Free Range, the project of Chicago-based musician Sofia Jensen (they/them), announces their second album Lost & Found, out March 28th via Mick Music, and unveils its lead single “Hardly.” Lost & Found follows their sharp 2023 debut, Practice, which “confront[ed] and reflect[ed] on youthful confusion and alienation, and the feelings that inspired them” (Chicago Reader). Lost & Found is about the logical next step of trying to feel like an adult. Much of the album stems from the experiences of 21-year-old Jensen, who formed Free Range when they were 15, moving out from their parents’ house and expanding their world in the Chicago music scene. Amid these changes, Jensen experienced feelings common in one’s early twenties but pervasive throughout adulthood: striving for connection even when you’re surrounded by people, and struggling to be emotionally open.
“I have a pretty easy time being honest lyrically and in music, and it feels like such an avenue for me to just express,” Jensen says. “But in my daily life, I’m a pretty private person and have a hard time telling people exactly how I feel…Being truly vulnerable with other people is a lot harder than you think.” Lost & Found is filled with nuanced, mature reflections on how tough forthrightness can be.
Lead single “Hardly” is a full-on overdriven electric guitar barn-burner about what it feels like to really lean on someone, and how that can lead to an uneven and slightly dysfunctional relationship. Jensen sings “I hardly notice when I measure you / against me / but I could tell when you were pulling me through / the darkness in this room / cause all I wanted was just someone to look to / you hardly notice when I glance at you.” It also navigates the role that broken communication plays in a relationship where two people do care about each other, but can’t seem to find themselves on the same page.
Jensen demoed most of Lost & Found in October 2023 in Silsbee, Texas, where producer Tommy Read, his sister Hannah Read (Lomelda), and Eric Adams (Acre Memos) helped Jensen whittle down 50 songs to a batch of 15. Jensen returned to Texas in January 2024 to record with the full Free Range band: bassist Bailey Minzenberger, drummer Jack Henry, and new member Andy Krull on pedal steel.
Next month, Free Range will support Horsegirl on a North American tour. A full list of dates can be found below and all tickets are on sale now.
Free Range Tour Dates Fri. Mar. 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church % Sat. Mar. 22 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat % Sun. Mar. 23 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings % Mon. Mar. 24 – Richmond, VA @ The Warehouse % Wed. Mar. 26 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom % Thu. Mar. 27 – Somerville, MA @ Arts at The Armory % Fri. Mar. 28 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater % Sat. Mar. 29 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw %
Lancaster, PA trio Versus Machine share the official video today for “Seafoam” from their forthcoming sophomore album via Echoes & Dust. Watch/share “Seafoam” HERE. (Direct YouTube HERE.) (And now on all DSPs HERE.)
It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine recently launched the lead track “Seafoam” in an extensive interview HERE. ProgRock Journal recently hosted “Red Queen” single with an interview HERE.
Versus Machine is an innovative and genre-blending rock band whose members bring together years of experience from diverse musical backgrounds. The band’s core is made up of singer/guitarist Stephen Tilley, bassist Michael James Stipe, and drummer Brian Doherty, with the group’s formation rooted in both past musical connections and newfound collaborations.
Stephen Tilley and Brian Doherty grew up together, forming a deep musical bond during their early years. Although they spent nearly a decade apart from playing together, their shared passion for music never faded. In 2021, Doherty reached out to Tilley, reigniting their creative partnership and rekindling a sense of musical chemistry that had been dormant for years. Their reunion marked the beginning of something fresh and exciting, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become Versus Machine.
To bring their musical vision to life, Doherty and Tilley enlisted Michael James Stipe, a bassist known for his work with the band Babel Map. Stipe, with his distinct style and musical sensibilities, quickly became a key member of the group. It was Stipe who coined the band’s name, Versus Machine, a title that encapsulated the band’s blend of raw energy, modern aggression, and intricate songwriting.
In 2022, Versus Machine recorded their debut album at Noisy Little Critter Studios with renowned producer Mike Bardzik. The album marked the band’s arrival, showcasing their ability to fuse elements of post-grunge, alternative rock and psychedelia with an infectious energy and emotional depth. The record quickly gained attention from both fans and critics for its bold sound and honest, often introspective lyrics.
Following the success of their first album, Versus Machine continued to evolve. In 2024, they recorded their highly anticipated follow-up LP, set for release in February 2025. The new album is shaping up to be an even more ambitious project, blending hard-hitting rhythms, complex melodies, and daring sonic experimentation. The band’s sound has matured, and the new record promises to push boundaries even further, establishing them as one of the most exciting acts in the modern rock scene.
In addition to their work as Versus Machine, Tilley has been involved in several high-profile musical collaborations. He has worked with Kellii Scott, the acclaimed drummer of Failure, on two EPs. The second of these EPs is also slated for release in 2025, further cementing Tilley’s place in the alternative rock landscape.
Meanwhile, bassist Michael James Stipe and drummer Brian Doherty have garnered recognition for their contributions to Babel Map’s new album, Teeth, which was produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge. The duo’s work on the album earned them a prominent feature on the front page of Bandcamp Daily highlighting their growing influence in the underground and alternative music scenes. Doherty and Stipe are also slated to work with Martin “Youth” Glover in 2025 on their 4th album with their band Northern Gloom.
With the release of their follow-up album on the horizon, Versus Machine is poised to expand their fanbase and continue making waves in the rock world. Their combination of relentless drive, musical innovation, and heartfelt lyrics has already established them as one of the most promising and dynamic bands in the genre today. As they prepare to take the stage once again in 2025, all eyes are on Versus Machine, eager to see where their bold musical vision will take them next.
II will be available for download and streaming on February 27th, 2025. Pre-order HERE, pre-save HERE.
Visionary director, photographer and producer, Robert Ascroft unveils a captivating musical odyssey akin to the cinematic allure of Wim Wenders’ “Until The End Of The World” and evoking the ethereal resonance found in 4AD’s This Mortal Coil.
His upcoming album Echo Still Remains is now set for a February 14th release date (moved from its original January 31st release date due to complications from the Los Angeles fires) on Hand Drawn Dracula. Drawing from a diverse array of talented friends, Ascroft curates a mesmerizing ensemble of vocal performances featuring luminaries such as Christopher Owens (Girls), Britta Phillips (Luna, Dean & Britta), Tess Parks, Ruth Radelet (Chromatics), Guy Blakeslee (The Entrance Band), Ora Cogan and Zumi Rosow (Black Lips).
Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps, Gun Club) is featured on his latest single “Devil Opens The Door,” out today.
On the track, Kid Congo Powers shares, “”Devil Opens The Door” is a swampy, gritty groove courtesy of my friend Robert Ascroft’s wicked songwriting and guitar playing. For my vocal I let loose with Devilish screams that would make even the underworld blush, while Roger Brogan’s primal drumbeat keeps your hips moving underneath. In the video directed by Robert, I channel my inner televangelist, preaching fire and brimstone about the dangers lurking on your TV screen. It’s loud, raw, and just naughty enough—exactly how rock ’n’ roll is meant to be.”
Check out the video on YouTube, and pre-save the album here.
The album takes on a further rich and dynamic sound with the recording contributions of Grammy Award winning audio engineer Ted Young (Rolling Stones, Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth), the mixing of Larry Crane (Elliott Smith, The Shins, She & Him), additional production by Manny Nieto (Kim Deal, The Breeders) and mastering by Josh Bonati (Mac DeMarco, Wild Nothing, Slowdive).
Echo Still Remains transcends traditional musical boundaries, beckoning listeners into a world crafted from Ascroft’s vivid imagination. Each track unfolds like a technicolor scene in a cinematic narrative, with each melody and lyric evoking a sense of profound introspection and wonder. Accompanied by stylized music videos in Ascroft’s distinct visual world, Echo Still Remains” emerges as a multifaceted work of art, inviting listeners to stir the soul and lose themselves in a world of sound and sensation.
Emerging as a prominent photographer in the 2000s, Ascroft forged his path through collaborations with luminaries of the Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, and Emmys from Cate Blanchett, Ryan Gosling, to The Killers, Mark Ronson and A$AP Rocky. With an innate ability to capture the essence of his subjects through his camera lens, he redefines photography, infusing it with depth, emotion, and narrative. A classically trained guitarist turned music producer, Ascroft weaves intricate melodies and evocative songwriting with cinematic narratives.
Jaco Jaco — the project of Philadelphia-based musician, visual artist, and former member of beloved indie-rock trio Sports,Jacob Theriot — announces his new album, Gremlin, out March 21st, and shares its lead single, “Woman.” The music Theriot makes as Jaco Jaco straddles genre: a little funk, a little psych, a little dreamy 70s AM rock. The follow up to Jaco Jaco’s 2024 debut Splat, Gremlin is a playful, elegant record that isn’t directly inspired by the movie Gremlins, but honors the movie’s use of kitsch and camp to explore a prevailing mood of irreverence and introspection. “This record came from a somewhat confused and lonely state of mind,” says Theriot, “It’s a journey through reflection and longing for something real—an inner dialogue giving me advice on navigating life when it feels like it’s working against you.”
Following last year’s Brazilian Jazz-funk-inspired “Favorite Kind of People,” “Woman” is anchored by slick, wet bass, bright guitars, and light distortion. The lyrics are abstract, but behind that abstraction, there’s something deeper: an exploration of the complexities and nuances of relationships. It is a meditation on honesty and acceptance, being real with yourself, and being real with your partner.
Recalling the song’s creation Theierot says “‘Woman’ was one of those rare, serendipitous type songs that just kinda happened. Everything fell into place pretty quick, lyrics and all. I played guitar along to some random breakbeat and out came the guitar riff(s). I was big into Black Messiah (D’Angelo) at the time, so that influence may have seeped in a bit, maybe? No comparison though, of course. I just wanna be like Pino Palladino when I grow up.”
Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Theriot began writing and recording music in grade school with his brother and childhood friend. The musical relationship eventually resulted in the band Sports. After three successful albums and international tours with Sports, Theriot then decided to venture out on his own, using all of the skills he learned as a producer and composer to breathe life into something new.
Gremlin, above all else, is a mature work from an artist who has been perfecting his craft for his entire life. It’s also a visual marvel that is aesthetically inspired by the early ‘90s sitcom “Dinosaurs,” Les Blank docs, and the world of alternative comic books. Theriot is thoroughly enthralled by the extremes of both “absurd cartoons and animatronic puppets,” lending even more of the prevailing feeling of playfulness throughout the artwork. Gremlin is a seductive record, beautiful and meticulously arranged. “It’s written in the third person,” Theriot says, “but really it’s in the first person. It’s a form of therapy. It’s like journaling.”
Gus Baldwin is one of the hardest working dudes in the Austin, Texas music scene. When he’s not cranking out solo material, he’s often working with The Black Angels, or Christian Bland and The Revelators, or collaborating with Danny Blackwell of Night Beats, or he’s teaming up with his pals in The Sketch to create The Sketch album, and, since he’s so busy, he and his pals recorded it in one day.
Opening with “Part I,” “Part II,” and “Part III,” the album is raucous right out of the gate with guitars that sound like a battleship groaning as it collides with an iceberg. The album moves back and forth between garage punk and trash rock. The fourth track, “Itch,” is a wild punk barn-burner. “Steady on It” lands somewhere between Frankie and The Witch Fingers and Ty Segall, but with extra-funky bass for good measure.
“Luxury Television” teems with Osees-like intensity and mania as Baldwin sings “I got a strange addiction. Your hate is my prescription.” You don’t get much more punk than that. “Slacker’s Prom” and “(She’s Gone) Arigato” continue the punk fun, and the latter even brings in a bit of 50s-ish doo-wop on the backing vocals.
“What the Freaks Say” could fit right in on any college radio playlist, and by the end, “Sympathy for Sunday,” they go all-in on heavy psych-rock.
It’s a wild ride, and over before you know it. It’s also a good launch for Baldwin and The Sketch. They’ll be ones to watch in 2025.
Lord Huron returns with “Who Laughs Last?,” a new single featuring Academy Award nominated actress Kristen Stewart and an accompanying music video directed by Tony Wilson and starring Stewart. The band also announces a 2025 world tour, taking place after the upcoming Strange Trails 10th Anniversary run “Who Laughs Last?” marks the multiplatinum Los Angeles band’s first original release in two years, and also serves as the debut recording by Kristen Stewart [Spencer, Love Lies Bleeding]. “Who Laughs Last?” represents just the first piece of a sonic, aesthetic, and sensory puzzle meant to be assembled with care.
“Who Laughs Last?” finds Lord Huron evolving at lightspeed. With Stewart in the driver’s seat, they traverse a lonely and lost highway soundtracked by a rumbling palm-muted bass riff and a high octane beat. The groove picks up as samples of garbled news broadcasts echo in waves over strings. While she grips the wheel, Stewart’s poetic spoken word chills. At one point, she confesses that staring at an oncoming storm “made me feel something I never felt before…something between awestruck and horrified…I kept my eyes on the long white lines.” Turning on a dime, the momentum picks up and frontman Ben Schneider’s vocals take hold around a hard-hitting hook, “You don’t remember what I said, but you’ll remember what I did.” Starring Stewart,the accompanying visual evokes a Lynchian film noir on screen.
About the single, Schneider commented “I didn’t know Kristen previously but I’d been a big fan since seeing her work with Olivier Assayas, which my wife introduced me to. I kept hearing her voice when I was writing this song and just thought “what the hell, I’ll reach out and see,” thinking it was a long shot. But she said she was interested so we met up and hit it off talking about books, movies and music. She immediately got what I was going for and had great ideas to boot. She’s just a great person and so creative and open. She added a lot to the video concept as well. It was the kind of collaboration you dream of, honestly.”
“I’ve always loved the band and immediately sparked to the manic drift of the song and to the mood,” says Stewart. “I love when a song is something you can kind of seep into and imagine. Ben is the nicest, I was so into reading his words… there’s nothing like making new friends through projects like these that just crop up. Lucky stuff.”
Lord Huron’s 2025 world tour is the band’s biggest North American headline tour to date. The trek commences on July 18th and visits legendary venues, including Madison Square Garden in New York City, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, and the Moody Center in Austin before concluding at Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Select dates will feature support from artists including Waxahatchee, Feist, Kevin Morby and more.
Prior, Lord Huron embarks on the previously announced Strange Trails 10thAnniversary Tour, beginning this May in Reno, NV, and includes their annual Red Rocks Amphitheatre dates. This very special run commemorates the 10th anniversary of the release of their album, Strange Trails, which featured the multi-platinum single “The Night We Met.” Artist presale tickets for newly announced dates begin Tuesday, January 28th at 1PM local time. General on-sale launches on Friday, January 31st at 10am local time. A full list of dates can be found below.
There will be more news from Lord Huron in the coming months.
Lord Huron Tour Dates (new dates in bold) Sat. April 26 – Charleston, NC @ Highwater Festival Thu. May 22 – Reno, NV @ The Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort – SOLD OUT * Fri. May 23 – Boise, ID @ Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden – SOLD OUT * Sun. May 25 – Missoula, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater – SOLD OUT * Mon. May 26 – Missoula, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater – SOLD OUT * Wed. May 28 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT * Thu. May 29 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT * Sat. May 31 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Sandy Amphitheater – SOLD OUT * Sun. June 1 – Denver, CO @ Outside Festival Fri. July 18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park ^ Sat. July 19 – Chicago, IL @ Fairgrounds at Salt Shed ^ Sun. July 20 – Chicago, IL @ Fairgrounds at Salt Shed ^ Tue. July 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Armory % Wed. July 23 @ Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre % Fri. July 25 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle % Sat. July 26 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle % Sun. July 27 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park % Tue. July 29 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion # Wed. July 30 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden # Fri. Aug. 1- Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavillion at The Mann % Sun. Aug. 3 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway % Tue. Aug. 5 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek % Thu. Aug. 7 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors) @ Fri. Aug. 8 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! Outdoor @ Sat. Aug. 9 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre @ Thu. Sept. 4 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene Fri. Sept. 5 – Stockholm, SE @ Annexet Sat. Sept. 6 – Copenhagen, DK @ Poolen Mon. Sept. 8 – Berlin, DE @ Tempodrom Tue. Sept. 9 – Warsaw, PL @ Stodola Wed. Sept. 10 – Vienna, AT @ Gasometer Thu. Sept. 11 – Zurich, CH @ Halle 622 Sat. Sept. 13 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia Sun. Sept. 14 – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg – Ronda Mon. Sept. 15 – Cologne, DE @ E-Werk Tue. Sept. 16 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique Thu. Sept. 18 – Bristol, UK @ Bristol Beacon Fri. Sept. 19 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo Sat. Sept. 20 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Glasgow Sun. Sept. 21 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo Manchester Wed. Oct. 15 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley ! Fri. Oct. 17 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center ! Sat. Oct. 18 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena ! Sun. Oct. 19 – Spokane, WA @ Spokane Pavilion ! Tue. Oct. 21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center ! Thu. Oct. 23 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha ! Fri. Oct. 24 – St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena ! Sat. Oct. 15 – Independence, MO @ Cable Dahmer Arena ! Mon. Oct. 27 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory ! Wed. Oct. 29 – Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall ! Thu. Oct. 30 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center $ Sat. Nov. 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre $ Sun. Nov. 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum $
* with Molly Lewis ^ with Indigo De Souza % with Lee Fields # with Waxahatchee @ with S.G. Goodman ! with Kevin Morby $ with Feist
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory release “Trouble,” the final pre-release single from their forthcoming self-titled debut album Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, out February 7th via Jagjaguwar. On the heels of the “ripping” and “mesmerizing” (FLOOD) “Southern Life (What It Must Be Like),” “Trouble” is a cascading, almost euphoric track characteristic of the mystical mix of electronics and analog textures found throughout the album. “Trouble” features Van Etten’s unmistakable vocals alongside melancholic synths by Teeny Lieberson and driving and melodic bass lines by Devra Hoff.
Van Etten explains, “’Trouble’ is about the idea of having to coexist with people you love who have opposing views, and not being able to share deep parts of yourself and your narrative based on someone else’s beliefs. It’s about when there’s that big part of you that someone who loves you can’t know because it’s not something they want to hear or are willing to learn about or understand, and those painful realizations when you choose to love and respect someone else’s needs over your own to salvage a relationship.”
The video for “Trouble” was shot and directed by Susu Laroche during the album’s recording sessions at Eurythmics’ former London studio, The Church.
From the off, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory is sonically different from Van Etten’s previous work. Writing and recording in total collaboration with her band – Jorge Balbi, Hoff, and Lieberson – for the first time, Van Etten finds the freedom that comes by letting go. It’s somewhat terrifying, but also liberating. The result of that liberation is an exhilarating new dimension of sound and songwriting. The themes are timeless, classic Sharon – life and living, love and being loved – but the sounds are new, wholly realized and sharp as glass.
Reflecting on this new artistic frame of mind, Van Etten muses, “Sometimes it’s exciting, sometimes it’s scary, sometimes you feel stuck. It’s like every day feels a little different – just being at peace with whatever you’re feeling and whoever you are and how you relate to people in that moment. If I can just keep a sense of openness while knowing that my feelings change every day, that is all I can do right now. That and try to be the best person I can be while letting other people be who they are and not taking it personally and just being.”
Next month, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory will play three special shows leading into release week, including her first ever hometown headline show at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey on February 4th. Following a UK and European tour, the band will pick back up for a month of shows across North America in April and May. A full list of dates can be found below, and tickets are available here.
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory Tour Dates Sat. Feb. 1 – Westerly, RI @ The United # Mon. Feb. 3 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater # – SOLD OUT Tue. Feb. 4 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony – First Home State Headline Show # Fri. Feb. 28 – Oslo, NO @ Rockefeller * Sat. Mar. 1 – Stockholm, SE @ Fållan * Sun. Mar. 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega * Tue. Mar. 4 – Berlin, DE @ Astra Kulturhaus * Thu. Mar. 6 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon * Fri. Mar. 7 – Antwerp, BE @ De Roma * Sat. Mar. 8 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso * Mon. Mar. 10 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall * Tue. Mar. 11 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall * Wed. Mar. 12 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom * Thu. Apr. 24 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern ^ Fri. Apr. 25 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl ^ Sat. Apr. 26 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel ^ Mon. Apr. 28 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^ Wed. Apr. 30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^ Thu. May 1 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner ^ Fri. May 2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^ Mon. May 5 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall ^ Tue. May 6 – Toronto, ON @ History ^ Thu. May 8 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee ^ Fri. May 9 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed ^ Sat. May 10 – St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre ^ Mon. May 12 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre ^ Tue. May 13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall ^ Thu. May 15 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile ^ Fri. May 16 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile ^ – SOLD OUT Sat. May 17 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre ^ Sun. May 18 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall ^ Wed. May 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern ^
# with She Keeps Bees * with special guest Nabihah Iqbal ^ with Love Spells
Keep your mind open.
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Horsegirl — the New York-via-Chicago trio of best friends Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece — unveil the new single/video, “Switch Over,” from their upcoming second album, Phonetics On and On, out February 14th via Matador Records. Following previously released singles, “2468” and “Julie,” “Switch Over” feels almost motorik in its pulse as the track dances back and forth between Cheng and Lowenstein’s swapping vocals.
The “Switch Over” video was directed by Guy Kozak, who came to the band with the idea of switching on / off and doubling concepts. Uncanny in its concept, the video explores the concept of “band-watching-band,” with layered shots of the trio watching themselves perform in the same room.
Produced by Cate Le Bon and recorded at The Loft in Chicago, Horsegirl’s original and sonic home, Phonetics On and On is an exploration of the lines between pop, minimalism, and playful experimentation. With the help of Le Bon, Horsegirl expands into bright and clear sonic territories utilizing new tools, including violins, synths, and gamelan tiles, to bring this world to life. It’s an album to dance to, as Reece’s dancing drum melodies and Lowenstein’s bright guitar leads direct your attention to the band’s chemistry and mastery of form.
There’s a confident simplicity to the songwriting here. Horsegirl writes with an unanticipated honesty, leading us through scenes of girlhood and youth, as tenderness reverberates back and forth across the recording. You can see the love that comes with being a band of best friends. It’s a love that is ever-present in Phonetics On and On.
Horsegirl will play a record release show on February 22nd at the Metro in Chicago, and will tour the southeast and northeast in March with Free Range supporting, before touring the UK and Europe later in 2025. All tickets are on sale now and available here.
Horsegirl Tour Dates Sat. Feb. 22 – Chicago, IL @ Metro (Record Release Show) ^ Fri. Mar. 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church % Sat. Mar. 22 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat % Sun. Mar. 23 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings % Mon. Mar. 24 – Richmond, VA @ The Warehouse % Wed. Mar. 26 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom % Thu. Mar. 27 – Somerville, MA @ Arts at The Armory % Fri. Mar. 28 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater % Sat. Mar. 29 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw % Sat. June 7 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound Tue. June 10 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Club Wed. June 11 – Berlin, DE @ Badehaus Szimpla Sat. June 14 – Porto, PT @ Primavera Sound Porto Mon. June 16 – Cologne, DE @ Bumann & Sohn Tue. June 17 – Antwerp, BE @ Trix Wed. June 18 – Paris, FR @ Petit Bain Fri. June 20 – London, UK @ Scala Sat. June 21 – Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall Sun. June 22 – Glasgow, UK @ Mono Tue. June 24 – Dublin, IE @ The Workman’s Club Thu. June 26 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
^ w/ Lifeguard & Answering Machines % w/ Free Range
Keep your mind open.
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Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Morgan Nagler, best known for her bands Whispertown and Supermoon, presents her first single under her own name, “Cradle The Pain.” With jaw-dropping melodies, lyrics that cut right to the heart, and her distinctively beautiful, plaintive howl, you’ll probably wonder how Nagler seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The thing is, she’s been hiding in plain sight for a minute now, waiting for the perfect moment to emerge from band names and behind-the-scenes co-writes with her truest musical statement yet.
Through a GRAMMY-nominated collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, as well as with The Breeders, Haim, and Madi Diaz, Nagler has spent years honing her ability to craft tunes both heartbreaking and clever with and for other artists. She has become a hugely in-demand co-writer – someone an artist will call in when they really want to get to the core of a feeling.
Reminiscent of Breeders-esque fuzzed-out indie-rock with big, power-pop hooks, “Cradle The Pain” is a preview of Nagler’s next chapter. Produced by King Tuff’s Kyle Thomas, mixed by Alex Farrar (Wednesday, MJ Lenderman, Snail Mail) and featuring a stellar backing band including both Thomas and Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) on guitar, and Josh Adams (Cat Power, Weyes Blood, Tim Heidecker) on drums, “Cradle The Pain” displays Nagler’s poetic acumen, atop an instantly memorable melody. “I originally wrote this song as a sort of letter to one of my dear friends,” Nagler explains. “It’s funny how it’s often easier to cut to the core of truth when the message is disguised as being for somebody else. It has since taken on many new and personal meanings to me, currently serving as more of a mantra. I think we inherently know it’s all in our own hands, but the allure of not being accountable allows us to romanticize falling victim to the whims of fate. I am constantly needing the reminder that perspective truly is the key to life, and only we contain our own salvations. We have to just keep getting back on the saddle again and again. Cradle the pain, it’s all the same, it’s what you make of it.” The song’s accompanying video was directed by Christian Stavros and edited by David Checel.
Nagler will be sharing more music next year, and is putting finishing touches on an album. “This song is the first of a body of work I consider closest to home,” she says. “After spending my childhood as an actor taking on alternate personalities, my young adult days writing and touring in various indie projects, and the last several years writing with and for other artists, I’ve compiled a personal collection of songs alongside Kyle. They will be released under my name for the first time, which is appropriate as I feel pretty raw and more like myself than ever. So in many ways, regardless of a lifetime spent in the trenches of creativity, this feels like a debut.”
Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter zzzahara shares the new single/video, “In Your Head,” and announces their first North American tour dates in support of the new album, Spiral Your Way Out, out this Friday, January 10th, on Lex Records. Following recent single “It Didn’t Mean Nothing,” “In Your Head” features slowburn melodies and fuzzy shoegaze guitars with reeling riffs and heartsick lyrics evoking early Title Fight.
“In Your Head” was co-produced and written alongside former Ducktails guitarist Alex Craig (Jelani Aryeh, re6ce). “Alex messaged me on Instagram one day and I ended up meeting up with him,” zzzahara says “I think we talked about a million things before we started working on music. Every time I work with him we just shoot the shit for an hour or so! We were geeking out on old school emo and all our hot takes on current artists. We also were nerding out on our favorite riffs and that’s how ‘In Your Head,’ was made. Alex is definitely one of my favorite guitar players. We worked for like 9-10 hours without eating. I’ll never forget how hungry I was.”
The accompanying video by Bethany Michalski pays homage to mid 2000s emo and punk videos a la Paramore and Fall Out Boy, reflecting zzzahara’s unabashed embrace of their formative emo and punk influences for the first time, revisiting artists like Bright Eyes and Broken Social Scene while going through a newly minted Elliott Smith era.
Made in a three-month burst that let all their pent-up frustrations loose, Spiral Your Way Out is in part a work of self-reclamation. With a broad church of influences, zzzahara’s vocal style and knack for earworm melodies act as a throughline without tying the album to a specific genre. There is a certain ease to zzzahara’s music that’s rooted in the ebb and flow of their life. They pick up the guitar and write every day, clinging to the most memorable riffs and melodies like lights in the dark. After a year of upheaval, zzzahara finally feels “calm.” The musical equivalent to going several rounds on a punching bag, Spiral Your Way Out finds solace between extremes. It licks its wounds in a place where pain and love, healing and abandon, sit side-by-side. If it has a message, it’s one of standing tall in your own shoes – scuffs and all.
zzzahara Tour Dates: Wed. Jan. 15 – New York, New York @ Rough Trade (in-store) Fri. Feb. 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Roxy Theatre Wed. Feb. 26 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill (Noise Pop) Thu. Feb. 27 – Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonial Wed. Mar. 19 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall Thu. Mar. 20 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall Fri. Feb. 21 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s Sat. Mar. 22 – Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo Thu. Mar. 27 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah Fri. Mar. 28 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room Sat. Mar. 29 – Las Vegas, NV @ Swan Dive Sun. Mar. 30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ International Bar Tue. Apr. 1 – Denver, CO @ Skylark Lounge Thu. Apr. 3 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar Fri. May 2 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry Sat. May 3 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern Sun. May 4 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Bling Pig Mon. May 5 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake Underground Tue . May 6 – Montreal, QC @ L’Escogriffe Wed. May 7 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs Fri. May 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Sultan Room Sat. May 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy Sun. May 11 – Washington, DC @ DC9 Tue. May 13 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings Wed. May 14 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade Fri. May 16 – Miami, FL @ Gramps Sat. May 17 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub Tue. May 20 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs) Wed. May 21 – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios Thu. May 22 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
