Follow Friday: IDLES, Phantogram, Sharon Van Etten, and More

Phantogram

Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter of Phantogram have been sprinkling new music throughout this year. This week, the New York natives graced fans with a third installment of new sounds thanks to “In A Spiral.” The electronic rock-pop duo made their initial return since 2016’s Three, with their booming track “Into Happiness” and its accompanying music video. Come August, we saw the second iteration with “Mister Impossible,” a bombastic track with an ambitious sound that evokes the main theme of a modern-era spy flick, as alluded to by the title.

We’ve been going non-stop with writing, touring, and recording.

Sarah Barthel, Red Bull Interview

Although an official announcement has yet to be made, fans suspect a new album is on the horizon. While we wait in anticipation for further news, take a listen to the latest single “In A Spiral” above.

Until then, you can tide yourself over with Phantogram content and check out our String Theory with Josh Carter.

When it comes to guitars, Phantogram rocks the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass and Armada. String-wise, they opt for Ernie Ball Regular Slinky.

Check out some Phantogram bangers below.

Sharon Van Etten

There is a certain heartfelt intimacy to the New Jersey singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten‘s music. Her indie-rock sound is defined by electrifying instrumentals paired with powerful vocals, whether they be pared down and crooning or exploding with passion like on her hit track, “Seventeen.”

When I write, it’s for therapy. I hit ‘record’ and I sing stream-of-conscious. I don’t listen to it right away—I give myself a couple days just to get it out, because I’m usually pretty dark. Then I go back: What was I feeling? What was I trying to say? Most of it, I don’t share with people because it’s so personal—99 percent of that stuff will never see the light of day. But there’s the ones that I feel like people can relate to.

Sharon Van Etten, TimeOut

Sharon Van Etten‘s most recent album came out this year, and she has made an astounding impact since its release. Titled Remind Me Tomorrow, and it holds some of her most potent tracks yet. If you want to relate to those Van Etten tracks in person, check out her official website for tour dates.

Sharon Van Etten uses Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Cobalt strings, Beefy Slinky Cobalt strings, and Earthwood Medium Light Phosphor Bronze strings.

Have your heartstrings tugged at with Sharon Van Etten‘s top tracks below.

IDLES

The British Invasion isn’t over. IDLES is here to remind you. Coming hot and fast out of Bristol, the sound that the punk rockers deliver is extremely raw. With lyrics that aren’t afraid to hit a nerve, blistering bass, guitar riffs, and growling vocals coming from extra-charismatic frontman Joe Talbot, it is hard to take your eyes off of the band that hits harder than a train. That is, of course, if you can keep your eyes on them while getting pushed around in one of their mosh pits.

We as a band, as a collective people, are interested in changing the narratives for the greater good of the populous. We’re not in it to just write a song about going out and having a good time because life’s way too interesting to downplay it like that. With us as responsible men, as responsible people, we need to question and explore our behaviors as men and musicians for the greater good – which is basically to not ‘act like a man,’ but to act like a person. A good person.

Joe Talbot, KEXP

That mindset is what keeps IDLES on top of their game. They are currently in the midst of a US visit. Head over to their official website and snag some tickets before they head back overseas.

IDLES get rowdy with Ernie Ball Not Even Slinkys.

Start flailing with the top tracks from IDLES down below.

Deap Vally

We love a powerful duo that can get a crowd headbanging. The Los Angeles garage rock duo that is Deap Vally is a prime example. Comprised of only Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards, their fuzzed-out tracks bring intense energy that pulses through every beat. Their sound has so much bite to it that you might be surprised to learn that they met at a crochet class.

FEMEJISM won’t make the comparisons to the Black Keys disappear, but it is heftier and fuller than Sistrionix, showcasing forays into other genres like the unsubtly titled ‘Post Funk’ and ‘Grunge Bond.’ Edwards shines on the former, her galloping drum patterns propelling Troy’s bright, confident riffs.

Consequence of Sound on Deap Vally’s FEMEJISM

Since the release of FEMEJISM, the band has delivered a few singles, including “Bring It On,” featured above. The track is composed of their typical growling blues sound that evokes comparisons to heavy hitters in the genre. If you want to rock out with the two-piece in person, check out their official website for tour dates near you.

Deap Vally uses Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings on guitar.

“Bring It On” with the hits from Deap Vally below.

Andrew Baena

British Columbia local, Andrew Baena, is a bonafide expert on the inner workings of metal. His career originating with influences like Linkin Park and System Of A Down, Baena had a head start on decoding the secrets to the genre. Alongside down-tuning metal hits even further, his YouTube channel has him transforming pop bangers like Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus into metalcore — answering the age old question: “but does it djent?” Now, Andrew Baena  has stepped up to the plate to deliver his latest original tunes.

Bury the Hatchet is my first Solo EP — I wrote, recorded, programmed, and mixed it all. There are four songs, played in Drop A, Drop E, and C# on a 9-string guitar. It is a collection of songs that never quite fit with any of my bands, so I decided to finish up the songs with my own lyrics. The songs are about uncomfortable topics such as suicide and dementia. With talking about these topics my hope is to let anyone listening going through something similar in their lives know that they’re not alone.

Andrew Baena to Ernie Ball

To check out more of Andrew Baena’s metal madness, head over to his YouTube channel to see what he’s got coming up next.

Andrew Baena uses all sorts of Ernie Ball strings, including Regular Slinky 7-Strings and Skinny Top Heavy Bottom 8-Strings. But, if you want to learn more about how he gets his low, chunky sound, check out his video on Mammoth Slinky Strings. You can get some for yourself here.

Get low with Andrew Baena‘s Bury the Hatchet EP below.