Seattle’s alternative “grunge” rock was a punk/metal hybrid sound made famous by bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden that seized pop culture in the early ’90s. Among the musicians who came to define the scene, white men dominated, and women were few. And Black women? If the most common version of history is to be believed, there were none. But that version is wrong. Bam Bam, formed in 1983 by husband-and-wife duo Tommy Martin and Tina Bell, has largely been erased from the annals of the...

For those of us languishing in the mid-summer heat, Los Angeles-based band Hot As Sun brings a refreshing new song to cool us off. The band’s latest single "It Was Bananas” is the summer sound tonic we’ve been waiting for. Evocative of early eighties sounds like ESG or Bush Tetras, we love the animated video created by artist Patricia Luna (Beck, Stuntdriver, Freidberg). The single also features Justin Meldal-Johnsen on bass of (Beck, St. Vincent, and Nine Inch Nails),  Hot As Sun began in 2010 with vocalist, songwriter/composer...

Known for over five decades as the “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan has sold over 70 million albums worldwide with her irresistible vocal blend of R&B, soul, pop, and disco. Think you know why everyone’s always talkin’ about Chaka? Then take the quiz! 1. Chaka was born on March 23, 1953, in ___________. a. Brooklyn, NY       b. Ventura, CA c. Chicago, IL           d. Gary, IN   2. Which of the following is also a name Chaka has used when not going by Chaka Khan? a. Yvette Marie Stevens b. Chaka Adunne Aduffe c. Yemoja Hodarhi...

We are living in an age where every word counts. Whether it’s in a movie, TV show, Instagram post, or tweet, the way in which we use language to convey our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs is being thoroughly questioned and analyzed daily. Editing ourselves in real-time, both online and in real life has become the norm for politicians, social media influencers, actors, actresses, and more. Singers are no exception to this rule, and this was recently proven when Beyoncé and Lizzo made headlines for removing...

BRITTANY DAVIS I Choose to Live (Loosegroove Records) Seattle’s Brittany Davis delivers a manifesto of heart and inclusivity on their rap, electronic, and R&B-infused debut EP, I Choose to Live. Davis, a protégé of Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard, packs an amount of reflective and groove-worthy content into six songs that is nothing short of remarkable. The opening title track is a beacon, giving shoutouts to frontline workers and vital nods of reconciliation: “To my Asian brothers and sisters I extend my heart/Because I refuse to let the past keep...

If you’re heading to Outside Lands: https://www.sfoutsidelands.com/ this year, check out some of the BUSTy artists we think you would love. We’ve linked their set times and stages below.   SZA 8/5 8:45 PM - 9:55 PM Lands End  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5IQ70V7l-XpHW40HwaGsw   PHOEBE BRIDGERS 8/5 8:35 PM - 9:50 PM Twin Peaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh4PO1W9tVmHujIPZnfK8TQ   THE MARÍAS 8/5 6:55 PM - 7:45 PM Twin Peaks  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmZkdugBmAP_zpyzayv6VQ   SAMPA THE GREAT 8/5 4:35 PM - 5:15 PM Panhandle https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHPHV1vMBvc-hce4Z5xP88A   HIATUS KAIYOTE 8/5 4:10 PM - 5:00 PM Lands End https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmD8TDgJxofPfxA8GTpaCCQ   ASHE 8/5 3:45 PM - 4:35 PM Twin Peaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYx21h__0wVW2wBWX7sQP1A  LIDO PIMIENTA 8/5 3:00 PM - 3:40 PM Panhandle https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPfz16ao-2v68HDN3weu9Jg   FAYE WEBSTER 8/5 2:40 PM...

ROSALÍA MOTOMAMI (Columbia Records) On her third album, MOTOMAMI, Rosalía leaves all inhibitions at the door. Her meteoric rise has brought her to a place of creative liberty as she experiments with different sounds and styles, from start to finish. Opener “Saoko” is immediate proof, as the sonic switches signal a new era for Rosalía. She brings the Weeknd into her world on the sultry “La Fama” (which usually happens in reverse when it comes to Abel); “Bulerías” is a stripped-down masterpiece, along with “Chicken Teriyaki” and the...

The Linda Lindas played a killer show to an adoring all ages audience last night at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom. Fans ranging in ages from 7 to 70 danced and grooved in sync through out the night. The four young women (ages 11-17) are very musically accomplished to say the least, and really give it their all on stage. The evening’s set featured songs from their debut album, Growing Up (Epitaph Records), like “Talking To Myself,” “Why,” “Oh,” and the ever favorite “Racist, Sexist Boy. They also delivered...

Will pro-choice songs make a splash in the music industry given the current political climate? This year, we’ve seen a significant rise in demonstrations linked to abortion in the U.S, with an increase of 51% since 2021, as presented by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. This research shows that pro-choice protests far outnumber pro-life demonstrations, with a ratio of 3 to 1. How do we keep the momentum going and get pumped for a revolution? With music, of course. Here is a compilation...

GIRLPOOL Forgiveness (Anti-) Girlpool’s maximalist fourth LP feels like a series of taxicab confessions in which Harmony Tividad and Avery Tucker aren’t afraid to say the quiet parts out loud. Both Tividad and Tucker bare their destructive kinks (hypnotizing opener “Nothing Gives Me Pleasure”) and dance with classic car-driving devils (the NIN-esque “Country Star”). But it’s not all hedonistic; with sweet strummer “See Me Now,” Tucker, who transitioned in 2018, unambiguously works through his relationship to masculinity. By mixing self-love with dreamy pop decadence, Girlpool debuts an ambitious...