Haasan Barclay is Built Better

I keep seeing some dude who gives music advice say that record labels aren’t investing any resources into the pre-release portion of an album roll out. That’s why you see these short windows for promotion when an artist is releasing their new album: album announced 3 days before release, no singles, no interviews. Everything comes after. Apparently, it has to do a lot with labels seeing what works organically and then pouring fuel onto the fire once it’s already lit as opposed to trying to create the fire.

Now I know he’s talking about major labels, but often times this sort of advice can be applicable to smaller labels and independent artists (or at least seem like it could be applicable). And to that I say:

I think a “traditional” roll out of story building, singles, anticipation, and all that fun stuff still has a place in the current music climate we exist in. Like I know some of your favorite artists may just be doing their round of interviews after the release is out, but where’s the interview that gets people excited where they first announce the album?? Where’s the single that excites people with a new sound?? Where’s the ominous teaser posts on Instagram??

Maybe it’s not for everyone. Maybe popular artists and the major labels have cracked the code on this one. I think there’s so much music that it’s really hard to cut through a lot of the noise and sometimes, it’s just about what sounds good in someone’s ears or what comes off as intriguing.

But because there’s so much music, people need to be more of who they are becoming fans of, especially when it comes to discovering smaller artists. It’s harder to stand out and will continue to be hard to stand out, but I don’t think thoughtfulness and doing more will ever be out of style.

Inspired by a Nile Rodgers Stratocaster, “Built Better” leans into a funk-driven blend of indie rock and post-punk, pairing melodic guitar lines with hip-hop swagger and a groove-heavy momentum. The track has evolved over the years following creative studio sessions in Nashville, and now lands as one of the clearest reflections of Haasan’s sound and influences.

The single follows “PACE” and continues the rollout for Haasan’s upcoming EP Four Leaf Clover, arriving June 26 via EveryDejaVu. The EP release is being celebrated with a show on June 30 in collaboration with Allston Pudding and the Zone 3 concert series, featuring Valeria Orrantia and ET.

Listen here.

With his first new music in 10 years (his last work being his collaborative album with Blu, Open Your Optics to Optimism, the California-based producer Fate returns with “Lostwave,” an atmospheric instrumental track built from archival work from 2018-2021 featuring live in-studio drums by Nick Schlesinger.

Listen here.

Follow Fate on IG here.

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Bontana navigates through images of war, protest, grief, and survival with the keen perception of an astute observer. On “Soft Dreams,” mellow vocals hover in the background while his verses cut through with urgency, invoking political violence and responsibility, “Free Palestine, I could never turn a blind eye.” Never fully tipping into didacticism, and with skeletal drums and a minimal sound structure, it’s not exactly polished protest music, but feels closer to diaristic work, intensely rooted in personal experience.

Read full article here.

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