Articles by

Nicole Ortiz

LIVE REVIEW: San Fermin @ Brooklyn Steel

On May 13, San Fermin returned to Brooklyn, where they got their start, to put on a show worth remembering. Though the venue, Brooklyn Steel, just opened, several band members mentioned during the show just how important it was to be...

TRACK REVIEW: Stonefield “Sister”

Life is tough, and sometimes you need a dense track to complement that type of outlook. If you’ve found yourself in need of this type of song lately, then search no further than Stonefield’s track “Sister.” It’s the perfect descriptor for...

INTERVIEW: Ty Cooper

  Americana folk artist Ty Cooper delivers some smooth, soulful music in the form of his latest EP Fool. The EP is full of inspiration and drips with passion, and it’s evident upon first listening to his crooning vocals that...

ALBUM REVIEW: Vanbot “Siberia”

Vanbot’s latest full-length Siberia has arrived, and though it immediately seems like the ultimate relaxation record, it was created by a musician far out of her comfort zone. After getting rid of an entire album because she was unhappy with the end...

EP REVIEW: Roland Tings “Each Moment a Diamond”

True to its title, Roland Tings’ newest collection is sparkly and shined to perfection. To create this album, the Berlin-based, Melbourne-native producer worked through an obsessive routine where he repeated the same simple actions every day, like the route he took...

TRACK OF THE WEEK: Wayfarers “KINGS”

Wayfarers’ newest track “KINGS” is an anthem of empowerment, specifically that which can be found through music. With short claps throughout and a catchy yet minimalistic backing, it’s impossible to not get a surge of confidence while listening to “KINGS.”...

TRACK REVIEW: ZZ Ward feat. Joey Purp “The Deep”

After not seeing many releases from ZZ Ward since her 2015 EP Love and War, her new single “The Deep” is a refreshing sound for sore ears. “The Deep” finds Ward returning to her roots (alongside MC Joey Purp), channeling...

EP REVIEW: Milo Greene’s “Never Ender”

New music from Milo Greene is always exciting, and the group has been actively building up to their next great release after 2015’s Control. The quartet released their latest EP Never Ender through Nettwerk Music Group in February, and it holds...

TRACK OF THE WEEK: Cotillon “Alex’s Room”

Starting off with distorted guitar and indistinguishable background conversation, Cotillon’s latest single “Alex’s Room” sets listeners up for relaxation and nostalgia with this chill, fuzzy garage rock tune. It also may have listeners wondering, who is Alex, and why is anyone in...

LIVE REVIEW: Hayes Peebles at Rockwood Music Hall

Hayes Peebles packed Rockwood Music Hall February 23, where he soothed listeners with his charming vocals and calming aura. Backed by a full band, Peebles showcased his newly released EP Ghosts, and with it, the New York-based singer/songwriter also delivered a...

ALBUM REVIEW: Mozart’s Sister “Field of Love”

Montreal-based Caila Thompson-Hannant, aka Mozart’s Sister, is set to release her latest album Field of Love on Arbutus Records this Friday, a throw-back to Nineties dance pop and all its glittery, upbeat glory. Thompson-Hannant started working on the record...

INTERVIEW: Lady Lamb

Aly Spaltro, under the moniker Lady Lamb, released her newest EP Tender Warriors Club last month; it’s a vulnerable, stripped down collection created with acoustic guitar, unlike much of her prior work. To honor her more intimate approach, she’s also been conducting a...

INTERVIEW: Maria Taylor

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Maria Taylor has a long history of creating music – she played in her first...

INTERVIEW: The New Up

Let’s be honest: the world is a mess lately. But on their sophomore record, Tiny Mirrors, San Francisco-based indie pop duo The New Up find plenty of ways to channel the negativity into something positive. Since fatefully meeting at a music...

EP REVIEW: Rubblebucket “If U C My Enemies”

One thing that never tires me about Rubblebucket is that they can create unique, stand-alone tracks that each sound like they’re each from a completely different band. That, and their gratuitous use of brass (I’ll always be a ska...

TRACK REVIEW: Ty Segall “Break a Guitar”

Ty Segall’s “Break A Guitar” is a classic hair metal rock ‘n’ roll number straight out of the 80s, complete with screaming guitar solos and rocker attitude. The basics of the song itself aren’t very complex: it’s got repetitive...

TRACK REVIEW: Angel Olsen “Fly on Your Wall”

  [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] If you’re reading this right now, chances are you’re one of the millions who...

VIDEO REVIEW: Saint Motel “Move”

Los Angeles-based indie rockers Saint Motel just released a remix for their single “Move,” and Jenaux’s high-energy rework seems like the perfect excuse to revisit the band’s big-budget video for the original. A play on the glitchy aesthetics of of their record, Saintmotelevision, the video is...

TRACK REVIEW: Shy Girls “Say You Will”

“Say You Will,” the latest track from Shy Girls, a.k.a. singer-songwriter Dan Vidmar, is melancholic and yearning, perfect for those rainy mid-winter days. The bare-bones production and uncomplicated synths leave plenty of room to showcase Vidmar’s impressive vocal range and...

VIDEO REVIEW: Moon Bounce “Drugs”

Unsurprisingly, Moon Bounce’s video for the single “Drugs” is as trippy as its title suggests. Spoofing terrible album art from Wayne Cochran, Grace Jones, Prince, and more, the titillating track takes listeners on a tongue-in-cheek waltz through the aisles...

TRACK OF THE WEEK: San Fermin, “Bride”

It’s a good day when you stumble upon new music from San Fermin, and this week they’ve delivered “Bride,” from their upcoming album, Belong. It’s a poignant snapshot of social anxiety—something so many of us have dealt with in some capacity—which made...

TRACK REVIEW: Betty Who “Human Touch”

Betty Who’s latest single “Human Touch” is the pop dream we’ve been waiting to have. It’s bubbly and upbeat, danceworthy and synthy—pretty much, it’s everything we’ve come to expect from Betty Who at this point. The Australian songstress’ voice is...

TRACK REVIEW: Goodman “Hiccup”

With a very Beatles-esque vibe, Goodman is here to bring a bit of sunshine and chill to your dreary winter days with his latest single “Hiccup.” Singer/songwriter Michael Goodman delivers us this feel-good track that walks the line between...