Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Songbird, Allison Strong, Hexagon Cat, Sleep Station, and Lily Vakili. Plus a look back at "Everything Explodes" by Joshua Van Ness.
Songbird - "Is It Love?". Songbird continues to put out pop singles that belong all over commercial pop stations. I have to assume the only reasons her songs are not is because commercial radio generally ignores independent artists. But with songs like her new single "Is It Love?", I don't think she'll be independent for long, unless it is by choice.
Allison Strong - "Weightless". Another artist who I would expect to hear on commercial radio is Allison Strong. I would say her voice is her strength, as it is amazing, but the lyrics of her new single, "Weightless", are equally... well, pardon the pun, but... strong.
Allison describes the song as being about, "breaking up with the part of myself that has been playing small and safe since I lost and regained the ability to walk. It’s about letting go, feeling lighter and dancing into a whole new era."
Hexagon Cat - "Red Hexagon". A hexagon is six sided.
A Hexagon Cat is I guess a six sided band.
How so, considering there looks to be only four members of the band?
Well their sound on their new album, "Red Hexagon", is, depending on the song, alternative, prog rock, indie rock, orchestral pop, psychedelic rock, Mellow Wave... at least six sides, maybe more, and they are all awesome. And like a cat they will do whatever they want musically, and I'm glad they do.
Sleep Station - "This Side of Heaven". As an atheist, I'm not sure where "This Side of Heaven" is, but if being there means getting to have Sleep Station's new album, then I want to be there. This is some transcendent mid-tempo alt-indie-folk-rock!
Lily Vakili - "Live Wire". There is nothing like capturing an electrifying live band. Lily Vakili knows this, and for her latest album, "Live Wire", her and her band recorded it live. The result is mesmerizing mix of blues, rock, jazz... almost a cinematic vibe running throughout.
Not New, But Memorable Corner
Joshua Van Ness - "Everything Explodes". It is 2008. I am lying on my bed, eyes closed, listening to Joshua Van Ness's DNA album for the first time.
Joshua is an amazing singer-songwriter who writes catchy, mid-tempo folk-rock-pop, that I absolutely love.
But then track 5 begins, and I check if I am still listening to the same album, because "Everything Explodes" kicks in when a thumping beat and a hard edged guitar riff. This is an industrial rock, dance club hybrid that 18 years later still blows my mind every time I hear it.
If this song doesn't grab your attention and get you up and moving... well I get to each their own, but this song is a three minute workout to me.
To my knowledge Joshua Van Ness has never recorded another song in this style, and only played this live a couple of times (the first of which may have been because I wouldn't stop asking him to).
Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to be part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon (and bridged on BlueSky).
