Audio Antihero

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WATCH: The Noisy Debut for Audio Antihero with Vampy Music Video”Twos”

Philly dream pop/synth rock band The Noisy announce signing to Audio Antihero (Frog / Avery Friedman / Magana / CIAO MALZ) with Twos,” a vampy, queer, and silent-movie-esque new music video from director Sam Cush, which teases The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ an upcoming deluxe edition of their debut album.

Featuring practical effects and vampire makeup by Philly drag talent, “Twos” channels gothic-glam in the spirit of vintage cinema, dripping with theatrical flair and midnight movie camp. Starring local icon Miss Thing, the video follows the success of Violet Lozenge,” The Noisy’s most recent drag-forward release, which WXPN praised as “glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.”

Front-person Sara Mae Henke (they/them) comments on the upcoming music video for “Twos:

I wrote this song like a pop song but wanted the production to bend towards Mannequin Pussy with sludgy guitars and twinkly keys. The music video literalizes the too much-ness of the story, Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Grey Gardens meets two dates to the prom.

The Noisy got its start in Knoxville, Tennessee, as a project of award-winning poet Sara Mae Henke. In spring 2023, after evolving from a solo project to a full band, they released Morricone with a Strega Nona meets Clint Eastwood music video, launching a crowdfunding campaign for their debut album, ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat.’ The band sold merch, raffled a cowboy hat, and ran a GoFundMe alongside a month-long tour, raising over $3,000 to bring this debut to life—an album for their queer community.To celebrate the first anniversary of ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat,’ Audio Antihero will be issuing a deluxe edition entitled ‘The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ which will include new and reimagined songs.

Praise for The Noisy:

Dynamic sound, charming energy, and a confessional tell-all spirit that’s as charismatic as it is irresistible.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

Glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.” – WXPN

“The Noisy’s sound isn’t exactly noisy in the abrasive sense, but it is boisterous, embracing the crunch of grungy pop rock and the twang of Sara Mae’s Knoxville roots to create a muscular and freely associated alt-country belter.”POST-TRASH

“It sounds really formative. Being “sixteen and see-through” is such a vulnerable feeling, one that “Grenadine” captures really well.”THE ALTERNATIVE

“Their work examines the surreal, the uncanny, body horror, and intimacy.…Their album The Secret Ingredient is More Meat is an intoxicating experience.” – RAINBOW RODEO

Rich, polished pop-rock sound with pieces of dream/chamber pop, synth pop, and even a bit of electric alt-rock thrown in.” – ROSY OVERDRIVE

Unconventional at every turn, with Sara Mae’s background as a poet coming through in their unique, free-form writing style.” – TROPICAL GOTH MAG


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Frog KEXP Session + Avery Friedman Updates

Excited to share some updates from Frog and Avery Friedman!

Frog KEXP Session:

The video of Frog’s KEXP session for The Afternoon Show with Larry Mizell Jr. is live now! It even features an unreleased new song.

Frog’s 1000 Variations on the Same Song is available now on Bandcamp and Spotify. Vinyl and t-shirts are also available.

The response to the record has been brilliant with sessions for WFMU and KEXP, interviews with R/Indieheads, WKDU, WZBC, WVKR, The Hobbyist, If It Be Your Will, and more. Plus, killer reviews from Pitchfork, Stereogum (Album of the Week), FLOOD Magazine, Post-Trash, The Alternative, and more.

Avery Friedman Updates:

We’d also like to thank KEXP for putting Avery Friedman’s New Thing into rotation! Avery has been pretty busy since the release of her acclaimed debut album with a sold-out release show at Union Pool (Brooklyn can catch her again on August 10th at Elsewhere [Zone One] with Thomas Flynn and Hudson Freeman), and heaps of press and interviews.

Recent highlights have been an interview with Joseph Jr. Mastel of Out Front Magazine, the second-oldest independent LBGTQIA+ publication in the USA, and a wonderfully in-depth radio feature with Windsor, Ontario’s CJAM courtesy of Absent Sounds.

Plus, lots of great stuff you might have missed with The Line of Best Fit, Beats Per Minute (Track-by-Track), Atwood Magazine, Rainbow Rodeo, WNYU, Rockerilla (Italian Print Magazine), AnalogueTrash (Guest Mixtape), Love Music; Love Life (Influences Feature), Spare Notes, If It Be Your Will, OMSB Podcast, The Ugly Hug, and many others.

‘New Thing’ is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify. Cassettes are shipping now, and vinyl pre-orders (co-released with Softseed Music) will be shipping at the end of July.

Praise for ‘New Thing’:

“If you’re into intense, dreamy, subtly imaginative singer-songwriter-ly pop, people like Squirrel Flower or maybe the softer moments of Big Thief, don’t miss the debut album by the Brooklyn singer Avery Friedman. Her songs are a cocktail of anxiety and uneasy beauty with chiming, ringing arrangements that really get under your skin.” – NPR MUSIC (All Songs Considered)

“New Thing is going to be one of our albums of the year.” – ANALOGUETRASH

“Her full-length debut, New Thing, is a work of raw singer/songwriter confessionalism, evoking the knotted melodies, homespun arrangements, and searing edges of musicians like Squirrel Flower, Babehoven, or Adrienne Lenker.“ – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“The promise you are left with as a listener, that there is a beauty in uncertainty and becoming, that flowers that die will surely grow again.” – THE LINE OF BEST FIT

“It’s not PR spin when I tell you that’ll be a contender for a spot on my AOTY list.” – ON REPEAT RECORDS

“Damn, I adored this record. I loved the writing. So image-rich and vivid, each song feels like its own universe. This is to say nothing of the diversity of soundscape – truly felt like a Writers Album.” – HANIF ABDURRAQIB

“New Thing, the scarily accomplished debut album from Avery Friedman, is all about change and growth…Friedman inhabits a complex emotional realm where nervousness can coexist with (and inform) ideas of sexiness, sadness, tenderness. Her world is fragile but appears to have arrived fully-formed.” – KLOF MAG

“New Thing is as much about community as it is Friedman’s individual journey. The album will thrill those who yearn for the days of sad indie bands in Williamsburg clubs. While Friedman and her band might be further along on the L train, they’ve moved past the detached melancholy of that cohort and instead utilize the same musical strains to confront and move beyond the pain that holds them back.” – NO DEPRESSION

“Friedman captures the uncontainable mess of being alive – the beautiful, brutal blur of becoming.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“If you’re looking to fill your musical roster with one of our favorite up and coming indie pop artists, look no further than Avery Friedman!” – THE HONEY POP

“Hidden gems occasionally shine brighter than polished diamonds. Enter Avery Friedman, who’s debut LP New Thing presents itself as a labor of love. Plenty of stakes present themselves in debut efforts, but Friedman stands before audiences fearless – 5/5” – NEW NOISE MAGAZINE


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Out Now: Avery Friedman – ‘New Thing’ (Debut Album) + Live Shows

Avery Friedman’s gorgeous debut album, New Thing,’ was released on Friday. After premieres with Under the Radar, Atwood Magazine, and The Alternative, we’re so excited to finally share it all with you. The early response has been pretty amazing, and we deeply appreciate any and all support.

Tapes, Vinyl, and Lossless Digital are available via Bandcamp + the album is streaming on Spotify & everywhere else. We’re co-releasing the vinyl edition with Softseed Music, who have an exclusive variant edition available on their store too.

There’s also some great new features with Avery if you’d like to learn more about her: The Line of Best Fit (Interview) / WNYU (Radio Interview) / Atwood Magazine (Interview) / OMSB Podcast (Interview) / Spare Notes Podcast / Beats Per Minute (Track-by-Track).

Praise for Avery Friedman’s ‘New Thing’:

“If you’re into intense, dreamy, subtly imaginative singer-songwriter-ly pop, people like Squirrel Flower or maybe the softer moments of Big Thief, don’t miss the debut album by the Brooklyn singer Avery Friedman. Her songs are a cocktail of anxiety and uneasy beauty with chiming, ringing arrangements that really get under your skin.”NPR MUSIC (All Songs Considered)

“Her full-length debut, New Thing, is a work of raw singer/songwriter confessionalism, evoking the knotted melodies, homespun arrangements, and searing edges of musicians like Squirrel Flower, Babehoven, or Adrienne Lenker.“ – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“The promise you are left with as a listener, that there is a beauty in uncertainty and becoming, that flowers that die will surely grow again.”THE LINE OF BEST FIT

“Damn, I adored this record. I loved the writing. So image-rich and vidi, each song feels like its own universe. This is to say nothing of the diversity of soundscape – truly felt like a Writers Album.”HANIF ABDURRAQIB

“New Thing, the scarily accomplished debut album from Avery Friedman, is all about change and growth…Friedman inhabits a complex emotional realm where nervousness can coexist with (and inform) ideas of sexiness, sadness, tenderness. Her world is fragile but appears to have arrived fully-formed.” – KLOF MAG

“New Thing is as much about community as it is Friedman’s individual journey. The album will thrill those who yearn for the days of sad indie bands in Williamsburg clubs. While Friedman and her band might be further along on the L train, they’ve moved past the detached melancholy of that cohort and instead utilize the same musical strains to confront and move beyond the pain that holds them back.” NO DEPRESSION

“New Thing is going to be one of our albums of the year.”ANALOGUETRASH

“The influence of artists like Adrianne Lenker, Squirrel Flower, and Babehoven can be felt, but Friedman’s voice doesn’t mimic—it emerges from the same headspace, full of static, heat, and careful tension.”IDIOTEQ

“Its sophistication is simple: circling emotion without trying to pin it down, finding meaning in what’s left unsaid. The sort of record that doesn’t insist on being heard, but ends up being remembered.” GOD IS IN THE TV

“Friedman captures the uncontainable mess of being alive – the beautiful, brutal blur of becoming.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“Hidden gems occasionally shine brighter than polished diamonds. Enter Avery Friedman, who’s debut LP New Thing presents itself as a labor of love. Plenty of stakes present themselves in debut efforts, but Friedman stands before audiences fearless – 5/5NEW NOISE MAGAZINE

“So powerful…New Thing is an album that wants to scratch under the surface, to look at and feel the sensations of the unknown whether it hurts or not.” POST-TRASH

“Hard to describe, hard to predict, and it definitely feels fresh. New Thing was something I didn’t see coming. But it’s not PR spin when I tell you that’ll be a contender for a spot on my AOTY list.” – ON REPEAT RECORDS

“Crisp and serene, self-assured and steady…that sense of reclaimed power is palpable in New Thing’s subtle, gentle sway.” THE ALTERNATIVE

“Avery Friedman steps into the spotlight with New Thing, a debut album that crackles with the light and dark of new experiences, passions and self-discovery.” – JOYZINE

“New Thing works so well because of how direct and electric it sounds–music like this often falls into the realm of “bedroom folk”, but Friedman and her collaborators give it a strong, confident, full band delivery.” ROSY OVERDRIVE

“Stunning debut album…Impossible to fathom that Friedman is a new artist. She speaks from such a deep, resonant place that transcends the here and now….New Thing arrives as a stack of Polaroids, a cluster of memories and ideas that stick to the brain like pins to a corkboard. Avery Friedman lets the songs rise and fall, as she bares her soul in crisp detail, and as the listener breathes them in, we slip into those lived-in experiences along with her. It’s hard to imagine where she’ll go next, but what is most evident is that she’s a thrilling, astute artist with plenty more to say.” RAINBOW RODEO

“If you’re looking to fill your musical roster with one of our favorite up and coming indie pop artists, look no further than Avery Friedman!” – THE HONEY POP

“How these frustrations are navigated is what comes to mark the record. A combination of patience and burgeoning trust. Be that in the very ability of a person to come back to life, or else in the humble loves that make such a goal worthwhile.” VARIOUS SMALL FLAMES

“It’s rare that a debut presents us with an artist operating at this level and making something so fully realized. When we get a record like this one, it’s worth cherishing…” SWIM INTO THE SOUND

Avery Friedman Live in April and May:

Avery will be playing at the Crossroads: Springing Indie showcase at SOBs in Manhattan on Thursday, April 24th (Tickets/Info).

The ‘New Thing’ album launch will take place on May 15th at Union Pool in Brooklyn with support from Dolly and After Hours (Tickets/Info) + she’ll be playing her first show in Massachusetts at the Tourists hotel in North Adams on May 18th for Sing for Your Slumber (Info).


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New Avery Friedman Single + Vinyl & Cassette Pre-Order

Avery Friedman’s “New Thing” single was just released (Bandcamp / Spotify), and we’d like to thank Caleb Campbell and Under the Radar Magazine for premiering the song for us.

“Her full-length debut, New Thing, is a work of raw singer/songwriter confessionalism, evoking the knotted melodies, homespun arrangements, and searing edges of musicians like Squirrel Flower, Babehoven, or Adrienne Lenker.“ – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

Pre-Order: Vinyl / Cassette / Digital

We’re excited to share that Avery Friedman’s ‘New Thing‘ album will be released on cassette and vinyl (a co-release with Canada’s Softseed Music). It is also available as $5 digital download. Full details are available on the Audio Antihero Bandcamp page.

In addition to these transparent yellow cassette and clear blue vinyl editions, Softseed Music will also have an exclusive variant version available on their website. Cassettes will begin shipping at the end of April, and vinyl will begin shipping end of July.

In the meantime, I’d love to ask if you could pre-save ‘New Thing’ on Spotify, follow Avery on social media, and check out this wonderful interview with she did with Shea Roney for The Ugly Hug.

Praise for Avery Friedman:

“New Thing moves forward with a steady percussive stomp, building upon its foundation of churning guitars with chiming harmonies and swirling effects. Friedman makes the track’s later moments feel like a dissociative blur, adding new layers to the winding chord progressions until it turns from a reflective meditation to an elliptical folk rock spiral. Meanwhile, the lyrics mirror these undercurrents of creeping anxiety.” – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“Singer-songwriter Avery Friedman delivers a potential cult classic with ‘Flowers Fell’.” REAL GONE

“If you’re looking to fill your musical roster with one of our favorite up and coming indie pop artists, look no further than Avery Friedman! ‘Photo Booth’ is somehow only Avery’s second release, and it already sounds so much like she’s come into her own as an artist. We can’t wait to see what’s next!” – THE HONEY POP

“Having frequented bills with artists such as Sister. and Dead Gowns for the past year, Avery Friedman has consistently left an impression on those that have caught her sets, oftentimes performing solo, creating a space in which her vivid imagery and tender melodies greet new ears with welcome and understanding. Produced by James Chrisman (Sister.) and with contributions from Felix Walworth (Told Slant, Florist), “Flowers Fell” plays to the in-between moments as Friedman defines new beginnings.”THE UGLY HUG

“There’s this beautiful feedback buzz coursing through, and then the bottom falls out, hurtling you into this beautiful dreamland of pop magnificence.”AUSTIN TOWN HALL“Photo Booth represents a bit of a shift for Friedman. It’s a more electronic, chirpier sound, her take on alt-pop. It’s still sparse and whispery, but there’s some energy beneath her voice, and the hook is sneakily catchy. It’s a great song.” – THE ALTERNATIVE


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Frog Vinyl Pre-Order + New Magana EP

Yesterday was a big day with Magana completing her “Teeth trilogy” with the cosy core winter pop of the ‘Bad News EP, and Frog launching vinyl and digital pre-orders for ‘1000 Variations on the Same Song.’ On top of that, Frog released the “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES VAR. VII” single.

Magana – ‘Bad News’ (Out Now)

‘Bad News‘ is Magana’s third solo release in a ten-month period, following the brilliant Teeth LP in March and the DREAMSmulti-media project in October (available now from Hand Drawn Hand). Jeni wrote an essay about her “Ten Months of Teeth” for Atwood Magazine:

We would also like to thank The Alternative for premiering the EP, and God Is In the TV for premiering her ‘Hold On’ lyric video. Everything is better with independent sites like these helping us to share our work.

Bad News is available now via Bandcamp, Spotify, and all other services.

Frog: Vinyl Pre-Order & New Single

Frog’s ‘1000 Variations on the Same Song’ will be released on February 14th, and pre-orders for the digital and vinyl release now live.

The brothers also issued the ‘MIXTAPE LINER NOTES VAR. VII’ single, which Danielle Chelosky of Stereogum was super kind about:

“If the rest of the album sounds like this single, then I’m in. “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES
VAR. VII” is lo-fi greatness, the first verse name-dropping both My Chemical Romance and Big Star (taste). In the chorus, Daniel Bateman sings poignantly, “I can’t justify it, it isn’t rational/ I get high and cry it over broken Casios.” Amazing stuff!” Danielle Chelosky (STEREOGUM)


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NEW SINGLES: Magana / My Best Unbeaten Brother / bedbug

It has been a busy week at Audio Antihero Towers:

Magana – “Paul”:

Though Magana is off on tour with Mitski at the moment, the hits keep on coming. Paul,” the latest single from her upcoming Teeth LP is out now:

We’re so grateful to the ever-excellent Various Small Flames for premiering the song:

“Today we have the pleasure of sharing latest single, ‘Paul’. A song where grief is transcribed almost verbatim, and tenderness, strangeness and plain disbelief can exist simultaneously.”

We’re so happy that the new Magana is getting picked up for airplay by Deb Grant and Tom Ravenscroft for BBC 6 Music’s New Music Fix and by Roddy Hart on BBC Radio Scotland. The reviews yesterday were lovely too:

“The solo project of multi-instrumentalist and Bakersfield native Jeni Magaña (bassist for Mitski and Lady Lamb), Magana will release their sophomore album, “Teeth,” on March 25. The grief-stricken “Paul” is the latest of four singles, which cover plenty of sonic and emotional ground.”Buzz Bands LA

“As anticipation builds for the release of “Teeth”, fans can expect a sonic journey unlike any other, as Magana invites them to delve into the depths of her imagination and experience the enchanting world of Witchy Rock firsthand.” –Pure Mzine

“Jeni Magaña, esteemed for her roles as the bassist for Mitski and Lady Lamb, ventures into new sonic territories with ‘Paul,’ blending elements of Witchy Rock, Ghost Pop, and Acid Folk. Embarking on her solo journey, ‘Paul’ showcases Magana’s artistry and her growth as an independent artist.”The Daily Music Report

The single is taken from her ‘Teeth’ LP, which will be released on Monday, the 25th of March, to coincide with the peak illumination of the Worm Moon.

My Best Unbeaten Brother – “Slayer on a Sunny Day”:

After getting some wonderful support from BBC Introducing, the blogosphere and college radio, we decided to put Slayer on a Sunny Day from My Best Unbeaten Brother (ex-Nosferatu D2 / Tempertwig / Superman Revenge Squad) up as a free/PWYW download on Bandcamp.

Here’s a little bit of the lovely press coverage this new project from Ben and Adam Parker and bassist Ben Fry has received so far:

“After a ten year hiatus, the much lauded Parker brothers return to their literate and urgent ouevre with a new band and a new album.”Electric Sound of Joy

“Pairing a racing momentum with droll delivery in an attempt to look on the bright side and make the best of the present moment, no matter how difficult outside forces conspire to make such a mindset.”Various Small Flames

“Something in the song is growling at you instantly; the guitar lines have this edge to them that immediately has you on edge…the anticipation builds for that whole first minute. Then you’ve the seemingly spoken vocal delivery that works through the track as the guitars stab and poke through your speakers; it’s this riotous bit of ramshackle rock n’ roll that’s perfectly balanced to rip through your speakers.”Austin Town Hall

bedbug – “postcard” (Disposable USA):

As you might be aware, Audio Antihero is now providing freelance PR services, with lots of really good stuff coming soon (keep an eye on the Antihero PR Twitter).

One record I’m proud to be working on is bedbug’spack your bags the sun is growing,” which is out March 15th on Disposable USA.

The album’s second (and final) single postcard is out now:

It was premiered in a great interview with Allston Pudding and also accompanied by bedbug’s gorgeous (and hilarious) Reaching Up to Heaven and Just Falling Short: A Bedroom Pop Retrospective essay for Atwood Magazine.

This has been a really fun album to work on with so much more cool stuff to come, but we’ve been ecstatic to get coverage from Pitchfork, NPR Music, Spotify (“Fresh Finds”), Buzz Bands LA, Acute Pop, Austin Town Hall, Spectral Nights, Thoughts Words Action, Get In Her Ears, The Alternative, and lots more.


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Out Now: CHUCK – “Nothing Matters to Me Now” + New bedbug LP Coming Soon!

CHUCK, as you might recall, retired undefeated with the acclaimed ‘Frankenstein Songs for the Grocery Store‘ LP back in 2017 (see: Drowned in Sound / Post-Trash / Indie Shuffle / The Alternative / The Line of Best Fit) but he’s started going through the vaults and is pulling out some unreleased and obscure hits.

The first in a series of releases is an absolute banger called “Nothing Matters to Me Now,” which is free/PWYW on Bandcamp now (plus streaming everywhere).

This surprise single has received some really nice support from sites and radio in Japan, Argentina, Slovakia, England, Wales, Czechia, New Zealand, Germany, and the USA. Thank you all so much. You can see some of it below:

+ START-TRACK / buffaBLOG / Musos’ Guide / serba/music / WRSZW / Parcheesi Redux / Good Music Radio / IRP / KHDX / Human Pleasure / Beam FM / Amazing Radio

Follow CHUCK: Spotify / Bandcamp / Instagram

New bedbug! ‘pack your bags the sun is growing’ LP

Audio Antihero is also handling PR for the new bedbug album (out March 15th on Disposable America).

It’s a gorgeous, glistening album that expands Dylan Gamez Citron’s much-loved solo bedroom pop project (as heard on classic records for Z Tapes and Joy Void) into a full band, capturing the energy, beauty, and urgency of influences like Cap’n Jazz, Modest Mouse, Owls, and Built to Spill.

We’re thrilled that the album’s lead single, halo on the interstate,’ has been covered by Pitchfork, NPR Music, Spotify’s “Fresh Finds,” Buzzbands LA, Spectral Nights, Jesse’s Basement, Austin Town Hall, Double J Radio, WMBR, Acute Pop, Niche Music, and numerous great college radio stations. There will be lots more to come over the next few weeks and months. It’s year of the bug for sure, so please follow Antihero PR on Twitter to see the latest.

If you’d like more details on bedbug’s upcoming LP for press/radio/playlist/etc purposes, please contact me.

Follow bedbug: Spotify / Bandcamp / Twitter / Instagram


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It’s Christmas Time (For God’s Sake)

Thanks to to the great Various Small Flames for letting me put together this Holiday-themed playlist of songs from Audio Antihero and its extended family. It features Nosferatu D2, Frog, Benjamin Shaw, Fighting Kites, Broken Shoulder, Papernut Cambridge and pen pin (a new Magana project).

This is a time of year where a few people seem to re-discover Nosferatu D2, so I will gladly take this opportunity to remind you that the Tempertwig and The Superman Revenge Squad Band albums, featuring both Ben and Adam Parker of Nosferatu D2, are available now.

Plus, with all the great responses for Frog’s “GROG,” I am also happy to take this festive opportunity to shill the back catalogue some:

Thanks all.

Audio Antihero is on Linktree now, by the way.