The Sound, Spirit, & Edutainment of Sihasin

Advertisements “These are rez dogs,” Clayson Benally is surrounded by puppies, who are bouncing excitedly at his feet. The Arizonian landscape behind him shows an azure horizon that stretches for miles. Before long, his sister and lifelong bandmate, Jeneda Benally, arrives on schedule. Jeneda & Clayson Benally have quite the resume. Together with their brother Klee, they formed the punk rock trio, Blackfire, protested (and sued) the federal government, and balanced their Ramones albums with the traditional Diné songs told to them by their father. In fact, their star power runs in the family. Their mother/momager Berta Benally was a … Continue reading The Sound, Spirit, & Edutainment of Sihasin

The Lemonheads Kick off Their ‘It’s a Shame About Ray’ 30th Anniversary Tour

Advertisements Fresh from a sold-out tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland where they performed It’s a Shame About Ray in its entirety for the 30th Anniversary of its release, the Lemonheads kick off their North American tour on November 17th. The tour will include special guests Rusty, The Nils (performing 11/18), Bass Drum of Death (11/25-12/9), On Being An Angel (12/7-12/18), and Juliana Hatfield (12/7-12/18). North American tour dates are as follows, get your tickets while you still can! Tour Dates: 11.17 Lititz, PA Mickey’s Black Box 11.18 Toronto, ON Phoenix Theatre 11.19 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop 11.20 Bloomington, … Continue reading The Lemonheads Kick off Their ‘It’s a Shame About Ray’ 30th Anniversary Tour

Keeping Up with Kayden

Advertisements “I’ve been surrounded by horses my entire life.” Kayden Muller-Janssen (or simply, Kayden) grew up on a horse farm in Florida. The Disney actress/singer-songwriter is the bubbly personality behind Hartley, the equally charming neighbor in the Disney comedy The Villains of Valley View. Kayden has much in common with her on-screen persona, especially her bubbly personality. With the release of her latest singles, “No Maybe” and “Crave,” Kayden is pumped for the release of her debut EP, Unraveled—and the second season of The Villains of Valley View. This isn’t an act—Kayden really is this excited.   “I’ve always been really bubbly … Continue reading Keeping Up with Kayden

Kate Dressed Up Delivers a Folkloric Dream with ‘In Another Lifetime’

Advertisements When you listen to In Another Lifetime by NJ rock-folk band, Kate Dressed Up, you are transported to a space of storied wonder and ethereal expansion. Intended as a concept album inspired by The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the anticipated timeline for In Another Lifetime was pushed back due to the pandemic. During that time, frontwoman Katie Miller found that the album had taken on new meaning. What Miller did not expect was that she had more to say beyond the themes found in Antoine’s philosophical children’s book.   Never being the sort of songwriter who chooses when … Continue reading Kate Dressed Up Delivers a Folkloric Dream with ‘In Another Lifetime’

BTN!M’s Bummer Summer Playlist 2022

Advertisements (Summer is ending. Yes this is late and we’re not sorry). Every year when I tell my husband that I’m in the process of making a summer playlist, he always says one thing: “You know that summer’s almost over, right?”  First of all, summer officially ends on September 22nd and besides, I need to feel what the year’s summer is like—and this year is a real…UGH. Remember this is a subjective playlist, which means that it’s my personal opinion. So, before you Keyboard Karen’s unite and start sending me hate emails because “this song sounds like Halloween,” you don’t … Continue reading BTN!M’s Bummer Summer Playlist 2022

Taylor Swift Announces New Album, ‘Midnights’ During VMA Speech

Advertisements Following her win for Video of the Year for “All Too Well: The Short Film,” pop queen Taylor Swift announced her upcoming album, Midnights, during her VMA speech Sunday night. She later revealed the album artwork via social media. T-Swift says that the album consists “of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout [her] life.”   On Instagram, Taylor Swift made this statement about Midnights:  “We lie awake in love and in fear, in turmoil and in tears. We stare at walls and drink until they speak back. We twist in our self-made cages and pray that we aren’t—right this minute—about to … Continue reading Taylor Swift Announces New Album, ‘Midnights’ During VMA Speech

The Uneasy Gets Real About Overcoming Addiction & Healing Through Music

Advertisements By Amaris Pollinger East coast progressive rock band, The Uneasy, has a logo that might look familiar to some. It’s a clash of three swords stabbed into a heart and sporting an eye. The Three of Swords is a tarot card whose symbology resonated with The Uneasy’s singer/songwriter/ founding member, Emily Jean. Like all tarot cards, The Three of Swords has a double meaning. Right side up, it represents heartache, loneliness, depression, separation, confusion, ill-health, trauma, and alienation. Reversed, the card is representative of compromise, forgiveness, overcoming grief and sorrow, and reconciliation. The card inspired Emily Jean to press … Continue reading The Uneasy Gets Real About Overcoming Addiction & Healing Through Music

Sof is Finally at Peace with “Ataraxia”

Advertisements by Amaris Pollinger East coast pop sensation Sof has released her birthday single, “Ataraxia” as a present to her fans. Written by Sof and produced by collaborator/bestie Russell Hayden, “Ataraxia” is an upbeat funk-dance track that exudes summer empowerment. The single follows the release of “Gemini Moon,” an open letter love song to the stars (seriously if you’re into astrology, that song’s all you). “Gemini Moon” followed Sof’s disco break-up track, “Limerence,” which explored heartache through optimistic pop beats and neon lighting.  As per her trademark, “Ataraxia” (defined as “a state of serene calmness,”) tells a larger story that is complete … Continue reading Sof is Finally at Peace with “Ataraxia”

Ava Breeze Has Something to Say About “Young Love”

Advertisements By Amaris Pollinger Ava Breeze is the busiest teenager I’ve ever known. The New Jersey singer/actress/influencer divides her time between Los Angeles and New York while running Ava’s Advocacy Army, an anti-bullying non-for-profit, and still manages to have a “normal” teenage life. The teenager is best known for her previously released singles, “Girls of Summer,” “Floor is Lava,” and “Young Love.” Her latest track, “Who Are You,” hit streaming platforms on June 24th.  Another single, “Cotton Candy Skies” followed shortly after. Ava also stars as Judith in the mini-series, Irreverend. “It’s been an incredible time for creativity and writing,” … Continue reading Ava Breeze Has Something to Say About “Young Love”

Mistine Takes Us on a Drive with “Temporary Feeling”

Advertisements by Amaris Pollinger Before Mistine chose music indefinitely, she considered studying biochemistry at the University of Vermont. Fascinated by having the ability to help people control their breathing and alter their state of mind, she planned on being an anesthesiologist. “I really just wanted to help people, to care for them,” Mistine says. Instead, the Vermont log-cabin-born musician chose music over medicine. She studied at USC’s Thorton School of Music and transferred that same empathy into her songs. Mistine has since toured with the likes of Conan Gray, WizTheMC, and ZEPH. At present, Mistine is experiencing a strange, chaotic shift in her … Continue reading Mistine Takes Us on a Drive with “Temporary Feeling”