Melbourne four-piece Parsnip recently announced details of Behold; their new album, set to be released April 26 on Upset The Rhythm. Now, they share brand new single ‘Turn To Love’ backed by a cinematic music video filmed on the lands of the Wurundjeri People. In the video, there’s a Wizard of Oz-esque transition as the chorus bursts with colour, with further influences drawn from Serge Lutens photography, the Oskar Schlemmer Triadic Ballet, Yohji Yamamoto campaigns, Art Deco costumes (à la Ziegfeld Follies) and American Circus attire from the 1870s-1950s. Of the song, Paris Rebel Richens says: “Imagine what the world would be like if everyone stopped for a moment or two every day and fixed their attention on the heart. All anyone really wants is love. This song is a plea, for everything that you do in the outer, the most profound changes must be made within. It is not a weakness, if anything, choosing love is courageous and wise.”

Maya Hawke has released her new single ‘Dark’. Following on from ‘Missing Out’, it’s the latest cut from her upcoming third album Chaos Angel, set for release on May 31 via Mom+Pop. This latest work sees Hawke collaborating with artists such as Christian Lee Hutson, Benjamin Lazar Davis, and Will Graefe, continuing her exploration into the intricacies of love and life through music. Maya explains: “‘Dark’ is a cut and dry love song about a relationship struggling to find its footing. It’s about trying to sort out the mixed bag of history and pain two people bring into a new love to find the path forward. “The chorus was written a few years ago when I was going through a particularly debilitating bout of bedtime anxiety: I would lay in bed with the fear that if I let myself fall asleep, my brain would forget how to breathe and I would die in my sleep. I saw a doctor who told me that I had to become okay with dying. He said if I accepted it, I would be able to sleep and would likely… not die. He was right, I didn’t die. And I wrote this song to celebrate it.” [via Dork]

With fierce energy and flirtatious charm, pop-rock songstress Zoe Ko has quickly become a musical force to reckoned with. Last November, she released her EP Baby Teeth, which featured a succession of acclaimed singles like ‘Rib Cage,’ ‘Petri Dish’ and ‘Pink Noise.’ The energetic performer has just released her newest single, ‘DIRT,’ a gritty dance track that doubles as an ode to New York City, with accompanying music video. “I’m from NYC baby,” says Zoe, enthusiastically. “I was raised there. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the crazy, bad-ass bitch that I am. It’s the often looked down upon elements of NYC – the grit, the grime, the garbage, the hustle and bustle, the roaches, rats, and pigeons – that shaped me into an adaptable and adventurous person. When I moved to L.A., I missed all the grit and all the dirt back in NYC. I missed its rawness. There’s a fake showiness in L.A. that I just wasn’t used to. So, a few weeks into living here, I walked into the studio and started ranting about how much I miss NYC and its dirt. I loved the word ‘dirt’ so much that I turned it into a song – the kind of song that I might hear in one of my favorite New York clubs. I’ve learned to love L.A., in case you’re wondering,” she adds. “When I wrote ‘Dirt,’ I was homesick. And I was being a bit dramatic.” The official music video for ‘DIRT’ was directed by Brea Lynn. The ‘DIRT’ music video is an electrifying journey into the heart of New York City’s nightlife, capturing the essence of a wild night out in one of the city’s iconic clubs and Zoe’s favorite. With a gritty warehouse setting, booming speakers, and a touch of the unexpected—a Halloween rat head cameo—the video pulsates with the energy of a carefree evening with friends. About the video, Zoe says, “I have my girls with me, there’s a dirty grungy warehouse with huge speakers and a gross bathroom, what else do you need for a fun night out?! I wanted to have lots of dancing in this video because to me, going out is dancing out all your stress from that week. This music video was my favorite to make in my career so far! Everyone’s vibe was amazing on set and in a way it did actually feel like throwing a party!”

Alt-pop sensation AURORA has released her brand new single, ‘Some Type Of Skin’. Speaking of the release, AURORA says: “I’ve always been told that I should build some type of skin. I’ve always let myself merge too much with the world, not really knowing where the world ends and I begin. This song screams the muchness of it. And it’s delicious. Being human is really delicious, even though it’s more than any of us can handle. My god it’s a lot.” [via Line Of Best Fit]

Anna Prior is best known for her role as drummer in electronic act Metronomy, though she’s also a producer and DJ. Now, the multi-hyphenate artist is announcing her debut solo EP Almost Love and sharing ‘Fall Back’ with an AI-directed video from Tom Furse. “The song is about when I realized that love from a partner is never unconditional,” Prior said in a statement. “I think it’s where my lack of trust in relationships began, when my hyper independence began and when I started searching for people that I knew could never love me so I would never get hurt again.” Prior worked with James Greenwood, aka Ghost Culture, on the EP. Lyrically, it’s inspired by existential poetry of 19th and 20th century Portuguese romantics, which she found an appreciation for during her time in Lisbon. [via Stereogum]

Shannon And The Clams announced their new album The Moon Is In The Wrong Place in January, and so far they’ve shared the title track and ‘Bean Fields.’ Now, the Oakland garage rock eccentrics are back with ‘Real Or Magic.’ The Moon Is In The Wrong Place was written after the tragic, unexpected passing of bandleader Shannon Shaw’s fiancé Joe Haener. ‘Real Or Magic’ is a soaring ballad about a vision Shaw had, after Haener’s death, of him bathed in sunlight. The dreamy song captures the otherworldly nature of grief and our relentless ability to retain our connection to the ones we love no matter where they are. Below, watch the video directed by Vanessa Pla. [via Stereogum]

Olivia Rodrigo has shared a video for ‘Obsessed,’ which appears on her new expanded version of Guts, Guts (Spilled). Mitch Ryan directed the video, in which Rodrigo hosts a beauty pageant while despairing over the enviable attributes of her partner’s ex. Rodrigo co-wrote the song with Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) and longtime collaborator Dan Nigro. [via Pitchfork]

London-based artist, Salwa debuted her album, Late at Night, in 2023 to widespread acclaim, delving into themes of guilt, infidelity, love, and the complexities of being a bipolar woman. Now, she shifts her focus to the visual aspect of the album, unveiling the video for its opening track and standout, ‘Oh! Lover’. As the track unfolds, Salwa’s delicate, breathy vocals harmonise seamlessly with the dreamy visuals. Set against a nostalgic backdrop, the visuals for ‘Oh! Lover’ effortlessly transition between mesmerising floral shots, while Salwa sings softly into the microphone, adorned in vivid white attire. As the viewer becomes immersed in the sentimental storyline of the track and the blossoming romance, ‘Oh! Lover’ strikingly portrays – both in its sound and visuals – the abrupt decline of the relationship. Salwa’s poignant lyricism describes the end, alongside the symbolic shift of the vibrant floral arrangements into monochrome, fading blooms. While the track explores the enigmatic dynamics of modern relationships, the music video, helmed by filmmaker and visual creator Ted Clarke, captivates with its allure and charm, offering a tantalizing visual interpretation. Ted describes the concept and approach to the project, explaining “The objective of the video was to craft a piece that was both simple and impactful, allowing Salwa’s presence to command the screen in a manner that complemented the soft, melodic nature of the song without comprising her confident, bold, and playful personality. We aimed for an aesthetic reminiscent of a fashion editorial, incorporating flowers to enhance the visual design and evoke the symbolism of a blossoming relationship followed by its eventual demise.” [via Wonderland]

In a tunefully triumphant return to dancefloor glory, Kiesza is back with ‘I Go Dance,’ the irresistible new single from her hotly anticipated upcoming album Dancing and Crying: Vol. 1, slated for May. In Kiesza’s words, “’I Go Dance’ was a song where the lyrics just rolled off my tongue in a matter of seconds. With about 50% of the lyrics already in place, (Canadian producer) Sugar Jesus had already begun the beat for it in advance, and the second I heard it, I jumped up and started dancing! It’s one of those songs that felt very channeled. It came pre-written from the ether, and it was up to me to fill in the blanks. One day, while working on another song together, I played it for (Grammy-nominated songwriter) K Sotomayor, and we began talking in depth about how everything in life, be it light or dark, is in some way connected to self-healing. With that intention in mind, we wrote the verse together and we’re able to fill in all the blanks effortlessly. It’s one of those tunes that is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. As simple as it is, there’s more depth than one might think upon their first listen.”

K-pop girl group YOUNG POSSE have officially dropped their sophomore mini-album XXL, alongside a music video for its title track of the same name. A music video for ‘XXL’ was also released in conjunction with the mini-album, featuring the members of YOUNG POSSE driving to a fast food restaurant’s drive-thru only to find out they’ve got a flattened tire. While trying to fix the tire, they press the ‘XXL’ button on a mysterious remote control, which transformed their car into a monster truck, causing the restaurant’s giant mascot to fall into the building. [via NME]

Unique, unapologetic artist CHINCHILLA has dropped the official music video for new empowering single ‘MF Diamond’. The video depicts a London diamond heist carried out by CHINCHILLA and her four accomplices of unsuspecting mature women, celebrating them for who they are rather than focusing on their age. The incredible video, directed by Ben Cole and CHINCHILLA, goes hand in hand with the song’s lyrics, representing CHINCHILLA’s ethos of authenticity as seen throughout all of her work. Speaking on the new video, CHINCHILLA says: “I wanted to make something inclusive without being corny or cliché. Something about elderly/older women makes me think of diamonds. I’m obsessed with Iris Apfel, who recently passed in the lead up to this video. She has always been on every one of my style mood boards, as well as Vivienne Westwood. They are awesome and I think ageing is beautiful – wrinkles only a reflection of every ounce of life we’ve had. I wanted to make a video that didn’t type-cast older women as frail and sweet, but powerful, strong, sexy, intimidating… and then obviously we all had to be doing choreo in the midst of a diamond heist because that’s just iconic. I didn’t want there to be any reference to their ages in the video – no gimmicks, they’re just fucking hot!”

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Olivia Rodrigo has dropped the music video for ‘get him back!,’ one of many highlights off her brand-new sophomore album GUTS. ‘get him back!’ is as much about seeking revenge on a former partner as it is about wanting to kiss and make up with them. So, it’s fitting that the tune’s music video features no fewer than eight identical Olivias, almost as if they’re each representing one of the contradicting voices in Rodrigo’s head telling her to key this scumbag’s car — but wait, what if she can fix him?!?! The surrealist clip was directed by Jack Begert, who’s also behind similarly eye-catching music videos like Doja Cat’s ‘Juicy’ and Amine’s ‘Blackjack.’ This one boasts no shortage of smashed car windows, trashed bedrooms, and thrown steak knives, but the good news it looks like no Olivia Rodrigos were harmed in its making. [via Consequence]

Synth-heavy post-punk upstarts Home Counties have finally returned, after slipping away from the public eye following a jam-packed 2022. Last year saw the band release the fantastic EP In A Middle English Town, followed by a relentless live schedule, and a move to London. Now, ahead of a much-anticipated debut full length, Home Counties have released a stellar new single, finally ending their time away. ‘Bethnal Green’ is three minutes of nothing but hooks. The opening synthesiser motif is so off-kilter and distinct it becomes a hook of its own, the band toying with the vintage tones of artists like DEVO and Kraftwerk but inject it with a shiny pop polish. Synthesisers have always been a staple of Home Counties’ sound, but guitars truly are a foundation this time around, leaving plenty of space for the cascading wall of synths. Lois Kelly’s primary hook is arguably the band’s catchiest yet, the melody enchanting, the stacked gang vocals enduring. Home Counties have returned with a bang, to say the least. Their time in hibernation has clearly involved no rest or relaxation, the first glimpse of their hard work being the absolutely fantastic ‘Bethnal Green’. [via Clash]

ratbag opens a portal into her weird world of shoegaze with latest single ‘exit girl’. The burgeoning star’s talent extends way beyond that of an internet personality. ratbag is a multifaceted artist beckoning mere mortals into her wild world of art, work that bleeds beyond the sonic realm and into the freaky horrors and mesmerizing drama of the visual space. Surrealism bleeds out of otherworldly places, and it is one of the most compelling concepts for fans of mind-boggling stories of fiction to seek out and admire. Whether it be something of music, sculpture, animation, or story, it’s rare for an artist to fully immerse themselves in each of these encompassing realms at once, but then again, ratbag is not one for the ordinary. Following the release of her latest single and music video for ‘exit girl’, that idea is especially apparent. Simmering in the worlds of punk and shoegaze, ratbag’s latest release comes only recently after her introduction as a musician. Her debut single ‘rats in my walls’ came out in July, and already the artist is displaying a confidence that is especially apparent through the world of horror shown in the music video that accompanies her new release. The music video for ‘exit girl’ is the world’s first taste of ratbag’s unique visual style and is also the first look into the lore behind the artist. For starters, the music video introduces ratbag’s team of fictional bandmates, each representing a different aspect of her personality. The band are made up of animated monsters going by the names Deemo, Eugene, Slug and Fritz, reminiscent of other ambitious groups like Gorillaz or even Dethklok. Matching the horror-inspired elements of this music video is, of course, the song. Carefully calculated in its many independent rhythms, beats pulse in time throughout ‘exit girl’. The song is something of a scrappy little robot that blisters with life as it thrashes between the verses and choruses. Buzzing with personality and a lively fortitude, the track will lure in lovers of alternative and punk sounds especially. Beyond sound, it’s an addictive narrative, too. ratbag explains, “This claustrophobic circus of clowns is getting old. Sometimes, we just want out.” Featuring scratchy electric guitar and catchy piano chords, it’s a song that’s easy to love in its complexity. [via Line Of Best Fit]

FLOSS is set to mesmerize listeners with her latest EP release, Replica Of My Heart. After being hailed by VOGUE as one of the most exciting musicians in the German-speaking region, FLOSS delves into speculative “what if” future scenarios reminiscent of Black Mirror, apocalyptic themes, and her ambivalent inner world. The Berlin-based winner of the Lollapalooza Newcomer Contest transforms romantic-bittersweet futuristic fantasies and traumatic experiences into highly hypnotic pop songs. In a Matrix-esque world of organ scarcity, FLOSS’s zeitgeisty feminist fantasy pop collides with hypnotic and edgy sounds, and heartbreak merges with dystopia on the EP’s title track, ‘Replica Of My Heart.’ The accompanying short film features FLOSS portraying her own clone, created by the ‘Replica Of My Heart’ services in a Matrix-esque world suffering from organ scarcity, all in an effort to obtain her unharmed heart. The serious and personal background is made evident through the visuals, which build upon FLOSS’s first music video with Joko Winterscheidt, where they advocated for organ donation alongside Junge Helden e.V. [via Kaltblut]

Platinum-certified Filipino-American artist Bella Poarch returns with a new single, ‘Crush’, which features Lauv. “’Crush’ is this fun, brighter side of me that I’m excited to showcase. The song itself is light, cheeky, and it gives you the flirty feeling of butterflies in your stomach that you get when sparks begin to fly,” Poarch says. “It’s about being in the moment and indulging in the simple things like binging Love Island, or having an innocent crush without overthinking it (which I’m guilty of). Lauv is such an incredible artist and being able to work with him is such an honor. He’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, and I LAUVed working with him.” Lauv added, “‘Crush’ is about that feeling when you’re into someone but don’t wanna cross the line cause it’s so fun just being slightly into them.” [via The Line of Best Fit]

Mitski celebrates her album release, and that’s not all: It comes with a video for ‘My Love Mine All Mine.’ In the short, directed by A.G. Rojas, Mitski builds a precarious tower of dining chairs, balanced on a little egg, and embarks on a gravity-defying dance to the top. Watch it below. [via Pitchfork]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

METTE has released her highly anticipated new single ‘VAN GOGH’. The track is taken from METTE’s forthcoming EP METTENARRATIVE which will be released on September 22. Produced by Jonny Lattimer (Rina Sawayama, Joy Crookes) and Mike Sabath (Raye, Lizzo), ‘VAN GOGH’ fuses catchy pop melodies with danceable funk and R&B grooves to create an upbeat feel. Lyrically, METTE cites icons like Janet Jackson as she sings of finding creative inspiration through a muse. The accompanying music video, directed by Camille Summers-Valli, puts METTE’s stunning dance and movement talent to the fore, evoking a continuous feel with synchronized moves whilst simultaneously switching between various eye-catching characters throughout. Speaking about the track, METTE says: “‘VAN GOGH is a message in a bottle to the many muse(s) that live inside of me – inside all of us, in fact. I’m continually drawing inspiration from my internal and external worlds, and I remain awed by the beauty of dance. I love making music I can dance to, and as the opening lyric to ‘VAN GOGH’ exemplifies, “I’m motivated by the way you move…”

Ukrainian-born, London-based identical twin dark-pop duo Bloom Twins announce the release of their empowering new track, ‘Drunk & Loud’, co-written and produced by Sam Harris from the X Ambassadors. The song serves as an anthem for outliers and misfits, celebrating the power and resilience that comes from the unity of the outnumbered. Echoing the spirit story of David and Goliath, Bloom Twins invite listeners to never underestimate the power of the underdog. The accompanying music video addresses the critical issue of the war in Ukraine, with the twins taking on the roles of two fearless Ukrainian girls confronting a gang of Russian mobsters in London’s iconic boxing gym, Rapton. With scenes reminiscent of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, the video showcases the Bloom Twins’ determination and unity in the face of adversity. Adding another layer of depth, the video is filled with hidden messages and references from the very opening scene, inviting viewers to discover and interpret the deeper meanings.Training over 100 hours with renowned stunt professionals Adam Brashaw, Luke J. Smith, and Fabio Santos, the twins deliver a stunning, action-packed performance. On the track, Anna and Sonia say, “’Drunk and loud’ is a very important song to us. We consider this song to be an anthem to outliers, misfits. It’s about the power, and resilience from unity of outnumbered. We are David from ‘David and Goliath’. Do not underestimate the power of underdogs.” They continue, explaining the symbolism of the video, “Our music video tackles the crucial issue of the war in Ukraine. We play the roles of two Ukrainian girls taken on by a gang of Russian mobsters, even though we’re clearly outnumbered. My twin sister represents the annexed and occupied regions of Ukraine, while I embody the areas fighting for unity and victory against Russia.”

Melbourne’s dynamic six-piece indie pop rock outfit, Lucy Lorenne & The Early Birds, are dropping a vibrant and nostalgia-driven pop anthem, ‘Tamagotchi Nights’, accompanied by an equally charming music video. With her debut EP, Summers Gone, already under her belt, the charismatic Lucy Lorenne and her band continue to grow their endearing sound as they explore new depths of sonic and lyrical maturity with this power pop anthem that takes a colourful trip down memory lane. ‘Tamagotchi Nights’ – co-written by Lucy Lorenne, Matt Hargreaves and Flagrant Artists producer Ben Oldland (Ūla, Ashwarya, Alley Eley, Genes, Sian Fuller) – is a vibrant boppy number that pays homage to childhood innocence and fantasy. With an air of melancholy for the more innocent times gone by, the song captures the essence of post-millennial nostalgia. Opening with an 8-bit synth riff, the track bursts with a delightful blend of upbeat guitars and charming video game-like synth lines, infusing the song with a playful atmosphere. The driving drums keep the energy soaring, while Lucy Lorenne’s absolutely adorable vocals and heartfelt lyricism add a touch of innocence and sincerity to the mix. Effortlessly weaving together the catchy 8-bit elements with infectious indie-pop hooks, the track is a mixed bag of emotions that builds to an exhilarating and euphoric chorus. The accompanying music video for ‘Tamagotchi Nights’ is a visual delight created in collaboration with Mediaroid. Drawing inspiration from the Y2K era, the video brings Lucy Lorenne’s childhood bedroom to life in a dream-like reimagining. A rainbow rug, pink lava lamp, CD player, pixelated screens, Barbies, aqua roller-skates, and butterfly cushions set the stage for a distinctly Y2K, ‘Hi-5-esque’ aesthetic that resonates with zoomers everywhere. The video seamlessly cuts between this vibrant bedroom scene and Lucy Lorenne & The Early Birds performing against a backdrop of bold, poppy colours reminiscent of that era. Interspersed with these scenes are heartwarming home-video recordings of Lucy and band members as kids, adding an authentic touch to the nostalgia-driven aesthetic. The result is a colourful, fun, and energetic celebration of the cherished memories of childhood.

NYC disco-pop group Say She She have announced a run of tour dates for their biggest headlining trek to date. The dates are in celebration of the group’s recently announced forthcoming record Silver, out September 29 via Karma Chief/Colemine. The album’s newest single ‘Astral Plane’ also arrives along with a video directed by Lisa Schiller, who previously directed the visual for Silver’s lead single ‘Reeling.’ Other released tracks include ‘C’est Si Bon,’ an upbeat summer anthem, and ‘NORMA,’ the group’s protest anthem released in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned. [via Flood]

IAN SWEET have announced a new album, SUCKER, the follow-up to 2021’s Show Me How You Disappear. Project mastermind Jilian Medford is introducing the album with “Your Spit,” a hooky and blown-out rock song with the chorus: “Kiss me like you mean it/ Kiss me like you’re leavin/ Your spit tastes different/ Kiss me like you mean it/ Make me believe it.” “‘Your Spit’ is about the joy and fear that surrounds new relationships,” Medford said. “The excitement that’s also accompanied by doubt. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say the song is just mostly about making out.” It was produced by Alex Craig and Strange Ranger’s Isaac Eiger, and it comes with a music video directed by Brittany Reeber that includes cameos from Saturday Night Live‘s Sarah Sherman and Martin Herlihy. [via Stereogum]

Ashnikko unveils the official video for her latest single ‘Cheerleader,’ off her highly-anticipated debut album WEEDKILLER, out August 25. Directed by Joanna Nordahl, the music video melds elements of folklore and surrealism, drawing inspiration from the cinematic atmospheres of Midsommar and the fierce energy of Bring It On. Ashnikko takes on the role as ringleader of a cheerleading cult as they perform competitive ritualistic dance routines with a forced smile. As the video comes to an end, we see the consequences her character faces for refusing to conform to societal pressures. ‘Cheerleader’ is a siren song about modern beauty standards, undercutting imagery of a poised, pom-pom waving poster-girl with blades, blood stains and broken faces. Like a funhouse mirror it warps the infamous cheer from the opening scene of the early 2000’s movie Bring It On into a critique of our cultural obsession with perfection. Ashnikko states, “if youth and beauty are the currency, I will pay it in full until I am a withered husk decomposing on the moss and going back to mother earth. The beast looms in my periphery, constantly gazing and assessing as perform for him, hoping I am good enough!!!!!!!” [via Vents Mag]

Chappell Roan is set to release her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and she’s giving fans a taste of what’s to come with her brand new track, ‘HOT TO GO!’. The song, co-written and produced by Daniel Nigro, known for his work with Olivia Rodrigo, can be streamed below. In discussing the inspiration behind the track, Chappell reveals, “I wrote this song so I could live out my cheerleader fantasy! I just wanted to make something simple and silly that I could do with the audience because I’m a huge fan of audience participation. Also, selfishly (and shamelessly) wanted to bounce around on stage singing a song about being hot.” [via Dork]

Olivia Rodrigo has shared a new single called ‘Bad Idea Right?’. The song will appear on the pop singer’s second studio album Guts, which is due for release on September 8 via Geffen. Written by Rodrigo and her producer Daniel Nigro, the crunchy guitar anthem follows the singer as she weighs up whether to meet an ex. “Seeing you tonight/ It’s a bad idea, right?/ Seeing you tonight/ Fuck it, it’s fine,” she sings over a punky instrumental. In the chorus, Rodrigo chants: “Yes, I know that he’s my ex/ But can’t two people reconnect?/ I only see him as a friend/ The biggest lie I ever said.” The official video, directed by the star’s regular collaborator Petra Collins, sees Rodrigo attend a house party with some of her real-life friends before making a swift exit to find her former partner. Later, she hitches a ride in the rain on the back of a pickup truck, travels on public transport, and eventually makes it to her ex-boyfriend’s place. You can watch the journey unfold here: “I had such a fun time making this song with @dan_nigro in NYC last year,” Rodrigo wrote on social media upon the single’s release. “We wrote the chorus as a joke but we loved it so much we made it into a full fledged song lol! I had a ball making the music video with my friends @petrafcollins @madisonhu @tatemcrae @irisapatow and I’m so happy it’s out in the world.” Speaking about creating ‘Bad Idea Right?’ in the studio, she added in a statement: “We were throwing the weirdest things at the wall – in one of the choruses there’s a part that sounds like an instrument in the background, but it’s me gradually screaming louder and louder.” [via NME]

Later this month, Brooklyn indie rock quartet Wetsuit are set to debut their first full-length album, Sugar, I’m Tired, arriving August 17 via Substitute Scene Records. Ahead of the album’s release the band have already shared a pair of new singles, ‘Local Celebrity’ and ‘Twiggy,’ and now they are back with a third and final single, ‘Clovers’. ‘Clovers’ is a work of winding indie pop bliss, traveling in the same vein as Indigo de Souza or Alvvays. Nils’ guitar lines have an ephemeral, dreamy quality, shining bright amongst the steady sway of the rhythm section. In contrast, Becker’s voice is strong and striking, infusing the track’s quiet moments with wistful longing and its hazy climax with blooms of rippling cathartic weight. It’s a simple combination, but one the band uses to great effect. Meanwhile, Becker’s lyrics are sweet and inviting, finding lovely poeticism in small moments of devotion: “Cover me in roses / Find me when the bar closes / Stitch me back together / Paint me shades of blue.” Becker says of the track, “‘Clovers’ is a love song. It was Summer 2021 and my partner Anders and I had been living together for about a year. I was feeling so much gratitude and contentment in my life, having built this stable relationship and home together and watching it blossom. Life just felt so cozy and nice like taking a big nap in a field of clovers. I wanted to write a song that wrapped you in gooey, cozy, fuzzy warmth, like pulling you under a blanket of clovers. With Wetsuit I sought out to prove that you don’t need to be a musical genius to write good songs. My hero Sharon van Etten described writing songs as seeking melodies within chords and once that clicked with me it unlocked a confidence in songwriting I never knew I had. I wrote Clovers with just 2 chords and harnessed that simplicity as a superpower, not a limitation.” Beckers continues, saying of the video, “Before I started writing music and formed my band, knitting and crocheting was my main creative outlet. It was a huge part of my life. I spent all my free time fulfilling orders from my Etsy shop and making pieces to sell at craft fairs. ‘Clovers’ is all about being comfortable and secure in a relationship for the first time. I knew I wanted to tie in that cozy, squishy soft imagery, and had an idea that I could use crochet dolls to represent my transition from one creative outlet to another, from knitter to musician. I made the giant hood you see in the video, but crochet dolls are not my specialty. For those, I found this amazing crocheter Jeri Thompson on Etsy. She blew us away and even surprised us by making an entire drum kit without me asking.” [via Under the Radar]

Critically-acclaimed, non-binary, London-based artist, Jazmin Bean has released their brand new single, ‘Favourite Toy’. The sunny and string-driven track addresses everything from addiction to intense, toxic relationships, with honest lyrics that find the singer grappling with their self-worth amidst the chaos. The track is accompanied by a music video shot in LA and created, directed, and styled by Jazmin Bean. [via Prelude Press]

Singer, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Rainbow Chan has delivered her new track and accompanying video ‘Seven Sisters’. The video is as vibrant and culturally rich as the music behind it, taking the viewer on a deeply symbolic journey as Rainbow navigates bitterness towards arranged marriages and patriarchal rule. On ‘Seven Sisters’, Rainbow Chan seamlessly weaves modern art-pop production with traditional Chinese folklore and a powerful bell-like vocal delivery. The result is a stunning paradoxical feeling of anxiety and self-assuredness, beauty and gloom. Inspired by a Hong Kong folktale wherein a group of devoted sisters plunge into the ocean as an act of rebellion against their arranged marriages, ‘Seven Sisters’ is a nuanced exploration and feminist reimagining of traditional folksongs in the lead-up to arranged marriage. Explaining her inspiration for the track, Rainbow says: “’哭嫁歌’or ‘Bridal laments’ refer to a female custom that was performed by the 圍頭 (Weitou) people. As marriages were arranged, becoming a bride signified a kind of death for a woman. Not only would her ties to her natal home be severed, but she would remain an outsider to the groom’s family. To mourn this profound sense of loss, Weitou women would perform a bridal lament cycle before their wedding day, a ritual which involved singing and weeping in front of family and friends over the course of three days.” Rainbow has Weitou heritage through her mother but only learnt about this fascinating bridal ritual recently as the practice ended in the 1960s. The video offers decadent visuals, blending old with new and tradition with rebellion. Rainbow is surrounded by crimson handmaids and watched by Weitou village elders who personally lived through this history themselves. ‘Seven Sisters’ was directed by Capsule48 creative director Anne Berry, who Rainbow Chan previously collaborated with for her ‘Oblivion’ (2019). It draws on more than five years of intense research done by Rainbow: interrogating intergenerational and cross-cultural perspectives on diasporic identity as part of her collaboration with Weitou-led conservation program Caritas Lung Yeuk Tau Community Development Project. [via FBi Radio]

COBRAH has lost her mind—and all we can do at this point is hold on for dear life. An experimental electronic artist with the sort of bravado to paint our emotions for us—albeit with a razor for a paintbrush—COBRAH has a bright future ahead. After debuting on Big Beat Records earlier this summer, she’s now returned with ‘MANIC,’ a sultry track inviting fans to explore their own perceptions of sexuality and self-expression. Here, COBRAH’s badassery shines through her unapologetic lyricism: “I just get a little drastic, want to blow things up with matchsticks / Let it out with holy godspeed, I’m so nice if it wasn’t for my kink.” Electronic music fans will recognize COBRAH from her seductive vocal performance in Chris Lorenzo’s global house hit, ‘MAMI.’ She twists the knife into that style in ‘MANIC,’ where her come-hither, slithering sound melts into a four-on-the-floor club beat. “I loved making this record but if anything, it really brought out the manic in me,” COBRAH said in a statement. She’s not kidding. COBRAH also released the official ‘MANIC’ music video, a madcap audiovisual that shows her heart is as black as her signature latex. The video finds her embracing her desires without inhibition in a noir world where sensuality and dominance are canon. [via EDM]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Philadelphia rock quartet Speedy Ortiz recently announced its long-awaited new album entitled Rabbit Rabbit. The band previewed its first record in 5+ years by sharing ‘Scabs’ and ‘You S02,’ and now Speedy Ortiz shares its next single. ‘Plus One’ features jagged-cliff-dwelling riffs and thundering drums, and is accompanied by a campy horror homage from Dylan Mars Greenberg. But while the video is lighthearted, the song finds Dupuis exploring a traumatic childhood experience in her songwriting for the first time. Dupuis on ‘Plus One’: I love touring, but the workaholism it encourages has been a convenient way to repress my feelings. In the pandemic, I found myself ruminating on my estrangement from an abusive family member. I’ve used my songwriting to process other experiences of violence, but had not broached these memories until Rabbit Rabbit. Being able to work on old trauma in therapy and in my writing has helped my boundaries elsewhere, and taught me to move on from exploitative relationships. That’s what ‘Plus One’ is about, and it came out pretty quickly as a sad acoustic waltz. I was sitting on the floor of an empty living room, mid-move, and the bare surroundings added a liminal starkness, though some of the imagery is inspired by scenes from West Philly that summer. When I went back to do pre-production, Texan post-hardcore was in my head, so I tried to channel At the Drive-In and Trail of Dead, bands that inspired me as a teen. We made the video with director Dylan Mars Greenberg, whose campiness and B-movie expertise was a perfect fit for the band’s also very campy videography. We’ve done a ton of horror homages but had never paid tribute to an old school monster movie. Dylan’s pet bunny Voodoo was a perfect Godzilla-sized star—a cuddly rabbit who’s mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.”

On Friday, Sweeping Promises released their astonishing new album, Good Living Is Coming For You, on Feel It Records in North America and Sub Pop for the rest of the world. Following the previous single releases of ‘Eraser’ and ‘You Shatter’ comes the arresting new video for the album’s title track, ‘Good Living Is Coming for You.’ Sweeping Promises’ Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug on the new video: “For this video, we collaborated with one of our closest friends, experimental filmmaker Jessica Bardsley (Life Without Dreams, Goodbye Thelma). Drawing from the glamorous and bloodthirsty aesthetic of ‘70s and ‘80s horror films (Daughters of Darkness, The Hunger, The Lair of the White Worm, Dream Demon), the visual companion to ‘Good Living Is Coming for You’ channels the song’s unshakable feeling of discontent and encroaching domestic doom through the confines of a DIY horror flick as seen by some nameless sleepless soul on late-night cable, the line between movie and infomercial blurred to infernal effect.”

Indie-pop sensation Holly Humberstone is back with ‘Antichrist’ and ‘Room Service’, and has finally announced her long awaited debut record, Paint My Bedroom Black, which will be arriving on October 13. ‘Antichrist’ is a shimmering slice of electro-pop that is as smooth and polished as a diamond. “Am I the antichrist? How do I sleep at night?” She opens the song, straight to the point. The production on this track is really fantastic, with pounding drumbeats and swirls of synths. It’s a melodic, sprawling track, filled with sadness, yet doesn’t really make the listener feel too sad, more empathetic. Speaking on the writing of the song, Humberstone said: “’Antichrist’ is about a breakup I went through a couple of years ago. I genuinely cared about this person and wanted so badly to make it work, but I knew something wasn’t right and my heart wasn’t in it. I knew that I was inevitably going to have to hurt the person I wanted so much to love. At the time I wrote the song, I remember feeling like I was constantly letting those around me down. I basically felt like the worst person in the world.” [via When the Horn Blows]

FIZZ have shared a new video and details of a new tour. The band – dodie, Orla Gartland, Greta Isaac and Martin Luke Brown – have released a new clip for their debut single ‘High In Brighton’, which features on their imminent first album The Secret To Life, due for release on September 15 via Decca Records. [via Dork]

RENE has released the music video for her anarchic track ‘Rule The World’, taken from her recently released EP Slipped Through My Fingers. The Singapore-based musician worked together with director Lenne Chai and director of photography Danvisuals to create the campy, queer, action-packed video. “I wrote ‘Rule The World’ in a time when I felt stuck in a monotonous and unfulfilling routine. The song is based off the idea that there’s something better out there for everyone in this position, an inkling that could very well manifest if you take agency of your own life,” shares RENE. “When I wrote the song, I pictured a car driving out of a city, making a grand escape. Lenne and I toyed with a couple of insane ideas (one involving me performing the song at the back of a moving lorry smack in the middle of Singapore) and eventually landed on the craziest one of all – getting a bunch of beautiful people across Singapore and Los Angeles to work together on our campiest video idea yet. Of course it had to involve our queer love interests on the back of a motorcycle driving off into a fake sunset.” On the inspiration behind the music video, Los Angeles-based photographer and director Lenne Chai (W Magazine, Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter) adds, “We were inspired by D.E.B.S., a queer American action-comedy film about a spy-in-training who falls in love with the villain. To give it a local flavour, we referenced the visual language of Asian femme fatale films from the 80s/90s — complete with smoke, harsh lighting and crash zooms. We also studied episodes of Mediacorp’s 90s cop show Triple Nine to see how they framed Singapore as the backdrop for over-the-top action sequences.” Depicting a queer love story with a happy ending was an essential part of the music video for RENE and Lenne, both of whom grew up in a space where many LGBTQ+ characters in the media are often presented with negative connotations. “Most queer stories I saw growing up often ended in tragedy, so I thoroughly enjoyed crafting a queer music video that‘s unabashedly joyful, campy, and action packed,” explains Lenne. RENE continues, “D.E.B.S. was an instant favourite for us because it did that exact thing – it turned the tragic narrative on its head and gave us a cheesy, fun, and unapologetically queer rom-com action flick that was so rare at the time. We hope our music video does for other people what movies like D.E.B.S. did for us.” With local sponsors Sandbox Training Ground (choreographed the action sequences), smol (fed the hungry cast and crew), Camera Rental Centre (equipment sponsor), Closet Children (accessories sponsor) and incredible location partners Studio Min Max and Club Hell contributing to this project, the video was made possible through the efforts of a community invested in uplifting local independent creatives. The team consisted of creatives based all over the world, including animation director Danica Tan, graphic designer Sunny Chuang, editor Ian Alexander Ng and colorist Weiyi Ang. “It’s always great working with passionate and such talented people. I loved the concept when Lenne pitched it to me. I’m always super keen on making stuff with fellow Singaporean artists, and creating more gr8 content for our local music scene ,” shares cinematographer Danvisuals (Nathan Hartono, Forests, Benjamin Kheng and Bea Lorenzo, Soph T.).

Toronto-based indie-rock outfit Housewife shares the music video for their new single, ‘King of Wands’. Housewife’s self-directed ‘King of Wands’ video celebrates the inherent power of women’s intuition, spirituality, and solidarity – the things that keep women safe and thriving in the face of patriarchy. “Getting to direct ‘King of Wands’ was such a cool experience! I had only experienced my first proper video shoot the day before, so it was kind of crazy to go straight into directing one the next day, but it ended up being a lot of fun,” Brighid Fry (aka Housewife) says of their directorial debut. “Because this song has a political message, I knew I wanted to be very specific in the making of the video to ensure that it went along with the song in that regard. I was definitely nervous seeing as I’ve never done any directing, but the rest of the crew were super patient and supportive.”

Vancouver pop artist Haley Blais signed with Arts & Crafts this spring and released a new single — and now she’s announced her first album for the label. Her sophomore LP is called Wisecrack, and it’s due out September 15, with the single ‘Baby Teeth’ out now. ‘Baby Teeth’ comes with a CGI-heavy video directed by Shea Oracheski. The album reportedly delves into dark, introspective territory. Blais asked in a statement about Wisecrack, “Am I a good person or not? Are we all doing okay? Am I a good daughter? Sister? Partner? Friend?”

Olivia Rodrigo has released her epic new single ‘Vampire’, much to the delight of fans. The 20-year-old singer also recently announced the release date of her highly-anticipated second album GUTS. Taking to Twitter, Olivia said: “vampire song and video out now. I made it with my very talented wonderful friend @TheDanielNigro last winter and created the video with the incredible Petra Collins. writing this song helped me sort through lots of feelings of regret, anger, and heartache. it’s one of my favourite songs on the album and it felt very cathartic to finish. im so happy it’s in your hands now and I hope it helps you deal with any bloodsuckers in your life. all my thanks 4ever.” (sic) The official music video for ‘Vampire’ has also been released, which was shot in downtown LA at night. [via Planet Radio]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.