Aly & AJ, the sister duo, released a new single which will be joining the deluxe version of their album, A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up on Your Feet Gets You Out and Then Into the Sun. They confirmed that deluxe edition will be released in 2022, right before they hit their tour dates.

“With this song, we really wanted to capture the yearning & anticipation that comes in the early stages of a relationship. Writing this song actually helped kickstart the process of creating our latest album. When we were thinking about a deluxe edition of ‘a touch of the beat…”

Aly & Aj to American Songwriter

Single overview:

“Get Over Here” is a sweet mix of an early 90’s indie band mixed with 80’s synth pop.

Chloe Bailey Releases Much Anticipated Single “Have Mercy”

After several weeks of teasing the single on all social media outlets, Chloe Bailey finally released “Have Mercy.”

The single seems to be getting lots of praise, some even going as far as to compare her to Beyonce. Beyonce is a mentor to Chloe and that can be the reason behind some of the similarities and comparisons. Not only that, Chloe also stated that she likes to pay homage to her favorites while also making her own voice known.

“I’m creating my own lane, as well as paying homage to the ones who have inspired me. It has been fun finding my voice.”

Chloe (Billboard.)

“Have Mercy” is a visually stunning video. In the video, Chloe is a modern day version of Medusa preying on any man that crosses her path. Medusa being a seductress is also a pathway to explain the Chloe is fully embracing her own sexuality and making it known that she is indeed a grown woman who is proud of what she’s got.

Single Overview:

Chloe delivered a wonderful debut as a solo artist. She displayed her beautiful voice, while also demonstrating that she can rap and do pop singles. She isn’t limited to being a talented R&B artist. Chloe can definitely delve into other genres (and from what she’s confirmed – her upcoming album will have plenty more pop songs). The song is addictive with its catchy chorus and it will be almost guaranteed to be stuck in your head for days.

“It’s 90% done,” she says of the project, out on Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia, adding that she’s narrowing down the tracklist from about 50 songs. And while she says this project is “definitely more pop”

Chloe (Billboard.)

The post September Single Spotlight: Aly & Aj and Chloe Bailey appeared first on Red Roll.

“Man’s World,” Marina Diamandis’ first single to be released from her upcoming project, is rocking the music world with some serious fiery female energy. She maintains that signature, sparkling pop sound to which her fans are so devoted, sprinkling in some seething social commentary to perch behind our teeth with every word we attempt to sing along (come on, I can’t hit all those notes). In a man’s world, from the Marina and the Diamonds era to this newer, sleeker image, MARINA is taking charge.

“Burnt me at the stake, you thought I was a witch/ Centuries ago, now you just call me a bitch.”

Nurtured and cultivated by an all-female team, this newest song came to life after a tweet Diamandis posted last year. Following the success of her two-part album Love + Fear, she reached out to her millions of followers in an effort to connect with some talented female creatives. Together, they brought “Man’s World” to fruition– music video and all, “this story can only be told by women,” she wrote. This was certainly not in an effort to exclude, as while women were heavily involved in this project, Diamandis had a wide range of perspectives in mind, “The original idea for the song was to write a snapshot of how women and LGBTQ+ individuals have been subjugated and discriminated against throughout history going back to the Salem witch trials, where any person who was deemed abnormal or slightly alternative was singled out.” she told Vogue during an interview. Inspired by the marginalized and silenced, “Man’s World” was born, and released ironically close to this year’s highly volatile election.

Click here to read the full Vogue interview.

“Mother Nature’s dying/ Nobody’s keeping score/ I don’t wanna live in a man’s world anymore.”

The video adds another layer of beauty to the densely weighted message this song conveys. The serene, aesthetically pleasing imagery speaks to the Marina fans expect and love– an artist with a real eye for music as a visual experience. The video features people of diverse backgrounds and gender identities, outfitted in brightly colored, ever-shifting fabric and matching masks. This project is so grounded in the present moment– a time capsule of art and sociopolitical energy woven together by the purity and strength of Marina’s crystal clear vocals. The song and video stand as a testament to Diamandis’ power as an artist, as well as the force of the female spirit.

“Women are violets coming to light/ Don’t underestimate the making of life.”

As well as uplifting the voices of women through the production and release of this powerful song, MARINA is also actively promoting aspiring artists– posting fan art on Twitter, and promoting the creation of Marinazine, “a limited edition, physical zine that will accompany each single release,” as it says on her website. She poses the prompt “What does living in a ‘Man’s World’ mean to you?” and opens the floor to any and all submissions. Winners will be featured in the first edition of the zine– their poetry, photography, essays, and other artwork symbolizing something sacred– the first voices published in the debut Marinazine. 

Submit your own work here!

“So don’t punish me ’cause I’m not a man/ ‘Cause I’m not a man.”

Stream now!

The post MARINA, Unraveling the Patriarchy One Release at a Time appeared first on Red Roll.

Grande also shared a track list for the album a few days ago via Twitter:

Positions will include 14 songs with features from Doja Cat, The Weeknd, and Ty Dolla $ign. Grande has kept many of the details of the album quiet, tweeting that she doesn’t have any favorite particular songs from the album, but rather that this album is her favorite project of her own work to date.

If you’re too excited for positions and to tend to your Ariana Grande needs before the album drop this Friday, watch the “positions” Music Video Behind The Scenes and check out Ariana Grande’s positions merch.

The post Here Is Everything We Know About Ariana Grande’s Upcoming Album appeared first on Red Roll.

Other moments she is in full surrender, she gets down on her knees and holds the mic close to her lips. She matches the crowd’s energy, an eye for an eye – lying on the bare floor as the bodies sway – beads of sweat dripping from her face, her eyes closed in complete unison. 

It’s no surprise that for many local Chicago artists, including Jess The Savior, have been in a complete sense of shock and standstill due to the Quarantine lifestyle we are all now adopting to. For local artists like Jess – who rely on the Chicago Music Scene and Performing as a means to gain exposure, and to be continually inspired to create their art, these artists are suffering big time!

Jess The Savior thrives and shines while on stage – like so many other local artists, shows have been canceled and self-isolation makes it even harder to keep the community of the Chicago Music Scene alive. The need for a sense of community and the ability to collaborate is being robbed from these artists currently – their performative nature is like an object of desire on the top shelf, ultimately out of their reach for the time being.

Jess The Savior’s sound lingers in a melodic, sometimes melancholy trap/rap style. Her lower vibrato voice spits softly over electric guitar riffs, speaking on lost love and the importance of possessing inner strength. That inner strength is needed now more than ever, and became her main muse for her last project, “HEADSTRONG.”

Now, she is back with a new experimental sound with her new single, “Better Plans.” I asked her some questions on the idea of strength,  how the state of the world is affecting her craft, and the inspiration behind her new single. Here are her thoughts:

RR: Can you describe your process/approach to making music?

JessTheSavior: Usually, I’ll have a shit ton of thoughts, phrases, stories in my notes at all times. A lot of the time, I write really late at night because that is when I become more aware of my scattered feelings and thoughts. At night, I seem to be able to find more clarity within deciphering what I am actually feeling while the world is quiet. When I am in a funk or experiencing writer’s block, I tend to lean on trying to get the beats to inspire a mood or feeling for a song. Before I approach any type of music-making, I like to listen to a lot of my inspirations so I’ll put a playlist on shuffle to guide me to a headspace of creativity. 

RR: On your last project, “HEADSTRONG” you seem to be paying homage to the idea of strength as a whole – the inner strength that resides within you and the strength you saw loved ones exhibit and extend to you as well. What does strength as an artist and musician mean to you? What does strength mean to you in relation to this concept of a past love that you are exploring on these tracks?

JessTheSavior: Strength and resilience is the entire message behind HEADSTRONG. Being stubborn and headstrong is something I’ve been called my whole life because I know what I want. I always have. It’s just the process of how I’m going to get there that has been so unclear.

I think of HEADSTRONG as a continuation to Savior Behavior being that it’s what comes after not getting what you wanted. Love is the general topic and thread within my music, but what makes HEADSTRONG different is the level of acceptance that is achieved – this realization that the act of love is not something that makes you weak. Love is a power that you don’t need to run from. The power of love is something not to be underestimated or feared.

RR: Your new single, “Better Plans” seems to be a departure both sonically and lyrically for you. “Better Plans” has a more jazzy, funky quality to the sound of the beat, bordering on some experimental electronic pockets as well. What inspired this new sound?

JessTheSavior: I hate doing what’s expected of me. I don’t ever want to fit into a single category of music. I want to make music for the world – music that anyone with any taste can listen to and enjoy. Better Plans came from my hunger to show off my love for house music. Both of my parents were DJs growing up so I wanted to pay some respect to them.

I wanted a new wave of sound coming back into the game because I hadn’t released anything since PainKiller which was a more reggaeton beat. At this point in my life, I have grown so much since my first project and I’m tired of just making sad-boy music. All I want to do is talk my shit and dance. Better Plans shines a light on my alter-ego and is the spark to what’s to come in my new music.

RR: In terms of lyrics, “Better Plans” seems to be much more light-hearted in comparison to this sense of lost love that you were exploring on “HEADSTRONG.” “Better Plans” seems to be more rooted in hope, fantasy, and the prospect of growth. Can you talk about how the CoronaVirus is affecting your art and this newfound sense of positivity you seem to be expressing with “Better Plans.”

JessTheSavior: COVID-19 has really put my creativity in a weird spot. I still have all these responsibilities tied to me without the physicality of being able to go out and work for them. It’s hard to be in the house all day just waiting for good news, but it’s more important not to waste that time.

I was sad about having to postpone/cancel shows when everything was first happening but since then it’s allowed me more time to work on more outlets of my artistic life that I just didn’t have the time for before. I’ve been focusing a lot more on visuals, getting those shots, and editing them to a tee. I have been writing more than I usually do as well – having much more time to think and reflect during this period of self-isolation is allowing me to grow lyrically. 

RR: Can you talk about how it feels to be a musician right now amongst a global pandemic? Are you feeling a sense of frustration from being unable to perform and connect to a live audience? 

JessTheSavior:  I really do miss performing. It’s my favorite part of it all but I don’t want to get caught up in thinking about what I could be doing. As a musician right now it is important to focus on what you can do right now – how you can engage your audience more during this time and plan your next moves. Now is the perfect time to do all the things you said you’d do later. Now is later, the world keeps going. 

RR: Lastly, speaking on plans for the future – What does the future look like/have in store for Jess The Savior? 

JessTheSavior: I’m taking things to a whole other level. I’m a lot happier than I used to be so I want that to be reflected in my music this time around. I’ve been working with a lot more producers too so I’m excited to see where these relationships take me. Overall my goal this time around is to make music people want to dance to, love to, feel young to.

The post Jess The Savior Proves She Isn’t Letting Quarantine Cloud Her Vision With the Release of Her New Single, “Better Plans” appeared first on Red Roll.

Currently, the band has two EPs out. Their first album, “Peach Ring,” released March 2019 with three songs. The second album, “Downers Delight,” features four songs. The band will be releasing a two-track EP late spring/early summer this year, so follow their Twitter @GreatOutdoorsIL for updates on a specific release date.

The frontman of the act is Peter Hunt Szpytek and the members of the Great Outdoors vary depending on recording and performing availability. The band’s name comes from Hunt’s love for nature.

“I always felt like when I was writing music and playing songs outside, I felt like it was me and my band, and my band was the trees,” says Hunt.

Hunt spent some time playing outside at Naperville’s Riverwalk, and when they asked about his act, he’d answer with the band’s name and say, “and since we’re playing outside, welcome to the band.”

PH&TGO’s sound is a melting pot of folk, punk, pop, rock, and hints of country. Hunt says musical acts like The Avett Brothers, The Wonder Years, and The Taxpayers have influenced the band’s sound.

Hunt wants the band’s sound to go beyond genres and into feelings; “When you close your eyes and listen, you feel like you’re on your grandparent’s porch,” he says about his music.

The creative process varies for any artist. For Hunt, he will go through phases of writing. Sometimes he cranks out songs every other day for a month. Like most artists, Hunt will save snippets of lyrics in his phone and stitch them together later. Drawing on influence from The Mountain Goats, Hunt hopes PH&TGO’s albums reflect specific concepts and each tell their own story.

“I think you have to write through the bad stuff to get to the good stuff,” he says.

The band was awarded the best emo rock music video” by Reddit’s 2020 Indie Music Feedback Grammy Awards for “June Carter.” Check out the video below.

For more information about Peter Hunt & the Great Outdoors, check out their social media — Facebook | Instagram | Twitter |YouTube

The post “My Band Was the Trees” appeared first on Red Roll.

Their lyrical stories address world issues and pump hope into the wind. With expressive odes to the planet, Nahko And Medicine For The People echo our changing world with reflection and gratitude. By fearlessly incorporating conversational elements into each album, their humanity shines through every ballad, further connecting the listener to the song’s heartbeat.

The pulse of their rhythm and reverberation of their fervent narratives make them truly unique — or at least it did. In February, the band released their new single “Twisted,” about self-love. While the message is inspiring, their signature grit is lost. They replaced their unique soul sound, their original style used to help me escape, with the overplayed, auto-tuned pop style. The repetitive lyrics lack the complexity that flooded their past tracks, leaving us with a shell of a song more reminiscent of Maroon 5 than storytellers like Bob Dylan. Don’t get me wrong, the song is catchy, but I just expected to catch more.

This song is part of their upcoming album, Take Your Power Back, that should be released on May 15, 2020. It is my hope that this song does not define the album. Hopefully, they will own their original sound instead of creating more pop-culture copies to gain streams.

The post A “Twisted” Nahko And Medicine For The People appeared first on Red Roll.

This is the third single off their 12 track album.

Based on this new release, their new album will move away from the punk sound they started with and move more into a vibey pop tune. 5 Seconds of Summer’s CALM is available for pre-order with its release on March 27.

Watch the new video for “No Shame” below.

To support the album, the band will embark in May on their No Shame Tour. Their Chicago show will be held at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on August 26. Each ticket purchase for their North America No Shame Tour comes with a physical copy of CALM.

The band started in 2011 posting videos to a YouTube page. Their first album was a self-titled release in 2014, followed by “Sounds Good Feels Good” in 2015. The three years between SGFG and their third release “Youngblood” gave the band the ability to mature in their sound and move from a “teenage pop trying to be punk vibe” into their own niche of alternative pop.

All original band members are still present and sing vocals on tracks. Luke Hemmings leads vocals and rhythm guitar. Michael Clifford plays lead guitar. Calum Hood plays bass and synthesizers. Ashton Irwin plays drums.

For more information about 5 Seconds of Summer, check out their website.

The post 5 Seconds of Summer Has No Shame appeared first on Red Roll.

The Opening Act:

Justice Carradine opened to a room full of crazed fans that excitedly waited for Amber Liu to come out. Despite possibly being the least known out of the bunch, he was welcomed with open arms. He opened with a few covers, one from Harry Styles, and then he ended his set with his recent release “Necessary Evil.” “Necessary Evil” featured smooth electronica accompanied by Carradine’s soulful vocals.

Throughout the set Carradine had a few nervous hiccups, occasionally causing the mic to screech, but he played it off with a simple chuckle and never breaking focus. Carradine used the whole stage as his playground – going from one side to the other and giving the fans his undivided attention. He was a smooth start to an energy-packed night.

Second Act:

Meg & Dia followed. Their style is much more indie/alternative rock, so it was a definite shift from Carradine’s relaxed r&b/pop set. The second they stepped on stage it was obvious that the sisters were comfortable and happy to be there. Their energy radiated as their angelic whisper-like vocals, glossy harmonies and guitar riffs filled the room. It wasn’t until the duo sang their song “Monster” that people realized who they were.

“Monster” was an older hit that helped them rise to fame back in 2009. After they sung their old hit the audience really started to appreciate the duo and the room only grew more positive.

The sisters were extremely energetic performers. They jumped, headbanged, reached out to the fans and flawlessly crooned their songs from the album “Happysad.” The duo was perfect for the second set. They prepared the audience for Amber.

The headliner:

Amber Liu opened with her single “Countdown,” a high energy dance song. The House of Blues vibrated as the crazed fans enthusiastically hopped up and down with Amber and her backup dancers. The night was an up and down roller coaster of energy and “real talk.” Liu thought it was important to talk about her own personal journey of finding happiness and prioritizing her mental health. She spoke on her personal experiences but she made sure to keep it light.

Liu was very communicative with the fans by taking her time to answer their random outburst. She kept that high energy in most of her performance as she mostly performed some sort of complicated choreography. And despite the heavy dance breaks, Liu sang every song beautifully with the help of her loving fans.

In the end:

Liu impeccably put this tour together. The concert was energy-packed, had great acts and was well paced. This was a great second tour for Liu.

The post Amber Liu’s “X” Tour – Photos and Review appeared first on Red Roll.

I can’t say this is the “coolest” or most “music literate” thing I’ve ever done, but I can’t stop thinking about TikTok. I recently downloaded it and am quickly becoming acquainted with “TikTok songs” as a phenomenon. Again, not my finest music journalism hour. It’s just so hard to resist when one of your best friends has a whole playlist titled, “studying but its tiktok songs” with a description that says, “songs I found on TikTok that I don’t hate” (I totally had her send me the link). I’m sure fifteen year old me would be shaking her head and judging me right now (I’m judging me right now), but I am astounded by the number of songs that have been shot to the foreground because of teenagers dancing for a few seconds. 

Turning to the Teenagers…

This week, as a new user with only one post, I set out to collect some of these “TikTok songs” (wow I sound like an old person). I, of course, pestered my friend to send me her playlist that I already mentioned, but the best source of information was my teenage brother (best to go to the source). I texted him asking if there were any songs he knew solely because of TikTok. He replied, quite simply, with, “Too many to count.” At the risk of sounding weird and old again: that is so cool! Songs and artists are being given heaps of free exposure so long as fifteen-year-olds can turn the chorus into some trendy dance. It’s a great example of the positive impact social media can have. 

So, my brother actually sent me some examples, and he gave me seven songs to listen to. He mentioned one more song saying, “And then like old town road obvi.” “Old Town Road” was widely circulated by TikTok, gaining speed through this social media platform. While it’s not really my kind of jam, Lil Nas X is so funny on Twitter, and I totally wouldn’t have followed him without TikTok. He also probably wouldn’t have accumulated so much fame so quickly either.

Thanks to TikTok…

Anyway, I’m sure everyone knows these songs now, and maybe not all directly due to TikTok. That said though, this potential cousin of Vine has introduced people, like my brother, to a whole new (sometimes annoying) world of music, and grants artists a unique space in which to gain a following.

Stay tuned to hear more about TikTok’s streaming service, Resso, launching to the U.S. soon!

Click on the images to listen, or stream the playlist below!

The post TikTok Songs Are Taking Over appeared first on Red Roll.

This week gave us a couple new songs from two very different artists. That’s essentially why I wanted to write about them together. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and The 1975 are such good examples of artists who have managed to maintain the same flavor throughout every single one of their releases. And yet, I still wouldn’t argue that all their music sounds the same. That is something that links these two artists– when their songs come on in the car, you never mistake them for someone else.

The 1975: “Me & You Together Song”

The 1975 slingshots you back to the years when Tumblr flourished. Their popular, mainstream rock sound captures the essence of a fog machine in a room full of string lights (that might not resonate with everyone, but it makes total sense to me). This holds true throughout the years and into their new single, “Me & You Together Song” (released on January 16) which is no exception to their sonic pattern. If you were looking for or expecting something different from The 1975, this latest release is certainly not that. It truly does sound like one of their classics, and I think there is something to be said for such consistency. Check it out if you’re in the mood to kick back and chill for about three minutes of some calming, breathy 1975.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong: “High as Five”

Listening to Pigeons Playing Ping Pong always feels, to me, like being inside an arcade in slow motion — iridescent lights washing over the patterned carpet and people jumping in celebration. Except, I guess, instead of people jumping it would probably be ping pong balls flying around the room. This essence indicative of the trademark Pigeons Playing Ping Pong sound jumps out in their new single, “High as Five” (released on January 17), giving us funky goodness for a full five minutes and fifty two seconds. The short and sweet instrumental intro sets it apart from some of their other jams (“Kiwi” I’m talking about you). That aside, this latest release is yet another song upholding the up-beat funky magic that this band never ceases to serve us.

The post Release Reviews: New Music From the Last Few Days appeared first on Red Roll.