Back in 2024, a project called Meredith quietly released an album titled Seventeen. But just before the album was released, the group disbanded. Formed by Carolina Eva (guitar and vocals) and Leon Gateley (guitar) as a way to play music and experiment with noise during lockdown, Meredith eventually became a full force with the inclusion of Jake Haslam (drums) and Lucas Saunter (bass and production). Although Meredith is considered to be a project left in the past, today the group shares an unreleased track, “spill it out”, along with a bonus unreleased demo, “An old song, again”, as a B side.
At the helm of its backbeat, “spill it out” seeps through the suffocating air with a progression of warm guitars and sweaty reverberation. Seventeen is rattled with this loose sonic wear and tear, but “spill it out” revels in the brevity of improvisation. Eva’s vocals become the focal point of the track, as each line feels sporadic in its deliverance yet simple in its messaging. “Leave me / Spill it out”, she sings, letting it linger in the heavy air that her and Gateley push to the brink. The delivery of these phrases is anchored to a fresh vulnerability – that potent kind that makes us aware of our own footsteps when things become too unmanageable. Yet, the more Eva repeats the line, “spill it out” becomes less of a plea for honesty and more of a push for release.
Watch the accompanying music video for “spill it out”.
About the single Eva shares, “Leon [Gateley] and I made this song around 3 years ago now. In part it came together in an improvised session when I visited him in Deptford after my first year living in New Orleans. My marriage had just ended, and I was working out how to even breathe and just be in my body. singing felt like a kind of anxious electricity that would build and release itself in sharp fragments with every step, taut and terrifying. I was grateful to be home with my friend, and making this song helped me with living.”
You can listen to “spill it out/An old song, again” out now. Read our previous feature on Meredith and the release of their album Seventeenhere.
“Will you hold me in the palm of your hand, will you hold me at all?” Lolo Wawa (the stage name of Lauren Wallach) creates a comforting testament to the passage of time and the changing nature of relationships in her debut singles “Meridian” and “Fondly,” released January 23, 2026 on Bandcamp, and later to other platforms.
Lauren is a twenty-five year old singer based in Bellingham, Washington. She creates vivid musical worlds built around self-exploration and the people and places she cares about. One of the lead vocalists and songwriters of the folk-rock band Bellflower, and a vocalist for the Americana band Dogwood, she has recently begun exploring her own sound as a songwriter.
“Meridian” is an immersive comfort of the themes of girlhood, hope, daily moments, and time passing. There is strong wordplay, with lines such as “Zoe smells like jasmine and dogwood / hold my heart in your teeth like a dog would.” “Fondly” navigates losing someone kindly and without resentment, while still hoping to know them. She captures imagery of doubt and insecurity through the metaphors “am I a thorn in your side? Am I a fly in your lemonade?” The songs pair perfectly together as a way of moving forward gently. Lauren writes intimately of everyday objects, small details and moments, and connection with others; her vivid lyricism including the seasons, birthday candles, mood rings, backyard swings, and letters.
Her vocals are strong and clear, featuring glowing backing harmonies from Electra Richards and Rubin Hochhauser. There are gorgeous instrumental interludes, combined from Lauren’s guitar and glockenspiel playing, fiddle that mirrors the vocal melody from Rubin Hochhauser, and mellow drums by Phoebe Setter. The tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Zach Miller, who played guitar, tambourine, bass and sparkles.
“Meridian/Fondly” is available on all platforms. Keep an eye out for more Lolo Wawa releases and performances, and check out the projects of Bellflower and Dogwood!
This past April, on a cold, rainy afternoon at an outdoor market in Somerville, MA, I met up with guitarist, bassist, and vocalist Jon Wallis to talk about the debut release from his project Jonny Tex. “I needed to prove that I can make simple rock music,” said Wallis about Mark of Cain, the four track alt-western and indie rock EP about characters inspired by his time in Austin, Texas, where he spent most of his life before moving to Boston in his 20s. The debut is a long time coming for Wallis, who says he’s always wanted to have a rock project of his own. But it took leaving Texas and his Southern Baptist church behind, getting fired from a music residency at a local bar in Boston, and losing a laptop with over 400 demos to get here.
It’s not easy to stand out in 2026 as an indie rock band, but from my first Jonny Tex set last fall, I was hooked. Drawing from a broad array of sonic inspiration, Wallis certainly has a way of writing catchy, full sounding rock music. On Mark of Cain, the guitarist focused on his lyricism, and it shows. The four tracks feature parables and vignettes that touch on “an inherent absurdity or sinfulness that everyone has.” Said Wallis, “It’s a motif found in everything.” Hence Mark of Cain.
But Wallis brings this Christian motif to his music through humor and self awareness. “I’ve always been more inspired by the western caricature than country music,” said Wallis. “I like the silliness of it,” he said, before describing how the second track — “Bill” — is about his neighbor from growing up, a “frumpy Texas single guy”, who “says his life is awesome but it really sucks, which is a thing that a lot of southern men do,” he adds.
Wallis, for his part, grew up in a Southern Baptist church, leading worship music nights as a teenager who had previously spent time playing music with friends. “[The church] kept being like, oh you can be a youth leader,” said Wallis. “It was all bullshit.” Wallis decided to leave the megachurch and ultimately left Texas in 2021. “I realized anywhere I moved in Texas, my entire community would be people I [knew from the church].” He opted for Boston despite not knowing a single person who lived there. “It paid off. I love Boston.”
Photo by Lena Warnke
After arriving in Boston, Wallis spent time “gigging around,” including playing with Philly-via-Boston group Hereboy and post-rock/noise band Pew Pew. Along the way, Wallis managed to get a residency at a local bar, covering “beer country songs from the 90s” under the moniker “Jonny Tex and the Lone Stars”. Said Wallis, “I would get my friends to play with me [often on instruments that were not their first instruments]. One day they were like, you guys get so hammered on stage, you play too long, and nobody’s really enjoying this except y’all.” And thus was the end of the residency. “We stopped, and then I was like, okay, we’ll be an originals band.”
To his credit, by this point Wallis already had a laptop with over 400 demos that he had written and recorded over the years. That is, until the laptop crashed. Instead of devastating him, Wallis said this freed him up to start releasing music with “songs that I kind of just remembered writing that I was excited about” or new songs that he’s written since. “So that was like 3 years of practice pretty much.” I asked if he ever tried to get the laptop fixed, to which he responded, “I still have it. I just… I cannot. It feels kind of nice.”
Last year, Wallis released a double A-side via Happen Twice — Heifer/Cherubhead — with songs that he wrote after he decided to focus on originals. Within five months of getting fired, he was in the studio with his buddy Marshall Pruitt, recording four songs. The duo chose two that they felt were good enough to release. “It felt really important to record in Texas, those songs about Texas,” said Wallis. Wallis noted that on everything he’s recorded, he’s played nearly every part aside from a couple keyboard parts on the singles, and drums — played by Kyle Duggar of Virginia Creeper on the singles and Corey Camara of Spirit Ghost on the EP. He emphasized how important it is for him to make the recording sound as much like what is in his head.
Jonny Tex in full band format. From left: Charles Peterson (keys), Harley Spring (guitar), Corey Camara (drums), Holly Foster (bass), Jon Wallis (guitar, vocals). Photo by Lizzy McEleney.
Wallis spoke glowingly about his producer, Pruitt, whom he has admired since high school from his work with Austin bands Close By and Duncan Fellows. Wallis shared about how Pruitt has pushed his songwriting. “He’s pushed me to make songs to be more clear… It’s forced me to think about selling a song rather than a vibe… It’s been encouraging to work with someone who’s like ‘We can’t bury the vocals. We have to make a good sounding record.’”
For Mark of Cain, Wallis brought Pruitt up to Little Nice in Lincoln, RI last July to record songs that he started working on just 6 months prior. “I wanted to just try to make straight rock music that sounds good so I could prove that I could do it,” said Wallis. “Two guitars, bass and drums, and just me singing.”Mark of Cain might be the debut from Jonny Tex, but don’t expect this EP to define his sound. “I think the singles [“Heifer/Cherubhead”] kind of indicate that I have an ambitious mind.” Indeed, “Heifer” with its odd, whirling startup sounds that persist throughout; “Cherubhead” with its drum machine sounding kick and high hat and overdubbed guitars that sound like a large dying animal. Wallis mentioned that after Mark of Cain, we can expect some “weird ass shit” from him. “I go into every song with no mission. I think that’s something I value so much is really letting the weird sounds in my brain translate to pop music. I want the music I make to be singularly me.”
You can listen to Mark of Cain by Johnny Tex premiering here on the ugly hug.
Written by Mae Capaldi | Photo Courtesy of Wishbone
After playing a handful of shows at the Hideout and Hungry Brain, “Spout” comes as the first single from indie folk-inspired band Wishbone. Based in Chicago, the band includes Avery Riel on guitar, vocals, and violin, Gabe Lewis (Porch Music, neighbs) on bass, vocals, and clarinet, and Mat Shiley (Porch Music, Big Fans) on drums. We got to talk with Wishbone about their recording process, their aspirations, and got a little philosophical with it.
“Spout” opens to an ambient soundscape of violins with Avery’s picking layered overtop. They play the guitar slowly and eventually start speeding up, mimicking water dripping, then streaming, then rushing out. Written by Avery the summer after graduating college, “Spout” shares the experience of falling in love and the surprise and hesitation that someone’s sincerity can cause, saying “you’re so kind…how can I do the same for you? Can I do the same for you?” Their voice starts timid— “I know love is real ‘cause I’m full of it/But you’ll never get me to admit”—and then soars almost immediately after, like the “breaking dam,” they reference. Mat mixed the track while taking a class with Philip Weinrobe, recording engineer for artists like Adrianne Lenker and Billie Martin, and It’s easy to hear Phillip’s influence in the mixing as they shape the landscape of the song.
Listen to “Spout” out ow!
While “Spout” describes a romantic relationship, as a debut single it also embodies the group’s growing connection to each other and their community. At their live shows, while tuning between songs, the three banter with the audience and share poetry, extending their kinship to the listener. “Yes, we’re practicing for things and recording and taking things seriously, but the focus is that we’re having fun…we spend time at rehearsals playing hacky sack…if we feel good as a unit of friends, then the music will also feel good because it’s just an extension of that collective unity,” Mat shares.
Mat and Gabe met sharing a locker in first grade and have played in bands together since middle school. Avery brought their songs to the two and they had their first rehearsal a little over a year ago; “Gabe and Mat already have such a foundation of playing with each other…they’ve been very motivating…when I get in my own way.” As Gabe puts it, one of “the most important things when I’m making music with others is to feel comfortable, period. And also feeling comfortable to suck.” While Gabe also initially threw out “If you had fun, you won” as a joke, this little quote—taken from a poster above the gym doorway of their & Mat’s elementary school—perfectly sums up the ethos of the band.
To close – in true collaborative Wishbone fashion – before you head to the next article or song, here’s a poem from Mat:
wishbone
wish on a penny wish on a star wish on a wishbone broken hard though when it comes to push and shove can’t help but think I’m rich in love few friends, a band, a pickle in hand not much beats it in this here land I’d rather keep the bones together my love a wishbone, always forever
“Spout” by Wishbone is out today, and you can catch them live tonight at Apricot Vintage at 8pm for their single release show.
Coining the new genre of “Lemon Rock”, Neptune’s Core return with the term’s inaugural use, as the Chicago-based band share their brand new single, “Lemon Car” out today. Neptune’s Core is a band of two sets of sisters: Hannah & Sofie Richter; Jackie & Kaitlin Cywinski, who have been playing together for nearly a decade. Filling out countless shows with their contagious energy, as well as getting a handful of releases out into the world, Neptune’s Core have made their mark on the city and beyond. But with its vibrant voicings and tightly drawn convictions, “Lemon Car” feels like the next big step for the band.
Photo by Braeden Long
“You’re my lemon car, I will love and covet you”, Sofie Richter sings, the track’s melody feeling carbonated amongst the light and playful instrumentation. Pretty soon, feelings of love, trust, uncertainty and obsession become synonymous with a click track and some slicked back rock and roll, as Neptune’s Core levy the playing field with ecstatic synth layers and a variety of vocal harmonies giving texture to each of these thoughts. Once Richter asks, “Will you be mine?”, its repetition makes the question lose itself amongst the commotion the band commits to, rendering whatever its answer to be almost unsavory. And through it all, with the check engine light flashing, and a bit of smoke coming from under the hood, Neptune’s Core blends the care that comes from years of friendship, with the excitement of whatever is next, to give them every reason to confidently ditch the car and run to wherever they need to be.
Watch the accompanying music video for “Lemon Car” made by Jack Massucci.
Listen to “Lemon Car” out now out now via Shuga Records.
The dynamic force that is Artificial Go return today with their new single “Triple Ones”. As the first release from the Cincinnati-based band since their last LP Musical Chairs released this time last year, members Angie Willcutt, Cole G Patrick, Ryan Sennett, and Micah Wu have been nonstop on the road, playing shows, shaking hands and recording excellent side projects, such as the newly formed Age of Peace (Check out their playlist they made for the ugly hug). “Triple Ones” is an ecstatic release that finds the group back and better than ever.
Sweeping the pits of punk rock’s heyday, while wielding a commanding anticipation of what’s next, Artificial Go return with an anthemic track dedicated to the reclamation of self. With gritty guitars that stick like gum under the bleachers, the band plays with conversational movements between the bass and the commanding presence of the drum line. Willcutt’s vocals do what they do best, cutting through with inflection and color, as she sings, “Explain to me your delusional behavior,” continuing, “The world dealt me the cards of presumption/ I’ll play them right and use it to my advantage.”
Playing out of their instinctual looseness and pop-song-fascination, this track wields both demanding strength and thoughtful tenderness in the face of frustration. It’s joyous in practice, the lively melody throwing caution to the wind and getting down to the groove. But the band sears the track with both a newfound invincibility, along with their unique type of instinctual care as a unit, as anger and defeat become catalysts for joy and resilience.
About the single, Willcutt shares, ‘“Triple Ones” is an ode to standing up for oneself, questioning authority and reclaiming energy.”
You can pre-order the Triple Ones 7″ now, as well as on vinyl via Carpark Records.
Today, Keta Ester, the solo project of Bruiser and Bicycle guitarist and vocalist, Keegan Graziane, shares the music video for “Singer of the Rock Song”. In February, Graziane shared his debut album under the project titled Love Apple, a collection emblematic of the beloved pop facets and responsive traditions of storytelling that the New York-based artist uses to piece together a sincere and unique profile within a single song.
“Singer of the Rock Song” begins with a sense of warm anticipation, standing on a doormat as a colorful synth and Graziane’s inviting cadence fall into the knocking rhythm that lets you in. “Am I a singer / I am the singer of the rock song”, becomes a back and forth as Graziane puts a mirror up to the creative process, exploring what it means to be a musician on his own terms. And as the instruments grow in their deliverance, and the textured patterns shed light on bits of constant reflection, Graziane holds onto each line of the final chorus, not out of any need to savor it, but a reminder of the patience, care and joy that goes into creating something genuine.
About the track, Graziane shares, “from the outside, the title of the song seems very tongue-in-cheek, but it’s written with sincerity and a deep appreciation for music and performing. There is intentionally some humor within the idea of the track, but it’s also inspired by watching musicians hone their craft over a long period of time and form their own singular expression—something that can only happen over from making music over the course of many years.”
Watch the music video for “Singer of the Rock Song” here.
You can listen to Love Apple out now as well as snag a copy on CD and cassette.
Today, Bloomington-based band The Spatulas return with their new single “What Carries Me Through Frozen Blue”, the second track shared ahead of their new album A Blue Dot out May 15th via Post Present Medium. Through several lineup changes and shifting homebases, what has stayed consistent in the world of the Spats is songwriter Miranda Soileau-Pratt, who has always found unique ways to make the project an extension of her creativity. Bringing in guitarist Luke Einsiedler, bassist Elijah Bodish, and drummer Greg Witz, A Blue Dot is the marker of where these changes have all organically led to, finding The Spatulas in their strongest form yet.
“Watch my bubbling pot boil over when I forgot”, Soileau-Pratt sings ahead of wiry guitars that fall like the hair of a mut, as “What Carries Me Through Frozen Blue” piles up loose sonic strains through natural deliveries. The Spatulas have never been a project to dwell on the impact, but rather find common ground with the humdrum that thumbs the scale of our lives, no matter how little we may notice it. And it’s in that subtlety where the shifting melodic patterns become something of a fresh start; “a sparkle of something simple in my eye”, Soileau-Pratt sings out as tones shift to-and-fro. And as the band moves on, the guitars sing like sporadic thoughts of to-do’s and daydreams amongst the clambering drums, throwing caution to the wind as the band sears the track with both a newfound invincibility and their instinctual care.
“What Carries Me Through Frozen Blue” is released alongside an accompanying music video featuring novelty characters, found footage and a dedication to the memory of Buzz “Poochie” Wallace. Watch the video by James Wallace here.
A Blue Dot is set to be released May 15th via Post Present Medium. You can preorder the album now on vinyl.
In the last lap of 2025, People I Love shared “Overcast”, a wistful and luminescent track that followed the releases of “The Witch” and “Perfect” in the months prior. The singles were a smattering of introspective vignettes, each an achy reflection swaddled up in velvety, “lo-fi” (if you will) blanket. “Overcast” arrived with the assurance of an impending album announcement – a promise that has been delivered today; on May 1st, the Brooklyn-based project of Dan Poppa is set to share new record, Window to Another World. The album will serve as a skeleton for these ruminative tracks to live, and perhaps as a catalyst to magnify the weight of their individual contents. You can hear the latest single, “Treasure”, today.
“Treasure” examines love through a transient lens. Mixed by Reed Black and featuring drum contributions from Avery Kaplan, it is textured and forlorn, though far less scorned than previously shared singles “The Witch” and “Perfect”. Like many People I Love songs, it veers from any sort of obvious emotional formula, yet it’s usually in these liminal and ambiguous soundscapes that the feelings within the song become most comprehensible. “Treasure” is simultaneously warm and dispirited, loaded with vivid sunset imagery and urges to “tell your favorite girl you love her” despite assertions that nothing lasts. It’s pretty and complex and saturated with longing, and it’s an exciting sliver of the poignant narratives we can expect to unfold throughout Window to Another World.
Levi Minson, the singer-songwriter out of California, has always held an edge to momentary feelings – the duality at which they are experienced and then later remembered with newfound distance. Minson released Violet Speedway, his last LP released back in 2024, which found him singing of shortcomings as if he is one step ahead. Minson now returns with his new EP, Thread the Eye, out February 27th via Anything Bagel. Today, the ugly hug is premiering the first single from the collection titled “Arms”.
Photo Courtesy of Anything Bagel
With the slightest shift of intonations, “Arms” falls into a dance of minor spells as Minson leads the track with finger-picked patterns and telling melodies in tight step – sure to miss any cracks on the sidewalk and the bad luck that we’re told ensues. This isn’t out of worry or superstition per say, but for the precedence it sends to our most empathetic and curious thoughts. “You wanna be good/but you never knew how/stuck inside the body/arms reaching out,” Minson sings, his voice almost visible like breath in the cold, open air, only becoming more apparent in the colorful voicings and heavy considerations that pool from the rich progression. Though, without getting caught up in its repetition, Minson’s back and forths become more of a point of reflection, a type of casualty that is both compassionate and committed to what’s around us when things begin to feel too big to handle.
About the single, Minson shares, “I wrote Arms during a moment of existential curiosity: How do we do what’s right? How do we stop the oppression of others? How do we process the guilt of living in an unjust world?”
Listen to “Arms” premiering here on the ugly hug!
Thread the Eye is set to be released February 27th via Butte-based label Anything Bagel. Grab Minson’s previous LP Violet Speedwayon a limited-edition screen-printed cassette tape from the bagel crew.
the ugly hug 