Karen y los Remedios - "Curandera"

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Photo by House of Vivian

It's becoming increasingly hard to describe the music of Karen y los Remedios, but their music is so fantastic we're going to have to stumble through it. Their latest single, "Curandera," is rooted in cumbia, but it's so much more than that. It's filled with traditional sounds mixed with newer, more electronic dance instruments such as synths. It includes trombone, cowbell, and organ, all mixing together to create one of the most intriguing sounds of the year. "Curandera" is a relatively slow and laid back track, with a hidden intensity that demands your attention. There's just something ethereal about all of Karen y los Remedios' music, but this might be the most ethereal song we've heard of theirs so far. Plus, I dare anyone to sit completely still for the length of "Curandera." This song is truly special.

Ana Karen G. Barajas says of her band's latest single:

"This song is dedicated to my grandma and my aunt Elena. It brings me back to those days when they tried to help me feel better, through homemade cleansing rituals. For me, that has always felt like an act of love: people gathering together to protect your energy, and in the process, indirectly teaching you how. The song also connects to my healing journey; staying grounded, listening to my body, letting go of old pleasures, and committing to becoming my own 'curandera.' I wrote it while I was working on getting healthier after discovering a chronic imbalance in my body. It was difficult, but it also taught me that I can heal and stay stable when I listen to both my body and my mind."

You can listen to "Curandera" below. Bestiaria is due out October 9 on ZZK Records. For more on Karen y los Remedios, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

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Failure - "The Air's on Fire"

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Photo by Lyndsey Byrnes With their upcoming seventh overall studio album, the highly influential band Failure will have released more albums since reuniting in 2014 than they did during their first run. The first single from that album, "The Air's on Fire," shows the band expanding their sound while still being rooted in what has always made them great. The song is a dark and moody one that is always threatening to explode but never quite does. This is an example of 90's alt-rock meets art rock at its very finest. It's the kind of song that could easily have come out thirty years ago, but that doesn't mean it sounds dated. After the first listen, "The Air's on Fire" will sound like a killer alt-rocker from a 90's band that hasn't lost a step at all. The more you listen, the more complex Failure get on the single, and the more the song reveals itself to you. Ken Andrews says of his band's latest single: “That song is directly about my ...
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Hiding Places - "Waiting"

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Photo by Calli Westra Brooklyn's Hiding Places are originally from North Carolina, and that sound is all over their latest single. "Waiting" has a strong alt-country meets dark indie rock sound. The song is as hypnotic as it is heartbreaking. Even if you're not paying attention to the lyrics, the vibe of the song is overwhelmingly dark and somber. There's plenty of country twang and indie rock fuzz throughout the song, with the music carrying the weight of the song as much as vocalist/guitarist Nicholas Byrne's voice does. The song is stunning, both in its beauty and mood. I feel like I've been sitting on "Waiting" for a while now until I could fully wrap my head around it. Hiding Places has something truly special here. Nicholas Byrne says of his band's latest single: "Hiding Places’ first bassist, Anthony Cozzarelli, left the band in July of 2022. I wrote the chorus the day before Anthony left the band. I recalled the slow death of my ...
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Mama's Broke - "How it Ends"

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Mama's Broke, the post-folk Canadian duo of Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, have just released a break up song that might be their most accessible yet. While the previous singles from their upcoming album have a certain darkness or a sense of foreboding, "How it Ends" sounds relatively upbeat. Considering this is a song about how you never think you'll find someone as good as your ex after a break up, that's quite a feat. This is a traditional folk song with some slightly modern folk harmonies. As much heartbreak as their is in "How it Ends," there is also the warmth of remembering a recent relationship. You can listen to "How it Ends" below. Narrow Line is due out May 13 on Free Dirt Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Mama's Broke, check out the artist's website .
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