New Music Releases and Tour News: From SisQó and Matthew Mayfield to Rhonda Vincent
New Music Releases is a column that keeps abreast of all the news from the music industry that often flies under the radar. Keep up-to-date with the underground and independent scene and find your next favorite band or singer-songwriter right here.
James Vincent McMorrow drope new single 'Give Up' ahead of June album
Irish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Vincent McMorrow has dropped his new single 'Give Up', off his forthcoming studio album, 'Wide Open, Horses', slated for June 14 release. He also announces a North American headline tour this summer.
The new single 'Give Up' unfolds as a very special duet. James and his daughter Margot lock into a disarmingly catchy chant of “Everybody’s sad". “I never would put my daughter on a song, unless it was completely driven by her,” he notes. “She just started repeating the line. It was funny and impressive. At the first two shows, it was easily the song of the night at. I think we’re all sad. I can say I’ve spent my whole life staring at the sky and trying to find meaning, but I’m being aware of it at this point.”
James Vincent McMorrow's North America tour dates
July 15: Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
July 16: San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
July 18: Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
July 19: Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
July 21: Sidney, Mary Winspear Centre, BC
July 23: Red Bird Brewery, Kelowna, BC
July 24: Edmonton, Myer Horowitz Theatre
DreamCar announces new EP 'Dream'
DreamCar, the new wave supergroup consisting of No Doubt’s Tony Kanal [bass], Tom Dumont [guitar], and Adrian Young [drums] and singer Davey Havok [AFI, Blakq Audio, Ramones X], have announced the forthcoming release of the ‘Dream EP’, out April 5.
Rife with shimmering guitar tones, funky slap bass, bombastic drums, and a neon-lit dance floor dreaminess, DreamCar nods to the decade of Tears for Fears and The Lost Boys through a kaleidoscope of inspiration forged over three decades creating and connecting with fans worldwide.
The ‘Dream EP’ is the first taste of new music since the bands self titled debut album, released in 2017. It includes three new recordings; two tracks that were considered for the band’s previous album and a cover of David Bowie’s 'Moonage Daydream'. The two new songs were just recently finalized just for this EP.
Past Life Romeo releases second single ahead of new EP
The second single to come out from the upcoming debut Past Life Romeo EP 'Drew a heart <3' is out. Past Life Romeo is the solo project of Camila Djadja, singer-songwriter, formerly of the rock group Sugar Pills.
Past Life Romeo is an alternative pop project, mixing electro, hyperpop and rock. There’s melancholy and a sensuality in the writing and voice of Camila, mixed with the eclectic productions of musician Carlos Loverboy (Spill Tab, Blossoms, Myd) who co-prouced Past Life Romeo’s first EP, and the garage drums of Jim Casanova (Annie Ada).
This first Past Life Romeo EP, scheduled for release on 17th May, titled 'You Look Just Like Me', was recorded at Motorbass and offers a mix of analog and digital; a disk that is both organic and intimate. Throughout the EP, we find the influence of Bon Iver and Burial, but also Sega Bodega or even the pop of Lorde.
SisQó announces new album, 25 years after 'Unleash the Dragon'
Multi-platinum selling artist, SisQó, will be releasing an upcoming album with some throwback-made-modern surprises with features from Grammy Award winning artist Mya and MTV’s 'Wild n Out' star Jack Thriller. This upcoming release represents a “new chapter” in his musical career. SisQó says, “I have continued to tour, and I am honored that my fanbase keeps asking me to come out and perform, I felt it was time to unveil new music with some surprise throwbacks with a modern twist!”
Not only is 2024 the year of the Dragon, it is also the 25th anniversary of his debut solo album 'Unleash the Dragon, that housed his #1 singles 'Thong Song' and 'Incomplete'. 'Thong Song' spent seven weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Radio Songs list and charted for a total of 28 weeks in 2000. His follow-up single 'Incomplete' spent two weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list and charted for a total of 26 weeks.
Armor For Sleep kicks off US summer US tour
New Jersey post-hardcore band Armor For Sleep has kicked off a run of dates supporting Bayside’s The Worse Things Than Being Alive Tour. Visiting 25 venues across the US during April and May and featuring appearances from Finch and Winona Fighter, the tour will culminate in a performance at Roadrunner in Boston, MA on Sunday, May 5.
Additionally, Armor For Sleep will be making an appearance at this year’s When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas, NV from October 19-20 where they will perform their album, 'What To Do When You Are Dead', in its entirety.
Fronted by singer/songwriter Ben Jorgensen, Armor For Sleep are considered one of the defining bands of the emo/post hardcore genre. Their concept album, 'What To Do When You Are Dead', has sold over 400,000 copies worldwide and found them touring the world alongside huge acts such as Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance.
+/- {Plus/Minus} drop first single of upcoming album 'Further Afield' after 10-year hiatus
+/- {Plus/Minus} has announced their new album 'Further Afield' will be out May 31 on Ernest Jenning Record Co. 'Further Afield' is the band's first LP in a decade and showcases a more propulsive approach while still leaning into the epic hooks the band is known for.
The band has also dropped the album's first single and band-created video 'Borrowed Time'. of the song and video, the band's Patrick Ramos says: "'Borrowed Time', an uplifting song about how resentment builds throughout the life of a relationship, began as an exercise using a feature on the Moog Matriarch synthesizer that randomizes octaves so you don’t know where any single note will land. The video, conceived at 3am on the beach on Chris’ birthday, was shot with a smartphone in almost complete darkness using Astrophotography mode."
+/- {Plus/Minus} is also announcing two Brooklyn shows. The band will be playing on April 28 at Baby's All Right with The Van Pelt and Catherine DeMarrais and have a record release show on June 1 at Union Pool with Jason Loewenstein.
From Indian Lakes drops new single off 'Head Void'
From Indian Lakes have dropped 'The Lines', the latest song from the new album 'Head Void' out May 15. The LP is the first new music from FIL in over half-a-decade and lead single 'The Flow' has already notched 100k streams on Spotify in two weeks.
New single 'The Lines' comes paired with a music video for the song directed by Mike Adame. “I think the video taps into the hardcore/punk energy we grew up on that embodies the underlying vibes in FIL songs,” says FIL’s Joe Vann. “Whichever direction the songs go on every album, there’s always a sort of sweaty warehouse/basement/house show influence there as much as the indie or folk stuff that comes out because that’s all we knew coming up.”
'Head Void' was recorded at Vann’s newly-finished home studio in California’s central valley just outside Yosemite National Park, and was mastered by Will Yip. This summer From Indian Lake will also tour and perform for the first time since 2019, playing shows with Dirty Buyer and King of Heck.
Matthew Mayfield drops 'Breathe Out in Black' ahead of much-anticipated album 'Prizefighter'
Matthew Mayfield, the acclaimed singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama, has announced the release of his album, 'Prizefighter' out on May 17. Mayfield has also dropped his latest single, 'Breathe Out In Black', along with its accompanying music video, which was shot by Courtney Davidson and Jess Williams at The Smoakstack in Nashville, TN.
Mayfield's career has spanned over two decades. he has established himself as a prolific artist known for his raw, emotive songwriting and powerful performances. His music has been featured in popular television series such as 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Hart Of Dixie', 'Charmed', and 'Pretty Little Liars', earning him widespread recognition and praise from audiences and critics alike.
Recorded with and produced by Paul Moak (Martha Wainwright, Reliant K, Dolly Parton, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton), 'Prizefighter' strikes a balance between the identity of an anti-hero singer-songwriter and a rock'n'roll outlaw. From the melancholy beauty of 'Belle Of The Ball' to the anthemic power of 'Fumes', each track captures the essence of Mayfield's journey, inviting listeners to join him on his tumultuous yet ultimately hopeful odyssey.
Four Year Strong drops new single, 'Daddy of Mine', ahead of massive summer tour
New England’s Four Year Strong has released their latest single, 'Daddy of Mine'. This energetic tune perfectly encapsulates Four Year Strong's signature style, sure to captivate fans and fuel their excitement.
"'Daddy of Mine' is about writer's block. We had it really bad when we started writing again, and we decided to combat it by writing something heavier and faster than we ever have,” said Dan O’Connor, vocalist and guitarist, addig, “overthinking was hurting us, so we just got out of our own way and stopped dwelling on our own expectations of ourselves."
Upcoming Four Year Strong Tour Dates w/ A Day To Remember, The Story So Far
6/6 – Waite, MN @ The Ledge Amphitheater
6/8 – Maryland Heights, OH @ St. Louis Music Park
6/9 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Azura Ampthieater
6/11 – Indianapolis, IN @ TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
6/12 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
6/14 – Cincinnati, OH @ The ICON Festival Stage
6/15 – Cleveland, OH @ Jacob's Pavilion at Nautica
6/16 – Buffalo, NY @ Terminal B at the Outer Harbor
6/18 – Mississauga, ON @ The Theater at Great Canadian Resort
6/21 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
6/23 – Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
6/25 – Baltimore, MD @ Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena
6/26 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
6/28 – Boston, MA @ The Stage at Suffolk Downs
6/29 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford Health Care Amphitheatre
6/30 – Gilford, NH @ Bank NH Pavilion
7/2 – Raleigh, NC @ The Red Hat Amphitheater
7/3 – Simpsonville, SC @ Heritage Park Amphitheater
7/5 – Dallas, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7/6 – Durant, OK @ Choctaw Grand Theater
7/7 – San Antonio, TX @ Freeman Coliseum
7/9 – Albuquerque, NM @ Rio Rancho Events Center
7/10 – Glendale, AZ @ Desert Diamond Arena
7/12 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
7/14 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU
7/15 – Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds
7/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ KIA Forum
7/19 – Fresno, CA @ Sellant Arena
7/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre
7/22 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
7/24 – La Vista, NE (Omaha) @ The Astro Amphitheater
7/25 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
7/26 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
7/28 – Nashville, TN @ Municipal Auditorium
Upcoming Festival Dates:
6/22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Four Chord Music Festival
10/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young Music Festival
10/20 – Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young Music Festival
Blvck Hippie releases dates for summer tour and new single 'Streetlights'
Blvck Hippie has announced dates for their upcoming 'Basketball Camp' tour, taking place this May and June as they gear up for the release of their new album 'Basketball Camp', out June 14 via The Record Machine label.
"I wanted to write a record that I needed to hear in high school,” says the band’s Josh Shaw. On 'Basketball Camp', Blvck Hippie expand upon the VHS-inspired sonic journey they first embarked upon with 'If You Feel Alone At Parties'. The album was recorded at a home studio in Binghamton, Memphis, by the band and then mixed and mastered by Greg Giorgio (PUP, The National, Death Cab for Cuties, Local Natives).
Upcoming Blvck Hippie Tour Dates
MAY
24 - Carbondale, IL @ Commune - tickets at the door
25 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean Downstairs
26 - St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar and Hall
27 - Davenport, IA @ Racoon Motel
28 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
29 - Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Tavern
31 - Akron, OH @Musica
JUNE
02 - Detroit, MI @ TBA
04 - Providence, RI @ Alchemy
06 - Medford, MA @ Deep Cuts
07 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Broadway
08 - Silver Spring, MD @ Quarry House Tavern
10 - Richmond, VA @ TBA
11 - Charlotte, NC @ Petra’s - tickets available soon
15 - Memphis, TN @ TBA
16 - Atlanta, GA @ The Inner Space
21 - Miami, FL @ TBA
22 - Tampa, FL @Crowbar
23 - Gainesville, FL @Loosey’s
25 - Birmingham, AL @The Firehouse
26 - Jackson, MS @ Urban Foxes
27 - New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
Thomas Nicholas Band drops single 'Wrong Side' ahead of 7th studio album
The Thomas Nicholas Band has released the new single 'Wrong Side' featuring The Early November. Thomas Nicholas Band has been busy working on original songs for their 7th studio album, produced by Taylor Carroll (LIT, Kemikalfire) in collaboration with artists such as, Jaret Reddick (Bowling for Soup), Ace Enders (the Early November), Tom Higgenson (Plain White T’s) Matthew Kennedy (The Dangerous Summer) Adrian Estrella (Zebrahead), Ajay Popoff (LIT), Zac Burnett (American Authors), Ayron Jones Andrew Goldstien and more.
Of the new single, Thomas Nicholas says: "'Wrong Side' is actually the inspiration for my entire 7th album. Back in late 2021, I had just released my 9th single and Ace Enders reached out to me, saying that he really liked where I was going with my music and wanted to write a song together. I had met Ace in 2015 at a festival in the UK-- both our bands were playing at Hit the Deck in Bristol and Nottingham. I’m a fan of his band The Early November and I jumped at the chance to write a song with him."
Rhonda Vincent channels her inner Olivia Newton-John with new single
Multi-award-winning bluegrass artist and Grand Ole Opry member Rhonda Vincent’s new single 'Please Mr. Please' from her upcoming album is now out. The follow-up from Vincent’s number one song, 'City Of New Orleans', 'Please Mr. Please' continues to set the pace for a specialty project over a year in the making.
The theme of Vincent’s new project is “destinations", taking every listener on a journey through different cities, states, and other places of interest around the country. 'Please Mr. Please' is a new rendition of Olivia Newton-John’s country hit, and the music video, was recorded during the SPBGMA convention in Nashville.
"I was working on the song ‘Four Strong Winds’ from our upcoming 'destinations' themed album, and as I turned from working on that song, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I started singing ‘Please Mr. Please'," smiles Vincent. “There was something similar in the songs. My heart started to race, and I instantly thought, ‘This will be a great bluegrass song!’ I couldn't wait to tell the guys in The Rage. When I mentioned it, none of them had heard the song before. This made it even better. I found that so many people have never heard of the song, and it's like having my own original bluegrass song. We rehearsed it at sound check and then started performing it on our shows. I could instantly tell this song was special with everyone’s reactions, with many singing along, and best of all, people are now asking for it everywhere. I love that!"
Rhonda Vincent’s Upcoming Tour Dates:
APR 05 - Renfro Valley Entertainment Center / Mt. Vernon, Ky.
APR 06 - The Center for the Arts / Russellville, Ark.
APR 07 - Southland Bluegrass & Wilderness Festival / Immokalee, Fla.
APR 12 - World Records / Bakersfield, Calif.
APR 13 - Las Vegas Bluegrass Festival / Las Vegas, Nev.
APR 16 - The Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
APR 17 - The Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
APR 20 - Earle Theatre / Mount Airy, N.C.
APR 24 - Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival / Marshfield, Mo.
APR 30 - Amish Country Theater’s Land Cruise / Berlin, Ohio
MAY 01 - Amish Country Theater’s Land Cruise / Berlin, Ohio
MAY 02 - Amish Country Theater’s Land Cruise / Berlin, Ohio
MAY 03 - Little Roy & Lizzy Music Festival / Lincolnton, Ga.
MAY 04 - Wind Vineyards / Tappahannock, Va.
MAY 11 - Silver Dollar City / Branson, Mo.
MAY 12 - Silver Dollar City / Branson, Mo.
MAY 13 - Silver Dollar City / Branson, Mo.
MAY 17 - Moraine City First Church of God / Dayton, Ohio
MAY 18 - Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival - Granite Hill Campground / Gettysburg, Pa.
JUN 01 - Back Forty Bluegrass Festival / Curryville, Mo.
JUN 02 - Missouri Berries / Republic, Mo.
JUN 07 - Cherokee Bluegrass Festival / Cherokee, N.C.
JUN 08 - The Farm Jamb / Bagdad, Ky.
JUN 14 - National Road Bluegrass Festival / Farmington, Pa.
JUN 15 - Bluegrass and Sunset Festival / Crisfield, Md.
JUN 28 - Sue Morris Sports Complex / Glenville, W. Va.
JUN 29 - Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival / Centre Hall, Pa.
Hugel revives a 1994 classic 'Shimmy Shake' to 'officially' kick off Festival Season
Fresh from landing one of the worldwide viral hits of the last month with his infectious Latin Mafia rework of 'Patadas de Agohado', producer and DJ heavyweight Hugel has decided to officially kick off the festival season with his new single,'Shimmy Shake' via Major Recordings/Warner Records.
'Shimmy Shake' may ring a bell as it samples the 1994 740 Boyz classic of the same name.Three decades after the Dominican-American dance sensation rocked the charts, Hugel breathes new life into the track while giving it a complete facelift.
The French virtuoso preserves Winston Rosa's iconic vocals "Bring that big bottom down / Bring that booty to the ground" and the club live feel of the original song while injecting a fresh dose of energy into the club scene. The result? A bassline that's thicker than ever, synth signals that pulse for miles, and drops so colossal, they redefine what it means to drop the beat!
Lubalin drops 'Just Love', his first song in two years
Singer, songwriter, and record producer Lubalin has dropped his first song in almost two years – 'Just Love'. The catchy pop drum and bass cut is released amidst a flurry of original content pieces all imagined by the TikTok mastermind.
After working extensively on Charlotte Cardin’s 6-time Juno Award-nominated album '99 Nights' and earning a nod himself for Producer of the Year, Lubalin dove into this new chapter with a fresh approach: "For this new batch of songs, I wanted to do a lot of the writing away from a computer so I could focus on writing and not get lost in production decisions too early," says Lubalin. "I wrote the chorus for "just love" sitting around with a classical guitar and it ended up living as a voice memo on my phone for a while.”
He continues, “I usually have to fight with my songs, work them, re-work them, tweak and tweak... this one just... happened. I honestly didn't do much to it after those first two sessions - I was too afraid to fuck it up and lose the magic.”
Karyn Kuhl drops new single 'No Traces'
Hoboken's Karyn Kuhl has announced her new single 'No Traces' from 'The Tower' 7” single out April 12 on Dromedary Records.
Karyn Kuhl has always evoked the hum of NYC right across the river, with all of its tension and light. Her new Dromedary Records single 'No Traces' (produced by Charlie Nieland) is no exception, evoking post-punk with a touch of the ethereal. Karyn draws a scene of loss and transcendence, with her lush voice and icy synths glinting off the driving guitars and drums, all tough and glossy. 'The Tower' (produced by Larry Heinemann) rounds out the two-sided single release, with moonlit swampy grace.
Karyn Kuhl first received national acclaim for her early bands Gut Bank and Sexpod, growing out of the vibrant Hoboken music scene and the legendary club Maxwell's. Over the past 20 years, she has released nine LPs, EPs, and singles under her name and with her band. These days, she performs both as a solo act and leading Karyn Kuhl & The Gang.
Tim Atlas releases single 'Just a Baby'; announces date for album 'Enchanté'
Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and producer Tim Atlas has announced that his long-awaited debut album, 'Enchanté', will be out on May 31. He has also releases a new single 'Just A Baby' out via Nettwerk.
"With every project I put out, I try to show a little more of myself. Enchanté is basically a reintroduction to me as a human and as an artist. For me, this record represents the different corners of my music that I haven't showcased," says Atlas.
'Enchanté', which includes previous releases 'Le Soir' and 'Matinee' and some unheard gems, incorporates themes of love, insecurity, anxiety, trust, and more. Songs off the album have garnered millions of streams, building up anticipation for Tim's loyal fanbase.
Sub*T drops new single, 'Unearthly', ahead of June EP
Brooklyn-based alt-rock band Sub*T has announced their new EP 'Spring Skin' out on June 21 on If This Then Records. The also shared their new single and video 'Unearthly'.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind 'Unearthly', the band members Grace Bennett and Jade Alcantara said, "'Unearthly' is a song that’s been in our arsenal for a while. We chose this as the first single off the EP because the taste of it is a little moodier than the other music we’ve put out, but we love the driving force of the instruments underneath the lyrics which is always our goal when writing. It feels like a dark fairytale journey, and intentionally leaning into an image like that was new for us when writing this song."
Sub*T is fronted by self-taught musicians Grace Bennett and Jade Alcantara. Formed in 2019, the band conjures classic 90s female-driven rock, creating fuzzy songs in the same vein as Veruca Salt, Garbage, and Hole. After collaborating with Bully’s Alicia Bognanno in Nashville to produce & record their 2021 debut EP, 'So Green', Sub*T has been playing shows all over New York, as well as supporting sold-out shows for acts like The Linda Lindas and Hinds.
Theo Kandel drops new single 'Lunch' as he signs to Nettwerk
NYC-born, LA-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Theo Kandel has released his new single 'Lunch', alongside the news of his signing with Nettwerk Music Group. 'Lunch' features gentle acoustic guitar and lively banjo as Theo delves into the warmth of new love, drawing inspiration from Frank O'Hara's 'Lunch Poems' collection.
"The chorus is lifted from the final stanza of 'Steps', one of my favorite poems from the collection," Theo explains. "'Lunch' is about discovering a love so profound that it elicits laughter from sheer disbelief that such beauty could be found. It's a song of yearning and longing, building towards a cathartic release."
The Collection announce date for new album, release single 'The Come Down'
Indie-pop band The Collection has announced their new album 'Little Deaths' is out August 9 with Nettwerk. The music explores the aches, joys, and acceptance of deep, personal growth after frontman David Wimbish became sober during the pandemic.
'Little Deaths' shows raw vulnerability by rearranging the songs with unconventional instruments, from duct-taped pianos to rubber-bridged guitars, giving each piece an intimate immediacy. The band’s latest single, 'The Come Down', is no exception, challenging the negative stigmas surrounding mental health featured throughout the album.
The progression of the band’s sound, Wimbish says, is palpable. “Our last record was triumphant. Little Deaths is about vulnerability. I’d been isolated and drinking a lot, and I realized I’d lost any sense of presence in the moment. When I got sober, I realized the best — and worst — thing about it was that I felt all my feelings. I felt really vulnerable.”
Scotland's Cold Years drop 'Radio' ahead of April 26 album release
MNRK UK and Cold Years have announced the release of 'Radio', the latest single to be lifted from the Friday, April 26 release of 'A Different Life', the rising Scottish rock quartet’s brand new full-length album.
Following the arena-sized 'Roll With It' and 'Choke', 'Radio' is a power-pop anthem that channels Green Day, Alkaline Trio and The Bouncing Souls, and takes aim at the band’s hometown of Aberdeen and certain folks from their youth.
“This one is about memories of growing up in a small town trying to deal with a few small-minded people,” frontman Ross Gordon says. “I love where I am from, I love my home, but I never want to see some of those people again.”
Recorded at The Barber Shop Studios in New Jersey by producer Brett Romnes (Anxious, Hot Mulligan, Boston Manor, The Movielife), 'A Different Life' is packed with songs that are both intensely personal and universally relatable and follows 'Paradise', the band’s 2020 politically-charged look at life in their hometown of Aberdeen, and 2022’s soaring and musically daring follow-up, 'Goodbye To Misery'.