Melbourne-based band Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever release a new single/video, “Falling Thunder,” from their highly-anticipated second album, Sideways to New Italy, out June 5th on Sub Pop. The video premiered earlier today via The Fader. Led by singer-songwriter-guitarists Tom Russo, Joe White and Fran Keaney, and rounded out by bassist Joe Russo and drummer Marcel Tussie, Sideways To New Italy is a stunning return for the five-piece following their internationally acclaimed debut album, Hope Downs (2018).
Following the album’s widely-lauded first two singles “She’s There” and “Cars In Space,” “Falling Thunder” continues to find RBCF at the peak of their powers: a swirling, mesmeric pop song that perfectly evokes the timeless nature of Sideways To New Italy - a record that’s universal yet threaded through with personal histories, born of dislocation but with a distinct geographic identity. Tom Russo explains it’s “about pushing on through the relentless march of time, against the constant cycle of seasons. And the way people change and relationships change. It’s set in that time when autumn is turning into winter and the trees are getting bare.”
The accompanying video was shot by a friend of the band, Jamieson Moore, and is comprised of vacation footage from Sicily, Sardinia and the Aeolian Islands, the ancestral homeland of the Russo Brothers. As Tom elaborates: “Our friend Jamieson Moore shot the footage of Sicily, Sardinia and the Aeolian Islands on her phone while on vacation last year. The Aeolian Islands is also where my and Joe Russo’s ancestors are from. We were also planning to shoot the band playing in Eolian Hall in Melbourne (it’s a community hall founded by Aeolian immigrants). We got some practice footage but by the time it came to shoot the band, we were on lockdown. So it’s turned out as a kind of a love letter to a particular place.”
The eponymous New Italy is a village near New South Wales’s Northern Rivers – the area Tussie is from. A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pit-stop of a place with fewer than 200 residents, it was founded by Venetian immigrants in the late-1800s and now serves as something of a living monument to Italians’ contribution to Australia, with replica Roman statues dotted like souvenirs on the otherwise rural landscape. The parallel between these remnants of home and the band’s own attempts to maintain connections and create familiarity during their disorienting time on the road were not lost on Russo. “These are the expressions of people trying to find home somewhere alien; trying to create utopia in a turbulent and imperfect world.”
The record’s very present geographic identity emerged from the band losing their grip on their own, whether that was through the pressure of touring, the dissolution of relationships, a frustrating distance from their daily lives – or some combination of all three – which stemmed from having been slingshot all over the world. The past two years have seen Rolling Blackouts C.F. play the world’s biggest music festivals, from Coachella, Governors Ball, Pitchfork Music Festival, Primavera, and Shaky Knees to Lowlands, Pukkelpop, Green Man and Splendour in the Grass, plus sold-out headline shows across London, San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Philadelphia, New York City and of course, landing back at home for their sold-out Australian album tour.
In addition to the specific town, the songs on the record exist variably in Darwin (“Cameo”), Melbourne (“Beautiful Steven”), Los Angeles (“The Cool Change”), the tiny town of Rushworth (“Not Tonight”) and the driver’s seat of a car at a drive-in movie (“Cars in Space”). Rolling Blackouts C.F are well-versed in a detailed and cinematic style of songwriting, where landscapes, interactions and memories materialize as characters and stories that reflect the tight, swirling guitars that emote alongside the trio’s voices.
“I felt completely rudderless on tour,” Keaney says. “It’s fun but you get to a point where you’re like, Who am I anymore? You feel like you’re everywhere and nowhere at the same time. And no one in particular.” Russo adds, “We saw a lot of the world, which was such a privilege, but it was kind of like looking through the window at other people’s lives, and then also reflecting on our own.”
Sideways To New Italy is now available for preorder from Sub Pop. Preorders of the LP through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America, the U.K., and Europe, will receive the limited Loser edition (while supplies last). There will also be a new T-shirt design available.
Like so many of you, we are spending A LOT of time at home these days. And, because (despite all the sarcasm…) we really do care about you guys a whole lot, we are here to help!
Coloring Sheet #3 has arrived, and it’s as true today as it was in 1991… Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge! That’s right, Mudhoney’s timeless classic is now available in the rare and sought after coloring sheet format. Download the full-size .jpeg here.
And here we have Sub Pop Coloring Sheet #2, the second in a series of [who knows?]. Hat tip to our friends Flight of the Conchords, their legendary self-titled album, and Illustrator Tyler Stout. (Here for free download as a JPEG because who uses TIFF anyway?!)
BEHOLD below: Sub Pop Coloring Sheet #1, the first in a series of at least one! (Avail to you, FOR FREE, as either a JPEG or TIFF.)
Simply by downloading, printing and then applying your own, unique art-like skills to this handy, Sub Pop-based, at-home coloring-fun activity, you will avail yourself of an opportunity to…
While away the hours between waking to what really seems kind of like the same day over and over again, and the sweet release of sleep!
Distract yourself from the great, yawning chasm of doubt and dread opening ever wider at our very feet!
Sharpen up your skills, in preparation for an assuredly satisfying career in the world of fine art!
Show off your individual flair and good taste!
Create something delightful to post on social media and then (OF COURSE) tag us! (@subpop #subpopcoloring) There is the distinct possibility we will be moved to feature the best/weirdest/funniest of these in our Instagram feed!
Fun, right? WE KNOW!
We have also very recently created new Sub Pop-branded “Work From Home” playlists sure to provide you with minutes upon minutes of pure listening ECSTASY through many of today’s popular music streaming services. Please access these playlists here!
(You can also listen to the playlist that the art for Sub Pop Coloring Sheet #1 normally accompanies, not at all coincidentally titled “Home Is Where All of These Bands Are,” at any of the several streaming options available to you here!)
Please note: we owe a debt of great gratitude to our Late 30’s Art Director Sasha Barr for creating the art for these playlists, the associated Coloring Sheet #1, and so much more.
International touring extended through August 23rd, w/ SXSW performances March 16th-21st.
Corridor has delivered an official video for “Grand cheval,” directed and animated by Chad VanGaalen, and a standout from Junior, their acclaimed debut of 2019.
Corridor’s Jonathan Robert says of “Grand cheval,” “The song is inspired by a grumpy old man who came to bother us in a park once. He talked about mediocre poetry and philosophies of life while asking us for cigarettes and beers. When we asked him to leave us alone, he became angry, climbed on his high horse (“Grand cheval”) and became this old demagogue belittling the youth.”
And VanGaalen offers this, “I sewed a jacket, pants, and hat to rotoscope myself as this alien gatherer. Everything was drawn onto a malfunctioning 15-year old Cintiq. You can buy them for $20 on eBay, although I wouldn’t recommend it. The music made the snow fall up and not down. No matter what I did on Final Cut, it would always fall up. I filled my body and mind with many ingredients in order to go from monocular to trinocular, now my vision is blurry but my tailored clothing feels amazing. I can’t believe it is finished.”
Corridor Tour Dates + Ticket Links
Corridor has extended its headlining international tour schedule for 2020 in support of Junior which kicks-off this Wednesday, March 4th in Brooklyn at Rough Trade NYC and now ends Sunday, August 23rd in Wales at Green Man Festival. The band will also appear at the 2020 edition of SXSW in Austin, Texas. For more information on tickets, visit Corridor’s Sub Pop tour dates page.
Mar. 04 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC * Mar. 06 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Stopover Mar. 07 - Orlando, FL - Will’s Pub * Mar. 08 - Tampa, FL - Hooch and Hive * Mar. 09 - Miami, FL - Gramps * Mar. 10 - Gainesville, FL - The Atlantic Nightspot * Mar. 13 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger * Mar. 14 - Houston, TX - Satellite Bar * Mar. 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW/Hotel Vegas (Do512+Strange Brew Party / 6:45 pm) Mar. 17 - Austin, TX - SXSW/Lazarus Brewery (Music For Listeners showcase/3 pm) Mar. 17 - Austin, TX - SXSW/The Venue ATX Outdoors (Telefilm CAN + Bonsound showcase/9 pm) Mar. 18 - Austin, TX - SXSW/Hotel Vegas (Desert Daze showcase/10:15 pm) Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW/Hotel Vegas (Levitation Fest showcase/8 pm) Mar. 20 - Dallas, TX - Nasher Sculpture Mar. 21 - Austin, TX - SXSW/Hotel Vegas (Burger Records showcase/2 pm) Mar. 22 - Hot Springs, AR - VOV Festival * Mar. 23 - Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR * Mar. 24 - Atlanta, GA - 529 * Mar. 26 - Richmond, VA - Poor Boys * Apr. 30 - Brussels, BE - Botanique May 01 - Vlieland, NL - Here Comes The Summer Festival May 04 - Lille, FR - L’Areonef May 05 - Mainz, DE - Schon Schon May 06 - Amiens, FR - La Lune May 07 - Caen, FR - Le Cargo May 09 - Utrecht, NL - Ekko May 11 - Bristol, UK - The Old England May 12 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club May 13 - London, UK - The Victoria Dalston May 15 - Nancy, FR - Bon Moment @ Autre Canal May 16 - Paris, FR - Le Beau Festival May 17 - Dijon, FR - MV Festival @ Consortium Jul. 10 - Quebec City, QC - FEQ Festival Aug. 23 - Brecon Beacon, UK - Green Man Festival *w/ Deeper
[Photo Credit: Caroline Desilets]
Corridor’s Junior, their Sub Pop debut, is available now on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide through Sub Pop with the exception of Canada through Bonsound. The album was produced by Emmanuel Éthier, engineered by Samuel Gemme, mixed by Éthier and Gemme in Montreal at ReelRoad Studios, and mastered by Josh Bonati at Bonati Mastering in New York.
LP purchases of Junior through Sub Pop Mega Mart, select independent retailers and the band’s live shows in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on Soft-Boiled colored vinyl (while supplies last). Meanwhile, LP purchases of Junior throughout the UK and Europe from select independent retailers and the Corridor’s live shows, will receive the limited Loser edition on Egg Yolk colored vinyl (while supplies last).
Supports Sudan Archives March 3rd-13th, 2020 (select dates)
South Indian rap group Cartel Madras have just announced their first-ever U.S. shows in support of the Age of the Goonda EP, their Sub Pop debut, available now on all DSPs. The duo will support Stones Throw recording artist Sudan Archives beginning March 3rd in Minneapolis at 7th Street Entry and ending March 13th in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s (select dates). Preceding the tour Cartel Madras will also headline Barboza in Seattle on January 16th. For updated information on tickets and live performances, please visit subpop.com/artists/cartel_madras/tours.
Jan. 16 - Seattle, WA - Barboza Mar. 03 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry * Mar. 04 - Chicago, IL - Sleeping Village * Mar. 05 - Detroit, MI - Deluxx Fluxx * Mar. 06 - Toronto, ON - Longboat Hall * Mar. 07 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz Mar. 09 - Allston, MA - Great Scott * Mar. 11 - Washington, DC - Union Stage * Mar. 12 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom * Mar. 13 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s *
* w/ Sudan Archives
Cartel Madras’ Age of the Goonda EP, featuring the singles “Goonda Gold” and “Lil’ Pump Type Beat,” is available now worldwide through all DSPs from Sub Pop (with the exception of Canada through Royal Mountain Records).
What people are saying about Cartel Madras’ Age of the Goonda: “They’ve got an absolutely wicked flow — think M.I.A. meets Cardi B. Hints of traditional Tamil music are sprinkled throughout.” [“Goonda Gold”] - Stereogum
“Age of the Goonda is an invigorating five-track blast…More, please.” - The Wire
“At its core, Age of the Goonda is trap music: it’s brash, it’s rowdy and it’s fun. But laced throughout are nods to South Asian culture, Hinduism, race and queer identity that speak specifically to people who see themselves in one or more of those spaces.” - Exclaim!
“Comprised of six tracks, the EP possesses layered bass lines pumped with adrenaline, a range of Indian classical instruments weaved in and hooks that stay in your brain for days.” [Age of the Goonda] - NME
“Age of the Goonda provides an electrifying burst of the duo’s live show energy in concentrated form.” - Loud & Quiet
“There’s a lot more to come from the duo, with Eboshi and Contra firing together trap and their South Indian heritage with an almost punk-like relish for DIY. New EP Age Of The Goonda..is an explosion that should resonate in all corners of the globe. The EP is led by fiery new hymn ‘Goonda Gold’ and it emphasizes their pan-continent mosaic of sound - ‘goonda’ means thug, a word used across India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.” [“Goonda Gold”] - CLASH
“In pop analogy, this hip-hop duo comprising Calgary-bred, Chennai-born siblings Bhagya and Priya Ramesh is somewhat like a Tamil Pulp Fiction-meets-MIA. With a carousel of bad-ass, no-fucks-given, brown girl anthems, Cartel Madras is brought to life by two sisters who don’t shy of braggadocio (you can’t miss their stack of gold jewelry) as they spout songs about feminism, empowerment and inclusivity.” [“12 New Musicians Set to Breakthrough in 2020”] - Vogue India
The Big Exercise, which features the singles “I Celebrate My Fantasy,” the aforementioned “Male Bonding,” “Kaïn,” and the title track, was produced by The Homesick at Schenk Studio in Amsterdam, mixed by Casper van der Lans, and mastered by Mikey Young (Total Control, Eddy Current Suppression Ring).
The Big Exercise is available for preorder on CD/LP/DL from Sub Pop. Preorders of the album through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on bright yellow vinyl (while supplies last). Meanwhile, preorders in the UK and Europe from select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on opaque yellow vinyl (while supplies last).
The Homesick’s international tour schedule in support of The Big Exercise resumes February 21st, 2020 at Groningen at Vera and ends March 7th, 2020 in Utecht at Ekko. Additional live dates to be announced soon.
Feb. 21 - Groningen, NL - Vera Feb. 28 - Nijmegen, NL - Merleyn Mar. 05 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Mar. 06 - Rotterdam, NL - WORM Mar. 07 - Utrecht, NL - EKKO
About The Homesick’s The Big Exercise: If their debut Youth Hunt marked The Homesick’s tryst with faith and pastoral life, the band’s upcoming second album The Big Exercise brings them to more grounded, tangible pastures. With its title ripped from a passage in the Scott Walker-biography Deep Shade Of Blue, the record is a concentrated effort by Jaap van der Velde, Erik Woudwijk and Elias Elgersma to explore the physicality of their music in fresh ways (read more at Sub Pop).
Apple Music today announced masked country crooner Orville Peck will kick off the new year
as the latest Up Next artist to join Apple Music’s monthly artist initiative
geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent. Peck
embodies the program’s rising star status as a modern alt-country artist for
the Instagram age, a burgeoning fashion and cultural icon who is breaking
boundaries in the country music tradition.
Apple Music has fully supported the masked indie artist following the
release of his critically acclaimed 2019 debut album, Pony. Since then, Peck has been celebrated as a
guitar artist crossing genre bounds and showcased across Apple Music’s Pure Country
Radio, Today’s
Country, Indie Radio,
Untitled,
Up Next,
Country Wide,
Eclectic Rock,
as well as Zane Lowe and Matt Wilkinson’s Beats 1 anchor shows.
“I’m thrilled to
have been chosen as Apple’s newest Up Next artist,” said Peck. “They have been
so supportive of me and it feels real nice to be able to bring y’all a little
closer to who I am as a country musician and an artist.”
“Orville Peck is an
enigma alright: a glorious mix of differing qualities that, on paper, really
shouldn’t work,” said Apple Music host Matt Wilkinson. “Yet when you listen to
his music, and hear his story, and watch how he connects with people on stages
all over the world, there can be no denying that he’s hit upon something very
special indeed. At his London show last October I saw stetson-wearing country
old-timers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with drag queens, hipsters, indie kids,
members of the fashion elite and sweet couples out on date night - all
completely connected thanks to the music of one man who says he’s spent his
entire life feeling disconnected. The irony of that!”
Peck’s Up Next short shot on iPhone 11 comes to Apple Music
exclusively today and is available to watch HERE.
In the film, Peck speaks to his trademark fringed mask, and tells Apple Music,
“The point is combining ultra-sincerity with a heightened version of who you
are at your core.”
On January 29th, Peck will perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as part of Apple
Music’s Up Next program.
The latest music from Orville Peck, along with that of his Up Next
peers, is available now on the Apple Music Up Next Playlist.
