Browsing Tag

Salt Lake City

The celestial architects, Terrestrial Soulz, led prog-rock and hip-hop through an orchestral maze in ‘Slipping Away’

Salt Lake City’s Terrestrial Soulz reached the pinnacle of genre-fluid experimentalism with their standout single, Slipping Away, taken from their debut album, Crash Landed.

After an extended orchestrally-laced prog-esque intro that licks funk into the groove pockets, the track that will give you 90s melodic rock nostalgia kicks into full gear through the introduction of the sleek and sharp spoken-word rap bars that deliver a sobering exposition of grief, oppression, and our inescapable relationship with fear that are facades can hide, but deep down, it’s always gnawing away at our psyche as ‘time slips away’.

As the single progresses, there are even more transitions in the interstellar pioneering transmission as soul spills in from the vocal harmonies and orchestral strings join guitar strings to relay the riffs. Between the distinction in their sonic signature and the weight in their bars, the outfit that is renowned for their explosive live performances is fated to make waves in an era when so many of us are searching for meaning. What it means to be human is stitched right through this cinematically avant-garde hit.

As Terrestrial Soulz is currently hard at work on their upcoming LP, Third Rock from the Sun, and priming for a state-wide tour, they’re more than worth a space in your playlists and on your radar.

Slipping Away is now available to stream with the debut Crash Landed LP on Spotify and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Let the sun hit with Kristen Beckwith’s soul-affirming release, Hawaii

After a three-year break from her music career, the singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Kristen Beckwith signalled her strident return with her open love letter to the Ocean in her Grammy-worthy soul-pop release, Hawaii.

With the autumnal timing of the sun-worshipping single, which carries *all* the mesmerism of Fast Car, the fondness for tropic climates feels a little bitter-sweet, but in the very same vein, it will instil you with the recent nostalgia for memories made before the cold started to creep in. As you listen to the warmth in her radiant vocal and acoustic guitar melodies, anticipate Polaroids from the past few months to flood to the surface of your consciousness.

Hawaii is the first single to be released from Kristen’s sophomore LP, which was penned following the birth of her child. Don’t wait to put mindfulness and living in the moment more on your New Year’s resolutions; start now with the Salt Lake City songstress’ lyrical and rhythmic enlightenment.

Hawaii hit the airwaves on October 20; get your sun and serotonin fix by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lapdog ripped up the indie songwriting script with their psychedelically mellow single, Yellow Belly

Someone let the raconteurs of indie psych experimentalism, Lapdog, off the leash and into the studio to record their double A-side single, Yellow Belly / Buy & Sell, and the airwaves are infinitely sweeter for it.

Despite the complex time signatures which rip up the indie songwriting script, the melodies in Yellow Belly reach the pinnacle of mellow melodiousness before the single slips into Grandaddy-esque synthy obscurity, bringing it right back to the wobbly with saturation tones from the prelude.

With vocal lines which take cloud-like form as they drift through the intricately layered yet mesmerically smooth soundscape, The Salt Lake City conduits of soul-kissed innovation hit it out of the dog park with Yellow Belly. Feel good tracks have never felt so good.

Yellow Belly / Buy & Sell is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Number One Babe Team delivered spiritual salvation in their alt-indie single, The Final Hallelujah

With subversive references to While My Guitar Gently Weeps in the lyrics and a touch of Neil Young to the lightly timbered sentimentality in the vocals, the standout single, The Final Hallelujah, from Number One Babe Team’s debut LP, See You Later, is a euphonic reverie of nostalgia, which more than has its place on contemporary airwaves.

As alluded to by the indie band’s moniker, Number One Babe Team doesn’t take itself too seriously, making their soundscapes, which also incorporate shoegaze-y guitars and touches of Elliott Smith in the songwriting, infinitely sweeter.

If Neutral Milk Hotel honeyed their soundscapes to the nth degree but still maintained the quaint humility, the result wouldn’t be too far removed from the sonic signature scribed by the Salt Lake City premier act, which has become an integral part of the touring circuit since their 2022 debut.

Stream the full LP, which hit the airwaves on June 9, via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Can We Be Friends: Tay Toe knows exactly who he is on Meet Again

Wanting his former lover to be strong while he figures out what is next, Tay Toe has dropped a reflective track for anyone who has dealt with those dark pill days of mind confusion on Meet Again.

Tay Toe is a Los Angeles-born hip hop artist who has the ability to change lives with a meaningful flow and calming wisdom to learn from.

Like many young Americans, Tay Toe spent his teenage years living with anxiety and depression. He began writing music as therapy, but actually performing it live was a big step for him. However, once in his element, it’s plain to see Tay Toe was born for the stage.” ~ Tay Toe

Fueling fire to the notion that we are in the company of someone rather extraordinary, Tay Toe shows us the way to keeping that burning passion alive despite the cold distance which can hide souls away in the frigid climates of doom.

Meet Again from Salt Lake City-based and Los Angeles-born hip hop artist Tay Toe is the anthem for anyone who is missing that special someone due to the evil temptations prowling around which can snap our innocence. Rapped with meaning and a true love for his missing lover, we are thrown into a whirlwind-like story to be totally encapsulated by.

When you know you’ll be together again, the winds will always be ready to assist when called upon.

Listen up to this fine new single on SoundCloud. See more vibes on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Nicolas Alan is riding on the new wave of hip hop in his exotically exultant hit, Superstar ft. JCedric

One of the hottest names in the Salt Lake City hip hop scene, Nicolas Alan, just got hotter after launching another cathartically rhythmic RnB-tinged new wave hit with his latest single, Superstar, featuring JCedric, which allows you to traverse his ascent to the top of his game.

Never letting ego get in the way of relatability and sincerity, Alan has a distinct way of versing directly to you as he proves with his dynamically fluid bars that adversity doesn’t ever have to be the end of your story.

While the originality in his sound comes as a result of having an eclectic array of musical interests, the soul in his sound comes via the roadblocks he’s overcome that have enabled him to reach notable heights in his career. It should go without saying, he’s one to watch.

Superstar dropped on October 28th; catch it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Marcus Koncar takes us through the doom-filled cards he has been dealt on his ‘Fate’

Pretty Things Seldom Do by Marcus Koncar

Taken from his recently-released 12-track project called ‘Pretty Things Seldom Do‘, Marcus Koncar wonders if all those tarot cards and bad energy from his childhood will ultimately sink him down forever on, ‘Fate‘.

Marcus Koncar (formerly known as Candall Lark) is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based Avant-Garde Americana solo singer-songwriter who keeps things honest throughout his creations.

I just like to make music about things stuck in my mind.” ~ Marcus Koncar

With a raw tone that shows you the mindset of someone who has dealt with the scary trauma of doom since a very young age due to the wild world of Astrology, Marcus Koncar guides us to a place that shall scare many who have locked the door of what was supposed to happened already.

Fate‘ from Salt Lake City, Utah-based Avant-Garde Americana solo singer-songwriter Marcus Koncar, is a sombre story about how you can really sense that the world is against you when you are told from a young age that you aren’t going to have a good life. Featuring deep vocals and a storytelling mentality that leads us into the true feelings he has had to endure, this is a track that will cause many to look back at their own life.

Sometimes, you just need to vent out your frustrations before realizing, that fate is actually in your own hands.

Listen to this tale about swimming against the flow on Bandcamp.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Stuck At This Job: Salt Lake City-based blues rapper BC Roadz imagines counting all those ‘Stack$’

With his highly innovative style that is assuredly worth many a listen, BC Roadz drops his new track taken off his latest 6-track EP called ‘AD‘, with the money-counting ‘Stack$‘.

BC Roadz is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based indie self-described beatmaker/blues rapper who makes a sterling blend of compelling music that has you thinking about levitating your life upwards.

As he daydreams about this new life that he has set himself out to get while plodding through his dull job, BC Roadz discloses his wildest dreams on a beat-filled track that has your curious mind in absolute awe of the creativity on offer. There is much to commend about someone who is aspiring to be diverse and not just make the same sound like everyone else.

Stack$‘ from the highly-entertaining Salt Lake City, Utah-based beatmaker/blues rapper BC Roadz, is a dream-sharing single that is all about telling the world what you would do if you had enough money to do whatever you wanted. With an inventive style that is a ravishing mix of blues and hip-hop. Featuring a confident tone and eloquent vocals that seems to lift your own mood away from a lazy slumber, this is a top track that deserves acclaim for its exuberant inventiveness.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Cold Wind: Salt Lake City-based Fearless Union shows us those endless nights on ‘Shadow of My Grave’

Ravaging our delicate souls with a mightily strong display from a character piece about the leader of a revolution, Fearless Union drops a track from his well-built 12-track release ‘The Supreme Leader‘ with an intensely strong effort on ‘Shadow of My Grave‘.

Fearless Union is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based indie dance/hip-hop act which was formed by Brent Walker who is also a writer and music producer.

Brent’s music draws from a series of original stories based on a sci-fi fantasy world steeped in mythology. “The Supreme Leader” represents the first of those stories, and focuses on spirituality (pain, death, and hope) to bring to life the strengths and flaws of its titular character.” ~ Fearless Union

Fearless Union shakes the nucleus of our vein-popping hearts with a stunning display that has been made with a real show of strength. This is a highly-evolving artist who makes that entertaining music – that is such a wondrous listen – and filled full with a really outstanding beat that grabs you close and never lets go for a second.

Shadow of My Grave‘ from the Salt Lake City, Utah-based indie dance/hip-hop solo artist Fearless Union, is a bass-slamming experience that is so naturally stimulating and helps us challenge all of those fears inside our enthralled heart. There is much love and care blown through from the darkness here, to help all of us get through whatever demons we have plastered to our fragile skin.

Check out this fine new single via Spotify and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Pack Your Bags: Salt Lake City’s Richard Tyler Epperson doesn’t let his valuable soul get compromised any further on ‘Tonight’ (Wicked Lies)

After releasing his much-respected third music project, the six-track ‘Another Day EP‘ recently, Richard Tyler Epperson returns from his seven year hiatus with Tonight’ (Wicked Lies).

Richard Tyler Epperson is a thoughtful Salt Lake City, Utah-based indie pop singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, father and massive Star Wars fan.

After spending time with his young family and re-inventing himself over the past few years, his new home studio has given him a new lease on life to return to the music world.

There’s a lot of rejection and doubt. But what if the dream could be a reality? The dream of being able to play music for a living and write music in the middle of the day–not at 1am when you’re exhausted and have to work the next morning. To know that the only constant feeling in your soul is true. That’s the dream and that’s what’s driven Another Day.” ~ Richard Tyler Epperson

This is the well-written story about moving away from a sour relationship that has run its course, as you ask them to pack their bags and move away forever, so that you may reclaim your heart and be truly happy again.

He sings with a real sadness as something was off and he knew that this should of happened a long time ago, with someone who clearly was not compatible with him. Your heart beats faster as you recall when you broke up with someone in your life who you knew wasn’t right, but you kept on going anyway.

Even at a young age, Epperson had the gut feeling that music was his purpose. So driven to explore this art, at the age of twelve he pawned his Star Wars figures to buy a bass guitar.” ~ Richard Tyler Epperson

Tonight’ (Wicked Lies) from the Salt Lake City, Utah-based indie pop singer-songwriter Richard Tyler Epperson, shows us a sad story about how a break up can really change everything you thought was there in the first place. After deep reflection you realized that their false stories were actually draining you and ultimately bad for your soul, as your ex needs to work out what is really important in this world.

Performed with a window-like reflection as you thought there was something good there, this is a well-made break-up single about moving away from the bad energy, that can swallow your perspective forever if you let it.

See this new music video on YouTube and find out more on his IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen