J Hacha De Zola collaborates with an original Dap-King on his new album, due this June

FEATURE

Back when he began recording ๐˜ž๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ˆ ๐˜›๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ, J Hacha De Zola called to say he was collaborating with Fernando Vรฉlez, an original member of the Dap-Kings.

I started to imagine what Fernando's musical contributions and sonic wisdom would bring to this record when paired up with J's distinctive style and point of view.

Jedd Beaudoin of Strange Currency has already called ๐˜ž๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ˆ ๐˜›๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ the "spookiest make-out record of 2023 or any other other year," perfectly capturing what my thoughts had aspired to!

Hear "Stay Away" now. ๐˜ž๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ˆ ๐˜›๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ arrives June 9 via Caballo Negro, distributed by Slow Start Records! Photos by Adrian Buckmaster.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution profiles Pacifico as the band preps the release show for their "ultra-catchy" new LP Self-Care

FEATURE

Good day!

Matthew Schwartz of Pacifico chatted with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the new Pacifico album ๐˜š๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ahead of this Saturday's release show at Smith's Olde Bar.

Writer Matthew Smith calls the new Pacifico music "Ultra-catchy... compelling and cohesive."

See Pacifico this Saturday, February 18 at 8PM ET w/ support from Perfect Animal, Tiny Banshee, and Kick Snare Crash. Sponsored by WREK 91.1 FM, Criminal Records Atlanta & Terminus Tees | $12 ADV / $17 DOS.

Pacifico's Matthew Schwartz hits back at the cruel music industry in a new interview with SPIN

FEATURE

Matthew Schwartz from Pacifico chats with SPIN today about a topic I am also too familiar with: The debilitating ways of the music industry!

The new Pacifico album ๐˜š๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ is about all manner of personal struggles with well-being. In this lengthy interview, writer Amanda Peukert focuses in particular on the single "Comatose," which makes the music biz its subject.

Schwartz says of the industry, "Youโ€™ve got to be the loudest person in every room, and, for me, that just isnโ€™t healthy; I donโ€™t like that." Amen!

MXDWN shares Pacifico's "stunning" new music video

PREMIERE

mxdwn is calling the new video for "Complicated, Confiscated" by Pacifico "stunning" this morning, saying, "The pain in his eyes is recognizable and relatable through his guitar and soft voice."

Frankly, songs performed direct-to-camera have to really go all-in to convince me and Matthew just gives everything here. I feel like ๐˜š๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ (the new Pacifico album, out February 10) is brave in the raw way it addresses Matthew's personal struggles with anxiety and depression.

This record doesn't feel shrouded in third-person pondering. Like with the "Complicated, Confiscated" video, it comes right at you. I can't wait for you to hear it in full! For now, check out the video or listen where you listen.

Click for your life!

Desert Sun runs a fabulous feature with Dani Meza of the crushedvelvets

FEATURE

"The aneurysm affected his vertebral vein, so he isn't able to put as much pressure on his vocal cords or play instruments with the same intensity, but all of his attributes and innovative spirit emerge on each song."

I'm so happy that Dani Meza from the crushedvelvets recently got the opportunity to tell his story to Brian Blueskye of the Desert Sun, which is the daily paper in Indio โ€” the town famous for Coachella where Dani grew up and still lives.

Click the image for the article and also video of the two talking music at Finders Keepers Records.

A full-length album by the crushedvelvets is in the works to follow-up Dani's trio of 2022 EPs called, "dreamy and soulful shuffles that have all the night-kissed grace of Julee Cruise and the poetic finesse of the Jazz Butcher," by Alex Green of Stereo Embers.

Pacifico's "eerily understated" new single premieres via Treble

PREMIERE

"Harbors a stormy undercurrent, reminiscent of both Elliott Smith and Radiohead at their most eerily understated."

"Complicated, Confiscated" is the latest single by Pacifico, out this Friday on Pacifirecords. Many thanks to Treble for premiering it this morning.

This one really gets me, as Matthew from Pacifico has so openly discussed writing this song as a mantra to get himself through crippling bouts of depression. He explains, "Each single, like every song on ๐˜š๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ, deals with a different form of self care. These songs deal with anxiety, depression, grace, patience, and drawing healthy boundaries."

KQED shines a spotlight on Caitlin Cobb-Vialet

FEATURE

Thanks to NPR member station KQED for spotlighting the "impassioned and sometimes painful emotions" of Caitlin Cobb-Vialet's signature song "Disco Ball," which is playing in my mind right now!

Caitlin will be performing at Cornerstone Berkeley on Tuesday, January 31. Debut album ๐˜Œ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฅ is out now. See the unforgettable "Disco Ball" video now.

Queen City Sounds and Art shares the video for Pacifico's "tenderly psychedelic" single "Afterglow"

VIDEO FEATURE

Here we go 2023!

Queen City Sounds and Art describes "Afterglow" by Pacifico as a "tenderly psychedelic chamber pop song" with "beautiful acoustic guitar work and quietly luminous vocals and string arrangements that sound both melancholic and at peace."

A lovely thought to start the week, eh?!

Click the image to read more and to check out the stop-motion collage video.

๐˜š๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ - the first Pacifico album in five years - is out February 10 (day before my birthday, fam!) with a record release show to follow (first full band show in a decade!) at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta on February 18.

Alex Lilly is named by mxdwn as the Best New Artist of 2022

FEATURE

Let's start out 2023 with another quick look at 2022, as Alex Lilly has been named the Best New Artist of 2022 by mxdwn!

Check out some incredible and fun photos of Alex by Piper Ferguson and an in-depth interview by Eve Pierpont.

"Her latest record... goes beyond hitting the mark. ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ด ๐˜ˆ ๐˜š๐˜ช๐˜ฏ is a beautiful and emotionally honest album that is more than worth praise."

Facts.

๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ด ๐˜ˆ ๐˜š๐˜ช๐˜ฏ is out now on Release Me Records!

Adam Bernard praises Alex Lilly's "must hear" new LP

REVIEW

Writer Adam Bernard has kind words today, listing Alex Lillyโ€™s ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ด ๐˜ˆ ๐˜š๐˜ช๐˜ฏ among his โ€œmust-hear albums of 2022โ€ and calling it โ€œone of the most wonderfully quirky indie pop albums Iโ€™ve heard in years."

Out now on Inara Georgeโ€™s Release Me Records label, this album has not a single track that doesn't make me laugh, cry, or laugh-cry.

Alex has got it like that. Click for your life, and if youโ€™re in LA go see Alex tomorrow (Saturday, December 17) at the Permanent Records Roadhouse.

MAGNET includes Caitlin Cobb-Vialet on its year-end list

NEWS

Itโ€™s always cool to start the week with a "best" anything, but it is especially sweet when one of your fave records of the year is "best!"

Loving Caitlin Cobb-Vialet on the MAGNET Magazine list of Best Singer/Songwriter Releases of 2022 for her debut album ๐˜Œ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฅ.

This album continues to deliver delights as the year closes and will do so for years to come. Listen here, it's extraordinary.

Click for your life!

In a new review, mxdwn compares Alex Lilly to Kate Bush and XTC

REVIEW

Gracious words about the new Alex Lilly album ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ด ๐˜ˆ ๐˜š๐˜ช๐˜ฏ from Caroline Birmingham at mxdwn today!

"Inspired by predecessors Kate Bush and XTC... Alex Lilly is not afraid to go against the grain.

"An ever-evolving, psychedelic texture that supports clever, snappy lyrics and doesnโ€™t sacrifice popular appeal. Lilly has made a beautiful home among the unconventional."

Click for more, and listen to ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ด ๐˜ˆ ๐˜š๐˜ช๐˜ฏ (out now on Release Me Records) here.

Alex plays Permanent Records in Los Angeles on Dec. 17!

The Austin Chronicle is listening to Jenny Parrott's "Pregnancy Choir," which reveals "a beautiful glimpse into motherhood"

FEATURE

"An all-vocal album... Pregnancy Choir digs in โ€“ clawing back layers to reveal a beautiful glimpse into motherhood. Joyful, somber, chaotic, and dissonant all at onceโ€ฆ an internal chorus grapples with the realities of pregnancy, from the thrill of life to the policing of women's bodies."

Lovely words today from the Austin Chronicle about Jenny Parrott!

Read more, and and listen to Pregnancy Choir in full here.