[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!

[SONG OF THE DAY] Mickey Kojak - "Strange"

image courtesy of Mickey Kojak

Mickey Kojak has made his first appearance of 2020 with his new track, “Strange”, an ode to good nights filled with bad choices and even worse repercussions. After closing out 2019 with the rambunctiously addictive “Video Games”, this new track has that low-key funk that really just sounds like you’re up to no good.

Fun fact about the song: it originated as one of his Techno Tuesday Instagram posts, where he casually flexes how effortlessly brilliant he is on the regular. With this factoid fresh in my mind I’m going to do my best not to go back and check out his other previous TT posts and daydream about which idea he finishes next. There have been some in recent memory that were straight fire.

2019 was a pretty busy year for the most adorable Aussie. In addition to releasing his Together EP (one of my favorites of the year), he also teamed up with Bag Raiders on “Wild At Heart” from their album Horizons, did a badass Like A Version session where he covered Art vs Science’s “Parlez-Vous Français?”, all before ending the year with my favorite Lana Del Rey diss track (“Video Games”). From the looks of things he doesn’t intend to slow down. Next month he’s hitting the road on his Turbo Tour before heading out to support Confidence Man in May.

MICKEY KOJAK “TURBO TOUR”
The Foundry
Friday 6 March
Brisbane, QLD

Northcote Social Club
Saturday 7 March
Melbourne, VIC

The Lansdowne
Saturday 14 March
Sydney, NSW
TICKETS 

CONFIDENCE MAN TOUR
Freo Social
Thursday 14 May 
Fremantle, WA

Lion Arts Factory
Friday 15 May 
Adelaide, SA

Forum Melbourne
Saturday 16 May
Melbourne, VIC

The Tivoli
Friday 22 May
Brisbane, QLD

Metro Theatre
Saturday 23 May
Sydney, NSW 
TICKETS

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS
Friday 24 - Sunday 26 July
North Byron Parklands, NSW 
MORE INFO

[SONG OF THE DAY] William Wild - "holy ghost (where did my life go?)"

image courtesy of William Wild

Nashville singer-songwriter William Wild (born Garrett Sale) has announced details of his forthcoming sophomore album and shared a new track, “holy ghost (where did my life go?)”. The track lands on the folky end of his dynamic major label debut on Sony Music Masterworks, Push Ups, which is slated for a March 20th release. Where other album cuts like, “Hard Lines, Hard Times”, “Rental House”, and “All My Life” showcase his production prowess, “holy ghost (where did my life go)” strips him down on all levels, opening himself up to a sincere journey of self-exploration that echoes throughout the record. Speaking on the track, Garrett shares, “I really connected with the easy-going nature of the melody and found solace in a more light-hearted picture of self-doubt.'“

WILLIAM WILD - 2020 TOUR DATES WITH CITY OF THE SUN
Thurs, March 12 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live
Fri, March 13 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel
Sat, March 14 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
Sun, March 15 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
Tues, March 17 - Asheville, NC - The Mothlight
Thurs, March 19 - Charlotte, NC - Free Range Brewing
Fri, March 20 - Atlanta, GA - Vinyl
Sat, March 21 - Nashville, TN - High Watt
Sun, March 22 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi

Push Ups

Release Date: March 20, 2020

1. Let Me Know
2. Slow Records
3. Older Brother
4. Hard Lines, Hard Times
5. Pictures (the push ups)
6. Holy Ghost (where did my life go?)
7. Wound Up (alt.)
8. Rental House
9. All My Life
10. Middle America
11. Radio (where im goin)

pre-order

[SONG OF THE DAY] AJ Abdullah - "(Let's Fall In Love) Today (feat. Avery Bruce)"

image courtesy of AJ Abdullah

As an absolute sucker for love songs, tumbling into Texas singer-songwriter AJ Abdullah was a clear no-brainer kind of move for me. As he even admitted to yours truly via email, “I got really self aware about the fact that I only write love songs so I decided to just run with it.” Which brings us to today. Following up his final track of 2019, “Oh The Moon”, his latest offering, “(Let’s Fall In Love) Today” is an adorable little duet with singer Avery Bruce. Everything about the track feels like the best parts of having a crush on someone. It’s not over complicated, just bright and upbeat.

[SONG OF THE DAY] Paper Idol - "I'm Fantastic"

image courtesy of Paper Idol

VIBE

OCLOCK

ON

FRIDAY

How y’all cute people feeling? Me?

I’M FANTASTIC.

The source of my perfectly pleasant mood is the latest from Paper Idol’s latest track from his forthcoming debut EP, Money For Flowers. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because yer girl included one of his earlier tracks, “Still So Alive”, in a diSKOAver weekly update back in August. Since then the Los Angeles based electro-pop newcomer has been keeping us satiated with a string of tracks and remixes while he worked on the aforementioned EP, which will be dropping this spring.

If you’re the kind of person that feels like you’ve repeated a phrase similar to, “Nothing’s wrong with me, this is just my face” more than a couple of times, then “I’m Fantastic” is the song for you. Our society loves to imply that if you’re not blatantly happy all of the time that there’s probably something wrong with you. It’s weird that we’ve found a way to weaponize wellness to an extent. Humans are blessed with a wide range of emotions that we all experience at different times all day every day. Sometimes you’re elated, sometimes you’re depressed, and sometimes you’re just….chillin?

I love the way the chorus comes barreling through your eardrums, abruptly interrupting the pleasant piano hooks and carefree vibes, questioning Paper Idol brainchild Matan KG’s happiness as if he needs to justify his every move throughout the song. I especially enjoyed the choice to let the question nag him a bit before finally responding so he can go back to his bopmaking business. It makes it feel like you’re eavesdropping on the most unnecessary conversation ever, only you want to dance your ass off to it?

Speaking on the track, Matan shares, “I grew up in Wisconsin, and in the precious few hot summer months it was a family sin to stay indoors on the weekends. In third grade, I wanted to do nothing more than play Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 on my gamecube. Like many other kids in the 00s, I hated the 'get some fresh air!' plea from my parents, so I wrote this protest song in honor of my younger self.”

Last week, Paper Idol announced their upcoming Fantastic Tour which features select dates on the west coast. Tour kicks off on February 29th (what up leap year) in San Francisco and ends in Reno. Dates and more info below! Go! Go! Go!

Paper Idol 2020 Tour Dates
2.29 - San Francisco, CA - Club Bizarre
03/03 - Portland, OR - Bunk Bar
3/04 - Seattle, WA - Belltown Yacht Club
3.05 - Bellingham, WA - Karate Church
3/07 - Reno, NV - The Loving Cup

Money For Flowers EP

Coming Spring 2020

01. I'm Fantastic
02. Money For Flowers
03. Ready For Love
04. Chigasaki Warriors

[SONG OF THE DAY] Sizzy Rocket - "That Bitch"

Photo Credit: @peggyshootsfilm

Following up her 2019 full-length GRRRL along with a 2-song EP with chloe mk called I KNOW WHAT U LIKE, New York based alt-pop bombshell Sizzy Rocket has returned with her first single of 2020. “That Bitch” is a track for those of us who choose to do no harm but give zero fucks. The song is the first taste of a forthcoming new full-length, details TBA.

“’That Bitch’ is about owning yourself - even the crazy, messy, wild, emotional parts that might be ‘too much’ for people, even when you feel insane and down and alone.” Sizzy explains, “It's about being unapologetic in the process of figuring out who you are and pummeling through anyone and anything that gets in your way,”

Sizzy’s been making the rounds for quite awhile now, first coming onto the scene in 2015 with debut track, “Kingpin” Since then, she’s been hitting the pavement hard, releasing 3 LPs along with a string of EPs and singles along the way. I actually personally came to know her through her collaboration in 2016-2017 with SKOA fam Fitts from The Kickdrums called Shiny Wet Machine, which is also worth checking out if you’re in the mood for even more Sizzy Rocket jams (“Stun Gun” is my personal favorite from the project).

At midnight tonight (technically 2/21), the accompanying music video for “That Bitch” makes its official premiere over on YouTube. Be sure to gather around for the premiere and interact with Sizzy when the video finally is live!

[SONG OF THE DAY] Jaded - "Bounce"

image courtesy of Jaded

Great news, everyone! Jaded, my favorite trio of troublemakers have made their first appearance of 2020!

Following up a string of solid singles in 2019, today they’ve decided to gift us with the Ounces EP. The release includes three brand new dance floor fillers complete with extended edits should you find yourself wishing these songs would never end (which SPOILER ALERT it’s gonna happen). Opening track, “Bounce” has one of those understated yet catchy as fuck hooks that will take residency in your brain for a decent amount of time just after a single spin.

I’ve been keeping a close eye on lovely London lads Nardi, Jordan, and Teo for some time now and I think the thing I love about these guys the most is that they always have the chops to back up their playful party antics. Apparently I’m not the only one who feels the same way, considering last year they released tracks on Don Diabo’s Hexagon label and this new EP is out courtesy of Higher Ground, Diplo's house imprint under Mad Decent.

I genuinely hope that this is the year that Jaded hits the stride they’ve rightfully earned. 💖