DAYDREAM LIBRARY SERIES / MUSIC
Inspired by Sixties and Seventies legends, such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, The Stooges and Television, Devon Ross is finally debuting her first recordings on the EP, entitled Oxford Gardens. The EP was recorded in Paris and mixed and mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London. The 12-inch vinyl is now available to pre-order here, with a release date of February 16.
Devon’s latest single, “Killer”, features a sultry vocal reminiscent of Patti Smith and a thrashing guitar-driven instrumental a-la Television. The release comes as Ross prepares for her very first concert, opening for The Thurston Moore Group at London’s legendary 100 CLUBon December 13, 2023. Devon made her musical debut earlier this year, streaming her first ever recorded single, “Swim,” to swooning fans in September. This killer track was recorded in Paris, and mixed & mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London. Stream now here.
California-bred, London-based, Jen Chochinov has been writing songs under the name Schande since the early 2000s, finding home in both UK & US diy circles with discordantly catchy, melodic indie rock that is in equal parts mellow and searing.
‘52 Hz’ was inspired by the true story of a whale which baffled scientists with it’s unique sound frequency of 52 Hz. The official thinking is that this is the only whale of its kind, and had lead a solitary life constantly searching for others with whom to communicate.
‘52 Hz’ is a bold and explosive song with lyrics written by Schande’s chief songwriter and singer and lead guitarist Jen. Jen was a touring member of Thurston Moore’s Guitar Ensemble and played shows throughout the UK and Europe with Thurston Moore’s Group. On the heels of playing with the ensemble, Jen started experimenting on her own with different tunings, including those she learned from Thurston and those that other friends had kindly shared with her. The freedom offered by these new tunings gave the band a chance to approach songs and song writing in a new way. Jen says, “It was like being given free reign in a lab where nothing was off limits.”
Whilst Schande initially began as a solo project, the music is very much a collective effort with the melody of Gio Villaraut’s bass lines and the creativity of Ryan Grieve’s syncopation to supplement Jen’s angular guitar.
Miami’s low-fi alt-rock band Las Nubes new single, “Enredados” b/w “Drop In”, is out now on Daydream Library Series on all digital platforms. The 7-inch vinyl is now available to order here.
The Daydream Library Series is ecstatic to announce the very first single, “Swim”, by Devon Ross. We can already tell you that it’s addictive and hypnotic and irreverent and delicious and it’s already here.
Black feminist punk band Big Joanie’s second album Back Home, is out now on Daydream Library Series in Europe and Kill Rock Stars in the US.
Recorded at Hermitage Works Studios in North London, Back Home was produced and mixed by Margo Broom (Goat Girl, Fat White Family) and features violin courtesy of Charlotte Valentine of the experimental art rock project No Home, who recently collaborated with the LA-based artist SASAMI.
Back Home is a dramatic leap forward for the band; the band build on their tightly knit, lo-fi punk formula to bring forth a collage of blazing guitars, down tempo dance punk, and melancholic strings that evoke the full depth of the band’s expansive art punk vision.
The album title references a search for a place to call home, whether real or metaphysical. “We were really ruminating on the idea of a home and what it means,” explains Stephanie.
“It’s about the different ideas of home, whether that’s here in the UK, back in Africa or the Caribbean, or a place that doesn’t really exist; it’s neither here nor there."
The band worked with multidisciplinary artist Angelica Ellis to design the striking embroidered cover art, which is a depiction of Chardine’s nephew at the barbers. The artwork is a reference to the embroidered wall hangings popular in Caribbean homes post-Windrush that were a callback to the homes they left behind.
The album’s strength lies in the band’s bold and varied new sound. Album opener “Cactus Tree” is an eerie, gothic folk tale that tells the story of a woman waiting for her lover while a wall of euphoric harmonies and screaming feedback roll in the background.
Lead single “Happier Still” is a driving, Nirvana-influenced track that grapples with the idea of wanting to push through a depressive episode. Inspired equally by the melodic rock of Hüsker Dü and the mystical sensibilities of Stevie Nicks, closer “Sainted” brings the club-ready sentiment of the 2018 single “Fall Asleep” to its natural conclusion.
Tracklisting:
1. Cactus Tree
2. Taut
3. Confident Man
4. What Are You Waiting For?
5. In My Arms
6. Your Words
7. Count to Ten
8. Happier Still
9. Insecure
10. Today
11. I Will
12. In My Arms (Reprise)
13. Sainted
Featuring two singles, “Enredados” and “Drop-In”, from their upcoming album, Tormentas Malsanas. A limited run of 500 copies pressed.
Inspired by The Ronettes, Nirvana, Breeders and The Jesus and Mary Chain, Big Joanie have described themselves as being 'similar to The Ronettes filtered through '80s DIY and Riot Grrrl with a sprinkling of dashikis.'
Big Joanie recorded SISTAHS over several sessions from November 2017 to January 2018 at Hermitage Works Studio with producer Margo Broom. The album title derives from the band's belief in sisterhood and female friendship. One of the main reasons for coming together was to create an atmosphere to be 'completely ourselves as black women and discover what was possible to realise in those spaces.'
The album cover features Steph's mum Joan, whom the band is named after, and her aunt on holiday in Wales. Outside of the band all three members are involved in communitarian activities whether running the festival for punks of colour Decolonise Fest, volunteering at Girls Rock Camp, or leading the Stop Rainbow Racism campaign which works to stop racist performances in LGBT venues.
The Daydream Library Series of records and tapes is the independent house label of Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Eva Prinz's publishing imprint, Ecstatic Peace Library.
Tracklisting:
1. New Year
2. Fall Asleep
3. Used To Be Friends
4. Eyes
5. Way Out
6. Down Down
7. Tell A Lie
8. Token
9. It's You
10. How Could You Love Me
11. Cut Your Hair
Release Date: 30/11/2018
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jayan Bertrand, bassist Josh Ewers, electronic drummer Josue Vargas and guitarist Dion Kerr have coined new genre “Caribbean Jazzgaze” to describe their wholly unique combination of jazz, shoegaze, rock, hip hop, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms that is Seafoam Walls.
Seafoam Walls caught the attention of cultish music and art communities around South Florida with a soundtrack befitting of their dark tropical paradise, and have remained a Miami secret since 2016.
Bandleader Jayan began his journey as a musician listening to metal and classic rock. His first formal lessons after a year of self-taught practice came from a family friend and talented jazz guitarist, Bemol Telfort. Although jazz wasn’t his first love but opened his heart to explorations of free improvisation which led to an introduction to Dion, Josh, and Josue — all active members on South Florida’s jazz scene.
Seafoam Walls released their first EP, titled R-E-F-L-E-C-T in 2018 and ROOT in 2019 via Bandcamp. The band recently attracted international rock n roll consciousness following a secret all-ages matinee in the gardens of North Miami’s Centre for Subtropical Affairs with DC hardcore photographer Susie J (Teen Idles, Minor Threat, et al.) and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore front row centre.
The Miami indie band completed the eight-track album entitled XVI in 2021.
Tracklisting:
1. Sound Check
2. You Can’t Have Your Cake And Ego Too
3. Ai
4. Dependency
5. You Always Said
6 .Program
7 .See
8 .Rushed Rain