Musically, ‘Ants’ reconnects with the rawer edges of classic K.Flay. Dirty, distorted guitars carry a hint of nu-metal weight while hard-hitting drums, a sharp metallic snare and flashes of industrial noise bring shades of Nine Inch Nails without overwhelming the track’s own identity. K.Flay initially sounds controlled but purposeful, disgust simmering beneath her delivery before the chorus turns shoutier and the whole thing grows progressively nastier. By the breathless second verse, words about fake news, brainrot, gun violence and catastrophe tumble over one another as though the world itself has become too grotesque to process neatly.

The accompanying video channels that agitation into chaos, following K.Flay from a cluttered bedroom and desk to a mysterious meeting that descends into a physical fight, intercut with her dancing wildly outside and through an abandoned warehouse. Messy, abrasive and increasingly unhinged, ‘Ants’ finds K.Flay doing what she does best: looking at an ugly world without pretending she’s standing somewhere outside of it.

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Recorded during K.Flay’s MONO album recording sessions, the song was written and produced by K.Flay and frequent collaborator Jason Suwito (MisterWives, Imagine Dragons, Sir Sly).

K.Flay said of the single, “‘Carsick’ is about the moment you want to get off the ride. When the chaos isn’t fun anymore. I tried to capture both the dizzying feeling of being in a toxic relationship and the freedom that comes with leaving it.”

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K.Flay on ‘Shy’: “In my music, I’m so comfortable being loud and brazen, but in my personal life, I can be a bit shy. Especially when it comes to romantic relationships. I wrote this song after I’d just met my (now) girlfriend. And I sent it to her out of the blue. I guess I only know how to flirt through songs? It worked though.

“Dave Hammer produced this one and he and I have this crazy energy between us. I think when we get together to make music we’re able to disregard the ‘shoulds’ and be purely creative together. A lot of the guitar parts were just freestyle takes, us messing around. but there was a wildness to them that hit us both in the right places.”

MONO:

1. Are You Serious?
2. Carsick
3. Raw Raw
4. Punisher
5. Irish Goodbye (feat. Vic Fuentes Of Pierce The Veil)
6. Hustler
7. Spaghetti (feat. Kid Sistr)
8. Bar Soap
9. Watch Me Pt. 1
10. In America
11. Shy
12. Watch Me Pt. 2
13. Chaos Is Love
14. Yes I’m Serious
15. Perfectly Alone

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LA’s resident femme-punk royalty The Aquadolls release the official video for their latest single ‘Burn Baby Burn.’ Directed by longtime creative collaborator Jenna Houchin, the video is a seductive whirlwind of excess and indie sleaze. Leaning into the song’s meaning of relying on your girl gang when you need to be reminded of your worth, the video features the band in a sea of debaucherous fun alongside their friends.

After making her explosive debut with her first single, ‘Fantasy,’ rlyblonde – the project of Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Carina Allen – returns with ‘Spiltmilk,’ the second single off her forthcoming debut EP. rlyblonde is no stranger to the music industry. The New York-based twenty-something has long been the go-to photographer, videographer and creative director for numerous musicians. After years of supporting other artists and friends’ visions, she decided to put down the camera and pick up the guitar for a change. With her new track, ‘Spiltmilk,’ rlyblonde seamlessly combines alt-rock instrumentation, catchy pop melodies, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics (“Wait why the fuck is there a line? / I’m freezing in this dress / My makeup is a mess / I need a drink before I lose my mind”). She elaborates on the inspiration behind her newest single: “I’ve always been quite sensitive, even though I put on a tough face most of the time. For a long period of my life I felt like I was always one parking ticket away from a mental breakdown. Plus, living in New York City is pretty relentless. Everything is expensive and you’re exhausted every day just from walking around. Writing ‘Spiltmilk’ also let me laugh at myself in a way that was really comforting. Now when I’m having a bad day, I’ll just text my friends, ‘it’s a spiltmilk type of day’ and we just get it. It’s okay to cry, but also… you’re gonna be fine.” ‘Spiltmilk’ is also released with a new music video, which was directed by rlyblonde herself via her new creative production company, HOT CREATIVE. In contrast to the more narrative-driven ‘Fantasy’ video, she took on a more campy and freeform approach when it came to the ‘Spiltmilk’ visual. She pokes fun at the song’s subject matter with various little easter eggs like a child’s prop car, white clown-inspired make-up, and her selfie on the side of a milk carton with the words ‘CRYBABY WANTED.’

Suzie True, the DIY pop-punk trio from Los Angeles, came out with their debut LP Saddest Girl At The Party a couple of years ago, and they’re now getting ready to follow it with a new album called Sentimental Scum. Singer/bassist Lexie McCoy says that the new record is “inspired by artists like Babes In Toyland, The Muffs, Jeff Rosenstock, Josie & The Pussycats, and anime theme music,” which is a fun combination. The band shared opening track ‘Backburner’ as a stand-alone single last year, and now they’ve also released another one. The new song ‘Keep In Touch’ is a bright, fuzzy jam with homespun hooks and fuzzy, twinkly riffs. This band is good at conveying warm, charismatic headrush feelings, and that’s what they do on this one. The Rae Mystic-directed video is sunny and frilly, and it communicates a whole aesthetic. [via Stereogum]

Discover Berlin-based singer K.ZIA’s latest single, ‘Rise’, a moving and anthemic song that features her powerful vocals and outstanding production. ‘Rise’ is an emotionally-charged anthem that permeates solace in its poignant yet uplifting themes. The heart of the track lies in K.ZIA’s deep, emotive vocals. With a textured voice that maneuvers seamlessly through the well-arranged instrumentals, K.ZIA’s soulful tone evokes emotions of melancholy and upliftment. As the track progresses, her powerful voice builds from a slow, haunting intro to an inspiring and anthemic climax, capturing the listener’s heart with every note. The production on ‘Rise’ is nothing short of impressive, and the skillfully arranged instrumentals perfectly complement K.ZIA’s voice, creating an immersive soundscape that invites listeners to get lost in the music. Drawing inspiration from R&B, soul, pop, and Afrobeats, ‘Rise’ showcases K.ZIA’s ability to craft a contemporary yet timeless sound. K.ZIA’s ‘Rise’ is more than just a beautifully-produced track – it’s an anthem for overcoming adversity. As the artist herself explains, the song is about “finding that inner strength to overcome. We may be beaten down, by life, by people, but still like dust, we will RISE.” This powerful message resonates with listeners, offering hope and encouragement to those facing life’s challenges. [via Neon Music]

Colleen Green is sharing an awesome new stop-motion video for ‘Posi Vibes,’ a single from her acclaimed 2021 album, COOL, out now on Hardly Art. The video was directed and produced by John Murphy. [via Northern Transmissions]

For Brooklyn trio A Very Special Episode, the band’s second album was reason enough to push their sound to its extremes. The noise pop elements got noisier and poppier, the punk has been upped, and the art rock touches are… more artistic. That record, Freak Me Out, will be released on June 23 via EWEL Records (The Black Black, Kissed By An Animal) and Hidden Home Records (Dain Griffin, Shrug Dealer), a collection of songs both personal and abstract, with their core built on the melodic shouts and passionate delivery of Kasey Heisler. There’s a sense of community but also a sense of tension. Not everything will work out, but things just might be okay, and the band’s grungy tunes remind us we’re in this together. ‘$5 Cover,’ the record’s third single isn’t the Fugazi tribute you might be hoping for, but rather a loving homage to band’s own musical community forged around the DIY space East Williamsburg Econolodge. The song is pulsing with dirgy bass and punchy vocal melodies, seething in the shadows one moment but vibrant and hooky the next. It’s dense and immediate, crunchy with overdriven chaos but resoundingly “pop” at the seams. The video – directed, produced, written, and edited by Greg Hanson (King Pizza Records) – brings a retro aesthetic to the otherwise very modern ode to EWEL nights. Capturing the 60’s ideals of dinner parties and adult reverie, the band pair the vivid imagery together with lyrics that embrace a night at the “rock show,” an escape void of concern and the overt polite. [via Post Trash]

Xylø is not afraid of embracing her body in order to share her art. On Friday, the singer released the pop-perfect single ‘Super Sex Mona Lisa,’ in which she unapologetically reflects on starting OnlyFans to help fund her music career. Doing so, she says, has given her a “newfound confidence.” “I’ve entered a new chapter in my life where I’m not afraid to be vulnerable and I’m ready to completely express myself as an artist,” she says as she premieres the track’s video with Rolling Stone. “I wanted the video to show how I’ve grown since my last album. How my body, nude or not, can be art.” “If my last album was about hiding from myself in the shadows of America, then this album is about celebrating myself despite the darkness,” she adds, referring to last year’s Unamerican Beauty. “It’s colorful and dangerous and the most expressive music I’ve ever made.” The video for ‘Super Sex Mona Lisa’ explores all sides of Xylø — how she can go from filming sexy content in her bedroom as art to sharing a beer with her dad and his friends. “The stereotypical gender roles are swapped as all the mechanics are female and wearing Queens Park Rangers jerseys,” she explains, referring to her favorite soccer team. “Ultimately, it’s about being confident in yourself and your sexuality.” “I used to be shy/Now you’re purchasing my body,” she sings as she flashes an ATM in the video as she’s handed a wad of cash. “I’m a pop star/And I’m clickbait Barbie. I do it for the thrill/And I do it for the money.” The video splices clips of her posing topless, playing a Hello Kitty-themed guitar, and doing choreography in a mechanic’s lot with two other girls. “You want it/Come get it/Subscribe to me,” she sings in the chorus. [via Rolling Stone]

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