Audio Antihero

Specialists in Commercial Suicide

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NEWS: Magana Radio Session / #1 on Hype Machine + Reviews and Interviews from Rosy Overdrive / Firebird Magazine / Various Small Flames / Analogue Trash and more!

It has been one week since the release of Magana’s ‘Teeth‘ LP and we’ve been pretty thrilled with the response, thank you so much.

Last week we were hyped to share features, interviews, and reviews with the likes of The Alternative, Atwood Magazine, Joyzine, If It Be Your Will, Amplify the Noise, KRUI, Austin Town Hall, Absent Sounds, and many others. Magana was even able to reach #1 in both the Hype Machine “Popular Now“ and “Most Posted Artists” charts.

This week, I’m excited that the good news keeps rolling in and there’s lots more stuff to be hyped about.

Firstly, Magana is in session for Leo Gilbert on Dandelion Radio this month. The show streams daily via the station’s website and you can stream it on demand via Mixcloud too (check out Mark Whitby’s show too for a session with bedbug and some Max Blansjaar airplay).

Magana did a great interview with Firebird Magazine (you might remember them for their brilliant feature with Frog) where they talked ‘Teeth,’ Mitski, and her plans for upcoming ambient and orchestral music releases. Check it out here.

I was also fortunate enough to get to write another guest feature for Various Small Flames, this time reflecting on the memories and music of my time knowing and working with Jeni Magaña. It covers her better-known songs like “Inches Apart,” as well as compilation appearances, her CHUCK and Cloud covers, the pen pin pop project, and her more experimental work. This was a really nice experience for me so I hope you enjoy it too: “You Got Shit to Do: a Magana Restrospective By Audio Antihero Records”

You Got Shit to Do: a Magana Retrospective By Audio Antihero Records

Magana also shared some of her influences for ‘Teeth’ with The Daily Music Report:

The music that influenced Magana’s ‘Teeth’

It has also been really nice getting support from David Dean Burkhart recently through his “Compact Cassette” playlist and YouTube channel, as well as Deb Grant at BBC 6 Music and Roddy Hart on BBC Scotland. We recently appreciate any and all help in getting new ears on this beautiful record.

Lastly, I really liked these new reviews:

“Feels equally at home in the era of doomy 60s girl pop and the modern age of dreampop and lushly-drawn indie music. Magaña’s vocals exude joy and pain in equal measure…” – Analogue Trash

“‘Teeth’ stands tall as tangible proof of the transformative power of music. With otherworldly melodies, evocative lyrics, and a production style that envelopes the listener, Magana offers a fourteen-track journey of healing and self-discovery.” – Broken 8 Records

“Magana has a dramatic, floating vocal style that puts her in line with a lot of the big “indie folk” acts of today, but it’s her embrace of more adventurous instrumentation that sets Teeth apart from the crowd more than anything else.” – Rosy Overdrive

Pressing Concerns: Hello Emerson, Fanclubwallet, The Church, Magana

We should have lots more good stuff to share soon, but in the meantime, ‘Teeth’ is available via Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. Tell a pal.

You can say ‘hi!’ to Magana through her social pages via Linktree (or just wave if you’re going to see Mitski soon).


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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.”

Magana – Paul
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’s “pack 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.

https://allstonpudding.com/bedbug-check-in-with-postcard
Reaching Up to Heaven and Just Falling Short: A Bedroom Pop Retrospective by bedbug

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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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).

I Just Can’t Love Christmas: A Holiday Mix by Audio Antihero’s Jamie Halliday

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.