-
Fame on Fire’s First Australian Tour Lands This May – Backseat Mafia
Fame on Fire, the genre-melding maestros from Florida, are set to ignite stages Down Under for the first time this May. The four-piece will embark on a whirlwind East Coast tour, hitting Brisbane’s Triffid on May 21, Melbourne’s 170 Russell on May 22, and wrapping things up at Sydney’s Factory Theatre on May 23. Known for their meteoric rise from viral cover band darlings to purveyors of emotionally charged anthems, Fame on Fire have mastered the art of turning personal pain into potent, hard-hitting tunes. With over 100 million streams under their belt, the band is riding high on the success of their third album, The Death Card. Produced by…
-
Rianne Downey – The Song of Old Glencoe – Backseat Mafia
After recently dropping the first taste from her eagerly anticipated debut album with the fantastic ‘Lost In Blue’, Rianne Downey today dives into the world of traditional celtic folk with the stunning, mystical ‘The Song Of Old Glencoe’ Rianne explains; “The song is set against a backdrop of Scotland’s enchanted highlands, as I wanted to pay tribute to the traditional songs and folklores of my homeland that I grew up with, whilst writing my own, new tale.” This wonderfully produced track is another Downey masterpiece with a spring of hope for golden weather and heavy with nostalgia. The deep bass and Downey’s high, lilting Scottish accent are things of beauty. She will forever…
-
Mark Rae Announces New Book & Album ‘New Town Ghosts’ Shares First Single ‘The Place I Call Home’ – Backseat Mafia
Renowned musician, producer, and author Mark Rae is set to release New Town Ghosts, an ambitious multimedia project that combines his novel of the same name with a companion album, New Town Ghosts – Songs From The Novel By Mark Rae. The album, slated for release on April 11th, is introduced by its first single, The Place I Call My Home, launching January 17th. This unique creative vision brings together Rae’s skills as a storyteller and musician, crafting an immersive experience that explores themes of childhood friendship, the natural world, and the spirit realm. With a storied career spanning decades, Rae’s influence on the music industry is profound. As one half of Rae…
-
What the Aaliyah Barbie Doll Means to Black Girls
Growing up, I, like many girls, had a Barbie doll. From her spunky outfits and fun hairstyles to her various professions, the iconic toy was as much of a source of empowerment as it was enjoyment. The doll’s manufacturer, Mattel, has created many different versions of Barbie over the years, but the latest is one I wish I could’ve personally experienced growing up. On Jan. 16, Mattel released a new Barbie honoring the late R&B princess, Aaliyah. Seeing this creation immediately filled me with a sense of happiness — but I also felt a great longing for a doll like this during my formative years. The now-sold-out Aaliyah Barbie —…
-
Rising Star Morgan Saint Reflects on Youth and Tragedy in 15 Forever – Backseat Mafia
Morgan Saint bares her soul on 15 Forever, the most gut-punchingly vulnerable track of her career to date. The rising alt-pop phenom lays her storytelling cards on the table, pairing hauntingly ethereal vocals with scintillating pop melodies that hit like a bittersweet summer memory. Ahead of her much-anticipated album Out of the Blue, the New York singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist proves once again that she’s a force to be reckoned with. “When I was 15, my close friend committed suicide and it just rocked my world. In a flash, my universe cracked right open and I fell in deep. At the same time, I was struggling with my sexuality…
-
Baths herald first album in seven years with the serene beauty of “Eden” – Backseat Mafia
Baths, the LA-based producer Will Wiesenfeld, returns with Eden, a chattering electronic slice of house-infused pop taken from his upcoming album Gut—his first in seven years, set for release on February 21, 2025, via Basement’s Basement. Layers of shimmering electronics and synths are woven together with a gentle house beat, persuading you onto the dancefloor rather than demanding it. But Eden is more than just a dance track—this is clever, insistent pop. Sweet backing harmonies and ever-evolving violin interjections lend the song an earthy beauty, balancing its precision with warmth. It’s an irresistible combination, as playful as it is deeply crafted. Simply put, Eden is really good. Check it out,…
-
Helsinki trio Lala Salama release the gorgeous Shoegaze beauty of “Kuva Susta” – Backseat Mafia
Helsinki’s Lala Salama’s third and final single, Kuva Susta (in English ‘a picture of the snow’), released this cominng Friday (January 17), is a stunning shoegaze-infused song that cements their reputation as one of Finland’s most keenly observed bands. Leading up to their debut album, Miltähän me näytettäis yhdessä (out March 21, 2025), this track contrasts their earlier intimate summer anthems with a wintery melancholia perfect for the cold weather here. The song encapsulates the classic shoegaze checklist: Rosa Jules’ swooning, ethereal vocals drift effortlessly over a driving bassline, while spidery guitar lines shimmer and build towards a euphoric chorus. When the guitars finally burst into waves of noise and…
-
I Regret the Tattoos I Got at 18: Personal Essay
PS Photography | Renee RodriguezPS Photography | Renee Rodriguez I have eight tattoos, and in all honesty, if I were to wake up tomorrow morning with all of them magically gone from my skin, I wouldn’t mind one bit. Yes, I have pieces that I do genuinely like; they mean something to me, I like the way they look, and I consider them tasteful and stylish. However, there are a handful that I f*cking hate. The one I regret the most? My first ever — the tattoo I got on my 18th birthday. This should come as no surprise since I turned 18 in 2008, and what was popular back…
-
Legendary Finnish experimental rockers Circle announce ‘Piste’, a sound-art installation to be experienced. – Backseat Mafia
Remember Finnish deep-prog legends Circle and their irrepressible collaboration with super-fan Richard Dawson in 2021,’Henki’? It was an album of spirit and invention, oozing warmth in a very loud manner and topping plenty of those ‘best of the year’ poll for crate-diggers and critics alike. It also re-opened the doors onto the bewildering expanse of Circle’s hyper-imaginative music, some fifty plus recordings over three decades which reach out to the extremities of heavy rock, psychedelia, jazz, ambient and the avant-garde (if you need a rough guide go read Bandcamp’s neat A Brief Guide To The Weird World Of Finland’s Circle ). Formed in 1992 by bassist/singer Jussi Lehtisalo, who remains…
-
Best Therabody Beauty Devices | PS Beauty
Therabody TheraFace Pro ($399) From TMJ to targeted LED treatments, the TheraFace Pro Set is one of the most comprehensive facial tools for multitasking. The six-in-one facial device features both microcurrent and rejuvenating light therapy. It also comes with three percussive facial attachments for a customized relaxing massage, as well as microcurrent, LED, and cleaning ring attachments. Therabody is known for its percussive massage tools, but this facial device delivers the right amount of power to gently relieve facial tension and help with lymphatic drainage and facial sculpting. The best part? You can combine and switch between treatments, too, like incorporating a facial massage with an LED treatment. The TheraFace…
