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Mr. Fantasy Blasts Off With “Catapult” And Miami-Fueled Pop Funk

Eric Alper
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Mr. Fantasy Blasts Off With “Catapult” And Miami-Fueled Pop Funk

Rising star and viral sensation Mr. Fantasy returns with “Catapult,” a glossy, groove heavy single that leans all the way into his technicolor world. The track arrives with a music video set in Miami, where he cruises through the city before launching into a rocket ride that sends viewers into another dimension. It is bold, theatrical, and built for repeat spins.

The release follows a major milestone. Mr. Fantasy made his live debut at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, performing his self titled breakout “Mr. Fantasy” from the Jolly Polly Pirate Ship. The single has already crossed six million streams and generated more than 200 million views and 13 million likes across TikTok and Instagram, cementing his status as a social media force.

Since emerging in August 2025, Mr. Fantasy has carved out a vivid identity. The synth pop artist channels a 1970s British rockstar aesthetic, complete with brunette bob wig, oversized sunglasses, false teeth, and a playful accent that feels straight from another era. The commitment to character fuels the spectacle and keeps audiences guessing.

Speculation continues to swirl that Mr. Fantasy may be the alter ego of New Zealand actor KJ Apa, known for his role as Archie Andrews on Riverdale. Observers point to similarities in voice, tattoos, and build, while his manager has offered cryptic hints. Confirmed or not, the mystique only amplifies the buzz around “Catapult” and earlier single “Wayuwanna,” both signaling a pop project that is moving fast and aiming higher.

Alice Gerrard Reflects On A Lifetime In Folk With ‘Custom Made Woman’

Eric Alper
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Alice Gerrard Reflects On A Lifetime In Folk With ‘Custom Made Woman’

Award-winning folk and bluegrass musician Alice Gerrard traces more than five decades of music and advocacy in her new memoir, ‘Custom Made Woman: A Life in Traditional Music.’ The book follows her journey through festivals, collaborations, family life, and the personal and professional relationships that shaped her path in a genre long dominated by men.

Central to her story is her partnership with Appalachian singer Hazel Dickens during the 1960s and 1970s. Their four albums, recently reissued by Rounder Records and Smithsonian Folkways, stand as pivotal recordings in the years following the American folk revival. Gerrard also worked alongside musicians including Tommy Jarrell, Enoch Rutherford, Otis Burris, Luther Davis, and Matokie Slaughter.

Beyond performance, Gerrard helped document and sustain the traditional music community. She founded The Old-Time Herald in Durham, North Carolina, serving as editor-in-chief for more than a decade. Her lifelong commitment to preserving folk culture is reflected in the book’s nearly 100 rare photographs, many previously unpublished.

Featuring images of figures such as Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Hazel Dickens, Elizabeth Cotten, and Mike Seeger, ‘Custom Made Woman’ offers both memoir and cultural record. Gerrard’s story provides an intimate lens on a distinctly American tradition that continues to evolve and endure.

Van Morrison Collects Six Decades Of Songwriting In ‘Lit Up Inside / Keep ’Er Lit’

Eric Alper
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Van Morrison Collects Six Decades Of Songwriting In ‘Lit Up Inside / Keep ’Er Lit’

Van Morrison gathers more than sixty years of songwriting into ‘Lit Up Inside / Keep ’Er Lit: The Collected Lyrics,’ a hardcover volume featuring the words to over two hundred songs. With a foreword by John Cooper Clarke, the book presents Morrison’s lyrical world in one carefully assembled edition.

Across its pages, readers encounter the recurring touchstones that define his work — back streets and mystic avenues, childhood memory and adult reckoning, church bells and late-night radio. The lyrics move between solitude and celebration, naming fellow artists, tracing romance and regret, and returning again and again to themes of grace and transcendence.

Spanning his full career, the collection charts the evolution of a writer who has continually reshaped blues, soul, folk, and rock traditions through language and phrasing. Seen together, the lyrics reveal patterns of imagery and rhythm that run through decades of recording and performance.

‘Lit Up Inside / Keep ’Er Lit’ offers a comprehensive overview of Morrison’s output, presenting the words on their own terms — a standalone document of one of contemporary music’s most enduring songwriters.

John Darnielle Chronicles 365 Songs In ‘This Year’

Eric Alper
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John Darnielle Chronicles 365 Songs In ‘This Year’

John Darnielle gathers decades of songwriting into ‘This Year: 365 Songs Annotated,’ a hardcover collection pairing lyrics with first-person commentary. Illustrated by John Keogh, the book presents 365 songs with reflections on their origins, influences, and the people who shaped them.

Spanning Darnielle’s earliest boom-box recordings through the evolution of The Mountain Goats into a full band, the collection documents a creative life in motion. Each annotation offers context — where the song came from, who it was written for, and what was happening at the time. Family, friends, collaborators, and literary heroes all surface in the margins.

Readers will find insight into songs like “This Year,” “No Children,” “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton,” and “Up the Wolves,” alongside commentary on the writers who influenced him, including Flannery O’Connor, Jorge Luis Borges, and Stephen King. The result is part lyric archive, part memoir, part craft study.

‘This Year’ stands as a detailed literary record of one of indie music’s most prolific voices — not just a compilation of songs, but an examination of how they came to exist and why they continue to resonate.

Lionel Richie’s ‘Can’t Slow Down’ Enters Definitive Sound Series In One Step Edition

Eric Alper
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Lionel Richie’s ‘Can’t Slow Down’ Enters Definitive Sound Series In One Step Edition

Interscope-Capitol Records adds Lionel Richie’s ‘Can’t Slow Down’ to its premium Definitive Sound Series, a high-end audiophile collection focused on landmark albums presented in their highest-fidelity form. The 180-gram high-definition vinyl edition is sourced directly from the original analog master tapes and limited to 3,000 hand-numbered copies.

Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and pressed at Record Technology using the One Step process, the release eliminates multiple stamper stages in the plating chain. Each copy includes a certificate of authenticity detailing the mastering, plating, and pressing process — underscoring the series’ emphasis on production transparency and craftsmanship.

Originally released in 1983, ‘Can’t Slow Down’ marked a major turning point in Richie’s solo career. The album produced five U.S. Top 40 singles, including “All Night Long (All Night)” and the Grammy-winning “Hello,” and earned the 1985 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. It topped charts worldwide and expanded the blueprint for crossover pop success in the 1980s.

“The Definitive Sound Series represents the pinnacle of vinyl craftsmanship,” says Xavier Ramos, EVP D2C and eCommerce Strategy at Interscope-Capitol. “We’re proud to invest in these collectible pieces that reflect our respect for these iconic artists, their groundbreaking music, and the fans whose passion continues to keep these albums as relevant today as when they were first released.”

Track listing for ‘Can’t Slow Down’:

  1. Can’t Slow Down
  2. All Night Long (All Night)
  3. Penny Lover
  4. Stuck On You
  5. Love Will Find A Way
  6. The Only One
  7. Running With The Night
  8. Hello

CVCHE Turn Up The Heat With New Single “Private Volcano”

Eric Alper
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CVCHE Turn Up The Heat With New Single “Private Volcano”

Experimental Rural Canadian Techno supergroup CVCHE return with “Private Volcano,” the latest single from their upcoming debut album ‘Get Fluffy.’ Built in their moss-covered river studio somewhere deep in the Canadian wilderness, the track channels pressure into pulse — both creative and literal.

“‘Private Volcano’ started as a late-night experiment that got out of hand in the best way,” the band shares. “We recorded it during a heatwave, and the AC was acting funny, and we were running way too hot, which probably explains the title. The song is about pressure… the kind that builds quietly, whether it’s creative, emotional, or just the temperature in the room. ‘Private Volcano’ is us leaning into that heat instead of running from it.”

CVCHE bring together Jimmy Shaw of Metric and Broken Social Scene, Liam O’Neil of Kings of Leon, Dave Hodge of Broken Social Scene and Leisure Cruise, and conceptual artist Jon Morris of Windmill Factory and NOWHERE.io. Their self-described Rural Canadian Techno bends analog synthesizers, off-kilter grooves, and playful conceptual framing into something both hypnotic and slightly absurd.

Previous singles include “Welcome To CVCHE,” “Eyes of Darkness – A Novel by Dean Koontz,” “Get Fluffy,” “Never Whatever,” “Thumper,” and the Chris Seligman collaboration “The Star.” With “Private Volcano,” CVCHE continue to build their own strange electronic ecosystem — one vintage synth at a time.

Descendents Celebrate 40 Years Of ‘I Don’t Want To Grow Up’ With Expanded Reissue

Eric Alper
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Descendents Celebrate 40 Years Of ‘I Don’t Want To Grow Up’ With Expanded Reissue

Org Music announces the reissue of ‘I Don’t Want To Grow Up,’ the landmark second album from punk pioneers Descendents. Available across LP, CD, and cassette formats, the release also includes a special Punk Note LP edition with alternate packaging. The reissue follows the band’s reclaimed ownership of their master recordings and continues the campaign that began with ‘Milo Goes To College.’

Originally released in 1985 on New Alliance Records, founded by Minutemen’s D. Boon and Mike Watt, the album arrived after Milo Aukerman returned from college. It marked the first of two releases featuring guitarist Ray Cooper and showcased a brighter, hook-driven edge without losing the band’s urgency. Four decades later, it remains a cornerstone of melodic hardcore.

The standout Punk Note edition, designed by John Yates of Stealworks, draws inspiration from the iconic Blue Note aesthetic shaped by Reid Miles and Francis Wolff. Presented in deluxe case-wrapped jackets with new liner notes by BrooklynVegan senior editor Andrew Sacher, the series continues Org Music’s visually reimagined punk archive.

Track listing for ‘I Don’t Want To Grow Up’:

  1. Descendents
  2. I Don’t Want To Grow Up
  3. Pervert
  4. Rockstar
  5. No FB
  6. Can’t Go Back
  7. GCF
  8. My World
  9. Theme
  10. Silly Girl
  11. In Love This Way
  12. Christmas Vacation
  13. Good Good Things
  14. Ace
  15. Catalina
  16. Suburban Home

Available variants include Black LP, “Banana Peel” LP, Punk Note Edition Black Vinyl, CD, and Yellow Cassette. Limited exclusives include Transparent Yellow Punk Note LP, “Oxblood Docs” LP, Ocean LP, Pink LP, Green Bay LP, Bubble Gum LP, Black LP with Obi Strip, and Purple Swirl Cassette. The campaign continues with future reissues of ‘Enjoy!,’ ‘ALL,’ and ‘Bonus Fat,’ each overseen by the band to ensure definitive presentation.

Capsize Resurface With Brooding New Single “The Fracture”

Eric Alper
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Capsize Resurface With Brooding New Single “The Fracture”

Capsize return with “The Fracture,” their first release since signing to Roux & Ruin Records. Produced by Matt Good, whose credits include From First To Last and Asking Alexandria, the track blends sharp melodic turns with dense, emotional weight. It reintroduces the band with a sound that feels focused and unfiltered.

“This song is about taking responsibility for everything in my life, even the things that are out of my control,” shares vocalist Daniel Wand. “I’ve found holding myself accountable is the only way I’ve been able to make sense of the aftermath when things fall apart in any category of life. It’s about feeling empty from it, and still trying to find some kind of light at the end of the tunnel by being candid about internal struggle.”

“The Fracture” leans into tension and release — melodic passages give way to heavier bursts, mirroring the push and pull inside the lyrics. The production keeps the edges intact, allowing the vulnerability in Wand’s delivery to sit alongside the band’s driving instrumentation.

After several standalone singles in recent years, Capsize are preparing their first physical release since ‘A Reintroduction: The Essence Of All That Surrounds Me.’

Alissa White-Gluz Steps Into Solo Era With “The Room Where She Died”

Eric Alper
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0
Alissa White-Gluz Steps Into Solo Era With “The Room Where She Died”

Alissa White-Gluz has unveiled the music video for her new solo single “The Room Where She Died,” marking the beginning of a new chapter following her departure from Arch Enemy after 12 years. The track serves as the first glimpse into her forthcoming solo album and signals a shift in both tone and creative direction.

“I hope you love this first offering from my upcoming solo album,” White-Gluz shared. “‘The Room Where She Died’ is a song that feels truly satisfying to me; like I get to express myself in so many ways that have been dormant for years.” She also wrote the script for the video, underscoring her hands-on role in shaping the visual and emotional narrative.

Speaking about the transition, she stated, “After 12 years in Arch Enemy, we have parted ways. I am forever thankful to the thousands of amazing fans I have met along the way. I can’t wait to share what I have been working on with you all. Stay tuned for big news in 2026 and see you very soon.” Arch Enemy responded with appreciation, wishing her well and acknowledging that “wherever there is an ending, there is also a beginning.”

With “The Room Where She Died,” White-Gluz opens the door to a solo project she describes as diverse and deeply personal. It is a decisive first step — one that places her voice and vision firmly at the center.

Zhonk Drop Horn-Driven Bass Heat On ‘SoulSmack’ EP

Eric Alper
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0
Zhonk Drop Horn-Driven Bass Heat On ‘SoulSmack’ EP

Grand Alliance Music announces the release of ‘SoulSmack,’ the new EP from Austin-based brass-bass duo Zhonk. The three-track project captures a year of underground shows, late-night experimentation, and steady online growth, distilling their live energy into a tight studio statement built around saxophone, trombone, and heavy low-end production.

Formed by Patrick Donaghey on saxophone and Sawyer Green on trombone, Zhonk fuse live brass performance with glitch-hop grooves, funk bounce, and halftime bass pressure. ‘SoulSmack’ centers on improvisational horn lines that cut through thick beats, with rhythmic interplay designed for packed dance floors and festival stages.

The EP features three originals, “SoulSmack,” “Funk Your DnB,” and “Saucy,” the latter featuring electronic artist Willdabeast, known for horn-forward bass production and national touring. “This project represents what we do live — high-energy horns and unapologetic low end,” Zhonk share. “It’s loud, it’s playful, and it reflects the ‘dirty brass’ sound that’s become our identity.”

As the brass-driven bass movement continues to expand, with artists like GRiZ and Big Gigantic helping pave the way, Zhonk carve out their own lane through performance-first intensity. ‘SoulSmack’ positions the duo for a wider reach while staying grounded in the DIY ethos and community roots that built their sound.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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