RAC – This Song (ft. Rostam)

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

RAC.jpg

Fresh off the high of a Grammy win for Best Remixed Recording of Bob Moses’ “Tearing Me Up,” remix maestro RAC, aka Andre Allen Anjos has released the first single off his forthcoming new album. CCP has supported Anjos’ original beats–such as the cheekily called single “Cheap Sunglasses” before–and the new one, “This Song” featuring Rostam, formerly of Vampire Weekend is equally sportive. Kaleidoscopic synths dance around Rostam’s delectable vocals with élan on the effervescent new effort.

Speaking on the significance of the track, Anjos says: “‘This Song’ is special to me because it falls around the 10 year anniversary of starting RAC in my dorm room. It’s been quite the ride and I never thought I’d be where I am today.”

It’s fair to say that Anjos has come a long way since those days, in no small part due to his innovative approach to remixes and diligent hard work. The follow up to his debut Strangers (2014), RAC’s sophomore effort is slated to release this summer via Counter Records.

Steady Holiday – Terror

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

steady_holiday

Feeling the need to express herself post election, Steady Holiday, the solo project of Dre Babinski picked up a pen on November 9 and composed a collection of tracks in the span of a month. Culminating in an EP called Terror, the effort features contributions from Josh Adams (Jenny Lewis) and Gus Seyffert (The Black Keys, Beck). In the title track, Babinski writes about a fictional character’s fear of the unknown, which also serves as a metaphor for the xenophobia sweeping the country. The dark subject matter juxtaposed with her romantic ’60s-inspired arrangements and soft lilting vocal adds a rich layer of irony to the track.

The follow up to her 2016 breakout LP Under the Influence, the new EP will be released this April on Infinite Best Recordings. Steady Holiday will be supporting Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Mitski on the road this spring, and doing a hometown EP release show April 7 at Resident in LA.

Hear “Terror” along with standout earlier effort “Your Version of Me” below.

Mined – Mistakes

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

Mined - Promo shot 1

Electronica newcomer Kofi Holmes Attivor, aka Mined was born to a Ghanaian family in London and raised on the RnB and soul found in his parents’ record collection. Granted his wish to get his first “sleek, silver Casio,” Attivor began investigating the sonic landscapes of Brian Eno‘s Music for Airports, as well as the work of artists such as Spooky Black, Majical Cloudz and Foals –ultimately developing his own sound embodying his philomathic outlook.

Mined mines earnest emotions mixed in an intricate, minimalistic space, and has been compared to the likes of James Blake, Caribou and Boards of Canada. “I’ve always been more drawn to poignant honest music that evokes a sense of melancholy, or sadness or nostalgia,” Mined explains.

This is readily apparent on “Mistakes,” a piece off his forthcoming EP Loves Low’s. Written as a means of escapism, Mined wrote his latest tracks in his room in London. The EP is due out spring 2017 on Peacefrog Records.

RYDER – Nirvana

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

16114998_1248142595264005_2838368350605098111_n

LA-based indie-pop artist RYDER is of the new school musical generation, mixing future-pop melodies with classical structures and striking originality. Songwriting since age 13 and further honing her craft at NYU, RYDER has had extensive training and worked with a range of talented producers since the inception of her budding musical career.

Speaking on her influences in relation to her recent single “Nirvana,” RYDER states: “I grew up around classical music and used to perform in choirs as a young kid, where I’d sing classical choral arrangements and folk music as well as a brief stint in opera. The hauntingly beautiful melodies and harmonic layers from those genres are inspiring motifs I try to constantly incorporate in my music wherever I can. ‘Nirvana’ to me is a blend of classical melodic moments with contemporary pop music.”

Lead by RYDER’s unconventional vocals, “Nirvana” starts out with sparse instrumentation and builds tastefully throughout–bolstered by understated synths and colorful beats to the end. When RYDER reaches the apex of her register around the one-minute mark, she’ll take you right to the song’s namesake–just open the door and tune in below.

Tei Shi – Keep Running

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

tei-shi-2017.jpg

Tei Shi struck a nerve in the zeitgeist in 2014 with hit song “Bassically” and has been running full speed ahead ever since. The NYC-based singer, born Valerie Teicher will release her debut full-length, Crawl Space March 31 on Downtown / Interscope records. The first single of the LP “Keep Running” is sonically aligned with previous efforts — a confident confluence of deconstructed pop, electronic and left-of-centre indie influences.

Speaking on the track, Teicher remarks: “‘Keep Running’ was the first new track I wrote shortly after releasing my last EP. It’s a kind of call to arms to someone you love, to take on and confront all of life’s obstacles together. To fight to stay together through thick and thin. A ride or die kind of love.”

It’s a highly evolved sentiment, much like Tei Shi’s sound itself. Stream below.

 

Sandra Sample – Get a Party

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

sandrasample

Happy weekend everyone! Whether you’re looking to get a party started, get your party on, or find a party this Saturday night — look no further than Sandra Sample‘s new single for some quality preparty motivation. The nascent Australian producer caught our attention with her second single and kinetic electronic jam “Get a Party.” Not much is known about the artist, but look out for more material allegedly on the way this year. Cue the confetti.

Sam Brookes – My Girl Drinks Coffee

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

sam-brookes

One of the UK’s best kept secrets, London songsmith Sam Brookes is back with new music following his acclaimed 2014 LP Kairos. Brookes’ latest single, “My Girl Drinks Coffee” is an elegant elegy of a track written after the dissolution of a relationship. The ruminative lyric and through-line of the song, ‘My girl drinks coffee now without me’ is evocative of a person in disbelief, particularly with the use of the possessive pronoun.

The simplicity of the thought is complemented by the song’s ethereal and stark sonic backdrop, which marks a new direction for the alt-folk artist. Having spent a few years out of the game gigging and experimenting with new equipment, the new track is indicative of a more minimal and synthesized sound. Produced by Grammy nominated Dom Monks (Ray Lamontagne, Laura Marling) and Greg Freeman (Goldfrapp, Mumford & Sons), “Coffee” was arranged and recorded in a remote boathouse on the Isle of Skye and completed at Guy Chamber’s Sleeper Sounds studio in London.

The single is available for streaming on digital outlets now. Watch the entrancing video below and look out for more music from Brookes on the way.

Rooms – Cry Baby

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

10001197_950519221729577_6155052334676488821_o

From the opening discordant strings of “Cry Baby,” you know something is amiss. And the intent of Rooms‘ smoldering new track becomes plain when you read their statement on the piece: “I know you cheated on me at the Loews in Santa Monica.” Classy. The smooth production of burnished bedroom pop that follows, however, belies the feeling of enmity that clearly underlies the song.

Way to turn your broken heart into art, we way. Listen to the track from the new LA duo below.

Mac DeMarco – This Old Dog

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

mac-demarco

Everyone’s favorite goof slash secret sentimentalist, Mac DeMarco has announced his new album, This Old Dog, the follow-up to his 2015 mini-LP Another One. Written just before DeMarco relocated from Queens to LA, the latest effort marks a new, more polished direction for the Canadian singer-songwriter, who allowed the tracks to simmer before releasing.

In a press release he acknowledges as much: “I demoed a full album, and as I was moving to the West Coast I thought I’d get to finishing it quickly. But then I realized that moving to a new city, and starting a new life takes time. Usually I just write, record, and put it out; no problem. But this time, I wrote them and they sat. When that happens, you really get to know the songs. This is a different vibe.”

Recorded with acoustic guitar and synthesizers, the album has a definite more ripened sound. Continuing the statement, he says “this is a new thing for me. This is my acoustic album, but it’s not really an acoustic album at all. That’s just what it feels like, mostly. I’m Italian, so I guess this is an Italian rock record.” Look out for the album to release May 5 on Captured Tracks and listen to the title track below.

Incredible Change – Slipping On Ice

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

1622409_1610681759151280_7289098142090594153_o

DC’s own Incredible Change is back with new music following their 2015 eponymous LP with latest effort “Slipping On Ice.” The local synthpop outfit has gone through several iterations since their inception, and currently consists of Brock Ross and Greg Balleza on production and Ken Quam on drums. The track also features AIVA on vocals, a DC-based singer and frequent Incredible Change collaborator.

Ross spoke to CCP about the inspiration for the release: “Originally, I intended to put out another song before this, but with all the currents events and election, this song took over. And the title fit. This track is definitely a slower tempo, and has a slight tempo increase through the middle. Towards the end of the song, I feel we did some interesting layering of AIVA’s vocals that give the track a definite lift, and fits with the meaning of the song, picking yourself back up.”

It’s an earworm of a track, with gliding synths and AIVA’s silken pipes on full display. No show dates on the books yet, but look for Incredible Change to be performing in the DMV sometime this spring. Stream “Slipping On Ice” below.