Popular underground pop-rap outfit Aer has released the official video for their new single, “Won’t Smile.”
In the early days of any artist’s career, there is a hunger in their vocal delivery that reflects just how much making it means to them. As the artist begins to find success, some of that aggression gives way to perspective, and suddenly they have a slightly more tame sound to offer listeners. “Won’t Smile” is the softer side of Aer, but lyrically it’s just as hard-hitting as anything in the group’s discography. The song and video deal with the differences between people and the struggle we all go through in order to gain acceptance and/or belong. Everyone has their own path to follow, and Aer won’t judge you if you don’t judge them. You can view the video at the end of this post.
Aer have garnered international attention for their blend of urban and Top 40 sensibilities, but for whatever reason they’ve yet to crack the Top 40 stateside. “Won’t Smile” could be a game-changer, offering a relaxed and fun track at a time when bass-heavy club beats are dominating the pop landscape. Comment below and let us know your thoughts on Aer’s new material.
A self-titled album from Aer is expected to arrive in January. Follow OurStage on Twitter for updates on the group’s activity in the weeks ahead. (more…)
A decade ago there really wasn’t a ‘pop underground.’ Indie groups used pop elements in songs, sure, but it wasn’t until the rise of social media and YouTube that underground pop acts began emerging from the grey of anonymity. Now anyone with Garageband and a hook can put original compositions together to rival what’s on radio, and as a result a whole new scene has come into existence. Part pop, part club, and all types of fun, artists in this arena make feel-good music without any concern for whether or not Top 40 will spin their singles. They focus on building relationships through their online presence, and in turn develop dedicated followings who support their tour efforts. Jake Miller is a prime example of this type of talent, and this morning his new full length album appeared online ahead of its scheduled release date.
For the last few years, Jake Miller has been the talk of many a Twitter feed and college message board. His music is inspired by the place where hip-hop and pop collide, and on Us Against Them he delivers the most realized version of his unique sound to date. The 12-track offering debuted on Pandora today ahead of its scheduled November 5th digital release, and those who want to hear the future of pop music would be wise to click here and discover what Miller has to say.
From the pop vibes of “Me and You” to the lighthearted cockiness of “Number One Rule,” Jake Miller has put together a collection of potential hits with Us Against Them that should help push him to the next level of fame. We discovered his music over the summer and are nothing short of amazed by what this young artist has already achieved in the short time he’s been on our radar. The sky is the limit, and at the rate he’s going Jake Miller will be amongst the clouds in no time at all.
UK pop punk outfit Neck Deep have released the official video for their latest single, “Crushing Grief (No Remedy).”
When you throw out every song written about girls and nonsense, the heart of pop-punk has always focused on friendship and doing whatever it takes to hold on to the ever-fleeting feeling of youth. With this in mind, Neck Deep turned to their fans for help with the video forn”Crushing Grief.” The band requested that fans send in clips of themselves doing what they love, and apparently dozens responded. The band used the submitted content to create a montage video accompaniment for their song. You can view the video below.
The subject matter of “Crushing Grief (No Remedy)” might not be much different than that of every other pop-punk song in the last five years, but thanks to creative musicianship and songwriting, the song manages to stand out as something special. Comment below and let us know your thoughts on the single.
Neck Deep signed with Hopeless Records earlier this year, but have yet to release an album with the label. Their debut, Wishful Thinking, is expected to be released in January 2014. (more…)
A hard fact of life is that everyone goes through dark times. The going gets tough, as they say, and at times it can seem near impossible to carry on. On My Honor have written an anthem for those times, and this afternoon that anthem was given its own music video.
The trees may claim that it’s fall and the wind may make it feel like winter, but the “Gypsy Summer” is alive and well in the latest video from rising pop-punk act On My Honor. The track describes how the best times in life often follow the toughest obstacles with a chorus that is simply too catchy to deny. The video blends performance footage with a tongue-in-cheek tale of young love (or so you think), which works even though it has little-to-nothing to do with the song itself. You can view the video below.
I Never Deserve the Things I Need, the newest album from On My Honor, is available now. (more…)
Few men in pop music have had a better 2013 than Justin Timberlake. Once just another member of a multi-platinum but disposable boy band, Timberlake has grown into a mature and experimental artist. His two-album offering known as The 20/20 Experience has kept fans dancing all year long, and this morning the album’s latest single was given the video treatment.
“TKO” has been at radio for a few weeks, but the song’s popularity will likely see a major boost now that the official music video has started to spread. The clip mirrors the song’s love on the rocks narrative, though the video gives this tale of heartache a more devious ending. You can view the video below.
For someone who has spent the majority of his career in bright lights and seemingly good-time scenarios, Justin Timberlake offers us a bit of his dramatic side with this video. The results are better than his recent performance in Runner Runner, but I wonder whether or not fans of the more upbeat stuff will approve of his violent accompaniment. Comment below and let us know your thoughts. (more…)
The music industry is still recovering from the tragic loss of Lou Reed over the weekend, and slowly but surely the tributes have begun to roll out.
Performing before a sold-out crowd in the UK last night, rock outfit Arctic Monkeys became one of the first groups to pay homage to the fallen icon in a live setting with a stunning rendition of Reed’s smash hit “Walk On The Wild Side.” The song was performed as the introduction to the band’s encore, and before they began frontman Alex Turner counted them in as the crowd went wild. You can view a high quality fan-shot video from the performance at the end of this post.
Comment below and let us know what you think of Arctic Monkeys’ take on this classic song. (more…)