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5 Gifts For The Aspiring Artist In Your Life

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5 Gifts For The Aspiring Artist In Your Life

We all know someone who’s artistic, loves to sketch, take photographs, or simply creates. Artists take note of the beauty in life. Therefore, the gifts you give them should be beneficial and allow them to continue to create beauty.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for an aspiring or professional artist, below are five gifts that will be beneficial and loved!

1. Wall Decor & Photography

Aspiring artists have a place they like to work in. Perhaps it’s a studio or their garage.

Help elevate their workspace with some wall decor or photography. A painting from their favorite artist, for instance, is a gift they’ll cherish and enjoy looking at each and every day.

If that aspiring artist in your life is your significant other, become the art! If you’re looking for a more intimate and romantic gift, consider Boudoir photography. While we can’t promise they’ll have this portrait up in their work studio, we do guarantee it’ll be a gift they’ll enjoy glancing at whenever they get a chance!

2. Sketchbook

If they’re unsure of their medium yet, or you don’t know what art they’re into, mixed media pads are great choices. These are amazing gifts as they allow for sketching, painting, watercolors, and more. And, let’s face it; have you ever met an artist that’s turned down a sketchbook?

Now, let’s say you know the type of art someone likes to create. Get them paper that fits their preferences. For example, heavy, thick paper is best for artists using markers and watercolors. If they’re using dry media, lighter paper is best. You will also have to consider the “tooth” or texture. If they’re using charcoal or pastels, paper with more bite is suitable as the pits and grooves hold the pigment.

3. Leather Paint Brush Roll

This is a great gift for painters on the go. These waxed leather cases keep brushes organized and in the best shape possible. You can even customize the outside or inner pockets!

Add their name, initials, or a short phrase that means a lot to them or you. Whatever you decide to write, it will be sure to inspire them each time they paint.

4. Hand Massager

More than likely, your favorite artist is a little rough on their hands. After they spend a long day painting, drawing, or sculpting, they can sit down and unwind with a hand massager.

Most hand massagers have a few intensity levels and deciding on the model you get, may include heat and vibration. They also come sold is cord or cordless options.

Not only do hand massages feel good, but it helps ease muscle tension and can reduce pain. Some benefits of hand massages include:

  • Reduced hand pain
  • Less anxiety
  • Better mood
  • Improved sleep
  • Greater grip strength

5. Paintbrush Cleaner

Another way to protect those paintbrushes from falling apart or getting ruined is to clean them after each use. Having them cleaned regularly also increases longevity and saves money in the long run.

Having a brush cleaner offers a simple solution. These tools wash paintbrushes without you having to run to the sink to wash out the colors. Some models even give your brushes plenty of space to dry.

There are different types of paintbrush cleaners. Some look like mason jars, champagne bottles, or shower caddies. Always read the product description and customer reviews to learn if it’s a good pick.

Final Thoughts

Can’t decide on a gift for the artist in your life? Any of these items will work! Whether it’s for a birthday or holiday, the artist in your life will appreciate you getting them a gift that allows them to create.

Coco Release New Song ‘Rough Water’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Coco Release New Song ‘Rough Water’

Coco – the project of Maia Friedman (Dirty Projectors), Dan Molad (Lucius), and Oliver Hill (Pavo Pavo) – are back with a new single called ‘Rough Water’. They’ve also announced the first vinyl pressing of their self-titled debut, which is available to pre-order on Bandcamp. Check out ‘Rough Water’ below, along with Coco’s upcoming tour dates.

Coco recorded the new single in Joshua Tree. “The open space out there really lends itself to loud music,” the band said in a statement. “It brings about a desire to shout into the emptiness. The lyrics are partly a love letter to the angry spirits and partly a self-entreaty to inhale and relish in the chaos of life.”

Coco 2022 Tour Dates:

Sept 2 – London, UK – Omeara
Sept 3 – Wiltshire, UK – End of the Road Festival
Oct 22 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club *
Oct 24 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair *
Oct 25 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall*
Oct 26 – New York, NY – Webster Hall *
Oct 28 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall *
Oct 29 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag *
Oct 31 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre *
Nov 1 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom *
Nov 2 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe *
Nov 3 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Saloon *
Nov 5 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre *
Nov 6 – Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s *
Nov 8 – S Salt Lake, UT – The Common Wealth Room *
Nov 10 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall *
Nov 11 – Seattle, WA – Showbox *
Nov 12 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre*
Nov 13 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre*
Dec  – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
Dec 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room

*supporting Kevin Morby:

Johanna Warren Shares New Single ‘Piscean Lover’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Johanna Warren Shares New Single ‘Piscean Lover’

Johanna Warren has previewed her upcoming album Lessons for Mutants with a new single called ‘Piscean Lover’. It follows lead cut ‘I’d Be Orange’, which landed on our Best New Songs segment. Check it out via the accompanying video, co-directed by Warren and Richey Beckett, below.

Lessons for Mutants is set to arrive October 7 on Wax Nine/Carpark Records.

Album Review: Julia Jacklin, ‘PRE PLEASURE’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Album Review: Julia Jacklin, ‘PRE PLEASURE’

There’s a moment on ‘Less of a Stranger’, a stark highlight from Julia Jacklin’s magnificent third album PRE PLEASURE, that’s sort of magical. Rarely does the Australian singer-songwriter play tricks with the camera, but here, she turns the lens around in a way that’s both startling and revelatory. “When I look into the mirror/ I see my father/ When I close my eyes/ I see you,” she sings, an emotional truth that transcends the physical realities of the body she yearned to explore on a song like ‘Head Alone’. The “you” in question is her mother; the song is a plea to understand and be understood, to bend and finally align with the primordial line that connects them. Then, switching perspective, she asks, “When you look into the mirror/ Does your father appear?/ Eyes closed/ Do you see your mother too?” She’s probably addressing the same person she’s aching to feel less estranged from – to relate on this fundamental level – but hearing it, it’s hard not to feel like the light’s suddenly fallen on you. There’s a wall that breaks: What if the darkness, at least, means the same thing to those of us listening?

While PRE PLEASURE isn’t exactly cinematic, Jacklin’s awareness of how every thread of life reverberates into the present and onto others is constantly switched on. If it plays a little like a movie, she knows she doesn’t really have the power to direct it, and that there might be little to be gained from projecting it. After ‘Less of a Stranger’, Jacklin zooms out on the following track, ‘Moviegoer’, where the struggle to find connection through art is not only pointless but potentially damaging:  “Moviegoers forty dollars down/ Nobody from work invites them round for dinner/ Movie director is going down too/ Forty million dollars still nobody loves you.” On opener ‘Lydia Wears a Cross’, she rewinds the tape back to her childhood – something she’s rarely attempted in her songwriting before – to examine the role religion has played in shaping her worldview, but you can also hear the chorus as a reflection of her fractured relationship with her chosen artform: “I’d be a believer/ If it was all just song and dance.” A lightly distorted guitar line accentuates the melancholy.

Her approach on PRE PLEASURE is to loosen the pressure, put in the work, and give it time. “The songs on this record took either three years to write or three minutes,” she remarked in press materials, and you can’t really tell the difference. She started a lot of the songs on keys rather than guitar; traveled to Canada and worked with a new producer for the third time; fell back in love with the theatrical pop of Robyn and Celine Dion. On some of the album’s biggest, most gripping songs, she communicates with an urgency that sounds fresh and rejuvenating, even if whatever joy they radiate is fleeting and volatile. On ‘I Was Neon’, she sees herself as “a floodlight/ Arms out reaching for everything in sight,” a vision so immense it’s a wonder the song, as propulsive as it is anxious, feels capable of carrying it.

To record, Jacklin collaborated with her Canada-based touring band, bassist Ben Whiteley and guitarist Will Kidman, who also play in the Weather Station, and standout ‘Love, Try Not to Let Go’ initially evokes the kind of poetic restraint that marks Tamara Lindeman’s songwriting; you can imagine Jacklin sitting down on the piano and finding her way through the song, gently leaning on the simple but eternal weight of words like love and time. Until, that is, it explodes with the same restless intensity that drives ‘I Was Neon’, the fear of losing hold of everything you’ve spent a lifetime trying to embody and express. “Can I give my love to everyone somehow?” she wonders, a thought that leaves her breathless and overwhelmed.

On the heart-wrenchingly intimate ‘Too in Love to Die’, Jacklin puts all her faith in that life-giving force, her voice delicate and enveloping, stretching out as she vows to “reach out a hand.” Her extraordinary commitment is a striking contrast to the wariness and caution with which she has learned to treat every relationship, the stories of internalized shame and “conflicting advice” she unpacks elsewhere on the album and that continue to haunt her. Despite a perceived lack of control, when it grounds itself in the present, PRE PLEASURE feels like seeing the world tentatively through new eyes. On the penultimate ‘Be Careful With Yourself’, she directly relays her approach to preserving a meaningful connection, which is deliberate and practical, yet sometimes, she admits on ‘End of a Friendship’, ultimately futile: “I sat there in silence, accepted our fate/ We always found it hard to relate.” Maybe doing the work alone isn’t enough; there’s always more hanging in the air. “All my love is spinning round the room/ If only it would land, plant and bloom,” she sings, devastated and still bursting with love that’s endless and free. Try to contain it, and you’d miss the perfect shot.

Tenci Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song ‘Two Cups’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Tenci Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song ‘Two Cups’

Tenci, the Chicago-based band led by Jess Shoman, have announced their new album: A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing lands on November 4 via Keeled Scales. The follow-up to 2020’s My Heart Is An Open Field is led by the new single ‘Two Cups’, which arrives with an accompanying video directed by John TerEick. Check it out below, and scroll down for the album cover, tracklist, and Tenci’s upcoming tour dates.

On A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing, Shoman is joined by Curtis Oren on saxophone and guitar, Izzy Reidy (Izzy True) on bass, and Joseph Farago (Joey Nebulous) on drums. The LP was recorded with with engineer Abby Black and mixed by Melina Duterte of Jay Som. According to a press release, it “explores a collection of well-like vessels – cups, puddles, fists – which hold tightly on to love and newfound joy. Each song forms a spell to ‘fill my heart back up,’ Shoman says, ‘by reframing complex feelings by turning my head sideways and seeing them in a different way.'”

A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing Cover Artwork:

A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing Tracklist:

1. Shapeshifter
2. Vanishing Coin
3. Be
4. Great Big Elephant
5. Cold Dirty Water
6. The Ball Spins
7. Sharp Wheel
8. Out of Body
9. Sour Cherries
10. Swallow Me Whole, Blue
11. Two Cups
12. Memories

Tenci 2022 Tour Dates:

Fri Nov 4 – Milwaukee, WI – Cactus Club
Mon Nov 7 – Minneapolis, MN
Wed Nov 9 – Toronto, ON – The Baby G
Thu Nov 10 – Montreal, QC – Casa de Popolo
Fri Nov 11 – Boston, MA – Lilypad
Sat Nov 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right
Mon Nov 14 – Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA
Tue Nov 15 – Washington, DC – DC9
Thu Nov 17 – Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub
Fri Nov 18 – Bloomington, IN – The Bishop
Sat Nov 19 – Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village

Melody’s Echo Chamber Announces Rarities Album, Unveils New Single ‘Unfold’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Melody’s Echo Chamber Announces Rarities Album, Unveils New Single ‘Unfold’

Melody’s Echo Chamber, the project of French musician Melody Prochet, has announced a new collection of seven rare and unreleased tracks called Unfold. Billed as the lost follow-up to her self-titled debut, which was recorded and co-produced with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, the album will be released alongside a 10th-anniversary edition of Melody’s Echo Chamber on September 30 via Domino/Fat Possum. Check out Unfold‘s lead single and title track below.

Speaking about ‘Unfold’, Prochet said in a press release: “To me this song captures the emotional ambivalence of a crossroad, like a child finding a special seashell hidden in the sand but the ocean’s creature still lives inside, I guess it’s the sound releasing of the beloved.”

Melody’s Echo Chamber released her most recent album, Emotional Eternal, earlier this year. Read about the inspirations behind the LP in our interview with Melody Prochet.

Unfold Cover Artwork:

Unfold Tracklist:

1. Pêcheuse de Lune
2. Ocean Road
3. Norfolk Hotel
4. Unfold
5. From Pink They Fell Into Blue
6. Pieces of Sound
7. The Cure

Julia Jacklin Releases New Single ‘Be Careful With Yourself’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Julia Jacklin Releases New Single ‘Be Careful With Yourself’

Julia Jacklin has shared another single from her upcoming album, PRE PLEASURE, ahead of its release on Friday, August 26, via Transgressive. This one’s called ‘Be Careful With Yourself’, and it follows the previously unveiled cuts ‘Love, Try Not To Let Go’, ‘I Was Neon‘, and ‘Lydia Wears A Cross’. Check it out below.

Mabe Fratti Announces New Album ‘Se Ve Desde Aquí’, Releases New Song

Konstantinos Pappis
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Mabe Fratti Announces New Album ‘Se Ve Desde Aquí’, Releases New Song

Mabe Fratti has announced a new album titled Se Ve Desde Aquí, which is set for release on October 14 via Unheard of Hope. Its first single, ‘Cada músculo’, arrives today alongside a video directed by Nika Milano. Watch and listen below.

“’Cada músculo’ is a song where Mabe Fratti explores the metaphor of how the world is shaped: every single part of your life, of a space, of our surroundings becomes automatically a part of you, of the way you experience and sense the world and how you transform along with it,” Milano said in a statement. “In the video, the voice is given to a space (that appears to be empty) using the microphone as a symbol, making reference to the lyric ‘every muscle has a voice.’”

Fratti described the sound of the album as “less protected” and “informed through the aesthetics of rawness, and a ‘dirtiness.” She explained: “I did layering but it’s more in specific moments. I wanted to be as raw as possible and try to avoid overdubbing the same instrument as much as I could, leaving space to break my own rules in the process.”

Se Ve Desde Aquí will follow Fratti’s 2021 sophomore LP, Será que ahora podremos entendernos?. Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Mabe Fratti.

Se Ve Desde Aquí Cover Artwork:

Se Ve Desde Aquí Tracklist:

1. Con Esfuerzo
2. Desde el cielo
3. No se ve desde acá
4. Esta Vez
5. Cuestión de tiempo
6. Algo grandioso
7. Cada Músculo
8. Deja de empujar
9. Siempre tocas algo

Jerry Allison, Drummer and Songwriter for Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Dead at 82

Konstantinos Pappis
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Jerry Allison, Drummer and Songwriter for Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Dead at 82

Jerry Allison, the drummer best known for his work with Buddy Holly and the Crickets, has died. He was 82.

The news was announced on the official Buddy Holly Facebook page, with no cause of death provided. “Our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jerry ‘JI’ Allison, drummer in the Crickets, one of Buddy’s very closest friends, and the inspiration to drummers for decades since, who passed away today at the age of 82,” the message reads. “JI was a musician ahead of his time, and undoubtedly his energy, ideas and exceptional skill contributed to both the Crickets, and rock n’ roll itself, becoming such a success. Buddy is often heralded as the original singer-songwriter, but JI, too, wrote and inspired so many of the songs that would go on to be eternal classics.”

Born in 1939, Allison met Holly in the 1950s, and the two started playing as a duo before forming the Crickets with bassist Joe B. Mauldin and rhythm guitarist Niki Sullivan in 1957. The group soon became a trio following the departure of Sullivan. Allison contributed substantially to the band’s songwriting and is credited as a co-writer on some of their biggest hits, including ‘Peggy Sue’ and ‘More Than I Can Say’.

Following Holly’s death in a plane crash in 1959, Allison became the leader of the Crickets and continued to tour and record with the group into the ’60s and beyond, releasing a total of 13 studio albums between 1960 and 2005. In 2012, Allison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Crickets.

Most Viewed and Liked Music Clips on YouTube: How to Promote Your Own Music Video

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Most Viewed and Liked Music Clips on YouTube: How to Promote Your Own Music Video

Music has always been a vital part of people’s lives. A lot of people find that music helps them to relax, and it’s even been used at times to help reduce heart rates and blood pressure. At the same time, music is a major mood booster, with the ability to reduce anxiety and bring someone joy. 

With so many benefits, it’s no wonder people turn to creating their own music or their own clips to share with the world. For a lot of people, sharing their own music is just as therapeutic as listening to other music, right? 

But how can you be successful on places like YouTube? Well, check out some of these most viewed clips followed by a few tips to help you out. 

Most Viewed Music Clips on YT

Let’s start by diving into some of the clips out there with the most likes and views. This could help give you some basic inspiration to get you started. 

These are the ones you will find at the top with a host of viewers attached to them. 

  • Baby Shark Dance (10+ million)
  • Despacito
  • Shape of You
  • See You Again
  • Uptown Funk
  • Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster
  • Gangnam Style
  • Sugar
  • Roar
  • Counting Stars
  • Sorry
  • Thinking Out Loud
  • Faded

Most of these titles you likely recognize, and many of them are by some of the biggest names in the music industry. But you notice that the #1 spot is taken by Baby Shark with more than 10 million views on deck. Of course, this is likely from parents simply trying to entertain their little ones and keep them happy – but it works! 

Then, you have a few random ones in there. The thing about it is that while some of these are popular music clips, it’s the video that captivates the viewer and that’s where you need to turn your focus. 

When it comes down to it, the goal should be to create content that attracts viewers and likers. So how do you do that? 

Check out these tips. 

Grab Their Attention

The first detail that is the most pertinent is that you need to be able to capture an audience. Sometimes, it takes some effort to get started, and then the music clip could take off substantially. This is exactly what happened with Baby Shark. Once it took off, it took the world by storm. 

Many influencer users even buy YouTube likes with cheap prices simply to get that initial start on viewing and engagement for a video. This is a great way to simply get the movement started. Once those initial views are in place, the video starts to be easier to find and therefore easier to see. 

However, even if you’re going to pay for some likes, you still need quality content. You want something that is going to capture the eye of anyone who drops in to watch it. Make it worth their while. 

Build Your Channel Well

Finding a way to get people to come to you starts with the very basics when you think about it. You see, this isn’t just about gauging a single music clip. It’s also about making a name for yourself and getting people to notice your channel. 

Yes, you want likes and views on that clip you worked so hard to create, but you also want to grow your overall fan base as well. And how do you accomplish this? You need to make your profile and your channel attractive, just as much as that clip you’re boosting. 

Start with developing your profile, creating a great bio, adding some hashtags, and coming up with a captivating photo and description. 

Enhance the Video Details

Now that you’ve got your channel set up and you have a great profile, let’s focus on this video that is destined for growth. The trick to getting this particular video climbing the ranks is to optimize it, use some SEO, and fine-tune every little detail tied to bringing in the numbers. 

Here’s an example. Every video gets a description. This has the ability to be substantial, but it doesn’t have to be huge. What it does need to be is SEO-optimized, informative, and quippy. You want to make it short and sweet, but make sure it’s built to entice someone to watch the video. 

You need to take the same care when creating your titles. And don’t forget the thumbnail, either. YouTube automatically portrays a thumbnail, and sometimes it’s just plain black or some awkward part of your video. But you can improve it and choose your own custom detail for this piece. Find an image that will attract. 

According to studies the most viewed video clips and music clips all have custom thumbnails, with only a few exceptions. 

Engagement & Audience Success

If you really want to have a successful experience, you want to place significant importance on your audience and their likes or demands. Take the time to learn what your audience enjoys and what they want to see. 

YT equips every channel with the ability to view analytics. Use these often to find out what is or is not working and then make adjustments. When something works really well, keep using similar strategies. When something bombs, find a way to make it better or don’t use that tactic anymore. 

With music clips, people really enjoy closed captioning so they can know the exact lyrics. Find some way to incorporate these, so your audience doesn’t have to try to wing it or figure it out. It’s a form of engagement and a popular way to enhance the experience. 

Now, don’t forget to interact and engage with the audience as well. Your clip isn’t going to be engaging most likely so you need to find other ways to interact with the people. They want to feel important, and this will contribute to your success. 

Take the time to encourage people to give you feedback or respond to you in some way. Then, interact with them. Respond to questions and comments. Discuss things with people and listen to what they have to say with care. 

Don’t forget to ask viewers to like, share, and subscribe as well. 

Viewers are Yours for the Taking

When it comes down to it, you can build viewers by putting in a lot of hard work and effort. Most of the time, those efforts will pay off if you’re willing to try. Whether you buy some likes to get traction or you work hard to promote, share, and boost you can find success much like those other popular clips at the top of the lists.

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