Today, 18-piece Swedish rock collective SHUFFLE KNIGHTS are proud to share their new single, “The Pick Up!” The track is off their recently released album, ‘Yellow,’ out nowvia Wild Kingdom / Sound Pollution.
“The Pick Up,” and its accompanying music video, tracks a life-changing encounter at an everyday bar on the border between dreams and reality, where the regular’s loneliness and despair turn into hope and transformative love.
A grand collective of traveling lifestyle musicians, SHUFFLE KNIGHTS brings together an extraordinary assembly of performers whose individual careers have taken them from jazz clubs and symphony orchestras to massive rock festivals and global arena tours.
Collectively, the band’s members have collaborated with an astonishing list of artists and institutions including Taylor Swift, CeeLo Green, Robyn, Ariana Grande, Per Gessle, Ian Hunter, Peter Bjornand John,Celine Dion, Mike Stern, Yusuf Islam, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and Loreen, among countless others.
Born and sculpted without restraint during the confined years of the pandemic, ‘Yellow’ delivers thirteen “maxed out” original songs fueled by the spirit of icons like Leon Russell, Nina Simone, Lou Reed, and Funkadelic. The result is an ambitious, progressive R&B experience overflowing with heavy swing, poetic grit, fearless arrangements, and larger-than-life musicality.
Founded by Tobbe Fall (guitar & vocals), Jenny Fall (vocals), and Henrik “The Duke of Honk” Widen (vocals & keys), SHUFFLE KNIGHTS are anchored by Widen’s celebrated songwriting pedigree as co-founder of Swedish glam rock institution Diamond Dogs. The partnership with Wild Kingdom feels like a natural home for a band whose sound refuses to acknowledge boundaries, pulling equally from soul, rock, funk, jazz, blues, and theatrical rock’n’roll excess.
The full lineup of SHUFFLE KNIGHTS includes Ola Bothzén (drums), Måns Block (drums), Sara Niklasson (violin & backing vocals), Per Björling (bass & backing vocals), Jonas Lindeborg (trumpet & backing vocals), Andreas Andersson (saxophone), Karl Frisendahl (trombone), Britta Bergström (backing vocals), Jonas Wall (saxophone & flute), Ann Björling (backing vocals), Jörgen Stenberg (percussion), Malin-My Wall (violin), Petra Wahlgren (violin & backing vocals), Magnus Fritz (percussion), and Elinor Berg (French horn). Together, the ensemble channels a wildly eclectic spirit inspired by artists such as The Doors, Mother’s Finest, Muddy Waters, Captain Beefheart, and Macy Gray.
Onstage, SHUFFLE KNIGHTS transform into a massive progressive poetic R&B spectacle, embracing the chaotic spirit and emotional release of Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Fronted by the rotating vocal performances of Jenny Fall, The Duke of Honk, and Tobbe Fall, the band’s explosive live presence is driven by double drummers, soaring brass and string arrangements, and towering harmonies that turn every performance into a euphoric, sweat-soaked celebration of rhythm and soul.
SHUFFLE KNIGHTS are: Jenny Fall – vocals Henrik ’The Duke of Honk’ Widen – vocal & keys Tobbe Fall – guitar & vocals Ola Bothzen – drums Måns Block – drums Sara Niklasson – violin & backup vocal Per Björling – bass guitar & backup vocal Jonas Lindeborg – trumpet & backup vocal Karl Frisendahl – trombone Britta Bergström – backup vocal Jonas Wall – saxophone & flute Andreas Andersson – saxophone Ann Björling – backup vocal Jörgen Stenberg – percussion Malin-My Wall – violin Petra Wahlgren – violin & backup vocal Magnus Fritz – percussion Elinor Berg – french horn
Southern Californian blues rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck are pleased to announce that These Wicked Rivers will be their special guests on their October 2026 UK Tour.
Dates include Cambridge Junction (Oct 2), Nottingham Rock City (Oct 3), Liverpool, O2 Academy 2 (Oct 4), Bristol Trinity (Oct 6) Leeds Project House (Oct 7) and Oxford O2 Academy (Oct 8).
The news follows the release of Robert Jon & The Wreck’s album, Wreckage Volume 3.
“From the first time I saw the ‘Wreck boys perform live a few years ago, I was instantly drawn to their unwavering belief in the music, the message they’re putting across, and the importance of it being real,” says These Wicked Rivers’ guitarist, Arran Day.
“It’s an ethos we share, not just musically, but also in the way they operate as a band. There’s that same sense of brotherhood, passion, and family that we’ve always tried to build ourselves and we cannot wait to bring both of our families together to celebrate the immense power of rock & roll this October.”
“The tour kicks off on the very day that our new album Fire and Folklore is released into the world – and what better way to celebrate!”
Both Robert Jon & The Wreck and These Wicked Rivers have singles that are currently on Planet Rock Radio’s A-list. The Wreck are into their seventh week of airplay on Planet Rock with their single “Arroyo,” while These Wicked Rivers are riding high on Planet Rock with their current single “Horse To Water.”
Watch the official music video for Robert Jon & The Wreck’s latest single “Arroyo.”
Watch the official music video for These Wicked Rivers’ single “Horse To Water.”
Hailing from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the East Coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, these native Californians featuring Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), Warren Murrel (bass), and recent member, Jake Abernathie (keyboards), have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and memorable tunes.
As Robert Jon & The Wreck prepares to embark on the next chapter of their career, fans old and new are invited to join in the celebration of change, rebirth, and the relentless spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. Stay tuned for continued updates.
DHP & Friends in Association with Teenage Head Music & The Main Thing Proudly Present
November 9 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room* November 10 – Boise, ID – The Egyptian Theatre* November 12 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory** November 13 – Tacoma, WA – Rialto Theater* November 15 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater* November 17 – Grass Valley, CA – The Center for the Arts* November 19 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre Napa* November 21 – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre* * Supporting Joanne Shaw Taylor ** Fan Presale – May 28 / Public On Sale – May 29
US SUMMER
Aug. 29 – Sept. 1 – Long Beach, CA – Cali-County Cruise 2026
EUROPE FALL
October 2 – Cambridge, UK – Cambridge Junction October 3 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City October 4 – Liverpool, UK – 02 Academy Liverpool October 6 – Bristol, UK – Trinity Centre October 7 – Leeds, UK – Project House October 8 – Oxford, UK – 02 Academy Oxford October 9 – Weert, NL – De Bosuil October 10 – Utrecht, NL – Tivoli Vredenburg October 11 – Dortmund, DE – Musiktheater Piano October 12 – Nuremberg, DE – Hirsch October 14 – Hannover, DE – Blues Garage October 15 – Aschaffenburg, DE – Colos-Saal October 16 – Lossnitz, DE – Zur Linde October 17 – Seewen, CH – Gaswerk Eventbar October 18 – Seon, CH – Konservi Seon October 19 – Rubigen, CH – Muhle Hunziken October 21 – Clermont-Ferrand, FR – La Cooperative De Mai October 22 – La Roche-Sur-Yon FR – Quai M October 23 – Penmarch, FR – Salle Cap Caval October 24 – Cleon, FR – La Traverse October 25 – Lille, FR – Le Splendid October 28 – Verviers,BE – Spirit of 66
Dec 4-8 – Cancun, Mexico – High Tide Getaway 2026
ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – BIOGRAPHY
Reigning from southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck have been taking the southern rock sound established on the east coast and bringing it to the West Coast. Since their inception in 2011, these five native Californian’s; Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), Warren Murrel (bass), and Jake Abernathie (keyboards), have been electrifying audiences globally with their soaring guitar leads, infectious grooves and rich vocal harmonies.
With yearly European tours now becoming an integral part of their touring regiment, Robert Jon & The Wreck found their flow being on the road most of the year, returning to California and prolifically pumping out new material.
Their sixth studio album, the critically acclaimed Shine a Light on Me Brother, was released in 2021. On September 30, 2022, The Wreck recently released Wreckage Vol. 2, a collection of exclusive in-studio and live concert performances recorded from 2020 – 2022 on Joe Bonamassa’s KTBA Records. On August 4, 2023, the band released the album Ride into The Light via Journeyman Records to critical acclaim.
On June 28, 2024, RJTW released the album Red Moon Rising featuring the singles “Ballad of A Broken Hearted Man,” “Stone Cold Killer,” and title track “Red Moon Rising.”
On August 22, 2025, the band released their critically acclaimed ninth album Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes produced by Grammy-award winning producer Dave Cobb. The album features the singles “Ashes in the Snow”, Highway, “Better of Me,” and many more.
On Friday May 1, 2026, RJTW released their latest single “Arroyo” taken from their new album Wreckage Vol. 3.
THESE WICKED RIVERS – BIOGRAPHY
These Wicked Rivers formed in 2014 in Belper, Derbyshire. The band have gained a reputation for soulful-bordering-on-spiritual live performances, building a devoted following across the UK (and beyond) affectionately known as the “Rivers Family”. Thanks to a relentless work ethic and timeless songcraft the band have built unstoppable momentum in recent years.
2026 is set to mark a landmark chapter for the quintet, with their hotly-anticipated third studio album Fire and Folklore (featuring Planet Rock favourite “Horse to Water”) set for release on 2nd October 2026 via Fat Earth Records. Armed with a bigger sound made for bigger stages and a rapidly growing “Family” of fans, These Wicked Rivers are poised to reach new heights.
Today, July 29h critically acclaimed Southern soul and roots rock band Bywater Call returns with its most adventurous studio album to date, supported by an extensive international tour.
Due to popular demand, two new dates have been added to Bywater Call’s January and February 2027 UK Tour, as well as a headlining performance at Planet Rock’s Winter’s End Festival on Friday January 29th.
To celebrate the release of the new album, Bywater call will release the focus track single “Way To Go” which is accompanied by an official music video that can be viewed on YouTube HERE.
“Way To Go” serves as the project’s focus track. Anchored by themes of self-determination and quiet resilience, the song pairs Bywater Call’s soulful musicianship with a powerful reminder that sometimes the only path forward is the one you choose for yourself.
Following the critical success of their previous album Shepherd and a year that included more than 130 performances across 11 countries, acclaimed Canadian Southern soul and roots rock band Bywater Call are set to release its new studio album, Broken Souvenirs, worldwide on Wednesday, July 29th. The 11-track collection expands the ensemble’s musical palette while staying true to the heartfelt storytelling and electrifying musicianship that have become its signature.
Comprised of Meghan Parnell (lead vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums and percussion), Mike Meusel (bass), Andrew Moljgun (keyboards), Stephen Dyte (trumpet and valve trombone), and Julian Nalli (saxophone), Bywater Call continues to redefine expectations of what a modern roots band can be.
On Broken Souvenirs, the group once again proves that its greatest strength lies not in fitting neatly within a single genre, but in creating music that connects through authenticity and emotional depth.
Renowned for transcending genre boundaries, Bywater Call has earned an international reputation for emotionally charged live performances fueled by Parnell’s commanding vocals and the dynamic interplay of all seven musicians. As the band continues its upward trajectory, it also celebrates its third consecutive nomination for International Act of the Year at the UK Blues Awards, further solidifying its place among today’s most exciting voices in modern roots music.
Produced by Barnes and Patric McGroarty, Broken Souvenirs captures a band confidently embracing creative evolution. Recorded at Palace Studios in Toronto, the album seamlessly blends vintage soul, blues, contemporary R&B, roots rock and Americana, drawing inspiration from acts such as Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes, Amy Winehouse, Shakey Graves and The Black Crowes while forging a sound unmistakably its own.
Fans have already gotten a taste of Broken Souvenirs through the previously released singles “Hold Me Down,” “Ain’t No Friend Of Mine,” “Only,” “How Long,” “No One Else,” and the latest release, “Way To Go” Together, the songs offer a compelling preview of the album that shifts from feel-good retro soul and intimate acoustic ballads to horn-driven grooves, blues-rock anthems and cinematic contemporary soul.
Throughout Broken Souvenirs, Bywater Call explores themes of perseverance, vulnerability, identity, resilience, and human connection. “Is This Thing On?” offers an intimate look at the emotional realities of life as a touring musician, while the tracks “Way To Go,” “Clutter,” “Sally,” and “Yardsale” showcase the band’s ability to pair deeply personal storytelling with memorable melodies and powerful performances. Elsewhere, infectious songs “No One Else,” “Only,” and “Hold Me Down” demonstrate the group’s gift for crafting groove-driven songs that balance vintage influences with a fresh, modern perspective.
The new collection arrives on the heels of widespread acclaim for Bywater Call’s previous releases. Classic Rock magazine named the band’s 2024 album Shepherd its Blues Album of the Month, praising it as “an inventive and uncommonly catchy record” with “the sense of a band on the brink.” The publication later selected Shepherd as its Blues Album of the Year. The group’s 2025 live album, Sunshine, also earned praise from critics for capturing its celebrated onstage energy.
To support Broken Souvenirs’ release, Bywater Call will embark on an extensive international tour spanning North America throughout 2026 before heading to Europe and the United Kingdom in early 2027. The itinerary includes headline performances, major festival appearances and select support dates with Blackberry Smoke and Joanne Shaw Taylor.
Broken Souvenirs: Track Listing:
1. “Hold Me Down” 2. “Is This Thing On?” 3. “No One Else” 4. “Only” 5. “Way To Go” 6. “So Far” 7. “Clutter” 8. “Sally” 9. “How Long” 10. “Ain’t No Friend Of Mine” 11. “Yardsale”
Renowned for transcending genre boundaries, Bywater Call has built a reputation for electrifying, emotionally charged live performances driven by powerhouse vocals and thrilling interplay between all seven band members. In early 2026, the band earned their third consecutive UK Blues Awards nomination for “International Act of the Year”, following previous nominations in 2025 and 2024.
BYWATER CALL2026 & 2027 TOUR DATES
2027 UK TOUR
27 Jan 2027 | Faversham, UK – The Old Brewery Store – Tickets 28 Jan 2027 | Southampton, UK – The Brook – Tickets 29 Jan 2027 | Porthcawl, UK – Planet Rock Winter’s End – Tickets 30 Jan 2027 | Exeter, UK – Phoenix – Tickets 31 Jan 2027 | Sheffield, UK – Yellow Arch – Tickets 1 Feb 2027 | Milton Keynes – The Stables – Tickets 2 Feb 2027 | York, UK – Crescent – Tickets 3 Feb 2027 | Glasgow, UK – Oran Mor – Tickets 4 Feb 2027 | Manchester, UK – Band on the Wall – Tickets 5 Feb 2027 | London, UK – 100 Club – Tickets 6 Feb 2027 | Norwich, UK – Waterfront – Tickets 7 Feb 2027 | Newcastle – Anarchy Brewery – Tickets
Jul 30 Terre Haute, IN, USA – Terre Haute Brewing ^Jul 31 Des Plaines, IL, USA – Rivers Casino Aug 1 Erie, PA, USA – Erie Jazz & Blues Festival Aug 13 Saranac Lake, NY, USA – The Waterhole Aug 14 Putney, VT, USA – Bandwagon Series Aug 15 New York, NY, USA – Hudson River Blues Festival Aug 16 Homer, NY, USA – Homer Centre for the Arts Aug 17 Lima, NY, USA – Fanatics Aug 21 Dayton, OH, USA – Levitt Pavillion Aug 22 Westland, MI, USA – Token Lounge Aug 24 Evanston, IL, USA – SPACE Aug 26 Lincoln, NE, USA – Zoo Bar Aug 27 Omaha, NE, USA – The B. Bar Aug 28 Paola, KS, USA – Paola Roots Festival Aug 29 West Plaines, MO, USA – Shenanigan’s Aug 30 Evansville, IN, USA – Mojo’s Boneyard Sep 3 St Catharine’s, ON, Canada – Warehouse Concert Hall Sep 5 Midland, ON, Canada – Midland Cultural Centre Sep 6 Etwell, ON, Canada – Etwell Concert Series Sep 12 Hamilton, ON, Canada – Mills Hardware Sep 13 Guelph, ON, Canada – Sonic Hall ^Sep 15 Ottawa, ON, Canada – History Sep 16 Fredericton, NB, Canada – Harvest Music Festival Sep 23 Burlington, VT, USA – Higher Ground Sep 24 Belleville, ON, Canada – Southside Productions Sep 25 Palmer Rapids, ON, Canada – Highlands Festival Sep 27 Morrisburg, ON, Canada – Harmony Concerts Oct 13 Scarborough, ME, USA – Brickhouse Oct 14 Portsmouth, NH, USA – Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues~ Oct 15 Northampton, MA, USA – Iron Horse Oct 16 Plymouth, MA, USA – Spire Centre Oct 17 Shirley, MA, USA – Bull Run Oct 18 Pawling, NY, USA – Daryl’s House Oct 20 New York, NY, USA – Bleeker Bell Oct 21 Sellersville, PA, USA – Sellersville Theatre Oct 22 Elkton, MD, USA – Elkton Music Hall Oct 23 Jim Thorpe, PA, USA – Mauch Chunk Opera House #Oct 28 Albuquerque, NM, USA – KiMo Theatre #Oct 29 Flagstaff, AZ, USA – Orpheum Theatre #Oct 30 Phoenix, AZ, USA – Celebrity Theatre #Nov 1 Tucson, AZ, USA – Rialto Theatre #Nov 3 Grand Junction, CO, USA – Mesa Theatre #Nov 5 Colorado Springs, CO, USA – Phil Long Music Hall #Nov 6 Ft Collins, CO, USA – Aggie Theatre #Nov 7 Boulder, CO, USA – Boulder Theatre Nov 20 Westport, ON, Canada – Cove Inn
*Supporting Robert Jon & The Wreck ^Supporting Blackberry Smoke #Supporting Joanne Shaw Taylor
EU / U.K. 2026
22 Jan 2027 | Den Haag, NL – Paard 23 Jan 2027 | Utrecht, NL – Tivoli 24 Jan 2027 | Bonn, DE – Harmonie 27 Jan 2027 | Faversham, UK – The Old Brewery Store 28 Jan 2027 | Southampton, UK – The Brook 30 Jan 2027 | Exeter, UK – Phoenix 31 Jan 2027 | Sheffield, UK – Yellow Arch 1 Feb 2027 | Milton Keyes, UK – The Stables 2 Feb 2027 | York, UK – The Crescent 3 Feb 2027 | Glasgow, UK – Oran Mor 4 Feb 2027 | Manchester, UK – Band on the Wall 5 Feb 2027 | London, UK – The 100 Club 6 Feb 2027 | Norwich, UK – Waterfront 7 Feb 2027 | Newcastle, UK – Anarchy Brewery
U.S. 2027
Apr 10 | Tampa Bay, FL, USA – Tampa Bay Blues Festival Apr 11 | Miramar Beach, FL, USA – Soundwave Festival
About Bywater Call
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Bywater Call is a seven-piece Southern soul and roots rock band renowned for its powerful live performances, genre-defying songwriting, and exceptional musicianship. Led by vocalist Meghan Parnell and guitarist Dave Barnes, it has built an international following through relentless touring. Rounded out by musicians Bruce McCarthy, Mike Meusel, Andrew Moljgun, Stephen Dyte, and Julian Nalli, the band performed more than 130 shows across 11 countries in 2025 alone.
Bywater Call has earned three consecutive nominations for International Blues Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards, as well as multiple Independent Blues and Canadian Maple Blues Award nominations. The band has performed at major international festivals and events, including three appearances aboard Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive cruise, and has shared stages with acts like The Black Keys, Warren Haynes Band, Marcus King, Blackberry Smoke, Whitehorse, and Tom Cochrane. Parnell has also been invited to perform alongside acclaimed pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph.
Bywater Call’s 2024 studio album Shepherd was named Classic Rock’s Blues Album of the Year, while Parnell and Barnes were featured on the cover of Blues in Britain in January 2025. The band’s 2025 live album Sunshine earned widespread critical acclaim, further cementing its reputation as one of today’s most compelling live acts. Drawing inspiration from The Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly & The Family Stone and The Wood Brothers, Bywater Call continues to captivate audiences with a signature sound that seamlessly blends soul, blues, rock, Americana and R&B into something unmistakably their own.
Bulgarian Pagan Black/Folk Metal band Tsar Stangra has announced a major lineup overhaul and a fresh musical direction. After a decade of resilience and the release of their sophomore album, the lineup shift comes as members’ long-term objectives diverged. Heartfelt thanks were extended to departing members Cindy Tecca, Wayne Barr, Simon Vaillancourt-Girard, Samuel Paré, and Olivier Vaillancourt-Girard for their dedication and vital work on the recent album.
Simultaneously, Tsar Stangra unveils its new lineup featuring Alexandre Guay (also of death metal band “Rite of Decay”) on guitars, Louis-Charles Drolet (also of death metal band “Rite of Decay” and black metal band “Seventh”) on drums, and Francis Wafer on guitars. Having rehearsed together for nearly a year, the new crew already has over thirty minutes of new material written.
Stream and buy their latest album “Hymns of the Broken Worlds”:
Tsar Stangra is a Bulgarian pagan black/folk metal project founded in 2007 in Quebec City, Canada, evolving from a solo vision into a full band in 2014. Blending extreme metal with Bulgarian mythology, the band gained underground recognition through early releases and the debut album «Небесният ковач». Having performed at events like Messe des Morts alongside Graveland, the band recently returned with their ambitious second album, «Hymns of the Broken Worlds», released via GlobMetal Promotions.
The Ocean have revealed a new live in-studio version of new single ‘Belligerence’, the second single from the band’s highly anticipated 12th studio album Solaris.
The band comment: “This was recorded live at a nice local studio, on the day after our first show ever with the new lineup in Rabat, Morocco. ‘Belligerence’ is one of the heavier tracks of the upcoming album, it’s got a nice groove despite the constantly changing meters which makes it really fun to play.”
‘Belligerence’ is a song about the culture of arguing and about the destructive force of contained anger and belligerence as a trait of character, often transfigured as an attribute of reason and a critical mind.”
‘Belligerence’ draws parallels between the cosmic explorations of Tarkovsky’s 1972 film Solaris —the inspiration behind the band’s new album— and the explorative nature of artists and current-day political leaders.
Track list: 1. 52°30’11” N, 13°26’12“ E 2. Departure Song 3. Light Pollution 4. Simulacra 5. Belligerence 6. Ultima Esperanza 7. Milk Of My Dreams 8. 51°28’30” S, 73°6’11” W
Solaris is an album that tells a story of cosmic escapism: a journey on that ship, which is essentially a celestial rescue boat escaping from a metaphorically sinking Mother Earth. The rescue boat can be imagined as a historic naval vessel, and the lyrics and episodes of the album make reference to the real-life explorers of the past who set out to discover (back then) unknown continents and uncharted territories: Da Gama, Magellan, Sir Frances Drake, as well as the Polar explorers Amundsen, Scott, Rasmussen etc.
The stories of these historic journeys all share similar elements: storms, disease, wreckage, power games, personal rivalries, egos, belligerence, mutiny, finally the quest for truth and justice. While most explorers initially had noble motives and were driven by a limitless spirit of exploration and discovery which was stronger than the many hardships suffered along the way, their legacy is often stained with cultural imperialism, genocide and tales of dictatorial leadership.
Far from being a glorification of male, white explorers who sought to colonise unknown worlds, or a romanticization of patriarchal constructs, Solaris draws a line between these extremely driven explorers and present-day political leaders. It poses questions of the shadowy darkness of being a “great” leader, it queries the very notion of a divine calling and the cost of following such an instinctive pull. It also traces the shape of these psychological patterns into the creative world and applies the same lines of enquiry to creative forces. Can exploration be redefined to be conceived as a process of silent observation, documentation and learning, rather than bequeathing our own ideas and values on others?
The album serves as a critique of the underlying motives and psychological dispositions of an explorative mindset and a thirst for power. It is an existential questioning, a probe of reason of the general purpose of technological advance, in the specific light of the destruction of our habitat. It’s a dystopian outlook into a future where Earth has become uninhabitable – not despite, but as a direct consequence of human intelligence, as the foundation of technological advance.
Solaris will be released via Pelagic Records on 25th September.
The Ocean Line-up: Robin Staps – guitar, vocals Mattias Hägerstrand – bass Jordi Farré – drums, percussion Enrico Tiberi – vocals, keys Lane Shi – vocals Emmanuel Jessua – guitar Marco Gennaro – guitar
In addition, the following musicians performed on this record: Thorsten Quaeschning – keys Orestis Zafiriou – keys Simen Eifring – trombone Jiawei Zhang – vibraphone
Genre-defying ambient/folk discovery Happy Sad has released the video for “It’s Raining in Guangzhou,” a track from the album The World Is Grand When We See, out now on Epictronic.
Born from a raw demo captured during Kusano’s time spent living in China, “It’s Raining in Guangzhou” is an exquisite translation of environment into audio. Heavily inspired by the city’s intense subtropical climate, the track beautifully captures the juxtaposition of sudden, torrential downpours against a sprawling urban backdrop.
Musically, Happy Sad leans into an utterly intoxicating, comfortable groove. He effortlessly weaves the dusty, nostalgic textures of lo-fi hip-hop with the rich, fluid chord progressions of neo-soul. The result is a vivid, abstract landscape that places the listener right alongside Kusano as he wanders, isolated yet entirely present, through the neon-lit, rain-soaked streets.
About the Artist: The Architect of Sound
Happy Sad is the solo project of Hiroaki, a Japanese artist and sound professional based in the game industry. He began making music during his student years, playing café bar gigs and recording demos. His influences take in soul, British rock, folk, trip hop, neoclassical, world music, and film scores, alongside a strong connection to literature. His recordings balance live instrumentation with programmed elements. To date, Happy Sad has released seven albums and 19 EPs.
Outside of music, Hiroaki has around 14 years of experience as a Sound Designer and Sound Director in the games industry, having contributed to over 60 projects at companies including NetEase Games, FunPlus, NHN PlayArt, and Noisycroak Inc. His work spans music composition, sound design, audio direction, and promotional video production. In 2013, his track “Everyday” won the domestic DJ category and reached the finals of MTV and Lenovo’s CO:LAB contest.
In recent years, Hiroaki has travelled across ten countries in search of sounds and traditional instruments. Encounters along the way with displaced communities have shaped his approach to music as a form of shared human expression.
The World Is Grand When We See is out now via Epictronic.Stream the album here: orcd.co/twgwws
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
