DIIV have shared a new video for ‘Brown Paper Bag’, the lead single from their upcoming album Frog in Boiling Water. It’s shot to look like a Saturday Night Live performance, with an introduction by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Check it out below.
In addition to the video, DIIV have announced a run of North American tour dates, beginning on June 6 in Santa Cruz, California before wrapping up in their hometown New York City on August 5. Find the list of dates below, too.
DIIV 2024 Tour Dates:
Jun 6 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
Jun 7 – San Francisco, CA- Regency Ballroom
Jun 8 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
Jun 10 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
Jun 12 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
Jun 13 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
Jun 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
Jun 16 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
Jun 18 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
Jun 19 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Jun 20 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
Jun 21 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
Jun 23 – El Paso, TX – The Lowbrow Palace
Jun 24 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
Jun 25 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
Jun 27 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
Jun 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theatre
Jul 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Jul 16 – Washington, DC – Howard Theatre
Jul 17 – Richmond, VA – The National
Jul 19 – Charleston, SC – The Music Farm
Jul 20 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
Jul 21 – Miami, FL – The Ground
Jul 23 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
Jul 25 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
Jul 27 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom
Jul 28 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Jul 30 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Jul 31 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
Aug 2 – Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall
Aug 4 – Montreal, QC – Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
Aug 5 – Boston, MA – Royale
Aug 7 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
“I used to be a dream girl/ But the world interfered,” Allie X, the Canadian singer-songwriter and visual artist born Alexandra Hughes, sings on ‘Weird World’, the opening track of her electrifying new album Girl With New Face. She describes the record, her first since 2020’s Cape Cod, as a document of “intense struggle for power and control – creatively, professionally, mentally and physically,” a struggle that led to her being hospitalized in 2022 and consequently retreating from the public eye. Having racked up writing credits for BTS and Troye Sivan, collaborated with Mitski, and released four LPs under the moniker, Hughes’ experience in the music industry is just one facet of her identity she probes on Girl With No Face, which revitalizes her sound by drawing from genres such as early post-punk, synthpop, and new wave. Self-produced with the help of Justin Meldal-Johnsen, the album finds Hughes blazing through curiously unsettling yet danceable songs with fearless abandon, even when her humour tends toward ironic self-awareness (‘You Slept on Me’). Allie X’s assessment of the world in all its dark mundanity may be widely relatable, but on Girl With No Face, she’s more interested in keeping the dream alive by continuing to build her own – raw, twisted, and unrelenting.
We caught up with Allie X to talk about some of the inspirations behind Girl With No Face, including Ian Curtis, Kate Bush, coffee, Breaking Glass, and more.
Ian Curtis
Joy Division is a clear reference point for the album musically, but I’m curious if there’s also a thematic and personal significance to picking Ian Curtis.
Yeah, there’s a few facets to it. First and foremost, Ian Curtis had epilepsy, and ultimately, indirectly, that led to his suicide, because he was pumped full of different drugs, overmedicated, and lost his bearing mentally. I mean, that’s not a fact – that’s just my interpretation of what happened. And then he hung himself. I think the story of Ian Curtis, the idea that he was in this super vulnerable state yet being in these really tough situations – he’d be on stage with these crazy punk audiences and he would throw a fit, and people thought it was part of the show, and he would just collapse on stage, and he just had to keep going, and nobody around him in that at that time was in the mindset where they really could support him in the way that he needed – that really breaks my heart, and I see a lot of my own story in that. You don’t really hear about artists often that are in that situation, and that’s sort of been similar to aspects of my story and my fight through the music industry.
So there’s that, and then there’s the obvious answer, which is, yeah, he was in Joy Division, which was instrumental in this transition from punk music into post-punk and Goth and new wave, and what became synthpop ultimately, which is what my record is all inspired by. It was even Ian Curtis that introduced the other band members to Kraftwerk and to synthesizers; which, obviously, once he was dead, they formed New Order and all of those influences were instrumental in the sound of New Order, which also revolutionized music. I’ve watched both the Joy Division films and read a little bit of a book about him made by his wife, and I just really feel a connection to him. I love his stage presence as well, the way he moves on stage; I also feel like I kind of move awkwardly like that. He’s definitely a hero of mine.
Coffee
I’m curious if this is in reference to the verse in ‘John and Jonathan’, or if it was a more literal influence.
No, it’s just that I literally discovered coffee in 2021. Like, I did not drink coffee until 2021. I was like, “This is awesome. This takes away depression for a few hours.” [laughs] I had a route where I was on a late schedule, so I would get up kind of late, take my time getting ready and just making myself feel cute for the day, because I would spend so much time on my computer. I didn’t want to feel like I was in pajamas. And I would make a coffee – I usually made a bulletproof coffee where you blend butter in it – and then I would sit down and drink that and get all hyped and watch YouTube videos about Joy Division or gear or Vince Clark, that sort of a thing. It would be a really fun way to start my day, I’d get myself all sorts of excited and then proceed to work forever and go to bed really late.
Were you conscious of it affecting your creativity in any particular way?
It affects me in that I get optimistic. I’m a person with big ideas and a lot of ambition, I’ve always had that part of my personality, and coffee just would help me go on those tangents without doubting myself. But of course, it would also give me anxiety sometimes, and I’d get a crash sometimes in the afternoon. But it was all worth it just for that feeling of, like, “I can do this, let’s go!” Because this was a very hard process, so it was helpful to have something like a substance, I guess, that helped me have a kickstart every day. And as someone who never had it before, it literally just felt like I was taking up cocaine or something. [laughs]
Christiane F.
This one was very on the periphery, like you were saying some of these inspirations might be. I actually didn’t even watch the film in the process of making the album. I watched it the day that David Bowie died, because my partner suggested that we do that, and it just gave me this real attitude of the ‘70s and the ‘80s and where the youth was at; the darkness and the industrial feeling of Berlin and Germany. It’s almost as if I had it on my mind’s wall, as a painting or something, to abstractly pull moods from.
The latest single, ‘Weird World’, definitely feels like an expression of that.
For sure, I definitely see that. Obviously it has the German in it, but I almost see ‘Weird World’ as a song that a band would have sung on tour in Berlin, and it happens to be my song.
Cloud slippers
Is this a similar thing to coffee?
Yes, exactly. [laughs] It was a comfort thing. Again, just that extra little thing in my day that would help me feel a bit more comfortable in an uncomfortable situation, what felt like an impossible flight at many times. Just having my feet on soft ground like that was very comforting. It’s almost similar to – my dog was there with me under the table a lot of the time, and I would sometimes take my feet out of my slippers and put them on her fur. It just felt very – comforting is the only word I can think of.
Kate Bush
The final song, ‘Truly Dreams’, comes to mind, but I’m sure she was an inspiration more broadly as well.
Yeah. She was definitely one of the artists that I was reading about and watching things on when I drank my coffee. I was really inspired by her wherewithal and her story – her refusal to tour, her insistence upon producing her own work, her casting her brothers as her team and creating a management company – these are all things that are parallel to what I was doing. Her exploration of new technology, and then vocally, her total quirkiness and weirdness, which I also relate to. We both have very high and bright voices, and on this album I really let the freaky and eccentric side of my voice ring out loud and clear, which I’ve never done before. She was definitely giving me inspo on that as well.
On the production side of things, with self-producing Girl With No Face, was that an aspect of her story you explored in ways you maybe hadn’t in the past?
I’ve always been a fan of Kate Bush, but I’d never gone deep into the production side – the business side was really what I was impressed with, just being a woman in that time and all the business moves she made. It’s an amazing story. I forget the label that signed her as a teenager, but they let her develop and study mime for like three years before she put out anything. That time has passed, you know, no one’s gonna do that nowadays. But the idea that there was this girl who was very weird and unique, and it was celebrated – and if it wasn’t celebrated, then she was just insistent upon doing it her own way. And it worked commercially. It’s one of those things, kind of like Björk, where you look at the level of of success and how she’s so widely known, and then you listen to the music and you’re like, “Oh my god! What an amazing occasion for this very strange and unique artist to have made such a worldwide impact.”
When you’re working with these fast synthpop songs, was there a part of your brain that, looking to someone like Kate Bush who was able to balance her artistic sensibilities, went,“How can I make this a little more eccentric?”
Not really. I think I am eccentric, and when I’ve been in co-writing rooms and when I’ve tried to write something that is aimed commercially, I’ve really tried to hold it back and control it. Despite or due to me working alone in this process, my eccentricities came out, and I just let them happen. But I did look to Kate Bush and say, “If she did this her way and had success, then I feel Ia bravery from that to go this route if that makes sense.”
The 1980 film Breaking Glass
If I’m honest, I didn’t even know this film till the album was wrapped, so it’s almost unfair of me to use it as something I’m citing. It was Moni Hayworth who told me to watch it, she’s the photographer that did all the ‘Off With Her Tits’ videos for me. She’s British, and she was telling me how much this particular album reminded her of that film. So I watched it, and I was like, “Oh my god, she’s totally right.” I just relate so much to that character. Her journey in the music industry is so familiar, even though it’s set in a whole different decade, her stubbornness and the way that she presents herself – I just saw a lot of myself in her. And it really reminded me of this album. Even though this wasn’t an influence when I was writing the album, it almost became one after the fact, if that’s possible.
Did it illuminate parts of the album you weren’t totally aware of before?
Yeah, and that’s not the only thing to have had that effect. Sometimes I’ll even read a really well-written review of the record, or speak to a journalist such as yourself and they’ll ask a particular question, and it gives me a different perspective on what I made. Because when I made it – nothing is that intentional, usually. Certain aspects are, but most of it just kind of came out, and you don’t really analyze it. But now that I’m analyzing it and talking about it so much in interviews and reading people’s reactions, I am seeing things in a different way, and it’s quite fulfilling to have that almost fly-on-the-wall impression of something that you created. I guess I wouldn’t feel the same if I didn’t like people’s interpretations, but I’ve really liked them so far. [laughs]
What about Breaking Glass in particular helped you see Girl With No Face in a different light?
I’ve always seen this doing this record as sort of an act of rebellion, and just seeing my own story in her, equating her insistence upon certain things with my own – it’s hard to explain beyond that.
I think that happens with the things we relate to the most.
It just tingles a certain spot in my body. [laughs] It just gives me a connection and a reaction that I don’t even… I think art just does that; even people that aren’t artists, they get those feelings. And that’s what makes it so meaningful.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
The National and the War on Drugs are joining forces for the Zen Diagram tour, which kicks off September 12 in Gilford, NH, and concludes October 10 in Mexico City. Lucius will open most of the dates, which you check out below.
Thu Sep 12 — Gilford, NH — Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion*
Fri Sep 13 — New York, NY — Forest Hills Stadium*
Sat Sep 14 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center*
Mon Sep 16 — Columbia, MD — Merriweather Post Pavilion*
Tue Sep 17 — Philadelphia, PA — TD Pavilion at the Mann Center for Performing Arts*
Thu Sep 19 — Laval, QC — Place Bell*
Fri Sep 20 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage*
Sat Sep 21 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center*
Tue Sep 24 — Chicago, IL — United Center*
Wed Sep 25 — Sterling Heights, MI — Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill*
Thu Sep 26 — Madison, WI — Breese Stevens Field*
Sat Sept 28 — Englewood, CO — Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*
Sun Sep 29 — Salt Lake City, UT — Granary Live*
Tue Oct 1 — Seattle, WA — Climate Pledge Arena*
Wed Oct 2 — Vancouver, BC — Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena*
Thu Oct 3 — Portland, OR — Moda Center*
Sun Oct 6 — Berkeley, CA — The Greek Theatre*
Mon Oct 7 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Bowl*
Thu Oct 10 — Mexico City, MX — Palacio De Los Deportes
Six Organs of Admittance have shared ‘Summer’s Last Rays’, a new single from the upcoming album Time Is Glass. Ben Chasny announced the record last month, sharing ‘The Mission’. Check out the new song below.
“Written when Autumn was just on the horizon in 2022, the interlocking guitars on ‘Summer’s Last Rays’ are an attempt to mirror the balance of the end of Summer,” Chasny explained in a statement. “The main riff of the song is something I’ve been playing live for a couple decades now but has never ended up on a record. Of course with everything that seems in balance, it only takes a little push before it all collapses and a more ominous element rises. It wouldn’t really be a Six Organs song if it didn’t.”
New York City-based five-piece Dog Date have announced a new LP, Zinger. The follow-up to the band’s 2021 debut Child’s Play lands on April 12 via Pop Wig Records. Check out its lead single ‘Nuff Said’ below, along with the album cover and tracklist.
“We really wanted to bring that live dynamic into the studio and play everything together,” vocalist/guitarist Dylan Kennedy said of the album in a press release. “We recorded live with only a handful of overdubs, and having both drummers playing together on this one was so important for us because they’re able to bounce off one another so naturally.”
He added, “The somewhat frantic nature of this music makes it fitting to write about inner anxieties. Hopefully by the last song of this record I’m maybe getting over some of the panic and anger from the beginning.”
Zinger Cover Artwork:
Zinger Tracklist:
1. Nirvana
2. Nuff Said
3. Spine Transfer
4. F Bomb
5. Duplo
6. Cruel World Reversal
7. Theory Orb
8. Slug
9. Xipe
10. Twin Star
11. I Love That Story
The Ophelias have announced a new EP, Ribbon, which arrives April 12. The EP, which follows the band’s 2021 album Crocus, was recorded at New York’s Figure 8 and Kentucky’s Candyland. Along with the announcement, they’ve shared a video for the new single ‘Black Ribbon’. Check out the clip, directed by guitarist and vocalist Spencer Peppet and bassist Jo Shaffer, below.
Ribbon EP Cover Artwork:
Ribbon EP Tracklist:
1. Black Ribbon
2. Soft and Tame
3. Upper Hand
4. Dust
5. Rind
The Ophelias 2024 Tour Dates:
Wed March 13 – Austin, TX – South by Sad Tree SXSW showcase (solo)
Tue April 2 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Preserving Underground *
Sun April 14 – Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA &
Mon April 15 – Columbus, OH – Natalie’s Music Hall &
Wed April 17 – Indianapolis, IN – Healer &
Thu April 18 – Milwaukee, WI – X-Ray Arcade &
London-based choral collective Shards have announced a new album, Byrd Song, which is out April 19 on Erased Tapes. Inspired by Renaissance composer William Byrd, the LP features eight reimagined works, including the previously released ‘Facta est deserta’ and ‘Amen, amen, amen…’, as well as the new track ‘Agnus Dei’. Listen below.
“I’ve been singing Byrd’s music since I was at school, and sang a lot while studying and singing in my college chapel choir, which I did daily for three years,” Shards’ Kieran Brunt shared in a statement. “His music has endured for centuries because of its beauty, complexity and intense emotion.”
‘“Agnus Dei’ is a meditation on a tiny fragment – the opening five notes of the Agnus Dei from Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices – which builds into a song that is emotionally raw and impulsive,” he added. “It’s the first time I’ve recorded a song in one take, singing and playing the Prophet synth at the same time; as a result the rhythm is quite volatile and the processed vocal part florid and improvisatory.”
Byrd Song Cover Artwork:
Byrd Song Tracklist:
1. Facta est deserta
2. Domine Deus
3. Kyrie
4. Sanctus
5. Agnus Dei
6. Sacerdotes (Lost Cadence)
7. Ave Verum
8. Amen, amen, amen…
Josienne Clarke has announced a new album, Parenthesis, I. It arrives May 10 via Corduroy Punk Records. Today, the Scotland-based singer-songwriter has shared the new single ‘Most of All’, alongside an Alec Bowman-Clarke-directed video. Check it out below.
“It is a licking of wounds and counting of blessings, taking stock and setting straight in my head,” Calrke said in a statement. “It’s one of those songs where I’m a bit exposed and I almost can’t bring myself to share it. Several times I nearly took it off the tracklist, but experience has taught me, those ones end up being among my audience’s favorite songs.”
Bowman-Clarke added of the visual: “Inspired by Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation and tour diaries where you see a bit of each show, I wanted to explore what happens when Josienne isn’t on-stage–behind the scenes of a life and career, dancing tenderly together like an elderly couple at a salsa class who have grown sick of the sight of each other but will remain together until they die.”
Parenthesis, I Cover Artwork:
Parenthesis, I Tracklist:
1. Friendly Teeth
2. Spherical
3. Fear Of Falling
4. Do You Know Now
5. Looking Glass
6. Forbearing
7. Most Of All
8. Double-Edged Sword
9. Firecracker
10. Dead Woman’s Bones
11. The Calm
12. Parenthesis, I
13. Magic Somehow
The month of March is another busy one for cinema-loving streaming service MUBI. The month has several key themes, including a focus on Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling. Popular films like Drive and Half Nelson will be streaming from the 1st of March. MUBI will also focus on woman cinematographers showcasing films such as House of Tolerance, Thursday Till Sunday, and Holy Motors.
Here is the full list of films being showcased on MUBI in March, 2024.
Ever wonder why American men seem to be a hit in certain countries? We’re diving into the top 5 spots where American guys are most welcomed: Japan, South Korea, Colombia, Mexico, and the Philippines. It’s not just about the American lifestyle or personality traits; it’s about how these aspects resonate with local women. This curiosity leads to real connections, often sparked through international dating sites. Let’s get into countries that love American men, why they are on the list, and how it shakes up the dating scene for everyone involved.
#1. Japan
Japanese women stand out for a few reasons: they’re graceful and kind, and they really value both their traditions and the new stuff the world has to offer. What makes them click with American guys? Well, it’s the confidence, the easy-going nature, and how American men are all about fairness and respect in a relationship. This vibe is pretty different from Japan’s usual scene, where things are more reserved.
If you’re curious about connecting with Japanese women, check out https://mail-order-bride-sites.com/. It’s a treasure trove of info on what makes these women tick and where to find the best international dating sites. Here’s what you can look forward to when exploring a relationship with a Japanese woman:
Open communication
A blend of modern and traditional values
Mutual respect and affection
Understanding this mix can make a relationship special. Ready to see what South Korea has to offer?
#2. South Korea
South Korean women are known for their vibrant energy, tech-savvy nature, and deep cultural roots. They often have a strong sense of individuality and a keen interest in global trends, which makes the idea of dating American men appealing to them. American men are seen as open-minded and adventurous, traits that resonate with many South Korean women looking for partners who share their enthusiasm for exploring life and breaking traditional boundaries. Here’s a quick list of what draws South Korean women to American men:
A love for adventure and new experiences
The appeal of open-mindedness and cultural exchange
A desire for a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding
Starting a relationship with a South Korean woman can be an exciting journey of mutual discovery and cultural exchange.
#3. Colombia
When you think about Colombian women, imagine people who are as vibrant and lively as the country itself. They love a good laugh, cherish deep connections, and have a fiery passion for life. What’s their take on American men? Well, they’re drawn to the respect and equality that Americans bring into relationships, something that syncs well with their own values. Colombian culture is all about embracing life with open arms, and that’s what they look for in a partner too.
Relationships with Colombian women means entering a world where every day is a celebration of love, life, and everything in between. Here’s the scoop on why Colombian women are into American guys:
They’re all about enjoying life and want someone who feels the same.
They value fairness and mutual respect in a relationship.
They appreciate partners who are dependable and loyal.
Connecting with a Colombian woman is like adding a splash of color to your life, full of laughter, dance, and meaningful moments.
#4. Mexico
Mexican women are as diverse and rich in character as their country’s history and culture. They’re fiercely loyal, family-oriented, and have a zest for life that’s contagious. Mexican women appreciate American men for their optimism, sense of humor, and the way they value an equal partnership. This aligns with the Mexican approach to relationships, which emphasizes mutual respect, joy, and a deep connection that goes beyond surface-level interactions.
Getting to know a Mexican woman is like discovering a new side of life that’s full of warmth, laughter, and passion. Here’s why they often find a special connection with American men:
The upbeat and positive attitude of American men is attractive.
They love the idea of being with someone who treats them as equals.
The commitment to family and loyalty resonates with their own values.
Dating with a Mexican woman can bring a whole new level of richness and joy to your life, filled with cultural depth and genuine companionship.
#5. Philippines
Philippine women are renowned for their hospitality, kindness, and a strong sense of community. They’re incredibly open-hearted and value relationships deeply, traits that make them wonderful partners. American men are often seen as appealing to Filipino women for their respectful attitude towards women, their openness to embracing different cultures, and their ability to commit seriously to a relationship. These qualities align well with the values of Philippine society, which places a high emphasis on harmony, family, and mutual support.
Building a relationship with a Filipino woman means stepping into a world where love, care, and mutual respect are foundational. Here’s what draws Filipino women to American men:
Their respect and gentle treatment towards women.
The excitement of merging different cultural backgrounds.
A shared desire for a committed, long-term relationship.
A connection with a Filipino woman is not just about bridging two cultures; it’s about a relationship full of mutual love and understanding.
Conclusion
American guys are a hit in places like Japan, South Korea, Colombia, Mexico, and the Philippines, but it’s not just about where you’re from. It’s about what you bring to the table: respect, an open heart, and a readiness for something real. These countries love American men for their blend of equality, adventure, and loyalty. Finding love across the globe is about mixing cultures, understanding each other, and building something that lasts. It shows us that love knows no borders, and with a bit of openness, the world really can be your oyster.
