Sub Pop has signed London-based songwriter Marika Hackman to the label, and will release I’m Not Your Man, her North American label debut, on June 2nd. The album - including recently released track “Boyfriend” - was produced and mixed by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J) at various locales throughout London. I’m Not Your Man will also be available in Europe from AMF Records.
Hackman also has (for your audio-visual enjoyment) an official video for “Boyfriend,” directed by Libby Burke Wilde [watch here], which co-stars the singer and her friends from UK band, The Big Moon.
There’s an open-ended nature toI’m Not Your Man: the discussions within, conversations on femininity, sex and sexual identity, millennial ennui, the pressures of living in a social media bubble and the perils of being young in a fast- paced industry. Says Hackman, “The record’s all about female relationships, romance and breakdowns, but there’s also a dim worldview going on. I’m Not Your Man can either mean, ‘I’m not your man, I’m your woman’, or it can mean, ‘I’m not a part of this…’,” explains Hackman. It’s a fiery statement from a songwriter who no longer wants to be shackled to limiting descriptions.
To help channel this fervid energy, Hackman recruited her best mates – London quartet The Big Moon to play as her backing band on I’m Not Your Man. “They really captured the soul of what it all meant to me and brought a lot of fun and creativity,” says Hackman. The unspoiled nature of the recording environment has thrown up a truly dynamic, multi-genre sound. It’s all tied together via razor sharp wit and authenticity.
[Cover Art: Painting by Tristan Piggot. Read more about it here.]
I’m Not Your Man will be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and is now available to preorder in North America from Sub Pop [link here]. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in the Americas will receive the Loser edition on orange colored-vinyl with a bonus 7” (while supplies last). There will also a be new t-shirt design available with this release.
Marika Hackman has scheduled a handful of SXSW appearances to preview I’m Not Your Man (March 15th-18th). Additional live dates will be announced soon.
Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW / Latitude 30 / BBC2 Official Showcase Mar. 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW / The Blackheart / Transgressive Records Showcase Mar. 18 - Austin, TX - SXSW / Urban Outfitters Back Lot
Uproxx says of “Lightro…” and Watercolor, “Over a wafting cloud of synthy production Ray tackles the grimness of death and the fleeting nature of life, before the track bleeds into Stas’ starlit harmonies....When he starts spitting, you know it’s him immediately. He runs through various cadences and countless rhythms like it’s nothing to change up, but never loses a sense of cohesion in his rapping…In many ways, Watercolor is a distillation of Northwest rap told through the region’s most promising newcomer (see premiere February 21st).”
Porter Ray’s current live dates include a hometown release show on March 8th at Barboza (with guests Jarv Dee, Cam the Mac, and Bruce Leroy), multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. More live dates coming soon.
Tour Dates + Ticket Links Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA – Crocodile (w/ Pickwick for ACLU Benefit) Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA – Barboza (Watercolor Release Party) Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
“Lightro…,” and the forthcoming Watercolor, find Ray blending thoughtful portraits of Seattle streets with cathartic biographical accounts of an eventful adolescence and early adulthood, during which his father passed away, his brother was shot and killed, he became a father, and saw his son’s mother go to jail. Possessing insight beyond his years, Ray’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.
Watercolor is available for preorder in all your favorite formats. LP pre-orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. Guest appearances include Cashtro, Stas Thee Boss, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
What are “The People” saying about Porter Ray? Well, since you asked:
“A star in the making.” [Watercolor] - Uncut
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] -MOJO
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor] - Crack Magazine
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring Shabazz Palaces,Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - Stereogum
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great Stas Thee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear
“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER
Sub Pop Records in Seattle, WA is offering a grand total of $15,000 worth of college scholarship money to three eligible high school seniors. There are three scholarships—one for $7,000, one for $5,000 and one for $3,000. As longtime and proud losers ourselves, we’re exceedingly happy to be able, in some small way, to help further the education of art-enthused misfits from the NW.
Applicants must be a resident of Washington or Oregon, and a graduating senior on your way to full-time enrollment at an accredited university or college. We are looking for applicants who are involved and/or interested in music and/or the creative arts in some way. However, you do not need to be pursuing an education in the arts.
To apply you must submit an essay, one page or less, using any combination of the following questions as a guide (or write something completely your own, be inspired and creative!). Please list the school you are graduating from and the school you plan to attend in the fall at the top of your essay along with your contact information.
- What are you doing in the arts/music field in your community?
- What does being a Sub Pop ‘Loser’ mean to you?
- What are your influences and/or who inspired you to become involved in the arts?
- Describe your biggest failure and explain how it has brought you closer to your goal(s).
- Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart.
- How has your family or community background affected the way you see the world?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to send digital links and/or provide hard copies of their artwork along with their essay (we have never had a winner who submitted only an essay). However, please be aware that Sub Pop will not return any of this material, so please don’t send originals. Sub Pop will give equal opportunity to all applicants who fit the criteria outlined above. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 22nd.
Please send all submissions and attachments to scholarship@subpop.com by Wednesday, March 22nd. We will announce the scholarship winners on April 3rd.
Soundgarden’s “Flower” is the opening track and (original) lead single from Ultramega OK, the newly remixed and expanded reissue (out March 10) and long-planned “correction” of the legendary band’s GRAMMY®-nominated debut full-length.
Ultramega OK was originally recorded and released in 1988 on SST Records. While the band enjoyed working with the original producer, Drew Canulette, they soon realized they weren’t quite happy with the final mix.Thus, shortly after the album’s release, the band decided to remix the album for subsequent pressings. However, success intervened: the band rapidly scored a deal with A&M and began work on their major-label debut, Louder Than Love, and the Ultramega OK remix project fell by the wayside as Soundgarden climbed their way to (ultra)mega-stardom (read more about it –> here).
Ultramega OK is available for preorder available now on CD / 2xLP / DL / CS from SubPop and soundgardenworld.com. The album comes packaged in a foil-stamped gatefold sleeve, features liner notes from Kim Thayil and Jack Endino, AND includes a previously unseen photo from renowned photographer Charles Peterson. Preorders of the LP from megamart.subpop.com, the band’s webstore and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on marbled blue and maroon vinyl (while supplies last).
This one’s not for the faint of heart, people. Masters of making you squirm, Clipping have teamed up with director Anna Zlokovic for the disturbing new “Back Up” video [feat. Antwon and Signor Benedick the Moor], a highlight from the group’s Wriggle EP.
Zlokovic says of the visual, “Through the perspective of an unnamed filmmaker, we stumble upon an accidental and horrifying discovery. What begins as a curious exploration of an abandoned warehouse quickly devolves into the uncovering and filming of an underground, cult-like society—one where adults have baby faces and milk is the drug of choice.”
The “Back Up” video marks another collaboration between Anna, Aporkalypse and Clipping’s members (most specifically, Jonathan Snipes recently contributed sound design for the film, Shorty). Additionally, Zlokovic’s films (based in the psychological sci-fi, psychological horror, body horror genre) and music videos have screened internationally at festivals including SXSW, Santa Barbara Int’l Film Festival, and Fantasia Int’l Film Festival. Her perspective often finds itself joining the cerebral and humanistic, hanging out in a realm where a more fantastical reality meets the mundane.
“Back Up” was also filmed at The Smell––an all-ages DIY music venue in Los Angeles. The Smell has remained a pillar of the LA underground music scene since its founding in the 90’s and is now set for demolition––which has incited a bevy of support for the venue amongst LA musicians/fans. Clipping has played at the The Smell many times & has a long-standing relationship with co-founder Jim Smith. It seemed like a particularly apt place to film––both for aesthetic and sentimental purposes, and in service of the current #savethesmell campaign.
[Please find a full list of production credits below.]
Clipping’s previously announced 2017 North American headline and support dates begin February 17th in Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory runs through April 4th in St. Petersburg, FL at Jannus Live. Highlights for the tour include headline shows (February 17th-24th; March 10th, March 16th, April 3rd), appearances at the Noise Pop Festival (February 24th-25th) and a direct support run opening for the Flaming Lips (March 3rd-14th; March 29th-April 4th). Tour dates are below.
Splendor & Misery is available on CD/LP/DL/CASS worldwide from Sub Pop right over here and Deathbomb Arc here. The album features the highlights “Baby Don’t Sleep,” “A Better Place,” and “Air ‘Em Out,” was produced by the band, and mixed by Steve Kaplan in Los Angeles. The Wriggle EP is also available from Sub Pop, here.
Tour Dates Feb. 17 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory^ [Sold Out] Feb. 18 - Los Angeles, CA - The Broad^ [Sold Out] Feb. 20 - Portland, OR - Holocene^ [Sold Out] Feb. 21 - The, Seattle, WA - The Crocodile^ [Sold Out] Feb. 22 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret^ Feb. 24 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club (Noise Pop!)^ [Sold Out] Feb. 25 - San Francisco, CA - Brick & Mortar Club (Noise Pop!) ^ [Sold Out] Mar. 03 - Boston, MA - House of Blues * Mar. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore * Mar. 05 - Washington, DC - 930 Club * Mar. 06 - Washington, DC - 930 Club * Mar. 09 - New York City, NY - Terminal 5 * Mar. 10 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC ^^ Mar. 11 - Westbury, NY - The Space at Westbury * Mar. 13 - Toronto, ON - Rebel * Mar. 14 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Theater * Mar. 16 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean Mar. 29 - Nashville, TN - War Memorial Auditorium * Mar. 30 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore * Mar. 31 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz * Apr. 02 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle * Apr. 03 - Orlando, FL - The Social ** Apr. 04 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live * * w/ The Flaming Lips ^ w/Baseck
** w/ They Hate Change
^^ w/ Jason Forrest
*“Back Up” credits: Directed by Anna Zlokovic Produced by Simona Kessler, Alex Familian & Anna Zlokovic AD: Rene Gannon-O’Gara Cinematography by Powell Robinson VFX by Alex Familian Production Designed by Devin Cheney Set Decorator: Sydney Marquez Costuming and HMU by Nadine Sondej-Robinson Editing by Anna Zlokovic & Powell Robinson Sound Design by Jonathan Snipes Additional Casting by Luka Fisher 1st AC: Carter Ross Colorist: Powell Robinson Production Manager: Alex Lark Production Coordinator: Chase Niesner PAs and Costuming Assistants: Andy Riviera & Jordan Vazcones
Starring the bodies of: Daveed Diggs, Antwon, Signor Benedick the Moor, Andrew Varenhorst, Dani Goffstein, Evita Castine, Patrick Robert Young, Evanne Friedmann, Yazmin Watkins, Nadine L. Robinson, Daniel Crook, Jared Michael Degado, Ivo Buhles, Genevieve Munroe, Peter Kalisch, Devin Cheney, & Carter Ross.
Special thanks to all the baby parents & chaperones: Jill Fogel, Karla Garcia, Amyre Rachal-Carter, Adriana Benvenuto, Emily Rubio, Natasha Oiye, Dorian Gray, Ena Fleming, Afton Adams, & Leslie Adams.
A very special thanks to: Jim Smith & Michael Fierstein of The Smell, Jack Kovacs and Ember the cat, Theo Pappas at Santa Monica Video, Youth Talent Connection, Sasha Venn, Jules Bruff, Sage Lewis, Spitz, The Blue Cube, Co-Opportunity Market + Deli, & Jeremy McLennan.
