People in the music industry usually wear many hats – it’s not uncommon for label managers to also be in radio, or for publicists to also write for publications, etc. In this case, Dear Life co-head Michael Cormier is also a talented musician. Paired with the grotesque and funny visuals by Luisa Levine, and the solid, hymnal harmonies by our dear friend Lou Turner, “Last Hurrah” previews what you can expect from the album – a fascination with the overlap between the mundane and the transcendent. More Light!! is out June 25th via Dear Life Records and Oof Records. On…

Jeffrey Alexander is releasing his project with the Heavy Lidders on Arrowhawk Records on August 6th. The Heavy Lidders boasts a killer lineup of, well, heavy hitters Jesse Sheppard and Drew Gardner (Elkhorn) and Scott Verrastro. Ryan Jewell, Pat Gubler, Rosali Middleman, Marissa Nadler and more also make appearances The first single, “Carousel of Flowers” is available on Bandcamp now and you can watch the vivid, kaleidoscopic video with art by the awesomely talented Aubrey Nehring here. From our friend Mike Mannix’s notes on the album , “Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders is a refreshing take on familiar sounds.…

Paul is Dead Records is releasing a star-studded, bandcamp-exclusive compilation of contribution from over 50 artists who are close friends and family members of the label. The compilation aims to bring attention to the alarming increase in hate crimes and general animosity and racism towards Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, to call on others to actively stand in solidarity with AAPI people, and to do everything possible to combat racism in all its nefarious forms. Contributors include Jolie Holland, surferblood, wake up, Holland, birddog, ,spaceface, the natvral, eternal summers, and so many more. Paul is Dead head Evan Mui says, With…

LA native Pam Shaffer, aka Nyxe, is a podcaster, therapist, writer, and a musician who has just released the latest single from upcoming album, The Lovely Unknown. Listen here! Songwriting has been a way for her to process her own thoughts and feelings after delving into tricky emotional landscapes with clients. Her podcast, Why Not Both, is filled with conversations with artists who, like her, juggle a variety of careers, interests and passions. Her discussions with artists like Madame Gandhi, Aurora and Sudan Archives inspired many of the songs on The Lovely Unknown. Recorded alone at home, The Lovely Unknown features…

Last week, 22-year-old rapper Ifeany Elswith shared the music video for “Fefestyle” from last year’s Everything Festyle with Rosebud Allday. The video is the result of the need to create during pandemic-induced inertia. The video reflects the mood of Ifeanyi’s music as well – namely, cruising with your friends with good tunes blaring. Ifeanyi’s most recent album is a radically cool, elegantly produced vocal-forward R&B gem. Her voice takes center stage, smooth and sensual when she sings, laid-back and winking while she raps. Each track on Everything Festyle is sonically astounding, and her raw honesty and confident lyrics are aspirational. You…

You may have noticed that my interest in electronic, ambient and new age is growing, and Nashville Ambient Ensemble is partially to blame for that. In my conversation with Michael Hix and Luke Schneider a few weeks back, Luke mentioned that *all* he listens to is private issue new age music. As my interest in the genre grows, and considering my fondness for Luke’s solo work as well as my daily habit of waking up to NAE’s Cereulean, I thought, who better to ask for recommendations? I asked Luke to make a mix of new age essentials and he totally…