New Music from Mammoth WVH, Morgan Wallen, Brittany Kennell, kintaro, LP, and DRONES

In this edition of our New Music Spotlight, I’m highlighting artists close to home and from afar – from Toronto to London, UK.

There’s rock, punk, country, and more. Trust me, you’ll like all of them! Watch, listen, and then please, go check out their links.

Let’s do this!

Artist: Wolfgang Van Halen (Mammoth WVH)
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Genre: rock
Related: Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Counting Crows, Tom Petty, Kim Mitchell
Song: Distance
Notes: Soaring to the top of all the charts when it hit the airwaves and interwebs this week, Wolfy Van Halen’s Distance shows off the artist’s talent. We’d seen him on stage with Van Halen over the years, but he’s stepping into the spotlight with this one. His tone is memorable, his voice is rich, the guitar riffs are powerful. It’s modern with a hint of classic country rock. With the addition of an intensely emotional video compilation with EVH, it set the path for this song to climb to the top of the charts.

“As my pop continued to struggle with various health issues, I was imagining what my life would be like without him and how terribly I’d miss him. While the song is incredibly personal, I think anyone can relate to the idea of having a profound loss in their life, I never intended ‘Distance’ to be the very first piece of music people would hear from me, but I also thought my father would be here to celebrate its release. This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop.” – WVH

Proceeds from “Distance” will be donated to Pop’s favorite charity, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / Distance

Artist: Morgan Wallen
Hometown: Sneedville, TN
Genre: Country
Related: Chris Lane, Kane Brown, Riley Green
Song: Somebody’s Problem, Livin’ The Dream, Still Goin’ Down
Notes: Morgan Wallen isn’t fooling around. The CMA New Artist of the Year released three new tracks today – Somebody’s Problem (writers: Wallen, Rodney Clawson, Jacob Durrett, Ernest Keith Smith), Livin’ The Dream (writers: Wallen, Ben Burgess, Jacob Durrett, Michael Hardy), and Still Goin Down (writers: Wallen, Michael Hardy, Ryan Vojtesak). Along with the singles, he’s launched the pre-order for his upcoming sophomore album Dangerous: The Double Album which drops on January 8, 2021.

What can you expect from the singles? According to the press release –

“Somebody’s Problem” is a twisty, deceptively sweet love song, where “Still Goin Down” adds to Wallen’s collection of signature, Tennessee-pride-riddled, hometown anthems, touting the lifestyle he knows from experience. “Livin’ The Dream” is Wallen’s most self-reflective slow burner to date, gripping from the start and brutally honest.”

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

Artist: Brittany Kennell
Hometown: Beaconsfield, QC
Genre: Country
Related: Mackenzie Porter, Meghan Patrick, Kacey Musgraves
Song: Drunk Lips
Notes: There’s something so beautiful about this song. It’s Brittany’s voice, it’s the lyrics, it’s the guitar, it’s the feeling. As I was watching the video, I started making notes, little questions. Luckily for me, and for you, I’m getting the chance to get those questions answered on Monday. Stay tuned for my interview with Brittany, and if you have any questions, you think I should ask her, shoot me a message.

If you think she seems familiar, you may have seen her on The Voice. She was the first Canadian to compete! In addition to this single release today, Brittany has announced her debut album will be released in March of 2021, and she’s confirmed that she’s been added to Montreal’s Lasso festival in August 2021 alongside headliners Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley and Old Dominion. Lots of news today!

“Drunk Lips is a love triangle between love, truth and alcohol. Are these feelings real or swayed from too many drinks? I’ve experienced heartbreak from being too vulnerable and trusting only to end up being ghosted or lead on in the end. However, this isn’t just about asking the other person if they are being honest but also asking myself how I feel. We all deserve truth, even when it’s chased with a few drinks.” – B. Kennell

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

Artist: kintaro
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Genre: alt-pop/rock
Related: Birds of Bellwoods
Song: Too Young
Notes: This haunting song comes to us from Kintaro Akiyama, who has been working on a solo project, while also working on the sophomore album with Birds of Bellwoods.

“Too Young” is a reflection of my first real experience with loss. It was written over the course of a year, detailing the journey of my dad’s passing. Sonically it weaves a landscape of 80’s inspired digital production, electric bass, and layered vocals. This is the debut single from my forthcoming project. Written, performed, recorded, and produced by Kintaro Akiyama. Additional mixing by Jack Emblem. Mastered by João Carvalho. – kintaro

Links: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / Too Young

Artist: LP
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Genre: Singer-Songwriter
Related: Tegan and Sara, Fitz and the Tantrums, Serena Ryder
Song: How Low Can You Go
Notes: Working again with Mike Del Rio (co-writer, producer, background vocals, and all instruments except drums) and Nate Campany (co-writer, background vocals, and keyboards), the track was written and recorded, at the Hotel El Ganzo, San José del Cabo, México, and at LP’s Hotel Havana Studio, in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles.

The result is a song with swagger, pensiveness, and sultry attitude reflecting the mixed emotions born out of late-night adventure, self-exploration and the rollercoaster of love, as told through LP’s emotional vocals and intimate delivery.

“The video for ‘How Low Can You Go’ takes you on a journey through what inspired the song – some wild and sordid nights I’ve experienced over the years and the people I’ve met. Sometimes, even if you only spend a very small amount of time with someone, they leave an impression on you, and in, you. I find myself wondering ‘what if’ at times and there have also been many moments that I took that path and it’s changed my life and pushed me to the limits of right and wrong and the potential consequences of both. This video is a fantasy of what I wanted from one of those moments.” – LP

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

Artist: DRONES ft. Ren Aldridge
Hometown: London, UK
Genre: punk
Related: Runaway Kids, Bad Cop, Bad Cop, The Bombpops
Song: Our Hell Is Right Here
Notes: DRONES have released the title track from their upcoming album Our Hell Is Right Here. The song is an emphatic condemnation of abuses of power and features a guest turn from Petrol Girls‘ Ren Aldridge.

“There are songs on this album that I had to write for my own therapy. Whilst writing this record, I went through a divorce, lost a family member and was battling with my own mental health. At the same time, it felt like the world was falling apart. ‘Our Hell Is Right Here’ is the product of my experiences over the past few months. There’s a lot of sadness on this record, but I can now look back and celebrate who I have become in spite of it all.” – Vocalist Lois McDougall

Our Hell Is Right Here is set to be released on February 12, 2021, via Thousand Islands Records in North America and Lockjaw Records in UK/EU.  For the first time, this album will feature guest vocals.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / Album Pre-Order

Author profile

Trish Cassling

Writer/Photographer/Editor

Toronto Music Blogger