Sub Pop has signed Bria, the intimate and incisive labour of love from multi-instrumentalists Bria Salmena and Duncan Hay Jennings. Bria has recorded Cuntry Covers Vol. 1, a six-song EP that will be available digitally on September 24th, and on CD, cassette, and vinyl December 10th worldwide from Sub Pop.
You can now watch the official video for their lead single, “Green Rocky Road,” which was co-directed by Andrew Matthews & Maitland Austin-Olsen. Bria had this to say about the video, “We wanted the video for “Green Rocky Road” to act as an homage to the concept of Cuntry Covers – a small window into the world in which it was created, highlighting the collaborative nature of the project and the friendships behind it.”
Catapulted by a deep sense of dread and confusion in the depths of 2020, Salmena decided to forgo writing her own music. “I wanted to listen for what might reflect my life back to me,” she says, “six tracks that could be my mirror.” The result is a pointillistic knockout of an EP that weaves a landscape both luscious and a little rogue; showing us exactly what good songs can do.
Bria’s internal turbulence seemed to mirror last year’s external instability. When Jennings and back-up singer Jaime McCuaig moved to The Outside Inn, a hobby farm in Hockley Hills, Ontario, Bria soon joined. The farm’s living-room-turned-studio proved an ideal setting for the long-time friends to compile a record of handpicked country covers. They went searching for songs that could speak to our everyday loneliness; outside and in. Cuntry Covers Vol. 1 houses it all well-worn favourites and lesser-known gems.
Cuntry Covers Vol. 1 opens with “Green Rocky Road,” as performed by Greenwich Village legend Karen Dalton. Jennings’ twangy guitar carries Bria’s original inflection and richly textured vocals, complete with dreamy overlay. “Dreaming My Dreams With You,” a rendition of the Waylon Jennings hit, is followed by John Cale’s “Buffalo Ballet,” a lyrical journey through Abilene, Texas, the endpoint of the infamous Chisholm Trail. Engineered and mixed by Jennings, each song brings desire and sexuality front and center, with all the swagger you’d expect – and more. Bria hopes the record will be understood as a small contribution to the subversion of a genre with deep patriarchal roots. Mistress Mary’s “I Don’t Wanna Love Ya Now,” from the 1969 album Housewife, served as the original inspiration. “It was the first song Duncan and I worked on,” Bria notes. “It definitely set the tone for the other tracks we picked.”
Bria’s voice – described as wavering between “sultry and howitzer” – shines on “Fruits Of My Labour,” written and performed by country great, Lucinda Williams. The Walker Brothers’ “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” is a harmonic (and hypnotic) standout.
A musical explorer who moves fluidly between styles, Bria doesn’t consider herself a country artist “I feel as though I’m a visitor here, paying respect to a style that has informed a part of my musical identity. Country music, as much as any other art form, should be an arena for representation, expression, and provocation. I have a ton of reverence for artists who came before me and challenged the primarily white-heterosexual status quo.”
Salmena and Jennings have toured for years as members of Toronto four-piece FRIGS, whose 2018 debut Basic Behaviour was long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize. Making a mark in diverse genres from country to punk, both play as permanent members of Orville Peck’s band. Cuntry Covers Vol. 1 was recorded on the territories of the Anishnaabe, the Haudenosaunee, the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. The release also features contributions from FRIGS drummer Kris Bowering and vocals by Ali Jennings. Bria’s first release is a gorgeous debut, a homage to the songs that brought solace and relief in the stillness of last year.
Tracklisting: 1. Green Rocky Road (Karen Dalton) 2. Dreaming My Dreams With You (Waylon Jennings) 3. Buffalo Ballet (John Cale) 4. Fruits of My Labour (Lucinda Williams) 5. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore (The Walker Brothers) 6. I Don’t Wanna Love Ya Now (Mistress Mary)
Today, Clipping will release the fan-favorite Wriggle EP, as a newly remastered and expanded nine-track set on vinyl, available for the first time ever worldwide on Sub Pop. A ten-track digital version is also out today in its new form on all DSPs. Watch the visual for “Wriggle (Homemade Weapons Remix)” directed by Cristina Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes here.
The 2021 edition of Wriggle features new artwork, guests, and previously unreleased remixes. Included are the original versions of the title track, “Shooter,” “Hot Fuck No Love” (Feat. Cakes Da Killa & Maxi Wild), “Our Time” (Feat. Nailah Middleton), along with “Back Up 2021” featuring SB The Moor and a new verse from industrial-rap experimentalist Debby Friday. Wriggle also features remixes of the title track from Drum & Bass/Breakbeat act Homemade Weapons and Classicworks label co-founder Cardopusher, a rework of “Back Up” by producer Dave Quam (formerly Massacooramaan) and a vinyl-only version of “Hot Fuck No Love” from footwork producer Jana Rush.
Wriggle (Expanded) vinyl is now available for through Sub Pop. LPs are available from megamart.subpop.com, and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on turquoise w/black swirl colored vinyl (while supplies last). Preorders through select independent retailers in the UK and Europe will receive the Loser on turquoise transparent/black marbled vinyl (while supplies last).
Meanwhile, orders through Clipping’s official website will receive the LP on clear w/opaque white vinyl (while supplies last).
The original, digital-only Wriggle was six tracks that weren’t finished in time to make it onto the group’s 2014 Sub Pop debut, CLPPNG. For “Shooter,” Clipping recorded themselves firing fifteen different guns, the sounds of which exclusively constituted the beat’s drums, augmented only by a synthesized tone-row. The verses referenced the well-worn technique of “hashtag rap,” but instead of using it to boast about the rapper’s personal wealth and masculine prowess, Clipping put forth imagistic narratives of three violent encounters. True to much of the group’s music, “Shooter” was an attempt to reframe a familiar style and test the limits of its formal capabilities. “Hot Fuck No Love” contains what might be the most explicit verse to date from Clipping’s favorite New Jersey rapper Cakes Da Killa. The EP’s title track, “Wriggle,” was built around a sample of the influential power-electronics song “Wriggle Like a Fucking Eel” by Whitehouse, transforming William Bennett’s torturous imperative into a instructional dance-floor banger. “Wriggle” and “Shooter” have become classic Clipping tracks and staples of their live show.
Recently, Clipping delivered an incredible at-home performance for NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk Meets SXSW” concert. The remote performance features, quite possibly, the tiniest desks to ever appear in the series, and includes highlights from Wriggle, along with selections from the band’s acclaimed albums Visions of Bodies Being Burned (2020) and There Existed an Addiction to Blood (2019), and debut mixtape midcity (2013).
Clipping’s Visions of Bodies Being Burned, There Existed an Addiction to Blood and CLPPNG, are available now worldwide from Sub Pop. The self-released midcity is also available at all DSPs.
Clipping Wriggle (Expanded)
Vinyl tracklisting: A1. Shooter A2. Back Up 2021 (Feat. Debby Friday & SB The Moor) A3. Wriggle A4. Hot Fuck No Love (Feat. Cakes Da Killa & Maxi Wild) A5. Our Time (Feat. Nailah Middleton)
B1. Wriggle (Homemade Weapons Remix) B2. Back Up (Dave Quam Remix) B3. Hot Fuck No Love (Jana Rush’s Naughty Bitch Remix) B4. Wriggle (Cardopusher’s EBM Remix)
Digital tracklisting: 1. Intro 2. Shooter 3. Back Up 2021 (Feat. Debby Friday & SB The Moor) 4. Wriggle 5. Hot Fuck No Love (Feat. Cakes Da Killa & Maxi Wild) 6. Our Time (Feat. Nailah Middleton) 7. Wriggle (Homemade Weapons Remix) 8. Back Up (Dave Quam Remix) 9. Shooter (Jana Rush’s Face Rearranged Remix) 10. Wriggle (Cardopusher’s EBM Remix)
Cartel Madras is sharing the official video for “FEAR & LOATHING,” from their forthcoming project TheSerpent & The Tiger, the third installment of the Project Goonda trilogy, out August 19th, 2021 on Royal Mountain Records/Sub Pop. The high concept visual is an entry point into TheSerpent & The Tiger multiverse and was co-directed by the duo and Jashan Makan.
Cartel Madras’s Eboshi and Contra share this about the video, “‘FEAR & LOATHING,’ is composed of several stories and represents the heart of our upcoming project, The Serpent & The Tiger. The song is an exploration in duality, a major plot point in our story, and our most ambitious filmmaking experiment yet. We teamed up with Toronto producer Dom Dias again to bring our audience a cinematic track, and dynamic music video that pushes us both as artists.
“We filmed ‘FEAR & LOATHING’’ over the course of one month and three cities: Calgary, Alberta, Toronto, Ontario, and London, UK. We were inspired by Season 1 of True Detective (2014), and the films Dark City (1998), Skyfall (2012), and La Femme Nikita (1990). Taking visual cues from Brian De Palma, and studying the pacing of works by Marisha Pessl, ‘FEAR & LOATHING,’ is a culmination of our influences and love of artful storytelling with striking cinematography.
“This music video stars UK-based, Tamil model, Sheerah Ravindren (Black Is King, Primark, Queer Possible) as ‘The Serpent.’ Sheerah is an incredible force, and a rising star; we’ve all wanted to work together since we found each other online a year ago. Sharanya M takes on the mysterious role of “The Tiger.” She is from our other home state, Kerala, and a collective member of Sansfucss, a collective of multidisciplinary BIPOC artists from Canada. Meanwhile, Eboshi and song Dom portray the two hostages, and Contra tackles the role of ‘The Defector,’ alongside Bear, her canine companion.”
“FEAR & LOATHING” is Cartel Madras’s third single of 2021, and follows the release of “Dream Girl Concept” in June, and “DRIFT” in January. The tracks are from their forthcoming project TheSerpent & The Tiger, the third installment of the Project Goonda trilogy (which includes 2018’s Trapistan and 2019’s Age of the Goonda). The Serpent & The Tiger features guest appearances from Backxwash, Dom Dias, Airospace, Tyris White, Jide, and Shiro Jackson, with production by Dias (tracks 1-4), Naphi (track 5), White (tracks 6-8), and Jide (tracks 9-10), and will available on all DSPs August 19th, 2021 from Royal Mountain Records/Sub Pop.
What people are saying about Cartel Madras: “They’ve got an absolutely wicked flow — think M.I.A. meets Cardi B. Hints of traditional Tamil music are sprinkled throughout.” [“Goonda Gold”] - Stereogum
“Cartel Madras are smashing barrier musically and are sure to blow your mind with their uniqueness.” [Age of the Goonda] - CLASH
“Full of raw, powerful, nonchalant energy” [“Goonda Gold”] - Gal-Dem
“Age of the Goonda is an invigorating five-track blast…More, please.” - The Wire
“Comprised of six tracks, the EP possesses layered bass lines pumped with adrenaline, a range of Indian classical instruments weaved in and hooks that stay in your brain for days.” [Age of the Goonda] - NME
“Age of the Goonda provides an electrifying burst of the duo’s live show energy in concentrated form.” - Loud & Quiet
“In pop analogy, this hip-hop duo comprising Calgary-bred, Chennai-born siblings Bhagya and Priya Ramesh is somewhat like a Tamil Pulp Fiction-meets-MIA. With a carousel of bad-ass, no-fucks-given, brown girl anthems, Cartel Madras is brought to life by two sisters who don’t shy of braggadocio (you can’t miss their stack of gold jewelry) as they spout songs about feminism, empowerment and inclusivity.” [“12 New Musicians Set to Breakthrough in 2020”] - Vogue India
Cartel Madras The Serpent & The Tiger
Tracklisting: 1. FEAR & LOATHING 2. The Green Scare (ft. Airospvce) 3. EBOSHI’S NEVADA 4. DRIFT 5. DEEPINTHEJUNGLE (ft. Backxwash) 6. LAVENDER NIGHTZ 7. Dream Girl Concept 8. CONTRABAND 9 WORKING 10. MOON DRILLE (ft. Shiro Jackson)
Washed Out is announcing North American headlining dates for 2022 in support of Purple Noon, his acclaimed album of 2020, out now on Sub Pop.
The 24-city trek begins Monday, January 10th, 2022 in Asheville, NC at the Orange Peel runs through Saturday, February 12th, 2022, closing with a hometown show in Atlanta, GA at The Eastern. The tour will also include stops in Nashville (TN), Houston (TX), Austin (TX), Dallas (TX), Phoenix (AZ), San Diego (CA), Los Angeles (CA), Santa Ana (CA), San Francisco (CA), Portland (OR), Seattle (WA), Salt Lake City (UT), Denver (CO), Minneapolis (MN), Chicago (IL), Toronto (ON), Montreal (QC), Boston (MA), Brooklyn (NY), Washington (DC), Philadelphia (PA), Chapel Hill (NC).
A special fan presale begins Wednesday, July 7th, 2021 at 12 pm PT and ends Thursday, July 8th at 10 am PT, with tickets on sale to the general public on Friday, July 9th, 2021 at 7 am PT. For more information on tickets, please visit https://washedout.net/Tour.
Mon. Jan. 10 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel Tue. Jan. 11 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl Thu. Jan. 13 - Houston, TX - Stereo Live Fri. Jan. 14 - Austin, TX - Empire Sat. Jan. 15 - Dallas, TX - The Granada Theatre Mon. Jan. 17 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren Tue. Jan. 18 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory Thu. Jan. 20 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern Theatre Fri. Jan. 21 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory Sat. Jan. 22 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Mon. Jan. 24 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom Tue. Jan. 25 - Seattle, WA - Showbox at the Market Fri. Jan. 28 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Gallery Sat. Jan. 29 - Denver, CO - The Gothic Theatre Mon. Jan. 31 - Minneapolis, MN - USA - Fine Line Tue. Feb. 01 - Chicago, IL - Metro Thu. Feb. 03 - Toronto, ON - The Danforth Theatre Fri. Feb. 04 - Montreal, QC - L’Astral Sat. Feb. 05 - Boston, MA - Paradise Mon. Feb. 07 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel Wed. Feb. 09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club Thu. Feb. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts Fri. Feb. 11 - Chapel Hill, NC - Cat’s Cradle Sat. Feb. 12 - Atlanta GA - The Eastern
Washed Out is also sharing a remix of Purple Noon standout “Too Late” by Ribbon Music recording artists Buscabulla. The Puerto Rican pop duo takes the original, which New York Times notes for its “lush vocals, quavering synth bass, throwback electronic drums and an intense sense of longing,” and reworks the song into a blissed-out, electro-funk track. The Washed Out “Too Late” (Buscabulla Remix) is out today on all DSPs from Sub Pop.
Amen Dunes (aka the project of Damon McMahon) returns with “Feel Nothing,” a powerful and honest first statement since the release of 2018’s beloved Freedom, and his debut release with Sub Pop. Recorded in Los Angeles with co-producer Ariel Rechtshaid and mixed by Craig Silvey, “Feel Nothing” begins with McMahon’s unmistakable voice chanting “Kingdom, kingdom, kingdom, kingdom, kingdom // be a prophet” until the Sleaford Mods rhythm drops and McMahon continues “Every time I hear a story // Got no good from it.” The song, which features synths by Freedom-collaborator Panoram, gradually introduces the rhythm-heavy next chapter in Amen Dunes’ sound, before a duet by Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson and McMahon carries the song out. Where Freedom was “[Amen Dunes’] euphoric breakthrough … silvery and romantic, like a hallucination of the classic-rock songbook”
(Pitchfork), “Feel Nothing” is a bold reflection on resistance, and a step further in the intentional reimagining of the world of Amen Dunes.
I feel nothing at all
Do you feel nothing too?
I have nothing to say
Don’t drag me down with you
Some days wish I was dead
Some days wish I was you
Every time I hear a story
Got no good from it
Can’t change the situation
When everything’s the same
Still in love, just a little
Aww my mind forgets
You stole that piece from the devil
But you know me, I’d do the same
Get everyone off my back
You can gossip, but I don’t care
I headed off one day without even talking,
and I got lost from there
In the middle of a show I break down, yeah
Can’t remember what to say
Can’t shake this ugly feeling, baby, but it’s not lasting
He was thinking of God, when he begged them to stop
