Author: Olivia

H. Pruz is a talented singer-songwriter hailing from Queens, New York, whose rare abilities include an aversion to artifice and overstatement in their songwriting. Their latest LP, “No Glory,” is a heart-rending collection of tracks that explore the challenges of life in a deeply personal and affecting way. One of the standout tracks on the… Continue reading On The Rise: h. pruz

From East L.A. comes Thee Sinseers, a group that captures the spirit of sweet soul through their love songs and doo-wop style, with slow tempos that are perfect for cruising. This type of soul has been embraced by the Chicano culture and continues to grow. The legendary Joey Quinones leads Thee Sinseers, who are known… Continue reading On The Rise: Thee Sinseers

Wes Leavins, the singer and frontman of Brigitte Calls Me Baby, recently sat down with Rough Trade to talk about the music that has inspired and shaped his sound. Brigitte Calls Me Baby’s music is influenced by legends like Elvis and Roy Orbison, as well as more contemporary artists like Radiohead and The Strokes. The… Continue reading Shoplifting with Brigitte Calls Me Baby

NYC-based Iris James Garrison’s ‘Place to Land’ is their debut, self-produced album that came out in June 2022, which largely centers on figurative and literal transitions. The album focuses mainly on finding yourself, your identity, and your place in the world. Eventhough Bloomsday released only one single, “Jersey Soccer,” via Hardly Art’s 15th Anniversary Singles… Continue reading On The Rise: Bloomsday

Mei Semones is a talented artist who blends jazz, bossa nova, and math-y indie rock to create something new and personal. Her music is a way for her to find solace in her favorite genres and express herself in an intuitive way. Her debut single on Bayonet Records, “Wakare no Kotoba,” features technically difficult guitar… Continue reading On The Rise: Mei Semones

Jagjaguwar, the independent label known for its family-like community of artists, began with a Dungeons & Dragons character-name-generator computer program created by Darius Van Armen during his college days at UVA. He signed his friends’ bands to the label, and eventually met Chris Swanson, the founder of Secretly Canadian. This friendship would result in a… Continue reading Label Focus: Jagjaguwar

In the latest session of Rough Trade’s Shoplifting, they caught up with the Portland musician Mo Troper. Mo Troper’s latest album, Troper Sings Brion, is a tribute to demos by John Brion, which were never released officially. He chose to cover these demos as a way for Brion devotees to hear them in a new,… Continue reading Shoplifting with Mo Troper

On April 20th, music lovers around the world will be celebrating Record Store Day, an annual event dedicated to supporting local independent record stores. As one of the largest participating retailers, Rough Trade has announced their event guidelines to ensure a safe and fair experience for all. The store will open from 9:00 am until… Continue reading Record Store Day 2024

Dirt Buyer’s Joe Sutkowski has released the band’s sophomore album, Dirt Buyer II, which was recorded in February 2020. Dirt Buyer II marks a significant shift for the band as they now perform as a trio with Sutkowski on guitar and vocals. The other members, Tristan Allen and Mike Costa, are on bass and drums,… Continue reading Shoplifting with Dirt Buyer

They Hate Change, the Tampa Bay production/rap duo, recently announced their latest EP, “Wish You Were Here…” This is their first project since their breakout LP, “Finally, New” in 2022. The EP includes five tracks and features collaborations from outside producers, including Wu-Lu, 96Back, DJ Orange Julius, and Vritra of Odd Future/NRK. They Hate Change… Continue reading Shoplifting w/ They Hate Change