New Music Releases: From San Cisco and Banners to Hail the Sun and Soraia
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.
Trummors drop 'Cosmic Monster' ahead of new album '5'
Trummors have dropped their new single 'Cosmic Monster' which is out on all streaming platforms. The track follows the release of 'Hey Babe' and is the latest single to be released from the band's album '5' out April 12 on Ernest Jenning Record Co.
On the song, the band's David Lerner says: “'Cosmic Monster' was inspired by our mystic neighbor’s vision of a malevolent presence haunting our little dirt road. We gave the monster a less sinister twist by embracing chaos and channeling it into this tune. Clay broke out Dan Horne’s Coral electric sitar; Anne struck a gong, which ended up being the record’s final overdub."
The band's new album was recorded in Los Angeles by Dan Horne and features Clay Finch (Mapache), Colby Buddelmeyer (The Tyde), Dan Horne (Circles Around The Sun), Tiffanie Lanmon (Night Shop, Street Fruit).
The band also announced a Los Angeles show coming up on March 27 at Gold Diggers. The show will include a performance by Cameron Knowler and will feature DJ Dorien Garry.
Serena Ittoo releases single 'My Heart Is Yours'
British singer-songwriter Serena Ittoo has released her latest single 'My Heart Is Yours'; one of the most heartfelt and emotional songs Ittoo has ever written. Ittoo explains, “When two people are connected on a soul level, one of the most magical things of that love between them, is the ability to know how they’re really feeling even if they don’t say it to you, or others around them.”
Co-written with Steve Garry at the Buddy Holly Songwriting retreat in Lubbock Texas, the soft and sentimental track features minimalist production, with elegant and intricate embellishments which enhance the atmosphere of the song. The warmth of the piano compliments Ittoo’s soulful vocal tone, as she sings, “seek and you’ll find, my heart is all yours".
Danish songwriter Fie Eike releases second single from forthcoming debut album
Danish composer, songwriter and producer, Fie Eike has released 'Sad', the second single from Fie Eike’s upcoming debut album that comes out later this year.
The song was written and recorded in a matter of hours, from a stream of consciousness and emotional expression and reflection. The songwriter shares, “We live in a time, where there is a sort of allergy towards challenging emotions. There seems to be a misconception that challenging emotions somehow limit our productivity and wellbeing when in fact it is quite the opposite. Because at the end of the day, everything that is unresolved eventually seeps out through the cracks and ends up controlling our subconscious, hindering our wellbeing and causing hurt not only in our personal lives but also on a more structural, collective level. If we dare to feel and be present with our deepest most challenging emotions, we give ourselves the chance to heal.”
San Cisco's 5th album 'Under the Light' out now
Australian indie band San Cisco have released their highly-anticipated fifth studio album, 'Under The Light', out now everywhere via Island City Records.
San Cisco’s fifth LP strikes the delicate balance between euphoria and melancholy that elevates the best pop music from a good time to something more like a cherished friend.
Featuring recent singles ‘Lost Without You’, ‘Horoscope’, ‘Honeycomb’, ‘High, ‘Summer Days’ and album title track ‘Under The Light’, the three-piece have entered decidedly more heady territory, both musically and lyrically, introducing elements such as string sections, electronic, garage and house music. Arguably the most dance floor ready track of the record if not the band’s discography, album focus track ‘Consequence’ is a perfect example of the new territories the band have explored on this record. “It used to be more turbo, but we dialled it back” the band joke.
Gab De La Vega's 4th studio album set to surprise fans
Gab De La Vega, the Italian-born singer-songwriter, has unveiled his fourth studio album, 'Life Burns', through SBÄM Records globally, in collaboration with Sell The Heart Records (US), Epidemic Records, Motorcity Productions, and Overdrive (all in Italy).
From the dynamic drum rhythms and fierce guitar riffs of 'Off My Chest' to the groove of the intimate and atmospheric 'Northern Lights', all the way to the incendiary punk and hardcore-flavored track 'Preaching To The Choir', 'Life Burns' showcases a diverse sonic proposition. With 12 tracks expressing different moods, it stands out as one of the most surprising albums of 2024.
Gab De La Vega comments: "I can't believe that finally 'Life Burns' is out! I have been waiting a long time for this moment, it has been a long and demanding work to release this album."
British singer Banners' new single positive herald for upcoming album
Award-winning Liverpudlian singer, songwriter Banners (aka Michael Nelson) releases his new single 'All That You Made Me'. The track pays homage to his mother, marking one of the more tender and emotive entries on his upcoming full-length.
Banners explains: “No one is anyone without other people. This is a song for the people that make you who you are. As a British lad, I find it a bit hard to tell people how much I care about them, so this is my way of doing it. I recorded this in one take which is a fun experience. You get to about 30 seconds from the end, realise you haven't messed it up yet, and that's when the urge to really ruin it kicks in. I really like this performance, it feels really honest.”
'All Back to Mine', out April 19 via Nettwerk, marks Banners' homecoming to Liverpool after a whirlwind of success in North America, it's a record cemented in friendship, optimism and love -- both romantic and familial and includes his highly praised singles 'The Best View in Liverpool', 'Anywhere for You', 'Have You Ever Loved Someone', 'Name In Lights', 'Tell You I Love You', 'C’est La Vie' and the mesmerising single 'Perfectly Broken (Duet Version)' featuring the soulful voice of America’s Got Talent 2022 breakout star Lily Meola.
Banners Tour Dates
May 7 - Bristol, England - Thekla
May 8 - Cardiff, Wales - The Globe
May 10 - London, England - Heaven
May 11 - Birmingham, England - O2 Institute
May 12 - Manchester, England - Band On The Wall
May 13 - Glasgow, Scotland - The Garage
May 15 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
May 16 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013 Tilburg
May 17 -Cologne, Germany - Luxor
May 19 - Zurich, Switzerland - Papiersaal
May 21 - Vienna, Austria - Simm City
May 23 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust
May 25 - Stockholm, Sweden - Bar Brooklyn
May 26 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset
May 27 - Oslo, Norway - Parkteatret
Luke Middleton releases debut EP 'Nothing Ever After'
Alternative/indie singer-songwriter Luke Middleton has released his debut EP, 'Nothing Ever After'. Produced by Nathan Darmody (Allstar Weekend), 'Nothing Ever After' tackles topics such as readjusting to life post-service, its emotional aftermath, and the mental health challenges he faces every day. Drawing from not only his time as an infantryman in the US Army, Luke Middleton uses nothing ever after as an outlet for release.
Speaking about the EP, Luke shares: “'Nothing Ever After' is the story of someone who’s giving up. To me it’s about my life and some of the things I’ve felt and gone through. For others it may relate to something they have been or are currently going through. But that’s why it’s so important, it’s so much more than music. If this reaches your heart, I pray it brings light into your life. You are not alone, you are loved & you are so worth it… even when it’s too dark to see.”
LA-based Power pop band For Closure drops new single 'No Condition'
LA punk/power-pop band For Closure has released a new single 'No Condition' via Mindpower Records. For Closure drummer/producer Wal Rashidi says, “'No Condition' encapsulates much of what I love and seek in a song. And I can say this as someone who’s somewhat detached from it, as I didn’t have a hand in the songwriting, just the production.
"It is equal parts bold and expressive in its outro, counterbalanced with intimate and sparse in its verses. The arpeggiated, glassy guitar tones we dialed in are an imperfect nod to the 1980s new wave/post-punk watery riffs emanating from the Roland Jazz Chorus amps in videos we grew up watching on MTV [or listening to early KROQ hits]. Gizz’s [frontman Gizz Lazlo] legato vocals, delicately draped over my thunderous toms, recall bands like The Icicle Works, though they also possess the muscle and motivation of Samiam’s Jason Beebout."
New Years Day drop new album 'Half Black Heart'
Rock band New Years Day has dropped their new album, 'Half Black Heart', out now via Century Media Records. The record – which marks the band’s 5th studio release – features previous singles 'Vampyre', 'Secrets', 'Hurts Like Hell', and 'I Still Believe'.
On their new single 'Fearless', frontwoman Ash Costello shares: “’Fearless’ is my ultimate anthem for empowerment. Whenever I need a confidence boost and a reminder of my ability to overcome any challenge, this is the song I turn to. It's a message that resonated with me personally during the writing process, and I wanted to make sure the message was clear and direct: we were all put on this earth to be fearless.”
Upcoming New Years Day tour dates with Lacuna Coil
5/2 – Wilmington, DE @ The Queen
5/3 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony
5/4 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
5/6 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
5/7 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
5/9 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville
5/11 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
5/13 – Fort Smith, AR @ Temple Live
5/14 – Wichita, KS @ TempleLive at Wichita Scottish Rite Center *
5/16 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival *
* - date not with Lacuna Coil
Matthew Iwanusa's RIP Dunes releases self-titled debut album
RIP Dunes has released the self-titled debut album. The new endeavor from Matthew Iwanusa (Caveman) was influenced by luminaries including Echo and the Bunnymen, The Church, and The Cure, and paints a lush sonic landscape.
Along with the release of 'RIP Dunes', Iwanusa shares the music video for album single 'Cruel Nature', a disorienting and illusory journey through the dark streets of NYC that mirrors the song’s seductive after hours vibe. RIP Dunes will perform songs from the album in the coming weeks with gigs at New Colossus, SXSW, and Treefort Music Festivals.
Upcoming RIP Dunes tour dates
MARCH
08 - New York, NY @ Berlin (3:00 pm set time - New Colossus Festival)
09 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (9:15 pm set time - New Colossus Festival)
16 - Austin, TX @ Parish (SXSW)
20 - Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
Savak release new album ahead of France tour
Brooklyn’s post-punk stalwarts Savak have released their new album 'Flavors Of Paradise' on Ernest Jenning Recording Co./Peculiar Works Music. The album arrives after the release of acclaimed singles 'Leash Biter', 'Two Lamps', 'Will Get Fooled Again', and 'Let The Sunlight In'.
To celebrate the release, the band has also dropped a new video for 'Up With The Sun'. The video was directed by John von Pamer. About the video, the band's Michael Jaworski says: “'Up With The Sun' is a jangly and uplifting song that wouldn’t be out of place on an early R.E.M. record. Balancing melancholy and hope, the lyrics address accepting the present while dreaming of a brighter future; searching for enlightenment while ruminating on the mundane."
Ghost Work unveil new single 'Erase The Morning' from upcoming LP
Ghost Work has released the new single 'Erase The Morning' off the upcoming 11-track LP 'Light a Candle for the Lonely' out on March 8 via Spartan Records. The band comprises Sean Husick (Milemarker), Erin Tate (Minus The Bear), Aaron Stauffer (Seaweed), and Dustin Perry (Snapcase).
Bassist Dustin Perry says, “'Erase the Morning' is one of the few things I’ve written that I can detach and enjoy as a song. I think it’s really beautiful, and I’m not one to love myself."
Vocalist Aaron Stauffer adds, "The song lyrics are about how difficult it is to change the way people live; and as a result how many find themselves isolated and alone. To me, the positive part is that all life is completely impermanent, thus all of the light will fade. So the hard time that someone might be having in this moment is really just a blink of an eye."
Denver rockers Wake Me announce date for new single
Denver-based rock band Wake Me have announced their new single 'Finger On The Trigger', set to be released on March 15.
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,” says the band of 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.”
The quartet now features the explosive lead vocals and guitars of Collin Sanford with original frontman Justin Ray stepping into lead guitar/backup vocal duty. The rhythm section is dominated by Travis "Tricky" Authier (drums) and Carlos Martin (bass).
Singer-songwriter Taylor Bickett's new single 'I Like Mondays' tackles pitfalls of pressure
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Taylor Bickett has released her new single and video 'I Like Mondays'. The track is available now on all streaming platforms.
Taylor Bickett has also recorded a live version of her new single for the 2024 NPR Tiny Desk Contest. 'I Like Mondays' follows Taylor Bicketts' 2023 EP 'Grown Up and Lonely' which went viral and amassed over 30 million streams.
Taylor Bickett's newest single is about not succumbing to the pressures to be perfect. She says, "It’s about the insane pressure that I have found myself putting on each new week, month, or year to be the one in which I no longer make mistakes and do everything perfectly. These feelings came to a head when I realized New Year's Day 2024 fell on a Monday. I wrote and posted a snippet of the song on social media just in the hopes of making a few people feel seen. I was shocked to see how much it resonated, leading me to finish and record the song in just a few weeks. The song is, at its core, an affirmation that we all deserve grace; that beautiful things can come our way if we just relinquish control if we loosen our grip, if we surrender to the universe.”
Taylor Bickett Tour Dates
March 1 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe DuNord
March 2 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Hotel Cafe
March 3 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
March 6 - St. Louis, MO @ City Winery St. Louis
March 8 - Cincinnati, OH @ Ludlow Garage
March 9 - Nashville, TN @ City Winery Nashville
March 10 - Atlanta, GA @ City Winery Atlanta
* All Shows With Ron Pope
Rockers Soraia drop new single 'Bang Them Bones'
Philadelphia rock outfit Soraia has released the new standalone single 'Bang Them Bones' via Wicked Cool Records.
Frontwoman ZouZou Mansour said, "We love recording while we're touring in Sweden--and have done so every time we go. It always feels like we're just a little more "beat up" mid-way through our tours there, so it's a good time to get some honest representation of ourselves recorded. This one was another song written by Sulo [Sören Karlsson, frontman of Swedish rock band The Diamond Dogs]. We immediately love how it reminded us of a 60s/70s rock anthem. The title can be interpreted in so many ways, too -- which we love writing our own songs in that style, and often, Sulo's style complements our songwriting in that way. This time, we recorded in a new-to-us recording studio -- which keeps things fresh and fun for us."
The perpetually touring band is hitting the road once again, joining the lineup for The Wicked Cool Records Revue, presented by Hard Rock and Little Steven's The Underground Garage. The traveling Rock ‘n’ Roll roadshow will showcase some of the stars from Wicked Cool Records, the groundbreaking label founded in 2007 by the legendary Stevie Van Zandt – a.k.a. Little Steven. The 5-city tour commences on March 16 (during SXSW) at the renowned Continental Club in Austin, TX.
Soraia Tour Dates
March 16: Austin, TX - Continental Club
March 19: Phoenix, AZ - The Crescent
March 20: Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room Highland Park
March 21: Las Vegas, NV - The Shag Room at Virgin
March 22: San Francisco, CA - Brick & Mortar Music
April 25: Hamden CT - The Cellar on Treadwell (Soraia only)
Alt rockers Los Saints gear up for debut LP with new single 'Faded'
San Diego-based alternative rock band Los Saints are back with the new single 'Faded' off the band's upcoming debut LP 'Certified', due out this summer on ENCI Records.'
'Faded' marks the outfit's first new music since 2022's 'Welcome To Confusion' EP. Guitarist/vocalist Angel Mariscal says, “'Faded' is about two people being under the influence too often. It seems like a fun thing, but it’s not healthy. You see how bad it is in retrospect.”
Co-founded by cousins Angel Mariscal (vocals, guitar) and Emiliano Garcia (drums) as well as Gianluca Exposito (guitar), the group have quietly buzzed out of the sleepy border town of Chula Vista, California with sold out shows.
California rockers Hail the Sun drop single 'Seconday Worship'
Equal Vision Records and California's Hail The Sun have released the rock band’s brand new single, 'Secondary Worship'. In true Hail The Sun form, 'Secondary Worship' is a flashy display of instrumental gymnastics with a deeply personal meaning at its core.
“An overarching concept in much of our previous works has been about changing the defects of one's character, but it came from such a darker place,” frontman Donovan Melero says. “While I haven’t mastered it, I’ve certainly gotten better at directing my energy into the places it’s better suited for. And the places I want to go. Nothing is as pure as the feeling of alignment. ‘Secondary Worship’ is a story of the next part of that process."
Additionally, Hail The Sun have announced its headline appearance at this year’s Kill Iconic Festival at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA on Saturday, March 23 alongside a North American co-headline tour spanning March and April with Intervals.
Marc Valentine releases new single 'Tyrannical Wrecks' ahead of US tour
Marc Valentine has released a new single 'Tyrannical Wrecks' as he gets set to bring his energetic live show to the United States for the very first time, in March 2024. The frontman and his band will unpack a suitcase full of his finest anthems, in New York City and beyond, in celebration of his brand new album, 'Basement Sparks' – an 11-track collection that blends Springsteen and Weezer with Buzzcocks and T-Rex, to create an "exhilarating fairground ride of a record".
As a founding member of Last Great Dreamers – a colorful power-pop band with a cult following and roots in London’s ’90s glam scene – Marc co-wrote and performed on four well-received albums, before going it alone for his most acclaimed LP to date, 2022’s 'Future Obscure'. A trio of singles, 'Jinx Of Finchley Road', 'Skeleton Key' and 'Strange Weather' followed in 2023.
As Marc prepares to ignite Basement Sparks in front of a US audience, he’s still pinching himself. “In England we dream about playing America,” he says. “I’ve been waiting since I was a kid, so to finally get there is going to be an incredible buzz.”
Marc Valentine US tour dates
03/21 – Yarmouth MA, The Music Room
03/22 – Boston MA, The Burren
03/23 – New York NY, Berlin Under A
03/24 – Ringwood NJ, Live At Drew’s
03/29 – New Haven CT, Cafe Nine