Album Review: Maya Hawke Releases Sophomore Album, Moss

2022 has been the year for the cast of “Stranger Things.” Especially for those who are releasing music. 

First, we got Joe Keery - who uses the moniker, Djo, as his stage name for his music - releasing his album, Decide, on September 16th. However, today, we’re going to be talking about a different “Stranger Things” cast member who released their album a week after Joe. 

Maya Hawke.

On September 23rd, Maya Hawke released her much anticipated sophomore album, Moss - the follow up to her debut album, Blush. The latter of which was released back in 2020.

Blush itself was a remarkably beautiful debut album, so let’s dive into Moss and see how it adds up.

Maya has strong songwriting abilities. It’s very easy to notice when listening to her music and hearing the stories she details in her songs. It was easy to learn that when listening to Blush, too. However, listening to Moss, it’s evident she has grown as a songwriter.

Once she released her first single for the album, “Therese”, I knew the album would be very promising. That single really showed off her songwriting abilities and her vocals in such a manner that was so unbelievably beautiful. It only made the listener want more of what she had to offer.

The starting song, “Backup Plan” sets the tone for the album. It’s acoustics and tone sets the storybook of what Maya has in store for us.

And man, does she tell such beautiful stories in her music. One specific lyric in “Luna Moth” will give you chills when you listen to it. “I don't need anyone to hurt me, I can do that myself.” That line itself will send a chill down your spine.

As the album progresses, we hear elements of folk-rock and indie-folk and Maya’s vocal performance is nothing short of stunning. Her tone is melodic, soothing, and comforting to listen to.  

There are also elements that are a nod to Taylor Swift’s folklore and Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher. Maya herself did say that she was inspired by folklore so it only makes sense.

Some of Maya’s most standout moments on this album include “Bloomed into Blue”, “Sweet Tooth”, “Hiatus”, “Luna Moth” and the album’s closing track, “Mermaid Bar.” Those albums are definitely strong vocally and lyrically, and they display the talent Maya has.

Moss is a stunning album and such an incredible follow-up to Blush - in fact, I think it may be my favorite album of the year. This album only proves that Maya has such an impeccable talent and I wholeheartedly believe that we will keep hearing more music from her in the years to come.

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Review: The Arcs Get Dreamily Cosmic with New Track “Keep On Dreamin’”

The Arcs are back in a big way with their new dreamily cosmic track, Keep On Dreamin’,” their first new release since 2016’s “Lake Superior.” After teasing fans with cryptic social media posts for the past week, The Arcs dropped their new track in conjunction with a long-awaited sophomore album announcement, Electrophonic Chronic, coming in January 2023.  

“Keep on Dreamin’” is mellow magic at its finest, hypnotic and dreamy in all the same ways that made The Arcs so addictive back when they debuted in 2015. Sonically, I find it evokes images of galaxies and spaceships – the verses and choruses feel like floating through space, with the rest of the song driven by drums, like a rocket ship racing from one end of the universe to the other. 

Long time Arcs fans probably already recognized the new track from Arcs shows past; it was a live show fan favorite but no studio version ever emerged. Electrophonic Chronic is a collection of songs created while The Arcs were on the road playing these shows, and in many ways functions as a tribute to member Richard Swift, who passed in 2018, and played on these shelved (until now!) tracks. 

“This new record is all about honoring Swift. It’s a way for us to say goodbye to [him], by revisiting him playing and laughing, singing. It was heavy at times, but I think it was really helpful to do it.” – Dan Auerbach

The sounds Arcs fans have always loved are present on “Keep On Dreamin’,” yet it feels like a completely new and exciting thing. Perhaps that’s a product of time passed, or maybe of Dan Auerbach & Leon Michels’ respective production prowess. Regardless, the result is something that has fans from all over chomping at the bit for more Arcs magic. 

Even nearly seven years later, The Arcs are proving themselves to be what those of us who love them already know, timeless, a forever kind of band. “Keep On Dreamin’” is fresh and psychedelic, and if it serves as even just a small taste of what’s to come, it’ll certainly be “electrophonic,” to say the least. 

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INTERVIEW: James Hart of 18 Visions at 1720 Los Angeles

Welcome to a special pre-show interview with OC’s very own legend, James Hart of 18 Visions. I caught up with James on the very last date of this special 20 Year Anniversary Vanity Tour at 1720 in Los Angeles, California. We discussed 18 Visions spanning over 20 years and his time with the band, their new remaster of Vanity on all streaming platforms, his view on the scene now and more. They are wrapped for touring now but be sure to give them a follow for the latest updates. Stream their new remaster of Vanity, on all streaming platforms now.

South of Eden Cover Van Halen's 'Drop Dead Legs'

It’s been two years since the devastating loss of guitar virtuoso, Eddie Van Halen. In his remembrance, earlier this year South of Eden covered Van Halen’s "Drop Dead Legs", off of their album, 1984.

If you know me, you know I LOVE Van Halen. So, when it comes to covers I approach them with hesitation. Will it do them justice? However, when South of Eden first announced they would be releasing a VH cover, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind that it would make Van Halen (and I) proud. Catch any one of their live shows and you’ve heard South of Eden cover classics that they hit every single time. This time is no different.

“‘Drop Dead Legs’ is one of many VH songs where the riff, lyrics, and groove come together to form a sound signature to those 4 dudes jamming in a room. Although we have played ‘Unchained’, ‘Running With the Devil’, ‘Beautiful Girls’ and more of their other tunes live, ‘Drop Dead Legs’ felt like the best choice to encapsulate everything we love about Van Halen! RIP to a legend,”  shared lead singer, Ehab Omran.

Last year, we caught up with the band before a show and talked about the loss of Van Halen. (Listen here.) It was evident how much Eddie Van Halen meant to the band, especially guitarist Justin Young. That inspiration truly shined through in this rework.

The cover is only available on the band’s Youtube and Facebook pages, so check it out there and give it a share!

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The Living Street Delivers Iconic Friendship Anthem in "The Least That I Could Do"

Friendship anthems - We all enjoy them. There's always that one song that makes you think of a BFF that makes you enjoy everything in life; someone that you enjoy doing EVERYTHING with. Those kind of songs remind you why friendships are so important.

Which is why I'm here to talk about one of my favorite BFFs, The Living Street's newest single, 'The Least That I Could Do'.’ Released on August 17th, Edward's birthday, Nick wrote the song as a friendship anthem for Edward.

I first heard this song live back in April when I was in Amarillo to see The Living Street perform. It goes without saying that it's not hard to love the music that The Living Street makes because hearing that song live? I loved it instantly and since that night, I have had the song stuck in my head. Thank god the song has been released because I was relying on a thirty-second clip I took of them performing it.

‘The Least That I Could Do’ is a song that truly displays why forever lasting friendships are so important to all of us. Listening to it will put a huge smile on your face while you think about your BFF and everything that you have been through with them. It shows just how incredible the friendship between Edward and Nick is.

The folk acoustics are truly mesmerizing and incredibly soothing.  It's nothing short of amazing and it shows the power they have in their music and their dynamic as a duo, as well as the musical chemistry between the two. It's so incredibly easy to feel mesmerized by the music itself.  There's also something about the acoustics itself that is almost reminiscent of ‘Canyon Moon’ by Harry Styles. I don't know how to explain it but that song was one of the first things I thought of when listening.

In conclusion, this song serves as an incredible friendship anthem. I want to take this time to praise Nick for the amazing songwriting. This is one of the best friendship anthems I have ever heard and this song is an incredible theme for any best friend duo out there.

Name a better BFF duo than The Living Street. I'll wait.

Review: The Velveteers Delve Deeper Into Nightmare Daydream Journey with “See Me”

The Velveteers surprise-dropped their newest single, “See Me,” on Friday, a track recorded during their Nightmare Daydream sessions at Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound in Nashville, TN that didn’t end up making the final cut. 

Something Velveteers fans love most about the band is how high energy and hard-hitting their debut album, Nightmare Daydream, is, but their slower, more ballad-like songs are where The Velveteers fully solidify their place as one of modern rock’s best bands. “See Me” is the perfect example of that; their sonic range is undeniable. 

“See Me” is beautifully rich; it surrounds the listener and plunges them into The Velveteers’ sonic universe. It’s the perfect balance of sounds, heavy but gentle, dark but bright, haunting but hopeful – The Velveteers cover every base and the result is an incredibly satisfying 3-minutes of rock magic. Singer and guitarist Demi Demitro delivers a clean-toned simple vocal that’s sweet and pleasant to the ear. Its simplicity is perfect for the track – it doesn’t distract the listener from the overall idea of the song, yet lends itself brilliantly to the overall message. If there exist any underrated rock vocalists right now, she’s one of them. 

The Velveteers themselves describe the track as being about coming into the light from the dark, wanting to be seen for who you truly are. The track begins with a gentle plea, soft and almost confused – why don’t you see me as I am? As the track progresses, this plea grows stronger, demanding to be heard and obeyed, until it reaches its peak, the point having been made. One final plea is made, softer, and with a change in chord progression, melody, and lyrics that change the meaning from desperation to hopefulness. It’s a beautiful progression in theme that yields such sweet results. 

As a hardcore Velveteers fan myself, maybe I’m a bit biased, but at this point I’m fully convinced that everything The Velveteers touch is golden, and their work with Easy Eye Sound is some of their best yet. If you don’t believe me, go give “See Me” a spin and see for yourself. 

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INTERVIEW: Liberty Deep Down Talks Influences, Dream Collabs, New Music + More!

It’s safe to say, we’ve been sitting on this interview for a little too long. Back in the Summer, Evie caught up with Columbus Pop-Rock band, Liberty Deep Down to get to know the band a bit better just after their premiere of ‘Typical’. They talk about their influences, opening up for Bon Jovi, their dream collabs, and so much more. Check it out above and check out their new release, ‘Out of Time’. on Spotify below!

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INTERVIEW: Dorothy Talks Tour, Is Rock Dead, Writing the Album, + More

With the release of her album Gifts From The Holy Ghost, Dorothy has come into her own and hit the road running. Before her show at Temple Live on October 2nd, I caught up with the power-house front woman to talk about tour, the new album, makeup tutorials, and more. Check out our full conversation above.

Dorothy takes over Fort Smith THIS WEEKEND with Dirty Honey and Mac Saturn. Don’t miss it and get your tickets HERE.

Listen to Dorothy on Rock My Soul HERE.

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INTERVIEW: Upon A Burning Body at Chain Reaction

"It’s been a little over 3 years! Since I sat down with the Texas BMF’s, Upon A Burning Body.

Doing their first headlining US tour since 2019, I caught up with them at OC’s iconic venue Chain Reaction.

We sat back stage and discussed their newest album release “Fury” and some of their favorites on it, their tour earlier this year with Carnifax, the current tour, and a bunch more

They are still on tour now and hitting all over the US, be sure to catch them in your nearest city and stream their latest album on all platforms now."

Review: Bleu & Carly Paige channel their inner Jeff Lynne with new duet “Holding On To You”

If I didn’t know better I’d think the latest release from songwriters Bleu and Carly Paige was actually written by the maestro himself, Jeff Lynne, of Electric Light Orchestra fame. If you’re an ELO fan, you’ll hear what I’m talking about immediately, and you’ll probably fall in love with the track just as quickly. 

“Holding On To You” evokes the gentle spacey vibes I’ve come to associate with the more recent releases from Jeff Lynne’s ELO, specifically “When I Was a Boy” comes to mind. With a heavy focus on harmonies, the interplay between Bleu and Carly Paige’s voices, and brilliant chord progressions, Bleu and Paige have created a track that fits right into ELO’s cosmic sonic universe. 

In fact, it’s so reminiscent of ELO’s soft, intergalactic ballad sound that if you listen closely enough, you can even hear the elements from the Beatles’ work that inspired that classic ELO sound. It’s a modern track that feels fresh and new, but rooted in the long-standing influence that both The Beatles and ELO have on modern music. 

To top the whole thing off, Bleu and Paige both demonstrate their vocal prowess on this track. The interplay between the pair’s vocals is mesmerizing and results in an incredibly dreamy sound that ultimately is what makes this track so addictive. 

As a diehard ELO fan, I find myself spinning this track on repeat; I can’t get enough of it. Take it from me, if you listen once, you won’t be able to stop, and that’s not really a bad thing, is it?

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Review: Crashing Revelry Singles “Poison” and “That’s My Story”

“Poison cuz it numbs all the pain” my favorite lyric in Crashing Revelry’s new song “Poison”.

Crashing Revelry is a country hard rock band from Arizona. When I first heard “Poison” I said it sounds like Chris Stapleton and Aerosmith had a baby. As I listen to it more and more every day, I find different elements of hard rock and even metal added to the flavor of the song. It’s hard to label Crashing Revelry as anything because of lead singer Brandon Johnson. Johnson is a country singer and almost sounds like Chad Kroeger lead singer of Nickelback but has the smoothness of Christ Stapleton.

“That’s My Story” originally written and performed by Collin Raye now has a heavy rock version thanks to Crashing Revelry. It still has its original country sound with Brandon’s country vocals and its Crashing Revelry twist with the electric guitar replacing the 80s synthesizer.

If you’re ever looking for a cool band T-shirt or a unique coffee blend Crashing Revelry has all their unique merch up on their website. Go show them the support and love they need right now. I love following newer smaller bands because they really are creating art simply because they love it. The guys of Crashing Revelry love creating music and I can’t wait to see where their passions take them.        

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Review: Frankford Fitler Moving On Spring EP

Inspired mostly by Rush and Jimi Hendrix, Tyler Cole and Randy Wilson have been taking over the city of Philadelphia with their first ever EP Moving On. Playing at mostly local bars in the Philadelphia area they’ve gained their nationwide following with funny tiktoks and instagram giveaways. Joining bands such as Greta Van Fleet and The Naked Gypsy Queens, Frankford Fitler is not only bringing the 70s back through their incredible music but through their clothing as well. Tyler is often seen wearing flowing flare plants and cowboy fringe while performing. Tyler is the lead singer and lead guitar player. He plays a Gibson flying V and a Gibson acoustic to get that natural 70s sound and 70s look. Randy Wilson is his wingman on the drums. Their unique Frankford Fitler logo is printed out in bold on Randys Ludwig drum kit.

Their EP has 4 big songs on it. Starting off with “Moving on,” then my favorite “Loved you All Along,” and lastly “Heartstruck” and “Highest Mountain”. They each flow together with different Psychedelic and folky aspects. “Loved you All Along’ is my favorite because I love emotional acoustic songs about the beauty of woman. The musical aspect of the song is spot on. The organ harmonies are what put it all together giving it its Folky gospel sound. “Moving On” Is a cowboy coming of age song. To me it’s about a young cowboy moving on and finding his success as he’s coming into adulthood.  My prediction is that “Moving on” is going to be the main star to their up-coming album as they are coming into adulthood and chasing their dreams in the music industry.

I’m excited to see where Tyler and Randy take their music and I hope they make their way over to Pittsburgh for a performance.     

INTERVIEW: Graves And The Bad Weather

Welcome to a POST show interview with SoCals Graves And The Bad Weather. Originally we had an interview set pre show at the House Of Blues, but we had some technical difficulties with the audio and scheduled a reshoot after their show in their G14 classified location. In this length ( almost 1 hour ) interview, we discuss their band history, brand new EP just out on June 25k, writing as a band and more. Be sure to stream they lates EP “Cult Status” on all streaming platforms now.

Running Up That Hill: Kate Bush Defines A New Generation

You may be annoyed with “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush (ya know, the 1986 song that’s recently hit #1 on tons of charts and streaming services in 2022) or maybe you’re like me and you can’t get enough of it. Whatever the case may be, “Running Up That Hill” is defining this generation and it’s not going away anytime soon.

The biggest and most streamed Netflix show ever, Stranger Things, dropped season four in two parts this year - volume one on May 27 and volume 2 on July 1st. Overdosing in 80s nostalgia, fans have been captured with the show’s aesthetic, fashion, hairstyles… and music. Every season since it’s debut in 2016, Stranger Things has always provided the most amazing track of on its soundtracks. These songs include “Africa” by TOTO, “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr., “Never Ending Story” and tons more. But what makes “Running Up That Hill” so motivational? From personal experience, this song was one of a few that will always remind me of Summer 2022. Summer is somewhat difficult for me, being that my body and skin were never able to handle the heat, along with working fulltime and striving for a music industry career, life becomes overwhelming. But this song remains motivational with it’s simple chorus Be running up that road/ Be running up that hill/ Be running up that building” has endless meaning.

The song has been played in countless Instagram reels, Tik Toks, commercials, radio, streaming + more. To align the track with THAT certain scene in Stranger Things, while Max is running from Vecna, is absolutely perfect. Perfect is an understatement. The metaphor my mind created was a vision of yourself running from your demons, hearing your favorite music whatever piece of music that is, it can save you. There are countless comments on the “Running Up That Hill” music video explaining the amazingly positive impact the song has had on people. One YouTuber commented, “So many people’s lives were saved by this song, so I loved seeing how they used it in Stranger Things.” Another one commented, “Who else feels like they can take on the world when they hear this song?” The video for the iconic song currently has over 100 million views on YouTube and Spotify confirmed Kate Bush streams skyrocketed over 9,000% thanks to Stranger Things. 

While its second life has earned Kate Bush over 2.3 million dollars, nothing compares to the feeling it gives people when they hear “Running Up That Hill.”

Demi Lovato Shows A Strong Return To Their Pop-Rock Roots In "Substance"

What's something we can all use? A good sprinkle of nostalgia. Luckily, Demi Lovato is providing us with just what we need with the release of their upcoming new album, Holy Fvck. - bringing them back to their pop-rock roots from their first two albums, Don't Forget and Here We Go Again.

So far, they have released two singles. First one being "Skin of My Teeth" and the latest being "Substance". Want to know what makes Demi so powerful? It's their vocals in ANY song that they sing. In "Substance", they provide such a powerful, crisp and clean vocal. While "Skin of My Teeth" was a great start for this new era, I can say that "Substance" provides something that is very powerful. In fact, this song already displays some of Demi's strongest vocal moments on this album.

There are several standout moments in this song. One of them being the opening of the song where Demi sings, "Is anybody happy with life in the backseat? Trying to master the art of detaching." Those lyrics gave me goosebumps. Then we get to one of the last parts of the song and they sing, "am I talking to myself? Is anyone out there screaming at the walls? I can't relate at all, relate at all. Fuck the theatrics, what happened to classic? Give me the real shit, give me the magic." That really shows the power of Demi and the power they bring to their music and needless to say, those lyrics definitely displayed some of the best lyrical moments.

This song also reminds me of one of the singles from their first album, "La La Land". In fact, both the song and video for "Substance" almost takes me back to my younger self watching Disney Channel and waiting for the "La La Land" music video to come on TV during commercial break. There’s that little sprinkle of nostalgia.

It gives the reminder that Demi can STILL pull off pop rock even after all these years. Granted, they can pull off any genre they choose to sing. I mean, have you heard those high notes they belt out? I think we can all agree on the fact that this genre brings out some of their strongest vocal moments ever. They proved that with Don't Forget, they proved that with Here We Go Again, and they're already proving that with Holy Fvck - thirteen years after the release of Here We Go Again.

Demi's got something great going on going back to their roots. Not only is it nostalgic for the people who grew up listening to them and were there for their first album - and also patiently waiting to watch their music videos on Disney Channel - but it shows that even after all these years, they still hold power in the pop-rock genre and it's only going to get better from here.

Holy Fvck comes out on August 19th and catch Demi at a show on their Holy Fvck tour starting on August 13th!

Stream "Substance" now…