From rock n’ roll godmother Sister Rosetta Tharpe to grunge singer Tina Bell, there have always been Black rock music artists. Pop-punk and alternative rock are no different. To celebrate Black History Month and the kickass contributions of Black rock artists, here are 10 Black pop-punk and alt-rock artists you should listen to year-round. Fefe Dobson The Canadian pop-punk singer Fefe Dobson released her self-titled debut album in 2003, which spawned hits that included “Take Me Away,” “Bye Bye Boyfriend,” and “Everything.” She would follow that album with 2006’s Sunday Love and 2010’s Joy. The latter was especially notable for… Read more »
Today at noon, the popular modern rock station WHFS 99.1, founded in the 1960s and owned by Infinity Broadcasting, was reformatted to become “El Zol.” The new station features salsa, merengue, bacchata, Caribbean and Central American dance music in a Spanish-language format. “This is the first top 10 market that we’ve done this in,” said Karen Mateo, director of communications at Infinity. “We’re looking to expand into this marketplace and this is the first station that we’ve done this with.” El Zol is targeted at the growing population of Spanish-speaking residents in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, almost 10 percent… Read more »
As the music world mourns the death of Johnny Cash-who passed away on the morning of Friday (September 12), at the age of 71-artists from every genre of music are paying their respects to the legendary Man In Black. Guitarist Danny Lohner, who has played with Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle, shared his thoughts with LAUNCH on Cash’s recent cover of the Nine Inch Nails tune “Hurt.” “Johnny Cash’s version blew me away,” Lohner said. “He has such a great character voice…that video is so moving and so well done, and with his wife watching him as he… Read more »
Have you ever met someone who listens to pop but has an unexpected infatuation with heavy metal, too? It’s a plot twist that proves that “range” in music consumption is possible in a world full of gatekeepers and genre boundaries. This range extends beyond music fans. Underneath the guise of mainstream music stardom, some of our favorite pop artists have underground projects to experiment within the depths of metal breakdowns, screams, and unrelenting riffage. True artistry knows no bounds and sometimes even pop artists need a break from their typical musical formulas. Here are three beloved mainstream household names who have… Read more »
Trash Boat is hopping across the pond this November to headline their first tour throughout the U.S. and Canada. The UK-based alt-rockers are bringing out Downswing and Crooked Teeth as support for the Heaven Can Wait North America Headline Tour. The tour kicks off on November 2 at Sacramento’s Goldfield Trading Post and wraps up on November 24 at Chicago’s Subterranean. Ahead of tour kick-off, Trash Boat is releasing their fourth studio LP Heaven Can Wait on October 4 via Hopeless Records. You can hear a taste of the record via their recently-released singles “Delusions Of Grandeur,” “Liar Liar,” “Break You,”… Read more »
alt. is finally back with their first new offering of 2024, “Conversations That Hurt” via Resist Records and SharpTone Records. Preceded by 2023’s heavy-hitting, alt-rock debut LP ABEYANCE, the Australian act shows off their vulnerable, softer side on their latest release. “‘Conversations That Hurt’ is about the freshness of a breakup. It’s hard to move on and all you can think about is wanting them back when you know it’s not meant to be,” says vocalist Daniel Cullen-Richards. Uniquely, this track also showcases a few Aussie music legends. The track was co-written with Dream On, Dreamer’s Callan Orr and Trophy Eyes‘ John Floreani.… Read more »
Since the day “Misery Business” became the anthem of a generation, it became a cliche rite of passage for female pop-rock vocalists to be compared to Hayley Williams upon entering the pop-rock scene. Whether they truly resemble the neon-haired powerhouse or not, the inevitable comparisons are unrelenting. It is simultaneously flattering and frustrating as these artists strive to create identities of their own in a brutally competitive industry. If you are a fan of powerful vocalists and the unique flair of pop-rock, I implore you to listen to these 10 femme pop-rock artists of the modern era. Each one possesses… Read more »
Get excited—Culture Wars has released their new single, “Heaven!” The Texas-based alt-rock group has kept us at the edge of our seats since their 2021 EP teche captured our hearts and ears with a catchy, energetic blend of synths and sweet vocals. Produced by the band’s own Caleb Contreras, the track features the signature mash-up of R&B and pop styles that allow diverse audiences to connect with Culture Wars‘ music. “It became a daily ritual. I would wake up, walk the long way down Bondi Beach to get coffee and breakfast. Come back to my rental unit, and log onto… Read more »
Indie darling beabadoobee has unleashed her alluring new single “Take A Bite,” which will appear on her freshly announced, forthcoming new album, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, arriving via Dirty Hit on August 16. “It’s me feeling introspective about my thoughts and unhealthy way of living,” beabadoobee shares about “Take A Bite.” “It’s finding comfort in a familiar place—finding comfort in chaos because that’s what I know. So, I bring it into every aspect of my life, especially with relationships. And it’s just tapping into this part of my brain where I just jump straight to the most negative, most… Read more »
Ahead of the release of their self-titled album, which arrives on June 14 via Pure Noise Records, The Early November is offering another taste of the LP with a new single, “Tired Of Lying.” The duo also previously shared their tarot-themed track “The Fool” and the March-released “What We Earn.” “This song is about overcoming childhood trauma and demons while at the same time learning about and trying to face your new ones. The vicious cycle many of us sadly find ourselves in,” vocalist Ace Enders says. The band shares the new yearning, bittersweet, modern alt-rock track with a unique POV music video.… Read more »
