Music - BUST

21 New Albums to Listen To This Summer

By BUST Magazine In Music On Jun 19, 2018

Here are the album reviews from our June/July 2018 issue! We’re including new music from artists like Courtney Barnett, Cardi B, Remember Sports and Lily Allen. And we’ve got a Spotify playlist for you, too: COURTNEY BARNETTTell Me How You Really Feel(Mom + Pop Music) It’s about time the clouds parted and gave us a new Courtney Barnett album. The Australian songwriter’s excellent 2015 debut, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, wove nuanced, undramatic feelings into whip-smart rock songs that made… Read more

Miss Eaves' New Music Video “Bush For The Push” Dares You To Embrace Your Pubic Hair

By Byshera Williams In Music On Jun 18, 2018

Miss Eaves’s new song “Bush for the Push” pushes you to embrace your pubic hair. The chorus goes, “What should I do with my hair down there? Trim, wax, shave, or even use Nair? Maybe rock a bush all natural. Who cares? Just dance, let it go!” Miss Eaves—who we fell in love with for her body-positive anthem "Thunder Thighs"—asserts that what you choose to do, or not do, with your pubic hair is fine, because it doesn't matter. The anthem frees women from the expectations that there is a right way for your body to look or… Read more

Beyoncé and Jay-Z Surprise Dropped A Joint Album: Link Roundup

By Sarah Boyle In Music On Jun 18, 2018

At the end of their London concert during their On the Run II World Tour, Beyoncé and Jay-Z dropped their first collaborative album on TIDAL (and as of this morning, it's now on Spotify too). Collective screaming ensued all across the world. Read more at Vulture. The U.S. Government is Keeping Immigrant Children in Cages Lawmakers were given a look inside the US Border Patrol’s holding facilities for immigrant children and many are criticizing the centers for their inhumanity. Children, many of whom are separated from… Read more

With "This Is America," Donald Glover Forgets Black Women—Again

By Jaylin Mitchell In Music On Jun 15, 2018

Childish Gambino, also known as Donald Glover, recently released a video for his new single “This is America.” The song revealed many hideous truths about America and the part black people often play in it. The video featured a variety of symbolism and themes including (but not limited to): gun control, minstrel shows, police brutality, protests, capitalism, marijuana, and the death and birth of a corrupt nation. But even with the dizzying array of issues Glover managed to include, I was still left longing to see… Read more

There Is So Much To Celebrate At This Year's Color Me Bushwick

By Janeth Gonda In Music On Jun 14, 2018

The New York music scene is full of an extremely eclectic and never-ending variety of genres, artists, and venues—and each has their own sense of community. The Brooklyn DIY community is no exception. All of the bands and bills are all so integrated that you find strangers who have become friends, and friends who have become family. The We Color Live and Pickthorn team, led by Jocelyn Simone and Chelsey Pickthorn, are extremely active and a large part of the punk rock garage music scene in Brooklyn. They continuously… Read more

HAIM Fire Booking Agent After Being Paid One-Tenth Of Male Act At Same Festival

By Zoë Naseef In Music On Jun 13, 2018

Indie pop sister trio HAIM have recently fired one of their booking agents in light of finding out they were paid one-tenth the amount of a male arist playing the same festival as them. They have not disclosed the name of the festival nor the name of the male artist. In an interview with Grazia magazine, they said they did not question the low wage for the festival because they were told it was a good promotional opportunity and they may end up on the radio. Alana Haim told Grazia, “That’s why I love my sisters so… Read more

GYMSHORTS Release First Single, "Breathin' On Me" Off Their New Album, "KNOCK KNOCK": BUST Premiere

By Janeth Gonda In Music On Jun 07, 2018

We are stoked to share Rhode Island punk band GYMSHORTS's new video for “Breathin’ on Me," the first single off their forthcoming album KNOCK KNOCK. The album is set to release in August on Wallflower Records/Burger Records in US and Bachelor Records in EU. If you’ve ever seen this band, led by frontwoman Sarah Greenwell, then you know you're guaranteed a powerful, heavy set. BUST talked with Greenwell about her creative process and the story behind the single. Animation by Jamie Loftus So tell me about this first… Read more

Get Witchy With L'FREAQ's New Music Video, "Moonlight": BUST Premiere

By Lydia Wang In Music On Jun 06, 2018

This summer’s gonna be l’freaky. Brooklyn and L.A.-based musician L’FREAQ, also known as Lea Cappelli, is releasing her second EP, Weird Awakenings, in the coming months. We’re premiering the first single’s music video today on BUST. L’FREAQ, who cites her inspirations as Portishead, Fiona Apple, and Jeff Buckley, has a sexy, neo-goth, synthpop sound, and hopes her music resonates with anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. “This song is about concealing oneself; it could be from a lover or a friend, but in my case I… Read more

Young M.A. Teamed Up With Visit Brussels To Spotlight Hip-Hop Culture In Belgium

By Janeth Gonda In Music On May 25, 2018

Last Thursday, Irving Plaza was taken over by Visit Brussels in celebration of their 13th annual Brussels Days. With attendees including the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region Rudi Vervoort, the showcase set out to foster commercial, political, and cultural ties between NYC and Brussels through music. The free event featured headlining act Young M.A alongside hip-hop artists from Belgium Veence Hanao and Stikstof. photo provided by Finn Partners The night was hosted by NYC-based multimedia personality… Read more

Shannon Shaw's Music Video "Cryin' My Eyes Out" Has Us Getting Out The Kleenex: BUST Premiere

By Elizabeth F. Olson In Music On May 24, 2018

We’re excited to be premiering the music video for “Cryin' My Eyes Out” from Shannon Shaw’s new solo album. Shaw’s solo project, Shannon in Nashville, is a departure from her band Shannon and the Clams’ golden, garage-y surf rock. Her new music underscores her rich vocals with vintage vibes. still from "Cryin' My Eyes Out" Shaw relocated to Nashville to write her aptly-named solo album with a few of her buddies, including Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, who produced and played guitar, and a handful of pro musicians who… Read more

Elements Lakewood Camping Festival Has All Of The Elements Covered

By Janeth Gonda In Music On May 23, 2018

This weekend, I will be attending Elements Lakewood Camping Festival, which will take place on the gorgeous 60-acre lakefront & wooded property in Lakewood, PA. The three-day festival (May 25-27, 2018) will feature an incredible lineup with headlining acts including Claude VonStroke, City of the Sun, Desert Hearts and Sphongle. The stacked lineup will be held acorss over 8 stages, several including of which built through a collaboration of Rhizome NYC and The Reliquarium. Although I am stoked about the lineup, it is… Read more

NYC: Party While You Bleed This Thursday With #HappyPeriod

By Janeth Gonda In Music On May 22, 2018

Bad ass Brooklyn band, A Deer A Horse, has teamed up with #HappyPeriod for a benefit concert this Thursday, May 24th, at Brooklyn Bazaar. The concert's mission is to end the stigma around menstruation and to raise funds to benefit #HappyPeriod. #HappyPeriod's goal is to ensure that no one who menstruates has to go without menstrual products. The organization works with different outlets to collect, assemble and distribute menstrual products for people who otherwise cannot afford them. 100% of the proceeds go to Happy… Read more

Ezza Rose's New Music Video "No Means No" Connects With The #MeToo Movement: BUST Premiere

By Byshera Williams In Music On May 22, 2018

We're excited to premiere the music video for Portland-based dream rock band Ezza Rose's new song "No Means No," a song that connects with the #MeToo movement. The song shares a name with Ezza Rose's new album. "Don't wanna tell you that 'No means no,'" singer Ezza Rose (who shares a name with her band) proclaims as we see men with blurred-out faces harass women on the sidewalks, in the office, on public transportation, and in the park. In a statement, Rose explains the line: “Words have meaning, and when meaning is… Read more

Erykah Badu Is BUST's Cover Star For Our 25th Anniversary Issue

By BUST Magazine In Music On May 21, 2018

We’re excited to share that Erykah Badu is BUST’s cover star for our June/July 2018 issue, aka our 25th anniversary issue! For our 25th anniversary, we wanted to choose an icon who began her career around the same time BUST was born—and Badu is the perfect choice. She is as relevant, interesting and groundbreaking today as she was when she first burst onto the scene in the early ‘90s. We’ve included a few quotes below from our ten-page cover story, written by Jamia Wilson and photographed by Nadya Wasylko. Find our… Read more

Taleen Kali's "Lost & Bound" Is Dark And Danceable: BUST Premiere

By Byshera Williams In Music On May 17, 2018

Taleen Kali, a cosmic punk in the L.A. noise rock scene who has opened for Madame Gandhi and Kimya Dawson, is releasing her debut solo album, Soul Songs, on Lolipop Records this summer. We're excited to premiere her first single "Lost & Bound" here. Kali tells BUST via email, “‘Lost & Bound’ is about finding yourself again after being lost. I wanted to write a song that was really dark but also danceable, so I wrote a dirge dedicated to a 'lost self,' and I added a disco beat to add this sense of movement, of… Read more

Meet The Woman Behind Your Favorite Music Photographs

By BUST Magazine In Music On May 15, 2018

Capturing everyone from punk pioneers to rap revolutionaries, iconic music photographer Janette Beckman is always pointing her lens toward the future For over 40 years, British photographer Janette Beckman has been a fixture on the underground scene, creating a body of work that is stored deep in the memory banks of music fans everywhere. You may have seen her shots on the covers of seminal albums like the Police’s Outlandos D’Amour, New Edition’s Candy Girl, and EPMD’s Unfinished Business, or on singles like the… Read more

Fever Ray Kicks Off World Tour With A Padded Body Suit, Bald Head, And Lasers

By Michael Levine In Music On May 15, 2018

Karin Dreijer, aka Fever Ray, took to the stage at the Brooklyn Hangar this past weekend as part of the Red Bull Music Festival. The concert kicked off her 2018 world tour. Dreijer appeared wearing a padded body suit, with a bald head and fabulous, garish, glam makeup. She was accompanied by synthesizers and percussion. Two dancers shared backup vocal duties while interacting with Dreijer, combining movement and dance. The light show was stunning, with enough lasers and special effects to rival Genesis or Pink Floyd in… Read more

19 New Albums To Listen To This Spring: Playlist

By BUST Magazine In Music On May 10, 2018

Here are the album reviews from our April/May 2018 issue! We're featuring new music from artists like Frankie Cosmos, Jean Grae and Quelle Chris, and Sunflower Bean. And we've got a Spotify playlist for you, too: FRANKIE COSMOSVessel(Sub Pop) Whether she’s writing about eating leftover rice late at night, her phone dying, or wasting time on a train, Frankie Cosmos songwriter Greta Kline has a knack for weaving poetry out of small, simple moments. Though she’s moved away from home recording, the prolific songwriter… Read more

Celebrate Americana Music and The Women Who Make It In Brooklyn Next Week

By Lydia Wang In Music On May 03, 2018

This coming Wednesday, female artists from Jade Bird to Lola Kirke will be performing at the Music Hall of Williamsburg to raise funds for the Americana Music Association. The association, also known as the AMA, aims to work closely with artists and media involved in American Roots music. The Tribute to Women in Americana benefit also will aim to tackle the gender imbalance within the genre by highlighting an impressive lineup of female artists covering songwriting legends like Dolly Parton and Carole King. The show is… Read more

Janelle Monáe's "Dirty Computer": An Album, An Emotion Picture, A Movement

By Byshera Williams In Music On May 03, 2018

Janelle Monáe’s newest album and emotion picture, Dirty Computer, tells the story of Jane 57821. The story is set in a near future, where anyone who doesn't fit the government's idea of clean is marked as a "dirty computer." Once marked, dirty computers are put through a “cleaning” process: their memories are deleted, and slowly they are turned into torches who can light the way for others. When the deletion process commences, we are tsken into Jane’s memory and we get a snippet of the song “I Got That Juice (feat.… Read more

Fever Ray On "Plunge," Dating Apps, And Protecting Queer Sex

By BUST Magazine In Music On May 03, 2018

Last October, a mysterious teaser video surfaced on Fever Ray’s website, hinting—with ghoulish imagery, explicit lyrics, and a personal ad on some made-up dating site called “Karma Kinksters”—that she would release new music after nearly a decade of dormancy. “Sadist, empathetic switch seeks same,” the video’s text began. “For hours of sharing: ideas, skin, warmth, breath, politics, dreams, and body fluids.” A week later, Fever Ray’s exhilarating full-length experimental pop album Plunge was released. Karin Dreijer,… Read more

Carsie Blanton Tells Cringey Men, "Fuck Yourself" In New Music Video: BUST Premiere

By Lydia Wang In Music On May 02, 2018

Are you tired of the ukulele-playing, mustache-sporting, vape-loving men that seem to crawl around every bar, café, and corner of Tinder? Carsie Blanton is, too. The New Orleans-based singer/songwriter sings about all kinds of bad dates and dudes you just can’t quit in her latest song, “Fuck Yourself,” a cheeky parody of Justin Bieber’s Ed Sheeran-penned “Love Yourself.” “I like songs with great melodic hooks that get stuck in your head, I like lyrics that tell stories, and I like profanity. Covering this song seemed… Read more

You Can't Resist the Mayday Festival of Resistance

By Rachel Dasaro In Music On Apr 26, 2018

Festival season has begun, and we just can't resist this one. Join The Mayday Collective for their third annual Mayday Festival of Resistance, an incredible celebration of the intersectional feminist movements led by women of color, black women, trans women, and femmes for their ongoing part in the fight against the patriarchy and social injustice. This Saturday, April 28th at Maria Hernandez Park in Brooklyn, you'll enjoy a free concert featuring a full lineup of talented Native, Latinx, and Afro-Latinx… Read more

Janelle Monáe, Before "Dirty Computer": From The BUST Archives

By BUST Magazine In Music On Apr 26, 2018

To celebrate the release of Janelle Monae's third album and accompanying "emotion picture" Dirty Computer, we're digging into our archives and bringing forth our August/September 2013 cover story with Monae, who was about to release her second album, Electric Lady.Janelle Monáe may have been born to sing, dance, and write some of the most creative pop albums ever to hit an iPod, but the world wouldn’t have known about her if it weren’t for the video for “Tightrope.” The 2010 breakout single (featuring Big Boi) made her… Read more

Janelle Monáe Comes Out As Queer

By Anna Greer In Music On Apr 26, 2018

The goddess who walks among us in the shape of Janelle Monáe has ended speculation about her sexuality. The pop star/actor/activist/model/excellent human being has officially come out as queer in an interview with Rolling Stone, saying, “I consider myself to be a free-ass motherfucker.” Monáe opens up about her life and the realities of being a queer, black superstar in a very personal cover story with Rolling Stone: “‘Being a queer black woman in America,’ she says, taking a breath as she comes out, ‘Someone who has… Read more

6 New EPs And 7-Inch Releases To Take For A Spin

By BUST Magazine In Music On Apr 25, 2018

From our April/May 2018 issue, BUST's music editor Emily Nokes chooses the best new EPs and 7-inches: Bipolar Lovers in Love EP by CUSI COYLLUR (Self-Released) Pianist, singer, and mental-health advocate Cusi Coyllur, aka Shannen Roberts, weaves her (now more important than ever) activism together with music, exploring healing via a collection of eight avant/experimental tracks on Bipolar Lovers in Love. Bipolar Lovers in Love (& Poem Zines) by Cusi Coyllur Time EP by GHOST & THE CITY (Self-Released) Oakland neo-soul… Read more

What The World Needs Now Is L7

By Tanya Pearson In Music On Apr 24, 2018

Earlier this month, I filmed one of the greatest rock bands of all time, L7. The evening marked an important life moment, too—it was my first time seeing the band in concert, a fact that has been a deep source of shame as a longtime fan turned historian. I’m sure I’ve lied about this glaring ommission in the past, probably to validate my rock pedigree to some record store dude, so consider this my "coming clean" and day of redemption. I have interviewed women-identified rock musicians, as an (unpaid) occupation, for… Read more

Why Beyoncé's #Beychella Performance Is So Important

By Byshera Williams In Music On Apr 18, 2018

Last weekend, Beyoncé stepped out on the Coachella stage and completely redefined what it means to be a headliner. Coachella has gained a reputation as one of the most well-known music festivals over its nineteen years. Every year, thousands flock to Indio, California, the home of the festival, to watch a plethora of musical guests and headliners, ranging from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, The Cure, Kanye West, to Lady Gaga. Despite the range of musical genres displayed by past headliners, Beyoncé is the first black… Read more

Lauryn Hill Is Going On Tour For The 20th Anniversary Of "Miseducation": Link Roundup

By Anna Greer In Music On Apr 18, 2018

Lauryn Hill Is Going On Tour To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her Grammy-winning, debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill is going on tour. Variety reports that she’s starting in Virginia on July 5. You can purchase tickets and VIP experiences starting this Friday (April 20), and part of the proceeds will go to the MLH foundation. Starbucks is Closing Stores For Racial Bias Training Starbucks is trying to make amends after two black men were arrested while simply waiting for a friend in a… Read more

Caitlin Canty's "Motel Bouquet" Is A Hopeful Musical Journey

By Michael Levine In Music On Apr 16, 2018

CAITLIN CANTY Motel Bouquet(Tone Tree Music) Singer-songwriter Caitlin Canty has just released her fourth album, Motel Bouquet, recorded in music city, Nashville, TN. Canty has a mournful, ethereal, haunting, voice that sometimes resembles Norah Jones, Gillian Welch, and Chan Marshall (Cat Power). Her songs posses a feel of tough street smarts meets vulnerability and longing. Musically, the sound is based around Canty's acoustic guitar, and its lo-fi, Americana twang perfectly supports her heartfelt lyrics. Tracks like… Read more

Betty Davis, The Original "Nasty Gal": From The BUST Archives

By Laurie In Music On Apr 12, 2018

We've been huge fans of soul siren Betty Davis for awhile now, and we're very excited to see the new documentary, Betty — They Say I'm Different which will have it's US premiere at the Red Bull Music Festival on May 23rd. So we decided to dug up this interview we did with her back in 2007. Enjoy! Mention the name “Betty Davis” and most people will either comment on how good she was in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? or say that they liked that song about her eyes. But feminist electro-musician Peaches has a decidedly… Read more

Janelle Monáe And Grimes Celebrate Vaginas In "PYNK" Music Video

By Lydia Wang In Music On Apr 10, 2018

Between Cardi B’s album drop and news that L7 will be releasing their first album in 20 years, it’s been an incredible week for music. Today, you can feast your ears and your eyes on Janelle Monáe’s sensual ode to the vagina, filled with lush vocals featuring Grimes and some soft lady loving between Monáe and Tessa Thompson. “Pynk” is the latest track from Monáe’s third album, Dirty Computer, which will be released April 27. Two other singles, “Django Jane” and the Prince-inspired bisexual anthem “Make Me Feel,” were… Read more

L7 Is Coming Back With Their First Full-Length Album Since 1999

By Byshera Williams In Music On Apr 09, 2018

The American grunge pioneers and total badasses L7 have announced their first album in 20 years coming Feb 2019. After releasing two hard-hitting singles, “Dispatch From Mar-a-Lago” and “I Came Back to Bitch,” along with their critically acclaimed documentary, L7: Pretend We’re Dead, the band is ready to come back to the music scene. You can pre-order the album today on PledgeMusic, to support L7’s art. The band is offering fans an array of rewards from a signed limited edition “I Came Back To Bitch,” vintage and rare… Read more

Rachael Sage Reimagines Her '90s Feminist Anthem For The #MeToo Movement With "Sistersong 2018"

By Byshera Williams In Music On Apr 05, 2018

Rachael Sage, a New York-based alt-pop artist, has returned with her 13th album Myopia. The album centers itself on the idea of self-assurance and being comfortable within one’s own skin, but with the current cultural climate, there is also a thread of paranoia. With a bold emphasis on Sage’s guitar playing, instead of her usual piano-driven work, and contributions from Hoboken-based guitarist James Mastro, this album is gritty, complex, and truly stands out from her other work. We're excited to premiere the single… Read more

Treefort Music Festival Was Exactly What I Needed To Recharge And Reconnect

By Janeth Gonda In Music On Apr 02, 2018

I didn't quite know what to expect as I prepared to head off to Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho, but what I found exceeded all of MY expectations. The five-day festival full of music, food, yoga, skating and so much more was like an adult playground for all of the senses. The strong sense of community throughout the city of Boise was inspiring, uplifting, and infectious. With so much to do, it was easy to be overwhelmed, but the days just seemed to flow with one amazing activity after another. I discovered some… Read more

The Day I Didn’t Get Liz Phair Tickets: A Queer Coming-Of-Age Story

By Tanya Pearson In Music On Mar 30, 2018

I like to think that I am the only fan of certain artists. I like to think that I am among Liz Phair’s biggest fans and cosmically deserving of a ticket to one of a handful of intimate performances. Last night, I prayed that the indifferent universe would repay 25 years of allegiance with a digital ticket. I wrote this essay, set my intentions, and had a dream about the show: I brought my mother, she was dressed like a hipster in a stonewashed denim jacket and red knit cap. She bought me a Girlysound/Exile in Guyville… Read more

Amara La Negra Is Making Music And Calling Out Colorism

By BUST Magazine In Music On Mar 28, 2018

It only took the premiere episode of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Miami for breakout star Amara La Negra to charm her way into viewers’ hearts. But the Miami-born Dominican singer didn’t do it in the typical table-flipping-drink-tossing way that usually turns reality stars into GIFs—she did the exact opposite. On the first episode of the series, about aspiring music artists and their love lives, La Negra requested constructive criticism from potential producer Young Hollywood. But when he suggested she be “a little bit more… Read more

Norway’s Borealis Festival Is A Gender-Balanced Experimental Music Experience

By Laurie In Music On Mar 28, 2018

As a relative nube when it comes to experimental music, I was slightly trepidacious about attending the Borealis fest in Bergen Norway this month, mostly because my uninformed views expected four days of “Nails On A Chalkboard.” Luckily for me, while there was plenty of noise, it was all interesting, and the acts were incredibly diverse and surprising. The festival, founded in 2004, covers everything from string quartets to avant-garde opera, noise, spoken word, field recordings, chamber music and dance hall. In… Read more

There Shouldn't Be Shame In Liking “Girl Music"

By Julie Kocsis In Music On Mar 27, 2018

Ah, middle school — an awkward time of change and newness for all. Perfectly clear complexions become pocked with zits, a once-simple interaction with a person of the opposite gender becomes nervous and overthought, and Saturdays that were once spent “playing” are now spent on more serious things, like getting your ears pierced at Claire’s. For most, a shift in the type of entertainment one consumes changes around this time too. While I liked music as a kid (Disney, musicals, etc.), it wasn’t until I was about 12 years… Read more

Terra Lopez is The Multi-Threat Movement Leader We Have Been Waiting For

By Janeth Gonda In Music On Mar 22, 2018

Terra Lopez — leading lady of the band Rituals of Mine, the label Bitchwave, and the art installation called THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE — is a powerhouse who is changing not only the music industry but any community she touches. Her passion for elevating women and fostering growth in the community is making a huge impact across the nation. In today's culture, it is so necessary for people with platforms to use them in way that sheds light on important issues. We sat down with Lopez to talk about the important work she… Read more

Your Inside Guide To Treefort Music Fest 2018

By Janeth Gonda In Music On Mar 21, 2018

We are so excited to be attending the seventh annual Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho! The festival, which can be compared to SXSW, spreads across the entire city of Boise, featuring over 450 bands in the best venues across the city. Throughout the five days, there is a number of things to do beyond seeing music including yoga, comedy, skateboarding, food, a beer fest, kids' activities and more. With so much to do, it can be easy to get overwhelmed when deciding where to head, so we talked with Treefort Organizer… Read more

Hamilton’s Mandy Gonzalez Talks Social Media, Music, And Representation On Broadway: BUST Interview

By Alicia Ramírez In Music On Mar 13, 2018

Actress and singer Mandy Gonzalez’s voice is spectacular. I was fortunate enough to jump on the phone with her one recent Thursday afternoon as she got ready for her performance in Hamilton on Broadway, in which she plays Angelica Schuyler. Before our call, we met at her CD signing at Barnes & Noble in New York City’s Upper East Side. Mandy Gonzalez epitomizes the working actor, one who has embraced the unpredictable business she’s built her life around. She’s worked actively in television and film and has replaced… Read more

Shannon And The Clams Peel Back The Layers On New Album "Onion": BUST Interview

By Kathryn Hensch In Music On Mar 13, 2018

If you have yet to listen to Shannon and the Clams, you’re missing out on a band that is unapologetically themselves. They get their inspiration from vintage sounds, and unlike others who may just borrow from older genres, they make music that sounds like them. I spoke with singer, bassist, and Shannon part of the Clams, Shannon Shaw. When asked what it is about the sounds of yesterday that inspires her, she points to the honesty that the music conveys. “I was raised listening to oldies and have always identified with… Read more

7 New Albums To Listen To This March: Playlist

By BUST Magazine In Music On Mar 09, 2018

Welcome to the second half of our music reviews from our February/March 2018 issue! (See the first half here.) March brings us new albums from the Breeders, the Orielles, U.S. Girls and more. Read our reviews here and listen to the playlist below. THE BREEDERSAll Nerve (4AD) Upon hearing there was a new Breeders record coming out after nearly a decade, my excitement was tempered with reservations. What can we realistically hope for without getting set up for disappointment? Nearly 30 years and four albums (plus a few… Read more

La Luz's New Song "California Finally" Is The Golden Paradise You've Been Waiting For All Winter: BUST Premiere

By Elizabeth F. Olson In Music On Mar 08, 2018

La Luz, the all-women surf noir band, are back with their latest album, Floating Features, out later this year. You may have already seen the music video for "Cicada," the first track off of Floating Features, which was released in early February. Today, we’re proud to be one of the first to share another track off of Floating Features, the sunny, reverberating "California Finally." Singer/guitarist Shana Cleveland tells BUST of the track, “We moved to California as a band right before we started work on this album,… Read more

How SoulCycle Is Changing Pop Music

By Tim Latterner In Music On Mar 06, 2018

“You’ve got to hear this,” the host of the party proclaimed, jolting over to the iPod plugged into a speaker. “I heard it yesterday at SoulCycle and it’s incredible!”What we heard next was a heart-pumping techno remix of "Video Killed The Radio Star," The Buggles’ 1980 song. While several of us knew the song to be a remix of an '80s synth pop classic, our host had never heard the song any other way than the revamped recording she’d heard at a recent spin class. This was the only way the song existed in her mind,… Read more

Sister Rosetta Tharpe Is The Rock & Roll Pioneer Everyone Should Know About

By F Yeah History In Music On Mar 05, 2018

Queer musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe is FINALLY getting her place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, and you know what? IT’S ABOUT BLOODY TIME! This lady is a damn queen! via Wikipedia Rosetta was a singer/songwriter who rose to fame in the '30s and '40s by fusing gospel with seriously funky rhythms, helping give birth to rock and roll. Sadly, her contribution often gets forgotten by mainstream audiences. Some critics argue this is due to her music not being solely rock & roll as it fused gospel with it… and… Read more

Alice Bag, Kathleen Hanna And Allison Wolfe Are A Riot Grrrl "9 To 5" In The Music Video "77"

By Anna Greer In Music On Mar 02, 2018

Punk rock and feminist icon Alice Bag has released a new music video about equal pay, and we love it. “77” parodies the feminist classic film 9 To 5 to tackle the wage gap, and it rocks. This single is from Alice Bag’s new album Blueprint, which comes out March 23, and you can read more about it on her website. She became a formative figure in LA's punk rock scene in the 70s when she co-created the band The Bags. She hasn't stopped making music since, participating in many groundbreaking groups and earning much… Read more

PLAG Presents is Creating Safe Spaces for The Non-Binary Community

By Janeth Gonda In Music On Feb 21, 2018

PLAG (Play Like a Girl) is a Los Angeles-based collective that empowers and elevates the voices of women and nonbinary people. The group takes empowerment to a new level, curating safe spaces in the arts through live performance, educational workshops, and other resources. PLAG is currently expanding from LA, holding their first ever event in NYC — featuring Scarlet Sails, Sharkmuffin, and Exgirlfriends — on February 23rd. We spoke with powerhouse Kimi Recor, a musician in DRÆMINGS, and the "smooth operator" of PLAG… Read more

Fever Ray Announces World Tour In Support of “Plunge"

By Michael Levine In Music On Feb 19, 2018

Fever Ray’s latest release Plunge was made available for download in October 2017 (see our review), and now the CD and vinyl versions will be available on February 23rd. In support of the album, Fever Ray, aka Ms. Karin Dreijer, is taking it to the streets with a full band and world tour which kicks off today in Vienna, Austria. Please visit feverray.com or mute.com for a complete list of dates, cities and venues where shows will be taking place. If you missed Fever Ray in concert previously, be sure to catch her this… Read more