New Music Spotlight Featuring PIXIES, Hawksley Workman, Once A Tree, ARCHE, and Venture Palace

New Music from PIXIES, Hawksley Workman, Once A Tree, ARCHE, and Venture Palace

I’ve got a rainy Halloween night New Music Spotlight for you.

Today’s musical entries come from the U.S., Canada, and France. They include rock, pop, alternative, dream pop, pop psychédélique, and pocket rock. I love that our genre list keeps getting bigger.

You’ll know some of the artists, but I’m sure at least one of them will be brand new for you. Give them all a listen and let me know what you think.

Let’s do this!

Artist: Pixies
Hometown: Boston, MA, USA
Genre: Alternative Rock
Related: The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr., Frank Black
Song: Long Rider
Notes: New music from Pixies. Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering, and Paz Lenchantin released a new video today for the song Long Rider from the  new album Beneath The Eyrie (BMG/Infectious). The video is surreal, and dream-like, taking its cue from the tragic death of Desiree, an ardent surfer and close friend of Lenchantin’s whose final wave claimed her life a couple of years ago. Said Lenchantin, “It was almost as if Desiree had this dream before she went surfing that morning, and hints at that even if she had known her fate, she would still have taken that wave.”

Pixies are headed back out on tour in December, check their website for dates and ticket info.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / Beneath the Eyrie

Artist: Hawksley Workman
Hometown: Huntsville, ON Canada
Genre: Pop / Alternative
Related: Joel Plaskett Emergency, Matthew Good, Matt Mays
Song: Around Here
Notes: I’ve been a fan since the opening lines of the lead track on Lover/Fighter (2003). The once glam rocker dropped a new video today. It’s a fun to watch, four and a half minute video with a message that’s much darker than one expects from this treatment. It looks cheery, but the lyrics are serious. The singer says “The track is a call to action to rise to the challenge of long-term, committed love: the sometimes uphill and banal kind. This call is to reaffirm, strengthen, and celebrate the long term commitment, the stumbles, the doubts, and to glorify humility.”

“around here
we keep on fucking up
we drag our egos around
in a beggar’s cup

cuz we’ve all been taught
from such an early age
to build a wall around our hearts
so that thing will never break”

I’m feeling this song pretty hard. Tour dates are listed on the website, and there are already some sold-out shows. Get your tickets now while you still can? 

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / Around Here

Artist: Once A Tree
Hometown: Toronto, ON Canada
Genre: Dream Pop
Related: Iskwé, LAYNE, EZA
Song: Whatever You Do Kid
Notes: We have to admit that the ghosts on their video may have helped get this track on the list. Once a Tree is Jayli and Hayden Wolf.  The pair met when they left the doomsday religion, where they were both raised. Sharing a common background, the two fell in love and starting writing together. Jayli won a songwriting contest which brought them to Toronto, where they set up residence. Hayden entered the remix program, and their sound started to change. They’ve moved from folk to dream pop, and this song feels ethereal and carries a great message.
Links: Web / Facebook / tumblr / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / What Ever You Do Kid

Artist: ARCHE
Hometown: Lyon, FR
Genre: Pop Psychédélique
Related: Tohu Bohu, Temple Kid, Lala
Song: Back to the Sun
Notes: I was hooked by the 5-second mark. Great video work! I love a band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. The sound is chill and dreamy. It includes beautiful harmonies and sumptuous synth accompaniment.

The background includes ocean views, which always works for me. My favourite part of this video is the band itself. When they start their coordinated wiggle, it makes my heart sing. Trust me, you’ve gotta watch this one!
Links: Web / Facebook / Instagram / Spotify

Artist: Venture Palace
Hometown: Nashville, TN, USA
Genre: Pocket Rock
Related: Twenty One  Pilots, Kid Cudi,
Song: Wastin’
Notes: Happening in Nashville, A.C. DeMoss and Casey Peranich are doing something bold and different. I’m getting a hint of Twenty One Pilots mixed in a little Kid Cudi, with a dash of Kings of Leons. If you thought Nashville was only for country music, Venture Palace will prove to you rock is kicking it in The Music City. The hook from this song is still stuck in my head.

“Wastin’ describes how you are wanting something more in life, but at the same time you don’t want anything to change. This song evokes the dangers of complacency, and the gripping fear of being intolerably comfortable.” – Venture Palace

“Inspired by a wide range of artists from Lorde to Nine Inch Nails to AER, Venture Palace seeks to break the mold with a unique formula for hip-hop/rock inspired music. Think scratchy, ambient soundscapes that go somewhere.” – BroBible
Links: Web / Facebook / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / YouTube

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Trish Cassling

Writer/Photographer/Editor

Toronto Music Blogger