|
Los Angeles post hardcore band Touché Amoré will release their fifth studio album,
Lament on October 9. Since their formation in 2007, Touché Amoré has been burrowing through angst, alienation, cancer, and death throughout four adored studio albums. After over a decade of working through darkness, Lament, finds the light at the end of the tunnel. The album arrives as the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2016 release, Stage Four, which found vocalist Jeremy Bolm mourning and paying tribute to his late mother. Lament shines a light on what life for the band has been like since then, tackling themes of fragility, empathy, politics, and love while pushing forward a newfound sense of hope. Late last year, the band offered a glimpse of Lament with the release of “Deflector,” the first song done with producer Ross Robinson (Slipknot, Korn, At the Drive-In) in an attempt to break out of their comfort zone. The recording process being such a wildly different experience than what the band was used to, challenged them to dig deep within their artistic and emotional depths to level up their abilities to create a record unlike their previous works. Today, the band share the first single from their forthcoming Robinson produced record, “Limelight” which features Andy Hull (Manchester Orchestra, Bad Books). Bolm’s emotionally raw lyrics explore a space in love rarely treaded while guitarist Nick Steinhardt showcases his newly learned pedal steel skills. “When you’re connected to someone long enough, and you’ve both suffered losses and been there for one another, there’s an understanding and a beauty to the quiet moments. There’s a great line in ‘Pulp Fiction’ when Uma Thurman boasts knowing when you’ve found someone really special, when you can just ‘shut the fuck up for a minute, and comfortably share silence’. I imagined that you’d be shamed for casually omitting that a day or two may go by without realizsng you haven’t kissed your partner, but at no point did things feel bad. You’re just in it and it feels like home.” As the crescendo hits, Hull and Bolm are belting out on top of each other, Bolm shouts “So let’s embrace the twilight while burning out the limelight” the message of the song is revealed: The realisation that the limelight may have held promise, but learning the obscurity of twilight is where you belong.
|
|
|
Says Sean of the background behind the track: “In December of 2018, my twin Tommy was found unconscious on the side of the road after a horrific motorcycle accident. The night of the incident, an incredible team of paramedics, nurses and doctors worked tirelessly to bring them back. As I sat in the intensive care unit, I was told that they might not wake up, and I had to contemplate the devastating possibility of losing my other half. This film is a celebration of Tommy’s survival and strength, their queerness, and their community who love and care deeply for them.
The music video, a loving tribute to Tommy, combines the duo’s minimal, slow-burning electronic soul with their eye for atmospheric, emotive cinematography. Ultimately, it’s a meditation on what it means to be free and alive in a body. The visual features Tommy dancing inside Sydney’s Red Rattler Theatre, a space that Sean says “is important to Tommy and to Sydney’s queer community… where Tommy feels safe and comfortable to be wholeheartedly and completely themselves – a place where they found their family, and their identity.” Alone and framed by house lights, Tommy captures the bliss found in these liberatory spaces through the movement of their own body. “After spending months in a wheelchair with a broken back, ribs and pelvis, nerve damage, and brain injury”, Sean concludes, “Tommy can once again move and express themselves freely, and the video celebrates this.”
breathe.’s first three offerings ‘Are You All Good?‘, ‘London‘ and ‘Haze‘, have been featured across XLR8R, Complex, Hypebeast, Line of Best Fit, triple j, and more. Their music has also been synced across TV including spots on Elite (Netflix), Couples Therapy (Showtime), What/If (Netflix), and The Kept Woman, among others.
‘Grace’ is out now, buy/stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, and more.
breathe.’s free digital photo zine here / buy a limited edition vinyl and printed photo zine here
Stay connected with breathe.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE SOUND
EPISODE THREE: SUNDAY 2 AUGUST, 5.30PM ON ABC
REPEATS SATURDAY 8 AUGUST, 12.30PM ON ABC
Stream on iview
Featuring
AMY SHARK
JOHN BUTLER
BOY & BEAR
SHEPPARD
ANGIE MCMAHON
GORDI
DALLAS WOODS
+ IAN KENNY introduces SCOTT DARLOW
+ more
Hosted by
JANE GAZZO, ZAN ROWE
and special guest RED SYMONS
#TheSoundAU
SOAK – aka Ireland’s Bridie Monds-Watson – has released a new collaboration track and film called ‘I’m Alive’. Conceptualised by Ellius Grace during the height of lockdown, ‘I’m Alive’ is based around a poem written and performed by SOAK with instrumental music created by Gemma Doherty of Saint Sister. It brings together a team of collaborators from across Ireland who worked in isolation to create the track and accompanying short film, many of whom had never met before.
SOAK explains the creation of the piece saying “Ellius Grace reached out to me during the lockdown with this idea of creating an ‘antidote to anxiety’, with the concept centering around finding beauty in the mundane. I sat down in the up and down waves of isolation, when I let my brain go I started to write about how it feels to ‘wake up’ from a long depression. The relief when a tide starts to turn and things I’d given up on begin to seem possible again. Ellius asked Gemma Doherty to compose the soundtrack and she provided a gentle and gripping bed to speak over. I hope this piece can act as a reminder that it won’t always be like this.”
Grace says of his role overseeing the collaboration, “‘I’m Alive’ is a short film about being mindful of the small joys and blessings around you. It’s about slowing down and taking stock of the things that often go unnoticed. It’s about the space you can create in your head when you’re feeling anxious or frustrated with life. With this piece, I hope to create a calming experience and send a message of peace and strength in oneself. I hope to remind you of the beautiful experiences that anyone can have no matter their situation.”
SOAK’s latest album Grim Town was released in 2019 via Rough Trade Records, and saw her make her national TV debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Grim Town earned glowing reviews and coverage from Pitchfork, The Guardian (4/5 stars), BUST (5/5), NPR Music, Under the Radar (8/10 stars), The Line of Best Fit (8/10), AllMusic (4/5 stars), Exclaim! and more.
Purchase / Stream ‘I’m Alive’ https://soak.ffm.to/
PRAISE FOR GRIM TOWN
triple j Packet Album
“The Northern Irish musician graduates from lonesome singer-songwriter to bold art-pop auteur; her growing confidence translates to emotionally probing songs of startling candor.” – Pitchfork, 7.3
“Soak’s songs are a product of an unsure age of casual relationships and employment, of economic and ecological crises. But rather than rattling towards the depths of existential despair, Grim Town is an upbeat voyage, finding unlikely optimism settles in as reassuring folk-pop.” – The Big Issue
“Signalling an audible shift from indie folk to dreamy pop, SOAK’s much-anticipated upcoming record ‘Grim Town’ is the stunning culmination of a lengthy period of unintentional reinvention.” – Best Before
“The Derry-based singer songwriter exhibits increasing versatility on this accomplished sophomore release.” – The Line Of Best Fit
“It’s SOAK sense of boldness on Grim Town that feels like major step on her creative odyssey. Where she ends up is to be confirmed, but the possibilities are limitless.” – The Irish Times, ★★★★
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Around the release of his critically acclaimed new album Set My Heart On Fire Immediately, Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas), announced the ‘Without You’ video competition. Hadreas asked his fans to submit music video ideas for the single, currently on the BBC 6 Music playlist, and while the competition was fierce, 3 winners have now been chosen. Each director received $1,000 to make their vision come to life as well as $1,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice. The winners are Liz Lian, whose video premieres today HERE, Samantha Mitchell whose clip will release August 4, and Kristin Massa whose video will come out August 11. Watch Mike’s conversation with the winners HERE.
Liz Lian’s says on her video: “This song, and Mike’s artist’s statement about it, reassures me that moments of comfort and clarity are just as certain to appear as confusing, lonely moments are. It reminds me to be patient and to turn toward conflict within myself and view it as a beautiful, imperfect metamorphosis, rather than hide from it. This music video is about the exploration and discovery of self through the natural world. I aim to depict the unfamiliar, abstract, and jumbled parts of ourselves through elements of surrealism and magical realism. Narratives of self-discovery in media often center around coming-of-age stories of young white people as they enter adulthood. But self-discovery and reinvention occur throughout our lifetimes. Seeds of change sown within us can blossom into exciting, life-altering experiences when we least expect it. Annie Tezuka, who stars in this video, did a beautiful job embodying this experience. I wanted to shine a particular light on the experience of women who, as they age, are increasingly seen as they are in relation to others – mothers, wives, grandmothers – and for this video to be a tribute to the complexities and constant change within all of us, especially those women.”
Lian has chosen to designate The ACLU of Southern California as her charity of choice. SoCal’s long history of advocacy, litigation, and education defends civil rights and liberties regarding racial and economic justice, freedom of speech, government transparency, LGBTQ rights, privacy, gender equity, reproductive justice, immigrants’ rights, criminal justice and drug policy reform, and police practices. You can donate here, to the national chapter, or your local chapter.
Samantha Mitchell will donate to the Baltimore chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project. Sex work is work. The Sex Workers Outreach Project is committed to ending violence and stigma against sex workers. Their national social justice network that advocates for the fundamental human rights of sex workers, including harm reduction, positive representation, and decriminalization.
Kristin Massa will donate to RAICES. RAICES is a non-profit organization in Texas that provides legal services and advocacy for immigrant children, families, and refugees. Every immigrant deserves the right to human dignity, and RAICES defends this right by providing legal services for thousands of children in tent cities, bond assistance, and by training pro-bono lawyers to aid detained clients forced to navigate the ICE detention system. By donating to this organization, you will directly contribute to the quality of life for immigrants caught up in the deliberately oppressive immigration policies in the United States.
Perfume Genius recently performed the album’s single ‘On The Floor’, on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. In addition to the televised performance, Hadreas also shared an online-only performance of his ballad ‘Jason’. Watch ‘On The Floor’ HERE. Watch ‘Jason’ HERE.
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately was produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Blake Mills and features contributions from musicians Jim Keltner, Pino Palladino, Matt Chamberlin and Rob Moose. It was recorded in Los Angeles, where Perfume Genius settled in 2017 with longtime partner and musical collaborator Alan Wyffels. The album explores and subverts concepts of masculinity and traditional roles, and introduces decidedly American musical influences. “I wanted to feel more open, more free and spiritually wild,” says Hadreas, “and I’m in a place now where those feelings are very close– but it can border on being unhinged. I wrote these songs as a way to be more patient, more considered — to pull at all these chaotic threads hovering around me and weave them in to something warm, thoughtful and comforting”
Purchase / Stream Set My Heart On Fire Immediately: https://
Part Time Records and Remote Control are thrilled to announce Siberian Tiger will release their debut EP First Dance on Friday 14 August.
To celebrate the announcement, Siberian Tiger – Bree Tranter (The Middle East) and Chris Panousakis (Timberwolf) have shared their new single and video ‘Call On Me.’
A fitting song for current times, ‘Call On Me’ is a song about camaraderie inspired by the late Bill Withers’ ‘Lean On Me’. A moody, slow burner that is a warm hand of gratitude placed upon the shoulder of the person that you can count on at any hour, even when you are worlds apart.
As the band describe ‘Call On Me is a song dedicated to your ride or die. The one person you could call in the darker hours. When there is no one else you count on in your moment of desperation, your safe person.”
Bree says of the video ‘Chris and I live down the road from this old RSL, the Henley Sailing Club and we always saw lights upstairs on a Friday night and wondered what goes on there. We looked them up online and saw these beautiful photos of the ‘Southern-Cross Tango’ dancers that danced every Friday at the club. We thought that would be such a beautiful idea for a music clip, friends swaying together by the sea side. ‘Call on Me’ is a song about friendship and calling on your friend in need and we feel dancing is such a beautiful depiction of this, so we called up our friend Nick Mckk (Julia Jacklin, Stella Donnelly) to help us capture the perfect moments of dancing between friends while we sang them this anthem of loyalty.’
What started as a cathartic ritual soon began to take shape in the quiet moments that punctuate the life of a touring musician – in the back of the tour bus, in airports and hotel lobbies, between long-distance calls, and in the still of their seaside home. Siberian Tiger’s debut release became a true labour of love for partners in life and in music, Bree Tranter & Chris Panousakis.
For Chris the past few years have seen him fluctuate between his solo project Timberwolf and time spent on the road as Matt Corby’s guitarist, a welcome overlap with Bree, who is also a longstanding member of the band. Bree’s focus was equally on the return of her band – international indie darlings – The Middle East, who played a series of highly-anticipated concerts including two sold out nights at the Sydney Opera House. Sprawled across the globe, the pair found comfort in slowly assembling their debut self-produced EP First Dance however possible. Sometimes together, often apart, yet always making up for lost time in their home studio on the South Australian coastline. Their debut single ‘Plane Spotting’, released in August 2019 suggested a gentle and uncomplicated yearning for a simple existence– “all I want to do is sit next to you and watch planes, all night all day, roll cigarettes and float away.”
Pre-save/pre-order Siberian Tiger – First Dance https://siberiantiger.lnk.to/
Siberian Tiger – Facebook | Instagram
parttimerecords.com
remotecontrolrecords
Much of the new album was written immediately after the release of the band’s aforementioned debut, in a rustic cabin situated on the windswept coastline of Skenes Creek along the Great Ocean Road. It was later recorded back in St Kilda with the duo’s good friend, Simon Lam. Another nine-track offering, Second Body is a carefully and consciously curated collection of sparse yet intricate tracks – a dark and expansive album that dips and sways in all the right places, punctuated by a distinctive Two People-esque groove.
“We kept coming back to this imagery of a car speeding through the desert, cliffs and dirt and nothing else. We didn’t muck around with perfecting things, the vocal take we used was one of the first, where one night in the studio Phoebe was finishing off the lyrics and just hurtled in… that was the vibe. Simmo really pushed the sound where it needed to go and we just kept agreeing that it felt good and right.”
Two People’s debut album First Body included ‘I’m Tied, To You’, ‘Phone Call’ and ‘Fading’ and saw the band forge their own, unique path in an often crowded electronic space. Guided by bold visual cues, DIY principles, and an emphasis on the empty space between notes as much as the notes themselves, the album saw the band perform at BigSound, where they caught the eye of the good folk at Terrible Records (and with whom they later signed to for North America), and at SXSW.
This next instalment is due out in just one month on August 28 via Liberation Records globally, with the exception of North America, where Terrible Records have the honours.
|
|
|
|
|
Delivered, Live kicks off its second episode of the return season with a line up with a punk edge and an indie heart. Kicking off the show is Melbourne indie singer songwriter Nat Vazer, followed by blues-punk legend Kim Salmon & The Surrealists, with punk 3 piece Cable Ties rounding out the show.
Delivered, Live made its debut in April this year as a response to COVID 19 forcing the world into lockdown. The show is made available to watch free on YouTube so as to be accessible to any who choose to watch it. However, for those that can afford it, tickets are available for purchase for a range of price points, starting from as little as $20 – less than you’d pay to see most of these acts in non-pandemic times.
The revenue from these tickets then goes back to the artists and the crew creating the show, plus a live music venue and crew member of each acts’ choice.
Bringing the laughs will be up and coming comedian Alex Ward, and our regular recap on ‘the week that was’ with Sami Shah.
Saturday, 1st of August, 7.30pmNat Vazer
Kim Salmon & The Surrealists
Cable Ties
Alex Ward
Sami Shah
![The main part of the festival will be held in the usual format of showcases, which lets hosting the festival according to all actual norms for events. Also, this year both musical and educational programs will get an online part, where festival visitors would hear performances from Budapest, Minsk and various Russian cities within live-streams. «We’ve decided to make the festival despite all the difficulties and restrictions. It’s more than important to support local scene in this difficult year, identify the lessons and discuss industry’s perspectives. It’s sad that apparently this year we’ll be the only ones to run such event, but we’re very motivated by the fact, that at least this one will happen», — says Stepan Kazaryan, MMW founder and «Bol» festival cofounder. First wave artists: Lalalar (TUR), Soyuz (BLR), Gnoomes, Bad Zu, FARDI, Lutic, USSSY, Archanga, Lucidvox, Zaur Nagoev, [Beat] him up, Donatello!, Autosport, Shark's Tears, KnightKnights, Avramova!, Pozory, Rosemary Loves A Blackberry, Starost, Supruga, The OMY, Tyagotenie, JRPJEJ, Zorki Vo, The RIG, Tapenight, Klinika, Dead Head, Tvar' Separately worth mentioning festival’s headliner — psychedelic music at the junction between rock and electronic with heavy influence of traditional motifs — Turkish band Lalalar, which will be one of the few foreign bands visiting Russia this pandemic year. Participation in Moscow Music Week for the musicians is not only the opportunity to perform at one of the main stages of Moscow, but also a chance to get an attention from the promoters, music journalists, labels and booking agencies representatives. In 2019 festival team received over 500 musical part applications and more than 200 applications to the conference. Stepan Kazaryan: «MMW kick-started lots of young musicians who now get sold outs. MMW 2020 guests will be the first to hear musicians, who will become leading voices of the scene in a couple of years». Conference program, also divided into offline and online parts, will gather various Russian speakers and foreign colleagues, who will participate within video calls. Over the years different music journalists, festival organizers and labels representatives took part in the conference program. MMW 2020 conference leitmotif are digital communications. List of festival’s stages well-known among Muscovites includes Powerhouse, Chinese Pilot Jao Da, Aglomerat, RNDM, Vermel, Punk Fiction etc., which will be distributed into 4 geographic zones for the convenience of moving between MMW showcases. There are 2 types of tickets available: * Ultimate Pass — 1 500₽ and gives an access to all showcases, festival opening and closing events * Delegate Pass — 2 500₽ and includes all showcases, festival opening and closing events and 2 conference days. TICKETS FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM VKONTAKTE](https://thepartae.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Moscow-Music-Week-announces-dates-and-first-wave-of-line-up.png "Moscow Music Week announces dates and first wave of line up")
The main part of the festival will be held in the usual format of showcases, which lets hosting the festival according to all actual norms for events. Also, this year both musical and educational programs will get an online part, where festival visitors would hear performances from Budapest, Minsk and various Russian cities within live-streams.
- «We’ve decided to make the festival despite all the difficulties and restrictions. It’s more than important to support local scene in this difficult year, identify the lessons and discuss industry’s perspectives. It’s sad that apparently this year we’ll be the only ones to run such event, but we’re very motivated by the fact, that at least this one will happen», — says Stepan Kazaryan, MMW founder and «Bol» festival cofounder.
First wave artists: Lalalar (TUR), Soyuz (BLR), Gnoomes, Bad Zu, FARDI, Lutic, USSSY, Archanga, Lucidvox, Zaur Nagoev, [Beat] him up, Donatello!, Autosport, Shark’s Tears, KnightKnights, Avramova!, Pozory, Rosemary Loves A Blackberry, Starost, Supruga, The OMY, Tyagotenie, JRPJEJ, Zorki Vo, The RIG, Tapenight, Klinika, Dead Head, Tvar’
Separately worth mentioning festival’s headliner — psychedelic music at the junction between rock and electronic with heavy influence of traditional motifs — Turkish band Lalalar, which will be one of the few foreign bands visiting Russia this pandemic year.
Participation in Moscow Music Week for the musicians is not only the opportunity to perform at one of the main stages of Moscow, but also a chance to get an attention from the promoters, music journalists, labels and booking agencies representatives. In 2019 festival team received over 500 musical part applications and more than 200 applications to the conference.
- Stepan Kazaryan: «MMW kick-started lots of young musicians who now get sold outs. MMW 2020 guests will be the first to hear musicians, who will become leading voices of the scene in a couple of years».
Conference program, also divided into offline and online parts, will gather various Russian speakers and foreign colleagues, who will participate within video calls. Over the years different music journalists, festival organizers and labels representatives took part in the conference program. MMW 2020 conference leitmotif are digital communications.
List of festival’s stages well-known among Muscovites includes Powerhouse, Chinese Pilot Jao Da, Aglomerat, RNDM, Vermel, Punk Fiction etc., which will be distributed into 4 geographic zones for the convenience of moving between MMW showcases.
There are 2 types of tickets available:
* Ultimate Pass — 1 500₽ and gives an access to all showcases, festival opening and closing events
* Delegate Pass — 2 500₽ and includes all showcases, festival opening and closing events and 2 conference days.
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario but I’m currently based in the Toronto area. There’s a wide range of music that comes through this area. It’s not necessarily the hub for country music but country is definitely building a name in the Toronto music scene. Being surrounded by so many genres of music has definitely influenced my current sound!
How did you first start playing music?
I’ve been singing and writing songs since I was very young and I always knew I wanted to be a performing artist. The way I started on the stage was through singing contests and open mics. I didn’t have access to singing on stage in any other way, so this became a good way for me to learn and develop. From that, it turned into showcases and then bookings. My stage experience has come a long way – there’s nothing else like it! I love being an entertainer!
What’s been happening recently?
Well, I released my new summer song “Free” and it’s been getting an amazing response so far! Apple Music has really gotten behind it and it’s been so cool to see how much people are really into it. I wanted this song to be something that would pump people up and remind them of those moments when they’ve felt most free.
Also, I haven’t released a song to Canadian radio in a while and I’m proud to say that this song has gone to radio… so that’s really exciting for me! I also just finished in the studio to record more songs and will have an official music video for “Free” later this month. Oh, and did I mention that I have a Youtube video series? It’s been an interesting experience so far. I’ve been filming and editing like crazy but I love being able to stay connected with my fans in a more personal way.
Your new single ‘Free’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I wanted to create a summer anthem and knew that the tempo and energy would be really important to capture that. I love that country music is all about telling the story and giving the listener a real experience through song. Country has definitely influenced my way of storytelling and how I emote it through my voice. As I’ve grown in this industry and grown in my experiences, I also really like bringing in other inspirations like catchy pop melodies and structures to bring a unique sound to my songwriting. This song was inspired by some of the electronic pop styles of music happening right now and I thought it would be fun to experiment and bring it into my brand of country music.
How did you go about writing Free?
It started with a title and the hook. I knew that I wanted to write an upbeat, feel good song and started playing around with melody and hook ideas. The words “We were young and wild and free” was definitely the first inspiration that started the direction of the song. I recorded a voice note in my phone with me tapping my leg for a feel of the tempo and then sent it to my co-writer Shawn Moore. We got together to work on this idea and it came pretty easily for us. I wanted to share some of my own personal memories growing up in my hometown and give the listener some painted pictures through the lyrics. I love that it captures a fun summertime feel, while being nostalgic.
Where and when did you record and who with?
This was recorded in Vancouver, BC with Dan Swinimer from Manicdown Productions. Dan had been prepping this song a couple of months before we got together in his studio to record my vocals in January. He’s a great person and a tremendous talent. He really drove the production home!
You’re working with multiple producers at the moment (Dan Swinimer, Paul Shatto & David Wills) how did this come about and how are you keeping the production cohesive whilst working with 3 different producers?
I had the fortune of being introduced to Paul Shatto & David Wills through my publicist Jasper Anson. I met them for the first time during a tour when I was performing at Sunfest on Vancouver Island. Paul & David are a great duo that I connected with right away and knew we’d work well together. We’re like-minded people and I really like how invested they are in getting to know the unique attributes of an artist. They’re able to take that information and personify the productions in a very honest way.
I met Dan Swinimer on the same trip to BC after a last minute opportunity to write together. I’ve obviously heard Dan’s work before and was super impressed by his talent. I really enjoyed getting to write with him as well! Dan comes from the background of being on stage in a band as well as developing artists, and I knew that he’d be able to bring all of those years of experience to my music. Not only that but It makes a big difference for me when I get to know someone through songwriting, so that I can see if we have the right creative chemistry and if the vision is there to make a song the best it can be. It’s been an honor and a lot of fun to work with Dan so far… I mean, listen to my song “Free” – he blew that one out of the water!
Both production teams are slightly different in their approaches, but very much the same in that they want the best for the artist. I love that! I’ve never had multi-producers on a project before, but I really like the freedom of being able to show slightly different sides to me. These producers are going to do that in an amazing way and because I’m at the center of it all – my songs, my vision and my style are what’s going to make it all connect.
Please tell us about the challenges that you’ve come across whilst recording virtually:
Fortunately I haven’t had to do too much of that. I’ve been listening to the tracks in my headphones and recording vocals in my voice notes. Surprisingly, that’s worked well enough for everyone to start building worktapes and get the song directions figured out.
Other than that, the difficulty has come from not being able to connect in person. In person is always better for creating. You vibe off of each other’s thoughts and energy! The good thing is that I had my song “Free” ready for release a few months early, so it’s given enough time for everything to open back up, so that we can finish our project together.
Please tell us about your experience with releasing music during this unique COVID19 period:
It’s been a lot different than what I’ve been used to and forced me to change my mould of how I do things. My team and I had to put our heads together to come up with ways that we could make this happen in a changing world. It happened in the middle of my own momentum and once that happened, I had no idea what to do next and how to make it happen. By working on these new ways of doing things it’s definitely shined a light on new ways I can connect even more with my fans. It’s been amazing to see how connected I’ve become with them and how excited they are about my musical journey.
You have a YouTube vlog series, how did this come about and what is the vlog about?
It happened through these discussions about releasing music during covid-19. Since I couldn’t be out on the road connecting with fans and the industry, we thought what better way to do that than create a video series? I’ve never done something like this before so each week is a new experience. My song “Free” is the centerpiece to the series, with all of the topics being related to the themes of the song, either through self-help inspired videos or behind the scenes vlogs. The behind the scenes look at my life is as an artist and the different developments of “Free” during my life right now.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
That definitely changes week to week, but I’ve been really into Danielle Bradberry’s music. I’m a big fan of a growing artist named Kelleigh Bannen, I also love Tenille Townes’ stuff and been listening lost to Morgan Wallen, Travis Denning, and Thomas Rhett, too.
What do you like to do away from music?
I love the outdoors. Any of my free time is usually spent doing something outdoors. I love being by the lake, by a bonfire. I’ve been trying to soak in those moments when I can. I also love family time. My family means so much to me. So nothing too exciting – haha – family time and outdoors time. And since this Covid-19 thing, I’ve been getting into cooking too!
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?
Depending on what life is like for the remainder of this year, I hope to be out performing again, for sure. But either way, I’ll be recording the rest of my project, putting out full-on music videos, creating more YouTube episodes, releasing more music and writing more music! Music is my life.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Favourite food.. can I saw two? A great pizza or pasta. I love my carbs haha. Favourite place to hang out… anywhere outdoors with some sunshine and good company!
Facebook: @ElyseSaundersOnline | Twitter: @Elyse_Saunders | Instagram: @Elyse_Saunders_Music | YouTube: @ElyseSaunders | Spotify: smarturl.it/
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I currently live in Saskatoon, Canada where I’ve been for about 4 years now. I am still getting to know the music scene in this city. So far, it has been welcoming and I have met some amazing musicians. I spent about 13 years in Regina and really loved the music scene and my music family out there.
How did you first start playing music?
I always dreamed of performing on a big stage and used to sing in my basement and pretend it was to a big crowd. I don’t know why I did it, I just did. I would also make up songs on my walks to school, which I think is kind of a unique thing to do.
Through high school, I was in a pop-rock band called N.O.B. (Name of Band) – haha – and I learned to play guitar through those years and started writing music with that band. I was kicked out because my voice wasn’t “rock” enough and the band found a replacement. Back in those days, that sure hurt my feelings, but it was the right move for them and for me. I took some time off from music and then decided to go at it alone and back to my country roots. I started writing, making connections, and surrounding myself with the best in the industry and never looked back.
What’s been happening recently?
Musically, the focus has been on my new single, “Take It Out On Me”, and getting it out to the public. I’ve also been focusing on writing for my next single. I’ve been writing with other artists as well and have 3 cuts for singles that have been released.
This track was written by three top Nashville writers being – John Ozier (Lee Brice), John King (Randy Houser), and Brad Tursi (Old Dominion), you worked with Bart Mckay who is very highly regarded in Canada, how was this experience and how did you come to be chose to record ‘Take It Out On Me’?
With regard to the song choice; my manager, Leslie Mitchell (Nashville, TN) sent a call out to her contacts looking for outside songs for me to record, which was a new experience for me since I had written all of my own singles prior to this.
After about 4 years of back and forth with the publishing companies, they finally signed off on it. John Ozier and I have known one another for a few years and I was thankful he sent the song our way. I immediately fell in love with the lyric and melody. To me, it fit with all of the other songs I wrote in the past. I connected with this song right away.
How and where did you go about recording ‘Take It Out On Me’?
I recorded my first 3-song EP with Bart McKay, back in 2005 and then a full-length album with him in 2009. He is a great guy, producer and friend. I love going to his studio and spending time bringing the songs to life. It’s one of my absolute favourite things to do. Bart is great at getting a performance from an artist, guiding them through a song and coming up with ideas.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the process?
I’d actually given up on ever recording “Take It Out On Me”. One of the publishing companies did not sign off on me recording it, initially. That was heartbreaking. When I decided I wanted to release a new single, I got Leslie to check on it again and sure enough, they said yes! That was the most challenging part about it.
The reward comes from being able to finally record this song after chasing it for 4 years, and seeing the positive response to it so far.
You’ve had recent nominations for Male Vocalist of the year and Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards, what does this mean to you?
It always is nice to be recognized by your peers at the awards. I feel grateful and humbled to even be nominated at all.
What do you like to do away from music?
I spend a lot of time with my fiancée, Erin and our two dogs (and the cat when he feels like it). We spend a lot of time in our backyard, working on the garden. We take our dogs out as much as we can and go for hikes with them. We also spend a lot of time trying new recipes. It’s pretty simple everyday stuff but I love it.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Currently, in this moment, Tenille Townes’ “Come as You Are”.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?
This year’s focus has shifted from performing shows and doing a radio tour to performing online shows and planning for a tour in 2021.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I am a big homebody and I love Erin’s cooking, especially this chicken and rice dish she makes, so truthfully, home and that dish are my favourites. If I had to pick a place in town, I would say Bon Tempes in Saskatoon makes some dang good spicy Cajun dishes that I love. Chicken and biscuits is my favourite on the menu there. Great atmosphere!
Facebook: @AlexRunionsMusic | Twitter: @AlexRunions | Instagram: @AlexRunions | YouTube: @AlexRunions | Spotify: smarturl.it/AlexRunionsSpotify
Label: Heavyweight Records
Carnage‘s Heavyweight Records camp has just released their brand new “Lockdown” EP, filled with top-notch fresh bass music curated entirely during live demo sessions on Twitch. The six-track EP runs the gamut of bass music, from 2AM & Elusion‘s bone-shaking, menacing “Down” to the rapid-fire snares of Fito Silva‘s “Indian Riddim” and Steez‘s mechanical, synth-driven “To The Face.” Rounding out the second half of the EP, “Hit a Lick” delivers hip-hop influenced bass by Freaky x Hay!, Elle‘s “Ah Shit” presents as one of the more melodic tracks but quickly shows its darker side. Zoobstool‘s “Block Huggaz” makes for a heavy-hitting, apocalyptic finale fitting of the current state of the world. The Heavyweight team selected all six tracks for the release while livestreaming the demo sessions on Twitch; listeners could comment about which tracks they liked best, bringing a creative new way for a record label to connect with fans when current circumstances have live shows on hold. Tune into the “Lockdown” EP to bring Heavyweight into your home!
Since the beginning of his music career, Carnage has made a name through breaking the rules and staying true to himself. The Las Vegas-based artist established himself as the reigning champion of hard bass and trap music with early hits, later being one of the first artists to transition electronic music into hip-hop, rap and urban styles. Carnage founded his label Heavyweight Records in 2017 as a home for hard bass and hip-hop music. Since then, he has gathered a formidable crew of cronies on the imprint, from the masked mastermind GRAVEDGR, Gommi, Sludge, Lil Texas, and more. Follow Heavyweight Records for more cutting-edge music from Carnage himself and his gang.