Lend Them Your Ears – Roman Lions
San Jose CA’s Roman Lions includes former members of A Perfect Kiss, I Am Empire, and Octaves.
The band will soon be releasing the follow up to 2018’s Absolutes, and today, they are unveiling the new single, “Small Moments,” which was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Jeff Rosenstock, etc).
A video for the track (directed, filmed, and edited by Matt Tracy, with additional filming by Justin Tracy) is now streaming HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_V0r9Mzx7A
Roman Lions are a post-hardcore band from San Jose, CA. Starting as the side project of Baltimore-raised brothers Justin and Matt Tracy, the brothers relocated to California and the band has expanded their sound and their lineup. Comprised of former members of A Perfect Kiss, I Am Empire, and Octaves, Roman Lions combine the emotional intensity of screamo, the build-and-break grandeur of post-rock, and the heaviness of hardcore. After recording their 2018 debut LP Absolutes with Jack Shirley, the band returned to the Atomic Garden in Oakland, CA in 2020 to record their next batch of songs being release throughout 2021.
Feel The Power – Nuela Charles
3x JUNO-Award nominated Nuela Charles is an alternative/soul singer-songwriter known for her soulful vocals and captivating stage presence, solidifying herself as a Canadian music staple.
Born in Kenya, raised in Switzerland, Canada and the Bahamas before settling in Canada, Charles’ music is infused with her multicultural upbringing, giving a fresh and diverse flare to her sound.
Her upcoming EP, Blissful Madness, is a utopia of alt-soul groove and smoke rising from a fiery assortment of delicious vocals and polished production. Charles explains that the EP was written to tell the story of all of the emotions one can feel in 24 hours – from sassy and strong, to loving and endearing, it’s all the feels wrapped up in three songs.
Accompanying her latest single “Space,” is the addition of “Nerve” – a collaboration with Don Mills multi-platinum/diamond record producer Don Mills (Giveon, Snoh Allegra, Juice WRLD), Laura Welsh (Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack) and James Edgar, the track is another example of the sass and grit that spouts from Charles’ impassioned stories and sound. The song has Bond-esque strings, courtesy of JUNO nominated producer/mixer Ryan Worsley who helped finish the production, that fill the chorus in tension and a throbbing bassline which provides a backdrop for the layered, harmonious vocals. Charles explains, “As a woman, there are many empowerment songs out there, but this one takes a more sassier approach saying – don’t try me, don’t test me”. The track is highly empowering and rich in confidence.
Charles has brought her distinct voice to various stages over the last several years – having performed notably at Reeperbahn Festival in Germany, making her UK debut in London, and making her US debut at the uber-coveted “It’s A School Night” by personal invitation by tastemaker and KCRW radio host Chris Douridas. Over the last year, Charles shared the stage as direct support for some of Canada’s musical icons – including Sam Roberts Band, Jann Arden and Stars.
With placements on the hit shows Jane the Virgin and Tiny Pretty Things plus some comfortable real estate on the CBC Music (Radio 2) charts, Charles is ready to release more of her fiery brand of cinematic soul.
Sparking Hope – RAGS AND RICHES
RAGS AND RICHES are an adrenalized, American pop-rock band hailing from Lexington, Kentucky. Formed in 2017, the band features brothers Tanner & Peyton Whitt. Over the last four years, the band has discovered their unique sound, identity and aesthetic.
Their latest single “THE BEAST” demonstrates the duo’s versatility in their sound. Centred around mental health, the track represents the manic behaviour of trying to contain your inner demons and aims to raise awareness for a topic close to the duo’s hearts.
Sonically, the track follows a beating tempo that carries a lot of anxiety and tension. Quieter dynamics and a glassy melody prowls across the track like the beast within, while the growling vocals mirror the pain and struggles of trying to suppress mental health issues. Taking inspiration from the likes of Imagine Dragons, Twenty-One Pilots and X Ambassadors, “THE BEAST” contains the harsher, gritter flares from these artists, whilst also emitting softer moments that reflect the person who we really are, despite the demons that can consume our minds. Tanner shares, “There is a fight within that never stops from action to action, it’s in our hands to choose what we decide to do with every moment.”
The Joker inspired video for “THE BEAST” takes focus on the main character Kurt Massey who is seen battling a mental illness, as well as being pushed to the edge from continuous bullying. When he goes to a mental hospital he can no longer control his actions. With an engrossing storyline and cinematic aura, you’ll be glued to your screen from start to finish.
Through their organic, kaleidoscope of creative abilities the brothers hope to be a light to guide people for owning what it is to be human – to grab life by the horns and live to the fullest, embracing all the twist and turns on the rollercoaster of it all. They share, “Our music for the most part is written to inspire others and spark hope for everyone to leave their legacy with the time they are given. No matter what is weighing on you in the present, or if you feel surrounded by your stress and anxiety, let that be a part of who you are and use that as motivation. This world is yours for the taking.”
RAGS AND RICHES have impressively clocked close to two million Spotify streams and had their single “Arrival” as the official track for Target’s YouTube advert. With numerous tour dates scheduled for 2021, RAGS AND RICHES are forging ahead.
Moon Child – Olivia Morreale
Los Angeles-based artist & producer Olivia Morreale unveils “Another Moon,” the final pre-release single from her upcoming EP, ‘Space Dreams.’
A slow-burning, R&B-inflicted number, “Another Moon” is all about escapism in both the physical and emotional sense. “I wanted to portray the joy and fun that comes with imagining how things might look and feel in a completely different dream world,” Olivia writes about her approach to the single. “It’s an ode to escapism and a celebration of imagination.” As with all of the songs off her soon-to-be-released EP, ‘Space Dreams,’ Olivia worked with her friend and co-collaborator Eli Kosoff (producer & songwriter) to help bring her musical vision to life. This time, Eli also lends his vocals to the track, creating a beautiful, layered harmony with Olivia’s effortless, breathy cadence.
“Another Moon” is the third single to be released from Olivia’s forthcoming EP, ‘Space Dreams,’ following previous singles “No Answer” and “Parasomnia.” She recently released the Sammy King-directed music video for “Parasomnia.”
Growing up in New York, Olivia fell in love with jazz music at an early age. Her childhood was soundtracked by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald and as soon as she was old enough she became a regular at the city’s vibrant jazz clubs. At eighteen she located to LA to attend USC’s competitive Thornton School of Music. Now, melding her jazz background with her immersion in Los Angeles’s pop utopia, Olivia has created a hybrid sound all of her own. Inspired by synth-pop, chillwave, jazz, and soul, her music is timeless and refreshing all at once. In addition to her own releases, Olivia has toured as a background singer for Engelbert Humperdinck and was featured as a star vocalist on Jason “Spicy G” Goldman’s Hypnotized EP.
Listen to “Another Moon” on all streaming platforms:
https://venice.lnk.to/AnotherMoon
Raw Power – ONE LAST DAY
ONE LAST DAY are gearing up to release their brand new single ‘THIS BOTTLE GOT ME‘, the second single from these South-East hard-rockers is to be released on the 7th of May. Following their debut, ‘Not Ready To Die’, the new track dives deep into personal circumstances and tackles a tough subject head-on.
This Bottle Got Me has a fantastic video which is premiering on the bands Youtube channel on May 6th at 8pm, you can set a reminder for its release at this link.
Spotify users can pre-save the new track and be one of the first to hear it in full by clicking here.
You can also get a sneak peek at the video for new single below.
Launching a new band during a global pandemic is a challenging task, Adrian Osman (drums) comments: "This Bottle Got Me' was a song we were all drawn to work on and an instant favourite for us all. The raw power of the track carries such an emotional heft that will connect with audiences, utilising our trademark mixing of styles. This is another solid hard rock track from us, incorporating powerhouse riffs, behemoth beats and strong rock vocal hooks. As proud as we were of the last single, 'This Bottle Got Me' was actually our first choice for a debut, but couldn't logistically be completed due to the pandemic. Now it's finally finished, we are so excited to share the track and further showcase the strength of songwriting new listeners can expect from us.”.
This Bottle Got Me is the second single from One Last Day. The bands’ debut, Not Ready To Die is available from all good outlets. Stream and purchase at Youtube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music & Amazon.
Cosmic Connection – Cassadee Pope
GRAMMY-nominated and Platinum-certified singer-songwriter, Cassadee Pope, is set to release her latest single “What The Stars See” featuring Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town) and Lindsay Ell, available everywhere on May 7th 2021. The explosive track, written by Pope, Jake Rose and Lindsey Rimes, beautifully expresses the desire to peek into someone’s life who is no longer part of your own.
Cassadee took to social media to share the exciting news that both Lindsay Ell and Karen Fairchild would be joining her on the track: Instagram / Twitter / Facebook. Fans who pre-save “What The Stars See” will automatically be entered to win their very own star named after them. The winner will be announced the same day as the track’s release (May 7th.)
"I was inspired to write 'What The Stars See' after sitting outside one night looking up at the stars, curious what their perspective might be looking down on us,” said Pope. "It made me think back to times in my life when I had just come out of a relationship but still felt so connected to the other person. I imagined having the superpower to be among the stars and observe, from their perspective, an ex moving on with their life (or not)." Cassadee will be releasing the music video for "What The Stars See" exclusively with PEOPLE.com on May 14th. The video, directed by Ed Pryor, is a colourful take on the voyeuristic sensibilities of famed sci-fi action film, Blade Runner, and includes special appearances by both Karen Fairchild and Lindsay Ell.
Sneak a peek below:
Stayed tuned for even more new music from Cassadee this year!
What You Want – Awake At Last
“Armageddon is a song that reflects the time in which it was written. It’s a song of loss, and uncertainty, but it’s also a song about hope, and the energy that connects all people together.
The last year and a half was extremely rough for everyone and there were times where it felt like a blurred nightmare. It took me to a dark place and the only way I knew how to power through it was to take all of the energy that was building up and channel it into this song. The song plays out like a conversation with something that was lost whether it’s a person who was important to you, an ideal, or even pieces of yourself that had to be recalculated and reconstructed. It also explores how sometimes losing someone or something important to you really does feel like the end of the world. I wanted to capture that but I also wanted to paint the picture of the dark clouds passing and remind everyone that there’s always the balance of new beginnings. As we move forward from this very strange topsy turvy year we just had I hope that people can come together. Humanity isn’t perfect, and we all have our flaws, but we’ve always overcome our biggest challenges united rather than divided. Nobody should ever feel truly alone…” says the band’s vocalist, Vincent Torres.
Both as a band and as individuals, Awake At Last continue to stand for positivity, spirituality, self-help and making an impact every single day. The band’s vocalist, Vincent Torres, states “We are a band that is built on the foundation of endurance and perseverance, and nothing we’ve accomplished has been easily accessed. I want our fans to know that the reason we are able to live this dream is because they continue to support us and allow us to do so, but most of all I want them to understand that whatever it is that nurtures their soul can also be obtainable if they strive for it and believe in themselves.” Imran Xhelili expounds on this, noting “As individuals, it can feel hard at times to find our own identity and our individual greater purpose. It all may feel rather heavy and bog us down constantly. However, we are here to take a stand and try to rise above all of that and be a respite for all of the darkness around us, as a shining light.”
AWAKE AT LAST is Vincent Torres – vox |