General Trust released their first single, “Blue Ride,” in February of 2023. In the time since, countless shows have been played and a myriad of additional singles have been unleashed on the world. To celebrate this first phase of the project, we are releasing GT1, a compilation of all of the previous singles paired with an exclusive new track “The Crime of the Century.” This song is only available to those that purchase the GT1 cassette; it will not be available streaming nor as digital download.

100% of profits from sales of GT1 will go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

Along with the cassette is a brand new video for “If I Could Change Your Mind,” the single originally released at the end of 2023. The video was directed by Casey Pierce and edited by Jane Fitzsimmons, two talents we respect immensely.

The GT1 cassette has artwork printed by Risology Club, giving it a unique texture. The tape itself is a translucent blue, with all ten General Trust songs playing on both sides.

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To celebrate, General Trust is playing a variety of shows! Go see him live:

6 Oct 2024 – Cobra – Nashville – with Violent Vickie and Stacian

15 Oct 2024 – JJ’s Bohemia – Chattanooga – with Carrellee and Pippi Maraschino

20 Oct 2024 – Betty’s – Nashville – with Eat the Rude

Very happy to announce that Trash Man has released the first single from his debut YK EP, Moment of Bleakness. You can watch the video for “Ruin It” below or stream it anywhere ya like. More on the EP below.

When thinking about what kind of video to make for the track, Trash Man (aka Alex Mojaverian) thought to himself “What kind of video would I want to watch?” The answer, without hesitation, was a “cook with me” type video. Not only is it an entertaining thing to watch, it results in some delicious Detroit style pizza! Win win.

Also, can we all agree that Detroit style is the ultimate form of pizza? That’s not controversial, right?

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Obviously we’re biased but the song is a total banger. The balance of explosive pop-rock blasts with melancholy lyrics is perfection. I can think of no less than 10 instances of the exact situation being referenced where someone ruins a good thing with an offhanded remark. Trash Man speaks my language.

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The song is taken from Moment of Bleakness; the debut release from Trash Man on YK Records. We’re releasing this on digital, streaming and limited edition cassette! The artwork sits nicely in a green shell case and the tape itself is a sparkling translucent green. It’s nearly impossible to capture in photos but we can try.

The EP will be released October 11th. If you order the cassette now, I’ll get it out to you ASAP.

The A-side of the cassette contains Moment of Bleakness. You’ll have to order one to find out what’s on the B-side.

Sometimes you have so much information to share, it seems overwhelming. Each piece of the following is exciting on its own but, together, it’s an avalanche of good news.

That said, let’s get straight to the heart of the matter: Talking with Hands has a new album called Organic Machine that will be released on October 25, 2024. The first single, “#1 Record,” is available right now as a maxi-single and a fantastic music video:

The song is a wonderfully catchy piece of work inspired by the iresome ramblings of tech leaders, particularly those in the music space. The single is coupled with two unique remixes courtesy of The Gros Michel and Captain Baby; miraculous reworkings of the original version. It’s like a maxi-single you’d pick up as a unique import.

The album track is emblematic of Talking with Hands third full-length album, Organic Machine. It’s a deeply layered and completely infectious record contemplating the intersection of generative AI and the uphill battle of creativity. Heady subjects embedded in wonderfully memorable hooks.

The album was originally intended to be a pair of EP’s but as the songs emerged, it was clear that the subjects intertwine too perfectly to keep them apart.

Organic Machine weaves together buzzing guitars, delightful sampling flourishes, hyper processed vocals and, occasionally, multiple narrators. These compositions serve as a nod to the massive, diverse, source material that a generative AI draws from but, moreso, serve as an introspection of the value of the creative process.

There will be three preview singles before the album’s release (“#1 Record” being the first), each paired with exclusive remixes and music videos. You can preorder the album now and you’ll get all the remixes as bonus tracks. The album will be streaming everywhere so purchasing is not required but it’s highly appreciated.

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A small personal aside, I’ve been singing the hook to “#1 Record” every morning for the last few months. It’s burrowed its way into my mind and I hope it does the same for you.

Throughout the year, The Robe has kept a steady pace of releases flowing from his home studio. With the exception of August, we’ve been blessed with two new songs every single month.* To kick off autumn, “Animal” / “Suddenly Last Summer” are now available everywhere.

My insight is nill in regards to the inspiration or motivation behind these songs and I prefer it that way. The meaning they hold is all mine; as they should be all yours as well.

These tracks are recorded sequentially; so we get to hear the progression of techniques and expression. Without giving too much away before you click on through, “Animal” unfurls itself – that’s really all I want to say. A true, proper, full unfurling. “Suddenly Last Summer” – a cover of the The Motels – features J.B. Bennett, whom you may (hopefully) remember from The Jason EP. The song is a classic but the vocal performance here is perfect for the season.

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The songs are available on Bandcamp, AmpWall and streaming everywhere.

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*back in May we got the May Throwaway EP which was four songs, not two. So, the math still works for a monthly single. If you were keeping count. 😉

To celebrate the release of The Privates Best Of LP, We Are Really Rocking Now, Haven’t We?, we’re having a big ole listening party at Vinyl Tap here in Nashville! The fun takes place on October 10th at 6pm and it’s free! There’s a full bar, we’ll be doing some giveaways and the whole band will be there.*

Hope to see you there!

*the band will not be performing, just hanging out and answering your burning questions.

Happy to announce that Alex Mojaverian, aka Trash Man, has joined the YK Records roster. We’ll be releasing some brand new treats in the coming weeks and we’re excited for you to hear them.

My familiarity with Alex goes back to 2017-ish when I saw him playing drums for Sad Baxter (another excellent band you should have in your rotation). In 2020, Alex debuted the Trash Man project with “Please Don’t Murder Me,” a 66-second blast of melancholy pop that was unbelievably irresistible.

Here in 2024, the project has grown and evolved but continues to stay very true to its roots. I’m biased but I’m also sure you’re gonna love it.

For now, go follow @mojobeats on Instagram, make sure you’re signed up to the YK Records mailing list and enjoy the existing back catalog of Trash Man gems.

Korby Lenker sits down with Annie Williams for an episode of The Morse Code Podcast. They discuss Annie’s origin story on coming to Nashville (it’s wild), her debut album Visitor (it’s beautiful) and how she follows inspiration (it’s meaningful).

It’s about an hour long and they dive into so many great topics; including Williams frustration with finding her community. It’s so easy to think that artists just kind of emerge fully formed but the process can take years and years with plenty of stops and starts. The honesty she shares is refreshing.

I’ve been a fan of Eve Maret since I first heard “No More Running” in 2017. Her musical palette draws from a wide variety of influences and never stagnates. When the opportunity to work with her arose, I was flattered and excited to be involved. “Mantra” is incredibly unique – it’s a literal mantra of positivity and a club banger. “Miracle” may not be quite as sweaty but it’s every bit as optimistic and life affirming.

The songs are on Bandcamp and streaming everywhere. I think you’ll enjoy them driving alone in your car giving yourself a boost of confidence or sweating it out with a room full of others. Win Win all around. Go follow @evemaret on socials and then enjoy this more formal release note!

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About Eve Maret

Eve Maret is a dynamic electronic artist that is in pursuit of more than just beats or melodies – she seeks to utilize music as a personally transformative tool. Her body of work draws on the energies of sound baths, tarot, and positive self-affirmation – all while getting you out on the dance floor. Every track is an invitation to explore your own inner alchemy.

Lead track “Mantra” began as a long-forgotten synth patch that evolved into a high-energy anthem blending beats, clarinet, and vocoder-free vocals (a new exploration for Maret). It’s a club-ready banger with an empowering twist; free yourself from yourself by embracing the refrain that you are whole. The pessimist may believe that these affirmations are impotent explorations but each repetition of Maret’s lyrics serves a feel-good reminder to let that doubt fall away. The use of rhythm as a way to release emotional baggage and embody positive change is at work here, front and center.

The flip side “Miracle,” continues to channel the same uplifting energy but through a more subdued and loving vibe. The song feels like a personal prayer layered through guitar, Eastern influenced flute and Maret’s masterful beats.

Maret’s journey through the musical cosmos has been one of self-discovery and authenticity. Her musical palette has taken her through the creation of krautrock, longform ambient compositions and pop gems; all leading her to these latest immersive experiences.

I’ve always been fascinated by an artists “influences” mix. These kinds of compilations aren’t necessarily a direct 1:1 for a given piece of work but, rather, a gathering of moments that might have piqued the artists interest.

Meadownoise, aka Matt Glassmeyer, has always had a diverse palette of musical interests. His releases as Meadownoise tend to veer towards the more traditional “rock” structure but he’s always involved himself in a wide variety of performances and undertakings. What songs would influence and inspire him? I asked and he delivered.

Materials is not holistic by any means but it’s a wonderful listen from start to finish that covers a lot of surprising ground. Surprising, in fact, because it doesn’t feel disparate, it’s cohesive in its own way.

It’s available on Apple Music, YouTube Music and Spotify. I suggest you start streaming it right away.

2024 is the fifteenth year of yk Records. Way back in 2009 when I started the endeavor, I had no idea that it would last this long and become involved with so many fantastic releases. I was more than flattered to be a part of the first Uncle Skeleton release, Pancho Chumley, and that was about the extent of it.

I certainly did not think about the name or the branding too much. The domain was always “ykrecords.com” but the branding always said “Yewknee” or “Yewknee Records” – an offshoot of my long running blog of the same name.

Over time, the name “YK Records” started to feel more natural and the “Yewknee” branding felt entirely out of place. I considered rebranding for years but never landed on anything that felt great.

With the announcement that Eve Maret would be releasing new music on yk, I decided to finally do something about my aggravation around the branding. So, now we are officially “yk Records” in name and in look.

One my great hesitations around changing the mark was that I understand the dangers that come with a rebrand. I don’t fool myself into thinking that “yk Records” is as notable as any major brand but change is rarely good on the Internet. More importantly, I have first had experience from when Spongebath Records changed from their beloved bubble logo to a more modern and sleek mark; it was basically the beginning of the end.

I’m confident that’s not the case here as I have so many great surprises lined up for the coming years and months. The releases are gonna be great and now people will know who actually helped release them.