The Noisy - "Nightshade"

By -

Photo by Morgan Kelley

Last month we discovered The Noisy, the indie pop project of Philadelphia's Sara Mae. Their latest single, "Nightshade," was recently released, and is described as country-influenced. While there are some hints of country, their latest single is still a killer pop tune. "Nightshade" may go more into singer-songwriter territory than "Grenadine" did. It's a little more organic sounding with indie rock roots than its predecessor, and is the perfect type of pop song to appeal to music fans who normally dislike pop music. This is a great way to sneak some pop into your musical palate. "Nightshade" is an absolutely lovely, and fully engrossing song.

Sara Mae says of their latest single:

“'Nightshade' was written around the same time as 'Twos' and has the same searing confessional style, but perhaps with a slightly different bent. 'Nightshade' is ultimately more so asking questions of the speaker, rather than the various yous of the song. It talks about the confusion of closeness in the wake of bad relationships— how difficult it is to have normal relationships, to experience intimacy and closeness even with friends, without turning it into something more in your own head. Musically, when I first wrote it, it felt like a country song, which I was excited about because this album really started with the foundation of 'Morricone' as a single. It felt full circle to nod towards country, writing the album while I lived in Knoxville, and growing up listening to Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood with my mom and dancing to country music at river bars in Maryland. 'Nightshade' feels like the last of its kind, the end of an era. The next album is going in a very different and exciting direction.” 

You can listen to "Nightshade" below. The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat is due out October 24 on Audio Antihero, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on The Noisy, check out the artist's website.

On Repeat...

The New Limits - "Normal Day"

By -
Image
Photo via Facebook According to their Bandcamp profile, The New Limits are a "Boston ska band with a taste for rocksteady, reggae, soul, and rock n roll." They just released a single that shows off their sound perfectly. "Normal Day" is a laid back ska song dripping with soul. You know that joke that goes around every few months saying that ska is the sound that plays in a twelve year old's head when they get an extra mozzarella stick? The New Limits are the grown up version of that sound. This is ska/rocksteady for adults. It's ultra chilled out music with some of the best horns in the city. Even if you haven't listened to ska since your youth, you need to check out "Normal Day." This might help re-open the entire genre to you. The New Limits say of their latest single: " What is normal, anyway? Some of us just want a nine-to-five. Others cry at the thought. 'Normal Day' has nothing to do with quarantine and lots to do with figuri...
Read more

The Beths - "Mother, Pray for Me"

By -
Image
Photo by Annabel Kean For their latest single, New Zealand's The Beths have released "Mother, Pray for Me." This is a heartbreaking ballad consisting of Elizabeth Stokes' vocals and guitar with just the slightest hint of organ. It's a deeply personal song for Stokes, made obvious with how intimately the song comes across. It truly feels almost confessional, and it's quite simply beautiful. The Beths are most known for huge little indie rock gems perfect for bopping along to, but "Mother, Pray for Me" is quite the opposite. Stokes' vocals and lyrics are right up front on this one, and I can't imagine it any other way. Elizabeth Stokes says of her latest single: “I cried the whole time writing it. It's not really about my mother, it's about me — what I hope our relationship is, what I think it is, what it maybe actually is, and what I can or can't expect out of it.   “My mother is a first gen Indonesian immigrant, and very Catholic....
Read more

Brennen Leigh - "Dumpster Diving"

By -
Image
Photo by Lyza Renee Brennen Leigh has quickly become a favorite of ours, with her take on a classic country sound with a slight sense of humor. Her latest single, "Dumpster Diving," which she describes as a "trashy little tune," is everything we love about the musician. It's a vintage style country song that comes in at a punk like one minute, forty-eight seconds. With a chorus of "Dumpster diving, this ain't gonna last / Dumpster diving, 'cause baby you like trash..." how can you possibly resist. Leigh's latest gives us a decades old sound with modern sensibilities and her fantastic voice that's tailor made for this genre of music. It's almost like a collaboration between Loretta Lynn and Shel Silverstein, and who doesn't want to hear that? You can hear "Dumpster Diving" below. Don't You Ever Give Up On Love  is due out October 3 on Signature Sounds, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Brennen Leigh,...
Read more