Austin, Texas based singer-songwriter RJ Mendoza just dropped his first release of the year, “A.W.O.”, a warm, guitar-driven track with a touch of moody, gothic flair. It’s the first taste of his full length album slated to drop early 2026.
The new song lives on a steady acoustic rhythm, with vocals that feel honest, raw, and relatable. Mendoza recorded it himself in his home studio, leaning into a style that mixes folk storytelling with darker, at times, almost medieval vibes. And the cover art—cupped hands—fits the theme, symbolizing an offering.
Lyrically, “A.W.O.” is a love song, but not in the conventional way we think of love. Its imagery is a bit mythical—golden embers, sacred temples, and candle flames. The words paint a picture of someone who inspires not just attraction, but creativity and a sense of awe. As Mendoza puts it, “It’s a simple song that is catchy and joyful with a deep level of intimacy.”
Mendoza’s sound has been compared to that of Fleet Foxes or Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. So if you feel at home listening to them, you will feel right at home with “A.W.O.”.
Mendoza also isn’t slowing down. His next single, “Forever”, arrives August 29 as he builds towards his full length album release later this year.
Blending biography and archival history, After the Flood asks of Bob Dylan, “If your dreams are fulfilled at twenty, what do you do with the rest of your life?”
A prevailing narrative goes: Bob Dylan, the voice of Sixties counterculture, disappeared in the 1970s, then released arguably the worst music of his career in the 1980s—only to be resurrected in 2016, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Dylan’s concerts once began with an announcer intoning a deadpan version of just such a narrative. That is not this story.
Drawing on thousands of pages of archival materials, After the Flood reveals Dylan’s output during the last three decades as his most ambitious yet. Across an abecedarium of chapters surveying his albums, performances, films, and books since the early 1990s, celebrated poet and biographer Robert Polito shows how Dylan evolved a late musical style that has embodied and resisted its era—interweaving Ovid and Americana, film noir and the Civil War. Imaginatively researched, After the Flood is both an essential revision and continuation of the Dylan saga.
Burls Art and Packard transformed stacks of newspaper into a striking electric guitar. Using 1,600 sheets pressed in a fiberglass mold, they created a star-swirled body. Sanded and shaped with care, the instrument was finished with a custom burled wood neck. The result is both playable art and recycled innovation.
Kings of Leon will release a new single, “We’re Onto Something,” featuring Zach Bryan, on August 22nd via Love Tap Records, the band’s imprint distributed by Virgin Records. Over the weekend, Bryan joined Kings of Leon on stage during their set in front of a sold-out Golden Gate Park show for a surprise preview performance of their new collaboration.
“We’re Onto Something” follows the massively successful collaboration “Bowery,” recently released with Bryan on August 8th. The song debuted at No. 1 on Spotify in the US.
After debuting “We’re Onto Something,” Caleb Followill later joined Bryan’s set in a new performance of “Bowery,” which had the crowd on their feet. The pair made the performance debut of “Bowery” earlier this month at Bryan’s sold-out Red Rocks Amphitheater show.
New Orleans-based bassist and composer Noah Young has released a new single, “Fly on the Wall,” giving listeners their second preview of his forthcoming studio album Noah, due out September 26, 2025.
“Fly On The Wall” captures the golden-hour magic of cruising down an open road, windows down, as the day fades into night. Further showcasing Young’s prowess for composition and bass dexterity, the lyrical melody played by Young’s electric bass glides over frequent Naughty Professor collaborator Sam Kuslan’s lush keyboard textures, complementary synth bass work by Shea Pierre, and Alfred Jordan’s steady drum pulse. The track also features John Maestas on guitar who takes the track to its peak with an assertive solo before its conclusion. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner, Jamison Ross, “Fly On The Wall” blends warmth and motion into a sonic snapshot of pure freedom.
“I decided to call this song Fly On The Wall because it gave me the feeling of patiently watching and observing, say Young, “When I brought the demo to my producer Jamison Ross it was only one section. We scheduled a pre-production session with keyboardist Shea Pierre and Jamison and Shea quickly and effortlessly wrote the B section and the outro. Some of my favorite moments from this song are the rippin’ solo John Maestes takes on the outro, and the sparse and deeply groovy key bass that Shea Pierre plays on the B sections.”
“Fly On The Wall comes off the heels of the first single release, “Early Morning” that brought together layered upright and electric bass performances from Young and virtuoso bassist Martin Masakowski, with all percussion drawn directly from the upright bass itself, including a backbeat created by dropping car keys onto its body. “I think in total there are 6-7 tracks of Martin on upright, and 4-5 tracks of me on electric bass,” Young explains. “The layers of bow, harmonics, and percussion he laid down really put it over the top for me.”
With fine-tuned production by GRAMMY Award-winner Jamison Ross, Noah showcases Young’s evolving voice in the world of modern instrumental jazz. Blending soulful groove, improvisational nuance, and atmospheric production, the album draws inspiration from boundary-pushing works by Derrick Hodge and Pino Palladino. “Jamison’s production on Mykal Kilgore’s A Man Born Black made me want him to produce this album,” says Young. “He has a unique touch as both a drummer and a conceptualist. I knew he could help shape the album I was hearing in my head.”
A bold and deeply personal statement in sound, Noah was created as a catalyst for introspection and daydreaming. “I wanted this record to be felt more than analyzed-to create a space for reflection, movement, and emotional honesty,” Young says.
Known for his muscular groove, melodic sensibility, and genre-bending versatility, Noah Young has long been a fixture in New Orleans’ dynamic music scene. A founding member of the acclaimed jazz/funk outfit Naughty Professor, he’s also toured and recorded with artists including The Revivalists, Marcus King, Ivan Neville, and George Porter Jr. His work as both a solo artist and collaborator has earned him repeated nominations for OffBeat Magazine’s “Best Bassist” and brought him to festival stages around the globe.
Spinal Tap return in over-the-top fashion with a new version of “Stonehenge.” Joined by Elton John, the band delivers a straight-faced performance that feels both epic and hilarious. The track will appear on the upcoming soundtrack for ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.’ Could it be an Oscar contender?
Marc Martel joins forces with producer Warren Huart to take on one of rock’s greatest challenges. Together, they recreate Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” with stunning precision. Martel’s Mercury-like vocals soar across every section of the track. The result is a powerful tribute that channels the magic of the original.
Welcome Skateboards proudly unveils an exclusive collaboration with the legendary band Talking Heads, spotlighting rare photography by the late, great Mick Rock, who captured many of the most important musical artists in human history.
This limited edition capsule includes two premium graphic tees and a custom skateboard deck, each featuring iconic shots of Talking Heads from the early days of their groundbreaking rise. The collection specifically celebrates the band’s debut album, Talking Heads: 77, which showcased the intelligence and eccentricity that made Talking Heads one of the most influential bands of the 20th century.
Merging Welcome’s distinct, art driven approach to alternative culture with the avant-garde ethos of Talking Heads, this collection is a tribute to music as art.
“We’ve always been inspired by artists who disregard rules and create new genres, and Talking Heads are the epitome of that,” said Jason Celaya, Founder of Welcome Skateboards. “This collaboration is a nod to the creative rebellion that Talking Heads brought to the music world.”
Founded in 2010, Welcome is a culture brand born from skateboarding, but raised on music, art, and individuality. Known for custom board shapes, hand drawn graphics, and a defiant creative spirit, Welcome is a beacon for those who find themselves disenchanted with popular culture at large.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Talking Heads, the groundbreaking band that helped pioneer the new wave movement with their fusion of punk, funk, art rock, and global rhythms. Formed in 1975 by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and later joined by Jerry Harrison, the group became known for their cerebral songwriting, kinetic performances, and bold visual style.
With critically acclaimed albums like Talking Heads: 77, Remain in Light, and Speaking in Tongues, and the iconic concert film Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads pushed the boundaries of pop music and performance. Collaborations with producer Brian Eno and hits like “Psycho Killer” and “Burning Down the House” cemented their influence. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the band celebrates its legacy in 2025 with new releases, including the first-ever official “Psycho Killer” video and a Super Deluxe Edition of More Songs About Buildings and Food.
Fidget spinners usually hum quietly, but not in this wild experiment. Jen’s Maker Adventures wired them up with infrared sensors to control an Arduino and MIDI synth. Each spin creates a burst of sound that changes with speed. It’s part toy, part instrument, and all playful creativity.
Prince takes over the big screen as Sign O’ the Times storms into IMAX. Digitally remastered, the 1987 concert film glows brighter and sounds bigger than ever. It’s Prince at his creative peak, larger than life. For one week only starting August 29, 2025, fans can experience the Purple One in true cinematic glory.
