discovering and sharing the music that moves us

Month: August 2021

Introducing The Highly Anticipated Release “something to live for” From Rising Star Ethan Jewell
Music, Reviews

Introducing The Highly Anticipated Release “something to live for” From Rising Star Ethan Jewell

Whether we believe it or not, we are not alone in our struggles. Life can get so busy, so confusing. We get lost in figuring out who we are and what we want to accomplish. The moments in which we do not know the answers to our own questions can be some of the hardest to live through. The point is that we live through them and we grow through them by connecting with others and with ourselves, by listening and supporting others' art, and by creating our own. We give to the world what we would like to receive back, and this is how we get through the unknown. Ethan Jewell is a remarkable and unique artist that shares his deepest thoughts with the world in hopes that those listening can feel safe doing the same. Based in Texas, with two albums, 20 million TikTok likes, and a non-traditional...
Are You Ready to Catch ‘The Feels’? KID BRUNSWICK’s Newest Music Video is Here.
Music, Reviews

Are You Ready to Catch ‘The Feels’? KID BRUNSWICK’s Newest Music Video is Here.

After weeks of coyly teasing fans with behind-the-scenes sneak peeks on social media, KID BRUNSWICK released the music video for “The Feel” today. Quirky and fun, the video is pure satire and provides commentary on modern dating culture without taking itself too seriously. Check it out– https://youtu.be/u7i4LLA6agc Over the course of the video, you see the rise and fall of a relationship in four minutes – all based on unspoken impressions and impulses. It ends just as quickly as it starts.  While it’s a direct reference to reality shows like The Bachelorette and Love Island, the chaos depicted can be directly applied to the “regular” dating scene as well. “Ever since I was young, I was intrinsically unhappy with who I was. I didn't understand why I felt that w...
Udo Kier Gives An Unforgettable Performance in “Swan Song” (Review)
Film, Reviews

Udo Kier Gives An Unforgettable Performance in “Swan Song” (Review)

Todd Stephens wrote, produced, and directed this new drama starring legendary German actor Udo Kier that had its world premiere earlier this year at the virtual edition of the SXSW festival. Older members of the LGBTQ+ community are not often given a chance to tell their stories or see themselves represented in popular culture, so it's a real treat to see Kier absolutely eat up every inch of the screen as Pat Pitsenbarger, an aging gay man who is miserably spending his final days trapped in a nursing home facility in Sandusky, Ohio. In a tale that is thankfully not as common now, we learn that Pat's long term partner David had passed away in the 90s due to complications from AIDS. At that time, before queer people could get married, many couples did not have legal protections. He ...
Sundance Hit “CODA” Comes Home (Review)
Film, Reviews

Sundance Hit “CODA” Comes Home (Review)

Loosely based on a 2014 French Film called "La Famille Bélier," the second feature film from director Sian Heder introduces us to a family in Gloucester, Massachusetts where a teenage girl named Ruby (Emilia Jones) is the only member of her family who isn't deaf. In classical music, a coda is the part of the composition that ends the piece or movement. Here, it stands as an acronym for "child of deaf adults" although it does double duty musically in the story as well. Ruby has grown up in her family's fishing company, working alongside her father and brother on the boat and helping her mother with the administrative side of things. She is not only well versed in the business, but also acts as a de facto interpreter for them in situations where they have to deal with others who don...
RUFUS DU SOL Drop New Unique Artificially Intelligent Music Video For “Next To Me”
Music, Reviews

RUFUS DU SOL Drop New Unique Artificially Intelligent Music Video For “Next To Me”

Grammy-nominated electronic trio RUFUS DU SOL had been laying low but they've officially come out of their shell. They've sold more than 70,000 tickets for their upcoming tour and are back with a new single and artificially intelligent music video. Directed by Osk, the video changes moods with the vibe of the music. Hailing from Australia, RUFUS DU SOL is comprised of Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George, and James Hunt. They made their debut in 2016 going simply as Rufus but had to change their name when they learned it was already copyrighted in America. New Music Back in July, they released "Alive", their first new song in three years. The new material has started trickling after the recent fall tour announcement that will see them play marquee festivals like Bonnaroo, Austin City L...
Interview: Phoebe Katis Releases New Music Video For “Never Be A Cool Girl”
Interviews, Music

Interview: Phoebe Katis Releases New Music Video For “Never Be A Cool Girl”

Fresh off her first headline show in New York City, talented singer/songwriter Phoebe Katis has just released a new music video for her latest single "Never Be A Cool Girl". She took an interesting approach in writing the song, compiling the lyrics first and then adding different homegrown percussion instruments to fill out the quirky groove. As far as some insight into the meaning behind "Never Be A Cool Girl", she had this to say, "I wanted to voice being over the facade of 'playing it cool' during the first stages of a relationship, be that romantic or just meeting people you vibe with." Phoebe recently moved from London to Brooklyn, more on that below. She flew to Los Angeles from New York in July to film the video. However, prior to the cross-country trip, the project was ma...
Nicolas Cage Returns To Form in ‘Pig’ (Review)
Film, Reviews

Nicolas Cage Returns To Form in ‘Pig’ (Review)

The last few decades have been a whirlwind of ups and downs for Nicolas Cage's career. He's gone from headlining blockbuster movies to frequently taking on mostly straight to video titles. Every few years he still manages to come along with a performance that is so outstanding that it defies some of the other work he seems to be taking more for the paycheck. I'm thinking of his brilliant turn in David Gordon Green's 2013 film "Joe" or Panos Cosmatos' insane horror film "Mandy" from 2018. You can safely add "Pig" to this list. In Michael Sarnoski's directorial debut, Cage plays Robin Feld. At one time, he was at the top of the culinary world in Portland, Oregon. After a massive personal loss, the renowned chef walked away from society and became a recluse. As the film begins, R...
Black Note Graffiti Stress Importance of Vinyl to the Listening Experience
Music

Black Note Graffiti Stress Importance of Vinyl to the Listening Experience

Black Note Graffiti are back with a new single 'Alone'. They've released their latest album VOL 3 Rise/Fall on vinyl which is available here. Members of the band feel the medium is an important merch item to have on hand because of the potential to provide a unique listening experience for the fans. Black Note Graffiti consists of Gabrielle Bryant (vocals/keys), Kris Keller (guitar/vocals), Kurt Keller (drums), Ricardo Ortiz (vocals/guitar) and Adam Nine (bass). The band recorded the album with producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian (Soundgarden, Pop Evil, Tantric) at the highly regarded Pearl Sound Studios. VOL. 3 FALL/RISE "I think vinyl has become essential for a bands merchandise, because it connects you with your fans in a different way. To actually hold the record, read the...
Coheed and Cambria Release Music Video For Latest Single “Shoulders”
Music

Coheed and Cambria Release Music Video For Latest Single “Shoulders”

Coheed and Cambria come out of the gate hard on their latest single 'Shoulders'. The track, released back in July, gets the produced music video treatment and it was worth the wait. If you've ever seen a Coheed video, you may recognize the theme. Band rocks out, weird stuff happens all around them. But it's a formula that works. And if you look a little deeper, you might even find a deeper meaning. What a concept. Admittedly I'm a big supporter of this band, it can be difficult to be objective when it's tough to turn the fanboy off. But this band deserves all the success they've attained up until this point. Instead of getting frustrated by not being entirely accepted by the 'mainstream, Coheed and Cambria have been able to carve out an impressive existence for themselves while ma...
Be Reborn With ‘Nine Days’ (Review)
Film, Reviews

Be Reborn With ‘Nine Days’ (Review)

In a house planted seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Will (Winston Duke, "Black Panther") leads a mostly solitary existence. For the majority of each day, he faces a wall of televisions and VCRs watching life through the eyes of others. He takes extensive notes, recording key moments and tucking memories into filing cabinets. Will's job, as it were, is to interview unborn souls to determine if they're worthy of life on Earth. Presumably he is one of many tasked with this work, although we only meet a few others like him. He is quick to point out that he once was a human and so he knows what to look for. Unexpectedly, the point of view on one of his sets goes dark. He tragically loses a soul in an accident who was very meaningful to him. Replacing her won't be an easy task. T...