Sound Dojo Vol ll – Night of House Tech
Mikaela Davis
Five years since her debut album Delivery, Mikaela Davis has moved away from her hometown of Rochester, shared the stage with the likes of Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Christian McBride, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive and Circles Around the Sun and entered a new decade. But it’s the ever-evolving relationships between her closest friends and bandmates that has propelled the Hudson Valley-based artist onto her new album And Southern Star—a truly collaborative effort that ruminates on the choices we make, and the people we always come back to. Davis earned her degree in harp performance at the Crane School of Music, and has molded her classical music training to create an original and genre-bending catalog that weaves together 60s pop-soaked melodies, psychedelia and driving folk rock. She met her bandmates at pivotal moments in her life—drummer Alex Coté in childhood, guitarist Cian McCarthy and bassist Shane McCarthy in college, and steel guitarist Kurt Johnson in her early twenties. It’s the band’s collective step into adulthood that has informed much of And Southern Star’s thematic landscape. Davis describes the band’s bond as “meditative and telepathic,” adding that although many of the songs were written individually across the past few years, something instantly clicked once they were together. Opener “Cinderella,” written by Coté and Davis, begins with Davis’ distinctive harp plucks and ethereal vocals. It’s a sonic choice that directly points to Davis’ solo beginnings, before blossoming into the textural patchwork of the band’s contributions. The fairytale wanderings of the song peel back in the album’s dream-like canopy, where tracks offer an otherworldly escape from the constraints of reality. The album, however, doesn’t shy away from the very real, lingering fog of solitude and uncertainty that comes with entering new chapters. “Far From You,” written by brothers Cian and Shane McCarthy, introduces a stark spotlight, with ghostly vocals and gentle piano accompanying the weight of loss. “Oh but if I was to meet you in the moonlight,” Davis laments before the song offers a tentative optimism through a stirring, psychedelic instrumental outro, written by Davis, that’s full of bright percussion and driving harp and guitar. This optimism lingers on “Home in the Country,” also written by Cian McCarthy, where rousing harmonies and honky-tonk frills encourage us to seek out the blue skies beyond the heavy clouds. “Promise” was crafted by Davis and Coté years ago as she was illustrating the pains of a close friend, but soon found herself relating it to her own life. Like the evolutionary tint of the album’s scenery, And Southern Star reckons with the changes that creep into a hairpin bend. “The Pearl” is there to anchor these dizzying shifts, as steel guitar and glittering harp creates a frame around the core-memories that shaped us. “You will always feel like that inner child,” Davis explains. “Sometimes you’ll forget about them but then it hits you.” And Southern Star is an album that toes the liminal space of growing into ourselves, while tugging at parts of the past that we’re desperate to keep. Moving forward, and accepting change, is one of the most painful parts of renewal and we can often find ourselves stuck in the difficulty of it all. Davis, along with her band, understands that while these bumps may hurt at first, they’re not forever and just like the message of album track “Saturday Morning”: sometimes “the illusion of darkness breaks its spell.”
Catch Your Breath
Catch Your Breath is a fresh, burgeoning Hard Rock band based out of Austin, Texas. Comprised of vocalist Josh, guitarist Teddy, bassist Cianan, and drummer Onell, Catch Your Breath injects a unique mix of synth soundscaping elements, imaginative production, and refined songwriting for an intense amount of emotion. The secret ingredient of their music is their relatable core. Says Teddy of the sound, “We want to mix it up with a new gen of alt-rock and metal… there’s almost never just our instruments playing by themselves”. With their latest single “Dial Tone” debuting on Sirius XM Octane radio, exponential Pandora growth, and coverage by Knotfest.com, audiences will instantly connect with the music no matter where they come from. —— We are Nerv, a 4-piece genre-bending rock band residing in California. The band’s members are originally from all over the US with vocalist Dillon Jones (Sacramento, CA), guitarists Jordan Grokett and Scott Buchanan (Dallas, TX) and drummer Tyler Clark (Atlanta, GA). Nerv burst onto the scene in November 2017 with their heavy hitting debut single ‘Enough’. Then in Spring 2018 the band released their highly successful debut EP ‘Bad Habits’, working with producer Erik Ron (I Prevail, Godsmack, Hollywood Undead). In October of 2022, Nerv released their long-awaited debut full length album, ‘We’re All Patients Here’. —— With lyrical depth matched only by their ascendant vocals, Austin, TX, dreamcore staples COLORBLIND have quickly become a name to know in the heavy music world, racking up some 28 million Spotify streams thanks to their rumbling rhythm section, earth-shaking riffs and airy grooves. That hard-hitting musical combination forms the backbone of“NEEDLE EYE,” Colorblind’s debut single for Solid State/Tooth & Nail. Building on the success of the 2021 hit “Motionless” and self-titled 2022 EP, “Needle Eye” announces a new era for the band – vocalist Travis Moseley, drummer Tyler Moseley, bassist Nicholas Asper and guitarist Justin Page – with a triumphant widescreen sound, car crash dynamics and visceral, open-nerve lyricism. With the band currently in the process of finishing their debut full-length, scheduled for release in 2025 via Solid State/Tooth & Nail, Colorblind is newly emboldened by the next phase of their career and poised to bring more of this life-affirming mentality to audiences around the world – mining the inextricably complex emotions found within us while showcasing the tremendous musical and personal growth they’ve experienced over the past few years. “We’ve been wrestling with who we want to be sonically, because we have a huge array of things we want to do,” Travis explains. “How do we condense all of those things down into one sound? We don’t even know who we’re supposed to be, and that’s the fun of it.”
Gary Numan
May, 1979. It’s an ordinary Thursday evening, which means it’s time for Top of the Pops. Amidst a zeitgeist of punk and disco, the show suddenly appears to be interrupted by a transmission from the future. A luminous synth riff echoes out, a beat drives on and up steps an otherworldly figure – part robot, part alien – to deliver an enigmatic lyric depicting some kind of android existence in a dystopian future. It’s Gary Numan fronting Tubeway Army for their breakthrough hit ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’. Of the millions that are watching, few would’ve recognised that this moment foreshadows the shape of music to come, from synth-pop to industrial and alt-pop. That, however, can’t stop it igniting the imagination of an audience that would swell into a devoted following. Fast-forward to January, 2021. Numan’s first single ‘Intruder’ (from the Intruder album) pulsates ominously as if it’s soundtracking an imminent threat. As austere synths loom like shadows and industrial beats are detonated, the beguiling hook towers like a beacon in the darkness. It’s visionary and venomous, with a narrative that imagines the Earth growing angry at mankind’s actions, and more than willing to fight back. In the accompanying video, Numan looks even more out of time than he did back in 1979, like an intergalactic refugee fighting for his own existence. Naturally, there were times when Numan was very much not in vogue. Sure, there would be ripples of rediscovery but there were years when his increasingly conceptual albums were primarily embraced by hardcore fans. He wasn’t troubling the charts, but audiences were still flocking to see him perform – almost every UK tour would include a sold-out show at the 5000 capacity Hammersmith Apollo. Gradually, though, praise from Nine Inch Nails, Prince and David Bowie led to a reappraisal of his work. And that has been magnified in recent years with Kanye West, Lady Gaga and Dave Grohl citing him as an influence. And so, a new narrative emerged. An unlikely icon returned to the top while making music that was darker, fiercer and more inventive than ever. His next album, ‘Intruder’, presented a fresh but complementary narrative. It’s a philosophical examination of a potential future apocalypse: the planet can only survive by purging its inhabitants. ‘Intruder’ also hit #2 in the UK charts. Numan explained: “‘Intruder’ looks at climate change from the planet’s point of view. If the Earth could speak, and feel things the way we do, what would it say? How would it feel? The songs, for the most part, attempt to be that voice, or at least try to express what I believe the earth must feel at the moment”. Collectively the album proves that Numan’s creative spark shows no sign of being extinguished. Numan toured the Intruder album at over 130 shows around the world, finally ending in mid 2024 when he toured the US with Ministry. Since then he’s been back in the studio writing and recording his next (and 23rd) album, due out in early 2026. This one looks at a near future world where humanity lives or dies based on the whims of an AI controlled system. He did take a few weeks out of the studio to play a major UK tour in the Fall to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of his ‘Replicas’ and ‘The Pleasure Principle’ albums, both UK Number 1’s when first released. That’s just a snapshot of the tale behind one of music’s most singular talents. The full story can be found in Numan’s critically acclaimed autobiography ‘(R)evolution’, which The Observer described as an, “exhaustive, entertaining and often poignant life story.” What comes next will surely be just as intriguing.
Brooke Alexx
Brooke Alexx’s music unfolds like the most candid conversation you’ve ever had. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Instead, she’s comfortable sharing all of the ups and downs of twenty-something life, whether it be lamenting how bad it sucks to breakup on vacation, celebrating her exes’ moms, or pondering how to balance career, love, and everything in between. Her dynamic voice belies a gentle girl-next-door charm and razor-sharp songwriting instincts, making her brand of pop as clever as it is catchy. After quietly generating over 35 million streams and earning acclaim from FLAUNT and Melodic Magazine, she invites you to listen in on the conversation through her music.
ATTACK ATTACK!
MICO
VIP PACKAGES INCLUDE: 1 General Admission Ticket Artist M&G Early admission One digital photo with Artist and poster Limited edition lanyard 2 song acoustic set before GA doors Venue First Entry First Access Merch Shopping In a digital era where everyone wants overnight success, alt-pop rising artist MICO showcases that great music and consistency can win the race. Starting as a 16-year-old singing in Discord servers and Twitch streams, MICO (now 22) continues to connect with new listeners one-by-one, paying off in a cult fanbase of 1.6 million digitally (known as the “amicos”), generating over 100 million global streams and selling out North American and European tours – all independently without major label help. The last two years have catapulted MICO to new heights – earning a top 20 radio hit (“cut my hair”), selling out three headline tours throughout the US and Canada, and sparking viral hits that have become staples in his discography (“HOMESICK”, “TV” and “Senses”. For MICO, the Internet isn’t something to be overthought – it’s like his second home. In 2024, he released his highly anticipated fifth EP, “Internet hometown hero” accompanied by his Cancel your plans tour – selling out dates in the US and Toronto and breaking his own streaming records. And 2025 is all gas, no brakes for the rising phenom as he fresh off his first-ever EU/UK tour (100% sold out), supported Nightly on a few US dates, coinciding with additional US headline shows in May (100% sold out) and will perform on his first festival ever at Lollapolooza in Berlin this July – all while releasing the deluxe version of his 2024 EP – “Internet hometownhero (+DLC)” on May 2, featuring “I’d hate to be my friend” and “Don’t you cry (w/ vaultboy).
Nilüfer Yanya
Nilüfer Yanya is a singer-songwriter from London whose third studio album My Method Actor was released in September 2024 to overwhelming praise from The New York Times, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Pitchfork (with a ‘Best New Music’ stamp) The FADER and so many more. As a whole, Nilüfer Yanya’s third album asks questions with no easy answers. It is a supple, expansive body of work that peers into the crevices of life, exploring them with comforting strings, skittering beats, soul-tinged melodies and swooning harmonies. It asks, who are we? Why do we follow the paths we follow? What is at the heart of it all? My Method Actor follows Nilüfer’s previous albums PAINLESS and Miss Universe, which were also met with high praise, ranking among the year’s best by The New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, Vulture and more. Nilüfer performed celebrated singles on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Later with Jools Holland and NPR’s legendary Tiny Desk concert series. She’s supported Adele, the XX and Mitski on tour, headlined London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and sold out shows across Europe, Australia, Japan and the USA. Yanya has also been remixed by Sampha, King Krule and Little Dragon and has collaborated with Bombay Bicycle Club and Liss. Nilüfer is also a founding member of the community project Artists In Transit which takes creative workshops and other support to displaced communities and people in times of hardship.
SANGUISUGABOGG
Shat out of hell, indeed. That’s the sonic stench that permeates the epically unpronounceable, utterly indecipherable and altogether uncompromising sound of Ohio’s notorious gore-merchants, SANGUISUGABOGG. Homicidal Ecstasy, the ‘Bogg’s second Century Media platter of splatter isn’t merely a return to the “down-tuned drug death” that defined 2021’s Tortured Whole. It’s the fluid-streaked byproduct of a band that hit the road like crazed serial killers and never looked back as they plunged deeper into a celebration of Mortician-worshiping brutal death metal sounds and splatter classics like Dead-Alive. They also became a badass live and studio proposition in the process. SANGUISUGABOGG’s bloody rise (their name, in fact, is an anagram for ‘Bloody Toilet’) was as unexpected to the underground death metal sect as it was for the ‘Bogg.. After releasing Pornographic Seizures in 2019 on the cult Maggot Stomp label, the foursome quickly won fans for their blasts of sludgy, determined riffing, tongue-severed-from-cheek, gross-out humor and nods to hardcore and 90’s East Coast death metal. “The logo definitely helped,” smirks Devin. “It’s the Nike swoosh of death metal!” Hitting the road with the likes of Creping Death, Frozen Soul and Vomit Forth, SANGUISUGABOGG received a pile of plaudits including Brooklyn Vegan putting them on a Most Anticipated Albums list next to genre titans like Carcass. “We got mentioned on NPR shortly after we dropped the first track off our EP!” says Swank, still in disbelief. “SANGUISUGABOGG was literally something that came together out of thin air. The first time we got together, we wrote and recorded our first four songs. Something was in the air.” Homicidal Ecstasy isn’t merely a musical maturation for the gore-obsessed boys of the ‘Bogg. While Swank’s lyric writing sessions are still “fueled on coffee with a horror movie playing in the background”, this isn’t exclusively the gross-out show of SANGUISUGABOGG past. “It goes deeper this time, into the psycho-sexual, body-horror, why what some people see as perverse or fetishistic, can also be perfectly normal,” says Devin. “There’s even a song called ‘Mortal Admonishment’ where I talk about how I deal with death. I wanted to write a song about my grandmother and how I got the news about her cancer and how I internalized it. It’s standard in death metal to talk about death but who has talked about the grieving process? “It’s kind of an homage to real life,” says the frontman. “When shit hits the fan, no one’s really safe.” Reconstituted, regurgitated and reenergized, SANGUISUGABOGG walks among us. Let the Homicidal Ecstasy begin!
Ouija Macc
Ouija Macc was born and raised in Las Vegas, where he found escape in art from an early age. In an uphill battle, art became a survival mechanism. While others looked up to superheroes, Ouija idolized Insane Clown Posse and Three 6 Mafia—an influence that helped shape the raw, unfiltered style he’s known for today. His debut release, TRASHFIRE (2017), was recorded across makeshift setups from New Jersey & Brooklyn to Pennsylvania. Gritty and lo-fi, it marked his emergence as a solo artist and led to his signing with Insane Clown Posse’s Psychopathic Records. From there, GUTTERWATER exploded onto Billboard, iTunes, and especially the Juggalo world-stage. Ouija’s story is steeped in survival—felony charges, addiction, and brushes with death. But through it all, he’s remained fearless and brutally honest in his music, painting a world of struggle, chaos, and resilience. His albums (DARCC PLANET, PSYCHO BABBEL, DIRTBAG,FALLEN ANGELIC, and more) reflect that duality: horrifying yet hilarious, aggressive yet uplifting, sad but undeniably alive. Whether he’s recording, touring, directing videos, or designing merch, Ouija brings his own mythos to every medium. With millions of streams and a devoted cult-like fanbase, Ouija Macc and Chapter 17 are seemingly unstoppable. The future is bright—but thankfully, the music is DARCC.