Following the emotionally stirring “My Father’s Sins,” The Bapti$$—the spiritual, genre-blending project of veteran artist Joseph LaPlante—returns with “Wear & Tear,” a light-hearted, whistled love song that radiates hope, joy, and divine alignment. The single is the fourth release from his just-announced debut LP, Pop Cult(ure), out September 26th.
Built around a delicate acoustic guitar, thick 808 bass drums, and a nostalgic whistle melody, “Wear & Tear” is a unique blend of contrast and cohesion. It’s both old and new, playful yet grounded, modern yet timeless.
“The melody that came to me had this hopeful, loving vibe, so I ran with it,” says LaPlante. “My wife thinks the song is cute, and that’s all the approval I needed.”
Meet me at the cedar tree
This lyric anchors the track with a subtle but powerful nod to LaPlante’s spiritual ethos. In the Pacific Northwest, cedar trees represent spiritual strength, and here, they become a symbol for love that’s been anointed. “It drives home that my wife and I have a relationship blessed by God,” he shares.
“Wear & Tear” continues The Bapti$$’ thread of intentional, heartfelt storytelling, even as the tone shifts to something more playful. “The whistling gives it this old American hobo vibe,” says LaPlante. “Still, it fits with everything else I’ve released so far. It’s in the same spirit.”
As with the other songs from The Bapti$$, the creative process was raw and intuitive. “I just jumped in the booth and pieced it together on the spot. Nearly the whole project has come together effortlessly.”
“Wear & Tear” is spiritual pop-country with a smile—a warm beam of light in The Bapti$$’ growing body of work. Despite its cheerful exterior, the track remains deeply aligned with his core mission: following divine direction in both music and life.
“Just let God take the wheel, man,” LaPlante says. “I’ve learned there’s no greater superpower than having God in your life.”
With this being release number four, The Bapti$$ is preparing for the unveiling of his long-awaited debut LP, Pop Cult(ure), dropping September 26th. “I’m super excited to drop it and I’m already itching to cook up the next batch of music,” he adds.
Experimental indie-electronic duo Allegories return with “Stay Out Of The Basement,” a mischievous alt-pop track that pairs lush, genre-warped production with a tongue-in-cheek narrative twist. Balancing intrigue and dark humour, the single imagines a world where your crush’s overly inquisitive parents meet a sinister fate simply because they couldn’t resist snooping while you were making out in the basement.
With a sound rooted in indie-electronic, alt-pop, and the duo’s signature unpredictability, “Stay Out Of The Basement” blurs lines between playful fantasy and eerie undertone. It’s another testament to Allegories’ talent for crafting songs that surprise and subvert expectations, inviting listeners into layered sonic landscapes that feel both inviting and uncanny.
“‘Stay Out Of The Basement’ is the second in a series of songs that started on ukulele—but this one took a left turn. I wrote the original idea, dropped it into Pro Tools, and handed it off to Jordan. Usually, we keep parts of that first take—vocals, lyrics, melodies—but in this case, none of it made the cut.
The original version had solid ideas, but it didn’t fit the new direction. The vibe, the vocal phrasing—it just didn’t connect. So we started fresh. What you hear now is entirely built around Jordan’s instrumental, and the final vocal fits it naturally.
Each song in this series lands somewhere different. Some stay true to the original demo, others evolve into something completely new. ‘Stay Out Of The Basement’ is one of the rare ones that left the ukulele version behind entirely.”
One Hundred Moons continue to evolve their sonic identity with the release of “Volodya,” a mesmerizing new single that arrives today as the second preview of their forthcoming album, Black Avalanche. The track immerses listeners in a dark, cinematic world, showcasing the band’s ability to balance tension, beauty, and emotional depth.
Where the lead single, “Black Avalanche,” painted broad strokes of shadow and mystery, “Volodya” narrows the focus, guiding the listener into a more intense, urgent, and enigmatic soundscape. The composition is built layer by layer, each instrument and effect carefully positioned to create a feeling of controlled chaos that is both thrilling and haunting.
“Volodya” feels like walking through a deserted city under the glow of streetlights, where every corner holds the unknown. There is a palpable tension, a push and pull between the alluring and the unsettling. The song speaks less through words and more through its textures, rhythms, and dynamic swells, allowing the music itself to tell the story. Each note, each echo, each build contributes to a narrative that is felt rather than read.
From its opening moments, “Volodya” demonstrates meticulous craftsmanship. Sharp synths cut through dense layers of sound, while guitars cascade in waves of reverb that rise and fall like a shifting skyline. The rhythm section anchors the track with subtle yet relentless momentum, creating a heartbeat amid the sprawling instrumentation. The result is a sound that is simultaneously intimate and grand, inviting the listener into a world that is unmistakably One Hundred Moons.
While hints of Circa Survive’s emotional tension and the atmospheric sweep of post-rock bands like Explosions in the Sky can be sensed, One Hundred Moons remain entirely unique. The band has developed a sound that is moody, expansive, and deeply authentic—one that prioritizes feeling and atmosphere over imitation. “Volodya” is both a statement and an invitation, drawing listeners into a realm of sonic exploration.
As anticipation builds for Black Avalanche, “Volodya” provides a tantalizing preview of the album’s journey. The record promises to navigate vast emotional landscapes, alternating between quiet introspection and explosive, immersive crescendos. If the album is the adventure, “Volodya” serves as the map—guiding listeners through shadow, light, and the spaces in between, toward something haunting, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Even as a standalone single, “Volodya” establishes its own world. It is immersive, layered, and slow-burning, rewarding listeners who take the time to delve into its depths. One Hundred Moons continue to demonstrate that their music is not just heard—it is experienced, a delicate interplay of tension, atmosphere, and emotional resonance. With this release, the band solidifies their place as creators of music that lingers, captivates, and transports, inviting listeners to step fully into their enigmatic sonic universe.
Philadelphia native and current Atlanta resident, singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben will release his newest LP, Belong, produced by Dwight A. Baker (Brandi Carlisle, Bob Schneider, Blue October) on October 10 and tour in support of the album’s release including record celebration events at City Winery in Philadelphia and Mercury Lounge in NYC. The ten-song release explores themes of mental health, living with a chronic illness, long term relationships, and how essential community is for everyone’s survival and ability to thrive. Belong is filled with Jesse’s signature catchy melodies, introspective lyrics, and an emotional mix of pop, rock, and folk influences including Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Ben Folds, Matt Nathanson, and Ray LaMontagne.
The bulk of the album was recorded during the pandemic, though its release was derailed by complications due to Lyme disease. Jesse has been managing the disease for over a decade with its initial bout from 2013-2016 forcing a pause in his rising career. “The only way to get through difficult things is with the help of other people, not hiding and trying to do everything yourself,” he says. “It’s about honesty, and vulnerability, and telling the truth even when it’s scary or uncomfortable. Especially when it’s scary or uncomfortable.”
The LP kicks off with the title track, which serves as a sonic thesis statement. “It was during COVID and I was really struggling mentally,” says Jesse. “I just don’t think I’m cut out for that level of isolation. My wife and I didn’t leave a 10 block radius of our Brooklyn apartment for 18 months. I was starting to lose my mind. And the line that I kept coming back to over and over again, the message I wanted to give to the rest of humanity was simple. You and I belong together.
“Future” is a gentle piano ballad that allows the songwriter to recount the moment he met his now wife. “Every once in a while, you have a moment or a conversation or event that changes the course of your life forever,” he explains. “And what’s even rarer is realizing you are in one of those moments as they are happening. When my wife walked into the bar on our first date, I knew at that moment that we were going to get married. This song is about being in that moment.” Watch the official video for “Future” here.
“Trying My Best” finds Jesse creating a relatable community with his fans and friends. “One of the aspects of performing live that has always felt strange to me is the inequality of one person literally being on a pedestal (on stage) while the rest of the audience looks up at them. I was trying to write a song that put everyone on the same level. Everyone is dealing with stuff. Really challenging stuff. And for the most part, no one is talking about it. So this is a song for people’s stuff. The stuff that keeps you up at night. The stuff that drives you crazy. The stuff that you think is never ever ever going to get better. Well, if I can be as sick as I was, for as long as I was, and be healthy enough to tour and write and travel, then no matter what you have going on, you’re going to be okay.”
With the shadowy “Monster,” the songwriter explores his own decade-long struggle with health challenges and the fight to be understood. “I’ve been dealing with Lyme disease for over a decade. It is a unique illness, because it is a systematic illness, as opposed to a symptomatic illness. It attacks the different systems of your body, seemingly randomly, which means at any moment what you are feeling and how severe it is can change at a moment’s notice. On top of that, there is currently no accurate diagnostic test for Lyme disease, which means many patients are told that they are not actually sick, or it’s all in their head. Combine the physical suffering, lack of support from the medical community, and the financial stress on top of being told that you’re making it up, and you have a recipe for disaster. I wrote this song because I was begging for the people in my life to believe me and take it seriously.”
Segueing from the darkness of “Monster,” into the upbeat light of “Champion,” Jesse honors the love he has for his spouse. “This song came out of a conversation about how if the apocalypse comes (insert snarky but also nervous comment here about the state of the world), my skill set will be the least helpful. I’m not handy, I barely know my way around a kitchen, and like most artists, I can be, a lot. But loving my wife? That I can do pretty darn well.”
The compassionate and sparse, “Different,” declares, “just because someone is different, don’t mean their love matters less.” “I don’t understand why we keep choosing a group of people to blame for our problems,” he says. “I don’t understand using the Bible as justification for taking someone’s rights away. Let people love who they love.”
The acoustic “Whole World Watches,” touches on the emotions that come with living through the current political landscape of the United States. “We have given him enough chances. He is not fit to lead. I am so scared at what is happening right now. I am so worried about how bad it is going to get. We are an embarrassment on the global stage.”
Inspired by fellow Philadelphia musician, Liz Longley, “I Believe You, Elizabeth,” is upbeat and features Americana-tinged guitars with a wink to Nashville. “I wrote this song after seeing my brilliant friend Liz Longley perform in New York. I was having a terrible day for some reason, and after the show I felt so much better. I realized I was reaching for her music whenever I needed a reminder that everything is going to be okay. As a songwriter myself, that’s the highest compliment I can give to someone, because that is exactly what I want my songs to be for people.”
“You’re Not Here,” is a wistful ballad spotlighting Jesse on the piano and is underscored by brushes on a jazz inspired snare. “I grew up listening to all of the great singer/songwriters – James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, etc. But I was also raised on The Great American Songbook. I think Sinatra is the greatest singer that ever lived. So whenever I make an album, I try to include one song that is inspired by that era. This song was about being on the road early in my relationship, where our biggest problem wasn’t that we were fighting, or miscommunication. It was simply that we were so far apart.”
The album’s final song finds Jesse alone at the piano with the reflective and melancholy, “Will I Ever Find the Light.” “I think as a society we have done a good job of starting to talk about mental health, and the impact it can have on your life. The reality is, patients with chronic Lyme disease are 12 times more likely to take their own lives compared to the rest of society. We are not designed to suffer, day after day after day, with no end in sight. I didn’t know anything about having a chronic illness until I got one. I would not wish it on my worst enemy.”
Don’t Miss Jesse Ruben On Tour!
9/11 Annapolis Songwriters Festival Annapolis, MD 9/26 Mercury Lounge New York, NY* 9/27 City Winery Philadelphia, PA* 9/28 Capital One Hall Tysons, VA* 10/2 Quarry Hill Winery Berlin Heights, OH 10/3 The Rialto Theatre Akron, OH* 10/4 20 Front Street Lake Orion, MI* 10/18 House Concert Greenville, SC 10/18 Running with Headphones Concerts Winston-Salem, SC
*with JD Eicher
Jesse Ruben is a singer/songwriter from Philadelphia, PA, who spent years in Brooklyn, NY honing his craft and currently calling Atlanta, GA home. Best known for his lyrical storytelling and engaging live shows, his songs have been heard on more than a dozen TV shows in the US and abroad including One Tree Hill, Degrassi,Teen Mom,Switched at Birth, and The Bachelor (Germany). His single “This Is Why I Need You” reached the top 10 in 12 different countries, and has been streamed more than 70 million times across all platforms. He has recorded live sessions for NPR and MTV Asia, and has been featured on PBS.
Beyond his music career, Ruben is highly active in philanthropic endeavors. He has run the NYC Marathon three times for The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the largest non-profit devoted to spinal cord injuries, and five times to raise money for Lyme disease research. He is a co-founder of Generation Lyme, a community built to empower people facing Lyme disease through sharing patient stories and hosting online Meet-ups. In addition, he is the founder of The We Can Project, an initiative for young students designed to help them discover their passions and give back to their communities. To date, more than 800,000 young people have participated. To promote the program, he was personally invited by Hoda Kotb to perform live on The Today Show.
Hamilton, Ontario’s Superstar Crush explode onto the scene with Way Too Much, their glitter-soaked debut album out now alongside the focus track “Do What U Wanna.” Maximalist and emotionally charged, the record captures the band’s coming-of-age in real time – a diary of oversharing, overthinking, and loud catharsis. With crunchy guitars, confetti synths, bratty vocals and deeply relatable lyrics, it’s the kind of album made to be screamed at the top of your lungs with your best friends.
Across 12 tracks, the band dives headfirst into the chaos of growing up and falling apart, channeling anxiety, anger, heartbreak, and joy into songs that are tender and loud in all the right ways. From overthinking and oversharing to crushing too hard and feeling everything all at once, Way Too Much captures the kind of feelings that don’t fit in your chest let alone a group chat.
Anchoring the release is “Do What U Wanna,” a swaggering pop-rock track about jealousy, delusion, and trying to claw back your confidence in the face of rejection. “It was my crippling jealousy,” says guitarist Sam Hansell. “Our drummer Truaxe wrote our fan-favourite ‘Tru Blu’ and I was SO jealous of the success. I rushed home and cranked this little piggy out.”
From its groove-heavy bassline to its triumphant final chorus, “Do What U Wanna” distills the band’s ethos – fun, heartfelt, a little unhinged – into two-and-a-half minutes of pop-punk perfection. “It’s a hype-up jam,” says vocalist Marzieh Darling. “It just works. Girls started messaging me to say it was their go-to shower song, which is when I knew we had something.”
As for the final version? “There’s a tiger roar in there,” laughs synth player Chloe Butler-Stubbs. “Truaxe snuck it in while recording and we didn’t catch it until mixing – we kept it right to the end.”
Acclaimed American violinist, singer-songwriter, and genre-defying musician Deni Bonet is set to release her vibrant new single, “All Around The World (Music Is Love),” the fifth track from her forthcoming album Off The Record. A celebratory anthem of music’s unifying power, the song traverses cultures, continents, and hearts, highlighting the ways music bridges differences and inspires connection.
The track draws inspiration from Bonet’s 2019 appointment as a U.S. Arts Envoy, when she traveled to Zanzibar to teach violin, songwriting, and rock ‘n’ roll at the Dhow Countries Music Academy. That residency culminated in a nationally televised concert sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, reinforcing music’s extraordinary capacity to bring communities together. Returning to Zanzibar in 2020, Bonet recorded with the renowned Tanzanian band Stone Town Rockerz, blending local rhythms with her own dynamic style.
The recording features a stellar ensemble—including Erasto Omollo, Richard Charahani, Alex Marcel, Christopher Weston, Lumii Lumie, Tim Ouimette, Howard Levy, Sherryl Marshall, Sean Altman, and a choir of accomplished vocalists—creating a jubilant, multi-layered soundscape. Bonet co-wrote the music and lyrics, and produced the track alongside James Frazee and Paul Bevan, with engineering in Zanzibar and New York, and mastering by Scott Hull at Masterdisk.
“All Around The World (Music Is Love)” exemplifies Bonet’s artistry: a fusion of virtuoso musicianship, heartfelt songwriting, and cross-cultural collaboration. It’s both an anthem of hope and a testament to music as a universal language.
The single arrives ahead of her album Off The Record, promising a rich tapestry of global rhythms, collaborations, and celebratory storytelling.
Modern Mystery 
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