We’ll let you into a little secret. We have a huge crush on Yoke Lore.
Based in New York, the pure and heartfelt music created by multi-instrumentalist, dancer, and visual artist Adrian Galvin can effortlessly translate miles across oceans to reach us here in the UK, hitting our heartstrings harder and harder upon every listen.
There is nothing fake about this artist.
Sounds like: Band of Horses, Yellerkin, Yeasayer, Local Natives
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Rae Isla – Mexico
Our hearts go out to those in Mexico at the moment. This one is for them.
‘Mexico’ is a debut song by Seattle-born Rae Isla, who has a family interest in South America. It features guitarist Lito de la Isla and was produced by Gianluca Buccellati (Tei Shi, Yellerkin).
Rae is donating all of her profits from the sale of the song to Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross).
Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Laurel
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Motion Trap – The Movement
Denver duo, Motion Trap (aka Kyle Williams and Nathan Rogers) release spirited new single, ‘The Movement’, and the synth-rock-pop number does just that. Make you move.
Expect their sophomore album ‘Heavenly Bodies’ out soon.
Sounds like: Depeche Mode, OMD, Future Islands, Roosevelt, Cut Copy
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REFS – Fool
REFS is the project of Brooklyn-based producer, Zach Lipkins.
Pure emotion and intimacy oozes from his R&B hit ‘Fool’, all perfectly enveloped with fervorous production.
Sounds like: John Legend, Jack Garratt, Klyne
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Nocturnal Tapes – All I Need
Wow, Nocturnal Tapes have arrived and aren’t we happy they have!
Their new single ‘All I Need’ takes you on a spacial journey of floaty dreamscapes and psychedelia attitudes. It is about that moment when you realise you have everything you need and suddenly the pressure you’ve been putting on yourself can lift.
Sounds like: Kasabian, Tame Impala, Du Tonc, Cut Copy
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Kendall Morgan – Undertow
If Lorde decided to dabble in hip hop, this might be the result – ‘Undertow’ by Kendall Morgan.
Kendall grew up in Nashville, and started writing songs as early as she can remember. Her experience in songwriting has led her to working on tracks with Kendrick Lamar and Yo Gotti.
Listen to ‘Undertow’ below.
Sounds like: Lorde, Kacy Hill
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Dutch producer Feiertag has teamed up with UK-born singer David Harks (Safetalk) on new single, ‘Bunraku’.
Production of the electronic track is slow and steady, with a combination of light synths and hooks, all mirrored by David Harks’ echoey vocals.
‘Bunraku’ is out now on Boogie Angst.
Sounds like: Yoke Lore, Safetalk, Yellerkin, Miike Snow
Feiertag
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David Harks
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Yoke Lore collects stories and sounds from the world around him, so it’s no wonder his music has an expansive nature to it.
His latest release is called ‘World Wings’, which Yoke says “is about starting to whip the wings you have to shake things up around you. If you sit still, you’ll be left behind; get up and don’t let anyone tell you to sit down. When things are hopeless, just keep moving.”
The track has Yoke Lore’s prominent off-balanced harmonies, intriguing lyrics, and a steady drum beat throughout. Another great release from an exciting artist.
He’ll be playing SXSW this week.
Sounds like: Band of Horses, Yellerkin, Yeasayer, Local Natives
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Someday River
Someday River are a psych folk band from Florida, who have been together for just one year.
Greyson Charnock, the band’s primary songwriter and frontman, says that their new EP, ‘Sleeping Sideways’ is about “finding good in the face of an insane world” and notes “accepting mistakes and carrying on” as another key theme on the release.
The boys put together a playlist for us. Listen below.
TOPS – Way You Want To Be Loved
This song is an instant go-to for gatherings with friends. A real mood setter… sexy track! I recommend the song “Sleeptalker” from TOPS as well, among others.
Levek – Black Mold Grow
Another song chock full of vibezzz – show this song to someone and they will trust your musical judgment for eternity~~ also see “Look on the Bright Side”
Jude Shuma – Wandering
Up and comers from Chicago, this group just put out a three song EP in December and it is repeat-worthy to say the least. Lo-Fi basement grooves for days.
Local Natives – Past Lives
Most recent single from Local Natives has a massive-bassy presence making it a pure feel-good necessity.
SWIMM – All the Time
Atmospheric ethereality, this song paints a feeling.. it’s the one you’re looking for. Florida-born boys making waves in the Psych/folk/indie world.
Goldensuns – I Feel This Place
Salt Lake City/ LA Transplants, the new Goldensuns EP really holds water, and luckily so. It’s enough to get us through the heat of the summer.
The Shouting Matches – Gallup, NM
Nostalgia in a pure form, this song takes you back wherever you want to go. Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon flexing his artistic range with this band, auto-tune not included.
Pinegrove – Old Friends
Found this song on YouTube, immediately hooked.. Pinegrove has several really incredible arrangements. I also suggest “Aphasia” and “Cadmium” among others. Check out some acoustic renditions from this NJ group on-the-rise.
Chad VanGaalen – Peace on the Rise
This tune rolls slow and steady through an apathetic dreamworld.. There is so much subtlety and intentionality behind the arrangement, I think that’s what keeps me coming back.
Sego – Wicket Youth
Contemporary, Pop Sensible, Avant – Sego always delivers on the art-music.. Here’s one of their most catchy tunes. Their songs rise to a new level when you see the videos that accompany them, aaaand go!
Robert Cray – Do That For Me
After hearing this song nearly 15 years ago at a soup kitchen in Atlanta… It was stuck in my head until I more recently discovered who/what it was by Googling the lyrics. Thank goodness I found my way back to this song. The arrangement and musicianship are a ripe source of inspiration for me.
Van Morrison – I’m Not Feeling It Anymore
Van at his finest here. No introduction or explanation needed… an absolute classic, Sunday morning pick me up.
Vulfpeck – Wait for the Moment
Sometimes you want the funk, sometimes you want the soul. Take both from Vulfpeck.. This band has some serious chops, and they do it all while having a damn good time. Positive vibrations are unavoidable on any track of theirs.
Fat Night – Someday
Orlando/Chicago boys really showing range with this track. Soul/Funk with pop sensibilities and a touch of Calypso combine for this unique song. Their live performance can border on Acid-Jazz. Look out for these guys; they are on the rise in a real way.
Julien Baker – Something
I am so enamoured with Julien Baker; her multiplicity of live recordings on you tube go to show that she is the real deal, voice and guitar work that you can rely on 100% every time. All of her songs are moving in their theory as well as delivery.
Nick Mulvey – Fever To The Form
A well know artist from England, Nick Mulvey doing what he does best with this song; potentially a perfect formula of restraint and production. Delivery and Control; this song has one hell of a progressive build for a folk tune.
Dustin Tebbutt – The Breach
Heard this song on some random indie playlist a couple years back. Dustin Tebbutt has his focus and his ideas in order. Beautiful and simple, this arrangement does it for me.
Suzanne Vega – Tom’s Diner
This is the original version of the song. Released in 1987, it was at the top of the pop charts as an A CAPPELLA SONG!! That blows my mind. Unconcerned with rhyming lyrics, its all about meter and imagery with this song.
Milo – Going No Place (feat. Elucid)
Milo is an intellectual rapper to rival all others… follow up this song by checking out some others of his. Along with some serious collabs, his lyricism is sharp witted and rich in symbolism as well as contemporary culture reference. Hip Hop at its finest.
Steely Dan – Reelin’ In The Years
Rounding out this playlist, arguably one of the best songs ever written.. Steely Dan was an obsessive band in the studio, and thank god, because we can enjoy this recording forever.
Sounds like: Day Wave, Summer Heart, Washed Out, The Drums, ROOSEVELT, Yellerkin, Night Drive, Carousel
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Yoke Lore
Yoke Lore made a playlist for us. We have a feeling hip hop is a big influence for him…
OK SO I MADE A PLAYLIST: Yoke Lore’s Guide to Hip Hop
So I don’t resume to know everything that’s going on, but I love hip hop with a passion and try to keep an eye on people that Kanye and Drake are ripping off.
Hip Hop is a huge part of American culture and a huge part of American history which like many art forms has it’s roots in community identity and subtle insurrection. With the rap demagogues controlling the radio, branding themselves, and becoming pop stars, hip hop is alienated from its foundations in the subversive music of early America.
Like Folk or Hardcore, Hip Hop has in the past always been about and for the community. With Beyonce writing 6 songs about her cheating husband, and Kanye ostentatiously releasing songs called ‘I love Kanye’…the community gets left behind. These are some artists that I think really represent and speak for their communities. Whether or not these songs themselves are socially aware, these artists are (in my humble opinion) keeping real hip hop alive.
Kodak Black – This is the slowest hardest weirdest catchiest song here. Trap gold. Kodak is huuugggee in the south and hasn’t really gotten to much airplay but his shows are nuts and they’re enormous. He really does something no one else does. Get into it.
Anderson Paak – I love this song. This is the banger. This is a real thing. You all know those people who are like fiends when the drugs come out. I love how he takes something so simple and kind of funny and makes it bang, makes it important. He could say anything and it would mean something.
Jay Electronica – This is JAY ELECTRONICA and MOBB DEEP TOGETHER…there’s nothing more to say.
Deathgrips – this song is kind of the dark horse? black sheep? whatever. It’s not like the rest, but it eludes to the bands relationship to hardcore which is so important to their whole identity so I thought i would throw this in there for fans of Guillotine who want to know where the hell it came from.
SZA – Ugh so smooth. ‘I love you like I like to get high’ — perfect.
SZA – I couldn’t resist putting another track from this EP up. Its an old EP that she did and I think she got signed and is going to be huge and those labels will put their claws in, but for now I just want to bask in it.
Thundercat – This song does everything and so does Thundercat. He is almost singlehandedly keeping jazz alive in modern hip hop. Thank you BRAINFEEDER for keeping the world safe.
Princess Nokia – Princess Nokia is dope and she writes a lot about trying to be a strong woman in a world dominated by the glorification of weak women. I dig it and I think its important.
Ratking – These are some friends of mine from NYC. My folk band Poor Remy used to open for them in BK basement shows and we’d thrash together. I was always amazed by the kind of devotion they inspired in these city kids. They sing about their city and its troubles. They were of the people and the people love them for always remembering it.
Antwon – he just keeps it weird, and its important to keep it weird. pc.
‘Safety’ is the 3rd offering from Yoke Lore’s forthcoming debut EP ‘Far Shore’, due out today, 6 May, via B3SCI Records. He’ll also make his US live debut this summer in NYC at The Well on 8 June.
Sounds like: Band of Horses, Yellerkin, Yeasayer, Local Natives
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Yoke Lore
Yoke Lore is the new project of Brooklyn-based spiritual artist, Adrian Galvin (Yellerkin).
Amongst the obvious musical talents, Adrian also draws (he drew the ‘Far Shore’ EP artwork), and practices dancing (having danced in the video for ‘Heavy Love‘), meditation, and Taoist yoga.
His debut EP, ‘Far Shore’ is out on 6th May via B3SCI Records. Pre-order here.
Sounds like: Band of Horses, Yellerkin, Yeasayer, Local Natives
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Yeasayer
Yeasayer returns with an awe-inspiring, spacey number called ‘I Am Chemistry’.
It has an odd relativity, similar to that of alt-J, but this concoction has more substance to it, courtesy of the wise vocal tones of lead singer, Chris Keating, and layers and layers of hearty Yeasayer sounds.
Pre-order the album, ‘Amen & Goodbye’ here.
Sounds like: alt-J, Broken Bells, Belgrave, Yellerkin, TV on the Radio, Wolf Parade, Local Natives
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Swimm
Los Angeles psych-pop duo, SWIMM, release their aptly named, ‘Beverly Hells’ EP; an eclectic array of diverse, meticulously arranged ethereal rock with huge sweeping guitars, infectious rhythms and arena-ready hooks.
When asked about what the Beverly Hells EP means to them, Chris Hess (one half of SWIMM, the other member being Adam Winn) had this to say:
“So far our time in LA has been the most wonderfully chaotic time in our lives both personally and creatively. This EP will serve as the first time capsule of our move here. It makes it really exciting to put it out and see what life it takes on on its own.”
The ‘Beverly Hells’ EP is now on 24West Records.
Tour dates below:
Sounds like: War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Young Empires, Yellerkin, Bright Light Social Hour, Dr. Dog, The Pixies, Summer Heart
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Day Wave
Day Wave released his highly anticipated debut EP entitled ‘Headcase‘ earlier this month, and today he releases his first-ever music video for ‘Drag’.
It is a glistening, sun-kissed track and the music video takes us on an adventure with Day Wave throughout his stomping grounds in the Bay Area.
Day Wave is the one-man recording project of 25-year-old Oakland based Jackson Phillips and one half of synth-pop duo Carousel.
North American Tour Dates – PRESS HERE for tickets
8/4/15 San Francisco, CA @ Phoenix Hotel
8/8/15 San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar – Outside Lands Aftershow
8/19/15 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
9/15/15 Seattle, WA @ Neptune *
9/17/15 Vancouver, Canada @ Imperial *
9/19/15 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
9/21/15 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *
9/23/15 Los Angeles, CA @ Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock *
9/24/15 Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar *
9/26/15 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
* supporting Blonde Redhead
Sounds like: The Drums, Washed Out, Jagwar Ma, Night Drive, Carousel, Caribou, ROOSEVELT, Yellerkin, Blonde Redhead
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