Low Tide Levee’s “Nautilus” is Hypnotic Psychedelic Rock at its Finest

The image of the sea at its lowest level—low tide—and the shore littered with an array of curiosities, presents a powerful metaphor for self-reflection. The idea of a “mental low tide” can be applied to those revelatory but fleeting moments after a hit of pot or a micro dose, or upon waking up from a vivid dream. They can even occur in a random jolt of inspiration where a buried desire comes into consciousness. 

“The name Low Tide Levee speaks to me on a lot of levels: I do love marine biology, I am a diver, and I am passionate about ocean conservation,” shares singer/songwriter, composer, and former Marine Biologist Amy Brookes. “The analogy of low tide symbolizing revealing things in our unconscious and subconscious is powerful for me. I am always drawn to looking at the strange and gross things after a low tide. Exploring those things metaphorically in our minds can be healing and powerful.” 

Low Tide Levee’s new psychedelic and classic rock single “Nautilus” symbolizes this idea of ocean tides meeting one’s mental tide. Inspired by a tiny Nautilus carving, a beautiful netsuke that Amy happened upon by luck while in a little shop one day. Originally a “riff song,” there are 3 distinct melodies in the song that all came together into song. Eventually, it came to Amy that she could feature the Nautilus character.

“Nautilus” flows a lot like the tide. The classic guitar riffs with the hypnotic beat and an island pop vocal style in Amy’s voice create an ebb and flow in the music. The energy is reminiscent of Pink Floyd meets Fleetwood Mac. It gives off a feels of sitting in the ocean and letting the tide take you away, drifting and floating with the water and current. Lyrically speaking, the listener is invited to journey down into the ocean, sinking beneath the waves with the surface sounds further and further away, and life slowing down.

“As the development of this song unfolded with lyrics emerging from my subconscious, it became about the wisdom of life, far beyond our human thinking ways, and the depth that exists if only we take the time to listen,” says Amy.

Listen here:

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Merlot Embargo Shares Their New Indie Pop Single “Not Gonna”

Merlot Embargo is the self-produced and independent indie pop duo recording music out of our home studio in LA, where they’re also raising their daughter Joanna. Their music is diverse but rooted in the classics. While they strive to make each song something unique and fresh, Scarlet’s sultry voice and Geoff’s groovy guitar-ing make it all feel like Merlot Embargo.

Some might even consider Scarlet and Geoff an unlikely duo: a seat-of-the-pants, army brat singer-songwriter, paired with a native Californian music school nerd and engineer by day. But the blending of their different approaches to music (and life) has helped them create music that’s provocative, but also real and approachable. They temper each other’s worst tendencies, and in their good moments, bring out the best qualities in each other.  Throw in their band, and it’s a collab made in heaven.

Merlot Embargo just released their new upbeat and catchy pop rock single, “Not Gonna,” a song that takes down their own inner demons about ageism in the music industry. The music tells a story of fun and excitement while the lyrics tell a story of resistance and obstacles. Together, it reflects the message of being outwardly fine, but battling setbacks in pursuit of a goal on the inside.

Scarlet’s voice is familiar, almost like a Brandi Carlile meets Ingrid Michaelson. The music and beat is instantly recognizable as uniquely Merlot Embargo with it’s clear influence of Coldplay and The Beatles.

“Hopefully, this song inspires people to keep persevering and following their dreams,” share the duo. “They may be closer than they realize.”

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Gracie Jet Debuts Emotionally Powerful New Single “Sister”

English born, but raised in Ontario, Canada, Gracie Jet has emerged on the alternative pop scene with great gusto. 

Her debut single “Sister” is an emotional and raw ballad that explores the relationship with her sister who has struggled with mental health since she was a child. The song is delicate and also carries strength with the rich vocals from Gracie. It is a song about struggle, perseverance, family and love.

“My sister has struggled with mental health for years. As her sister, I have watched her through it all. I’ve watched as my best friend/sister retreated to her bedroom and became a stranger. I’ve walked with her through it all. I’ve taken  her to the hospital, watched her fall apart. I’ve watched her struggle through all the ups and downs and been so scared that you would lose her in the end.” 

While this song explores a serious and challenging theme, Gracie´s upbeat energy and character shines through. Her voice alone commands all of the attention here, with a rich range similar to that of pop star Adele and Lana Del Ray. 

“I wrote this song for her to remind her she is not alone and that she is loved and she would miss that her life is valuable. This is a love song also for all the  family members watching their loved ones struggle and an anthem for people struggling that you are not alone.”

Listen to “Sister” today to hear what all the fuss is about over this brilliant young Canadian artist. 

Stay current with Gracie Jet on her Website, and social media channels Instagram , Facebook , Twitter and TikTok . Stream music on YouTube, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Puppets of Castro’s “Living the Dream” is Witty and Catchy

Puppets of Castro is the Los Angeles-based musical project of Andrew Lorand. An eclectic satirist and keen observer of the humor and pathos found around the darker edges of the human condition, Puppets of Castro takes his listeners on an often humorous, and often contemplative ride.

His song, “Living The Dream,” comes from his album, Nude Descending an Elevator. It’s got a great, catchy hook that immediately grabs your attention, and the song contains seven musical references from rock classics. See if you can find them all.

“My first band was the Kiwi’s, back in 5th grade, though technically in 3rd grade I was a member of the 007s, and we had only one song  (we would lip sync to ‘Wipeout’, which of course was an instrumental). Nobody looked at us and thought these guys are really going places,” quips Puppets of Castro. “This song is for all the bands and musicians who stuck with it long after dreams of riding in limos, appearing on The Midnight Special, and getting their Star on Hollywood Blvd. had faded.”

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Eric Selby Releases his Latest Folk Single “Horseshoes & Hand Grenades” 

Eric Selby has released the first single “Horseshoes & Hand Grenades” from his upcoming full length release, Dang Fool, which is out via Soul Stew Records. 

“Horseshoes and Hand Grenades” is all about the notion that life is going to happen regardless; you can either accept it and go along with the ride, or observe it and do nothing. Getting really involved in your life and making things happen, Selby writes, is the better option. 

“This song is about the concept that life is going to happen so you can either be an observer or a participant. Action is more important than words, so since participating will ultimately make you happier, get off your duff and take charge of your life. ‘Sh*t happens’ and you can’t always rely on other people that you think are in your corner and when they do let you down, their remorse is fleeting, reflecting the immediate gratification that this social media world delivers in almost faster than real time. Love can be the same way. Protect yourself, advocate and communicate your thoughts and feelings because, ‘hearts get broken with precision of horseshoes and hand grenades.’”

With his style of alternative, contemporary Americana folk, Selby draws his influences from as wide a range as The Beatles, XTC and Phoebe Bridgers. Likewise, he has been compared with The Beatles, as well as Pink Floyd for his psychedelic vocal sound. 

Selby is from the Washington D.C. area, and is a single father to four daughters and a cat. After many years being the drummer of local bands, Selby has finally stepped out to release his first solo music in 2020 which included the EP “Do, Baby” and singles “Anxious Zen” and “Another Page.” 

Stay current with Eric Selby on his website, and social media channels Instagram  and Facebook 

Stream Selby´s music on YouTube, Spotify and SoundCloud

The Dorons Share Their New Alternative Rock Album, ‘The Doronic Verses’

The 4 piece Providence, Rhode Island-based alternative rock band The Dorons, have just released their debut contemporary rock album, The Doronic Verses.

The Rosenfield family makes up The Dorons, features mom Janice on drums, dad Norman on lead guitar, older brother Aryeh on bass, and younger brother Yosef on lead vocals and guitar. The band came together back in 2017 when Aryeh, then a music major in college, had a senior recital and decided to recruit his family to play with him for the occasion. Mom and dad had retired as performing musicians, previously vets of the ’80s and ’90s Boston alt-rock scene. 

The music of the Dorons evokes contemporary folk-rock, singer-songwriter, and alt-rock styles with searing lead guitar playing, impassioned vocals, sage and sensitive lyrics, earworm hooks, and a stirring acoustic-rock foundation. Their songs also contain nuanced rhythm section interplay. The band’s evocative name is fascinatingly layered. It references the Doors and the bittersweet minor scale, the Dorian mode, plus it hilariously rhymes with “morons.” Additionally, the word “dor” in Hebrew means “generation,” which speaks to the multigenerational nature of the band.

The Doronic Verses is a tight 11-song album of carefully crafted contemporary rock, shaded with singer-songwriter intimacy, country flourishes, and blues-rock urgency. The acoustic-rocker song “This New Poison” is a freshly penned original written by Yosef and Janice, and it boasts a Greta Van Fleet-esque swagger, replete with smoldering bluesy lead guitar. The catchy pop rock tune “Not the Usual Fare” features acoustic guitar layered with chiming electric guitar, along with overlapping “call-and-response” backing vocals. “I wrote that song years ago about my brother, who was autistic, during a time when society and the medical profession didn’t understand the condition. He was a beautiful soul and loved music, and he ended up being institutionalized,” Janice says.

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