Artist Spotlight
Macy Rodman Releases a Sugary Single & Music Video “Love Me!”
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, artist, and showgirl Macy Rodman announced her newest album Unbelievable Animals, out August 27 via Shamir’s Accidental Popstar Records. The massive, sugary, propulsive sound of the record — confession and heartbreak set to club-ready beats with ‘90s radio rock inflections — is decidedly not the sound of quarantine or isolation. It is the opposite — the sound of reemergence, of rebirth, the return to the dance floor. Liz Phair, Faith Hill, Cher, Madonna, and more heroes of that era spiritually inhabit its tracks, where slick pop production and the sneering punk attitudes of Marianne Faithful and PJ Harvey mingle at the ‘90s New York nightclub.
Premiered on PAPER, the first taste out today is the electro-thumper “Love Me!” single & video. Macy explains: “‘Love Me!’ is about getting back with an ex who you know is bad for you. No matter how poorly they’ve treated you in the past, they keep charming their way back in and you just want them to love you.” She’ll be celebrating with a New York show at C’mon Everybody on July 2.
Moving to New York from remote Juneau, Alaska to initially pursue her dreams in fashion, the underlying trans rage of repressed youth — searching for a space of belonging, reaching through media for escape — becomes a theme of the Brooklyn resident’s work, though her media landscape these days is populated by pop stars and rom coms. Couple this with the absurdism of fantasy, a purposeful schizophrenia of a slew of characters that inhabit her songs, and you get closer to her new album. “The title ‘Unbelievable Animals’ prevailed because while writing the record, I saw my life in past loves laid out in front of like a Discovery Channel special and it made me feel like I wasn’t alone in my feelings. We are all just Unbelievable Animals,” Macy says.
The new record, chopped down to 12 tracks after challenging herself to write 20 songs in 30 days, is therefore a turning point, one that leaves her more vulnerable than ever before. The stakes are higher because it is real in the way her previous work has not been, where personas emerge in order to analyze and get over the breakup that left her reeling. It becomes a balancing act of finding a continuity with her previous work and using this project as the vehicle to recover from the baffling heartbreak, not to mention the conditions of the pandemic. It is a personal risk, but a logical next step for a delightfully unpredictable artist.
Macy creates worlds that are not surreal, but hyperreal — where everything is false so everything is true, where the relativity of truth becomes defined by the ecstatic moment of performance and experience. Evident from the release of first her EP HELP (2016), and subsequent albums The Lake (2017) and Endless Kindness (2019), she forges avenues of escape, works that viscerally grab you, but you can’t believe it’s happening. Much like the films of David Cronenberg, her favorite filmmaker (“long live the new flesh” is tattooed on the inside of her left arm.) But that’s the joy of Macy’s work, the constant turmoil of self discovery that accompanies such a disconnected world, where anyone could see themselves reflected — if only they turn away from the world’s endless hall-of-mirrors long enough to take a look.

Photo Credit: Pvssyheaven
Artist Spotlight
CircleKSK ignites an anime-metal collision on “UnBreakable Turn” ft. Anya J
On their exhilarating high-octane track “UnBreakable Turn,” CircleKSK and guest vocalist Anya J aim to combine the technical prowess of Nordic metal with the urgent melodies and dramatic flair of an anime opening sequence. Creating a cinematic and adrenaline-fueled tune with a melodic edge, CircleKSK has risen to prominence as an innovative act.
The deliberate fusion contributes to the single’s captivating nature. J-Pop and anime-song sensibilities contribute emotional hooks and sweeping, catchy lines; precision, dense riffs, and a sense of weight are brought by Nordic metal. Echoing the song’s vivid melodic contours, Anya J’s heroic and personal vocals and demeanor heighten the dramatic impact of the performance. The structure is based on the standard narrative progression: lively, evocative parts leading the way to more somber ones that ground the emotion.
The production relies on contrast so that lighter parts sparkle and heavier parts thud with satisfying force. As if CircleKSK were creating music for the eyes as well as the ears, this piece could serve as the score for a dramatic scene or the music for a violent montage. Not everything is surface-level, though; the emotional core remains. Anthemic and deeply personal, “UnBreakable Turn” combines the vigor of youth with the gravity of experience.
An assuredly inventive single that fearlessly asserts new territory, “UnBreakable Turn” by CircleKSK is sure to please fans of big, dramatic music that isn’t hesitant to mix sweetness and steel, as well as those who enjoy cross-cultural mashups. The single, which has been lauded by curators and tastemakers worldwide, is a strong statement about artists who fearlessly combine cultural genres, showing that passionate J-Pop melodies and intense Scandinavian metal can coexist in one unforgettable track.
Artist Spotlight
Garth Adam keeps the flame of Journeysong burning with the new single “Three Fires”
Garth Adam‘s latest single, “Three Fires,” evokes a warm dialogue in a subdued studio that is intimate, contemplative, and subtly victorious. Adam candidly discusses the exhilaration of uncovering self-assurance in both himself and his songwriting, and this revelation serves as the driving force of the track. At its essence, “Three Fires” is a straightforward commemoration: the delight in transforming a modest idea into something extraordinary through patience.
Adam’s vocal style resides comfortably within a folk-influenced pop genre, which he characterizes as a blend of Neil Finn and The Lumineers, interspersed with elements reminiscent of Coldplay and James Blunt. The reference point is beneficial yet not confining; “Three Fires” represents Adam’s unique creation, an accessible, melodic composition that prioritizes artistry over novelty. The single, recorded in joyful sessions in Perth with long-time collaborator and producer Melvin Tree, exudes the warmth of musicians collaborating in a circle, with the vintage Studer analog desk imparting an analog glow to the final recording. Melvin, Dave Kelly, and a select group of skilled music students contribute backing vocals that enhance the track with harmony and impart a subtly communal, authentic quality.
The lyrics of the song emphasize Adam’s preferred motifs: travel, journeys, and the subtle transformations that occur during the voyage. However, it is not overly forceful; the songwriting is elegant, transitioning from observation to insight with effortless fluidity. Adam’s delivery conveys satisfaction; he is a songwriter who has witnessed minor concepts evolve into completed songs and has learned to trust that process.
“Three Fires” serves as a testament to the notion that skill and perseverance can transform a mere spark into something luminous. For aficionados of melodic songwriting with an analog essence, Garth Adam’s latest work is a comforting, exquisitely crafted ember to accompany one on their journey. It is a song that encourages repeated, soothing auditory experiences.
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