ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Renée Reed

Louisiana singer-songwriter Renée Reed has a timeless feel to her music— her sound combines wispy, ethereal vocals with vintage-washed acoustic melodies. There’s a comforting sense of familiarity to the folk backbone in Reed’s songs, but she also supplies listeners with invigorating injections of different sonic stylings throughout her 2021 self-titled debut record. Songs like “Où est la fée” and “Drunken Widow’s Waltz” showcase Reed singing in French, while the guitars on the track “I Saw a Ghost” give nods to Flamenco music.

Reed’s unique sound likely stems from her wide array of influences growing up. Her parents owned a one-stop Cajun shop that hosted many jam sessions, and Reed also absorbed the sound of Cajun and Creole music legends in her native region of Southwest Louisiana. From music festivals to her own front porch, Reed was continuously exposed to live music at a young age. She also cites The Beatles, Kate Bush, the films of Rankin/Bass, video games and 60s folk music as creative inspirations.

During high school, Reed played in a band called Shrugs, playing with the group at house shows around Louisiana. Eventually, she began to experiment with writing and playing solo material, interspersed with performances of Cajun songs with other musicians in her community. In 2020, Reed began recording her music for the first time using a Tascam cassette four-track that her partner had brought home. The majority of songs that she recorded ended up making it onto her debut record, and perhaps the most impressive fact about this impromptu recording session is that some of the tracks were written from scratch during the process.

I have yet to see Renée Reed perform live, but I have faith that her performance will be nothing short of mesmerizing thanks to her extensive variety of influences and history with music. If you live in Chicago, she’ll be playing a show at Sleeping Village on Monday, October 25th with Half Gringa. Get your tickets to that show here, and check out all of her upcoming tour dates.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: BILK

Most of the time my Spotify Daily Mixes are composed of artists and songs I’ve already added to my saved library, but a few week's ago, BILK’s song “Give Up” appeared on one of my mixes and I was immediately intrigued by the blend of rap and punk music that sounded like nothing I’d heard before. In the song, vocalist Sol Abrahams delivers quick-witted rhymes in his British accent about his desire to avoid a mundane lifestyle— “Don't wanna fall away/ To the everyday/I wanna be something, I can't give up.” Throughout their other singles and 2019 EP Chipped Out, BILK continue to deliver honest musings in a style that’s completely unique and combines different styles of music into a cohesive and refreshing sound.

Make sure to follow BILK for the latest updates on new music and tour dates, and tune into “Daydreamer” and “Give Up” below.

Feature: Hard Times With Niiice.

Photo Courtesy of Niiice

Niiice. walks into our place of meeting, a 24hr vegan restaurant owned by ex-punks, grinning and scraggly. Which is not out of character for their sound: emo with a kick of power. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hesitant of sitting down with a three piece band comprised of all white dudes, but the more we talk the more they grow on me. And obviously, I’ve already listened to their forthcoming EP Never Better, out today, March 1st on Brave Cove Records, which has given me high expectations. Never Better actually jumps off 2018 LP, Try to Stay Positive. Whereas “try to stay positive” sounds like measly advice, “never better” sounds like the sarcastic retort to “how are you?” The titles work as a musical “two steps forward, one step back”. Never Better is more concise and collaborative than previous releases, which is ironic considering that it’s hinged around instability. The catalyst being the ass-kicking summer of 2018 where singer and guitarist Roddie Gadeberg and drummer Sage Livergood shared an apartment with rats and mold. Which is probably why there’s a certain need for comfort on this EP. But as Gadeberg tells me about his love for the first two Slipknot albums, Livergood tells me he’s been listening to Lil Peep lately, and bassist Abe Anderson sits quietly, I see the full picture of Niiice. come into focus. Their lovable burnout trope is self aware, not a hint of irony on them.

Never Better opens with the more pop-influenced track, “Snowbored,” which gleefully delves into Midwestern loneliness and the season of snow that interconnects our sadness. On it, Gadeberg mutters “the weather’s fucked, life fuckin’ sucks/but what’s new with you?” Niiice. takes themselves lightly and their music seriously, leaving the emotions to fall somewhere in between, coming in waves of goofy twists on a more classic emo sound. On ‘Love Handlez’ a chipper cartoon voice chimes in “wait, let’s always be stupid. Forever!”, giving us the idea that Niiice is in on the joke: another band crammed with longing, broke, and coming up with track titles in their free time. But Niiice. is reflective, with Never Better being a product of spending a lot of time with yourself- for better or for worse. On the jangly ‘Blunt Force Marijuana’ Gadeberg bemoans “it’s like my father told me, I’ve got no direction/I hate the way I look like him when I’m staring at the mirror.” But the pitfalls of trying to be more doesn’t stop the EP from having a good time: It’s persistent with dynamic riffs. Livergood tells me “we don’t just play emo,” meaning that there’s more to Niiice. than scraping vocals and hating your hometown. The most aching part of Never Better is that the “you” that Gadeberg sings about isn’t some woman-shaped space in his life. “You” is rarely even a person. It’s nostalgia. It refers to a better state of mind, a better time and place. When things were just a bit easier. Never Better doesn’t point to past romantic relationships, but contentious family ones, typically with father figures (Gadeberg calls Emo Boy breakup songs “misogynistic” and “annoying”). Don’t conflate Niiice.’s stoner jokes with their ability to feel deeply. Niiice. is fluent in puns and memes, but isolation undercuts the melodic humor with the shiftlessness that comes from being lonely even when you’re not alone. The cover art for Never Better features a gap-toothed kid smudged with a sinking black eye, giving you a thumbs up. At one point Roddie adds that sometimes he feels like the kid on the cover. Or maybe the cover art feels like him. A kid still standing with a goofy smile after a smack. When it comes down to it, maybe Never Better can best be surmised as a trampled on thumb still pointed upwards.

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Never Better is out now on Brave Cove Records. Niiice. will be touring March 8th-17th with a release show at the Garage in Burnsville, MN on March 17th.

Keep up with Niiice. on Facebook + Instagram

New Music Friday 2/9/18

While it may be snowmageddon in Chicago at the moment, it's a beautiful day for new music out there! In addition to highly anticipated albums from some of our favorites, like The Wombats, Hockey Dad, Ezra Furman, and MGMT, there's tons of new singles out this week! James Bay made a long awaited comeback with news of a tour and an electrifying new song. Some other great singer-songwriters from around the world like Ten Tonnes, Isador, and Barns Courtney also put out new songs. COIN and The Aces, who will be on tour together this month, also blessed us with new tracks. Lastly, some new favorite artists like Sleep State, Jesse Saint John and Henry Green released new material. Sit back and get ready to spend your weekend surrounded by some great music by tuning into all of that and more below!

COIN-"Growing Pains"

Ten Tonnes-"Lay It On Me"

Prinze George-"Dividends"

Frankie Cosmos-"Being Alive"

James Bay-"Wild Love"

Coasts- "You Could Have Been The One"

Barns Courtney-"Sinners"

The Aces-"Volcanic Love"

Albin Lee Meldau-"The Weight Is Gone"

Sleep State-"Awkward"

Freedom Baby- "When We Go"

Swerve- "Lose Control"

Jesse Saint John - "MOVE"

Mallrat - "UFO" 

Isador- "Jungle"

Henry Green-"Shift"// "Without You"

Shakey Graves- The Sleep EP

Ezra Furman- Transangelic Exodus

The Wombats- Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life

Franz Ferdinand-Always Ascending

Hockey Dad-Blend Inn

MGMT- Little Dark Age

Palm- Rock Island

You can also check out most of these songs on our February Faves playlist- click here!

PREMIERE: Stereoshifter's New Single "Take a Ride"

Denver grunge band Stereoshifter have a brand new single, called "Take A Ride" out today! Get your first listen to the track below!

Catch Stereoshifter performing live at the following tour dates for the rest of the year. They're doing a hometown show to celebrate the single release, and then they'll be on the east coast. 

• 11/3 3 Kings, Denver with Ramonda Hammer

• 12/15 at Bowery Electric, NYC with LuLu Lewis

• 12/16 at The Tusk, Philly with The Cryptkeeper Five

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The band also recently released an EP called Whatever It Is To You, which you can listen to in full below!

Stereoshifter Facebook // Twitter // Instagram 

New Music Friday 10/20

Lots of bops in this week's New Music Friday! On the singles front, both MGMT and Liza Anne have made long awaited comebacks with "Little Dark Age" and "Paranoia." Our favorites The Fluids have drip fed another new single from their upcoming album, called "New Land Sale," and Matt Woods has also dropped yet another single. Chicago band Sedgewick also teased their upcoming album with new song "Red Moon" in advance of their free in-store performance at Shuga Records this weekend. On the album front, Bully released their sophomore album Losing today. Tune in to all that and more below!

Liza Anne- "Paranoia" 

Sedgewick- "Red Moon"

The Fluids- "New Land Sale"

Spinning Coin- "Money is a Drug"

Howard- "Mother's Wedding"

Frank Turner- "There She Is"

MGMT- "Little Dark Age"

Matt Woods- "Tounges"

Bully- Losing

Kllo- Backwater

New Music Friday 9/15

New Music Friday this week bring new singles from lots of our favorites! To Kill a King released a new original single following a few covers, and Space4lease released their final single from their new EP. MUNA and NAO both put out their first singles following up their latest albums, and Cut Worms has also announced a new EP with a debut single. On the album front, Hippo Campus has a new EP out, while Ariel Pink and Angus & Julia Stone put out full LPs. Get your weekend started by listening to all that and more below!

Cut Worms- "Like Going Down Sideways"

The Lemon Twigs- "Why Didn't You Say That?"

To Kill A King- "Spiritual Dark Age"

Space4Lease- "I Tried Calling"

LÉON- "I Believe In Us"

NAO- "Nostalgia"

MUNA- "In My Way"

The Killers- "Some Kind of Love"

Now, Now- "Yours"

King Krule- "Dum Surfer"

Hippo Campus- "Warm Glow" EP

Angus & Julia Stone- Snow

Ariel Pink- Dedicated to Bobby Jameson

New Music Friday 8/11

Lots of singles out this week from across all corners of the genre-sphere, including releases from JSPH, Space4lease, Skela, Matt Woods, and more! On the album front, The Districts' new record is out today, as well as the long awaited return from Kesha! No matter what kind of song you're in the mood for, this New Music Friday playlist has a little something for everyone. Tune in now! 

Moses Sumney- "Quarrel"

Marlon Williams- "Vampire Again"

Matt Woods- "Nervous"

Skela- "Secret"

Florist- "Glowing Brightly"

The Belle Game- "Low"

Space4lease- "Lately"

The National- "Carin at the Liquor Store"

Daughter- "Burn It Down"

Billie Eilish- "Party Favor"

JSPH-"Better"

Sedgewick- "To Fold"

Canyon City- "Midnight Flight"

Thompson Springs- Fond Regards EP

The Districts- Popular Manipulations

Kesha- Rainbow

Matt Pond PA- Still Summer

New Music Friday 7/7

SO much new music out today, including albums from HAIM, Dream Version, and Broken Social Scene. Wolf Alice, Honne, and Urban Cone all have singles out this week as well. Tune in now!

Wolf Alice- "Don't Delete The Kisses"

Urban Cone- "Pumping Up Clouds"

Joywave- "Going To A Place"

LÈON- "Surround Me"

Skela- "Hella"

Future Generations- "One More Problem"

Honne- "Just Dance"

To Kill a King-The Good Old Days (acoustic EP)

Jade Bird- Something American EP

Dream Version- Fight Fair

Broken Social Scene- Hug of Thunder

This Is The Kit- Moonshine Freeze

The Technicolors- Metaphysical

Haim- Something To Tell You

New Music Friday 5/26

Check out what we're listening to this week, including  new albums from Pet Symmetry and James Vincent McMorrow, as well as new singles from Kirin J Callinan and All We Are. 

James Vincent McMorrow- True Care

Pet Symmetry- Vision

All We Are- "Animal"

Coast Modern- "Dive"

Kirin J Callinan- "Down 2 Hang" and "Living Each Day"

Noah Cyrus- "I'm Stuck"

Alt-J- "Adeline"

Bleachers- "I Miss Those Days"

Yolk Lore- "Goodpain"

Active Child- "Cruel World"

New Music Friday 5/12

So many new tracks out this week from some of our favorites! Check out what we'll be listening to all weekend, including Post Animal, Kacy Hill, The National, Girlpool, Kyla La Grange, and more!

Post Animal- "Special Moment"

Post Animal is back in all their guitar glory with their first single since their 2016 EP The Garden Series. If you like what you hear in "Special Moment" (which you most likely will), check them out on their massive Summer tour. You can see all their upcoming shows here, including our ACLU benefit show with them on 7/10. 

Kacy Hill- "Like A Woman" and "Hard To Love"

Also making a long-awaited comeback, Kacy Hill has released not one but two singles today. Both tracks feature her incredible voice, which somehow manages to soar to a beautiful falsetto while also packing a powerful punch. Kacy has also recently confirmed a debut album is on the way, so stay tuned for that.

Fleet Foxes- "Fool's Errand"

In advance of their new album Crack Up, out on June 16th, Fleet Foxes have released this new layered single, featuring a beautiful piano outro. 

Sundara Karma- "Explore"

After releasing their debut album back in January, Sundara Karma are already back with the single "Explore," with groovin' guitar riffs and an explosive chorus. 

The National- "The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness"

This new single from The National isn't all that's new from them this week! The band announced earlier in the week that their new album drops September 8th, followed by a world tour. 

Bleachers- "Everybody Lost Somebody"

Bleachers is back with their third single from their upcoming album. Dynamic and layered, "Everybody Lost Somebody" highlights frontman Jack Antonoff's willingness to explore new territories with his music. Along with the album out on June 2, Bleachers will be hitting the road this summer. Check out their tour dates here. 

Imagine Dragons- "Whatever It Takes"

From the upcoming album Evolve (out 6/23), this new track from Imagine Dragons shows them pushing their sonic boundaries and exploring a different facet of their sound. With a cinematic build during the chorus, this song is a must-listen. Check out the band's upcoming world tour dates here.

Ingrid Michaelson & Tegan and Sara- "Whole Lot of Heart"

We can't stress enough how beautiful this collaboration between Ingrid Michaelson and Tegan and Sara is. The song comes as part of an EP full of collaborations between Ingrid and other artists, which you can check out in full here.

Kyla La Grange- "Violet Blue"

Although it's been a while since Kyla La Grange's 2014 album, she's been drip feeding us new singles every couple of months. The latest, "Violet Blue," features Kyla's delicately beautiful vocals and honest lyrics. 

Nick Murphy (FKA Chet Faker)- Missing Link EP

Formally known as Chet Faker, singer-songwriter and producer Nick Murphy is back with a 5-song EP, featuring a track with fellow producer KAYTRANADA. Along with the new music, Murphy has announced an upcoming tour. Check out dates here.

Girlpool- Powerplant

Girlpool is back with a new album after 2015's Before The World Was Big. In addition to the new album, you can catch Girlpool on tour. See all the dates here. 

Thumbnail artwork by Olivia Oyamada

New Music Friday 4/7

All of our new jams from this week in one place, including BANKS' first single since the release of The Altar, and new albums from Future Islands, Cold War Kids and more!

Overcoats- "Kai's Song"

(Sandy) Alex G- "Proud"

Banks-"Crowded Places"

Oh Wonder- "Lifetimes"

Summer Salt- "Candy Wrappers"

Future Islands- The Far Field

Plaitum- Constraint

Cold War Kids-LA Divine

The Maine- Lovely Little Lonely

White Reaper- The World's Best American Band

The Wooden Sky- Swimming in Strange Waters

Father John Misty- Pure Comedy

The Big Moon- Love in the 4th Dimension

New Music Friday-3/10

Lots of new music, including a few albums, out this week! We also got news this week that Lorde's sophomore album Melodrama will be released June 16 and Fleet Foxes will also release their first album in 6 years on June 16th, called Crack-Up. Check out what we've been listening to this week...

Lorde- "Liability"

WOMPS- "Darling"

Alt-J- "3WW"

Fleet Foxes- "Third of May / Ōdaigahara

Julia Hotler- "Silhouette" 

Fickle Friends- "Hello Hello"

The Shins- Heartworms

Circa Waves- Different Creatures

IDLES- Brutalism

Laura Marling- Semper Femina

New Music Friday- 3/3

Lots of new tunes out the last couple of weeks, including the long awaited new single from Lorde, released yesterday. Check out everything we've been listening to the past couple of weeks...

Alex G- "Bobby"

Lorde- "Green Light"

The Shins- "Painting a Hole"

Charlotte OC- "Shell"

Flying Ibex- "No Matter"

Day Wave- "Untitled"

Circa Waves- "Stuck"

Laura Marling- "Nothing, Not Nearly"

LANY- "Good Girls"

Portugal. The Man- "Feel It Still"

Coldplay- "Hypnotised"

The 1975- "By Your Side"

Overcoats- "Nightime Hunger" 

NE-HI- Offers Album

Ed Sheeren: ÷ Album

New Music Friday 2/17

Lots of new tunes out this week! This is what we'll be listening to this weekend. Psst... also check out our February Recommendations Playlist for even more recent releases.

The Orwells - Terrible Human Beings

Strand of Oaks- Hard Love

Maggie Rogers- Now The The Light Is Fading EP

WATERS- "Hiccups"

Hoops- "Rules"

The Shins- "Midenhall"

Ed Sheeran- "How Would You Feel (Paean)"

New Music Friday 2/3

Once again, lots of good tunes out this week, and a few albums from our favorites are out today! And thank gosh, because ANCHR is going abroad to Barcelona this weekend. These are the albums we'll be listening to during the flight today.  

MUNA- About U

Sampha- Process

TEN FE- Hit The Light

Official video for "Overflow," taken from the album Hit The Light. You can stream the full album on Spotify. 

Kevin Garrett- False Hope EP

P.S. Stay tuned for a review of Kevin Garrett's show at Lincoln Hall last night. 

Now for some singles that came out this week...

Rag'N'Bone Man- "Grace"

London Grammar- "Big Picture"

New Music Friday 1/27

This week just kept getting worse in the realm of politics, but we at least got some great tunes out of it! Here's our pick of new music released this week.

Overcoats- "Hold Me Close"

Brooklyn duo Overcoats released harmony-heavy track "Hold Me Close" on Wednesday this week, along with the news of their debut album.  We saw them at TNK Fest a couple of weeks ago and fell in love with their heavenly vocals and unique production style. Needless to say, we are counting down the days until April 21st, when the pair release Young.  Take a listen to the new track below, and also head over to their Facebook page for tour date information.  They just released a bunch of dates yesterday.

SAN SCOUT-"LMS"

We first fell in love with San Scout after hearing one of their earlier tracks, "Get Me By."  With new track "LMS," the London duo have layered ethereal, airy, and funky vibes with realist lyrics. After a bit of a break, we saw San Scout return with "In/Balance" last month, and with "LMS" out this week, we hope this means more music on the way. 

Rag'N'Bone Man- "Skin"

Prior to the release of his upcoming debut album Human, London's soulful Rory Graham (AKA Rag'N'Bone Man) has released the new single "Skin."  As we've come to expect from Rory, the tune is nothing short of excellent, with its epic and almost cinematic chorus.  2017 has already been full of success for Rag'N'Bone Man, with him being awarded the Brits Critics Choice Award and nominated for Best British Breakthrough, but we from what we've heard from his album so far, Human will propel this singer-songwriter to new heights. 

ANOHNI- "Paradise"

ANOHNI's breathtakingly unique vocals are always instantly recognizable on any of her tracks, and new track "Paradise" blends those trademark vocals with an electrifying beat.  The new single shares its name with an upcoming 6-track EP that ANOHNI also announced today, with a scheduled release date of March 17th.  If the EP is even half as great as 2016's Hopelessness, this EP will easily become an ANCHR favorite.  

Ten Fé- "Another Way"

Ten Fé have yet to release a track that we're not fans of here at ANCHR, and "Another Way" is no exception.  The track, which will be on the duo's debut album Hit The Light, perfectly mixes whimsical production with a mellow tempo. You can preorder the album, out next Friday, here. 

While those tracks are our top five for this week, here are some other highly recommended bops from this week:

Skott- "Glitter & Gloss"

LEON- "Sleep Deprived"

Asgeir- "Unbound"

Allan Rayman- "13"

ANCHR Interview Alums Aquilo and Deaf Havana also have full albums out today.  Listen to both below:

Happy Listening!

New Music Friday: 1/20

Listen to our favorite new tracks from this week, featuring some of our favorite artists like Maggie Rogers and Rationale.

Maggie Rogers- "On + Off"

Maggie Rogers released her third single earlier this week, in the midst of her first tour ever.  The new tune "On + Off' features her signature whimsical production style and sweeping vocals. The song comes from Rogers's upcoming EP Now That The Light Is Fading, set to be released on February 17th.  

Rationale- "Reciprocate" 

After releasing "Prodigal Son" and "Vessels" at the end of 2016, Rationale has kicked off 2017 with the third track off his Vessels EP, "Reciprocate."  Co-written with Grades, the dynamic tune possesses a hypnotic melody and showcases Rationale's vast vocal range.  "Reciprocate" further solidifies Rationale's unique sound and immense talent as a producer, songwriter, and vocalist.  We're sure that his upcoming debut will not disappoint his growing fan base. 

Kevin Garrett- "Stranglehold"

In advance of his upcoming US tour, Kevin Garrett gifted us new tune "Stranglehold" earlier this week.  Soft and soulful, the new track stays true to Kevin's style, while pushing to boundaries on the production side.  Make sure you grab your tickets to see Kevin on tour next month-- he confirmed he'll be playing this one on the road. 

MUNA- "Crying on the Bathroom Floor"

Female trio MUNA's latest single "Crying on the Bathroom Floor" comes two weeks before the release of their debut album About U. The new track starts off with thick 80's-influenced synthesizers and delicate vocals from lead singer Katie Gavin.  True to MUNA-form, the song delivers a pop exterior that will make you want to dance, while also containing thoughtful lyrics with a message.  

COTE- "Cruel"

Singer-songwriter COTE dropped a new track "Cruel" earlier this week.  Perfect for a Sunday afternoon, the track starts off soft with COTE's soothing vocal style, building up with the chorus.  Sonically, the song branches out from COTE's first three singles, proving the versatility of this newcomer. 

New Music Friday 1/13: The XX, Aquilo, Declan McKenna, Sampha, and More

Another week, another great batch of new tunes. Find all of these tunes on our monthly Spotify playlist. 

The xx- "Lips" 

The xx's entire new album I See You is available today

Aquilo- "Blindside"

Declan McKenna- "The Kids Don't Wanna Come Home"

Julien Baker- "Funeral Pyre"

Seramic- "I Got You"

Verite- "Phase Me Out"

Grace Mitchell- "Kids(Ain't All Right)"

Sampha- "(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano"

Laura Marling- "Wild Fire"

Our JAMuary playlist features all of these songs, plus our other recent favorites. 

New Music Friday, Featuring Ed Sheeran, Sundara Karma, The Shins, Dua Lipa and More

Our pick of new tunes out this week!

Check out our playlist JAMuary on Spotify, featuring these tunes and more of our recent favorites. 

 

 

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Sundara Karma "Deep Relief"

The band's entire debut album is also out today. Stream or purchase on most major platforms. 

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Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" & "Castle on the Hill"

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The Shins "Name For You"

Dua Lipa "Thinking 'Bout You"

Snakehips and Mo "Don't Leave"

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The Flaming Lips "We a Family"(featuring Miley Cyrus)