The phenomenal Olu, known globally as Johnny Venus and one half of the GRAMMY-nominated eclectic hip-hop duo EarthGang, has unveiled his brand new, highly-anticipated EP, Shooter, which serves as Part 1 of a compelling three-part series! This sensational project immediately showcases Olu’s rich versatility as a songwriter, performer, and producer, expertly weaving together elements of soul, R&B, and hip-hop while delving into powerful themes of intimacy and self-reflection. Spearheading the EP is the intoxicating single “So Beautiful,” a gorgeous cut featuring one of Atlanta’s biggest stars, 6lack, while the focus track “Shooter”—produced by Olu and co-written by the legendary The Dream—underscores his instinct for crafting addictive soundscapes with Spanish-inspired guitar riffs. Currently touring with Clipse (Pusha T and Malice) and recently performing at the Paisley Park Celebration, Olu is a true renaissance figure, boldly leveraging his COMPXSS wellness brand and the EarthGang Foundation to promote mental health and combat environmental injustices, confirming his vital presence in the upper echelons of US and global cultural influence.
Ben Arnold Releases Soulful New Single “Long Tall Shadow” From Album XI
The prolific Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Ben Arnold has unveiled his deeply soulful new single, “Long Tall Shadow,” a stunning taste of his full-length album, XI, available now on ALP Recordings! With his wonderfully gruff vocals, Arnold masterfully contemplates the passage of time over a melancholy sonic landscape where gushing pedal steel adds a captivating cosmic sound, while sublime piano makes the entire track feel both elegant and utterly timeless. Arnold shares that the song was “Written in real time,” as he examined his personal life and deep connection to the contemplative fall season—a mood that perfectly translates into this powerful, minor-key masterpiece.
XI is a brilliant tapestry of American sound, pulling from folk, blues, soul, rock & roll, and classic pop, and was produced by Shane Smith and mixed by Barrie Maguire. Arnold assembled a magnificent band of longtime friends and collaborators, including the legendary drummer Pete Thomas. This long-storied career artist, who has shared the stage with everyone from Lucinda Williams to John Mayer, is once again blurring genre lines and redefining the amplified American roots music that kickstarted his journey, following the acclaimed first single “Catch The Lightning.”
Leo Valeri (Brand of Sacrifice) and Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary (Fit For A King) Launch New Artist-First Label Papercut Recordings
Get ready for a seismic shift in the heavy music world, because longtime collaborators and creative titans Leo Valeri (Brand of Sacrifice, Shibori Threads) and Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary (Fit For A King, Beacon Management Group) have joined forces to launch Papercut Recordings—a dynamic new label built to empower artists unwilling to compromise! Their urgent mission is brilliantly simple: to give creative control and power back to the artists through equitable partnerships and transparent funding. Valeri and O’Leary, who are metal musicians living and breathing the scene, emphasize that they are providing “real-world expertise” and are committed to building something authentic together with respect.
To mark this sensational launch, Papercut Recordings has already announced its first two highly compelling signings: Blackshape, whose dark, cerebral compositions thrillingly blur the edges of math rock and post-metal, and Limbs, the post-hardcore disruptors known for their searing live presence and emotionally charged precision. Valeri brings his visionary creative and cultural force as the chief songwriter and producer for the extreme metal act Brand of Sacrifice and founder of the massively recognizable alternative streetwear brand Shibori Threads. Meanwhile, O’Leary, a music industry entrepreneur and talent scout, brings deep wealth from his work crafting multiple charting albums with metalcore titans Fit For A King and his success founding the artist-first tech platform Featured X. Papercut Recordings is boldly correcting an outdated industry model, treating artists like true partners and forging the next wave of heavy music.
BRIGHT EYES Unleashes New EP ‘Kids Table’ Featuring Alynda Segarra of HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF
The incomparable Bright Eyes—Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nate Walcott—have released their powerful new eight-track EP, Kids Table, available now via Dead Oceans! This stunning project follows their visceral album Five Dice, All Threes and is instantly highlighted by the new single, “Dyslexic Palindrome,” which features the soulful voice of Alynda Segarra of Hurray For The Riff Raff. This dynamic duet, which examines the dark complacency of today’s capitalistic culture, deepens a creative partnership that Oberst raves about, calling Segarra “one of the most soulful people I have ever encountered.”
Kids Table holds true to the essential Bright Eyes DNA, offering blood-on-the-tracks honesty sprinkled with brilliant wordplay and cultural references. At the heart of the EP lies “Sharp Cutting Wings (Song to a Poet),” a haunting cover of the Lucinda Williams song that was the first thing Oberst wanted to sing after recovering from a medical emergency in late 2024. The EP is both a perfect companion to their latest full-length and a self-contained world of its own, perpetually teetering between rogue optimism and pragmatic despair. Meanwhile, the band continues its high-octane tour across North America, including major West Coast dates and rare performances across Asia, all while advancing equity for the LGBTQ+ community through their non-profit, The Poison Oak Project.
Tracklist for Kids Table (EP):
- Kids Table
- Cairns (When Your Heart Belongs to Everyone)
- 1st World Blues
- Sharp Cutting Wings (Song to a Poet)
- It Always Feels Good and It Never Hurts
- Dyslexic Palindrome (feat. Hurray For The Riff Raff)
- Shakespeare In A Nutshell
- Victory City
REVERSE PATHOGEN Unleashes Defiant Rock Anthem “Sunday Afternoon” Featuring Drummer Josh Freese
The dynamic rock force Reverse Pathogen has just unleashed his raw and defiant new single, “Sunday Afternoon,” a powerful and universal anthem about the unshakable spirit of resilience and redemption! Born from multihyphenate artist Clayton Thomas’ memories of watching his grandfather champion the Cleveland Browns through endless losing streaks, the track beautifully captures the grit of local loyalty while speaking directly to “the fans, the artists, the dreamers—anyone who keeps fighting when the odds are stacked against them.” Backed by legendary drummer Josh Freese (Foo Fighters, Devo, The Vandals), “Sunday Afternoon” pulses with a fierce energy that effortlessly blends Thomas’s diverse musical background—which includes major collaborations in the hip-hop world—with his rock roots, making this a truly spectacular and highly personal moment from the artist whose album Accidentally Fetishized is also available now.
GROOVEE Releases Highly Personal New Single “I Don’t Know You” Blending Halftime Grit and Midtempo Funk
The brilliant multi-instrumentalist producer Groovee has just unleashed his deeply personal and instantly compelling new single, “I Don’t Know You,” available today on Grand Alliance Music! Known for his electrifying fusion of live alto saxophone, keytar, and bass-heavy electronic beats, Groovee (aka Jeremy Russo) turns inward with a track that masterfully balances raw emotion with an undeniable dancefloor pull. This standout track, which hits the sweet spot between halftime swagger and midtempo funk at 100 BPM, features snake-like saxophone riffs cutting through warm basslines and glitchy textures.
“I Don’t Know You” holds an incredibly close place in Groovee’s heart; he shares that the song was written to “let out the stress of losing touch with someone you thought you knew,” and its emotional core is beautifully built around a sound sample of his late dog. The producer also successfully achieves his goal of blending halftime with a midtempo track for the very first time, cementing a thrilling new element to his style! With this powerful release, the Phoenix-born, Pontiac-based artist continues to push the boundaries of genre, offering listeners an invitation to “dance, reflect, and feel,” whether on a festival stage or through headphones.
MAVIS STAPLES Releases Soulful New Album ‘Sad And Beautiful World’ Featuring Kevin Morby’s “Beautiful Strangers”
The iconic and enduring figure in American music, Mavis Staples, has delivered her soulful and profound new solo album, Sad And Beautiful World, available now via ANTI- Records! Highlighting this stunning collection is her powerful rendition of Kevin Morby’s “Beautiful Strangers,” where her voice, embracing vulnerability, draws the listener into an unforgettable presence. The album, produced by Brad Cook, magnificently spans seven decades of the American songbook, featuring reinventions of timeless classics alongside original music, and boasts incredible cameos from legends like Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy, and Derek Trucks. Morby himself shared the immense honor of the recording, stating that hearing Mavis sing his song is “hands down the greatest moment and highest honor of my career,” and emphatically declared, “her version is better.” This album truly showcases Mavis Staples—the lone surviving member of the Staple Singers—carrying her family’s gifts and knowledge as a living heritage!
DAVID CULTURA Releases New Single “Murga” From Debut Album ‘Cultura’
The acclaimed saxophonist and Panamanian native David Cultura has released “Murga,” the latest single from his full-length debut album, Cultura, available now on Devon Allman’s Create Records. “Murga” is Cultura’s vibrant sonic homage to one of Panama’s most beloved musical traditions—a form of popular musical theatre performed during Carnival season. With its syncopated brass lines and celebratory spirit, the track captures the energy and soul of the street parades that inspired it, serving as a musical bridge between Panamanian heritage and modern musical expression. Cultura states, “I wanted it to be a jazz record that was accessible, that brought people into the music,” and with Cultura, he delivers a danceable, melodic journey through the sounds and stories of Latin America, reimagined through a modern jazz lens.
GOING OFF Releases New Single “Mourning” From EP ‘Kill List II’
The unwavering force of the U.K. hardcore scene, Going Off, has just delivered their powerful new single, “Mourning,” which is taken from their brutal new EP, Kill List II. The song is a raw and deeply sensitive track centered around the story of a mother’s devastating loss of her firstborn son to extreme violence, demonstrating Going Off at their most emotionally heavy. Since bursting onto the scene in 2020 with their self-titled and Destroy EPs, the band has quickly cultivated a following due to their high-impact shows and relentless DIY mentality, proving they are a force that gets out there and inspires.
Kill List II is the ferocious follow-up to their 2024 record Die Fast, which Kerrang! praised as “speedy and savage hardcore that feels live in a dive bar.” This new EP confronts the rawest of human experiences with brutal musical intensity, channeling grief, rage, and resilience into a sonic powerhouse. Lyrically, the album is an unapologetic exploration of loss—of loved ones, of limbs, and of past versions of yourself. After spending the past few years tearing up stages on an extensive UK tour with Employed To Serve and Pupil Slicer, this new release confirms that Going Off continues to bend the elements of frantic hardcore under the weight of emotional magnitude.
Kill List II Track Listing:
- Change My Life
- Brain Melter
- Mourning
- To Lose a Limb
- Scum Friend
- Salvation
OVERMONO and HIGH CONTRAST Unleash Highly Anticipated “If We Ever” Reimagining Single
Electronic music sensation Overmono—brothers Tom and Ed Russell—have solidified their biggest summer yet by releasing their widely anticipated reimagining of High Contrast’s legendary drum & bass anthem, “If We Ever.” This definitive summer sound, which became a viral highlight following their ecstatic Glastonbury set and was first unveiled at their headline Love Saves The Day show, is now receiving a global digital release via XL Recordings’ iconic housebag series. The brothers shared that the original track was an anthem they were “all battering” back in the day, and after creating their own version “just for fun,” the reaction was so wildly enthusiastic that it ended up becoming a staple in every set they played this year.