Album Archives

Jack M. Senff – “Low Spirit”

Another brilliant release from the label Skeletal Lightning, Jack M. Senff’s new album ‘Low Spirit’ feels like an introspective road trip through the middle of America. The album title track “Low Spirit” deals with the complexities of life and the toll it can have on our lives. Yeah it’s been hard to watch the world as it’s ending…& though there might be hope come tomorrowIt’s always just out of reach in the moment—That’s time spilling through the cracks in my handI’m a low spirit in a strange land The Michigan-based singer-songwriter found his new voice as a solo artist after having been a member in the indie rock bands Merchant Ships, Midwest Pen Pals and William Bonney. Following in the tradition of great Americana singer-songwriters like Neil Young, Jack’s music gets it’s impact from his depth of songwriting and sincere vocal delivery. Jack landed his first ever sync recently with his song “Old Days” in CW series The […]

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Zeta – “Todo Bailarlo”

Originally hailing from a little town off the coast of Venezuela, the Latin art collective Zeta just released their latest album “Todo Bailarlo” on the midwest indie rock label Skeletal Lightning. The group collaborated with a collective of musicians spread out across the world known as The Abajo Cadenas Orchestra to explore a variety of genres popular throughout Latin America. The album is very much reflective of the group’s roots and multifaceted cultures. The collective’s sound varies from dense polyrhythmic percussion with Afro-Carribean influences to retro 70’s post-rock psychedelic tracks. The true essence behind the collective is that they honor the ideals of resistance against the unjust treatment of living beings and cultural/racial prejudices. Whether it’s through music, film, design, or cuisine, Zeta’s style and sound can be perceived in many different mediums. For a visual perspective, check out Zeta’s vibrant music videos from “Todo Bailarlo”:

Maneka – “Dark Matters”

At the intersection of music and history, Devin Knight uses his current project Maneka to address questions about racism in America. His new LP ”Dark Matters”, out this week on Skeletal Lightning, was inspired by binge watching documentaries on dark matter in space. Knight draws a correlation between the history of race issues in America and the scientific concept. In his own words: With dark matter, it’s there but it’s not. Just like our history with race; a lot of people are aware of its existence, but you can’t touch it. You can’t smell it. But it’s among us. America has this really dark energy. How has it been this fucked up for this long and no one’s done anything about it? As a black man creating music in a genre where he isn’t widely represented, Knight continues to establish his brand and unique sound within the space. He continues: I wanted to introduce […]

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The Kickdrums – “The Ghost Tapes”

The Kickdrums have been killin’ it for over a decade, and won’t stop any time soon. Back with a new full length album, The Ghost Tapes is an all-encompassing project with a wave of songs passing through a wide array of sonic textures. The album kicks off with a cool, laid-back instrumental called “She Killed Me With Her Eyes”, then begins pushing off into darker territory. “Love Buzz”, a meta-cover based on the Nirvana version of the 1969 original, features the fuzziest of fuzz guitars and filtered delay vocal treatments. Fitts manages to take this song into psychedelic depths, all while preserving Nirvana’s snarky tone and catchy hook. The album closes with “Hum”, a hard-hitting indie rock track with electronic and dub overtones. All in all, quite a trip! The Kickdrums is the recording alias of producer/songwriter Alex Fitts. Well known in the industry for his signature style, Fitts effortlessly blends together elements of trip-hop, dub and indie-rock into all […]

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Daz Rinko – “Sweet Jeezy”

Daz Rinko’s exceptional new EP “Sweet Jeezy” smoothly blends together elements of jazz, future-house, disco, soul and hip hop. Daz’s endearing Memphis drawl sits so perfectly in the pocket atop slick the dance grooves that you might completely miss the message. Coming from a somewhat dark place lyrically, themes of poverty, heartbreak, family drama and general disillusionment are a throughline throughout the album. “The paranoia of struggling, living paycheck to paycheck my entire life, the struggles of having a child without being able to support them emotionally, and the feeling of being alone in the present because I’m always working to be stable are things I touch on and continue to think about.” As a counterpoint to the heavy subject matter, the music is upbeat and joyful, even celebratory in tone. The infectiously hooky “When You Call Me” is a gorgeously produced throwback featuring jangly guitars, DX7 jazz chords and […]

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DJ Nu-Mark – “Run For Cover”

Most cover albums are predictable and boring, which is why we’re generally not overly interested in taking them on for representation. In order for one to be worthwhile, it needs to be a completely original take on music that hasn’t been covered too many times before. Which is why when DJ Nu-Mark asked if we’d like to take on his album “Run For Cover” we just couldn’t resist! Oddly enough, as far as covers go hip hop and R&B from the late 90’s and early aughts is kind of uncharted territory. But for a member of the acclaimed hip hop band Jurassic Five, this era is all but too familiar. I mean, Nu-Mark was THERE! You’d also expect a turntablist to approach covers as sample-driven remixes, but again you’d be wrong there. Instead, DJ Nu-Mark brought in live musicians to reinterpret these songs and give them a completely new spin […]

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Bad Business Club – “Naked Neighbor”

As the summer winds down to a close, everybody needs some smooth grooves to relax to. “Naked Neighbor”, the new album by New York City Nu-Disco collective Bad Business Club, whisks you away to a dreamy 70’s poolside soiree with the smell of chlorine, coladas and cocaine in the air. With flawless chops and super tight production, Bad Business Club gives us a modern take on Giorgio Moroder-esque Disco and classic Yacht Rock. Granted these are two genres most people either hate to love or love to hate, but there’s no denying that it’s as smooth as silk. The standout single on the record is “Runnin’ From You”, a masterpiece complete with funky bass, jangly guitar, congas, swirling synthesizers and sugary harmonies. If this one doesn’t get you to unbutton your shirt a little, chances are nothing will. Check out the brand new music video for “Runnin’ From You”:

Adrian + Meredith – “Bad For Business”

One of the advantages of making politically tinged folk music is that it never seems to age much. Folk music is by definition a tradition. Politicians come and go, but the same underlying issues have remained static for decades and are unlikely to change any time soon. The trick is to be non-specific in the details and universal in your message. Maybe throw in some horns for flavor. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Adrian + Meredith’s “Bad For Business” was written and recorded in their Nashville home back in 2019, but hasn’t aged a day since. “Somehow we got the feeling that the topics of Systematic Racism, Climate Change, and finding more common ground as Americans, was starting to reach a boiling point, and needed some empathy. It’s not our responsibility, per-say, to initiate the uncomfortable conversation any more than anyone else, but we can do it with a killer backbeat.” […]

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Featured Artist: Chuuwee

Very few rappers list their mom as an influence, but in the case of Chuuwee it would be impossible for him not to acknowledge his mother, rapper/producer Redd, for sparking his love for hip hop. Having her on his team from day one gave him a big leg up on the competition. By the time he got to high school, Chuuwee had spent his whole childhood developing his flow and jumped head first into the rap game. Chuwee dropped his first mixtape “Mauve Monster” back in 2009, a 12 track tribute to the color of his hometown team the Sacramento Kings. What followed was a relentless 13-year tsunami of releases totaling more than 40 albums and mixtapes and including collaborations with artists like Lil’ Flip, Del The Funky Homosapien, Riff Raff, Dizzy Wright and Trizz. Now with more than half a million monthly listeners and 80 million streams on Spotify, […]

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Claire Guerreso – “New Day”

Sometimes you write an incredible song but have to put it aside until you know people are ready to hear it. Having the patience and foresight to hold back until the right moment is what separates good artists from great artists. Nobody knows this better than Claire Guerreso, who has built her successful career co-writing with the world’s best writers and producers and delivering songs to her adoring fans through sync. I mean who needs a music video when you can introduce your song to the world on “Grey’s Anatomy”? Claire’s newest release “New Day” found its home at the end of a heartwarming digital short called “Generation Impact: The Coder”. The first in a series of episodic shorts by The Garage by HP, “The Coder” is about Jay’Aina “Jay Jay” Patton, an inspiring teenager whose love for coding breaks through racial and gender barriers and transforms her into a […]

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