We loved Yard Act's debut album The Overload, and now the Leeds post-punk band is back with a new single. "Dream Job" expands on their post-punk sound with a heavy and somewhat unexpected dose of funk. It sounds a little bit sunnier than what we've become accustomed to from them. "Dream Job" is an odd mixture of Cake, Britpop keys, and some 80's futuristic effects along with Yard Act's traditional song. It sounds like they're throwing everything they can at this one, and somehow it works out perfectly. This new single is a ton of fun, and has us very curious what they'll be up to next.
Vocalist James Smith says of the new single:
“In part, I was scrutinizing and mocking myself for being a moaning ungrateful little brat, whilst also trying to address how the music industry is this rather uncontrollable beast that hurtles forward unthinkingly and every single person involved in it plays their part. Myself included, obviously. As with pretty much everything else going through my head last year, trying to find the right time to articulate the complexity of emotions I was feeling and the severity to which I was feeling them couldn't be found - or accommodated, so instead I tried to capture it in a pop song that lasts less than three minutes once the fog had cleared a bit. It’s good and bad. I'm still glad that everything that happened to me happened.”
You can watch the video for "Dream Job" below. Where's My Utopia? is due out March 1 on Republic Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Yard Act, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Thu. Nov. 2 - Reykjavik, IS @ Iceland Airwaves Sat. Nov. 4 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw Sun. Nov. 5 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts Mon. Nov. 6 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar Tue. Nov. 7 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall Thu. Nov. 9 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East Fri. Nov. 10 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl Sat. Nov. 11 - New Orleans, LA @ Toulouse Theatre Tue. Nov. 14 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk Wed. Nov. 15 - Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company Fri. Nov. 17 - Mexico City, MX @ Corona Capital Festival Sat. Dec. 2 - Bangkok, TH @ Maho Rasop Festival Sun. Dec. 3 - Hong Kong, HK @ Clockenflap Festival Tue. Dec. 5 - Osaka, JP @ Shangri-la Thu. Dec. 7 - Tokyo, JP @ Club Quattro Wed. Mar. 13 - Norwich, UK @ The Nick Rayns LCR (UEA) Thu. Mar. 14 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City Fri. Mar. 15 - Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Sat. Mar. 16 - Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo Sun. Mar. 17 - Newcastle, UK @ Northumbria University Tue. Mar. 19 - Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall Wed. Mar. 20 - Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street Fri. Mar. 22 - Liverpool, UK @ Invisible Wind Factory Sat. Mar. 23 - Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy Mon. Mar. 25 - Brighton, UK @ The Dome Wed. Mar. 27 - London, UK @ Eventim Apollo Thu. Apr. 4 - Nantes, FR @ Stereolux Fri. Apr. 5 - Paris, FR @ Cabaret Sauvage Sat. Apr. 6 - Bordeaux, FR @ Rock School Barbey Mon. Apr. 8 - Lisbon, PT @ LAV Tue. Apr. 9 - Madrid, ES @ Mon Thu. Apr. 11 - Barcelona, ES @ La 2 Fri. Apr. 12 - Lyon, FR @ Le Transbordeur Sat. Apr. 13 - Bologna, IT @ Locomotiv Club Sun. Apr. 14 - Milan, IT @ Santeria Toscana 31 Tue. Apr. 16 - Zurich, CH @ Mascotte Wed. Apr. 17 - Munich, DE @ Muffathalle Thu. Apr. 18 - Berlin, DE @ Festsaal Kreuzberg Sat. Apr. 20 - Stockholm, SE @ Slaktkyrkan Wed. Apr. 24 - Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefährlich Thu. Apr. 25 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Main Hall Fri. Apr. 26 - Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje Sat. Apr. 27 - Cologne, DE @ Kantine Sun. Apr. 28 - Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Botanique Thu. May 30 - Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern Fri. May 31 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent Theater Sat. Jun. 1 - Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriet’s Mon. Jun. 3 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium Tue. Jun. 4 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent Thu. Jun. 6 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios Fri. Jun. 7 - Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre Sat. Jun. 8 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile Sat. Aug. 3 - Leeds, UK @ Millenium Square
Photo by Heather DeFoggi Gerard For his upcoming album, Sean Thomas Gerard recorded in the corner of his garage which is also a playroom for his two daughters. Somehow, you can hear that vibe in his latest single, "Bright Side." The song just feels like home. It's a laid back indie folk/singer-songwriter track that is overflowing with warmth. The sing is on the mainstream side of its genres, but when you nail a sound like Gerard has, there's certainly nothing wrong with that. This is the type of song that is pleasant and enjoyable when you first start it, and then you end up liking it more and more as it goes. By the time it's over, you're going to want to listen again. By the third or fourth listen, "Bright Side" is going to end up one of your favorite songs of this young year. Sean Thomas Gerard says of his music: “I think about some day when I'm gone, my kids will be able to put on my records and feel like they can spend time with me again....
Photo by Sultana Garritano Brooklyn's DJ Haram has a new single out that shows off her trademark boom bap sprinkled with Middle Eastern instrumentation sound. "Fishnets" features verses from Bbymutha, SHA RAY, and August Fanon, and has an intense and almost menacing vibe, despite being an absolute banger of a track. It's hypnotic and immediately grabs your attention, and if you're unfamiliar with the trio of rappers on the song, you're sure to start pulling up their bodies of work. "Fishnets" is one of those songs that just feels cool and makes you need to hear more from all of the artists involved. DJ Haram says of her latest single: "‘Fishnets’ is for the eclectic bad bitches. The people united will never be defeated." You can listen to "Fishnets" below. Beside Myself is due out July 18 on Hyperdub, and is available for pre-order here . For more on DJ Haram, check out the artist on Instagram and Twitter . Upcoming tour dates a...
Photo by Joanna Chattman I've been referring to Northampton, MA based Izzy Heltai's music as mainstream modern folk with just enough of a unique spin to keep it appealing to music snobs, too. His latest single, "Father," might be the perfect example of that. It's a quiet, deeply personal song that starts off painfully sparse but ever so slowly builds and builds as it goes on. It walks that line between accessible/mainstream and indie expertly. You can watch the video for "Father" below. Father , the upcoming debut album from Izzy Heltai, will be out October 9. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Izzy Heltai, check out the artist's website .
