DJ Nocturna Presents Queen of Wands

In April 2019 KAV SANDHU (Happy Mondays) launched BLITZ VEGA with ANDY ROURKE, the legendary bassist who helped craft the iconic sound of the 80s with seminal band, The Smiths. His recognizable and undeniable iconic bass lines from Barbarism Begins at Home to How Soon Is Now helped solidify the sound of the Smiths. It is no wonder Johnny Marr declared Rourke's playing on The Queen of Dead LP...

NYC-based alternative rock "Black Rose Burning" was formed in 2018 by instrumentalist, producer and engineer George Grant. Grant's soulful vocal delivery, instantly recognizable voice, solid instrumentation crossing several genres are standout features of his music. Roughly 40 years of songwriting across various styles has helped George embellish on clever hooks, drive and the gothi...

Philadelphia art-rock duo Tulipomania was founded by Tom Murray (lead vocals, synthesizer, electronic percussion) and Cheryl Gelover (synthesizer, background vocals). Categorized as cult synth punks, glam-leaning, post-punk, art-rock and muscular chamber pop, the two first began their collaboration through projects for experimental film and animation classes.  Among the many collaborations, the du...

Thomas Mark Anthony is the mastermind behind the industrial-glam project called TERMINAL. As a Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and fashion designer Anthony has been a lifelong anti-apartheid and civil rights activist over a life lived in South Africa, Canada and the United States. Anthony is joined by the US-based Terminal Live Unit for the group's powerful and confrontational live...

Trans-Atlantic alternative neo-folk collective Lusitanian Ghosts have released their third album 'Lusitanian Ghosts III' via European Phonographic. Released in both stereo and mono versions, this album was recorded and mixed at Clouds Hill Studios in Hamburg by Sebastian Muxfeldt (Elbow, Peter Doherty, Teenage Fanclub). I spoke with Neil Leyton one of the founding members of Lusitanian G...

Pioneering shoegazers, THE VELDT recently released an original Robin Guthrie-produced single called, "The Everlasting Gobstopper." It's the first taste of their 'Illuminated 1989 ' album, a release of which has been anticipated for decades. Produced by Cocteau Twin's Robin Guthrie in 1989 and more recently remastered by Guthrie, the record was intended to be the band&...

Los Angeles- based dark dream pop duo MAGIC WANDS was formed by guitarists and vocalists  Chris and Dexy Valentine. The band is known for their shimmering and dreamy sound, which incorporates elements of gothic post punk, and dark dream pop.  Their music is characterized by its heavily-textured guitars, droning synths, and ethereal vocals, which are designed to create an otherworldly atmosphere an...

The 3 Clubmen is a project comprised of Andy Partridge of the legendary English rock band XTC, Jen Olive and Stu Rowe . They released their eponymous debut EP on June 30, 2023 on Burning Shed Records. The first taste is "Aviatrix," an avant-pop delight offering a strange, seductive blend of experimental pop, jazz and sci-fi cinema excellence. Best known as co-founder of XTC, Andy Partrid...

I spoke with Vaat Dafuq, lead vocalist of the British / North American post-punk band Tantrum Zentrum. Released on Teknostan Records, their single "Don't Be A Fascist," along with a new video offers both clever animation, lyrics and flashes of despots, such as Mussolini, Nigel Farage and Vladimir Putin. Based in London, Tantrum Zentrum's members draw from the Canada, the UK and...

Toronto-London based experimental group, The  Flowers of Hell, founded by Greg Jarvis release their latest album called "Keshakhtaran " via Space Age Recordings. "The Flowers of Hell" is rooted in an old blues idea about how music transforms the misery and toil of musicians into the joy of listeners, as well as Baudelaire's poetry book called, "Les Fleurs Du Mal.&quot...

Canadian-Scottish artist Apricity (In Latin, means "Basking in the warmth of the sun") releases a fantasy punk-pop single called "Allison Wonderland." A clever adrenaline-filled composition, the song is  about imagining and seeking the type of relationship based on love and companionship that is most desirable to you. A song that is, at the same time, a light forewarning about...

Projekt Records present's Italy's DELREI. Alessandro Mercanzin imagines a visionary dystopia where a solitary figure navigates an inhospitable post-nuclear desert. It’s a hypnotic land of cold haunted nights, lonely red vistas and somber personal solitude. "Desolation and Radiation " is Produced by Maurizio Baggio (recently producing Soft Moon, Boy Harsher, & Nuovo Testamen...

Wellington, New Zealand four-piece "After the Flesh" released their self-titled 4-song EP, bringing together elements of classic ethereal, goth pop, and modern dark alternative rock.  "After the Flesh" comprises the talents of Slovenian-born vocalist and keyboardist Maruša Sagadin; veteran local bassist Duncan Nairn; guitarist and vocalist Alec Morris; and drummer Sam Leamy. Be...

FRED ABONG is a Filipino-American indie / alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist –who upholds his reputation for creating a blend of “ragged Replacements and lyric-driven Bob Dylan” and as “Elliott Smith with balls”. Getting his musical start in the 1980’s in Rhode Island as a drummer, bassist and guitarist in several hardcore punk bands, Fred Agong   is best known as the bas...

NYC based Surf rock talent Guitarmy Of One is the solo project of Scott Helland, who combines the thrilling sounds of spy-themed instrumental surf guitar music with punk vitality. Taking listeners ona sonic adventure to the realms of intrigue, danger and surf-soaked excitement, Helland channels that raw and unconventional spirit into a quirky fusion of genres. He got his start playing bass guitar...

Dark electronic artist Slighter   released his full length album "This Futile Engine" via Brutal Resonance Records and Confusion Inc .  Mixed and mastered at The Cell Studio, the 13-track record features collaborations with Steven Seibold of Hate Dept, Yvette Winkler of Vaselyne,  Craig Joseph Huxtable of Landscape Body Machine, Morgue VVitch, Deep Dark Water and more. Slighter   is the...

Dr. Helen Stewart holds a Ph. D in sociology from Brandeis University.  She was a post doctoral scholar at Harvard University and served as lecturer and professor at Wellesley College,Brandeis University, Harvard University Extension and various other universities in the US. She was academic administrator and consultant to many individuals and companies in the United States and abroad. She has wor...

Chicago-based EVIDENCE OF A STRUGGLE   consist of multi-instrumentalist REV. BILLY SIMMONS and an evolving group of artists and musicians that began in 2020 creating a lush, cinematic, beautiful and sometimes chaotic compositions.  Rev Billy Simmons began working with renowned sound engineer Sanford Parker (Voivod, Russian Circles, Yob, Eyehategod, Wovenhand, Darkthrone, Youth Code, Pelican) who h...

Manhattan-based musician Nevaris  releases his LP called "Reverberation" which he collaborated with music legend BILL LASWELL, DJ Logic, Lockatron and more via celebrated boutique label M.O.D. Reloaded.   ' Reverberations' is the third collaboration between Nevaris, Bill Laswell and a lineup of musicians focusing more on the dub aspects of their sound. This instrumental recordi...

Formed in Oxford in 2019 Jody And The Jerms released their third full-length album called "Wonder " via JATJ Records. Prior to Wonder , they released Flicker in 2022 and Deeper from 2020. "Wonder," a collection of 12 tracks is produced, mixed and mastered by RIDE frontman Mark Gardener . Loaded with a healthy dose of melodic chrystallised indie pop that is heartfelt and honest,...

German indie alternative rock duo Para Lia will be releasing their latest album "In Clash With The Zeitgeist" on August 25, 2023 via the Berlin label About Us Records. "In Clash With The Zeitgeist" was mastered by Thommy Hein (Die Ärzte, Nina Hagen, Udo Lindenberg ) which blends their love for the late 80s and early 90s indie rock with some 60s influences, psychedelic, garage r...

São Paulo, Brazil's BIKE was formed in 2015 by Julito Cavalcante (guitar and vocals), Diego Xavier (guitar andvoice), Daniel Fumega (drums) and João Gouvea (bass). I spoke to Joao and Daniel of the band. BIKE released their debut album "1943" in 2015, followed by "Em Busca da Viagem Eterna" 2017, "Their Shamanic Majesties Third Request" in 2018 and "Quarto T...

Melbourne-based synthwave artist Suburban Spell has new EP called "Falling Down," named such in direct reference to the long-term consequences of bad choices and giving into guilty pleasures.   Suburban Spell is the solo project of Peter Lawrence Endall whose music combines the austere beauty of Kraftwerk, 80's melodic sensibilities, driving rhythms and some noisy grind thrown in fo...

Jessica Shepherd is an accomplished author, professional astrologer, artist and intuitive healer who has studied and practiced Modern Astrology and Evolutionary Astrology since 1992. She is the author of " A Love Alchemist's Notebook" (2010), "Karmic Dates and Momentary Mates: The Astrology of the Fifth House" (2014), "Venus Signs: Discover Your Erotic Strengths and S...

Edinburgh's folk-rock Withered Hand released his latest LP called "How to Love" via Reveal Records, his first new music in nine years. Withered Hand is the project of Edinburgh-based singer -songwriter Dan Willson. On this album, Withered Hand continues to live up to his reputation as one of Scotland’s most gifted songwriters. He has garnered worldwide support and heavy airplay on t...