
9/27 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre
9/29 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
9/30 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
10/1 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl
Deb Never shares new single "Blue"
DEB NEVER SHARES NEW SINGLE
“BLUE”
Deb Never by Ashlan Grey
“Blue”
LISTEN: https://found.ee/DN-BLUE
(June 18, 2025) - Washington state native Deb Never continues her run of singles with the release of “Blue” today. Deb’s new track is the latest offering in a series of songs including “KNOW ME BETTER”, “This Alive” and “Not In Love”, that open up the next chapter of her career, with a refined, vulnerable approach to her songwriting that begins with just Deb and her guitar. Co-produced by Deb and frequent collaborator Romil Hemnani (BROCKHAMPTON, Paris Texas), “Blue” speaks to the inescapable sensations that come with falling for someone and the bravery it takes to give yourself over to someone else. Named after a color often associated with melancholy, the song’s tenderness radiates warmth through Deb’s delicate vocals and the dynamism of her guitar.
Earlier this year, Deb joined Wallows on tour, playing some of her new songs and fan favorites to crowds at some of the biggest venues of her career across the Midwest and East Coast. Deb was also highlighted as one of Amazon Music’s 2025 Artists to Watch, paving the way for her ascendancy with her highly-anticipated debut album on the horizon.
Deb first emerged on the scene with her debut EP House on Wheels after making a standout contribution to BROCKHAMPTON’s fifth studio album GINGER in 2019. Deb’s artistic evolution continued with the release of two subsequent EPs, 2021’s Where Have All The Flowers Gone? and Thank You For Attending in 2023, culminating in her debut full-length, which is slated for release in 2025. Deb has collaborated with peers, producers and songwriters like Kenny Beats, Biig Piig, Audrey Nuna, D33J, Shlohmo, Jim-E-Stack (Charli xcx, HAIM, Bon Iver), Michael Percy (Snoh Alegra, Joy Crookes), and Jam City (Olivia Rodrigo, Kelela, Troye Sivan), and has toured with Omar Apollo, Dominic Fike, slowthai and Tommy Genesis. Deb has also caught the eye of the fashion world, being featured in campaigns for the likes of Calvin Klein, YSL. GANNI, Burberry and Givenchy.
Check out “Blue” above and stay tuned for more from Deb coming soon.
“Blue” single artwork
Connect with Deb Never
Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube
Unknown Mortal Orchestra releases 'CURSE' EP + announces North American tour
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA RELEASES NEW EP
ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
CURSE OUT NOW VIA JAGJAGUWAR
Unknown Mortal Orchestra by Michael Romero
CURSE
https://unknownmortalorchestra.lnk.to/curse
“DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY”
LISTEN: https://unknownmortalorchestra.lnk.to/DCFTS
WATCH: https://youtu.be/lVIf3NXf-_g
TICKETS
https://www.unknownmortalorchestra.com/home-1
(June 18, 2025) - Unknown Mortal Orchestra releases their new EP, CURSE, which is out now via Jagjaguwar. The band recently announced the EP when sharing its lead single and music video "BOYS WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOLVES." CURSE reflects these cursed times we find ourselves in. Taking inspiration from Italian horror films of the 1970s and 1980s, the six songs on the release are as cathartic a listen as the band has ever recorded. Featuring both abrasive riffs reminiscent of Black Sabbath on “BOYS WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOLVES” as well as the laid back, intricate guitar playing UMO is maybe most famous for on “DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY,” the CURSE EP is the perfect soundtrack to your next confrontation with the void.
The EP arrives in conjunction with the announcement of a new North American tour that will see the band bring its acclaimed live show to select cities across the continent this Fall. Those shows come on the heels of a performance in Mexico City and at Just Like Heaven in Los Angeles earlier this year, as well as the release of their latest improvisational and collaborative album, IC-02 Bogota. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 10AM local time in each market at unknownmortalorchestra.com.
Listen to CURSE above now and see below for all upcoming Unknown Mortal Orchestra dates.
Upcoming Tour Dates
7/5 - Victoria, BC @ Phillips Backyard Festival
9/24 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge
9/25 - Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
9/26 - Tulsa, OK @ Guthrie Green
9/27 - Austin, TX @ Levitation Festival
9/29 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea's
9/30 - Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
10/2 - Nashville, TN @ Fogg Street Lawn Club
10/3 - Lexington, KY @ The Burl
Official tour poster
CURSE EP artwork
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
CURSE
June 18, 2025
1. AURA
2. BOYS WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOLVES
3. DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY
4. ONE HUNDRED BATS
5. SORCERERS OF SILENCE
6. CURSE
Connect with Unknown Mortal Orchestra
June 17, 2025
Jack White Unveils Surprise Video Starring John C. Reilly
JACK WHITE UNVEILS SURPRISE VIDEO FOR
“ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES” STARRING JOHN C. REILLY,
DIRECTED BY GILBERT TREJO – WATCH HERE
VIDEO DEBUTS AS “ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES”
CLIMBS TO #2 AT US ALTERNATIVE RADIO
NO NAME AVAILABLE NOW
VIA THIRD MAN RECORDS – STREAM/BUY HERE
Today, Jack White shares a music video for breakout No Name single “Archbishop Harold Holmes,” starring legendary renaissance man John C. Reilly in a ferocious, electric take on the song’s titular impassioned, self-aggrandizing religious figure. Hot on the heels of the release of Reilly’s debut album, What’s Not To Love?, as his critically acclaimed Mister Romantic alter ego, the idea began when John, a longtime friend and fan of Jack’s, heard “Archbishop Harold Holmes” for the first time. Upon hearing the track, Reilly told White how much he'd love to play Holmes in a music video. White was immediately on board. He handed Reilly and director Gilbert Trejo complete creative freedom to make the vision their own — and to surprise him with the result.
WATCH “ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Filmed at a church in Los Angeles, the video features a who's-who ensemble cast including Sami Perez of Cherry Glazer, model/face of YSL Beauty and frontwoman of the Paranoyds Staz Lindes, Misha Lindes of Sadgirl, Starcrawler’s Arrow de Wilde and more.
White’s most recent album, 2024’s No Name, is available now via Third Man Records. The acclaimed collection was honored with a 2025 GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Rock Album” – White’s 34th solo career nomination and 46th overall, along with 16 total GRAMMY® Award wins. True to his DIY roots, Jack White recorded No Name at his Third Man Studio across 2023 and 2024, pressed it at Third Man Pressing, released it via Third Man Records, and celebrated its arrival with surprise shows and sold-out pop-up dates around the world before launching the No Name Tour and commemorating it with the Live No Name EP, now available on all digital platforms.
Having recently travelled North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Japan with his sold out No Name Tour, White returns to the road this summer for headline festival performances at Portland, ME’s Back Cove Music & Arts Festival (August 3) Louisville, KY’s Bourbon & Beyond (September 13), Chicago, IL’s Riot Fest (September 20), and Brooklyn, NY’s CBGB Festival (September 27). For complete details and ticket information, please visit jackwhiteiii.com/tour-dates.
JACK WHITE - 2025 HEADLINING FESTIVAL APPEARANCES
AUGUST
3 – Portland, ME – Back Cove Music & Arts Festival
SEPTEMBER
13 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond
20 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest
27 – Brooklyn, NY – CBGB Festival
# # #
JACK WHITE ON THE WEB
JACKWHITEIII.COM | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
THIRDMANBOOKS.COM | THIRDMANRECORDS.COM
AMI TAF RA ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM 'THE PROPHET AND THE MADMAN'; NEW SINGLE "HOW I BECAME A MADMAN" FEAT. KAMASI WASHINGTON OUT NOW
AMI TAF RA ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM THE PROPHET AND THE MADMAN
OUT AUGUST 22 VIA BRAINFEEDER
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE “HOW I BECAME A MADMAN” FEAT. KAMASI WASHINGTON
NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF
IN SEPTEMBER
Today, North African, LA-based singer-songwriter Ami Taf Ra announces her debut album, The Prophet and The Madman, arriving August 22 via Brainfeeder. A transcendent, sonic palate cleanser that draws from Moroccan gnawa, gospel, and spiritual jazz, the album is a personal and poetic meditation on duality, healing, and ancestral memory. Inspired by Khalil Gibran’s seminal work, The Prophet, Ami Taf Ra’s album was produced by legendary saxophonist composer and her frequent collaborator Kamasi Washington. Arriving alongside the announcement is Ami Taf Ra’s powerful new single and video “How I Became A Madman” featuring Kamasi Washington. With soaring arrangements and entrancing emotional arcs, the track captures the tension between inner chaos and clarity—a central theme of the forthcoming album. Set across Los Angeles’s Leimert Park and against the striking forms of Thomas Houseago’s sculpture garden, the music video, directed by Cleon Arrey (co-owner of Neighbors Skate Shop), is shot in a lyrical mix of slow motion and quick cuts, the visuals mirroring the song’s frenetic pulse.
“How I Became A Madman” follows the release of “Speak To Us (Outro)”, Ami Taf Ra’s Brainfeeder debut, praised for its emotional depth and the accompanying video’s striking visual storytelling. Her upcoming album expands that sonic vision into a richly textured 11-track journey, featuring collaborators including Ryan Porter, Miles Mosley, Brandon Coleman, Tony Austin, Taylor Graves, Cameron Graves, Ronald Bruner Jr., Allakoi Peete, Kahlil Cummings, and Kamasi Washington. Ami Taf Ra’s The Prophet and The Madman is a bold statement from a vocalist rooted in the traditions of Arabic greats like Fairuz, Umm Kulthum and Warda, yet reaching fearlessly into new sonic territory. It’s an album that seeks not answers but presence—a devotion to the journey, not the destination.
Over the course of her career, Ami Taf Ra has graced stages worldwide, captivating audiences in Denmark, Turkey, Morocco, Belgium, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan. She has performed at esteemed festivals like the South East Jazz Festival and the Haarlem Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, as well as with the Dutch Royal Metropole Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall (Concertgebouw) and the Dutch Blazers Ensemble. Ami has toured extensively with Kamasi Washington, performing together at notable venues and festivals across the United States including City Winery in Boston, the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, and the Just Jazz Concert Series at Mr Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles. She has also performed with a diverse array of musicians, including trombonist Ryan Porter, saxophonist Rickey Washington, percussionist Kahlil Cummings, bassist Ben Williams, drummer Jonathan Pinson, and pianist Jamael Dean. On June 25, Ami Taf Ra will preview the new music at an intimate debut showcase at Arthur’s Tavern in New York City. This fall, Ami Taf Ra will embark on a North American headline tour kicking off September 22 at the renowned Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. For more information and tickets, visit https://amitafra.com/#tour.
Ami Taf Ra’s deep commitment to music as a tool for connection and healing has taken her beyond the stage and into communities impacted by displacement and conflict. In conjunction with a group of Dutch musicians, she led creative workshops for children, using music and painting to spark expression. The experience culminated in a collaborative performance that brought together the children, the musicians, and Ami Taf Ra as the opening act of the Amman Jazz Festival in 2014.
Today, Ami Taf Ra continues to explore the fusion of cultures through music, crafting a sound that honors her heritage while embracing new influences through different languages and nationalities. With every performance, she strives to connect people, stories, and traditions across borders. Ami Taf Ra's work stands as a testament to the power of cultural fusion in music, bridging continents and traditions to create a sound that is both timeless and contemporary.
PRE-SAVE THE PROPHET AND THE MADMAN
https://amitafra.lnk.to/prophetmadman
LISTEN TO “HOW I BECAME A MADMAN”
https://amitafra.lnk.to/prophetmadmanPR
WATCH THE THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “HOW I BECAME A MADMAN”
https://amitafra.lnk.to/prophetmadman/youtube
LISTEN TO “SPEAK TO US (OUTRO)”
https://amitafra.lnk.to/stu-outro
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “SPEAK TO US (OUTRO)”
https://amitafra.lnk.to/stu-outro/youtube
ALBUM TRACKLIST
1. Speak to Us (Intro)
2. How I Became a Madman (feat. Kamasi Washington)
3. The Prophet
4. God
5. Love (feat. Ryan Porter)
6. My Friend (feat. Brandon Coleman)
7. Children
8. Gnawa (feat. Kamasi Washington)
9. Gibran
10. Khalil
11. Speak to Us (Outro)
NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES
22 Sept – Blue Note Jazz Club, New York City, NY
25 Sept – Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
26 Sept – City Winery Chicago, Chicago, IL
27 Sept – City Winery St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
28 Sept – City Winery Nashville, Nashville, TN
30 Sept – City Winery Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
02 Oct – Keystone Korner, Baltimore, MD
03 Oct – City Winery Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
05 Oct – City Winery Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
06 Oct – City Winery Boston, Boston, MA
09 Oct – Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA
Photo by Sol Washington -
FOLLOW AMI TAF RA
WINTER Shares New Single "Misery (feat. Horse Jumper Of Love)" & Announces EU Headline Tour
WINTER
SHARES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO
“MISERY (FEAT. HORSE JUMPER OF LOVE)”
NEW ALBUM ADULT ROMANTIX
OUT AUGUST 22ND VIA WINSPEAR
ANNOUNCES NOVEMBER UK & EU HEADLINE TOUR
FALL US TOUR ON-SALE NOW
Winter by Sophie Hur
Praise for Winter:
"Winter has been building intricate and enchanting dream-pop...she’s never made something as wistful-sounding as her new album" - The FADER
“one of the most exciting artists within the new generation of shoegaze” - Spin
"as infectious as it is dreamy" - Stereogum
“Winter’s fusion of dream pop and shoegaze sounds like it’s blooming from the lavish botanical gardens that dot Los Angeles” - i_D
"a shimmering shoegaze fantasy worthy of soundtracking the next coming-of-age indie flick" - Boston Globe
“emotionally revealing, musically beautiful, and verging on brilliant overall” - AllMusic
“Breezy and fluid” - KCRW
“achingly gorgeous dream pop” - KEXP
“tasteful ’90s nostalgia” - Consequence
“a nostalgia-heavy sound that could easily serve as your MySpace profile song” - Paste Magazine
“infectiously cool..excellent songs..as the guitar haze lifts, the melodies stay with you" - Brooklyn Vegan
“full of smoldering instrumental layers and ecstatic melodic beauty" - Under the Radar
"a dreamy confection of fuzzy guitars, otherworldly vocals, and layered walls of sound" - Bust
Today, Winter has shared the second single from her highly anticipated new album, Adult Romantix, due out August 22nd via her new label home Winspear. The haunting and captivating “Misery” features Horse Jumper of Love’s Dimitri Giannopoulos, who sings the moving second verse.
“This song was written with my friend Alex Craig. At first, we imagined a fictional story about being in love with someone who was unavailable, leaning into the romanticization of indulging in a kind of sadness. However, during the recording process, the story of Elliott Smith’s love and tragic death came up, which in turn inspired the song title and the rest of the lyrics written by Dimitri.” shares Samira Winter. “The song was originally written at a faster tempo, but we discovered that slowing it down on the tape machine created an interesting androgynous effect on my voice.”
Chronically an emotional coast-to-coast move, she spent roughly two years writing songs in a transitory state: often in between tours, in different cities, and in various sublets. The follow-up to 2022’s landmark What Kind of Blue Are You?, and a goodbye love letter to her time in L.A., Samira Winter describes Adult Romantix as “a tunnel of summers and memories,” inspired by romantic-period texts like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, as well as ‘90s rom-coms—indulging in heady melodrama and romantic and platonic longing, while also embracing a lighthearted, youthful innocence. The album was recorded and produced with longtime collaborator Joo Joo Ashworth (SASAMI, Corridor, Automatic) and mixed by Henry Stoehr (Slow Pulp).
Like her previous record which featured collaborators and tour mates Hatchie & SASAMI, the new record features Horse Jumper of Love on today’s instant classic "Misery," Tanukichan on “Hide-A-Lullaby” and Alex G's Samuel Acchione on the Grouper-esque "Running.”
WATCH “MISERY (FEAT. HORSE JUMPER OF LOVE)” OFFICIAL VIDEO
The singer-songwriter and guitarist has been a mainstay in Los Angeles’ music scene for over a decade, carving out her own niche of gloriously detailed and eclectic dream pop under the name Winter. After growing up in Curitiba, Brazil and playing in her first bands in Boston, she relocated to Los Angeles in 2013 and fell in love with the city. She found a sense of belonging in its DIY rock community—the basement of her longtime Echo Park home was host to countless shows and even Winter’s first practices—and she grew attached to L.A.’s cosmic, inspiring aura. But at a certain point, Samira was craving a change of scenery to facilitate self-growth, a painful, but necessary realization that brought about a move to New York City.
2022’s What Kind of Blue Are You? was, in her words, “a total reset”—a dark, healing, and intensely personal record that cemented Winter’s unique musical language. As Samira began to confront the end of her decade-plus in L.A., she was overcome by waves of memories and nostalgia, which stirred feelings of pure-hearted reverence for her 20s—catching shows at The Echo, driving through Southern California, and soaking in the blistering sun for so long you start to feel an, existential, impending sense of doom. So, instead of exorcising inner demons, for Adult Romantix, Samira visited the ghosts of heartfelt memories, which had spilled into her present reality.
Following a delicate, jangly intro, the album’s motor kicks into full gear with lead single “Just Like A Flower,” which merges Sarah Records sweetness with an all-out, whammy-heavy, Dinosaur Jr.-esque attack. Released last month alongside a profile with The FADER, the song was praised by Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, Alt Press, Paste Magazine, Boston Globe and many more.
WATCH “JUST LIKE A FLOWER” OFFICIAL VIDEO
Winter will embark on a Fall headline tour with support from A Country Western & Hooky (whom she just released a collaborative EP with). Just announced, she will join Water From Your Eyes in Austin and Dallas, before heading to the UK & Europe for a run of headline dates and appearance at Pitchfork London. Tickets for the European headline dates go on-sale this Friday, June 20th at 11am CET. Tickets for the North American dates are on-sale now.
Tour Dates:
09/27 - Boston, MA @ Warehouse *
09/28 - Troy, NY @ No Fun *
09/30 - Toronto, ON @ Garrison *
10/01 - Detroit, MI @ Lager House *
10/03 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas *
10/04 - Milwaukee, WI @ X Ray *
10/05 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry *
10/07 - Denver, CO @ Lost Lake +
10/09 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court +
10/11 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza +
10/12 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi +
10/14 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord +
10/16 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo +
10/17 - San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room +
10/18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar +
10/21 - Austin TX @ Parish #
10/22 - Dallas, TX @ Dada #
10/24 - Atlanta, GA @ Altar Masquerade
10/25 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle Back Room
10/26 - Washington, DC @ DC9 +
10/28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Warehouse on Watts +
10/30 - New York, NY @ Zone One +
11/05 - Groningen, NL @ Vera
11/08 - London, UK @ Pitchfork Music Festival
11/09 - Sheffield, UK @ Delicious Clam
11/10 - Manchester, UK @ YES Basement
11/12 - Margate, UK @ Where Else?
11/15 - Zurich, CH @ Bogen F
11/16 - Bern, CH @ Reitschule
11/17 - Paris, FR @ Supersonic
11/18 - Amsterdam, NL @ Doka
11/19 - Brussels, BE @ Botanique
11/20 - Berlin, DE @ Nue Zukunft
* A Country Western
+ Hooky
# Water From Your Eyes
Gilles Peterson presents International Anthem
LEGENDARY LONDON-BASED DJ GILLES PETERSON CURATES TWENTY-NINE TRACK COMPILATION OF MUSIC FROM CHICAGO-BORN RECORD LABEL INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM
GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM
IS OUT NOW ON ALL DSPs, IN STORES ON LP & CD JULY 11
PART OF INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM’S
“IA11” ANNIVERSARY SERIES
Photo by Zora Kuettner
Today International Anthem announces the digital release (June 17th) and forthcoming LP/CD release (July 11th) of Gilles Peterson presents International Anthem, a double-LP-length compilation of tracks from the Chicago-born record label curated by legendary London-based radio host, DJ, label head, and cultural impresario Gilles Peterson.
Stream the digital album, and preorder the album on 2xLP or CD here.
The twenty-nine tracks on Gilles Peterson presents International Anthem chronicle Peterson’s long-standing affinity for and connection to International Anthem’s expansive creative music community, and were chosen by an extensive review of playlists from his broadcasts on BBC 6 Music, Worldwide FM, and various syndicated radio programs. The compilation includes a previously unreleased track recorded by Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly at Peterson’s Brownswood Basement studio in London. It also includes several unreleased introductions from a January 2020 Worldwide FM broadcast at Chicago’s Co-Prosperity (the site of the album cover photo, taken by Carolina Sanchez), where Peterson gave International Anthem “Label of the Year” as part of his 2020 Worldwide Awards.
Photo by Alejandro Ayala
In his liner notes for the album, Peterson says:
“From the get go I could see it. I could see that International Anthem was the real deal. I could hear it too - more importantly. A record label with the vision and care that places it in the pantheon of labels where you can pick up any release without knowing what it is and be certain the quality will be there… International Anthem is more than a record label though. It’s a community that is built on the city’s history but has, over the years, championed the spirit of creative music and pushed it forward with an outlook that reaches out to like minded souls regardless of time and space. Throughout the 10 years of their existence we have crossed paths many times. From being in Chicago to celebrate them as label of the year in January 2020 just before the world shut down, to hanging with the crew in London, to playing so much of the label’s output on both on my radio shows and in my DJ sets. So it is my pleasure to honour our friendship with a selection of tracks that have soundtracked the journey, so far…”
Gilles Peterson presents International Anthem is released via International Anthem as part of their IA11 series of releases and events, celebrating the label’s eleventh year of operation.
Gilles Peterson presents International Anthem is out digitally today and out on 2xLP & CD July 11, listen to and preorder it here.
TRACKLIST
Chicago, January 13th, 2020 - Gilles Peterson
The Jaunt - Makaya McCraven
Asé - Junius Paul
The Creator Has A Master Plan - Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger
Taking Flight (feat. Brandee Younger) - Resavoir
Open The Gates - Irreversible Entanglements
We Are Starzz - Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood
Abstract Dark Energy (Parable 9) - Rob Mazurek, Exploding Star Orchestra
The Most Amazing Time - Gilles Peterson
Rebuild A Nation - Damon Locks, Black Monument Ensemble
A Shot in the Dark - Dos Santos
In/On - Daniel Villarreal
Pokemans - Anna Butterss
Industry - SML
Snåcko - Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer
Cliche - Jeff Parker
And Then The Anointing Fell - Jamire Williams
Please, wake up. - Carlos Niño & Friends
Voice and Tongo Experiment - Thandi Ntuli with Carlos Niño
Quiet as it's Kept - Tom Skinner
Next time I keep my hands down - Ruth Goller
A Gente Acaba (Vento Em Rosa) - Alabaster DePlume
Old Fashioned Chicago Music - Gilles Peterson
theme 001 (live) - jaimie branch
Angela's Angel - Tomin
Melancholia - Asher Gamedze
MESTIZX (Brownswood Basement Live) - Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly
Oh Great Be The Lake - Ben LaMar Gay
Step on Step - Charles Stepney
CREDITS
Produced by Gilles Peterson, Federico Bolza, and Scott McNiece.
Mastered by David Allen.
Photos by Carolina Sanchez.
Design by Aaron Lowell Denton.
Stay connected with International Anthem:
23 Profile | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
AVALON ANNOUNCES DEBUT EP + "SCREAM" OUT NOW
AVALON ANNOUNCES DEBUT PROJECT
permanent californian
OUT JULY 18 ON KRO RECORDS
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE “SCREAM”
PHOTO CREDIT:Andrea Riba
LA-born and raised Chicana singer, producer, and underground fixture Avalon has announced her debut EP, permanent californian arriving July 18 via KRO Records. The project opens with its’ second single, the darkly euphoric “scream”, a guitar-driven, pop-like slow burn that grapples with the duality of fame and the ensuing emotional whiplash, both cathartic and unfiltered. Avalon shares, “This song is about feeling trapped in a persona. It uses the metaphor of being kidnapped and held against your will. The chorus “scream, no one can hear you” is really a reference to both the pressure to maintain relevance and the person underneath the persona not feeling heard or seen by anyone.” LISTEN HERE & PRE-SAVE HERE
The accompanying black and white visual, directed by Andrea Riba, is both a nod to the French New Wave greats and Bergman’s Persona.The cinematic narrative is also a beautiful DIY nod to Jungian themes and the late David Lynch, as two different versions of Avalon become entangled in the fight for survival. Of course, the city of Los Angeles is both a character and a backdrop in Avalon’s mythology. WATCH HERE
Earlier this year, Avalon released the first single from permanent californian, “Harder To Reach Than God”, an infectious alterna-pop debut, written by Avalon and co-produced by Grammy-nominated Chris Greatti (Aurora, Yeule, Yves Tumor, Willow). The song dropped alongside an instantly iconic seductive sunrise video (from which Avalon was loosely inspired by 70s cult NY superstar Candy Darling), crescendoing into an extended bonus remix from The Hellp as a bonus finale - WATCH HERE
If last year’s resurgence of hedonistic indie sleaze signaled a cultural shift, Avalon’s rise is where that tension finds form in 2025. Her sonic palette embodies the patchwork of a first-generation Chicana, weaving together a deeply rooted Mexican heritage with a classic OC upbringing. Avalon’s own music is as cerebral as it is visceral and pulls from the deep well of specters both imagined, echoed, and innovatively reinvented in a distinctly Warholian manner. Avalon's work exists as "anti-music music"—where traditional structures are dismantled and reassembled with futuristic intent. Already known as an established and celebrated DJ and underground tastemaker with a cult following, Avalon is the maverick voice of a young generation unwilling to conform and incapable of standing still. To watch her work unfold is to stare directly at the kaleidoscope of LA subcultures—a story reborn yet never rewritten.
PHOTO CREDIT: Esteven Oriel
STREAM / PURCHASE “SCREAM”
https://orcd.co/permanentcalifornian
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SCREAM" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3_Wd08JdLE
LISTEN & WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “HARDER TO REACH THAN GOD”
PRE-SAVE permanent california
https://orcd.co/permanentcalifornian
PHOTO CREDIT: Andrea Riba
FOLLOW AVALON
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