[SONG OF THE DAY] Nation Of Language - "Rush & Fever"

image courtesy of Nation of Language

Brooklyn-based darkwave trio Nation of Language have FINALLY announced details of their debut full-length, Introduction, Presence, which is slated for an April 3rd, 2020 release. The band has also offered the first taste from the record, “Rush & Fever”, which is sure to send you to the darkest corner of the dance floor on goth night. Chock full of shimmering synths with a looming bassline in tow, they achieve such a perfect blend of upbeat energy with a healthy dose of sardonic melancholy that it will have you saying, “Oh my goth where has this band been all my life?!?!?!”

This month the band will be hitting the road to support Adam Green on tour just before their album release show on April 3rd at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn.

Introduction, Presence

Release date: April 3, 2020

1. Tournament

2. Rush & Fever

3. September Again

4. On Division St

5. Indignities

6. Automobile

7. Friend Machine

8. Sacred Tongue

9. The Motorist

10. The Wall and I

pre-order

Nation of Language on tour supporting Adam Green

Sun, Mar 8 - Boston MA - Great Scott w/ Heart Bones
Mon, Mar 9 - Montreal QC - Bar Le Ritz
Tue, Mar 10 - Toronto ON - The Horseshoe Tavern
Thu, Mar 12 - Cleveland OH - Mahall's
Fri, Mar 13 - Chicago IL - Schubas Tavern
Sat, Mar 14 - St Paul MN - Turf Club
Sun, Mar 15 - Moline IL - Rust Belt
Mon, Mar 16 - Detroit MI - Deluxx Fluxx
Wed, Mar 25 - Los Angeles CA - Bootleg Theater
Thu, Mar 26 - San Diego CA - Soda Bar
Fri, Mar 27 - San Francisco CA - The Chapel
Sat, Mar 28 - Portland OR - Star Theater
Sun, Mar 29 - Seattle WA - The Sunset

[SONG OF THE DAY] Steve Cousins - "Coffee"

image lovingly lifted from Steve Cousins’ Instagram

I have located the perfect Sunday anthem and it’s from Melbourne singer-songwriter Steve Cousins. His newest track, “Coffee” is the kind of unassuming upbeat tune that could be the soundtrack for anything, from the perfect day trip to haggard crawl to your hangover cure, and everything in between. The multi-instrumental loop artist has only been on the scene for a little while now, but has already cooked up catchy enough tunes that Slum fam couldn’t help but brag on him a bit, which is how he stumbled into my view.

For anyone on that side of the world that is delighted to see someone in Brooklyn writing about Steve, I’m happy to pass along that he’s got a single launch party for “Coffee” on March 20th at Yah Yahs. Apparently there will be espresso martinis all night long at the celebration, clever marketing from this one!

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A post shared by Steve Cousins (@steve_cousins_music) on Feb 23, 2020 at 10:18pm PST

[SONG OF THE DAY] Cory Becker - "Rivers"

image courtesy of Cory Becker

ICYMI, last Friday Los Angeles indie folk singer-songwriter Cory Becker released his debut, One. Created in the dirt floored basement home-made studio in his Echo Park rental, this introductory solo effort is conjuring a lot of same feels one would get listening to the likes of Wilco, Matt Pond PA, David Bazan, Josh Rouse, and maybe even a little Pete Yorn. It’s wild that this is Cory’s first go at recording and producing everything on his own because it’s got this timelessness to it that can take the most well-seasoned musicians decades to perfect.

Although opening track, “Rivers” has been out in the wild for some time now, I’m taking advantage of the album dropping to highlight it again, because I really think it highlights the essence of the sonic journey that Cory will take you on if you choose to give the album a spin. It’s earnestly straightforward and uncomplicated, yet also somewhat familiar, like meeting someone for the first time that makes you feel like you’ve known them your entire life.

Speaking on the track, Cory told Buzzbands.LA, “‘Rivers’ is a song I wrote to a person I was in a relationship with, who struggled with fear and uncertainty of the future, and our future specifically,” Becker says simply. “The track is inspired by a basic sentiment: You cannot stop what will be, so let it happen, whatever it is.”

One is out now and would be the perfect album to give a first spin on a carefree Saturday.

[SONG OF THE DAY] SuperParka - "Kawabunga!"

image courtesy of SuperParka

VIBE

OCLOCK

FRIDAYYYYYYYY

ALSO

600TH SONG OF THE DAY

Holy shit. Kinda makes me wanna yell….

KAWABUNGA!

Last week Parisian electro-R&B duo SuperParka dropped a new track, “Kawabunga!”, which is part of a double-A side single, which is out courtesy of Kitsuné Musique. The song is funky and wobbly in all the right places. Maybe because the buzz around how well the movie did opening weekend, but this sounds like a song Sonic The Hedgehog would get the fuck down to in the best possible way. The other half of the double single, “You”, which dropped earlier this year, showcases the softer side of the dynamic duo, offering a more laid back vibe if that’s what you’re in need of.

I came to know the duo by chance in 2018 with their track, “Skip”, off their debut LP, Sushiboubou#1 (which you should circle back to once you’re done obsessing over these new tracks). Hopefully you caught that in the diSKOAver weekly update when it was there. Speaking of, that’s been updated this week, too! While I make it a point to update everywhere when it’s live, if your preference for updates is email, definitely go sign up to receive updates the second I swap the tracks out (I literally swap out the tracks and then hit send on the mailing list blast within 15 seconds).

#diSKOAverweekly: week of February 26, 2020

Here is your Wednesday update on a Friday. My bad. But I love you, so. There’s that.

1. Bamily - “Katata”

   This song feels like bottled sunshine. You’re welcome.

2. The Undercover Dream Lovers - “Chardonnay”

   This whole album is so chill. Oh yeah, that came out today. Go listen to It’s All In Your Head.

3. Disq - “Daily Routine”

   Looking forward to their debut album Collector, which drops….next week(!!!)

4. Little Hurt - “It’s Okay Not To Be Okay”

   Just in case you need the reminder. 💖

5. Example - “Back On The Wreck”

   Not for nothing dude is crushing it on the self-releasing game. Also like that the pop sheen has kinda worn off and he’s back to making cooler jams like this.

6. Firstworld - “Groove Is In The Heart (feat. Delia Dane)”

   This is one of the best covers I’ve heard in a long time. I was really skeptical with this at first but they really nailed it.

7. Spencer Ludwig - “Just Wanna Dance”

   Just making sure you listen to Spencer while I wrap up this interview so you can love him like I love him.

8. Niki Black - “The Other Man”

   Very happy to see Niki is back with more music. She dropped a really cool video for this too that you should check out.

9. Madame Gandhi - “Bad Habits”

   Had this song on a lot lately to remind myself to be better so passing this along to y’all in case you missed it. Gonna see this bad bitch on March 10th at Elsewhere. Think we’re doing an interview, too!

10. Joe Publik - “Military Minded (feat. Scorzayzee)”

    Missed that his new record Stubborn Vectis dropped last week. Dropped this in as a mental note to check it out.

11. RJD2 - “Pull Up On Love (feat. STS, Khari Mateen)”

    First single from RJD2’s upcoming album The Fun Ones out on April 17th! I’m so happy he’s back I’m not sure if my feet are touching the ground when I walk around listening to this.

12. Juice - “DiCaprio (Love Me All The Time)”

    Juice just shared the music video for this track and announced a headlining tour! Also the clip at the end lololol

13. LOVER - “Waiting Up (feat. Cult Shøtta")”

    Still loving on LOVER. Liked the video a lot for this too.

14. Ry X - “Oceans (feat. ólafur Arnalds)”

    I don’t know how else to explain it but this song feels like you’re coming up for air.

15. Black Books - “In The In”

    Oh shit their EP Cheer Up dropped today! It’s great. Definitely worth a spin.

16. Grivo - “H.D.C.”

    Sad to have missed these guys open for Slow Crush at Saint Vitus earlier in the month. They remind me a lot of old school Starflyer 59, which is why my obsession is slowly intensifying.

[SONG OF THE DAY] Methyl Ethel - "Majestic AF"

image courtesy of Methyl Ethel

Just a week after their third studio full-length Triage officially turned a year old West Australia’s Methyl Ethel have returned with a brand new single along with news of a brand new EP and a slew of tour dates. The new track, “Majestic AF”, is a captivating opening for the forthcoming EP, Hurts To Laugh, which is due out on April 10th. Full of a variety of burbling synth melodies, kick-free drum beats, and brainchild Jake Webb’s signature falsetto, it comes of somewhat minimalist at first and then builds incrementally, incorporating layer upon layer of texture until it swiftly comes to a close.

Hurts To Laugh was recorded at the same time as Triage, so it’s fitting that both album covers feature art by Sydney-based artist Loribelle Spriovski. Despite being recorded simultaneously, Triage was the final of the trilogy of albums, following 2016’s Oh Human Spectacle and 2017’s Everything Is Forgotten.

On the heels of the release update, the band unveiled a slew of solo tour dates in Australia and support dates in the US for Peter, Bjorn, and John in March and April.

Did the whistling from “Young Folks” immediately slam straight into your head the second you saw their name, too?

ANYWAY.

Tickets for the dates in Australia go on sale tomorrow (2/28) over on their website.

PS - the Webby Hall date is 3 days before my birthday, so you should come party with me I am just saying.

Methyl Ethel - Solo - Tour Dates [Australia]
Wed 15 April - The Outpost, Brisbane
Thur 16 April - The Night Cat, Melbourne
Fri 17 April -  Mary’s Underground, Sydney
Sun 19 April - Goodwill Club, Perth
Tickets on sale Friday 28 February via methylethel.com 

Methyl Ethel - Solo - Supporting Peter, Bjorn & John [USA]
Mon 23 March - Teregram Ballroom, Los Angeles CA
Tues 24 March - La Santa, Santa Ana CA
Wed 25 March - New Parish, Oakland CA
Fri 27 March - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR
Sat 28 March - Crocodile, Seattle WA
Tues 31 March - Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City UT
Wed 1 April - Bluebird, Denver CO
Fri 3 April - Amsterdam, St. Paul MN
Sat 4 April - Empty Bottle, Chicago IL
Sun 5 April - Loving Touch, Ferndale MI
Tues 7 April - Johnny Brendas, Philadelphia PA
Wed 8 April - Union Stage, Washington DC
Fri 10 April - Webster Hall, New York City NY
Sat 11 April - Brighton Music Hall, Boston MA

Hurts To Laugh EP

Release Date: April 10, 2020

1. Majestic AF
2. Honest
3. Charm Offensive
4. What Memory Found
5. The Quicker

pre-order

[SONG OF THE DAY] Benji Lewis - "No Alibi"

image courtesy of Benji Lewis

Last week, Los Angeles-based pop artist Benji Lewis released his fourth EP, Here, Then and Now . This new collection of songs from the Australian-born crooner shares stories about love, fresh starts, moving on from past circumstances, feeling better about yourself and where you’re going. “No Alibi”, one of two tracks that had been previously unreleased before this past Friday, is an earnest ruminative R&B cut about reclaiming your power in the name of self preservation. Instead of worrying about what others think, we should be able to act freely without feeling like we have to offer any sort of alibi for our actions.

As Benji shares about the track, “This song is about not owing anyone any kind of explanation for anything you do or say. Especially those from your past that may not have treated you right. This song is about strength and doing you. You don’t answer to anyone.”

[SONG OF THE DAY] LEFTI - "I Can't Get Enough (feat. Nicki B The Vagabond)"

image courtesy of LEFTI

Y’ALL READY TO GET FUNKED THE FUCK UP!?

My self-proclaimed best friend LEFTI (born Alex Suarez) dropped a brand spanking new track today and I have been waiting WEEKS to share it with you! I am convinced that this latest banger, “I Can’t Get Enough” was aptly named as such because that is the reaction you have to the song the second it hits your ears. The bop is bursting with classic disco vibes and features vocals from none other than the powerhouse that is Nicki B The Vagabond, whose voice you might recognize from the last Crush Club single cause we like to keep it all in the family here in Brooklyn, babbyyyyyy! Alex is always so good at tapping killer voices that are on the rise. He’s definitely responsible for my love for Spencer Ludwig, which is why he’s such a good best friend. (If you haven’t heard “Every Time” run do not walk after you bump this new jam ok ok)

The bestie has plenty of bragging rights these days. His remix of Weezer’s “Happy Hour” just cracked a cool mil, his remix of Equal’s latest track, “Forget My Love” is getting some heat around it, he’s going to be doing a sunset session in Puerto Rico next month during the 36th Edition of the Corona Pro Surf Circuit, and he teamed up with Hoodboi and friends for the new Comfort Zone mixtape, Super Disco vol. 1 out on Fools Gold.

Brooklyn’s finest is clearly coming in hot in 2020 and word on the street (the street being my DMs) that there is even more coming so PREPARE YOURSELF.

Info on the homey’s set in Puerto Rico below!