Music
Matthew Pinder Reflects On Inner Conflict In Smooth New Single “Used To Say”
Bahamian indie-folk artist Matthew Pinder follows up on his previous release, “Cascade,” with a groovy new single, “Used To Say,” out October 8. As the second teaser to his upcoming project, Pinder displays yet another layer of his musically rich artistry. “Used To Say” recounts Pinder’s experience as he grapples with the discomfort of experiencing change, but not embracing it; the artist opens up about feeling stuck through a time of darkness and isolation. Pinder delivers a tender, yet haunting display of how difficult it can be to live through the growing pains of change.
Introduced by deeply reverberant keys and a decadent bossa nova groove, this track mesmerizes listeners from the start. Pinder’s buttery vocals seamlessly weave between bright acoustic guitar and float atop creative acoustic percussion. Pinder collaborated with Bahamian producer/engineer Sherwood Rahming for a vivid sonic journey masterfully builds from spritely instrumentation to a full-bodied, orchestral soundscape embellished with a punchy electronic beat.
Matthew Pinder is a Bahamian singer-songwriter who has established a quintessential sound within the indie-folk space over the last few years. Pinder often sings from his own experiences allowing his music to leave an “indelible mark on indie-folk music” (B-Sides & Badlands). First gaining recognition for his viral hit single “Golden Hour” – still one of his most popular releases today with over 2 million streams – he soon followed with the release of the full-length album, Give Me Some Time which was hailed as “Pinder’s magnum opus: a debut so rich and extravagantly heart-rending and deeply-crushing” (B-Sides & Badlands). Soon after, Pinder took a break from music to focus on his mental health until he was ready to begin on his next project, set to release later this fall. Working with local studio engineer/producer Sherwood Rahming and past collaborators Mitch Webb and Sara Davis Regan, Pinder is eager to make music “fun” again by making it with people and friends along the way. Nonetheless, fans can still expect his modern flair with the influences of classic singer-songwriters and present-day artists, all melded into a sound completely his own.
Artist Spotlight
Dan Webb creates a captivating reflection on change with “Hungry Ghosts”
Clive Deamer, Dennis Hamm, and Bob Lanzetti all feature on Dan Webb’s latest release, “Hungry Ghosts,” which is a track of real-time transformation. A great blend of psychedelic jazz and rock, the track delivers a deep, immersive experience.
The song’s lyrics touch on the emotional difficulty of closing one part of life and opening up a new one. One of the defining features of “Hungry Ghosts” is Webb’s own vision, as composer, arranger, producer, performer, and mixer, which shines with an unmistakably personal energy. The song is about the displacement, reinvention, and psychological transition, and captures the uncertainty and possibility of starting a life in unfamiliar surroundings.
Clive Deamer’s ever-shifting drumming provides a foundation, and Dennis Hamm’s keyboards add depth and texture to the sound. Bob Lanzetti’s guitar work runs through the arrangement with fluid precision, helping to create a dreamlike sound. “Hungry Ghosts” is mastered by Joe Lambert, and the production explores movement and space, mirroring the song’s theme of past and future selves. All in all, this is a great example of psychedelic jazz rock that rewards multiple listenings. This is a meditative, adventurous, and emotionally resonant exploration of transformation and the courage to start again.
Artist Spotlight
French Inhaler explores desire and disconnection through “TV LOVE”
Chicago trio French Inhaler make a bold start with “TV LOVE,” the first single from their upcoming album “Practiced Lines.” It’s a song that finds a band able to make contemporary fears danceable but also think deeply about them with post-punk urgency and synth-pop atmosphere.
The song is about the gap between people’s desires and reality, and about the contradictions of living in an age of hyper-connectivity but emotional disconnection. “TV LOVE” opens with a cold sound built on mechanical drum grooves, melodic basslines, and synth textures. The production is deliberately tight and precise, mirroring themes threaded throughout the song.
Everything combines to create a tension that draws you into a world where connection is increasingly mediated by screens, expectations, and distorted perceptions. In terms of vocals, the performance is perfectly suited to the aesthetic of the track, somewhere between detachment and openness. “TV LOVE” is a primer for “Practiced Lines” and demonstrates that French Inhaler is a band with a defined artistic identity and a strong sense of purpose. It’s an immersive, stylish, and thought-provoking record that lingers, cementing the Chicago trio as a promising new voice in the modern post-punk and synth-pop scene.
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