Los Angeles-based pop duo YVR dropped the new track “Messy”. It has big hooks that could go on the album of any seasoned pop artist and probably chart. Think Tove Lo meets Betty Who. The duo is made up of Courtney Jenae who began as a solo artist and rose to popularity on YouTube while Stephen Stahl is a music producer. Additionally, the couple worked with and wrote songs for K-POP acts like Exo and Girls Generation. YVR tells Kings “The song is about the power of having your cake and eating it too regardless of what the consequences may be”. Give it a stream.
weareyvr@gmail.com

Krowns dropped the second track Fake It that comes off of their new album in January. The alternative three-piece from Canada worked with music producer Stephen Kozmeniuk (Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar) – crafting electro rock songs with big hooks. Although I really loved the debut track High While The World Ends – the new single Fake It is more innovative with the band starting to sound like themselves.
Plus, this is a better track written about peer pressure:
“We fake it to survive We fake it
We fake this plastic life We fake it
They don’t know what it’s like
To be locked out of paradise
Always hiding behind this disguise”

Give the track the stream!

Indie artist Joe Wood releases the track Try. It’s a solid track that is tainted by the 80’s with its layered synths, big harmonies and a sax. He’s a DIY artist that writes and produces all of his tracks in his Brooklyn apartment. Mind you, I see a resurgence in the Brooklyn music scene. Joe notes, “My songs process my feelings of nostalgia, and the passion and desire I have buried deep inside to take risks and break free from the comfort of the past”. Additionally, he just wrapped a show with Kings favorite Fly By Midnight at the City Winery. Give it a listen!
mgmt@joewoodmusic.com

I don’t know how many times I hear that rock is dead. It’s becoming a meme. Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine recently said rock music is nowhere which outraged Slipknot singer Corey Taylor who said, ” Tell that schmuck to go back to The F%&$ ‘Voice’.” I think rock is seeing a facelift. Lead singer Wes Lauterbach who fronts the rock act Lowborn tells Kings “I think rock is in two states right now, older rock which has put in its time and built its fan base, and modern rock, which will eventually grow until it becomes the new standard. In fact, the North Carolina based band are seeing a rise in popularity. Three of the singles on Spotify have been streamed hundreds of thousands of times and the press is starting to react. Describing the live show Wes notes, “It’s a room of people who all have their personal battles and for the time we with them on stage, everyone is on the same page and we love it”. Give the track Reckless a stream.
lowbornmgmt@gmail.com