Acclaimed experimental rock trio Xiu Xiu took the stage at Cactus Club on Wednesday night with a packed house; it was the band’s first time in Milwaukee since 2012. Opening for them was Taffy Puller, the improvisational duo of guitarist Chris Rosenau and drummer Jon Mueller. Xiu Xiu is Jamie Stewart (vocals, guitar), Angela Seo (vocals, keyboards, auxiliary percussion) and
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Emerging electropop artist Domi dropped not one but two singles on the same day the other week. “Crazy” is a dance stomper about being head-over-heels for someone and begging to know if they feel the same; infectious with the hook and fiery in theme, the song is a certified club hit. “Champion” carries touches of hyperpop and house with ambitious,
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Hip hop artist Ja Dubb dropped a new tape in the middle of April. This body of work largely confronts finding yourself and stepping into your power in spite of what the world throws at you. Dubb raps with sharp flow about coming out of tumultuous times (“Lost My Mind”), people crossing her (“Straight Fire”), proving people wrong (“Need Me”)
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Math-emo rockers Treeminder released a new two-piece – their first release since their 2020 self-titled album. With eruptive, shrill vocals, shifting time signatures and riffage that flows like trickling waters, the band meanders with sharp emotiveness and rhythmic spontaneity. Lyrically, these tracks seem to tackle self-destructiveness, despair and lying to yourself. Treeminder unleash a cathartic rumination on impostor syndrome with
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Harsh noise project Citizen 2-13 released a new album recently. It’s seven tracks that consist largely of industrial textures, dystopian atmospheres, amplified grinding and occasional alarm-like mechanisms that all culminate into a desolate, formidable odyssey. There’s a sense of danger and unsettlement embedded in this sonic installment like we’re going deeper and deeper into the depths of a secret government
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Hip hop artist Drizo dropped a new video this week accompanying his recent album “For the Broken.” Shot by Q Cam, the scene finds the rapper keeping to himself as he contemplates heartbreak. Drizo is seen out and about in the streets at night, waving around a flare in an alleyway, and under the statue of an angel as he
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Hip hop artist Z4 dropped a new album recently. Consisting of sixteen tracks, the record gives the rapper plenty of room to express himself with joy, gratitude and ambition. Z4 has tons of fun at the mic from song to song; you can tell from his positive and playful demeanor that he’s genuinely excited to be making music while recognizing
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Producer Ian Ewing has a new EP out, and it’s his first with Nettwerk Music Group. With six tracks, four of which previously released as singles, the EP is dedicated to warm weather of the beautiful Southern California coast. Vibrant sunsets, gentle waves and sunbathers in bliss come to mind as Ewing’s warm, tranquil electronica sets in like a montage
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Cody Steinmann Trio’s latest single continues the group’s foray into audio storytelling through jazz-rock soundscapes. As the title implies, this composition imagines admiration and infatuation with someone. The romance-driven guitar melody is given plenty of space to breathe as the drums simmer and pop, accompanied by a sense of confidence and determination from the bass; all of this culminates into
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Hip hop artist Dubb Saq’s latest single is a banger about going for the diamonds. The rapper brings his familiar brash and rowdy attitude to the mic with bars about effortlessly making big plays one after another while others struggle to keep up. He’s flipping the script and moving as fast as a dinosaur, living his life like it’s a
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Experimental-emo rockers In Cursive released a new single and video earlier this month. Shot by Xavier Schaetzke, the scene finds the band performing the tune at a show to an enthusiastic crowd before the musicians eventually appear playing before a roaring bonfire. In Cursive bring a heavy hitter with doomed, detached and apocalyptic themes – check it out!
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Hip hop artist Tay Drummond dropped a new EP recently. As the title suggests, this body of work centers around the quest to seek connection and meaning in someone else even when it gets complicated. Drummond raps about vices (“Luv in the Skies”), relationship issues (“Live For”) and loneliness (“Love Cry”) among other things, utilizing emotive production to captivate the
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Experimental artist-producers Docx and Papi Sabor teamed up for a three-song EP. Showcasing production that combines ominous textures with danceable qualities, Docx and Papi Sabor conjure a dark party atmosphere here. Dexonia appears on the first track “OUT” with rap verses in Spanish, and then the following two tracks “pools” and “SUMMERtime LOVE” incorporate reggaeton-friendly rhythms into heated grooves. There’s
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Ra’Sheed Jordan is an emerging singer-songwriter who recently flew on our radar. His most recent single takes on a funky pop flavor, finding him singing about having a hard time seeing things from a different perspective because he’s trapped in his own mind. His ego makes him biased, and the past comes to haunt him every time he puts it
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Violethead shared a new track with the world today. While much of her previous output has encompassed glitchy, dark instrumental electronica, this tune takes Violethead’s sound into more of a dream pop direction complete with lyrics. It’s a love song, detailing an encounter with a romantic interest and wanting to go riding bikes on the highway with them. With ethereal
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Pop punks Honey Creek recently went through a massive rebranding involving all-white outfits and a secret set at Cactus Club for 414 Day. The first single of their new era is out today and it’s got all the excitement and dynamic that you know and love from Honey Creek, but the band takes things further by incorporating blaring synths and
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MIZZY are a new project that we’re super excited to watch. Their debut single is out now and it incorporates elements of shoegaze, grunge, and punk in a thundering and cacophonous whirlwind. With a driving, distorted riff and haunting, reverberating vocals, the tune feels like an evening jog under a stormy sky. It’s a cathartic and forceful introduction to MIZZY
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Plant-based electronic producer OnlyFerns has her second single out now. “Reset” is a hyper and restless cut that runs around like a mad case of zoomies (hence the cat in the cover art). With convulsive breaks and unwavering speed, “Reset” feels like it could be the soundtrack to a 90’s racing video game, buzzing with a zig-zagging melody and frenzied
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R&B singer-songwriter Calebe dropped a new single recently. It’s a pretty self-explanatory one; Calebe professes his adoration and devotion for someone here. Utilizing finger snaps and layers of twinkling rhythm, Calebe invokes a tender atmosphere as he’s ready to face all his fears and obstacles if it means he can be with this person for a lifetime. If you’re looking
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Hip hop artist Taejoz dropped a new single a few weeks back. Incorporating a tropical dance flavor, this tune has a sunny, bouncy energy to it that feels perfect for warmer weather. Taejoz is feeling things out with a woman, assuring her that he’s all-in for her and willing to put in the effort for her – all she’s got
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R&B artist MNTRY’s first single of 2023 is here. He sings about a woman who’s got high standards and who lives for the moment; she gets what she wants and doesn’t have to pay for a thing – if you’re broke, don’t bother. MNTRY once again showcases his powerful, passionate vocal performances with “Fancy”, capable of sweeping us away with
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Electronic/experimental pop artist Cyrus Chrome is keeping their streak going with a new single. Their latest dips heavily into manipulated vocals and glitchy production, finding Chrome singing about wanting to make a connection with someone while they’re hitching a ride on a bus. There’s a caffeinated, palpitating vibration here – definitely akin to the song’s title. Cyrus Chrome has been
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Fantasy songwriting project Venturer has a new single out. This one alludes to previous single “Dream Valley”, where a character slips into a dream and follows a lady’s beautiful song of love and memory to guide him through a fear-stricken valley. “Tune” finds him trying to remember that song again, and just when he’s about to give up hope, he
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Genesis Renji is keeping 2023 moving with his second single of the year. This one gets dreamy and euphoric with production from Johnny Innuendo, finding Renji yearning for a white Porsche that he can escape everything with. Fluent with his flow and forthright in his convictions, Renji uses the fancy car as a metaphor for moving in life’s speed lane
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Hip hop artist Lady Sabo is back with her first single of 2023. She keeps things short and sweet here with the song just under a minute and a half long, entering the booth for a quick blast of flexes. She’s got the city in her bag and million dollar plans in her head, looking to cash out at every
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