Blue J - A Sign Of Good Luck
Written in the wake of a long-term relationship ending, the album offers a peek into Justin McLellan’s (lead singer) psyche as he learns to spend more time with himself and learns to find hope in new beginnings.
The Thing With Feathers - Sundays In The South
The Thing With Feathers is an alt-rock, pop and dance enigma, fueled by 4 of Nashville’s favorite fools: Dave Welcsh (vocals and guitar), Sean Carroll (bass), Alex Hendricks (lead guitar) and Chris Roussell (drums).
Longboat - Out of Place
Instead of the jeering pop that has powered so many albums in the past, you get an ambiently dark collection of songs that slowly unfolds and yields no easy answers. The tunes all center around living and creating in a place that is unconducive to artistic ventures.
Foxes - The Kick
The Kick is Foxes’ first album in over five years. Serving as a form of escapism, the record was written and recorded via zoom with producer Ghost Culture during the height of the pandemic.
The Empty Pockets - Tanglewoods
In 2015, The Empty Pockets released their debut full-length album, The Ten Cent Tour, entering both the Billboard Indie and Heatseekers charts for the first time. With the 2017 release of Voices, The Empty Pockets entered a particularly prolific period with four Billboard-charting independent albums, releasing a holiday EP, Snow Day, in 2018, followed a year later by a new studio album, Tanglewoods, and then the live concert album, Live in Seattle.
Ghostly Kisses - Heaven, Wait
All the songs on Heaven, Wait talk at some point about a transition or a relationship Margaux Sauvé had to work on, not wanting to be stuck in a situation forever. Whilst the story of the album is an intensely personal journey, it’s the first time we find Margaux writing about excitement and desire. We also hear her develop as an artist with liberating songs that can be danced to amongst the darker, more melodramatic songs she has built her name on.
Alcopops - Devil
Alcopops is the latest project from Portland punk veterans, singer-songwriter Leland Brehl and drummer Ben Burwell, joined by new bassist Simon Miller. Last year, on the eve of the pandemic, the duo released their debut LP Simulator, a sterling collection of noisy power pop indebted to Superdrag, Yuck, and the entire Creation Records catalog. The group’s Devil EP delivers on the promise set by Simulator, and fortunately comes at a more opportune time.
L.A.B. - L.A.B. V
The new album has once again been recorded at the band’s home of the Surgery Studios in Wellington with Dr Lee Prebble, with the studio helping bring out the nostalgia-tinged sound to the release. Recorded in between sell-out arena shows and lockdown periods, the recording process again saw the band living in the studio for weeks on end, with drummer Brad Kora heading up the production team of Prebble & bassist Ara Adams-Tamatea.
Hayley Mary - Fall in Love with Hayley Mary
Co-produced by Hayley and Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy) during Melbourne’s most recent lockdown, ‘Fall In Love’ (the single) is a dirty Motown-esque love song with contemporary lyricism. A triumphantly uplifting tune that is undeniable to anyone who has ever wanted to fall in love.
Toby Jenkins - Island of Terror
Island of Terror was recorded over a number years and in a variety of studios, bedrooms and backrooms. It draws on such disparate musical threads as Giorgio Moroder, Serge Gainsbourg, Chopin, Steve Vai, Wendy Carlos and Syd Barret. It’s a record that weaves fantastical tales with the real, leaving the listener perplexed and enthralled in equal measure.
Pick A Piper - Sea Steps
Sea Steps closes out with neo-classical beat-driven “Athens”, an elegantly layered composition that hosts the collaborative musicianship of Laura Bates on Violin and Steve Ward on Trombone.
Laurie Larson - Story Road
Multi-instrumentalist & songwriter Laurie Larson is releasing her fourth studio album, Story Road.Laurie plays bass, violin, guitar, keys & sings her way through each chapter of Story Road.
Infinite Coles - Destiny
Stepping out into his own spotlight, NYC-based singer, actor, model, dancer and artist Infinite Coles releases his debut EP Destiny. A powerful first offering from the singer-songwriter, Destiny has a dual meaning for Infinite, who named the EP after his late twin sister. The project is centered around Infinite’s reclamation of his individual destiny and the manifestation of his late sister’s soul that lives within him and has inspired the unique artist we see emerge today.
Abby Sage - Fears Of Yours & Mine
Like many songwriters, Abby started playing at an early age, writing and recording tracks with her musician dad, as well as accompanying him to all his gigs. By the start of high school, she was beginning to post her music to soundcloud in secret — that is until she accidentally released a track publicly. It was a few years later she connected with a group of producers and "Fears Of Yours & Mine" became her latest single.
John Denicola - She Said
John DeNicola, after some five decades in the recording industry, the award-winning songwriter and producer made his first solo album The Why Because as an artist in 2019 which spawned a top 20 AC hit with his version of “Hungry Eyes." She Said was conceived and created for one voice, one-touch, and one heart: his own.