Pop into SAX in London and you might just catch a musical miracle. Leo P of Too Many Zooz recently rocked up and made mincemeat of a Benedikt Eppelsheim Contrabass Saxophone—an instrument that looks like it could devour him whole. What followed was six minutes of bold brass wizardry, swagger, and the kind of low-end growl you feel in your chest. Utter madness. Utter joy.
Gucci Mane Announces New Album and Book ‘Episodes’ Out This October
Opening up like never before, GRAMMY Award-nominated multi-platinum superstar Gucci Mane will unveil his most ambitious project to date in 2025. He uncovers his anxiously awaited seventeenth full-length album, Episodes, on October 17 via 1017/Atlantic Music Group, and it accompanies his second book-also entitled Episodes-out October 14 on Simon & Schuster. There’s no better way to celebrate “10/17” this year.
Today, he sets the stage for this multi-faceted body of work by sharing a new two-pack of songs, namely “Voices” and “Psycho.” Both tracks find Guwop in top form as he bodies the production with confessional, catchy, and endlessly quotable rhymes.
Accompanying this drop, iconic and influential filmmaker, director, screenwriter, and producer Harmony Korine [Kids, Gummo] notably helmed an AI music video incorporating both “Voices” and “Psycho.” It’s Gucci Mane like you’ve never seen him. The visual also continues his longstanding creative collaboration with Korine who cast the hip-hop icon in his 2012 critically acclaimed cult classic Spring Breakers. The video is powered by EDGLRD who brought this to life in a short timeframe, blending high-level creativity with emerging technology and AI, all delivered with a meticulous, high-touch approach.
About the video, EDGLRD commented, “We made this with just three photos of Gucci, AI, and VFX. It’s a low-lift process for the artist and high-impact for the fans. We’re excited to continue pushing this technology and format forward.”
Marking a career first, Episodes acts as an emotionally charged high stakes soundtrack for the book, which reveals Gucci Mane’s struggles with mental health and drug addiction and provides fans and readers with insights into his career and life. These “Episodes” encompassed what happened behind the music itself. Between disclosing his own stories, he even personally interviews various mental health professionals in order to offer a well-rounded and informed perspective.
Throughout Episodes, he holds nothing back and ultimately finds healing in his words on the page and on tape.
Distinguishing himself as the hardest working man in hip-hop, Gucci Mane served up the mixtape Greatest Of All Trappers (Gangsta Grillz Edition) hosted by DJ Drama in 2024. NPR hailed the latter as “a callback to a bygone era and yet one whose reverberations are everywhere,” going on to profess, “It is only through this process of reliving and commemorating what was that it’s really possible to see the afterimage of what these two artists helped build everywhere, and realize that the spirit of the mixtape format is eternal.” In support of the project, he headlined a sold-out show with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during October.
Get ready to experience Episodes and more from Gucci Mane in 2025.
Rhiannon Rodriguez Shares Dreamy Visual for “Float” Off Debut EP ‘Bittersweet’
Following the release of her debut EP Bittersweet, 19-year-old singer, songwriter, and director Rhiannon Rodriguez returns with the official music video for fan-favorite track “Float.” Dreamy, fluid, and emotionally intimate, the visual was co-directed by Rhiannon and her father, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, bringing a cinematic lens to one of the EP’s most vulnerable moments.
The Bittersweet EP arrived earlier this spring as a five-part reflection on grief, longing, and growth, told through Rhiannon’s distinct blend of alt-pop melodies, lo-fi textures, and unfiltered honesty. The project includes previously released tracks “Pink Lemonade” and “Lie I Can’t Deny,” which first introduced fans to her confessional writing style and visual self-direction.
The “Float” video is soft and surreal, mirroring the emotional weight of the song, about what lingers after love, and what it takes to let it go. The visuals are light-soaked and unhurried, echoing the feeling of drifting through something once heavy and now distant. Paired with her soft-spoken vocal delivery, the result is quietly powerful.
With Bittersweet, Rhiannon has emerged as one of 2025’s most promising new voices, an artist with not just potential, but vision, autonomy, and emotional resonance beyond her years.
The Yagas and Gogol Bordello Release Fiery Cover of Ukrainian Classic “Chervona Ruta” for Kupala Night
Alt rock band The Yagas, fronted by Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Vera Farmiga, and international punk band Gogol Bordello, led by Eugene Hütz, have released the official studio version of their take on the popular Ukrainian love song “Chervona Ruta” onto global streaming platforms, in celebration of the big Ukrainian summer holiday Kupala Night taking place this weekend. The anthemic song weaves the legend of a magical flower with the spirit of Kupala Night by echoing the holiday’s ancient themes of love, destiny, and nature’s enchantment, all centered around the mythical bloom said to appear only on that midsummer night. Earlier this spring, The Yagas and Gogol Bordello released a live performance video for their version of “Chervona Ruta” following a handful of New York area shows, including at Bowery Ballroom.
With Vera and Eugene both of Ukrainian heritage, the two artists have been using their release of “Chervona Ruta” to shed light on Ukrainian culture and language while also helping those in need by partnering with organizations that provide humanitarian and medical aid to the Ukrainian population, including the official fundraising platform UNITED24.
“I’m a first generation American. I was raised in the Ukrainian diaspora of New Jersey, instilled with an immense pride of my family’s heritage and culture. Ukrainian music and dance were a vital source of strength, identity, celebration and connection to Ukraine,” shares Farmiga. “Music has galvanized Ukrainian morale since the Russian invasion began. I thought, what a great way to uplift our loved ones in Ukraine than to perform a bangin’ cover of the quintessential Ukrainian song ‘Chervona Ruta.’ I love this particular song, that my Baba Nadia taught me. I grew up singing it at Ukrainian Plast and Syzokryli summer camps, deep in the woods and wildflower fields of Novyi Sokil, Soyuzivka, and Verhovyna, in New York’s Catskill Mountains. I associate this song with summer romance and lifelong friendships I developed, immersed in Ukrainian scouting and dance culture.”
“‘Chervona Ruta’ is steeped in complex emotions of romance, resilience, pride, passion and national identity,” Farmiga adds. “It’s not just a love song about a girl finding a red flower that brings luck in love. It’s a love song to Ukraine itself, evoking patriotic feeling. I wanted to sing it as a duet with Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello. Eugene himself is like a badass blooming mythological flower. He is magic on two feet. He explodes with ferocious love and joy of creativity, his energy pure and infectious. The song has been covered time and time again; we wanted to put our unique bluster and spin on it. Enjoy!”
“This is a particularly meaningful song for me to collaborate on with Vera and The Yagas, given that we are both of Ukrainian descent, even though we were born on different sides of the Atlantic Ocean,” says Hütz. “We both know it from childhood and with all respect to the original version, we thought of a distinctly tougher spin on it, just like the times we live in. What a natural way to connect and let that song do some inspirational as well as tangible fundraising work to support a trusted fundraising platform like UNITED24.”
The Yagas – Vera Farmiga (vocals), Renn Hawkey (keys), Jason Bowman (drums), Mark Visconti (guitar) and Mike Davis (bass) – released their independent debut full-length album, Midnight Minuet, on April 25th, which has been hailed as an “unexpected masterpiece,” “a spellbinding sonic journey” and “a delectable cornucopia of sounds that might be one of the best debuts of 2025.” Midnight Minuet, produced by Hawkey (formerly of famed alt-metal band Deadsy), includes the singles “The Crying Room,” “She’s Walking Down,” “Life Of A Widow” and “I Am.” Formed in 2023, the New York-based quintet borrowed their name from the mystical Slavic folklore figure Baba Yaga, believed to devour the souls of the newly deceased to safeguard the fountains of life. An audacious band with otherworldly origins, The Yagas wholly share their namesake’s storied penchant for shapeshifting, morphing from metal to industrial to wildly extravagant alt-rock as their songs journey into the strangest depths of the human psyche. Since debuting last fall, The Yagas have amassed over 3 million collective streams and views, received early comparisons to A Perfect Circle, The Cure, and Type O Negative, and have earned praise and support from Revolver Magazine, Metal Hammer, Classic Rock Magazine, NME, The Noise/Ones To Watch, Stereogum, Blabbermouth, Bloody Disgusting, Rock Cellar Magazine, and more. Creating a truly singular aural experience, their music is endlessly unpredictable but infinitely propelled by the spellbinding force of Farmiga’s vocal work.
Since 1999, international punk band Gogol Bordello, led by Ukrainian frontman Eugene Hütz, has been filling up rooms with an energy that could run a whole city. Their latest album Solidaritine is no exception, going back to their hardcore roots. The band has lit up stages around the world alongside System of a Down, Primus, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys; dueted with Regina Spektor; appeared in films like Liev Schreiber’s Everything Is Illuminated with Elijah Wood and Filth and Wisdom helmed by Madonna; and cut albums with legends Rick Rubin and Steve Albini. Russia’s war in Ukraine is personal for Eugene & the band, who have been tirelessly advocating for Ukrainian solidarity, partnering with Nova Ukraine, ArtDopomoga and beyond.
6 Remarkable Discoveries Made Possible by ELISA Kits
By Mitch Rice
In scientific circles, some instruments become so essential that their original impact fades from memory. The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, or ELISA kit, fits that description perfectly. Since the 1970s, these simple, adaptable plates have underpinned some of modern medicine’s biggest leaps. Let’s explore six groundbreaking discoveries that wouldn’t have been possible without ELISA technology.
1. Thee HIV/AIDS Detection Revolution
When HIV emerged in the 1980s, health officials urgently needed a reliable way to screen donated blood. Because ELISAs find antibodies with both high sensitivity and low cost, they soon became the backbone of national testing programs. Widespread use of the kits not only prevented unsafe transfusions but also allowed health authorities to link carriers to timely care.
2. Decoding Autoimmune Disorders
The same microwell-plate strategy also shed light on stubborn autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. By adding specific antigens to the wells, scientists could tally autoantibodies and track inflammation in single samples. Those insights, fueled by ELISAs speed and throughput, spurred the design of targeted drugs that have notably lifted daily living for patients around the globe.
3. The Food Allergy Breakthrough
Before laboratories adopted ELISA kits, diagnosing food allergies felt like a risky cycle of guesswork. The new assays enable clinicians to pinpoint which IgE antibodies respond to peanuts, shellfish, and other frequent triggers. As a result, allergy testing shifted from dangerous bedside trials to secure, controlled lab evaluations.
4. Cancer Biomarker Discovery
ELISA technology has been instrumental in identifying tumor markers that detect cancer in its earliest stages. From PSA testing for prostate cancer to CA-125 for ovarian cancer, these discoveries have enabled earlier interventions and significantly improved survival rates. The precision of ELISA assays continues to drive the development of personalized cancer treatment approaches.
5. Hormone Research Revelations
Understanding how hormones function in our bodies became possible through ELISA-based measurements. Researchers could finally quantify insulin levels in diabetes research, track reproductive hormones in fertility studies, and measure stress hormones in psychological research. These insights laid the foundation for hormone replacement therapies and diabetes management protocols we rely on today.
6. Environmental Toxin Detection
ELISA kits have been crucial in identifying and measuring environmental contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals in food, water, and biological samples. This capability has driven environmental health policies and safety regulations that protect public health on a global scale.
The Ripple Effect Continues
Each of these discoveries has created ripple effects throughout the scientific community, spawning new research directions and therapeutic approaches. ELISA technology continues to evolve, with newer variants offering even greater sensitivity and specificity.
The beauty of ELISA lies not just in its technical capabilities, but in its accessibility. These kits have democratized complex biochemical analysis, enabling laboratories worldwide to contribute to scientific progress.
Unlock Your Research Potential
Whether you are investigating the next breakthrough in immunology, oncology, or environmental science, high-quality ELISA kits remain essential tools for reliable, reproducible results. Explore MyBioSource’s comprehensive collection of ELISA kits and join the legacy of scientists who have used these powerful tools to change the world, one assay at a time.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
Blues-Rock Veteran Warren Haynes Of Gov’t Mule & Allman Brothers Unveils ‘The Whisper Sessions’ Featuring Derek Trucks
GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, producer, and Gov’t Mule front man Warren Haynes has announced The Whisper Sessions, a collection of stripped-down versions of songs off his recent solo album, Million Voices Whisper. The 9-track digital-only album – which includes a stunning version of the Allman Brothers Band classic “Melissa” with Haynes’ longtime ABB bandmate Derek Trucks, who is featured on three songs – will be released on Friday, September 12th via Fantasy Records. The intimate renditions peel back the layers to spotlight Haynes’ soulful voice, masterful guitar work, and the heartfelt storytelling at the album’s core. Coinciding with today’s announcement, Haynes has issued the first single from The Whisper Sessions onto DSPs with “These Changes” featuring Trucks, who also co-wrote the song, available now. “These Changes” is about someone who is trying to work through hardships and acknowledges that the relationship is important enough to do whatever it takes to make it better.
“‘These Changes’ is a song I wrote with Derek Trucks that we recorded in the studio together,” shares Haynes. “I love this song, which is about looking back and forward at the same time and navigating your way through an ever-changing life. The instrumental section at the end, where we are trading guitar riffs and playing off of each other, was not in the original arrangement as we wrote it – it just came about organically once we started recording the song. It was a great opportunity for the two of us to rekindle our chemistry that we’ve had for a long time.”
The Whisper Sessions is a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the essence of each track – where every lyric and note resonated with newfound clarity and depth. The album features seven standout tracks from Haynes’ acclaimed fourth solo album, Million Voices Whisper, including the singles “This Life As We Know It,” which reached Top 15 on the Americana singles chart and Top 40 at Triple A radio, and “Real Real Love,” also featuring Trucks, whose lyrics were initially started by Gregg Allman, as well as two poignant covers, each reimagined to highlight Haynes’ emotive vocals and six-string mastery. See below for full track listing. Prepare to experience the raw emotional power of Million Voices Whisper like never before.
“We didn’t plan to release stripped-down versions of the songs from Million Voices Whisper, it just kind of happened organically,” says Haynes. “We were combing through these performances and realized that they offer a unique perspective into the songs themselves, so we thought it would be cool to make them available.”
Million Voices Whisper, released in November 2024, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Albums Chart and marked Warren’s first solo album in nearly a decade. The 11-song, self-produced collection of soulful blues-rock has been hailed his best album yet. In addition to the multiple appearances from Trucks, Million Voices Whisper includes guest spots from Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson on the single “Day of Reckoning.” .
Haynes, who recently partnered with Gibson for the release of his first signature guitar, the Gibson Warren Haynes Les Paul™ Standard, is heading overseas to Europe in July for a 10-date tour with the Warren Haynes Band [drummer Terence Higgins, bassist Kevin Scott, keyboardist Matt Slocum, and saxophonist Greg Osby]. Upon his return to the States, Haynes will shift gears and hit the road with Gov’t Mule for their newly-announced Back In The Saddle Tour. The late summer and fall dates – Mule’s first big tour run since February 2024 – will find the acclaimed GRAMMY-nominated quartet of Haynes (guitar, vocals), Matt Abts (drums), Danny Louis (keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals) and Kevin Scott (bass) travel throughout the East Coast and Midwest until the end of October. Tickets for the Back In The Saddle Tour are on sale now. Gov’t Mule, who are celebrating the 30th anniversary since the release of their self-titled debut album, also have a run of co-headlining shows with Tedeschi Trucks Band coming up later this year. See below for all of Warren Haynes’ upcoming tour dates and visit https://warrenhaynes.net/ for more info and to purchase tickets.
The Whisper Sessions Track Listing:
1. Back Where I Started
2. Till The Sun Comes Shining Through
3. From Here On Out
4. Til I Can Make It On My Own
5. You Ain’t Above Me
6. This Life As We Know It
7. Real, Real Love (feat. Derek Trucks)
8. These Changes (feat. Derek Trucks)
9. Melissa (feat. Derek Trucks)
Joe Bonamassa Drops “Trigger Finger” Ahead Of New Album ‘Breakthrough’ Out July 18
Blues-rock icon Joe Bonamassa returns today with the release of “Trigger Finger,” the latest single from his eagerly awaited new album Breakthrough, due out July 18th on J&R Adventures. Marking another bold chapter in Bonamassa’s storied career, the track captures his signature fusion of powerful guitar riffs, driving rhythms, and raw vocal swagger. Co-written with longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge, “Trigger Finger” is a hard-hitting, up-tempo anthem about resilience, reinvention, and the fire that fuels forward motion.
With its fiery guitar work and no-nonsense lyrics, “Trigger Finger” finds Bonamassa leaning into a grittier, more rocking sound that highlights the album’s adventurous spirit. Produced by Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey), Breakthrough was crafted across Greece, Nashville, and Los Angeles, blending global influences into a dynamic, genre-bending collection.
“Trigger Finger” follows the release of the album’s title track “Breakthrough,” a soulful and uplifting anthem of transformation, along with the moody, introspective “Shake This Ground” and the warm, groove-driven “Still Walking With Me.” Each of these singles showcases a different facet of Bonamassa’s evolving artistry and the emotional range of Breakthrough, his most stylistically diverse studio effort to date.
With over 50 albums, 28 #1 Billboard Blues albums, and a lifelong commitment to evolving the genre, Joe Bonamassa continues to set the standard for modern blues-rock. Breakthrough promises to further cement his legacy as one of the most innovative guitarists and songwriters of his generation.
The new single arrives as Bonamassa rides a wave of momentum. Fresh off a European tour with his supergroup Black Country Communion, he now sets his sights on summer dates across Europe, including sold-out shows in Ireland and appearances at iconic festivals like Montreux Jazz Festival and Bospop. His U.S. summer tour kicks off July 31st at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, with stops at Vina Robles Amphitheatre, Red Rocks, and more. In September, Bonamassa will headline the Bourbon & Beyond Festival before setting sail on the sold-out Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska cruise.
For more information on Breakthrough, tour dates, and VIP packages, visit jbonamassa.com.
CD Track list
1. Breakthrough
2. Trigger Finger
3. I’ll Take The Blame
4. Drive By The Exit Sign
5. Broken Record
6. Shake This Ground
7. Still Walking With Me
8. Life After Dark
9. You Don’t Own Me
10. Pain’s On Me
VINYL Track list
Side A
1. Breakthrough
2. Trigger Finger
3. I’ll Take The Blame
4. Drive By The Exit Sign
5. Broken Record
Side B
1. Shake This Ground
2. Still Walking With Me
3. Life After Dark
4. You Don’t Own Me
5. Pain’s On Me
JOE BONAMASSA – TOUR SCHEDULE
EUROPE SUMMER TOUR 2025
July 1 – Cork, IE – Live at The Marquee*
July 2 – Cork, IE – Live at The Marquee*
July 3 – Cork, IE – Live at The Marquee
July 6 – Klam, AT – Clam Castle
July 8 – Veszprém, HU – Veszprémfest
July 10 – Stuttgart, DE – Jazzopen Stuttgart
July 13 – Weert, NL – Bospop
July 16 – Montreux, CH – Montreux Jazz Festival
July 18 – Pordenone, IT – San Valentino Park
July 19 – Rome, IT – Auditorium Parco della Musica – Cavea
* Sold Out
U.S. SUMMER TOUR 2025
July 31 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
August 1 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
August 3 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
August 5 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
August 6 – Pocatello, ID – Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre
August 8 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 9 – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Resort & Casino Amphitheater
SEPTEMBER 2025
September 7 – Chicago, IL – United Center*
September 9 – Chicago, IL – United Center*
September 12 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Festival
September 13 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
September 15-21, 2025 – Seattle, WA – Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea ALASKA
*Supporting The Who
U.S. FALL TOUR 2025
November 3 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
November 5 – Toronto, ON – The Theatre at Great Canadian Toronto
November 7 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
November 8 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre
November 10 – Rockford, IL – Coronado Theatre
November 11 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
November 14 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater
November 15 – Houston, TX – The Hobby Center
November 18 – Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center Selena Auditorium
November 19 – Abilene, TX – Abilene Auditorium
November 21 – Midland, TX – Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
November 22 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
November 23 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 25 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center
November 26 – St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre
November 29 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
November 30 – Montgomery, AL – Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
December 2 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre
December 3 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
December 5 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
December 6 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
Kyle Hollingsworth Announces New Album ‘All We Are’ With Tour, Brew Fest & Beer Collaboration
Today, accomplished keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and brewmaster Kyle Hollingsworth announces his new solo album, All We Are, set for release on August 1, 2025 via SCI Fidelity Records. “This album starts with my songwriting,” Hollingsworth shares. “I’m better able to express what I’m feeling in the moment, and I keep pushing myself to explore further.”
That spirit of exploration is at the heart of All We Are—a bold new chapter in a career long defined by creative risk-taking. More than 20 years over the past seven solo releases, and over three decades into his journey with The String Cheese Incident, Hollingsworth continues to evolve, delivering a sound that’s both fresh and unexpected.
The title track and first sampling from the new album, “All We Are” is a shimmering, alt-rock-leaning single that trades extended solos for song-focused structure and lyrical introspection—yet remains undeniably funky in true Kyle fashion. Pre-save the new album now.
Alongside the new album, Hollingsworth has teamed up with 4 Hands Brewing Company (St. Louis, MO) to craft the perfect beer pairing to complement the music. Look for the collaboration beer this fall in the Midwest near Kyle Hollingsworth Band tour dates at select retailers and taps.
In support of the new album, the Kyle Hollingsworth Band will play a number of dates throughout Colorado, the Northeast and the Midwest. Including a fun-filled album release party at Kyle’s iconic beer festival, Kyle’s Brew Fest, hosted at Wibby Brewing Co in Longmont, CO, on September 6. Stay tuned for beer collaborations, the brewery lineup, special guest musicians, exciting activities and more at Kyle’s favorite event of the year. For all news and up-to-date tour information. Please visit kylehollingsworth.com.
Kyle Hollingsworth Band on Tour
July 26 – Crafts Cocktails & Corks – Winter Park, CO
Sept 06 – Kyle’s Brew Fest at Wibby Brewing Co. – Longmont, CO
Sept 18 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY*
Sept 19 – StageOne at FTC – Fairfield, CT*
Sept 20 – Sherman Stage at Renegade Winery – Stroudsburg, PA*
Sept 21 – Annapolis Baygrass Festival – Annapolis, MD
Oct 24 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI^
Oct 25 – Howlin’ At The Moon – Naperville, IL+
Oct 26 – Riverside Theater (outdoors) – Milwaukee, WI#
*w/ The Jauntee
^w/ Neighbor
+w/ Family Groove Company
#Free Widespread Panic pre-party in the street
“I feel like I’m bolder and braver right now than I’ve ever been with my music,” Kyle Hollingworth asserts, as he considers the scope of his expansive new studio album All We Are. “It begins with my songwriting, where I’m better able to express what I’m experiencing in the moment, while my willingness to explore continues to grow.”
This is a striking statement from the accomplished keyboard player and vocalist, as it comes more than two decades after the release of first solo album, and well over thirty years into a vibrant musical career. Then again, given the propensity for chasing new sounds that has been his hallmark, Hollingsworth’s latest creative progression is equally invigorating and inevitable.
The title track, which opens his fifth full-length record, sets the tone for the wide-ranging artistic expression to follow. “All We Are” presents a guitar-driven sonic landscape in which Hollingsworth’s signature keyboards play a compelling support role yet are not the focal point. The lyrics are atmospheric and evocative, touching on the themes of life experience and transformation that recur throughout the release.
While the self-produced All We Are explores new terrain, the songs inhabit Kyle Hollingsworth’s vivid and bright-hued environs. “Carnival” is inspired by his touring with the String Cheese Incident, the group he’s animated since 1996. The composition began as a bluegrass-infused instrumental inspired by Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby’s collaborative studio record, then took on new colors after Hollingsworth fashioned lyrics to reflect the “traveling circus” of the String Cheese experience.
The keyboardist has long demonstrated his affinity for the live setting both with SCI and his own Kyle Hollingsworth Band. He’s adept at pushing musical bounds, yet his contributions are often blithe and buoyant. While touring the globe, performing in some of the world’s most prestigious arenas and amphitheaters, he’s endeared himself to audiences through his absorbing technical flourishes and stirring improvisational flair.
Hollingsworth moved to Colorado over 30 years ago due to a yearning for the outdoors, which he evokes in a song named after the Centennial State. “Colorado” depicts the physical surroundings that ground his work, even as he keeps his eye on the horizon. The tune also speaks to his songwriting process, as he notes, “I get a lot of my creative energy when I’m biking, paddleboarding or skiing. Something will come to me and I’ll sing it into my phone.” However, he adds, “I respect how the song wants to be written. I don’t force it. After I get home, I’ll live with it a little bit and purposely let it breathe.” This deliberative approach allows him to nurture material that draws from a panorama of genres and reference points.
On All We Are Hollingsworth embraces his instincts for utilizing a rich musical palette yet infusing it with new shadings and shadows. This encompasses “Tee’s Strut,” which offers a nod to funk-fusion progenitor Richard Tee, as well as “Lost in the Mirror,” which employs an Afrobeat style while Hollingsworth muses on his 13-year-old daughter’s newfound fixation with her image. “Waiting On Time” was initially inspired by the music of Gregg Allman yet it also represents a new narrative songwriting technique for Hollingsworth, who frames the composition in the third-person to share an account of a man’s addiction. Hollingsworth also applies this method to “Coming On Strong” in which the female protagonist rides her motorcycle through a hurricane and away from personal strife.
The album concludes with a reprise of “All We Are,” which serves to underscore the ideas that inform the release. Hollingsworth explains, “There’s a throughline of how we are able to live in this universe. I’m in constant amazement and wonder of humanity, life on the planet and the beauty of nature all around me. I also continue to be a searcher, looking for challenges that may present themselves. I’m always experimenting musically and trying to stretch beyond what people expect of me, while continuing to examine what I expect of myself.”














