Your Life: The Mixtape Magazine Presents… IN THE MIX
All The Hottest New Releases, Future Must-Haves, Concerts, and Music Headlines from All Over The World!
The Exact Opposite release their second single Look At Him Go! through Dental Records on 19th April 2024
The Exact Opposite released their second single Look At Him Go! through Dental Records on 19th April 2024. Between singer/guitarist Jamie Stuart and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Nigel Powell, they have a long musical pedigree — together in underground indie heroes Dive Dive, and separately in Dustball, Unbelievable Truth, and Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls. Look At Him Go!, the opening track on the forthcoming album Skill Issue, is a flurry of angular, crunching riffs with a very real and raw sense of urgency. “I remember,” says Stuart, “that there was a slight false start when I was writing the lyrics to ‘Look At Him Go!’. It was about something different, but then I decided what I wanted it to be about and I’ve never had such a stream of lyrics. I’d never put that many different words into a song before. And I know songs about aging superheroes — which are really about the death of the hero inside you — have been done by other bands, but it was really fun. And if there is an underlying theme to the record, it is aging and wondering if it’s time to call it. But it’s clearly not!” The last song completed for the record, serves as a testament to the importance of creativity, addressing the reasons and purpose for the pair making music together while simultaneously confronting their hesitations about doing so, along with the ineluctable existential dread of mortality. “When we finished that song we both just looked at each other and said ‘Fucking hell, this is great!’”, says Powell. “There’s just something about it — it’s very hooky, it’s got a great story, I love the lyrics and it just crackles with excitement and energy.”
A suitable joyous and inventive video is online now: https://youtu.be/XHKgdbvBQjw
Stream Look At Him Go: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7nM2cv6wRAztbKKOMgPTFy?si=VIRFdpLYRDGDLTWlBDv38Q
Live dates coming up:
April 19th The Apothecary Tap Banbury
May 10th The Jericho Tavern Oxford
May 11th Aces & Eights London
May 13th The Exchange Bristol
May 31st The Pump Trowbridge
The Exact Opposite Socials:
https://instagram.com/theexactopp
https://facebook.com/theexactopp
https://twitter.com/theexactopp
https://youtube.com/@TheExactOpposite
https://www.theexactopposite.uk
Germany’s For Heads Down Debut New Self-Titled New Album, Out Now via Thousand Islands Records (North America) and Disconnect Disconnect Records (UK/EU)
For Heads Down play the kind of excellent melodic hardcore / punk rock that makes you want to put your fist in the air and singalong.
The band debuted with their LP ‘Stormwarning’ in 2013. 5 years later, in July 2018, the second album ‘Resurgence’ was released under the Skatepunk record label Melodic Punk Style.
Their new self-titled album is out now through Thousand Islands Records (North America) and Disconnect Disconnect Records (UK/EU), featuring 11 excellent punk rock gems.
You can stream/order vinyl here: https://bfan.link/for-heads-down.
Also available across the pond through Disconnect Disconnect Records and Down Under via Artist First.
Tracklist:
The Most
Falling Apart
25 degrees
Guilty
July 21
Devil in me
The Village
Still
Fever
Conquer the World
Seasons
TIR-123LP
www.facebook.com/forheadsdown
www.instagram.com/forheadsdown
For Heads Down from Siegen (Germany NRW) have been making punk rock for over 20 years. Anyone who liked the soundtrack from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 will definitely get their money’s worth with For Heads Down.
In 2002, the band began to pursue their passion for fast skatepunk and released three albums, back then under a different name. After some personnel changes, they started the For Heads Down project in 2011.
For Heads Down not only impress live with their melodic riffs, but also captivate the listeners with their three-part vocals. They have already shared the stage with bands like Ignite, Snuff, Belvedere, Venerea, Skin of Tears, Mute, Red City Radio, Jaya the Cat, Counterpunch, Ten Foot Pole, and many more.
Philipp Nowotny — Vocals
Marco Müller — Guitar
Christian Kalmbach — Drums
Riccardo Rinsdorf — Bass/ Vocals
Florian Steup — Guitar/ Vocals
Atomic Life Release New Single “All In Bad Taste”; Self-Titled EP Coming Soon
The band features former members of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ho9909, Thoughtcrimes, Glassjaw, and NK
Atomic Life is a supergroup made up of pillars of the New York hardcore world. The Long Island-based alternative rock band features the incomparable world-known drummer Billy Rymer (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ho9909, Thoughtcrimes), Cody Hosza (Glassjaw) on guitar, and Michael Sadis (NK) on bass. Joining these titans is Adea Frances; a fresh talent and multi-disciplined performance artist who compliments Atomic Life’s high-energy songs with her powerful vocals and haunting lyrics.
The band’s third single “All In Bad Taste” is out now and follows the release of the previous singles “Hit Me First” and “Incense and Aries”.
Stream “All In Bad Taste” Here:
Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / Deezer
The band says, ““All in Bad Taste” plunges into the depths of darkness. I guess its my twisted homage to Nietzsche’s philosophical abyss. It delves into the grotesque realm of aging, plastic beauty, and the haunting absence of divinity, painting a harrowing portrait of humanity’s darkest desires.”
Atomic Life will be playing at NYC’s Map Room at Bowery Electric on May 11 with In The Middle, Sucko, and The New Pollution. Tickets
Website: www.atomic-life.com
Follow Atomic Life on Instagram: www.instagram.com/atomiclifeofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atomiclifeband
CARDBOARD SESSIONS FEATURING MARCUS KING — FOURTH & FINAL SESSION OUT TODAY
Cardboard Sessions releases #22 Episode 4 featuring Marcus King. Join in for the fourth installment and grand finale the last performance with King and a stunning and beautiful rendition of “Delilah”. Alongside his signature blend of blues, rock, and gospel influences, King orchestrates and adds another layer with incredible horns. This takes the song to a new level in a version you won’t hear on the album. Prepare yourself and get ready to be captivated and immersed in the essence of King’s pure musical talent.
WATCH MARCUS KING ON CARDBOARD SESSIONS HERE
Cardboard Sessions (a collaboration between Signal Snowboards and Ernest Packaging) is a free-form video series that brings musicians together to play instruments built and designed by the creators of Cardboard Chaos, where progressive concept ideas in sports and music are crafted from cardboard. A creative exploration of the love of music and the chance to hear something original with no rehearsal, no plan, and no rules. Artists who have had the opportunity to play the cardboard creations in past sessions include ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, J Mascis, Matt Sorum, Terry Reid, Preservation Hall All-Star Band, LP, Dogstar, and more.
FOLLOW CARDBOARD SESSIONS:
YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM
ABOUT ERNEST PACKAGING:
Ernest Packaging is a family-owned company that creates wonderful, unconventional solutions for our clients. It’s been that way since 1946, and it still stands to this day. We don’t just deliver boxes, bubble wrap, and the occasional bear claw. We offer end-to-end business solutions to help companies streamline processes. All while keeping their costs down, their social buzz up, and their growth thriving.
ABOUT SIGNAL SNOWBOARDS:
Founded in 2005, Signal Snowboards is an independent snowboard brand that focuses on building strong connections through snowboarding, music, and storytelling. Their commitment to innovation and excellence in product design, community building, and customer service makes them a trusted choice for snowboard enthusiasts worldwide.
FOLLOW SIGNAL SNOWBOARDS:
YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE
LEGENDARY GARAGE ROCKERS THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS RELEASE NEW SINGLE “ELECTRIFIED” (CO-WRITTEN W/ STEVIE VAN ZANDT) B/W “MY BACK PAGES”
Hailing from Rochester, NY, garage rock legends The Chesterfield Kings formed in the late 70’s, heavily mining the sounds of 1960s music from The Rolling Stones to acoustic blues and more. Instrumental in sparking the 1980s garage band revival that launched such like-minded bands as The Fuzztones, The Pandoras, The Cynics, and more, The Chesterfield Kings disbanded in 2009 but returned last month for the release of the single “Meet You After Midnight” and their first live performances in over 15 years.
The band has released another new single “Electrified” (co-written with Stevie Van Zandt) along with b-side “My Back Pages.” The single will also be available for purchase on limited yellow vinyl this Saturday, April 20 for Record Store Day at Rochester’s The Record Archive and via mail order.
Frontman Andy Babiuk says: “Stevie wrote this one with us… It’s about the day Dylan went electric in 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival which changed music forever. He was Electrified!”
Stream “Electrified” (b/w “My Back Pages”) HERE: https://orcd.co/electrified
Fresh off their appearance on The Wicked Cool Records Revue!, hosted by Hard Rock and Little Steven’s Underground Garage, keep an eye out for more new releases from The Chesterfield Kings in the coming months.
Wicked Cool Records
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DARUMAS UNVEILS DEBUT SINGLE “DARUMA” INFUSED WITH LATIN FUNK & POP CHARM
Live music collective DARUMAS debuts their first single, “Daruma,” an infectious and funky Latin pop jam, arriving via Sony Music Latin, with the message of hope, resilience, and love, just like their band name — listen here!
The song, written and recorded at 5020 Studios in Miami, shares the universal experience of longing and hope, inviting listeners on a journey together: “longing for a better world… health, money, lots of love… and some adventure.” From the infectious rhythms to the soulful vocals, the debut single is a testament to DARUMAS’ artistry and vision.
The electrifying trio, composed of multi-talented musicians Aldana Aguirre, Ceci Leon and Vedala Vilmond, embarks on an infectious new musical journey together. The band blends the sounds across their diverse musical roots — Latin funk, pop, and a touch of old-school charm.
“Darumas is a band formed by three amazing girls,” Vedala emphasizes. “We are three musicians from different parts of the world” Aldana shares “…and three very different backgrounds” Ceci continues, “that are all inspired by similar music, and trying to create something new with one another.”
DARUMAS brings together Aldana, a sought-after bassist from Argentina, who has shared the global stage with acts like Karol G, Luis Fonsi and Fonseca; Ceci, a vocalist from Miami with Cuban roots and a penchant for R&B, also captivates audiences with her electrifying guitar skills, seamlessly blending soulful melodies with fiery riffs; and Vedala, the mesmerizing voice of the group, hailing from Haiti and living in Chile. The mosaic of their cultural influences and musical styles promises a musical experience like no other.
The debut single, “Darumá,” introduces the inspiration behind the DARUMAS band name, drawing inspiration from the Japanese luck charm, symbolizing perseverance and the fulfillment of wishes. True to their name, DARUMAS aims to imbue their music with the same spirit of resilience and positivity that the Daruma embodies.
The band is signed with Sony Music Latin for recordings, Walter Kolm Entertainment for management, TBA Agency for touring and FRAZES CREATIVE for publicity partnerships.
“Darumas is a breath of fresh air for the music industry. Three women, musicians, with an enormous talent that bring an artistic proposal very different from everything else out there. The greatest artists are characterized by being unique and different from the rest. Aldana, Vedala and Ceci can proudly boast just that, a sound and style of their own and with an electrifying live performance, they leave no one indifferent. Their debut is good news for any music lover.” — shares Alex Gallardo, President of Sony Music Latin.
Philly Chart-Topping Rockers Soraia Cover Blondie’s “Union City Blue” On New Single
Philadelphia rock outfit Soraia cover the Blondie classic “Union City Blue” on their latest Wicked Cool Records single.
Stream “Union City Blue” here: https://orcd.co/unioncityblue.
Frontwoman ZouZou Mansour says, “I’ve wanted to cover “Union City Blue” since I first heard it on the “Sid and Nancy” soundtrack album I bought back in 2016. I loved that movie — starring Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb. We were in Sweden touring in fall 2023, and decided that was the time to do it. We self-produced the song this time, bringing more of a “We Got The Beat” vibe to the tempo and approach. Hope you dig it!”
The constantly touring band just wrapped a stint on the The Wicked Cool Records Revue, presented by Hard Rock and Little Steven’s The Underground Garage, and they’re hitting the road again (with Detroit’s The Idiot Kids) for a short run of East Coast dates later this month.
Dates:
April 25: Hamden CT @ The Cellar on Treadwell
April 26: New London, CT @ 33 Golden
April 27: Denville, NJ @ Sweet Vinyl Cafe (electric set)
April 28: Levittown, PA @ Positively Records (acoustic set)
Soraia is:
ZouZou Mansour — Lead Vocals, Tambourine
Travis Smith — Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Brianna Sig — Drums, Backing Vocals
With each new release, Soraia continues to amass experience, momentum, and resilience. They’ve caught the attention of rock legends in the music industry, including Jon Bon Jovi, Little Steven, and Joan Jett. The core lineup comprises ZouZou Mansour (lead vocals), Travis Smith (bass), and Brianna Sig (drums), a trio with unparalleled chemistry and a profound passion for their music.
soraia.com • Facebook.com/soraiarocks • Instagram/Twitter: @soraiarocks
The Family Rain indulge us in their moreish second studio album ‘Indulgence’
The three brothers from Bath have not lost their appetite for sweet melodies and savoury riffs. On April 19th 2024 The Family Rain unleash their second album ‘Indulgence’ into the world. It’s been 10 years since the release of their first album ‘Under the Volcano’ (Virgin Records) but the three Walter brothers have not been sat around waiting for rain to fall.
The last 6 years have seen 3 EPs, an assault of stand alone singles and a mini album of a sun soaked side project ‘Voyages’. The new album Indulgence came about through relentless writing/recording sessions with long time collaborator and Grammy-nominated producer Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Ghost, Pixies) and brotherly duo Bad Sounds, another set of Grammy-nominated producers in their own right.
Having experienced the large stages with support slots spanning The Rolling Stones, 30 Seconds To Mars, Biffy Clyro, Miles Kane and being no strangers to heavy tour schedules around the UK and Europe, Indulgence is “A love letter to the ambition of any band/artist rattling around in a splitter van full of warm beer, to the decadence of a service station and to the Wizard of Oz-like state that the music industry upholds, the curtain is velvet green, the lights are bright, but sweating behind the veil are three brothers working tirelessly to make something sweet for you to enjoy”, explains vocalist and lyricist Will Walter.
The album represents every aspect of the brothers combined influence from AC/DC to Scott Walker via Fat Boy Slim — if you like them hard and your melodies jagged Indulgence will turn you on. It’s a rock and roll album at heart, but wait for the aftertaste, wait further for the palate cleanser and now, who’s for dessert? With a red jelly (hand made by lead vocalist/bassist Will) donning the front cover to represent a sense of the physical and hands on nature of what the band do there can only be one message to the fans who buy this record — ‘INDULGE’.
Alongside the album comes its next single ‘Who Let The Gods Out’, yes that was Gods — also on April 19th.
Co-written and produced by South West Production duo Bad Sounds, The Family Rain are begging you to have fun with their latest single. It’s a modern feel-good love anthem with a Keith Richards 80’s Stones hook.
“There is too much self loathing in alternative music, occasionally it is necessary to love yourself, sometimes it’s required to call yourself a God, and every so often you are called upon to plagiarise Baha Men, luckily with this track all those boxes are ticked and the rock and roll spirit lives on”, says the band.
LISTEN:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/60HxU5pfO88nduyocuUuYE?si=W9GpomWYRMGBHnfmXCQyHQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thefamilyrain
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-family-rain/564167845
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B00GDW0OP0/the-family-rain
THE FAMILY RAIN ARE:
Will Walter — Vocals / Bass
Ollie Walter — Guitar
Tim Walter — Drums
ONLINE:
Website: https://thefamilyrain.bandcamp.com/album/indulgence
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefamilyrain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefamilyrain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefamilyrain
LIVE DATES:
25th April 2024 — Bodega, Nottingham
26th April — Strange Brew, Bristol
27th April — The Brunswick, Brighton
1st May — Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
2nd May — Omeara, London
3rd May — The Parish, Huddersfield
4th May — Sound City, Liverpool
8th May — Heartbreakers, Southampton
9th May — Deaf Institute — Manchester
10th May — Sidney & Matilda — Sheffield
25th May — Stones Throw, Newcastle
Acclaimed international producer M. Vaughan returns with the lead single from his new EP which sees him move away from the club and towards the emotive Indie Rock as he processes relocations from Brooklyn to Berlin to Lisbon.
The Lisbon via New York artist M. Vaughan (aka Class Portrait) grew up playing in Indie Rock bands before spending a decade crafting Electronic music. His productions on labels like Freerange, Monologues, and his own Super Tuff imprint fused warped synthesizers and raw percussion into a fresh take on House music, earning praise from top publications and DJs alike. In 2021, he relocated to Berlin to capitalize on his early successes. Now living in what he describes as “the Mecca of Dance Music,” Vaughan found himself surrounded by stoic ravers, feeling deeply out of place, and growing detached from the Dance music world.
This foreign-ness drew him closer to the familiar, early inspirations from back home, like The Microphones, Mark Kozelek, and Alex G. Stepping out in a new musical direction, he stopped DJing, and put his label on hiatus. He began to work on the new material that eventually became June 14th’s ‘Keep in Touch’ EP, which he would complete after relocating to Lisbon, Portugal.
The lead single, “Tire Swing,” was written during this time in Berlin. Welling up from feelings of disconnection, its soaring vocals, glistening piano, and rhythmic intensity hint at a new sense of excitement and musical self-discovery as he embraced new influences like Mount Kimbie, Tirzah, and Blood Orange.
Links: Linktree / Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music / Facebook / Soundcloud
The Debut single from actor, indie pop singer-songwriter, and Broadway star Damon Daunno
While Damon Daunno may be a “new artist” when it comes to releasing his own music, he is hardly a novice. With a compelling, acrobatic voice that defies stereotypical/traditional Broadway categorization, his heralded work on stage (and cast recordings) has earned him a devoted following. From originating the role of Orpheus in Hadestown to starring in Daniel Fish’s lauded revival of Oklahoma!, Damon’s success on and off Broadway has led to numerous awards and nominations, including Tonys, Grammys, Drama Desks and Lortels. His magnetic presence and charismatic performance style has given him opportunities to share the stage with artists like Chris Thiele, Emily King, Cecile Mclorin Salvant and Guster, and has performed at venues such as Studio 54, Radio City Music Hall, Town Hall, Beacon Theater, and St. Ann’s Warehouse. But now, Daunno is stepping out for the first time to share his own music with the world.
His first song “Time Machine” is a mid tempo meditation on holding on and letting go — a dance between grasping and releasing, ego and heart. An undulation of modern synth bass grounds the nostalgic melting pot of silken orchestration, breezy tropicalia and winding harmony. Daunno and co-writer/producer Deidre Muro (Savoir Adore, Deidre & the Dark) combine mutual influences creating a sublimely unique sonic palette. Lilting Hawaiian lap steel (a byproduct of Daunno’s pandemic-era studies with the legendary Alan Akaka) longingly floats above grinding percussion, juxtaposing one’s impressions of a broken past and idyllic future.
“Essentially it’s a cautionary tale of woe,” says Daunno. “There’s clarity that comes from humility and hindsight. There’s acceptance that follows understanding and true remorse. During that process we memorialize our lives, our past, our experiences and collect them and place them in boxes in our minds or on our mantles. Like the lyric,‘Another butterfly behind a pane of glass, just a trophy not the truth’ — there’s heartbreak in that there’s beauty and there’s a bit of horror.” Throughout “Time Machine,” Daunno’s singular voice keens across a vast spectrum of emotion, from warm reverie to unhinged denial, like only he can.
Time Machine is out now via Brooklyn label Sunken Living Room, a new imprint curated by Deidre Muro and part of the YouTooCanWoo family (toucan sounds, French Horn Rebellion & more), with more singles to follow this year. You can see Damon performing in the cast of The Lonely Few at the MCC Theater starting April 27, 2024.
connect with Damon Daunno
https://www.instagram.com/damondaunno/
Miami multilingual Garage Pop / Shoegaze / Dream Pop group Las Nubes release the “Would Be” single from their “f*cking loud” second LP
After years of touring and recording sessions all over the US and Mexico, the Miami-based Las Nubes return with ‘Tormentas Malsanas,’ a multilingual sonic explosion of Garage Pop, Shoegaze, Dream Pop, and Punk.
The album’s lead single was released by the Thurston Moore-owned Ecstatic Peace / Daydream Library label, and their past work has been praised by Brooklyn Vegan, NPR: Alt.Latino, Rolling Stone, IDIOTEQ, BBC 6 Music, and Talkhouse, as well as Iggy Pop, who even penned the album cover’s hype quote (they also backed Iggy as his first-ever all-female incarnation of The Stooges).
Formed in 2017 by Miami music mainstays Ale Campos and Emile Milgrim, their fuzzy, bilingual, 90s-influenced Punk Rock meets Dream Pop sound earned them opportunities to with the likes of Shannon and the Clams, Jens Lekman, The Coathangers, Sheer Mag, Mark Sultan, Torche, and Alice Bag.
‘Tormentas Malsanas,’ Las Nubes’s first full-length album since the 2019 debut will finally be unleashed on June 14th via Sweat Records Records. It will be preceded by the “Would Be” (April 19th) and “Pesada” (May 17th) singles. Out Now: “Endrados” / “Drop-In.”
“There was a rumor going around about a live-action Power Puff Girls series being made by Diablo Cody. It was going to be set in the future and have them portrayed as adults looking back on their lives as crime-fighting little girls who missed out on being kids. I grew up in the ’90s and PPG was one of my favorite cartoons, so I was really excited about this. One day Emile and I were talking about how cool it would be to write the theme song for the show, so “Would Be” was the result of that. It took about 20 minutes to write. At the time I felt like my best years were flying away before my eyes and I used that as inspiration for what it might feel like to be an aging ex-superhero. For the video I edited an old home movie of my father in his late 40s doing tricks with a soccer ball. Growing up in Argentina, he always dreamed of going pro. Soccer was his first love and he finally had his chance and played professionally for a year before getting seriously injured. He wasn’t able to continue his career in soccer after that, but he always carried the love for the sport in his heart. I felt like the video captured the essence of the song, which is the desire to take back those years you lost and just cherish them.” — Ale Campos (Guitar / Vocals)
Links: Website / Bandcamp / Linktree / Instagram / Spotify / Facebook / YouTube
