MUSIC
What I love about Fridays isn't that I get to log off work early (well, maybe a little) or that I have an excuse to attend happy hour...it's that I'm guaranteed new music. And now that we are fully in June, artists are churning out albums and singles to get us through the summer months. This week, especially, is a hot spot for new bangers for your playlists.
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MUSIC

He's Country's Next Big Thing. Here's Why...

His latest single "Neon Fools" is sexy, melancholic, and has us all thirsty for what he has coming in 2020

Adam Doleac is the name on everyone's lips in Nashville.

After a year of playing to tens of thousands on tour, amassing millions of streams online, and dropping a video featuring Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph, you wouldn't believe things could get any better for the rising country superstar. Cut to one record deal with Sony Music later and rethink what you believe. Doleac is one of those artists who sets your expectations high, leaps over them, then rinses and repeats. With that in mind, get excited, because he has an early Christmas gift for the world in the form of his latest single "Neon Fools."

In a word, the song is sultry. Filtered drums, minimalist slide guitar, and piano chords holding down the melody, all while Doleac silvertones his way through a set of lyrics showcasing him at his best. He plays off his natural charm, flirty but imperturbable, and sings about an ill-advised romantic interlude under neon light. Gospel vocal accents add to the track's ethereal elusive texture, all of which is countered by Doleac's voice. He acts as a grounding point amongst the smoke and mirrors of the song. For all of "Neon Fools" misguided amorosity, he always brings us back to what is tangible: the perfection of the present moment.

It's easy to love Adam Doleac. Apart from his genuine presence and gentle demeanour, he knows how to be genre accessible without pandering. For country fans he's an in-road to a more pop sound; for pop fans, he's a perfect entry point for country. But it's more than that. Gateway appeal is one thing, staying power is another. Doleac somehow has both. He's simultaneously a one-night stand, and the guy you can bring home to your folks. It seems like a magic trick, but the more you listen to him the more you feel it. While you wait for more, you can listen to "Neon Fools" and get excited for what the New Year will hold.

Check out Adam Doleac at AdamDoleac.com, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Listen to Adam Doleac on Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora

Last week, Australian singer-songwriter grentperez released the EP When We Were Younger. The seven-track set includes the same smooth vocals and intimate lyrics that's gained him fans around the world. The production is a little more adventurous, with unexpected percussion and dreamy layers of keys and guitars.

In this episode of The Demi Ramos Show, grentperez talks about songwriting, growing up in a Filipino household, and the origins of his viral hit "Cherry Wine." He even blessed us with an exclusive acoustic performance of his new song "Silver Lining."

Watch the show and stream When We Were Younger below.

grentperez | The Demi Ramos Show


For more from grentperez, follow him on Instagram and TikTok.

I moved to the New York City area last August, and one of the first venues I heard of was the elusive Brooklyn Mirage. It’s a live music venue located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York where any DJ whose anybody plays night after night in the summer. It draws huge crowds, fans of EDM and people who just like dance music come together in this courtyard-esque venue.

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Australian indie-pop group, Boy & Bear, have become hometown heroes for a reason. They know how to work a crowd, hyping them up with their unique sound and a beat that can make anyone want to move. Over the past ten years, Boy & Bear have created beloved tracks that have solidified their place in music history...and now they're back with their fifth LP, Boy & Bear.

Boy & Bear is filled with 11 classics. With songs like "Strange World" and "Silver Moon", you can already imagine venues packed full singing along. The band is known for their stadium tours, where they play to crowds of over 65,000 in Australia and have sold out international tours multiple times in a row. Their music is perfect when played live, something any fan can attest to.

What's unique about this album is that it is wholly Boy & Bear. They self-produced it, creating most of it in their own studio, and putting their entire identity as a band into this fifth album. It's only right that it's self-titled. You can listen here:



Dave Hosking of Boy & Bear sat down with Popdust to talk about self-producing their own album, Boy & Bear, and more!

Congratulations on your fifth studio album, Boy & Bear! How did it feel different writing this album than any other one before?

Well this one was self-produced so we were really working collectively to get the songs to a good place. We also worked a lot out of our own studio next door to the main studio which allowed us to experiment with different sounds and effects. There is something nice about working locally, there’s often more time to work the songs and you really get to chip away slowly, pushing and pulling the tracks as needed.

What was the inspiration behind the album as a whole?

I think from a sonic perspective we were enjoying the connection between digital sounds and organic sounds. We used drum machines a lot more and wanted to create a hybrid between the hypnotic nature of the drum machines and the more organic elements of performance. Lyrically I think the songs are a lot about the fragility of our own minds. I’m often fascinated by this, the ability to persevere through adversity, to adapt, to dig deep in times of distress and reflect on what we are all capable of achieving.

What was your favorite memory creating your self-titled album?

I think my favourite memories are of when the song really starts to click. That moment when you hear back the final arrangement and feel a strong sense of excitement and achievement. There’s nothing better than hearing the final product come together.

You’re known for your incredible live performances, being one of Australia’s best-selling acts. What’s your favorite part about performing live?

I think performing live really is really important to us. It allows us to show our musicianship and to adapt the songs where needed to the live environment. I love the feeling of performance, the free fall that comes from losing yourself in the music in front of a big crowed. It’s pretty special.

You have a few shows coming up this summer in Australia….what can fans expect from these shows?

We’ve definitely changed the set list up from previous tours, digging deeper into the catalogue but also sharing some of the newer songs. If we get it right it will really demonstrate the vast variety between the songs and hopefully people will appreciate that.

If you had to name a few favorite tracks off the album, what would they be and why?

I really love strange world. I think the arrangement is just so solid and I’ve always loved the lyric. I think it’s a great example of where the arrangement really amplifies the story. The drums to me always felt like they were representing this real sense of determination and energy which suits the songs lyrical drive and sense of hope. I also really love Crossfire. I love playing around with my falsetto and was just super happy at where the vocal finished up. I think the end result was something super hypnotic and full of emotion.

What was it like self-producing and recording Boy & Bear?

It’s always interesting having five chefs in the kitchen (so to speak) but I think we navigated this well. We’ve learned over the years that different people in the band bring certain strengths and weaknesses and you really have to know when to speak up and when to just get out of the way of someone else’s ideas. I’m proud of the fact that we did this on our own and I think it shows what we are capable of achieving when we’re at the helm!

One thing about Brasstracks is that he can make a collaboration with just about anyone and it's a guaranteed hit. But you don't really need me to tell you that, ask his Grammy awards for songs like Chance The Rapper's "No Problems" or Harry Styles' "Watermelon Sugar." He's collabed with big names across all genres like Anderson .Paak, Khalid, and Mac Miller, and his recent singles are no exception.
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