Braids // Amends

Montreal’s Braids returns with a new track and a 12″ due out on June 11th. The three are now signed with Arbutus Records and can prove that this is no Native Speaker.  The new direction reminds of a less nightmarish Crystal Castles and takes you to a place that feels like the soundtrack for an old movie set in the future. A little dark but none the less the electronic ambient track is good and I’m excited for their new work. Pre-order their new album here or read our previous interview with lead singer Raphael Standell-Preston.

 

Fillintheblanks // Lia Braswell

My music: I’m currently playing in Le Butcherettes, Gothic Tropic, James Supercave, CLEAR PLASTIC, and JAN.

My sound is: very weird. I’ve had people tell me that I play stuff that normally wouldn’t work with anything else but somehow I manage to fit it in at the right moments. I’m usually pretty loud because I used to just practice to really loud music or amp up the metronome, but I was also learning to play jazz at the same time so it’s a mixture of the two. I have a big problem with ghost notes, I just can’t get enough of them.

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Stephanie Nilles // Takes a Big Ship

It’s rare an artist can some incorporate old in a way that is so new. Stephanie Nilles does just that with her latest album Takes a Big Ship. Released last September, the record features a number of songs all in a New Orleans jazz vibe. Nilles calls the city home, though originally from Chicago. She embraces her current residence into the music.

This album really is whimsical jazz. She’s having fun. The song titles, like “canadians are from canada,” give you a little smirk just reading them. She has a voice that is like tin pan alley meets the 21st century. It has the old qualities while sounding new and refreshing.

The album starts out with, “Transistor,” a song with a fast-paced organ riff that is dizzying but not in a bad way. The second song, “Give Me a Pigfoot, (& a bottle of beer),” is an old timey piano-driven tune. The modern is incorporated simply in the title of the song, “#,”. (How would you # that album name on Twitter?) The drums at the intro and outro really pack power. The song ends with a surprising strings riff giving it a bit of a darker feel.
At its heart, this is New Orleans jazz but many other genres seep their way into the mix. Old worlds meet new ones with this album, and she has such a unique, unforgettable voice that’ll be singing in your head long after listening to the songs.

by Maura Filoromo
photo by Meg Hannah

visit: stephanienilles.com

 

Lianne La Havas // World Cafe Live

Last night, after the Ladies Rock Camp Showcase, Attia and I saw Lianne La Havas at World Cafe Live. The UK soul singer’s debut album Is Your Love Big Enough? was nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize and was just named iTunes’ ‘Album of the Year’. The show was sold out and absolutely incredible! She was flawless in every way. Her voice leaps into your heart, her guitar playing is never overly complicated and is always beautifully arranged. She played everything we wanted to hear, tracks from “Is Your Love Big Enough” and my personal favorite, a cover of “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”. To put it simply Lianne La Havas is fantastic, proving to be a natural talent with unlimited potential whose charisma is matched only by her musical fierceness.

 

 

Interview // Tacocat

Happy April and Happy Spring Time!

It’s a gorgeous day in New York! I hope your town is glowing as well. Today I will let this interview speak for itself with Seattle band (with the coolest name), Tacocat! The best way to start April and Spring is with a band that makes you feel good and put’s a little random fun in your ears or in your day. I wanted to know what the deal was with Tacocat so here is the result of that and their crazy “rock-n-roll fun” presence.

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The Knife // A Tooth For An Eye

The Knife‘s return is something to be excited about. This Scandinavian duo always takes an intelligent approach to everything they place their name against. New album ‘Shaking The Habitual’ will be released on April 8th. The video for “A Tooth For An Eye” deconstructs images of maleness, power and leadership. In a sport setting where one would traditionally consider a group of men as powerful and in charge, an unexpected leader emerges. A child enters and allows the men to let go of their hierarchies, machismo and fear of intimacy, as they follow her into a dance.

Shannon and the Clams // Rip Van Winkle



We are happy to announce that Shannon and the Clams have a new record coming out May 21st, via Hardly Art. Oakland superstars Shannon and the Clams’ new track “Rip Van Winkle” is about the 19th century short story, so the lyrics are about somebody who’s been sleeping for a long time. We missed this soulful blend of garage pop and beachy surf punk. Go gecha self a new Clams song HERE !

Interview // Abi Reimold

Abi Reimold is a Philadelphia musician with a timeless voice. Her folk music is filled
with such raw emotions. Reimold is working on an album to be released in the spring and
here she talks about being a musician in Philly and why she is transitioning from acoustic to
more electric sounds.

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Empress Of // Systems



Meet Brooklyn singer and producer Lorely Rodriguez .Her sophisticated hazy pop project is called Empress Of. She’s been teasing the project with minute-long bursts of music called “Colorminutes“, which is a very cool concept worth checking out. Currently she’s getting ready to release her debut EP Systems via Terrible Records. The first song we’ve heard from it is a soft pretty tune called “Hat Trick”. Though previously released, we can’t get enough of this incredible song and video for her beautiful yet haunting song, “Champagne”.