ANCHR Magazine

Holding you down with the best new music

Filtering by Tag: new music

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: IBEYI

Photo by Melody Berkery

This week’s Artist of the Week goes to Ibeyi, a French duo composed of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz.

The Diaz sisters have woven in multiple languages into their songwriting, including English, French, Spanish and Yoruba—so it’s fitting that their band name means “twins” in Yoruba. I was first introduced to the duo with their single “River",” which was included both on their 2014 “Oya” EP and their 2015 self-titled album. The track includes a hypnotic percussive beat and spotlights the twins’ silky harmonies.

The entirety of Ibeyi’s catalog contains unique features and a variety of textures, meaning they are always keeping listeners on our toes. Besides highlighting their multilingual lyrics, the Diaz sisters weave in elements of R&B, Afro-Cuban, electronic and experimental influences. The pair currently live and have spent most of their life in Paris, but they also lived in Havana for their first couple fo years, as their dad was a Grammy-winning Cuban percussionist. With their mom also being French-Venezuelan singer Maya Dagnino, it’s obvious that music and creativity run in their blood, and their upbringing certainly shapes the characteristics of their sound.

If you’re a fan of FKA Twigs, Perfume Genius, and James Blake, you should immediately add Ibeyi to your musical rotations. In addition to their self-titled debut album, Ibeyi has put out 2017’s Ash and 2022’s Spell 31, which contains collaborations with Jorja Smith, BERWYN, and Pa Salieu. Make sure to also catch Ibeyi on the road this year, including a stop at Thalia Hall on March 19th.



ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Annie DiRusso

This week’s Artist of the Week goes to Annie DiRusso, a singer-songwriter based between NYC and Nashville. I had my first chance to hear DiRusso’s earnest and upbeat music live in action recently, when she and her band opened for the sold out SAMIA show at Thalia Hall. The devoted SAMIA fans were just as eager and enthusiastic to soak in all of DiRusso’s vulnerable musings—many of the audience members joined in to sing along to songs like “20” and “Judgment From The World’s Greatest Band.” DiRusso’s knack for enveloping intricate stories in catchy hooks speaks for itself, but her live stage presence was that much more powerful. She and her band radiated feel-good energy and showcased their positive intentions during their Thalia Hall set, allowing for us all to seek some escape from reality that evening.

DiRusso has released several singles to date, including a fun rendition of the classic “I Think We’re Alone Now” and her most recent “Coming Soon.” To make sure you’re in the know on all new music from her, follow DiRusso on Tik Tok, where she has a growing platform that begin when she posted a clip of her singing “20.” You can also catch her out on the road this Spring— check out the upcoming tour dates here. 

PREMIERE: Elk Walking "Ride The Tide"

Photo by Catalina Florea

Photo by Catalina Florea

Chicago folk rock outfit Elk Walking are back with their first single since the release of their album Between Uswhich they self-released last August. A duet between Julian Daniell and Savanna Dickhut of the band, "Ride The Tide" will be out on Spotify and other streaming platforms tomorrow, but we have your exclusive first listen of the chilled-out Summer tune below. First, see what Julian had to say about the track. 

We’ve just finished the first two songs in our home recording venture, something we decided to try after recording the last two releases at professional studios. The process proved to be much more beneficial to us as a group than we thought. Without the time constraints and having the comfort of being in our own space I think we have created some of the most natural sounding recordings yet. I believe the latest and greatest Elk Walking sound has been captured on these upcoming singles. The first release, "Ride the Tide" is a duet, as is in character for this band. I very much like the way the delivery of the song flows with Savanna singing the verses and myself singing the refrain and chorus. I wrote it about the differences in ways people change and react to the world as they age. Some people I see, even sometimes having so much against them in their lives are still somehow able to thrive and bring positive energy to themselves and those around them. I wrote one verse for these people. Other people seem to let go of who they are as they grow up, in order to fit into a box that they think is expected of them. That was verse two, and then the last is about how special it feels when you fall deeply in love, when it feels like that person and you were created for each other, maybe could never live without each other again. And yet that feeling can fade and change, or… you live your lives together till death, but either way love is only temporary.  The songs message is that life is temporary. Like a ride. I suppose some people may not think that's comforting but to me it's a positive, comforting message.

If you like what you hear, make sure you keep up with them on Facebook + Twitter + Instagram, and come see them play a FREE show at Shuga Records on Saturday, June 2nd at 5PM. Details here. 

New Music Friday 8/25

Lots of new music out this week; From local favorites to long awaited albums, this week's New Music Friday is all over the spectrum. Chicago's own Lucille Furs and Jude Shuma have both debuted singles from upcoming albums, and new artists BAUM and MK.Gee have both released their second singles. All time ANCHR favorites To Kill a King released a new cover of "Cigarette," and new favorites Space4Lease return with another new track, "If It's True." On the album front, Brand New's surprise album that arrived last week is finally on Spotify this week. Gordi, together PANGEA, Widowspeak and more also have new albums out. Tune in below for all those and more!


Lucille Furs- "Our Lady of Perpetual Frustration"

To Kill a King- "Cigarette" (Marika Hackman Cover)

Space4Lease-"If It's True"

LÉON- "Body"

Jude Shuma- "Lemonade"

BAUM- "Hot Water"

The Killers- "Wonderful Wonderful"

MK.Gee-"Unaware"

Brother Brother- "Feels Like 1901"

Colouring- Heathen EP

Har Mar Superstar – Personal Boy EP

The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding

together PANGEA – Bulls and Roosters

Gordi- Reservoir

Widowspeak- Expect The Best

Brand New- Science Fiction

New Music Friday 7/7

SO much new music out today, including albums from HAIM, Dream Version, and Broken Social Scene. Wolf Alice, Honne, and Urban Cone all have singles out this week as well. Tune in now!

Wolf Alice- "Don't Delete The Kisses"

Urban Cone- "Pumping Up Clouds"

Joywave- "Going To A Place"

LÈON- "Surround Me"

Skela- "Hella"

Future Generations- "One More Problem"

 

Honne- "Just Dance"

 

To Kill a King-The Good Old Days (acoustic EP)

Jade Bird- Something American EP

Dream Version- Fight Fair

Broken Social Scene- Hug of Thunder

This Is The Kit- Moonshine Freeze

The Technicolors- Metaphysical

 

Haim- Something To Tell You

New Music Friday 4/7

All of our new jams from this week in one place, including BANKS' first single since the release of The Altar, and new albums from Future Islands, Cold War Kids and more!

Overcoats- "Kai's Song"

(Sandy) Alex G- "Proud"

Banks-"Crowded Places"

Oh Wonder- "Lifetimes"

Summer Salt- "Candy Wrappers"

Future Islands- The Far Field

Plaitum- Constraint

Cold War Kids-LA Divine

The Maine- Lovely Little Lonely

White Reaper- The World's Best American Band

The Wooden Sky- Swimming in Strange Waters

Father John Misty- Pure Comedy

The Big Moon- Love in the 4th Dimension

New Music Friday- 3/3

Lots of new tunes out the last couple of weeks, including the long awaited new single from Lorde, released yesterday. Check out everything we've been listening to the past couple of weeks...

Alex G- "Bobby"

Lorde- "Green Light"

The Shins- "Painting a Hole"

Charlotte OC- "Shell"

Flying Ibex- "No Matter"

Day Wave- "Untitled"

Circa Waves- "Stuck"

Laura Marling- "Nothing, Not Nearly"

LANY- "Good Girls"

Portugal. The Man- "Feel It Still"

Coldplay- "Hypnotised"

The 1975- "By Your Side"

Overcoats- "Nightime Hunger" 

NE-HI- Offers Album

Ed Sheeren: ÷ Album

New Music Friday 2/3

Once again, lots of good tunes out this week, and a few albums from our favorites are out today! And thank gosh, because ANCHR is going abroad to Barcelona this weekend. These are the albums we'll be listening to during the flight today.  

MUNA- About U

Sampha- Process

TEN FE- Hit The Light

Official video for "Overflow," taken from the album Hit The Light. You can stream the full album on Spotify. 

Kevin Garrett- False Hope EP

P.S. Stay tuned for a review of Kevin Garrett's show at Lincoln Hall last night. 

Now for some singles that came out this week...

Rag'N'Bone Man- "Grace"

London Grammar- "Big Picture"

New Music Friday, Featuring Ed Sheeran, Sundara Karma, The Shins, Dua Lipa and More

Our pick of new tunes out this week!

Check out our playlist JAMuary on Spotify, featuring these tunes and more of our recent favorites. 

 

 

 


Sundara Karma "Deep Relief"

The band's entire debut album is also out today. Stream or purchase on most major platforms. 

The band's entire debut album is also out today. Stream or purchase on most major platforms. 


Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" & "Castle on the Hill"


The Shins "Name For You"

dua lipa.jpg

Dua Lipa "Thinking 'Bout You"

Snakehips and Mo "Don't Leave"


The Flaming Lips "We a Family"(featuring Miley Cyrus)

"6th January 5am GMT, midnight EMT"

Ed Sheeran fans (AKA pretty much the whole world) have known since Sunday that Ed will be releasing some sort of new music on Friday at (you guessed it) 5am GMT and midnight EMT. Ed made that announcement via his twitter on January 1st.

So it's clear that we're finally getting new music from Ed, after his 2014 album X. What isn't clear, however, is if we're getting a song, or an entire album.  The singer-songwriter has also been tweeting what appear to be lyrics, and today he tweeted a lone division sign.  

Seeing as Sheeran's last two albums were called and X,  it seems certain we're at least getting more information about the next album along with the new music.  Keep your eye out for more teasers from Ed and brace yourself--we're less than 13 hours away from a new Ed Sheeran song (or songs).