Eclectic Assortment Highlights New Releases
Iggy Pop, inventive rapper Kurious, and the duo of Black Violin bring together classic and eclectic new music this week. Iggy’s live album captures the innovative vibes of the veteran chameleon of rock, whose adoring fan base continues to grow.
Rapper Kurious has developed a gritty and emotive groove that appeals to a broad collection of fans and Black Violin creates beautiful music with a cause.
Iggy Pop Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023
“Iggy Pop Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023” is a unique Iggy Pop live album, celebrating his career, catalog and his “raw power” throughout the years.
Another taste of the album via earMusic is revealed with “The Passenger (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023),” the second single to be taken from the LP. With more than 425 million streams, “The Passenger” is not only an iconic track but also Iggy Pop’s most streamed song. Iggy is backed by a 7-piece band and plays to a sold out crowd and brings the song roaring to full life at historic Stravinski Hall at the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival.
“Stravinsky Hall is special, like Carnegie or the Garden or Sydney Opera. I’ve dived in them all.” – Iggy Pop
Listen /share “The Passenger (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023)” here.
Pre-order the album here.
NYC Rapper Kurious Drops Video for ‘Bacalao Opera’
NYC rapper Kurious has shared a video for “Bacalao Opera,” from his new album “Majician,” executive produced by his longtime friend and collaborator MF DOOM before his passing and produced by Mono En Stereo.
The visual, directed by Angel Flores, finds Kurious roaming his native New York, backlit by the Brooklyn Bridge and other landmarks.
“Bacalao is codfish,” Kurious said. “It comes in a plastic pouch, and it’s mad salty. We usually have it with vinegar or olive oil, with onions. The group El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico, has a song (where the hook translates too), ‘Bacalao I know you, even if you’re frozen.’ (I’m using it) as a symbolism for people, like, I know you, don’t try to act brand new. And in the song I said ‘Bacalao guisado,’ and I’m Puerto Rican-Latin, and I’m doing some opera shit. So fuck it, ‘Bacalao Opera.'”
Out now via Metalface Records and Rhymesayers Entertainment, “Majician” is a blend of technical wizardry and personal introspection that substantiates the legacy Kurious longs to create. In addition to his 1994 debut “A Constipated Monkey,” Kurious appeared on seminal records by Del tha Funkee Homosapien, KMD, MF DOOM, Pete Nice and DJ Richie Rich, among others.
Check out ‘Bacalao Opera’ here:
Black Violin Releases ‘Drama’
Classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin released Black Violin’s new single and video “Drama,” produced by Phil Beaudreau (Dr. Dre, Justin Bieber, The Game, Lalah Hathaway). The song is the first taste of new music from their upcoming album “Full Circle,” set for release in March of 2025.
“‘Drama’ is a powerful modern classical-hip-hop fusion, blending rich strings with hard-hitting beats,” said Black Violin’s Kev Marcus. “This track pushes boundaries and defies genres. It’s a bold statement, reflecting our journey of creativity and mastery, where we swim in our own blue ocean, untouched by competition. ‘Drama’ challenges listeners to step out of their comfort zones and inspires them to break through limits, redefining what’s possible in music and life.”
Black Violin members Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus met on the first day of orchestra class in 1996 at Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Baptiste originally wanted to play saxophone in the band, but the orchestra teacher got him assigned to his class after winning a golf bet with the band instructor.
Classically trained by day, they faithfully put on their headphones and listened to the hottest rap records each night. They went to different colleges—Marcus attended Florida International University and Baptiste went to Florida State—but then reconvened, moved into an apartment together, and started trying to produce other musicians.
Black Violin’s work extends far beyond the stage, reaching deep into communities nationwide with numerous free performances for students and hands-on engagement with youth symphonies and community centers.
In 2019, the duo launched the Black Violin Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by working with them in their communities to provide access to quality music programs that encourage creativity and innovation. For more info check out the Black Violin website.
Check out ‘Drama’ here:
Long Island Music Hall of Fame Celebrates 20th
STONY BROOK, NY- A dozen performances rocked the halls of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, which held a jam-packed two-day 20th anniversary holiday celebration party at the organization’s Stony Brook Village museum location. The LIMEHOF is located at 97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY.
The event, presented by Catholic Health, featured non-stop entertainment from bands and performers from across Long Island. The lineup included Casey Baron, Mark Newman, the Kerry Kearney Band, and the Stanton Anderson Band as well as a Q&A panel about the history of LIMEHOF.
Performances included The Om-en, Ernie & the Band, DMC with DJ Johnny Juice, comedian Paul Anthony, Firetog & Co., “American Idol” Christiaan Padavan and the original Gossip Band. In addition to the live performances, the event featured holiday music, videos of LIMEHOF inductees, complimentary apple cider and cookies, and visits from Santa Claus on both days. Additionally, the sleigh from Twisted Sister’s Christmas Special was on display in the lobby.
“We wanted to have original Long Island acts,” said Jim Faith, Co-Founder of LIMEHOF. “One of our initiatives here is to nurture young bands and help them try to get to the next level. We’ve had every genre and every style artist come to our galas and support us and show the world that Long Island is a hotbed of music talent and our music history is pretty amazing, probably better than any state in the United States.”
For more information go here
Charles Wigg Walker Sings of Eternal Love
Nashville-based soul singer Charles “Wigg” Walker has released “This Love Is Gonna Last,” the title track of his first new album in over a decade (out January 24). Flush with cinematic strings and punchy horns, the song feels vintage and modern all at once as Walker pays tribute to the power of a timeless romance.
This Love Is Gonna Last is a dedication to Walker’s late wife, who passed away earlier this year. Speaking about the title track, he explains, “My wife and I were together for 30 years. She was my backbone, always there for me. Through all the ups and downs, I always felt like our love was going to last, and it did.”
“This Love Is Gonna Last” follows the album’s debut single “(Feels Like) Things Are Comin’ Our Way,” which looks toward a brighter future.
A master class collection of timeless R&B about love, trust and commitment, “This Love Is Gonna Last” shifts between definitive eras of soul as it bounces from Philly and Detroit to Memphis and more. The album was recorded with longtime organist and creative partner Charles Treadway, guitarist Pat Bergeson (Chet Atkins, Peter Frampton), and drummer Pete Abbott (Average White Band, Tom Jones). Despite the joyful presentation, there’s a recognition of time’s inexorable march and the lessons and losses that come with it.
Walker has packed several musical lifetimes into his nearly 70-year career. After releasing his first single on Ted Jarrett’s trailblazing Champion Records, he moved from Nashville to New York where he became frontman for the J.C. Davis Band, sharing bills with the likes of James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Etta James, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke.
His first original group Little Charles and the Sidewinders became a staple of the New York nightclub scene in the 1960s. After more than a decade on the road, Walker took a staff writing role for Motown in the ’70s before eventually moving to Europe in the ’80s, where he continued to find enthusiastic audiences. The blues and R&B revival of the ’90s brought Walker back home to Nashville, and in the 2010s he released three albums as frontman of the deep funk group The Dynamites.
Pre-save the album This Love Is Gonna Last
Listen to ‘This Love Is Gonna Last’ here:
Charlotte – Les Lanternes Magiques
“Les Lanternes Magiques” is a tune that explores themes of light, personal growth, and universal connection. Modern French female artist Charlotte returns with this new production.
The melody feels like it’s leading you somewhere. Ethereal production fuses pop/funk with soft electronic influences. The instrumentation includes floating synths, delicate strings and light percussion, creating a dreamlike and enchanted atmosphere.
Watch here:
Like Roses Drop ‘Stuck’ Video and single
Modern emo’s emerging force, Like Roses, returns with their new single, “Stuck,” a gut-wrenching exploration of vacancy produced by former Taking Back Sunday guitarist/vocalist Fred Mascherino.
Returning fans of Like Roses will find comfort in the familiar lyrical angst and vocal bite of “Stuck,” while receiving somewhat of a departure in melody – a jaunty, almost casual stroll through quarter-note rock driven by burly bass tones and sprinkled with twinkling leads.
“This song is about the nagging emptiness that follows loss,” the band said. “You can take the pictures down, you can put the memories away in a drawer, but it’s not just that the room feels empty; you’re empty too.”
Fans can next expect to scream along to “Stuck” and other Like Roses favorites at The Nile Theater in Mesa, AZ on January 16th for the kickoff party to The Maine’s 8123 Fest, ushering in what looks to be a big year for Like Roses.
Check out ‘Stuck’ here:
SkyDxddy Drops ‘Medusa’ Video Ahead of Debut Album
SkyDxddy has released the lyric video for her newest single, “Medusa,” now streaming on all major platforms.
Music has always been a source of empowerment, and with “Medusa,” SkyDxddy provides strength for those who feel powerless.
“I hope Medusa inspires people to find their strength and live their lives loudly and authentically,” she shares.
Rooted in the mythology of Medusa and its modern parallels, the track critiques systems of power that often punish rather than protect. SkyDxddy describes the song as a rallying cry for anyone feeling scared or ostracized:
“I wanted to tell the untold story of Medusa while giving those who feel marginalized something to sing about and feel powerful through,” she said. “We all deserve to unapologetically stand in our own strength. The current climate reinforces Medusa’s message.
“In a world where phrases like ‘your body, my choice’ are used as jokes, people need to know they have every right to fight back,” she said.
Watch here:
Arch Enemy – Blood Dynasty
Swedish extreme metal pioneers ARCH ENEMY have unleashed the title track from their forthcoming twelfth studio album, Blood Dynasty. The full album is slated for release on March 28 via Century Media Records. Pre-order Blood Dynasty here.
Following the surprise drop of their single “Dream Stealer” in July and the subsequent release of “Liars & Thieves” in October, “Blood Dynasty” marks the third single offering from the highly anticipated album. The track promises to deliver Arch Enemy’s signature blend of powerful guitar riffs and dynamic vocals, showcasing the band’s evolution while staying true to their roots.
“The third single from our upcoming album has arrived, and it’s the title track: ‘Blood Dynasty’ This one shifts gears from the fast and furious energy of our two recent singles, diving deeper into melody and atmosphere. Immerse yourself in this dystopian soundscape” Founder and guitarist Michael Amott said
“Blood Dynasty” was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The video was directed and produced by Mirko Witzki at Witzki Visions.
Watch here:
Metal Outfit Avantasia Releases 10th Album
Rock and metal flagship AVANTASIA will release their 10th studio album and Napalm Records debut, ‘Here Be Dragons’, on February 28, 2025, and today the band unleashes the energizing first new single “Creepshow.”
The new track arrives with a cinematic music video. The track rings in a new era of AVANTASIA and will be an integral part of AVANTASIA’s live shows.
In their 25 years of existence, AVANTASIA has become one of the biggest leading forces in metal, boasting nine successful previous albums (such as the #1 charting ‘Moonglow’), worldwide sold-out arena tours and headline shows at all of the most important metal festivals.
“‘Creepshow’ is a perfect single. It’s short and catchy and it emphasizes a facet of my work that has taken a backseat in my music in recent years. Tobias Sammet said. “It’s light-hearted and the opposite of melancholic. And it’s fresh, boisterous, and unabashed – a straightforward kick-ass anthem.
Watch the Official Music Video for ‘Creepshow’ here:
HotWax Drop Track, ‘Wanna Be A Doll’
The UK’s HotWax – Tallulah Sim-Savage, Lola Sam, and Alfie Sayers – will release their debut album, “Hot Shock,” on March 7th via Marathon Artists.
The LP’s 10 tracks boast adrenaline-jolted anthems about abandoning fear and leaping boldly towards the future and were recorded with co-producer Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Wolf Alice) alongside Steph Marziano (Picture Parlour, Cassandra Jenkins), and also recorded with Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa.
HotWax share “Wanna Be a Doll” – the latest single from the new album which exemplifies the pulse of vulnerability that underscores the album.
“This is the first song we wrote for the album and we re-wrote it in so many different ways. And it ended up pretty similar to the first version, which seems to be how it goes,” Sim-Savage said. “It’s a song where I am writing about myself from someone else’s point of view, being self aware of my bad, sometimes destructive, traits.”
Watch ‘Wanna Be A Doll’ here:
Cornelia Murr Drops ‘Pushing East’
Cornelia Murr has released a new single, the kaleidoscopic “Pushing East,” which is about leaving life as you know it and forging ahead because you must.
The track is off her new album, “Run To The Center” to be released Feb. 28 via 22Twenty. The album was produced by Luke Temple (Adrienne Lenker, Hand Habits). The track features Murr’s mother, Pamela Livingston, on flute, Livingston also designed the cover art for the single.
“Pushing East is a breakup song, to be played ideally loud in the car in the fresh moment of irrevocable change,” Murr said. “It speaks to aspects of relationship between musicians, when collaboration often takes place and leaves a creative product, and how an experience of one’s music differs completely from experiencing a relationship with that person. It’s a wish for future peace and liberation, too.”
Check out the visualizer, created by Danny Nellis here:
– The New Releases column is curated and edited by Donna Balancia. Submit new music to [email protected]