So, what are you listening to these days?

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One of my great joys these days is discovering new music and new artists producing it. Some are just new to me, some (like Pacifica a few posts up) are literally new artists. Serena Belle has been kicking around social media for a while but, somewhat frustratingly for this music fan, has mostly been doing Shorts and TikToks with excerpts from songs rather than whole songs. She packs a hushed, slighty breath-y soprano that is absolutely lovely when she cuts loose so I've been hoping for at least some full-length covers and praying for an original song. Prayers were answered yesterday with the release of the lyric video for "Sisyphean", Serena's first full-length original song.

 
Mendalla said:
Pacifica trivia: Martina has type 1 diabetes and the band did a livestream to fundraise for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In some of their videos, you can spot the continuous glucose monitor on her arm.
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New video out from Pacifica's new album. It's a lively banger of a tune, very much the style that caught my attention originally. Anything they make on the video is going for diabetes research. They've also got a donation button going. Very cool that Martina is being open about this and using her music to build awareness and fundraise. She's even got a couple TikToks/Shorts of taking insulin.

 
Blast from the past time. Montreal electronic pop band Men Without Hats, famed for their 80s hit "Safety Dance", released a new single from an upcoming new album and it's, well, very Men Without Hats. Founder Ivan Doroschuk and his younger brother Colin, who was sporadically part of the original lineup, are joined by some new blood in this incarnation of the band.

 
Swiss vocalist Melissa Bonny comes from the metal world and would normally be turning up in my metal thread. However, like her Dutch colleague Floor Jansen, she's leaning more to a pop sound in her solo debut. The latest single is "Snow on Mars" and a nice power pop ballad. She's not straying too far afield otherwise, though, with her regular band's bassist joining in and her husband, who drums in another of her bands, on the kit.

 
If you have a hankering for some nice choral music, Voces8's got something for you. They have released a 90+ minute compilation of videos for music ranging from William Byrd (16th century English) to Mumford & Sons. They are one of the best small ensemble choral groups going and this is a wonderful selection of their work.

 
Pacifica continue their Type 1 Diabetes Month releases with another live video for a song from their latest album. As mentioned before, bassist/vocalist Martina Nintzel has type 1 diabetes so this has been a cause they have embraced right from the band's foundation.

 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
Just heard/ saw this for the first time. He has serious 60’s vibes. Neil Young/ Bob Dylan reminiscent. Amazing lyrics.

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…“I got a red bulldog technochratic bootstrap tuggin buddy” …

I got all the other references - and the one you’re probably thinking of (and it’s the only one I can think of) was, I think, already mentioned in the weird salutes reference. Anybody?

It reminds me of Don McLean’s American Pie - the poetic references do - and similar things were going on at the time.
 
He used to be in rock bands. Broke out on his own and gained a YouTube following, now has 4 Grammy nominations. I came across videos a song or two in the past year and didn’t think much of it - it was witty - just him playing simple songs in a field. I’m now seeing his complexity. Wow.
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:

Uncanny. He’s got a huge catalogue of protest songs. His songwriting talent is out of this world, no exaggeration.
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The timing is right for him....right now, everyone has to speak up against what is happening in his country and the world. Music can help in creating that united protest and bring change to a hurting people. I'm surprised more artists aren't doing this....or are they?
 
Waterfall said:
I'm surprised more artists aren't doing this....or are they?
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I have heard it from some. Of course, there's a conservative streak in some country and rock circles that is supporting the regime but a lot of the more political bands and artists have been speaking out against it, too. But not all artists are actively political or need to be. Some keep their politics off the agenda or couch it in the music without being outspoken. But it is definitely there.
 
Waterfall said:
The timing is right for him....right now, everyone has to speak up against what is happening in his country and the world. Music can help in creating that united protest and bring change to a hurting people. I'm surprised more artists aren't doing this....or are they?
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As Mendalla said, there are a few. Not just in the US. Ren, in the UK. Some punk bands. Rap. Those lyrics might not reach mainstream listeners like Jesse’s has - they speak to inner city concerns (which are rough and less relatable to the average person maybe). Some use satire. And some are far more subtle than Jesse’s. People skipping the middle man (record companies) through YouTube are able to say what they want with less censorship and directing, and build a following one song at a time without record sale numbers getting in the way of reaching an audience.
 
Mendalla said:
I have heard it from some. Of course, there's a conservative streak in some country and rock circles that is supporting the regime but a lot of the more political bands and artists have been speaking out against it, too. But not all artists are actively political or need to be. Some keep their politics off the agenda or couch it in the music without being outspoken. But it is definitely there.
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There are country stars busting out of that conservative streak. Lainey Wilson. But she’s less controversial (and I heard her in Colbert first lol). Most musicians we hear about want their own fame and success - that’s part of it.

Jesse’s really brave. Especially being from the Deep South.
 
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It is in all myth and ballad ... just that folk are uncomprehending as some politicians would prefer ... una WOKE? Clearly undisturbed by brutal powers ... at least until whipped out of their stupor! It is said to be a fuzzy state ... like flickering stars ...
 
Great new live performance video from Pacifica. New twist: They have electric strings backing them, a violin and a cello. New drummer, too, I think. I'm sure they've usually had a guy behind the kit.


Yeah, these young ladies have really made an impression. They have serious talent and their music is almost infectiously bright and energetic. As of today, Ines and Martina are in Japan for a short tour there.
 
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