Rahn Harper has a new single out today, and he’s waving hi to the haters alongside Portland’s SuaveTheJedi with “180.” The song is about looking back at the people that counted you out, especially in Harper’s case, as he continues to build up his sound and his bank account. The track brings pop elements into a hip hop realm, with the beat being guided along by a sweeping guitar. Rahn Harper and SuaveTheJedi were down bad, but they got it all back and then some with “180.” Check it out here:
Tag: Portland
AUDIO: Sparkbird – “November”
“November” is the latest single from Sparkbird, the Portland-based project of Stephan Nance. The song combines exuberant, bouncy chamber-pop arrangements with personal lyrical insight on trauma and consent. Sparkbird’s ability to infuse emotional lyrics into catchy production is evident on previous successes like “Disembodied Mind” and “Envy.” The track, produced by Josh Frigo, features a talented group of musicians including Bizarre Star Strings, Mathias Kunzli, and Jeni Magana.The captivating string arrangements, melodic vocals, and overall production make “November” another fantastic offering from Sparkbird. Check it out here:
AUDIO: Absolutely – “Plays Pillory Crown Shyness”
Post-punk outfit Absolutely has been together since 2009, and continue to make noise, even with frontman George Ananchev relocating to Portland. The band is back with a new album, “Plays Pillory Crown Shyness”, and it’s a gripping example of attention to detail working well on a record. Lyrically, much of the record deals with Anachev’s experience as an undocumented person, and while the album was written before the 2016 presidential election, the sentiments that come out on these tracks still reign true today. From a musical perspective, the band gets intricate with simple elements, with curling guitar lines and vocal effects that create sonic space. Absolutely have a really strong release with this body of work, and you’ll likely need to come back to it multiple times to hear everything going on within the record. Check out “Plays Pillory Crown Shyness” below:
Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch: August 2018
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation.
The summer has flown by, but there’s still a ton of great music being submitted for our Five To Watch feature via Reverbnation.
Ugly Boys (Ogden, UT)
With a knack for creating fun, attractive pop, Utah natives Ugly Boys can make bright summer jams with ease. With only four singles out, the band is relatively new, but definitely finding their feet quickly. If you’re a fan of acts like Foster The People, or new wave acts that turned heads in the early 80s, this might be your jam and then some. Take a listen to the band’s single, “Speak Easy” and see for yourself:
Thoughts (Palm Beach, FL)
Florida band Thoughts have a lot of momentum heading in the right direction at the moment. The band has already played several big stages, including festival gigs at Lollapalooza, as well as a tour of the east coast under their belt. The band also is signed to Mint 400 Records, and this is all within their first year of forming. The band has a lo-fi, fuzzy appeal to their sound, and songs like “Figure It Out” make it easy to get hooked on the band. There are big things on the way, but you can check them out below:
Galaxzi (Asheville, NC)
It takes a lot to make something unique, and that’s exactly what Galaxzi does with her brand of alternative pop, which she has dubbed sci-pop. With only a little over half of a year after establishing herself as an artist, Galaxzi has a lot of raw talent that materializes on tracks like “Crystalize”. With a combination of sultry vocals, synth driven beats, and a edgy guitar for an added dimension, there’s a lot happening within her songs for a new artist. There’s definitely a lot of potential, and you can hear that on the track below:
John Cody And The Future Rivals (Portland, OR)
Singer/multi-instrumentalist John Cody grew up in North Carolina, but moved to Portland before forming John Cody And The Future Rivals, a band that blurs the lines between indie rock and country. Cody got his start performing in a North Carolina church before bouncing around his local garage band circuit. His work with The Future Rivals is incredibly strong, though, as you can hear on tracks like “TV II”. The band is centered around dynamic songwriting and technical skill, and that comes out when you hear the final product. Check out the song below:
Tree Fiddy (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
It’s hard to deny the skill that Toronto emcee Tree Fiddy has on the microphone. The emerging rapper is a product of the Toronto underground hip hop scene, with a gritty flow that focuses on toughness over lyrical flexing. Tree Fiddy dropped out of school in January 2017 to pursue music full time, with a confidence that comes out within his verses. You can hear that skill and tough delivery on full display with “Poison” below:
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Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch – November 2017
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation. Click here to submit music to be one of our Five To Watch Presented by JBL Professional.
We’re in peak fall, and while there may be Christmas commercials on TV already, we have some early gifts for you, with five great artists to look out for. With a little bit of everything musically on this month’s list, it’s more of a Thanksgiving cornucopia than a bag of leftover candy corn. Have I made enough fall references yet? Okay. Here’s your Five to Watch Presented by JBL Professional for November 2017:
Fleeting Few (Portland, OR)
Nothing screams fall more than acoustically driven indie rock, and Portland’s Fleeting Few bring that, along with some catchy pop sensibilities as well. If you’re a fan of bands like Death Cab For Cutie, The Shins, or The Lumineers, this trio should be on your next playlist. The band recently released an EP, “Helmet For Heartbreak”, and are gigging around their home state of Oregon in support of that project. Check out their single “Kelsey” below:
The Ricky Fitts (Tempe, AZ)
Certain bands, when you hear them, just make you say “yes!”. Tempe quartet The Ricky Fitts is one of those bands, with a sound ready to jump out of the local and college radio scene and make their way to contemporary Top 40. If you like Walk The Moon and The Killers, this is a band that could easily fall onto your spectrum, and should, for that matter. All of the catchiness of the aforementioned bands is rolled into one, and songs like “Nightmare” from their debut album, “The Great Beyond” prove that. Check it out for yourself, and try to contain your inevitable dance party:
Kameechi (Jamaica, NY)
You can hear the drive in Kameechi’s voice. The Jamaica, Queens native has already picked up some impressive accolades, having tracks on New York City’s legendary Hot 97, briefly having a deal with Mr. Porter aka Kon Artis of D12, and getting noticed by Funkmaster Flex. Deservingly so, as he manages to merge hip hop and pop, working in catchy hooks that make you want to sing along. The potential definitely exists for a radio friendly single to take his career to the elusive next level and beyond, as well. Kameechi is currently stacking records with some well known produers, and we’re looking to see what he does next. Check out “Better On My Own” to get a preview of what’s to come:
KiSMiT (Los Angeles, CA)
LA-based duo KiSMiT consider themselves an indie act, but one listen to them, and you can tell that they are so much more. The band is propelled by the immense vocal talent of frontwoman Carly Barnette, and the twangy guitar of Sebastian Reunert. If you listen to their single, “Cosmic Love”, you can hear elements of pop, disco, soul, funk, and I guess some indie rock as well. There’s enough of a variety to make you feel like you’re music player is set to shuffle within the context of the same song, but KiSMiT manage to weave genres together into an incredibly palatable blend. Check out “Cosmic Love” below:
Sittin Pretty (Bolton, England)
England is no stranger to their share of gritty, brash rock bands. In fact, it’s where the genre really found its attitude, with bands like The Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath, among countless others. Bolton rock n’ roll wanderers Sittin Pretty carry on in the spirit, style, and sound of those bands, with a hard-hitting, driving brand of music that blends classic rock, blues, and psychedelia. It’s the kind of band that you can’t turn off if you hear one of their songs on the radio. Experience them for yourself with “Take My Shoes” below:
Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch Presented By JBL Professional: March 2017
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation.
With over 3,300 music submissions, the task of picking just five artists to watch for the upcoming month is never easy. We received tons of different styles of music from all over the world, and of that pool of submissions, we’ve chosen some artists that we think stand a very good chance at being the next big thing. Check out our Five To Watch Presented By JBL Professional for March:
The States (Ocala, FL)
If there’s such a genre as “arena indie”, that would describe the sound of The States very well. With tracks that build up around pulsating kick drums, and powerful choruses full of emotion, the band demonstrates that they’re ready to play the big rooms, and you can hear that on their submitted song, “As Cruel As Youth”. The band actually are planning for new music in the near future, as well, as they are set to release their EP, “Cathedral”, with presales beginning next week Monday. Until then, get hooked on the band with “As Cruel As Youth” below:
Altre di B (Bologna, Italy)
Cue up your latest FIFA video game, because Altre di B have a sound that fits hand in hand with the game. Hailing from Bologna, Italy, the band have a punk rock energy about them, with an indie sense of overall cool. The end result is synth-accented, high energy power pop that you can’t help but get hooked on. If you need an example, their track, “Sherpa” encapsulates everything that’s fun and exciting about indie rock in one song. Dance along to the track below:
Kris Angelis (Los Angeles, CA)
Sometimes, you hear certain songs and tones that are so commercially viable that you ask yourself, “how is this not a major record already?”. A ptime example of this is Kris Angelis’ track, “Built This House”, which feels tailor made for Top 40 radio. Angelis has already seen some decent success, though, as she’s put out an album and an EP, played several major festivals, and has previously premiered music on Ryan Seacrest’s website. One listen to “Built This House”, and you’ll be calling up your local radio station to ask them to put it into rotation. Listen to the enormous potential of Kris Angelis below:
Glass Mansions (Columbia, SC)
If you like your pop music with a healthy dose of synthesizers, and just a little pinch of southern twang, Glass Mansions is your band. The band has everything that you want to bring a room to life; powerful drums, bouncy songwriting, and an energy to their music that can get crowds jumping up and down. At the core of this, however, is clever songwriting, chock full of catchy melodies and jangly pop elements. Their track, “Nightswimming”, is enough to sweep you off your feet. Check it out below:
Speaker Minds (Portland, OR)
The feel of a hip hop collective is infectious at it’s core. In a way, it’s the most truly hip-hop experience possible; built out of the days of getting people together in one spot to just kick rhymes with (and off of) one another. Portland’s Speaker Minds have that sensibility to themselves, with harmonic vocals reminiscent of groups like the legendary Jurassic 5. With a modern take on the hip hop collective style, the six-piece band also incorporates live instrumentation and a healthy dose of funk and house influences. Experience the flavor of Speaker Minds with their track, “Act Like” below:
INTERVIEW: Icarus The Owl
Portland’s Icarus The Owl is a band that knows how to work hard, and that hard work is paying off for them. The band sold over 10,000 copies of their debut album on the 2009 Vans Warped Tour, have completed over 20 tours, and plan to put out their fourth album on Will Swan of Dance Gavin Dance’s label, Blue Swan Records. We caught up with Joey Rubenstein to talk about the band’s new album, as well as their recent cover of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles”
B&E: Introduce yourselves! Who are you?
JR: My name is Joey and I sing and play guitar in Icarus The Owl. Hi!
B&E: I heard that there might be a new project on the way to be released this year. What can we expect from the new album?
JR: It’s possible. We have laid the groundwork for it. We just haven’t quite decided that it’s ready yet. We don’t have any actual deadlines; we have a soft goal of 2017. The music feels like a rejuvenation of Icarus The Owl. We didn’t reinvent ourselves, but our morale is much higher than it’s been in a long time, and the music reflects that.
B&E: Are there any bands in particular that influenced the sound of this record?
JR: I think a little bit of Third Eye Blind came out in some of the vocal melodies and pop sensibilities. Tim and I particularly love their self-titled record a lot. We don’t really write music by directly taking influence from other bands, but I think subconscious influence happens whether we like it or not. Whatever we are listening to at the time could get us hyped on a certain mood or feeling, but actual notes, chords, and melodies, are not a conscious thing. That being said, we completely ripped off Thrice. I wish.
B&E: You’re about to go on tour as well. Which do you prefer, the road, or being at home making a record?
JR: That is such a difficult question for me to answer. Being on the road is liberating in that you are on an adventure with your friends and you get the rush of playing music in front of an audience. I’ve always enjoyed touring, watching movies on long drives, and eating different food from different places. Being at home making a record is an emotional catharsis for me. Hearing an idea come to life in the studio is pure bliss. If I had to choose, I would say making a record. I immediately changed my mind. It’s impossible. Both.
B&E: Who came up with the idea to cover Vanessa Carlton?
JR: I believe I did. I am a big fan of hers. I’ve seen her live and I own all of her albums. They are amazing. I decided to learn “A Thousand Miles” on guitar because that piano riff is so iconic. I thought, “what if this was tap guitar instead!?” That idea was a few years back. Ever since, I have just played that riff at sound check on tour as a joke. We wanted to have fun for our fans to listen to while we are writing an album, but didn’t want to release a b-side or something that would misconstrue the direction we are headed with new music.
B&E: Lastly, if you had to pick one more pop song to cover, which would you choose and why?
JR: There’s so many good ones! I don’t want to say just in case we decide to do it. Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie. Obviously.
AUDIO: Dubble-OO SpaceAge Featuring Husalah and J-Stalin – “(MIP) Mob In Peace)”
Since the passing of his mentor, The Jacka, West Coast artist Dubble-OO SpaceAge has kept a relatively low profile. His first release since that hiatus, though, is a fitting tribute, with “(MIP) Mob In Peace”, which features Husalah & J-Stalin. With some hazy, zoned out production behind the trio, each artist does their part to honor the legacy of The Jacka with their verses, as well as telling their stories about their fallen peer. Honor The Jacka in your own way with “(MIP) Mob In Peace” below:
VIDEO: Risley – “Time Was Slow”
Ah, the 90’s. It’s a time that we’ll sadly never get back, but Portland’s Risley decide to time travel in their new video for “Time Was Slow”. The video, directed by Tony Schilling, accurately captures the combination of grit and innocence of the decade, all set to a dreamy indie pop offering from the band. “Time Was Slow” is from Risley’s debut album, which came out this past February. The band already has over 100 tracks recorded, and their album features 23 of them. Needless to say, they aren’t hurting for inspiration. Check out the video for “Time Was Slow” below:
VIDEO: Jake Kost – “Northwet”
The Pacific Northwest hip hop scene is something of wonder. The combination of backpack rap and creative visuals is something that is sorely needed in the hip hop world today. To say it’s slept on is an understatement. Luckily, artists like Jake Kost are making incredibly creative music that is bucking the current trends in hip hop, and the look and feel of videos are truly something unique. Kost’s latest, “Northwet”, features himself and a whole host of clones, vibing out to their own brand of boom bap. “Northwet” is from Kost’s “Stadtluft Macht Frei”project, which is currently available. Check out the visuals for “Northwet” below:
AUDIO: T$poon Featuring Larry June – “Big Money”
If we had some sort of banger alert to set off every time we heard a hot hip hop track, we’d have to hit all the bells and whistles on this new track from Portland’s T$poon and Southern California’s Larry June. With a dizzying beat from Nonstopdahitman, this is probably the end result of constantly turning up without a need to slow the party down. This is certainly a track to break the subwoofers on your car to, and it wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprising if that’s already occurred by now. No matter when you’re hearing this, it’s time to get extra hyped, and you’ll see what I mean from the second you press play.
VIDEO: Jake Kost – “Late Night Walk”
Portland is definitely a city with a hip hop scene that flies under the radar. There’s a crop of skilled artists and smooth boom bap beats that deserve some recognition, and the latest track to that is Jake Kost’s new track, “Late Night Walk”. With a flow for days over some clean production by producer Afta-1, the track is definitely a soundtrack for some nocturnal soul searching. Try to keep you head from nodding along to this one, we dare you. Check out the video for “Late Night Walk” below:
AUDIO: Libretto – “Gangsta Jazz 2: The Album”
Now here’s one from Portland’s Liquid Beat Records for the hip hop fans. “Gangsta Jazz 2: The Album” is a smooth release from California emcee Libretto. The sequel to his “Gangsta Jazz” EP, this project was written entirely while incarcerated, and is Libretto’s first project since his release. If you’re a fan of artists like Jurassic 5 and De La Soul, this is a project for you to check out immediately. With some authentic West Coast sample-based beats, and a natural delivery to every verse, Libretto made this album into a jam from front to back. You can thank us later for this one. Check out “Gangsta Jazz 2: The Album” below:
VIDEO: Tope – “Better Place”
It’s all sun and games in the bay for Tope’s latest video, “Better Place”. The Portland rapper recently moved to Oakland, and has prepared his “3 AM In Oakland” project, set to come out later this year. In addition, he has an extensive West Coast tour coming up, and undoubtedly some new material from that to follow. However, in “Better Place” Tope keeps it in San Francisco, spitting bars as he makes his way through the city. Be on the lookout for more from Tope in the near future, but in the meantime, vibe along to “Better Place”:
AUDIO: Vinnie Dewayne – “The St. John’s Scholar”
We might have another name to add to the ever-growing lists of young emcees with huge national potential. Vinnie Dewayne is an up and coming artist that represents both Chicago and Portland. “The St. John’s Scholar” has been the project that Dewayne’s camp is pushing the most, and there’s good reason for that. You can hear the ambition and raw talent in Vinnie’s flow, and it solidifies that he is a budding star amongst the next generation. Two tracks in and you can tell that the potential is there for Vinnie to make a national splash. Guaranteed. Check out “The St. John’s Scholar” below:
AUDIO: Priory – “Weekend” EP
Portland duo Priory are back with their first EP since their debut album in 2011. It may only be four songs, but the “Weekend” EP is solid pop music. The title track/single is an anthem in itself. The rest of the EP is loaded with gang vocals and addicting synth riffs. In total, the “Weekend” only lasts about 15 minutes, but it’s definitely a fun 15 minutes. Check out the EP below, and look for more music from Priory in the near future:
VIDEO: Action Bronson Fights Security In Portland
Action Bronson should just have a part of his show where he takes on all challengers. The man is no stranger to on stage incidents, and the latest altercation happened in Portland. After lighting a joint and throwing it into the crowd, he proceeded to light a second one, only to be wrapped up by security. Bronson then pushed the guard to the ground. Do not mess with the man. Watch the video below, and as an added bonus, I threw in the video of him dropping the infamous leg sweep on a fan in Boston.
