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Old Tom & The Lookouts Details How Mental Health is a Process, Not a Destination in New Album‘ Just for Beasts’

Indie-folk band Old Tom & The Lookouts delivers a harmonically decadent recount of lessons learned from mental health struggles in their cinematic acoustic album, Just For Beasts.

Independent folk band Old Tom & The Lookouts excitedly anticipate the release of their upcoming album, Just For Beasts, out November 4. This project is a poetic narrative of their journey with mental health told through a collection of 12 uniquely emotional tracks. With a folksy, easygoing sonic apparatus, band members Alex Calabrese and Cecilia Vacanti create a hauntingly beautiful project with Just For Beasts. Characterized by silky symphonic strings, twangy guitar, and all-encompassing background vocals, the acoustic soundscape achieved on this album is beyond epic. From the passionate chorus on “Hey Edna” to the brooding melancholy on the verses of “Dark Rooms,” Old Tom & The Lookouts pours every ounce of their soul into each track as they take listeners along this profound journey of discovery.

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The band was inspired to create a piece of art that addressed many of the nuanced challenges – like depression and anxiety – many of us are all too familiar with. “This was all written with hopes of improving the dialogue surrounding mental illness,” says Calabrese. Old Tom & The Lookouts makes it a point to create a supportive space for those who are overcoming mental illness with their music. For Calabrese, there is power in the support of your peers; he says in regard to this project, “all I can hope to do is provide even a sliver of that support to someone else who is feeling that way.” Fans can experience this cinematic album on November 4 – available on all major streaming platforms.

The Boston-based Indie-Folk band is known for creating hopeful, evocative music about mental health. The lyrically driven project is shared through the lens of writer and singer, Alex Calabrese and violinist Cecilia Vacanti. With their combined efforts, the two provide a minimalist tone, accompanied by lush string arrangements, witty and brooding lyrics, soulful melodies, and striking harmonies. Paying homage to influences such as Frightened Rabbit, Phoebe Bridgers, and Tom Waits, yet capturing a new voice within the Indie-Folk genre, the band’s full record, Just for Beasts is a concept piece centered around finding community, a sense of self-worth, and finding a healthy and sustainable way to love and support yourself as well as others you care about. The record addresses many of the nuanced challenges presented to folks suffering from depression and anxiety. Some groups Old Tom & The Lookouts associate themselves with and speak in support of are To Write Love On Her Arms and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP Boston).

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Artist Spotlight

“I AM Good Enough” by TaniA Kyllikki evokes a soaring melodic anthem to liberate self-affirmation

TaniA Kyllikki

TaniA Kyllikki has never been one to shy away from vulnerability as she demonstrates commendable resilience in her soul-stirring new single, “I AM Good Enough.” This composition serves as a melodic awakening and represents a multifaceted artistic interpretation of an uplifting ballad. At its core, it is fundamentally a deeply personal assertion of self-love and emotional rebirth that hits right.

From the outset, TaniA’s voice trembles sincerely, soaring effortlessly through a meticulously stripped-back arrangement that deliberately foregrounds her message to take center stage. Her angelic harmonies envelop the listener, creating a comforting and powerful embrace. The inclusion of collaborative vocal harmonies provided by her husband, Rynellton, introduces an intimate dimension, fostering a collective aspiration for healing that amplifies the emotional significance, enhancing the overall impact of the narrative.

Lyrically, “I AM Good Enough” addresses the psychological consequences of abuse and self-doubt, illuminating the often-silenced struggles of diminished self-esteem. The song conveys a message of triumph, encouraging a reconceptualization of self-worth. With every intriguing note, TaniA affirms that liberation is attainable when individuals cease to accept the false narratives that try to define them as not enough. TaniA channels her experiences into a performance that feels deeply empathetic and human, as though she’s singing directly to the parts of us we’ve forgotten how to love.

The unvarnished authenticity of “I AM Good Enough” distinguishes it within contemporary music. The fourth single from her forthcoming album, ‘Free-Spirited,’ is a pivotal reminder to confront and process past traumas while reclaiming one’s intrinsic worth. Through her artistry, TaniA Kyllikki elevates musicality beyond mere entertainment, forging potent anthems that are essential lifelines for the weary. For anyone seeking validation or needing a sign to love themselves a little more, “I AM Good Enough” provides the necessary and timely sonic remedy for healing. It’s a reminder that our scars don’t define us, and others don’t dictate our values.

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For more information about TaniA Kyllikki, please visit [website]. 
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Artist Spotlight

Lexi Berg stirs a soulful splash of intimacy with her recent single, “In So Deep”

Lexi Berg

A rare phenomenon exists within the music industry wherein a composition manifests as genuinely enchanting. Lexi Berg, originating from Stockholm and influenced by her distinctive upbringing on a houseboat, delivers an exemplary representation of such craftsmanship through her latest single, “In So Deep.” This Swedish-American singer-songwriter is noted for her hauntingly raspy vocal quality and her capacity for intricate poetic storytelling. Lexi envelops her audience in a cinematic experience, wherein the act of falling in love resembles a leap from an emotional precipice, infused with an atmosphere of warm sincerity, reminiscing about someone who once made you feel alive.

Co-written and produced by the accomplished Jim Eliot, a veteran producer with an impressive portfolio and collaborations with renowned artists such as Ellie Goulding and Kylie Minogue, “In So Deep” was meticulously crafted in the tranquil hills of Wales. The composition captures a sense of airy tranquility, blending sun-drenched sonic nostalgia from the classic 70s piano with heartfelt folk influences and the irresistible shimmer of Swedish pop. This results in a sonorous palette that envelops listeners in a comforting embrace.

Lexi Berg’s lyrics create vivid imagery, portraying scenarios that include hands submerged beneath water, laughter echoing through canyon walls, and hearts racing with each fleeting glance. These intimate vignettes embody the essence of daydreaming, further enriched by her raw, rich vocals, which glide seamlessly over luminous piano melodies complemented by subtle Americana nuances. It evokes the joy inherent in sharing moments with another individual.

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The track’s distinctive nature lies in celebrating the little things, which carry her free-spirited roots in authenticity. The verses convey a gentle, confessional tone, while the chorus unleashes a dynamic catharsis that promotes audience engagement, particularly in open-air settings.

In a music landscape increasingly characterized by cacophony and overwhelming stimuli, “In So Deep” provides an elegant respite. It enables listeners to escape into a realm of love and ephemeral, golden moments infused with genuine emotion, articulating a connection that resonates on a profound level.

 
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Lexi Berg’s In So Deep on Spotify.
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