TRACE is a queer Vietnamese American songwriter and filmmaker, and Ariel Loh is a trans queer Asian American producer. The pair have just released a cover of "Sài Gòn," a Vietnamese song made famous by Carol Kim (TRACE's mother) fifty years ago. The song is included in NEW WAVE, a documentary about the 1980's New Wave scene in Vietnam. The cover version is a delicate sounding version of dream pop. You can tell it was recorded with love and appreciation of the original. The song is as minimal as you can be while still having a lush and full sound. TRACE and Ariel Loh have made an intensely intimate cover of a song very close to them, and it can be heard in their recording.
TRACE says of her new single:
"The first time I heard 'Sai Gon,' I was captivated—it was my mom singing nearly fifty years ago. I heard it on a vinyl called Saigon Supersounds that Y Vân’s granddaughter actually told me about. I bought it right away. When I asked my mom if she remembered, she laughed, saying, 'That was so long ago, I guess that is me.' Though an anthem of sorts about the heart of Vietnam during a war-stricken time, her recording has this upbeat French pop and New Wave influence that makes it easily my favorite version of the song. Yet, learning she recorded it just before the Fall of Saigon added emotional weight to the music for me.
"When I heard about a documentary called New Wave, I was eager to get involved, as my mom had been a part of that musical movement. And so in perfect time, and along with my friend and collaborator, we recorded and covered 'Sai Gon' for the film. It was nerve-wracking, but one of the greatest honors of my life. My mother’s legacy is powerful, and I’m grateful to share my heart through this song."
You can listen to TRACE and Ariel Loh's version of "Sài Gòn" below. For more on TRACE, check out the artist on Instagram. More about the film NEW WAVE can be found here.
Our favorite classic garage rockers from Worcester, MA are back with a new song. In a world where most garage rock is about rocking, "21st Century Failure" gets much more political than most other bands in the genre. It's a psychedelic blast that mocks a lot of the tropes of modern living. It also includes the line "Get a new disease when you hear a sneeze" which is either great or terrible timing. Regardless, "21st Century Failure" is a killer psychedelic vintage garage rocker, and I think we could all use some straight up rock these days. You can watch the video for "21st Century Failure" below. The song is available now on The Prefab Messiahs's Bandcamp . For more on The Prefab Messiahs, check them out on Facebook and Twitter .
The latest single from Holiday Ghosts hearkens back to when pop music was weird. "Slipstream" will remind you of classic early alternative artists like Talking Heads, The Modern Lovers, and Violent Femmes, but it also has the 90's slacker vibe of Pavement and Beck. It turns into a crazily fun and just offbeat enough indie rock/pop song. You can watch the video for "Slipstream" below. West Bay Playroom , the new album from Holiday Ghosts, will be released February 15 on PNKSLM Recordings. The album was recorded in band member Sam Stacpoole's childhood home, specifically his old playroom. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Holiday Ghosts, check out their Facebook .
Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
