Since their inception in February, long-term friends/collaborators Henry Johns (guitar, drums, synth, vocals) and Nick Sapounas (synths, drums, vocals) – aka DR WOLF – are going all out to make a serious mark in the music circuit in their hometown Detroit with their debut singles ‘Came So Easy’ and ‘Acceptance’.
‘Acceptance’ has stolen today’s hotspot for its stunning lucid passage travelling throughout the almost six-minute composition. The interminable passage is smothered in ultraviolet synths that’s melodic and somehow very therapeutic.
Ahead of their debut releases, the duo became firm fixtures in the Detroit music circuit, performing at various venues as well as playing at the Hamtramck festival and Whateverfest. The guys are working on new material and are planning for release in the winter.
Press play on ‘Acceptance’ – and if this single has a calming effect on you, be sure to look out for their forthcoming projects.
A FRAGILE TOMORROW have unleashed their new brand new single ‘Dig Me Out, their first release in nearly three years and the first to feature new drummer Josh Kean as well as former drummer Dominic Kelly in his new role as keyboardist.
Featuring rhythmic kinks of guitar riffs, which gives off a real satisfying soulful affair, the four-minute smasher – mixed by veteran producer Mitch Easter (R.E.M.) – follows their 2015 album ‘Make Me Over’, which features contributions from Joan Baez, Indigo Girls, and Mark Hart of Crowded House.
Before recruiting Bassist Shaun Rhodes, A FRAGILE TOMORROW started out as a family affair, consisting of brothers Sean (vocalist/guitarist/primary songwriter), Dominic (/drummer/vocalist) and guitarist Brendan Kelly.
‘Dig Me Out’ marks the departure of the band’s experimental trademark, shifting to a more rhythmic-centre sound. I think I’ve found a real diamond here and I think you guys will love it…check them out below:
After listening to album, ‘Soften, Continue (Another B-Sides)’, I just had to hook up with the mastermind behind the mammoth collection, COREY KILGANNON. I spoke to the singer/songwriter from Florida about the public’s reception of the album since its release in May plus his plans for the rest of the year. Ready to find out more about Corey? Good, cos he’s a really cool guy…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How’s life treating you?
CK: Hey thanks for having me. Life has been really great the last few weeks, I finished up touring in early May and have had ample time to hang out with family, travel for leisure, camp, and catch up on books. Been spending a lot more time in Seattle, and loving the PNW vibes.
NLM: You released your album ‘Soften, Continue (Another B-Sides)’ in May. What the story behind the release?
CK: It’s my second collection of B-Sides, really I wanted to revisit a lot of the tunes on The Hollow II that we attacked with so much production, and strip them back to the way I was actually playing them on tour. There was also little to no glimmers of hope in the lyrics of that album, so it was cathartic for me to put something together that offered more full circle approach to the grief I encountered in those tunes.
NLM: What was your inspiration for writing the album?
CK: I really didn’t write Soften, Continue as an “album” per se, but that whole collection of songs deals with a series of traumas and griefs that all seemed to stack up over a few years. Songs were my outlet to process a lot of those thoughts, and I think my need/ability to do that candidly and openly lead to some really beautiful music somehow. I suppose chaos was the inspiration.
NLM: What’s the public’s perception of the album so far?
CK: All in all I think the reception has been good, admittedly slower on a streams/”success” outlook but all my records and EPs have sort of taken their time to set in with people. It’s a huge album and I think (hope) folks are just taking their time to sift through and see if any of the live takes sit with them in any special way. I get a lot of emails on the emotional side of how the lyrics and songs are impacting people, and for me as long as those keep coming I’m content with whatever success or perception the general public seems to have.
NLM: What’s your favourite single from the album and why?
CK: I really love Rowen’s Lullaby (track 20). It was a simple melody I was playing on guitar to help Kyle and Gretta from Tow’rs (featured on Soft Gentle Brilliant II) baby asleep. I added some words later and find the whole song be deeply peaceful and the lyrics really keep hitting home for me even after its release.
NLM: So how would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard your songs?
CK: I usually struggle to this, but I generally draw comparisons to classic “singer-songwriters” and add that we go after some modern indie instrumentation with anything from string quartets to light synths and such. It’s so hard to categorize music these days, which I think is delightful, so I try to just keep it brief and let the music speak for itself if anyone is ever inquiring.
NLM: If you had the chance to collaborate with ONE mainstream artist on your album, who would it be?
I don’t know if this would be considered mainstream or not but the Avett Brothers would be a dream come true collaboration. Even to just sit and jam a few of their tunes with them for a couple of minutes would just be insane.
NLM: Besides the release of your album, what are your plans for the rest of 2018?
CK: I’m taking it easy and just starting to think about what’s next. I’ll likely tour a little bit, but I’m trying to stay off the radar for a little while and work on a proper album again. I have 40 or so songs written so I want to slowly sift through and see which ones are the real keepers.
NLM: How can potential fans make contact with you?
I’m pretty good about emails, but I also keep a website called Patreon where fans can pay a small monthly subscription for unreleased content, and also I use fanbridge to send out monthly email updates.
NLM: Finally, if music didn’t exist, what profession would you do?
CK: I suspect if music didn’t exist we probably wouldn’t either, but if somehow we could on going I suppose I’d like to work on some kind of farm or something simple. Maybe I’d dive a little more into yoga/mental health studies and see if I could apply myself that way. Not sure, but I doubt I’ll do music full-time my whole life so I will find something to do with my days….Thanks for having me!
XAV A dropped the video to an acoustic feel-good track, ‘All In’, just in time for the summer season.
‘All In’ documents the moment of finding that soulmate and life partner and imagining what the future holds. The almost three-minute production reflect those moments, featuring the R&B singer, songwriter, and producer all googled-eyed with the significant other.
The New Yorker’s musical mission began in 2011 after being featured on season 3 of NBC’s hit a cappella competition show, “The Sing Off” winning second place during the same season as the well-known group Pentatonix. After performing a rendition of R. Kelly’s ‘Ignition (Remix)’ on the show, XAV A began to harness his artistry as a soloist and strives to revive the more playful side of R&B that was present previously in artists like Will Smith and MC Hammer.
If you never heard of this guy, it’s time to check him out – cos this track and video is soooo cool.
After claiming the Song of the Day hotspot with single ‘Nappy’, SILENCE IS THE NOISE returns to the limelight for the second time with brand new single entitled ‘Honest’.
The latest release touches on the romantic complexities and emotional ambiguity of unarticulated desire, as well as the difficulties in being vulnerable. It highlights the frustration one feels of wondering whether a person is into them or not by making it more complicated than it needs to be in not being honest.
The angelically sweet presence of the piano is immediately introduced in the three-and-a-half minute production which seamlessly leads into her smooth neo soul trademark. Silence’s vocals inject extra soul, delicately venting her thoughts of the issues mentioned.
This is a great follow-up that puts you in the mind of Corinne Bailey Rae and Erykah Badu…iron out your humpday and check it out…
New Lease Music 