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Watch Bright Eyes’ First Performance in Nine Years on ‘Colbert’

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Bright Eyes played their new song ‘Mariana Trench’ on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, marking their first live performance in nearly a decade. In addition to regular members Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nathaniel Walcott, the performance also included Lucius on backup vocals and Anna Buttress on bass. Check it out below.

The group’s last performance was at Honolulu’s Hawaii Theatre, in November of 2011. Since then, Conor Oberst has been involved in various projects, including Better Oblivion Community Center with Phoebe Bridgers. Earlier this year, Bright Eyes announced their big comeback with a now-postponed tour and a series of singles, including ‘Persona Non Grata’ ‘Forced Convalescence’, ‘One And Done’, and most recently, ‘Mariana Trench’.

On Monday, the band officially announced their first new album in nine years called Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was, which is set for release on August 21 via Dead Oceans. The follow-up to 2011’s People’s Key features contributions from Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ Flea on bass and Queens of the Stone Age’s Jon Theodore on drums.

Sun Ra Arkestra to Release First New Album in 20 Years, Share New Track

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Sun Ra Arkestra, the influential jazz collective founded by the late Sun Ra, have announced they will be putting out their first new studio album since 1999’s A Song for the Sun. The as-yet-untitled LP is set to be released in October via Strut. Arkestra also shared a new track titled ‘Seductive Fantasy’, which is a reworking of an original Sun Ra composition from 1979’s On Jupiter. Check out the single, as well as its Chad VanGaalen-directed animated video, below.

Engineered, produced, and mixed by Jim Hamilton and longtime Sun Ra Arkestra leader Marshall Allen, the album was recorded at Rittenhouse Soundworks in Philadelphia.

In recent years, Arkestra have been touring consistently, even opening for Solange on her 2017 tour.

Fenne Lily Announces New Album, Shares Single ‘Alapathy’

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Bristol singer-songwriter Fenne Lily has announced her sophomore studio album and first for Dead Oceans, BREACH, scheduled for release on September 18. She also shared a new single titled ‘Alapathy’. Check out the track, as well as the album’s cover art and tracklist, below.

The single’s title combines the words “apathy” and allopathy” (a word referring to Westernized medicine) and is about how she “started smoking weed to switch off [her] brain,” according to a statement. “Western medicine generally treats the symptoms of an illness rather than the cause,” she added. The song also comes with an accompanying music video, directed by Benjamin Brook.

Recorded with producer Brian Deck at Chicago’s Narwhal Studios, with further work at Electrical Audio with none other than Steve Albini, BREACH was written during a period of self-enforced isolation before the pandemic actually hit. According to Lily, it deals largely with “loneliness, and trying to work out the difference between being alone and being lonely.”

BREACH Album Art:

Fenne-Lily-Cover-Artwork-by-Nicole-Loucaides.jpg

BREACH Tracklist:

1. ‘To Be A Woman Pt. 1′
2. ‘Alapathy’
3. ‘Berlin’
4. ‘Elliot’
5. ‘I, Nietzsche’
6. ‘Birthday’
7. ‘Blood Moon’
8. ‘Solipsism’
9. ‘I Used To Hate My Body But Now I Just Hate You’
10. ‘’98’
11. ‘Someone Else’s Trees’
12. ‘Moody Ghost’
13. ‘Laundry And Jet Lag’

How Can You Get Started In Hardcore Gaming?

Gaming is one of, if not the, most popular form of entertainment in the world right now. From casual mobile games to massively time-consuming online role-playing games, there’s something out there for just about everyone. A lot of people have a console in their home that they occasionally put on at parties for people to play together, or use it to stream things like Netflix. But what if you’re interested in getting into gaming in a more serious way? Despite how accessible it is, gaming can be just like sports in the way that you can really get deep into the minutiae of it. If that seems like something that would appeal to you, then here are a few ways that you can get into hardcore gaming.

Get the perfect setup

Home consoles are great when you want just to plug in and play, but if you really want to get serious about gaming, then you’ve got to get yourself a high-quality gaming PC. These powerful machines will give you the best performance, most crisp graphics, and most responsive gameplay possible. Not only that but you can easily customize them to fit your own personal needs. Make sure that you also look at some gaming computer desks so that you can be sure that you have the space to accommodate your new set up. You’ll also want a solid gaming chair that offers you plenty of back support. You might also want to look into things like a pair of gamer glasses. A pair of gaming glasses is a simple addition to your setup but one that can make a huge difference. Staring at screens all day long can lead to a lot of strain on your eyes. Gamer glasses filter out harmful blue light and greatly reduce the strain on your eyes. That way you don’t have to worry about headaches while you’re gaming.

Read reviews

The only way to stay up to date with the best and most recent releases is to read reviews and follow the latest gaming news. There are plenty of places where you can go, and everyone has their own preferred gaming sites, but places like Metacritic are a great way to get a rough idea of the quality of a new game. You may also find that certain writers and journalists will create content that you really engage with, causing you to find a deeper understanding of the medium and really increasing your enjoyment of it. 

Get online

One of the best things about modern gaming is that it’s no longer a solo affair. Previously, if you wanted to play a game with other people then you had to either go to their house, or they came to yours. But now you can play games with anyone in the world no matter where they are. It gives you the opportunity to connect with people through a shared love of gaming and might even give you the chance to make some new friends. A lot of games are really strongly focused on multiplayer and nothing is more fun as a gamer than getting to test your skills against other people or work together to achieve a goal. Just remember, don’t feed the trolls! There are people out there who just want to make life miserable for everyone else and that’s what the mute, block, and report buttons are for.

Remember: casual is not a dirty word

No matter how heavily you get into gaming, there might always come a time when you just want to crash on the couch and play something simple for a little while. There’s nothing wrong with that. Plenty of “hardcore” gamers might say there’s something wrong with playing games “casually” but hey, we all live pretty busy lives and we don’t always have as much time as we would like to dedicate to our favorite hobby. It turns out, it really is possible to have your cake and eat it too!

One of the things to remember when it comes to getting into hardcore gaming is that it can often end up costing a surprising amount of money much quicker than you might expect. The key is to make sure that you’re spreading out a lot of those purchases as much as you can. The last thing you want is to end up in a position where you’re spending more money than you have because you’ve gotten carried away with amazing tech and the hottest new games. Budgeting your money is always important but it can be a lifesaver for any hardcore gamer.

10 Most Interesting Characters From Netflix’s The Society

Set in the fictional town of West Ham, Connecticut, The Society (2019) is a genre-bending Netflix original series. Drawing on elements of Lord of the Flies, Under the Dome, and Michael Grant’s Gone series, the teens embark on a camping trip only to be turned around when it starts raining. They return in the evening to find the town deserted. They must form their own society while trying to figure out what happened. A second season has been slated for a 2020 release. Amongst the series, you can browse for best movies to watch on Netflix here.

The diverse ensemble cast features some of the unique characters of the Netflix teen drama pool. The children are forced to grow up too quickly in this new world, and some of their arcs take unexpected turns.

Elle Tomkins

Elle starts out as a typical cold, mean girl who has no friends. Viewers first see her stockpiling an unnecessary amount of groceries into her cart, fighting off anyone who asks her to share – until Allie, the main character, talks to her.

Elle later moves in with Campbell Eliot, a psychopath who thinks they’re the same because they’re both social outcasts. Elle doesn’t trust Campbell, but she has nowhere else to go. He begins to abuse her emotionally, psychologically, and later, physically. Elle’s arc takes an unexpected turn in the second half of the season when the teens decide to hold a Thanksgiving dinner.

Campbell says he wants to stay home, so Elle makes a pumpkin pie and poisons it. But when Campbell learns she’s never had a “proper” Thanksgiving dinner, he insists they join the others. Elle shovels as much of the pie into her mouth as she can before her peers can get to it. That night, a number of people are sick with what they assume is food poisoning, including Allie and Elle. She doesn’t confess, but Campbell understands what happened, and power dynamic shifts again. Elle escapes to Allie’s house only for Campbell to “save” her. Elle promises to give Allie “what’s coming to her”, satisfying Campbell, but Allie knows what she really means.

Grizz Visser

Grizz became a quick fan favorite. In the first few episodes, he spends a lot of time with the other jocks, though he doesn’t always agree with them. He’s more sensitive, reasonable, logical and responsible than the others. He enjoys reading the work of renowned authors and philosophers, and he’s a great friend and advisor for Allie.

He’s a closeted gay, but not because he’s ashamed of his sexuality; he was planning on breaking away from his friends when they went away for college because he’s been playing the part they’ve expected of him. Since he no longer has the option of going away and starting anew, he reflects on how he wants to live in this new world. He’s inspired by his friend Luke, who is about to propose to his girlfriend, Helena. Grizz realizes the one person he really notices is Sam, Campbell’s brother.

Even though Sam can read lips, Grizz teaches himself sign language so that he can communicate with him “in [his] language”. He’s about to leave on an expedition to find arable land, but he tells Sam that he’s preparing for when he gets back, too. Throughout the season, Grizz inspires other characters to live honestly and on their own terms.

Kelly Aldrich

At the beginning of the series, Kelly seems silly and shallow, and she knows it. She and her boyfriend Harry are children of the town’s elite. He tries to exercise his privilege in this new world only to find that nobody cares anymore – including Kelly. Kelly takes the opportunity of their situation to become a better person.

She organizes events to bring everyone together and enjoy their time in this alternate universe (if that’s what it is), like prom. She also sets up a medical practice with Gordie, the smartest of the teens. The two are an unlikely but pleasant pair to watch onscreen. At the clinic, Kelly saves the people Elle accidentally poisons at Thanksgiving and helps Becca (Sam’s best friend) deliver her baby.

Kelly is indiscriminately kind to everyone – including Harry, even after he treats her poorly. She’s the only one to check in on him and try to help him after he slides into depression and laziness. That is until he betrays Allie and goes against everything Kelly stands for.

Allie Pressman

Allie becomes the town leader after her sister Cassandra is shot dead. Cassandra was the Student Body President of West Ham High School, and she naturally steps into the role of the mayor when the teens find their home abandoned. But even though she loves and supports her sister more than anyone else, Allie is tired of living in her shadow.

After Cassandra dies, she’s grief-stricken and regrets the petty fights she instigated. She resists the authority her friends insist she should claim, even though she’s a natural leader. Over time, with the help of her friends – especially Will, who serves as her advisor, confidante, and best friend-turned-lover – she brings order to the town and earns the respect of her peers – but not all of them.

When Allie and Will decide to hold an election, she discovers she has a few opponents. They’re driven mostly by emotion and their desires, while Allie wants what’s best for the town. Her conscience struggles with the amount of power she has, and it creates a rift in her relationship with Will – and others – more than once. She grapples with indecision, knowing she’s good at being in control and that she must hold onto it for the good of the town.

Luke Holbrook

Grizz’s best friend often acts as the leader of the jocks, maybe because he used to be the quarterback. People listen to him, and he provides a voice of reason when his friends start to go rogue. He proposes to his Catholic girlfriend Helena before he decides to run for mayor. Helena isn’t sure this is a good idea because Allie’s doing a good job, and Luke is good at protecting people as part of the Guard. But Allie tells him he can’t run anyway, because he and the Guard are “like the military”.

Luke becomes a key player in Campbell’s grand plan to gain control over the town. Campbell convinces Harry to run for mayor, planning to use him as a puppet. But an underdog named Lexie storms onto the stage and tells everyone they shouldn’t vote for either Harry or Allie. It becomes clear that Lexie will win the election, but before that can happen, Campbell hatches a new plan to unite Harry and Lexie as co-mayors. But he also needs the Guard on his side, which means getting to Luke. They can’t resist the idea of power, but Luke isn’t so easy to sway. Campbell threatens him, and the deal is done.

Luke is forced to concoct a lie that Allie was trying to steal the election. Helena usually trusts him without a doubt, but when people start accusing Luke and Campbell of lying, Helena isn’t so sure. Luke is portrayed as a caring, consideration, dependable, and responsible character until this point. The unexpected change holds some interesting implications for his relationship with Helena, Allie, Grizz (who’s away on the expedition while this happens), and the Guard.

Helena Wu

Luke seems an odd choice to be the romantic partner of someone like Helena. She’s devoutly Catholic, extremely responsible, and firmly rooted in her beliefs and opinions. Yet they truly love each other and plan to be married. Helena almost seems stereotypical when we first meet her, but she’s a lot more than meets the eye.

Helena’s first surprising scene comes after Cassandra’s death, when Allie tries to confiscate every gun in town. After being portrayed as intensely religious, moral, and good, Helena doesn’t seem like the type to own a gun – but she has many, and she refuses to hand them in. The girls’ friendship is further strained when the Guard finds Greg Dewey guilty of Cassandra’s murder.

Allie asks Helena to be his lawyer, which she reluctantly agrees to because she doesn’t have much of a choice. She proves to be an outstanding lawyer, even though the idea of her defending a possible murderer inside the church (which becomes the teens’ designated meeting place) is absurd. But over time, Helena sees that Allie is doing a great job. When the time comes, she vows to give political speeches in the church to help Allie’s election campaign. Even though Helena hates the idea on principle, she knows it’s what the town needs.

Campbell Eliot

What you see is what you get with Campbell. Sam reveals that their parents had Campbell tested, confirming that he’s a psychopath. He’s abusive, controlling, unfeeling, and manipulative. Elle, Harry, Lexie, and the Guard become his pawns, but his master plan is still unclear at the end of season 1.

Though a redemption arc is unlikely in Campbell’s case, he does show signs of emotion on one occasion. After Elle poisons him and the Guard inspects people’s houses for the antifreeze that made people sick, Campbell realizes what Elle has done. He protects her from being discovered, which only increases Elle’s fear.

Strangely, Campbell isn’t angry with her as he is when she spends time with other characters. He tells her that they’re the same and that he’s never been scared of anything before, but that she scares him – he even starts crying. Perhaps this moment could hint at something more for his character in season 2.

Harry Bingham

Harry spends much of the first season disrespecting everyone, including himself. He desperately clings to his relationship with Kelly, his past wealth and entitlement, and the person he used to be. In the new world, none of this matters. He becomes unimportant and doesn’t know how to deal with this. Perhaps this is why he allows Campbell to turn him into his pawn. He accepts the drugs he supplies him, and his increasing dependence on them gives Harry no choice but to agree to Campbell’s terms.

Harry quickly loses the will to continue working, feeling that it’s embarrassing and degrading. He’s one of the few people in town who feels this way. He withdraws to his bedroom and doesn’t come out until Kelly coaxes him out. She believes he’s changing for the better and starting to see sense – until he joins forces with Campbell and runs for mayor against Allie. In the end, it doesn’t matter because Campbell has Harry and Lexie join forces and take power by force.

The end of season 1 sees Allie, and Harry’s relationship tested again. At the beginning of the series, they sleep together, but Allie soon tires of his company. Harry repeatedly sabotages her leadership, but also says he’d like to see a world where they’re friends – right before he goes head to head with her at the debate. Perhaps season 2 will shed some light on the pair’s history.

Greg Dewey

Dewey is a nobody who happens to hear Harry offhandedly say he wishes Cassandra was dead. He doesn’t have many speaking lines until the pivotal scene in which he reveals to Harry that he shot Cassandra. However, many fans aren’t convinced that it was him, and even Allie and a few other characters express their scepticism. However, the jury finds him guilty, and Allie must decide on a sentence.

Dewey isn’t too worried, and he blatantly disrespects Allie – and all other female characters, for that matter – under the belief that she can’t punish him too harshly. But Allie’s anger and logical reasoning tell her that the only punishment can be the death penalty because he poses a danger to their society. Only when he learns of this does Dewey start claiming that he didn’t do it. Seth Meriweather gives such a compelling performance that fans believe him.

But no matter how much everyone hates the idea, Allie is forced to go through with it. She has three Guard members take a gun so that no one will know who executed Dewey. As Dewey breaks down in a raw and traumatizing show of emotion, Grizz backs out. Allie takes his place, and it’s her gun that kills him.

10 Most Interesting Characters From Netflix's The Society

Lexie Pemberton

The most interesting thing about Lexie is that nobody knows who she is. Her character is given no background in the show’s first season. Perhaps this, and the fact that she only appears in a few scenes – is why her rise to power is so unexpected. She’s a nobody, like Dewey, and nobody seems to like her – but when she speaks up, people agree with her.

At the election debates, Lexie convinces everyone that Allie is a dictator and that Harry won’t look out for anyone. As Allie says, Lexie is half-right about everything; according to Allie, this is “worse than being wrong”. She’s guided by her emotions alone, which at any other time wouldn’t gain her any supporters, but the tension is high among the teens after all this time of uncertainty.

Lexie gains the favour of many of her peers by chance, but she doesn’t know what she’ll do when she’s in power. Allie warns her that the feeling of being in control will consume her, but Lexie isn’t swayed. She has Allie arrested, only to realize she’s accidentally turned their little society into a mob and that she doesn’t have any authority.

Artist Spotlight: Jonah Yano

Following his critically acclaimed 2019 EP nervous, which featured collaborations with BADBADNOTGOOD, Monsune, and Jacques Green, Japanese-Canadian singer-songwriter Jonah Yano has come through with an intensely personal debut full-length titled souvenir. Released on Father’s Day, the album was recorded between his home in Toronto and Red Bull studios in Tokyo, Japan, where Yano travelled to reconnect with his father after 15 years. Following the separation of his parents in 1998, Yano moved from Hiroshima to Vancouver, but it wasn’t until he moved to Toronto in 2016 that he started making waves in the local music scene with a series of self-produced songs. Souvenir is his most strikingly affecting effort yet, capturing unique snapshots from his past and weaving them into a complicated but tender portrait of family relationships that is sure to strike a deep emotional chord with many. Highlights include the smooth R&B jam ‘delicate’, the dreamy, painfully candid ‘congratulations, you’re in first place’, and the gritty, expansive ‘strawberry!’, which is reminiscent of Yves Tumor’s latest work. But nothing hits quite as hard as ‘shoes’, the album’s heart-wrenching closing track, written and sung by none other than Yano’s father, in which he recounts a story about a pair of shoes he bought for Yano as a child.

We caught up with Jonah Yano for this edition of our Artist Spotlight series, where we showcase up-and-coming artists and give them a chance to talk a bit about their music.

What’s your earliest musical memory?

i honestly can’t think of a definitive first memory with music. however i do remember very clearly buying avril lavigne’s first album “let go” when i was super young and my friends mom who drove to the mall that day played it on the car ride back home. i loved that. between you and me, i still listen to that album every once in a while

Who are some of your influences?

lately i’ve been really digging into all of Phil Elverum’s work. he has a lot of music out under a few different names (Mt. Eerie, The Microphones, D+ & a couple more). his work as Mt. Eerie has influenced me a lot in terms of lyricism. longtime fan of Feist as well. Been reading Gertrude Stein poems again too. Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn are big ones too.

What was the inspiration for your debut album, souvenir?

well the main idea for the record is to tell stories of my life, and family’s life, from different narratives. so lyrically it’s all very inspired by my own experiences and internal dialogue as well as the experiences of different people in my family. the title “souvenir” is meant to describe what these songs are to me. little reminders of the things i’ve felt or thought or lived throughout life so far.

Why did you decide to release the album on Father’s Day?

the last song on this album, shoes, is a song i made with my father. before last year i hadn’t seen him in like 15 years. so the decision to put it out on father’s day is sort of a reclaiming of that day for me. it’s not ever been a day i really enjoyed all that much with having an absent father and all ahaha. so yea, now father’s day for me is souvenir day, and the day i’ll always remember as the day i put out my first album.

How was the writing and recording process like?

it was sort of all over the place. i’m a pretty sporadic person in terms of work ethic. inspiration comes frequently for me but my ability to use that inspiration and turn it into a song or poem is something that’s a litle less frequent. so for this record the writing and recording had no real definitive process because making every song was such a different set of circumstances. some came naturally over the course of a couple days, some took an entire year. some were recorded in toronto, some were recorded around japan. the lyrics were written in a notebook a lot of the time but there’s a couple songs where i didn’t even write the lyrics down. just built them in my head and tracked them. if i had a defined process i would be a much more efficient musician but unfortunatey for now i have no idea how to create the circumstance that outputs a song every time. maybe i never will. just kinda throwing punches in the dark.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

maybe it’s best to answer this question in a really micro way because so much of the rest of the year depends on things beyond our control. i want to get better at playing upright bass, been learning the last few months. i also want to just take care of my brain. been trying to excercise more too. my only real plan right now is to just become a better person in the ways i can. eating good, informing myself, trying to keep my chin up. i think that’s a good place to start.

California Rapper Bris Shot Dead at 24

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24-year-old California rapper Bris has been shot dead, police have confirmed. According to Sacramento Police, shots were fired on June 21 at approximately 12:42 a.m. near Franklin Boulevard and Fruitridge Road after a related “solo vehicle collision”. Bris, born Christopher Treadwell, sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Last year, the Sacramento rapper collaborated with G-Man for his 10:42 mixtape, which was followed by a series of singles, including ‘Panhandling’, ‘Sparked a Fuse’, and ‘Lightning McQueen’. Last week, he shared the music video for his latest song, ‘Need Hammy’, which you can watch below.

A number of artists and fans have taken to social media to express their grief following the rapper’s death. “He could’ve been one of the greats,” Clipping wrote. “Still so sick of rappers dying.”

IDLES’ Joe Talbot Launches Virtual Talk Show Featuring CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry, Kate Tempest, Sharon Van Etten, Kenny Beats, and More

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IDLES frontman Joe Talbot has launched a virtual talk show called BALLEY TV, named after Talbot’s record label, Balley Records. Talbot also shared the first two episodes, which you can watch below, and announced an impressive line-up of guests for future editions.

The first episode features IDLES bassist Adam Devonshire, Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova, and The Streets’ Mike Skinner, while the second edition features Chvrches vocalist Lauren Mayberry, Hak Baker, and IDLES’ “video star/ tour crew” Adam Greenwood.

Future editions are set to include appearances from Sharon Van Etten, Kate Tempest, producer Kenny Beats, Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament, Savages vocalist Jehnny Beth, The Big Moon’s Fern Ford, and more. Check out the full list of guests, as well as the dates on which the episodes will air, below.

Last week, IDLES announced their third album, Ultra Mono, to be released in September via Partisan. They also shared a new track titled ‘Grounds’.

Episode 1 – Mike Skinner (The Streets) & Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot)
Episode 2 – Lauren Mayberry (CHVRCHES) & Hak Baker

Episode 3 – Arlo Parks & Billy Bragg (Friday July 3)
Episode 4 – Kate Tempest & Kenny Beats (Friday July 17)
Episode 5 – Ishmael Butler & Sharon Van Etten (Friday July 31)
Episode 6 – Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam), Jehnny Beth (Savages) & Fern Ford (The Big Moon) (Friday August 14)

Arca and Rosalía Team Up on New Song ‘KLK’

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Ahead of the release of Arca’s upcoming album KiCk i this Friday (June 26), the artist has teamed up for a new song featuring Rosalía called ‘KLK’. Listen to the track, as well as its instrumental version, below.

The two musicians also hanged out on Instagram live, which you can watch below. In a separate post promoting ‘KLK’, Arca compared her use of sub bass on the track to the sound of a furruco. “The furruco is an autochthonous musical instrument that is played via friction of a rod attached to a large drum head. When rubbed it produces a big sub bass pulse that marks the tempo for the whole gaita group, gaita is typical Venezuelan music,” she wrote.

“I played furruco for years in the gaita groups of my school and a music academy I went to and it influenced me a lot, as well as learning cuatro,” she added. “Venezuelan music has always been with me, and I’m so grateful to have studied some of its musical stylings.”

The new single follows previously shared tracks ‘Mequetrefe‘, ‘Nonbinary’, and ‘Time’. In addition to Rosalía, the album also features appearances from Björk, SOPHIE, and Shygirl. Earlier this month, Rosalía teamed up with Travis Scott for the track ‘TKN’.

Cass McCombs and Steve Gunn Release Two New Songs

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Cass McCombs and Steve Gunn have collaborated on two new songs. The first is a cover of Michael Hurley’s ‘Sweet Lucy’ while the other is a take on a traditional Scottish number called ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’. Proceeds from digital sales will be directed to Elevate Oaklandthe Okra Project, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Physical copies are also available via Bandcamp. Listen to the covers here.

“This 7-inch was intended to be sold exclusively at our now-cancelled West Coast tour,” McCombs said in a statement. “My side is a song written by Michael Hurley, Steve’s side is a traditional Scottish/Irish song. We did them both the same day, as quickly as possible, in a studio in Burbank. It was supposed to be a souvenir.”

The singer-songwriter added: “I suppose it still is, but for a different reason. We decided to release a 7-inch of them on Juneteenth and donate proceeds to these organizations supporting Black lives to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement.”

The accompanying artwork for the A-side was drawn by Hurley himself, while the B-side was created by Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo. Check it out below.

Back in March, Gunn released the Livin’ in Between EP, which also featured covers of Neil Young and the Misfits. McCombs, meanwhile, contributed to Blake Mills’ latest LP Mutable Set.

A-side artwork by Michael Hurley
B-side artwork by Lee Ranaldo