[SONG OF THE DAY] Husky Loops - "Let Go For Nothing"

Husky Loops at Elsewhere (zone one) on 3/5/2019

Back in November I casually evangelized the wonders of London trio Husky Loops courtesy of some diSKOAver weekly loving. Since then some cool shit has happened for the fellas. On Friday the band has released a new offering unto us, “Let Go For Nothing”, a first taste of their forthcoming debut full-length Music That Makes the World Better, which is due out this summer. The piano-forward track showcases a softer side to the band than we’ve previously seen, all the while maintaining their experimental sound.

Earlier in the week the band also made their North American debut appearance at Elsewhere on Tuesday, which yours truly was in attendance and therefore can confirm for the rest of y’all that these dudes fucking slap. Their energy is insanely infectious. It was sort of impossible for anyone to sit still for too long.

In summary, if you don’t like Husky Loops then you’re dead wrong.

I’m not sorry, these are the rules.

If you happen to be heading to SXSW next week (unlike me who will be attending couch by couch west), please do yourself a favor and make it a point to go see these guys. You absolutely won’t be disappointed.

Also buy them some BBQ and margaritas on my behalf.

[SONG OF THE DAY] MID CITY - "No Surrender"

Hold on to your fucking eardrums, fam. The thunder from down under is back!!!

Before I dive into this, I would like to file a formal complaint against time zones. I had to wait 16 additional hours than I feel like I should have to get my hands on this new nugget from Melbourne four-piece MID CITY and I’m SO OFFENDED BY TIME.

Anyway.

Before MID CITY came into my life I was kind of starting to get worried that I was *over* rock/indie rock, but it turns out everything I was coming in contact with was just boring me to tears. Leave it to Australia to show us how it’s done yet AGAIN.

The latest offering from the band, “No Surrender”, comes with the wondrous news that the band will be releasing their debut EP on April 5th, appropriately titled Die Waiting cause that’s definitely me now that I’ve heard their followup to "Old Habits”. Easing up just a tad on the gas, the four-piece continue to barrel along, guitars blazing, this time with a song about the impact of losing yourself in your online persona.

As lead singer Joel Griffith shared,

“’No Surrender’ is about the true impact of the digital age we find ourselves living in, making it too easy to lose yourself trying to impress. So, our digital reflection is our only concern. Now every day is for wrenching the spotlight. People become twisted, nightmarish versions of themselves catapulting through that rabbit hole. It's so easy and so indispensable that we become addicts not just to platforms but to a way of acting and portraying ourselves. We say shit we’d never say, we do shit we’d never do, we start to believe shit we’d never believe… “

[SONG OF THE DAY] HEDEGAARD x Matt Hawk - "Sa-My-D"

welp, found the soundtrack to this Monday and maybe the rest of my LIFE at this rate.

Danish producer HEDEGAARD has taken a sharp turn from the sugary sweet vibe of his late 2018 single, “Back To You” with the moody Matt Hawk collab, “Sa-My-D”. The punchy deep bass track is a return to more sweaty club jams that one might find themselves grinding to in underground basement clubs than his more pop-forward EDM as seen on other tracks from last year like, “Ready To Love You”, “Need You Right Now”, or “Salvation”. Along with it come much edgier lyrics that are a middle finger to all the “fake filter” nonsense of today’s society, encouraging us all to put our foot down to bullshit that doesn’t serve us. Speaking on the track, HEDEGAARD shared, "This is a completely new journey a change of style back to the club -and a different sound universe that has opened up for renewed passion and inspiration in the music."

Along with the song comes the unforgettable music video. I won’t spoil it for you, but def keep your eyes on it the whole time. 👀👀👀

[SONG OF THE DAY] The Scribes - "Righteous (feat. Leon Rhymes of Too Many Ts)"

still taken from The Scribes - “Righteous” video

It’s VIBE O’CLOCK ON FRIDAY FAM AND HERE WE GOOOOOO.

Hot off the presses comes the lead single from Bristol hip-hop trio The Scribes. “Righteous” is our first taste from their forthcoming LP, Quill Equipped Villainy, and features one of our bruvs from another mum, Mr Leon Rhymes of Too Many Ts.

Along with the bouncy single full of throwback vibes the band has shared an accompanying video which features the group (and Leon) as various characters of “righteousness” *best Stefon voice I can muster* this video has everything. A shamanic medicine man wandering the woods and healing the infirm, a door-to-door preacher passionately preaching the gospel of hip hop, a voodoo witch doctor exorcising demons, and even a vicar presiding over a wedding ceremony with an unusual amount of swagger.

Quill Equipped Villainy drops later this year.

[SONG OF THE DAY] Christinna O - "Lay It Down"

Photo Credit: Shabnam Ferdows

Philly-based poet-turned-singer Christinna O has shared the second offering from her upcoming EP, Girl In Passing. “Lay It Down” is about intimacy. Speaking on the song, she explained, “It's a choice and a permission, to let someone else know that they are welcome and they are the one I’m ready to lay down my burdens with. To feel valid in my vulnerability but ultimately, love." The song follows her debut single, “Shelter”, which focused on the complicated pain of a passion of love being taken for granted.

A rare queer voice in R&B, the 19-year-old is also a rising spoken-word poet who's competed in the NAACP's national slam poetry competition and leads Temple University’s poetry collective Babel, a tight-knit group of poets, rappers and musicians at the school where she’s a sophomore.

Girl In Passing is due this spring.

[SONG OF THE DAY] La Bouquet - "Sad People Dancing"

Earlier this week LA trio La Bouquet shared the video for their latest single, “Sad People Dancing”, which is also the title track from their forthcoming debut LP that drops on March 29th. The band consists of Bryan Sammis (formerly of The Neighbourhood), Jake Lopez and Drew Bruchs. Following “Names Like Songs”, this new track is a beautifully sad synth-pop number that will have you dancing it out, tears and all.

The band is slated to perform on March 30, 2019, in Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones to celebrate their album release. They’re also confirmed to perform at The Hi Hat in LA on April 4th. Additional tour dates are forthcoming.

[SONG OF THE DAY] Royal Teeth - "Show You What I Can Do"

Today synth rockers Royal Teeth unveil their dopest flex to date, “Show You What I Can Do” along with the accompanying video. If we’re to interpret the the momentum that we’re seeing from the band, I feel like we all need to brace ourselves for what they’ll release next. Last year the band released tracks, “Never Gonna Quit” and “It’s Just The Start”, which build from determined to reassuring. This new track is explosively assertive and has the chops to back up that the band clearly has some tricks up their sleeves that they haven’t shared with us yet. The track also features the sensational NPR darling and Flint-native Tunde Olaniran, who brings his signature flavor to the song. 

Speaking on the track, singer and guitarist Gary Larsen of Royal Teeth shared, "The song is about showing the world what you're made of. We tend to hide pieces of ourselves because we are afraid of negativity, and I've noticed from my own experiences that it only holds me back from truly being myself and achieving my goals in life. This song is saying that it's time to be brave and be yourself."

The aforementioned accompanying video itself is reflective of the band’s current energy. With singer Nora Patterson staring as an aspiring race car driver and bandmates cheering her every step of the way, Patterson trains in her “Underdog” car before *spoiler alert* crushing her competition.

Larsen added, "My Dad is a race car driver and I used to go a lot as a kid. When we started thinking of ideas for the music video, I became obsessed with using the race track as the location, and from there, we brought the idea to life with the help of Solar Cabin, Tunde Olaniran, and the Whitlow family. My dad is even in the video as Nora's coach, and Nora is driving his car "Underdog". A fitting name for the song and for this band."

ROYAL TEETH LIVE

4.13 New Orleans, LA - French Quarter Festival

4.28 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

[SONG OF THE DAY] San Scout - "Science"

Lovely London lads San Scout are back with a brand new single, “Science”.

Yes, every time I’ve played this track I’ve thought of this:

Following up their previous track, “Soap”, which contrary to the belief of certain outlets isn’t entirely about personal hygiene, this new song is about the frustration that comes with reclaiming your sanity. Speaking on the track, the duo explained, “We wanted to make something that was aggressive - again, to juxtapose that sedentary lifestyle.”

I wish I could sound this lovely when I get aggro. Maybe I need to head to The Pharmacy and see if there are any clues on perfecting this for myself. Have you peeped that little immersive world of theirs yet? It’s def worth a look around, if only to find their phone number so you can text them really nice things.

Speaking on texting these dudes, working on an interview in the coming week so keep an eye out for that.

Okay one more time for good measure:

You love me. Admit it.