New Music Releases: From Gretchen Wilson and Such Gold to Nicole Marxen and Brian Ray
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.
The Blessed Madonna teams up with Daniel Wilson and Kon on 'Count On My Love'
The Blessed Madonna has joined forces with Daniel Wilson and Kon on new single, 'Count On My Love' ft. Yuki Kanesaka. Following on the heels of ‘Happier’ ft. Clementine Douglas — The Blessed Madonna’s first ever Silver-certified record and highest charting UK single to date (#17) — ‘Count On My Love’ lands as another slice of bubbling, club-adjacent pop.
Linking with US singer-songwriter, Daniel Wilson (The Weeknd, Joji), and renowned Boston DJ and remixer, Kon (Defected, Fools Gold) — one half of the legendary Kon & Amir On Track compilation series — for the first time, 'Count On My Love' also features piano by DJ, producer and Berklee College Of Music professor, Yuki Kanesaka.
Paying homage to The Blessed Madonna’s roots in Chicago and the inner-city clubs, 'Count On My Love' comes together as a celebration of the sounds that have come to help shape modern US dance music.
“The whistling is just Daniel Wilson on a hot demo mic," explains The Blessed Madonna of recording 'Count On My Love'. “He whistles in session to practice or find melodies and it just fit so well.”
Cassadee Pope releases new music video for single 'I Died (ft Daisha Mcbride)'
Grammy-nominated, Platinum-certified singer-songwriter, Cassadee Pope has dropped her new music video for single, 'I Died (ft Daisha Mcbride)' off of her upcoming album, 'Hereditary', out July 12.
Cassadee says, “I knew nobody would be able to execute my idea for this video better than my friend Ed Pryor. We wanted the aesthetic to really lean into the lyric about feeling like someone has made you feel like a ghost by cutting you off. We flipped the lyric on it’s head and decided to have Daisha and I essentially haunt our exes with creepy camcorder recordings and sauntering in the shadows. It was very fun to shoot and I absolutely love the eeriness of it!”
Nova Charisma announce debut album 'Metropolitan'
Independent New York-based rock label Equal Vision Records and Nova Charisma have announced the release of 'Metropolitan', the experimental rock trio’s forthcoming debut album.
After the release of numerous singles and EPs, the members of Nova Charisma — Donovan Melero (Hail The Sun, Sianvar, Kill Iconic), Sergio Medina (Blue Swan Records, Eidola, Stolas, Sianvar) and Carlo Marquez (Stolas, Kill Iconic, Diver) — offer up a 10-song collection of glossy and atmospheric post-hardcore that is led by the album opener 'Smoking Gun At The Metropolitan'.
Roger Weeks releases new single 'My Own Wake'
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Roger Weeks has released his new single 'My Own Wake' along with its accompanying music video, directed by Roger and Rose Betts.
“This song is all about radical acceptance. It's about accepting exactly where you are in life even if it's not pretty. It's about letting life be a mess and still getting yourself together and celebrating life. After losing my mom, moving to LA, breaking up with my boyfriend, and ending up stronger than ever, I felt extremely powerful. I needed a song to represent that feeling so I wrote 'My Own Wake'. This song isn’t just about acknowledging my imperfections, fears, losses, overwhelm, and insecurities… It’s about celebrating them,” says Weeks.
Gretchen Wilson drops new track ’Little Miss Runner Up’
Gretchen Wilson celebrated the 20th anniversary of her multi-week #1 single 'Redneck Woman' and multi-platinum 'Here For The Party' album with two performances at last week’s CMA Fest in Nashville. She has also released 'Little Miss Runner Up', the follow-up to her 2005 smash hit 'Homewrecker', on Redneck Records.
Her first single since 2018, she reunited with 'Homewrecker' co-writers Rivers Rutherford and George Teren on the new song. “’Little Miss Runner Up’ follows the same girl we all know… and love to roll our eyes at! Can’t wait to see how this song looks in a country music video,” said Gretchen.
Such Gold releases new single 'Talk Loud'
New York punk band Such Gold has announced their signing with Mutant League Records and have released their new single, 'Talk Loud', which is now streaming on all digital platforms. This marks the band's first new music since 2017.
'Talk Loud' was produced by Such Gold’s bassist Jon Markson at The Animal Farm (The Story So Far, Drug Church). The single is accompanied by a high-energy music video produced by Alex Zarek. In support of their new release, Such Gold will join I Am The Avalanche on their 20th anniversary tour, alongside Be Well.
Nicole Marxen releases single 'Thorns' ahead of upcoming album
The Dallas-based singer-songwriter and visual artist Nicole Marxen has dropped the single 'Thorns', the title track of her upoming album of the same name out on August 9.
Of the video director Judd Myers says: “Channeling themes of cycles and compulsion, 'Thorns' is a liminal, giallo-tinged portrait about the transformation that arises in reuniting with what we’ve pushed into the dark.”
“It was important for me to show up to this material imperfectly,” Marxen says. “As a songwriter, I can put a lot of pressure on myself, often feeling like I have to say something profound or reach a kind of resolve. I didn’t want to pretend to have answers here, but rather notice what was coming up for me during each song’s moment in time.”
Rob Baird releases 'Won’t Ever Change' ahead of album drop
Rob Baird has released 'Won’t Ever Change', the latest single to be lifted from the Friday, June 21 release of 'Burning In The Stars', the Texas-based singer-songwriter’s seventh studio album.
“True love becomes harder to find as you get older,” Baird reflects. “At the same time, what you do love becomes more important every day. What we all want is unwavering love that will be there till the day we die.”
'Won’t Ever Change' follows the release of the music video for 'Hold Tight', a clip directed by Corey Wilson (Bebe Rexha, Travis Kelce) that features an appearance from American martial artist Luke Rockhold.
Brian Ray to release highly-anticipated solo album 'My Town' on August 2
Acclaimed musician Brian Ray is set to release his highly-anticipated solo album 'My Town' on August 2 through Stevie Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records.
Ray, renowned for his role as guitarist and bassist in Paul McCartney’s band since 2002, and as the former guitarist and music director for Etta James, has established himself as a versatile and gifted musician. Reflecting on his solo work, Brian shares, “As rich as my experiences have been playing and writing for others, there’s nothing quite like writing, producing, and playing for my own solo releases.”
'My Town' is a compilation of singles Brian has released with Wicked Cool Records since 2017, including 'Here For You' and 2022’s 'On My Way To You', along with four brand-new tracks. Covering several years of his creative journey, the album promises a diverse and captivating listening experience.
Laura Jane Grace releases official music video for 'I’m Not A Cop'
Laura Jane Grace has released the official music video for 'I’m Not A Cop', the latest single to be lifted from Grace’s new studio album, 'Hole In My Head'. Despite the chorus declaring "I'm not a f**** cop" repeatedly, the Jonathan Richman-inspired 'I'm Not A Cop' features Grace playing pretend in a Reno 911-esque music video with her wife, Paris Campbell Grace. The two don pig masks, fake guns and badges, and drive around local Chicago landmarks acting as police in the clip directed by filmmaking trio Weird Life Films.
Additionally, Grace and her band, the Mississippi Medicals, just announced a number of headline dates across the US midwest, south and east coast for September. Support on the tour will be provided by Catbite and Taylor Hollingsworth and tickets are on sale now.
Silverada release 'Radio Wave' off upcoming self-titled album
The band Silverada (formerly known as Mike and the Moonpies) have released 'Radio Wave', the latest single from their upcoming self-titled album, out June 28.
Silverada represents a new chapter in the band’s journey. It not only signifies the title of the boldest release in the group’s career but also serves as the moniker for the revitalized band.
On 'Radio Wave', Silverada captures the spirt of the open road and the landscapes of the heartland. Powerful storytelling and expansive soundscapes are surrounded by captivating hooks and inspired atmospherics.
The band are currently on their Silverada Roadshow tour and will celebrate the album release in Nashville at The Ryman Auditorium on July 5.