Today, Winter has shared another preview of her new album What Kind of Blue Are You?, due out October 14th on cult indie label Bar/None Records (Yo La Tengo, Ivy). “good” is a gorgeous slowcore spectacle that features a plume of harmonies from SASAMI. “This song is intoxicating.” says Samira Winter, “SASAMI has such a strong presence and voice, she really turned up the notch in how alluring and seductive this song feels.”
Tour Dates
Sep 9 – Melbourne, VIC – Corner Hotel #
Sept 12 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique, AB Club #
Spacemoth – the project of Bay Area-based and Afghan-American artist, producer, engineer, and musician Maryam Qudus – will release her debut album No Past No Future later this month on July 22nd via Sadie Dupuis’ label Wax Nine via Carpark Records. Qudus, who has made a name for herself collaborating with the likes of Toro y Moi, Tune-Yards, Sasami, Sad13, and more, has already shared the incredible tracks “Pipe and Pistol,” “This Shit” and “Waves Come Crashing” off of the forthcoming album, and today she shares another single. Out today is “Round In Loops,” alongside a video co-directed by Maryam with her brother Dean Qudus that is an homage to the classic Maxell “Hi Fidelity’ ad from 1983.
“I often start a song by creating tape loops and layering different sounds together to create a bed of abstraction to build upon,” Qudus explains. “In ‘Round In Loops,’ I wanted to connect the loops in the song with the cyclical patterns we endure both in our minds and in our lives.”
SASAMI shares an alternate version of Squeeze standout “Tried to Understand” featuring Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis.
“’Tried to Understand’ was a song that took many forms before it became what you hear on my album, Squeeze,” says SASAMI. “This rawer cut with J. Mascis is kind of a peek into the different dimensions and moods one composition can inhabit. This version features Ty Segall on drums, me on bass and guitar and J. on the ripping leads and backing vocals. It’s the less cute version of what spinning out can sound like.”
Hot on the heels of a month-long European tour with Mitski, SASAMI is currently on tour with HAIM. Her feral and cathartic live show is not to be missed! All dates below.
SASAMI’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Squeeze is out now on Domino.
TOUR DATES:
6/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre ^
April turned out to be a rough month. Much of it I missed being sick the last 2 weeks. The best concert of the month was not what I expected. I’d been looking forward to seeing Rina Sawayama for 2 years. I loved her album and expected a rock show. When the show came near the end of the month I was disappointed to see that Sawayama wanted to go more Dua Lipa than Joan Jett. She had dancers and a slimmed-down band. She also stopped multiple times during the first 2 songs because of audience members needing medical attention. The stage chat was about old boyfriends and empowerment.
The show that blew me away was one I was expecting the exact opposite. FEMMUSIC has been featuring Sasami’s videos from Squeeze. Based on the videos I was expecting a melodic experimental set. The night opened with a 3 piece woman punk band from NYC. They were listed as punk but were closer to thrash metal.
Sasami came on with her bassist and drummer in monk’s robes that when disrobed revealed 2 large men wearing kilts. The set was fierce and tight. In 45 minutes Sasami was literally in my face throwing punches and even running the guitar cord into the crowd. The biggest disappointment was that she had no encore. Sasami is alt-rock with a fine edge. Add some covers and more originals so it can be a tight 90-minute set. Sasami made me a fan and should look at metal fests next. If Warped Tour were still around she would be perfect on it.
Spacemoth – a.k.a. Bay Area-based artist, performer and composer Maryam Qudus – announces that she’s signed to Sadie Dupuis’ label Wax Nine via Carpark Records, and will release her debut album No Past No Future on July 22nd. As a first-generation Afghan-American child of working-class immigrant parents, finding a place in music was nothing short of a challenge for Qudus. “Women are often discouraged from pursuing music in the Afghan & Muslim community, and those who follow that path receive a lot of heat,” she explains. Qudus has spent years building a reputation as a sought-after producer and studio engineer, collaborating with the likes of Toro y Moi, Tune-Yards, Sasami, Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, and more, and working at San Francisco’s Women’s Audio Mission and the iconic Tiny Telephone Recording. Aside from her prominent work producing and engineering the sonic explorations of her peers, Qudus has also masterfully constructed her own vision with the psychedelic space-pop of Spacemoth.
Today Spacemoth shares the double single “Pipe and Pistol” and the previously released “This Shit.” On “Pipe and Pistol,” Qudus explores the experience of being an immigrant starting over in America. The song showcases punchy rhythms, reminiscent of Devo’s post-punk dynamism: “I see your face / my powers, they raise,” she sings with potency.
On the track, Qudus says, “‘Pipe and Pistol’ revolves around a wobbly synth and distorted drum loop, played with and processed by a Korg MS-20. The song was inspired by my parents, who immigrated from Afghanistan in the late 70’s and explores the challenges faced when building a new life in America. Interweaving colorful psychedelic visuals and blue collar employment, Ambar Navarro’s video for ‘Pipe and Pistol’ speaks to the surreal and confusing experience of navigating a new life in America in the late 1970’s.”
SASAMI releases a video for “Make It Right,” the final single from her highly anticipated new album Squeeze, out this Friday, 2/25 via Domino. The video was directed by Euphoria costume designer Heidi Bivens, styled by Euphoria assistant costume designer Angelina Vitto, with make-up by Euphoria and Pen15 make-up artist Alexandra French.
Of the song and video, SASAMI says “‘Make It Right’ is an ode to Fleetwood Mac’s more tantrum-y vibes with a hair of Crass-y marching snare. She’s a desperation bop about not being communicated with. I love a fuzzy riff. Need more guitar riffs in 2022. The video is a collaboration with some of my good friends and style icons Heidi Bivens, Angelina Vitto, Alexandra French and a whole team of absolute legends. Heidi has an incredible eye for beauty, shapes, and mystery.”
SASAMI shares a visualizer for “Call Me Home,” the latest single from her anticipated new album, Squeeze, out February 25th via Domino.
Of the track, SASAMI says “’Call Me Home’ is dedicated to anyone who has blown up their life just to remember what it’s like to feel something. It’s about the darkness of feeling nothing and the creeping ache of apathy that can swallow you whole if you let it. It’s about skipping town, driving all night and knowing you’ll always have a home to come back to.”
SASAMI is hitting the road later this spring on a headline tour that also includes support for Haim in the US and Mitski in EU.
TOUR DATES:
3/4 – Brattleboro, VT @ The Stone Church
3/5 – Woodstock, NY @ The Colony
3/6 – Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
3/8 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
3/10 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
3/11 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover
3/21 – Nashville, TN @ The End
3/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Purgatory Stage
3/24 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
3/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
3/26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
3/27 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia
3/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
3/31 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
4/1 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
4/2 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
4/3 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
4/5 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
4/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
4/8 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder
4/9 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
4/10 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
4/12 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
4/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
4/21 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory * – SOLD OUT
4/22 – Leeds, UK @ University Union Refectory *
4/23 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom *
4/25 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street * -SOLD OUT
4/26 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy *
4/28 – London, UK @ The Roundhouse * – SOLD OUT
4/29 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton *
4/30 – Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Botanique Festival *
5/2 – Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix * – SOLD OUT
5/3 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia *
5/4 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso * – SOLD OUT
5/6 – Zurich, CH @ Kaufleuten *
5/7 – Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks *
5/9 – Berlin, DE @ Metropol * – SOLD OUT
5/10 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega * – SOLD OUT
5/11 – Stockholm, SE @ Fallan
5/12 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene * – SOLD OUT
5/14 – Hamburg, DE @ Fabrik * – SOLD OUT
5/15 – Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria * – SOLD OUT
5/17 – Vienna, AT @ WUK * – SOLD OUT
5/18 – Prague, CZ @ Archa Theatre *
5/19 – Munich, DE @ Strom * – SOLD OUT
5/22 – Wilmington, NC @ Live Oak Bank Pavillion ^
5/24 – Toronto, ON @ RBC Echo Beach ^
5/25 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Ampitheatre ^
5/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at the Mann ^
5/31 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Pavilion ^
6/1 – Indianapolis, IN @ TCU Amphitheatre at White River State Park ^
6/3 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^
6/4 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre ^
6/6 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory ^
6/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre ^
SASAMI shares a visualizer for “Say It,” her new industrial-influenced single. “‘Say It’ is a rage anthem dance track about spinning out because someone isn’t communicating with you,” says Ashworth. “I feel like when I hear the song I see a hot femme with a mystical flamethrower engulfed in emotional blue flames throwing elbows alone in an industrial dance club in outer space.” SASAMI’s anticipated new album Squeeze is due February 25th via Domino.
Squeeze was produced by SASAMI, with a handful of the tracks co-produced by Ty Segall. Other notable contributors include: Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy, King Tuff’s Kyle Thomas, Christian Lee Hutson, Barishi, Moaning’s Pascal Stevenson, Jay Bellerose and No Home.
SASAMI will be touring with Mitski & Haim in 2022.
TOUR DATES:
3/4 – Brattleboro, VT @ The Stone Church
3/5 – Woodstock, NY @ The Colony
3/6 – Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
3/8 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
3/10 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
3/11 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover
3/21 – Nashville, TN @ The End
3/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Purgatory Stage
3/24 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
3/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
3/26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
3/27 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia
3/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
3/31 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
4/1 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
4/2 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
4/3 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
4/5 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
4/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
4/8 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder
4/9 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
4/10 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
4/12 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
4/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
4/21 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory * – SOLD OUT
4/22 – Leeds, UK @ University Union Refectory *
4/23 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom *
4/25 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street * -SOLD OUT
4/26 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy *
4/28 – London, UK @ The Roundhouse * – SOLD OUT
4/29 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton *
4/30 – Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Botanique Festival *
5/2 – Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix * – SOLD OUT
5/3 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia *
5/4 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso * – SOLD OUT
5/6 – Zurich, CH @ Kaufleuten *
5/7 – Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks *
5/9 – Berlin, DE @ Metropol * – SOLD OUT
5/10 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega * – SOLD OUT
5/11 – Stockholm, SE @ Fallan
5/12 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene * – SOLD OUT
5/14 – Hamburg, DE @ Fabrik * – SOLD OUT
5/15 – Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria * – SOLD OUT
5/17 – Vienna, AT @ WUK * – SOLD OUT
5/18 – Prague, CZ @ Archa Theatre *
5/19 – Munich, DE @ Strom * – SOLD OUT
5/22 – Wilmington, NC @ Live Oak Bank Pavillion ^
5/24 – Toronto, ON @ RBC Echo Beach ^
5/25 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Ampitheatre ^
5/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at the Mann ^
5/31 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Pavilion ^
6/1 – Indianapolis, IN @ TCU Amphitheatre at White River State Park ^
6/3 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^
6/4 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre ^
6/6 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory ^
6/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre ^
Best of 2021 – Last year we missed doing our annual “Best Of.” This year we present it after a year of quarantine albums galore. Tours didn’t start until May but new music was flowing from the start of 2021. 2022 is already aiming to be a busy year. Here are our choices for the Best of 2021.
We’ve evolved from Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Thee Stallion and others of last year to a new crop of artists.
Best Label – Fire Talk Records – Home to Bnny, Mamalarky, Packs and more this boutique label is setting up to be the next Saddle Creek Records.
Secretly Group @secretlygroup, Saddle Creek Records @saddlecreek, Fire Talk Records @firetalkrecs, Don Giovanni Records @DonGiovanniRecs
Nest New Artist – “New” is always relative. Georgia Maq has been part of Camp Cope, and Isabella Manfredi was part of The Preatures. Our winner is Ashe who album Ashlyn was hard to put down this year.
Georgia Maq @goldsoundz_, Allison Russell @allisonrussellmusic, S.G. Goodman @s.g.goodman, Ashe @ashemusic, Jillette Johnson @jillettejohnson, Hawxx @hawxxmusic, Noa Kirel @noakirel, Kill Birds @killbirdsmusic, Killboy @killboy , Sloppy Jane @sloppyjanebandd , Ydegirl @ydegirl, The Linda Lindas @the_linda_lindas, Allison Ponthier @allisonponthier, Isabella Manfredi @isabellamanfredi, Pom Pom Squad @pompomsquad
Best Local (Colorado) Artist – Local artists can often be touring or even national acts. This category was very competitive with the amount of quarantine albums that came out. Our winner is Companion who mesmerized us in the Spring. They will quickly become a national act.
Best Dance – Dance is also electronic and electro pop. Magdalena Bay & Sofi Tukker are the 800 lb gorillas in this category. Kito is our winner for surprising collaborations.
Magdalena Bay @magdalenabay, Sofi Tukker @sofitukker, Kito @kito
Best Pop – Pop like Indie is often open to interpretation. It is often what dominates at venues. Our winner is Charlotte Cardin whose Phoenix album was one of the best albums this year.
Hana Vu @hanavuuu, Lucy Dacus @lucydacus, Japanese Breakfast @jbrekkie, Baby Queen @queenofthebabies, Charlotte Cardin @charlottecardin, Jess Chalker @jess_chalker_, May-A @mayacumming, Ashe @ashemusic, Girl In Red @girlinred, Angèle @angele_vl, Sloppy Jane @sloppyjanebandd, Nadia Vaeh @nadiavaeh, Olivia Rox @oliviarox, Number One Popstar @numberonepopstar, Bahari @bahari, Noga Erez @nogaerez, Lola Lennox @lolalennex
Best Rock – Rock is often the guitar driven beat that keeps you going. Kill Birds, who have been touring with Foo Fighters are our winner.
Royal and the Serpent @royalandtheserpent, Amyl and the Sniffers @amylandthesniffers, Mattiel @mattielworldwide , Upsahl @upsahlmusicl, Self Esteem @selfesteemselfesteem, Kill Birds @killbirdsmusic, Nadia Sheikh @nadiasheikhmusic, Red Hook @weareredhook, Pom Pom Squad @pompomsquad
Best Indie – Indie always means both a sound but also a level of development. These are the artists at the small venues touring to survive. We have a diverse selection this year. Bnny is our winner.
Best Experimental – There is always a “flinch” moment when you saw experimental. It involves a great deal of risk as personified by our winner Fifi Rong who is working on her dual album set with one album all in English, and one all in Chinese. She is crowdfunding now.
Insect Ark @insectark, Fifi Rong @fifirong, Sasami @sasamiashworth, Irreversible Entanglements @irreversibleentanglements, Haru Nemuri @haru_nemuri
Best Hip Hop – This is the first year that FEMMUSIC has this category. There may be some arguments as to whether all these artists fit it. Coi Leray is the best newcomer in this area. Ray BLK is our winner.
Bia @bia, Tones and I @tonesandi, Doja Cat @dojacat, Sza @sza, Cardi B @iamcardib, Megan Thee Stallion @theestallion, Coi Leray @coileray, Ms Banks @msbanks, Ray BLK @rayblk, Remi Wolf @remiwolf, Tinashe @tinashenow
Best Jazz – We will admit to not hearing as much jazz this year. Laufey is the winner with original interpretations of classics.
Laufey @laufey, Nnenna Freelon @officialnnenna
Best Country – Brandi Carlile is a favorite in this category and will take home more GRAMMYs. Allison Russell wins for being new and original.
Brandi Carlile @brandicarlile, Allison Russell @allisonrussellmusic, Yola @iamyolaofficial, CMAT @cmatbaby, Jackson & Sellers @jacksonsellersmusic, Ingrid Andress @ingridandress
Best Heavy Metal – Infected Rain is a former winner in this category. Jinjer, Halestorm & The Pretty Reckless dominate. The Velveteers are this year’s winner.
Hawxx @hawxxmusic, Edge of Paradise @edgeofparadise, Jinjer @jinjer_official, The Velveteers @thevelveteers, Infected Rain @infectedrain_official, The Pretty Reckless @theprettyreckless, Halestorm @halestormrocks
Best R & B – This category includes powerhouses like Arlo Parks and Dawn Richard. Alewya is our winner for new and original music this year.
Muni Long @munilong, India Shawn @indiashawn, Dawn Richard @dawnrichard, Alewya @alewya11, Arlo Parks @arloparks, Tkay Maidza @tkaymaidza, Danielia Cotton @danieliacotton, Saleka @saleka
Best Surprise – A “surprise” for us is that unexpected performance when it was not expected. It includes some risky performances such as LVXURI and Big Klit. S.G. Goodman is our hands down winner. We caught her as an opener and she garnered as much reaction as the headliner. She is a blunt, and emotive songwriter.
S.G. Goodman @s.g.goodman, Kiesza @kiesza, LVXURI @mx_lvxuri, Big Klit @klitoriusmaximus
Best Comeback – This has been a surprisingly competitive category. Whether it’s the return of ABBA after a long time to Adele’s new album. The big surprise this month is Taylor Swift taking the world with the longest song. She is our winner.
Kylie Minogue @kylieminogue, Avril Lavigne @avrillavigne, Deborah Gibson @debbiegibson, Liz Phair @LizPhairOfficial, Taylor Swift @taylorswift , ABBA @ABBA, Adele @adele, Lorde @lorde
SASAMI announces her new album, Squeeze, with the release of videos for dual lead singles “The Greatest” and “Skin A Rat,” two tracks that perfectly encapsulate the album’s breadth and wide range. “The Greatest” video is directed by Jennifer Juniper Stratford, and the “Skin A Rat” visualizer was created by Andrew Thomas Huang (Björk, FKA twigs), who also designed the album cover. Squeeze is available for pre-order now and due February 25th via Domino.
Of the power ballad-inspired “The Greatest” Sasami Ashworth says “this song is about how often the greatest, heaviest feelings we have for someone are in the absence of the realization or reciprocation of that love. Like power born out of a black hole. All fantasy.”
Inspired by violent fantasy, “Skin A Rat” is “a soundtrack to cathartic release of anger and frustration with oppressive systems and humans. Very nu-metal influenced. Wrote and demoed the whole song on my ipad with midi drums and hired an epic drummer to perform it live to tape.” The song features Dirk Verbeuren of Megadeth on drums and gang vocals by Vagabon’s Laetitia Tamko and actress and comedian Patti Harrison.
Both songs were produced by Ashworth and recorded at Ty Segall’s studio in Topanga, CA and Log Mansion in Mt. Washington.
SASAMI is currently on tour, dates include support in North America for Japanese Breakfast this fall, and EU/UK support for Mitski in the Spring of 2022. All dates below.
TOUR DATES:
10/29 – Dallas, TX @ Studio at the Factory ^
10/30 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall ^
10/31 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s (Levitation)
11/1 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger ^
11/3 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress (Outdoor Plaza) ^
11/4 – Tempe, AZ @ Coca-Cola Sun Deck at Sun Devil Stadium ^
11/7 – Berkeley, CA @ UC Theatre ^
11/9 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades ^
11/11 – Sonoma, CA @ Gundlach Bundschu Winery ^ – SOLD OUT
11/12 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Madonna Inn ^
11/13 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst ^
11/15 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House ^ – SOLD OUT
11/16 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House ^ – SOLD OUT
3/4 – Brattleboro, VT @ The Stone Church
3/5 – Woodstock, NY @ The Colony
3/6 – Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
3/8 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
3/10 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
3/11 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover
3/21 – Nashville, TN @ The End
3/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Purgatory Stage
3/24 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
3/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
3/26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
3/27 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia
3/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
3/31 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
4/1 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
4/2 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
4/3 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
4/5 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
4/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
4/8 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder
4/9 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
4/10 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
4/12 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
4/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
4/21 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory * – SOLD OUT
4/22 – Leeds, UK @ University Union Refectory *
4/23 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom *
4/25 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street * -SOLD OUT
4/26 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy *
4/28 – London, UK @ The Roundhouse * – SOLD OUT
4/29 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton *
4/30 – Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Botanique Festival *
5/2 – Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix * – SOLD OUT
5/3 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia *
5/4 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso * – SOLD OUT
5/6 – Zurich, CH @ Kaufleuten *
5/7 – Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks *
5/9 – Berlin, DE @ Metropol * – SOLD OUT
5/10 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega * – SOLD OUT
5/11 – Stockholm, SE @ Fallan
5/12 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene * – SOLD OUT
5/14 – Hamburg, DE @ Fabrik * – SOLD OUT
5/15 – Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria * – SOLD OUT
Today, SASAMI, the musical project of Los Angeles composer, songwriter and producer, Sasami Ashworth, releases a heavy rendition of Daniel Johnston deep-cut “Sorry Entertainer.” The single acts as a peek into the sonic world to come, on her highly anticipated, yet-to-be-announced second album. The video was directed by actor and comedian Patti Harrison and Alan Resnick.
“I made my last album when I was in a very emotionally vulnerable and tender place, but after a couple years of touring those same subtle, more sensitive songs, the live show became louder and more volatile,” says SASAMI. “A bit before the pandemic took hold I was really getting back into metal and numetal, so a couple months into quarantine I made an acoustic version of the System of a Down song “Toxicity.” My sadness ripened into anger throughout 2020, and deeper into it I started experimenting with a heavier palette and decided to perform the inverse exercise of metallicizing an acoustic song. ‘Sorry Entertainer’ is my take on mixing the desperation of being a hopeless and powerless artist and the extremely powerful sounds of a metal band. Like giving a toddler a flamethrower… or a fullstack.”
SASAMI will be touring with Japanese Breakfast this Fall.
Bachelor—the collaborative project of Jay Som’s Melina Duterte and Palehound’s Ellen Kempner—will release its debut album Doomin’ Sun on May 28th via Polyvinyl Record Co. (North America), Lucky Number (ROW) and Milk! Records (AUS/NZ). To celebrate the album release they have also announced Doomin’ Sun Fest, a massive livestream festival / telethon to benefit and uplift Seeding Sovereignty. The festival will take place on June 10 starting at 6pm ET., and will be followed by a virtual afterparty inside the 3D social game Hotel Hideaway.
Created as a chance to gather for “Community, Compassion, Climate, and Celebration,” Doomin’ Sun Fest will be FREE to attend, but donations to Seeding Sovereignty will be highly encouraged. The organization is an Indigenous-led collective working to radicalize and disrupt colonized spaces through land, body, and food sovereignty work, community building, and cultural preservation.
Melina & Ellen will live-host Doomin’ Sun Fest, which will culminate in the first ever Bachelor concert, shot and directed by Haoyan Of America with designer Richie Brown, powered by HIFI Labs. “Basically we just wanna have fun celebrating our album release, raise funds for Seeding Sovereignty, and get people excited about donating and opening their hearts to themes of the fest – the “4 C’s” as we call them – that are driving this endeavor,” note Ellen and Melina.
Featuring:
Adeline
Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief
Alexis from Sleigh Bells w/ Young Women Who Crush
Alynda Segarra (Hurray For The Riff Raff)
Andy Shauf
Anjimile
Bartees Strange
Beach Bunny
Becca Mancari
Benjamin Gibbard
Black Belt Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts
Brijean
Christelle Bofale
Claud
Courtney Barnett
Faye Webster
Fime
Frankie Cosmos
Hand Habits
Japanese Breakfast
Jeff Rosenstock
Jeff Tweedy
Jessi Frick of Father Daughter Records
Jose James + Taali
Julia Jacklin
Julien Baker
Kero Kero Bonito
KR from Decolonize UnConference
Lala Lala
Long Beard
Lucy Dacus
Luna Li
Madeline Kenney
Madison McFerrin
Mannequin Pussy
Manu Grace
MICHELLE
Miloe
Pendant
Quinn Christopherson
Rozzi
Sasami
Sen Morimoto
Shamir
Soccer Mommy
Soft Glas
Sylvan Esso
Tagalikha
Tank & the Bangas
Tasha
Tegan and Sara
Thao
Tune-Yards
Vagabon
Soccer Mommy — a.k.a. Nashville native Sophie Allison – released her critically-acclaimed sophomore album color theory last year. Today she has announced her long delayed US headline tour in support of the record. Starting in September 2021 the tour stops at some of the biggest venues Allison has headlined to date, including New York’s Brooklyn Steel on September 21 and Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre on October 28. With the exception of a few venue changes and new additions many of the shows were postponed from March 2020 and all previously purchased tickets will be honored. Squirrel Flower will provide support on the first leg and Emily Reo will support the second. Tickets go on sale Friday (4/30) at 12pm ET.
Following the release of color theory, Allison earned mass acclaim, with performances opening for Bernie Sanders, numerous upcoming headline dates sold-out months in advance, confirmed festival slots at the likes of Glastonbury, and her late-night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The album made it’s AAA Top 20 debut after release, was #1 NACC Top 200 for 4-weeks running, and debuted on the following Billboard charts: #1 Top New Artist Albums, #1 Alternative New Artist Albums, #4 Current Alternative Albums, #4 LP Vinyl Albums, #6 Current Rock Albums, #16
Top Current Albums and in the Billboard Top 200.
Additionally, with touring at a halt for the entire music industry, Soccer Mommy found remarkably inventive ways to stay busy during quarantine. She released a deluxe binder version of color theory which you can get HERE along with a demos EP of selected album tracks which you can listen to HERE. Last summer, raising money for National Bail Out & Oxfam’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, Allison released the Soccer Mommy & Friends Singles Series featuring Jay Som, Beabadoobee, SASAMI and MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden/Gentle Dom. She also joined forces with Actress & Unknown Mortal Orchestra, who remixed two color theory tracks. Listen to “crawling in my skin (Actress Remix)” HERE + “circle the drain (UMO Remix)” HERE. She shared an interview and performance via GRAMMY Museum® which can be seen HERE. Combining her love of video games and performing, Soccer Mommy held a digital concert on the online gaming platform Club Penguin Rewritten, with 10,000+ attendees (who all had to make their own penguin avatars to attend). So many fans logged on originally that the game’s server *literally* crashed and the event had to be rescheduled. Soccer Mommy also kicked off the NPR Tiny Desk At Home Series, performed on Pitchfork’s IG Live series, and released her very own Zoom backgrounds images. Soccer Mommy then embarked on another tour, of sorts: an 8-bit music video tour, hitting some of the cities she was meant to perform in on tour prior to lockdown.
