By Daniel Warren Hill
New Music Friday is upon us once more. The music in today’s rundown is as fluid as the weather. Some tracks offer summer sunshine and others deliver gentle drops of sonic rain. Either way, I know you’ll find something to connect with over the weekend, and if you’re looking for more you can find it on the Alchemical Records Multiegenre Mixture playlist on Spotify and YouTube.
“Discipline” by Jackson Whalan is an adamantly performed pump-up track. Whether you are looking to remind yourself what you are capable of, or if you are already at the top and looking for a reminder of how you got there, “Discipline” is the track to get you into that right frame of mind. “I hope my song ‘Discipline’ helps people to people feel confident and energized. I recently started going on runs while listening to music, which inspired me to write this song. I wanted to share my passion for reaching goals,” says Whalan. “I wanted to create something that I would want to listen to while running.” Now get in there and reach every goal you’re envisionin’.
“Pardon My Name” by Logan Wood is the title track from the impressive debut album by trap, hip-hop, rap artist Logan Wood. Even more impressive is that all the wordplay was written by Wood and each track was produced, mixed, and mastered by him as well. Pardon My Name is certainly a strong calling card for this emerging talent inspired by artists like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Nipsey Hussle.
Up and coming alt-rockers, Rebelle, of Wakefield, Québec, have released a brand new single, “Head On Fire”, which the band says is ‘a raw and angsty call to take a stand for yourself and reject a toxic relationship.’ The feel is really progressive. The parts of the song come together really well and have some unique rhythmic changes that almost feels like Rebelle have collected some of their best song ideas and found a way to place them into this action-packed new single. If you are inspired by artists like draws inspiration from bands like Muse, Demob Happy, and The Vines, then this track is for you.
Indie rock artists, Drumming Bird has a poppy new single “Electric Cowboy” described as ‘a memorial for a lost friend. It’s a pulse check on religion in America. It’s a commentary on the troubling past of our nation’s history. But most of all, it’s a message of hope we can find in unity.’ The song’s upbeat feel really ties together the idea that, as a country, we are still able to learn, to grow, and continue developing into the country we idealize and envision. Drumming Bird is flying high on the reception from his “American Spirits” single released earlier this year, resonating with fans of Briston Maroney, Medium Build, and The Avett Brothers.
“Winter Comes” by Paper Lady has elements of ambient, chill, almost lo-fi sensibilities, but however you categorize it, the track has an ethereal soundscape underneath a dynamic guitar (Rowan Martin), drums (Alex Castile), and bass (Will Davila) groove. Top it off with the haunting vocal performance by Alli Raina, and you’ve got one one moody track that we are told “is an anthem for preparing to be alone…and hope for independence.” This Boston area band all met at Berklee College of Music and has been putting some intense tunes together since 2019.
If you are a fan of The Killers, The Strokes, or Interpol, then you’ll love “Lay Down” the latest by North Carolina-based indie /alternative rock band, The Violet Exploits. The rhythm and melody provide a driving force for the band’s second single, preceded by “Laugh” released earlier this year. The song is intended to cause us to more deeply analyze relationships in our life that might be considered ‘fair weather’ or manipulative in some way. It’s a well-crafted song delivered with that raw indie energy and sets a high bar for what fans might expect next.
“When It’s Just You & I” is the final track from the latest 4-track EP by L.A.-based The Millennial Club of the same name. It begins with a bit of whimsy, with an elegant piano leading the way for a thoughtful vocal performance by Andres Owens who says, “When it comes down to it, I think that as artists, we all want to impact the world in some way, however big or small; the real reason we do what we do is because we can’t help but feel like we have to. We have to create, express, mold, shape, shift, contort, and most importantly, release the emotions and ideas within us. ‘When It’s Just You & I’ showcases a new side to our musicality while remaining consistent and cohesive to what we’ve come to define as ‘our sound’ as The Millennial Club.” Be sure to check out the whole EP, and may it inspire you dig deeper into The Millennial Club’s catalogue.
“The Right Words” is the latest single by indie powerhouse Aash Mehta, whose alt-pop / adult contemporary styles have been putting him on the map since his debut EP in 2016, Dreams Money Can’t Buy. The song seeks to describe an entire relationship from start to finish, but recognizes how difficult it is to put all of our feelings into words. Mehta got his start opening for artists such as Big Wild, Elephante, and Quinn XCII, and has since carved out a strong space for himself as a genre-blending songwriter and producer in the hearts and minds of fans who have followed his body of work. Dig in, and maybe you’ll be next.
Daniel Warren Hill is an American musician, writer, and motivational speaker. He is best known as the frontman for Washington DC area Alternative Rock band YellowTieGuy, as co-founder of Capitol Groove Collective, and increasing the exposure of artists on a global scale through his work with Alchemical Records.
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