Last Friday on Halloween, New York-based label Toadstool Records shared their latest compilation, Trick N’ Treats’, to benefit mutual aid in Gaza. All the profits raised from the compilation will be donated to the label’s pen pals, Saleh and Dana, to support them, their families, their education and their dreams. The compilation features some familiar faces to the Toadstool world, including Youth Large, Joe Fox and Mystery Choir, as well as including some new contributors like screen bride, Volena and Moki.
Toadstool Records is an artist-run independent label and creative hub based in NYC. Started by Caroline Gay as a space for her ethereal instrumental project Ghost Crab, Toadstool Records has become a home to a world of other creatives, offering a supportive and inspiring place to expand on their own and create art with those with similar mindsets. The label is helped run by friends Michelle Borreggine [Dreamspoiler, orbiting] and Jonathan Hom [Mystery Choir]. Trick N’ Treats marks the labels fourth benefit compilation.
The album artwork was done by Lia Kantrowitz.
TRACKLIST & CONTRIBUTORS
Ponytail music – Black Lagoon
Radicchio – Bone Tax
Asyla – exorciser le cœur sacré
Mystery Choir – Horseshoe’s Gone
SOJOURNS – In the Afternoon [MGMT]
dreamspoiler – Little Fang [Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks]
Today, Big Hug is sharing the third edition to their completion series, Big Hug Volume Three. This compilation series was started by Sam Wiesenthal back in 2023 as a way to bring friends and the music community closer together for an important cause. In a recent interview we did with Sam, they said, “I often feel really hopeless with the state of the world and am not sure where to put my efforts. Organizing and releasing albums is what I know how to do and so creating a comp series where I could use that skill for better was the driving concept behind the series.”
Volume Three consists of 16 tracks from artists such as villagerrr, sister., Aunt Katrina, Asher White, Dan English, Scarlet Rae, Michael Cormier-O’Leary, Robber Robber and many more.
All proceeds from Big Hug Records Volume Three go towards New Alternatives – a space based in NYC that helps transgender homeless youth and young adults transition out of the shelter system. They set people up with weekly case management, education services, life skills training, community-building recreational activities, opportunities for self-expression, and offer programs for HIV+ youth as well.
Big Hug will only be released on Bandcamp and comes alongside a limited run of CDs.
The setlist for this comp features;
“Keep It” – Asher White
“Save the Beat” – Aunt Katrina
“Petty Crimes” – D.A. Crimson
“Lullaby” – Dan English
“Look in 2 my face” – Dirt Buyer
“Wait Up” – find my friends
“Arriving Into (Demo)” – Margaux
“Staring (Demo)” – Michael Cormier-O’Leary
“Bar Italia (cover)” – My Wonderful Boyfriend
“Said and Gone (demo)” – Robber Robber
“Grip on a Thought (demo)” – Scarlet Rae
“Hummer” – Seylu
“Spies” – sister.
“10¢ for a Ticket” – Starcleaner Reunion
“Go Go Gangster” – Userband
“Weight of the World” – villagerrr
You can purchase Big Hug Volume Three on Bandcamp now both digitally or on a limited-edition CD, with all proceeds going towards New Alternatives.
Today, Dear Life Records and Pretty Purgatory share Songs of Hope for Gaza, a collection of songs by 33 artists written in solidarity with Palestine. The comp consists of artists such as Little Mazarn, Thanya Iyer, Tashi Dorji, Ava Mirzadegan, Lady Queen Paradise, Ther, Adeline Hotel, and many more. In his essay titled “Notes on Craft: Writing in the Hour of Genocide”, Fargo Tbakhi says, “creative work readies us for material work, by offering a space to try out strategies, think through contradictions, remind us of our own agency.” That agency becomes the benchmark of our community, to be able to gather in shared space, utilize our tools, to connect, to listen, to lift voices, to create and to call for collective action.
You can pre-order the full album on bandcamp now for any amount you can give. The full compilation will be released on October 28th. All proceeds from this compilation will go to ANERA to support humanitarian aid and emergency relief in Gaza and beyond.
In a mission statement by the compilation’s curator, Liza Victoria, she says;
“Songs of Hope For Gaza is a compilation organized as an effort to join together as a music community to write music in solidarity for Palestine. Each musician was given a call to action to write a protest song of their own interpretation, in solidarity with Palestine. The cover painting & title is a nod to Bottles of Hope For Gaza, where in Egypt, bottles containing rice, flour, and beans were thrown into sea in hopes that they would reach the shores of Gaza. In organizing this project, I hope to offer encouragement to anyone in the music community, to speak up in song and to utilize our collective power. I believe it is vital to our own hearts, and our lives as artists, to empathize and show empathy to this cause.”
The track list of Songs of Hope for Gaza is a collection of 33 original songs written in solidarity with Palestine. The collection was mastered by Hamilton Belk.
Katie-Krysta
In The Olive Tree- Thanya Iyer
In Palestine- Christy Armstrong
Worse Than Bombs- Matt Bachmann
Sunbirds- Will Stratton
Carolina Wren- Ava Mirzadegan ft. Jason Calhoun
It Is Within You Where The Falcon Sang/ May All The Ancient Olive Trees Return Tashi Dorji
Epitaph- שאַנדע (Shande)
Nana’s Story- Guy Capecelatro III
This Very Hour- Little Mazarn
Sunbird- Stephen Kerr
The Economics Of Despair Pt. 1- Ther
The Economics Of Despair Pt.2- Lady Queen Paradise
Twila Ping- Blood Things
Sand Castles- Lisa/Liza
Precious Memory- Liam Grant
Bound To Live-Adeline Hotel
Enduring Silence – Peter McLaughlin
How Do We, Country – Ava Brennan
Nothing Fire in the Sky part II- Dee Dee and the Weeds
Two Parts-Tremolo Fields
BREAD- Young Moon
Setting Ourselves on Fire- Sam Pawlowski
All On The Lake- Amelia Riggs
Humanity- Good Good Blood
A Balm For Those Hearts Burnt and Burning Still- Mellifer
Ice Fall- Florida Ghost
The Birds Never Ask if They Deserve to Exist – Slow Hymn
Live Triptych for Gaza- Haven’s Den
Weird Dream- Glass Machine
Sending Heart- Josh Burkette
Arena- Jacob Augustine
War Cry– Asher Platts
Listen to Songs of Hope for Gaza now premiering here!
There are also statements from the artists that are featured in this collection about their own interpretations of a protest song and what it means to be in solidarity.
“This song is actually bits and pieces of conversations had about the flood in Central Texas a few weeks ago in which many children perished. One of my friends offered a prayer to the grieving parents, that children’s spirits fly to the afterworld faster than most. This conversation has been deeply intertwined with many conversations here about climate change and the need to grieve the natural world we once knew in order to adapt and live into the future. When asked if I would write a song in solidarity with Palestine, these conversations glowed bright in my mind as we here in Texas grieve the catastrophic loss of life from the flood. We are all connected in our joys and sorrows, the marrow of our days. May we walk together towards peace. This very hour.”
– Lindsey Verrill of Little Mazarn
“and the lens is a gun
hope like the sun
resistance in the make up
of water and love
water and love”
– Lyrics from “Blood Things”, Twila Ping
“This song is about the lengths that people/news media/the US and other countries countries will go to avoid witnessing genocide. But also, the ways I too unsee Palestinian death; how reading about starvation is now part of my morning routine, but my days go largely unchanged. I appreciate being a part of this compilation and other actions in solidarity with Palestinians as a way to feel less alone in my witnessing and hopefully bring some mobilization, no matter how small, towards change/relief/ending genocide and occupation.”
– Matt Bachmann
“Anas Al-Sharif was assassinated by Israel. In his last will, he said, “If I die, I die steadfast upon my principles.” We can decide to always be this clear about what we stand for.”
– Lady Queen Paradise
“songs, like history, often rhyme. when we bring struggle home and in our hearts, we create echoes of dreams that predate us, we carry them best when we do it together“
– Ther
“When care and safety is an innate human right of all people, it is such a moral imperative to speak up when that is actively being taken away and deprived of through the use of violence, starvation and murder. At this stage, the accounts of injustices enacted by Israel onto the Palestinian people are near innumerable. All people deserve safety, and all children deserve a childhood. Hearing the suffering cries of a baby which cannot be soothed due to severe burns and shrapnel wounds should be enough to mobilize anyone to act and to use their voice. This sound alone I know I will carry for the rest of my life. This is not a war, this is a genocide, and it must end.”
– Christy Armstrong
“The song is a repeated mantra peeking out from the corners of a meditative but jagged soundscape—to kill the body, but not the idea, which is bound to live. I took the words from an old labor poster that sits beside my desk and contains the quote: “it is true, indeed, that they can execute the body, but they cannot execute the idea which is bound to live.” No violence, no war, no terror inflicted by the oppressor upon the oppressed can ever truly destroy the bonds of solidarity or extinguish the flame of liberation.”
– Adeline Hotel
Victoria continues about the comp, sharing, “it was a privilege to work with each of these artists and hear their perspectives and heart show through. I am so grateful for the dedication and time they each put into this. Free Palestine. Thanks to Dear Life Records, Frank Meadows, Peter McLaughlin, Chel Painting, Hamilton Belk, Pretty Purgatory, Ava Mirzadegan, & to all the musicians involved.”
You can preorder Songs of Hope for Gaza via Dear Life Records and Pretty Purgatory now with all proceeds going to ANERA.
Last month, Brooklyn and Philly based tape-meca enthusiast label Solid Melts released what is to be the first volume of the Solid Melts compilation. Run by Drew M Gibson and Scott Palocsik, this collection compiled 29-tracks of friends old and new, reminiscing on a scene of both commotion and collaboration, and one that shook the foundations of the DIY structure that so many bands found a home in with Solid Melts.
Solid Melts vol. 1 includes artists such as The Spookfish, Reaches, Mezzanine Swimmers, RXM Reality, Accessory, gut nose, Katrina Stonehart, and many many more, traveling through looped fixations, electronic tinkerings and folk-based explorations that celebrate over a decade of music.
We got to ask Gibson a few questions about the compliation;
Coined as a compilation of music from friends old and new, what was the initial idea for Solid Melts volume one?
After a long break from the label we thought a comp would be a fun way to check in with friends!
How did you begin to piece it together? How did you reach out to folks and what sort of things were artists sending you?
It came together pretty naturally thru texts & phone calls. We actually bit off more than we could chew and couldn’t fit everyone on this first comp!
There are a variety of artistic styles and sonic avenues that are represented in this collection. What does the diversity of artists and sounds mean for Solid Melts?
We know a ton of freaks & want the sound to reflect that.
Where does curating and releasing this compilation find you in your life currently? What does it represent for you and the solid melts label as you look ahead?
Releasing the comp was mad fun! Moving forward we’re hoping to be more involved with the community by releasing tapes & organizing events! More to come ❤
Today, NYC-based tape label Toadstool Records shares a new bandcamp only compilation on Valentine’s Day called 777 Love Songs. Featuring artists such as the fruit trees, deerhoof, youth large, toy factory and one wheel fireworks show, all profits made will be donated to Mutual Aid LA and Women’s Prison Association.
About the compilation, Toadstool founder Carolina Gay shares,
“777 Love Songs is a compilation of tracks about love and heartbreak, with contributions from friends and community members – many of which are exclusive to this release. Local NYC artist Somer Stampley has contributed custom artwork.
In numerology, the number 777 is considered to be extremely lucky, awash with high vibrations. 777 is aligned with love, purpose and wisdom: it’s a sign that things will all work out in time.”
Mutual Aid Los Angelesis a connector and information hub for mutual aid efforts in Los Angeles, especially those impacted by the recent fires. They aspire to build toward abolition and believe in a world that can be freed through community solidarity.
Women’s Prison Association is the nation’s first organization for women impacted by incarceration. They work to empower women, LGBTQ+ people, and their families affected by New York’s carceral system.
“Toadstool Records has decided to raise funds for Mutual Aid LA and Women’s Prison Association because of our belief in art as a healing tool. Our hearts are broken over the immense loss and trauma in Los Angeles in the wake of the devastating fires this past January. We are also deeply disturbed by the Trump administration’s prejudiced attacks on women, people of color, and the trans community. We hope that this project will bring a little bit of relief and solace to those who need it the most.”
You can purchase 777 Love Songs on bandcamp now to listen to the full release!
Today, New York’s Toadstool Records has shared Let’s Be Friends: A Tribute to the Beach Boys, a 28-song compilation album of beloved Beach Boys songs benefiting the Billion Oyster Project and Mutual Aid Disaster Relief.
In a statement, Toadstool’s founder, Caroline Gay, shared, “In the lead up to the United States presidential election, climate change has become a hard reality. The United States’ support of Israel’s military assault on Palestine is not only a humanitarian disaster, but has had an immense effect on the climate. Combined with Donald Trump’s outright denial of climate change and rollback of over 100 environmental regulations during his presidency, the United States’ hand in the global climate catastrophe cannot be ignored.”
The comp includes contributions from artists like Joe Fox, The Fruit Trees, ghost crab, ebb, orbiting, djdj, Billy Plastered, Gavin Serafini, Luca Vincent, Bill Hagan and Friends, Luke Lowrance, Cephalid Breakfast, Daniel Um and many more.
All profits will be split between Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, a grassroots mutual aid network whose mission is to provide crisis relief based on the principles of solidarity, mutual aid, and autonomous direct action, and Billion Oyster Project who works with local communities to restore oyster reefs in New York City. Oyster reefs provide habitat for many species, and can protect New York from storm damage — lessening the impact of large waves, while aiding with flood and erosion control.
About the comp’s album cover, Caroline also shares, “Beach Boys fans will appreciate the artwork for this compilation, a custom piece by Matthew Durkin. It contains references to Smiley Smile (the house, plant on the backside of the album) and Friends (using a very similar typeface as seen on the album cover) all combined to make an original piece for this compilation.”
You can purchase Let’s Be Friends: A Tribute to the Beach Boys exclusively on bandcamp.
the ugly hug 