Since their formation in Sydney back in 2015, Death Bells — Will Canning (vocals) and Remy Veselis (guitar) — have developed and honed a sound and approach centered around Canning’s baritone and Veselis’ wiry, reverb-drenched guitar lines that blurs the lines of post-punk and garage rock, while simultaneously becoming a mainstay in the alternative/underground/indie scene nationally and internationally. Naturally, as the duo have grown up and matured into early adulthood, the band has morphed and transformed through the releases of their debut EP, their full-length debut and a seven-inch through Funeral Party Records and a 2019 single through Metropolitan Indian.

The duo relocated to Los Angeles in 2018, where the current iteration of the band has blossomed: They signed to Dais Records, who released their sophomore album 2020’s New Signs of Life, an effort that saw them embracing their diverse tastes to craft expansive, hook-driven songs. As a response to pandemic-related quarantines and lockdowns, the duo secluded themselves at Bombay Beach last year, to record a live session that featured five tracks off New Songs of Life titled Live from Bombay.

Between Here & There, Death Bells highly anticipated third album is slated for a July 29, 2022 release through Dais Records. Recorded with Colin Knight at Paradise Studios, the nine-song album, which sees the duo adopting a collaborative approach features an experienced cast of collaborators on keys, strings, piano and backing vocals not only represents the pair’s continued growth as artists and people; but also is inspired by the vastness, messiness and oddness of their adopted home. While featuring lyrics that the duo consider “narrative, but not autobiographical,” the album’s material ebbs and flows from harrowing to hopeful — and are born of intrigue, intimacy and a sense of “looking outward,” according to the band.     

“Hysteria,” Between Here & There‘s fourth and latest single continues a run of material that bristles with urgency and immediacy. While featuring Vessels’ wiry reverb-drenched guitar lines paired with Canning’s baritone, “Hysteria” is rooted in the personal and universal: the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless, mad world; and the desire to pack up and leave everything behind.

“’Hysteria’ was one of the last songs we wrote as we were putting together the new album,” the duo explain. “It was one of those moments where the tune just figured itself out. It feels urgent, immediate and honest, and we’re very proud of it.”

Directed by Travis Waddell and produced by Oblique TV, the accompanying video for “Hysteria” features intimately shot live footage of the band performing in a loft as day gently fades into night.

Cyma is an emerging, self-taught French singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, who started writing songs inspired by Mac Demarco, Childish Gambino, Tom Misch, Daniel Caesar, Mac Miller, Lianne La Havas and others, when he relocated from the French Riviera to Paris in 2017. The emerging, independent French artist released his self-produced, debut EP Living Room Demos back in 2019. The EP featured music videos, which featured self-made animations.

He followed up with 2020’s Where All The Sheep Go EP, which also featured music videos with self-made animations. The emerging, Paris-based artist’s third EP Waves is slated for release this month. And to build up buzz for the soon-to-be released EP, Cyma shares Waves EP‘s latest single, the slow-burning and dreamy “Gollum.” Centered around a lo-fi and unhurried production featuring glistening synth arpeggios, strummed guitar, a shimmering and bluesy guitar solo and Cyma’s plaintive baritone, “Gollum” is a sweet and earnest love song written for his girlfriend.

Directed and shot by Cyma, the recently released video for “Gollum” stars Cyma and his girlfriend hanging out on a couch in a verdant backyard, VHS footage of his girlfriend driving, hanging out around the house, surfing — and footage of the French artist playing his guitar in front of a French convenience store and skateboarding. The video shows a love that’s simple yet very sweet and confronting. From experience, that sort of love is lucky and rare.