It’s finally warming up outside but the music has always been hot, hot, hot!
RELEASE RADAR is here to give you the breakdown of your top singles, albums, and videos to check out as you head into your weekend. Get ready to jam out with some of our favorite up-and-coming artists, plus celebrate new stuff from those you already know and love.
SINGLES…
⭐️ PREMIERE ⭐️ | Some Professional Help | “Lise Meitner”
PC: Baby Robot Media
Here’s some slow indie pop for your liking this weekend that is anything but simple. This collective includes a rotating cast of sixteen musicians to help group leader and singer-songwriter Scott Alexander put together his complex tracks. Their latest single from the upcoming EP continues with the theme of exploring Alexander’s personal struggles through the lens of the story of an Austrian-Swedish physicist who lends her name for the song title. Get ready to feel chills down your spine.
You Might Also Like: The Mountain Goats, Magnetic Fields, They Might Be Giants
Follow Some Professional Help on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
⭐️ PREMIERE ⭐️ | The Underhill Family Orchestra | “Chickasaw Fields”
PC: Lucky Bird Media
These folk/pop musicians are giving yet another taste of what their debut LP is about to sound like. Vocalist Steven Laney gave us a little more insight into the track.
“When it comes to this track, we were pretty heavily inspired by the call and response tradition; Johnny and June, Slow Club, Redbone, Bowie, Sam Cooke, they all have either set or raised the bar or at least influenced that style in my head in some way. I know that Joelle would say Fleetwood Mac is a big deal for her in that way. We also wanted to put some existentialism in the music, which I think you get the biggest dose of towards the end of the song, but the list of people and groups that influence us in that way is immeasurable (This Will Destroy You, Explosions, Philip Glass, Zappa, Dignan, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nels Cline…the list literally goes forever).”
You Might Also Like: Susto, War Chief, The Echo Wall
Follow The Underhill Family Orchestra on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
⭐️ PREMIERE ⭐️ | Zena Carlota | “MUZINGE”
PC: Manimal PR
This composer and multi-instrumentalist is working to put dreams, ancestry, and memory all together in her latest work from the upcoming album, The Confidence Of Birds. Below she speaks about the inspiration for this single:
“Muzinge is a folkloric song from Uganda originally recorded by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Samite Mulondo. After receiving his blessing to reimagine this song, I explored the beauty that can come from bringing our own voice to what has been. Drawing on folkloric music from the African Diaspora reminds me constantly that traditions are never lost…they are born and reborn in the hearts and minds of each new generation.”
You Might Also Like: Jeff Manson, Chelsea Coleman, Karen Cruise
Follow Zena Carlotta on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Daiza | “Realize”
This electronic music producer and artist has been working on music since she was a child, and since attending the Berklee School of Music has honed in on making her producing skills unique. With this new single, Daiza explores the topic of wanting nothing more than the one you love to notice you. Her EP featuring similar content is due out May 3.
You Might Also Like: Mitch Bradford, China White, QRTR
Follow Daiza on Facebook | Instagram
VIDEOS…
⭐️ PREMIERE ⭐️ | Quiet Hounds | “Emperor”
If you’re featured on the playlist for the Starbucks chain then you know you’ve definitely made it. These indie-rockers are totally in that realm of up-and-coming, and even have their video being featured at the Atlanta Film Festival. Featured are some incredible ballet dancers doing some amazing choreography. Get ready to get up and dance while feeling super-empowered from the message behind the video
You Might Also Like: Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, Cold War Kids
Follow Quiet Hounds on Facebook | Twitter
Filo Vals | “Just Guessin”
More acoustic tracking for us this week from the musician known as Filos about his latest single. He’s gotten great radio play thus far into his career and is has been working to incorporate songwriting into his life for most of his life. Below, he gives us insight on the process for this song.
“I wrote ‘Just Guessin” for a girl a really fancied at the time. The song is really about both wanting to know more about that someone and at the same time the fears of opening yourself too much to that same someone. It’s about putting aside all the superficial ‘chess-games’ and just wanting to be yourself and indulge in a wonderful adventure together.”
You Might Also Like: Paul Simon, Bob Dylan. James Taylor
Follow Filo Vals on Facebook
ALBUMS + EPs…
Isaac Gracie | Isaac Gracie
PC: Republic Records
This English singer-songwriter is following the release of successful singles with this self-titled debut release, exploring a sound that feels like a throwback to another era in the best way possible. A Creative Writing major at school helped him to make his songwriting serious business, which is all the better for the world as we get the first long form release out today. To support the release of the record, he’ll be heading out on tour across the U.K. and Europe, so if you dig the sounds, it might be time to plan a trip to check him out live.
You Might Also Like: Kurt Cobain, Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice
Follow Isaac Gracie on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Kindo | Happy However After
PC: EI PR
These guys call themselves an alternative jazz group, but their influences are far more diverse than that label conveys. On the lead single, “Human Convention” off this album, the guys dive into the exploration of jazz and and rock currents with smooth vocals layered over top. The rest of the body of the work is just as delightful. They’ve found their success through connecting with fans independently online, but I have a feeling they’ll need a heck of a lot more to chat with after this.
You Might Also Like: As Tall As Lions, The Deer Hunter, This Day & Age
Follow Kindo on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Brazilian Girls | Let’s Make Love
PC: kcrw.org
More than a decade ago these bandmates met in Nublu in New York’s East Village and formed a band that would eventually come to play at the club. In 2008, they released their last album and the music world has been on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next one. They’re exploration of free-form influences and diversity works to create the hallmark “kaleidoscopic sound” critics and fans alike have loved. Though the writing process for the work spanned continents, the cohesive quality still comes across.
You Might Also Like: Little Dragon, Supreme Beings of Leisure, YACHT
Follow Brazilian Girls on Facebook | Twitter
Rachel A.G. Gilman is a writer, a radio producer, and probably the girl wearing the Kinks shirt. Visit her website for more.
Have an artist we should profile? Send a pitch email to Rachel.
POP⚡DUST | Read More About Music…
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