Today, Wednesday, August 16th, marks the release of new Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 8 contributions from Thrash Palace, Gaye Su Akyol, and a collaborative project from Clipping’s Jonathan Snipes and singer Jessica Winter – each available now on all DSPs and as limited-edition vinyl 7” singles.
Thrash Palace is the new supergroup composed of Erika M. Anderson, Vice Cooler, and Sarah Register. In 2022, guitarist Register (Talk Normal, Kim Gordon, and UK-based trio Better Corners), LA-based producer Cooler (XBXRX, Kim Gordon, Peaches, Louisahhh, AH-MER-AH-SU), and Anderson (aka EMA, also of Gowns, Amps for Christ) pulled off a 48-hour recording session at Cooler’s studio, thus birthing Thrash Palace.
Two songs from the session form Thrash Palace’s debut single. On the anthemic “Go,” Anderson’s growling voice rides alongside Register’s barnstorming guitar and Cooler’s stadium-ready drums, pounding out an urgent heartbeat. The contemplative B-side “Teenage Spaceship” highlights the interwoven vocals of Anderson and Register. The two songs offer a tantalizing taste of what’s to come from the trio.
Gaye Su Akyol is a singer, painter, and anthropologist from Istanbul, Turkey. Her two new, self-produced tracks for the Singles Club fuse hard rock, surf, and electronic music to push at the boundaries of rock and Anatolian psychedelic music (see New York Times Dec. 2019 feature).
Their single leads with a cover of “Love Buzz,” originally by the Dutch psych band Shocking Blue, and famously covered by Nirvana on their 1988 debut single. It is a fitting tribute to the huge impact Nirvana had on Akyol in at a young age. The B-side, “‘Böyle Olur Mu,” breathes new life into the song with hard-to-forget electro baglama, thick bass riffs, heroic guitars, and dark beats. Akyol has a series of US dates in September that includes stops in Philly, DC, Boston, NYC, SF, and Seattle.
Jessica Winter is a musician and producer from the UK. She has produced Mercury Prize winners The Big Moon, and remixed Metronomy, among others. She’s an electronic pop artist but has toured with the likes of Death Grips. Jonathan Snipes is an LA-based composer and sound designer for film and theater, occasional sound-design teacher at UCLA, and member of the rap group clipping.
The pair’s Singles Club Vol. 8 release, “All I Need” b/w “Finish Line,” resulted from a collaborative session, about which Winter says: “We made these songs in Jonathan’s studio on a short stay in Los Angeles. His studio is wall-to-wall modular synth and analog drum machines. I’d come straight from a party in downtown where most people were on crystal meth, and so I was inspired by this new culture I’d stumbled upon. Thinking about the basic needs of life and what things reduce to, ultimately.”
Subscribe to the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 8 now to get twelve super-limited 7” vinyl records featuring exclusive music by today’s finest musicians! It’s limited to a mere 835 subscriptions, because it’s volume 8, and 2023 is Sub Pop’s 35th birthday! You’ll get 7”s by Thrash Palace, Gaye Su Akyol, Jessica Winter & Jonathan Snipes, along with Margarita Podridas, Brontez Purnell, Vanishing Twin, Suki Waterhouse, and more. And, to top it all off, you’ll get a lavish storage box, with art by @oldsweaty, to keep the records together.
You will get two singles in the mail roughly every other month though February 2024. Computer users: fear not! You will also get digital downloads of the tracks through your Sub Pop Mega Mart account. Hear music from the series via the Singles Club playlist, and subscribe here.
Weyes Blood is sharing a new video for “Hearts Aglow” from her acclaimed album And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow, out now on Sub Pop.
The “Hearts Aglow” video was directed by tour photographer Neelam Khan Vela and is a visual collage of Weyes Blood’s headlining dates in Europe and North America.
Weyes Blood’s “In Holy Flux Tour” in support of And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow resumes on August 14th supporting The Strokes at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater, with a run of headline dates as well as opening shows with Beck & Phoenix, (August 18th-22nd; September 2nd-10th).
Weyes Blood will also play a special hometown headlining show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with Perfume Genius on October 4th.
On Saturday, October 28th, she’ll begin the “In Holy Flux Tour: The Resurrection,” a run of UK and European shows that will begin in Lisbon, PT at LAV Lisboa ao Vivo and run through Tuesday, November 14th in Nottingham, UK at Rock City.
Weyes Blood will be supported on the “In Holy Flux Tour” headlining dates in the US by Nick Hakim (August 3rd-September 1st and September 12th-14th), Sarah Kinsley (August 15th-16th), and Sub Pop labelmate Lael Neale (September 27th-29th).
In the UK and Europe, Weyes Blood will see support from Vagabon (October 31st-November 15th), Núria Graham (October 28th-30th), and Ichiko Aoba (November 8th and 13th). Please find a current list of tour dates below.
August/October 2023: North America Beck & Phoenix Support Dates “In Holy Flux Tour: Unleashed” US Headline Shows Aug. 14 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater # Aug. 15 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up @ Aug. 16 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theatre @ Fri. Aug. 18 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP * Sun. Aug. 20 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion * Mon. Aug. 21 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion * Tue. Aug. 22 - Austin, TX - Moody Center * Wed. Aug. 23 - New Orleans, LA - The Joy Theater ^ Fri. Aug. 25 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman ^ Sat. Aug. 26 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant ^ Sun. Aug. 27 - Louisville, KY - Old Forester’s Paristown Hall ^ Tue. Aug. 29 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue ^ Wed. Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall ^ Fri. Sep. 01 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre ^ Sat. Sep. 02 - Detroit, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre * Sun. Sep. 03 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage * Tue. Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway * Fri. Sep. 08 - Philadelphia, PA - TD Pavilion at the Mann * Sat. Sep. 09 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden * Sun. Sep. 10 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion * Tue. Sep. 12 - Richmond, VA - The National ^ Wed. Sep. 13 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore Charlotte ^ Thu. Sep. 14 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre ^ Sat. Sep. 16 - Cincinnati, OH - Homecoming Fest Wed. Sep. 27 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield ! Thu. Sep. 28 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theatre ! Fri. Sep. 29 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre ! Wed. Oct. 04 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek %
October/November 2023: UK/Europe “In Holy Flux Tour: The Resurrection” Sat. Oct. 28 - Lisbon, PT - LAV Lisboa ao Vivo + Sun. Oct. 29 - Porto, PT - Hard Club + Mon. Oct. 30 - Madrid, ES - Sala la Paqui + Tue. Oct. 31 - Barcelona, ES - Sala Apolo $ Thu. Nov. 02 - Lyon, FR - Le Transbordeur $ Fri. Nov. 03 - Milano, IT - Alcatraz $ Sat, Nov. 04 - Lausanne, CH - Les Docks $ Mon. Nov. 06 - Berlin, DE - Astra Kulturhaus $ Tue. Nov. 07 - Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Vredenburg $ Wed. Nov. 08 - Paris, FR - Pitchfork Music Festival (Salle Pleyel) $ = Thu. Nov. 09 - Antwerp, BE - De Roma $ Sat. Nov. 11 - Glasgow, UK - Old Fruitmarket $ Sun. Nov. 12 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy Leeds $ Mon. Nov. 13 - London, UK - Pitchfork Music Festival (Eventim Apollo) $ = Tue. Nov. 14 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City $
* w/ Beck + Phoenix # w/ The Strokes $ w/ Vagabon % w/ Perfume Genius ^ w/ Nick Hakim ! w/ Lael Neale @ w/ Sarah Kinsley + w/ Núria Graham = w/ Ichiko Aoba
For up-to-date information on tour dates and tickets, please visit WeyesBlood.com/tour.
Weyes Blood has capitaved audiences with the “In Holy Flux Tour” stops in support for …Hearts Aglow.
MOJO says of her recent Glastonbury set, “Her cosmic Carpenters soundworld, a floating white robe and some typically strangeifying visuals by Adam Curtis for ‘God Turn Me Into A Flower’ make this an early peak of the day.” The Times of London offered this, “A poised mix of chamber pop, psychedelic folk, and hypnotic cabaret…. Summer bride meets sorceress.” Watch her Glastonbury performance of “Andromeda” filmed for BBC Music now.
Her Pitchfork Music Festival set also saw praise from the likes of The Alternative, who say, “The real star of Saturday (and perhaps the whole weekend) was Weyes Blood’s Natalie Mering, angelic and aglow in all-white, lit up like she’d been sent from the heavens to rock the absolute life out of us.”
Weyes Blood also recently delivered a stunning performance of “God Turn Me Into A Flower” on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and featured footage from documentarian Curtis.
Weyes Blood’s And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow is available on CD/LP/CS/DSPs from Sub Pop.
What people are saying about Weyes Blood’s And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow:
“Stunning…” NEW YORK TIMES
“A masterpiece.” ★★★★★ -SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE
“One of the year’s most breathtaking records.” ★★★★★ - NME
“And In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow is intricately put together, with Mering mirroring the sentiments of in head-bending arrangements.” ★★★★ - ROLLING STONE
“One fantastic tune after another.” “Album of the Week” ★★★★ - THE GUARDIAN
“…Through stark truths and dreamy poetry, brushes against big ideas about our broken world and quiet apocalypses of her own: it’s an ecosystem of intimacy, in its power to redeem and to destroy.” NPR MUSIC
“Utterly contemporary and original.” 9/10 -LOUD & QUIET
“…A record of remarkable consideration. Magnificently composed. Feeling like a timeless classic.” 9/10 - THE LINE OF BEST FIT
“...Her grandest, most elegant work to date.” 9/10 - UNDER THE RADAR
“An idiosyncratic set of love songs and secular hymns with lushly orchestral arrangements.” 8.4/10, “Best New Music” - PITCHFORK
On Friday, September 8, Deeper will release Careful!, its new full-length album worldwide on CD/LP/CS/DSPs through Sub Pop. Careful! was recorded at Palisade Studios in Chicago with help from producer/engineer Dave Vettraino (Makaya McCraven, Lala Lala), and this thirteen-track collection of new songs finds the band reshaping facades, splashing color, and sonically testing their limits.
Following the previously released singles “Sub,” “Build a Bridge,” and “Tele” comes the official video for the new single “Fame.”
Deeper say about the single and video: “‘Fame’ is a sentimental favorite of ours – to us, it’s the sound of ‘Careful!’. It embodies the conversations in your mind after feeling you made a mistake and the thoughts linger in your head afterwards. The lyricism is built on repeated mantras and the instrumentation builds the tension. This is the first song from the record that embodies a more experimental side we’re excited to showcase.”
The band recently performed at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival on July 22nd in Chicago, which the Chicago Sun Times described as a “ …unforgettable triumph…joyous, jagged, infectious and definitely musically memorable.” Deeper has expanded its headline world tour to include a hometown show on Oct. 26th at Thalia Hall in Chicago. North American dates are from September 21st to October 26th, and European and UK shows are from October 31-November 14th.
Thu. Sep. 21 - Indianapolis, IN - Healer # Fri. Sep. 22 - Detroit, MI - El Club # Sat. Sep. 23 - Toronto, ON - Baby G # Sun. Sep. 24 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz # Mon. Sep. 25 - Somerville, MA - Crystal Ballroom # Wed. Sep. 27 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Made # Thu. Sep. 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s # Fri. Sep. 29 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar # Sat. Sep. 30 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook # Mon. Oct. 02 - Nashville, TN - Third Man Records # Tue. Oct. 03 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl # Wed. Oct. 04 - New Orleans, LA - Santos # Thu. Oct. 05 - Houston, TX - Black Magic # Fri. Oct. 06 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (inside) $ Sat. Oct. 07 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger $ Tue. Oct. 10 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar $ Wed. Oct. 11 - San Diego, CA - Casbah $ Fri. Oct. 13 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room $ Sat. Oct. 14 - Santa Cruz, CA - Catalyst Atrium $ Sun. Oct. 15 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent $ Tue. Oct. 17 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios $ Wed. Oct. 18 - Seattle, WA - Madame Lou’s $ Sat. Oct. 21 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge ^ Sun. Oct. 22 - Denver, CO - Skylark ^ Thu. Oct. 26 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall Tue. Oct. 31 - Berlin, DE - Urban Spree Wed. Nov. 01 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega Ideal Bar Thu. Nov. 02 - Hamburg, DE - Molotow Fri, Nov. 03 - Brussels, BE - Botanique Sat. Nov. 04. Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Sun. Nov. 05 - Paris, FR - La Boule Noire Tue. Nov. 07 - Leeds, UK - Headrow House Wed. Nov. 08 - Glasgow, UK - Broadcast Thu. Nov. 09 - Manchester, UK - Yes Fri. Nov. 10 - Bristol, UK - Dareshack Sat. Nov. 11 - London, UK- Pitchfork Music Festival Sun. Nov. 12 - Kortrijk, BE - Sonic City Festival Tue. Nov. 14 - Cologne, DE - Bumann & Sohn
# w/ Godcaster $ w/ Mia Joy ^ w/ Worlds Worst
What people have been saying about Deeper: ” ’Sub’ finds Deeper settling into its most polished sound yet, one that’s finally ready for the indie-rock big leagues. But even when the grit that defined its earlier work is toned down a bit, Deeper’s music can’t be stripped of an angsty zeal.” [“Sub”] NPR
“accurately recalls that stubborn, left-field streak Chicago artists so readily call their own.” - [“Sub”] CLASH
“With a steadfast rhythm guitar swarmed by Television-esque riffs, “Build a Bridge” is a majestic, dark and massive rock song.” - [“Build a Bridge”]PASTE
“Pop melodies drive “Build a Bridge,” but they’re undercut with Deeper’s classic pointed, jittery guitars that make the track at once catchy and a little unnerving.” - [“Build a Bridge”]CONSEQUENCE
Today, Local Natives release a reimagining of the single “NYE” featuring singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse. The original version of the song premiered on BBC Radio 6 Music and comes off their fifth studio LP Time Will Wait For No One which arrived earlier this month via Loma Vista. The latest version of “NYE” is dreamy, romantic and stripped-down, with Suki’s vocals adding a contemplative bend - turning a song fit for a house party in the hills into a sunset drive to the beach. The release is accompanied by a performance video directed by Joseph Wasilewski that sees the band in the studio with Suki, watch it HERE.
Suki Waterhouse says, “I’ve been a massive fan of Local Natives for a long time and it was such a fun experience to be in the studio with them. I’m so thrilled that I got to sing on this record with them.”
WATCH LOCAL NATIVES AND SUKI PERFORM “NYE” AT THE FORD LA HERE
Time Will Wait For No One showcases the band’s seminal SoCal harmonies and was recorded across historic LA recording studios with Grammy award winning producer John Congleton (Angel Olsen, Death Cab For Cutie, St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten), Michael Harris (Lana Del Rey, Feist), and Danny Reisch (Sun June, Other Lives).
Following two hometown nights at the Ford Theater in LA to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band’s sophomore LP Hummingbird, the band will embark on the Time Will Wait For No One Tour. The 25-city nationwide tour kicks off in Minneapolis on August 18 and criss-crosses the US all summer, including performances at NYC’s Pier 17 on August 29, two nights at DC’s 9:30 Club on August 24 and 25 and Austin’s Stubbs on September 16.
Today, CHAI — the adored Japanese four-piece composed of identical twins MANA (vocals/keys) and KANA (guitar), drummer YUNA, and bassist/lyricist YUUKI — present their new single/video, “NEO KAWAII, K?,” from their forthcoming self-titled album out September 22nd on Sub Pop. Since the band’s inception in 2011, CHAI has espoused a philosophy they call Neo Kawaii, in reference to the Japanese word for cute, a label typically bestowed upon women who maintain societally prescribed beauty standards. As young women, CHAI felt that any deviation from what culture considered kawaii was discouraged, and so Neo Kawaii emerged as a rallying cry against those oppressive standards. “Neo Kawaii is about reclaiming self-esteem,” MANA says. On the ESG-inspired single “NEO KAWAII, K?” MANA sings: “This is just my body, not a trendy body/ Gonna be loved, baby!/ Just as I am.”
Of “NEO KAWAII, K?,” Mana continues: “Everyone is NEO KAWAII! This is CHAI’s answer, this is a fact in this world! We can finally say what it really means to us♡ Everyone’s a bit weird. Everyone’s different. Everyone’s awkward, almost to a point that it’s hard to relate. But that’s what’s interesting! That’s what makes it beautiful. To everyone who’s pushed around by these notions, we want to tell you this! We, and all of our lives, are NEO KAWAII! NEO KAWAII is not just plain KAWAII (cute)- it’s cool, it’s strong, it’s kind, it’s warm! Don’t get it mixed up♡ Hey! NEO KAWAII people!
NEO KAWAII needs no preparation. We just want to say that you’re NEO KAWAII too, K? ♡?”
CHAI — unlike previous albums — was written on the road, with the band finding time to record in the days between shows at Stones Throw Studio in LA, Ometusco Sound Machine in Mexico City, and Grand Street in New York. Working in studios with vast collections of gear allowed them to experiment with aesthetics as-yet-unheard on a CHAI album. “It was actually a chill and relaxed process, because we were playing shows every day and were really in the music,” MANA says.
Unlike their acclaimed 2021 album WINK, this self-titled collection of songs finds CHAI returning to their roots, drawing inspiration from their Japanese cultural heritage and the music that raised them. Realizing that message applied to people outside of fans in Japan (who screamed in delight when MANA shouted “NEO KAWAII!” into the mic) made CHAI consider what other facets of their upbringing might resonate with audiences outside of their home country. Each CHAI album borrows aesthetic inspiration from specific musical movements, and on CHAI, the quartet wanted to make direct comparisons to city pop, a Tokyo-born sound popularized in the ‘70s and ‘80s. City pop was a Japanese take on Western lounge music, borrowing from jazz, boogie, funk, and yacht rock to create a sound that straddled two cultures; but for CHAI, city pop was just the music of childhood.
Of the album, Mana says: “This is CHAI! With our self-titled album CHAI, CHAI declare that we live proudly as Japanese women♡ We hope this album gives everyone a little more confidence in living how they want to live. That is our ideal. If this album becomes that existence for anyone, that is the right answer in our eyes⭐ Listen, feel. We give you our evolution, inside and out! Now come onnn, NEO-KAWAII BABIES. If you can’t catch up with us, you’ll never feel the NEO KAWAII♡”
This fall, CHAI will bring their acclaimed live set stateside for a North American tour, beginning September 23rd at Flipside Festival and stretching through Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington, DC and more. Full dates, including UK and EU shows, are listed below and tickets are on sale now.
Today, August 1st, Greek artist Σtella (pronounced Stella) has shared a new standalone single entitled “Girl Supreme.” This song was recorded at Havabanana Studio in Athens, Greece, and produced by Σtella with mixing and additional production work by Edmund Irwin-Singer from the band Glass Animals.
Σtella says of this infectious new bop: “Learning how to use ‘on’ and ‘in’ and ‘at’ got me chasing after ‘Girl Supreme.’ And prepositions got me thinking about propositions – when a casual encounter becomes a fateful affair.”
“Girl Supreme” follows the 2022 release of her Sub Pop debut, Up and Away. An album where the Athens-based painter, visual artist, and performer updated authentic Greek pop - using traditional folk melodies and instruments like the bouzouki and kanun - fed through synths, 80s pop, laid-back psychedelia, and dusty mid-century 45s. Up and Away garnered International support from Paste, Gorilla vs. Bear, Brooklyn Vegan, Mojo, Uncut, Loud & Quiet, and The Line of Best Fit, who said, “Σtella’s honey-rich vocals overlie a crisp, no-frills backing that has echoes of classic ’60s pop.”
Σtella has confirmed a 5-date EU/UK run in August. This string of dates begins on Aug. 14th in Winterthur, Switzerland, with additional club dates in Germany & the UK, ending on Aug. 18th at the Green Man Festival in Brecon Beacons. See below for a complete list of shows.
Mon. Aug. 14 - Winterthur, CH - Winterthurer Musikfestwochen Tue. Aug. 15 - Nuremberg, DE - Z-Bau Wed. Aug. 16 - Frankfurt, DE - Tanzhaus West Thu. Aug. 17 - London, UK - Moth Club Fri. Aug. 18 - Brecon Beacons, UK - Green Man Festival
What people have also said about Σtella:
“Σtella hooks up with London producer Redinho here to conjure an elegant and sophisticated union of vintage Greek music…and sleek modern pop.” - [“Up and Away”] Gorilla vs Bear
“It’s a blending of classic songwriting, aligned with familiar instrumentation, and fueled with modern vocals and strangely somber ambiance. The bass and guitar riffs are captivating and keep the ears plastered for more. Her somber vocals sway into a soft gale that transports the listener to a ruminating landscape.” - [“Charmed”] Impose
“This is the pop we need; considered, vital, comforting, spiritual.” - The Quietus
“Future-retro pop perfection” - DJ
“simply irresistible” - Electronic Sound
“seductively melodic blend of Hellenic pop and hazy, shimmering Eastern Mediterranean vibes” - Shindig
“…gorgeous fourth album.” - (4/5) MOJO
“…Infectious disco-infused art-pop.” - I-D
“Bold, streamlined pop” - PASTE
“Intoxicating Greek pop.” - UNCUT
“There is an enchantingly vintage pop sparkle to Σtella’s music, epitomised by the new album’s superlative title track, its spritely, 1960s chanson airiness evoking the spirit of France Gall or Francoise Hardy, while the bouzouki-led backing arrangement lends the unmistakable flavour of Σtella’s home country ” - LOUD & QUIET
