Boston

ALISA AMADOR RELEASES NEW SINGLE “TOGETHER” VIA UNDER THE RADAR DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES OUT ON SEPTEMBER 17TH

ALISA AMADOR RELEASES NEW SINGLE “TOGETHER”  

VIA UNDER THE RADAR  

DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES OUT ON SEPTEMBER 17TH 

“Alisa Amador is a pitch-perfect rendition of my wildest dreams” - NPR 

“Alisa Amador sings with the ease of someone who has been performing for the entirety of her life” - American Songwriter   

"Not only can you sense her own musical drive and talent, you can almost feel how she puts her soul into her multi-genre art…Alisa Amador is a prime example of the amazing music Boston churns out” - WERS 

“…knocks together the worlds of Lake Street Dive and Fiona Apple into a tell-it like it is a morning anthem. With skatty jazz bravado and an engaging vocal presentation, Amador is a chill addition to the ’70s influenced singer-songwriter sect”- Glide Magazine  

“…a breath of fresh air” - Sound Of Boston 

Photo credit: Jacquelyn Marie

Photo credit: Jacquelyn Marie

LISTEN: “TOGETHER”  

Today, Boston-based artist Alisa Amador unveils “Together,” the latest single from her forthcoming mini-album Narratives, set for release on September 17th. Under The Radar, who said her latest effort is “a document of the breadth of human experience, examining the narratives that encompass us amidst powerful indie folk arrangements,” premiered the track. “Amador begins stark and solitary, accompanied only by the steady chime of her guitar as she acknowledges the pain that all too often defines life’s experiences,” they commented. “Yet, as throughout the rest of the EP, connection is the healer and savior for Amador. That salve of quiet comfort takes on new power as the song reaches its climax, and Amador is joined by a triumphant chorus of voices and strings. In one voice, Amador and company declare their collective power and unity, bringing the track to an end with the steady chant of ‘together.’  

“Together” calls out systemic violence—in it, Amador acknowledges all the pain and celebrates the revolutionary power of friendship in the face of all those odds. “Perhaps the world will always be breaking,” she told Under The Radar. “And, it is our purpose on Earth to be putting it back together again, together.” The single follows the release of self-care anthem “Slow Down,” and breakout hit “Timing,” a lively, optimistic, and wry song which addresses the frustrating yet exciting realization that you’ve found love, but the timing is off. “Timing” was featured on Spotify’s "Fresh Finds,” "Fresh Finds: Indie,” and "Stay in Bed" playlists, as well as Apple Music’s "Now That's What I Call Today's Top Hits.” 

LISTEN: “SLOW DOWN”  

LISTEN // WATCH: “TIMING”  

Alisa Amador is a connector. Her upcoming mini-album, Narratives, is a six-song snapshot in time. It’s a deep look at a person stumbling through life in two languages—English and Spanish—and in many states of mind about it all. Her crystal-clear vocals are so effortless throughout Narratives that it’s almost easy to forget how technically talented she is, until she moves from almost-spoken-word territory to a powerful chorus without hesitation or illustrates a repetitive refrain that’s so affecting it feels like you might want to live inside it for a little while.   

“The word ‘narratives’ encompasses not only the existing cultural messages that hurt people individually and collectively,” she says, “but also the revolutionary power of writing ourselves new narratives; rejecting a culture of fear; and catalyzing a culture of honesty, bravery and self-love in the process.”  

When listening to Amador’s music, her time spent immersed in Latin folk and jazz is undoubtedly present in her own songs, written in both English and Spanish. But there is also pop, funk, soul, and something uniquely her own. Her specialty is sparking connection, across both listeners and musical styles. Working with producer Daniel Radin (The Novel Ideas, Future Teens), Narratives concentrates on the journey of Amador’s live set, taking listeners through songs that may elicit a laugh, bring introspection, offer a cathartic cry or encourage a sing-along.   

The genre-bending effort is as empowering as it is heart-wrenching. These songs  explore themes of romance and heartbreak, of chaos and healing, exposing systems of oppression and shining a light on the intricacies of the human condition. They might break your heart open, but by the end, it will be mended, uplifted and stronger—a ‘Life and Love Survival Kit' in the form of a bilingual EP. Click HERE to pre-order Narratives

 

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BOSTON INDIE ROCKER THE COLLECT POND RELEASES "GRUNGE-Y... SHIMMERING"(-BTR TODAY) NEW SINGLE “GO ALONG” ON 8/6

 BOSTON INDIE ROCKER THE COLLECT POND RELEASES

"GRUNGE-Y... SHIMMERING"(-BTR TODAY) NEW SINGLE “GO ALONG” ON 8/6

“The Collect Pond reveals chapters of Danny Moffat’s life via ominous reflecting pools… right when the water seems eerily stagnant, a wave of relief arrives to wash away the sticky feeling of malaise…” - Vanyaland

Photo Credit: Mike Mororissey

Photo Credit: Mike Mororissey

“GO ALONG” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

The Collect Pond is the moniker for Boston-based singer-songwriter and audio engineer Danny Moffat. Today, The Collect Pond premieres the second single "Go Along" from their forthcoming third album Long Range on BTR Today.

“Combing his emotional singer-songwriter style with more grunge-y inspirations is quickly becoming Moffat’s M.O.…vocals express intense emotion with each note, all while surrounded by shimmering strums and picks of the guitar.” - BTR Today 

"Go Along" continues the acoustic fuzz-pop fare from last year’s release In the Garden, but ups the ante with electronic production and bigger drums. “I came up with the guitar riff one night and the whole song just kind of revealed itself to me very quickly,” explains Moffat. “It has a distinct 90s feel that turned out to be a poppier version of My Bloody Valentine, or maybe my own version of the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis.”

It follows “Burrow,” the first album single, with its cascade of guitar textures, twinkling keys, and arena-ready drums with a ghostly voice building throughout, exorcising the fear felt in 2020 into dark atmospheric dream-pop. The cover art for "Burrow" is by fellow musician/artist Kevin Alvir (aka Kevin Hairs).

Despite its downtrodden cadence, the new track turns the tide on melancholy… the steady shoegaze of ‘Burrow’ comes emboldened by a sense of authority—both over your own headspace, and your country’s future.” - Vanyaland

The Collect Pond is a geographical location in New York, NY, chosen by Moffat for his own music since the imagery of an oasis in the city seemed fitting, as recording and self-expression offered a similar kind of respite, a way to cope with the tenseness that permeates New York life. It also creates of coexisting mix of species in one ecosystem, or musically speaking, a myriad of influences and styles under one name. 

On the new album, Long Range (out 9/24), Moffat mixes folk elements from past The Collect Pond output, while adding harder tinged rock elements that raise the stakes sonically. Long Range offers more guitars, more electronic instruments, and more live drums. The result is an amped up sound that takes the listener on a weird and wonderful journey into Moffat’s pandemic escapist headspace.

ABOUT DANNY MOFFAT

Danny Moffat is a recording engineer who began recording under the moniker The Collect Pond while in New York City. There, he assisted on albums for The Happy Fits and Cold Fronts with producer Ayad Aladhamy (Passion Pit), was a session guitarist for BMJ Studios where he laid tracks on “Diamonds” by Que Believe, and worked as a receptionist at Electric Lady Studios.

The first release, The Collect Pond, was a sparse affair, solely acoustic guitars and voice. The first record featured the single “I Never Knew,” which is on the soundtrack to the award-winning short film “Hey Mama” starring Lindsey Broad (The Office, Silicon Valley).

 On the follow up, Moffat upped the production value for a rockier sound on In the Garden, which includes the indie-folk single “Traveling,” that found an audience through playlists and received glowing reviews from the music blogosphere. 

“BURROW” OUT NOW  YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY

“GO ALONG” OUT 8/6  

LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

LONG RANGE COMING 9/24/21

LongRange.AlbumArt_byBenjaminDaley.jpg

KEEP UP WITH THE COLLECT POND

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  BOSTON INDIE ROCK BAND THE COLLECT POND RELEASE NEW SINGLE “BURROW” ON 7/23

BOSTON INDIE ROCK BAND THE COLLECT POND RELEASE NEW SINGLE “BURROW” ON 7/23

 “The Collect Pond reveals chapters of Danny Moffat’s life via ominous reflecting pools… right when the water seems eerily stagnant, a wave of relief arrives to wash away the sticky feeling of malaise…” - Vanyaland

Photo Credit: Mike Morrissey

Photo Credit: Mike Morrissey

“BURROW” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE  

BOSTON, MA - The Collect Pond, the moniker for Boston-based singer-songwriter and audio engineer Danny Moffat, will release their third album Long Range on 9/24. The first single, “Burrow,” available on 7/23 has a cascade of guitar textures, twinkling keys, and arena-ready drums with a ghostly voice building throughout, exorcising the fear felt in 2020 into dark atmospheric dream-pop. The cover art for the single is by fellow musician/artist Kevin Alvir (aka Kevin Hairs). 

Despite its downtrodden cadence, the new track turns the tide on melancholy… the steady shoegaze of ‘Burrow’ comes emboldened by a sense of authority—both over your own headspace, and your country’s future.” - Vanyaland

The Collect Pond is a geographical location in New York, NY, chosen by Moffat for his own music since the imagery of an oasis in the city seemed fitting, as recording and self-expression offered a similar kind of respite, a way to cope with the tenseness that permeates New York life. It also creates of coexisting mix of species in one ecosystem, or musically speaking, a myriad of influences and styles under one name.

On the new album, Long Range (out 9/24), Moffat mixes folk elements from past The Collect Pond output, while adding harder tinged rock elements that raise the stakes sonically. Long Range offers more guitars, more electronic instruments, and more live drums. The result is an amped up sound that takes the listener on a weird and wonderful journey into Moffat’s pandemic escapist headspace.

ABOUT DANNY MOFFAT

Danny Moffat is a recording engineer who began recording under the moniker The Collect Pond while in New York City. There, he assisted on albums for The Happy Fits and Cold Fronts with producer Ayad Aladhamy (Passion Pit), was a session guitarist for BMJ Studios where he laid tracks on “Diamonds” by Que Believe, and worked as a receptionist at Electric Lady Studios.

The first release, The Collect Pond, was a sparse affair, solely acoustic guitars and voice. The first record featured the single “I Never Knew,” which is on the soundtrack to the award-winning short film “Hey Mama” starring Lindsey Broad (The Office, Silicon Valley).

On the follow up, Moffat upped the production value for a rockier sound on In the Garden, which includes the indie-folk single “Traveling,” that found an audience through playlists and received glowing reviews from the music blogosphere.

“BURROW” OUT 7/23

LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

KEEP UP WITH THE COLLECT POND

FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM  || TWITTER || SPOTIFY || BANDCAMP

Burrow,SingleCoverArt_byKevinAlvir.jpg

LETTS TO CLEO ANNOUNCE THEIR 'OK CHRISTMAS' EP OUT NOV. 15

LETTERS TO CLEO ANNOUNCE THEIR OK CHRISTMAS EP OUT NOVEMBER 15TH

LTC_ok_christmas.jpg

Letters to Cleo are ushering in fall leading into the Holiday season with the announcement of their Holiday EP Ok Christmas out November 15th and available for vinyl pre-order HERE

Ok Christmas  includes three covers of Holiday classics and cult favorites made famous by the Kinks ("Father Christmas"), Elvis ("If I Get Home On Christmas Day") and the Dogmatics (“X Mas Time - Sure Don’t Feel Like It”) and one original, “Miss You This Christmas.”  The band made a unanimous decision to take a subtle yet powerful stand against gun violence with this EP release changing the “machine gun” lyrics in "Father Christmas” to “Can you meltdown all the machine guns / so kids are safe on the streets." “The lyric change in Father Christmas was initially brought up by Greg, after the mass shooting in El Paso,”  says Kay Hanley. “ I decided to turn to Twitter to ask the Kinks if they had any suggestions, which encouraged fans to chime in with ideas of their own. One twitter follower, Eric Reiberg (@Eric_time) came up with the idea that I ultimately used to construct the new lyric.”

“Song selection for Ok Christmas was an interesting experience,” says Michael Eisenstein. “We knew we were going to try to write an original, but we wanted to agree on 3-4 covers as well. Before we even decided to make a Holiday EP, our manager Michael Creamer suggested we do a single of The Dogmatics’ ‘X-mas Time.’ He was more or less like, ‘it mentions Filene’s Basement and Kenmore Square, you gotta do it!’ It’s a gift to our Boston fans. The Kinks “Father Christmas” which has been covered many times but remains largely unknown was on all of our lists from thes start.  Greg found Elvis Presley’s “If I Get Home On Christmas Day” and no one was too crazy about it as first. Then he made an acoustic demo of his arrangement idea and we all got it. Stacy laid down the drum track in one take. “

Letters to Cleo formed in 1990 in Boston, lead by guitarist Greg Mckenna and singer Kay Hanley. The band came onto the national spotlight with the release of their first hit single "Here & Now,” released by Giant Records (a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records). The song reached No. 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart. The band’s music could be heard on many of the top TV shows and films throughout the 1990’s, including the cult classic 10 Things I Hate About You, where the band contributed 4 songs to the soundtrack and were featured in the film.  The band played their last show in 2000 and each of the members went on to have successful careers working in different areas of music from the production, writing, performance, musical directing etc. 

The band reunited in 2016 to put out new music for the first time in 17 years, an EP called Back to Nebraska that was met with wildly positive reviews from fans and media alike. Since then the band has been touring regularly every fall right before Thanksgiving, ending the tour in their home town of Boston. In addition to Back to Nebraska, new music came last fall when Letters to Cleo released their first three albums Aurora Gory Alice, Wholesale Meats and Fish and Go! on vinyl for the very first time through a limited edition pressing. Copies of all three albums along with the vinyl version of Back to Nebraska are available on LettersToCleo.net 

Letters to Cleo will be playing songs from the EP on the road this fall closing the year with their annual homecoming shows in Boston at the Paradise Rock Club.

TOUR DATES

11/16  The Hi Hat - Los Angeles, CA

11/19  Union Stage  - Washington, DC **

11/ 21 The Met - Pawtucket, RI  **

11/22 Paradise Rock Club  - Boston, MA **

11/23 Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA **

** Supported by Speedy Oritz

KEEP UP WITH LETTERS TO CLEO:

 https://www.letterstocleo.net/ 

https://twitter.com/letterstocleo 

https://www.instagram.com/letters_to_cleo/ 

https://www.facebook.com/LETTERSTOCLEOMUSIC 



WILL DAILEY RELEASES GOLDEN WALKER ALBUM TODAY

WILL DAILEY RELEASES GOLDEN WALKER ALBUM TODAY

Will Dailey Golden Walker.jpg

Boston artist  Will Dailey has released Golden Walker, an 11 song meditation on life and how to navigate it within our current cultural climate. Golden Walker is Dailey’s second album released outside of the major label system. The album is a follow up to National Throat, his indie debut, that went on to receive numerous awards including Album and Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards, Song of the Year and Producer of the Year at the New England Music Awards, Best of the Year by Improper Bostonian Magazine, debuted in the top 20 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and garnered over 9 Million streams on Spotify.

In a world of instant gratification Dailey is challenging listeners to sit and savor the songs on this album. Twangville said that Golden Walker “is generally pensive and restrained, challenging the listener to dig into the songs. Those who do will be amply rewarded.” 

According to the Boston Globe, “ the closer one listens, the more ‘Golden Walker’ reveals itself a hard-won product of that interim. Partly, it’s about current events. It’s not essential to know that the Women’s March of 2017 inspired ‘Bad Behavior’ — it could be a general celebration of rule-breaking — but that knowledge draws the lyrical threads tight. ‘He Better Be Alive,’ meanwhile, is inescapably about the horror of ‘Baltimore, Carolina, Staten Island,’ even without recognizing the title refrain as the words of Keith Scott’s wife as a North Carolina police officer fatally shot him in 2016.”

Dailey started the album as a handbook on accountability, but  as the writing progressed it  morphed into so much more.  Not only do the songs on Golden Walker, serve as social commentary, but they are meditations on life and the struggles, both internal and external, that come with aging and just plainly existing on the planet.  “ It’s an album, Daily says “about being an adult and feeling like a lost child.”

The idea for this album was sparked  by a once in a lifetime interaction Dailey had a with a sculptor in France who heard his set in the tiny village Dailey was playing one night several years ago. The sculptor told Dailey “All the gold is being take from our world. They take it all to use in technological devices that are supposed to help us communicate. The gold is disappearing, hidden in phones and computers that only leave us feeling more alone, separated and disconnected. When I heard you tonight through the walls of my workshop, I heard real communication. I heard you. You are a communicator.” He then sculpted and gifted Will a sculpture of a man with a gold nugget on  his foot called “The Golden Walker,” and told Dailey that he had to be a keeper and protector of the gold and to keep communicating through music; he had to become a “Golden Walker.”

“He evokes a Paul Simon intricacy at times, a Jeff Buckley fragility at others, topping it with challenging folk-pop and a breezy, almost Motown soul flair in the first single, 'Bad Behavior.' The clincher for me is 'He Better Be Alive,' a driving, percussive track inspired by the nightly news. Dailey has a wonderfully elastic voice, a natural sense of poetry, and a restless mind that looks for answers and often takes us to them.”   Steve Morse (longtime Boston Globe staff pop critic, current Rock History at Berklee College of Music)

“Loneliness is an epidemic,” says Dailey. “Content is tyrannical. Being together has atrophied, as evident in our leadership crisis and cultural absurdity. Being present with each other should really be in abundance. The aspect of being human should come first. Yet our limitless interconnectivity limits our connection.” Golden Walker is Dailey’s way of adding compost to the soil for the coming spring and a world that thrives on genuine connection and where truth and accountability not only prosper, but are celebrated.
 

TOUR DATES
6/8 Hot Stove Cool Music Chicago, IL
6/9 GMan Tavern  Chicago, IL
6/14 Bourbon & Branch Philadelphia, PA
6/15 Fete Lounge Providence, RI
6/16 ONCE Somerville, MA
6/30 Bath Heritage Festival Bath, ME
7/14 Nextival Crownsville, MD
8/2 Miles of Music Appleton, WI


KEEP UP WITH WILL DAILEY
http://www.willdailey.com/
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https://twitter.com/willdailey
http://www.youtube.com/user/willdailey
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