Last week saw a slew of new singles, fresh videos and premiering music projects from local artists. Is it the spirit of spring? Artists capitalizing on the build-up to festival season? Whatever the reason, it’s left a lot to catch up on. Let’s round it up!
Sun Centauri — “Can’t Be Blamed”
Sun Centauri, the Iowa City nu-R&B collaboration between artists Alyx Rush and Jim Swim, just dropped “Can’t Be Blamed,” the first single from their upcoming Sun Centauri EP (scheduled to drop May 12). Rush flexes his vocal range over an oscillating slow burner of a tune that is futuristic yet lush in its production. “I can’t be blamed. I float between temptations,” Rush croons on a chorus that would fit right alongside the best sultry Frank Ocean, Miguel or Daniel Caesar playlist.
Catch Sun Centauri performing Saturday at the upcoming Mission Creek Festival.
Derry & the Dirty Dishes — “Garbage Truck”
Derry & the Dirty Dishes’ album Three Day Weekend is a project five years in the making. The band is led by Des Moines-based partners Derek and Ramona Muse Lambert; you might recognize the latter from her other group Ramona and the Sometimes, or her ongoing True Love comic in Little Village.
If you can’t tell by the Michel Gondry-esque cardboard work of the video’s thumbnail, Three Day Weekend is a kids’ album, inspired by (and at times created with) the Lamberts’ trio of offspring. “The songs emerged organically over the years in their musically-centered household with their three children, who helped write some of the songs,” reads a post premiering another track from the album, “Goo Goo Ga Ga,” “and who’s reactions to the music provided natural guidance as to what styles kids would dance.”
Anthony Worden and the Illiterati — “$20”
Another video premiere comes courtesy of Anthony Worden and the Illiterati. “$20” is a track off last years’ Plain Angels album, the groups fifth record. The video features Worden whisked away on the back of a just-out-of-frame flatbed truck, cruising the streets of Chicago while singing the track’s laidback vocals. I don’t know if you can get cooler than a sunglasses-wearing Worden riding the L singing, “They say we’re all gonna burn in one big funeral pyre. That’s all just clumsy bullshit, you can hear it on the radio. I got 20 dollars on me and nowhere else to go.”
Illiterati fans need not wait long for more tunes, as the band recorded a live album at the Englert Theatre that will be available in May featuring songs from Plain Angels. In even more Worden-related news, the punk band, God’s Hand, which consists of Worden and members of Dryad, Beyond Peace, Nerv and Baronic Wall will be releasing their debut 7″ record on April 26.
Jordan Sellergren — “This Love is a Dull Ache”
Hey, I know her! Jordan Sellergren is a singer-songwriter based in Iowa City (that’s her on her album cover, chillin’ in the Menards off Hwy 1). She also happens to pull double-duty as Little Village‘s publisher.
Sellergren’s latest album, Banner Year, releases April 2. In the lead-up to the release, she’s dropped three singles, the latest of being “This Love is a Dull Ache.” The track feels like a ballad written for beer-soaked bar singalongs. It’s a melancholy tune, as if a scorned mid-’90s songstress leaned just a smidge closer to classic country à la Dolly Parton.
Sellergren will also be playing Mission Creek Festival this Saturday.
Dearborn — “yeuw”
Iowa City alt-rock group Dearborn dropped their new track “yeuw” this past weekend. The single follows the previously released “Sore,” which the band describes as “a gritty, grunge-infused track with an underlying folk/country sensibility.”
The genre mash-ups continue with “yeuw.” The sparse acoustic opening and vocals get the indie equivalent of chopped and screwed before a jungle-inspired drumbeat kicks the track into dancey shoe-gaze splendor.
Dearborn plans to host an outdoor concert in Iowa City on April 26.
Are you a local band or musical artist dropping new music soon? Feel free to send it our way: chuy@littlevillagemag.com
