Happy Monday. We’ve reached our final Monday Mashup for January, and we’ve got some special treats for you today, including premieres of new singles from Lindsey Compton and Illicit Ghost. Let’s get this week off to a great start.
INDIE ARTISTS REIGN AT THE NAMM SHOW
Congrats to all the indie artists who performed during The NAMM Show last week. Thanks for keeping us in the loop with your performances, your photos and your memories. We loved living vicariously through your social media posts.
LINDSEY COMPTON DEBUTS NEW SINGLE
Budding superstar Lindsey Compton is dropping her new single, “Starstruck” today, and we have been chosen to premiere it here. For those who don’t know, Compton is fast becoming a force of nature. She is standing up for the rights of women and taking feminism to a whole new level. She believes women should express anything they choose – and she does it with a ‘do everything for the art’ attitude that expresses all that she is: sassy and witty, flirty and fun, inclusive and edgy, funky and above all else, fearless.
Click on the link above to check out the song. With “Starstruck,” Compton manages to achieve pop bliss by bringing the sounds of Hole, Ariana Grande, and Lykke Li together. The song starts off dark enough to make us believe she might be a grunge-era Queen, but by the time the chorus is repeating out it has become crystal clear that Compton is the new Princess of Pop.
ILLICIT GHOST DROPS FIRST SINGLE OF 2019
Brooklyn-based artist/producer/violinist Illicit Ghost also drops her latest single, “Parties by Myself,” today, a head-bobbing anti-social anthem, but beware, this one is quite explicit. She combines a remarkably raw vocal performance, dirty bass, hip hop machine drums and ominous synths with her signature aggressive violin sound. In her own words, “‘Parties by Myself’ is simply about not trying to fit in, not taking shit from anyone and doing what makes you happy,” says Illicit Ghost. “I think the new year is perfect timing for this message.” We couldn’t agree more.
The inspiration for the song came from an unlikely place. “I used to listen to Third Eye Blind’s ‘Semi-Charmed Life’ constantly when I was 12” explains Illicit Ghost. “I had a Third Eye Blind cassette that I was not allowed to listen to because it was about sex and drugs. But I loved that song so much that I got a small tape player and listened underneath my covers each night. At the time I didn’t understand what it was about at all, but I liked the feeling I got from it. I felt free. I wanted to make something that captured the same feeling.” We think she accomplished her goal.
NEW SINGLES
Our first single this week is from Fort Frances, who we introduced to you back in December 2016 when we reviewed their album Alio. Since then, they have been up to great things and their latest single is another masterpiece. Check out “Double Take.”
Our next single comes from Montreal’s L.A. Foster, and is a beautiful and intimate song called “Honestly.” We think it will soon become your own personal anthem.
Our third single is an upbeat fun tune called “Lonely Loving Me,” and comes to us via the UK’s Hockeysmith. This one has the R&B and electronic pop sound to get your week off to a great start.
Next is the debut single from Denver based R&B band Waxcat. Here is “Oceans.”
Our final single this week comes from the forthcoming album by Damon Mitchell, which will drop on March 2. Here is the title track, and we think it is definitely worthy of a listen. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.
NEW MUSIC VIDEOS
Our first video this week is from Blue Élan Records artist The Vegabonds, who we reviewed January 18 upon their release of V. This is one of the best cuts on the album, and we are proud to share “Best I Can” with you.
Our next video comes from recent LA Music Critic Awards winner Jordan Siwek. It is a heart-wrenching and touching video shot in New York City that perfectly captures the essence of his song “Lover and a Giver.” Break out the tissues.
Video number three is the latest from Valerio Lysander, who we reviewed last August. “Little People” is inspired by the 1st movement of Mozart’s Sonata in F major, K. 332, and should raise your cultural awareness for the week. Enjoy the beauty of this video.
Our next video is about coming to terms with who you are, and features the soulful voice of Aaron Sibley. Check out this powerful video for his song, “Falling Through.”
We close out this week with the amazing sound of We Three, who we reviewed last week. They have been on a tear ever since they competed on America’s Got Talent, and this video shows why. Check out their fans lip-syncing the band’s song “Your Lifeline.”
