by Jane Lambert

Slow Burn Elegance – Lil’ Red & The Rooster Shine on Latest Single “Melancholy Mood”

Lil’ Red & The Rooster slow the pace and turn up the elegance on “Melancholy Mood,” the fourth single from their forthcoming album 7.

With a tip of the hat to blues greats T-Bone Walker and Dinah Washington, this track is a smoky and slow burning gem dripping with class, control and emotional finesse.

Jennifer “Lil’ Red” Milligan delivers the vocals with a velvet gloved hand, allowing every word linger in the air like perfume in a dimly lit club. There’s pain here for sure, but it’s the kind of pain worn like a tailored dress – graceful, knowing and timeless. Her phrasing moves with the same unhurried confidence as a singer who understands what it means to have restrain.

Pascal Fouquet’s guitar work is pure vintage cool. His tone is warm and articulate, never showy. It’s just the right bends, the right space and the kind of touch that makes the blues feel intimate and eternal.

Bobby Floyd’s B3 organ swells beneath the track with a soulful subtlety, while Jean Marc Despeignes (bass) and Pascal Mucci (drums) keep things locked in with a hushed, heartbeat rhythm section that lets the emotion breathe.

As part of 7, “Melancholy Mood” feels a lot like a candlelit centerpiece. A moment of reflection that invites listeners to lean in closer. It’s not just a love letter to classic blues, but a confident entry in that lineage, re-imagined with the Rooster’s signature “retro modern” touch.

In a world that often moves too fast, “Melancholy Mood” is a reminder that sometimes the deepest feeling comes in the quietest swing.

Lil’ Red & The Rooster’s upcoming album 7 is a rich blend of gospel, blues, retro soul, and pop jazz rooted in a distinctly 1960’s vibe. Featuring seven original tracks, including an instrumental and a gospel blues opener, the album explores themes of freedom and soulful transformation. With Grammy-nominated Bobby Floyd on B3 and piano, 7 is both elegant and gritty, nostalgic and fresh.

The full album drops August 22, 2025, with singles released every three weeks along the way!

Find out all about Lil’ Red & The Rooster on their Website

06.06.25

by Jane Lambert

Stacked with Swagger – Lil’ Red & The Rooster Deal a Winning Hand with “Stack ‘Em Up Baby”

Lil’ Red & The Rooster’s latest single “Stack ‘Em Up Baby” is a whole vibe. A low-slung groove with a wink in its eye and a strut in its step, the track oozes vintage soul and playful cool while bringing something unmistakably fresh to the table.

From the opening piano flourish, you are unmistakably dropped into a smoke-filled jazz lounge where every note has purpose and every phrase is dressed to impress.

This is retro-modern blues at its finest. Jen “Lil’ Red” Milligan’s vocals glide with a feline style finesse – cheeky, sly and drenched in charisma. In this son, Lil Red is not just singing about stacking ’em up, she is the dealer, the mood-setter and the ringleader of this cinematic scene. Her delivery evokes the smoky sophistication of Rickie Lee Jones, with the soul deep phrasing of vintage jazz and blues greats, filtered through her own unique sass.

Pascal Fouquet, the “Rooster” in this bluesy power duo, brings his signature elegance on guitar.

His touch is tasteful and timeless, letting each note breathe and smolder, and skilled application of tone, groove and a deep understanding of the genre’s roots. His playing is the slow burn to Lil’ Red’s flickering flame, and together they create a dynamic that is impossible to fake.

And then there’s the not-so-secret weapon – Grammy-nominated keyboardist Bobby Floyd (Ray Charles, Count Basie Orchestra, Dr. John). His B3 and piano work provide that plush, cinematic backdrop for this slow-burner, anchoring the whole production in something rich and luxurious. His presence is testament to the band’s commitment to real musicianship, deep soul, and that indefinable thing we call “feel.”

“Stack ‘Em Up Baby” leans into a nostalgic groove dripping with class and intention, much like the theme song to a 1960’s detective film that never got made but should have. There’s drama, there’s flirtation and there is an undeniable joy in how the band navigates the space between blues, jazz and retro soul. It’s as much a mood as it is melody.

And this track kicks off off a waterfall release schedule, leading up to the release of the duo’s upcoming album called “7”. If this track is the opening move, consider us all-in.

“7″ promises to explore themes of freedom and rising from adversity – core values that have always quietly pulsed beneath the surface of Lil’ Red & The Rooster’s work. But here, with “Stack ‘Em Up Baby,” those themes get dressed up in velvet, high heels and attitude.

Lil’ Red & The Rooster have never been content to just rehash the blues. They really embody the blues. And with this new era, they are showing that the blues is thriving and ready to seduce a new generation.

So go ahead. Put it on. Stack ’em up, press play and let this tune swagger into your soul.

Listen to “Stack ‘Em Up Baby” here

Find out all about Lil’ Red & The Rooster on their Website.

Stream music on Spotify and Apple Music

05.16.25

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’s WITH MOLLY THOMAS

Molly-Thomas-Even-the-Strong-04-13-25-copy

Rooted in Southern soul and shaped by years of touring, collaborating and creating from the heart, Molly Thomas has carved a distinct path as a songwriter, musician and storyteller.

With a voice that carries both grit and grace, Molly’s music brings together an authentic honesty and depth – qualities that shine through in her latest single “Even The Strong” and self-made video.

Following a transformative season of healing and reflection, Thomas brings us a visual companion to a song that speaks to resilience, vulnerability and the quiet strength it takes to lean on others when life demands more than we can carry alone.

In this Exclusive Interview, we talk with Molly about the story behind the song, the creative process behind the video, and how a spontaneous trip to Spain – and a crash course in video editing – helped bring it all to life!

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

This song is about the idea that even in strength, we all need someone to lean on. Old habits can creep back in, but finding grace, truth and sometimes a shoulder to lean on can help one rise above. I decided to visualize the song in black and white because I wasn’t sure how to allude to the overall feeling any other way. I found a way to add color and added it at the pinnacle moment of the song to heighten the level of visuals to match the song.

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

The song was written in the summer of 2023, just before my car accident.

Ironically, the test of strength was thrown my way and the message of resilience and hope proved to be just what I needed to get through it. A little over a year after the car accident, my husband and I took a celebratory trip from time healing and we went to Spain.

We were both inspired and took lots of video footage in hope to create a video at some point. I wasn’t sure which song the footage would be for, but it presented itself when I started. This song is the first single, to be released May 16, 2025. The footage that we gathered seemed to tell the story I was looking for and so I just went for it.

3. What was the process of making the video?

The process was a bit tedious, considering I was/am fresh at learning Premiere Pro.

In fact, I just got it 3 days ago and have SO much to learn. I initially created the video in imovie. I sent it to my friend, who is a professional filmmaker, and she set me straight, in a loving manner. It took me 2 days to make it once I sat down and loaded all of the footage into my project. I guess because I have experience in imovie and also Pro-tools, the learning curve came a little bit easier.

Thanks to Youtube University (HA), all of my questions were answered as I went along. I’m sure I could have kept going with perfecting it, but decided to let it go, especially because there is a deadline. Also, the realization that I’m a musician just trying to get my song out to the world. I am not a professional videographer. It’s similar to producing and recording a song. At some point along the way, there comes a time when nothing more can be done with the tools at hand, and you have to let it fly.

Stay connected with Molly Thomas on her Website

02.10.11

by nmcollins

Xiu Xiu & J. Morrison Unveil Art T-Shirt Subscription

Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart and artist J. Morrison have teamed up for a different type of collaboration. The pair will work together on handmade art shirts featuring influential figures in their lives. The first shirt features Queen’s Freddie Mercury. Every month will bring about a new and unique shirt. The shirts are available for individual purchase ($20 to $25 plus $4.95 shipping in the U.S.) or for a year long subscription ($200 plus $50 shipping in the U.S.) that will feature a 13th shirt not available for individual purchase. For International orders, shipping is $9.95 individually or $100 for the subscription. Order the shirts here and here.