Ahead of releasing his new album Terra Incognita on May 24th, Low Hum has shared his new single “Only If You Say So.” The track begins with a dark and understated tone, creating an atmosphere of mystical intrigue. As it progresses, "Only If You Say So" builds with intense percussion and frenzied guitars, reflecting Desha's mounting emotional turmoil and he wrestles with a longing to return home.
Desha shares about the track:
"A love letter to my home. This song personifies Hawaii. I'm always thinking about going back to Hawaii someday but I continue to feel like it will only be if she says so and gives me a sign. So much of how I approach life comes from my connection to Hawaiian culture and there’s just nothing quite like being there, experiencing the energy of the land and ocean."
The release comes with a music video that was filmed on Oahu and the Big Island. Directed by James Kid (HEALTH, James Supercave), the video represents Low Hum's fever dream of home and Hawaii. Director James Kid says this of the inspiration behind the video:
"'Only If You Say So' is a love song to Hawaii, both musically and visually. The music video dives into the mind of Collin Desha (Low Hum) as he's in the midst of a lucid dream of Hawaii, a place he once called home. Similar to love, Hawaii is as beautiful as it is chaotic—a complicated but fulfilling beast that can clasp itself tightly around your psyche. Collin experiences this through a battle with his own subconscious, which tries to repel him from his dream, warning him not to stay too long. He refuses. This video reflects the emotional state of longing for something, even though you know deep down you must move on."
Low Hum, a 13th generation Hawaiian now residing in Los Angeles, brings together a fusion of ambient, rock, and grunge elements in his music. Reflecting on his roots and Hawaii came about after Desha and his band were robbed early on their Fall 2022 headline tour, leading to the rest of the dates being cancelled. The experience, including the total loss of music in progress for his next record, forced Desha to start over. When it came to thinking about beginning again, for Desha all things led back to Hawaii, and his craving for a sign especially apparent in the lyrics, “I always knew it came to you / who knew it all came to you / but you know I’m gonna stay / only if you say so.”
Stay tuned for more.
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**Click to listen to Loving's Any Light
A gloriously sprawling piece that fully reflects the fluid creative energy and nuanced emotionality at the heart of the LP, Loving’s Jesse Henderson explained how the album opener, out today, serves as a fitting introduction to the themes of the record: “When I looked at all of these songs together, I realized that the concept of light was threaded throughout the album. For me, light signifies awareness or insight, which ties into how many of these songs document a shift in perspective.”
The British Columbia-based duo of Henderson and David Parry are set to launch an extensive North American headlining tour on February 23rd, including stops at LA’s The Regent on March 2nd and NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on March 21st. A full itinerary is listed below and tickets are on-sale now.
On Any Light, Loving share a batch of songs born from moments of serendipitous inspiration: a spontaneously composed poem, a long-forgotten voice memo, an uncannily pertinent book unearthed in their studio space. Henderson and Parry brought these songs to life by surrendering to a prolonged process of free-flowing experimentation, often dreaming up several entirely distinct iterations of a track before deciding on a final version. Through all that unhurried exploration, Loving arrived at a body of work that invites a similar sense of charmed receptivity, even as its songs examine such complex matters as romantic love, depression, existential uncertainty, and the psychic consequences of living in an increasingly digitized world.
Although Henderson and Parry handled most of Any Light’s instrumentation on their own—with Henderson playing piano, Wurlitzer, guitar, and organ and Parry’s contributions including guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and additional keys—Loving also shaped the album’s richly detailed tracks with the help of several musician-friends, including singer/songwriter Evan Cheadle on guitar, multi-instrumentalist Colin Nealis on strings, Keenan Mittag-Degala on percussion and Jeremiah Cashore on trumpet.
Loving Tour Dates:
02/23 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern ^
02/24 - Portland, OR - Polaris Hall ^
02/26 - Sacramento, CA - Hawlow’s ^
02/27 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall ^
02/28 - San Jose, CA - The Ritz ^
03/01 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent ^
03/02 - Pomona, CA - Glass House ^
03/04 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up ^
03/05 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar ^
03/06 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace ^
03/08 - Austin, TX - Far Out ^
03/09 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips ^
03/15 - Atlanta, GA - The Loft ^
03/16 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle ^
03/17 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall ^
03/19 - Washington, DC - DC9 ^
03/20 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA ^
03/21 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge ^
03/22 - Somerville, MA - Armory ^
03/23 - Montréal, QC - Foufounes Électriques ^
03/25 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace ^
03/26 - Pontiac, MI - Pike Room ^
03/27 - Chicago, IL - Schubas ^
03/28 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club ^
03/29 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club ^
03/30 - Des Moines, IA - xBk ^
04/01 - Denver, CO - Meow Wolf ^
04/03 - Salt Lake City, UT - Soundwell ^
04/04 - Boise, ID - Neurolux ^
04/06 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre ^
^/ Fog Lake supporting
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British Columbia-based band Loving today released “No Mast,” the breezy and shimmering third single previewing their forthcoming album Any Light, due out on February 9th. The duo Jesse Henderson and David Parry here present a searching and sweetly hopeful love song informed by Henderson’s reading of James Hollis’ The Eden Project: In Search of the Magical Other. “I found this book all beat up and tucked under the couch in the studio,” explains Henderson. “It offers an insightful critique of romantic love and the psychological forces that shape the way we love, or fail to. I guess the song just stumbled along afterwards as kind of a reflection on it.”
“No Mast” follows the album’s ethereal and hypnotically lilting lead single, “Medicine,” and album closer “Blue,” both with a combined 500K+ streams and playlist support from Spotify (All New Indie, Front Page Indie, Fresh Folk, etc), Apple Music (Indie + Chill, New In Indie, etc), plus attention from Brooklyn Vegan, Clash, Exclaim!, SiriusXMU + The Loft, and BBC 6Music, among others.
****Any Light is available for pre-order here
Loving, who supported Alice Phoebe Lou in Europe last fall, are set to launch an extensive North American headlining tour on February 23rd. The tour includes stops at LA’s The Regent on March 2nd and NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on March 21st. A full itinerary is listed below and tickets are on-sale now.
On Any Light, Loving share a batch of songs born from moments of serendipitous inspiration: a spontaneously composed poem, a long-forgotten voice memo, an uncannily pertinent book unearthed in their studio space. Henderson and Parry brought these songs to life by surrendering to a prolonged process of free-flowing experimentation, often dreaming up several entirely distinct iterations of a track before deciding on a final version. Through all that unhurried exploration, Loving arrived at a body of work that invites a similar sense of charmed receptivity, even as its songs examine such complex matters as romantic love, depression, existential uncertainty, and the psychic consequences of living in an increasingly digitized world. “When I looked at all of these songs together, I realized that the concept of light was threaded throughout the album,” explains Henderson. “For me light signifies awareness or insight, which ties into how many of these songs document a shift in perspective.”
Any Light took shape at Risque Disque studio on Vancouver Island, with Loving greatly expanding their musical vocabulary and repertoire. The album encompasses a far more elaborate sound than its predecessor, layering its lush arrangements with trumpet, timpani, vibraphone, strings, and organ—all new territory for the band. Despite diverging from the finespun indie-folk of their past work, Loving imbue every song with the poetic introspection first shown on their 2016 debut EP, as well as the disarmingly warm presence they’ve brought to stages around the world.
Although Henderson and Parry handled most of Any Light’s instrumentation on their own—with Henderson playing piano, Wurlitzer, guitar, and organ and Parry’s contributions including guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and additional keys—Loving also shaped the album’s richly detailed tracks with the help of several musician-friends, including singer/songwriter Evan Cheadle on guitar, multi-instrumentalist Colin Nealis on strings, and Keenan Mittag-Degala on percussion.
Loving Tour Dates:
02/23/24 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern ^
02/24/24 - Portland, OR - Polaris Hall ^
02/26/24 - Sacramento, CA - Hawlow’s ^
02/27/24 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall ^
02/28/24 - San Jose, CA - The Ritz ^
03/02/24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent ^
03/04/24 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up ^
03/05/24 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar ^
03/06/24 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace ^
03/08/24 - Austin, TX - Far Out ^
03/09/24 - Dallas, TX - Tulips ^
03/15/24 - Atlanta, GA - The Loft ^
03/16/24 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle ^
03/17/24 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall ^
03/19/24 - Washington, DC - DC9 ^
03/20/24 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA ^
03/21/24 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge ^
03/22/24 - Boston, MA - Armory ^
03/23/24 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques ^
03/25/24 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern ^
03/26/24 - Detroit, MI - Pike Room ^
03/27/24 - Chicago, IL - Schubas ^
03/28/24 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club ^
03/29/24 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club ^
03/30/24 - Des Moines, IA - xBk ^
04/01/24 - Denver, CO - Meow Wolf ^
04/03/24 - Salt Lake City, UT - Soundwell ^
04/04/24 - Boise, ID - Neurolux ^
04/06/24 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre ^
^/ Fog Lake supporting
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**Click to pre-order Any Light
The album’s ethereal and hypnotically lilting lead single “Medicine” unfolds in a dream-like narrative. “This was playfully written as a chronicle of our friend’s recent psychedelic adventures, he’s the sort who is always looking for a cure,” Henderson notes. “Medicine” is out now alongside a vibrant video directed by John Andrews.
**Click to save/stream "Medicine"
Loving have also announced an extensive North American headline tour this spring that includes a March 2nd Los Angeles show at The Regent and a March 21st New York show at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets go on-sale Friday, December 1st at 10am local time. The band is currently on tour across Europe and the UK supporting Alice Phoebe Lou; a full itinerary is included below.
On Any Light, Loving share a batch of songs born from moments of serendipitous inspiration: a spontaneously composed poem, a long-forgotten voice memo, an uncannily pertinent book unearthed in their studio space. Henderson and Parry brought these songs to life by surrendering to a prolonged process of free-flowing experimentation, often dreaming up several entirely distinct iterations of a track before deciding on a final version. Through all that unhurried exploration, Loving arrived at a body of work that invites a similar sense of charmed receptivity, even as its songs examine such complex matters as romantic love, depression, existential uncertainty, and the psychic consequences of living in an increasingly digitized world. “When I looked at all of these songs together, I realized that the concept of light was threaded throughout the album,” explains Henderson, who serves as Loving’s vocalist and lyricist. “For me light signifies awareness or insight, which ties into how many of these songs document a shift in perspective.”
Any Light took shape at Risque Disque studio on Vancouver Island, with Loving greatly expanding their musical vocabulary and repertoire. The album encompasses a far more elaborate sound than its predecessor, layering its lush arrangements with trumpet, timpani, vibraphone, strings, and organ—all new territory for the band. Despite diverging from the finespun indie-folk of their past work, Loving imbue every song with the poetic introspection first shown on their 2016 debut EP, as well as the disarmingly warm presence they’ve brought to stages around the world.
Although Henderson and Parry handled most of Any Light’s instrumentation on their own—with Henderson playing piano, Wurlitzer, guitar, and organ and Parry’s contributions including guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and additional keys —Loving also shaped the album’s richly detailed tracks with the help of several musician-friends, including singer/songwriter Evan Cheadle on guitar, multi-instrumentalist Colin Nealis on strings, and Keenan Mittag-Degala on percussion. “Medicine” follows last month’s sweetly hazy and atmospheric single and album closer, “Blue.”
Loving Tour Dates:
11/28/23 - Barcelona, ES - Sala Apolo *
11/29/23 - Madrid, ES - Lula Club *
11/30/23 - Lisbon, PT - LAV *
12/02/23 - San Sebastian, ES - Dabadaba *
12/03/23 - Toulouse, FR - Metronum *
12/05/23 - Brighton, UK - Chalk *
12/06/23 - Manchester, UK - New Century Hall *
12/07/23 - Bristol, UK - Trinity *
12/08/23 - London, UK - O2 Kentish Town Forum *
02/23/24 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern ^
02/24/24 - Portland, OR - Polaris Hall ^
02/26/24 - Sacramento, CA - Hawlow’s ^
02/27/24 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall ^
02/28/24 - San Jose, CA - The Ritz
03/02/24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent ^
03/03/24 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up ^
03/05/24 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar ^
03/06/24 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace ^
03/08/24 - Austin, TX - Far Out ^
03/09/24 - Dallas, TX - Tulips ^
03/11/24 - Kansas City, MO - Bottleneck ^
03/12/24 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway ^
03/13/24 - Nashville, TN - The Blue Room (Third Man Records) ^
03/15/24 - Atlanta, GA - The Loft ^
03/16/24 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle ^
03/17/24 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall ^
03/19/24 - Washington, DC - DC9 ^
03/20/24 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA ^
03/21/24 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge ^
03/22/24 - Boston, MA - Armory ^
03/23/24 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques ^
03/25/24 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern ^
03/26/24 - Detroit, MI - Pike Room ^
03/27/24 - Chicago, IL - Schubas ^
03/28/24 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club ^
03/29/24 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club ^
03/30/24 - Des Moines, IA - xBk ^
04/01/24 - Denver, CO - Meow Wolf ^
04/03/24 - Salt Lake City, UT - Soundwell ^
04/04/24 - Boise, ID - Shrine Basement ^
04/06/24 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre ^
* w/ Alice Phoebe Lou
^/ Fog Lake supporting
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Today, electronic music trio Keys N Krates delivers their third full-length studio album, IN:TENSION, a succinct body of work that sees the Toronto-based outfit blending their lifelong influences and versatile production chops into a passion project chock-full of talent. IN:TENSION, featuring tracks with R&B superstar Ciara, songstress Lion Babe, alongside rising singers Taite Imogen, Dana Williams, and the late, great singer Aaron Carl, is out now via Last Gang/MNRK.
***Click to save/stream IN:TENSIONChanneling their innate love of pure, timeless house music, Keys N Krates pivot from the sound that once took them to the biggest stages in EDM to a more refined, precise, and intentional effort. On IN:TENSION, they dig deeper than ever before into their own personal tastes—citing influences from sampling master Armand Van Helden and house music legends Masters At Work— a sound that speaks to why they fell in love with dance music decades ago. They do this all without sacrificing their signature crisp rhythms and wall-shaking low-end that their fans have adored since their original hip-hop origins.
Throughout the 12 tracks on the album, Keys N Krates build a comprehensive profile of house music, with the pop-tinged “Need Your Love,” the hard-hitting “Higher,” the sassy “What Girls Do,” the funky “Say You Love Me,” the disco-leaning “Get Up,” and the deep “I Know,” and beyond. The indubitable climax of the album, for most, will be “Fantasy,” a piano-house masterpiece that bridges the gap between the mainstream and the underground with the formidable singing and songwriting of GRAMMY Award-winning artist Ciara. As house music begins to get the recognition it deserves via infiltrating pop music with some of the biggest artists in the world giving it their own take, Keys N Krates serve as the next ambassadors of the genre, lifting up Ciara’s natural vocal abilities. It’s the first time she has taken on house music in such a fashion.
“After vibing with “Fantasy” for the first time, I had good feels all over. I felt an infectious energy that made me want to dance, and I could envision myself living my best life to this song all over the world. This is the perfect party song for my collaboration with Keys N Krates. House is a space I’ve really been wanting to get involved in, so I’m excited for the world to hear it.” — Ciara
***Click to save/stream "Fantasy (ft. Ciara)"
“When linking with Ciara, we knew it was important to her and to us that her first dip into the house music realm felt organic and natural yet exciting and new. We used warm blocky drums you might normally hear on a techno record, paired with a classic M1 piano line and big 808s. The heavy percussion and bass are the juxtaposition to the feel-good pianos and her sweet-sounding vocals. Our favorite records of hers often have this type of balance of soft and hard, and we really wanted to preserve that. Her lyrics, an indulgent profession of another’s love being her never-ending fantasy, glue the whole track together into a glorious and positive dance floor feeler.” — Keys N Krates
A new milestone for the esteemed Toronto trio, IN:TENSION encapsulates the true definition of their style in a way that feels both effortless and deliberate. Keys N Krates has shown that their new house-driven direction fits them to a T. It’s a perfect union between their deep-rooted love for the genre and their established hip-hop/R&B exploits.
Since forming over a decade ago in their native Toronto, Keys N Krates have carved their own path in music, melding the realms of hip-hop, electronic, and beyond. The group — composed of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse, and turntablist Greg Dawson — has built a venerable reputation as one of the leading live electronic acts today on the strength of their onstage instrumentation and energetic sets. With a new vision for what kind of energy they want to stir up on the dancefloor, Keys N Krates have been taking the stage on their IN:TENSION Tour from behind the decks, delivering DJ sets that mirror the sound of the new album. Check out glimpses from their recent stop at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere rooftop.
Keys N Krates Upcoming Tour Dates
November 10 – Q Nightclub, Seattle, WA
November 11 – Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA
November 17 – El Club, Detroit, MI
November 18 – Sound Bar, Chicago IL
November 30 – It’ll Do, Dallas, TX
December 1 – The Loft, Minneapolis, MN
December 2 – Liquid, Madison, WI
December 9 – Velvet Underground, Toronto, Canada
December 15 – Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY
]]>Today, Loving shared their sweetly hazy and atmospheric new single “Blue”. Their first new music since their 2020 debut album If I Am Only My Thoughts—which has garnered over 65 million streams globally to date—the song arrives just in time to soundtrack these warm, early fall days.
]]>**Click to save/stream Loving's "Blue"
“We found ‘Blue’ like an old photograph lost in a journal— a nearly indecipherable voice memo we had skipped over. It had a feeling and allure…the blueness, depth, dizziness and containment of a new love,” explains singer/lyricist Jesse Henderson. “Some of our recent songs play with the distortions and grandeur of romance, giving in, pushing back. This one gives in.”
The musical collaboration of Jesse Henderson and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist David Parry, Loving began initially as a long-distance (Victoria, BC/Toronto, ON) recording project that coalesced around a 2016 self-titled debut EP. The home-recorded If I Am Only My Thoughts built upon and expanded the EP’s dreamy, folk-pop sonic canvas, and saw praise from Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, Exclaim!, and All Music, among others, as well as radio support from KEXP, KCRW, SiriusXMU, and more. The band toured in support of the album with Tennis, Crumb, and Lord Huron, in addition to making various festival debuts, including Pitchfork Fest (Paris) and London’s Mirrors Fest.
Loving will head out on tour throughout Europe and the UK in support of Alice Phoebe Lou beginning next week. More news from the band will be announced soon.
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**Click to pre-save Keys N Krates' IN:TENSION
Infused with the soulful R&B inflections of Taite Imogen, “Need Your Love” takes on the form of deep house but with a more powerful edge through Keys N Krates’ tight, irresistible basslines and snappy percussion.
**Click to save/stream "Need Your Love (ft. Taite Imogen)"
“The intersection between the warehouse and joyful soul—linking brightness and darkness—is what this “Need Your Love” is all about. This is an anthem for the club, inspired by the sounds of New York House from the mid to late 90s as well as modern UKG.” — Keys N Krates
“Working with Keys has been such a great experience. The moment I heard the beat, I was so excited to jump on it and when we were working on the track, every idea felt like it flowed so easily. Seeing the response already when they’ve been playing it a shows has been insane. I’m so excited for everyone to hear all the amazing stuff they’ve been working on.” — Taite Imogen
Adding to the list of singles thus far (“Higher,” “Say You Love Me,” “Get Up,” and “What Girls Do,” in addition to their debut on Defected Records, “What You Done” with Rochelle Jordan), the Toronto trio has shown that their new housey direction, which is inspired by their lifelong musical influences Masters At Work and Armand Van Helden, fits them to a T.
A new milestone for the esteemed trio, IN:TENSION encapsulates the true definition of their style better than ever before. Since gaining notoriety during the mid-2010s—then producing more EDM & trap-influenced sounds—Keys N Krates have carefully molded their sound to fit their own tastes, and they’ve done so without sacrificing their signature composition of sampling, synths/keys, and percussion. The new record, which arrives this fall, will serve as a perfect union between their deep-rooted love for house music and their earliest hip-hop origins.
IN:TENSION TRACKLIST:
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**click to pre-save IN:TENSION + stay tuned for more details
A new milestone for the esteemed trio, IN:TENSION encapsulates the true definition of their style better than ever before. Since gaining notoriety during the mid-2010s, then producing more EDM & trap influenced sounds, Keys N Krates have carefully molded their sound to fit their own tastes, and they’ve done so without sacrificing their signature composition of sampling, synths/keys, and percussion. This is heard perhaps most clearly on today’s new single, “Higher,” which features ecstasy-inducing vocal cuts, a crisp rhythm, and wall-shaking low-end that their longtime fans will continue to enjoy while they introduce themselves to a new segment of clubgoers.
**click to listen to Keys N Krates' new track "Higher"
The album’s title, “IN:TENSION,” has a double meaning for Keys N Krates. It serves as a hyper-focused body of work for the trio, who previously only dabbled in housey, four-on-the-floor production. Now, they hone in and embrace it by channeling their musical passion, citing inspiration from house and garage gurus such as Armand Van Helden and Masters At Work.
The title also refers to the intense, energetic nature of the new sound, which will be put on full display during their 16-stop DJ set tour throughout the United States. The IN:TENSION Tour officially kicks off in September, hitting major house/techno-focused cities such as Detroit and Chicago, as well as Seattle, Washington D.C., and more.
“Higher” follows Keys N Krates’ recent string of house singles “Say You Love Me,” “Get Up,” and “What Girls Do,” in addition to their debut on Defected Records, “What You Done” with Rochelle Jordan.
Keys N Krates Upcoming Tour Dates
September 23 – Flash Rooftop, Washington, DC
October 5 – Soundwell, Salt Lake City, UT
October 6 – 45 East, Portland, OR
October 7 – Meow Wolf, Denver, CO
October 13 – Kingdom, Austin, TX
October 14 – Sunbar, Tempe, AZ
October 15 – Hotel Via, San Francisco, CA
October 20 – Meow Wolf, Santa Fe, NM
October 21 – Aura, Kansas City, MO
November 10 – Q Nightclub, Seattle, WA
November 11 – Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA
November 17 – El Club, Detroit, MI
November 18 – Sound Bar, Chicago IL
November 30 – It’ll Do, Dallas, TX
December 1 – The Loft, Minneapolis, MN
December 2 – Liquid, Madison, WI
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“These are my thoughts, dreams, faults, failures, fears, hopes, and wishes,” he states. “The songs say everything I’m too scared to say out loud for fear of burdening others. There are confusing moments I’m trying to rationalize or explain. I don’t have the urge to get a camera in front of my face and go off ad nauseam on the internet. I generally don’t feel like I could pen a novel either. However, I can definitely write a song. I explain everything I have a hard time saying aloud.”
This approach has continued to engage an ever-growing fan base. The classically trained Vancouver native learned piano at a young age and devoted the better part of his formative years to solo piano and symphonic compositions. At its core, he burrowed into the concept of inspiration.
“I’ve been grappling with the nature of inspiration itself,” he admits. “Where does it live? Where does it come from? How can we keep it around longer than it wants to stay? A lot changed as I was working on the album. I’m definitely not the same person I was in 2019. Thankfully, the ethos remained resonant and true to me. As a whole, this record examines what inspiration is and the moments it finds you—or you find it.”
Track-listing
Upcoming Tour Dates:
July 08 – Vancouver, BC – Khatsahlano Festival
July 14 – Montreal, QC – L’Escogriffe*
July 15 – Toronto, ON – The Drake Underground*
Sept 09 – Victoria, BC – Rifflandia Festival
* w/ Brothertiger
Save/Stream: Noble Oak “River’s Edge”
The dreamy melody of “River’s Edge” flows into an earthy refrain punctuated by fluttering delivery.
Fiore beautifully expounds on the track saying, “Within our mental chasm lies a peaceful room, and we often find ourselves searching for its precious safety. This is a piece to help evoke and discover that feeling of sanctity in your own mind.”
Patrick Fiore might not typically disclose his innermost thoughts in conversation, but he certainly weaves them throughout his music as Noble Oak. He wraps up all of his deepest ponderances in shimmering keys, cinematic production, and organic instrumentation. Projected by a luminous timbre, his voice rings out loudly on tape, while he keeps to himself in everyday life
This approach has continued to engage an ever-growing fan base. The classically trained Vancouver native learned piano at a young age and devoted the better part of his formative years to solo piano and symphonic compositions. Integrating beat-craft and synthesizers, he formally introduced Noble Oak with his debut label backed album Horizon [2020], followed by his instrumental piano EP Stories (2021).
After reeling in millions of worldwide streams, and receiving acclaim from tripleJ, BBC Radio, HYPEBEAST, Stereogum, DIY, Clash, and more, Noble Oak opens up like never before on his forthcoming album, When It Finds You. At the core of the album he explores the concept of inspiration. As a whole, this record examines what inspiration is and the moments it finds you—or you find it,” explains Fiore.
Written, recorded, produced, mixed, and creative directed by Fiore, When It Finds You, is set for release on July 8th via Last Gang / MNRK.
]]>“Say You Love Me” is the Toronto-based outfit's take on a pure house music record. The smoky, euphoric vocal and spellbinding groove calls upon a timeless sound and further demonstrates the ever-growing versatility of Keys N Krates’ production style. Their fresh take on the genre opens up a new realm of possibilities for their performances and forthcoming tour . “Say You Love Me” follows their recent singles “Get Up” and “What Girls Do,” which both lend themselves to house as well.
“We all grew up on house music and have always dabbled in it on other projects, but this tune might be our “housey-est” endeavor yet,” said Keys N Krates about the track. “For us, ‘Say You Love Me’ embodies the soul and fun that drew our ears to house music in the first place”, they added. “Organic drum textures, a hypnotic and tribal groove, with a powerful vocal sample chopped up are ingredients that really speak to us. We want to be at the party where this is playing.”
Alongside the new music, Keys N Krates also unveil a new album coming this fall and a 12-stop tour across the United States, with many more dates still to come.
Since forming a decade ago in their native Toronto, Keys N Krates have carved their own path via a bass-centric, sample-driven sound, melding the realms of electronic, hip-hop, and beyond. The group — composed of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse, and turntablist Jr. Flo — has built a venerable reputation as one of the leading live electronic acts today on the strength of their onstage instrumentation and energetic sets.
Keys N Krates invite listeners to join their house music journey, a natural evolution of their sound with more to come from the trio throughout 2023.
Keys N Krates Upcoming Tour Dates
September 23 – Flash Rooftop, Washington, DC]]>
Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees is an assured and joyful statement from a young artist evolving and finely honing his craft. Or as Robinson himself puts it, “It’s the music that I dreamed about making as a kid.”
]]>**Click to save/stream Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees
When Harrison (Harrison Robinson) began working on his third album in his modest Toronto studio in 2019, the producer and composer felt a strong desire to honor his artistic roots. “I knew I wanted to just make what I thought was cool, regardless of it being cheesy,” he says of the piano-centred compositions that would become Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees. “Chick Corea had a quote along the lines of ‘you have to find what sounds beautiful to you’ and that really struck a chord with me.”
Growing up in a musical household, the self-taught producer fell in love with acts including Japanese producer and instrumental hip-hop artist Nujabes and American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (best known for his work scoring A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts specials), and sought to capture the same warmth and childlike sense of wonder with Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees.
To help complement his artistic vision, the producer enlisted the help of illustrator Elijah Anderson, whose single artwork recalls classic Blue Note covers and classic Saturday morning cartoons like Schoolhouse Rock!. The pastoral album cover comes courtesy of Tokyo-based illustrator Kento IIDA. “It’s the happiest I’ve ever been with the visual aesthetic,” says the producer. Taken as a whole, Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees is an assured and joyful statement from a young artist evolving and finely honing his craft. Or as Robinson himself puts it, “It’s the music that I dreamed about making as a kid.”
Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees Tracklist
Vancouver’s Noble Oak today announces his new album When It Finds You and reveals the latest track “Your Favourite Place”. When It Finds You is set for release on July 8th via Last Gang / MNRK.
**Click to pre-order When It Finds You
Patrick Fiore might not typically disclose his innermost thoughts in conversation, but he certainly weaves them throughout his music as Noble Oak. On When It Finds You, under this nom de plume, he wraps up all of his deepest ponderances in shimmering keys, cinematic production, and organic instrumentation—as if leafing through a diary under the glow of incandescent soundscapes.
Speaking on “Your Favourite Place”, Fiore explains, “It’s about the desire to return to a place of comfort. You’re trying to find optimism in places you might not usually find it. For a long time, I was very optimistic, and I still am. Part of me is somewhat unchanged. However, there’s a realistic aspect of myself that’s emerged. It’s a balance.”
**Click to save/stream Noble Oak “Your Favourite Place"
Classically trained, Fiore learned piano at a young age and devoted the better part of his formative years to solo piano and symphonic compositions. Integrating beat-craft and synthesizers, he formally introduced Noble Oak with his debut label backed album Horizon [2020], followed by his instrumental piano EP Stories (2021), Reeling in millions of worldwide streams, he has received acclaim from the likes of TripleJ, BBC Radio, HYPEBEAST, Stereogum, DIY, and Clash.
Written, recorded, produced, mixed, and creative directed by Fiore, When It Finds You, is set for release on July 8th via Last Gang / MNRK.
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**Click to save/stream From Capelton Hill Deluxe
From Capelton Hill was released last May to acclaim from MOJO (4/5), Exclaim! (8/10), Brooklyn Vegan (“few bands that were with us at the dawn of the millennium continue to sound this vital”), NEXT, Under The Radar, Music OHM (4/5), Record Collector (4/5) and CBC 'q', among others.
Stars stay in a direct relationship with their fans, with exclusive offers and advance news via Patreon, including Patreon member-exclusive afterparties for the few remaining dates in Texas, on their current April tour.
]]>Today, he shares another glimpse into the record with the release of ethereal single “Blue Sky” featuring Nanna. B, the next artist taking a step inside the producer’s technicolored world, following the releases of “Bump” featuring MED & Guilty Simpson and “Float” featuring Kadjha Bonet.
**Click to save/stream "Blue Sky (ft. Nanna.B)"
"Nanna captured the vibe of the instrumental for this one," Harrison adds on the collaboration with the artist known for her work with Raphael Saadiq, Hodgy Beats and Mndsgn. "Nanna and I chatted earlier last year over Zoom about the effects on the pandemic and how we got through it. I think she captures the solitude of the situation while also floating across the beat."
The musical polymath performed every instrument on the piano-centric record, in addition to writing, producing and mixing the album in its entirety. Drawing from his artistic roots, love of old cartoons, and musical influences ranging from instrumental hip-hop to American jazz piano a la Vince Guaraldi and Charlie Brown, this album is a nostalgic ode to the music Harrison dreamed about making as a kid.
On the eve of his album release, Harrison will host a live streamed performance as well as a Q&A on Bandcamp at 8:00pm EST. Tune in HERE.
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***Listen: Anand Wilder - Cannibalizing The Conductor
Wilder remarks, "This was a really exciting project for me because it was the first long film score I have ever tackled, and the directive was to go in a heavily processed electronic direction, which was something I had steered clear of on my solo debut I Don't Know My Words.”
“I was reacquainted with my synthesizers and drum machines and arpeggiators, creating atmospheres by tapping on household objects and soaking them in reverb. I hope that the ambient, instrumental nature of the album will stand alone as something that can accompany walks around rainy urban landscapes or a dance party in a cave somewhere. I'm excited for listeners to experience this body of work and let their imaginations run wild.”
Cannibalizing the Conductor was directed by Derek Howard, Justin Kennedy and Emma Howes. Combining durational dance with narrative and documentary filmmaking techniques, the film transgresses the ethnographic gaze through deep observation for trance choreography and non linearity. Cannibalizing the Conductor will premiere at the Vienna International Dance Festival (Impulstanz) and be shown at a special event at UnionDocs in NYC this summer. The album artwork was created by Brooklyn-based artist George McCracken as part of their Lichen Islands series, which depicts “imagined lichen garden topologies” which disappeared from cities due to pollution during and after the industrial revolution.
Wilder is best known as co-founder of the shape-shifting experimental indie rock group Yeasayer. In 2022 Wilder released his post-Yeasayer debut solo album I Don’t Know My Words on Last Gang Records, which garnered wide acclaim from outlets including Pitchfork, NPR Music, NME, Consequence of Sound, Stereogum and many more.
Anand Wilder Tour Dates:
Apr 04 – Brooklyn, NY – Sleepwalk
June 02 – Greensboro, NC – Flat Iron
June 03 – Charlotte, NC – Evening Muse
June 04 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5
June 06 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa
June 07 – Austin, TX – Mohawk
June 08 – Fort Worth, TX – Post at River East
June 09 – Memphis, TN – Overton Park Shell
June 10 – Nashville, TN – Dee’s Lounge
June 11 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
]]>Following the release of "Tides Turn" last month, Fiore's second offering highlight various emotions and anxieties in glistening lo-fi pop melodies and watercolour soundscapes.
**Click to listen to "Anywhere But Here"
He explains: "We are often subject to the immense pressure of living in dissonant ways, holding one dream while chasing another. It’s become popular to manage this by escaping to some distant place, be that deep within our minds or far into the wilderness. In either case, we wish to be anywhere but here, finding somewhere that both serves as a comfort and a dream of a place we may never reach again.”
After receiving a Rhodes from a friend who no longer had space for it, Vancouver-born Patrick Fiore knew it was time to finally make something happen. Having studied piano since age 7, Fiore amassed some 10 years of writing solo piano and symphonic compositions and began to really write music with a computer for the first time, at 19. And a lot of reverb. Thus the musical expedition of Noble Oak began.
Fast forward to now, Noble Oak’s music has evolved to create immersive and captivating songs that are equally as passionate when instrumental as they are when layered with his ethereal tenor. Spanning a range of tempos and beat styles, this is music to love to, with a story packed into every song and melodies that lift you into the air.
Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees demonstrates the evolution of the Toronto-based artist’s sound since releasing his first two JUNO-nominated albums, as well as Harrison’s recent composition work on video games (Nintendo Switch’s LOUD) and commercials (NERF, Play-Doh). The musical polymath performed every instrument on the piano-centric record, in addition to writing, producing and mixing the album in its entirety. Drawing from his artistic roots, love of old cartoons, and musical influences ranging from instrumental hip-hop to American jazz piano a la Vince Guaraldi and Charlie Brown, this album is a nostalgic ode to the music Harrison dreamed about making as a kid.
Pre-order Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees
Like his previous two albums, Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees sees a handful of guests seamlessly stepping into the producer’s technicoloured world. Veteran emcees MED & Guilty Simpson are featured on today’s track “Bump,” while the rest of the album boasts features from the likes of Kadhja Bonet, TOBi and Nanna B. Also out today is the funky instrumental “Inthecoupe.”
Click to save/stream "Bump (ft. MED & Guilty Simpson) / Inthecoupe"
“‘Bump’ Is a love letter to some of my favorite rappers growing up,” Harrison says. “MED and Guilty have been huge influences on me since I was 16. Understanding their beat choices on producers they worked with was a really helpful growing tool. The instrumental for BUMP was actually originally different. They found the pocket I was looking for on this new joint. I’m floored that they were kind enough to join me on this album. ‘Inthecoupe’ is a reminder to myself to not be so serious all the time. My love for jazz is very deep but I still love making fun dance music. A playful song revolving around a brass synth and a bounce.
Harrison - Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees Tracklist
1. Daydreamin
2. Cowboys
3. Outta This World (featuring TOBi)
4. Overhead
5. Like When We Were Kids
6. Bump (featuring M.E.D. and Guilty Simpson)
7. Honey Harbor (Bill's Song)
8. Music Box
9. Around You
10. Float (featuring Kadhja Bonet)
11. 2016
12. Inthecoupe
13. 7 pm
14. Blue Sky (featuring Nanna.B)
15. A View From The Sky
16. Runthatback
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The illuminati hotties remix follows last month’s drop of Benjamin Gibbard’s (Death Cab For Cutie) nuanced, sinuous take on “Snowy Owl,” and both make up the 17-track expansion, in addition to forthcoming remixes by Yumi Zouma, Real Lies and Joseph Shabason.
“These aren't just a bunch of remixes, they're a bunch of remixes by people who have made some of our absolute favorite music,” the band explains of the new LP. “Some of them we've been friends with for decades, some we have never even met, but no matter whether they are old friends or new, their music has been incredibly inspiring to us. We're honored that they took the time to re-approach these songs of ours.”
Stars will embark on their North American 'Hoping For Spring' tour in April, including select rescheduled U.S. shows from 2022–a full itinerary is listed below.
From Capelton Hill was released last May via Last Gang Records / MNRK to acclaim from MOJO (4/5), Exclaim! (8/10), Brooklyn Vegan (“few bands that were with us at the dawn of the millennium continue to sound this vital”), NEXT, Under The Radar, Music OHM (4/5), Record Collector (4/5) and CBC 'q', among others.
From Capelton Hill Deluxe LP Tracklist:
Stars 2023 Tour Dates:
04/07 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/08 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/09 - Paris, ON - Paris Presbyterian Church
04/10 - Hamilton, ON - Bridgeworks
04/12 - Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag
04/13 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
04/14 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
04/15 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Café
04/18 - Dallas, TX - Cambridge Room
04/19 - Austin, TX - 3Ten Austin City
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**Click to listen to Noble Oak's "Tide's Turn"
Patrick says: "This is reawakening to yourself and your desires after much time spent away, while at the same time chasing a reckless abandon. After some time, we rediscover the pieces of us that have shifted, and the new ones emerge untouched.”
After receiving a Rhodes from a friend who no longer had space for it, Vancouver-born Patrick Fiore knew it was time to finally make something happen. Having studied piano since age 7, Fiore amassed some 10 years of writing solo piano and symphonic compositions and began to really write music with a computer for the first time, at 19. And a lot of reverb. Thus the musical expedition of Noble Oak began.
Fast forward to now, Noble Oak’s music has evolved to create immersive and captivating songs that are equally as passionate when instrumental as they are when layered with his ethereal tenor. Spanning a range of tempos and beat styles, this is music to love to, with a story packed into every song and melodies that lift you into the air.
]]>
Both tracks demonstrate the evolution of Harrison's sound since releasing his first two JUNO-nominated albums, as well as his recent composition work on video games (Nintendo Switch’s LOUD) and commercials (NERF, Play-Doh). The cartoon-inspired single artwork was designed by illustrator Elijah Watson aka spacehose and the visualizers for each single were animated by Jeremy White.
**Click to save/stream "Float/A View From the Sky"
“Float” and “A View From The Sky” follow a string of standout songs Harrison released between 2021 and 2022. Last year’s “Outta This World” marked another collaborative effort with JUNO Award-winning and fellow Toronto and RCA-signed artist, TOBi. Additionally, Harrison released captivating instrumental singles, “Around You” and “Like When We Were Kids,” which saw over 3 million combined global streams.
At only 27, Harrison has accomplished more than many artists twice his age, all while not being afraid to take himself too seriously. After getting his start making beats and putting sample-heavy songs on Soundcloud, he found a following and global community of like-minded producers and collaborators including Ryan Hemsworth, Star Slinger and more. With two critically acclaimed albums to his name, 2016’s JUNO Award-nominated Checkpoint Titanium and 2018’s Apricity, his versatility has lead to him producing for some of Canada’s most boundary-pushing artists including al l i e, Daniela Andrade, DijahSB, Sean Leon, and TOBi.
]]>Keys N Krates are back with a new single "What Girls Do", an up-tempo afro jam that builds on the Toronto trio's well-acclaimed house repertoire. This follows “Get Up”, released at the end of 2022 marking a new album cycle for the group.
In conjunction, Keys N Krates have also launched an exclusive Spotify DJ Mix, which you can save/stream here.
"What Girls Do" and “Get Up” follows their A2iM Libera BEST DANCE RECORD nominated album Original Classic, which was also named one of Billboard's Best Dance Records of 2021.
The album featured contributions from Juicy J, Chip, Bibi Bourelly, Lido Pimienta and Haviah Mighty.
The trio have since taken Original Classic on the road with a series of North American dates throughout 2022, along with releasing a DELUXE version with remixes courtesy of Soul Clap, Justin Martin, TEK.LUN, Byron The Aquarius, and so on.
Since forming a decade ago in their native Toronto, Keys N Krates have carved their own path via a bass-centric, sample-driven sound, melding the realms of electronic, hip-hop and beyond. The group — composed of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse and turntablist Jr. Flo — has built a venerable reputation as one of the leading live electronic acts today on the strength of their onstage instrumentation and energetic sets.
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Stream “Snowy Owl (Benjamin Gibbard Remix)” at all DSPs.
“Ben's one of my dearest friends, and our tour with Death Cab way back when was such a pivotal moment in our career, so it feels incredibly happy and good to put this remix out into the world,” says Campbell. “And what a remix it is, gifted with Ben's innate melodicism, but tougher and more groovy than the original version as well. We love it, and we're so happy to share it with you all.”
Stars also announced new headline North American tour dates in April, including select rescheduled U.S. shows from 2022. The band recently confirmed the various special live guests and longtime friends who will join them onstage at select upcoming U.K. and European shows: John Douglas (The Trashcan Sinatras) in Glasgow, David Gedge (The Wedding Present) in Paris, London and Amsterdam, and Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack at the second London show. A full itinerary is below; tickets for all new tour dates go on-sale Thursday, Feb 2nd at 10:00am local time.
“Snowy Owl (Benjamin Gibbard Remix)” follows their recent holiday single, “Christmas Anyway,” which earned praise from Variety, FLOOD, Stereogum, and more. From Capelton Hill was released last May via Last Gang Records / MNRK to acclaim from MOJO (4/5), Exclaim! (8/10), Brooklyn Vegan (“few bands that were with us at the dawn of the millennium continue to sound this vital”), NEXT, Under The Radar, Music OHM (4/5), Record Collector (4/5) and CBC 'q', among others.
Stars 2023 Tour Dates:
02/03 - Galway, IRE - Roisin Dubh
02/04 - Dublin, IRE - Whelan’s
02/05 - Cork, IRE - Cyprus Avenue
02/07 - Belfast, UK - Ulster Sports Club
02/08 - Glasgow, UK - King Tuts
02/09 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
02/10 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute
02/11 - London, UK - Lafayette London
02/12 - London, UK - Lafayette London
02/14 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain
02/16 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
02/17 - Hamburg, DE - Knust
02/18 - Berlin, DE - Lido
04/07 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/08 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/09 - Paris, ON - Paris Presbyterian Church
04/10 - Hamilton, ON - Bridgeworks
04/12 - Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag
04/13 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
04/14 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
04/15 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Café
04/18 - Dallas, TX - Cambridge Room
04/19 - Austin, TX - 3Ten Austin City
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Montreal’s Stars have released their wistful new holiday single,“Christmas Anyway”. In the holiday spirit, the group will split the track’s proceeds with the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal, who provide Indigenous women and their children a safe and supportive environment.
The giving spirit continues for Stars’ previously announced ‘The Christmas Anyway Tour,’ for which they’ve partnered with PLUS1—an organization that puts $1 from every ticket sale towards charity. For the Canadian shows, the funds will support the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal. For the U.S. shows (including NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on December 7th), they will go towards NOISE FOR NOW’s Reproductive Health Access Fund, which supports grassroots organizations working tirelessly throughout the U.S. to protect Reproductive Rights.
“In a world where the algorithm (and other horrible things) has made us all feel further apart, going home for the holidays isn't easy for everyone,” Stars explain. “What is it about these days that makes us feel we have to go home to face the loved ones we simply cannot ever be at peace with? We have no idea, but we do know that sometimes a simple song can get you through at least a few minutes of holiday hell. We hope this one does that for you. We love you all. Merry Christmas. Xo- Stars”
Stars are beloved for their yearly holiday sets and they describe 2022’s The Christmas Anyway Tour as “an annual celebration of love, laughter and eating and drinking the pain away. We're a band about being together. We're a band about being alone. We're a band about remembering and forgetting. We're a fucking Christmas band! And that's why we do Christmas shows every year. And we want to see you there every year, just like your parents do. Don't disappoint us! Feel free to disappoint your parents, but don't disappoint us! We love you. See you there.”
A full itinerary is below and tickets are available HERE.
Stars’ ninth studio album, From Capelton Hill, was released in May via Last Gang Records / MNRK to great press from MOJO (4/5), Stereogum, Exclaim! (8/10), NEXT, Under The Radar, Brooklyn Vegan, Music OHM (4/5), Record Collector (4/5) and CBC 'q', among others.
Holiday Shows 2022:
Europe/UK 2023:
Feb 03, 2023 - Galway, IRE - Roisin Dubh
Feb 04, 2023 - Dublin, IRE - Whelans
Feb 05, 2023 - Cork, IRE - Cyprus Avenue
Feb 07, 2023 - Belfast, UK - Ulster Sports Club
Feb 08, 2023 - Glasgow, UK - King Tuts
Feb 09, 2023 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Feb 10, 2023 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute
Feb 11, 2023 - London, UK - Lafayette London
Feb 12, 2023 - London, UK - Lafayette London
Feb 14, 2023 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain
Feb 16, 2023 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
Feb 17, 2023 - Hamburg, DE - Knust
Feb 18, 2023 - Hamburg, DE – Lido
“Get Up” follows their A2iM Libera BEST DANCE RECORD nominated album Original Classic, which was also named one of Billboard's Best Dance Records of 2021.
]]>The album featured contributions from Juicy J, Chip, Bibi Bourelly, Lido Pimienta and Haviah Mighty.
The trio have since taken Original Classic on the road with a series of North American dates throughout 2022, along with releasing a DELUXE version with remixes courtesy of Soul Clap, Justin Martin, TEK.LUN, Byron The Aquarius, and so on.
Since forming a decade ago in their native Toronto, Keys N Krates have carved their own path via a bass-centric, sample-driven sound, melding the realms of electronic, hip-hop and beyond. The group — composed of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse and turntablist Jr. Flo — has built a venerable reputation as one of the leading live electronic acts today on the strength of their onstage instrumentation and energetic sets.
]]>Dear Boy is the torch bearer of lyric-forward guitar music and melody focused indie rock. The band has become an important voice in the LA underground music scene, crafting bittersweet songs inspired by late '70s / early '80s post-punk and early '90s britpop, seen through their unique modern lens.
The band is pleased to share the album's title track and its accompanying video. The song debuted at Wonderland Magazine and is streaming on all platforms. Dear Boy's Ben Grey says, "'Forever Sometimes' deals with life after death, love after life and the complexity of what it means to leave something or someone behind. "
WATCH "FOREVER SOMETIMES" OFFICIAL VIDEO
"Forever Sometimes" follows recent pre-album tracks "Wet Clothes," "Say When" and "(On My Mind)," which Flood Magazine described as "indebted to romantic ’80s synth-pop and yearning ’90s Brit-pop. It’s like a robust camera flash—bright and bursting new wave."
"This album and honestly, the band itself, is a study in 'goodbyes,'" say Ben Grey.
Life after death, love after life, life after love, the paradox of closeness, the complexity of what it means to leave something or someone behind, when do you say goodbye? These are some of the ideas that Dear Boy has been exploring since their first days as a band…And in that way, Forever Sometimes is as close to a concept album as a non-concept album gets.
The album is also meant to feel like a full life lived. From the non-denominational "Evensong" to "Unbecoming" to "Marrying For Love" to "Die" to "Heaven Moves." Forever Sometimes is a full circle emotional journey and a microcosm of the human experience. The first and last song on the album share the same ethereal voice which we employed to be a call to the listener… asking you to live this life again.
Dear Boy is a band of best friends from Los Angeles, California. Ben Grey (vocals / guitar), Austin Hayman (guitar), Keith Cooper (drums) and Lucy Lawrence (bass / vocals). With three EP’s and a bouquet of singles, Dear Boy has earned an immense and loyal following, selling out headline shows from the Troubadour to The Teragram and touring with the likes of The Psychedelic Furs, James, Pete Yorn, Day Wave, Palace, Rogue Wave, Sunflower Bean, DMA’s, The Airborne Toxic Event & Peter Murphy. Recent festival appearances include Corona Capital 2019 (Mexico City), Estéreo Picnic 2022 (Bogotá, Colombia), Pa’l Norte 2022 (Monterrey, Mexico) and recording a live set on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic.
]]>The official video for “stay volk” was directed, produced and edited by Mobley himself, and finds the artist playing a character whose head has been replaced by an actual, functioning rabbit-ear television. Gracefully leaping and gliding across the floor of a rundown warehouse, his face warps and glitches on the TV screen, hinting at the sci-fi direction the Cry Havoc! EP will take. PRESS HERE to watch and to listen. Always making infectious art rock with a deeper meaning, “stay volk” is a play on “stay woke” and the idea of herrenvolk democracy: a system of colonial government in which only a specific ethnic group participates in government, while other groups are disenfranchised. Mobley drew inspiration from the 2017 Charlottesville riots, and the video is a metaphor, exploring the tension between one's authentic self and the performance that is often required by society.
“For the video, I wanted to explore the lyrical themes while also keeping sight of how fun and danceable the music is,” said Mobley. “In crafting the choreography and the visuals, I wanted to merge mid-century aesthetics (inspired by Cab Calloway and Golden-age movie musicals) with a sci-fi, post-apocalyptic setting. All of it ties back into the larger story I’m telling with my forthcoming EP.”
More steeped in narrative than any of Mobley’s previous work, all seven tracks on Cry Havoc! are from the point of view of Jacob Creedmoor, an ordinary man who becomes radicalized into a Robin Hood-esque figure over the course of the EP. We hear the beginnings of this in the aptly titled
This EP is the latest project in a career that has already spanned multiple artistic mediums. Recently, Mobley composed the theme music for Webby and Anthem Award-winning SiriusXM & Smithsonian podcast All Music Is Black Music, hosted by Selema Masekela and featuring guests Kelly Rowland, Ne-Yo, St. Vincent, and many more. On June 30, Mobley performed his original score at the first-ever live taping of the podcast at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, during the SiriusXM and NMAAHC event honoring Black Music Appreciation Month. Other special guests included 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and GRAMMY® Award winning producers and songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Known as a charismatic frontman with kinetic live shows, Mobley will join The Front Bottoms and The Joy Formidable on tour this fall. The series of dates kicks off September 14 in New York, and fans can catch his mesmerizing one-man-show in Denver, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Baltimore and more until late October. The artist has also announced a special hometown EP release show in Austin on November 5. Special ticket packages and bundles are available now - PRESS HERE for more information. Full routing can be found below, and stay tuned for more updates and announcements in the coming weeks!
FALL 2022 TOUR DATES
with The Front Bottoms & The Joy Formidable
September 14 – Wantagh, New York - Mulcahy’s
September 15 – Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania -Sherman Theater
September 16 – Columbus, Ohio – Kemba Live
September 18 – Grand Rapids, Michigan – 20 Monroe
September 20 - Fort Wayne, Indiana – Piere’s
September 21 – Chattanooga, Tennessee – The Signal
September 22 – Little Rock, Arkansas – The Hall
September 23 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – Cain’s Ballroom
September 25 – Boulder, Colorado – Boulder Theater
September 26 – Denver, Colorado – Summit Music Hall
September 27 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Union Event Center
September 28 – Boise, Idaho – Knitting Factory
September 30 – Spokane, Washington – Knitting Factory
October 1 – Tacoma, Washington - Temple Theater
October 3 – Reno, Nevada - Cargo
October 4 – Santa Cruz, California - Catalyst
October 6 – Los Angeles, California – Hollywood Forever Cemetery
October 7 – Riverside, California - Riverside Music Hall
October 9 – Ventura, California - Majestic Theater
October 11 – Tucson, Arizona – Rialto
October 12 – Albuquerque, New Mexico – El Rey Theater
October 14 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
October 17 – New Orleans, Louisiana – HOB NOLA
October 18 – Birmingham, Alabama – Iron City
October 19 – Charlotte, North Carolina – Fillmore
October 20 – Baltimore, Maryland – Ram’s Head Live
November 5 – Austin, TX – 3Ten @ ACL Live
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**Click to save/stream Stars' From Capelton Hill
The band will celebrate with a career-spanning release day livestream later today, billed as ‘Live From Capelton Hill,’ where they’ll play new songs and fan favorites via Bandcamp Live (the show begins at 5pm ET and tickets are available HERE). Stars will continue virtual festivities on May 31st, beginning with a full album playback via Tim Burgess’ Listening Party series at 1pm ET, followed by a Reddit AMA at Indieheads at 2pm ET.
The band will embark on a headlining West Coast tour on June 4th in Vancouver, BC leading up to their two release shows at LA's The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever on June 13th and 14th. Dates can be found here.
This week, Stars were musical guests on WNYC’s Soundcheck podcast, playing full-band versions of new songs (and sharing a new live video for “Build A Fire”), while various members shared the influences that inspired From Capelton Hill via a Brooklyn Vegan feature. Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell are also today’s musical guests on CBC Radio 1's q with Tom Power to discuss the new LP, following other new podcast interviews via Joe Plummer’s Tour Stories, Ears to Feed’s In Conversation, and Comedy Bang Bang. The album’s five pre-release singles, “Build A Fire,” “Patterns,” “Pretenders,” “Capelton Hill” (plus live performance video), and “Snowy Owl,” have been released to praise and support from the likes of Pitchfork, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, Exclaim!, Under The Radar, and more.
Musically, From Capelton Hill feels like walking into their familiar teenage bedroom. Campbell says it cuts to the band’s founding principles: it is brimming with gothic, dazzling ‘80s and ‘90s Britpop arrangements, but rendered with intimacy and warmth rather than with cold, digital remove. A wealth of horn and string arrangements unfold across the record in true Stars fashion, dreamy and macabre. From Capelton Hill is ultimately about a group of people who have spent more than 20 years together, and who have now started to face the awful, necessary calculus each human eventually must do: when will all of this end?
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Fans can catch Mobley’s mesmerizing one-man-show on tour with Arkells right now.
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“themesong is about someone who’s fed up with the way things are, as he becomes convinced that the corrupt systems shaping his world are irredeemable,” said Mobley. “In the video, we meet this man as that frustration drives him to take action to help the people around him. The masked Robin Hood figure of the video is the protagonist of a larger story I’ll be telling on my upcoming record.”
Watch "themesong"
With his trademark cinematic sweep, Mobley introduces a retro-futuristic world of seductively sinister melodies, distorted synths, jagged cuts, and propulsive rhythms on his forthcoming collection of music. He has a mad scientist’s need to experiment with the form’s limits: for half of the tracks, Mobley wrote and recorded whole songs which he then dismantled and sampled to create a fresh, new sound while expanding the boundaries of alt rock with his signature storytelling and kinetic performance. Stay tuned for more updates and information coming soon!
The past few years have been non-stop for one of the most exciting artists to watch in recent years. In 2021, he released Young & Dying in the Occident Supreme, which features the critically acclaimed pop-rock song with a political conscience that will stop you in your tracks, James Crow. He’s played dozens of festivals including ACL, Lollapalooza, Hangout, SXSW, Noise Pop, Float Fest and more; opened for Cold War Kids, Phantogram, James Blake, Bishop Briggs, WAVVES, ARIZONA, Dermot Kennedy, Sylvan Esso, Matt & Kim and more; racked up millions of streams on DSPs and landed sync placements on HBO, FOX, NBC, ESPN, CW and more. He’s seen airplay adds on Alt Nation, KROQ, KUTX, ACL Radio, KEXP and more + received praise from Billboard, Noisey, Rolling Stone, New York Times, Consequence of Sound, American Songwriter etc. + most recently, he composed the theme music for Webby Award-winning SiriusXM & Smithsonian podcast “All Music Is Black Music.”
TOUR SUPPORTING ARKELLS:
May 19 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
May 20 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
May 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
May 25 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
May 26 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues Chicago
May 27 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
]]>Low Hum’s latest album Nonfiction, was recorded and co-produced with Jon Joseph, and expands upon Desha’s kaleidoscopic Lo-fi meets Hi-fi futurism: a mixture of oceanic tranquility, dreampop-like sensibilities, heavy fuzzed-out riffs juxtaposed alongside melodious synth and vocals with refreshing punch. The album won critical attention from the likes of NPR Music, SPIN, American Songwriter, Buzzbands.la, Brooklyn Vegan and Spotify’s “Modern Psychedelia” playlist to name a few. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more releases from the Live at Sunset Sound EP.
Live at Sunset Sound EP Tracklist:
01 - “Comatose”
02 - “Nebraska”
03 - “All I Know”
04 - “Escape”
05 - “Model Me”
06 - “Listen To The Rain”
Upcoming tour dates below…
Upcoming Tour Dates:
* = w/ Warpaint
MAY
08 - Paris, France @ Supersonic Records (Low Hum In Store Performance)
09 - Paris, France @ La Cigale *
11 - Bristol, UK @ Academy Bristol *
12 - Manchester, UK @ Royal Albert Hall *
13 - Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 *
14 - Dublin, Ireland @ The National Stadium *
16 - London, UK @ The Grace (Low Hum Headline Show)
17 - Bexhill on Sea, UK @ De La Warr Pavilion *
18 - London, UK @ Roundhouse *
20 - Berlin, Germany @ Huxleys Neue Welt *
21 - Köln, Germany @ Live Music Hall *
22 - Hamburg, Germany @ Fabrik *
24 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso *
26 - Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique *
28 - Warsaw, Poland @ Progresja *
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