Earworm of the Week: ‘Turn Up The Radio’ with Chinese American Bear
Seattle‑based mandopop duo Chinese American Bear have dropped "Turn Up The Radio," the lead preview from their forthcoming album Dim Sum & Then Some, arriving May 8 on Moshi Moshi Records. The track blends bubble‑gum pop with psychedelic production, described by the married duo as a "kids song for adults." The release coincides with an extensive international tour spanning European festivals, North American venues, and Asian dates through September. The band’s genre‑bending approach and festival presence aim to broaden mandopop’s reach beyond niche audiences.
Raye Ft. Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony
British pop singer Raye released "Click Clack Symphony" featuring legendary film composer Hans Zimmer. The five‑minute track uses orchestral motifs to echo the click of high heels, framing an ode to female friendship. Critics note Raye’s strong vocal delivery but...
Mary Hood Shares New Video for Track “Water the Fern”
New‑York indie rock collective Mary Hood has dropped a music video for the title track of their latest EP, “Water the Fern.” The video, directed by Paul DeSilva and shot in artist Chelsey Pettyjohn’s Red Hook loft, visualizes the song’s themes...
Hiroki Tanaka – ‘Isan’
Hiroki Tanaka, former lead guitarist of Juno and Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, has released his debut solo album “Isan.” The record draws on a Japanese hymnbook inherited from his grandparents, reworking sacred melodies through synth‑rock, experimental pop, and hushed introspection....
The Yum Yum Tree – ‘Turn Down the Noise’
Atlanta‑based indie trio The Yum Yum Tree releases *Turn Down the Noise*, a guitar‑driven album that channels 90s college‑radio nostalgia while delivering modern power‑pop hooks. The record showcases Andy Gish’s melodic vocals across tracks like the title song, “Shine,” and...
Alastair Macaulay: Ravel Emerges Clearer in Pink Tweed
Critic Alastair Macaulay praised French pianist Cédric Tiberghien’s inventive program at Wigmore Hall, where Ravel’s *Le Tombeau de Couperin* was interwoven with authentic Couperin pieces, highlighting a dialogue between Baroque and modernist idioms. He noted Christopher Hampton’s *Liaisons Dangereuses* at...
Esther Anaya Expands Her Performance-Driven Sound With New Bass House Single “Triple Threat”
Esther Anaya, the DJ‑violinist known for high‑octane shows, dropped her new bass‑house single “Triple Threat” on April 11, 2026. The track pairs thick, driving basslines with sharp violin accents, delivering relentless momentum designed for festival crowds. Recent headline performances at...
The Rolling Stones’ New Album: Everything We Know So Far
The Rolling Stones are gearing up for their 25th studio album, slated for a July 2026 release. A cryptic campaign in Camden featuring the alias “the Cockroaches” hinted at the project, while the first single “Rough and Twisted” will arrive...
CMU Selects - the Last Week’s Standout Releases
CMU’s weekly roundup highlights five fresh releases that illustrate the genre‑bending momentum in indie music. Kelela drops the drum‑less, shoegaze‑tinged single “idea 1,” written while reading Octavia Butler’s novel. Big Softy returns with the club‑ready pop single “Tooth Marks,” while Newdad releases...
Wayward Sparrow Releases “Wayward Sparrow” – A Sparse, Story Driven Introduction to Upcoming Album “Devil By My Side”
Detroit singer‑songwriter Rich Clark has launched “Wayward Sparrow,” the debut single from his independent project Wayward Sparrow, as a preview of the forthcoming album Devil By My Side. The track leans on stripped‑down acoustic guitar, sparse vocal harmonies and a...
Just Cause Vol. 2
Just Cause, an indie‑music collective led by Cody DeFalco and Evan Welsh, has released *Just Cause Vol. 2*, a charity compilation featuring 63 songs from over 60 artists. The project builds on the success of its 2024 predecessor, which supported the...
Holly Humberstone Shares New Single “Beauty Pageant”
British singer‑songwriter Holly Humberstone dropped the single “Beauty Pageant,” the closing track from her sophomore album *Cruel World*, which launched today on Interscope Records. The song, accompanied by a Silken Weinberg‑directed video, delves into the fallout of fame and the...
Les Big Byrd Share Big Flood
Swedish indie pop outfit Les Big Byrd is set to drop its new LP Ruin Everything on June 5. The record mixes breezy, sun‑lit pop melodies with psych‑adjacent grooves, aiming for a road‑trip vibe. Early listening notes a seamless shift from catchy choruses to...
Love Burns Announces Pavement Drawings
Love Burns, the project led by veteran songwriter Phil Sutton, announced its next album, Pavement Drawings, slated for release on May 29. The record will be issued through independent labels Spinout Nuggets and Jigsaw Records and opens with a bright,...
Spirit Adrift End on a High Note with “Infinite Illumination” (Interview)
Austin‑based doom metal outfit Spirit Adrift is releasing its sixth and final album, *Infinite Illumination*, on April 10 before officially disbanding. The record marks the band’s heaviest effort in five years, merging doom, thrash and speed metal while foregrounding stark...
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Melancholy Himbos
The Netflix documentary *Our Brother, Hillel* revisits the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ chaotic 1987 birth, spotlighting Flea’s tearful recollection of a spontaneous jam that birthed the band. The film blends archival footage with a dramatic score, deliberately muting early songs to...
Elevated Focusion – ‘Mind Games’
Elevated Focusion’s new album “Mind Games” expands the New York artist’s genre‑bending palette, weaving underground hip‑hop, punk, electronic, and goth textures with multilingual vocals and global collaborators. The record opens with the synth‑driven “Acid Moon” and moves through pop‑ready tracks...
Aeroplane Over The Sea (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)
On April 10, 2026, British folk singer‑songwriter Laura Marling posted a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel’s iconic track “Aeroplane Over The Sea.” The blog entry features an embedded audio player and introduces a new series of voice‑memo introductions that explain...
Readers’ Pick: Charley Crockett – Age of the Ram
Twangville’s weekly Readers’ Pick poll for the week of April 3, 2026 named Charley Crockett’s *Age of the Ram* the top new release, earning 34% of the vote (13 out of 38 respondents). The poll listed 16 releases, with Mark Erelli’s *Spring...
Streams Don’t Build Careers: Fans Do
The article argues that streaming counts are poor indicators of an artist’s career health, noting that 100,000 streams often bring little income or fan growth. It highlights how platforms prioritize consumption over connection, leaving musicians with inflated metrics but shallow...
Terje Rypdal :: Odyssey
Terje Rypdal’s 1975 double‑album Odyssey cemented his status as ECM’s premier guitarist‑composer, delivering a searing blend of jazz‑rock that epitomized the label’s emerging sound. The release arrived as ECM was refining its atmospheric aesthetic, positioning Odyssey as a touchstone for...
Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, and Macie Stewart :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview
Chicago experimental musicians Lia Kohl, Whitney Johnson, and Macie Stewart have finally issued their first collective record, *BODY SOUND*, on International Anthem. The improvised album arrives after a decade of informal collaborations on each other’s solo projects. In a recent...
Finn Fades in France
Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski is scaling back his role as music director of the Orchestre National de Capitole de Toulouse, limiting his schedule to just four concerts over five weeks next season and only three weeks the following year. The reduction...
Manchester’s SILVERWINGKILLER Share New Single ‘SHANG FILM’
Manchester‑based duo SILVERWINGKILLER released their first single since the 2023 EP “TRIAD FUNDED.” The new track, “SHANG FILM,” swaps the duo’s earlier turbulence for a fluid, otherworldly ambience suited to late‑night chillout rooms. Featuring Mandarin vocals that shift from “I...
Something Different From the O. In Rotterdam
A Myth, a six‑performer sensory opera at Rotterdam’s O., blended brass, percussion, piano and movement into an immersive soundscape. The work streamed live on 10 April 2026 across CET, London and New York time zones via OperaVision, reaching a global audience. Its myth‑challenging...
Cruel World
British singer‑songwriter Holly Humberstone releases her sophomore album *Cruel World* on Darkroom/Interscope/Polydor, expanding her sound while retaining the intimacy of her debut. The record weaves dark, glitter‑laden pop with mythic storytelling, highlighted by tracks like “Make It All Better” and...
Loviet Steps Into Her Power with Bold, Rock-Driven Debut EP ‘Debutante’
Canadian alt‑indie artist Loviet has released her highly anticipated EP *Debutante*, a five‑track collection that leans further into rock and grunge than her previous work. Recorded at Joel Plaskett’s Fang Recording studio and mixed by Ian Docherty and Bradley Hale,...
Lime Garden Invite You to Join Them for a Night Out, on Second Album ‘Maybe Not Tonight’
British indie‑pop quartet Lime Garden drops their sophomore album *Maybe Not Tonight*, building on the momentum of 2024’s debut *One More Thing*. The record channels the band’s recent personal upheavals—breakups, grief, body‑image concerns—into a night‑out narrative that blends bouncy synths...
Nadia Struiwigh (Interview)
Dutch electronic musician Nadia Struiwigh released her new album IKIGAI about a month ago, a synth‑driven record that shifted direction after her father’s death to capture emotional honesty. The album was crafted using modular synths, a Push 3 controller and Ableton,...
Paycheque Announce Self-Titled Debut Album, Share Lead Single “Generic Actress”
Los Angeles‑based duo Paycheque announced their self‑titled debut album, due June 12 on the indie label Mansions And Millions. The lead single “Generic Actress” and its video were released today, showcasing their 80s‑infused synth‑pop sound. The record was written and recorded in a home...
Sun Ra/Walt Dickerson - Visions (SteepleChase, 2025/1978)
The 2025 SteepleChase reissue of Sun Ra and bassist Walt Dickerson’s 1979 album Visions restores the original LP layout, offering a rare piano‑vibraphone duo without a rhythm section. The CD version released in 1988 had added 25 minutes of extra session...
Krislyn Arthurs Song Premiere – Missin’ Man
Krislyn Arthurs, an Oklahoma‑born singer‑songwriter, has released the lead single “Missin’ Man” from her debut album Honky Tonk PhD. The record straddles outlaw country, southern rock and a darker “goth‑country” aesthetic, reflecting the gritty realities of small‑town life. Arthurs recorded...
PICK OF THE WEEK: Sunn O)))
Sunn O))) has issued a self‑titled, eight‑minute, six‑track drone‑metal album recorded at Bear Creek Studios in Washington. Co‑produced with indie‑rock veteran Brad Wood, the record spans 80 minutes of slow, loud, and meditative sound. Critics describe it as an immersive...
XINIX – ‘VISIONARY’
Bangkok‑based producer XINIX (Wil Russell Nichols) released his debut album *VISIONARY*, a genre‑bending mix of industrial hip‑hop, alternative and electronic music. The record weaves themes of transformation and resilience, moving from chaotic, nocturnal soundscapes to moments of confident emotional power....
Like Sundays – “Wake Up Call”
German‑based indie rock band Like Sundays has returned with their new single “Wake Up Call.” The track delivers an anthemic, upbeat rock sound paired with introspective lyrics about self‑doubt, balancing emotional depth with a propulsive rhythm. Accompanied by a striking...
Cecilia Bartoli: Why I Turned Down Salzburg Festival
Italian mezzo‑soprano Cecilia Bartoli turned down an invitation to serve as interim general director of the Salzburg Festival, citing her existing artistic commitments. The festival’s board subsequently named former Burgtheater chief Karin Bergmann as interim director, despite her limited experience in...
Andris Nelsons: I’d Be Happy to Stay in Boston
Boston Symphony Orchestra chief conductor Andris Nelsons told a Mahler symposium he would be happy to stay in Boston and has no desire to leave. He thanked the musicians, audience and staff for their deep support and emphasized a shared...
Boredslide – “Ibelieveu”
Australian lo‑fi bedroom pop duo boredslide has released their new single “ibelieveu,” the latest installment in the year‑long Limited Express tape project, which delivers a song every two weeks. The track was written, recorded, produced and mastered entirely in the...
Deb Grant on the Best Music of March (Podcast)
Deb Grant, the Manchester‑based Irish presenter of BBC Radio 6 Music’s New Music Daily Fix, headlines the latest Nialler9 podcast episode spotlighting the best music of March. The show features a curated list of emerging tracks from artists such as...
Mark Crozer – “You and Me on the Astral Plane”
English indie rocker Mark Crozer, a nearly two‑decade member of The Jesus and Mary Chain, announced his new album Homecoming, set for release on April 24 through Dusty Mars Records. The launch follows his debut solo single “You and Me...
Floating Sheep – ‘Floating Sheep’
Floating Sheep’s self‑titled debut delivers a vibrant electro‑acoustic nu‑jazz experience, marrying ceremonial handpan textures with soaring saxophone and synth layers. The Tel Aviv quartet navigates six‑minute improvisational journeys that shift from meditative calm to high‑octane energy, highlighted by tracks such...
Anatomy of the Heads – ‘Unholy Spirits Light Divine’
Anatomy of the Heads issued an expanded edition of their album Unholy Spirits Light Divine, pushing further into a self‑coined “Tropical Dread” concept. The Kiribati‑based trio fuses mid‑century exotica with vampiric ambient and dungeon‑synth textures, delivering a dark, cinematic soundscape...
Simon Bennett – “Midnight Drama”
Simon Bennett, a composer from Winchester, England, has released the atmospheric electronic single “Midnight Drama.” The sub‑two‑minute track fuses Vangelis‑style cinematic tension with modern synth‑pop textures, delivering a nocturnal drive vibe. Critics note its rapid evolution from industrial‑electro foundations to...
Sunn O))) - Self-Titled
Sunn O))) issued a self‑titled album on Sub Pop, marking a rare label departure from their longtime home Southern Lord. The record leans heavily into the duo’s signature drone‑metal aesthetic, featuring massive, suffocating guitars and more than 100 layered tracks....
Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & Surf Gang - POMPEII // UTILITY
Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE have teamed with the production collective Surf Gang for a 33‑track double album titled Pompeii // Utility. The project is split into two sister records, each spotlighting one vocalist while Surf Gang supplies ambient, synth‑laden beats....
Hana La Rene – “For Now”
Los Angeles songwriter Hana La Rene released her sophomore single “For Now,” a track that critiques online thought policing and the incremental loss of freedom. The song blends dance‑floor disco, alt‑pop, and ethereal production reminiscent of Magdalena Bay, using an...
Seaboi – ‘Twinkmaxxing’
Montreal multi‑instrumentalist seaboi drops his sophomore album twinkmaxxing on April 17, delivering a blend of atmospheric electronics and rock‑leaning guitars. The record navigates lust, relationships, and personal rebirth through an LGBTQ‑centric narrative, pairing synth‑driven textures with emotive, poetic vocals. Tracks...
Bashful Creatures
The author recounts a two‑day, low‑budget session at Pachyderm Studios in Canon Falls, Minnesota, where a new pair of managers funded a small cash advance to record an EP. Seven songs were tracked, but only six appear on the release...
Shooting Daggers Ft. Dennis Lyxzén Shine Together on ‘GLOW’
Shooting Daggers’ new single “GLOW,” featuring Refused frontman Dennis Lyxzén, marks a departure from the band’s rapid‑fire hardcore toward a slower, bass‑driven post‑punk sound. The track blends atmospheric noise rock with restrained vocals that emphasize tension over speed. Lyrically, it confronts...
🎧 Approved: Modern Woman
London art‑rock collective Modern Woman has unveiled "Johnny’s Dreamworld," the title‑track single from their forthcoming album. Frontwoman Sophie Harris delivers a performance that fuses spoken‑word introspection with a soaring, primal vocal climax, echoing influences from Kate Bush to post‑punk. The track’s...