The Witzard

J.R. SLAYER (CREDIT: Robin Laananen) Just a few days before the release of their eagerly-awaited Will Yip-produced debut EP, Not Rotten, comes one of J.R. SLAYER's stand-out tracks, "The Fade Out." Keeping with the feeling of falling into Earth-shattering love that washes over the entire EP, "The Fade Out" feels nostalgic and hopeful while rocking amidst soaring guitar riffs and melodic Indie Punk sing-alongs. Out on Yip's label, Memory Music, this Friday, Not Rotten sounds as opposite as it can from Cody Votolato's past work; it's clear that the Seattle-born, LA-residing artist is at a new place in his life. "There's so much bad shit in the world, there's a lot of bad things happening. But when you fall in love with someone, you have this feeling that all that stuff can disappear momentarily," Votolato explains. "Everything goes away but you and this person and your feelings about them and yourself." J.R. SLAYER comes ...

JR SLAYER (CREDIT: Bob Sweeney) What started as a creative catch-all for Cody Votolato has morphed into one of 2022's break-out bands: J.R. SLAYER. And that's pronounced "jay-arr" slayer, not "junior" slayer, just for clarity's sake. J.R. SLAYER seemsingly first started years ago as a character and an illustration, a simple, aimless piece of imagination. "I think the world is gonna die before I do," Votolato sings on their new single and the title track to their debut EP, Not Rotten. "And if that's true, I just want to spend the rest of my time right here, sitting next to you." Produced by Will Yip (Title Fight, Anthony Green, Touché Amoré,) Not Rotten is a celebration of the feelings, words and, music that gives life color and energy to break through the bleakness. It sounds as opposite as humanly possible when compared against Votolato's past work; with melodic Indie-Punk sing-alongs, Bubblegum-Pop choruses, and soar...

Let's just say this: if you're still not listening to Barttes Strange, you're missing out! Strange is a producer and song-writer based out of Washington, D.C. His mother is an Opera singer and His dad served in the military for decades. Strange traveled widely for his parents' jobs—born in Ipswich, England in 1989, his family did stints living in Germany, Greenland, and a number of states across America before he hit his 12th birthday when they settled down in Mustang, Oklahoma. Bartees Strangr released his debut full-length, Live Forver, last year on producer, engineer and song-writer Will Yip's impring, Memory Music, formed in partnership with Run for Cover Records. It was one of the most critically-acclaimed/widely-loved albums of the year garnering widespread praise from the likes of Thursday's own Geoff Rickly, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, The National, Stay Inside, Maneka, and Oceanator. Live Forever Deluxe Edition by Bartees Strange Strange has sin...