New Music Releases: From Michele Ducci and KIA to Paris Paloma and Kenya Grace
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.
Madeleine Peyroux to release new album 'Let's Walk' in June, after 6-year hiatus
Acclaimed jazz singer, songwriter and interpreter Madeleine Peyroux will release 'Let’s Walk', her first album in six years, on June 28. The new songs present sides of the artist only touched on in the past.
'Let’s Walk' is Peyroux’s ninth album and the first in which she co-wrote every song with longtime collaborator Jon Herington. As evidenced from her new single 'Please Come On Inside', Peyroux has empathy and wisdom to impart.
Madeleine Peyroux 2024 Tour Dates
March 13-14 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
March 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Luckman Fine Arts Complex
March 17 – Santa Barbara, CA – Lobero Theater
March 19 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
March 21 – San Francisco, CA – Palace of Fine Arts
March 22 – Grass Valley, CA – The Center for the Arts
March 23 – Eugene, OR – The Shedd
March 26 – Portland, OR – The Old Church
March 28-31 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
April 20-21 – St. Louis, MO – City Winery
April 24 – Minneapolis, MN – The Parkway Theater
April 26 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theater
April 27-28 – Chicago, IL – City Winery
May 1 – Kent, OH – Kent Stage
May 2 – Columbus, OH – Cbus
May 4 – Easton, MD – Avalon Theater
May 5 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
May 7 – Ridgefield, CT – The Ridgefield Playhouse
May 10-11 – New York, NY – Sony Hall
May 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Zellerbach Theatre
May 14 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts Homer
May 16 – Northampton, MA – BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity
May 17 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur
May 18 – Patchogue, NY – Patchogue Theater
Montreal-based Hood Rats announce new album and upcoming tour dates
Montreal punks, Hood Rats, have announced their upcoming LP 'Crime, Hysteria & Useless Information' will be released by Dirt Cult Records on April 5 and they will be hitting the road on April 4 to celebrate.
Hood Rats are a punk band from Montreal. They've been kicking around since 2017 and have released various singles and demos since. This is their debut full-length. Fast and furious punk rock that falls somewhere between French Oi and no frill garage rock.
Hood Rates Tour Dates
4/4 : Government Center in Pittsburgh with Big Baby, Misdeeds
5/4: Outer Limits Lounge in Detroit with Hayley and the Crushers, Dear Darkness, Dead Surf
6/4: Livewire Lounge in Chicago with La Armada, Lengua Salvage, Maharaja
7/4: Longshot DIY / Indianapolis with CML, Old Poet, Big Guy
8/4: Motr Pub in Cincinnati with Badman
9/4: Westside Bowl / Youngstown with Fear Of Dancing
10/4: The Crown / Baltimore with Star Carr, Fear Of God
11/4: Haus of Yarga / Philadelphia with Trash Knife, Soji, Wldhrt
12/4: Saltys Beach Bar / New Jersey with Intimidation, The Stress, F.T.S
13/4: Otto’s Shrunken Head/ NYC with Peace Sign
14/4: Gold Sounds/ NYC with Spite Fuxxx
Nasalrod and Victims Family to release split album on March 22
Portland's Nasalrod has released the first song off their split LP with Victims Family ahead of their north west tour. When Santa Rosa legends Victims Family crossed paths with outlandish PDX spazz-rockers Nasalrod, both bands knew that they’d found kindred spirits in one another.
After embarking on several mini-tours together, the strong commonality and personal rapport between the two bands has culminated in their upcoming full-length split LP on Nadine Records entitled 'Victims Family & Nasalrod in the Modern Meatspace' (out March 22). Each band serves up five twisted, technical, and topical songs which somehow manage to display a healthy dose of humor while tackling subjects such as mass shootings, police brutality, religious manipulation, impermanence, impending apocalypse and much more.
Electro-pop stars Close to Monday release brand new single 'Stranger'
Noted on the 'Ones to Watch' list, Europe’s ascendant electro-pop duo Close to Monday (singer/songwriter Ann and producer Alexander) continue to breakthrough new territory with their monthly series of addictive new singles and cinematic visuals with 'Stranger'. It’s a lush and brooding emotional and sonic deep dive into the darker dimensions of love which can compellingly pull us in more than one conflicting direction at the same time, a theme famously explored by many artists including deeply influential Joy Division, a Close to Monday favorite.
“The track delves into the shadows of [the characters’] love story, a complex dance where the desire to break free collides with an irresistible pull, creating a vortex of torment and vitality,” the band says. Elaborating on the magnetism of dysfunctional relationships. They add, “Despite their yearning to escape, each attempt only draws them back into the vicious cycle, a paradoxical realm that both torments and breathes life into their existence. The music mirrors this tumultuous relationship, offering a hauntingly beautiful reflection of the individuals' struggle to break free from a toxic yet life-sustaining bond.”
Zoe Boekbinder releases second single 'Mycelium' ahead of April album
Indie folk artist Zoe Boekbinder has released the second single 'Mycelium', from the forthcoming album 'Wildflower' on Are and Be Recordings.
'Mycelium' was preceded by 'Hold My Hand' in February. Set to a dark, moody melody, 'Hold My Hand' is about an emotionally abusive relationship. “This person was hot and cold, always pushing me away and pulling me back in. I never knewwhat to expect and it kept me on my toes in the worst way. I wrote this song shortly before we broke up,” explains Zoe. Both tracks are featured on the new album 'Wildflower', available April 26, 2024.
Telltale annnounces date of debut album and drops new single 'Kissinginacarcrash'
Rock band Telltale has announced the band’s debut full-length record, 'Telltale', set to be released on May 17 via Rude Records. Several years in the making, the album follows previous EPs 'Good intentions', 'Timeless Youth', and 'Lie Your Way Out'. It features the recently released tracks 'Otherside', 'Cardinals', and 'Eddy', as well as new single 'kissinginacarcrash'.
“It’s taken us three EPs and over half a decade to finally create the album we’ve always wanted. This is Telltale,” the band says. “If there is one major takeaway from the record, it’s that escaping into the isolation of your vices isn’t a solution to the feeling of disconnection.”
About the new single, they add: “This track is for anyone who enjoys a late-night drive while they reflect and self-deprecate about every past relationship they’ve had.”
Upcoming Telltale Tour Dates
4/10 – Richmond, VA @ Club Ember
4/12 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
4/21 – Nashville, TN @ The Cannery Row One
4/24 – Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
4/25 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome
4/26 – Columbus, OH @ Summit Music Hall
4/27 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
4/28 – Detroit, MI @ The Pike Room
4/30 – Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck Bar
5/1 – Albany, NY @ Empire Underground
5/2 – Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Electriques
5/3 – Boston, MA @ Taffeta
5/4 – New Haven, CT @ Space Ballroom
5/9 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
5/10 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd
5/11 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
5/14 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
5/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
5/16 – Gainesville, FL @ High Dive
5/17 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
5/19 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub
The Jellybricks drop new single 'All About You' with album on the horizon
Harrisburg, PA's The Jellybricks have released the new single 'All About You' via Wicked Cool Records.
The Jellybricks are known for their catchy, harmony-driven, melodic rock ‘n’ roll, drawing inspiration from the ‘60s British Invasion to ‘90s Alternative. Forming in the late 90’s, the Harrisburg, PA-based crew have opened for bands like Live, Goo Goo Dolls, Fuel, and Better than Ezra. In 2019, they were nominated for Best Video at the Independent Music Awards and received the Central PA Music Hall of Fame 'Best Rock Band' award.
This year finds the band at work on their next full-length release, with Grammy-winning Producer Geoff Sanoff (Jesse Malin, Bush Tetras) behind the board.
Wake Me release new single 'Finger On The Trigger' and accompanying music video
Denver-based rock band Wake Me have shared their newest single 'Finger On The Trigger'. Accompanied by an new music video, 'Finger On The Trigger' offers up an anthemic chorus with soaring vocals about the seemingly-endless anxieties in everyday life and how easy it is to reach a breaking point.
Produced by The Used guitarist Joey Bradford, 'Finger On The Trigger' marks the beginning of a new era for Wake Me. “We had been exploring a new sound for our band with the combination of Collin at lead vocals and working with a new producer Joey Bradford of The Used,” shares the band on the new track. “This is one of the songs we ended up being most excited about not only because we thought it was great, but it was also very different than what we had been doing and perhaps not exactly what other bands were aiming for.”
Dance music sensation Kenya Grace drops new single 'It's Not fair' ahead of new album
Singer, songwriter, producer, creator, and drum ‘n’ bass disruptor Kenya Grace has released her new single entitled 'It’s Not Fair'. It heralds the arrival of her much-anticipated new project 'The After Taste' on March 22, 2024. The UK-based Kenya Grace wrote, produced, and performed the entirety of 'The After Taste' by herself.
Last year, her breakout smash 'Strangers' tallied nearly 1 billion streams worldwide and went #1 on both sides of the pond. In addition to logging three consecutive weeks at #1 on the UK Top Singles Chart, it soared to #1 at Dance Radio in the United States and #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart. It made history by marking “the first time ever that the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart has been led by a track solely, written, produced and sung by a woman".
Next up, she hits the road across North America, culminating at Coachella with performances on April 13 and April 20. Kenya Grace’s headline tour launches on April 3 in Toronto, ON at Axis Club and visits major markets on both coasts.
Punk veterans Hot Water Music announce two new singles off their May album 'Vows'
Equal Vision Records and Hot Water Music have announced 'Remnants' and 'Fences', two new singles lifted from the Friday, May 10 release of 'Vows', the long-standing, influential punk outfit’s brand new album.
The songs feature contributions from Brendan Yates and Daniel Fang of hardcore heroes Turnstile (who named their band after the 1997 Hot Water Music song) on the rhythmic rocker 'Remnants' and Thrice on the atmospheric 'Fences'.
“‘Remnants’ is a song of friendship and what it means to be a true friend to a person dear to us even through the toughest times of our lives,” the band says. “These values are based on whether or not we choose to be present for one another when all seems to fall apart.” Of 'Fences', the band says, “One of the toughest things in life is remembering and recognizing the importance of living in the moment. With so many distractions in our day-to-day lives, it becomes easy to get lost in the noise of this society and lose focus of our true and present purpose.”
Hot Water Music tour dates:
MAY
03 — Cincinnati, OH — Bogart’s *
04 — Columbus, OH — Newport Music Hall *
05 — Detroit, MI — St. Andrews Hall *
07 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall *
08 — Buffalo, NY — Town Ballroom *
09 — Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts * (SOLD OUT)
10 — Boston, MA — Royale *
11 — Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount #
12 — Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s Brewing Co. *
13 — Washington, DC — The Howard *
14 — Richmond, VA — The National *
15 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade (Heaven) *
17 — Dallas, TX — South Side Music Hall *
18 — San Antonio, TX — Paper Tiger *
19 – Austin, TX – Mohawk *
JUNE
13 — Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom ^
14 — Cleveland, OH — House of Blues ^
15 — Chicago, IL — Concord Music Hall ^
16 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall ^
17 — Lawrence, KS — Liberty Hall ^
18 — Denver, CO — Ogden Theatre ^
20 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater ^
21 — San Diego, CA — House of Blues ^
22 — Santa Ana, CA — Observatory ^
23 — Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco ^
24 — San Francisco, CA — Great American Music Hall ^
25 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades ^
27 — Portland, OR — Revolution Hall ^
28 — Seattle, WA — The Showbox ^
29 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore Ballroom ^
* — with Quicksand, Off With Their Heads
# — with Quicksand, Modern Life Is War, The Ergs
^ — with Quicksand, Tim Barry
Paris Paloma gets her fans to create a cacophony on new single
Rising UK artist Paris Paloma enlists fans’ roaring vocals for 'Labour (the cacophony)', a new multi-track single celebrating the one-year anniversary of her viral, Billboard-charting breakthrough single 'Labour', out March 29.
The multi-track single, which includes 'Labour (the cacophony)' featuring more than 100 fan vocals throughout the song, the original track and the bedroom demo, was announced on International Women’s Day, creating an explosive reaction from fans. With over 5.5 million views on TikTok and 3 million views on Instagram, the “labour” movement shows no signs of slowing down.
Paris Paloma Tour Dates:
UK headline shows
May 1 - Birmingham, U.K. - Hare & Hounds - SOLD OUT
May 2 - Edinburgh, Scotland - The Caves - SOLD OUT
May 3 - Manchester, U.K. - Yes - SOLD OUT
May 5 - Bristol, U.K. - Exchange - SOLD OUT
May 7 - London, U.K. - Islington Assembly Hall - SOLD OUT
US headline shows
June 12 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
June 14 - Los Angeles, CA - The Masonic Lodge
June 18 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
June 20 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East
June 22 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
June 23 - Washington, D.C. - The Atlantis
June 26 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
Festivals
June 9 - Netherlands - Best Kept Secret Festival*
July 21 - Byron Bay, Austrailia - Splendour in the Grass Festival*
August 16 - Oslo, Norway - Langs Akerselva Festival*
August 25 - Reading, U.K. - Reading and Leeds Festival*
*festival dates
Smallpools releases single 'Fake a happy Face!' ahead of 2-part album
Alt-pop trio Smallpools have released another taste of their forthcoming project 'Ghost Town Road (east)', the first part in a two-part album release, with the fuzzed-out, sing-a-long track 'Fake a Happy Face!'
“‘Fake a Happy Face!’ is about yearning to escape, to start over, lying in bed with the weight of the world upon you. There are so many mixed emotions that switch on a dime. Everything’s great and everything sucks. ‘Fake a Happy Face!’ and keep on cruising the best you can,” says Smallpools.
'Fake a Happy Face!', joins recent releases 'Motorbike (Wild Ones)' and 'Night Shift' which will appear on part one of the new album, the four-song 'Ghost Town Road (east)', out April 5.
KIA drops new single 'Okay, Alright' from upcoming EP
Los Angeles-based artist KIA emerges onto the music scene with a compelling blend of alternative R&B and neo-soul. Having grown up in The Netherlands, the half Dutch and half Indonesian singer/songwriter has released her latest single 'Okay, Alright' off of her upcoming EP, 'Retrospect', which shows KIA returning to the end of a previous relationship and reflecting on how it wasn’t good for her.
Beyond solo projects, KIA’s music has been featured in movies on major streaming platforms including Netflix and Hulu, as well as in theaters across the US and Europe. Over the last few years KIA has received both the NAMM President’s Innovation Award and the Ultimate Music Awards for Best Single-Pop of the Year and Best Female Artist of the Year.
Husband-wife duo Flora Cash release new single 'Dragon'
Swedish/American husband-and-wife, indie-pop duo Flora Cash have released their new single 'Dragon', the latest pre-release single from their new album out October 10, 2024 on the band's label Flower Money Records.
Of the song, the band says: "'Dragon' speaks to the heart of battling through darkness and finding your fire again. It's about being lost, and then discovering strength you didn't know you had. This song is for anyone who's ever felt like they were fading away, only to rise stronger, ready to take on the world anew. It's a raw, honest journey from the depths to the light.”
'Dragon' is the follow-up to 'Baby I Love You', which was released last month and featured on Rolling Stone's 'Songs You Need To Know' Playlist. The band also released singles 'Holy Water' and 'I'm Tired' and their accompanying music videos.
Icelandic duo Paddan drop 'Bug' ahead of EP 'Fluid Time'
On May 10, Icelandic duo Paddan will release their new EP 'Fluid Time' on Lovitt Records. Now though, the band has released 'Bug', the first single, and its accompanying video, to be released from the forthcoming EP.
Of the song, the band's Sigtryggur Baldursson says: "On 'Bug' we are working with the concept of using ideas very directly, documenting musical performances and using them more or less naturally, as they come. You could say we are putting our faith in the saying that first impressions are often correct. There is one modular synth in the background but everything else is played live on various instruments. Apart from bass, drums, and guitars we also have a harmonica and lap steel popping up in various places, played by Gaukur Davidsson."
Michele Ducci, formerly of M+A, announces debut solo album and drops new single
Former M+A and Santii member Michele Ducci has announced his debut solo album ‘SIVE’, out June 7, 2024 via Monotreme Records. But first he's released a single off it, ‘River’.
Michele Ducci was the ‘M’ in the electro-pop duo ‘M+A’, who released two albums on Monotreme Records, the second of which, ‘These Days’, earned the band a place in The Guardian’s ‘Best New Bands of 2014’ list and saw them perform live on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and at the Venice Biennale.
The duo then formed a new project, Santii, which involved several Hip Hop artists including Rejjie Snow, Mick Jenkins and Music Producer Supah Mario (Drake, Young Thug), releasing two EPs on Italian label Sugar Records before going their separate ways due to artistic differences.
About ‘River’, Michele says: “I was in New York for musical reasons in a situation of psychic and metropolitan traffic, in which every mention of my name in relation to the artistic career and the pressures of that world had nothing to do with music, I was so saturated that I could feel myself only in the moving waves of the Hudson River. 'You and I', I said to myself, 'are from the same origin'.
David J announces West coast tour to promote 'Track From the Attic'
Independent Project Records and David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) have announced a West Coast tour in support of the recently announced triple album 'Tracks From the Attic' out on May 3.
Dubbed 'An Evening With David J', the tour begins on the album’s release day, Friday May 3, with a one-of-kind event at the Bodecker Foundation in Portland, Oregon titled 'Enter the Attic: an Evening with David J'. This will be a tiered ticketed event featuring an interview and Q&A with David and moderator Jeffrey Clark (Shiva Burlesque/IPR), a two-part live performance (solo acoustic and full band) that will find David J performing from the bottom of the iconic Bodecker skate pool, plus a screening of music videos and a private viewing of David’s original paintings.
Ticketed live streaming will be available for 48 hours after the performance to allow fans from all over the world to take part in such a special event. A digital download of the live show will be provided to all in-person and virtual guests after the event.
Confirmed David J tour dates:
May 3 @ Bodecker Foundation, Portland, OR.
May 4 The Jewelbox Theatre Seattle, WA
May 6 @ The Ric Bar, Oakland, CA (Invite Only)
May 7 @ The California, Santa Rosa, CA.
May 9 @ Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, CA
May 11 @ Pappy & Harriets, Pioneertown, CA
From Indian Lakes announces first album in years
From Indian Lakes (FIL) has announced the new album 'Head Void', out May 15. 'Head Void' is the first new music from FIL in over half a decade, and if lead single 'The Flow' is anything to go by, it was well worth the wait.
“It is about being stuck in a flow that’s unhealthy,” shares FIL mastermind Joe Vann, “one you need the help of your loved ones to pull you out of.”
'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 Lakes will also tour and perform for the first time since 2019, and will also perform at Best Friends Forever Festival in October.
