New Singles

If anyone can do justice for a Nirvana cover and put a unique spin on one of their songs, it's indie rock artist Byland. There have been numerous Nirvana covers over the past three decades, but it seems fitting that an artist from Washington has reinterpreted a song from what undoubtedly is the state's most famous musical act.

Joined by multi-instrumentalist Abby Gundersen (Phoebe Bridgers, Death Cab for Cutie, Noah Gundersen), performer Alie Byland lends her voice and piano skills to one of Nirvana's most recognizable songs, "Lithium."

Produced by Nathan Yaccino (Soundgarden, Brandi Carlile, Noah Gundersen), the new rendition is a slowed-down, softer version of the punk-influenced song. According to a release, Byland's contribution is an "eerie, spoken word version on piano, replacing the chorus's iconic 'yeahs' with a striking double octave melody."

An unexpected but welcome release, Byland did not discover Nirvana until the age of 30 due to being in a cult. Yaccino had introduced Byland to the song "Lithium," and enchanted by her take, Yaccino was eager to return to the studio. The result is a beautiful hybrid of Washington's musical past and present. It also intertwines with Byland's story as it's a song that likens the allure of religion to a drug. Isn't that how most cults are born and thrive? As someone embroiled in religion and cults myself, I can relate.

Kurt Cobain's rebellious, angsty lyrics have taken on new meaning with Byland's cinematic and whimsical direction. Byland's "Lithium" inspires more introspection and meditation on Cobain's incendiary words. Over a soft piano and the sweet strum of a viola, it's easy to get lost. The words are still impactful, but instead of a punch in the gut, it's more of a low, curdling feeling in the pit of your stomach.

"Sunday morning is every day for all I care... And I'm not scared... Light my candles in a daze... 'Cause I've found God..."

"Lithium" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of March 18th.

Read the review for Byland's Heavy for a While.

Dark Chisme is on a roll. Following their successful self-titled debut album, the duo has been making (dark) waves and inspiring late-night dance moves across the country. The band was also a recent grant honoree at this year's Sonic Guild Celebration, and has been regularly touring the United States, with an upcoming appearance slated at Boise, Idaho's Treefort Music Fest.

The band includes Chicago-raised, Seattle-based DJ and producer Christine Gutierrez on vocals and synth and the elusive "E" on bass and synth.

Following a busy schedule, Dark Chisme is finally back in the studio and previewing what's to come. Today, the band debuted their latest single, "Lost in the Night," the first release from the in-progress album of the same name.

Atmospheric and nostalgic, "Lost in the Night" conjures the feeling of an eighties crime thriller, with a night on the town in Miami. It's a perfect midnight club track that's bound to make you dance and reminisce at the same time. Guiterrez's mesmerizing vocals capture any listener's attention. "Lost in the Night" is an exciting intro to the duo's new album and shows the band's growth from their debut. While Dark Chisme continues to push boundaries, they still plan to stick to their original influences, but with more of a twist.

In an Instagram post, Dark Chisme stated that their upcoming album will "continue with a Darkwave sound, but also lean into darker, club-focused rhythms, finding more influences in EBM, Techno, and Freestyle. ALWAYS with Latin influences."'

The wait is on for Lost in the Night.

"Lost in the Night" is now available to stream on Bandcamp as of March 14th. The song will also be released on Spotify this weekend.

In times like these, we could all use a little more joy in our lives. Luckily, music superstars Brandi Carlile and Elton John have joined forces to debut a song that reminds listeners to "Swing for the Fences."

Although there are many forces actively aiming to destroy the spirit of the LGBTQ community, the two performers created an anthem meant to inspire gay youth. As people who've achieved their wildest dreams, Carlile and John want them to believe that it's still OK to dream and that anything is STILL possible.

According to Carlile, "'Swing For The Fences’ was a little gem I took into the studio with me: I’m a gay woman, Elton’s a gay man and we both have families, and our dreams have come true. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be cool to write an anthem for young gay kids out there that calls them into a bigger, more elegant, more fabulous life. Just like ‘go, go! don’t let anything hold you back!’”

The opening of the song states, "Go on and swing for the fences! Take a shot at the moon! A dandelion that dances takes chances and fancies every little light in the room."
"Swing for the Fences" is pure rock-and-roll. It's loud, contains an impactful message, and is just plain fun. The song was co-written by Grammy-nominated Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin. Carlile and John were also joined in the studio by Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on percussion, Josh Klingoffer (Pearl Jam, Beck) on keyboard and synthesizer, and Pino Palladino (John Mayer Trio, Tears for Fears) on bass.

The new single was produced by Watt, who has recently worked with acts such as Pearl Jam, the Rolling Stones, and Iggy Pop.

"Swing for the Fences" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of March 5th.

The song will be included on the duo's upcoming album, Who Believes in Angels?, set to release on April 4th. Pre-order the album here.

"Stand up is what you do after you rise. It's that 'I'm here' energy. It's show up energy, powerhouse energy, champion energy... You can't buy this in a store!"

If anyone in the city of Seattle can create a feel-good anthem, it's self-proclaimed vessel of sound Brittany Davis. With songs such as "I Choose to Live," "Sepricon," and "So Fly," that succeed in uplifting listeners' spirits (and making them dance in the process), Davis is in familiar territory.

Davis's new song "Stand Up" has been designated as the official anthem of the Seattle Reign women's soccer team. Approached by the team itself after a difficult year, Davis was tasked with creating an anthem ahead of Reign's 2025 season with the National Women's Soccer League. As a result, Davis created a song that is an homage to community, triumphing over obstacles, and standing in your power.

Soulful and high energy, "Stand Up" was directly inspired by Andra Day's "Rise Up," which Davis covered in Reign's past season at the jersey retirement of Megan Rapinoe. The anthem also includes backing vocals from members of Reign and the Reign Academy players, in addition to support from The Royal Guard fan organization, Reign City Riot band, and the Sound Wave band.

In celebration of the new anthem, Davis and the Seattle Reign Football Club released a short film documenting Davis' creative process. In the documentary, Davis also discusses her connection to Seattle, how she creates as a blind person, and how the camaraderie of the Reign fanbase inspired her. The film was directed by Jason Bergh, who has previously worked with talents such as Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Migos, and Michelle Obama.

Whether or not you're a sports fanatic, "Stand Up" is the song to listen to when you need those big winner vibes.

"Stand Up" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of March 4th. The song will also be played before every Reign game.

Read the review for Brittany Davis's Image Issues.

What does happiness mean? It's a loaded concept that has a fluid definition. When everything around you seems to be falling apart, at what point can you say whether you're happy or not? It's a really tough set of questions that begets more questions. The answer can vary during any stage of life or even vary depending on the time of day in some cases.

There is still a stigma that surrounds the topics of grief and suicidal ideation—and even the definition of happiness, but Bobby Odle is tackling them head-on through his work with Townsend's Solitaire, a Seattle-based chamber folk band.

Odle's songs, largely inspired by various events in his life, are raw and honest. Pulling no punches, Townsend's Solitaire often chooses unfiltered storytelling with little use of metaphor. It's a level of honesty that is refreshing to hear.

Colored largely by the passing of his older brother Chris when he was a child, Oldle uses his platform to make sense of the more recent losses of his childhood best friend Tanner, his uncle, and a romantic relationship. Odle also speaks openly about mental health and the journey of working as an artist in Seattle. Channeling his life experiences through music, Odle has woven a series of songs for the band's first full-length album.

Leading up to the debut album, Townsend's Solitaire unveiled the first single, "Glad to Be Alive," which is also the name of the album set to come out this summer. The album was recorded at Sage Arts Studios under the production of Jordan Cunningham and then mastered by Rachel Field at Resonant Mastering. Olde also takes an unfiltered approach to the rest of the musical process, as Glad to Be Alive was produced, engineered, and recorded live to two-inch 16-track tape and mixed to half-inch, two-track tape, which means that all band members were present at all times in studio.

"Glad to Be Alive" sets the album tone, and celebrates being alive while life undergoes a series of curveballs. While some of the lyrics are heavy, the composition is whimsical and optimistic, utilizing guitar, piano, cello, violin, flute, and clarinet.

"Glad to Be Alive" is a song that captures the struggle of keeping it together while everything is falling apart. The recurring theme of "Glad to Be Alive" is resilience. As someone who has attempted to figure out how to navigate life in Seattle after trauma, the lyrics, "I've been holding on to hope... Letting myself love what I love most... Even if I'm not happy, I can still be glad to be alive," resonate. It is a reminder to Odle himself (and all of us) to keep going.

I am looking forward to hearing what the rest of Glad to Be Alive has in store.

"Glad to Be Alive" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of April 19th.

The album of the same name, Glad to Be Alive will be available on Spotify and vinyl on June 28th. Additionally, Townsend's Solitaire will be holding an album release party at Woodland Hall in Seattle with local indie-folk artist Ollella.