![[SONG OF THE DAY] Miro Shot - "Half of Us"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cb91c18cbd5c31ee4ab0fd/1671490053566-OIL7WHA9J1HU8FJXJHO1/image-asset.jpeg)
[SONG OF THE DAY] Miro Shot - "Half of Us"
I can’t think of a more perfect excuse to make my triumphant return from my longer-than-anticipated hiatus than to happily update you that my favorite global digital utopian artist collective Miro Shot has unveiled the opening track, “Half Of Us”, from their forthcoming debut full-length album, CONTENT.
As the homey Roman Rappak, de facto frontman of the band told Fame Magazine,”Half of Us” is about a girl gamer the band is friends with who has a huge following on Twitch but had to give up streaming her games because of the rampant amount of sexist and abusive comments she received.
“The song is about the layers of reality technology creates- often leading to people acting in a really unpleasant way- but its also about the way it can bring people together,” he explains, “So much is said about how we are ‘all on our screens’ and how instagram/Twitch influencers are shallow – but there is a really beautiful side to these new ways of communicating that often gets overlooked. The back and forth between the ultra happy female vocal in the song, and the intensity of Tomo’s beats and Jamies distorted bass feels like the audio equivalent of this.”
When last we met our heroes, the Servers EP had just begun to scratch the surface of the immersive world that is Miro Shot. As their widely lauded live show has continued to evolve, so has the band’s sound and subject matter, which mostly means they’ve honed in on their primary mission, which Rappak very succinctly describes CONTENT as an “album is about the end of the world, and the best way to avoid it.”
I hope y’all are ready for what’s next because SHIT IS ABOUT TO GET VERY REAL and in the BEST. POSSIBLE. WAY.
The future we’ve all been dreaming about our entire lives is happening right now as we speak, you guys, and the accompanying soundtrack for living our best possible future drops on May 1st.
2019 Wrap Up Coming ASAP - For Now, Here's Some Love
I remember not too long ago someone criticizing people who make comments like, “This song literally saved my life” hinting as if it alluded to a larger more serious mental issue. I see this as a great deal of shortsightedness in terms of how powerful, quickly, and deeply transformative the effect the ongoing practice that is the act of loving unconditionally can have on a person. Although we’re approaching 10 years of operating as a site, as I’ve played in my digital sandbox that is Some Kind of Awesome over the course of the past 2 years, I have increasingly found myself reclaiming bits and pieces of my heart that I thought had been destroyed but actually had just been caked under layers of shame that I took on from people I came in contact with throughout my life. For a little while there I’ll admit I sort of lost my way. Trauma has a weird way of intensifying your deepest and darkest of insecurities to a point where operating in the world like a normal human person is really fucking disorienting.
I am so very grateful that my music fandom acted like a failsafe beacon and helped me find my way back home to myself. I literally do not know what I would have done if I hadn’t been able to scour random corners of the internet in search of ways to continue to attempt to properly demonstrate everything going on simultaneously inside of me and share those moments with other people along the way. Every micro connection over a song or album with someone gradually ate away at the fear and shame that weighed so heavily on me some days it felt like it was going to crush me. The love filled me up so much that it spilled over everywhere. The artists whose songs were delighting me, my loved ones who I was afraid of then balking at the intensity that I wanted to love them, and most importantly myself.
The most powerful thing I’ve learned in this whole experience has been that if someone doesn’t respond positively to you as long as you’re coming from a place of thoughtful sincerity that it most likely has less to do with anything you’ve done and more with something going on with them, a lesson I know very intimately because until this experience I have found myself on the rejecting side of the equation more than I’d like to admit. When that lesson alone finally clicked I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt so free in my life. Sure, occasionally some of the fear and shame attempts to creep back in. I don’t know if anyone is truly every free of that. Love after all, as they say, is a practice. The thing that people don't often explain is that we all get to practice differently to get towards the same result. There's not a single formula for reclaiming love. You just have to commit to practicing as much and as often as possible.
As I look forward to 2020, I hope to make it clear that SKOA is a practice space for love and the multitude of degrees of intensity that we all feel for the music that lights us up and allows us to best express ourselves.
To the future friends on the internet that unknowingly kept me going, the bands who pushed themselves creatively, and the loved ones who were my mirror, patiently waiting for me to see what they saw….thank you.
More importantly, I love you.
So much that of course I cried a few times getting this all out because I am so grateful that the awful things I projected on everyone when I hid under my blanket of shame never actually came true.
On that note, since I am living that ✨LOVE-FILLED + SHAME-FREE LYFEEEE✨ my impending year end wrap up will probably be up by the beginning of next week and I will be spending the rest of 2019 figuring out how to get back to playing in my favorite sandbox on the daily. 💖
#diSKOAverweekly: Week of November 13, 2019
Yeah yeah yeah I know what you’re thinking and you’re right: it HAS been awhile since I gave this an update.
Honestly? Got real sad. 😑
My bad.
Anyway yer girl is getting back into the swing of things and I have some extra tasty treats as a means to make up for all the time you went without me being around.
Here are this week’s picks!
Classixx - “Love Me No More”
I cannot tell you how relieved I am that LA duo Classixx finally popped their heads up in 2019. I want more french touch vibes from these guys and I want it now! Such a beautiful tribute to Philippe Zdar.
Mason - “Take It Down (feat. SLANG) - Radio Edit”
Trying to think of a subpar Mason song and I don’t believe it exists. Dude is so 🔥
Tom Aspaul - “Traces”
I need all of the Black Country Disco and I need it NOW, TOM! (PS this song is very fun to sing along to while you’re walking home drunk from a night out, which feels very appropriate if you follow Tom on Instagram.)
Timi Temple - “Quick Words, Long Trouble”
The wonder from down under keeps cranking out some rocktastic jamz.
Trunky Juno - “It’s A Trip”
Dream pop perfection + cute pups = why I love Trunky Juno so hard. PS the dog in the artwork this time around is named BRUCE. 😭
Bombay Bicycle Club - “Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) - Single Version”
First taste of album #5 has me hungry for more that’s for sure!
BAMBARA - “Serafina”
Fun true story I fell for this band courtesy of a shaky cam video of a show my friend was at. If you know me you know how much I fucking hate people who a) incessantly take videos at shows, b) do a terrible job of recording said show aka not holding still to get watchable footage, and c) post them on the internet as if anyone cares. Speaks to how good these guys are tbh.
Terrell Hines - “Feel Good”
You might have caught a clip of another track from Terrell during the Apple keynote when they unveiled the iPhone 11. In addition to an impending feature on the new Beck album that’s dropping next week he’s got three tracks of his own in the wild including this one which is by far my favorite. It was kind of my medicine for a minute. Excited to hear his collab with my favorite person on the planet.
Denitia - “Place To Be”
Brooklyn bedroom pop bb Denitia just dropped her debut album Touch of the Sky last week, giving you plenty of time to add her to your year end list.
Alae - “Hit Me Where It Hurts”
Not only is this the perfect bop for sad people dancing, but the video for it is hysterical.
Blackbird Blackbird - “Myself”
My taco bae’s sound is aging like a fine wine. 💖
NASAYA - “PLASTIC STRAW (feat. Tim Atlas)”
This song is very good and is safe for marine animals. Also Tim Atlas seems to be everywhere and I am HERE FOR IT.
Pretty Sister - “Happy (feat. MarLo & Perri)”
LA’s Pretty Sister has consistently dropped pure feel good vibes and I am grateful for the bottled sunshine here in frigid ass Brooklyn.
LP GIOBBI - “Jungle Queen (feat. TT The Artist)”
I don’t have a playlist solely for hype songs but I might have to start one so I never forget what a bad bitch I am (because let’s face it I could never forget how badass LP Giobbi is).
MISSIO - “Audi A4”
I got distracted from MISSIO in the middle of the year and finally carved out time to listen to their record, The Darker The Weather // The Better The Man and good LORDE is it full of bangers.
Fly By Midnight - “Love Me Like A Friend”
This pair of friends I met at a mixer a year or so ago have been climbing the ranks with every track they release. They’ve really perfected that perfect blend of radio friendly pop-rock
![[SONG OF THE DAY] White Prism - "Good Man"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cb91c18cbd5c31ee4ab0fd/1671490064015-UVZODK92LH0ZQ0ZK8B8S/image-asset.jpeg)
[SONG OF THE DAY] White Prism - "Good Man"
Los Angeles based synth pop solo artist White Prism (born Johanna Cranitch) has released a shimmering anthemic single, “Good Man”. The track is the first of many that Johanna ever self-produced since relocating to Los Angeles and found time to work on her own music. After being raised in Australia on classical music, she studied jazz in college and cut her teeth in NYC as an assistant recording engineer in NYC before joining bands such The Cranberries and Nina Persson (The Cardigans) as a background vocalist and keyboard player.
The song is rooted in the theme of fighting for love and what you believe in. “It’s about banding together and two being better than one in times of crisis. I wrote ‘Good Man’ after a difficult period with my then husband,” Johanna explains, “ I was reflecting on our differences and right when I was writing the lyrics. The news came on that trump had started to attack the health care bill in the courts effectively taking away transgender rights to the health care act. It felt like a very ominous sign of things to come.”
#diSKOAverweekly: Week of September 25, 2019
Beck - “E-Pro (CapeLion V2 Remix)
I’m not sure why this remix was being hoarded for so long only to be leveraged in this Destiny 2 trailer, but goddamn if this isn’t the 2 minute burst of energy I needed in my LIFE!!! Also, checked out some of Cape Lion’s stuff. SUPER DOPE.
Ssion - “Heaven Is My Thing Again”
Ugh it’s so hard to keep tabs on all of the NY bbs but imma try harder to make sure that
O Mer - “Repack The Junk”
Brooklyn (by way of Tel Aviv) bb is getting ready to drop an EP titled the same as this track. Should be dropping fairly soon, given I’m just catching up on the handful of tracks he’s dropped this year.
Wrabel - “magic”
My beloved lil bae-bel dropped an EP one of those happy people and I can’t get over how wild of a ride it’s been with this sweetheart since his Sideways days.
All Tvvins - “Divine”
Fresh off tour these dudes hit the studio and started crankin out some hits and this is the first of many to come (per the band)
Wet - “Old Bone (Jim-E Stack Remix)”
Okay so like this is one of those instances where I am just like really taken by how transformative this remix is. Jim-E Stack brought a completely different energy with his take on Wet’s latest single, “Old Bone”. You ABSOLUTELY MUST LISTEN TO BOTH. I’M NOT FUCKING AROUND HERE ABOUT THIS.
Jamo - “Connection (feat. YOUNGSOUL)”
I know you are surprised that I stumbled into a new Australian artist that I am relatively smitten by. It’s cool, you’ll get used to it eventually. Actually I suppose this one’s a 2 for 1 special because although Jamo lures you in with the vibe, singer YOUNGSOUL gets all up in your ear and coats your eardrums with his silky smooth voice and THAT’S WHEN THE REAL SWOONING STARTS.
Dansu - “State of Mind”
I keep waiting for Dansu to take off big time. They’re so fucking perfectly electro-poptastic.
Squid - “The Cleaner”
Feeling v hashtag blessed to have finally checked out Squid this week. Their new EP Town Centre is quite delightful, but “The Cleaner” is by far my fave. It’s super fun, dare I say sassy post-punk. Will probably be grabbing this on vinyl when it’s available on November 15th.
PLANET - “Never New”
Sydney four-piece PLANET make shimmery indie-pop and I would very much like to get on a plane to Australia and just swoon and twirl at all of their shows…maybe forever?
Georgia - “Never Let You Go”
London electro-pop powerhouse Georgia shared the first taste of her forthcoming album Seeking Thrills, which is slated to drop in January 2020. I hope I don’t have to wait that long to hear more of this because this is ✨very much my shit✨.
Keelan Mak - “Sleep Talker”
I think Brisbane’s self proclaimed “22 year old bedroom producer dude” Keelan Mak is tryna seduce us into said bedroom with his latest single. It….might be working. His voice is very swoon-worthy.
Justin Jay - “i know ur out there”
LA house hunny Justin Jay dropped his latest record everything will come together, pt. 1 a few months back. This is the opening track of what ended up being quite a fun run for my earholes, so def don’t sleep on checking out the rest of the record when you find yourself loving this!
Sofi Tukker - “Swing (Crush Club Remix)”
So v v v v v v v v proud to be the president of the Crush Club 💖⚡️Crush Club. This remix is 🔥🔥🔥🔥.
Man Without Country - “Forever Endeavour”
The homey recently launched a Patreon and this was the first single since that all started up. Lucky fans got to hear it before it hit DSPs elsewhere. Very happy he’s sticking it out. I luhhh him.
b.i.g.s.h.r.i.m.p. - “Wyoming (feat. Bunny)”
Another tasty treat from Post Animal guitarist Jake Hirshland’s side project. I wonder how many of these he’s sitting on? I should probs DM him.
Okay fine I’ll post the embed for the archive here too so it’s all in once nice and neat place for you in case you missed last week’s tracks.
#diSKOAverweekly: Week of September 18, 2019
I’ve decided to make more work for myself with diSKOAver weekly! So exciting!
I feel like it’s not fair to the bands I feature in this playlist to not give them the same amount of love I do with all the other features I do so I’ve decided to do a tweets worth of info on each track because after all sharing is caring and boy do I give so many fucks about putting these songs in your hands.
OKAY HERE WE GO!
Moon Boots - “You Won’t See Me Cry (feat. Little Boots)
This cut from the new Moon Boots record is my personal slice of discotastic heaven. The rest of the record is super fun, too.
DallasK - “I Know”
Gonna be honest, kind of embarrassed that I’m just now getting into DallasK but damn I picked a fucking banger to get on board.
Mason - “Rhythm In My Brain”
Honestly it’s not fair that Mason is so perfect. And he’s SO CASUAL about dropping so many bops. This one is SUCH 💥A 💥VIBE💥.
Los Padres - “Boomerang (feat. Nina Sung)”
Holy shit my home state over here making me SO PROUD with this house hitttttttttt. Def gonna be keeping an eye out on this duo for what they do next. 👀👀👀
RAAVE TAPES - “stabs”
I have been OBSESSED with this song since I heard it. They’re like a lovely intersection of The Rapture, Does It Offend You Yeah, Crystal Castles, and Late of the Pier. I WANT MORE DANCE PUNK LIKE THIS. GIVE IT TO ME
CRX - “Walls”
Fun fact: Josh Homme from QOTSA produced this whole record. Love how fucking high energy this is. Oh and Nick Valensi from The Strokes is the singer so you know these dudes aren’t fuckin around.
Tomos - “An Intermission”
If I could float around in space to this I would be pretty hype about it. No, I’m not high.
Cashmere Cat - “FOR YOUR EYES ONLY”
This new single is quite lovely and I’m very happy that they’ll be playing Webby Hall in December.
Sparrows - “Do U Wanna Dance?”
Something about the synths in this makes me think of “Sync” from the FEZ soundtrack but more energetic and that pleases me very much.
Rejje Snow - “LMFAO”
I need to spend more time with Rejje’s last record that this track is from. It’s very much my shit, but I bet you’ll be able to tell why this one was my favorite. 😂
AJ Abdullah - “Oh, the Moon!”
HOW SWEET IS HIS VOICE!? HOW SWEET IS THIS FUCKIN’ SONG!? I’m glad I decided to check my email before I pulled tracks for this week’s update today. This was such a delightful surprise.
MXMS - “What’s My Name?”
This one is a real gut punch. Funeral pop duo MXMS released this on World Suicide Prevention Day and if it doesn’t make your eyes water a little bit you might be dead inside?????????
Sego x Vacationer - “YAH.”
Sego and Vacationer teamed up to cover Kendrick Lamar and it’s just so….. *chef’s kiss*
Hunjiya - “go to bed (feat. Ben Hon)”
My good friend and neighborhood troubadour Jesse Ruben introduced me to Hunjiya (born Alice Kim) when I ran into him on the street a few weeks ago and was like, “you’d fucking love Alice’s music” AND HE WAS RIGHT. Her new EP is FANTASTIC.
Sam Hollis - “Miranda”
I have been sitting on this Sam Hollis jam for way too long (Sorry Sam). Even though he’s homeys with Timi Temple it’s TOTALLY DIFFERENT VIBE A BOY DO I MEAN VIIIIBBBBEEEE.
Hundredth - “Whatever”
So this band gradually pivoted from essentially hardcore to shoegaze and it…..totally fucking works. The older stuff is fine, but they really wear this new direction INCREDIBLY WELL.
IF YOU’VE STUMBLED INTO THIS POST AFTER I’VE SWAPPED OUT THESE TRACKS DO NOT PANIC!! I GOTCHU FAM! You can grab these (and a fuckload more music) over in the archive.
ENJOY! 💖
![[SONG OF THE DAY] San Scout - "Sideways"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cb91c18cbd5c31ee4ab0fd/1671490078710-771HBCYGMLWXXD9H57CR/image-asset.jpeg)
[SONG OF THE DAY] San Scout - "Sideways"
SKOA favorites San Scout have returned with another dose of downtempo alt-pop, “Sideways” straight from The Pharmacy, which is the band’s forthcoming project that will be dropping shortly for those of you just tuning in. Further carving out the vibe for this batch of songs, the broody bop is, as the band explains, “some sort of dark pop ode to the futility of modern relationships.” As usual you can expect their blend of vocal harmonies, warm synths, and ripping guitars to give you goosebumps in the best possible of ways.
While we wait on the proper release of The Pharmacy, fans can head to the band’s website and explore the virtual abandoned pharmacy that they created in an aptly dreary dystopian world. If you look closely enough while wandering around you can find links to the bands socials, games, and more.
Other cool things going on with the lovely London lads: apparently back in October the duo caught the attention of Emma Breschi who asked them to write the music for her Vivienne Westwood ‘Creatives’ campaign.
If you happen to be in London next week, be sure to check them out at The Lexington on September 19th.
![[SONG OF THE DAY] TWINKIDS - "Eighteen"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cb91c18cbd5c31ee4ab0fd/1671490085800-L5G6SIS1ICDMD47FUSJO/image-asset.jpeg)
[SONG OF THE DAY] TWINKIDS - "Eighteen"
photo credit: Iván Darío
LA queer pop duo TWINKIDS have returned with a brand new song, “Eighteen”, taken from their forthcoming EP Lizard House, which is slated for a November 22nd release. The scintillating slice of 80s era synth pop follows last year’s pair of poptastic singles, “I’m Sorry” and “Jigoku Tengoku”. As we’ve come to know and love about the dancy duo, the delivery of the group’s candid lyrics by vocalist Gene Fukui offers such a remarkably unique layer of tenderness to their sound and “Eighteen” is no exception to this. A retrospective song about young romance, the mid-tempo production is full of shimmering synths, offering a perfect setup to balance the slight twinge we often feel while reflecting on the past. As Gene explains, “The song is about looking back at your past self and realizing how much you’ve changed and how much other people have changed. I guess that’s terrifying in a way, like nothing really stays the same. Even something you once felt like you were going to devote your entire life to feels really distant, but it still left a hole in your heart."
Upcoming TWINKIDS tour dates:
OCT 18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers