Steven H. Scott is breaking through the industry with his new single “Albino Road.” However, this is not his first time making music. Right out of high school he was in a progressive rock band called Salem, channeling artists like Rush and King Crimson. He played bass and provided the lead vocals. When that disbanded, he created a new progressive metal band in 2004 called Mindset X, which he is still part of and making music for. However, he always had another side to him. 

“Albino Road” is based on a true story in North Andover, MA boasts an acoustically folksy sound reminiscent of Johnny Cash, with just a hint of jazz. He guides us through the tragic story of 2 young albino boys in the 1600’s that were drowned because they were different. He uses the acoustic guitar and the piano to show the sadness of the situation, saying “I envisioned a sort of story-telling campfire vibe where a lesson was supposed to be learned. But it wasn’t.”

The song starts with a burning match, a powerful symbol that tells the listener they are about to go on a journey. He repeats the same chords throughout the whole song to show us that, in fact, nothing has changed. He says “I’ve always loved poetry and the acoustic guitar so it made sense to venture down that path…This project was and is meant to be as naked, truthful and connecting as possible. There is something special about that simplicity.”

His lyrics are beyond powerful. They weigh on the listener, pointing the mirror right back on ourselves as he sings “How can we be so blind repeating the same shit all the time? And yet the world don’t seem to care, ignoring the ignorance we bear.” He is making us acknowledge the downside to our history, he forces us to see our naivety, our obliviousness, and our hypocritical nature as humans.  

His poignant songwriting and soulful voice create a beautifully poetic piece, about that road where these two young innocent boys died. It’s a story that reflects all too well on where we are today. He tells us that we have work to do. “My only goal is to spark emotion for the listener. Whatever that may be.”


Connect with Steven via:

https://www.stevenhscott.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stevenscottmusic/

https://www.instagram.com/stevenhscottmusic/

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/steven-h-scott/1524117731

Drawing on the sounds of anthemic 70s punk and neon-drenched 80s new wave, Oakland’s The Hot Takes have unleashed their electrifying brand of indie rock on the Bay Area and beyond with the release of their self-titled debut EP.

Inspired by such acts as The Clash, The Killers, and Arcade Fire, The Hot Takes’ new EP follows the band’s mantra of creating powerful, compelling songs that unite the familiar and future. The band’s music maintains a punk-inspired urgency and intensity with dance rhythms of an 80s new wave nightclub, and vocals that toe the line between raw and evocative.All songs were written, arranged, and produced by The Hot Takes. Recorded during the pandemic, the five-song EP was mixed by Dan Konopka of acclaimed indie rock band OK Go and mastered by Grammy Award-winner Mark Christensen of Engine Room Audio.


The Hot Takes are Jared Savas (vocals, guitar), Chad Roxxit (drums), Kyle Smith (guitar, synthesizer), Dan Wade (bass, vocals). Since the EP was recorded, the band has also added Gillian Eichenberger (synthesizer, vocals) to its lineup. Whether onstage or online, prepare to drop dead on the dance floor when The Hot Takes hit you with their dynamic new wave-indie rock.

The Naysayers are a sub-arctic indie rock four piece from Whitehorse, Yukon with a new full-length album due for release on June 25 via Coax Records. Forged in the freezing cold, these boreal belles blend elements of punk, pop, and alt-rock, that feels like a punch in the gut and a warm embrace at the same time. 

Led by veteran singer-songwriter Drea Nasager, her visceral lyrics, powerful vocals, and emotional intensity combine with rich melodies and unrelenting energy to create songs as spellbinding as the northern lights. “Yesterday” sees Drea grieving the living as she reconciles the death of someone who’s still alive. “It’s about watching someone you can’t reach,” she reveals. “They’re down a path you can’t follow. The song started as a goodbye to a friend, and evolved in meaning since I’ve lost others to addiction.”

From Niagara, ON, Riley Michaels started making music at 8 years old after winning 1st place in a local singing competition. Today, the music Michaels makes is a combination of Pop and Adult Contemporary, with a range of influences. 

Riley’s music evokes the vibe of driving down the highway with the roof of your car open, a day at the beach, or even a dance club. Other songs offer intimate feelings that audiences will connect with on a deeper level.

Following a string of singles through 2020 and 2021, Riley has just released a new EP inspired by themes of love, heartbreak, lust, and appreciation fused together with vintage, earthy musical tones.

The EP’s intimate, comforting focus track “Someone Like You” is about that special someone and your adoration for them.

American folk singer/songwriter Eliot Popkin releases his latest EP “Running”, composed of relatable stories about losing people and fighting for oneself. The EP contains two songs that depict two different stories. Eliot draws from past and present folk and country singers to influence his instrumentation, melody, and vocal range. 

The first song on the EP is also the name of the EP, “Running”. The song is featured twice in the EP, once in its original form, and once in a more classical approach. “Running” begins with a sound clip of a train moving on the tracks and a voice that says “all aboard”. Eliot uses traditional folk framework to introduce his EP in a captivating way that also fits very well with the genre. The chorus of the song is catchy and relatable, as it describes the emotions behind running from a broken heart. “Running” is a song that encapsulates the deep pain that one can feel in heartbreak. Eliot draws influences from traditional folk singer Bob Dylan in his vocal variation. Listening to songs by both artists side to side, there is a similarity in the way they storytell and sing in rugged and intimate voices. “Running” is a darker set song that touches on many emotions that are often seen in folk music, but also something that is more difficult to sing about.

In contrast, Eliot’s third song on the EP takes a positive spin on life’s struggles. The third song, “Fighter”, has a more folk rock tone to it, differentiating from the traditional folk portrayed in “Running”. “Fighter” is about not giving up and getting through challenges in life without feeling like a victim to the struggle. The lyrics talk about empowering oneself and pushing along to achieve goals and desires no matter how difficult it may be. The vocal range of John Mayer resonates strongly with Eliot’s range and the two share a similar layout of instrumentation. Both incorporate a rock influence while keeping the lyrics in the folk genre. Along with Mayor, Eliot also resembles Ed Sheeran’s earlier music, which fuses folk and country with a little pop. “Fighter” is an uplifting song that blends a number of genres together and inspires fans to push through and achieve their goals. 

Eliot’s “Running” EP ties together love and sadness through the storytelling of traditional stories such as heartbreak and pushing through challenges. Eliot has grown to reach his audience through a more personal approach and his lyrics as relatable as they are catchy. He breaks through the folk genre barrier with his instrumentation and musicality variation, giving his fans music that they will want to play over and over again. 

Stream “Running” here:

Follow Eliot Popkin here:

http://eliotpopkin.com

https://www.instagram.com/eliotpopkin/?hl=en

Charleston, SC native Frank Hartman is all about fighting corruption and deceit. By day, he works as a personal injury lawyer, suing big corporations on behalf of the average American; by night, he writes scathing songs that eviscerate corrupt people in power as frontman of his band Honeypot. The very name “Honeypot”, borrowed from a type of cybersecurity program that attracts and deflects potential hackers, aptly fits a band whose songs and videos are sometimes shocking, often political, frequently irreverent (think WEEN), and never apologetic. Hartman, a lifelong student of classic rock and progressive rock icons like RUSH, Tool, and Alice in Chains, brings a uniquely Southern twang to the prog world. Honeypot’s fans, affectionately known as Honeypotheads, are prog nerds, film buffs, and comic book lovers. We spoke with Frank regarding the new video for “Shut Your Mouth” which you can dive into below!

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

I have an entertaining story on that one. As you know l love observing the peccadilloes of people. I heard the “shut your mouth or I’ll shut it for you” line from a friend. His drunk wife was giving him a hard time for his sarcasm as he tucked her into bed. She said it even though it was an empty threat.And I started thinking about cognitive dissonance. Making the listener anticipate one outcome and then showing the wife as the abuser, dark humor,  I will grant you.

Add the fact that my friend looks strikingly like Chevy Chase and you can see where I am headed. So the opening scene and the subsequent one in which Chevy Case is asleep at the wheel of the car in the original National Lampoon’s Vacation are a given. I am a huge Prince fan and learned when Doves cry so the petals reference is covered. Homages to The Big Lebowski and The Naked Gun are appeals to generational humor that only Americans would get.  My personal favorite is the Buffalo Bill scene ‘ concealer on my eye.“ My position is The Silence of the Lambs is one of the funniest dark comedies ever made. I am in the minority on this opinion.

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

The inspiration is the paradox of the American Dream. From inception, you are told you are exceptional and there is an implied path everyone should take. And if you follow the path, then you achieve the ever elusive concept of Happiness. It equates accumulation of money and things with happiness. And yet, there was a 64% increase in the use of antidepressants between 1999 and 2014. Something doesn’t add up. No, I am not and have never been a member of the Socialist Party. But I do recognize there is a disconnect between the messaging and the outcome. I want the listener to identify with what I am saying and apply critical thinking about what is truly important in life.

3. What was the process of making this video? 

Well, we had a green screen version that acted out the entire thing, but it was not good. So I took over the primary creative process and started thinking of cultural references reflecting my vision. It led me to gifs that best represented the emotion conveyed in each line. I have a very dry sense of humour, gallows humour. I have to spell it out in order for everyone to get that I am joking. We all go through the vicissitudes of life, acknowledging it, and then mocking it takes away some of the pain and the power that difficult moments in life pose. I choose laughter.  Laughing hysterically can be another form of crying. Hell, a lot of people can laugh and cry at the same moment. Because it is existence that we all share and there is so much commonality in the human experience. An artist’s job is to find those common touchstones and help people to feel less alone.