The Krickets have come back even stronger since we first heard them on their debut album, “Spanish Moss Sirens”. Getting ready to kick off the beginning of a new chapter, this all female Americana group delivers chilling vocals on their first single, Redbird, and title track of their upcoming sophomore album, due out October 26th, 2018. From the first chord to the last, this song haunts you in the best way possible.

The song was written about a dream Emily was having about her grandmother who passed away. “In the dream she was always trying to whisper something important in my ear,” she says. “Every time she would start to talk I could never understand what she was saying, and I’d wake up. While having these dreams I saw redbirds everywhere I went day to day.”

With voices like silk, these women redefine the swamp folk genre and give it an entirely new sound that will be stuck in your head for weeks, and have you craving more. Emerging with smoke, the first few seconds of the single paints a clear scene in your head, one that feels like a dream. And with each verse, brings more and more chills to your body. It’s very obvious that these women were born to sing.

“Is this love or is this warning?” A favorite lyric sung through the second half of the song. This song has everything, the perfect combination of sultry voices, earthy strings, and powerful lyrics. If this is only the beginning of this new era, the world is not ready for the rest.

Listen to Redbird here:
https://soundcloud.com/thekrickets/redbird

Take a peek at their site:
https://www.thekrickets.com/home

Follow The Krickets for more updates!
https://twitter.com/thekrickets?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/thefloridacrickets

https://www.instagram.com/thekrickets/

Amie Penwell is one of our favorite new discoveries this year. Sharing with us her new video for “Unstoppable” we found ourselves instantly enticed with the singer-songwriter who bends genres and lures your eyes and ears. “Unstoppable,” is the debut track and video from her upcoming release out election day, “Windows,” and we’re eager  to dive in a bit deeper. We had the pleasure of speaking with Penwell for a very special edition of Video Voyeur with a notable message. Check it out below:

Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically?

My upcoming release Windows was long and difficult record to complete. I had to make it twice. For a DIY songwriter that was a lot of ground to recover from financially and emotionally, but creativity is sacred ground and worth being true to it at all costs.  I was feeling helpless, hopeless, faithless, useless the couple days after the Narcissist Commander in Chief was elected in 2016. Everything felt like it was heading over a cliff.

My friend Shannon Coulter had launched the #GrabYourWallet boycott which was taking fast effect throughout the country. I felt bolstered by it. It was motivation to grab onto. Simultaneously my friend Drew Pearce asked me to write a protest song and those elements became Unstoppable. It helped me out of the muck.

Unstoppable felt appropriate to hopefully get folks to the voting polls in America on November 6th 2018 (the release date for Windows).  It felt like a good way to lead into the to launch.

What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

Windows is about 9 different women in my life. This was the track I felt tied the record together, unified us. Initially I shot the video as a political statement with footage of important women in the feminist movement, all the marches going on, the #MeToo movement, Pussy Riot, etc.   with my dear friend and creative partner Matt Palazzolo. A few weeks after we shot a bunch of footage for it he passed away suddenly. Everything stopped in my world for a few months. After I got regained my footing I wanted to offer up something simple, colorful and celebratory to lighten the heaviness, and see what the spirit of love and light had to offer.

What was the process of making this video?

 I am often in a place where I have no idea how I am going to pull something off. You get good at asking for help. I asked a guy named Josh Mehler. We did what we could with what we had available to us- his studio, a projector with images I brought over and a green screen, and Josh just made me dork out for an afternoon. I have come to trust that with willingness, band aides, and tooth floss you can MacGyver anything together. I am grateful for his editing skills.

Find Amie Penwell Online:
Website: http://www.amiepenwell.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amiepenwell 
Twitter: http:www.twitter.com/amie_penwell 

Matthew De Ver is back with a full length album Surface Tension (A Tincture for Integrating Shadow) and you need to listen! The 12 track album is breathtaking filled with jazz and funk influences and spoken word poetry, blended together to make a creative masterpiece. The New York City-based songwriter and producer has survived a painful, but, ultimately, profound life. At just 15, he lost his father, writer/poet/singer-songwriter Shel Silverstein. During his teenage years, he also witnessed his mother struggle with alcoholism and, eventually, witnessed her recovery. this album is reflective of the trials and tribulations of his life.

The album has hits including his single “The Climb” and other songs that we love including “Secret Keeper.” We especially appreciate the song “Black Bile” and its production value. The choir on the intro is truly beautiful and adds a perfect hint of warmth to the track.

The music has funk elements as well as neo soul vibes. The beauty of Surface Tension is that it is so diverse in its influences, and does not fit the mold of one specific genre. The lyrics are personal, and feel so much more meaningful when Matt uses a speak-singing technique. The airiness of his voice adds a lightness to the depth and pure poetry of the songs. It is clear that Matt De Ver utilized this album to shed light on his soul; he made this album to tell his story. We are so excited to see what else is to come from Matt De Ver!

Listen to the album via Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/matthewdevermusic/sets/surface-tension-a-tincture-for-integrating-shadow/s-ZWm6o

Follow Matthew De Ver Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthewdevermusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewdevermusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattdevermusic

The Hate Club have been one of my favorite new discoveries this Fall. The brainchild of Alex Poe, he takes us on an amazing ride with his new single and video for “One Mile Away.” Nostalgic and danceworthy tones bring the piece to life, as the collaboration of visual and audio go above and beyond to create a noteworthy experience. We had the chance to catch up with The Hate Club for an exclusive Video Voyeur which you will find below!

Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically?

One Mile Away is one of my the most favourite tracks on the EP, alongside Little By Little, and it felt natural to start with it. Besides, I noticed that a lot of fans and people going to my shows were really digging it so it all made sense. The song itself was created right before The Hate Club was born, I was going through a very difficult breakup situation, and all the music written at that time was so therapeutic for me. I absolutely needed to make this edgy sound and write in a manner that helped me recover and get over being dumped like that. I felt really frustrated and pissed off. I think I was always the one caring too much and this song is really about looking for someone to fill that hole in you…for one night…when you’re hurt you stop believing in romance and all the pseudo-inspirational stuff and I didn’t want to feel weak, I didn’t like it.

What was the inspiration for this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

The video went through several storyline permutations, but the core idea of a performer not getting any “love” on stage until his transformation was always there. It is reminiscent to when I just started performing, when I was suuuuuper shy and unconfident about being on stage, omg, it was bad haha. And then with The Hate Club I kind of stopped caring about a lot of insecurities that I’ve had and instead went for this idea of an antihero. We’re always so focused on things that represent “our best”, but then our flaws (or what people call flaws) also make us into what we are. That is true to the sound I’m making, personality and the entire artistic vision. That’s where I feel comfortable being at.

What was the process of making this video?

Full idea for this video was developed with the director Vlad Akushevich whom I met in LA, we met up at my place and really kicked it off. That’s when we started goofing around and came up with the whole talent show thing and decided to pursue those ridiculous cliche visuals. We pretty much knocked the whole idea out in a couple of hours and then it was a matter of the details and figuring out camera angles. We end up having so much footage that we could easily make into a film haha. The actual production was super exhausting, since I was producing it, directing, starring, building the stage and making sure everyone shows up. I remember finishing the stage set up at 3am on the day of the filming, and then driving a truck to grab more gear because we missed something, and then filming everything for 2 days, it was insane. I think everyone did such a great job to make it happen, people really had a lot of fun on the day of the shoot, it kinda turned into a party by the end of it all.

Find The Hate Club via:

https://www.facebook.com/thehateclub

https://www.instagram.com/iamhateclub/

https://thehateclub.xyz/the-hate-club-epk/

Watch Rome Burn is a two piece ( guitar and drums) Seattle area rock band, comprised of brothers Jestyn (drums) and Drew (guitar/vox) Cummings. With their distinctively raucous and powerful sound, and with no patience for locked gates, they are the fierce voice of an emerging tribe driven by hunger that burns deep in the guts. The band emerged just two years ago, conceived and born under the brooding skies and shadowed hills of the Pacific Northwest.

The music draws influence from the dark and introspective Seattle Grunge scene, and the intensity from early proto-Punk and first generation LA Punk bands; yet, they stand apart. Their rough, unsentimental music spurns the effete, whimpering death trip of urbanized self absorption. They light a fire with the dark fuel of addiction, apathy and suicide, watch the flames and survive the darkness; Never mind the heat. A fallen city, filled with rot and decay of indifference is cleansed by it. That is the genesis and the passion of Watch Rome Burn.

The two brothers have been making music together since childhood, Jestyn is a visionary; the living, beating heart of Watch Rome Burn, the guitar is his lyre. If Jestyn is the heart, then Drew is the soul of the band.

Watch Rome Burn embody the ‘two piece revolution’ – the stripped-down-but-powerful set up, leaping like living flame out from the funeral pyre of Grunge and Punk to light the way and burn anew. They are set to release their self-produced second album – VOX HERETIC – this September 2018 with a national tour of the US planned for July – August of 2019. The tribes have gathered at the city gates, the flame is lit, the fire has begun.