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Caution Announce Debut Album ‘Arcola’, Release New Song

Caution – the two-piece comprised of Nora Button and Cash Langdon – have announced their debut album. Following their self-titled 2021 EP, Arcola will be released on April 29 via Born Yesterday Records. Check out its first single, ‘Fuck It Up’, below.

Although Caution originally formed in Washington, D.C., Button and Langdon have since relocated to Minneapolis, MN and Birmingham, AL respectively. Arcola, which was recorded remotely, is named after a small city in the middle of Illinois that’s halfway between where the two band members are living. “Me and Nora can’t escape this ‘we’re apart’ thing,” Langdon explained in a press release. “It felt perfect to make the title something that is quite literally the distance between us.”

Arcola Cover Artwork:

Arcola Tracklist:

1. Swerve
2. Fuck It Up
3. Hand That Looks Like Mine
4. Plainspeakers
5. Calendar of Waiting Stress
6. Start
7. Red Rose
8. Volatile

My Chemical Romance Cancel Concerts in Ukraine and Russia

My Chemical Romance have canceled their upcoming shows in Russia and Ukraine. “With deep regret, My Chemical Romance is canceling our Ukraine and Russia shows in June 2022,” the band wrote on Instagram. “We hope to be able to play for the fans there soon.”

The band was set to visit Russia and Ukraine as part of the European leg of their reunion tour this June, performing in Saint Petersburg on June 16 before headlining Moscow’s Park Live Festival the following day and Kyiv’s U Park Festival on June 19.

My Chemical Romance are the latest act to cancel tour dates due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, following the likes of Nick Cave, Björk, The Killers, Yungblud, HEALTH, and Green Day. Live Nation announced it was ceasing all business activity in Russia, while Spotify has closed its Moscow office indefinitely.

Album Review: Nilüfer Yanya, ‘PAINLESS’

When you’re feeling lost, most music is pretty good at taking you someplace else; not much of it can shine a light on exactly where you’re at. Nilüfer Yanya’s sophomore album, PAINLESS, homes in on feelings of numbness and alienation that tend to take up a whole lot of mental space, growing and mutating as it becomes harder to identify their roots. But rather than registering as listless or unaffecting, the London singer-songwriter delivers a thrilling and mesmerizing experience by tracing all the subtle movements and repressed emotions that make up this disquieting environment – of being in your own head and surrendering yourself to the passage of time, going nowhere yet watching it all happen at the same time. “I’ve wasted my life so there’s no need for the rush/ We’ve got all the time here, so why hurry up?” she sings on ‘shameless’, and the album adopts a similar perspective: If you can’t help or name the feeling, you might as well try to communicate what it’s like to be swallowed up in the haze.

Yanya achieves this by paring back and concentrating on her singular sound. While her debut LP, 2019’s eclectic Miss Universe – as wonderfully airy and seamless as it was – was occasionally held down by the weight of its conceptual framework, PAINLESS benefits from a tighter, more direct approach that does nothing to detract from the intricate nature of Yanya’s arrangements. This refined minimalism is evident on lead single ‘stabilise’, which anchors in nervy arpeggios reminiscent of In Rainbows-era Radiohead and frenetic drums that explode into a dramatic chorus: “There’s nothing out there/ For you and me/ I’m going nowhere/ Until it bleeds.” As insistent and propulsive as the song is, it allows for the contradictory thoughts that pervade Yanya’s music to snake in and out, so that the whispered uncertainty of the verses can morph into a kind of unfettered confidence. PAINLESS creates a space where everything remains unresolved but nothing stays quite the same; ‘the dealer’ revolves around memories that linger on the mind but never reveal their true meaning, instead changing with the seasons.

In the absence implied by the album’s title, Yanya rarely digs up anything other than emptiness or confusion, but her unique presence and melodic sensibilities still shine through. Working with Miss Universe collaborator Wilma Archer, Bullion, Andrew Sarlo, and musician Jazzi Bobbi on the production, the artist’s sound is subdued in tone, rich in texture, and distinct in personality, even as disparate moods bleed into one another. The instrumental backbone usually consists of serpentine guitars and icy percussion, which feel inexorably tied to Yanya’s expressive voice, whether breathy and nonchalant or aching and openly vulnerable. But in what could easily turn into a morose landscape, the production also makes everything sound more vivid and alive than the lyrics would lead you to believe; often, it’s by mirroring the narrator’s headspace, like when pans to the left and right on ‘L/R’ align with its atmosphere of resignation. But there are also more dynamic ways in which it interacts with the heady themes that run throughout, embodying the pent-up frustration that creeps around the edges: the scuzz of distortion on the earnest ‘midnight sun’, the mist of noise that streaks by on ‘trouble’.

The newfound focus that defines PAINLESS extends to its lyrical content, but it’s mainly through Yanya’s delivery that it acquires a poignant, as well poetic, quality. On ‘try’, she attempts to fill out a strange void by methodically spinning around the titular word “till I get lost here completely.” Throughout the album, this loneliness grows familiar, and you might find yourself latching onto it the same way the narrator clings to certain unhealthy cycles. The hypnotic melodies don’t always have the same effect; on ‘belong with you’, Yanya’s repeated proclamations are cleverly undercut by her cool disaffection, particuarly when contrasted with the almost exultant backing. “You know when you’ve been somewhere too long and then it’s hard to imagine the world another way?” Yanya told Apple Music; she’s describing ‘stabilise’, but the feeling reverberates throughout PAINLESS. Yet somehow, between all the shifts in perception, her desperation leads her to ‘anotherlife’, a moment as bright and pleasant as it is ambiguous. She indulges in the fantasy, and even if she doesn’t quite believe in it yet, the music is already halfway there.

Sunflower Bean Share Video for New Single ‘Roll the Dice’

Sunflower Bean have shared a new single, ‘Roll the Dice’, lifted from the New York trio’s upcoming LP Headful of Sugar. Following ‘Baby Don’t Cry’ and ‘Who Put You Up to This?’, the track arrives with an accompanying video from director Josefine Cardoni. Watch and listen below.

Talking about the new single, the band said in a press release: “Almost everyone we know struggles with money. The traditional routes towards success and stability in America have severely narrowed. The only way to get ahead is to take big risks and roll the dice.”

Headful of Sugar is due for release on May 6 via Lucky Number.

Phoebe Bridgers Announces 2022 Tour Dates

Phoebe Bridgers has announced an extensive run of 2022 dates. The tour is billed as a continuation of the singer-songwriter’s Reunion Tour, which kicked off last September. Bridgers will play a string of North American dates before heading to Europe and the UK in mid-June for a number of shows, including a stop at Glastonbury and Latitude Festival. She’s then close out the tour with a few dates back in US. Tickets go on sale this Friday (March 11) at 10am GMT. Check out Bridgers’ full itinerary below.

Phoebe Bridgers released her latest album Punisher as well as the Copycat Killer EP in 2020.

 

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Phoebe Bridgers 2022 Tour Dates:

Apr 13 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre
Apr 15 Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Apr 22 Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
May 13 Las Vegas, NV – The Amp at Craig Ranch
May 14 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party
May 17 Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
May 19 Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
May 20 Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
May 21 Houston, TX – The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
May 22 Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Fest
May 24 Tampa, FL – The Cuban Club
May 25 St Augustine, FL – St Augustine Amphitheatre
May 27 Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
May 28 Louisville, KY – Forecastle Festival
May 31 Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
Jun 1 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room Outdoors
Jun 3 Milwaukee, WI – BMO Harris Pavilion
Jun 4 Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Jun 7 Toronto, Ontario – RBC Echo Beach
Jun 8 Montreal, Quebec – M Telus
Jun 9 Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point
Jun 11 Washington, D.C. – The Anthem
Jun 12 Washington, D.C. – The Anthem
Jun 13 Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
Jun 15 Brooklyn, NY – BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell
Jun 20 Dublin, Ireland – Fairview Park
Jun 22 Glasgow, Scotland – Barrowland
Jun 24-25 Somerset, England – Glastonbury Festival
Jun 26 Birmingham, England – O2 Academy
Jun 30 Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival
Jul 2 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter Festival
Jul 3 Ewijk, Netherlands – Down The Rabbit Hole Festival
Jul 5 Milan, Italy – Carroponte
Jul 7 Bilbao, Spain – Bilbao BBK Festival
Jul 8 Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival
Jul 9 Lisbon, Portugal – NOS Alive Festival
Jul 14 Ostrava, Czech Republic – Colours of Ostrava
Jul 17 Paris, France – Lollapalooza Paris
Jul 22 Suffolk, England – Latitude Festival
Jul 23 Manchester, England – O2 Apollo
Jul 26 London, England – O2 Academy Brixto
Aug 7 Saint Charles, IA – Hinterland Music Festival
Aug 18 Spokane, WA – Spokane Pavilion
Aug 20 Vancouver, British Columbia – Orpheum Theatre
Aug 23 Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park
Aug 25 Troudale, OR – Edgefield Amphitheater
Aug 27 Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Aug 28 Los Angeles, CA – This Ain’t No Picnic

The Prodigy Announce Tour

The Prodigy have announced a tour of England, marking their first run of shows since Keith Flint’s death in March 2019. The tour kicks off in Sheffield on July 8 and wraps with three shows at London’s O2 Academy Brixton later in the month. Tickets go on general sale this Friday, March 11. Check out the full itinerary below.

The Prodigy shared the following statement about the tour:

‘WE CANT WAIT TO GET BACK ONSTAGE AND PLAY OUR TUNES FOR THE PEOPLE AGAIN , THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ‘FAT OF THE LAND’ FELT LIKE THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO STEP UP , WE’LL BE DROPPIN TUNES FROM ALL OUR ALBUMS AND MAYBE SOME SHIT U HAVNT HEARD BEFORE ,

THIS ONE’S FOR FLINTY ,,, NOW LETS FUKIN GO !!’ LIAM H & MAXIM

The Prodigy’s last album, No Tourists, arrived in 2018.

The Prodigy 2022 Tour Dates:

Jul 8 Sheffield, England – O2 Academy Sheffield
Jul 9 Sheffield, England – O2 Academy Sheffield
Jul 14 Liverpool, England – Montford Hall
Jul 15 Leeds, England – O2 Academy Leeds
Jul 16 Birmingham, England – O2 Academy Birmingham
Jul 18 Newcastle upon Tyne, England – O2 City Hall Newcastle
Jul 19 Manchester, England – O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester
Jul 21 London, England – O2 Academy Brixton
Jul 22 London, England – O2 Academy Brixton
Jul 23 London, England – O2 Academy Brixton

 

Little Tips for Living with a Major Sports Fan

Sports are near and dear to the hearts of people all around the world. Whether their favorite sport is basketball, football, hockey, or some other activity, the status of ‘fan’ is one that is shared by many. Perhaps you know this better than anyone and actually have a roommate or partner that you live with who is a major sports aficionado. When sharing a roof with a sports fan, there are many ways you can support their devotion or even take part yourself. For example, if the fan in question enjoys betting ahead of the big game, you might like to join in and utilize discounts and deals targeted to new users in order to place a wager on the team you think will come out on top. In addition to this, we’ve outlined a few other ideas below. Don’t miss out on the great connection you could share over sports with your roomie!

Surprise Your Fan with Gifts

What roommate doesn’t like to receive special gifts from their co-habitant? Just a little something to drop in their room or on their desk that says, ‘I’m thinking about you’ can really make their day. If you’re dealing with a sports fan, there are a few tried and true presents that never fail. To start, a brand-new athletic jersey that features the number of their favorite player is sure to be well-loved. You could also get them a customized BBQ set that they can use to grill on with friends and family at game day watch parties (more on that later). If they’re a reader, you might like to purchase a sports coffee table book that highlights a player or franchise they love. Finally, you can’t go wrong with some sports-themed décor for their room or your shared living space. Tickets to a live game aren’t too shabby of a gift, either. Keep these ideas in mind for a birthday, anniversary, or casual surprise token of affection.

Help Organize Watch Parties

If you’re sharing a house with a sports fan, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve witnessed at least a few watch party extravaganzas in your time living together. Sports fans love to gather with others, share yummy finger food, and cheer on their team from the comfort of the living room sofa. The next time your roomie or partner says they are going to host a watch party, why not help them plan the event? Ask them what they need from the grocery store, pick up some themed decorations or help curate the guest list – your help will be more than appreciated! It really does take all hands on deck to throw the perfect gameday bash.

Give Them Space to Enjoy the Sport They Love

Living with a sports fan does require you to be patient and flexible. After all, sometimes it can be hard to catch some ZZZ’s when you have an enthusiastic fan roaring at the television screen in the other room. Or maybe there are times when you’re trying to have a conversation with your roomie, but they are too concentrated on the game at hand to fully give you their full attention. The best advice in situations like these is to give your fan the space they need to enjoy the sport they love without feeling hindered. And if you really don’t like sports at all, pick up a hobby to enjoy while your loved one watches the game so that you won’t be bored. For example, crocheting, reading or blogging are things you can do on your own while sharing a space together on the couch in front of the TV. Try not to get jealous or frustrated that your partner or roommate is so dedicated to the game. After all, it’s a hobby they love and if it makes them happy – that is what’s important!

Affordable Tech to Help You Unleash Your Inner Music Producer

Music production is an art. It’s one of those things that can’t be learned in a day, and it takes a lot of time and dedication to become good at it. But that doesn’t mean you need expensive equipment to produce great music. You can pick up a ukulele and learn easy ukulele songs.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of affordable pieces of technology which will help you get started on your journey to becoming an acclaimed producer. These are all products that won’t break the bank, and some are even free. 

The Importance Of Sound

Sound is one of the most important aspects of music production. It’s a crucial part of mixing, mastering, and creating a professional-sounding song. But what if you don’t have a sound engineering degree? What if you can’t afford expensive studio equipment? The good news is that there are tons of affordable tools out there to help you make your own music from home or in the studio.

Take, for example, an app called iZotope Ozone 8. This powerful software helps us produce high-quality sound and has many different features such as analyzing sounds and making adjustments, setting individual levels, editing vocals, and more. And, it only costs $199, which is affordable for just about anyone.

Or how about this affordable piece of technology called Studio One Artist 3? All it takes is purchasing this software ($99) with a download link on their website, and you’ll be able to create complete projects without having to invest in any gear. All you need is your laptop!

You Don’t Need Expensive Equipment To Produce Great Music

Music production is an art. It’s one of those things that can’t be learned in a day, and it takes a lot of time and dedication to become good at it. But that doesn’t mean you need expensive equipment to produce great music. 

All you really need is your ear, some knowledge, and the right technology tools to get started on your journey towards becoming an acclaimed producer. The best part? Most of these tools are free or very cheap.

Music Production Software

This is one of the most expensive resources on this list, but it’s also one of the most important. There are plenty to choose from, but we recommend Reaper for beginners because it offers the most features for the lowest price. It has an excellent piano roll and drum editor, making it easy to create from scratch. You can use this to record vocals and edit them on your computer. 

Logic Pro X or Ableton Live 9 are excellent choices if you’re just starting out. These are digital music production programs used by some of the most prominent artists in the world. Plus, they’ve both got a ton of features to help you make something extraordinary. Both programs offer trials that you should use as they give you a chance to figure out what works best for you before committing. 

Studio Equipment

Once it’s time to lay down some beats, you’ll want equipment that supports your vision. Again, thanks to modern tech, there are loads of options on the market for you to choose from. For example, you have MPC’s which you can check here. But to get started right, you’ll want at least these 4 pieces of equipment in your arsenal.

Microphone

Before you can produce, you need to record your instruments. To record an instrument at home, all you really need is a microphone and a computer with the right program. If you want to step up your game, there are plenty of microphones available on the market that will make your recordings sound better. However, if you’re looking for something affordable and easy to use, a USB condenser mic will do the trick.

The most important thing about recording is capturing a decent sound quality. You don’t want anything too expensive or too cheap as that could take away from the quality of your music. A budget of $100-$200 should get you started with recording equipment.

Headphones

To make listening to music even better, headphones are a necessary tool, especially for an aspiring producer. You can use them as a mix tool or monitor what’s recorded during tracking sessions. And you don’t have to fork out for good-quality ones. Even the cheaper ones on the market will produce a great sound. 

Audio Interface

An audio interface is an integral part of your digital studio because it converts analog sound signals into digital audio files so they can be processed by your computer software and turned into melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and more! These interfaces start at around $150 and go up to $500 when it comes to price range.

Computer

If you’re looking for an affordable way to produce music, then all you really need is a computer (and maybe some headphones). Many modern laptops come with great sound cards that provide premium sound quality without breaking the bank – perfect for starting out on a tight budget. 

But if you’re not sure whether or not you want to put your trust in your laptop’s built-in speaker system, then spending $200-300 on external speakers should do the trick. The only thing is that computers are one investment that will require regular updates. This means that spending more money initially may actually save you money in the long run.

Virtual Instruments, Plug-Ins, And Effects

One of the most important aspects of music production is the use of virtual instruments, plug-ins, and effects. To create a track, you will need to sample sounds and edit them on the fly. This can be done with a few pieces of software that you might already have, but there are also some affordable options on the market. Popular choices include FL Studio, Logic Pro X, and Garageband.

You can also use a MIDI keyboard to produce a massive variety of sounds. There are tonnes of affordable versions that come with all the bells and whistles. You can even find ones that are portable like the one Akai has. Check out a review of Akai MPK mini MK3 here for more information about everything you can achieve with this bit of tech. 

Audio Editing Software

Audio editing software is an essential part of a music producer’s arsenal. You can use this software to edit and polish your track, making it sound professional and ready for release.

There are many different types of audio editing software out there, but if you’re on a tight budget, Audacity is a great option. It’s free, open-source, and easy to learn how to use.

Florence and the Machine Shares Video for New Song ‘Heaven Is Here’

A few weeks after returning with the new song ‘King’, Florence and the Machine has shared a new track called ‘Heaven Is Here’. The single is out today alongside a video directed by Autumn de Wilde and choreographed by Ryan Heffington. Check it out below.

In a statement about the song and video, Florence Welch wrote on Instagram:

Heaven is Here was the first song I wrote in lockdown after an extended period of not being able to get to the studio.

I wanted to make something monstrous. And this clamour of joy, fury and grief was the first thing that came out.

With dance studios also shut it was my dream to one day create choreography with it. So it’s one of the first pieces of music I have made specifically with contemporary dance in mind.

Sadurn Share Video for New Single ‘golden arm’

Sadurn have unveiled a new single from their forthcoming debut full-length, Radiator, which is out on May 6 via Run For Cover Records. ‘golden arm’ follows lead offering ‘snake’, and it arrives alongside an accompanying music video. Watch and listen below.

“I wrote this song at the same time as ‘snake,’ while doing a work exchange on a homestead in North Carolina,” vocalist/guitarist Genevieve DeGroo explained in a press release. “It kind of all came out at once, which feels like this lucky occasion when you’re writing songs. I didn’t think much of it in its initial form, it felt like more of a poem than a story. But playing it with the band for the first time, and then later adding the synth and the slide guitar and coming up with the harmonies when we made the recordings, all those layers really brought it into a different special realm. The video came about very serendipitously when Amelia and I were on a road trip back in the Fall with another friend. We found this amazing camping spot and decided to shoot a video on Amelia’s camcorder – the landscape there really felt like it fit with the song.”