Aria Wunderland

Photo: Chris Parsons

NYC alt-pop artist Aria Wunderland launches her latest single, "Starbound," a song about "dreaming big."

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MUSIC

Esbie Fonte Faces the End Times in “Time Traveler”

The self-destructive nature of society.

Esbie Fonte

Photo: Chase Leonard

California alternative singer-songwriter Esbie Fonte releases a new single, "Time Traveler," about the end of the world.

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MUSIC

DYLYN Reveals an Inner "Secret"

DYLYN gets vulnerable and lets out her pain.

DYLYN, who hails from Toronto, Canada, unveils her new music video – "Secret" – today. Popdust spoke with her about the captivating new song.

What inspired the song?

This one is personal. My life was turned upside down and as a result this song emerged. 'Secret' became therapeutic, it helped me deal with this crazy thing that happens to so many people, yet often remains a taboo subject; especially in song," explains DYLYN. "'Secret' gave me a chance to connect with people, with my fans whose parents also split up due to infidelity; it became a way of reaffirming myself and others 'You are not the only one going through this.' When you write a song from such an honest and vulnerable place - that's when the magic happens.


Who produced it? What was the recording experience like?

The record was produced by Marty Martino. The writing process was all about 20 minutes. I was hesitant about writing about such a personal story, but as the lyrics started to unfold, everything fell into place. I recorded the song in a very dim lit vocal booth. I wanted to get into a headspace where I could feel alone with myself and deliver the lyrics from the most honest place.

What do you want people to take away from the song? Was there a particular mood you were trying to capture? A story you were trying to tell?

I want people to know they're not alone and especially as a child of divorce. We often focus so much on the two people involved that other members of the family are forgotten. It was really hard for me to watch my parents separate after being together for so long; my brother and I went through a lot. The resolve in the end is forgiveness and ultimately love. Singing about your own experiences gives others the chance to connect and realize they're not alone. When I was younger and fell into a dark headspace, music was always my therapy and outlet to get my emotions out - I'm hoping this does the same for others.

What are your plans for the next year?

I'm currently working on a new EP that is forecasted to be released this year. I'm very excited to get this music out and tour again. This record is going to be more raw and I want to put all my emotions on the table. 'Secret' gave me the courage to do that.

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MUSIC

New Emily Rowed Video Captures Sound in Colors and Textures

The music video for the singer's latest single, "Watercolors," is a synesthetic feast for the eyes and ears.

Synesthesia is the phenomenon by which one of the five senses is experienced through the stimulation of a seemingly unrelated sense.

In other words, when a person claims that she is able to "see" a sound or "hear" a color, she is likely having a synesthetic experience. Much is still unknown about the phenomenon, other than the fact that it's rare. Vancouver-based singer, Emily Rowed, however, seems to have a strong sense of synesthesia, evidenced by her latest music video, "Watercolors."

The video was shot at the 604 Records Soundstage studio and is based on the way Rowed claims to experience the song. In a written statement, she describes her initial vision as "an effortless, flowing love that came out of nowhere. Everything turned into sweet purples and vintage film." And, with the help of director, Daniel Keen, that is exactly what the video became – a blend of soft purple and blue lights drench Rowed as she sings beside her keyboardist and in front of her drummer's silhouette. The video captures this intimate and minimalistic performance, alternating between long shots of Rowed swaying and singing with the band and jarring cuts to grainy film filters and glitchy, VHS-inspired effects that quickly slice the images into disembodied blurs. The overall effect is one that perfectly mirrors the play between soft and sharp, smooth and rough, characteristic of the song.

"Watercolors" is the latest single from Rowed's latest full-length album, April, which dropped on April 12th. And if the rest of April is anything like what Rowed's painted for us with this single, the album is sure to be brimming with audible color.

Emily Rowed - Watercolors (Live)www.youtube.com



Dustin DiPaulo is a writer and musician from Rochester, New York. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Florida Atlantic University and can most likely be found at a local concert, dive bar, or comedy club (if he's not getting lost somewhere in the woods).


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