Album Review: ‘Earthstar Mountain’ by Hannah Cohen
As spring carries on, Hannah Cohen has captured a sound that doesn’t impose, but coexists. Shifting perspectives, the New York, by-way-of the bay area singer-songwriter has created an album where the music itself feels like it’s listening, becoming the realm it makes space in. Bearing a tenderly mystical quality, Earthstar Mountain sounds as if it wasn’t so much produced, but more so discovered as one would a mushroom while wandering…
Kyle’s Top 50 Albums of 2024
Kyle’s finalized list of the best albums from 2024! Only one album per artist. Honourable Mentions WOOF. – Fat DogAs Grande As – Grande MahoganyThe Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow – Charles LloydHotel La Rut – Joanna WangRong Weicknes – Fievel Is GlauqueMika’s Laundry – Matt ChampionEmpathogen – WILLOWHome in Another Life – Enumclaw13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips – Xiu XiuNight Reign – Arooj AftabSamurai…
New Release: ‘Come Into The Garden’ by Natalie Wildgoose
Natalie Wildgoose’s latest EP is an invitation to pause, breath, and unwind. At its core, it is a spellbinding and mesmerizing collection of stripped down folk songs that feature vintage, feather-light vocals. But its subtle imperfections—like faint creaks in the background—add an unfiltered depth, intimacy, and warmth to each listen. Often guided by tenderly-lilting piano play, Wildgoose’s sweet sincerity in her songwriting shines across each individual track with an earthy…
New Release: “FLASHBACKS” by ORRA
In their latest single, Vancouver-based collective ORRA reflects on friendships lost to time, channeling a wistful nostalgia before time eventually took its toll. The reflections of Sarah Orr are spun over funk-laced synthesizers, soulful background vocal harmonies, breakbeat drums, and dazzling keys. These elements come together to develop into a dreamy, enchanting atmosphere, as the not so palpable past only further slides from your grasp. In moments, the song slides…
Kyle’s Top 50 Songs of 2024
Kyle’s finalized list of the best songs from 2024! Only one song per artist. Honourable Mentions The Laugh Is In the Eyes – Julia HolterWhiskey – Arooj AftabClustercuss – N. SHERMANhead.rap – Saba (feat. Madison McFerrin, Ogi, Jordan Ward)Cards on the Table – Nia ArchivesMemory Lanes – JARSAtmospheric River – Kindred MistTHINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS – Bon IverLies – JobéPACKAPUNCH – Joey Valence & Brae (feat. Danny Brown)Caesar on…
New Release: “Hand Me Downs (Live in Studio)” by Drive Your Plow
London-based art/folk rock outfit Drive Your Plow returns with a new single, their first release in over a year since February 2024’s two-track live session from Surrey Studios that featured “Away From It All” and “Mr. Zeit.” The band, consisting of members Daniel Ndaty (electric guitar), Takuma Ejima-Dalley (piano), Paddy Davies (drums), Starr Evans (violin), Luca Gierlinger (bass guitar), Louis Macmillan (acoustic guitar & vocals), deliver a striking, all-encompassing display…
In the Queue: Anticipated Upcoming Albums and EPs
In the Queue highlights the already abundant list of my most highly anticipated projects that are set to be released in the coming months, with more to come. Only two months in and we have received brilliant albums from Ichiko Aoba, Saya Gray, Horsegirl, Panda Bear, and many more—2025 is already shaping up to be another great year following 2024’s unrelenting showing. March 6 Come Into The Garden (EP)Natalie Wildgoose…
Kyle’s Top 10 EPs of 2024
Kyle’s finalized list of the best EPs from 2024!Only one per artist. Honourable Mentions SABLE, – Bon IverMid Spiral: Chaos – BADBADNOTGOODUnbound – Chelsea WolfeBe Lucky – Orchid OrchestraCatching Chickens – Nourished by Time 10 Crunchy – N. SHERMANBedroom Pop “A deeply entrancing trip into a musical soundscape that grants a gentle comfortability upon the listener, but never at the expense of its depth, always rewarding a new detail to…
New Release: “Midnight Meet (Main Street at Night)” by Hope Slide
Hope Slide returns with their first offering since May 2024’s, “Something Changed,” a track that immediately, and boastfully displayed the band’s collaborative strength with their expansive, rich instrumentation. “Midnight Meet (Main Street at Night)” is no different, only further highlighting the Vancouver collective’s knack for crafting meticulously emphatic, soaring compositions. Raw, emotional, and paving the way to their debut EP, the track serves as the lead single to what is…
File It Under: Hope Slide
A focused look into one of Vancouver’s most compelling and dynamic acts. Image from: Allysa Pierre // @allysapierre Named after a massive and tragic landslide in Hope, but characterized by sweepingly emphatic orchestral beauty, Hope Slide might have begun as a modest solo project, but it has evolved into something far more collaborative and layered. Beginning with Calvin Jay and Zane Klassen after a serendipitous meeting in film school, the…
Summer Replay: Music on Repeat in Soundwave Society’s Summer
With 2024 continuing to fade further into Fall and soon into Winter, members of our club reflected on the music that sound-tracked our eventful Summers. Whether it was spent in nature, at live shows, or on the road, we all have songs familiar to each of our adventures over the past few months. Summer Replay is our group’s curated playlist of song’s that were in heavy rotation, that might make…
Echoes of Vancouver 002: Must-Listen New Music from BC Artists
A Soundwave Society exclusive instalment, highlighting favourite tracks from the rapidly growing and diverse music scene in BC. Whether you’re a long time fan of these artists or just coming across their work, Echoes of Vancouver aims to represent the sounds that continue to shape our ever-evolving local music landscape. Click the button below for the Echoes of Vancouver Playlist, updated with each edition (Apple Music Only). Hannah Harlacher, “Dog…
Concert Review 002
Naima Bock & mildred – 2024 USA Tour The Rabbit Box – Seattle, WASeptember 15, 2024 This past week, on Sunday, September 15th, Liv and I made the trek from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, Washington for a show that we’ve been counting down to for months. The venue, The Rabbit Box, nestled away in the underground of Seattle’s infamous Pike Place Market, welcomed South London (by way of Brazil) musician,…
EP Review & Interview: ‘Hidden Minute’ by Sam Tudor
There is a distinct irony in the idea that something so contemplative, reflective, and frequently ominous, can be so immediately resonant. Sam Tudor’s 2024 EP, Hidden Minute, is just that, as it aptly encapsulates the exploration of the inner-complexities that make up the human condition. Describing the EPs sound as “murky,” Tudor crafts rich soundscapes that are equal parts ethereal and foreboding, while he navigates self-reflection, loss, and growth vs.…
New Release / Review: “mild” and “red,” twin EP’s from Mildred
Oakland-based band Mildred, a quartet featuring Jack Schrott (vocals, guitar), Henry Easton Koehler (vocals, guitar), Matthew Palmquist (vocals, bass, guitar, woodwinds), and Will Fortna (drums) have unveiled their debut twin EPs, mild and red. Officially assembling in 2023, Mildred came together last year in their living room, following a string of after-dinner music sessions. Reflecting on the creative process, the band notes, “The writing process was like said dinners, everyone…
New Release: “Mushrooms” by Skydaddy
Skydaddy returns with “Mushrooms,” the first follow up to February’s standout EP, ‘Pilot.’ The new track offers vivid storytelling, depicting a heart-wrenching narrative based on real events from August of 2020. It is a nuanced detailing of one’s experience of the catastrophic Beirut Explosion, and the devastation that ensued for the city. In this latest record, Skydaddy takes a story and crafts a visceral experience that is certain to challenge…
New Release: “Taste of Freedom” by Bukola
Bukola continues her momentous summer with her latest track, “Taste of Freedom,” the first follow up to July’s, “I’m Not From California.” Just as it did on the previous, the singer/songwriter’s personality and charisma shine throughout this newest offering, only this time enveloping the song with a warmer, summery glow. Her velvety vocals, while sleek, present a freeing tenderness in delivery, imbuing a joyous and lighthearted spirit within the record.…
New Release: “Hallelujah Bruv” by Tapir!
Tapir! returns with a brand new single, titled “Hallelujah Bruv,” in their first official follow up to their debut album, ‘The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain,’ released in January of 2024. Strikingly intimate, the song spanning just over two minutes features Ike Gray at the helm, with his familiarly tender and weathered vocals, over colourful, yet gentle, acoustic guitar chord progressions. The song includes distant,…
Echoes of Vancouver 001: Must-Listen New Music from BC Artists
A new instalment, highlighting favourite tracks from the rapidly growing and diverse music scene in BC. Whether you’re a long time fan of these artists or just coming across their work, Echoes of Vancouver aims to represent the sounds that continue to shape our ever-evolving local music landscape. Click the button below for the Echoes of Vancouver Playlist, updated with each edition (Apple Music Only). runner, “Coffee”runner’s cathartic track aptly…
Album Review & Interview: ‘Keeper of the Shepherd’ by Hannah Frances
Serving as an invitation for listeners into a world of self-reclamation, and drenched in earthy tones rooted in the woods of Vermont, Hannah Frances’, ‘Keeper of the Shepherd’ showcases her ability to craft intricate folk music that is driven by detailed and moving storytelling. This follow up to her 2021 record, ‘Bedrock,’ is spellbinding, enchanting, and a wholeheartedly-inspiring display of the challenge that is recovery and renewal after grieving. With…
Album Review: ‘So Medieval’ by Blue Bendy
Blue Bendy’s debut album, ‘So Medieval,’ is an engrossing journey through soundscapes where traditional song structure is abandoned in favour of a more innovative sonic approach. Containing 10 tracks and spanning 36 minutes, the album builds upon the groundwork laid by their 2022 EP, ‘Motorbike,’ showcasing an even more polished and expansive sound, defying anyone looking to easily categorize the group. The South London six-piece band, consisting of Arthur Nolan…
EP Review: ‘Twice Around the Sun’ by Ugly
One of the most exciting young acts emerging from the UK, Ugly is a six-piece band from Cambridge, featuring Samuel Goater (vocals, guitar), Harrison Jones (guitar), Harry Shapiro (bass), Tom Lane (keyboards, vocals), Jasmine Miller-Sauchella (keyboards, vocals, trumpet), and Theo Guttenplan (drums). Rich, confident, and ambitious, Ugly’s ‘Twice Around the Sun’ EP represents the fruition of the band’s efforts over the last 8 years. Although most of the material on…
Soundwave Spotlight: Waiting to Spill by The Backseat Lovers
Album suggested by LivListened to from December 20, 2023 – January 3, 2024 In Season 1, Week 5, The Backseat Lovers immersed our group with their sophomore album, “Waiting to Spill,” suggested by Liv for its beauty and cohesiveness. She highlighted themes such as loneliness and growth, which are brought to life in this album’s coming-of-age story. The anxious anticipation woven into the music aptly reflects the album’s title, and…
Concert Review 001
Mick Jenkins – Thank You For Waiting Tour Wild Buffalo House of Music – Bellingham, WAMarch 14, 2024 Mick Jenkins Photographed by Kamil Surma (Instagram | Website) “Give it up for yourself, we can’t do this by ourselves” The final stop of Mick Jenkins’ North American leg of the Thank You For Waiting Tour brought the Chicago artist to Wild Buffalo House of Music in Bellingham, Washington. Jenkins was touring…
I Keep Music On My Skin
Three days after my 18th birthday, I got my first tattoo. I already had a fleshed out Pinterest board full of tacky quotes and zillenial-esque ideas (that I would never touch with a ten-foot pole nowadays), but there was one idea that stuck with me ever since I was thirteen years old. I was going to get it no matter what, despite my mom’s protests and the raised eyebrows from…
Soundwave Spotlight: The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain by Tapir!
Album suggested by DerianListened to from May 14-21, 2024 Our music club tipped off Season 3 by delving into the enchanting and entrancing album, The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain by Tapir!. This 2024 folktronica / post-rock masterpiece was unanimously met with high praise, solidifying its place as a highlight in our explorations so far as a group. When putting forth the album for the…
Welcome to Soundwave Society!
A music club for friends. Soundwave Society started as a music club for friends who share a deep appreciation for music and the connections it can build. We were having so much fun with it, that we decided we should push the idea further, and thus this website was born. Before our ambitions and passion for music took us to blog posts, concert reviews, interviews, and more, we began as…
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