Album Profile: Charlotte Cornfield’s Hurts Like Hell Asks Whether Subtle Music Can Still Feel Urgent
Charlotte Cornfield’s sixth studio album, Hurts Like Hell, arrives as her first release on indie powerhouse Merge Records. The record deepens her focus on quiet, relational moments while delivering a surprising sense of urgency. A Toronto release show at Lula Lounge on April 9 kicks off an Ontario tour that will hit the Northern Lights Festival Boreal and Hillside Festival in July. The partnership with Merge positions her for wider U.S. distribution and heightened critical attention.
Natasha Sandworms, Christina’s Trip & Mox – Lucky Three
Cherub Dream Records has issued Lucky Three, a split EP that pairs San Jose’s Natasha Sandworms, Oakland’s Christina’s Trip and Merced’s Mox. Each act contributes two tracks, creating a varied yet cohesive alt‑indie collection described as a "road‑trip mixtape" for California highways. The...
Bruno Mars – Risk It All
Bruno Mars opens his new album The Romantic with “Risk It All,” a Latin‑flavored ballad featuring Spanish guitar, bongos and trumpets. Critics describe the track as technically polished but lyrically and melodically thin, noting that Mars’s synth‑pop vocal style clashes...
Lykke Li Shares New Song “Sick of Love”
Lykke Li announced her sixth studio album The Afterparty, releasing May 8 via Neon Gold/Futures, and dropped the new single “Sick of Love.” The track delves into humiliation and revenge, marking a darker lyrical direction. The album, written in Los Angeles and...
Fields We Found – Thoughts Persist
UK producer Alex Gold, operating under his ambient imprint fields we found, has issued a new full-length album titled *thoughts persist*. The record comprises six tracks named sequentially “thought 1” through “thought 6,” each exploring open‑ended sound design rather than...
Cool Band Alert - Aja Ireland
British electronic artist Aja Ireland is releasing her new EP "Moult Mouth" on April 10 through the independent label Infinite Machine. The record blends aggressive techno beats, distorted vocals, and chaotic polyrhythms to create a confrontational sound that challenges the...
David Bowden – ‘Unsung Songs’
Glasgow bassist David Bowden released his first solo double‑bass album, “Unsung Songs,” on 10 April 2026. The record aims to make the instrument sing, blending vocal‑style melodies with jazz improvisation and featuring covers of Nick Drake and Emilíana Torrini. Bowden draws on...
Real Life Rock Top 10: April 8, 2026
Greil Marcus released the April 8, 2026 edition of his “Real Life Rock Top 10” series, opening with Mary Lucia’s memoir “What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To.” The book recounts three years of a stalking nightmare, interwoven...
Terry Callier – ‘at the EARL of OLD TOWN’
A previously unknown live solo set by Terry Callier, recorded by Chicago promoter Joe Segal in October 1967, has been issued for Record Store Day. The double‑LP, followed by a CD release, captures the 22‑year‑old singer‑songwriter interpreting folk and blues...
Brooke Combe Returns with Soul-Stirring New Single ‘Tears Won’t Lie’
British singer‑songwriter Brooke Combe has entered a new phase with the release of her single “Tears Won’t Lie,” her first record on Fontana Records. Produced by James Skelly at Liverpool’s Kempston Studios, the track blends her soulful vocals with a...
Nikos – Spine
Nikos’s four‑track EP *Spine* drops on Rotterdam’s Nous’klaer label, positioning itself as “body‑moving, loud, deep” techno rather than traditional prog. The record fuses spacey psychedelia with percussive pressure, echoing the vibe of Sasha & Digweed’s *Northern Exposure* mixes while sidestepping...
Crawford Mack – Back From The Brink
Glasgow‑based indie act Crawford Mack released the single “Back From The Brink,” earning praise for its golden pop sheen and an indie‑rock edge that builds after the first minute. Reviewer KH describes the track as the most ebullient offering from...
Diles Que No Me Maten Announce Escrito en Agua
Mexican experimental group Diles que no me maten will release their new album Escrito en Agua on June 12 through indie label Moonlight Activities. The record follows the band’s reputation for blending Spanish poetry, mysticism, and rolling rhythms that prioritize...
Bruce Hornsby :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview
Bruce Hornsby’s latest album Indigo Park continues the creative surge he began with 2019’s Absolute Zero. In an interview with Aquarium Drunkard, the 71‑year‑old discusses the record’s blend of piano, jazz, experimental pop, and even basketball chant rhythms. He also reflects...
Elder Find the Path “Through Zero” (Interview)
Elder’s seventh studio album, Through Zero, drops on May 29, 2024 through Blues Funeral Records. The record’s title borrows an engineering term describing a signal that passes through zero, framing the band’s exploration of non‑linear reality and the emotional spectrum from...
Cactus Lee Shares Lone Star Video
Cactus Lee has unveiled a new video for the single “Lone Star,” a folk‑country track written by Kevin Dehan. The song’s driving rhythm and lyrical nod to Texas imagery have drawn early praise from niche music circles. The video drops ahead...
Oli Steadman and a Musical Marathon: “365 Days of Folk” Goes Beyond Its Goal
Multi‑instrumentalist Oli Steadman, best known from Stornoway, completed a year‑long challenge to learn one folk song each day, surpassing his original goal. The "365 Days of Folk" marathon blended South African, Anglo‑concertina, Spanish and other traditions, turning the project into...
Unknown – Uu014
The UK‑based Unknown label released the six‑track EP uu014 without revealing the artist or track titles, turning anonymity into a marketing hook. An enterprising Discogs user later linked the record to Australian producer Trustee, confirming the mystery’s eventual resolution. Musically,...
Body Type Return With New Single “And What Else?”
Australian post‑punk quartet Body Type has broken a brief hiatus with the release of their new single “And What Else?” and an accompanying video. The track arrives as the band signs to Stu Mackenzie’s p(doom) Records, marking their first release under...
Urner – Afterimages
Urner’s new LP Afterimages, released on the young Amsterdam label topo2, marks the label’s most playful offering yet. The record blends twinkling music‑box tones, vintage new‑age textures, and 16‑bit video‑game ambience, evoking nostalgic RPG worlds. Standout tracks like “Options, Thoughts”...
BIG BLUE 2026 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Sparrow Blue, the Edmonton‑based rock outfit, has unveiled its biggest venture yet – the “Big Blue 2026 North American Tour.” The six‑week itinerary spans 20 U.S. and Canadian cities, kicking off in Toronto on April 2 at the historic Horseshoe Tavern....
All One Song :: Brigid Mae Power on “Albuquerque”
Aquarium Drunkard’s "All One Song" podcast released a new episode featuring Irish singer‑songwriter Brigid Mae Power dissecting Neil Young’s 1975 track “Albuquerque.” The conversation places the song within Young’s Ditch Era, noting its stark, lonely soundscape and lyrical melancholy. Power, whose decade‑long...
Ex_libris – 003
Dutch producer Dave Huismans, known as 2562 and A Made Up Sound, has released ex_libris 003, the third installment in his self‑released series after a near‑decade hiatus. The album continues his habit of subverting deep house, ambient, and dub‑techno conventions, delivering...
The Pianist – the One with the Nice Nazi – Is Now a Musical
The world premiere of The Pianist musical will open at London’s Park Theatre on 15 October 2026. The stage adaptation draws from Wladyslaw Szpilman’s memoir, which inspired Roman Polanski’s Oscar‑winning film. Written and directed by Thom Southerland, the production features Szpilman’s original compositions with...
Sara Persico Has Better Taste Than I Do
Sara Persico, a classically trained vocalist from Naples now based in Berlin, has carved a niche in avant‑garde music with releases like the 2023 EP “Boundary” and the sprawling LP “Sphaîra,” which incorporates field recordings from Lebanon’s abandoned Niemeyer‑designed fair....
Éliane Radigue: A Legacy of Listening Closely, Together
French composer Éliane Radigue, who died in February 2024, left a profound legacy as a pioneer of drone‑based electronic and acoustic music. Beginning with her early feedback works in the late 1960s and the iconic ARP 2500 synth pieces such as...
Oma Totem – Exercicis Rítmics Volum 2
Catalan producer Ignasi Sadurní, under the oma totem name, releases his second album “Rhythmic Exercises Vol. 2” on Hivern Discs, three years after the acclaimed debut. The record expands his percussive techno palette with bigger, club‑scale sounds while preserving the intricate...
Stray Planets – Your Revolution
Dublin‑based indie outfit Stray Planets released the single "Your Revolution," a track that fuses shoegaze textures with 1960s‑era pop sensibilities. Critics liken its sound to early‑90s icons Boo Radleys and House of Love, suggesting a nostalgic yet fresh approach. The...
LANNDS – “Hold My Place”
LANNDS, the Jacksonville‑originated electronic‑psych duo now based in Los Angeles, has dropped the single “Hold My Place.” The track serves as a preview for their forthcoming EP *If The Door Closes*, scheduled for release on April 24. Described as a moody...
Deniz Cuylan
Deniz Cuylan, a Turkish‑American multi‑instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, blends psychedelic classical textures with post‑jazz and electro‑pop roots. He has scored multiple Netflix series and recently highlighted two solo instrumental releases: the 35‑minute "Rings of Juniper" (2022) and the 27‑minute...
Bliss Abyss – “Wrecked”
Bay Area musician Peter Wallner, operating under the moniker Bliss Abyss, has dropped the single “Wrecked.” The track mixes fuzzy garage‑rock guitars with hook‑laden power‑pop vocals, evoking a nostalgic, summer‑long feeling. Wallner previously released “red disgusting,” and “Wrecked” is slated...
Shikon – “Help”
Shikon, a synth‑based duo featuring Mexican vocalist Fer and U.S. producer JRA, has dropped a new single titled “Help.” The track fuses 80s‑inspired synth‑pop with lush, cinematic production, delivering a widescreen atmosphere reminiscent of the Drive soundtrack. Fer’s ethereal vocals...
Blush. – “Wrong Answers Only”
Canadian alt‑rock outfit Blush. has released its new single “Wrong Answers Only,” the second track from the forthcoming EP *In the Grey*. The song showcases a driving, fuzzy blend of indie rock, garage‑punk energy and 90s‑era swagger, drawing comparisons to...
Waves Crashing – “Feel The Glow”
Waves Crashing released the lead single “Feel The Glow,” previewing their sophomore album In The Blur. The track fuses dreamy shoegaze textures with ’90s alt‑rock grit, earning praise for its expansive production and hook‑laden songwriting. Their 2025 debut Effection was...
Cape June – “The Breakers”
Cape June’s new single “The Breakers” showcases a seamless blend of folk‑acoustic guitar and soaring violin strings, delivering an emotionally charged listening experience. The Northeast‑based duo—vocalist‑guitarist Mariel Max and classically trained violinist Lindsey Zagorodnev— craft lyrics that reflect perseverance amid...
Jeff Kolhede – “Ranger”
Jeff Kolhede’s newest single “Ranger” drops a soulful, hypnotic blend of haunting vocals, brass flourishes, and mellow guitars. The track serves as a modern ghost story, reflecting on the fragile line between personal sanctuary and the shadows of the American...
The Child of Eve – “I’m Here”
Chicago‑based project The Child of Eve, led by Ben Groth, has released the haunting folk single “I’m Here.” The track evolves from delicate acoustic momentum into a darker, distortion‑laden climax, showcasing layered strings and a decisive vocal hook. It serves...
The Strokes Announce New Album, Share New Song “Going Shopping”
The Strokes announced their fifth studio album, *Reality Awaits*, slated for release on June 26, 2026 via Cult Records and RCA Records. The band recorded the record in Costa Rica with legendary producer Rick Rubin, marking a notable shift in...
![[21 DAYS Left] Brandy, Monica, ELLA MAI & TEMS — R&B Beach Party Getaway 🇱🇨🌴](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JXc!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F363fb91b-579c-46d0-ad48-f48f621ae941_147x147.png)
[21 DAYS Left] Brandy, Monica, ELLA MAI & TEMS — R&B Beach Party Getaway 🇱🇨🌴
A four‑day R&B beach getaway is slated for St. Lucia in early 2026, featuring icons Brandy, Monica, Ella Mai and rising star Tems. The event blends live performances with luxury resort accommodations, ocean views and curated island experiences. Organizers market it as...
Yoichi Kamimura ~ Waterforest
Yoichi Kamimura releases *Waterforest*, a double‑LP that expands his 2025 field‑recording album *ryūhyō*. The record weaves together water sounds from Swiss springs, the Amazon rainforest, Icelandic glaciers, and Kyoto’s canals, offering both raw recordings and layered sonic collages. Liner notes...
Iranian-American Artist Ava Mirzadegan Shares New Song “Pavement”
Philadelphia‑based Iranian‑American singer Ava Mirzadegan has unveiled "Pavement," a track from her previously unfinished album *For the Light*. The full album will drop digitally and on cassette on May 10, with every dollar of revenue pledged to the Red Crescent humanitarian...
Kanye West BANNED From the UK
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has been denied entry to the United Kingdom, prompting the cancellation of the Wireless Festival where he was slated as headliner. The UK Home Office cited public safety and potential unrest as the primary...
Interview: PICKLE JUICE
Alt‑rock band Pickle Juice has dropped its new single “Halfway,” the lead track from the forthcoming sophomore EP The Whiteroom, slated for release on June 12, 2026. The song pairs gritty guitars with a relentless pulse to explore the hidden emotional turbulence of...
Experimental Folk Artist Empty Melon Blurs Wakefulness and Memory on Debut Single “Hoping to Find”
Empty Melon, the solo project of Montreal‑based bassist and producer Summer Kodama, has released her debut single “Hoping to Find.” The track blends ambient folk textures with cinematic ambience, aiming to capture the liminal space between wakefulness and dreaming. Created...
SCS Cello Ensemble Unveils “Hymne À L’amour,” A Cinematic Live Tribute to Devotion and Return
SCS Cello Ensemble has released “Hymne à l’amour,” a live, eight‑cello reinterpretation of Édith Piaf’s classic. The recording captures the performance in a barn setting, preserving the raw dynamics of the ensemble. The piece is featured in the documentary “Where Music...
Eric Reinhart Delivers Sleek, High-Energy Pop on New Single “Chances”
Emerging pop artist Eric Reinhart released the high‑energy single “Chances” on April 7, 2026. The track, born from a 1 AM voice memo and a spontaneous freestyle, blends gratitude‑driven lyrics with a driving beat. Reinhart frames the song as a call to act,...
Libby Ember Turns Heartbreak Into Indie Pop Catharsis on “News at the Party”
Libby Ember, a Montreal singer‑songwriter, released the indie‑pop single “News at the Party” on April 7, 2026. The track pairs upbeat, kinetic instrumentation with raw heartbreak lyrics drawn from a personal experience at a party. Recorded with a full band—including jazz guitarist...
Jesse Roper Turns Up the Feel-Good Americana Groove on “Sweet Little Caroline”
Victoria, BC‑based singer‑songwriter Jesse Roper has dropped the new single “Sweet Little Caroline,” an upbeat blend of blues swagger and head‑bobbing Americana groove. Co‑produced with veteran Gus van Go, the track channels teenage romance and parental push‑back into a feel‑good...
Allen Dobb Marries Longing and Nature on Contemplative, Upbeat Folk Track “Lone Tree of Your Heart,” The Afterlife Sessions LP...
Canadian singer‑songwriter Allen Dobb unveiled the folk‑roots single “Lone Tree of Your Heart,” released on April 7, 2026. The track, inspired by his forested British Columbia home and memories of a family ranch, blends contemplative lyrics with an upbeat acoustic arrangement. Dobb’s...
ARKELLS RELEASE “RIDE” FEATURING GROUPLOVE
Canadian rock band Arkells have dropped the breezy single “Ride,” featuring indie‑pop duo GROUPLOVE, as the fourth preview from their upcoming album Between Us, slated for release on April 17, 2026. The track, produced by Grammy‑winning producer John Congleton, continues a string of...