Something about Fruition’s latest release makes me want to hop in the car with my friends and jam out with the windows down as we drive into the night. Released October 16, a two-track single featuring “For You” and “Stand With You” came at a time when the world needed it the most. Though “For You” was included due to its popularity on their previous album Broken at the Break of Day, “Stand With You” serves as it’s B side while bringing a deeply emotional sound and tugging on your heartstrings with it’s meaningful lyrics. An ode to those continuously on the front lines of the fight for racial equality in the United States, Fruition wanted the world to know they “Stand With You”.
With a 6/8 time signature groove and a bottleneck slide guitar “Stand With You” encompasses Fruition’s signature sound while calling out for justice through their lyrics. With no time wasted, the opening line of the song goes “When it rains oh it pours, and it’s been raining for weeks. Now you’re soaked to the bone with tears burned down your cheeks. But I hear your cries and I will be there by your side, my friend.” The song continues into the chorus which aims to bring unity to its listeners, “Though I will never understand the struggles that you’ve been through, I will do all I can, I am gonna stand with you.”
Fruition guitarist and “Stand With You” songwriter Jay Cobb Anderson touched on what inspired his lyrics. “I believe that the most powerful things we humans can do in our lives are not things that benefit us personally, but things that help many,” Anderson said in a press release. “The power of giving is unmatched by anything I can think of. And the most valuable gift one can give is themselves. Their time and energy. Their commitment to help, learn, and change. And to truly change oneself for the better is what we must do to change the world for the better. Just like all journeys begin with one step, all changes begin with one action.”
In an attempt to incite this action, a portion of the proceeds from the streams and sales of “Stand With You” will be donated to Color of Change, the nation’s largest online social justice organization. Anderson continued on to say, “In a world filled with information/misinformation that seems all too divisive, I hope that this song inspires those who hear it to try to sympathize with another’s struggle, and to take a step in the direction of change for compassion, justice, and unity,”
“That’s not only what this song is about, but what this life is all about, in my humble opinion. We hope you enjoy ‘Stand With You.’”
Twang meets psychedelic groove when Billy Strings comes to town. The 28-year-old bluegrass star performed for an empty Ryman Auditorium on October 25th while fans watched through a livestream platform. Strings powerful stage presence allowed his virtual audience to feel like they were front row at the famous Nashville venue and fully immersed in the sound of live music. You could almost feel the stage lights on your face and smell the atmosphere through your computer screen as Strings and his accompaniment played 120 minutes of classic originals and covers.
“Sit down and get settled, grab yourself a cold one, we are going to hang out for a little bit,” Strings said as he tuned his guitar and prepared for the two-hour performance. Starting off the one-set concert Strings opened with “Bronzeback” and transitioned into “Must Be Seven” - two songs that encompass the sound he is so well known for. The set list progressed methodically showcasing some of Strings best work while indulging in the tunes of those who have previously inspired him.
Not only does Strings find a balance between original bluegrass sound and his own fresh take, he creates performances that connect his audience with not just his lyricism and sound but with his band. Specifically, the Ryman show included the key players in Strings' typical crew, Billy Failing on the banjo, Royal Masat on the bass and Jarrod Walker on the mandolin while also welcoming fiddle player John Mailander to the stage.
The show peaked as Strings solo performed Dock Boggs “Country Blues” midway through, allowing for a transition into cover song renditions that seamlessly fit into the vibe of the Ryman performance. When Billy Strings and the band come to town you can guarantee a thought-out set that aims to connect and entertain an audience. As the show continued Strings revisited his own original music playing “Away From The Mire” to wrap up the virtual livesteam.
Strings is well adapted to the virtual performance format that has been demanded by the events of 2020. Just in September, he and his band had a similar performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO where they played a three-set show for the empty stands. With the transition from in-person live music to virtual concerts, Strings is at the top of his game and is coming in parallel with the changing times.
Setlist: Bronzeback > Must Be Seven, The Likes of Me, Dust in a Baggie, While I’m Waiting Here, Ernest T. Grass > Ole Slew-Foot, John Deere Tractor, Hollow Heart, Turmoil & Tinfoil, Country Blues, Wild Bill Jones, Give Me Back My Fifteen Cents, Beaumont Rag, Home of the Red Fox > Little Maggie, Crown Of Thorns > Away From the Mire
Nine minutes and twenty-two seconds of soul-piercing vocals and heavy electro come together to form deadmau5 and Kiesza’s new single “Bridged By a Lightwave” which was released Nov 10.
The musical odyssey which made its premiere on SIRIUSXM BPM and is Kiesza’s first-ever collaboration with deadmau5 brings him back to the dance floors destined to become another great work in his pantheon of female-fronted collaborations which also includes “Drama Free” featuring LIGHTS, “I Remember” with Kaskade, “Sofi Needs A Ladder” featuring SOFI, “Raise Your Weapon” featuring Greta Svabo Bech and the deadmau5 remix of Morgan Page’s “The Longest Road” featuring Lissie.
“Bridged By a Lightwave” was brought to light after years of just talking about collaboration between deadmau5 and Kiesza. Finally this year the plans were set into motion after deadmau5’ wife Kelly urged the two to finally lay down the framework for a new project.
“One night as I was heading to Norway from the UK to mentor young music students, my taxi hit a massive traffic jam and I soon realized I wasn’t going to make my flight,” Kiesza said in a press release. “We were at a standstill for almost an hour before we began inching toward the airport. But as I was sitting there peering out the window, like magic, all of a sudden the entire song just appeared. I pulled out my phone as fast I could to capture the words and they flew in. It was as if someone was threading the song into my mind from another dimension. By the time I finally arrived at airport, my flight had long departed, but ‘Bridged By A Lightwave’ had landed in this ‘3D place.’”
Fans who attended deadmau5’ early 2020 cubev3 live shows in New York City and Philadelphia were treated to the song during his technology-fueled sets. As the chorus goes, “Gone on a fast train, oceans of blank space, high on an aeroplane, bridged by a lightwave, all but a 3D place” it’s clear the story behind the song wove its way into the lyrics themselves, telling the tale of what seems to be two star-crossed lovers finding their way back to each other.
The new release quickly surpassed one million streams across all platforms, which is not a surprise given Deadmau5’ success in the music industry. As a diverse artist and producer, Deadmau5 is one of the world's most respected electronic music producers of modern times. Enjoying international chart success with his platinum-certified single "Ghosts 'n' Stuff," as well as "Professional Griefers," "Sofi Needs A Ladder" and "I Remember," he has also released seven critically acclaimed albums including an orchestral album.
Three days after the single was released, the music video for the radio-edit version of the song dropped on Youtube. The performance by Deadmau5 and Kiesza provided a glimpse of the live-show atmosphere we have all missed during 2020. The music video compiled footage from the recent drive-in tour and transformed it into a production that resonated with fans across the world. Deadmau5 continues his fall tour and will be performing in Aspen, CO in late December. For more information on the tour and tickets you can visit the Deadmau5 website, https://deadmau5.com/shows/.
Tash Sultana’s forthcoming sophomore album Terra Firma, due out February 19, 2021 on Mom+Pop Music takes a mash-up of genres to create a peacefully inspiring album. Its intoxicating grooves and hypnotic riffs are instantly inviting, but with depth that reveals its rewards the more you absorb it.
From the previously released evocative “Greed” to the enthralling “Beyond The Pine,” Tash departs from looped and layered jams towards meditative combinations of soul, funk, RnB, folk, rock, and hip hop. “It’s Aretha Franklin meets Bon Iver meets John Mayer meets whatever,” Tash said.
The 14-track album takes root into far-reaching sonic territory, while each song stands out with its individualistic flare and sound. Ultimately meshing together to create a flawless album that showcases Tash’s musical and lyrical growth. It is the kind of album that suits any setting, a rainy Sunday morning kind of vibe that all-in-all makes you feel a plethora of emotion.
With transitions that lead you on a journey of soul searching and purpose, songs like “Blame it on Society” and “Dream My Life Away” directly influence the way you listen to Tash’s music. Terra Firma isn’t just a good listen, it reaches to inspire and reground what we think we know. Without a doubt Terra Firma is a relatable masterpiece made for the hearts that long to be mended by the power of music.
Almost every note on Terra Firma was once again composed, arranged, performed, engineered and produced by Tash. But to kick-start a new era, the solo star, for the first time, opened themselves up to collaborators, starting with a 10-day writing session with fellow ARIA-winning Australian musician Matt Corby and producer Dann Hume (Courtney Barnett, Amy Shark, Angus & Julia Stone). Corby also assisted on the richly detailed “Beyond The Pine,” in which Tash intones “I need you to save me because I can’t save myself,” and “Crop Circles,” a rumination on death disguised by its smoky, minimal piano licks and horns. “I went full jazz on that one,” Tash said.
Terra Firma seems to be an effortless win, but it’s clear the time and dedication to create something so artistically beautiful is anything but effortless - in the best way possible. Tash’s commitment to produce music that feeds the soul paid off from the opening track “Musk” up until the last note of her closing track “I am Free”. Out in February, Terra Firma will be an album listeners come back to time and time again.
The TERRA FIRMA track list: > Musk > Crop Circles > Greed > Beyond The Pine > Pretty Lady > Dream My Life Away feat. Josh Cashman > Maybe You've Changed > Coma > Blame It On Society > Sweet & Dandy > Willow Tree feat. Jerome Farah > Vanilla Honey > Let The Light In > I Am Free
Michigander’s newest EP release, “Everything Will Be OK Eventually” dropped on all platform’s March 19. After spending two years working on it following the release of his previous EP “Where Do We Go From Here” in 2019, artist Jason Singer said he was, “relieved, exhausted and excited” that his new music was finally being shared with the world.
Singer is back to playing socially distanced live shows after an entire year of not performing in front of a live audience. Coming full circle, Michigander will be playing a show in Detroit on May 7, the city Singer had always dreamed about living in. Now, in the heart of his new home he will have the opportunity to play live for his people, a feeling both artists and concertgoers have missed this past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the live music world slowly begins to reopen, the excitement to connect with artists and their music is at an all-time high. Here at the Grateful Web, we value this connection and that is why we sat down with Singer to talk about the meaning of “Everything Will Be OK Eventually” and what is next for Michigander.
Grateful Web: With the release of “Everything Will be OK Eventually”, along with your livestream later today what are three words that describe how you are feeling?
Jason Singer: Relieved, exhausted, excited.
GW: How excited have you been to get back to playing live music again & being to play your new music for people? Especially starting off in Nashville this past week and looking ahead to your show in Detroit.
JS: It was emotional. It was weird to finally be in a room with people again, and to play some of these new songs. But some I haven't even figured out how to play solo yet because we barely just figured out how to play them as a band. Like, getting ready for tonight. And yeah, but it felt really cool to play my oldest songs and my newer songs. So it was just, it was unforgettable. Definitely.
GW: It’s clear through your lyricism and sound that the pandemic impacted the way this EP was created, can you tell me a little bit about that and how the time alone impacted you as an artist?
JS: Yeah, I think at first, like everybody, I was like, I'm going to play music, and I'm going to be so productive during this time off. I was fortunate to have some money set aside to not be super worried about it. I mean I was worried but I knew I've got to just work on music. And then I quickly realized that all the music I was writing was focused on the end of the world. And I thought, wow, this is gonna be really boring and this isn't going to age well. So I decided to try to not write a ton and just kind of work on the music I already had. And so that was the whole thing. I just wanted to be kind of sparse, talking about COVID times, in a way, you know, I didn't want every single song to be about like, oh, man, everything shut down. Everybody saw everything, but because I didn't think in a year or two from now, that's what everyone's gonna want to be hearing. I didn't want people to hear this song to be like, oh, this was from 2020. I was very intentional about trying not to date my songs so quickly.
GW: You mentioned that this was the first time you implemented sounds you didn’t think would necessarily be replicable to a live audience, can you tell me how challenging yourself with this freed up creative space for you as an artist?
JS: Oh, yeah, definitely. I feel like I'm so excited for what else I'm going to do with music. Because I feel like I really opened up a lot of opportunities, like a lot of space for me to try new things with this album and I didn't ever feel that way before. So this time, I'm just really happy about everything so far. But I'm just really excited for what's next.
GW: As I read your bio it noted that this new EP “soundtracks chasing a dream until it’s real” for you. can you tell me a bit about how it feels to go from putting 43 cents in your gas tank to get to gigs, to where you are now? Are you living your dream?
JS: Yeah, it's pretty surreal. I just had lunch with a friend and he used to watch me play when I was first starting when I was busting in my hometown. He got to come to the Nashville show and he was just, he was just telling me about how cool it is to see how far I’ve come. And I have a long way to go. I always want to stress that. I don't think I've arrived in any way. And I don't think I'm even close to where I want to be. Just the journey has been awesome. And I'm stoked to continue the journey.
GW: So you originally kind of debuted in 2014. Right? When did you decide this is what I want to do? Have you loved music forever? Or kind of how did it come about that you were like, I kind of want to be a rockstar?
JS: I always wanted to do music. And there was a time where I did want to be like an actor. And I just did like community theater in middle school. But I think once I got to high school, I think I was in eighth grade - and I was like, I want to be a musician. I want to do this. And then literally just told people, they would ask, “what's your five year plan?” I would say to win a Grammy. I mean, obviously, I'm not that person anymore. I don't want to, I mean I can't say I'm a lot more humble without sounding not humble. But I have been humbled many times by a lot of different situations. And now I'm just grateful to be where I'm at now. But it's so cool. It's just really neat to have songs on the radio and be able to travel. And I'm even talking to you and talking to press people, like every day for the last couple of weeks has been so cool. I love every minute of it. And I'm just thankful.
GW: Yeah, and your story is really amazing. And I can definitely see you've got a long way to go just as far as how big you dream. I guess one of my questions would be if you could give a piece of advice to someone who you know was in your shoes and they want to work in a creative space like this, what's a piece of advice that you would want to give them?
JS: Keep going, just keep doing it is like the easiest way. I mean, as trite as that sounds, like that's, that's the thing to do. Just keep doing it, and do it a lot. And make sacrifices to get what you want. spend all your money driving to a show. If you think it's going to help you out. Just keep doing it. It's kinda like the best, easiest advice I can give.
GW: And with the new album out and everything, do you feel like the songs on there and kind of encompass who you are as an artist right now?
JS: Yeah, I think I think so. I think just that what I made on this record is what I needed to do right now. But I think it got a lot of things out of my system, as far as production ideas go, I use a lot of samples and stuff. But now as I'm writing, like the next stuff, I'm kind of gone back to, I want to write these guitar songs that are just that people can sing along too easily. So that's what I'm thinking. That's the direction I'm trying to head in again. I've already started working on what's next. Since I had so much time to finish up this, the next thing is already getting worked on, which is super exciting. I've already been back in the studio, recording the next thing, which has never been something I've had the time to do. So I got a little head start.
GW: As I was listening through, I really identified with headlights, just on a personal level. So I was hoping you could just tell me a little bit about what inspired that track specifically for you?
JS: That song was something I had started before, even way before ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ EP came out. I had worked on that song and just could never get it right. It was just this idea that I had, I had the chorus and I had some verses. But the main thing was I had this musical idea with all these pianos beeping and bopping and looping and all this stuff. I loved it and I just couldn't finish it. So my guitar player Jake LeMond, he co wrote that one with me to help me finish it and it wouldn’t have been done without him.
GW: What's next for you? What are you looking forward to as the world gets to listen to the sound that “Everything Will Be OK Eventually” has to offer?
JS: I'm hoping that this music will be the soundtrack that people use as we return to normal and as the world kind of heals and stuff. I'm hoping that people will listen to this music 5-10 years from now and go “Man this takes me right back to when we were starting to get things figured out and getting to where we don’t have to be more locked in our houses for a year.” And I think I mean, I don't think we're there yet. But I think by the end of this year, we'll be in a much different place. Like, post COVID, hopefully, and just socially, I think the world will be in a better place. And I'm really excited to see how that is, I'm just excited about it. But as far as other things go, I'm hoping that we get to tour by the end of the year.
On the edge of their new album release “Long Lost'' which will be available for streaming May 21, Lord Huron gave their fans a glimpse of what to expect with their new title track “Long Lost”. Accompanied by their two most recent releases “Mine Forever” and “Not Dead Yet” which they shared with the world earlier this year.
Lord Huron first made a name for themselves with their debut album Lonesome Dreams and shortly after Strange Tales, which featured the triple-platinum single “The Night We Met,” a song that put Lord Huron on the big map and became an indie anthem for fans around the world.
The band continues to influence listeners with their unique sound and meaningful lyrics, pulling them into the soulful sound of each song while leaving them with a longing for something more. It’s obvious that fans were waiting in anticipation for new music from Lord Huron, as “Mine Forever” and “Not Dead Yet” accumulated over 2.5 millon streams quickly after their release.
“Long Lost” followed the heartbreak tune of “Mine Forever” and the comeback track “Not Dead Yet” painting the picture of finding yourself in the beauty of the world we live in. The song starts off with the lyrics, “Leave me where the light pours down through the trees like rain, let it wash over me like a flood, let it ease my pain, let it drown me.” As the soft acoustic guitar and dusty tambourine lead into the chorus the lyrics continue, “Send me to the mountains let me go free forever, I'll be running through the forest dancing in the fields like this forever,” a feeling we can all relate too. The cinematic strings bring it all together, as the song finishes saying “I've got a place in the world and I found my way out in the night all alone, in the way out there. I ain't lonely, I'm long lost.”
With lyrics that read like poetry and an ensemble of instruments that flow like fresh honey, “Long Lost” is a song that fills your ears with a bliss only reached in the present moments of life. Bringing the mind back to what is important, the song captures how it feels to live freely and find yourself in the small moments around you. A tale of freedom and rediscovery, I myself am feeling long lost in the best way.
As the title track to the upcoming album, we can expect the project as a whole to reach the part of the heart that “Long Lost” uncovered. Something to look forward to in the next month, here is the tracklist for Lord Hurons newest album:
If you’re looking for a new bluesy rock song to blast all summer long then sibling duo Jocelyn & Chris Arndt have the perfect tune for you. Out on June 18, their new single “Sugar & Spice” will have you up on your feet with your hairbrush microphone ready to rock out.
The funky intro is pierced by Jocelyn’s powerful vocals, with lyrics that lead you on a journey through a song that is full of classic rock grooves while seamlessly fusing with the unique sound of the well-known duo.
As the lyrics start off Jocelyn’s voice echoes the ache of heart pain - singing, “Right about now, you’ve got me thinking it through, talkin’ bout the who, what, where, when, why and the how. Yeah, I've been coming unglued, and what's the use? Right about now? I don't know how I can take the heartache, you’ve been showing up right on cue, by god I hope I’m right about you.”
Her voice glides into the chorus as Chris’ insane guitar talent and instrumental overlay take it up a notch, leading you into the thick of it, “sugar and spice it would be nice if we could agree. Sugar and spice the dark and the light, are you thinking about me? Sugar and spice the bark and the bite, the rumors are true yeah, sugar and spice the roll of the dice, what can I do - you got me thinkin’ bout you.”
The lyricism reads as poetry, which is nothing new for the twenty-somethings as they often write lyrics just as unique and creative as their instrumentals, coming together to form ensembles of powerful art.
Since their debut album release in 2014, the pair has stacked their discography with chart topping hits including three consecutive commercial radio singles in the Billboard AAA Top 40 and two #1 records on the Relix Jambands Top 30 Album Chart. The family formed band that Jocelyn & Chris started in middle school has now turned into a lifelong musical career for the both of them. As they released a total of seven albums, they simultaneously graduated from Harvard University while working with some of alt-rock’s biggest names including Cory Wong (Vulfpeck), G. Love, Byron Isaacs (Lumineers), and Gov't Mule's Danny Louis.
You can pre-save their new single “Sugar & Spice” here.
From start to finish, a masterpiece of sound and emotion pair to create Lord Huron’s new album titled Long Lost. Out on May 21, the indie-folk band does it again with 16 tracks that tell a story of love, love lost and the discovery of self.
With four songs from the upcoming album already released, including “I Lied” with Allison Ponthier, “Mine Forever”, “Not Dead Yet” and title track “Long Lost” Huron fans have been given a glimpse of what to expect on May 21. Highly anticipated, the pre-released songs have already accumulated millions of streams with “Not Dead Yet” and “I Lied” leading the way.
Increasing excitement for the arrival of Long Lost, the lead single “Not Dead Yet” just captured #1 at AAA Radio. Not only did it complete their fastest rise at the format to date, but this feat also marks the bands very first #1. To date, the song has amassed 5.6 million Spotify streams and 560K video views, proving fans are anxiously waiting for the album's release.
A totally different vibe than “Not Dead Yet”, “I Lied” captures the sound of early sixties country and old school AM radio bliss all at once. “I Lied” is the epitome of a heartbreaking dreamy duet upheld by the interplay of Texas-born siren Allison Ponthier and Lord Huron. Awash in soft acoustic guitars and ethereal slide, it slips into a gripping hypnotic harmony punctuated by the fear and anticipation of a breakup. The softness of Ponthier’s angelic voice makes you feel as if you have just fallen in love for the first time, while the lyrics pair with it to tell a different story, ultimately showcasing the beauty that often goes hand-in-hand with the pain of heartbreak.
The band has also announced a Fall 2021 headline tour, their first shows in support of Long Lost. The tour kicks off in Philadelphia on September 9th and hits a variety of outdoor venues in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, Portland and other markets across the country. Visit www.lordhuron.com for more info and ticket links.
The band’s extensive touring includes headline shows at some of the most storied venues in the country including the Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, and the Ryman Auditorium, while they have secured prime slots at festivals ranging from Coachella to Lollapalooza to Bonnaroo.
Without a doubt this is Lord Huron’s most anticipated release to date, you can pre-order Long LostHERE, listen to “I Lied” HERE, and watch the official music video HERE. Below you can find the track list for the album.
The reggae-infused folk-rock band Satsang released a new album today, June 4 titled “All. Right. Now.” Inspired by the soundscape of their home state Montana, the album brings nature and soul to each track, telling the story of a long journey to peace and happiness.
The opening track “From And I Go” brings a grace of violins and string instruments together to connect meaningful lyrics with the passion in frontman Drew McManus’s voice. From the first note you can sense the power of storytelling that the album will bring to its listeners.
Peeling back the layers of sound, each track reroutes you to the roots of what feels like finally being home. "Montana isn't just where I live. It's my heart and soul," McManus said in a press release. Truly engaged with the nature around them, “From And I Go” was written on a rock in the middle of the Stillwater river, in Montana’s southwest region.
“I had hiked up with my wife and baby to hopefully catch some fish while they played,” McManus told Under The Radar in an interview. “The wind was a bit much, so I sat on this rock and just watched my wife play with our youngest at the bottom of these giant mountains. Eleven years prior I had been at that same outlet when I decided to stay in Montana for good. The song was a love song to all the things that made me feel home. The river, the mountains, my wife and children, and even the time I spend away from it all on the road, knowing that whenever I leave I will always come back to those things."
“From And I Go” followed the release of “I’m The One,” the album’s vibrant summer anthem that carries a beat you can’t help but get up and dance to. “This Place,” featuring singer/songwriter Trevor Hall, was also gifted early to fans, the track captures the lifelong journey of McManus’s growth through trials and tribulations.
“When you’re dealt a tough hand, you can either get bitter or you can get better,” said McManus in a press release. “You can blame your upbringing for everything and complain about what happened to you, or you can choose to believe that everything happened for you, to step into your power and become the person you want to be.”
The purposeful message behind the opening track is carried throughout the whole of the album, from start to finish the melodic sounds take you on a spiritual journey through lyricism and unique instrumental ensembles, drawing on classic country and modern Americana. Written and recorded during an extended hiatus from the road, ‘All. Right. Now.’ finds McManus reconnecting with his motherland and experimenting with a whole new palette of sounds. The performances are broad and spacious, reflecting the wide-open fields and soaring mountains that surrounded the band while they were recording. The result is a lush, organic collection fueled by acoustic guitars, fiddle, and pedal steel.
Satsang's soulful-rock vibes brought their previous work to #1 on the Billboard's Reggae Chart and allowed them to sell out concerts around the country, sharing stages with artists like Michael Franti & Spearhead, Nahko and Medicine for the People as they worked their way up from bars and clubs to massive festivals.
Following the release of the new album, the band is back on the road performing their new music for fans across the country. With lyrics and poetic storytelling that are drawn from the beauty of nature and the world around us, what better place to start their tour than in Aspen, CO followed by Red Rocks Amphitheatre, one of the country's most breathtaking outdoor venues. Kicking off live shows there on June 4-6, the quartet heads back to their homebase of Montana quickly after to continue the tour of “All. Right. Now.” You can find the list of tour dates below.
Jah Sun and The Rising Tide hit Denver on Thursday night, bringing an intimate experience to locals under the twinkle lights of Mile High Station. An event that brought fans to their feet, people of all ages danced around right in front of the band as they performed music from their upcoming album Running Through Walls, including their latest single “Rock Paper Scissors.” Touring around the West Coast, Jah Sun and The Rising Tide are showcasing the new album which is set to be released this summer.
The positive energy in the venue matched the beauty of the lyrics and songs they performed. It was a refreshing event that allowed fans to finally enjoy live music after the COVID-19 pandemic. You could feel the freedom in the air as the sun set, creating the nightlife experience that Denver has become well known for. Tucked beneath the underpass of the highway, the music bounced from the street side stage to the ears of eager enthusiasts.
Emotions of all kinds were felt through the music, from joy to peace to profound love, it was a night filled with moments of deep satisfaction and gratitude. Personally, the track titled “No Profit” brought a bliss to the closing of the night, leaving myself and other concertgoers with full hearts and peace of mind.
An obvious fan favorite, their latest single “Rock Paper Scissors” had a clear meaning that connected with everyone who heard it. “Rock Paper Scissors” is a song about the games we play when we’re in love. Everyone can relate to the confusion when we fall for someone. The song is about the ups and downs of love. Like love, it has an intoxicating vibe that oddly makes you feel good even though you might be hurting.
“The song title and lyrics throughout are a fun play on words to what would otherwise be a sad love story. We’ve all had someone play with our heart – and it especially hurts when we’ve fallen for them. Rock Paper Scissors is that song, but with our positive, feel good spin on it,” Jah Sun said in a press release. “It takes the pain of love and turns it into a playful song with clever lyrics. The music takes the mind off the pain and lets it heal as the body grooves to the music. It’s special because it will help people get past heartbreak and who knows – find someone new to vibe with!” he added. The single was produced with producer/multi-instrumentalist Jallanzo “Dub MatriXx,” who collaborated to spread the message of positivity and love through uplifting sounds.
Jah Sun took a moment to thank fans for coming out, and to spread his ultimate message of love and light. Sharing bits of his personal struggles over the last year, he explained his loss of love after an 18 year relationship, and the devastation of losing his new house in the California wildfires. It was a moment that brought a family feel to the night, a sense of unity knowing that every person there had been through trials of their own during the previous months. Ultimately, it was an affair that perfectly set the tone for what the rest of the summer should feel like.
The single “Rock Paper Scissors” is out now and you can find a list of future tour dates here.
Joshua Radin’s new album “The Ghost And The Wall,” released July 23 is filled with soul and lyrics that bind listeners to his storytelling, something his music has been known for in the past. With ten impressive tracks, Radin’s new album follows his previous release “Covers, Vol. 1” more than a year later. Written during the trials of this past year, Radin showcases his inexcusable talent for meaningful songwriting.
Accumulating 1-million records sold and more than 1-billion streams, Radin still views songwriting as a healing force, where acoustic eloquence and dyed-in-the-wool Americana storytelling is capable of soothing the roughest of seas. Due to his earnestness and transparency, Radin has been compared to artists like Elliot Smith and Paul Simon. He's sold out shows on four different continents, performed alongside artists like Ed Sheeran and Sheryl Crow, and earned super-fans like Ellen DeGeneres, who invited him to perform at her wedding.
On his latest collaboration with producer Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Conor Oberst), he explored the "walls we build to protect ourselves," a theme that feels especially relevant these days. He wrestled with the sense of longing and loneliness that hovered over all of us this year, in turn producing an album during quarantine without ever seeing his producer face-to-face. "It's a theme I'm fixated on," he explained in a press release. "I'm trying to heal myself and others in the process.”
Healing is a pinpoint word to describe the whole of “The Ghost And The Wall,” where each track focuses on the importance of meaningful and fulfilling human connection on the other side of the same walls we build around ourselves. One of my personal favorites, “You’re My Home” fully conveys this with its lyricism.
“If everybody, is making you think you're small
And you need somebody, I wanna be the one you call
I can be the one you need, I'll knock down that wall
I'll be that body to catch you when you fall...
...To say let's go
You sing my soul
It's such a long road when you go it alone
Come ride with me, you're my home”
Radin has affected countless listeners with his palpable transparency, landing north of 150 film, television, and commercial syncs, including being personally handpicked by First Ladies Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden for a campaign in support of the troops. He also remains a committed philanthropist, supporting charities like Little Kids Rock and North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), among others.
In the end, Radin finds a way to heal once again on ‘The Ghost And The Wall.’ “I have to get these songs out of my head, or I’ll go crazy,” he leaves off. “When I’m touring, it’s a symbiotic relationship between me and the audience. I focus on the weaknesses I have, sing about them, and I’m renewed. Hopefully, others feel the same,” Radin said in a press release.
Radin will be celebrating the release of ‘The Ghost And The Wall’ with a performance at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY on Saturday, August 7th. For more information visit www.joshuaradin.com
San Francisco-based singer-songwriter EllaHarp has released the latest single, “Sunshine and Roses,” from her upcoming full-length album Screaming Into The Void (out September 17). The song, while having a bright, positive title, was actually penned about EllaHarps ongoing battle with depression.
Watch the music video for “Sunshine and Roses” here
The dark and meaningful lyrics of “Sunshine and Roses,” prove that there is much more to harpists than the stereotypical image. “I think all harpists are chased by the stereotype of harps being some happy, heavenly thing played exclusively by angels on clouds with copious glissandos and overly flourished arpeggiation,” states EllaHarp. “'Sunshine and Roses' is my version of a buck to the stereotype, at first glance it appears to fit the bill but in fact centers on my ongoing battle with depression.”
The single was unveiled on The Bluegrass Situation last week and EllaHarp discussed how the song was the first she wrote on the harp that she built. The need to build her own harp came from travelling. Regular harps are not designed to fit in overhead storage on planes, so naturally the DIY artist improvised. “I started drawing cardboard cutouts and convinced a friend in metal fabrication that an aluminum harp was a good idea, despite neither of us having any experience on the matter and no example of one having been built,” recalled EllaHarp.
EllaHarp’s sophomore album, Screaming Into The Void, is out everywhere Friday, September 17. The new album offers a unique blending of folk and Americana with pop sensibilities, highlighting dark, thoughtful lyrics with memorable hooks.
Screaming Into The Void Track Listing:
“Screaming Into The Void”
“Bittersweet”
“Better”
“Whiskey Garden”
“Sunshine and Roses”
“Shotgun Sadie (ft. The False Bottom Band)”
“Late Summer”
“Black Road”
“Madd Love”
Following the success of their latest album Long Lost, Lord Huron brings yet another visual masterpiece to their fans with their new music video for "Love Me Like You Used To." Released on July 26, the music video already has over a quarter of a million views on YouTube with hundreds of comments submitted by fans raving over the quality and beauty of Lord Huron’s latest work.
“When most bands lately sound like crap here we get music of the highest talent,” user Jean Alisa commented. “I know music is subjective, but I find it impossible to know who wouldn’t like this perfect band. I just love the cosmic 60’s mixed with country vibe that mixes and turns into something magical. Lord Huron creates their own musical agenda with every album then breaks the mold and goes on to another new sound.”
One fan even described Lord Huron’s sound as “Cosmic Cowboy music” which is a perfect representation of their new music video. Combining the story of lost old country love, adding a dash of rock n’ roll aesthetic, paired with graphic edits that give you otherworldly vibes, it is safe to say Lord Huron has hit the nail on the head yet again with their unique sound and implementation of visual art that capture the entirety of the story they are trying to tell.
Lord Huron’s success continues to skyrocket in the wake of their recent album Long Lost, garnering nearly 50 million streams and counting, captured the #1 on The Americana/Folk Album and Tastemaker Albums Chart, #2 on Vinyl Albums & Alternative Albums chart, #3 Top Rock Albums Chart, #4 Top Album Sales Chart and #23 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The album also received critical acclaim from the likes of Wall Street Journal, Brooklyn Vegan, NPR, American Songwriter, All Music, Uproxx, WNYC, Flood, JamBase and more all praising the immersive world Lord Huron has created with Long Lost. Not to mention, it has captured a 88 score on Metacritic which summarizes all critical and user reviews of an album from across the globe.
Recently performing on shows like The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, CBS: This Morning: Saturday, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and NPR’s World Cafe, the band relentlessly continues to grow their name worldwide. Long Lost is a one-of-a-kind album that fans and music lovers continue to stream, a timeless ode to the talent of Lord Huron.
You can watch their new music video for "Love Me Like You Used To" here.
