New Music Spotlight with Imagine Dragons and More
New Music from Imagine Dragons, Dru Cutler, The Lay Awakes, Jimmie Allen, Mute Choir, and Towers and Trees
In this installment of the New Music Spotlight, we’re featuring music from North America. From Vegas to Fergus we bring you country, rock, pop, with hints of R&B, post-electronic, with some singer-songwriter thrown in for good measure.
The goal here is to expose you to what’s new, what’s out there but maybe not on your radar, and maybe find you a brand new favourite band.
Let’s do this!
Artist: Imagine Dragons
Hometown: Las Vegas
Genre: Rock
Related Artists: X Ambassadors, Walk the Moon, AWOLNATION
Song: Next to Me
Notes: With their ever-present drums, this is a love song. Rhythmic lyrics feature heavily in this song and the brand new video is beautiful and heartbreaking. We’ve come to expect a lot from Imagine Dragons videos and the video for Next to Me lives up to our expectations.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Dru Cutler
Hometown: Tampa (currently living in Brooklyn)
Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Indie Rock
Related Artists: Sam Roberts, The Airborne Toxic Event
Song: Oceanside
Notes: In the music world these days, EPs are more common than full albums, and this two-song EP harkens back to single releases. With an A-Side and a B-Side, Oceanside is gentle and nostalgic. Cutler comes across as vulnerable, and this song leaves me feeling longing. Longing for the ocean and past loves.
I find it difficult to say, because The Hip stands alone, but there are hints here. Listen for them.
I’ve thrown in a bonus song, check out the second track. It’s a Leonard Cohen cover, and it’s a modern take on the classic and it’s a great balancing track for this EP. The opening violins suck you in immediately. Dru’s voice is perfect for this song.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: The Lay Awakes
Hometowns: Edmonton by way of Fergus, ON and Brooklyn, NY
Genre: Pop
Related Artists:
Song: Press Play
Notes: The Lay Awakes have got a new album dropping very soon, and we were surprised by a brand new release on Friday, Press Play. Athletes and musicians, Anna Paddock and Patrick Anderson, deliver a haunting song with Anna taking the lead on vocals. I love the piano on this track, and I love the way their voices sound when they sing harmony.
Patrick and Anna are partners in life as well as in this musical partnership. I’m looking forward to more music from this pair.
Watch for a new video coming out March 22nd, followed by the release of their first full-length album on May 4th.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Jimmie Allen
Hometown: Southern Delaware
Genre: Country
Related Artists: Morgan Allen, Charles Kelly, Chris Young
Song: Best Shot
Notes: Best Shot is Jimmie Allen’s debut Canadian single, and it’s a fun mix of country, rock, R&B, and pop. It’s a love song, inspired by advice from Jimmie’s grandmother. It’s a pretty personal song, and we appreciate the peek into Jimmie’s world.
Jimmie Allen is making waves and hitting lots of “artist to watch” lists. Jimmie is playing The Opry for the first time on May 4th, and he’s slated to play Boots and Hearts this summer.
Jimmie’s self-titled EP is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music, Deezer, Napster and Tidal.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Mute Choir
Hometown: Newmarket (Toronto)
Genre: Post-Electronic, Indie, Alternative
Related Artists: Darcys, Oasis, Cold Play
Song: Behind the Bars
Notes: Sam Arion brings us something new. A new sound with hits of soul and great storytelling. Behind the Bars is the second single, and it looks at fears and introspection.
Influenced by many genres including hip hop, heavy rock, and electronic music, he’s infused pieces of many genres into his sound, and I’m a fan.
Musically, “Behind the Bars” gives me the feeling of being alone on Christmas – sadness, regret, nostalgia, and even spite. In this case, spite is a particularly interesting emotion because it often masks feelings of sadness and isolation, making them easier to bear. Most of the songs on this forthcoming record deal with ideas of both freedom and entrapment, and “Behind the Bars” definitely embodies the latter.
Links: Soundcloud / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Towers and Trees
Hometown: Victoria
Genre: Indie Rock/Pop
Related: Poor Young Things, Arkells, Band of Rascals
Song: Head Down / Heart Up
Notes: A last minute addition to this Spotlight, this one arrived in my inbox on Friday, and I had to include it. I love the message and the delivery. Head Down / Heart Up is upbeat and fresh and feels like Spring to me.
Turn your head down heart up is an inspiring mantra, and one most of us could use. With the amount of information coming at us every day, the noise of the world sometimes overpowers the feelings inside. Head Down / Heart Up is the perfect tune for starting your day and setting a tone.
I for one, am happy the indefinite hiatus ended and that Towers and Trees are creating new music.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
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Toronto Music Blogger
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New Music Spotlight with Imagine Dragons and More
By Trish Cassling
New Music from Imagine Dragons, Dru Cutler, The Lay Awakes, Jimmie Allen, Mute Choir, and Towers and Trees
In this installment of the New Music Spotlight, we’re featuring music from North America. From Vegas to Fergus we bring you country, rock, pop, with hints of R&B, post-electronic, with some singer-songwriter thrown in for good measure.
The goal here is to expose you to what’s new, what’s out there but maybe not on your radar, and maybe find you a brand new favourite band.
Let’s do this!
Artist: Imagine Dragons
Hometown: Las Vegas
Genre: Rock
Related Artists: X Ambassadors, Walk the Moon, AWOLNATION
Song: Next to Me
Notes: With their ever-present drums, this is a love song. Rhythmic lyrics feature heavily in this song and the brand new video is beautiful and heartbreaking. We’ve come to expect a lot from Imagine Dragons videos and the video for Next to Me lives up to our expectations.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Dru Cutler
Hometown: Tampa (currently living in Brooklyn)
Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Indie Rock
Related Artists: Sam Roberts, The Airborne Toxic Event
Song: Oceanside
Notes: In the music world these days, EPs are more common than full albums, and this two-song EP harkens back to single releases. With an A-Side and a B-Side, Oceanside is gentle and nostalgic. Cutler comes across as vulnerable, and this song leaves me feeling longing. Longing for the ocean and past loves.
I find it difficult to say, because The Hip stands alone, but there are hints here. Listen for them.
I’ve thrown in a bonus song, check out the second track. It’s a Leonard Cohen cover, and it’s a modern take on the classic and it’s a great balancing track for this EP. The opening violins suck you in immediately. Dru’s voice is perfect for this song.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: The Lay Awakes
Hometowns: Edmonton by way of Fergus, ON and Brooklyn, NY
Genre: Pop
Related Artists:
Song: Press Play
Notes: The Lay Awakes have got a new album dropping very soon, and we were surprised by a brand new release on Friday, Press Play. Athletes and musicians, Anna Paddock and Patrick Anderson, deliver a haunting song with Anna taking the lead on vocals. I love the piano on this track, and I love the way their voices sound when they sing harmony.
Patrick and Anna are partners in life as well as in this musical partnership. I’m looking forward to more music from this pair.
Watch for a new video coming out March 22nd, followed by the release of their first full-length album on May 4th.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Jimmie Allen
Hometown: Southern Delaware
Genre: Country
Related Artists: Morgan Allen, Charles Kelly, Chris Young
Song: Best Shot
Notes: Best Shot is Jimmie Allen’s debut Canadian single, and it’s a fun mix of country, rock, R&B, and pop. It’s a love song, inspired by advice from Jimmie’s grandmother. It’s a pretty personal song, and we appreciate the peek into Jimmie’s world.
Jimmie Allen is making waves and hitting lots of “artist to watch” lists. Jimmie is playing The Opry for the first time on May 4th, and he’s slated to play Boots and Hearts this summer.
Jimmie’s self-titled EP is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music, Deezer, Napster and Tidal.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Mute Choir
Hometown: Newmarket (Toronto)
Genre: Post-Electronic, Indie, Alternative
Related Artists: Darcys, Oasis, Cold Play
Song: Behind the Bars
Notes: Sam Arion brings us something new. A new sound with hits of soul and great storytelling. Behind the Bars is the second single, and it looks at fears and introspection.
Influenced by many genres including hip hop, heavy rock, and electronic music, he’s infused pieces of many genres into his sound, and I’m a fan.
Musically, “Behind the Bars” gives me the feeling of being alone on Christmas – sadness, regret, nostalgia, and even spite. In this case, spite is a particularly interesting emotion because it often masks feelings of sadness and isolation, making them easier to bear. Most of the songs on this forthcoming record deal with ideas of both freedom and entrapment, and “Behind the Bars” definitely embodies the latter.
Links: Soundcloud / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Artist: Towers and Trees
Hometown: Victoria
Genre: Indie Rock/Pop
Related: Poor Young Things, Arkells, Band of Rascals
Song: Head Down / Heart Up
Notes: A last minute addition to this Spotlight, this one arrived in my inbox on Friday, and I had to include it. I love the message and the delivery. Head Down / Heart Up is upbeat and fresh and feels like Spring to me.
Turn your head down heart up is an inspiring mantra, and one most of us could use. With the amount of information coming at us every day, the noise of the world sometimes overpowers the feelings inside. Head Down / Heart Up is the perfect tune for starting your day and setting a tone.
I for one, am happy the indefinite hiatus ended and that Towers and Trees are creating new music.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Author profile
Writer/Photographer/Editor
Toronto Music Blogger
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