2020 had us striving for human connection harder than ever before, and Whatever, Man created an incredibly tactile space where life feels a little bit more real. Perhaps, it wasn’t a matter of intention but rather an act of pure reception to the world around us. Nevertheless, this album is a rollercoaster kaleidoscope. BLACKSTARKIDS – Gabe, Deiondre and Ty – rose from Kansas City, a place which they call “a hidden gem” when it comes to music. Their greatly colorful influences who are Tyler The Creator, Childish Gambino, Prince, Nirvana, Mac Demarco, The 1975, and many more have fused into Whatever, Man, released at the very end of October 2020, making it a chaotic, saturated improvisation that bombards your mind with imagery in a comfortingly stimulating way. When I find it hard to describe a piece of music, it usually means that I heard something completely new and fresh. That was exactly what happened with this album. Listening to Whatever, Man from beginning to end forms a unique experience – there are some unexpected turns and choices that expand the boundaries an “indie-pop album” usually imposes on an artist. The dopamine-fueled songs roll one onto another with radio-like interludes as a motif. “This is Claire Mitchell and you’re listening to ‘Totally Claire’ – brought to you by Newman University” – says the speaker at the end of the first track – “So, guys, I have a lot to talk about today but we’re gonna play some music first. This is the new BLACKSTARKIDS called ‘Dead Kennedys.'" Claire chats about the struggles of finding friends, performing at local gigs and by this interacts with her not-so-imaginary audience throughout the album. This illusion of communication certainly stirs the fuzz of nostalgia sending us into gameboy-rubber bracelets times when radio shows were actually not only a source of entertainment, but also a way of feeling personally addressed, a place of human connection. Intertwining with the songs are sounds of the outside world, very Brian Eno of the guys to do so, that broaden the album’s reality, a voice introduction from the cameos appearing on the song “FRIENDSHIP” – Matty Healy, beabadoobee etc. Those details added been chosen give Whatever, Man a very particular feeling. This album creates a sense of, I’d say, long-distance digital “scenius” (comes from ‘scene’) – as though you’re part of the temporary community BLACKSTARKIDS have built within Whatever, Man, sharing the joy and the drama of being young. The album’s lyricism has a very beatnik approach to it – with the style of performing, Clair, Deiondre and Ty sound like they’re having a casual conversation, discussing falling in love, “acting normal” and having adult responsibilities, appreciating friendship, struggling with existential questions, mental health, addiction. The lyrics seem to be speaking the same language you are even if you live far across the world. “Let’s give it a whirl / Just might cut off all my curls / I know everybody’s dying / But just know we’re all trying” – hearing this made me accept the disaster we have to exist in now (not only now but also as we’re growing up) and, to be honest, it highlights what Whatever, Man truly is – a 36-minutes long poem that follows these three beautiful young people who are, just like us, trying their best. This album is an experience couldn’t have come at a better time. Listen to Whatever, Man here on Spotify or on whichever platform you prefer. Follow BLACKSTARKIDS on Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

British punk rock band Bad Nerves from London, UK released their debut, self-titled album on November 20th, 2020, and it's amazing. This album is one for fans of loud, noisy, guitar-driven rock music. Filled with songs short and a bit angsty, a bit feel-good, of the garage punk style, this album is definitely one you'd want to give a listen to. My favorite tracks off this record are "Can't Be Mine," "Palace," "Radio Punk," "Electric 88," and "Terminal Boy." There's a line from "Palace" that I'm obsessed with - "A seventies punk with 21st century blues." I don't have much to say about this album - it's the kind of music that demands and is meant to be felt in your bones, not easily deconstructed and discussed on the page. It's raw, vibrant punk energy. It's a record that if not for covid, I would be buying tickets to a show immediately. Bad Nerves is an album that's meant to be heard live, meant to be felt in a crowded room with the sound so loud you can feel it vibrating through your shoes, making you feel alive in the best way. I love this album so much, it's a instant classic and definitely going to be constantly on repeat. Listen to Bad Nerves' debut album here, on Spotify, or on whichever streaming platform you prefer. Follow Bad Nerves on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Just when I thought I couldn’t fall deeper in love with Eerie Shores, they released "Emily" and here I am - in love with their music much more than before. "Emily," released on November 20th, 2020 is a track with a fresh, new sound for the band. The instrumentation in this new song is absolutely breathtaking. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for acoustic tracks, but Eerie Shores finds a very unique way to bring new depth to this stripped-down acoustic masterpiece. “Emily” is anything but your run-of-the-mill acoustic song. Each time you listen to it, you’ll find different layers and sounds that create an enchanting backdrop for the lyrics. Eerie Shores have found a way to mesh traditional acoustic sound with obscurity like a slide guitar & a mandolin to create a new, unique auditory landscape for them. With each verse, you're met with a sound that's special and beautiful. This track is breathtaking by the instrumentals and lyrically captivating. Alex Vasiloff’s vocals are really able to shine through on it, and with being able to hear clearly every word of this song, it makes it that much more personal to me. The beautifully voiced lyrics tell a story about a give-and-take relationship that ends up being all give. There is no reciprocity, one side ends up doing all the work trying to mend what’s broken by the other party. This kind of relationship, be it with a friend, a partner, or a parent, is absolutely exhausting, and unfortunately often hard to get out of. While letting go of Emily might be difficult, I hung on tightly to every word in this song. The premise of a one sided relationship spoke to me instantly on a very personal level. The line “I saw you choking on the waves / I hope the water tastes okay,” makes me chuckle a little bit when I hear it. It sounds like a slight dig at that person you left on that beach, drowning in their own mess. Once you leave her (Emily), and she tries to make it on her own, she’s finally able to see how much you did for her while you stuck around. Experiencing the aftermath of leaving her behind and watching her struggle now that you're gone can seem a little bittersweet. You’ll be okay without her, but will she be able to cope without you now? “I was there to tell you help was on the way,” feels like the turning point in the relationship. It’s that moment you realize that no matter what you do, no matter how much of yourself you give to this person, nothing is going to change. Emily is always going to “need” you. But you can no longer be the hand reaching out to offer assistance because doing so is slowly killing you. She’s stuck in the waves and if you stay, you’ll both drown. You can’t get away, though, before letting Emily know that there is help coming, but it won’t be you providing it. "...it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that this person isn’t really someone that loves you. Or if they do, it’s not in a way that’s compatible with the way you need to be loved." The line that hit home for me the most, though, is “I think something’s wrong with me / because all I see is Emily." Even reading it now gives me chills. Having had my own experience with an “Emily," it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that this person isn’t really someone that loves you. Or if they do, it’s not in a way that’s compatible with the way you need to be loved. When they’re gone, even if you know you’re better off without them, you still catch yourself thinking of them. Maybe you see them in faces of people passing you by on the street, or in the headlights of oncoming traffic. When you do, you’re left blind, attempting to regain your own vision in a world without Emily, trying to learn what love actually is for you. Sometimes it feels a little (or a lot) crazy to miss something or someone that caused you so much pain. I fell in love with this song so quickly because it’s like someone took 2018 me and transcribed her into words I could never seem to find on my own, and backed those lyrics with a stunning musical rendition of the way I felt when I left my Emily. This Emily, the one encapsulated in these lyrics may be metaphorical, but I’ve met her personally, and I think a lot of other people have as well. She might have a different name or another face. Maybe your Emily was left not on some sandy beach, but on a rainy day in some parking lot off 99E, but her defining characteristics were the same. Always one to take, and never able to seem to find it in themselves to give anything in return. You are left feeling selfish, maybe even crazy, for wanting a little bit more. But in reality there’s nothing crazy about wanting someone to meet you halfway. Relationships in any capacity, romantic, platonic, familial, should be reciprocal. And if they aren’t, maybe they’re better left on the other coast, across the sea, waiting on that beach with Emily. Listen to Emily here on Spotify, or on whichever streaming platform you prefer. Follow Eerie Shores on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Meet deepsix - a band from Uxbridge Ontario, Canada. deepsix consists of Nate Hobor (17, vocals & rhythm guitar), Scott MacDonnell (18, lead guitar), James Finlay (17, bass), and Karl Damus (18, drums). They took over our Instagram story last month - you can check that out on our story highlights, @thecheetahpressmag - and released single "bloodmoney" at the beginning of this month. They're a great band full of people who are clearly very passionate at what they do. Read some questions answered below by Nate Hobor to learn more about his band, deepsix. 1) When & why did deepsix form? We formed our band in the last couple days of 2018. James and I decided we wanted to get something going after the NRM (New Rock Mafia) Jam Factory shows in December of that year, but nothing came to fruition until the rest of the guys found each other at a party and jammed. We all got together a couple days later, wrote tyler durden and here we are now. 2) What genre is deepsix? We all have a super different and wide range of influences that we try to incorporate into our sound but I think the easiest way to describe us would just be rock. 3) Who are your biggest inspirations? Band influences in terms of ethos and what we try to emulate with our music and shows would definitely be artists like Chastity, PUP and the New Rock Mafia, bands who step outside of the mainstream realm and create something organic and new. In terms of sound, we all come from different musical backgrounds and tastes but some artists we definitely pull from in our own personal playing are IDLES, Royal Blood, Destroy Boys, Talking Heads, Larnell Lewis, Power Trip, Rush, DEAR-GOD, Alexisonfire, cleopatrick, Ready The Prince and countless others. 4) What do you love about music? I love that music has virtually unlimited boundaries. If you can organize sounds together, you’re making music. I think there’s endless possibilities to it, and deepsix isn’t really an experimental band but I love how open music is as an art form. 5) How has covid affected your band? Has it negatively or positively affected your creativity? Covid has affected us in a weird way. Not being able to jam or practice together has definitely been a strain on us creatively, so we are trying to maximize our time working on recording new songs and re-working old ones. In some ways, it has helped us because it’s forced us to sit back and focus on the quality of the music we are looking to put out, and really make each song the best it can possibly be. cobain and bloodmoney would sound nowhere close to where they are now without the pandemic forcing us to really dig into those songs and pull out all the potential we could. 6) Your recent single, bloodmoney, can you tell us the inspiration for it and the meaning behind it? I’ve never been great at writing personal lyrics so I love writing about things I’m passionate about, and politics is one of those things. I try to be as outspoken as I can on social issues and problems that are currently relevant in our world, and using what platform I have to talk about those things. bloodmoney is a song about capitalism and multi-billionaires and glaring wealth inequality which I think is especially relevant at a time when millions of people have had their entire lives upended by a pandemic, while the rich keep getting richer. 7) Got any plans, music release-wise for 2021? We’ve been working on a project for over a year and a half now. As I mentioned earlier, Covid kind of threw a wrench in our writing/recording process so we aren’t exactly sure when it will be done, but we’re working our asses off to make it the best it can be. That’s all I’ll say. 8) How did you learn to play? We all pretty much taught ourselves our instruments for the most part. 9) One piece of advice for anyone wanting to start a band. My one piece of advice would absolutely be to go to shows and make connections. I’ve met so many friends and made so many amazing relationships by just talking to people at shows and reaching out to people online. We wouldn’t be close to where we are currently if we didn’t have the amount of help and support we got from so many people, and I think meeting people in the scene who know what they’re talking about and learning from their advice is the most important thing you can do when you’re starting a band. Next step is to keep your feet on the ground, be humble, allow yourself to be humbled and respect everyone. Don’t be a dick. Be grateful for everybody that reaches you a hand or teaches you a lesson. 10) Coolest thing to happen at a show, worst thing to happen at a show? I would have to personally say the coolest thing to happen would be at the last show we played, in the West End of Toronto. At that point, cobain hadn’t been released yet and it served at our set opener at every show we played. On this night, the whole front row was singing every word to cobain with me. I know it’s probably cliché to say so, but that moment was absolutely insane for me. Realizing that these songs I write in my bedroom affect people enough that they know the lyrics to them before they’re even released was a really crazy thing. In terms of worst, last November we tried to set up a show in Uxbridge. Uxbridge has absolutely zero scene for this kind of music but we wanted to just throw a big show with some friends and have a ripper. It ended up being in a huge church gym and we got our homies from Mile End and Fury in Few to come up for it. I could’ve predicted this but not very many people showed up, and the sound in a giant concrete church gym is not the greatest for playing distorted loud instruments. Scott’s gonna kick me for saying this but it’s still probably one of my fondest show memories just cause we got to play with the homies and a bunch of our friends showed up for it. But the sheer amount of people that weren’t there was pretty funny. If someone who is reading this was at that show, I appreciate you. Listen to "bloodmoney" here on Spotify or whichever streaming platform you prefer. Follow deepsix on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Fury in Few are back with another single following the past two releases from eariler this year - "Put The Thriller Down" and "Generation Xtra Special," both of them being songs I absolutely love, and "Knife Edge Death Match" is no different. It's a powerful song and I love it so much. The guitar is as furious as the lyrics; and whilst I can't relate to them, I understand and can feel the anger. It's a song full of frustration, full of wanting to seek revenge, wanting to satisfy a relationship that is clearly toxic. "Knife Edge Death Match" overall reminds me of bands I love like Seether and Finger Eleven. It's a brand of rock that you don't really get much of mainstream anymore, and I love it. It's definitely a song you could mosh to, someday in the hopefully near-future. I'm beyond excited for what Fury in Few have for us in the coming year; hopefully more songs that sound like this one. Listen to Knife Edge Death Match on Spotify here or whichever streaming platform you prefer. Follow Fury in Few on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

The only trouble this track is going to cause is the wear it’s putting on my headphones. “Trouble’s Coming,” the latest release from British rock duo Royal Blood has been on repeat on my playlists since it dropped on September 24, 2020. The first riff of the intro is very reminiscent of an early 2000’s boy band, and I’m here for it. The song quickly develops into something entirely different, however. Lots of fun electronic pitches matched with a dirty guitar (which actually isn’t a guitar at all, but tricky play with pedals that makes Mike Kerr’s bass sound remarkably similar to one), and some killer drum fills courtesy of Ben Thatcher make this song very easy to bop your head along to. Despite the groovy rock feel to the song, the lyrics touch on a heavy subject. One of my favorite things is when an artist combines deep and emotional lyrics with a rhythm that makes you want to dance along while it plays through your speakers. It’s a powerful juxtaposition that you just don’t get with a ballad. Everyone knows a sad song when they hear it, but with something like “Trouble’s Coming” you aren’t necessarily anticipating the weight of the lyrics you’re about to hear. “I see someone but not somebody” in the first verse, following the image Kerr paints of having punched a mirror after seeing his reflection, is a stunning lyric. Looking at yourself and not liking what you see, be that physically or metaphorically, is something that I’m sure almost everyone can relate to. When who you want to be and who you are currently don’t line up perfectly, it causes an internal battle I know I’ve faced many times. Sometimes it feels easier to run away from that feeling instead of facing it. Or in this case, shatter a mirror so you don’t have to see your feelings painted on your face right in front of you. The line “Trouble’s coming, but I still don’t know when / that’s the voice that I can hear in my head” right before the first chorus gave me goosebumps the first time I picked up the lyrics. That feeling is all too familiar, one of knowing that “trouble” of some kind is imminent but having no control over when it will manifest itself is daunting. Trying to escape it is like running a marathon on a treadmill. You’re going through the motions, picking your feet up and doing the work, but at the end of the day you didn’t get very far at all. To me, this is reminiscent of depressive episodes that I can feel coming and can try to attempt to stop, but ultimately they come and I feel like I have no control over it. Depressive episodes seem to come and go as they please, can't track when they'll come to me and it takes over everything, it's the voice I hear in my head. Overall, this song hit home for me. The lyrics are almost unsettling because it’s so relatable. Almost as if the writer got straight into my head and put into words the things I’ve felt for so long but have never been able to properly voice, tracked over a beat that makes you feel like, until the song ends, that everything is okay. It's a remarkable song. “Trouble’s Coming” is definitely going to be a song on heavy rotation for me while I wait for Royal Blood’s next release. Listen to "Trouble's Coming" on Spotify here, or on whichever streaming platform you prefer. Keep up with Royal Blood on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Halloween's almost here, and if you're looking for something safe to do this year, why not have a horror movie marathon? Here's a list of my top ten horror movies with killer soundtracks made of rock, metal, and punk songs that you can watch this Halloween instead of going out. Note - This list is soundtrack-based only, not by scores, which would be an entirely different list. 1) I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) This film is your typical 90's slasher, with the iconic Sarah Michelle-Gellar. It's fantastic and so is the soundtrack, featuring L7, The Offspring, Blue Oyster Cult, and more. 2) Zombieland (2009) This one's less horror, and more coming-of-age, zombie style. The soundtracks' too good and the movie's too funny for it go unnoticed. 3) Green Room (2016) Green Room is genuinely terrifying. It's about a young punk band who accidentally end up playing at a Alt-Right venue, and well, there's a machete. 4) Scream (1996) You can't make a horror movie list without including Scream, one of the biggest and best slashers of all-time. 5) Ginger Snaps (2000) A hidden gem. Ginger Snaps, one of the best supernatural horror films, with a female protagonist. Features a very metal soundtrack. 6) The Lost Boys (1987) This is peak 80's horror, from the costumes to the synth filled soundtrack. A classic. 7) Halloween (2007) For a Halloween franchise film, it lacks, but for a Rob Zombie film, it's great, as all his films are. The soundtrack absolutely slays. 8) Final Destination 3 (2006) The best one out of the 9 films. If "Love Rollercoaster" doesn't haunt you after this film, I don't know what will. 9) The Return Of The Living Dead (1985) Amazing punk soundtrack, a must-watch. 10) Trick Or Treat (1986) If you like Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne, this is the movie for you. You can listen to the playlist featuring music from these movies on our Spotify here. Stay safe this Halloween!

Mental health as defined by Merriam-Webster is "the condition of being sound mentally and emotionally that is characterized by the absence of mental illness and by adequate adjustment especially as reflected in feeling comfortable about oneself, positive feelings about others, and the ability to meet the demands of daily life." Everyone has mental health along with their physical health, and both run in conjunction with each other. If you have poor mental health, it's going to reflect on your body and make you feel fatigue, experience weight loss, have headaches, feel nausea, be irritable, and many feel other negative symptoms. Poor mental health can also develop into a mental illness such as depression and anxiety, if left unchecked and untreated. I struggle with a mental illness everyday, and something I find solace and escape from it is rock music. Rock, as probably any other genre as well, is stereotypically wrapped up in a fantasy that glamorizes and romanticizes substance abuse, addiction, and poor mental & physical health. It's all too easy to fall into it, to want to live in some rockstar's fantasy world. But you need to remember that it's a fantasy and your actions have consequences. You need to take care of yourself and choose the safer and healthier options, even if doing so is the hard choice, it's always the right choice. Anyone who's into rock probably has an idol who's passed from suicide. Kurt Cobain. Chris Cornell. It hurts, even if you've never met them. You've also probably heard of The 27 Club as well. Amy Winehouse. Jimi Hendrix. Substance abuse and addiction is all too common in rock scenes, and mental illness (such as depression) runs hand-in-hand with it. I don't have any answers to these things, I'm not a physiatrist or a therapist. I only know what I've learned through my own life experience, through living with a mental illness - bipolar disorder - for many years. What I've learned from it is that you have to find a reason everyday to keep going, to keep fighting. Every single day, one reason, no matter how small. It could be the ladybug you saw on your way home, it could be the decision to wake up early and make tea the next day, it could be waiting for your favorite band's next release. One reason to pull yourself together, to stop crying and go to sleep. One reason to keep fighting to feel better, to overcome your mental illness or just your bad day. One reason to choose the healthier option over the bad one. It's not all you need, but it's the beginning. Taking things month-by-month, week-by-week, hour-by-hour and even second-by-second is sometimes what we need to do. If 2020 has taught all of us collectively anything, it's you can't plan out your life and expect it go 100% according to plan, because it won't, and that's okay. Humans are flexible and resilient, whatever you feel isn't forever. You can heal and pick yourself back up over and over again, you have this strength inside of you. Taking care of your mental health is defined by the simplest of things: eating healthy food, getting sleep, drinking water, and exercising. It might be daunting to start at first, to choose healthy behaviors over negative ones, but taking that first step is all you need to do. Learning how to express & understand your feelings is something that helps immensely as well; for yourself and for your loved ones. Rock is something I love so deeply, and we're in 2020, not 1979. We can and should leave behaviors behind that hurt us and create a new rock culture, one that prioritizes and supports being healthy, in both the mental and physical ways. Take care of yourself and take care of others. Wear a mask and take vitamins. De-stress every week. If you feel bad, if you're feeling unwell, seek out professional help (if it's accessible for you). Learn how to be honest and communicate your feelings in healthy and emotionally mature ways. This year has been tough for all of us everywhere, definitely made worse with the lack of live music, but it won't be forever. Live music will return, and in the meantime, it'll be more than worth it to focus on self-care and feeling well. The music thrives when we do, so don't be afraid to seek help for your mental health. It's okay to not feel okay, but know it's not forever. Resources for mental health help: Crisis Text Line The Jed Foundation The Trevor Project

The latest single from Canadian-American rock artist grandson takes fans back to the political angst they’ve come to know and love from the artist. "Dirty," released September 22, 2020 is a fueled, upbeat track that demands to be heard. It comes with the news that grandson's debut studio album, Death of an Optimist, will be released on December 4th, 2020. The album consists of 12 tracks. Tracklist: 1. ‘Death of an Optimist //Intro’ 2. ‘In Over My Head’ 3. ‘Identity’ 4. ‘Left Behind’ 5. ‘Dirty’ 6. ‘The Ballad of G and X // Interlude’ 7. ‘We Did It’ 8. ‘WW3’ 9. ‘Riptide’ 10. ‘Pain Shopping’ 11. ‘Drop Dead’ 12. ‘Welcome to Paradise//Outro’ “Is it time to lead or is it time to die / Time to raise hell or walk on by?” These first lines in "Dirty" really spark important questions when looking at our current political climate. If you know grandson and his stance when it comes to politics, you already know the answers to those. But when you hear the song, having these kinds of grand propositions followed so quickly by a kind of dismal option really pushes you to opt for the side of making a change instead of just standing idly by while things are happening around you. We’re at a pinnacle time in history where our voices all need to be heard. The election coming up in November for those of us in the United States is one of the most crucial we have seen in our lifetimes. I have rights on the line, I have friends with rights on the line, and I’m sure you do as well. This track is definitely above all else it seems, a call to action. Voter registrations are rapidly approaching in most states and ballots are going out. Please use your voice, get your hands dirty, and encourage those around you to do the same. grandson has a way of encouraging political activism that was unbeknownst to me until hearing the Modern Tragedy series, and "Dirty" brings me right back to that first time I felt compelled to get involved in political change via a song. "Please use your voice, get your hands dirty, and encourage those around you to do the same." The thing that I really love about this song is that while it can very easily be an anthem about our civic duty, this can also be a song to scream as you’re following your dreams. The second time I listened to this song through, I really paid attention to how the words resonated with me personally on a more intimate scale. “Do you love a sunset / aren’t you fed up yet / do you have enough love in your heart / to go and get your hands dirty,” are probably a few of the lines that stuck out to me most when considering how this song spoke to me directly. When I hear those lines I’m faced with this internal conflict of being fed up with the way my life has been going but not doing anything to change it. I have felt stuck in some kind of a rut, not able to find simple pleasures in the way the sky is painted in strokes of crimson and lilac when the sun sets, let alone with the impact I feel I’m having on myself or those around me. Do I have enough love in my heart to go and get my hands dirty? Do I care enough to do the hard work, the uncomfortable, dirty, messy, confusing things that it takes to get to the other side of mundane? There are so many small things I could do everyday to make progress toward where I want to be, but I’ve been afraid to get dirty along the way and actually do them. There are so many times in life where we will continue to sit in our comfort even if we know it’s not the right thing to do, or what we’re supposed to do, simply out of fear of not knowing what will happen if we deviate from those ruts we're stuck in. Change is terrifying for almost everyone. A good friend of mine recently told me that nothing worth doing is easy, because if it was, everyone would do it and the world would be perfect. That statement, much like this song, reminded me that while it’s not easy to break from the mold you’ve cast for your life thus far, doing it will always be worth it. No matter how dirty you get in the process. You can stream "Dirty" here on Spotify or on whichever streaming platform you prefer, and pre-order Death of an Optimist here.

I’ve loved Greta Van Fleet since the minute I first listened to them a couple of summers ago, when "Highway Tune" came up on one of my Spotify mixes. It instantly blew my mind; the opening guitar riff, the now-iconic wail - courtesy of singer Josh Kiszka - at the beginning, everything about it made me want to know more about who these guys were and what they were capable of. Two weeks later, I impulsively bought tickets to see them live on their three-day stint at Terminal 5 in New York, which turned into a night that will surely live in my memory as one of the best shows I have ever attended. Listening to Greta Van Fleet’s music is like stepping into a time-warp. They deliver a blues-inspired sound, with the classic 70s rock edge and psychedelic influences mixed in, that of which has caused a lot of discourse as to whether or not Greta Van Fleet is the “real deal.” With their previous releases, 2017’s EP From the Fires and their debut album, 2018’s Anthem of the Peaceful Army, the band could not escape the constant associations to the famous rock acts before them. Sure, you can compare them to Led Zeppelin, to Rush, to Wolfmother, but at the end of the day, these classic rock revivalists are here to stay. With their new single, “My Way, Soon,” they have finally put all the nay-sayers in their place, proving their lasting talent in the process. “My Way, Soon” is an ode to life on tour, to freedom, and to fleeting youth. The single has been promoted as “a liberating and jubilant track that celebrates and reflects the band’s personal transformation over the past three years”; listening to the track - and watching the accompanying music video - these words could not ring more true. “My Way, Soon” is an ode to life on tour, to freedom, and to fleeting youth. Being such a young band (twins Josh and Jake Kiszka, guitarist, are 24; bassist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner are 21), it’s truly impressive to see them put out a song that is so mature and sentimental all at once. The song opens with a joyous, upbeat guitar riff, as Josh Kiszka sings about the people and places the band has encountered in their three years of touring. Leading into the chorus, Kiszka wails on about a new sense of liberation, singing that he’ll “throw out the plans, and live with no burden.” As Josh goes on to contemplate the fast-paced lifestyle of himself and his bandmates, he sings, “And with so much left to ponder / I choose the road…” admitting that while he knows such a life is not for everyone - nor is it often granted to just anyone - he wouldn’t have it any other way. “My Way, Soon” is truly a beautiful song; it encompasses all the feelings that Greta Van Fleet have always managed to evoke - those of nostalgia, independence, and peace - but what makes this song, in particular, so astounding is the newfound sense of identity it grants the band. With this single, they have finally found their voice. When I think of Greta Van Fleet, “My Way, Soon” comprises everything about their sound, aesthetic, and voice that fans love so much. From the guitars to the lyrical content, this new single is the perfect step in the right direction towards the band’s assertion of themselves as a stand-out rock band. Listen to "My Way Soon" here on Spotify or whichever streaming platform you prefer. Follow Greta Van Fleet on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Meet Sophie Grace White - a 24 year old photographer from the Lake Distract in England, but currently residing in Maplewood, New Jersey. She's been a photographer for ten years, shooting busy city streets, portraits of people, live music, and more. Scroll on to see some of her work and read the interview all about her. 1) What do you shoot with? I typically shoot with a Nikon D800 digital camera for work and a bunch of roughed up and ready film cameras for my personal works! You tend to need a strong digital camera for paid gigs but, for me, it's important to shoot my personal life and more intimate projects. I like to use film cameras because the whole process is slower and, in ways, more romantic. 2) What or who got you into photography? Did you study it by yourself or were you taught? I've always been interested in emulating the naked eye. As a kid, I'd draw and trace and became obsessed with how the TV & the photographic process worked. My grandad was a motorcycle racer back in the 1960's and always had a camera on his hip during his travels across the globe and later in his life. When he died his film camera was left to me which really made me take the art seriously. Since then, I've studied photography, in England, for several years, gaining 3 qualifications and a degree from Manchester School of Art in the medium. 3) What do you prefer to shoot? It really depends on what I'm working on. Live music can demand digital - sometimes you have to upload right then and there from the gig, depending on the client's needs so digital works most effectively. I love shooting with broken cameras or worn out film. Having that lack of control over the outcome is so refreshing and can really teach you a lot. Sometimes my best ideas come from my mistakes. But really, what's important for any photographer is to shoot with what you've got. I hate that money causes a photographic hierarchy and I've battled that mentality my whole career. I've worked on $1 thrift store cameras and huuuge-worth-more-money-than-your-life Hasselblad cameras.. it's all the same to me. I still only own one digital camera and one single 50mm portrait lens. It goes with me to every gig and festival and it always gets laughed at by some prick with a telephoto lens... I always get my images though! You don't need the fanciest camera you just gotta practice with what ya got, have faith and get at it. 4) Who are your favorite musical artists (and your favorite photographers)? For a good time call - The Rolling Stones, DeeOhGee, Blossoms, David Bowie, The Minks, Elton John, Sports Team, Brittany Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, Howlin' Wolf, The Kinks or Muddy Waters.. Dusty Springfield reminds me of my Mum. So she's way up there too. I've always been interested in both photographers and artists across the board. Yayoi Kusama, Salvador Dali, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Norman Parkinson, Bill Cunningham, John Baldessari, Annie Leibovitz, Tim Walker, Gordon Parks all spring to mind. I probably think about those lot daily 5) Where does your inspiration come from? I have my best ideas when I'm out running, which is unfortunate because I hate running. It does clear my head, however, and focus me in a way that drugs and alcohol never could which is why I had to give them up (sorry for all of you who had harmful romanticized addictions on your suffering artist bingo cards). I like to read, listen to music, draw and talk it out with friends. Some of my best ideas have come from those insane ramblings you have at 2am on the phone to your slightly dehydrated and over-caffeinated friends putting the world to rights and some dark humorous wrongs. I'm really grateful I have those people to call upon and that they eventually do pick up! 6) What's the hardest part about your profession and the easiest part of it? Hardest part? Getting paid gigs and getting harassed for being a woman doing her job at said gigs. It's hard. You gotta learn to stand your ground and when it's best to walk away. I'd rather work with great people for free and than be surrounded by assholes loaded with dirty money. But as I said, you do what you can.. 7) Do you have any tips for someone wanting to get into concert photography (or photography in general)? Shoot your friends first. Just portraits. Get to know the human body and how it looks in movement. Take your camera and images, when its safe again, to your local venue - ask if you can shoot for free and for practice. Practice like hell. Gig lighting is a bitch and even now I'm still learning on the fly. Always be on your best behavior - you don't know who could be watching you or who could be your next big break. Don't fuck it up by being too wasted to take the shot. Be nice! It's free to be kind and it can lead to some great friendships, career opportunities, and insane stories. 8) What do you like to do for fun? I used to go to art galleries and gigs! Nowadays, I like to practice my macramé art. I have an online store called @hotcakehaus! I make guitar straps, bags, wall hangings.. it's a new skill that's completely separate and just calms me down completely! I also play saxophone and journal. 9) Where would you like your photography to take you and where have you gone so far? My photography has allowed me to work across the UK, Nepal, Poland, Germany, and across the USA. Next? I'd like to settle somewhere eventually and build a studio and grow vegetable patch.. I'll probably stay on the road though, it's in my bones to hightail it outta town now! 10) How has quarantine affected your photography? I've had to completely change my focus. I'd love to get back to live music but I'm not holding my breath. I'll be there when she returns but for now, I'm focused on self-publishing new work, working with magazines, and trying to find avenues that are still viable and interesting creatively. My pandemic project 'Deep Down Happy' will be released via CONSTRUCT zine later this month so keep an eye out for that on my instagram - @sophieinthestudio!

"Shot In The Dark" was released by rock band AC/DC on October 7th, 2020. It comes ahead of their reunion album, Power Up, and features a familiar, classic AC/DC sound. It is their first release since 2014. "Shot In The Dark" sounds like I could tell you it had been released in 1979 and you'd be none the wiser. This factor doesn't make it bad, however, it gives fuel to how timeless they are. Their style worked back then and it's definitely working now. I love this song, and I'm extremely excited for their upcoming album, Power Up. Power Up will be released on November 13th, 2020. It consists of twelve tracks, available on digital, cd, and vinyl. What's extremely cool about this release is there's a limited edition, deluxe Power Up cd which comes in light up box with a flashing neon AC/DC logo, and built-in speakers that play "Shot In The Dark." Inside there's a 20-page booklet with exclusive photos and a USB charging cable for the box's lights. Tracklist: Realize Rejection Shot In The Dark Through The Mists Of Time Kick You When You’re Down Witch’s Spell Demon Fire Wild Reputation No Man’s Land Systems Down Money Shot Code Red You can preorder the album in any format here, on their online store.