Jack Kays bares his soul with the vulnerable folk ballad “The Walk” 

After a two-week retreat to the secluded desert of Joshua Tree, California, singer-songwriter Jack Kays came away with a collection of raw and intimate new songs that make up his brand-new EP, CESSATION. With nothing but an acoustic guitar and a microphone to capture his evocative vocals, Kays bares his soul beautifully on the EP’s closing track, “The Walk,” which chronicles his own experiences with mental health, addiction and journey toward sobriety. The track is a self-reflective tale with haunting imagery and lyrical bravery that incorporates delicate finger-picked guitars and a folk-inspired sound that suits the young artist well. —Alessandro DeCaro

GARZI’s “PARANOIA” (Feat. Fever 333, Point North) is a dystopian arena-rock anthem

For his latest single “PARANOIA,” alternative-rock artist GARZI enlisted Jason Aalon Butler (FEVER 333) and Jon Lundin (Point North) to create a high-intensity blast of nü-metal-inflected rock for a dystopian age. GARZI unleashes a truly impressive performance and lyrical cadence in the song’s chorus over the backdrop of pounding drums and low-tuned guitars. “PARANOIA” covers a considerable amount of sonic ground ranging from the aforementioned nü-metal elements to drum and bass, trap and even hardcore, with Butler providing chills-inducing screams along with Lundin’s smooth and controlled melodies. Lyrically, “PARANOIA” is a vulnerable account of GARZI’s own personal anxieties and cries for help that will surely feel relatable in one way or another. —Alessandro DeCaro

spill tab creates a maximalist ode with “CRÈME BRÛLÉE!”

spill tab, aka Claire Chicha, creates the type of alt-pop music that feels magnetic. With her flashy new single “CRÈME BRÛLÉE!,” the nascent star has created a song that’s an unpredictable epic. Produced with Solomonophonic (Remi Wolf, Wallows, Dora Jar), “CRÈME BRÛLÉE!” is a two-minute burst that’s filled with nimble lyrics, fuzzy guitar lines and plenty of maximalism. — Neville Hardman

Narrow Head’s “Moments of Clarity” is an introspective space-rock journey 

Houston shoegaze quintet Narrow Head are proving to be one of the most inventive and exciting new acts in the genre with their latest single and title track “Moments of Clarity” from their upcoming album, out Feb. 10 via Run For Cover Records. On “Moments of Clarity,” vocalist/guitarist Jacob Duarte reflects on tragedy, mortality and the challenges that he has faced within the last few years while allowing the listener to join in on his personal journey of introspection. Musically, the track embodies their signature ’90s-inspired sound in the vein of prominent shoegaze and space-rock groups (Hum, Failure, Teenage Wrist) while expanding their sonic palette with heavy, fuzzed-out guitars and reverb-laden vocals to create a massive wall of sound. —Alessandro DeCaro

Read more: Korn and Evanescence announce co-headlining 2022 summer tour

The lineup also includes Lucy Dacus, King Princess, Hippo Campus, Peach Pit, Julien Baker, Goth Babe, Maude Latour, Bartees Strange, Jack Kays, Michelle, Wallice, Kyle Dion and THE BLSSM.

The one-day-only event takes place Saturday, Oct. 1 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, which is located in the Washington Metropolitan area, otherwise known as the DMV. Tickets range from General Admission Lawn at $95 to VIP Super Suite at $350 (all prices also include fees).

Presale tickets go on sale April 14 at 10 a.m. EST, with general tickets going on sale April 15 at 10 a.m. EST. For more information about tickets and the festival, you can go here.

Check out the festival poster below.

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Your EP MY FAVORITE NIGHTMARES rounded off your year. What does this change to your signature sound mean to you?

This EP is about duality. It’s a reflection of my own head, and the purpose of it is to make people feel comfortable with their own dualities. The idea is that we all have multiple versions of ourselves. There’s two sides of every person — there’s the side we let everybody see and the side that we keep under wraps or we only let a few people see. I want people to listen to this music and feel more comfortable with the sides they don’t let people see because it’s all natural. It’s all part of us, and it’s not always pretty.

Your lyrics are always refreshingly open, but is there ever any concern that you could trigger listeners by depicting this bleak reality?

As someone that deals with their own mental health issues, I get really frustrated by how censored people feel they need to be about mental health when people are so taboo about them. It makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong with my disorder, and that’s not the case. It’s totally normal. I think the more we can be candid and talk honestly about it, the better it gets for people.

How did you cross paths with Travis Barker to collaborate on this EP?

He DMed me on Instagram about my song “MORBID MIND” at the time, saying, “Hey man, I love your song. Text me!” He said he wanted to sign me to his label DTA, but he knew I was talking to Columbia, so he was like, “Either way, I wanna work with you so bad.” Then a month later, we were in the studio together.

What’s it like working with him not on just one track but a whole EP?

Travis has been super cool throughout this long process. He’s been very excited to work with me, and he’s the most humble person. I grew up as a little punk kid, and I’ve been playing drums since I was 3 years old, so it was a really intimidating experience the first time I got into the studio with Travis over a year ago, but he doesn’t make it feel that way. He still put me in a position where I was able to create my best art. I really enjoyed the process. He’s the busiest guy in the world, but he’s carved out a ton of time for this EP, so we’re both really excited to see it come to the finish line.

Would you consider working with Travis again?

I don’t have any songs with him left in the can, but I wrote one recently, and I listened back to it a couple of days ago and thought, “Wow, this would be perfect with him drumming on it.” So I’m gonna send it over to him and see what he thinks.

Is there anything you want to avoid this year?

I really care about my mental health and keeping a routine. I like to do things that make me feel good, and that’s one of the best ways to keep yourself happy and keep yourself going. However, sometimes I get so stressed out or caught up in something that I let that part of me go, and I stop taking care of myself or having my routine. I’m not sure if that’s a form of self-destruction or my anxiety, feeling like I can’t do those things, but I’m sure we can all relate to that. I wanna stop letting myself get in the way of doing things I love.

How do you want the 2022 version of Jack Kays to look, as opposed to the exposed aesthetic of your 2021?

I like to do different looks for my cycles, so with MIXED EMOTIONS, there was this blond hair, and I was wearing wool pants and Doc Martens. [I] thought it looked like a singer-songwriter thing. I shaved my hair for this one because I wanted to be super bare, and I thought it looked really edgy. Now I want this next music to reflect me, my perspective and the stories I want to tell, so I just wanna look the most like me that I possibly can. I know I’m growing out my hair, and I wanna start getting my scalp tattooed. I don’t know what I wanna do, but Travis said it didn’t hurt that bad.

Will the bleak sounds of “OUTRUN MYSELF” carry into your next release, perhaps a full-length?

I think the way I want to go next is still more EP-driven, but the one thing we can expect is a lot more acoustic music. I really can’t keep my hands off my guitar, and I don’t feel like writing anything else. This new stuff is really next level and some of my best songs. I’m really excited.

What are your first plans for the year?

I’m on tour in January. Then my girlfriend and I are going to spend a month in her native Turkey afterwards. We’re both serious introverts, and this whole EP release process has been a lot on us, a lot of interaction and brainpower going into it. I’m someone that really cares about mental health, and it’s No. 1 on my list of priorities, so we’re going to isolate ourselves for a month for a little reset before we have to come back and hit the ground running again when I really want to get this acoustic guitar music out. My goal in life is to have enough freedom to be bored all the time. I write my best songs when I’m bored.

This interview first appeared in issue #402 (22 for ’22), available here.

Enter 22 in ‘22. We’re kicking off the new year with issue 402, showcasing 22 of the bands and musicians who are poised to have a stellar 2022. Featuring the Regrettes, Carlie Hanson, BLACKSTARKIDS, WARGASM, Holly Humberstone, Nova Twins and over a dozen other artists, we’re celebrating the new year as a chance for us all to grow and continue transforming the music of our era.

Read more: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ continues strong box office performance in the new year

We’ve always been passionate about new music, from our early support of pathbreaking artists such as Nirvana, Korn and Paramore to issues focused on rising bands and artists you need to know. With 22 in ‘22, we’re doubling down on our belief that music is always evolving. Artists emerge every day who have the potential to transform music as we know it, and we’re beyond excited to be along for the ride.

This month, we’re highlighting six distinctive cover stars (yes, you read that right!).

Our first issue 402 cover (402.1) features a trio of rising stars. Leading it off are the Regrettes, who are breathing new life into garage rock with their emotionally compelling, minimal brand of songwriting. They appear alongside Carlie Hanson, an artist who is ready to “blow the fuck up already” with her upcoming debut album. Rounding out the trio are Kansas City rockers BLACKSTARKIDS, who have found a unique ability to make their patently retro sound feel like something we’ve never really heard before.

Read more: A history of horror punk, from the Damned and Misfits to Alkaline Trio

Our second 22 in ’22 cover (402.2) features three more artists we positively love. WARGASM detail the vision and ambition that infuses their upcoming debut record, one of 2022’s most hotly anticipated releases in the world of heavy music. Holly Humberstone joins them, just on the heels of being declared the BRIT Awards’ “Rising Star” for 2022 — a title that was previously afforded to Adele, Sam Fender and Florence And The Machine. The cover also features Nova Twins, who share their perspectives as Black women in rock and how they found the drive to build “a movement alongside other amazing artists that are also championing the fight.”

Issue 402 is packed full of interviews with other artists and creatives, featuring people who are working with hip-hop, punk, pop, metal and everything in between. We spoke with U.K. act Static Dress, who are showing that the wellspring of early 2000s post-hardcore continues to flow as strong as ever. Overnight sensations the Linda Lindas also connected with us, revealing the vision and energy that has transformed them into punk rock’s youngest stars.

Read more: Badflower’s Josh Katz, Ashnikko, K.Flay and more give 2022 music recommendations

Also in the issue, Wet Leg speak to the dynamic sound that has led them to be characterized as “sad music for party people and party music for sad people.” And hyperpop wunderkind glaive reveals how he’s finding time to blow up as a star when he’s not sitting in high school detention.

But there’s even more. Issue 402 is full of interviews with a number of artists, from your recent favorites to your next discoveries. We’re featuring Ethel Cain, Jack Kays, EKKSTACY, Zeph and many other artists to watch in 2022.

Check out issue 402 along with our cover variants and other details here.

It’s rare for artists to confine themselves to one genre anymore, even on one track. That’s led to a bunch of more specific but still just as confusing genre names we use in an attempt to narrow down the type of music we’re talking about.

Read more: 10 times Poppy proved that genres don’t really exist

An example would be dark pop, which we’d describe as songs that have a pop structure but contain an overall dark, often sad, vibe. These tracks are far from your typical pop songs, implementing elements of electronic, rap, punk and more.

We decided to shine a light on 10 rising dark-pop artists you should listen to, some of which qualify in our 100 Artists You Need To Know issue, out now.

Maggie Lindemann

Maggie Lindemann is an anti-pop star redefining the genre on her own terms. She’s unapologetically herself, addressing relationships, sexuality, female empowerment and more. She just released her debut EP, PARANOIA, at the beginning of this year, filled with alt anthems that are scary relatable. Check out “Crash And Burn” from the new EP or listen to “Pretty Girl,” which propelled her to stardom. 

zeph

zeph is a total DIY artist who makes music that soundtracks your feelings, even the ones you didn’t know you have. Her haunting vocals make every word that comes out of her mouth sound downright beautiful, even if it’s heartbreaking. Take a listen to “Lucky” or her demo “i’ll never fall in love with myself” to get yourself acquainted. 

VÉRITÉ

If you like dreamy, ambient sounds mixed with powerhouse electro-pop vocals, you need to add VÉRITÉ to your playlist. You can hear her artistry in the power behind her delivery in “body in my bed” or her songwriting talent in “Underdressed.” 

GIRLI

The only way to truly describe GIRLI’s music is authoritative because it’s its own enigma. By changing up her style, she’s emerged as a powerhouse pop artist unabashedly inspired by grunge and punk. You can listen to the way the artist proclaims her independence in tracks such as “Hot Mess” or “Passive Aggressive.”

Jack Kays

It doesn’t get more raw and deep than Jack Kays. In his folk meets SoundCloud rap style, he raises awareness about drug addiction, mental health issues and recovery in purely honest tracks. Listen to “MORBID MIND” or “BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE” and you’ll immediately get what we’re talking about. 

suggi  

If you’re a K-pop fan, you need to check out suggi. The artist gained fame from his YouTube channel, where he posted covers of American and Korean pop songs. Now, he’s started making his own electro-pop-influenced tracks that will completely break your heart. Check out “ur just a fan” or “astroboy.” 

Rina Sawayama

Rina Sawayama is another artist who’s completely redefining pop music. There doesn’t seem to be a genre that Sawayama’s music doesn’t take inspiration from, including R&B, club music, 2000s pop and more. Her music grapples with identity conflicts and complex relationships that can only be understood by listening to her latest album, SAWAYAMA, in full.  

flora cash

Bedroom-pop duo flora cash not only make a great artistic team, but they’re also married. Their dreamy bedroom-pop style takes a stripped-down approach to songs that are guaranteed to put you in your feels. Listen to “Love Is In The Small Things” or “Missing Home” if you just need to have a moment to feel sad. 

Alaina Castillo

Alaina Castillo has many identities. The Mexican-American pop star got her start on YouTube making covers and ASMR videos of all things. Now, she makes emotional bilingual pop tracks with seemingly never-ending influences. If you need a good cry, just put on “i don’t think i love you anymore” and prepare for all the feelings.

The Kid LAROI

The Kid LAROI became popular for his connections to Juice WRLD and is making dark hip-hop that’s all his own. “WITHOUT YOU” and “SO DONE” sound like Post Malone meets Dashboard Confessional meets twenty one pilots but in a totally modern and unique way.