Photos by Kymaia Gadsden, Abe Timbo, Kristen Lauber, Mark Wynn, Paige Farrow, Anita Louise Photography, Emanuel Wallace, Case Barge.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — This year, Northeast Ohio’s music scene was exploding with new releases of every type. We’ve tracked much of the new music, and we’re here to share a slice of the 2019 scene in one big playlist.
In the past year, we’ve published at least one feature on a local band or musician nearly every week on cleveland.com. Typically, each feature premieres a piece of new music — whether it’s a song, an EP or a full album.
Though we didn’t catch all of the new music coming out of Northeast Ohio in the series this year — an impossible task in such a busy scene — we did capture a snapshot of new Cleveland releases in most genres. That includes indie-rock, metal, rap, country, R&B and even line-dancing music.
We’ve compiled our favorite features about local music from 2019 here. The stories are listed in chronological order based on the music’s release dates.
Here’s your ultimate 2019 Cleveland music playlist:
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Photo by Juan, Instagram: @juan814
“Go Crazy” by Will The Genaral
Release date: Jan. 1, 2019
Cleveland rapper Will The Genaral kicked off 2019 with new music. His album, “Don’t Count Me Out,” was released on Jan. 1, and it quickly gained attention, in the form of hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify. The 14-song recording includes the slower, heartfelt ballads “In God’s Hands” and “I Don’t Go Out” paired with upbeat bangers “Go Crazy” (which features chart-topping rapper DaBaby) and “Back On My Savage.”
Read more about Will The Genaral
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Photo by Kristen Lauber
“Stars” by Niights
Release date: Jan. 3, 2019
The process to get to Niights’ latest album “Hellebores” was full of challenges. That’s why it’s named after the hellebores – a tough winter flower that is resistant to frost and shade.
The flower was an inspiring image after the challenges Niights faced in getting the album created, singer-guitarist Jenna Fournier said. That included a tough breakup, and two original band members moving out of state.
“I wanted to name the album after a flower that grew in difficult conditions, because there was a lot of struggle in making this,” Fournier said.
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Photo courtesy De’Andre Bush
“Voices In My Head” by Visq
Release date: Jan. 16, 2019
De’Andre Bush, a Cleveland rapper who releases music under the name Visq, said his 2019 album “Voices In My Head” was an outlet for creative experimentation. “It’s painting pictures with words. I wanted to combine that poetic style with the new modern music they have out now, but it has an actual story to it,” he said. “You can close your eyes and picture the scene. I’m trying to make it like you’re listening to a film.”
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Photo by Cathalyn Roberts, Unknownphrazes
“By Force” by Moshuro and 2ssaint
Release date: Jan. 18, 2019
Moshuro has dabbled in Cleveland’s music scene during the past couple of years with sporadic performances. The band loosely formed in 2017, and started its own record label in 2018. It was a natural flow for musician Eli Hanley, who said the label and the band have both been ways to encourage creative expression in the city.
“We were looking at the Cleveland scene and we thought there wasn’t really an outlet for people making the kind of music we’re making,” said Hanley. “We wanted to start a label as a way of starting an outlet for our styles and also a lot of our friends making music that doesn’t fit into traditional molds, so we could help them promote it.”
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Photo by Amber Patrick
“Headrest” by Window Dogs
Release date: Jan. 24, 2019
“Headrest,” released in January, is one of Window Dogs’ heavier songs. It mixes into a sound defined on earlier releases like 2015 EP “Afterlife,” which features both lighthearted folk and dark rock songs. With Window Dogs, it’s not unusual to hear banjo plucks and tambourine slaps, next to slamming guitar riffs and scratchy choruses.
That sound comes from a sandwiching of two former local bands, Eclectic Mayhem and Room 149.
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Photo by Michael McFarland
“Second Life” by Hello Headrush
Release date: Jan. 28, 2019
Cleveland singer-songwriter Michael McFarland’s new electronic rock project, Hello Headrush, dreams up a new universe where humans and androids struggle with their identities. In his storyline, the android characters become aware of their robotic states, previously thinking they were humans.
“The world of Hello Headrush grew from thinking about how people treat those they consider ‘the other,’ and how that kind of xenophobia can’t exist without identification and labelling of those who are different,” McFarland said. “The idea of half the population of earth being unaware that they themselves weren’t human was foundational.”
Read more about Hello Headrush
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Photo by Andrew Wells
“Theatre Of Snow” by Seeress
Release date: Feb. 7, 2019
Cleveland band Seeress made an album that breaks away from genre barriers with “The Dream Passes.” The album, released on Feb. 9, was something that bassist Douglas Hall wanted to create in a natural way with his bandmates. The result is a sometimes ambient, sometimes doomy collection of four songs, with a full run-time of 38 minutes, 40 seconds.
Like all the songs on “The Dream Passes,” “Theatre Of Snow” is lengthy, at six minutes and 18 seconds. Over those minutes, the band’s song swells and recedes, building into a fast-paced guitar part that features Seeress’ three guitarists.
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Photo courtesy Mild Animals
“C’mon Over” by Mild Animals
Release date: Feb. 19, 2019
The high-energy song “C’Mon Over” is one of Mild Animal’s earliest compositions, but it had originally been shelved for half a year. Then, singer-bassist Bob Conner returned to the song suddenly.
“I was just starting a new relationship. I was feeling a little inspired or something, and randomly I’m in the shower and the little hook from the verses, ‘Come on over, come on over,’ just pops into my head,” he said. “I said, ‘Oh, that’s good,’ and I ran out of the shower to record it real quick before I forgot.”
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Photo by Dan Price
“Me vs. You” by Herzog
Release date: Feb. 22, 2019
Herzog has earned local fame in Cleveland, becoming an indie favorite since singer-guitarist Nick Tolar formed the group originally as a solo project 10 years ago. “Me vs You” is the group’s tightest, most accomplished sound yet.
“That’s the one bright side of not releasing a record in five years,” Tolar said. “It took a long time, but it wouldn’t have been as good if we had released it in a year or two. We needed a little bit of time.”
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Photo by Emanuel Wallace
“Phases” by Freshproduce
Release date: March 5, 2019
Cleveland hip-hop duo Freshproduce, consisting of Samantha Flowers (Playne Jayne) and Brittany Benton (DJ Red-I), set out to involve the Northeast Ohio rap community in the 11 songs on its new album “Phases.” It’s the latest original album by FreshProduce, and the first it’s put out since 2016 album “4080.” And “Phases” includes more collaborations for the hip-hop group than ever.
You can hear their distinct influences shine through on each song.
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Photo by Heather Reed
“The Light” by Glowing Moses
Release date: March 6, 2019
Glowing Moses singer-guitarist Cole Harmon’s religiousness is a factor of the band; the band’s name refers to the biblical story of Moses having a transformative experience on a mountain and shining in light. The name is also a reference to Moses Cleaveland, the founder of the city of Cleveland. But Harmon wouldn’t necessarily call Glowing Moses a Christian band.
“I believe in Jesus – but so much of the baggage behind that word ‘Christian,’ it’s not something I want to associate with [this] music,” he said.
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Photo courtesy Mark Wynn
“Linedance Movement 2” by Big Mucci
Release date: March 2019
If you’re from Cleveland, you might recognize “The Cleveland Shuffle” by 71 North. The iconic line-dance song, first released in 1998, then re-released in 2002 with dance call-outs, is a sensation that’s been embraced at Northeast Ohio weddings and birthday celebrations ever since. This year, the leader of 71 North — Big Mucci — released a new album full of shuffle remixes called “The Linedance Movement 2.”
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Photo by Caleb Lemmo
“On Repeat” by Alisha Lambert
Release date: March 11, 2019
Punch Drunk Tagalongs has been rocking around Northeast Ohio for the past four years, but this year we heard a softer sound from singer Alisha Stahnke. Stahnke has forged ahead in creating solo music under the name Alisha Lambert, releasing her song “On Repeat” on cleveland.com. But Stahnke’s new project isn’t really all that new — the Akron-based singer-songwriter said that she has been writing solo music since she was a child.
“It’s more so that Punch Drunk Tagalongs broke off from my solo stuff, and now I’m just renewing focus on it,” she said. “I love my band, but we definitely have a specific sound, and not all of the sounds I write are right for that project.”
Read more about Alisha Lambert
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Photo by Brandon Radic
“Fairweather” by Coldswell
Release date: March 20, 2019
Coldswell bassist Ian Hudson said the bassline of the band’s song “Fairweather” was inspired by a Joy Division song. The band is a big influence on him and the rest of Coldswell.
You’ll hear that kind of influence throughout “Void Calls,” the band’s upcoming album.
“As far as what to expect, I’d say a healthy mix of ‘90s alternative mixed with ‘80s post punk and new wave groups,” said singer-guitarist Evan Krise.
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Photo courtesy AJ & The Woods
“Adeline” by AJ & The Woods
Release date: March 22, 2019
Cleveland rock band AJ & The Woods capture all of Ohio’s seasons in its music video for their new song “Adeline.” The video took nine months to film. It shows a rainy autumn, green spring, winter blizzard and picturesque summer day all in its three and a half minutes. In the video, singer-banjoist Alison Tomin and guitarist Joshua Alan Collins are seen performing in a farmer’s field in Chagrin Falls, located about 30 minutes outside of Cleveland.
Read more about AJ & The Woods
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Photo by Noah Cavanaugh, @noahcavanaugh
“The Audience” by Dying Desolation
Release date: March 22, 2019
Dying Desolation may be a young band, but it’s already made an impression in Cleveland’s metal and rock scene.
The band formed in 2017, when the members were still in high school. This year, the band put out its debut, self-titled album. “It’s something we’re really excited to share, and although none of us expect it to really blow up, we do hope it sets the stage for people to see who we are,” guitarist Gabe Gazic said. “Even though we’re young, we’re taking this very seriously.”
The band previewed its album with the premiere of “The Audience,” a single from the project.
Read more about Dying Desolation
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Photo by Kory Gasser
“Psychic Leader” by Oregon Space Trail of Doom
Release date: March 28, 2019
When asked to describe Oregon Space Trail of Doom’s new album, singer-guitarist Ryan Fletterick said: “It’d almost be like a Jackson Pollock painting with an actual image on it. We’re just controlled chaos, I guess. That’s what the listeners should expect.”
You can hear that kind of sound on the band’s song “Psychic Leader,” which debuted a couple of days before the band’s album “Into The Wood” arrived.
Read more about Oregon Space Trail of Doom
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Photo courtesy Tanisha Salary
“Lost In Confusion” by Tanisha Salary
Release date: April 2, 2019
Cleveland R&B singer Tanisha Salary has been working up to her new EP, “The Exodus,” for a few years, trickling out singles here and there. The EP will include spoken-word tracks and rap verses from guest musicians, along with Salary’s soulful vocals.
“‘The Exodus’ is symbolism to transitioning from place to another, and with these transitions you will find sadness and happiness but most importantly growth,” she said. “My intentions were to show you different types of transitions at different stages of my life.”
You can get a taste of what to expect on “The Exodus” with Salary’s new song “Lost In Confusion.”
Read more about Tanisha Salary
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Photo by Michael Thornburg/Thornburg Creative
“Songbird” by Gretchen Pleuss
Release date: April 12, 2019
Gretchen Pleuss released her most polished and cohesive work yet with her new album, “Daughter of the Broader Skies.”
“I just finally found my voice as a songwriter,” she said. “This album feels a little bit more like one songwriter instead of 20.”
The album is Pleuss’ third full-length release, following 2013’s “Out Of Dreams” and 2016’s “From Birth To Breath To Bone.” She’s spent much of the last three years working on the 12 songs.
Read more about Gretchen Pleuss
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Photo by Anita Louise
“92 Days” by Maura Rogers and the Bellows
Release date: April 2019
Cleveland musician Maura Rogers penned her latest song, “92 Days,” while she was recovering from a kidney transplant in 2012. Written over the course of her three-month recovery, Rogers said the song explored the feeling of being isolated.
“I was grateful for the second chance I was given, but also struggling with feeling trapped in a number of ways,” Rogers said. “That space became the inspiration for ‘92 Days’ and lent itself to considering the different ways many people have felt trapped, be it in their bodies, minds, relationships, situations.”
Read more about Maura Rogers and the Bellows
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Photo courtesy Alex Sanchez
“Antithesis” by Big Nomad
Release date: April 18, 2019
Alex Sanchez battled opioid addiction a decade ago. Today, his main goal is to use his music, released under the stage name “Big Nomad,” to help people facing a similar challenge.
His most recent release, “Antithesis,” is about a friend, Jojo, who was paralyzed after a drunk driver struck him.
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Photo courtesy Triple Crown Records
“Fake Blood” by Heart Attack Man
Release date: April 19, 2019
“Fake Blood,” the new album from Cleveland emo-punk band Heart Attack Man, is all about growing into a new stage of life — a darker, angrier stage.
The album, released April 19 on Triple Crown Records, was received well, with glowing reviews on Substream and Chicago Reader. The title track gives a rundown of the new album’s laidback emo vibe.
Read more about Heart Attack Man
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Photo courtesy Case Bargé
“Transcend” by Case Bargé
Release date: April 22, 2019
“Transcend” tells Case Bargé’s life story through each of the 12 songs’ varying themes. “Transitions” explores Bargé’s growth over the years, both musically and personally. His song “You & I” digs into a period of depression, and “Manifest” criticizes media and political issues from Bargé’s point of view. In the middle of the album, the rapper shifts his tone and gets joyous on the upbeat, catchy songs, “Gratitude” and “Nirvana.”
“I felt like I’d grown a lot and I feel like when you listen to music you should enjoy it and feel good afterward,” Bargé said. “That was one of the big goals I had when I sat down to finish this project…. A piece of art everyone could live with, grow with, and just enjoy.”
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Photo by Jarrod Berger
“Roses and a Romeo Mask” by Holden Laurence
Release date: April 26, 2019
“Knowing that the first two albums I got as a kid were Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ probably goes a long way in understanding who I am as a musician,” says Cleveland musician Holden Laurence, who is also the guitarist of The Modern Electric.
You can hear those influences at play in Laurence’s latest album, “Rewire” — his most cohesive work yet — and especially on his slow-dance sad song “Roses and a Romeo Mask.”
Read more about Holden Laurence
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Photo courtesy Model Rockets
“Monsters” by Model Rockets
Release date: April 30, 2019
Model Rockets took in dark inspirations for its new EP, but kept the tone upbeat. You’ll hear that on “Monsters.” The song is about how Fletcher Dunham, the band’s singer, and his sister would play outside as kids, pretending to fight monsters. When Dunham was in college, his sister moved to Australia.
“After she left I realized just how important she was to me,” he said. “I don’t necessarily love super obvious metaphors like comparing monsters to depression, but I thought it fit the theme.”
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Photo by Aimee Lambes
“Quick Draw” by The Shootouts
Release date: May 10, 2019
The Shootouts stand out from much of Northeast Ohio’s music scene — and not just because the bandmates wear matching cowboy boots and hats onstage. The band, fronted by singer-guitarist Ryan Humbert, injects a classic country sound and vibe into its performances.
The band debuted its full-length album “Quick Draw” at a Cleveland Sessions concert back in May.
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Photo courtesy The Tufted Puffins
“Old, Loud and Puffy” by The Tufted Puffins
Release date: May 10, 2019
Several veteran Cleveland rock musicians have found a new collaboration in The Tufted Puffins. The band consists of Mike Baker (Sleazy Jesus, The Splatter Pigs, Hucklebuck), Tom Huff (Burning Lesbians, Roscoe Disposal Co.), Ken Brown (Sleazy Jesus, 10 Tons of Hell) and markymoon (Zen-Luv Assassins, The (Professional) Againsters, Roscoe Disposal Co.). All four are known for creating in-your-face, political music. Now, they pay homage to those times as the Tufted Puffins.
Read more about The Tufted Puffins
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Photo courtesy Harvey Pekar
“Predation In Shadow Position” by Harvey Pekar
Release date: May 15, 2019
Harvey Pekar’s new album follows the same science-fiction storytelling format as its previous release, told from the perspective of an alien who has been watching humanity and fears mankind’s actions. “‘Paris Green’ is the search for some shred of goodness among all the uniquely vile characteristics that define human beings — from our individual selfishness to the oppressive nature of our governments and social constructs,” vocalist Nick Kratsas said.
The band (which is named after the late, great Northeast Ohio graphic novelist responsible for the “American Splendor” book series) has been rocking in Cleveland’s hardcore and rock scenes for more than seven years. “Predation In Shadow Position,” the first song from “Paris Green,” shows the same heavy rock energy and eclectic influences that you can expect from the full seven-song album.
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Photo courtesy King Buu
“Dad Song (A Song For Dads)” by King Buu
Release date: May 18, 2019
King Buu’s strange sound is influenced by ’50s and ’60s rock music, self-described as “Bill Haley and his Comets on their weirdest day.” The band formed in 2016 by drummer Wesley Who, bassist Erik Marsh, guitarist Cameron Milani and singer Michael Madgar. In May, the group debuted a two-song single, including “Dad Song (A Song for Dads)” — a follow-up to the previously released song, “Mom Song (A Song for Moms).”
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Photo courtesy Orange Animal
“Dive” by Orange Animal
Release date: May 23, 2019
Cleveland rock band Orange Animal has one statement it wants to be heard loud and clear on its newest album: “Sing loud the love you cannot say.”
“There are feelings, loves, etcetera, that are hard or impossible to talk about,” said singer-guitarist John Ramsey. “But with music they can be sung, experienced and shared.”
You can hear that sentiment on the band’s song “Dive,” released ahead of the band’s album “No Song Sick Hearts.”
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Photo courtesy Asif Khan
“Here Now Waiting” by Spy Convention
Release date: May 31, 2019
By day, physicians Zafar Sheik and Asif Khan treat patients. By night, they rock out in Canfield-based band Spy Convention, along with bassist Scott Burns and guitarist Mike Miller. The band has logged 10 performances in the past 18 months, played in between Khan and Sheik’s busy work schedules. (“Most of my patients, 99%, have no idea I am in a band,” Khan, an allergy and immunology specialist, said.)
The band put out a new single, “Here Now Waiting,” which shows a new direction, moving away from synth sounds and towards more rock-focused music on an upcoming album.
Read more about Spy Convention
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Photo by Andrew Wells
“The Heat Of The Sun” by Stalemate
Release date: June 5, 2019
Cleveland rock band Stalemate waited until the end of spring to put out an album that’s perfect for summer. And it’s appropriately titled “The Heat Of The Sun.”
“Much of the musical influence of the album was coming from Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys so the concept of beach, sun and waves began to take hold in a natural way, though maybe slightly unconscious sort of way,” said singer-guitarist Jason Kaminski.
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Photo by Zoë Lapin
“Tempo” by Leaf Borbie & The Family Tree
Release date: June 6, 2019
Here’s how Leaf Borbie & The Family Tree singer and harmonica player Robbie Fale describes the band’s new album: “You can expect blues, you can expect psychedelic, you can expect crooning, you can expect a nostalgic feel and something not quite right… I’d say we have about the same influences as half of America. Everything from blues to old country western. Anything that makes you think, anything that makes you sad, anything that brings joy, inspires us.”
You’ll hear a lot of that on the band’s single, “Tempo,” which arrived a day before the album was released on June 7.
Read more about Leaf Borbie & The Family Tree
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Photo by Samantha Ruff
“Info Age” by Who Hit Me
Release date: June 20, 2019
Who Hit Me, a Cleveland-based rock band, took its time with its new single “Info Age.” The band took a break from releasing music for a couple of years, after putting out a single in 2017 and an album in 2016. This year, Who Hit Me is back at it, after some big changes. “The two-year gap we took was a tough one for us,” said bassist Jon Gonzalez. “We were down two band members and found ourselves at a crossroads where we were unsure of the band’s future.”
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Image courtesy Funkshway
“Funkshway” EP by Funkshway
Release date: July 4
The golden era of hip-hop came back with two Cleveland musicians’ new project called “Funkshway.” Rapper MellowXZACKT and DJ Mike Mike Dusty Loops put their skills together to craft six songs on the “Funkshway” EP.
“We like to take it back to the pure essence of the culture,” said MellowXZACKT, aka Zachary Collins. “With my heavy lyrical style that branches from boastful braggadocio to introspective and personal topics, floating over Mike Mike’s heavy, dusty boom-bap drum breaks and production, this EP brings back a loving and memorable hip-hop feel while still sounding fresh and updated.”
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Photos by James Korn
Cover albums by Alan Madej and Michael Harold Doty
Release date: July 5
Cleveland singer-songwriter Alan Madej and South Bend, Indiana singer-songwriter Michael Harold Doty honored each other with two new EPs full of covers. The “Madej Sings Doty” and “Doty Sings Madej” EPs consist of the two singers performing unique cover versions of each others’ songs. Madej and Doty are longtime friends, and after a vacation in February, they decided to collaborate.
Read more about Alan Madej and Michael Harold Doty
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Photo by Allison Lowery
“Lonesome Leaving Sound” by The Morning Bird
Release date: July 10
The Morning Bird’s singer-guitarist Jeremy Taylor said his taste in music changed over time, shifting away from his pop-punk roots and toward blues rock and folk. He was largely inspired by Johnny Cash’s later recordings when he started the new folky band and also the new EP “Lonesome Leaving Sound.”
The band’s sound is a departure for Taylor, who previously was in local emo-rock band Madison East. “I ended up getting married and having a kid, and took a break from the music scene a little bit,” Taylor said. “Fifteen years later, here we are.”
Read more about The Morning Bird
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Photo by Raven Platts
“Self Care” by Raven Platts
Release date: July 11
Raven Platts holds nothing back on her first EP, “Borderline.” The Cleveland native opens up about her mental health journey on the eight-song project. “I just spilled my whole brain — anything I’ve been going through, anything that troubled me — I just spilled it out,” she said.
“Self Care,” a single from the EP, is a song Platts wrote about putting in time to take care of herself when she was feeling low.
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Photo by Abe Timbo
“Lovesick” by Nnena
Release date: July 17
Nnena has made a splash in the neo-soul rap scene, becoming the first musician signed to J.J. Abrams’ music label offshoot, Loud Robot. The 24-year-old musician and actress, whose full name is Nnena Chinwe Adigwe, grew up in Cleveland in a Nigerian-American family.
Her music career started with poetry — and many of those early poems now spark inspiration for Nnena’s lyrics. She’s released a handful of singles: “Not The Thumb,” “Me And You,” “Back To Cali” and most recently, “Lovesick.”
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Photo courtesy Travis Paluch
“Zip-Zapp” by Zip-Zapp
Release date: Aug. 9
Zip-Zapp is a Cleveland-area psychedelic rock group that formed from other bluesier bands. Now, the musicians are making exactly the type of music they want to hear, said singer-guitarist Sam Daly. “One of my problems with that band was that the vocals weren’t being done the way I wanted to do them,” he said. “I started Zip-Zapp to be able to hear the music the way I wanted to hear it.”
The band put out its debut, self-titled album this summer.
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Photo by Sean O’Day
“Dethrone” by Heyohwell
Release date: Aug. 9
Hallie Hertrick and Matthew Heckman wrote and self-recorded new music that incorporated electronic elements and upbeat rhythms as Heyohwell.
“We wanted to do anything we would listen to,” she said. “We’ve got indie anthems on there, electronic pop on some stuff. We’ve got some blues elements. It’s really all over the place, but it’s all cohesive.”
Heyohwell debuted the track “Dethrone” this August.
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Photo by John Ventura
“Miles To Go” by Astronymer and Jul Big Green
Release date: Aug. 13
Two very different musicians have come together to create a new sound together. Singer-songwriter Adam Reifsnyder (aka Astronymer) and hip-hop musician Jul Big Green combined their skills on the new track, “Miles To Go.” The song includes beats and rap verses by Jul Big Green (whose real name is Julien Huntley) and light guitar chords and vocals by Reifsnyder.
Read more about the collaboration
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Photo by Jenna Brown
“Insecure” by Aaron Malik
Release date: Aug. 14
Currently, Cleveland rapper Aaron Malik is working on his debut album, “Too Empty.” He gave a sneak peek of the album with his newest single, “Insecure,” on cleveland.com. The musician, now 23 years old, has been writing music since he became a teenager a decade ago.
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Photo by Anita Louise
“Dancing In The Moonlight” by Jul Big Green
Release date: Aug. 23
One of the songs from Jul Big Green’s first upcoming album has been in the works since 2015 or 2016, when he went to South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas with some friends. The group started jamming, and he found a beat loop that he enjoyed.
That beat, along with the repeating refrain, “Dancing in the moonlight, holding your hand tight,” stuck with the musician and later turned into the song “Dancing In The Moonlight.” The funky dance song features Nathan-Paul & The Admirables, another Northeast Ohio band.
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Photo by Jef Janis
“Voluptuous Lady” by Eriq Troi
Release date: August 2019
Eriq Troi, an Akron-based R&B musician, started releasing one song a week since June, and will continue it until he turns 50 next year. Many of the songs he’s releasing include collaborations with other musicians and producers — but they all focus on Troi’s work in music production and recording work. Troi said he was inspired to put out the music, much of which he has been sitting on for years, because of a midlife crisis.
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Photo by Teddy Eisenberg
“GLTS” by Young Teazer
Release date: Aug. 30
Two seasoned Cleveland musicians have combined their talents — and a healthy dose of free-spirited creativity — to form Young Teazer. Singer Chayla Hope and electronic musician Patrick Stoops have been at work crafting pop music that incorporates any inspiration they vibe with. They released their debut single, “GLTS,” in August.
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Photo courtesy Bad Hooks
“Flat Pack” by Bad Hooks
Release date: Sept. 6
Bad Hooks describes itself as “swampy rock & roll.” That description is more of a vibe than a real genre, though — the new Cleveland band is making whatever kind of music it wants.
“We’re all guys that didn’t really mean to make this kind of music in the first place,” singer-guitarist Matt Hertweck said. “This was our time-off stuff, and it’s the kind of stuff that stuck with us. We decided to stop avoiding it, and ignoring it, and start embracing it.”
The band released the song “Flat Pack” as an ode to Cleveland’s Flats neighborhood.
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Photo by Isaac Bixel
“Sangria” by Mollo Rilla
Release date: Sept. 7
Cleveland rock band Mollo Rilla hung on to the final days of summer with its new single, “Sangria.” The song, produced by former Cage The Elephant lead guitarist Lincoln Parish, was released in early September. It followed the release of Mollo Rilla’s debut album, which arrived earlier this year. Mollo Rilla came together as a band just two years ago.
“It was time to do something different,” Marco Ciofani, the singer-guitarist of Mollo Rilla, said. “None of us knew what the hell we were going to do, but we knew we just wanted to write really fun rock songs, and that’s what we did.”
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Photo by Shawn Brewster
“Lie Better” by Rule of Young
Release date: Sept. 13
Rule of Young exists in a new, modern music industry world — and that’s reflected in both its streaming structure, and its band name. Band member Nico Conti said the idea for the name stemmed from the phrase “Rule of Law,” adapted to reflect generational changes in American culture.
“The rules of being a young adult in America and the expectations have changed dramatically from prior generations,” Conti said. “The name is a reflection of our changing culture and the turmoil that it can bestow.”
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Photo courtesy Logan Bruce
“Change” by Logan Bruce
Release date: Sept. 20
Amherst-based singer-songwriter Logan Bruce released the song “Change” this September. The song’s lyrics are about struggling to maintain relationships while pursuing a music career, Bruce said.
“The song says, ‘Just promise me you’ll stay,’” he said. “The balance of wanting to do this music thing, but I also don’t want personal relationships to fall by the wayside.”
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Photo by Paige Farrow
“Drugs, Disco, Depression” by Summer School
Release date: Sept. 27
Summer School, a pop project by Cleveland-based musician Josh Wilson, takes dark, introspective lyrics and weaves them with funky, danceable pop. His debut album, “Drugs, Disco, Depression” arrived in September, finding musical inspiration from ‘80s pop stars like Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Prince and Madonna.
“The sound I currently have as Summer School started about five or six years ago when I became obsessed with the idea of pop music being sad,” Wilson said. “I loved the juxtaposition and the fact that people could dance to something that’s actually quite dark or sad underneath. I felt in a way, that’s kind of who I’ve been most of my life and I deeply connected with it.”
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Anita Louise Photography
“My Pretty Rainboots” by Lilieae
Release date: Oct. 4
Two musicians have moved from their cover band roots to original rock music with their new project Lilieae. The band, named after the scientific word for “lily,” consists of vocalist Lydia Puccini and bassist Kayleigh Hyland. It formed a year and a half ago, when the two wanted to attempt writing and performing their own music. The two musicians knew each other since high school, initially meeting in a ceramics class. A decade later, mutual friends suggested they should form a band together.
“We always joke that even 10 years before Lilieae, it was a thing because we were buddies in art class,” Puccini said.
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Photo by Nathan Rogers
“Sleep Well” by Featherweight
Release date: October 2019
Featherweight, a metalcore band from Akron, has a lot of meaning in its name. The band (formerly known as Sorry Mom) changed its approach to music early this year, aiming to inspire its listeners. It’s why the band is called “Featherweight” — a word the five-piece band came up with to juxtapose both lightness and heaviness.
“It’s light, but there’s strength in that lightness,” singer Richie Dolbow said. “We use it as a metaphor to express that, even though you might have a mental illness, there’s still a strength behind that… It still means you’re a tough dude.”
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Photo by Nick Salata
“Pocket Full of Posies” by Clickb8 and Foxx Bodii
Release date: Oct. 25
When James Firak (aka, Clickb8) and Nick Salata (aka, Foxx Bodii) decided to make a Halloween-themed album together, they looked back to their childhoods for inspiration. The two 25-year-olds remembered the things that used to scare them in the ‘90s and 2000s, and what it took to overcome those fears. But, though the fears revolve around their early years, both Firak and Salata said the themes of the album, titled “Pocket Full of Posies: A Journey Through a Nightmare” can relate to their adulthood too.
“You get kind of a cool dichotomy on the album — things that scare you as an adult in some places, as well as things that scare you as a kid,” Salata said. “We try to bring that full circle as you go through the track list.”
Read more about Clickb8 and Foxx Bodii
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Photo by Nicholas Roth, Clockwork 9
“Silver Rings” by Lydia Briggs
Release date: Oct. 25
Briggs is kicking off a career as a musician in her teenage years. The musician has put out four singles this year that she worked on with Jim Wirt (known for his collaborations with Incubus, Fiona Apple, Something Corporate and Hoobastank). She’s also released colorful music videos and performed at venues and bars in Cleveland — all on top of being a full-time student at Hawken School in Cleveland.
This autumn, Briggs put out her newest single, “Silver Rings.”
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Photo by Annaka Silvia
“Ghost” by Lea Marra
Release date: Oct. 31
Lea Marra’s band, The Dream Catchers, came together during the recording process of her debut album “Bleeding Heart.”
“When we first started recording I didn’t really have my band all together yet, so I had some great musicians to help out with it including most of my current band The Dream Catchers,” Marra said. “It was crazy because none of them had met each other [before] the recording process, but vibed through the music so well.”
Marra released a single, “Ghost,” ahead of the album’s delivery this fall.
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Photo by Abbey Recker
“Sadder Than U” by Teamonade
Release date: Nov. 5
Teamonade — named after the tasty beverage combination of sweet tea and lemonade — has set itself apart in Ohio’s music scene with its catchy punk vibes and thoughtful lyrics about existentialism, depression and relationships. This year, it released a new single, “Sadder Than U,” to follow its EP “This Is Your Only Warning,” also released this year.
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Image courtesy James Douglas
“Welcome To My Town” by Canterbury Arts Club
Release date: November
Cleveland musician James Douglas has found new life in his old songs with his band Canterbury Arts Club. The band has reimagined Douglas’ previously written songs, some of them decades old, for its debut EP.
“One of the four songs on our EP, I wrote when I was 18,” Douglas said. “I’ll turn 36 three days before our release party. I doubled my lifespan before that one came out.”
The band released “Welcome To My Town” as a first taste of the project.
Read more about Canterbury Arts Club
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Photo by Abbey Recker
“Spicy Water” by Moon Cactus
Release date: Nov. 15
Much of what you hear on a Moon Cactus song has been performed by multi-instrumentalist Connor Mancini. Even at live shows, with the help of a looping pedal, Mancini weaves together different sounds into a textured, laid-back indie sound.
“I thought about trying to get a band together with Moon Cactus, but I had trouble sharing my vision with other people,” he said. “So, I just made all the parts myself, and played all the parts myself.”
You’ll hear that on his latest song, “Spicy Water,” released in November.
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Photo courtesy Uptight Sugar
“Fell For You” by Uptight Sugar
Release date: Dec. 6
“Fell For You,” Uptight Sugar’s latest single, continues to develop the band’s groovy, psychedelic sound.
“I’ve always described our style as a modern take on psychedelia — but with a really good groove,” guitarist-keyboardist Mike Murray said. “Like, if Pink Floyd and Deee-Lite had a lovechild, it would be Uptight Sugar… I like to think our music reflects the electro-pop vibes of Tame Impala as much as it does The Beatles or Roxy Music.”
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Photo by Kymaia Gadsden
“Pursuit” by Soundevr
Release date: Dec. 12
A new Northeast Ohio band and collective called Soundevr has created its own sound by combining elements of house music, bounce, funk and jazz. “It’s supposed to be a combination of different black vernacular dances,” composer and trumpet player Daniel Spearman said. “We’re drawing from all of those influences and combining them to create what we’re hoping is a new sound that gets people up and dancing and moving.”
The band put out its first song, “Pursuit,” in December.
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Photo courtesy Carolina Borja
“Lullaby/Dúermete” by Kombilesa Asé
Release date: Dec. 13
A trio of Cleveland musicians with influences and backgrounds from around the world have come together to create a unique, new voice with Kombilesa Asé. The band consists of cellist and singer Carolina Borja, multi-instrumentalist Obediya Jones-Darrell and percussionist and vocalist Linda “Mama Fasi” Thomas-Jones. The three initially met at Thomas-Jones’ Larchmere shop, Fasi’s Cultural Experience, in 2017.
The band released its debut album, “Kadara,” in December, including the peaceful single “Lullaby/Dúermete.”
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Photo courtesy Collin Miller
“Come On In” by Collin Miller & The Brother Nature
Release date: Dec. 20
Collin Miller & The Brother Nature threw things back in more ways than one on “Come On In.” The band debuted its funky new single in December, in advance of its new album “A Lesson In Love.” The project was recorded straight to tape, with no computer editing, over the course of three and a half weeks. It was influenced by gritty funk bands like Parliament Funkadelic, and it was inspired by the ups and downs of romantic relationships, bandleader Collin Miller said.
Read more about Collin Miller & The Brother Nature
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(Photo by Lauren Pray, Courtney Emery, Josh Land, Jess Jurcak, Erin Raby, Hannah Stakolich)
Read more about Cleveland’s music scene
Hoping to listen to more local music? Check out the 2018 edition of this feature.
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