D.C. has a rich musical history, but there’s still a chapter being written: what’s happening now. Indeed, there are tons of bands dominating the local music scene and DCist has only scratched the surface in our coverage of local music. Welcome to Listen To This, a new semi-regular feature wherein DCist’s music staff shares new(ish) and/or noteworthy music from local artists that they’ve come across.
Jacob Hemphill of SOJA. Photo by Matthew Straubmuller
Zulu Pearls, “Lightweight (Dirty Beaches Remix f/ Sapphire Slow)”
Single.
Ordinarily, the Zulu Pearls listening experience is a decidedly breezy one. The Berlin/D.C. outfit’s previous album, No Heroes, No Honeymoons, is a beach-ready collection, although Zach Van Hoozer has a punchier take on relaxation than the hordes of Real Estate and Toro y Moi copycats that drench their songs in reverb, slowing everything down to a crawl. Sure, there’s some slight delay on Van Hoozer’s drawl, but the guitar riffs are cleaner, punchier, and therefore more conducive to strolling or slow dancing than easing into a nap.
Zulu Pearls’ new tune “Lightweight” is a poppier and more bass-driven number that seems primed for heavy rotation in every hip restaurant nationwide. However, Dirty Beaches’ Alex Zhang Hungtai turns the indie-pop romp into something far more interesting. This remix removes Van Hoozer’s instrumentation, instead letting heavy electronic blips propel the track while synthesizers provide a hazy melody. Also, Van Hoozer’s vocals are replaced by those of breathy Japanese chanteuse Sapphire Slow, further giving the song an ethereal feel. The bones of the song remain, but this gorgeous, yet slightly sinister remix truly adds something special to the melody that Van Hoozer created. —Valerie Paschall
Two Inch Astronaut, “Foulbrood”
Single. Exploding in Sound Records.
Colesville, Md.’s Two Inch Astronaut is on their way up—and the first single and title track from their new record, Foulbrood , is the catchiest and greatest thing they’ve ever done. Known affectionately by friends and fans simply as “Two Inch,” the band has been signed to indie DIY label Exploding In Sound since their 2013 debut LP, Bad Brother. The comparisons to label mates like Pile and Ovlov are obvious—heavy guitars intertwined with softer riffs are at the center of the band’s songwriting. Still, with their new songs to back them up, Two Inch deserves and (will undoubtedly attain) influence and recognition of their own.
“Foulbrood” comes more as a refinement of an already great catalogue of songs than an evolution or drastic alteration in sound. A resounding guitar riff stays constant with choppy, fuzzy chords, giving the band a slightly poppier vibe than previous efforts. Encased with lyrics of anxiety and shame (“I’ve got a bad idea that I’m trying to ignore”), Two Inch knows when to turn things up and when to slow them down, as they do at the end of the song with quiet, melodic guitar picking.
The band can be found playing house shows and local spaces almost every week, with frequent trips to Baltimore, Philly and New York—although a longer, country-wide tour is surely in the works to support the new record. It’s no surprise that rock fans of the louder variety are trying hard to cement Two Inch as a “D.C. band”—with this much talent and potential it’d be crazy not to hold on to them. Regardless of where they’re from, Two Inch Astronaut may very well be the hardest working band in the D.C. area right now—hard work that’s about to pay off ten fold. — Quinn Myers
Foulbrood is out on November 25th on Exploding in Sound Records.
Bo Jankans, “Level Up”
Single. Sleepy Hollows Studios.
Bo Jankans is back with a sequel to February’s The Motormouth EP. Right out of the gate he declares to all other rappers that it’s time to step up their game.
The first single off the aptly titled The Motormouth EP: Act II is called “Level Up,” and it’s here Jankans claims his spot as king of the local rap stage.
“I set a tone that keeps these rappers on their fuckin’ toes,” he boasts. Jankans is on his way up in the world and he’s not letting anyone stand in his way. He’s brought in some backup here, though: Reef the Lost Cauze and Kane Mayfield, out of Philadelphia and Baltimore respectively, each with their own ego-strutting verse. (Subtext: If you’re on Jankans level, you’re welcome to ride along).
DJ J-Scrilla, producer for both Motormouth EPs, sets the beat over a foreboding church organ and an ethereal female chorus, both ominous enough to let anyone seeking to upset Jankans’ quest for the throne that they’re going to have to put up a good fight. — Max Steinmetz
The Motormouth EP: Act II is out October 14th.
Fellow Creatures, “Shuka Shuka”
Single.
When news broke last year that the indie rock group Ugly Purple Sweater were officially breaking up, we knew it would only be a matter of time until frontman Sam McCormally reemerged on the scene with a new project. Almost an entire calendar year later, McCormally and former bandmate Will McKindley-Ward have returned (and delivered) with Fellow Creatures, an electronic swamp-dance band that has a penchant for experimenting with bizarre instruments.
Their debut release, “Shuka Shuka”, showcases the band’s ability to blend vocals and harness unique sounds, creating an expansive, otherworldly track. The song builds anxiously with reverberating guitar synths before warping into a wild piano solo that is both primal and contemporary. To create this jangle-filled composition, McCormally sought out a toy piano and attached a transducer to record the audio. On paper, it shouldn’t work, but the piano is seamlessly incorporated and cranks out a highly danceable jam.
If the end result of “Shuka Shuka” is any indicator, this group isn’t afraid to challenge themselves with non-traditional noises. Now that their first demo has dropped, Fellow Creatures will be playing shows around the District with the help of two other former bandmates, Rishi Chakrabarty and David Greer. The group plans to release an official single later this fall with a debut album in the works for early next year. — Dalton Vogler
SOJA, “Driving Faster”
ATO Records.
Soldiers of Jah Army, now known as SOJA, came of age in D.C.’s reggae scene of the early-to-mid ’90’s. That quintessential rude boy spirit can be heard on their new album Amid The Noise and Haste. The new album features collaborations with reggae legends such as Damian Marley, Michael Franti, Collie Buddz, and others. Amid The Noise And Hate is an American reggae masterpiece that will appeal to their new fans around the world as well as the most dedicated fans they have carried with them along the way.
The new album is already a hit, as SOJA deftly features A-list guests and cameos, but nestled among the high profile cut are true gems. One of the strongest tracks on the album is “Driving Faster,” which features SOJA’s bass player, Robert “Bobby Lee” Jefferson on lead vocals. Longtime fans of the band will remember stand out tracks from previous albums, like “Be Aware,” which also feature Jefferson on lead vocals. Conscious lyrics sung with heart and solid studio production are what make this song and SOJA in general so compelling to American reggae fans. — Andy Cerutti
South Rail Band, “Storms are on the Ocean”
Single.
The sweet and spunky South Rail Band has been part of the D.C. music scene for only the past couple years, but has built up a healthy following by playing the city’s velvet-trimmed high roads (the Kennedy Center) and delicious low roads (Hill Country Barbecue). The trio—composed of Jay Byrd and Lara Supan on guitars and vocals, and Ben Potok on drums—writes the kind of folky, Americana music you’ll need for all future road trips and hiking excursions.
This song is a cover of an old Carter Family tune from 1927. It has been covered multiple times (most recently, by Nancy Blake for the film Inside Llewyn Davis) but only South Rail Band gets straight to the emotional center of the song: the heartbreak of leaving a beloved behind.
The versions by the Carter Family and Nancy Blake are uptempo and optimistic. There’s little doubt that the separation is temporary and the singer will return home. But by slowing it down and keeping it sparse, South Rail Band doubts the return: the Carter Family is going to New York for the weekend, but South Rail Band makes it sound like they’re going off to war. This version of “Storms” highlights how much emotional power South Rail can pack into two voices and two guitars, and the gorgeous mix of Supan’s mahogany voice with Byrd’s sharp tenor. For more of their music, the band’s most recent EP, Stars, was released this past May. — Caroline Baxter
Diamond District, “Lost Cause”
Single. Mellow Music Group.
It’s been five years since Diamond District—the local trio comprised of Oddisee, Uptown XO and yU—released their seminal debut record In The Ruff and a lot has changed in the D.C. hip hop scene: Fat Trel signed to Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group; MC Logic signed to Def Jam; Wale peaked; and now there’s a crop of new young artists starting to make a name for themselves, like Petworth’s Ras Nebyu. And never mind that each of Diamond District’s members have had fairly successful solo careers.
So here we are, five years later, and Diamond District are back. There’s a lot of anticipation for their new record, March on Washington, and from what we’ve heard so far, it may rival In the Ruff. On “Lost Cause,” which premiered at the Village Voice a couple weeks back, the group’s deep education on ’90s hip-hop is still very much apparent. Oddisee’s boom-bap rhythm holds it all together as the trio take turns rapping about the changes to their beloved hometown has seen in recent years. Could Diamond District redefine the D.C. hip-hop scene once more? We’ll see. — Matt Cohen
