Stereo Specter, aka Jordan Dean, has released a handful of singles in 2019 and we are excited to debut the latest (and possibly greatest) of the bunch, entitled “Missing Time.” Lyrically, the song tells the tale of an alien abduction, or maybe an out-of-body experience, or the fallout of surviving the apocalypse or maybe, honestly, a bit of all of the above.

Whatever the eerie subject matter may, it’s an unrelenting pop jam. Deep bass grooves bop along with head swirling keyboards and snappy drums in such a way that that it’s tough not to bounce along with it. None of these individual elements are new to the Stereo Specter sound but the way they’re put together is a rather fresh approach for the one man band.

It seems that 2019 has provided Stereo Specter with a bit of re-invention, taking lessons learned from some of the previously released, dancier, pop songs he’s released in years past and applying those lessons to a more rock band format. Whatever he’s been up to, we’re tuned in, putting this one into heavy rotation and eagerly awaiting more.

Hear the track on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you like your music streamed.

The Minks are a self-described “psychedelic bloos band”; a label fully embraced on their recently released full-length album Light & Sweet. As part of the promotional cycle for the record, they’ve released a delightfully fun video for the track “Nothin’ No More.”

While the track itself could fit right in at a dingy locale performed by the bar band, the video is a bright, colorful and shiningly upbeat affair. The group appears in coordinated red and black outfits within a stage setup pulled directly from the halls of The Ed Sullivan show. The musicians play their hearts out for the camera; a knowing nod to the artifice of the performance. Put simply, they’re having fun with the camera and it shows (particularly that harmonica player).

The video opens with a cheeky show host comforting us that, “these are confusing times… but sometimes as we work through this confusion it’s important to take it nice and easy.” Front-woman Nikki Barber anchors the video with her vocal performance of a melancholy tale that belies the saccharine sweetness of her surroundings, remembering to take it nice and easy during her trying and confusing times.

Back in October, The By Gods released “Eureka“, the first new single since their 2017 full-length Move On. Fortunately, it seems that we didn’t have to wait long for more from the group as they’ve just released “Black Wave“, a triumphantly bombastic new track.

Based on the artwork color scheme and overall treatment, this new track certainly lives in the same family of songs as the previous (potentially leading to a full new album, tho details remain to be seen on that yet). Sonically, it’s much more upbeat and emphatic than the previous track; embracing the big riffs and onslaught of drums that they’ve treated us to in the past.

The By Gods always bring some slick production, big radio-friendly sounds and memorable hooks but they never leave the honesty behind. Putting out a big rock song like this can often feel a bit empty but there’s a real believability behind the vocals and lyrics. It’s possible the bands best secret weapon.

The latest release from Mischa Lively, entitled More, is a collection of long-form, experimental dance compositions with surprising instrument choices, diverse percussion and slow burn tempos. It’s also a gateway into a Nashville music scene I’m wholly unfamiliar with.

Artists Stacian, JNN, Charlie Conway, Oliver Dodd and Tan are among those in town fostering a scene for electronic music that is decidedly dance-y but willing to integrate numerous styles and influences to create something altogether new.

Lively’s More is a great example of this. The shortest track is just over five minutes, the longest nearly eight, giving each undertaking plenty of time to slowly unfurl. It’s not immediately obvious that these tracks would be the best fit for a night out dancing but if left to mature, they blossom into an embraceable groove. The choices in percussive instruments throughout the release are atypical of the stereotypical “dance” music perception, best exemplified in the flurry of taps and swooshes in the title track “More.”

The fascinating overlapping of styles – sometimes outright dance, other times ambient and occasionally downright experimental – is a smooth integration of the disparate pieces. More is exactly what it is titled to be, More than just dance music. As I dig deeper into the offerings from other artists within the scene, this seems to be a consistent through-line. Nashville may not be known as a hotbed of progressive dance music but there’s clearly some wonderfully diverse creations waiting to be unearthed.

One last note, 10% of every sale of the Mischa Lively record goes to the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization that works to combat mass incarceration, racial injustice, and the for-profit prison system. This has no bearing on the music but it’s a commendable undertaking to stand behind. So go pick that up.