Album Archives

Trevor Hall – “In And Through The Body”

“In And Through The Body”, the brilliant new record by Trevor Hall invokes self-examination by exploring themes such as struggle, growth, and redemption. Produced by Brad Cook (Bon Iver, the War on Drugs, Hiss Golden Messenger) this album sees him taking bold chances with his music while staying true to his core values. Hall uses a palette of genres that span from folk, roots-rock and electronic, all with a consistent wash of authentic far-Eastern influence. “As an artist I’ve always received songs about abstract things. One of the reasons that I love music so much is that I can enter any world, and sometimes I’d write about things that I couldn’t explain in words but were a feeling. I would tend to push away human emotions because I thought they weren’t as worthy as these abstract states. But this album is called “In And Through The Body”. It’s about entering […]

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BAILE – “Forth”

Brooklyn-based artist Reed Kackley, best known under his moniker BAILE, brings forth a deep dive into the hard-hitting world of electronic music with his brand new EP entitled “Forth”. The record is a melancholy mixture of boomy analog synths, lush vocals and organic instrumentation set to driving, percussive dance beats. Inspired by house, downtempo and experimental music, Kackley’s elegantly layered compositions blend together foley recordings with warm analog synthesizers and lush vocal performances from artists like Felicia Douglass (Dirty Projectors, Ava Luna) and K. Marie Kim (Mitski). In addition to his original work, BAILE has prolifically collaborated on some epic remixes with artists such as Sasha, Beacon, DRAMA, Tim Green and boerd. He’s also one half of the duo Haulm, who we’re also fortunate to rep one-stop for sync. His music has frequently received airplay from KCRW, Pete Tong & Danny Howard (BBC Radio 1), and been written up in […]

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No Suits – “Sex”

The new sophmore EP by Los Angeles locals No Suits, unsubtly titled “Sex”, is a distinct contrast to their debut EP “Virgin”. Marking a sort of end to their sonic puberty, their evolution from downtempo indie soul pop to confident and punchy funk-hop took form in the making of the new EP throughout the last year. The band’s unique sound comes from a tasteful blending of an indie psych-rock vibe a la Tame Impala with throwback elements from classic hip hop, soul, rock, funk and jazz. The result is music with a pervasive smooth swagger to it, which is likely the key to much of their recent sync success. The lead single off the record “Sue” has achieved over 2.6 million plays on Spotify and was featured in a segment with Brad Pitt for NFL on Fox. Their 2019 single “Clothes Off” has been in spots for MINI Cooper and […]

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Deep Dive: Jackson Boone – “Natural Changes”

It’s pretty likely you’ve never heard of Jackson Boone. He lives a fairly low key life managing a vegan juice bar tucked away all the way up in the top left corner of the country, while also quietly making stunningly gorgeous records. The song we’re highlighting today is the title track to Jackson’s album “Natural Changes”, a timeless psych-folk ballad with lush strings that is tailor-made for a bittersweet cinematic montage. Recorded at Cannon Beach along the Oregon coast with producer Riley Geare of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, “Natural Changes” is rich with vivid imagery of the Pacific coastal setting where it was conceived. Despite touching on heavy subject matter like death and passing into the unknown, the song remains light and dreamy with that small touch of levity Jackson often weaves into his songwriting. The string arrangement throughout is subtle and understated, elevating what would otherwise be a somewhat somber […]

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The Kickdrums – “Blurred Colors”

Alex Fitts, widely known under his moniker/band name The Kickdrums, is a bit of a wizard. With one foot firmly in shoegaze indie rock and the other in the mainstream hip hop world, Alex has made a name for himself by effortlessly blending these two seemingly incompatible genres together as few others can. With their brand new album Blurred Colors with features by rappers R.A. The Rugged Man and Blu, the Kickdrums are back in full force. Standout single “Sunshine Guy” has electro-pop Big Data sensibilities, and it feels especially relevant with the refrain, “All these days are blurring together.” They suuure are. Over the past 15 years, The Kickdrums have shared the stage with revered indie rock acts such as Miike Snow, The Walkmen, Andrew W.K. and Miguel. As a producer, Alex has worked with artists like 50 Cent, Kid Cudi, Freddie Gibbs, A$AP Rocky and Lana Del Rey, […]

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Orrin – “No Adlib”

Orrin is a strange dude. A self-described “collective conscious and cyborg sent by a higher civilization to warn humans about the incoming apocalypse”, Orrin exclusively speaks using plural pronouns. They claim to use music as a vehicle to spread their message about disease, famine, environmental disaster and the overall impending apocalypse. Oh, and of course he went on Dr. Phil. Regardless of who or what Orrin really is, there is undeniable musical talent hidden within. “HARLEY”, the first single off his upcoming full length album NO ADLIB, is a hard-hitting alternative hip hop track merging early 2000’s rock sonics with the modern “punch-in” flow made popular by Rico Nasty and Lil Uzi Vert. The rest of the album is loud, bassy, brash and absolutely filthy. We have the clean mixes, but honestly it won’t make much of a difference. If you’re looking for raw and unique alternative rap, WE got […]

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Markis Precise – “No Wings Without Scars”

Born in Fresno, California, producer/keyboardist Markis Precise took to time-honored traditions of crate-digging to create the sample-based soundscapes that contributed to Central California’s independent hip-hop scene in the early 2000s. His production later evolved to incorporate his lifelong training as a keyboardist, expanding the boundaries of chopped boom bap with the melodic elements unique to live instrumentation. Staying true to his collaborative ethos, Markis independently connected with some of hip-hop’s most talented artists to contribute to his debut studio album The Feeling Of Flying, including features by Brother Ali, Fashawn, Oddisee, Zion I, The Grouch, Ras Kass, Gift Of Gab, Sol and Chuuwee. In its first week of release, the record became the number one added hip-hop album on the national CMJ radio charts, with multiple tracks receiving steady airplay. Following on the success of his debut record, Markis is back with a powerful full-length album No Wings Without Scars […]

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Call Me Ace – “Working From Home: Extended”

Bay Area hip hop artist Call Me Ace is a millennial professional and disruptor who loves to challenge the status quo. In his new EP Working From Home: Extended, Ace reflects on what “survival” means during these virtually unprecedented times: global pandemic, racial injustice, and social unrest. Following the release of Working From Home in February, Ace delves deeper into his attempts to persevere within an unfair system while struggling with exhaustion, repression, and hopelessness. The EP suggests there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s faint. Although the project’s title continues playing on the corporate phrase describing a flexible work environment, the title also symbolizes how the uncertainty of the future continues to be extended. Call Me Ace’s 2019 album Airplane Mode debuted at #3 on the iTunes Top 40 US Hip-Hop Album Chart as well as #50 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales chart. Working From […]

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John Hayes – “The Last Best Place”

Minneapolis-based solo pianist John Hayes returns with his second full-length release, The Last Best Place. Inspired by the unexpected loss of a friend, The Last Best Place captures a range of emotions as well as Hayes’ intimate recording process. Each piece was written softly, late at night, wanting to tell their own story, yet all finding a way to remain connected to the same narrative. “The Last Best Place was very much an unexpected album for me. After recently moving into a new studio I was dealing with several different anxieties. Being on my own for the first time, another unexpected loss of a friend, trying to progress my music. All these things lead to a great deal of uncertainty in my life. It is funny how we always tend to gravitate towards the things that are most familiar to us during uncertain times. For me, that will always be […]

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Nicole Mercedes – “Look Out Where You’re Going”

Since her departure from the Brooklyn indie rock band Debbie Downer, multi-instrumentalist Nicole Mercedes has developed a haunting approach to songwriting that’s wry and witty, yet still vulnerable. Her sophomore LP Look Out Where You’re Going is dreamy and melodic, featuring tastefully arranged organ and synth parts that give the record a profound sense of depth. “This album chronicles the end of one of those long, meaningful relationships that mark a departure from the safety of being attached to someone to the chaos of being on your own,” – Nicole Mercedes Collaborating with producer Joe Rogers (Laura Stevenson, Rubblebucket, Deer Tick’s Andy T), and mostly tracked in her bedroom, Mercedes encapsulates the feeling of long afternoons gazing through rainy panes, desperately longing to be somewhere else. Something we can probably all relate to right now!

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