There was a musical language that we created; something without a guiding pattern that you could really just jump into and see where things could go,” Maryland folk musician Michael Nau says of the process of recording his forthcoming third solo album, Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread. He’s wildly poetic, especially when recounting his dedication to music, and the work that led to this particular collection of delicately passionate songs. “These things became the vehicle by which we traveled, giving us reason to spend most of our lives in a van of uncertainty.

The Pittsburgh artist went through a breakup with Ariana Grande and was arrested for a drunken car crash – but his troubles result in a wiser, sadder, better album. There are those years when it seems the only way through is to tell yourself: “Hey, one day, this will make for some good writing material.” Mac Miller has had one of those years. This spring, the 26-year-old rapper’s two-year relationship with Ariana Grande ended; weeks later, he was arrested after drunkenly crashing his car into a telegraph pole.

On Spirit Animal's full-length debut, Born Yesterday, the band not only proves 808s and guitars can coexist in harmony, they also craft airtight songs that would delight in any era. "We want this album to stick with you, but we also want it to be fun" Cal says. "It's more than just a good time, but it shouldn't feel like more than a just good time." Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, singer Steve Cooper, guitarist Cal Stamp, drummer Ronen Evron, and bassist Paul Michel make music that both bottles and transcends the moment. The band's backstory begins in 2013 with a single that quickly topped a million plays on Spotify. Building a buzz, the foursome landed looks from Consequence of Sound, Entertainment Weekly, and The Washington Post. They toured relentlessly along the way, developing a diverse and devout audience. Signing to Atlantic Records in 2017, the band wrote and recorded what became Born Yesterday at Steve's apartment, as well as studios in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Surviving the Summer her first release since 2014's The New Classic and its reissue later that year, Reclassified, save for a few singles and collaborations. She's kicked off its release week by revealing the cover, which features the rapper striking a dramatic and daring pose and one that winks at Janet Jackson's iconic 1993 Rolling Stone cover.

From the newly revitalized punk rock label Kung Fu Records comes the 2018 album from influential punk band Down By Law, the outfit founded by Dave Smalley (Dag Nasty, All). Their first album since 2013 finds the band in excellent form, cranking out maximally melodic and hard-hitting tunes guaranteed to get fists pumping! Down by Law formed in 1989. The band has never achieved substantial commercial success, but a number of largely popular acts cite them as influential, and they have an underground following. After several lineup changes, the band went on hiatus from touring and recording in 2003, but resurfaced in 2008 before beginning work on new material and embarking on their first tour in six years in 2009. In 2017 the band reunited their acclaimed punkrockacademyfightsong lineup and are currently active.

earMUSIC is delighted to announce the worldwide release of the debut album by ULTRAPHONIX, the new creation of Corey Glover (Living Colour) and George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob) alongside the great rhythm section formed by drummer Chris Moore and Pancho Tomaselli on bass. Original Human Music is co-produced by Bob Daspit (Sammy Hagar) and it displays the magic match between Corey Glover's iconic voice and George Lynch's unique style on the guitar. The core and value of Ultraphonix lies in the songwriting and the quality of the songs. Original Human Music is an album where Corey’s profound and thoughtful lyrics sound loud, together with the warm and heavy wall of sound created by George Lynch.

Ingmar Bergman (1918- 2007) made fifty films, directed more than 150 theatre productions and wrote several books, but the recurrent thread running through his life was music. He often said that if he hadn't become a director he would have wished to become a conductor, and went so far as to claim that ‘film and music are almost the same thing. They are means of expression and communication that go beyond human wisdom and that touch a person’s emotional centre.’ Bergman’s interest in classical music became evident early on in his career.

Sannie Fox is a singer and guitarist who has released two critically acclaimed albums and will release her third studio album My Soul Got Stranger now. With her voracious voice and fingers to her electric guitar, Fox sways across an evolving sonic tapestry of desert blues, soul and psychedelic rock sounds. Fox's voice is soulful, deep and grips the blues by its horns. Her 'analogue-ish', old vinyl sound can be compared to the likes of Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald.

Sara May is the creative force behind Canadian indie band Falcon Jane. She’s a vegan virgo from rural Ontario and one of those special souls that finds peace and truth through making music. She’s one of a kind. Falcon Jane’s songs are beautifully balanced: honest yet subtle lyrics, straightforward yet ethereal production, and deeply emotional yet bright, fun songwriting. They’re founders of “plez rock”, a music genre based on pleasantness and feeling good. It’s cute, and maybe a bit cheeky, but it’s dead on. Falcon Jane’s songs convey depth and lightness in equal measure, and they’re a joy to listen to. In short, it’s absolutely pleasant rock.

Blank & Jones celebrate the summer with their unique "RELAX" album concept. Blank & Jones are real Ibiza aficionados - after dancing in KU at the end of the 80s, they later played themselves nightly in Ibiza's 'Big Room' clubs and at Café Del Mar during the day. As headliners, they performed in Amnesia and Eden but were Also known for their chill out sets at El Divino. Your sound is sun-drenched and relaxed. From sunrise to sunset to sunrise. The first single "(Reach Up For The Sunrise)" is a Duran Duran composition, which is lifted by Blank & Jones with a fresh "Chill-Step" version on an ultra-Balearic level.

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter/violinist Amanda Shires will release her highly anticipated fifth album To the Sunset on August 3rd viaSilver Knife/Thirty Tigers. To the Sunsetis Shires' second album with Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb and represents an adventurous move with an edgier sound and attitude. Shires continues to push herself artistically and sonically, but the spotlight always shines brightly on her unmistakable songwriting style and emotive and distinctive vocals. To the Sunset is a compelling collection of narratives often told from a female perspective.

On Golden Age Houndmouth takes a fearless approach to production by enlisting the unlikely team of Jonathan Rado and Shawn Everett, who employed some fairly unconventional recording techniques in the studio. The end result is enthralling, inventive and even more melodic than anything they've previously released.

You may not be able to see the gorgeous landscapes behind Baby Grand, Stuart McLamb’s fourth record as The Love Language, but they’re so essential to the picture you’ll feel them in every note. Started in, of all places, a cavernous Virginia hammock factory, fragmentary demos came alive when splashed by sunshine during a move across the country to California, where the album was completed. “It was something just about being in a new city, and a new light,” McLamb says, “and reopening the sessions, and this demo that I thought was a throwaway, suddenly I’m really feeling it….”

Rory Gallagher is the man who, without question, spearheaded the entire Irish Rock and Blues movement. More than that, he has had a significant influence on scores of musicians everywhere and has legions of loyal fans around the world to this day, despite his untimely death on June 14th, 1995.

The New Christy Minstrels were formed by singer/guitarist Randy Sparks in 1961. Sparks had been a solo musician in the late 1950s, mixing folk music with Broadway. In 1960 he formed the Randy Sparks Trio with his wife, Jackie Miller, and Nick Woods, but soon realized he wanted a larger group. At the time folk music was very popular and choral groups like the Norman Luboff Choir and Les Baxter's Balladeers began incorporating it in their repertoires.