Category: Music News and Interviews

Music news, interviews, features and giveaways

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Music News and Interviews

2k Indie Online

 

‘I’m DJ Psyched and you’re reading 2k Indie online. In this show I highlight new Indie releases from the last few weeks or so. This week we’re starting the segment off with Black Dog by Arlo Parks. This track blew me away from first listen, so be sure to keep it locked as we explore some new Indie today.’

  • Black Dog by Arlo Parks – As I was saying, this track absolutely blew me away at first listen and it only got better and better upon each new listen. The artists mesmerizing vocals were definitely the first thing I noticed upon listening to the track, but upon further evaluation, I found that the meaning behind the track was also incredibly powerful. The track is about mental health and what it feels like to experience feelings of depression, and it’s done incredibly well. The lyrics seem to be reflecting both the person with these feelings thoughts and the thoughts of those close to them ‘I would do anything to get you out your room.’ The guitars are steady enough to keep the track softly flowing, and the drums’ upbeat mood contrasts in a way that makes this track one that’s easy to move along to, but also hold the mood of a more serious and mellow track. The artist’s track was named ‘tune of the week’ by BBCR1 and I couldn’t agree more. ‘This is an incredible moment for vulnerable music’ the artist said in a recent tweet ‘I’ve always put a piece of myself into songs which can be terrifying but to be given this platform and recognition is encouraging me to keep on doing so’. I for one can’t wait to hear more.

  • House by Baba Ali – This is another track that blew me away at first listen for its uniqueness. The song has a sound that is a bit hard to define. It’s genre bending roots feel like a cross between Pop, Funk, Dance and alternative/ indie. The bass is groovy and keeps the track feeling alive, fresh, and keeps my head bopping along. The track, from the EP ‘This House’, talks about what it feels like to be in a house that is not a home, because of how economic struggles can provide stressors and barriers to a smooth home life. This comes from the hands of ‘this rat race’, as the artist put it. ‘They keep cuttin’ the lights out, And everybody’s getting priced out, If it goes up anymore they won’t be anywhere where to go’. The track is easy to listen to because of it’s catchy chorus and instruments, but again, the meaning behind it digs deep in a very real and beautifully said way.

‘It’s funky with a hardened edge. It’s urgent and it’s fed up. I remember writing the lyrics on a roll of receipt paper at the end of a long bar shift staring out at a crowd of drunkards.” the artist said in an article by Elicit Magazine. 

It is important to support black creators and let their voices be heard. Baba Ali’s Band Camp notes under the track ‘House’ that ‘100% of proceeds from sales will go to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.  Be sure to check it out, I highly recommend.

Baba Ali’s Bandcamp 

Let’s Stay Psyched about music,

DJ Psyched

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Music News and Interviews

New Tunes From May

 

In this series, I try to highlight some of my favorite tunes I listened to this month. May was another month full of new releases, but here are just a few that I find myself going back to a lot.

Was It Something I Said (feat. Cavetown) by MyKey – I love how this song has a very old school sound to it. The music instantly comes out sounding very 60s(?) influenced, the guitars and violin make it a soothing trip back in time. The album art also reflects this ‘classic’ style. The song is definitely a heartbroken tune, and the music makes it feel incredibly authentic. The collaboration was brilliantly done, as the two artists’ voices mesh well together.

Dance Alone by Blanks – Blanks is an Indie pop artist and his music is incredibly catchy and fun to sing along to. The artist made a lyric video for youtube where he said ‘Got bored in quarantine so I wrote a song’. The song is the perfect tune to dance to if you ever feel a bit lonely during this time. The hook is catchy and fun; and the guitars, bass and drums really make the song hard not to dance along to. 

Social Drinker by Ballyhoo! – It’s been a while since I’ve listened to this artist, but I was really excited after my first listen to this song. I find the lyrics are extremely relatable. The singer talks about social pressures often associated with drinking, and how hard growing out of this can be. The artist is over avoiding their problems and always turning to drinking. ‘Save me from myself’ is a lyric that reflects how the artist knows that they are responsible for themselves and what they choose to do, but that they understand their environment contributes to these choices. The song also reflects the struggles associated with growing up.

I would love to know what your favorite picks from May were, definitely let me know!

A full playlist to even more new tunes can be found here

– DJ Psyched

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Music News and Interviews

Music Fuels Movements

Music has always intersected with historical events and movements. In many cases music has fueled movements forward and allowed more individuals to understand the scope of the issues being protested. 

In the late 60’s and early 70’s, musicians and bands focused on mobilizing a cause to end the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War lasted over sixteen years, and countless American and Vietnamese lives were lost. Pete Seeger, an American folk singer, wrote a song against the Vietnam War, singing “Bring ‘em Home.” This song was widely used as a tool of the peace movement and it represented widely held views against the war. He also wrote “Turn, Turn, Turn” which discretely advocated for peace. Both of these songs written by Seeger around the time of the Vietnam War served to embolden an increasing public dissatisfaction with the war and its many costs. 

USA For Africa was created in 1985 by Harry Belafonte, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and Lionel Richie; as an American response to Band Aid’s song “Do They Know It’s Christmas.” The group performed pop-style songs on their We Are The World album. Their song,“We Are the World,” won a Grammy for song of the year and helped raise more than seven million for famine relief. Many groups and singers like USA For Africa, Band Aid, and others helped raise awareness and funds through charity songs. The African famine was a major social issue during this time period, and groups like this helped to raise money to provide medical aid, clothing, and food for countries in need. 

The events of the September 11th terrorist attacks in late 2001 sparked a musical movement which highlighted patriotism and strength during a difficult time in our country’s history. Bruce Springsteen, a rock artist, performed “My City of Ruins,” breaking the silence after a period of fear and anxiety over safety and our nation’s future. Multiple musicians during this time period contributed to the healing of our country after the attacks and raised awareness about what happened on 9/11. 

A lot of music today is reflective of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the issues that have caused it. We can reflect on Kendrick Lamar’s album, DAMN., which became the first non-jazz and non-classical album to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music. This album contains so many themes relevant to why this protest is important today. Artists like Lauryn Hill, Beyonce, and Kanye West have also all created music relating to police brutality and oppression against black people in America. 

I will be releasing another blog post diving deeper into some of these modern movement songs, but for now most major music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have created playlists by black artists relating to the social issues that have prompted protests in all 50 states.The Rolling Stone also published a list of songs relating to the movement. Definitely check these out! 

– Miranda

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Music News and Interviews

Live Show Blues

There's No Live Music Only Zoom image with Sigourney Weaver from Ghostbusters

It’s been 3 months without going to a live show and honestly… I don’t know how I am still sane. I am usually at a show twice a week so this new “normal” of no live shows for a while has not been a good time. I miss my friends and I miss seeing bands. I miss the energy a live show gives off and the atmosphere that a venue has when the crowd is as into the music as the bands are.

Not only is this a hard time for fans, but also for bands/artists, venues, and booking companies. Every show I had planned this summer is now cancelled and it is very discouraging to see. A lot of people make a living and have a career in music so this time is very difficult for them but also everyone else.

I believe that live music brings different people together because they all have a bond and a connection to the music. I have had some great social experiments and people watching at shows. I miss seeing a wide a variety of people and feeling the energy of the crowd during a breakdown.

Now bands are still releasing music which I am thankful for and some bands are doing virtual shows. I think this is very inventive and works during the time that we are in. But nothing will ever compare to actually being at a show. I have watched some virtual shows, but I tend to watch live sets on YouTube of my favorite bands. I will have dance parties alone in my room and I would just act like I am at a show. This is honestly one of my favorite things to do.

Here are some bands that I miss seeing live:

·      Upon A Burning Body

·      Miss May I

·      Knocked Loose

·      Kublai Khan

·      Boundaries

·      Dying Fetus

·      Obituary

·      Whitechapel

·      As I Lay Dying

·      Parkway Drive

·      Creeping Death

·      Burning Hammer

·      Jungle Rot

·      Wage War

·      And all of my Local Butchers

What bands do you miss seeing live?

Stay Metal

THE SAW

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Music News and Interviews

Genre of the Week: Gangster Rap

Are you surprised that I am reviewing something that isn’t metal? Yeah, I am too! Gangster rap is my favorite sub-genre of rap because of the lyrics, the beats, and the overall attitude of the genre. In some ways, gangster rap reminds me of metal because of how intense the songs are and ferociously violent the lyrics of some of the songs. Sometimes when listening to gangster rap, you can imagine riffs from guitars instead of beats and this is when you can see the semblance between metal and gangster rap.

Gangster rap emphasizes the “gangsta,” “O.G.,” and “thug life” lifestyle. The genre evolved from hardcore rap and was pioneered in the mid 1980s by rappers such as Ice-t and later by rap group N.W.A. While this form of hip hop was primarily underground, it soon became the most commercially lucrative sub-genre of hip hop. Many gangster rap artists openly talk about their associations with various active street gangs as part of their image, with the Crips and Bloods being the most represented. There have been a lot of criticism against gangster rap claiming that it promotes gang violence, substance abuse, and other criminal activities. Others have come to the defense of gangster rap and have stated that this music tells a story of personal lives and brings awareness of what goes on during inner-city violence. In my opinion, both of these things, can be true. Gangster can, both, promote and lend awareness to violence.

Ice-T released “6 in the Mornin’” in 1986 and is often regarded as the first gangster rap song. Ice-T has been an MC since the early ‘80s but transitioned into gangster rap themes after he was influenced by Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D and his 1985 album, “Schoolly D.” Schoolly D not only influenced Ice-T, but also Eazy-E and N.W.A., as well as the Beastie Boys.

This first blockbuster gangster rap album was N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton,” which was released in 1988. This album established West Coast hip hop as a vital genre and established Los Angeles as a legitimate rival to hip hop’s long-time capital, New York City. In the early 1990s, former N.W.A. member Ice Cube would further influence gangster rap with his hardcore, socio-political solo albums.

Run DMC is often credited for popularizing hardcore and confrontational attitudes and lyrics in hip hop culture; but in my opinion, Run DMC is not even close to being brutal like gangster rap. They do talk about partying and objectifying women, but nowhere near the subject matter, language, and the tempo of gangster rap. In some of Public Enemy’s tracks you can hear some of the early gangster material that influenced the sound that became popular. Rappers like LL Cool J also influenced the overall lyrical format that gangster rap would later use. This type of lyrical content reminds me of hardcore music that you hear today in the metal scene.

In 1992, former N.W.A. member Dr. Dre released “The Chronic,” a massive seller which showed that explicit gangster rap could hold mass commercial appeal just like pop-oriented rappers. This album established the dominance of West Coast gangster rap and began to create the sub-genre of G-funk – a slow, drawled form of hip hop. Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” is one of my favorite all-time records because of the beats, lyrical content, and the grooves of the songs. This type of rap reminds me of groovy death metal in a way, both are easy to dance to. Death Row Records rappers Snoop Dogg and 2pac helped spread the popularity of gangster rap and G-funk. Other popular and influential G-funk rappers, Warren G and Nate Dogg also helped popularize this sub-genre of music into mainstream media.

The feud between East Coast/West Coast gangster rap hit mainstream media in the late ‘90s. Rappers from New York City such as Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., and Lil’ Kim, etc. pioneered a grittier sound known as East Coast hardcore hip hop in order to take back dominance from the West Coast. It has widely been speculated that the “East Coast/West Coast” battle between Death Row Records (West Coast) and Bad Boy Records (East Coast) resulted in the deaths of Death Row Records’ 2pac and Bad Boy Records’ The Notorious B.I.G. The feud is also credited for the downfall of the Gangster Rap genre. Add to this that, most of these artists are millionaires and can no longer relate to the streets that raised them. However, you can still find many people (including tons of metalheads) who still love Gansta’!

Here are some of my favorite gangster rap albums/songs!

  • Dr. Dre – The Chronic (album)
    • Favorite songs: F*** wit Dre Day & Nuthin’ but a G thang
  • Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle (album)
    • Favorite songs: Gin N juice, Who Am I (What’s My Name)?, Murder Was The Case
  • Friday (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    • Favorite song: Keep Their Heads Ringin’ – Dr. Dre
  • Regulate (single) by Warren G and Nate Dogg
  • Gangsta’s Paradise (single) by Coolio
  • Fantastic Voyage (single) by Coolio

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Music News and Interviews

COVID-19 and Musical Experiences

The current situation revolving around the Coronavirus global pandemic has led to many societal changes including operational changes for school and work, recreation, and entertainment. This has, of course, translated into the world of music as well. With most states including North Carolina still under stay-at-home orders, musical experiences like concerts are obviously no longer possible. Many artists have used this time to find creative solutions to reach their fans, and music lovers across the world have found ways to continue sharing and enjoying music together, even while under self-quarantine. 

Concerts and Livestreams 

So many musicians and groups have hosted concerts through broadcasts. This time of uncertainty has bred so much creativity and expression, like the unlikely combination which led to Travis Scott’s Fortnite concert. Groups like 88Rising have hosted global livestreams with performers sharing a concert experience from their homes or studios. This is such a good way to bond with others. My friends and I hosted a Zoom viewing of the 88Rising livestream and watched it together. The best part of these online experiences is that they can not only be shared with friends, they are also free! There is so much more accessibility – anyone with internet access can join these online livestreams and see musicians they love performing. Definitely check your favorite artists’ pages for updates, as I have seen a lot attempting to reach their supporters in this way. 

Listening Parties 

Listening parties are a great way for fans to connect based on their shared love of an artist, or for friends to come together and talk about new releases or old favorites. Music is something that allows us to beautifully connect together even from across the world. I have attended a few listening parties since quarantine, and it’s amazing to share the experience of a first-time listen or discuss an old classic with strangers or friends. For example, I joined a listening party for Lorde’s album Melodrama with members of a music-related Facebook group I’m a part of. We were all able to join a Discord server and share an experience, reliving the album and having an emotional rollercoaster in the presence of others. I have also listened to a few new releases with groups of my friends using Zoom or FaceTime. I highly recommend seeking these types of opportunities if possible, and organizing them if you can. It is such a unique way to get connected to the people around you especially because we all need a little extra connection during quarantine. 

And More… 

There are other ways of having shared musical experiences. You can check out my blog post about Spotify’s new Listening Together feature, which is a great way to find new music curated by musicians you like. A lot of artists have released singles or small projects on their platforms in response to being stuck at home. I’m also curious to hear about any other ways you all are staying connected musically, so feel free to comment! 

– Miranda

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Music News and Interviews

The Best Female Rap Artists

I am a big fan of music created by and for women, and I find that female rappers best embody the strength and lived experience that women share and can relate to. I decided to compile a (condensed) list of my favorites, and a little about their individual contributions to music. 

  1. Ms. Lauryn Hill 

Lauryn Hill is honestly one of my very favorite artists in general, and her pure talent as a rapper emphasizes the breadth of her musical abilities, among all of them. Hill has had such an impactful career. She was extremely successful as a member of The Fugees, and her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of the most empowering and influential albums of all time. She is skilled in rap and is one of the few artists able to casually blend it in and out of her songs seamlessly. Lauryn Hill has influenced an entire generation of young artists and will continue to do so as her legacy continues. 

  1. Young M.A. 

Young M.A. is possibly one of the hardest female rappers alive. She has a voice and flow rivaling any famed rapper and has gained prominence based on her amazing performances, including performing alongside 21 Savage and opening for Beyonce’s tour. Young M.A. is an inspiration as an artist: she has used her platform to share about her background openly and has done so seemingly effortlessly.  

  1. Doja Cat

Doja Cat started creating really unique raps unlike any other artists at the time in 2014 with her Purrr! EP, and I have been a big fan since. Although Doja Cat is mostly now known for her hit songs that have taken over TikTok, she truly has raw musical talent and is able to rap with incredible speed and clarity, even live. She is an impressive musician and a strong figure especially for young women, as she advocates for self-acceptance and empowerment. I can see her influencing the world of pop-rap in the future, more than she already has. 

  1. Megan Thee Stallion 

Not only has Megan Thee Stallion basically taken over the rap scene, she is truly an icon and inspiration. As a liberated woman with empowering, sexy lyricism and effortless flow; she is also balancing being a student in college. Megan has impacted rap artists and has introduced features by other prominent artists. I really look forward to her growth as an artist, and definitely think she is one of the most improved artists this year. 

  1. Honorable Mentions 

I definitely can’t list all of the most influential or best female rappers in one short list, and I want to keep this post short and sweet. I also really adore the following women and think they are incredible artists, all worth checking out: Flo Milli, Kari Faux, City Girls, Saweetie, Tierra Whack, and Kash Doll. 

Hope you guys enjoyed, let me know what you think! 

– Miranda 

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Music News and Interviews

Releases of April 2020

 

I  might be a bit biased when I say that April is the best month of the year, since it’s the month in which I was born, but I also have another reason to appreciate this April. I’ve already made two other blog posts about my favorite songs and music videos from the month, but now that the month is officially over I have even more exciting music news to share. 

It’s truly has been a crazy good month for new music, at least in my taste/ from some of my favorite artists, but I’m sure there’s plenty of good music and news I will miss in this, so make sure to let me know if I missed something you really loved or were excited for this month!

As far as artists, like I said a lot of my favorites released new material this month, including but not limited to: Twenty One Pilots, Hayley Williams, Rina Sawayama, Declan McKenna, and The Front Bottoms. I name these artists because I already covered their new material in my previous blog posts so I won’t go into any more detail here, but I am still super excited about these releases and think they’ve held up really well over the month.

As far as music I haven’t talked about yet, there’s new material from: Smallpools, Mindchatter, Gorillaz, J.P. Plains, Still Woozy, Bad Suns, Arson Daily, youngbuk, Beachtape, and chloe moriondo. There’s even more than that, but I won’t be able to cover them all in this one post without making it ridiculously long, so instead I put them all in a playlist which is linked below.

Local Band Arson Daily released their first full length LP on April 3rd titled Late Reflections. Pipe Dream is my favorite track at the moment, but the whole album is impressive and worth a listen. Their rock and indie infused sound is unique and soothing. Refreshing and original, this one of my favorite plays of the month. The band has done a few live stream concerts for the record already, so if you’re interested you should check them out online, they seem to be staying very active during this time.

‘Window’ by Still Woozy is a soothing pop track with an R&B vibe. It also fits in perfectly with a lot of the indie music on my playlist, since the artist’s sound is a very unique blend of genres, which has made it really stick with me through this month. This artist definitely stands out with his unique choice of instrumentation and hypnotizingly soothing vocals. Making this track short, sweet and kept on repeat.

Last, but as I said before not really the last, is Smallpools. They released the track ‘Play Pretend’ earlier in the month, and the track ‘slowdown’ about a week ago. The first song was used for ‘The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show’, a netflix original. The song is incredibly upbeat, fun, and with it’s catchy chorus and playful guitar riff, it definitely screams Smallpools. I find the chorus gets stuck in my head pretty fast and makes me want to dance. It contrasts nicely with the track ‘slowdown’, a lighter sounding track, though not completely mellow. It has a soothing midline beat that picks up in the chorus. The track was made as a collaboration with morgxn, and considering the netflix partnership they also had this month, it all makes me wonder what the band has in store for us next.

Those were just some of my favorite Music Moments from April. Like I said the month was overwhelmingly full of great new releases and news. You can check out more of my recommendations from the playlist below. 

As always I have a question for you, what have been some of your favorite tracks and music news from this year?

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6CHgt25jDtqy9eyIHKKP3n?si=vA8QIJBkTmaBUaPfcM_HpQ 

– DJ Psyched

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Music News and Interviews

Strange Ranger on WKNC’s The Lounge

Strange Ranger stopped by The Lounge to play a few songs off their latest album “Remembering the Rockets” 0:04 “Rockets” & “Ari Song” 4:32 “Living Free” WKNC is a student operated, independent college radio station, playing the best of indie rock, metal, electronic, hip hop, local music and more. The Lounge sessions are live recording sessions with bands and recording artists that visit the station. by WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2

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Music News and Interviews

The Saw’s Electric Chair: Andreas Kisser from Sepultura

The Saw's Electric Chair WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 heavy metal podcast

In this episode of The Saw’s Electric Chair, The Saw did a phone call interview with Andreas Kisser, the guitarist for Sepultura! They talked about Andreas’ upbringing in metal, learning how to play the guitar, past and future tours, and the band’s new record, Quadra, which will be released on Feb. 7.