Lady Wray shares titular track from forthcoming new album + North American tour starts September 28

LADY WRAY SHARES TITLE TRACK FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM COVER GIRL OUT SEPTEMBER 26TH  VIA BIG CROWN RECORDS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR BEGINS SEPTEMBER 28

Lady Wray by Shervin Lainez  "takes listeners back to the roots of R&B" Billboard “that kind of irresistible, honey-dipped voice one can only be born with” The New York Times Magazine "Nicole Wray's solo act shepherds '60s and '70s R&B styles into the present" NPR “Cover Girl” https://lnk.to/LadyWrayCoverGirlSingleAlbumPreOrder Cover Girl PRE-SAVE/PRE-ORDER (September 2, 2025) - Lady Wray shares the final advance offering from her forthcoming new album, releasing its title track. “Cover Girl” serves as the dominant message behind Nicole’s upcoming album, written as a reminder to herself of what’s most important in life as she’s watched her daughter grow up. A stripped down, heartfelt ballad, the song defies the importance placed on modern beauty standards and materialism, and chooses an uplifting message of self empowerment. Nicole’s new album Cover Girl, is out September 26th via Big Crown Records.  Cover Girl elevates Wray’s artistry as the latest product of her decade-spanning partnership with Grammy Award winning producer Leon Michels (Clairo, Norah Jones, Freddie Gibbs). Together, Wray and Michels have crafted a joyful, revitalized vision of Wray’s sound, which draws from several of her formative musical influences, ‘60s and ‘70s-inspired soul and disco, ‘90s hip-hop and R&B, and gospel. Cover Girl also captures Wray turning the focus of her writing inward, looking back fondly on herself as a little girl as she’s grown as a mother in the years since 2022’s Piece of Me, living vivaciously with the same warmth she sees watching her daughter grow up. Lady Wray’s North American tour begins September 28th in Kingston, NY, and she’ll be playing shows across the continent including dates in New York City, Toronto, Chicago, and LA, before concluding in Austin, Texas on November 22nd. Remaining tickets are available at ladynicolewray.com. Following a series of industry road bumps and the doubts that can come with finding your footing when beginning a career in music at just 16, Lady Wray reclaimed the spirit she first brought to music singing in her hometown church choir. Her two previous albums on Big Crown Records, 2016’s Queen Alone and 2022’s Piece of Me, saw her reimagine her identity as a musician exactly how she wanted to be seen, and the latter of which led to her late night TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (performing “Come On In”) and perform a rousting NPR Tiny Desk Concert. With Cover Girl, Nicole is letting her hair down, continuing her decade-spanning partnership with Leon Michels to infuse the raw soul and gospel power in her voice with a self-assured collection of contemporary R&B, soul and funk songs that speak to her joy and the revived bliss of this stage of her career. Listen to “Cover Girl” above, see below for Lady Wray’s upcoming North American tour dates and more album details, and stay tuned for more from Lady Wray coming soon. Lady Wray 2025 Live Dates 9/28 - Kingston, NY @ Tubby’s 9/29 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage 9/30 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry 10/2 - New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 10/3 - Hamden, CT @ SPACE Ballroom 10/4 - Amherst, MA @ The Drake 10/5 - Portland, ME @ Oxbow 10/7 - Montreal, QC @ Bar le Riz 10/8 - Toronto, ON @ Mod Club 10/10 - Louisville, KY @ Whirling Tiger 10/11 - Nashville, TN @ Fogg Street 10/13 - Milwaukee, WI @ High Noon Saloon 10/14 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall 11/6 - San Diego, CA, CA @ Quartyard  11/7 - Riverside, CA @ Farm House Collective 11/8 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room 11/9 - San Francisco @ The Chapel 11/11 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater 11/12 - Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl 11/14 - Bend, OR @ Volcanic Theater Pub 11/15 - Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club 11/16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 11/18 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater 11/20 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips 11/21 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger 11/22 - Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn

SHONEN KNIFE announces expanded "Our Best Place (2025 Edition)" on vinyl and first reissue of debut cassette ever! On Tour This Month!

"GIRLS ROCK!" Legendary Japanese Punk Band ANNOUNCES OUR BEST PLACE (2025 EDITION) ON VINYL AND THE FIRST REISSUE OF THEIR LEGENDARY DEBUT MINNA TANOSHIKU ON CASSETTE Only Available Initially at Merch Table at their Everyone Happy U.S. Tour This Fall Sponsored by Momokawa Sake

SHONEN KNIFE photo credit: Tomoko Ota

SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 [NEW YORK, NY]  -- In advance of Shonen Knife’s EVERYBODY HAPPY U.S. Tour (their first North American dates since 2019!) which is sponsored by Momokawa Sake, the Japanese punk legends are announcing the release of Our Best Place (Expanded Edition) on September 19, 2025 via Good Charamel. Originally released digitally and on CD on February 15, 2023, the expanded edition will be officially released on vinyl and will initially be available only at the merch table on their tour (it will be made available at the Good Charamel online store once the tour has concluded at the end of October). “Our Best Place which was released in 2023 became a representative album of Shonen Knife,” says Naoko, founding member and lead vocalist. “It includes many of our punk pop songs. The 2025 vinyl version has fabulous embroidered artwork and will a collector’s item for our fans! “Not only that, I hope this vinyl release will be a good opportunity for other people to know our music!” In addition to the original album’s 10 songs, four new songs have been added to the tracklisting: “Nice Day (‘60s Mix),” “The Story of Baumkuchen (Japanese Version),” “Girls Rock (2023 Japanese Version)” and “Green Tea (2025 Naoko Vocal Version).” Considered an immediate critical classic upon its release, Our Best Place found the trio returning to the quirky punk-pop flavor that fueled their first four albums and made fans out of Nirvana, Redd Kross, and Sonic Youth (among many, many others). All Music included it in their “Favorite Rock Albums of 2023,” praising “Into their fifth decade, the Japanese trio sound as happily hooky as ever as they tackle punky pop and poppy punk with joyous abandon.” SPILL Magazine noted "the playfulness of their early sound with the hard rock influence that they’ve adopted as of late… make this an eagerly anticipated return to their roots, especially for long-time fans.” The Punk Site added, “there’s something timeless, life affirming and comforting knowing they will always be there if you need a pick me up.” “We played songs from Our Best Place during our European, U.K. tour and Japanese tours since it was released and the reaction of the audience is always very good which made me recognize it is a fun album! It also has an essence of early Shonen Knife.” In addition to the release of Our Best Place (2025 Edition), Shonen Knife is also reissuing Minna Tanoshiku, their extremely rare and much sought after debut cassette. Retaining the original’s D.I.Y. aesthetic and format, their reissue will only be made available on cassette for purchase at the merch table at the band’s concerts. Released in 1982, Minna Tanoshiku (translated from Japanese to mean “Everybody Happy”), only 70 copies of the original 13 songs were made (50 were released by the band themselves and an additional 20 copies were pressed by Zero Records before the band requested duplication to be ceased).  The cassette was never reissued in any format… until now! “I was so happy when we released Minna Tanoshiku,” beams Naoko. “Our friends suggested we release a cassette album when they saw our show in 1982.” Recorded at home, the band even dubbed the cassettes themselves! “Songs and lyrics are very keen like a knife. Our original bassist Michie liked to read books and she wrote very artistic avantgarde lyrics [for this album]. The basic attitude of my songwriting policy has always been the same from the beginning, but these early songs are so unique, interesting and fun. It's hard to put into words but once you listen to it. You will be surprised at the worldview on it that defies common sense!” Retaining the original’s format on cassette, Naoko adds, “The cassette tape will be a tiny mysterious treasure box and a time capsule of Shonen Knife.” About their upcoming tour of the U.S., Naoko says, "We're so excited to bring our music to fans across North America and celebrate together with delicious sake. Shonen Knife is about fun, friendship, and happiness, and we can't wait to share that with everyone." The Everyone Happy U.S. Tour promises to be an unforgettable experience, blending Shonen Knife’s iconic sound with the joy of cultural tradition. Whether longtime devotees or new listeners, fans will be treated to a vibrant, energetic show that celebrates the band's legacy and the simple joy of music… With exclusive releases in the vinyl version of Our Best Place (2025 Edition) and the first reissue of Minna Tanoshiku on cassette in over 40 years only available at the merch table on these tourdates, attendance is mandatory!     Sep 20 Buffalo, NY          Music is Art Festival Sep 21 Boston. MA Sonia Sep 23  Hamden, CT Space Ballroom Sep 24 NYC    Littlefield Sept 25 NYC Littlefield Sep 26 Baltimore, MD Ottobar Sep 27 Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theater Sep 28 Pittsburgh, PA Preserving Underground Sep 30 Columbus, OH Rumba Cafe Oct 02 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop Oct 03             Ann Arbor, MI The Blind Pig Oct 04 Grand Rapids, MI Pyramid Scheme Oct 05 Indianapolis, IN Hi-Fi Oct 07 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar Oct 09 Denver, CO HQ Oct 10 Colorado Springs, CO             Black Sheep Oct 11 Santa Fe, NM Meow Wolf Oct 13 Phoenix, AZ Rebel Oct 14 San Diego, CA Casbah Oct 16 Los Angeles, CA Roxy Theatre Oct 17 Fresno, CA Fulton 55 Oct 18 San Jose, CA The Ritz Oct 19 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill Oct 21 Novato, CA Hopmonk Oct 22 Sacramento, CA Harlow's Oct 24 Portland, OR Star Theater Oct 25 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern Oct 26 Tacoma, WA Spanish Ballroom

JOANNA: Manchester band's lost 1989 debut to finally bloom. 'Hello Flower' out Dec 5th on New Feelings.

JOANNA - Long lost unreleased 1989 debut album - 'Hello Flower' out December 5th on New Feelings - Hear single "If You Don't Want Me To" now

In 1989, Joanna were on the cusp of something bigger, their sound alive with the same electricity sparking through the North West of England. Yet in a world where gatekeepers decided who would rise and who would vanish, their debut never saw daylight. Now, 35 years later, ‘Hello Flower’ blooms at last — a time-capsule of youthful abandon, freed from the silence it was once consigned to, and finally able to be heard on its own terms.   ‘Hello Flower’ is set to be released through US-label New Feelings on December 5th, and today the band share the album opener “If You Don’t Want Me To”.   This single is a first look at these long-forgotten ¼-inch reel tapes, discovered in a Manchester apartment loft. It starts with a boldly simplistic drumbeat, something the band’s drummer Alty, just 15 when he joined the band, wrote as an exercise in school. The tune’s minimal, pulsing rhythm locks into a groove that nods to the same spirit as The Stone Roses’ ‘'Fools Gold’ while hinting at the euphoric lift that would later define Primal Scream’s ‘Screamadelica’. When Ty's slide guitar hits at the bridge, it brings the track into the outer atmosphere of early 90's indie dance. Lyrically, the song brims with the messy thrill of teenage desire, capturing the push-and-pull of youthful romance with a mix of swagger and vulnerability.   Listen to “If You Don’t Want Me To”: https://helloflower.bandcamp.com/track/if-you-dont-want-me-to   It’s 1989. The Stone Roses are dominating the Indie scene and music press. Happy Mondays are laying the foundations of what would come to be known as the Madchester era with chaotic live performances. All eyes are on the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Along the East Lancs Road, throughout industrial heartlands between Manchester and Liverpool, punctuated by woollyback accents, four young musicians meet and form the next contender for the scene’s attention, Joanna. Neil Holliday (vocals) and Terry Lloyd (bass), work colleagues from Runcorn and Widnes, join forces with Leigh Music College students Tyrone Holt (guitar) and Carl Alty (drums). They hail from thoroughly working-class backgrounds, raised by hard working dads and harder working mothers. Rejected by other local bands because of their perceived youthful naïveté, the four lads create a world of their own inside Pentagon Studios in Widnes. This world includes a stolen smoke machine and strobe lights, a wooden shack to prevent feedback on the vocals, and the occasional friend who would dance around wildly.   “I think the first tune we rehearsed was called (I Wanna) Marry Joanna,” says Holliday, “I’d never sang into a mic before and had no clue about levels, amps or speakers and started sweating after a couple of failed attempts to vocalise the words I had on a scrap of paper about smoking weed.”   Each track on 'Hello Flower' came together in the Pentagon rehearsal room, a fusion of hard-edged indie rock with bass funk rhythms and crunching guitar riffs spiraling into infinity. With a clear sixties influence, Joanna was impossible to ignore and irresistibly danceable. Listening back today, their music evokes fantasies of Hacienda acid trip jubilees, where the hook is secondary to the groove and attitude. Organic and jammy, their demos are infused with a kinetic energy, full of the defining youthful experience of figuring it out.   Their momentum grew quickly. They were interviewed on the cult Kiss FM by future Best Selling author and filmmaker Jon Ronson, performed at the 1500 capacity Ritz in Manchester, International 1 and Liverpool Polytechnic. The band secured coveted support slots for established acts of the time including Shack, Dr. Phibes and the House of Wax Equations, Rig, and Asia Fields. After recording several demos, Joanna had the opportunity to perform in London.   It seemed like a given. The A&R people would show up, the band would sign a contract backstage, and their local-legend status would evolve into international superstardom. They were already mentioning an upcoming record deal in interviews, with a bravado that inspired one journalist to describe Joanna as epitomising “the simple beauty of youth.” Bands like World of Twist, Charlatans, Rig and Paris Angels had all followed a similar route towards recognition and secured record deals. A few hours before their fateful London show after the band had sound-checked, singer Neil bumped into a girl he knew from school. She had started dating a guy with a good job and settled into London life and escaped beyond their small-town limitations. She’d made it out. Neil puffed out his chest and let her know about Joanna’s big show and imminent success. She laughed. Neil returned to the venue in a black mood, leading to a domino-like fall of morale. They were never offered a record deal.   As soon as doubt was seeded about the individual talent of any one member, and strategy became more important than expression, Joanna started to lose its magic. Wounded, they limped along for another year, never recovering their initial verve. This story doesn’t have the happy ending of instant success, but it does preserve something much more ephemeral and unique. Joanna constantly brushed shoulders with fame as manager and friend Martin Royle pulled the strings with a quiet determination in the background. A major player in the Liverpool scene, Dave Pichilingi, offered to manage the band. The Boardwalk, which later became the rehearsal space for Oasis, asked Joanna to headline their re-opening after a major refurb, selling the venue out. Was a certain young roadie called Noel Gallagher there to witness the evening while he was putting his own band together? Definitely. Hand-written letters on headed stationery, recently found in the attic of the Isle of Man home of Royle, show labels like Rough Trade, Factory Records and Polydor courted and encouraged the band to keep playing and recording.   Thirty-five years later, these long-forgotten ¼-inch reel tapes from Pentagon Studios were discovered in a Manchester apartment loft. These musical time capsules contained tracks the band members themselves hadn't heard in over three decades, offering a poignant reconnection with their creative past and tantalising glimpses of what might have been. “We realised we were actually as good as we remembered,” says Alty. The memories between the band members are blurred and contradictory but the tapes hold everything together, they are real, definite and irrefutable. With the release of 'Hello Flower', Joanna is no longer “the most popular band without a record out,” as NME called them in 1990, but their singular spirit is now available for anyone who wants a taste. The simple beauty of youth can only be experienced when you are invincible, fulfilling your natural destiny, buoyed by complete optimism… This record captures innocence untainted by failure. Beyond analysis, beyond critique, just lost in the groove.   ‘Hello Flower' track list: A If You Don't Want Me Too Bandit Country Hey Presto Weather Vane B Mr. Sunshine Hello Flower It's Worth A Try Gardeners' World

Her New Knife announce remix EP with "kittyriff" reimagined by TAGABOW

HER NEW KNIFE ANNOUNCE DELUXE REMIX EP, CHROME IS LULLABY: RE   FEATURING REMIXES BY TAGABOW, ANGEL EMOJI (FROST CHILDREN),  GRIMACE, RED RAKES, CERTAIN (SWORD II), AND SILICONE VALLEY “KITTYRIFF” REMIXED BY TAGABOW  PREMIERES TODAY WITH OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ARRIVING ON VINYL, TAPE, CD, AND DIGITALLY  OCTOBER 31, 2025 VIA JULIA’S WAR RECORDINGS SUPPORTING WATER FROM YOUR EYES THIS FALL

Photo Credit: Guadalupe Barrera @lovepainremorse  “Her New Knife crank out brilliantly tense songs that bite with post-hardcore snarl.” - NME “Focuses on the beauty found in the weirder, darker, experimental throes of guitar music.” - THE FADER “Toes the line between melodic and uneasy.” - STEREOGUM “A deeply compelling prospect in their own godless right." - SO YOUNG MAGAZINE “Every chance they get, Her New Knife chooses to go darker, bolder, and weirder.” - POST-TRASH Philadelphia band Her New Knife are excited to announce chrome is lullaby: re, a deluxe version of their 2024 EP featuring remixes from TAGABOW, Angel Emoji (Frost Children), Grimace, Red Rakes, Certain (Sword II), and SILICONE VALLEY, arriving everywhere October 31, 2025 via the tastemaking Philly label Julia’s War Recordings. For the first time ever, the standout EP will be available on vinyl and cassette with the remixes appearing on the B-side; pre-orders are live now.   The first preview of chrome is lullaby: re arrives today in the form of “kittyriff - They Are Gutting a Body of Water: re,” in which Julia’s War labelhead and TAGABOW bandleader Doug Dulgarian contorts the bone-shattering riffage of the original track into a blown-out, drum-heavy track that slinks slowly into the abyss. Edgar Atencio’s caressing vocals are sampled with a metallic edge, cutting through the song’s laidback progression with precision. Dulgarian also made an official video for the track, which premieres today.  "kittyriff has always been one of my favorite songs of ours," says drummer Elijah Ford."When we thought of having a bunch of friends remix the ‘chrome is lullaby’ tracks, Doug was the first person we thought of. We’ve always wanted to work with him in some capacity, so it’s super cool to have him not only do the remix but also direct the accompanying music video. Doug has really been a huge part of our lives up here in Philly - he totally transformed the song into a beautiful trip hop banger - and for that - I love him forever." LISTEN TO “KITTYRIFF THEY ARE GUTTING A BODY OF WATER: RE)” PRE-ORDER CHROME IS LULLABY: RE

Earlier this summer, the band shared their version of Björk’s “Pagan Poetry.” A guitar-forward take on the fan-favorite track off Björk’s 2001 record Vespertine, the cover sees the band infuse discordant instrumentation into a deeply emotional soundscape. Her New Knife strives for sonic innovation, turning a familiar track into a completely new experience. Last year, Her New Knife shared their six-song EP, chrome is lullaby, featuring quickly rising songs like “kittyriff” and “vitamin beauty.” The release was widely acclaimed by The FADER, Post-Trash, Stereogum, and NME, the latter of which added them to the NME100, declaring the band as one to watch for 2025. The group is currently working on their debut album, expected to be released in 2026.  LISTEN TO “PAGAN POETRY” LISTEN TO CHROME IS LULLABY Her New Knife has had a major year of playing shows across North America. From opening for julie, TAGABOW, Frost Children and Midrift to appearing at Nothing.’s Slide Away Festival and playing eleven sets this year at SXSW in Austin, TX, the band has a nonstop touring schedule. It continues this summer as they open for Water From Your Eyes across North America this fall. For more information on upcoming performances, see below and follow the band on Instagram at @hernewknife. HER NEW KNIFE LIVE 2025 SEPTEMBER 22 - Johnny Brenda’s - Philadelphia, PA # 23 - The Atlantis - Washington, DC # 24 - Cat’s Cradle - Carrboro, NC # 26 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA # 27 - The Blue Room - Nashville, TN # 28 - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO # 30 - 7th St Entry - Minneapolis, MN # OCTOBER 1 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI #  2 - Sleeping Village - Chicago, IL # 3 - El Club - Detroit, MI # 6 - Bar Le Ritz PDB - Montreal, QC # 7 - The Drake - Amherst, MA # 8 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA # 10 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY # # - w/ Water From Your Eyes