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With a quarantine day on Monday, it was impossible to record with Prince Paolo in the studio for this week, but he still delivered with the usual incredible selections for our indie Tuesdays.
"The Drop with Danno" on GFN 광주영어방송 98.7FM in Gwangju & 93.7FM in Yeosu, Korea. An eclectic radio curation of all things musical spanning the spectrum every week. Broadcasting 8-10pm KST nightly.
UTR 02.08.2022
PART 1 SONGS
Outkast feat Rosario Dawson – She Lives In My Lap
Animal Collective – We Go Back
Homeschool – Wino
Coral Pink – Past Life
Letting Up Despite Great Faults – She Spins
Couch Prints – Impressions
Sipper – Sore
PART 1 FACTS
Outkast feat Rosario Dawson – She Lives In My Lap
- For tonight’s history spotlight, we go back to the 2004 Grammy Awards, where Outkast’s bifurcated double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below becomes the very first hip-hop full-length to win album of the year.
- Now, we say bifurcated because the duo of Big Boi and Andre 3000 had been experiencing a bit of a creative rift stylistically. Big Boi going for a much more bangin’ hip hop sound during these years and Andre going much more psyche and experimental, as you probably heard in that very Sly Stone track we opened with.
- Even with the album divided into basically halves, it is a smashing record on every level, and does amazingly well in sales with Andre’s Hey Ya being the big platinum joint from the LP. That was probably helped by the quadruple LP selling for waaaaay below market rates at the time as well.
Animal Collective – We Go Back
- The first album in six years from Animal Collective is out as of last Friday, called Time Skiffs.
- Honestly, rather mixed to negative reviews thus far, but as we always do on the show we let you be the judge of that.
- Time Skiffs, available everywhere, courtesy of Domino.
Homeschool – Wino
- This is the solo project of Tom D’agostino, formerly of Active Bird Community, if that rings a bell.
- Lyrically, the track deals with the dichotomy of “how we’re always alone, perpetually, our whole lives, and the equally resounding truth that none of us are alone, and none of us ever will be,” D’Agustino shares. Interestingly, the artist further stated that, “I was definitely in an angsty place because the early demos of ‘Wino’ are pretty in-your-face rock versions.”
- This is the lead single to an upcoming EP, but details are scant as far as that goes.
Coral Pink – Past Life
- This is a rather interesting duo comprising Maxime and Victor, who are from France and reside in Paris.
- Formed in 2018, they were spotted by Nice Guys later on and have since expanded into a quintet, so they’ve definitely developed a more complex and layered sound since expansion, although they still do have that multi-genre woozy aesthetic.
Letting Up Despite Great Faults – She Spins
- This is also some interesting news, as the veteran indie pop quartet is now officially back with this release.
- Members Mike and Daniel were previously doing their thing with Fanclub, thus the hiatus. However, the band has a new album called IV ready to drop on March 4th, and a tour will follow shortly after that.
Couch Prints – Impressions
- This is a synth-pop trio out of NYC who just shared this tune as of last Friday.
- The group says the song is about, "fear and love, about the fear of falling for someone new,” and was produced by Jake Aron.
Sipper – Sore
PART 2 SONGS
pecq - Too Far Gone
Middle Sky Boom - Wait Wait
HOAX – soju
OS TO - Det Blir Sommer Igen
Lea Sen – Hyasynth
Fruit Bats - Without Any Airs
Freedom Fry – You Know The Way
PART 2 FACTS
pecq - Too Far Gone
- Pecq is a duo from Oxford that is getting a lot of attention. They released a couple of prior singles this past fall called “Over and Over” and “Brittle”, which were both warmly received, and now they are back with a new song called “Too Far Gone”.
- About the track, they say that it is inspired from the experience of trying to ground someone who is losing their grip on reality.
- This track comes via Upcycled Sounds, which is a really cool label, also based in Oxford. I highly recommend checking out the other tracks in their catalogue.
Middle Sky Boom - Wait Wait
- This track is stuck in my head. It’s been a while since I choose a song that leaned more into the instrumental side of things but I had to play this one because it is so infectious.
- Middle Sky Boom is a producer from Tel Aviv. This song is taken from Barcelona-based label, Playground Records’, ninth anniversary compilation.
- Congrats to you Playground Records for making it to year 9. The compilation album will officially drop on March 3rd and I cannot wait to blast that thing on some loud speakers.
HOAX – soju
- I am super happy to have HOAX back on the playlist. They had a really good run pre-COVID and I quickly became a fan. They have been quiet but now they are back with a new single.
- HOAX is a duo from Long Island, New York although I saw somewhere online that they might be now based in Freeport, Maine. I can’t confirm that but I can confirm that they say their long-awaited debut album will be out soon.
- Musically, the song is light and bouncy but the song is actually about death and how to deal with it. I think this song is another example of just how good HOAX is. They just make fantastic songs in my humble opinion.
OS TO - Det Blir Sommer Igen
- OS TO is a duo from Denmark comprised of Johan Ask and Camilla Pape. The song is summery and warm, and I thought the story behind the song was quite nice.
- Camilla says that the lyrics of the song were written as a love song to her partner Johan. She says that Johan helped her find courage and strength while she was going through some difficult times.
- The song was originally called “The End of the World” but after some time, as she started to feel better and more hopeful, she changed the title to “Det Blir Sommer Igen” which translates to “it will be summer again”.
Lea Sen – Hyasynth
- Lea Sen is a French-born, currently London-based singer-songwriter and producer. “Hyasynth” is her debut single and it comes to us via Partisan Records.
- About the track, she says it is about her journey from growing up in the outskirts of Paris to where she is now in London. She says that she had to learn to let go of the past mistakes she made back home and move on with her life.
- She says that sometimes she considers the move as running away from home, but on the flip side, it can also be seen as her running towards the person she really wanted to become.
Fruit Bats - Without Any Airs
- Eric D. Johnson is the creative force behind Fruit Bats. He’s been making music for about 20 years now. Just recently, he released a sprawling 2-disc album. The album is called “Sometimes a Cloud is Just a Cloud” and it is sort of like a greatest hits compilation.
- Well, more accurately, disc one is comprised of the best of his official releases. Disc two is a compilation of some new and old unreleased tracks.
- Fruit Bats says that a lot of the previously unreleased songs are “unlistenable”. I totally disagree and think that Fruit Bats is actually just humble-bragging because the songs are pretty good.
Freedom Fry – You Know The Way
PART 3 SONGS
Bulow – Don't Break His Heart
Erika Wester - Novelty
Scott Wingo - Radio Fever
Lizzy & The Fanatics - Deux soleils
ONYDA - Mediocre
EA Othilde - Back to You
Dora Jar – Lagoon
PART 3 FACTS
Bulow – Don't Break His Heart
- Bulow is a German-Canadian pop artist but I should mention that she describes herself as a nomad. She was born in Germany but she has moved around a lot in her life, spending periods of her upbringing in the UK, US, and the Netherlands.
- “Don’t Break His Heart” is her latest single and it comes via Republic Records. She says that the song is about getting romantically involved with someone she says she had no business getting involved with.
- She already has 4 successful EPs under her belt so let’s see if she’ll come up with another project this year.
Erika Wester – Novelty
- Erika Wester is an LA-based singer-songwriter. Her newest track, “Novelty”, is smooth, shoegazey, goodness. Nothing too complicated about the composition, just soft and silky and very easy on the ears.
- Regarding her plans for this year, she, as well as many artists I’m sure, are looking forward to getting back out there on stage. She says that she has a lot of new material that she is itching to release and perform. Personally, I am itching to get out there and actually see a concert... I really hope this is the year we can do that Danno.
Scott Wingo - Radio Fever
- Scott Wingo is an artist from Fairfax, Virginia. He is a veteran in the game. He was a member of the 80s jangle-pop act Crippled Pilgrims.
- “Radio Fever” is his newest single taken from his recently released full-length album, “Marvelized”. Musically, the song is very much a throwback kind of tune with some solid vocals, impressive guitar work, and overall, it is just very well-crafted. I think it is a great track.
Lizzy & The Fanatics - Deux soleils
- Lizzy & The Fanatics are a project from Quebec. “Deux Soleils” is the title track to their recently released new EP. I’ve had a listen and I think it is really cool. It is definitely on the lighter side of the indie rock spectrum. It is bright and cheery, easy on the ears, and smile inducing.
- Lyrically, the entire EP is sung in French, so I can’t really understand what the songs are about. But musically, the project is solid and definitely worthy of a couple of spins.
ONYDA – Mediocre
- ONYDA is the moniker of Shae Rhiannon, an artist who is based in the UK. Her new song, “Mediocre” is an emotionally charged one.
- It’s kind of a sad song in my opinion. The lyrics seem to be about living a stereotypically “normal” life. You know, buying a house, having a kid, that kind of thing. Though some might view this as the “perfect life”, I think ONYDA views it as a sort of failure, you know, failing to become something more than mediocre.
Ea Othilde - Back to You
- Ea Othilde is an artist based in Oslo, Norway.
- “Back to You” is her first single from her forthcoming debut EP. She started writing the EP when she was 15 and now, two years later, she is ready to release her creations.
- About the song, although it sounds like a teenage heartbreak kind of tune, it definitely is not. She says that she wrote it while she was going through a frustrating and difficult family situation. She was really tired and fed up with the whole thing and that is what the song is really about.
Dora Jar – Lagoon
PART 4 SONGS
Juliet Varnedoe Jazz Band - Mon Chéri
BENEE - Beach Boy
Pintandwefall - Last Minutes
Barrie – Jenny
Placid Cactus – Summer’s Gone
Stray Fossa – Transpiring
Baird – Lightning of July
PART 4 FACTS
Juliet Varnedoe Jazz Band - Mon Chéri
- Juliet Varnedoe is a singer-songwriter based in New York City although she is originally from the bayou lands of southeast Louisiana.
- She has been performing in New York cabaret clubs and swing dance halls for years and she her music is influenced Cajun French, New Orleans jazz and Acadian traditional songs.
- “Mon Cheri” is the first single release from her forthcoming debut album, “Cajun Bleu”.
- Fun fact, apart from being musically inclined, she also has a Masters in Fine Arts in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute. I personally love photography so I thought that was an interesting tidbit of info.
BENEE - Beach Boy
- BENEE is an artist originally from New Zealand but she also periodically travels to LA for some recording sessions.
- “Beach Boy” is her latest track and it comes to us via Republic Records. With the release of this track, she also announced that her new EP, LYCHEE, will officially drop on March 4th.
- The track was produced by Greg Kurstin, whose resume includes artists like Adele, Sia, and Beck. BENEE says that the song is pure fantasy. It’s about being happy alone but looking for some loving on the side. You know, nothing serious, just some fun without the pressure of an official relationship.
Pintandwefall - Last Minutes
- I thought this was a really nice find this week. I think it might be my pick of the week. Pintandwefall is an indie rock band from Vanta, Finland.
- The band was formed in 2006 and they have a sort of Spice Girls thing going on, as the band members are named, Crazy Pint, Cute Pint, Dumb Pint, and Tough Pint.
- Their new single is excellent and it comes to us via Soliti. The band will release their new album, “Seventh Baby” on the 25th of this month, so be on the lookout for that.
Barrie – Jenny
- Ahead of the release of her second album ‘Barbara’ on 25th March, Barrie - the musical output of New York-based artist Barrie Lindsay - is sharing her latest single ‘Jenny’.
- The artist told DIY Magazine, “I was looking to James Taylor for the guitar and The Band for the organ to try to capture an Americana feel for Jenny,” she explains. “These artists are able to simultaneously encapsulate a swagger and an earnestness that gives their music a grown-up, classic feel. I wanted Jenny to be like an American Songbook song; any level of musician could play it and it would feel good to play either alone with one’s guitar, around a campfire with some friends, or at a big concert with everyone singing along.
Placid Cactus – Summer’s Gone
- This is an artist it’s a bit hard to find info on & seems to be just making his way, but this tune is getting a lot of attention since release, and he’s based in Houston.
- The song itself has an upbeat feel to it, but there’s definitely a feeling of loneliness and longing in the tune.
- The song was produced by Adam Thien, who’s also based in Texas, Austin to be more specific.
Stray Fossa – Transpiring
- Stray Fossa is back again with a new single. Stray Fossa is a dream pop trio comprised of two brothers, Nick and Will Evans, and their friend Zach Blount.
- The band is from Charlottesville, Virginia, but last year the three moved away to different places, Hamburg, Munich, and Salem, Massachusetts. From their respective bedroom studios, they created a new album.
- The new album, Closer Than We’ll Ever Know, will be out on June 2022 via Born Losers Records.
Baird – Lightning of July