New Stuff from Solidarity Club Records: 2 Am Wake Up Call + Rat Fancy

Bandcamp Friday should be about supporting your friends and making sure they get some ample love; we’ve all got bills to pay, right? Well, our friends over at Solidarity Club (also delicious coffee roasters!) have just signed on to work with 2 Am Wake Up Call, so they’re sharing a brand new video from the act. It’s a rambunctious little rocker, and for someone who grew up in the Y2K hysteria, somewhat nostalgic too, particularly when it comes to the video. But, along with the new signing, the label is also putting out a Deluxe Edition of Rat Fancy‘s Stay Cool album, which features label-owner Gregory. All the proceeds from that release will go to legal funds associated with the singer’s official name change to Shawn Barraza; they’re great humans, so we’re here to lift that up! Check the video, and stream Stay Cool, and help where you can!

Nailpolishh Share Post-That

Diana and Gregory are core members of ATH favorites Rat Fancy, but throughout the last few years, they’ve been working on tapping into their own varied interests in pop music, churning out fresh tunes under the name Nailpolishh. Today we’re really excited to share with you “Post-That,” the first single from their forthcoming Cry, Cry Again. It’s really interesting to consider the craft that works in creating this tune; I can hear a very Rat Fancy jangling guitar line looped from the very beginning of this track, and of course, Diana’s voice is still ever-recognizable. Sure, they’re dropping in beats and playing with those vocal notes, but you can still hear their adherence to pop structures. Pretty excited to hear what the rest of the LP sounds like, if you ask me. Cry, Cry Again will be out in September via Solidarity Club Records and Chillwave Records.

Stream Jungheim’s Songs That Piss Men Off

Ready for your wormhole of great tunes? Well, let me introduce you to Jungheim, a songwriter I only recently heard about when Solidarity Club Records dropped Songs That Piss Men Off; the entirety of the EP is taking songs from the classic tropes of rock n’ roll and stealing them from the cis male perspective, and refashioning them. The five songs in this EP are these lushly arranged ballads, pulling at your emotions with every note; it somehow made me feel like indie rock wasn’t bland again, such is its refreshing presentation. Seriously, if you feel like indie rock got stuck, just spend 20 minutes here. Plus, if you like it, and you like cassettes, you can jump and grab it along with a fine roasted coffee from the label curators at Solidarity Club: Buy HERE. Then go down that hole and fine more from Jungheim to love; I know I did.

Nailspolishh Shares Hollows EP

If you happen to come by our site from time to time, you surely have heard the name of Rat Fancy, who we’ve praised again and again. But, at the moment, Diana and Gregory are focused on their other recording project, Nailpolishh; they’ve been able to work on it during the pandemic, with more stay-at-home-and-record time. Now, don’t think just because you’ve heard Rat Fancy that you’re getting the same thing, reworked. In fact, the majority of the songs the duo have worked on have more of a hip-hop appeal, though they do weave in other areas that might be of interest…a little goth, a little dream pop, and maybe a splash of emo, all rolled up in one giant ball of fun. That fun is called Hollows, so go give it a listen! Available via cassette at Solidarity Club.

Dusty Miller Drops Empathy EP

Our friends over at Solidarity Club Records have a pretty solid thing going on, and I’m really stoked on their latest release from Dusty Miller. All I had to hear was that chimes nod coming through, matched quickly by the light dreaminess of the guitars in “Misconstrued” to be on board; this song has some special vocal moments too, showing off the range from Eden Rivas. You probably won’t want to miss the band’s cover of Cocteau Twins’ “Bluebeard,” though neither of the aforementioned tracks does it for me quite like “Focus.” That guitar, muted and jangling all at once, with Rivas doing a little vocal dance across the tune really had me coming back for repeat listens. Empathy is out now!

Figure Austere Share Drippy Eyes Video

France is a hotbed of incredible pop music as of the last few years, and the good people over at Solidarity Club Records are bringing the bedroom pop stylings of Figure Austere all the way from Evry, France to your doorstep. In the song below you have a father dealing with the anxieties of his child, which as portrayed in the video comes with a sense of melancholy. But, children are resilient, and by the end of the video you’ve turned that frown upside down. Musically, the song recalls to me a sort of vague homage to Kings of Convenience, though spun through a sort of upbeat synthesized mixer; it’s energetic, but still feels supremely personal. If you love the song, That’s Gone Now is available today, so grab a copy HERE.

Best of 2019 According to Rat Fancy/Solidarity Club

Diana and Greg are a power team. They work together on Greg’s Solidarity Club label, and together, they rock under the name Rat Fancy; this year they released the album Stay Cool via HHBTM, and it’s definitely worth your time. Since I’m giving a good deal of list making up to our friends and idols, we reached out to see what the two thought were the best releases of 2019.

Visit Solidarity Club HERE or check out their tunes in Rat Fancy HERE.

Photo by Jessica Hinkle.

 

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Catchy Pop Rock from Dylan Ewen

Sometimes we get so caught up in expectations and hype that we often forget what great catharsis can come from just having fun with rock n’ roll…and that’s why I’m encouraging you to listen to Dylan Ewen. Here you’ve got Dylan with this energetic pop rock tune that’s easily the most infectious thing you’re going to hear today, or this week. There’s these little guitarmonies in there, matched by Ewen’s playful lyricisms; you’ll find yourself tapping your toes and bobbing your head, and all will seem right in the world. This tune appears on I’ve Made So Many Mistakes EP, which is being released by Solidarity Club Records on November 1st.

Another Hit from Rat Fancy

Next week that new Rat Fancy LP is going to drop, and you won’t be able to stop playing it from start to finish, so why not get into another little tease from the record? Here we’ve got this poppy bounce that’s been all dolled up in fuzz and crashing cymbals to drive home the emotive hook. I love how they tease it out too, giving you twenty seconds to build the tension before it all comes crashing down on your ears in the best way possible. Plus, I love how there’s this nostalgic feel to Diana’s voice, like she decided she could do it better than the Runaways. Anyways, Stay Cool is out on June 7th via HHBTM/Solidarity Club Records.

Rat Fancy Announce Debut LP

When I first heard Rat Fancy‘s Suck a Lemon EP, I was hooked; it was about 15 minutes of pop-laden fuzz rock that I couldn’t put down. But, that was all one hot minute ago. Today we bring you news that the band have announced their debut LP, and they’re doing so with in typical infectious fashion. The song itself is like a more raucous version of what the band teased on their EP; Diana sounds more confident and things are just a little more scuzzy texturally…and they never shy too far away from pop sensibility. For me, the video is one of the reasons I love this band; you can feel the energy of Diana and Greg as they jump about on whatever screen you’re watching this on; you want to be there, you want to be them. Sometimes, this old world of ours is crazy and frustrating and confusing, so why not just go out and make some trouble! Stay Cool will be out on June 7th via HHBTM and Solidarity Club Records.