Will Powers • RIVERS • 2020

Emerging artist Will Powers is back with his new single “Rivers”, which you can stream exclusively via Aesthetic Magazine below.

“My family owns a cottage on the French River, and in recent years I’ve become more aware of its history as an important trading route in early colonial times,” said Powers.” “I’ve often thought about the significance of us occupying that land, which is now a pristine provincial park.”

“Living in the twenty-first century amidst a pervasive ignorance of colonial history has pushed me to learn about the general circumstances that enabled us to be there today, and obliges me to convey a message of respect to that place. 

Howlin' Banana Summer Sampler #7 • 2020

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Summer is here, and so is our traditionnal summer sampler !

 14 tracks, including singles, unreleased tracks and demos, by bands we worked with this passed year.

14 tracks, downloadable for free on Bandcamp, to discover the label, or catch up on what you might've missed this year. 

14 tracks that sum up what we've been doing for over 9 years now: unearthing the best of the Post-Punk, Indie Pop, Garage, Indie Rock and Psych French scene.
Have a great summer !

01. Tapeworms - Safety Crash
02. eGgs - Still Life
03. Fontanarosa - Out Of Mind (Unreleased Track)
04. Double Date With Death - Fluorescent (Demo)
05. Cathedrale - Gold Rush
06. Cloud Factory - Talk Too Much
07. Th Da Freak - Crazy In Love (Beyoncé Cover)
08. Carambolage - Weekend Nostalgie
09. Baston - Primates
10. Special Friend - Motel (Demo)
11. Avions - Lean On Me (Demo)
12. Pop Crimes - Where Do They Fly (Live)
13. Gloria - Global Warning
14. Volage - The Aftermath

RYAN HAMILTON & THE HARLEQUIN GHOSTS • JESUS & JOHN LENNON • 2020

ryanhamiltonmusic.com

Talking about the inspiration behind the track, Ryan explains “They’re an iconic pair, I know. But, for me, 2 of the ultimate examples of how no matter what, even with the best intentions, things will inevitably go wrong. This song was originally written in the first person ("I go to church on Sunday morning" etc...), and inspired by my marriage falling apart. But taking Stevie's (Van Zandt) advice, about getting away from myself, led the song in more of a story direction. Stevie also came on board as a co-writer for this one. He felt it was a big, important song, and I was thrilled to finish the song, and write it, together. Side note: the amazing Mike Peters (The Alarm) sings backing vocals on this one”.

Drug Couple • 2027 • 2020

Today, creative duo and real life couple Drug Couple share the first single "2027" off of their upcoming  EP, Choose Your Own Apocalypse, due out August 14th via PaperCup Music. Starting off with a bright, alt-folk sound, the song "suddenly grinds into higher gear near its end with a blast of jagged guitar distortion swirling like a dream-rock tempest around the pair’s coolly musing vocals," praises The Big Takeover, who premiered the track. "2027" follows the story of a couple of ghosts hanging out in NYC seven years after the 2020 Apocalypse -- oddly prescient, both the song and EP were written long before this year and all of its events occurred.

PCM · Drug Couple - 2027

Carla J. Easton • NEVER KNEW YOU • 2020

https://carlajeaston.bandcamp.com/album/weirdo

"Bold, direct, and distinctly Scottish, 'NEVER KNEW YOU' is a remarkable return, one that revels in idiosyncrasy."  CLASH premiere

‘Her boldest pop broadcast yet’ -  THE SCOTSMAN

'Musically varied, packed full of symphonic strings, brass and synth arrangements, the LP is awash with her signature melody-driven, dreamy pop.' - SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY

'Orchestral blowout' – THE GUARDIAN

The Happy Fits • Moving • 2020

www.thehappyfits.com

The band’s upbeat nature comes from a desire to connect with a world that’s sometimes distant. What Could Be Better’s title track was inspired by Calvin’s isolation as one of the few Asian-Americans in his hometown. As the band’s stages get bigger, he knows he’s becoming the role model he didn’t have, saying, “It feels really good to be someone that Filipino kids growing up in America could look up to.”

VA • Z Tapes • Summer 2020

ztapesrecords.com

GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL • 2020

https://www.greenriverfestival.com

Jealous of the Birds • Young Neanderthal • 2020

https://www.jealousofthebirdsmusic.com

“Jealous of the Birds has a knack for slicing up genres and making music that sounds homemade and tiny,

 but also explosive and bombastic.”

– NPR

“Naomi Hamilton’s angelic vocals are like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.”

– The Line of Best Fit

“Hamilton sings with poise and self-assurance in a voice equally capable of whiskey-toned murmurs and full-throated melodicism. Either way, she has a magnetic presence that makes these songs mesmerizing.”

 – Paste

Allegra Krieger • Forgot • 2020

Today, Brooklyn singer/songwriter Allegra Kreiger shared her new single "Forgot" from her upcoming album, The Joys of Forgetting, releasing August 7th, 2020 with Northern Spy Records. On the track, Krieger explains: "'Forgot' is the realization of losing one's self in a relationship, and becoming completely beholden to the will of another." Building from softly strummed guitars to a crescendo of distortion, Allegra discovers that in her effort to please, she “forgot” all about herself. One of the most sophisticated tracks on Krieger’s upcoming LP, "Forgot" represents Allegra at the peak of her creativity.

Rufus Wainwright • Devils & Angels (Hatred) • 2020

“A stately pop throwback full of Wainwright's signature vocal grandeur"

Rolling Stone

“Mighty return from Baroque Pop Renaissance man… has the kind of flourishing confidence of an artist recording at the peak of their powers.”

Q Magazine 4 star review

“Brimming with memorable melodies, swooning arrangements and smart lyrics dreamily sung…”

Uncut 9/10 review

Papooz • The Garden • 2020

'The Garden' upends the story of Adam & Eve's fall from grace, imagining a scenario in which it is Adam's greed, not Eve's, which is their undoing, taking cues both from Renaissance paintings & peak-era MTV. Starring Ulysse and his girlfriend - i-D-approved model Klara Kristin - and directed by Armand's other half, Victoria Lafaurie, the video was shot in South-West France during lockdown.

Precocious daydream pop

The Times

Kubrickian fever-dream pop The Line of Best Fit

Replete with luscious multi-tracked harmonies, and their penchant for psychedelic synths Mixmag

Unquestionably infectious V Man

Breezy pop NME Under The Radar

It’s an album of musical magic, lacing heavily androgynous vocals atop experimental backdrops GQ

Papooz have crossed genres and classic sounds to create a modern day pop song that’ll survive the test of time Indie Shuffle

The Goin' Nowheres • Curse Rotted Record • 2020

“The privileged classes can afford psychoanalysis and whiskey. Whereas all we get is sermons and sour wine. This is manifestly unfair. I protest, silently.”

Lauren Lakis • We'll Be Fine • 2020

"The video was made while in quarantine in Portland, Oregon. I’m fairly certain I was sick with Covid19 throughout the month of March, and at the tail end of my illness my producer/partner Billy Burke (who I was quarantined with) and I shot it along the trails near our apartment. When I’m in the woods, among the trees, I feel that I’m in nature’s domain, I’m not in control anymore. As a city dweller, I’ve lost touch with nature in many ways, and it can sometimes be a foreign, scary place. The woods represented the prison of my own mind, there will never be an escape. This again touches on the opportunity to go inward, to face one’s shadow, and in the video I am running from  it, going insane, to eventually emerge back out into the real world. Sometimes it feels like the nightmare will never end, but it does. It ends. This too shall pass. We’ll be fine"

M180 EP • 2020

 “We grew up with social media all around us and were recounting stories in Jimmy Mac’s tour bus, laughing about our school days with Facebook parties, pictures you weren’t meant to see and finding amazing music. A few days later I was reading about yet another teenager greatly troubled with mental health issues and the role the internet played. I had also been keeping up to date about the #MeToo movement and yet another profiled predatory pervert taking advantage of aspiration.”

Zak MINT

‘Goodbye Beautiful’ is a maelstrom of frenetic energy that encapsulates all that the Grimsby outfit are about.’ Clout

“Like a fine wine, getting better with everything they release” It’s All Indie

‘Enraged Rockers MINT With Loud And Clear Wake-Up Call To Save Our Planet’ Turn Up The Volume

“You cannot help but find yourself under Mint‘s spell.” Clunk Mag

 ‘Mint have created a frenzied assault on the senses’ Indie Buddie

Mint · M180 EP

Maxximo • The best kiss... I'll never have • 2020

“I wrote this song after my heart realized that the most beautiful dream of love I had will never come true, so I wanted the video to show that dream, but also the power of letting go and strength that comes with embracing pain”, Maxximo Explains.

https://www.maxximomusic.com

Sufjan Stevens • America • 2020

When the gods of music close a door, they open a window. Vanilla Ice may have had to cancel his Fourth of July concert due to a pandemic, but hey, Sufjan Stevens is here to cheer us up with a probably super-fun, patriotic track called “America.” What’s that? it’s a 12-minute rumination on disillusionment, suffering, and loss of faith in his nation? That makes more sense. Vulture

Phoebe Bridgers • Inner Demos • 2020

“inner demos” is the collection of 3 voice memos singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers posted on her Bandcamp, with the profits being donated to benefit bail funds.

Rosehip Teahouse • Regretting It • 2020

Cardiff five-piece Rosehip Teahouse (Faye, Tony, Will, Josh and Teddy) will take you on a journey through lovelorn landscapes and drop you off home just in time for tea. With gorgeous vocal harmonies, twinkling guitars and heartfelt lyrics, Rosehip Teahouse carry the indie-pop essence. Formed originally by Faye Rogers (Guitar & Vocals) back in 2015, playing only a small number of house shows and DIY gigs, Faye crafted these subtle and delicate songs, which command your attention, from start to finish.

Sad Club Records · Rosehip Teahouse - Regretting It

Canadiana Playlist • 2020

Canadiana is a piece of digital artwork by Josie Duff