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Tennessee

The Wrong Party is ‘California Bound’ in their glimmer of indie garage rock nostalgia

Posted on 14 September 2024

The Southern Kentucky/Northern Tennessee fourpiece, The Wrong Party, delivered an irresistible invitation to revisit epochs of rock via an unchartered route with their third single, California Bound.

With nods to everyone from The Strokes, Pavement, Placebo and Iggy and the Stooges in the honeyed with vintage hues production which also teases the distortion of 90s Seattle grunge and grooves through bluesy psychedelic guitar licks, California Bound is pornography to sonic nostalgists.

The way the influences and eclectic stylings enmesh in the garage-rock-esque release is an undeniable attestation to the band’s unique vision and mission to make up for the shortfall in real and raw rock in the past few decades. If you would rather get a lobotomy than listen to Highly Suspect or Royal Blood, The Wrong Party, fronted by Matt McNew, is made for your playlists.

California Bound hit the airwaves on September 1st; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find the inspiration to cut out the static and reconnect with Mikey Wayne’s indie Americana serenade, Back to You & Me

Posted on 31 August 2024

Nashville-based rock troubadour Mikey Wayne has followed on from the success of his critically acclaimed EP Echo Mountain Sessions with his serenade, Back to You & Me. The indie Americana ballad is sonic kryptonite for the diehard romantics with its sweeping orchestral crescendos and equally as lush harmonies which deliver the raw emotion and warm melodicism of Bryan Adams.

The authentically affecting release brings back the energy of a full band, tied to the roots of Wayne’s Nashville country sound and echoing the influences of his Southern California roots and Alabama upbringing, resulting in a potent mix of open-hearted lyrics and passion-driven progressions.

The ornate orchestral motifs pull you right into the core of the unfeigned sentimentality of the single which implores listeners to turn away from distraction, tune out from the static of the world and lose themselves within the sanctuary built by connection. In an era where it is seen as more entertaining to stare at the selfies of strangers on Instagram instead of the eyes of one they love, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most, which will never be found on an Instagram feed.

The official music video for Back to You & Me will premiere on August 31st; stream the video on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The New Tropics augmented introspection in their indie-rock anthem, Street Parking

Posted on 14 August 2024

Proving that razor-sharp pop hooks have a place in indie rock and introspection hits even sweeter when it is infectiously augmented is the Nashville-hailing powerhouse, The New Tropics with their recently released sophomore single, Street Parking.

The sweeping guitar chords, vocal lines which harmonise with almost endless sustain, and the pulsative rhythm section combine to synthesise a sound which doesn’t break the mould but polishes it with scarcely heard cultivation.

The sticky-sweet coming-of-age ode to growing pains ticks all the right boxes while inventing a few more for their sonic signature to scribe through. You just can’t help but feel The New Tropics hype when you sink into the expansively vivacious atmosphere; whatever the trio turn to next under the influence of The Cardigans, Paramore, and The Beaches, it’s bound to be a riotous ride through reimagined indie nostalgia.

Street Parking was officially released on July 12 and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Unwelcome Soul embraced the shadow self in the abyss of the black metal hit, Time, Don’t Save Me

Posted on 30 July 2024

With the release of ‘Time, Don’t Save Me’, Unwelcome Soul—a one-man black metal behemoth from Tennessee—ushered in a devastatingly potent chapter of his debut album, ‘Dried Petals’.

The track initiates with a barrage of thrashy blast beats that lay the groundwork for a seismic uproar, providing a perfect stage for the vocals to manifest. The guttural proclamations that gnarl and echo across the tumultuously unhallowed ground of the track embody the track’s achingly articulated Nietzsche-esque underpinnings of despair and disillusion.

The lyrics scathe at the naive hope that time might heal or save, hitting raw nerves and exposing a darker acceptance that for some, damnation is a sweeter resolve than salvation.

Instrumentally, ‘Time, Don’t Save Me’ mirrors the lyrical descent into macabre fatalism, gaining relentless momentum with each passing beat until the track wraps the listener in a spectral, gothic atmosphere, reaching a climactic fervour in a melodic outro that mourns the forsaken.

Time, Don’t Save Me was officially released on July 5th; stream the single on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

King Brian versed the gospel of manifestation in his latest alt-RnB single, Gotta Make It

Posted on 24 June 2024
Gotta Make It by King Brian

King Brian (AKA Brian Christopher Brown) is a master of all creative trades, and jack of none; the Michigan-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter, dancer, author, filmmaker and producer honed his talents at a young age, and at this stage of the game, he is nobodies’ pawn.

His latest single, Gotta Make It, is an extension of his impassioned aspiration to become a catalyst for positive transformation worldwide; also noted through his series of books which explore how to unlock enlightenment, fulfilment and self-actualisation. By fusing the soul of RnB and the conviction of rap verses within a melodically tight, and transcendentally iridescent all-consuming pop-hooked production, Gotta Make It is an unflinching statement of intent from an artist determined to bring his rapidly expanding audience to gaze through his illuminated and empowered world view.

Gotta Make It surpasses the tired hustler hip-hop tropes by delivering the gospel of manifestation to anyone ready to take control of their lives, instead of blindly wishing for kismet or karma to pay them their dues.

Gotta Make It is exclusively available on Bandcamp until the single reaches all major streaming platforms on July 7th. Find your preferred way to listen here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kennedy Bane confronted heart-wrenching grief with grace in her debut, Pushing Up Daisies

Posted on 27 May 2024

Kennedy Bane, a 15-year-old pop singer-songwriter from Nashville, TN, rendered hearts raw with her debut single, “Pushing Up Daisies.” The debut instantaneously proved her mettle as a heart-wrenching lyricist as it showcased her evocatively immense vocal finesse. The single belies her 15 trips around the sun, as she tackles the tender subject of grief with a maturity that artists with decades in the industry would struggle to match.

The indomitable sincerity within her standing ovation-worthy performance, paired with the achingly ornate indie-pop instrumentals, won’t leave a dry eye in the proverbial house. The solemn gravity within “Pushing Up Daisies” is superlatively affecting. Kennedy’s ability to convey profound emotion through her music is nothing short of extraordinary.

As “Pushing Up Daisies” unfolds, it’s clear that whatever subject Kennedy turns her talent to next will make for an equally impactful journey. Her collaboration with Platinum Grammy Producer Bryan Todd for her first EP of six original songs is naturally highly anticipated after the release of what will become revered as one of the strongest debuts of the year.

Pushing Up Daisies was officially released on May 10th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The sands of time slip away in Jeff Batson’s transmission of Americana-tinged college radio rock, End of the Grains

Posted on 12 May 2024

The feel-good fervour in Jeff Batson’s latest single, End of the Grains, allows you to imagine a parallel universe where Slash turns his iconic riffs to quintessentially uplifting college radio rock which effervesces with full-bodied and finessed to the nth-degree twangs of Americana.

The sentimentality within this sticky-sweet reminder of our mortality rings with immense sincerity, allowing the warmth-infused waves to crash over you as you catch the Nashville-based star’s indomitable lust for life. If you take each one of the mantras rhythmically laid out in the uplifting anthem, your life will start to feel like a utopia before the outro comes around and compels you to dive back into the melodically enriching tour de force.

Virtuoso may be a word that gets banded around a little too readily in the music industry, but Jeff Batson is a rare artist who warrants it with his mettle, which led to a Grammy nomination for writing the chart-topping single, The Rock, for fellow country star, Tracy Lawrence.

Batson’s career has been an endless series of triumphs, from sharing stages with Hank Williams Jr, Tracy Byrd, and Collin Raye to performing on TNN’s Prime Time Country show. With a presence that could light up any room, he deserves to be championed to the end of the earth.

Stream End of the Grains on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pan De Muerto conjured darkwave sonic sorcery in ‘Shadow Woman’

Posted on 3 May 2024

Make no mistake, the only thing spectral about Pan de Muerto’s single “Shadow Woman” is the ephemeral female protagonist that will cast her spell on any listeners who sink into this scintillating synthesis of alt-rock, metal, and gothic post-punk.

The grungy Eddie Vedder-esque vocals over an atmosphere that could easily have been of Sisters of Mercy’s conjuring is affecting from start to finish. Darkwave singles rarely come as rhythmically heavy as this immersively beguiling rejection of material reality which pulls you into its haunted core, leaving you aching to bear witness to more installations of black magic alchemy conjured by the ultimate aural polymaths who have exactly what it takes to invoke their way out of their niche and into the alt-rock mainstream.

This Memphis-based band have become renowned for their blends of alternative rock with gothic, metal, and classical elements, infused with a hint of Latin rock influence, creating a sound that is as unique as it is ensnaring. Shadow Woman effortlessly showcases Pan de Muerto’s ability to navigate complex musical landscapes while maintaining a visceral, darkly poetic edge. Their latest release not only reinforces their place in the alt-rock scene but also promises a future rich with innovative sonic sorcery.

Shadow Woman was officially released on April 14; stream the single on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sam Phillips serenaded urban desolation into melody with his seminal pop single, In the City

Posted on 14 March 2024

Sam Phillips, a 21-year-old Nashville-based talent, has struck a resonant chord with his debut LP, ‘Hide ‘n Seek’, particularly with the single ‘In the City‘. This track stands out as a testament to his burgeoning artistry, showcasing a maturity that seems far beyond his years and harmonies so light they defy gravity in the predominantly acoustic number.

It’s a song that cuts to the core of the emotional themes explored while demonstrating that there’s immense power in simplicity when delivered with authenticity and profound understanding.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of moving into the city, a journey from comfort to regret. Phillips taps into a universal sentiment, especially poignant in today’s world of widespread isolation. The bustling metropolis, often seen as a place of connection, is instead portrayed as a landscape of solitude. This theme will undoubtedly resonate with many, echoing the feelings of disconnection prevalent in our times.

Artistically, ‘In the City’ is both sublime and mellow, using its sonic narratives to great effect. The electric guitar solo towards the outro is particularly striking, cutting through the synthetic backdrop which symbolises a turbulent disconnection from sanctity.

For fans of pop looking for a track that combines lyrical depth with melodic beauty, ‘In the City’ is a must-add to your playlist. It’s a song that not only entertains but also invites reflection, making Sam Phillips an artist to watch in the contemporary music scene.

Sam Phillips’ LP, Hide ‘n Seek, was officially released on February 16; stream the album on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ty Ellenbogen unveiled the heart of modern RnB with ‘Stolen Time’

Posted on 4 March 2024

Ty Ellenbogen’s latest single and seminal piece of his Day by Day EP is a contemporary continuation of the ever-evolving RnB genre, which carries all the timeless soul of the greats. In Stolen Time, the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer’s evocative vocal range shines as the melodious jazzy neo-pop instrumentals groove, shimmer, and envelop you in swathes of kaleidoscopic colour.

If The Weeknd, Drake and Frank Ocean are always in rotation on your playlists, you’ll easily accommodate this slick-with-innovation release that makes no bones about cutting to the candourous core of his bitter-sweet lament on investing in someone intent on deceiving their way through the dating pool.

The 20-year-old Nashville-hailing RnB Pop artist has been cutting his teeth in the music industry for the past 12 years and writing and recording original music for the past three. With his debut EP, he did more than prove to be a force to be reckoned with; he gave you a reason to fall head over sonic heels.

Stolen Time was officially released on February 23; stream the single and EP on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast