discovering and sharing the music that moves us

Author: Ambur Masen

Ambur Masen is a freelance writer whose "Breaking Waves" column aims to document wave music history as it unfolds. She is also a Hudson Valley local who loves nothing more than driving up and down the Thruway with her windows down, blasting the latest & greatest from the electronic underground. She is currently publishing with MendoWerks, Lightwood, The Electric Hawk, and others.
RRGH Vol 4: Celebrating Women & Femmes in Music
10May By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Music

RRGH Vol 4: Celebrating Women & Femmes in Music

My dear readers, it's time for me be completely honest with you: It's a bit embarrassing to admit this, but when it came to International Women's Month, I froze. I thought I'd be able to put together a piece celebrating women & femmes in music in no time, but here we are. In May. Don't get me wrong--I immediately had an idea as to who I wanted to write about. Like, when I asked myself, "OK, Women's Month-- woohoo! Time to write. Best chick in music right now, go." I did have a name pop up in my head. But it felt too easy. Too immediate. So, I sat with that thought for a moment. "Why did my mind immediately jump to her?" Because her music is bomb, of course. There was no lie there. She wasn't a cop-out. I absolutely wanted to celebrate her during women's month, I...
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Breaking Waves: Just Connor & “Hyperstrike”
8May By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Features, Interviews, Music

Breaking Waves: Just Connor & “Hyperstrike”

Considering it has been almost exactly a year to the day since I first spoke with Just Connor about his music, I think it's only right to do this first issue of Breaking Waves about him... Especially since today is the day that the first Just Connor track of 2022 drops! Please go ahead and stream "Hyperstrike"-- I promise you, it will send you on a gorgeous sonic journey. It's what I've had on repeat all morning. By the time you reach the second drop, you will realize that no one does wave music quite like JC. That's what I realized a year ago, and have realized time and time again, on my "journey through wave". I say it like that because that's what this has felt like--a journey. Ever since that first conversation with JC, it has felt like I've been on a journey to discover wh...
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Happy 4/20… AKA Deadcrow Release Day! Stream “Solar” for Some Premio Vibes & Seriously Good Times.
20Apr By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Music

Happy 4/20… AKA Deadcrow Release Day! Stream “Solar” for Some Premio Vibes & Seriously Good Times.

If you're looking to explore new heights today, may I direct you to the perfect soundtrack? Deadcrow just released his newest track, "Solar", and it is simply fantastic. Check it out and get yourself ready for one hell of a ride and some out-of-this-world vibes. "Solar" on YouTube via UKF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kfsu6quoXE This track is one of those IDs that was always a favorite of mine (I lost my absolute shit hearing it live at Liquid Ritual's "conference" in London just a couple weeks ago-- but more on that later), and yet I never exactly knew what song it was... And now I finally--finally--can hear it in full. And it has been on loop. I just keep going back to it; I can't help it. Meet Deadcrow, the Wave Artist Taking Over...
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[Interview]: Bandcamp Friday, The Wave Community, and… Halo? A Chat With The UK’s ‘Lo-Fi-Wave’ Producer, Seraph.
4Mar By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Interviews, Music

[Interview]: Bandcamp Friday, The Wave Community, and… Halo? A Chat With The UK’s ‘Lo-Fi-Wave’ Producer, Seraph.

We got another BandCamp Friday gift: one of my favorite producers, Seraph., dropped a new track, "Virmire", today! In honor of this surprise, we decided to sit down and have a little chat about the state of the scene, what's next for this UK-based producer, and more. Stream "Virmire", on BandCamp, below, and read on to learn more about Seraph. Vermire by Seraph To get us started, would you please tell us just a little bit about yourself? And, if you don’t mind my asking--where did the moniker "Seraph." come from? Sure thing! My name is James. I’m a 24-year-old Music Producer from the Northeast of the UK, and I like to make sad music with even sadder guitar melodies. As for where I got the “Seraph” alias from, it’s kind of a nerdy story [laughs]. I gr...
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A Chat With The Young Legend, MAYKO.
2Mar By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Features, Interviews, Music

A Chat With The Young Legend, MAYKO.

"...the whole purpose of music, in my opinion, is to transport people into a place, into a feeling..." If there is any name you need to remember in 2022, it's Mayko's. You're certainly going to be seeing it everywhere soon.  You may already be familiar with Mayko through his release with Sable Valley, or perhaps you remember him from a vibe.digital podcast, or stumbled upon him another way. (If not, you can get introduced to Mayko in our “Release Radar’s Greatest Hits, Volume 3”).  Perhaps the best way to get to know him is through his own words, though, right?  Well, we were lucky enough to be able to interview Mayko about his art and artistry, what he’s learned on his journey so far–as well as what’s coming next for ‘The Young Legend’.   For y...
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Release Radar’s Greatest Hits, Vol 3: 2021 Favorites & 2022’s Most Wanted (Saint Slumber, Mayko, THE HARA)
21Feb By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Music

Release Radar’s Greatest Hits, Vol 3: 2021 Favorites & 2022’s Most Wanted (Saint Slumber, Mayko, THE HARA)

The last few months have introduced us all to some incredible music, I know. However, there are few artists who captivated me the way that Saint Slumber, Mayko & THE HARA have. Ever. So, if you take my advice at any point this year, here are three artists that I really need you to check out real quick. Trust me, it'll be well worth it. While there will be links and embeds galore for you to explore, here is a Spotify playlist with selections from all three for you to start out with: 2021's Winner: Saint Slumber's EP, how to lose your self. I’d honestly be really sad for you if you missed Saint Slumber’s late-December release last year. That is why I’m telling you about it now! :) Because how to lose your self is the best EP I heard in all o...
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[Interview] Shut Up & Play Some Pop Punk: A Chat with Mikei Gray of The Frst
25Jan By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Features, Interviews

[Interview] Shut Up & Play Some Pop Punk: A Chat with Mikei Gray of The Frst

Given the fact that that the When We Were Young festival sold out in mere hours (and now has not only a 2nd, but a 3rd date), it shouldn't be surprising that pop punk is here to stay. It certainly doesn't surprise Mikei Gray of The Frst, whose latest single, "Pop Punk Song", captures the mood of an entire generation in a simple, yet catchy way.   So, to quote The Frst, allow me to "shut the fuck up and play some pop punk" for you: "Pop Punk Song" by The Frst: streaming now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P21z4WWp5w4&feature=youtu.be My favorite thing about The Frst's "Pop Punk Song" is that while it's got that catchy, cathartic chorus that's just begging to be screamed at a show, it's also campy and self-aware. At first, I ...
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Hikikomori by Nick Neutronz: a Poignant Digital Soundscape for a Future None of Us Imagined.
17Jan By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Features, Interviews

Hikikomori by Nick Neutronz: a Poignant Digital Soundscape for a Future None of Us Imagined.

Welcome to the year 2022. We made it. It's the future. The 2020s--the roaring 20's 2.0: flying cars edition. Or something... Well, it's not the future any of us saw coming--except, perhaps, for Nick Neutronz, through his dark & enchanting track, "Hikikomori". First released on Audius on January 4th, the track is now available for streaming everywhere. "Hikikomori" is more than just a New Year's single: it is a journey into another world, one that eerily mirrors our own. "In February of 2019 I did a dive into "Hikikomori". A year and some change later, and we were all driven inside with no sense of when we'd be outside again. This track was a fantasy, a future urban landscape where all of us were stuck to our screen, where the outside world was a hostile hustle of scarcit...
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Release Radar’s Greatest Hits Vol 2: Acoustic Feels with King Leer & Cassyette
7Dec By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Music, Reviews

Release Radar’s Greatest Hits Vol 2: Acoustic Feels with King Leer & Cassyette

Vol 2: "cellophane" by King Leer & "Petrichor (Stripped)" by Cassyette I don't know about you, but this time of year always makes me feel a bit blue. Whether it's the cold weather, overcast skies, or stubborn seasonal affective disorder--something about this time of year is just heavy. With that in mind, this week we're slowing things down with two tracks that are guaranteed to get you in your feels: the bittersweet, acoustic bop, "cellophane" by King Leer & the haunting, stripped-down version of "Petrichor" by Cassyette. Let's dive in. King Leer & "cellophane" https://open.spotify.com/track/3c0fEUnpEl0laFwDZOYztf?si=694db8360d1b4728 Adding an upbeat swing to what's got to be one of the most optimistically depressing songs, King Leer tackles ...
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In Red, the New Album from Indie Rock Band Kingston Kane, Won Bandcamp Friday Today.
3Dec By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Music, Reviews

In Red, the New Album from Indie Rock Band Kingston Kane, Won Bandcamp Friday Today.

Happy Bandcamp Friday! In case you didn't know already, Hudson Valley natives, Kingston Kane, dropped their gorgeous sophomore album, In Red, today. If you’re a fan of well-written, nostalgic-yet-refreshing, grungy rock music, I highly suggest you check out In Red as soon as you can.  You won’t regret it.  In Red by Kingston Kane View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kingston Kane (@kingstonkaneband) My personal favorites from the album include "Storm King", "Mutiny", and "A Happy Life". These tracks show off the band's wide range in sound, from their high energy bops to their more somber, contemplative tracks. There's something for everyone here. The release of In Red comes with a free show in Chester, NY tonight;...
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