Weekly Roundup, November 6
By Madeleine Tomasoa
Welcome to another installment of our Weekly Roundup, formerly known as Buried Treasure. Watch this space for fresh tracks from LGBTQ+ artists in country, folk, and Americana.
This week, we’ve got a cornucopia of new releases from Elizabeth Wylde, Sweet Petunia, Mike Maimone, Alicia Stockman, Lauryn Peacock, Holly Clausius, Ryan Cassata, and Poetica. A lot of these tracks are about coming home and finding yourself home. We can only hope that you can find your own way back home, too.
– Madeleine
Song of the Week: “Tommy Dakota Theme” by Mike Maimone
“I’ve got fire in my veins,” Mike Maimone growls, and we’re immediately taken on a wild ride in the desert through determined guitars and a steady beat. “Tommy Dakota Theme” is the theme song for the titular upcoming graphic novel by writer Dave Ebersole and artist Vinnie Rico. The song serves as a perfect backdrop for the story about an infamous robber meeting the love of his life on his final heist.
“I ain’t gettin’ out,” Maimone croons, setting the stage for an exciting high noon. His vocal delivery and the playful strings work excellently together, playing off one another in interesting staccatos. This track feels modern while still paying homage to its Americana roots.
“I saw him / I want him,” he declares with finality, and all we can do is be taken on this exciting ride.
“4:13 am,” by Sweet Petunia
Queer freak folk duo Sweet Petunia features sweet harmonies by Madison Simpson and Mairead Guy. Their brother harmonies weave and intertwine with one another, creating a truly unique soundscape. Lovingly, out on the 5th of November, is set to be their third EP together.
Our standout track has to be “4:13 am”, a track that begs the question, “Maybe I could / Maybe I could / Maybe I could.” This 5 minute track feels like a beautiful orchestral experience; their vocals in perfect harmony, rising and falling together all at once. The song serves as a sign of tenderness whilst exercising a form of caution to the listener, almost as a siren call.
“Virginia” by Elizabeth Wylde
“Eye on the highway / Head in the air,” Elizabeth Wylde begins, her voice cutting through the instrumentals. Here, she details a particular unhappy summer day, before her sweet voice turns accusatory – “I used to doll myself up to please you,” she says, “I used to love to play that part,” and we can only wonder what went wrong between her and her lover.
The accompanying synths and drums are truly excellent here, making this track upbeat, juxtaposing beautifully with Wylde’s ultimately melancholy lyricism and delivery. The tension she creates between the speakers of this story; about times changing and people moving on, truly feel palpable.
“Slow Motion,” Holly Clausius
Toronto-based Clausius dropped her debut album, Rose Garden, two weeks ago, and on this single, she explores a warm, loving relationship through film metaphors. Sweetness.
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“These Four Walls” by Alicia Stockman
“Just long term storage / Of who I used to be,” Alicia Stockman says, gentle whilst being commanding all at once. She crafts this song with extra care, making sure to portray intimate moments and her vulnerability whilst being simple and straight to the point. The rhythm guitar is truly great here, acting as a perfect buffer between Stockman and the listener.
Stockman takes us on a graceful journey throughout, laying out the foundations of a house as as metaphor for her body, finally reaching self-actualization at the end, where she proclaims: “Make a home from / These four walls.”
“Sleep When I’m Tired,” Poetica
Poetica is a collaborative project from alt-folk-pop composer, producer, and poet Rachael Sage and her longtime (and 3x Grammy® nominated) cellist Dave Eggar. “Sleep When I’m Tired” has an exotic flavor reminiscent of Leonard Cohen or Edith Piaf.
“Hometown HEro,” Ryan Cassata
Cassata is as prolific as he is talented; this live acoustic version of the lead single from his new album – the first one he has produced himself – is a highly personal take on the pain of transphobia.
Got a great new song? Send it along to [email protected].