Singer-Songwriter
Sasha Alex Sloan on the “Authentic Experiences” That Shaped I Blame the World
“Do I dare say I’m proud of this record?” Sasha Alex Sloan asks. “It feels scary to say that out loud.” Chatting with Consequence over the phone, the singer-songwriter seems to hold an extremely tentative optimism around the release of her forthcoming full-length album, I Blame The World (available Friday, May 13th via RCA Records). It’s a quality worth noting, especially when she recently described I Blame the World as a “non-hopeful” album. “I couldn’t write about anything else,” she says, referring to the fork in the road many creatives arrived at throughout the pandemic and in the months of piecing the arts industry back together since: lean into hopeful escapism, or embrace realism. Sloan chose the latter. Advertisement Related Video To her point, the eleven-track collection...
Ricky Montgomery Shares Origins of It’s 2016 Somewhere EP: Exclusive
Our feature series Origins gives artists space to detail everything that went into their newest release. Today, Ricky Montgomery breaks down his new EP, It’s 2016 Somewhere. Ricky Montgomery has returned with a new EP, It’s 2016 Somewhere, which compiles new tracks, non-album singles, and two acoustic versions of fan favorites (“Mr. Loverman” and “I Don’t Love You Anymore”). The project is out today (April 15th), alongside a music video for new track “Settle Down.” It’s no secret that TikTok has the power to blow up an artist overnight. What’s particularly strange, however, is when the algorithm decides to promote a song that was released to little fan-fare years prior. From Life Without Buildings to The Walters, the next viral indie discovery can come from seemingly anywhere or anytime. A...
Lucius Tap Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow for “Dance Around It”: Stream
Lucius have teamed up with Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow on their new single “Dance Around It.” Stream the collab below. On the sparkling track, the indie pop band and pair of singer-songwriters share an optimistic message over electro-tinged production. “And we’ll keep dancing/ Above, underground/ We’ll keep dancing around it,” they sing together on the jubilant chorus. “Dancing/ Our love’s burning out/ We’ll keep dancing around it,” “Dance Around It” serves as the fourth single ahead of Lucius’ upcoming album Second Nature, which will be released April 8th via Mom + Pop Music. It features Carlile as a producer alongside Dave Cobb. Other singles already released include “Heartbursts,” “White Lies,” and “Next to Normal.” Advertisement Related Video “In many ways ‘Dance Around It’ cracked ...
Trey Anastasio Announces Solo Acoustic Album Mercy
Phish frontman Trey Anastasio has announced his first solo acoustic album, Mercy, arriving this Friday, March 11th. In a shared excerpt from the liner notes written by David Fricke, Anastasio regards Mercy as a “bookend” to his 2020 solo effort Lonely Trip, his first project written in quarantine. “It’s two years since we went into hiding,” he said. “This is still going on, and it’s an even lonelier trip.” Due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and its unpredictable effects on live music, the almost-perpetually tour-bound musician found himself “still at home, playing acoustic guitar.” After developing some of the future tracks on his own, he realized “these songs just want to be one guy with a guitar, singing.” Advertisement Related Video It’s not the first time Anastasio...
Randy Newman Postpones Tour While Recovering from Broken Neck
Oscar- and Grammy-winning songwriter Randy Newman has postponed his upcoming European tour to recover from a broken neck. “Recently, I noticed I was shrinking,” he said in a statement on his website. “People over whom I had towered now towered over me. Could this be payback for having written ‘Short People?’ Turns out, my neck was broken.” He added, “They operated on me successfully, I think. For even now, I look less like an anteater and more like a folk rock artist from the early sixties. But the doctor said I’m not quite ready to tour. I was really looking forward to coming to Europe to perform. I miss performing a great deal and I look forward to a time when I can come. I’m sorry I won’t see you this time but I will see you soon.” Advertisement Related Video Newman’s mos...
Musicians Remember Mark Lanegan: “One of THE Great Singers of the Last 30 Years”
Following the sad news that Mark Lanegan died at age 57 earlier today (February 22nd), the talented frontman of Screaming Trees and erstwhile member of Queens of the Stone Age is being remembered by his musical peers. Lanegan’s prolific music career — which also saw him release 12 solo albums and collaborate with a number of other musicians — had a profound influence and impact on many artists. Former New Order bassist Peter Hook tweeted, “Mark Lanegan was a lovely man. He led a wild life that some of us could only dream of. He leaves us with fantastic words and music! Thank god that through all of that he will live forever. RIP Mark. Sleep well.” Advertisement Related Video Velvet Underground legend John Cale wrote, “I can’t process this. Mark Lanegan will always be etched in my hear...
Caroline Spence Teams Up with Matt Berninger on “I Know You Know Me”: Stream
Caroline Spence has enlisted The National’s Matt Berninger for her latest single “I Know You Know Me” via Rounder Records. On the romantic ballad, the pair conjure up a sweeping tale of intimacy and connection. “No matter where the storm is in my mind/ It’ll never be a place that you can’t find/ You hold the candle, oh, you hold the key/ I know you know me,” they sing in unison before lush strings cascade into the chorus. “I’m still beside myself that Matt agreed to be a part of this song,” Spence said in a statement. “I recorded my own solo version for my upcoming record, but always saw potential for it as a duet. Matt’s voice brought a new depth to the narrative and the sonic palette of this song.” Advertisement Related Video The song is a follow-up to the Nashville-based singer’s 2...
Neil Young’s Battle with Polio May Have Colored His Stand Against COVID Misinformation
Neil Young has taken a stand against Spotify and Joe Rogan over COVID-19 falsehoods, following through on his ultimatum to leave the streaming giant if it continued to platform The Joe Rogan Experience. This will come as no surprise to longtime fans; Young has long been a proponent of vaccination, going back to his battle with polio when he was about five years old. According to his 2012 memoir Waging Heavy Peace, the “Harvest Moon” singer was diagnosed with polio in 1951 and spent time in Toronto’s Sick Children’s Hospital as he battled the life-threatening disease. He ultimately recovered, though the disease left him with a slight limp. The polio vaccine was first widely disseminated in 1955, and Young was one of the beneficiaries. As he recently wrote on his website,...
Grace Gaustad Unlocks the “Black Box” of Mental Health
Listen via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Stitcher | Google | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Singer-songwriter Grace Gaustad joins the Going There podcast to unlock that “black box” of mental health, particularly when it comes to the lasting effects of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying. Speaking with Dr. Mike, Gaustad describes how she was bullied because of her sexuality, and how that triggered her becoming severely depressed. Related Video The BLKBX: wht r u hding? musician explains how she started the non-profit organization the BLKBX Project in conjunction with her new album release. This organization focuses on teen mental illness, and addresses the fact that most people face stressful and traumatic issues such as bullying and mental illness in isolation. It’s not uncommon to struggle in...
Natalie Imbruglia on Her New Album Firebird and Being an “Uber Fan” of The Strokes
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Natalie Imbruglia sits down with Kyle Meredith to discuss Firebird, her first album of new material in over a decade. Advertisement Related Video The Australian-British singer-songwriter tells us about the writer’s block that had her sidelined for the better part of the last decade, having a strong theme of independence on the record, and working with Albert Hammond Jr. A self-professed “uber fan” of The Strokes, Imbruglia also tells us she looked to Bonnie Tyler and the ’80s on “Maybe It’s Great,” and took inspiration from author Echkart Tolle. Listen to Natalie Imbruglia discuss Firebirdon this new episode of Kyle Meredith W...
Tim Heidecker Drops New Single “Dark Days”: Stream
Tim Heidecker has unveiled his new single “Dark Days.” Stream it below. The track finds the comedian-turned-musician reflecting on life through the COVID-19 pandemic over country-leaning instrumentation. “Well the stores are all closed/ Everything good shut down/ So many people had to move out of town/ Some people are taking to praying/ But I ain’t there yet/ Hope is the last thing I hope to forget,” he sings before the chorus kicks in. “I wrote this in the darkest days of the pandemic when things really felt unhinged, and it’s filled with little Easter eggs of the moment… baking bread and all that stuff,” the Bridesmaids alum shared in a statement. “At the last minute I changed the last line to be a question rather than a statement because I didn’t want it to be a total bummer. I hop...
Adele’s 10 Best Songs
It’s sometimes surprising to remember just how long Adele has been part of the pop culture conversation. Her breakout, “Hometown Glory,” was released when she was only nineteen years old, and it’s a track the singer-songwriter penned at just sixteen. Since then, Adele has obliterated records to the tune of fifteen Grammy awards across three full-length studio albums. Her crossover appeal is the result of a unique mix of gifted vocals, vulnerable songwriting, and a personality overflowing with sharp wit. It’s been over five years now since Adele released new music — a curious stint as host of Saturday Night Live in 2020 was more of an opportunity for the vocalist to try her hand at comedy and acting than it was a hint of a musical comeback — but finally, new tunes from Adele are on the hori...
