“Return The Day” by Dog Race – An EP Feature

     Dog Race, a band based in the UK, recently released the 5-song EP “Return The Day.” Our favorites tracks are “Return The Day (Colours)” and “It’s The Squeeze.” But referring to the EP in general, the band explained that it as:
  "A soundscape born from sleepless nights, intrusive thoughts, and the quiet war between the mind and the world around me. Each track pulls at the threads of cultish beliefs and everyday expectations, exposing the weight they place on someone already battling inner turmoil."

      The members are Katie Healy (vocals), Jed Finkelstein (drums), James Kelly (guitar), Will Macnab (bass), and Dillon Willis (synth). Their sound is easily distinguished from other songs featured on Indie Obsessive. The band is from England, but they show German influences, and as evidenced in “Return The Day (Colours)” and “It’s The Squeeze,” lyrical chants are a strength of Dog Race.

     “Return The Day (Colours)” by Dog Race

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dograceband/
Bandcamp: https://dograceband.bandcamp.com/
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/dograceband?
 
Lyrics of “Return The Day (Colours)” by Dog Race
Count the stars getting out the shower
Boiling point, looks like a hot poached salmon
Finger the pink, beside the belly button
The curtains are catching a tan this Sunday
 
The Lord dimmed the virgin-stained windows
The sheet magenta, now a sheet of pale dogwood
I'd like to report a bad batch, act pronto!
My tears keep whispering I should be serenity
 
I'll try to return the day at the checkout counter
I'll try to return the day at the checkout counter
 
Pause the hand, circling the hour
The chestnut stain has wilted to a sweet timber
Finger the stitch, between the cord patch pockets
The ceilings are holding a mass this Sunday
The Lord dimmed the virgin-stained windows
The sheet of marine, a sheet of ancient
I'd like to report a bad batch, act pronto!
My tears keep whispering I should be serenity
 

I'll try to return the day at the checkout counter
I'll try to return the day at the checkout counter
My colours are not working, my colours stopped working
[Repeating]

     “It's The Squeeze” by Dog Race

Lyrics of “It's The Squeeze” by Dog Race
How many studies, have aided your dysfunction
I’m in pain over here, and I can’t get a dog’s attention
It's a mutual understanding, that your bluey takes the winning
And I must download a squeezy app, to cure my suffering
 
Oh no, he won’t leave me alone
I owe my life to him, it’s just the situation
If a park run makes me bleed and cry
Then why suggest a marathon
I call it alone time with fiber glass insulation
 
I know that it’s my fault, but then it’s not
But then it is, but then it’s not, but then it is again
 
It’s the squeeze, it’s not the love
It’s the squeeze, it’s not the love
 
A budding rose bush is bursting into season
European nightcrawlers are itching for a feeding
Sawflies haunt the rosa peace, they ponder what is destined
She wonders if she’ll ever breed or shortly follow nature
 
Oh no, he won’t leave me alone
I owe my life to him, but it's just the situation
If I wage a war with life, I’ll never make a parent
I call it alone time with pesticide chrysanthemum
 
I know that it’s my fault, but then it’s not
But then it is, but then it’s not, but then it is
But then it’s not, but then it is again
 
It’s the squeeze, it’s not the love
It’s the squeeze, it’s not the love
It’s the squeeze, it’s not the love
It’s the squeeze, it’s not the love
It's not the love [Repeating]

"All In Who You Know" by Smokey Brights – A Song Feature

 

     This is a story of initially overlooking a song’s appeal—though not one of missed opportunity, since we eventually recognized what we had missed.  Caroline at Clarion Call Media gave us an early heads-up that Smokey Brights would soon release “All In Who You Know,” the first single from their upcoming album, “Dashboard Heat.” The 11-track album is set to drop on September 26, 2025. We immediately enjoyed the song, but it took a second encounter to fully open our ears.
 

      The instrumental highlight of "All In Who You Know" is from the Yamaha “keytar” that is shown in the embedded picture. It’s likely that this Yamaha SHS-10 is set in its Rock guitar “voice,” based upon the wail heard at the 46-second mark.  The instrument is held by Kim West, who also provides the lead vocals. The other members of Seattle-based Smokey Brights are Ryan Devlin (vocals/guitars), Luke Ragnar (bass/vocals), and Nick Krivchenia (drums).
 
      The final 30 seconds of the song are also noteworthy. "All In Who You Know" sequentially moves from a “banger” to Neo-psychedelia and then a near-religious delivery, before a final moment of self-congratulation.

     The lyrics of the song are included at the bottom of this post. Cleverly, Smokey Brights refer to "All In Who You Know" as “The world’s first anthem for mutual aid via petty theft - this synth-laden banger punches up at celebrities and egg barons and reminds us that the power to push back lies in small acts of resistance that can happen anywhere, even the grocery store checkout line.”

     "All In Who You Know" by Smokey Brights

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smokeybrights/
Website: http://smokeybrights.com/

Lyrics of "All In Who You Know" by Smokey Brights
Cereal for dinner, Thursday night
Grab some one percent from the Shop ‘n Rite
Thought about some cheap red wine
But my shift was slow, and tips were light
 
I picked up a magazine
Smokin' hot celebrities
They're just like us, but not like me
 
Guess it's all in who you know
 
Jo bagged the milk, and we caught up
Her kids, her folks, the rent, her boyfriend Doug
Talked about the rising price
Of stupid shit, of getting by
 
She ran my card, declined again
But she waived me through, cause she's a friend
 
Yeah, it's all in who you know
All in who you know
 
I said I'll buy you a beer, after your shift
You can't borrow the van, but I'll give you a lift
I mean, what's a job really worth to you?
If you see a friend, just wave ‘em through
 
It's all in who you know
It's all in who you know
All in who you know
 
So who do you know?
Who do you know?

“East London Hotel” and “Lighthouse” by Broken Fires – Song Features

 

     Broken Fires have released two tracks from their forthcoming third studio album, showcasing the band’s diverse strengths through the striking contrast between the two songs. “Lighthouse” emphasizes melody and harmony, including choral harmony, as the band nostalgically reflects on a landmark of their homeland. In comparison, “East London Hotel” features power vocals, driving guitar, and lyrics about the futility of objecting to gentrification. [The lyrics of both songs are included in this post.] 
 
     “Lighthouse” begins with non-complex, yet emotionally effective, solidary guitar that supports engaging harmony. A synth soon enters, followed by piano, but the vocals remain the focal point. The lyrics repeat three times, but the variations in presentation mask the repetition. The final iteration begins with the song’s most powerful moment, before gently returning to the understated beauty of the opening. Broken Fires, a Wales-based band, explain that “Lighthouse” was written on an industrial estate in Croydon whilst feeling the pain of missing the beauty of the Welsh coastline. More poetically, they state:
  “This is a song about a lighthouse made of iron, weathering the thick Welsh rain off the coast of Swansea. But fundamentally, it's about a longing for home. Sometimes we all need a lighthouse. A familiar, protective beacon that survives and guides us through the chaos of the storm.”
 
     The opening of “East London Hotel” is anything but gentle, with a forceful guitar immediately setting the tone. But the sound initially aligns more with another part of the UK - Scotland. The first verse even gives a nod to Scottish whisky. The band describes the track as blending “Biffy Clyro-esque guitars with unashamed melodic hooks to make a slightly bitter alt-pop cocktail about gentrification.” “East London Hotel” was written on the back of a bus on a journey home through Shoreditch London. The song was inspired by the epidemic of commercial developments turning once precious cultural spaces into pretentious hangouts.
 
     “East London Hotel” has the feel of a power anthem, but temporarily relaxes into a vocals-driven segment at 1:42. The song begins to return to its Rock roots 18 seconds later.
 
     Broken Fires are from Swansea, UK. The credits to “Lighthouse” identify the composers and lyricists as Thomas Stephens (lead vocals, guitar), Gareth Carter (guitar), Justin Hendy (guitar), and David Francis (drums), but pictures of the band often show six, and sometimes seven, musicians. Their upcoming album is scheduled for release in autumn 2025.
 
     “Lighthouse” by Broken Fires 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenfires

Bandcamp: https://brokenfires.bandcamp.com/
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/brokenfires
 
     “East London Hotel” by Broken Fires 

Lyrics of “Lighthouse” by Broken Fires
Back where I’m from,
There’s a lighthouse that shines.
It’s been guarding the ground.
Where they’ll scatter me out.
 
The salt hits my skin,
And the iron looks tired.
As we walk arm in arm,
Through the beauty of home
 
Lyrics of “East London Hotel” by Broken Fires
The neatest Scottish whiskey flows,
Into tumblers trimmed with gold,
At an east London hotel.
 
We all struggle to be seen,
Where privilege drips from pipes and beams,
At an east London hotel.
 
The outsiders are creeping in,
And fuck I know I’m part of it,
But there’s nothing you can do about it.
 
Blood under the fingernails,
Buying out the heart of things,
But a deal is a deal, I guess.
At an east London hotel.
At an east London hotel.
At an east London hotel.
 
 
I know,
You struggle to know what struggle is and,
I know,
You’re bedding down where privilege lives so,
Cut the cord,
Push a wall of sound through worn out walls.
 
I know,
There’s blood under your fingernails and,
I know,
They try to make it complicated,
And I know,
There’s nothing we can do about it.
At an east London hotel.
 
I know,
You struggle to know what struggle is and,
I know,
You’re bedding down where privilege lives so,
Cut the cord,
Push a wall of sound through worn out walls.
 
I know,
There’s blood under your fingernails and,
I know,
They try to make it complicated,
And I know,
There’s nothing we can do about it.
At an east London hotel.
At an east London hotel.
At an east London hotel.
 
At an east London hotel.
 

“Worldview” by Fragile Animals – A Song Feature

 

     The Australian band Fragile Animals has been compared to Wolf Alice, Phoebe Bridgers, and Fontaines D.C. With a focus on the lead vocals, we add Berlin and Metric. The members of Fragile Animals are Victoria Jenkins (vocals, bass), Daniel Parkinson (guitars, backing vocals), and Kyle Shipton (drums, backing vocals) (and videos consistently show Melinda Huurdeman playing guitar). Particularly on the song “Worldview,” Victoria Jenkins’ voice is a positive blend of Terri Nunn (Berlin) and Emily Haines (Metric).
 
     The song is social and political commentary on today’s world:
  “Being informed about what’s happening in the world and not letting the harshness of that reality ruin being alive is a real fight. Being aware and engaged mostly makes me feel like we’ve lost our humanity entirely. But there’s so much beauty too. I feel consciously being aware of kindness, selflessness and hope is just as important as being aware of greed, discrimination and violence. We need the awful truth so that we keep trying to steer the ship away from the rocks, but it’s the beautiful stuff that gives us a reason to want to live. This song is me crying out for a dose of something good.”
 
     “Worldview” by Fragile Animals

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fragileanimalsmusic
Website: https://fragileanimalsmusic.com.au/
Bandcamp: https://fragileanimals.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Worldview” by Fragile Animals
I’m tired of seeing all the sadness.
I want to see beauty too.
I need to know the truth but,
I want a whole worldview.
 
I want to see the love in the eyes.
The gentle hand.
An unselfish surprise.
I’m tired of seeing all the sadness.
I want to see beauty too.
 
It’s good to feel my heartbeat breaking.
Good to know I’m alive.
It’s good to see my hands start shaking.
Good to know I’m alive.
 
I’m tired of seeing all the sadness.
I want to know the truth but I want to see beauty too.
I wanna see the love in the eyes.
The gentle hand.
An unselfish surprise.
 
We’re not so broken. Have not so lost our way.
I wanna learn about you and understand and not look away.
And with you, take the sadness, guide it to the rails.
Wrap it up in warmer clothes.
Send it off in search of fairer tales.
It’s good to feel my heartbeat breaking.
Good to know I’m still alive.
But I’d sooner walk the darkened alley with glitter at my side.
 
We’re not so broken. Have not so lost our way.
We’re not so broken. Have not so lost our way.

“We Will Collide” by TAPE TRASH – A Song Feature

 

     The song by TAPE TRASH creates a collision between a sense of urgency and a feeling of frenzy. During the first verse (which begins around 0:26), “We Will Collide” features purposeful lead and enchanting backing vocals, driven instrumentally by pressing percussion. The frenzy - propelled by guitars - bookends that first verse with intensity. The frenzy subsides at 1:13, clearing the way for the second verse. One difference is that this second verse is adorned with attention-commanding high pitched guitar interjections (first heard at 1:25). As the song progresses, frenzy displaces urgency, even during verses.
 
    “We Will Collide” is consistent with what TAPE TRASH describe as their “more is more mentality.” The song is the title track from an upcoming sophomore album, which will be via the Tiny Engines label. The band interestingly describes the song as:
  “A lush, fuzz-drenched shoegaze anthem that nods to the golden age of ’90s fuzzpop, it’s perfect for summer car rides. But beneath the sweet pop melodies lies a quiet uneasiness—like a daydream on the verge of unraveling.”
 
     TAPE TRASH is the Norway-based project of Anders Magnor Killerud and Kristofer Mathias Staxrud. On “We Will Collide,” Killerud plays guitar and keys, as well as contributing the lead vocals. Staxrud plays guitar, bass, and drums. The backing vocals are the voices of Hallvard Bonden and Juliane Killerud.
 
     The band describes their music as Rock for people who like Pop and Pop for people who like Rock. Pounding drums and a wall of guitars meet sweet Pop melodies in a joyful mix between Indie Rock, Punk, Emo, Dream Pop, and Shoegaze. Thematically, the songs find themselves in a fine balance between ecstasy and panic.
 
     “We Will Collide” by TAPE TRASH

Bandcamp: https://tapetrashmusic.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tapetrashmusic/
Streaming opportunities: https://te.lsnto.me/we-will-collide

“Cinnamon” by Band of Muses – Sitar Rock

 

     “Cinnamon” stirs the senses as if born by bringing a turntable’s needle to a cherished album of a no-longer-young music lover, rather than in an age of algorithms and competing music streaming platforms. The debut single from Band of Muses channels the Psychedelic Era of the late 1960s. The sitar dances atop a strong bass line, while compelling vocals deliver lyrics that challenge the listener attach personalized meaning.
 
     Band of Muses comprise “sisterly sorceresses, Penny-Scarlett Muse and Daisy Rose Muse.” Their voices harmonize during some portions of “Cinnamon,” but with appealingly different “attitudes” that ensure that the two are clearly distinguishable. During other portions of the song, one voice hauntingly echoes the lead vocals.
 
     The single includes only two verses. Quoting a helpful explanation of the lyrics:
  Enigmatic yet disarmingly confessional, Penny-Scarlett's lyrics flirt with abstraction yet cut through the lush haze, revealing a raw, lingering ache beneath the shimmering surface. "I've been waiting near your gates of love and always wondering if you're there," Penny-Scarlett sings. Lyrically, Cinnamon stirs the restlessness between longing and fate—caught in the blur where desire fades into distance and waiting for someone that may never come. It's a song that lays bare the vulnerability of holding onto feelings that still linger, despite it all.
 
     Still, it’s the sitar-guitar that sets “Cinnamon” apart from other song singles. Embedded in this post is a video by Rick Beato. The video shows the sitar-guitar and presents his Top 10 sitar songs (electric or “original”). Also embedded is our Spotify list of personal sitar-featured favorites.
 
     The description of Band of Muses is insightful:
  Inspired by the free-spirited essence of the 1960s Laurel Canyon music scene with a heavy nod to the electrically charged golden era of 1970s rock grandeur, Band of Muses conjures a genre-bending experience of sound and spirit. Their music moves like a séance and hits like a cosmic exorcism— a slow burn that simmers with hypnotic tension, lo-fi bite, and something strangely untamed.
  More than just a debut, Cinnamon is a doorway into the mythos of Band of Muses. As the song takes effect, it takes listeners on a phantasmagoric trip they'll never want to come down from. Drenched in Penny-Scarlett's molten-honey lead vocals, Daisy Rose's ethereal harmonies and the band's devil-may-care production style, amplify the intricate allure of Cinnamon with visceral flair. As Cinnamon smolders into a rush of psychedelic euphoria, it's carried by lush swells of Daisy Rose's avant-garde instrumentation. With laser-focused command, Daisy Rose brings her multi-instrumentalist prowess to Cinnamon, using every weapon in her arsenal to full effect. Daisy Rose's gritty bassline slithers into a trippy sitar-guitar interlude before unleashing a technicolor electric guitar solo—a sonic supernova in full force.
 
     “Cinnamon” by Band of Muses

Social Platforms: https://linktr.ee/bandofmuses
Bandcamp: https://bandofmuses.bandcamp.com/track/cinnamon

Lyrics of “Cinnamon” by Band of Muses
I’ve been waiting
For so long to feel you
Slowly lingering on my skin
Under the moonlight we’re just flesh and bone with the
Sweet smell of cinnamon in the air
 
In the air
In the air
In the air
 
I’ve been waiting
Near your gates of love and
Always wondering if you’re there
If you want me I will follow you with the
Sweet smell of cinnamon in the air
 
In the air
[Repeating]
 

“All Of Us” by Sam Roberts Band - A Song Feature

 
     Thankfully, the Indiesphere offers second chances to music lovers. Sam Roberts Band recently “reimaged” the title track from their album “All Of Us.” While the original 2020 version of the song is praiseworthy, this alternative take is captivating. The reimagining slows the tempo, better exposing the song’s sentiment and poetry in its “you’re not alone” message. Most notably, the recurring chorus features a rip-current harmony that pulls the listener willingly deeper into the song’s emotion.

     Instrumentally, the piano takes center stage in the reimagined version of “All of Us.” Its unhurried dignity complements elegance of the vocals, and provides a contrast with the power percussion entering around the 1:20 mark. The guitar has a lesser role than during the original version of “All Of Us,” but retains its appeal.
 
     “All Of Us” is one of the ten tracks on the album “Frequencies,” which is digital available on all of the popular platforms (see https://samrobertsband.ffm.to/frequencies). Vinyl and CD opportunities are scheduled for availability on June 13, 2025.
 
     Sam Roberts Band is based in Montréal, Canada. The band is comprised of guitarist and vocalist Sam Roberts, lead guitarist Dave Nugent, keyboardist Eric Fares, bassist James Hall, and drummer Josh Trager. “All Of You” was reimagined by fellow Montréaler Liam O’Neil (The Stills, Kings of Leon). Sam Roberts Band have been nominated for an incredible 14 Junos, winning six along the Sam Roberts Band have been nominated for an incredible 14 Junos, winning six along the way, and 14 MuchMusic Video Awards, taking home five.

 
     “All Of Us” by Sam Roberts Band

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamRobertsBand/
Website: https://www.samrobertsband.com/

Lyrics of “All Of Us” by Sam Roberts Band
This ship is taking on water
Looks like the ocean
Is calling back her daughter
To the deep again
 
The kids out on the corner
They're making waves again
Another new world order
We need saving again
 
Where you go, I’ll go
No you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
No, you’ll never be alone
 
When the earth sounds hollow
Under your feet again
And when your heartbeat echoes
And skips a beat again
As the whole world trembles
On every street again
When your spirit stumbles
Come look for me again
 
Where you go, I’ll go
No, you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
Where you go, I’ll go
No, you’ll never be alone
 
I will follow you
To the end of the road
No, you’ll never be alone
 
Waiting for something to happen
Maybe a miracle
I took a look in the mirror
I swear I saw a ghost
I think I hear heaven knocking
It’s knocking on my door
Wonder what all of the fuss is?
Maybe we’ll never know
 
This is all of us, this is all of us,
Someone call the bluff
Bombs in the supermarket
This is all of us, this is all of us
It’s never enough
And we don’t want to talk about it
 
This is all of us, this is all of us,
Someone call the bluff
Bombs in the supermarket
This is all of us, this is all of us
 
Where you go, I’ll go
No, you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
Where you go, I’ll go
So you’ll never be alone
 
Where you go, I go
No you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
Then, you’ll never be alone
 
No, you’ll never be alone

“Chemicals” by Giant Hand – A Song Feature

 

    Even before knowledge of the emotionally stirring backstory of “Chemicals,” there is a strong draw to the release from Giant Hand. The verses of the song have a melodic bounce that is discarded when the vocals are slowed and opened to reverb, which first occurs with the phrase “Slow me down.” Does the reverb processing and slowed pace indicate the influences of chemicals?  The frame of mind is certainly different – at 1:02, the bounce-characterized verse states “Just keep on keeping on, and I’ll be okay,” which leads to the more dream-like, but less upbeat, statement “Well, I’m not okay.” Similar to other well-crafted songs, “Chemicals” allows personalized interpretations as to the meaning. 
 
     Still, knowledge of the explanation of the story behind “Chemicals” enhances its poignancy. Giant Hand is the performance name of Kirk Ramsay, who battles chronic physical pain from internal quirks, each year getting worse. Ramsay was originally not supposed to live past the age of three. He wrote “Chemicals” as a representation of the attempt to balance the internal and external risks around him while searching for a way to just be at peace in the moment. 
 
     “Chemicals” is a feature from an upcoming EP, “Oh, Hello Apocalypse!,” which is scheduled for release on April 11, 2025. The EP from the Canada-based (Toronto, Ontario) artist has been described as “an unflinching look at existential dread wrapped in a full-blown drone-gospel, indie-rock orchestra, crafted in the shadow of a world on the brink.” “Oh, Hello Apocalypse!” grapples with the weight of the world’s impending collapse as well as the weight of Ramsay’s health. 
 
     In the past, Ramsay has shared stages with Daniel Johnston, Chad VanGaalen, Handsome Furs, and Sam Amidon. 
 
     “Chemicals” by Giant Hand 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gianthand
Bandcamp: https://gianthand.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gianthand

“Dying In The Moment” by FNF – A Song Feature

 

     The intro of the song from FNF is reminiscent of 1960s Psychedelia, and most particularly the Beatles’ processing during “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which is on the “Revolver” album. Following the intro “Dying In The Moment” launches into the band’s twist on the sound of The 1975 - the heavy drumming is a clear improvement. Then, during the chorus, the shouts of “Oh, oh, oh, oh” have a feel of Walk the Moon.
 
      FNF is from Portsmouth, UK. In talking about “Dying In The Moment”, they explained, “We wrote this song about being stuck inside your own head.”
 
     “Dying In The Moment by FNF

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thisisfnf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisfnfmusic
Bandcamp” https://thisisfnf.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Dying In The Moment” by FNF
It’s always over before it begins
I see the moment and then I get locked out
And you said, “Hey Mate,
Are we still running as fast as we can?”
Fast as we can
 
And how I got here I’ll never know
And all my footsteps are covered over
And you said, “Hey Mate,
You keep looking around for it
But you’ve already got it”
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always dying in the moment
I turn upside down
In the here and now
Every time
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always living in my own head
‘Cause I’m too shy to dance
And my life keeps passing me by
 
I wrote the words in the back of a book
Whispered your name after all the lights died
And you said, “Hey Mate,
What are you running from?
What are you so scared of?”
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always dying in the moment
I turn upside down
In the here and now
Every time
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always living in my own head
‘Cause I’m too shy to dance
And my life keeps passing me by
 
It’s like I’m broken inside
 
How I got here I’ll never know
And all my footsteps are covered over
Why are we still
Running as fast as we can?
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always dying in the moment
I turn upside down
In the here and now
Every time
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always living in my own head
‘Cause I’m too shy to dance
And my life keeps passing me by
 
It’s like I’m broken inside
 

“Everything Moves” by Monotronic – A Song Feature

 

     High-octave energy in the first two minutes of “Everything Moves” power the immediate attraction, then the instrumental final 90 seconds insure the longevity of the song from Monotronic.
 
     The skillful and spirited percussion is the primary draw at the start of “Everything Moves.” Soon, the vocals enter with interesting processing - the vocal track is appealing despite having a lower "cleanliness" relative to the instruments. And the lyrics are intelligently crafted. – Monotronic explains, “’Everything Moves’ is about finding your way in a world full of obstacles—navigating the twists, turns, and unexpected detours that life throws at you.”  Thus, the song notes:

Open your eyes, everything moves

See how it’s falling apart

You’re out on your own, feeling the world

Stumble and fall then you come back home

 
     Still, while the first portion of “Everything Moves" is electrified, the instrumental portion is electrifying, as the final 90 seconds showcase a multi-step intensity build. Originally, a kickdrum beat and space-age synth set the stage. At 2:27, a heavier synth establishes the first energy step-up. The next two jumps occur as a first and then a second guitar join (the second at 3:03). The final two are more subtle, but equally effective (at 3:15 and 3:28).
 
      Monotronic describes itself as a NYC-born/LA-based Indie collection of musicians founded in 2016 by guitarist/producer Ramsey Elkholy, who is also the band's leader and primary songwriter. The credits for “Everything Moves” show that the highly acclaimed Omar Hakim provided percussion. Other contributors are Ramsay Elkholy and Justin Wands (co-composers), Akos Forgacs (bass), Ramsay Elkholy (guitar), Eric Sanderson (backing vocals), and Sean Brennan (lead vocals).
 
     Expanding upon the lyrical message of the song, “Everything Moves” is “about self-delusion and the fear of growing and taking responsibility for one's own life and actions. The refrain ‘time is born when you’re looking away’ hits deep—kind of like John Lennon’s ‘life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.’ It’s a reminder that life doesn’t wait. It keeps moving, shifting, evolving—whether we’re ready or not.” Thus:

Get out of your head

Into the world

See for yourself

Now you’re on your own

 
     Monotronic is preparing to release the album "Waiting for You," which is scheduled for April 11, 2025.

 
     “Everything Moves” by Monotronic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monotronicband
Website: https://www.monotronicband.com/home

“Killer” by Nathan O'Regan – A Song Feature

 

    Appropriately, the track from Nathan O'Regan begins with a killer rhythm section. The percussion during “Killer” is invigorating. Although it isn’t apparent without listening closely to the lyrics, the song is a tribute to strong women. O’Regan and co-writer Gareth Dunlop explain that they are both with strong life partners who have positively affected the men they are now. Thus, the lyric “She was the death of the old me // Takes credit for the man you see.”
 
     “Killer” is a fusion of Southern Rock and Rhythm & Blues, with a dose of Americana. That blend hints of places like Nashville, Tennessee, but Nathan O’Regan was born in Cork, Ireland. He is currently based in Belfast, as is Gareth Dunlop.
 
     The chorus of “Killer” emphasizes there is no doubt about the verdict “Bang to Rights, she’s guilty as charged” (note: in some areas, the expression is instead “Dead to Rights). She put an end to the worst parts of her love interest (the entertaining official video is embedded at the bottom of this post).
 
     Quoting an explanation of the song:
      “Killer” was written by O’Regan with fellow Belfast-based musician Gareth Dunlop, a close friend and mentor, and recorded at Attica Studios in Donegal, run by Villagers guitarist Tommy McLaughlin. The song’s theme came from a discussion the two had about their life partners.
  “Gareth and I have incredible, fierce women in our lives and we were joking about how we both need that from time to time” explains Nathan. “It’s like dealing with an assassin – they kill all the worst parts of you, and leave you with the bits they like the most.”
 
     Last year O’Regan signed to the Belfast-based independent label Zenith Cafe. “It feels like a momentous thing. I’ve been working towards this for almost half my life. It feels like an introduction of sorts, or starting from the very beginning.”
 
     “Killer” by Nathan O'Regan

“Killer” Availability: https://linktr.ee/nathanoregan
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Website: https://www.nathanoregan.net/

Lyrics of “Killer” by Nathan O'Regan
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
 
She killed the liar
She killed the cheat
A quick-draw shooter couldn’t get close to her
When she gunned down the worst of me
 
She let the good survive
The bad don’t make it out alive
She’s a killer
 
She killed the coward
She killed the crook
Put them 6 feet under for an eternal slumber
When she got me on the hook
 
She was the death of the old me
Takes credit for the man you see
She’s a killer
 
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
 
She killed the loser
She killed the fool
Killed them in cold blood face down in the mud
To be kind, she had to get so cruel
 
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
She took down everyone but us
She’s a killer
She’s a killer
 
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
She’s a killer
 
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
She’s a killer
She’s a killer
She’s a killer