The last time we spoke with the band MONACO, they premiered their third single “Voilà” on PoetryDansLaRue in October. You can read more on the band’s backstory on our post, MONACO Premieres Vulnerable Single “Voilà.” At the rate that they produce boppy ’80s singles, the band should be on track to put out a nostalgic EP in the new decade. Today MONACO ring in 2020 by surprising fans with new single “Cover Girl.”

“You’re like a shot straight through my veins…”

Celebrating 2020 with a Tribute to the ’80s

“Cover Girl” by MONACO is out today on all streaming platforms. The band cites ’80s rock icons, Def Leppard, as the primary inspiration for the track. Singer and songwriter Daniel Davis of the L.A. local band explains, “I wanted to write a song that would make all of the iconic rock bands of the ’80s proud.” Davis continues to reference some of his other ’80s idols, Scorpions and Toto, as influences.

The concept of “Cover Girl” as a tribute to ’80s rock bands seems to come at the perfect time. As we celebrate 2020 and look back on the past four decades of music, the ’80s brought us innovative ideas and timeless hits. Many artists of today draw inspiration from this era and reference it in their work.

“I keep my edges real rough cause you make my heart velvet on the inside…”

Unveiling True Love

The song touches upon the feelings that occur at the beginning of a new relationship. Singer Daniel Davis recalls back to when he first met his wife, “It’s a rush of emotions. It was different this time because I felt like I waited my whole life for this moment. After making it official, I began to feel an intense mixture of happiness and fear. I worried that my heart would get broken again and that I wouldn’t be enough for her. She made me believe that I am enough.”

The song is a reflection of how love begins and challenges each person to reveal their true selves. Davis highlights some personal memories in the song from that uncertain, yet exciting time in their relationship. He discusses visiting San Francisco and not wanting to leave after. He questions, “Will you let me into your world, or is this just a cover, girl?”

The concept of “Cover Girl” comes full circle with a photo of his wife putting on makeup on their wedding day as the artwork. The song is apprehensive, captivating, and undeniably nostalgic of ’80s rock music.

Be sure to stream “Cover Girl” available now on all platforms and share your thoughts on social media. Happy New Year from PoetryDansLaRue and MONACO!

“Are you the one? I say you are. I say you are…”

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Alternative-rock artist, Black Tiger Bay out of Minneapolis, is known for his nostalgic, guitar-heavy singles. His music emulates the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Manchester Orchestra, and Weezer all wrapped in one. Take one listen to”January Fire” by Black Tiger Bay, and you will instantly recall those moody tunes from your younger years. The new single combines a signature, magnetic intro with emotional lyrics as it builds to a dramatic yet soothing outro. “January Fire” will undoubtedly have you hanging on to every second.

“January Fire,

Wading through the mire,

Oh, you turned out a fearsome creature…”

Black Tiger Bay Finds “Clarity”

Singer, songwriter, and producer Cole Hooey got his start in the music industry quite some time ago with the pop-rock band The Season. After nine years of The Season parting ways, he began a new solo project. Now, as Black Tiger Bay, Hooey has more of an alternative-rock feel that suits his unique approach. Hooey, who is now married and a father of one, implements his expertise in writing music to further his career as a vocalist and artist. He is a self-taught singer, lyricist, producer, and mixer of his work. While creating his upcoming album, he has also collaborated with drummer Erik Bear and mastering engineer Seth Munson.

Under the new moniker, Black Tiger Bay, his debut single, “Clarity” is the perfect title for a new dad turned solo artist. “Clarity” is a song that will pull you in with just one listen. Hooey breaks down the significance of the leading track in our interview, “Clarity” is one of the higher energy tracks of the upcoming album. It captures the overall spirit of the project and sets the tone for the rest of the songs.”

“And I think I love it more than I should…”

Emotions Run High In “January Fire”

It is easy to see the influence that “Clarity” had on Black Tiger Bay’s most recent single “January Fire.” The two singles make the perfect pair as an introduction to his newly evolved sound. Hooey’s musicality and instrumental background play a crucial part in the process of his songwriting. He explains that his songs will start by humming guitar melodies and then building the instrumentals. Hooey recalls, “I start with a guitar part and end up fleshing that into a full instrumental. Vocals and lyrics usually don’t come easy for me. They tend to come a little later in the game.”

Oddly enough, one lyric that stands out in “January Fire” came from an Instagram post. The lyric “I think I love it more than I should,” resonated with Hooey. The line became the foundation on which the song’s story began to unfold. Upon writing and rewriting other lyrics around it, he came to realize that his newborn son, who battled health complications early on, was his inspiration and “January Fire.”

“January Fire” keeps listeners enthralled and eager for more while sending the message that life is fragile. The song intimately addresses the feeling of uncertainty and worry. While soothing and intriguing, it also echos a haunting reverberation in your mind.

“A tail is worth chasing only half of the time…”

“Clarity” and “January Fire” will surely drive Black Tiger Bay into the new year as he continues to build momentum for future releases. Stayed tuned for more from Black Tiger Bay by following him on social media and stream “January Fire” below.

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On first listen to the band MONACO, you would never guess they are newcomers to the indie-pop scene. Having only two other tracks released, the group has already sparked interest and buzz worldwide. Today MONACO premieres their new bittersweet single “Voilà” exclusively on PoetryDansLaRue. We delve deeper into the personal backstory of how the song came together and experience the rollercoaster of “Voilà.”

“But babe, I’m already baskin’, now I’m askin’ to spend with you eternity…”

https://soundcloud.com/wearemonaco/voila/s-xrivR

“So go ahead and let love in…”

MONACO: A State of Mind

When singer/songwriter Daniel Davis of MONACO began releasing music, he quickly realized that he would need to recruit some of his friends to help make his vision come to life. One of those friends, Chase Lawrence of the buzz-worthy group COIN, encouraged him to release a previously written track “Such a Vibe,” in December 2018. Almost immediately after release, Davis saw an influx of positive feedback. The song was featured in The Daily Listening, and he received requests for live shows all over the world.

Davis soon went on to add members and friends Josh and Christian to the band. The songs that the group has released since, “Blondes” and currently “Voilà,” are original songs all produced by Davis as well. The Los Angeles based indie-pop trio now encompasses the idea of MONACO. The concept of MONACO, once a college dream getaway and goal to pursue a music career. Today this idea is not only a popular destination but a state of mind, a more personal one for the band in regards to religion. MONACO is now a state of mind in which everyone can experience while listening to their music.

“You take me to the place where my soul is saved…”

Intergenerational Inspiration

One of the most intriguing things to talk about in the music industry today is the overlap of genres and generations that artists incorporate into their music. The band MONACO does an outstanding job of combining generations and crossing genres to achieve their timeless soundtrack anthem sound. Taking inspiration from a wide variety of ’80s artists such as The Cure, Duran Duran, Fleetwood Mac, Def Leppard, and Motley Crue, MONACO has developed a knack for nostalgic tunes. The influences don’t stop there as MONACO cites indie-rock bands The Killers, Passion Pit, Walk the Moon, and Kings of Leon as crucial players as well. You can check out a playlist curated by the band of the songs that inspired the making of “Voilà” here!

“All I know is that with you I’m safe…”

Voilà!

While the new single “Voilà” may lead fans to believe the band is shifting in sound, the song, and the original chorus date back to late 2014. MONACO recounts, “The early days of “Voilà” sounded A LOT like “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, but later on, after revisiting the song and going through some significant life changes more of the ’80s and ’90s sounds took over.” The band also compares the track to a rollercoaster. “The song starts slow, builds, and takes you on a ride, much like your emotions throughout a relationship,” Davis elaborates.

The song itself encapsulates an emotional and spiritual journey over four years. Singer Daniel explains, “You learn not only to be the best person for someone else but the best person for yourself as well.” “Voilà” is very near and dear to the singer and his wife as it tells their story of learning to trust each other through the ups and downs of their relationship. The “Voilà” moment that they experienced in meeting each other led Davis to revisit the song and finally put a title to it. The song came together at the perfect time, similar to the picture-perfect love story he paints in the lyrics.

Listen to “Voilà” by MONACO as an exclusive early premiere, and be sure to stream it on Spotify tomorrow!

https://soundcloud.com/wearemonaco/voila/s-xrivR

Looking Ahead

The band MONACO has a few more singles up their sleeves for future release. Some of these songs they describe as fresh and brand new material. MONACO is also looking ahead and brainstorming ideas for an album release show. From the sounds of it, some lucky family, friends, and fans may be getting some special treatment in thanks for their continuous support! You can follow the band on Instagram to stay updated and share your thoughts on the new single.

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“Chin on wrist adoration from the start,” is not only a beautifully written song lyric but the perfect way to describe listening to the band Wilmah for the first time. The pop duo from NYC creates tracks that evoke infinite heart eye emoji reactions from their fans. In their newest release, “It Will Always Be You,” Wilmah bottles up those feelings and delivers them in a jazz heavy, R&B inspired tune.

“Someone translate what I’m feeling…”

Matt Connolly and William O’Connor (hence Wil+mah), have known each other since grade school and played in the middle school band together. They are the definition of a ‘do-it-yourself’ group when it comes to songwriting, instrumentation, and production. Their songs can either have you dancing like no one’s watching or sobbing on the floor reminiscing on old scars. Wilmah draws their fans in with poppy feel-good tunes such as “Dancing With a Mixed Drink,” and “Forever,” while also incorporating teenage angst soundtrack cuts such as “Nothing to Say,” and “Secretly Sad.”

The band’s release of “It Will Always Be You” combines the best of both worlds for Wilmah fans. The song will have you spinning around the room one minute and crying happy tears the next. Either way, it is one that you will want to spin endlessly into fall.

“It Will Always Be You” // Unlike Any Wilmah Track You’ve Heard Before

My chat with Wilmah was full of laughs and gushing over similar interests in the music industry. It certainly did not take long to realize that these two have what it takes to conquer their bucket list goals as a band. Citing inspiration from The 1975, LANY, and MGMT, they embrace a genreless music era in the creation of their sounds.

“It Will Always Be You” is a surprising and risk-taking track for Wilmah and their fanbase. It is not often that you hear the type of production and instrumentation that the song incorporates. On first listen, you may be wondering who is playing the saxophone and how the sounds all came together. Matt and Will explain that this is their first collaborative type track where they feature another musician. Upon receiving a relatively well laid out demo of the track online, the saxophonist added his original flare to the sections they had chosen for the feature.

The saxophone collaboration is not the only surprise on “It Will Always Be You.” Fans will undoubtedly be drooling over the key changes at the end of the song as well. The band mentions that they enjoy playing around with different formats and crazy ideas when putting songs together. They recount that “It Will Always Be You” is a product of that experimentation.

“And my sweet brain plays tricks on me every day…”

Lyrical Life Lessons

Wilmah is a band of emotion-evoking lyrics. They tend to encapsulate the perfect picture of nostalgia, all-in first love, and naiveté in their songwriting. “It Will Always Be You” features on-brand lines such as “Backwards marathons and pleading payphone calls” and “I apologize for not being sorry.” They elaborate on the lyrical meaning during our interview, “It’s about when you’re young, and you are trying to navigate how you are feeling. You are fearful of losing someone and struggle to see a future without them.” “The song portrays the conflict of learning about yourself while you are simultaneously learning about your partner,” Matt Connolly recounts.

A Taste of What’s to Come

“It Will Always Be You” will also bring a new EP with the same title. EP two will feature six songs, that will include two more singles to follow this release. From the sounds of it, the second EP will follow their signature style along with more differentiation between the tracks. Fans should expect dance anthems, a ballad, jazz influences, and some 2010s throwback style vibes.

“It Will Always Be You” will surely open up doors for the band to accomplish their long list of future goals. They recently played their first Manhattan show alongside the band Drive!Drive! and have hopes of adding more tour dates in the future. As they continue to take inspiration from the artists they come in contact with and collaborate with on tour, they hope to develop an organic live show for fans as well.

“It’s the you, that nothing and no one can ever compare to…”

Wilmah will cross off another bucket list item when they play on October 29th in Brooklyn, NY with the band MILKK. Tickets are available here.

Stream the new release “It Will Always Be You” by Wilmah available now on all music platforms. Follow them on social media to share your thoughts on the new single!

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It cannot be easy to merge countless influences into one fifty-second introduction, but the indie-pop band, Last Vacation, has done just that with the premiere of “Started.” The new single is the perfect addition to their catalog of ’90s and 2000s inspired tunes. Mixed with the progression of today’s music, they’ve got themselves an easily identifiable hit. If the previously released “Neon Home” is an upbeat dreamy dance song, then “Started” is an ‘in-your-face’ call to action.

The Boston pop band, Last Vacation, features Travis Rutzel on vocals, Scott Anderson on drums, Dan Hennessey on bass, and Stephen MacDonald on guitar. Today we bring you an exclusive premiere of “Started,” the introspective new single from Last Vacation.

“I bet you got it all worked out, I bet you’re doing better on your own…”

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A Fresh Start

The band released their reinvented debut single, “Neon Home,” in May of this year. To say making music is new to the four-piece, however, is not the case. They have a history of working together for quite some time. To better convey their message, the band decided to undergo a name change within the last year. The name “Last Vacation,” initially penned as a song title, stuck out to them as a pop band moniker with a bit of darkness to it.

Although Last Vacation has recently switched up their name and sound, their desire to create music remains unchanging. The songwriting process seems innate to the band. They mention that each member adds to the creativity of the group. Rutzel and Anderson are a lyrical and instrumental duo that play off of each other. They ignite the initial flame for each new track. The two frequently bounce ideas for off of Hennessey and MacDonald, who provide a fresh and honest perspective in the development of the music.

If you haven’t already, you will want to check out “Neon Home” and “Moon Lake” to paint the full picture of Last Vacation’s story thus far. In their early stages, these songs were destined for the band’s first EP. Focusing on having their music heard and creating a recognizable brand, led the group to share them as stand-alone singles.

“I wish that I could see you now. Wishing for a better place, a better place…”

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The Message of “Started”

Upon listening to the single “Started,” you may do a double-take on the vocals and overall sound. It is unexpectedly unique, nostalgic, and intriguing. You can hear notes of Jimmy Eat World coming through, a band of which they cite as a longtime inspiration. The instrumentation is the underlying force that takes you back to Warped Tour days and early 2000s pop-rock anthems. The band recounts tweaking these sounds many times until they were able to achieve this vibe.

In regards to the message, “Started” is up to personal interpretation and may pull you in different directions emotionally. In our interview, the band recalls the early days of laying down the lyrics, “At first, I think it was a lot about the pressures to fulfill a relationship or your job. As you grow up, people put a lot of emphasis on sticking with something and seeing it through. In reality, this advice is not always healthy in relationships or career choices. It is a very personal song for us. Now we see it as a career-defining song because we want to push ourselves as a band and we have a responsibility to see this through.”

Starting to Leave a Lasting Impression

It is easy to see that “Started” has the qualities of an opening track to a larger project. It is bound to leave a lasting impression on fans and new listeners alike. If the chorus does not circle your brain in the forthcoming days, you’re doing it wrong, and I recommend playing the song again. Not only will “Started” provide you with a catchy weekend soundtrack, but it will also prompt you to reflect on carrying out your endeavors to the fullest extent.

Last Vacation plans to release two more singles to round out to a series of five before the end of the year. The band describes the next two songs as “a little more emo and brooding” which fall in perfect time with Halloween around the corner. You can also catch them live with MILKK in Cambridge, MA on October 28th.

“You got to finish what you started…”

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Be the first of listeners to hear the premiere of “Started” from Last Vacation below. Follow them on social media to share your thoughts on the single!

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