Check the song out now on our “GET HYPED” playlist on Spotify.
Tag: spotify curator
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Acclaimed composer, pianist, and singer-songwriter, Rob Kovacs, has joined forces with DR BLOC on the revolutionary virtual reality game, STRAYLIGHT, which released on Jan 31st for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Valve Index, and the HTC Vive. Scoring this virtual world allowed Kovacs to experiment and embody the freedom of STRAYLIGHT’s gameplay and its feeling of weightlessness. While Kovacs has scored short films in the past, this is his first time working on a video game. “I’ve never written music like this before. And I probably wouldn’t have if it weren’t for this game. The team basically trusted me and gave me free rein to compose whatever I wanted. I used this opportunity to try new compositional ideas and techniques. I feel I’ve created something very unique and something that people will want to keep coming back to whether they play the game or not.”
The STRAYLIGHT soundtrack consists of 10 progressive synthwave tracks, featuring long-developing melodies that require multiple listens, ideal for songs that may be looping multiple times. Harmonically, Kovacs makes heavy use of mode mixture and progressions that never quite feel settled – a feeling that is mirrored by gameplay where there is no ground. After initially writing the title track, a slow-developing and ungrounded synthwave track that is reflective of the unique experience of the game, Kovacs was tapped to score the entire game and all sound effects.
The album was released digitally on Emperia Records on January 27, and followed up by a successfully funded Bandcamp vinyl pre-sale. The release will feature the soundtrack on “deep purple” vinyl, in a side-loading jacket depicting artwork from the game, with a poster design that will be exclusive to the campaign! While the pre-sale campaign has ended, more vinyl is expected to be released later this year.
Composing the soundtrack was a natural progression for Kovacs, who also releases music under the moniker 88bit, reimagining classic video game themes for piano, and performing at events like PAX West, GDC Online, The Game Audio Network Guild Awards and MAGFest. He credits his study and knowledge of early video game music for inspiring his approach to composing new soundtracks for video games today.
“Studying these early video game soundtracks really influenced my writing for STRAYLIGHT,” he explains. “I got the sense that these early composers were breaking new ground, working with new technology, and creating music for a brand-new medium. They took a lot of risks. I’ve taken that same approach with this soundtrack. VR is like the Wild West of video games right now. It’s brand new territory.”The soundtrack has been drawing rave reviews as well, with FLOOD Magazine writing; “Rob Kovacs draws on classic video game soundtracks and Stravinsky…Chords swell in anticipation, and then, as you start to find your bearings, a stellar bass and drum groove snaps into orbit.“
In addition to his work as 88bit and as a composer, Kovacs released his first solo album, Let Go, in 2021. An introspective indie-rock concept album, it chronicles an intense and poignant romance, and earned praise from critics at notable outlets such as American Songwriter and Glide Magazine. He has also been interviewed on Level with Emily Reese, gameinformer.com, clevelandclassical.com, NPR’s “Sound of Applause” (WCPN Cleveland), NPR’s “Shuffle” (WKSU Kent), NPR’s ReSpawn Podcast and others. In addition, he is internationally recognized as the first person to perform a solo version of Steve Reich’s Piano Phase by playing both piano parts on two pianos simultaneously. Kovacs is a member of the Recording Academy and a professor of composition and songwriting at Baldwin Wallace University.STRAYLIGHT track listing
1. Platform
2. STRAYLIGHT
3. Star Forge
4. The Last Campfire
5. Void Compass
6. Devil Star
7. The Railgun Run
8. Ascent Of The Juggernaut
9. Ouroboros
10. The EndConnect With Rob Kovacs:
Link Tree
Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Get Hyped! PR
Email: gethypedpr@gmail.com -
New Zealand singer-songwriter BRIAN BAKER is celebrating the release of his latest single, “OUR FREEDOM”, produced and recorded at his Kaipara-based studio facility. “OUR FREEDOM” is a song inspired by the right to protest. It sees a woman at a protest, then in court and finally in a supermarket, where she is free to choose, all laid over the bed of a killer beat and great guitar work.
LISTEN TO THE TRACK NOW ON SPOTIFY
Speaking on the track, Baker says “ The word “Freedom “ seems to be being used a lot these days and for those of us lucky enough to live in a democracy, we have the right to protest and to vote. It’s my opinion that we have always been and always are, at some level, free. This song not only observes and highlights that but also offers a solution to those who would question our freedom. That solution is the power of the consumer’s dollar. If enough of the buying public don’t purchase a product then whatever corporation or business that supplies it will find it non profitable and cease to create it. The true power is not in the hands of the corporations but resides with the consumer. The individual influences the collective.”
Along with the single release, Brian has released a music video for “OUR FREEDOM”. “We shot the video at home using an old projector. Made a loop of some corporate footage and stood in front of it,” explains Baker. “Really liked the way it looked on the guitar so had to go back many times to redo that bit and get it in the right place. And it’s summer here so had to wait until the darkness of night would allow the old projector to do it’s stuff.” “OUR FREEDOM” is currently streaming across all DSPs, listen to it now on Spotify or watch the video below.
The consummate journeyman musician is also a laid-back bohemian life-styler, living off-the-grid on his permaculture farm in the picturesque heart of the Kaipara. It’s a busy combination, as Baker balances life between running the farm with using his considerable musical talents recording and producing his own music, plus other artists in his production studio, ‘The Bakery’.
A naturally gifted musician, Baker can lay claim to a catalogue of songs sure to warm the musical soul of any audience member. Now he’s made a return to performing live in support of it. He’s created a fantastic live show highlighting his uplifting vocals and amazing guitar skills, so keep a look out for his tour dates and make sure you check out this talented guitarist/singer songwriter.
Connect with Brian Baker: LinkTree
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Telling Secrets mastermind Vik Kovacs is a true global musician. Kovacs is the product of Eastern European blood and a British upbringing. Hailing from Manchester, England, but living in Lod Angeles, Kovacs has been releasing his brand of Emo-tinged modern rock bangers under the name Telling Secrets for the past two years.
In 2021, Kovacs teamed with Rain City Drive vocalist, Matt McAndrew, who guided him to kickstart the project. Zack Baker, of Rain City Drive, performed on and mixed the tracks “Secret Lies”, “Casting Stones” and “The Fall” which comprise a visual trilogy.
Telling Secrets is now back with its latest single, “Fragile”, an injection of high-octane, radio-ready rock, with a memorable hook and soaring vocals. Including some memorable harmony lines. “I remember reading the backing vocals and harmonies in the studio in Los Angeles with Rachel and I asked my friend Matt McAndrew to come down and give some ideas for harmonies,” Says Kovacs. “Before he showed up Rachel and I BURNED through the track. It was a super productive evening. Matt turned up and we were laughing and joking the entire time. When Matt was leaving the joke was “Hey guys if you are ever having a nice, smooth, productive session call Matt to make sure it gets slowed down!”. However, we recorded a really awesome vocal part that was inspired by NSYNC that you can hear just before the first chorus, so it was all worth finishing the session at 4am… again.”
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Kovacs has been recording deep into the early morning hours at Canton House Studios owned by 15-time Grammy Award winning producer Jaycen Joshua with engineer Rachel Blum. In the summer of 2022 Telling Secrets released singles “Bad Dreams” and “Lullaby”, with the final release being “Fragile”.
Thus far, the band has achieved over 100,000 streams across all platforms and plans for a great series of releases for 2023, along with some exciting new people added to the project. Kovacs is also planning to take the band to the United Kingdom and Europe to debut on the other side of the pond in 2023 and is currently working on a full-length album. “Fragile” was produced by Kovacs, engineered by Rachel Blum (assistant engineer to 15-time grammy winning producer Jaycen Joshua), mixed and mastered by Zack Baker (Rain City Drive), with vocal arrangement and assistance from Matt McAndrew (Rain City Drive).
You can listen to the song on Spotify or YouTube now!
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Fargo, ND active rock band Dearly Departed has released their new album, Heartless on DI Records. The band has previously released the singles “Hindsight” and “Quiet Echoes” as part of the album rollout.
Of the lead single “Hindsight”, Dearly Departed says the track is a song of regrets. “It’s really about how you wish you could have done things differently, how you wished you hadn’t taken some things for granted, and also how you wished that everything had just worked out. But all you can do is work with what turned out to be and move on.”
The band returned in July of 2022 with the second single “Quiet Echoes”. “The message of Quiet Echoes is from the standpoint of listening to the doubts about yourself. To put it simply it’s about the negative internal monologue that we think to ourselves. The chorus is a call and answer, where I am asking the listener if they feel/hear the same thing I do at times. It’s definitely not a very happy song albeit the solace comes in the form of not being alone in these thoughts, that many others experience the same thing and that brings about a sense of unity.”
he album was produced and mixed by Jeremy Schaffer (Earth Groans, Through Fire) and Joshua Barber (Norma Jean, The Devil Wears Prada) and will be out on DI Records on Oct 14th. The band is managed and mentored by Paul Olsen, formerly of North Dakota favorites The Suite. “Quiet Echoes” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen now on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Dearly Departed is a midwest active rock/metalcore band who aims to release songs all the way from melodic hard rock with catchy vocal melodies that’ll get stuck in your head to crushing metalcore with intense story and internal conflict that’s still appealing to the average listener. Doing nothing half-ass, the Minnesota quintet that makes up Dearly Departed, brings an intense live show, crowd pleasing riffs, and relatable vocals; who’ve supported industry heavy-hitters such as Beartooth, Wage War, Stitched Up Heart, Saving Abel, and more.
In their region, they have established themselves as one of the best up and coming hard rock acts, drawing hundreds of people in their local market along with interest and radio play on clear channel radio Q105.1 in Fargo, ND and 93X in Minneapolis, MN almost immediately after their debut in 2018.
Dearly Departed is celebrating the release of its album with Cold Kingdom, Ashfall, and Stovepipes on October 15th at TAK Music Venue in Dilworth, MN.
Dearly Departed Is:
Jesse Pabody – Vocals
Deven Jason – Guitar/Production
Alex Nikolas – Guitar
Hunter Bring – Bass
Jordan Rasmussen – DrumsConnect With Dearly Departed:
LINKTREE / WEBSITE / SPOTIFY
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Giant Fetus
Release: Penis Envy
Release Date: 9/29/22
Genre: Alt Hip Hop
Suggested For Fans Of: Tyler, the Creator, Eminem, Denzel Curry
Myrtle Beach, SC alternative rapper Giant Fetus has released his newest single, “Penis Envy”. The track is an indie alternative hip hop track perfect for Tyler, the Creator, or Denzel Curry fans.
Of the song, Giant Fetus says “Penis Envy is a Freudian theory about the desire for the castration of a male due to an unconscious envious demeanor towards the penis owner. Personally, I think that’s pretty fitting for an artist who’s already been told to change his name and watch his mouth, but if you want to get personal, I’ve also been going to therapy and working on my passivity. This is my attempt to gain my dick back…”
The music was written and produced by Keith Lail. The song was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Daryl Cherry at Arcadian Studios in Myrtle Beach, SC.
“Penis Envy” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Giant Fetus is an absurd rapper with a unique background. Having gone to college, earning a Master’s Degree to teach ELA classes, getting a “respectable job”, and then ditching it all to follow his dreams. He has many different influences including Kendrick Lamar, Kurt Vonnegut, Punk Rock, Existential Philosophy, and so much more. He is also a bisexual man who took way too long to come out but is currently on a path to becoming unapologetically himself. “The name “Giant Fetus” may seem offensive at first, but isn’t it interesting how people are made uncomfortable by the most common things like sex, death, or being a fetus?” says the rapper. “It’s literally a scientific term being put into a casual context. Fear not, the strange affect language has on people is exactly why I do this!”
Giant Fetus is performing on November 11th at Gator Tails in Myrtle Beach with Darling Waste, CyberTooth, Brian Roessler, and Solar Eclipse.
Connect With Giant Fetus:
LinkTree
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Punk band Half Dizzy have released a new single! Check it out on our The Weekly Riot playlist this week!
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Vital Stats:
Artist: The Conduit
Release: Tripcode
Release Date: Sept 2022
Genre: Djent, Metalcore, Progmetal
Suggested For Fans Of: Periphery, Northlane, TesseractOrlando’s The Conduit has released its newest single “Tripcode”. The Conduit is a math metal project from composer Jeffrey Bobbin.
Lyrically, the song is about being true to yourself despite cultural influence. “It’s for people who feel alone because all their interactions feel the same and new ideas start to seem cliché if that makes sense,” explains Bobbin. “While writing it I had this strange feeling that I didn’t want people to infect me with their murky energy and negative thoughts, which I know is silly and I’m at risk of maybe sounding pretentious or elitist. I love people mostly, but lately, it seems like my hometown is isolated and closed off, everyone just speaks the same idea to not risk being a pariah and it feels like there’s no real connection, which ironically this song might inspire just that. No connection. It was more intended to elicit a sense of individualism. “
The track came at a time that The Conduit was gaining attention as the creator of Shuffle-Core. “As I was writing this song I had an album from 2016 go viral on Tik Tok, Icosahedral. I had a 17 second video explaining its concept, which is a 20-minute long song divided into 20 tracks, intended to be played on shuffle, so that it was listened to as one seamlessly randomized song. So I now call myself the pioneer of shuffle-core, a genre that’s optimal for Spotify engagement, because the stream-to-listener ratios are higher due to the fact that people have to listen to the full album on shuffle several times to verify that the concept works, and it doesn’t get old too fast because you’re never hearing the same song twice, unless you listen a billion times.“
“Tripcode” is the first single in a series of planned singles. The single has already been featured on Octane radio and The Metal Siren Podcast. It is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Pioneering the shuffle-core genre with the 20-track EP; Icosahedral, an album that was intended to be played as one randomized song experience that seamlessly merges musical phrases even when played on shuffle, The Conduit is a math metal composer creating music from Orlando, Florida. The sound is designed for listeners who desire complexity and a distinguished melodic profile. Most songs are comprised of Fibonacci rhythmic motives and meticulously head bang-able time signatures. Many songs are written with subliminal hypnotic scripts and include tempos that correspond with various planetary orbit speeds, most notably “Hiraeth” from the Abraxas Shrine album that corresponds with Jupiter’s orbit time. This was all written, performed, and engineered by Jeffrey Bobbin.
The Conduit is Bobbin’s personal music project where he composes all the instrumentation and vocals. He also mixes and masters everything at home. Bobbin is also the vocalist of a prog metal band in Orlando called TRAVERSING INFINITY.
Connect With The Conduit:
Spotify / Tiktok
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Chenél No.1
Release: Save Me (Single)
Release Date: 9.16.22
Genre: Alternative Rock/Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Amy MacDonald, KT Tunstall, Sheryl Crow
Johannesburg, South African alternative rock artist Chenél No.1 has released her latest single, “Save Me”. The track is an alternative rock song with driving guitars and emotive riffs that give it an edge of pain merged with a fierce vulnerability.
Thematically, “Save Me” is a song about breaking through the darkness, having a hand reaching out, and being saved. “Save Me is about a woman thankful that someone loves her enough to accept her with all her flaws, understands the darkness she dwells in, and is willing to pull her out,” explains Chenél. “I feel many people will relate to the emotions of the song as we all deal with frustration, pressure, and disappointment daily. It is a small comfort to know that when you are surrounded by those who love you, you can deal with all the obstacles that stand in your way.”
Although the theme of the song is dark, there is a hopefulness that lurks just beyond the shadows, wanting to draw you into the light. “Save Me was originally written just for myself as a creative outlet,” says Chenél No.1. “As a songwriter, I sometimes pour my heart into my lyrics and a reflection of what I’m feeling at that specific time. With Save Me I wanted to embrace the darkness I was feeling but also include the grateful aspect of having someone supporting me in what I’m experiencing.”
Along with the single, Chenél No.1 has also dropped a video for “Save Me”. The music video was approached in a completely DIY manner with one of Chenél’s friends recording the footage on her phone. “As independent artists, we’re always told not to let your lack of budget stand in the way of creativity and putting content out into the world. So I have embraced the fact that I cannot complete with high budget productions and make do with what I have available. I’m proud of what we created with the very limited resources available.“
“Save Me” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Chenél No.1 grew up on the sounds of Credence Clearwater Revival and The Shadows and has a great love for music. During the day she works as an operations manager, she’s married with three kids and pursues her music after hours. Starting her journey in late 2019, she released her first song and has since continued to share her signature sound through a number of well-received single releases such as She’s a Flamingo (2020), Master of Disguise (2021), Turquoise Tears and Shoot for the Stars (2022).
Chenél is pushing more towards the alternative rock genre lately while fusing a mix of folk and modern country sounds that are big on emotion with catchy melodies underpinned by great guitar riffs. 2022 saw her long-awaited acoustic EP, Turquoise Tears, released to widespread coverage on social media and internet radio play in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and the US, as well as receiving placement on a leading South African Spotify curated playlist, SAlt.
The Turquoise Tears EP was followed up by two rock singles and a song in her mother tongue, Afrikaans, showcasing her flexibility as an artist. She was recently nominated in three categories of the Afri-Indie Independent Artists Music Awards 2022, winning the Best Newcomer Songwriter category. A new EP is taking shape in the studio, scheduled for a 2023 release.
Connect With Chenél No.1 :
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Steady Decline
Release: Erase Me
Release Date: 8.21.22
Genre: Pop Punk, Emo, Punk
Suggested For Fans Of: Knuckle Puck, In Her Own Words, Like PacificDublin, Ireland pop-punk duo Steady Decline has released their newest single, “Erase Me”. The song is an emotionally charged track about being haunted by and trying to move on from a toxic relationship and was released on indie label Never Meant.
The track is an acoustic-tinged pop-punk ballad that showcases the duo’s vocals and melancholy songwriting, before kicking into a full band production with electric guitars, drums, and soaring vocals.
The song was a true labor of love for co-vocalist and guitarists Oscar Hackett and Jack Wright, who have been chiseling away at it for some time now. “Erase Me is a song that’s been lying around on the cutting room floor for a few years,” says the band. “It’s gone through various versions and during the last two years we finally got around to finishing it and recording it the way we always envisioned with our good friend and producer Ciaran Nevin.”
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Ciaran Nevin and mastered by Ste Kerry, “Erase Me” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the visualizer on YouTube below.
Steady Decline started when Oscar & Jack were both gigging as separate acoustic acts for years. Oscar’s old band All It’s Worth had just broken up, but songs were still pouring out of him so he booked some studio time and asked Jack if he wanted to come in and work on some new music. Shortly after, they joined forces, recorded their first EP Coping Mechanism, and began gigging in 2017. Over the next two years, they would regularly play Dublin, Galway & Belfast and share the stage with acts like Forever Came Calling, In Her Own Words & Kurt Travis.
In 2018 they released a split EP with Galway punk band Old Bean and toured Ireland & UK. After some time off during the pandemic they started demoing in our home studios and are now back with plans to gig and release music regularly. Their first release back in 2022 was the aggressively catchy pop-punk banger “Start Over”, which is a prime example of what Steady Decline is all about: fast music, dual vocals, catchy riffs, and songs that will get stuck in your head for weeks.
Steady Decline Is:
Oscar Hackett: Songwriter, Vocals & Guitar
Jack Wright: Vocals & GuitarConnect With Steady Decline:
Instagram / Facebook / Steady Decline Website / Never Meant Website
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Kanashii
Release: Nevermind (single)
Release Date: 09/09/22
Genre: Grunge, Shoegaze, Alternative
Suggested For Fans Of: Nirvana, NothingLexington, KY alternative shoegaze band Kanashii has released their newest single, the description “Nevermind”. The track is out on Cardigan Records and is a fuzzy, spaced-out midtempo rocker that feels equally at home next to 90s era grunge acts like Nirvana as it does with newer shoegaze acts such as Nothing.
Lyrically, the song is all about dealing with negative energy in our lives. “We all knew this person who would just come around and suck all the fun out of day-to-day life. To me, the song is about cutting out that negative energy and growing from it. “
“Nevermind” is the second single from a planned album rollout for the album Imposter Syndrome, due out October 28th, 2022. It follows the lead single “Afterglow”, which was released on March 15th, 2022. The single was recorded and produced by Luke Nagel of Lyra Productions in Nashville, which helped bring the band closer together. “We recorded “Nevermind” in Nashville with Luke, and we did tons of pranks on each other,” explains vocalist/guitarist Sammy Clifford. “During the recording, we pranked our bassist by spiking reaper pepper sauce on a sandwich and it was hilarious. Plus we got to explore the city in between recording sessions. It was so much fun and I feel like we really connected more as a band!“
“Nevermind” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Kanashii is a Modern Grunge/Shoegaze band from Southeastern Kentucky. The word, Kanashi, translates to sad, miserable, unhappy, or sorrowful person in Japanese. The band decided to use this name since the original creation of the band was to be an outlet to help cope with negative emotions. The band was formed during the 2020 pandemic by lead singer/guitarist, Sammy Clifford, as a way to convey empathy, grief, and many other emotions via musical expression. Joined by Gwynn Smitty on bass, Tyrah Millay on Drums, and Alec Edwards on Guitar the band has built a unique sound inspired by bands such as Nirvana, Deftones, My Bloody Valentine, and The Cure.
Kanashii is celebrating the release of their new single on September 10th with Escape The Fate at Headliners Music Hall in Louisville, KY.
Kanashii Is:
Sammy Clifford – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Gwynn Smitty – Bass
Tyrah Millay -Drums
Alec Edward – GuitarConnect With Kanashii:
Instagram / Facebook / Spotify / Cardigan Records
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Press Contact:
Publicist: Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Dearly Departed
Release: HEARTLESS (Album)
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Genre: Active Rock/Metalcore/Hard Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: I Prevail, Of Mice & Men, All that RemainsFargo, ND active rock band Dearly Departed has announced their new album, Heartless, to be released in October of this year. The band has previously released the singles “Hindsight” and “Quiet Echoes” as part of the album rollout, and what an album rollout it’s been! The band dropped “Hindsight” in December of 2020, right before Covid put everything on pause for the next two years. With the world turning again, Dearly Departed has restarted the album ramp up, releasing their latest single, “Quiet Echoes” in July and signed to Pittsburgh indie label standouts DI Records, who are releasing Heartless on October 14th.
Of the lead single “Hindsight”, Dearly Departed says the track is a song of regrets. “It’s really about how you wish you could have done things differently, how you wished you hadn’t taken some things for granted, and also how you wished that everything had just worked out. But all you can do is work with what turned out to be and move on.”
The band returned in July of 2022 with the second single “Quiet Echoes”. “The message of Quiet Echoes is from the standpoint of listening to the doubts about yourself. To put it simply it’s about the negative internal monologue that we think to ourselves. The chorus is a call and answer, where I am asking the listener if they feel/hear the same thing I do at times. It’s definitely not a very happy song albeit the solace comes in the form of not being alone in these thoughts, that many others experience the same thing and that brings about a sense of unity.”
The album was produced and mixed by Jeremy Schaffer (Earth Groans, Through Fire) and Joshua Barber (Norma Jean, The Devil Wears Prada) and will be out on DI Records on Oct 14th. The band is managed and mentored by Paul Olsen, formerly of North Dakota favorites The Suite. “Quiet Echoes” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen now on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Dearly Departed is a midwest active rock/metalcore band who aims to release songs all the way from melodic hard rock with catchy vocal melodies that’ll get stuck in your head to crushing metalcore with intense story and internal conflict that’s still appealing to the average listener. Doing nothing half-ass, the Minnesota quintet that makes up Dearly Departed, brings an intense live show, crowd pleasing riffs, and relatable vocals; who’ve supported industry heavy-hitters such as Beartooth, Wage War, Stitched Up Heart, Saving Abel, and more.
In their region, they have established themselves as one of the best up and coming hard rock acts, drawing hundreds of people in their local market along with interest and radio play on clear channel radio Q105.1 in Fargo, ND and 93X in Minneapolis, MN almost immediately after their debut in 2018.
Dearly Departed is celebrating the release of its album with Cold Kingdom, Ashfall, and Stovepipes on October 15th at TAK Music Venue in Dilworth, MN.
Dearly Departed Is:
Jesse Pabody – Vocals
Deven Jason – Guitar/Production
Alex Nikolas – Guitar
Hunter Bring – Bass
Jordan Rasmussen – DrumsConnect With Dearly Departed:
LINKTREE / WEBSITE / SPOTIFY
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Standard Broadcast
Release: I Meant What I Said
Release Date: 9.2.22
Genre: Indie Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Cursive, Elbow, The FrayPittsburgh, PA indie rock band Standard Broadcast has released their newest single, “I Meant What I Said”. The indie rock track blurs the lines between classic rock, indie alternative like Cursive mainstream pop rock like The Fray. The single is part of a planned album, due out in Spring/Summer of 2023.
As far as the writing process, “I Meant What I Said” fell together easily and was a true group effort. “This was a super fun song that we wrote in one night. There was lyric input from almost every band member, which was a blast!”
The track was recorded by six-time Grammy Award-winning producer Jimmy Hoyson at The Vault Recording Studio. “Jimmy is amazing, super down to earth, and very easy to get along with.” said the and. “He obviously has a fantastic ear but along with that, he’s just got a great knack for musical composition.” In fact, Hoyson is responsible for the bridge on “I Meant What I Said”. “He liked our first take but told us we had to go back and figure out a bridge for the song. That was super cool and really lets you know he cares about the project.”
Standard Broadcast’s previous release, “Nothing Left”, premiered on Pittsburgh’s classic rock station 102.5 WDVE. The band also had the honor of recording the track “Cruisin’” by Smokey Robinson. Lead singer Nathan Jay has known Mr. Robinson and his wife Frances for over 15 years. “They asked us if we would record that track…which of course we did! They were even kind enough to let us record the music video in their home and use Smokey’s piano!”
“I Meant What I Said” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to “I Meant What I Said” on SPOTIFY or watch the video on YouTube below.
Standard Broadcast is fronted by Nathan Jay on piano and vocals, along with Leland Shaw (cello), Adam Seymour (guitar), Thomas Persson (bass), and Patrick Riley (drums). Formed in 2014, Nathan and Leland set out to create a more dynamic, catchy feel, without the traditional guitar/bass ensemble. After six months of songwriting, the duo went on to add hip-hop-driven beats. Add to that Nathan’s rhythmic piano skills and rock-inspired vocals, along with Leland’s classically trained cello experience, and their music developed into an indie flare. The band rounded out their lineup and is now a full five-piece outfit completely locked into their own unique sound.
The band is celebrating with a performance at Indie-Rockfest at Thunderbird Music Hall on Saturday, November 12th. This is the 6th annual Indie-Rockfest, a festival the band founded to raise money for independent musicians in Pittsburgh.
Standard Broadcast Is:
Nathan Jay: lead vocals/ keys
Leland Shaw: cello
Adam Seymour: guitar/vocals
Patrick Riley: drums
Thomas Persson: bassConnect With Standard Broadcast:
LINKTREE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Cleveland alternative emo rock band Darling Waste has just released their first single on DI Records, “Sheets Over Windows”. The track is a fan favorite, which the band has played live for years, but never recorded. “We wrote the song with about fifteen other tracks for our third album, but the label that we were on was adamant about only releasing an 8-track ep,” explains Darling Waste singer-songwriter Lance Waste. “We were left with a handful of songs that we really liked that didn’t get released. Sheets is a favorite of mine and we tend to play it a lot during tours when we get bored of our current setlist.”
Over the years, fans began sharing live versions of “Sheets Over Windows” on YouTube and file-sharing services, making the song a popular single, even though it was never released. “It was really wild to play the song live in a town we’ve never even been in before, and people are singing along. Like, how do you know this?” says Waste.
Musically the single is a power-pop meets emo throwback reminiscent of bands like The Weakerthans and Dashboard Confessional. Lyrically the song is about trying to move on from tragedy. “Like a lot of our songs, especially at the time, Sheets is autobiographical.” Waste explains. “I had just ended a long relationship and was basically just hanging out with friends, sleeping through the day, going to parties, and rebounding the best I could. It was kind of, have fun or die trying, I suppose.”
Sheets Over Windows is now playing across all Digits Streaming Platforms. Hear the song on Spotify now, or watch the lyric video on YouTube below:
Darling Waste has spent two decades carving out a DIY niche for themselves as an emotional alt-rock band with a punk rock ethos and an indie folk soul. From Cleveland to Brooklyn to Brighton, England, and back again, Darling Waste has played over 900 full band shows and 300 solo shows in 11 countries while performing with acts like Blink-182, Fallout Boy, Panic ! At The Disco, Dashboard Confessional, Hawthorne Heights, The Ataris, Yellowcard, and Bayside.
Singer-songwriter Lance Waste started the band as a solo project in 2003, performing DIY shows around his native Cleveland, Ohio. His single “Changing Of The Seasons” was picked up by local radio and soon caught fire, being added to rotation on over 100 stations. Waste soon moved to Brooklyn, New York, and recruited friends to fill out the band and hit the road, performing on a self-booked national tour in support of their first album, selling 11,000 copies along the way. The band quickly became one of the prominent underground acts of the mid-2000s indie emo scene, racking up over 1 million plays on Myspace.comDarling Waste’s music has been featured on MTV, VH1, HBO, Showtime, and in feature films as well as played over 10k times on the radio. The band relocated to Brighton, England in 2009, and their UK album, I Am Born saw Darling Waste nominated at the Brighton Music Awards, where they presented alongside Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin) and Roger Daltry (The Who). The band released a Hot Topic exclusive EP in 2010, following it up with an East Coast in-store performance tour before heading back across the pond for their first UK and EU headlining tours.
Darling Waste released five full-length albums and four EPs before going on hiatus in 2017. Now Darling Waste has reformed, released the new single “Sheets Over Windows” on DI Records, and has an EP due out this Fall. They are performing select festivals and headlining sets for the rest of 2022.
Connect With Darling Waste:
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Vital Stats:
Artist: MESSMAKER
Release: We Are The Architects (single)
Release Date: 8-19-22
Genre: Rock, Alternative, Indie
Suggested For Fans Of: Panic at the Disco, Switchfoot, U2
Cleveland indie alt-rock duo MESSMAKER has just released their latest single, “We Are The Architects“. The track marks their first release since their debut album, 2020’s Through The Fire. Musically, the track sees the band take a slightly more mature turn in production while continuing to perfect the sound they started on the first album.
Lyrically “We Are The Architects” is the band’s rejection of the acquiescence to the mundane. “Everyone is born with an innate creativity; we see the world as full of possibilities and are not bound by the limitations of what others believe is possible,” explains the band. “As we grow up and grapple with the pressures of adulthood, it’s far too easy to lose connection with that vision and belief that we can make the world a place we want to live. We get to choose what the future will be, for our generation and those that come after.”
This song was originally released as a stripped-down acoustic song for lead singer Michael McFarland’s solo project, but has become such a beloved anthem that MESSMAKER decided to release it as a full band track. “We decided to give it the full MESSMAKER treatment, and suddenly it felt like it had become the song it was always supposed to be,” says the band. “This is also the first MESSMAKER release for which Freja played drums, and when we got in the studio she nailed it on the first take!”
MESSMAKER has also released a new video for “We Are the Architects”, which includes a nod to the original solo video. “When Michael originally released the song under his own name, he stood in front of a black sheet, set up a couple lamps around him, and filmed himself singing the song with his phone. He layered the lyrics over that and called it a day,” says the band. “When it came to making a video for this new version of the song, we decided to pay homage to the past, but give it some more MESSMAKER flavor. One of the hallmarks of our live performances is our light show, so we pointed ALL of our lights at Michael, and used that same phone to film him singing the song.”
“We Are The Architects” is now playing across all digital streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now, or watch the video on YouTube below.
Aggressively catchy melodies pair with soul-filled lyrics in MESSMAKER’s refreshing take on indie rock. Lighting up stages as a power duo, musical architect Michael McFarland and versatile percussionist Freja McNeal bring the energy of an arena show to every performance. Garnering comparisons ranging from modern rock acts such as Panic At the Disco and Bastille, McFarland’s songwriting is frank, expressive, and clever, and joined by McNeal the Cleveland, Ohio-based act elevates the material on stage with a seemingly inexhaustible energy. Showing a maturity of style and sound that has developed through years of travel, relationships, heartbreaks, and reinventions, MESSMAKER’s music contains talent, passion, and lyrics that come from the heart. The result? A big, bright, and lovestruck slice of anthemic indie rock.
MESSMAKER is celebrating the release of We Are The Architects at the Five O’Clock Lounge in Lakewood Ohio with friends MOSSOM and The Parlor Crows on Friday, August 19th
Messmaker Is:Michael McFarland – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Freja McNeal – Percussion, Samples, Backing VocalsConnect With Messmaker:
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / LINKTR.EE / YOUTUBE###
Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: #lameassdads
Release: Greetings from Nowhere, Ohio (Album)
Release Date: TBA
Genre: Pop Punk
Suggested For Fans Of: MxPx, Blink-182, Millencolin#lameassdads is a pop-punk band from Toledo, Ohio, who has just announced the vinyl release of their album Greetings from Nowhere, Ohio. The vinyl is being released by Punkerton Records. It’s being released as random mix color vinyl so each record will be an unique, one of one. The vinyl release also features two bonus tracks, one of which has never been released!
Musically, the goal of the album was to make the type of fun, nostalgic pop-punk music that the members of the band grew up on. “We set out to make an album that we would want to listen to,” explains the band. “We recorded the whole album in Ryan’s house. The entire process was extremely therapeutic and we joked that it was way cheaper than talk therapy. If you’re a fan of that 90’s pop-punk/alternative sound we think you’ll really enjoy our songs. We grew up on that style of music, love it, and hope we did it justice.”
The album was preceded by the singles “Nowhere, Ohio”, “Days Pass By”, and “My Favorite Boys”. “Nowhere, Ohio” caught the attention of Punkerton Records founder Brandon Lewis, who used it as the official theme song for his successful summer festival, Hell Is Ohio. “The first time I heard “Nowhere, Ohio” I was blown away,” explains Brandon, “I’m so stoked about this. This is my label’s very first vinyl release. The pre-order is going a lot faster than I could have ever anticipated!”
#lameassdads is a pop-punk band from Toledo, Ohio whose members are, well… #lameassdads! The band was formed in early 2021 when two friends, Ryan and Andy, decided they still had some gas in the tank for songwriting and creating. Now in their late 30s with real jobs, families, and responsibilities, they realized they still needed an outlet to get their adult angst out. Inspired by artists such as Blink-182, Bad Religion, MxPx, and Descendants, they began collaborating together on their first collection of original songs. Together they tackle topics of long sleepless nights, the hard but rewarding job of parenting, loss of loved ones, falling in love, personal growth, and remembering the glory days that led them to where they are now. They tapped friends Tim (Drums) and Dan (Guitar/Background Vocals) to join the band and help bring their songs to a live audience.
You can pre-order the album here.
#lameassdads Is:
Ryan – Guitar/Vocals
Andy – Bass/Vocals
Tim – Drums
Dan – Guitar/Background VocalsConnect With #lameassdads:
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Vital Stats:
Artist: Marko Bojkovic
Release: Venom
Release Date: 7.28
Genre: Metal
Suggested For Fans Of: Trivium, Meshuggah, Dream TheaterFlorida metal guitarist Marko Bojkovic has released his latest album, Venom. Musically, the album is a mixture of progressive metal, death metal, power metal, and thrash metal, with a hint of influence from anime and video game OSTs. Venom was over two years in the making, beginning in 2020 when Covid hit. “Recording was on hiatus during the final months of that year so I could finish up grad school,” explained Marko. In 2021, he continued to compose and record, with the project eventually becoming a collaboration between many of Marko’s talented friends. “I’d like to give a huge thank you to my friends Brandon Delpino of Kiss of Betrayal and the Mourning for writing lyrics, Chris Savipoulos of DeathtrucK for his killer vocal work, and my bandmate/brother in shred from Spiritual Chaos, Anthony DiFiglio, for his sick solo at the end of his song and telling me about Chris.”
The album was preceded by two lead singles, “My Strength Returning“, and the title track “Venom”. The three-and-a-half-minute instrumental track is a wild ride of riffs, blast beats, and of course, what any great metal instrumental should have, sick-ass guitar solos.“Venom is one of my favorite villains from Spider-Man, so I actually wanted to make a Venom-themed album when I bought my 8-string back in 2016,” explains Bojkovic. “Over time, I ended up making it the first song I ever wrote in an open tuning, and I think it suited Venom a lot better and made this song even more special to me!”
“Venom” was produced and mixed by James Lewis, who also provided the drum programming. The single is currently playing across all digital streaming platforms. Listen to it now on Spotify, or on YouTube below.
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On “My Strength Returning”, Bojkovic reflects on his physical journey. “When Covid hit back in 2020, I stopped going to the gym,” explains Marko. “This lead to me losing a significant amount of strength. I returned to working out in January 2021, but I couldn’t lift as heavy as I did before Covid. I don’t like to give up, so I kept training and training for several months, and eventually, I was able to lift heavier than I ever did before Covid! I almost ran out of ideas to write one more song for this album, but this story immediately came to mind, and to emphasize my strength/power coming back, I added power metal elements to it! This song also has my absolute favorite guitar solo that I ever wrote in it!” You can hear “My Strength Returning” on YouTube below:
Marko’s musical style has progressed over the years from traditional thrash metal to a style that blends all sorts of metal such as progressive, death, extreme, power, and thrash metal. This growth reflects in the album’s dark-and-then-light nature, with the goal of making an album that fans of all types of metal can enjoy, while making sure to put little treats for the anime fans and gamers! Outside of his personal music, Marko plays guitar in Spiritual Chaos. “It’s a brand new band, so we’re working on material to be released soon.” says Bojkovic
Marko’s music is perfect for fans of Trivium, Meshuggah, Allegeaon, Obscura, Dream Theater, Firewind, Sabaton, Powerwolf, Iron Maiden, Kiko Loureiro/Angra, and Leprous. Venom is currently playing across all digital streaming platforms.
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Vital Stats:
Artist: Omar Feliciano
Release: House of Aragon
Release Date: 8/1/22
Genre: Punk-rock, Indie-rock, Emo-rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Rise Against, Pedro the Lion, The WeakerthansQueens, NY singer-songwriter Omar Feliciano has just released his newest album, the 12-track House Of Aragon. This intimate album as a whole dives into and reflects on topics such as systemic racism, history, the prison system, human rights, the struggling and misunderstood artist, social media, friendships, loss, and relationships. The album was preceded by the singles “Family Anchor”, “Snap”, and “Momma Calls”, “Family Anchor”, an acoustic song that truly tugs on the heartstrings while dealing with the loss of a loved one.
“Snap” asks the questions about how long a society must go on being a punching bag, while “Momma Calls” is a song that reflects on the exploitation and imprisonment of jailed individuals. “Momma Calls is a song about exploitation and imprisonment,” explains Feliciano. “Inspirations for this song came from life and a very special Ted Talk featuring Bianca Tylek on the subject along with books like The Prison Industry: How it started. How it works. How it harms by Worth Rises and PUSHOUT by Monique W. Morris.”Along with the single, Feliciano released a music video for “Momma Calls”. The video was directed and filmed by Danilo Cordova (The Dreamland Fire) and features artist, singer, and actress Detra Denise in the role of the mother.
House of Aragon was recorded and produced at Audio Pilot Studio in Byram Township, NJ by Robert Freeman. All songs on the album were written by Omar Feliciano and the album features musical contributions from David Dones (Fit For Rivals), Robert Freeman (Hidden in Plain View), Nicholas Dean Narlis (The Phoenix Within), Eleftherios Taliakos, and Juan Ismael Morocho.
The album is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to House of Aragon on Spotify.
Omar Feliciano is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Queens, NY. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from CUNY York College and is currently a member of the Recording Academy.
Omar Feliciano is also the founder and frontman of the rock band The Phoenix Within. The Phoenix Within has performed live at festivals like Blue Ridge Rock Festival, and INKcarceration, and has opened up for acts like A Skylit Drive, Vinnie Caruana, and The Color Fred.
Feliciano has published three guitar chord songbooks and one coloring book all based off of musical content released by The Phoenix Within. Omar is currently endorsed by PICKBOY Guitar Picks, Pig-Hog cables, and GHS Guitar strings.
Catch Omar Feliciano live in August on the following dates:
8/10/22 Sovereign, NY
8/12/22 Flemington DIY, NJ
8/13/22 Crunch House, CTConnect With Omare Feliciano:
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / LINKTR.EE / YOUTUBE
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com -
Happy Release Day to Audience Of Rain! Their new single “Hell Or High Time” is out now on Affiant Records! Check the song on out Spotify below.
You can also check them out on our The Weekly Riot playlist, a roundup of all of our favorite underground music this week!
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Vital Stats:
Artist: Sakoya
Release: Reset Restart (Single)
Release Date: 7/29/22
Genre: Active Rock/Hard Rock/Metalcore
Suggested For Fans Of: Fire From The Gods, Asking Alexandria, I PrevailIndianapolis, Indiana hard rock act Sakoya has released their newest single, the melodic metalcore rocker “Reset Restart ”. The track is a perfect showcase for vocalist Alex Nauth’s full-bodied melodies and the band’s riff-heavy, radio-ready brand of polished heavy rock.
Thematically, “Reset Restart” is a song for anyone who has been through hardships and needs to reset themselves and restart who they are as a person. “It’s about making peace with your darkest thoughts and realizing the life you had made was not all that you made it out to be,” says Nauth. “Realizing what the things you’ve done to yourself have truly done to you is a really hard thing for people, myself included, and this is a serious self-reflection song for me in particular. I have had a lot of things in life where I thought I had it all figured out, and thought I was happy, only to realize it was all built on lies and nothing real. I realized I wasn’t even someone I wanted to be in a place I didn’t want to be anymore and had to completely start my life as I knew it.”
For Sakoya, “Reset Restart” is all about discovering who they are as a band. The band had a few unsuccessfully sessions with writers and producers and was eager to rediscover themselves. “We were trying to work with as many producers and writers as possible and were super excited to go to Nashville and work with Andrew Baylis,” explains the band. “We knew going into it we only had one day to write and record a song with him and “Reset, Restart” is what we came out with. We loved his influence on the song a ton and felt he really captured what we were trying to do and say.”
Produced by Andrew Baylis (Sleep with Sirens) and mixed and mastered by Jeff Dune (Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris), “Reset Restart” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to “Reset, Restart” on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Busting out of Indiana in the heartland of America comes Sakoya, an outfit ready to take the scene by storm. This American hard rock band sports a polished, refreshing sound bound to get stuck in heads. Vocalist Alex Nauth fronts Sakoya with the backbeat of Josh Randolph and Mike Dobbs both of which are military veterans. Sakoya provides elements of 2000’s rock/metal with a modern spin, giving a potent, aggressive delivery with meaning behind the tunes. With captivating choruses and memorable melodies, Sakoya’s anthemic brand is quickly on the rise.
Sakoya burst onto the scene in 2020 with their debut single “Lost and Reckless”, which immediately started to turn heads. Within the year, “Lost and Reckless” amassed 250,000 streams on Spotify thanks to ripe replayability and a strong message within the lyricism. February came with the infectious second single “Wasted Soul”, and April brought about the “Fallout”. The band kept busy and presented “Scarred” in November, earning a spot on the acclaimed Spotify playlist “Got Djent?”
Sakoya’s latest single “Am I Blind” reached over 10,000 FM radio spins topping out at #6 on The Foundations charts and #22 on the Billboard (BDS) Mainstream Rock Indicator chart. With the triumphant return of live shows in 2021, Sakoya has been plugging away and grinding to emerge bigger and better than before. The group has a wealth of new music that they’re fervently waiting to unleash in the near future.
Music videos, tours, and much more are primed and soon to be announced for the band. Add Sakoya to your radar on their road to surefire stardom.
Sakoya Is:
Alex Nauth – Vocals
Josh Randolph – Drums
Mike Dobbs – Guitar
Connect With Sakoya:
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / LINKTR.EE###
Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Zizzer
Release: Purge (Single)
Genre: Nu Punk, Rap Rock, New Alt
Suggested For Fans Of: Mod Sun, Machine Gun Kelly, GrandsonTuscaloosa artist Zizzer is back with his latest single, the hard-hitting rap/rock hybrid “Purge”. The single features both Zizzer’s innate knack for intricate hip-hop-infused pop rock production and his clever lyrics, matched with his machine gun fire intense delivery.
For Zizzer, “Purge” is all about the fantasy of tapping into your primal instinct in survival situations. “I’ve been in a lot of situations, but my country has never been invaded in my lifetime,” he explains. “I can only imagine what it would really be like and that’s probably a far cry from reality, but I feel like my primal instincts would kick in and I would become this dark, hyper-focused assassin that would be ready to destroy anyone that puts me or my family or country in harm’s way. I know this is my fantasy world but we want to kick ass and take names don’t we? We’ve got to stay pumped and encouraged. That’s what this song is about. It’s about giving strength to the underdog. Purge Baby!”
Ryan Jones became “Zizzer” once he started recording with a cheap microphone and an out-of-date computer while living in a trailer by the loud railroad tracks down in the dirty south. Sometimes things could get a little intense with all the drugs, girls, and rivalry gangs coming to the same place to record but luckily, they all made it out alive with a lot of good stories to sing and rap about. Zizzer’s music has meshed with inspiration from alternative rock, hip-hop, punk, emo, pop, and dubstep. From the country to the ghetto, from Arizona to Alabama, and all the places in between, Zizzer is just a Picasso of many cultures and lifestyles all meshed together and his music reflects that like the dynamics of his past and present to bring you the sound of the future.
“Purge” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to “Purge” on Spotify or watch the lyric video on YouTube below.
Zizzer has planted his career roots and is now on the rise as an upcoming artist. From living a carefree lifestyle to the fullest, getting into trouble by the law, going crazy with drug-induced psychosis, to becoming a hard-working, multi-business owner that has grown to be a loving husband and father, there is a rich history and plenty of stories left for Zizzer yet to share!
As for right now? Zizzer is making preparations to take his show on the road. “I’m currently working on putting my songs together to perform live, I’ve even been ordering stage equipment,” he explains. “My plans are to start local and just build from that and take the bigger opportunities as they come!”
Connect With Zizzer:
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / WEBSITE / YOUTUBE
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Between The Echoes
Release: Phantom Limb (Feat. Stephen Christian of Anberlin)
Release Date: 7-26-22
Genre: Emo/ Alternative
Suggested For Fans Of: Anberlin, Saosin, Jimmy Eat WorldAlternative emo outfit Between the Echoes has returned with their latest single ‘Phantom Limb‘. The track, which is the second of the band’s album rollout, features the captivating vocals of Stephen Christian (Anberlin, Anchor & Braille). Comprised of layered visuals and a dark figure haunting the protagonist of the narrative, “Phantom Limb” conceptualizes the need to gain power over one’s self and not fall victim to what the band describes as a “dark passenger.”
The band has also carefully crafted single and album artwork that visually represents the shadowy dance happening between the listener and the siren. On one side, she is beautiful and alluring, and on the other side her darkness is shining through, reminding us that just because it may feel good, doesn’t mean it’s good for us. The question is, can we break free from her grips (our vices)?
“Phantom Limb” is the first of four tracks to be featured in a series of conceptual videos that give visuals to the journey this album will take you on. The video was directed by Jake Bonham and features an individual strung along by whispers, pulling him further and further into the darkness of his subconscious as he struggles to maintain composure and control of his own life and mind.
“We personified this darkness into a Siren,” the band shares, “In the video, the viewer will see the haunting battle occurring within the main character’s head created by the Siren’s whispers and pulls toward the darkness. He begins to question his own reality. Will he succumb to her manipulation or set himself free? The same can be posed to the listener, will you step into the shadows dancing with your own darkness or wind up free?”
The feature was recorded by Christian McAlhaney (Anberlin, Acceptance, Loose Talk) and is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to “Phantom Limb” on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Between the Echoes is a three-piece passion project created by Chad William, Katie Jean, and Marvin Albert. The band formed through their shared love of similar alt-rock bands (Saosin, Thrice, Jimmy Eat World) and quickly realized they had created a distinctive musical chemistry. Together, the band aligned to create a full-length conceptual album that takes the listener deep on a journey within one’s consciousness. The band creates this experience by musically blending the light and dark, through melodic and catchy vocal melodies mixed with guitar-driven music and a lyrical story that personifies the darkness into a siren that hauntingly calls to the listener in the background of many of the songs.
Two more singles will be released in August and September of this year. The band’s full-length album, Awake While Dreaming, which was recorded and mixed by Jeremy Steckel (ex-Wolves at the Gate) at Revelator Sound, and mastered by Troy Glessner at Spectre Studios (Underoath, Silverstein, Death Cab for Cutie), will be released with a final single in October of 2022.
Between The Echoes Is:
Chad William – Music
Katie Jean – Backing Vocals, Lyrics
Marvin Albert – VocalsConnect With Between The Echoes:
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / LINKTR.EE
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: (the) UnSlept
Release: Bad Chapters (Album)
Release Date: 7-29-22
Genre: Rock, Stoner Rock, GrungeToledo, Ohio grunge rock outfit (the) UnSlept has just dropped their debut offering, the 10-track album Bad Chapters. The band has spent the last year perfecting the album at Mohawk studio with Shawn Patrick Thomas Daley at the helm. For (the) UnSlept, the emotional, thematical density of the debut is the result of years of living, loving, losing, and learning how to navigate the entanglement of the human condition. Bad Chapters is truly a rattling junket that rudders through the abyss of rock and roll. “Bad Chapters represents those learning moments of life which are unavoidable,” says the band. “It’s the moments that give you an appreciation for the good things in life. We carefully composed this album to light the way and become a spirit guide to those going through those very bad chapters right now.”
The album was preceded in rollout by the lead single “Soul 4 Sale”, featuring lead vocalist Dan Cain’s world-weary rasp, a flanged-out bass riff, and some overall great musicianship, all wrapped up in a true radio-ready stoner rock stomper. Lyrically, the track is about the balance between doing what’s right and doing what feels good in the moment. “Soul 4 Sale is about that situation we all seem to find ourselves in at one point or another when you just know that you shouldn’t be there,” explains the band. “It’s like you’re always three steps towards the door but there’s just something that keeps you from crossing the threshold. So against your own better judgment and self-preservation, you do the thing that is the worst for you in the pursuit of happiness.”
Originating from Toledo, Ohio, (the) UnSlept has carved out a special sound all their own full of rock & roll soul, elements of grunge, and dirty folk, with hints of angry southern heavily layered with dynamic tones. This three-piece has constructed a sound that rings full and deep allowing them to each express their inner workings. Dan Cain delivers carefully crafted lyrics with a gritty, powerful vocal wail while double-dealing rhythms and leads on guitar. J Dale Bailey brings the thunder with his mysterious resonant bass tones and rumbling swagger. Measure by measure (the) UnSlept’s uniform, yet magnetic cadency is fueled by Matt Austin’s booming drum technique.
Most recently (the) UnSlept has continued grinding away writing new material that continues to flow out of the group. They remain committed to hitting the stage at every opportunity to share their perspective with new fans. They plan to hit the podcast and radio circuit to share their story and broadcast the infectious fervor which is the music they have created. “We didn’t make this album just for the sake of creating music, it is crammed full of experience, heartache, and lessons and we try our best to make sure that the emotion is the part of the song that you hear first and foremost.”
(the) UnSlept has an album release show at Howards Club H in Bowling Green, Ohio on July 30th. Bad Chapters is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to “Soul 4 Sale” on SPOTIFY or watch the video on YouTube below.
(the) UnSlept Is:
Dan Cain- Guitar/Lead Vocals
Matt Austin- Drums/Back up Vocals
Justin Bailey- Bass/Back up VocalsConnect With (the) UnSlept :
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / TIKTOK / WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / YOUTUBE
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com -
Florida metal guitarist Marko Bojkovic is back with his latest single, ‘My Strength Returning’. “When Covid hit back in 2020, I stopped going to the gym,” explains Marko. “This lead to me losing a significant amount of strength. I returned to working out in January 2021, but I couldn’t lift as heavy as I did before Covid. I don’t like to give up, so I kept training and training for several months, and eventually, I was able to lift heavier than I ever did before Covid! I almost ran out of ideas to write one more song for this album, but this story immediately came to mind, and to emphasize my strength/power coming back, I added power metal elements to it! This song also has my absolute favorite guitar solo that I ever wrote in it, and I would love to make a tutorial on how to play it, especially given how it’s very intricate!” Marko has vowed to create a playthrough tutorial video on YouTube when the song reaches 100 plays on Spotify.
The single is the second release for the rollout of Marko’s latest album Venom, due out on July 29th. Marko’s music is a mixture of progressive metal, death metal, power metal, and thrash metal, with a hint of influence from anime and video game OSTs. Outside of his personal music, Marko plays guitar in Spiritual Chaos.
“I’d like to give a huge thank you to my friends Brandon Delpino of Kiss of Betrayal and the Mourning for writing lyrics, Chris Savipoulos of DeathtrucK for his killer vocal work, and my bandmate/brother in shred from Spiritual Chaos, Anthony DiFiglio, for his sick solo at the end of his song and telling me about Chris,” says Marko. “Please check these guys and their bands out! One more thing, my album Venom will be launching next week, so I believe that releasing this song will surely add to the hype!”
Marko’s music is perfect for fans of Trivium, Meshuggah, Allegeaon, Obscura, Dream Theater, Firewind, Sabaton, Powerwolf, Iron Maiden, Kiko Loureiro/Angra, and Leprous. The single is currently playing across all digital streaming platforms. Listen to it now on Spotify, or on YouTube below.
Connect with Marko:
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East coast MC Dizasterpiece has had a crazy couple of years. His independent release, Regression Towards The Mean dropped, racking up over 100k plays on Spotify and leading to a series of tours and notable shows with Immortal Technique, Joey Valence, Cappadona, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, R.A. The Rugged Man, Cage, Chris Rivers, Danny Diablo, and Dropout Kings, all in the last three years.
Because of the hype, labels came calling. Dizasterpiece decided to sign with management and booking, to make sure he had a team in place before signing a label deal. “I wound up signing with two separate management companies and booking agencies and have now exited those contracts early,” explains Diz. “We got a few labels’ attention and it was all aligning nicely. I got some flattering offers, but they just weren’t the right options at the time and my gut said to stay independent and wait a year, as I get my reach and numbers up.“
Regression Toward The Mean marked a transition in Dizasterpiece’s style, with more guitar-driven, hardcore, and metal elements throughout. “Regression Toward The Mean is probably my best work so far, lyrically and production-wise. This album was in the making for a long time and I am very pleased with the way it came out and the reactions I’ve gotten.” Diz used the critical and fan response to the album as a barometer for his future direction. “What I was doing with that stuff was testing the waters to see how people react to it,” explains Diz. “Turns out… People really loved that stuff so now I can full-blown do what I wanted to do for the next record without any doubts or discouragement!”
Using what he’s learned from the past few years, and allowing his previous album to set the tone moving forward, Dizasterpiece has entered the studio to begin working on his next album. “The next record is going to be more of a 50/50 Rap Metal structure in the writing like I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but will still keep everything in the sound that people already dig,” he explains. “Still phat, gritty East Coast hip-hop beats, and aggressive and intricate rhyme schemes. But just more heavy guitar, real drums, singing and screaming blended into the mix.”
DIZASTERPIECE is a passionate, creative, realism-driven lyricist and hip-hop emcee from New Jersey, with strong roots in the punk and hardcore community. Unlike traditional hip-hop artists, who usually take the path of creating endless mixtapes, Dizasterpiece took the unconventional route, treating this project like every other punk/metal band he was in growing up. He recorded a record, began booking shows, and touring independently, playing rap shows, metal/ hardcore, and indie rock shows, while gaining momentum on his own which led to landing gigs with notable artists such as He is known for his high-energy live performances and his unique stage presence.
Dizasterpiece is performing a one-off show on July 29th with viral sensation Joey Valence at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center in Harrisburg PA.
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INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / WEBSITE / YOUTUBE###
Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
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Vital Stats:
Artist: Project Vela Release: ‘You Can’t Fix Me’ (Single)
Release Date: 7.22.22 Genre: Hard Rock/Metal
Suggested For Fans Of: Falling in Reverse, I Prevail, Starset
Single Download Link: Listen And Download The Single Here
Photo Credit: Dave GaslinDenver, Colorado hard rock band Project Vela has just released their latest single, ‘You Can’t Fix Me’. The radio-ready single opens with atmospheric, pulsing synths before exploding into a full-frontal rock assault, showcasing Project Vela’s knack for modern rock production and songwriting prowess. The melodic duo bridges electronic, pop, and alternative elements to create a fresh, explosive sound that British metal magazine Fireworks hailed as “exciting and creative”.
Lyrically, the track is about mental health struggles. “No matter how well-intentioned you and the people around you are, there’s nothing that can be done to help unless you can see and acknowledge the root of the problem,” says the band. “No matter how much you try to cultivate happiness, there’s always that “landmine” of unresolved issues, lurking underneath, just waiting to destroy you when you least expect it.”‘You Can’t Fix Me’ is the lead single and start of the album release cycle for the upcoming EP titled Elsewhere (Fall 2022). Which promises to further focus on mental health. “The whole EP is really just a journey through different thoughts while dealing with intense depressive episodes.” explains the band.
Along with the single, the band has also released a music video, created by cinematographer Kyle Lamar of Digital Myle. “The idea behind this video is kind of a last-man-on-earth-in-a-desolate-landscape scenario,” says the band. “He has some seeds that he’s trying to plant, and cultivate new growth to bring a glimmer of hope through the desolation. In the beginning, we see him inadvertently cover a landmine with dirt as he’s planting. Throughout the song, we see him go through the emotional struggle of trying so hard to make something grow, and being so careful, and thoughtful, and methodical about his process, but ultimately only finding disappointment. In the final moments of the video, we see that something has finally grown, green and vibrant, and in his celebration and relief, he steps on the landmine and is blown into oblivion. It’s meant to be a pretty on-the-nose metaphor for the song.”
The single is currently available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to ‘You Can’t Fix Me’ on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Project Vela is making big waves in the modern rock arena, without ever playing a live show. The entirely DIY project, from the musical minds of lead vocalist Scott Spriggs and multi-instrumentalist co-producer Travis Owen, draws comparisons to their own idols, including Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Starset, and I Prevail. Since their 2017 debut, Project Vela has been steadily growing a devoted fan base of over 75,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, while racking up millions of streams on YouTube.
“It just started as kind of like an internet project,” Scott says of the remote collaboration, which only brings them together a few times a year for studio sessions. “It was just for fun, and it just kind of latched on to people and started taking off.”
Project Vela Is:
Scott Spriggs – Vocals, Drums, Bass, Synth, Mix
Travis Owen – Guitar, Synth, ProgrammingConnect With Project Vela:
SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / YOUTUBE / WEBSITE###
Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Lives Lost
Release: Letting Go Of Ghosts (Single)
Release Date: 7/8/22
Genre: Rock, Post-Hardcore, Alternative Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Alexisonfire, Chevelle, SilversteinHershey, PA alternative post-hardcore act Lives Lost has released their latest single, ‘Letting Go Of Ghosts’. The hard-rocking, radio-ready single is a personal one for frontman Tanis Pellegrini. “This song is very simply put us letting go of the ghosts of our past,” explains Pellegrini. “Toxic relationships both familial and romantic tend to weigh people down for years and they struggle to let go of the past. This is a call to action to lose that toxic sludge and let go of the past with us.”
The track wastes no time jumping into the action, with the first verse quickly giving way to a soaring chorus, blending clean and scream vocals over a bed of crunchy riffs and top-notch production.
‘Letting Go Of Ghosts’ was produced by Jeff McKinnon and Evan Seeberger. Along with the track, Lives Lost has also released a music video for the single, shot on location at Forteca Estates and directed by Robert McCoy. “We had the perfect concept for the song, and between a perfect location thanks to Forteca Estates, and a perfect look thanks to Robert Mccoy, everything ended up perfect!” says the band. “And honestly between Robert bringing our work to life, my lovely wife Harley Pellegrini being not only my biggest supporter, but my muse and our ghost for the video, and the band shelling out perfect performances, we really couldn’t ask for a better shoot and we hope you all love it!
The single release precedes a planned EP, due out in early 2023. The EP, A Portrait Of Loss, is being conceived as a concept album by the band. “It’s about the stages of grieving as faced by one man who unknowingly collides and bounds into other people’s lives during the process and changes the whole timeline in the process.”
‘Letting Go Of Ghosts’ is now playing on all major digital streaming platforms. Listen to the single now on Spotify, or watch the video on YouTube below.
Lives Lost was formed in secret in the summer of 2019 by Frontman/Principle songwriter Tanis Pellegrini (formerly of regional metalcore standouts Lasciaté), with the sole purpose of writing music that combined his favorite things about his favorite bands into something he wanted to listen to. Tanis scoured for local musicians that he felt strongly embodied his vision. Friend and fellow musician Alan Thompson and guitarist Aaron Perry joined Lives Lost and were soon joined by bassist Josh Krizan (Vegas Under Lights, The Perfect Victim). Feeling they were missing something, they began a search for a co-lead vocalist, finding Dylan Kasprzyk (Candlelit Vigil) to fill the role.
With a fully formed lineup and an EP written, Lives Lost continues on to change the world through art. Billed as a high-energy, unique rock band. Lives Lost brings a genre-bending sound to the stage making each performance unique. Throughout their tenure as a band, they have shared the stage with artists such as Alesana, Defiant, Eternal Frequency, Hinder, If Not For Me, Ignite, Jimmies Chicken Shack, Lyndhurst, Palisades, Small Town Titans, Softspoken, Vampires Everywhere, and VRSTY, and more!
Of their sound, Pellegrini opines, “I’d say we have the catchiness of Silverstein, the aggressiveness of Beartooth, the radio feel of some of the heavy-hitting octane bands such as Nothing More, and the prog/technical ambition of Coheed & Cambria!” The band is celebrating the release of ‘Letting Go Of Ghosts’ with a show on 8/28 with Alesana, Palisades, and Vampires Everywhere at HMAC in Harrisburg, PA.
Lives Lost is:
Tanis Pellegrini – Lead Vocals & Song Writing
Alan Thompson – Drums/Keyboards/Backing Vocals
Josh Krizan – Bass/Backing Vocals
Dylan Kasprzyk – Co-Lead Vocals, Guitars, Programming
Aaron Perry – GuitarsConnect with Lives Lost:
Lives Lost LinkTree
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
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Congratulations to CLEARFIGHT on a successful campaign for their single!
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Congratulations to BLVDES on a successful campaign for their single!
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Congratulations to Call In Dead on a successful campaign for their single!
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