by Carly Schorman
Senior Editor
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The dream-pop trio out of Nashville known as Bien released their s/t debut EP last September and they’re back with a fresh new single. “Spinning On Blue” is a calm but uplifting number that serves as a reminder that even though it seems like everyone is divided at this particularly contentious point in human history, we’re in this together. According to a statement from the band, “There’s so much going on in the world right now, and we really wanted to write something that encouraged people to remember we’re all sharing this planet.” Let Bien soothe some of your world-weariness with “Spinning On Blue” below or head here for your own copy of the single.
“The Fall”
We featured Andrea Silva, the musician at the center of Loyal Lobos, through our publication before. The moniker might be different, but the earnest and emotive energy of her songwriting remains the same. “The Fall” blurs the barrier between indie-folk and -rock as she returns to earlier themes in her music which center on the subtle effects of misogyny on culture, both here in the U.S. where Silva currently resides, as well as her home of Bogotá, Colombia. There’s an aggressive edge to the songwriting style of Loyal Lobos that comes through on “The Fall” that finds its counterbalance in the revealing honesty of her voice. I suggest you check out “The Fall” from Loyal Lobos below…
Shawnee Kilgore (no relation to Kilgore Trout) and Joss Whedon (yes, that Joss Whedon) became songwriting partners after a happenstance crowdsourcing connection. That’s right, folks, crowdsourcing your next musical project might have the unintended boon of attracting the attention of some unexpected admirers. Shawnee’s 2014 Kickstarter campaign came across Joss’s desktop and the rest is soon to be history. The pair started shaping out songs together and the results of that collaboration can be heard on this new single, “Unforgiven”, as well as the EP from when it came, Back to Eden which the duo co-wrote. Kilgore’s voice is a strange melting pot of innocence and steeled strength which is well suited to the Western sensibility of the supporting folk rock sound. Check out “Unforgiven” from Shawnee Kilgore and Joss Whedon below and then head here for your very own copy of Back to Eden. Oh, and did I mention there is a music video for the title track to the EP? There is.
The Dublin folk-pop act known as Slow Skies combines an easygoing melody with honey sweet vocals on her new single, “Dancing”. Songwriter for Slow Skies, Karen Sheridan, explains the track was created with the intention of “nudging people to think about whatever it is that makes them feel good and just feel happy in that moment.” And that’s what you get with “Dancing” – a warm and bright feeling that floats over your body, filling your heavy limbs with newfound life. Take few minutes from your day to slip away with Slow Skies below or get the digi-download of “Dancing” for your personal playlists for a little more pep in your most dreary of days.
Casablanca Sunset is both a music blog and a label based right out of sunny Phoenix so if you’re not familiar with the enterprise in either form, now’s a good time to make your introduction. When Eric Vogt of Casablanca Sunset first heard the Australian producer known as KOWL, he knew right away that the artist has what it takes to break big. KOWL joined the label’s roster and it wasn’t long thereafter that Vogt came across the vocal talents of Anjulie and arranged a collaboration between the pair. “Just Words” is the result of that effort. After listening, even I have to admit that the richly layered aural soundscape has me betting on KOWL too. And Anjulie’s spirited vocals make “Just Words” my kind of heartbreaker. Take the single for a spin below or head here to score your own digital download of the track.
Mikey Pro of FORESTEATER joined us down in the Radio Phoenix studios and now that broadcast is available for all. We discuss the vibrant Phoenix music scene, recording an album before having a band, and their show at The Rebel Lounge TOMORROW NIGHT opening for Valley Queen along with Dirty Sunset. We even have a special podcast only Wyves track to close out the show!
Tune into the YabYum Hour live at 7 PM every first and third Wednesday of the month only on Radio Phoenix!
Foresteater “Very Friendly People”
Saddles “Comfort”
Charly Bliss “Percolator”
El West “Cuba Gooding Jr.”
decker. “Matchstick Man”
Valley Queen “Stars Align”
Foresteater “Big Deceiver”
Dråpe “Pie in the Sky”
The Anodynes “The Lovin’ Path”
House of Stairs “Silence Won’t You Come Back”
Holy Fawn “Reykur”
Dirty Sunset “Take It Slow”
Wyves “Jump Into the Water (Boogie Woogie)
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Recorded live on July 19, 2017
This duo out of Saint James [NY] does a lot with a little. Combining vibrant vocals with bedroom electro pop, Soy Christmas creates an effervescent indie sound that I’m all about. “Oh No” comes wrapped in the approachability of a thrift-store sweater: warm, a little nerdy, and perfect for those #NormCore Millennials. Score that digi-download of “Oh No” here, but you can take it for a spin first below. I also suggest delving Soy Christmas’ 2016 dual-single, Get Upset, if you have the interest and the drive.
This track was described to me as a “call-to-action moodscape”. That sounds absolutely awful, right?? It wasn’t. In fact, AIHVHIA has a lot of elements that would usually annoy me: an orchestral indie-folk sound (which is a bit played out right now) and an unpronounceable name. Nevertheless, “Don’t Look Back” hooked me. AIHVHIA breathes life into this new song and it resonates with energy. Sure, it’s a little hippie, but it’s really good. This track comes to us from the band’s 2017 LP, Planet. Give “Don’t Look Back” by AIHVHIA a listen or head here for the complete LP.
Roxiny is both a singer/songwriter and women’s rights activist who “frequently leads music workshops for GEMS, an organization that rescues girls from domestic sex trafficking.” But, for this article, we’re focusing on Roxiny’s musical endeavors. After getting her first major break as a backup singer for Sleigh Bells in 2013, Roxiny went on to collaborate with other artists, but now she’s ready for her solo debut. Her first solo single, “9 Months”, takes some of the grit and angst of post-punk and mixes in some indie pop to keep things lively. The topic of the song’s narrative deals with the oppressive force of toxic relationships. Check out “9 Months” by Roxiny below or head here for that digi-download of the single!
Once a distinctive vocalist hits big (i.e. Fiona Apple, Lana del Rey, et al.), you can guarantee that music writers like me are going to get hit with knockoffs for the next two decades. True story. What all you sassy singer-songwriters need to realize is that music journalists are never looking for a re-hashing of what’s already been done. Julia Piker gets that. She draws from the fierce femmes that came before her (like PJ Harvey and the aforementioned Apple), but she puts her own spin on it. “Bullet” might be my new #GrrrlRawk anthem. Give “Bullet” a spin or head here for the complete (new) EP from Julia Piker.
Straight talk: if you think there’s no place for the sultry stylings of indie pop singer-songwriters like Dylan Rockoff (or John Mayer or Jason Mraz, etc.), then you probably aged out of the demographic. You’re old. Or maybe you’re just a stick in the mud. “Come Over” is fucking catchy and I can definitely see it getting some pre-teen emotionally entangled in Rockoff’s sexy single, in addition to some guilty listeners of consenting age too. Preview “Come Over” by Dylan Rockoff below or head here to score a copy of the single for your personal playlists.
decker.Oh, Brandon Decker… or, as we like to call them at YabYum, Deckie Do. And what a do-er he is. As the head honcho of the NorAZ musical enclave, decker., Brandon has been busy these past few years. In addition to taking the decker. crew on tour to far corners of the U.S., Decker released Snake River Blues (the album) while working on Snake River Blues (the documentary) in 2016. This year, he shows no signs of slowing down. With a new album in the works, Decker’s also taking on a new cause: fighting the feeling of futility that seems to have overpowered the citizens of our nation. His new single, “Matchstick Men”, just might be what is need to light a fire under the asses of voter constituencies everywhere. At least, that’s what we’re hoping for. Give “Matchstick Men” by decker. a listen below and join us in the wait for the release of the complete album on 8/25. You can also head here to get that pre-order of Into the Red locked in before the official release.
Hannah Hickok and Maggie Kraus have been playing music together since ’09 which might have something to do with the complete fluidity in their new single, “Sarasota”. In less than three minutes, Hannah & Maggie completely suckered me in with their blithe and dreamy indie-folk sound. The vocal harmonies alone will quickly enamor you with “Sarasota” as well. This single comes to us from the duo’s latest album, Oh No, which came out in May of this year. Give the new song from Hannah & Maggie a listen below…
I first heard the stellar musical stylings of The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers earlier this year and I’ve been hooked ever since. Their latest single, “No Glory”, which came out in June, is the title track to the band’s forthcoming full length. Fusing Southern Gospel with Heartland Americana, The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers give shape to an earthy but uplifting sound. Give your spirits a lift with “No Glory” from The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers and join me in the wait for the band’s LP due out later this year.
“I Wanna Ramble I Wanna Whine”
Calum Bowling emerges from the bluesier end of Americana with his brash new single, “I Wanna Ramble I Wanna Whine”. The guitar work and gritty vocal style almost have a Detroit slant, which might come as a bit of a surprise for those of you who already know that Calum comes to us from Huddersfield [UK], not The Motor City. “I Wanna Ramble I Wanna Whine” is the title track from Bowling’s latest release which dropped earlier this month. Check out the new single from Calum Bowling below or head here to score the complete album, I Wanna Rumble I Wanna Whine.
Get ready for some foot-stomping, hand-clapping good times with Bigfoot Yancey and their new single, “Downtown Girl”. The alt-folk act starts the track by asking, what do you do when that woman at the bar doesn’t “want some of this”? You move on because, as Bigfoot Yancey says, “your soul lives on.” And so sets the laidback, porch-pickin’ feel of this quartet from Indiana… banjo and mandolin included, obviously. This single comes to us from the band’s latest LP, Hills, which came out earlier this year. If you dig “Downtown Girl” below, then you should definitely check out the complete album from Bigfoot Yancey (available here).
by Carly Schorman
Senior Editor
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Lost on You dropped in May and I’ve probably memorized the lyrics on the LP from LP in their in entirety. In fact, this album is so good that even this review was only supposed to be 250 words – I COULD NOT BE CONTAINED.
LP’s unique sound comes from fusing elements of hardscrabble Americana with a modern pop sensibility, but it’s that voice that really will sell you on the brand before your mind has time to wrap itself around the subtle breaking of genre boundaries.
Frankly, her voice is flat-out fierce: pitch perfect and powerful. There’s something earthy and emotional in the timbre of her voice that tears you right down to the heartstrings. And, while she’s had quite the raging success in Europe since the May release of her new album, Lost on You, Americans have yet to catch on. Big fucking surprise. Listen, ‘Murika, I know you’re having a rough year, but get it together, already.
The album opens with “Muddy Waters” – setting a pensive tone. LP moves from pensive to playful on Lost on You, from joy to hurt; this album is an expansive expression of a really difficult year.
The title track reveals a bit of the backstory. Even though “Lost on You” comes in third in placement on the album, it serves as the crux for the album, or, at least, the impetus behind its creation. LP was coming out of one relationship and moving into a new one (ahem, with YabYum darling Lauren Ruth Ward). Lost on You provided her the space to transmogrify that trying emotional time into a collection of songs that will hit home with anyone whose been through the romantic ringer.
LP gained footing in the music industry by writing songs for other performers. Perhaps, you’ve heard this banger from Rihanna? Yep, that was LP. On Lost on You, you can hear some of those pop permutations a bit more clearly on tracks like “When We’re High” and “Up Against Me”
Ugh, this album is solid from start to finish. Every track is distinctive and maybe that’s why it’s so difficult to choose a favorite. I mean, that whistle on “Other People” before LP comes in with a falsetto hits me like a punch every time I hear it. But, truthfully, it’s probably “Tightrope” that holds my heart of hearts because it served as my very first introduction to the artist. And the song is also fucking amazing. In fact, I’m going to stick the video at the bottom of the article because it’s the internet and the single is just that good.
From the anthemic “Strange” to the somber closer, “Long Way to Go to Die”, Lost on You runs the gamut: despondent to inspired to resigned. This is one of those albums I expect to see on those Best Of lists come the end of the year… and not just in Europe! You can score your own copy of Lost on You from LP here. Do it. Do it now.
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