Category: new releases

Kat Cunning Leads in Star People, a New Sci-Fi Feature Inspired by the Phoenix Lights

Star People will have its World Premiere at Dances With Films: LA 2025. Photo: Blue Harbor Entertainment, used with permission.

🌟 STAR PEOPLE to Premiere at Dances With Films: LA 2025 🌟

The highly anticipated sci-fi thriller STAR PEOPLE will have its World Premiere at the 28th Annual Dances With Films: LA on Saturday, June 28 at 7:15p.m. at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. It will hit theaters July 25 and Video on Demand on August 12. (EG-PR, 2025)

🎬 Directed by Adam Finberg in his narrative feature directorial debut, STAR PEOPLE stars a powerhouse ensemble:

  • Kat Cunning (The Deuce, On Swift Horses)
  • McCabe Slye (Destroyer, Fear Street Trilogy)
  • Connor Paolo (The Last Stop in Yuma County, Gossip Girl)
  • Eddie Martinez (The Sinner, Night Swim)
  • Bradley Fisher (Westworld)
  • Adriana Aluna Martinez (Duster)

Written and Directed by: Adam Finberg
Produced by: Adam Finberg & Josh Shader
Runtime: 103 minutes
Language: English
Country: USA (2025)

🔭 Inspired by Real Events

Loosely based on The Phoenix Lights, the largest mass UFO sighting in U.S. history, STAR PEOPLE follows a determined photographer (Kat Cunning) who receives a tip that might explain her childhood alien encounter. But as a deadly heatwave grips the region and uninvited guests arrive, her obsessive quest for the truth spirals into something far more dangerous.

🎥 Meet the Filmmaker: Adam Finberg

Adam Finberg, a Phoenix native and graduate of the American Film Institute’s directing program, brings over two decades of storytelling experience to his first narrative feature.

He began in music videos (Armin van Buuren, Otis) and commercials (GoDaddy, Napoleon Perdis), then transitioned to socially conscious documentary work. His film The Business of Recovery exposed corruption in the addiction treatment industry and was featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and at the International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Washington, D.C.

Finberg has also served as lead editor on numerous unscripted shows across networks like Discovery, MSNBC, Showtime, VH1, and ABC.

Adam Finberg. Photo: Blue Harbor Entertainment, used with permission.

🎟️ Festival Screening Details

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Location: TCL Chinese Theater
Address: 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

🎞️ About Dances With Films

Now in its 28th year, Dances With Films (DWF) continues to uplift fiercely independent storytellers. Unlike other festivals that focus on celebrity status, DWF champions raw talent, innovative ideas, and relentless creativity. Its alumni have gone on to shape the future of film and television across genres and platforms.

Mark your calendars—STAR PEOPLE is set to be one of the standout sci-fi debuts of 2025.

Stay tuned for tickets and updates! 🚀

Photo: IMDb

‘Sentinels in the Oakwood’: Post-Apocalyptic Fiction with Heart and Roots

‘Sentinels in the Oakwood’ is the new novel by J.P.S. Stalder

📚 Review: Sentinels in the Oakwood by J.P.S. Stalder

J.P.S. Stalder’s Sentinels in the Oakwood is a richly imagined post-apocalyptic novel set in the Missouri Ozarks, more than 100 years after a devastating nuclear war. Nature has reclaimed much of what was destroyed, and the region has become a vast wilderness of woodlands, lakes, and caves.

Two Ways of Life, One Fragile Balance

The novel presents a vivid contrast between two types of survivors:

  • The Oakwood people, who have returned to a life of simplicity and harmony with the land
  • The underground dwellers of Fort Leonard Wood, descendants of those who took refuge in high-tech subterranean shelters

Their coexistence is uneasy, and a new threat from the north—intent on domination—forces both groups to confront their differences and unite for survival.

More Than a Survival Story

This is not just a story of endurance. Sentinels in the Oakwood is a deep examination of human resilience, community, and the tension between tradition and technology. Stadler’s lyrical, atmospheric prose paints a vivid picture of a world rewilded:

“The fallen slabs of weathered grey concrete jutted out from the edges of the shoreline like giant teeth waiting to swallow those foolish enough to pass through its mouth in a small canoe.”

Multiple Perspectives, Complex Themes

The story unfolds through three compelling narratives:

  • Jimson, a young Oakwood native connected to the natural world
  • Sarah, from the underground facility, apprehensive but curious about life above
  • BOB-e, a sentinel robot beginning to evolve beyond his programming

BOB-e’s storyline is particularly moving. When his fellow sentinel KYLE-e is critically damaged in battle, BOB-e scours the area for parts, driven by an emerging sense of loyalty and grief. His actions—and Sarah’s eventual recognition of sentient rights—raise profound questions about identity, free will, and the definition of life.

A Thoughtful, Gripping Read

Themes of survival, moral complexity, artificial intelligence, and ecological balance run deep. Stadler crafts a story that is not only thrilling but also introspective. The growing threat from the outside world pushes these disparate communities to confront hard truths and seek common ground.

“The future, it occurred to her, would always be the product of those who were courageous enough to stand for what they had grown to believe in, and that courage mattered most when everything was at stake.”

Final Thoughts

Sentinels in the Oakwood is a gripping and thought-provoking blend of speculative fiction and ecological storytelling. For readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic narratives with emotional depth and philosophical weight, this novel is a must-read.

Recommended for fans of: Station Eleven, The Overstory, The Broken Earth trilogy

*The author of this post received an ARC for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

‘The Fostered’ Review: A Haunting Thriller That Twists Perception

The Fostered is now available on digital and on demand. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The Fostered – A Chilling New Thriller Debuts This Week

Available on Digital and On Demand starting June 24, 2025

🎬 Synopsis

After their parents’ tragic murder-suicide, twin sisters are taken in by a gentle foster mother and her resentful husband. As tensions rise in the dysfunctional household, it becomes unclear whether the real danger comes from the cruel foster father—or from the girls themselves.

“Don’t be afraid of what you see… Be afraid of what you don’t!”

⭐ Review

The Fostered is a tense, slow-burning psychological thriller that explores grief, trauma, and the thin line between victim and threat. Following the horrific loss of their parents, twin sisters find themselves in the care of a seemingly kind foster mother, Amy, and her cold, volatile husband, Kevin.

Directors Gunnar Garrett and Ritchie Greer build a suffocating atmosphere, using dim lighting and claustrophobic spaces to mirror the emotional intensity inside the home. Real-life twins Serena and Savina Perey deliver eerie, pitch-perfect performances that keep the audience guessing. Are they survivors—or something more sinister?

The film thrives on emotional ambiguity and psychological tension. It refuses easy answers and leans into moral complexity. Is this a tale of children in danger, or is something darker lurking behind their wide eyes?

With its haunting tone and loaded silences, The Fostered is a psychological puzzle that lingers long after the credits roll.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*The author was contacted for an honest review of this film and received a screener link. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

🎥 Film Details

Written by: Gunnar Garrett
Directed by: Gunnar Garrett & Ritchie Greer
Starring: Robert Palmer Watkins, Brittany Underwood, Serena Perey, Savina Perey
Genre: Thriller
Run Time: 1 hour 16 minutes

Watch The Fostered on YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV.

The Fostered still. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Mixtape Memories: Jacob Duarte’s Deluxe Edition Hits Hard and Haunting

Nihilistic Easyrider (Jacob Duarte of Narrow Head) announces debut album via Run For Cover. Photo: Derek Rathburn, used with permission.

🎤Nihilistic Easyrider’s DELUXE EDITION: A Mixtape of Memories, Melodies, and Melancholy

Nihilistic Easyrider is the brainchild of Narrow Head frontman Jacob Duarte—but make no mistake, this isn’t a solo endeavor in disguise. DELUXE EDITION is a genre-blurring mixtape: a collection of songs written across various phases of Duarte’s career. The album pulls from a colorful palette of styles—Y2K-era emo, pop punk anthems, Soviet fuzz-drenched alt rock, and shimmering pop reminiscent of Evan Dando. (another side, 2025)

The debut is brought to life by an ensemble that includes Narrow Head drummer Carson Wilcox, producer and former tour-mate Graham Hunt, and features from Momma’s Allegra Weingarten and Ella Friedman. Even with its eclectic range, DELUXE EDITION remains rooted in Duarte’s signature approach to songwriting—melodic, moody, and full of hooks.

An Emotional Companion to Narrow Head’s Depth

In both lyric and sound, DELUXE EDITION shares Narrow Head’s penchant for navigating the emotional wreckage of modern life. The themes—romantic failures, mental unraveling, and existential burnout—are now filtered through the lens of mundane reality. Hunt’s textured production brings Duarte’s inner world to life with buzzing synths, barroom piano bursts, rattling acoustics, and early-aughts-styled sonic quirks.

The Lead Single: “Getaway Plan”

Written during a 2021 stay in Florida, the album’s opener, “Getaway Plan,” launches straight into jubilant pop-rock territory. Duarte strings together irresistible hooks before unleashing a Smashing Pumpkins-style climax of arena-ready guitar theatrics. The song’s lyrics tell a tale of failed midnight meetups and the naïve hope of suburban escape—summed up with the bittersweet charm of a red Solo Cup on a front lawn.

The track arrives with a playful video directed by Nate Kahn, starring Matt Berry (The Berries), who “signs” Duarte to Run For Cover Records for a fictional one quadrillion dollars.

From the Road to the Studio

Fresh off a relentless touring cycle behind Narrow Head’s 2023 album Moments of Clarity—featuring dates with Interpol, Snail Mail, Senses Fail, and others—DELUXE EDITION feels like a welcome retreat. It captures a rawer, more off-the-cuff studio vibe while also looping in some of Duarte’s tour comrades for cameos.

“Narrow Head and this project are equally big parts of me, and I need to do them both,” Duarte explains. “But I always know if a riff is going to become a Narrow Head song or a Nihilistic Easyrider song the moment I first write it. In a funny way, these Nihilistic Easyrider songs are closer to the music I always wanted to make growing up — they’ve got that real ’90s and 2000s emo feel that I grew up loving and wanting to channel.”

🎶On Tour This Fall

Nihilistic Easyrider hits the road this fall for a North American headlining tour kicking off in Houston and Austin, with stops in Chicago, Toronto, New York City, Washington D.C., and more. Support comes from On Being an Angel.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now — don’t miss it.

Check below for full dates and locations.

Nihilistic Easyrider Live Dates:
Tickets Here | Hi Re Poster Here
Sep 12: Houston, TX – Secret Group
Sep 13: Austin, TX – Mohawk (Inside)
Sep 16: Chicago, IL – Subterranean
Sep 17: Bloomington, IN – The Bishop
Sep 18: Detroit, MI – Parts & Labor
Sep 19: Toronto, ON – Sneaky Dee’s
Sep 20: Buffalo, NY – Rec Room
Sep 22: Ridgewood, NY – TV Eye
Sep 23: New York, NY – Night Club 101
Sep 24: Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA
Sep 25: Washington, DC – DC9
Sep 26: Raleigh, NC – Kings
Sep 27: Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5

DELUXE EDITION Tracklist:
1 – Getaway Plan
2 – Weekend Forever
3 – Facedown
4 – Drive All Night
5 – Don’t Get Scared Now
6 – Well Kept Secret
7 – Sanitorium
8 – Smiles and Cries
9 – Everything Is So F*cked Up
10 – Howie On The Brain
11 – Waiting On Someone
12 – The Way It Crumbles

‘The Sound’ Echoes with Terror: A Climbing Thriller That Goes Beyond the Edge

Brendan Devane’s ‘The Sound’ opens theatrically and on Video On Demand nationwide on June 27. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

🎬 THE SOUND – A High-Stakes Horror Thriller Set Against a Vertical Nightmare

Release Date: In Theaters and On Demand – June 27 (US)
Genre: Thriller / Horror / Action
Rating: R
Running Time: 104 minutes

🔥 Synopsis

In the gripping new horror thriller The Sound, a team of elite climbers is given rare access to the Forbidden Wall—a towering, remote rock face that has remained closed off for decades. Among them is Sean (Marc Hills), a seasoned climber haunted by the memory of his grandfather’s doomed attempt on the same wall 63 years prior.

But what begins as a high-adrenaline expedition soon devolves into a terrifying fight for survival. As the team ascends, they encounter a chilling and malevolent force lurking within the rock, one that will push them far beyond their physical and psychological limits—hundreds of feet above solid ground.

The Sound courtesy clip, used with permission.

🎥 Key Cast

  • Marc Hills (Elephant Department)
  • Rachel Finninger (American Horror Story)
  • Nicholas Baroudi (The Hating Game)
  • Jocelyn Hudon (The Strain)
  • William Fichtner (Crash, Armageddon)
  • Christina Kirkman, Jolene Kay, David Clennon, and elite climbers Hazel Findlay, Brette Harrington, Adrian Ballinger, and Alex Honnold (Free Solo) add realism and intensity to the climbing sequences.

🎬 Creative Team

  • Written, Directed & Produced by: Brendan Devane (The Canyonlands)
  • Executive Producer: James Devane (Sadieland Productions)
  • Cinematography: Ryan Galvan
  • Editor: Alex Russek (Reel Rock)
  • Original Score: James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins)
  • Distributor: Blue Harbor Entertainment

🎟️ Where to Watch

In Theaters – Limited release in key cities:

  • Los Angeles: Lumiere Music Hall
  • New York Metro / New Jersey: Cineplex 12 Newark
  • Dallas: Angelika Dallas
  • Denver: Bow Tie Movieland 7, Carbondale
  • Chicago: Roxy Cinema, Ottawa
  • Boston Area: Scene One Gilford Cinemas
  • Minneapolis: St. Michael Cinema
  • Detroit: Bel Air Cinema
  • Orlando: GQT Merritt Square
  • Atlanta: Fieldstone 6, Hiawassee
  • Saratoga Springs: Scene One Milton Mall
  • …and more cities nationwide

On VOD – Available on all major platforms including:

  • Apple TV
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Fandango At Home
  • And more

🧗‍♂️ Final Thoughts

The Sound promises an intense blend of claustrophobic fear, psychological horror, and heart-pounding action—all set on a precarious vertical battlefield. With real-life climbing legends in the cast and a chilling supernatural twist, this is one summer thriller that will leave audiences hanging… literally.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Welcome to the Gelliverse: Gelli Haha’s ‘Normalize’ Sets the Stage for Switcheroo

Gelli Haha releases new single ‘Normalize.’ Photo: Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp, used with permission.

Gelli Haha Unleashes “Normalize” — The Final Single Before Debut Album Switcheroo

Gelli Haha has officially announced her newest single and video, “Normalize,” the final release ahead of her highly anticipated debut album Switcheroo, due out June 27, 2025. Drawing from the rich textures of 80s Nigerian soul boogie, the track delivers a smooth, mid-tempo synth-funk groove beneath Gelli’s raw yet velvety vocals. In the chorus, she aches for escape: “I want to fly away.” (another side, 2025)

The video for “Normalize” is a surreal extension of her live performances, directed by David Gutel. It continues the psycho-science experiment narrative introduced in her previous single “Spit,” revealing Gelli’s transformation into a parachute monster. Watch the video below.

Introducing the Gelliverse

Gelli Haha (pronounced Jelly-Haha) is more than a musician — she’s a shapeshifter, a sonic acrobat, and a visionary performer blurring the line between Studio 54 glam and Area 51 mystery. Her music dances in the tension between playful and profound, absurd and sincere.

Her debut album Switcheroo, via Innovative Leisure, serves as the official soundtrack to the Gelliverse — a vibrant, chaotic, and genre-bending world of her own design.

Switcheroo: A High-Voltage Creative Experiment

Created in collaboration with Sean Guerin of De Lux, Switcheroo is the product of spontaneous experimentation and a shared love for off-kilter pop and vintage gear. The duo leaned into analog oddities — Eventide Harmonizers, MXR Pitch Transposers, Electrix units — crafting textures that are intentionally flawed and brilliantly bizarre.

Every track is an invitation to let go, laugh, dance, and dive headfirst into the spectacle. Switcheroo is an inside joke turned theatrical masterpiece.

Don’t Miss Gelli Haha Live in LA

Gelli Haha’s wild, prop-filled, fully choreographed live performances have made her one of the most buzzed-about acts in the LA underground. She returns Friday, August 8, headlining at Resident in Downtown Los Angeles, with support from dance arts center and a DJ set by KCRW’s Travis Holcombe.

Presented by Minty Boi and Gelli Kompany. Tickets available here.

Let yourself get weird. Gelli Haha’s Switcheroo is coming.

Switcheroo tracklist:
1 – Funny Music
2 – Spit
3 – Normalize
4 – Bounce House
5 – Piss Artist
6 – Tiramisu
7 – Gelliverse
8 – Dynamite
9 – Johnny
10 – Pluto is not a planet it’s a restaurant

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

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Now Streaming: ‘Bound,’ a Raw Tale of Survival and Redemption

Acclaimed indie drama Bound is now streaming. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Indie Drama Bound Now Streaming on Major Platforms

📍 Los Angeles, CA – Freestyle Digital Media has officially released the acclaimed indie drama Bound, now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV.

Centered around themes of found family, survival, and forgiveness, Bound is a raw, emotionally charged story that has captivated audiences across the festival circuit. Since its world premiere at Dances With Films, the film has earned an impressive 11 wins and 34 nominations.

🎬 About the Film

Bound marks the directorial debut of Broadway actor Isaac Hirotsu Woofter (War Horse), who also wrote the screenplay. Inspired by true events, the film tells the story of a young artist who escapes her drug-dealing stepfather, fleeing to New York City with only her pet flying squirrel. There, she reinvents herself with the support of a new, unconventional family—only to later return home to confront her past and truly find freedom.

⭐ Cast

  • Ramin Karimloo (Holby City)
  • Jessica Pimentel (Orange is the New Black)
  • Alexandra Faye Sadeghian (Ditch Boys)
  • Bryant Carroll (Hit Man)
  • Pooya Mohseni (The Walking Dead: Dead City)
  • Jaye Alexander (film debut)
  • Bandit the flying squirrel

🎞️ Film Details

  • Genre: Drama / Crime / Thriller
  • Run Time: 1 hr 41 min

🎤 Director’s Statement

“From outdoor Shakespeare to Lincoln Center, I spent 25 years telling other people’s stories. Five years ago I decided to tell my own story. We’re thrilled to finally bring this gritty underdog tale to your screen. I like gut-punching movies that take you for an emotional ride, so strap on your hard hat and fasten your seatbelt. Let’s go.”
— Isaac Hirotsu Woofter

If you’re a fan of indie cinema with grit, heart, and originality, Bound is a must-watch. Add it to your watchlist today and experience one of the most talked-about indie films of the year.

“Films like Bound are great examples of what true independent filmmaking should look like” — Film Threat

“This pulse-pounding thriller is bound to move audiences on an emotional level. Once you see Bound, it will be impossible to forget it.” — Digital Journal 

“Evoking early Sean Baker, Woofter brings together an excellent cast and gives them idiosyncratic and interesting characters.” — Flickering Myth 

Bound still. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

From Viral Covers to Emotional Club Anthems: Mareux Evolves with ‘Ébèné Fumé’

Mareux shares shares Ébèné Fumé video/single feat Riki. Photo: Jason Renaud, used with permission.

Mareux Teams Up with Riki for New Single “Ébèné Fumé” Ahead of Nonstop Romance🎶

Los Angeles, CA – Revered pop/darkwave musician and producer Mareux (Aryan Ashtiani) joins forces with multifaceted artist and singer Riki on his nostalgic new single “Ébèné Fumé,” out now via Revolution/Warner Records. (another side, 2025)

Riki’s charismatic, confessional vocal performance blends seamlessly with Mareux’s intricately crafted electronics, creating a compelling dance-pop track that’s as moody as it is magnetic. Her standout presence shines throughout the song’s striking music video, created by Muted Widows (Michael E Linn, Nedda Afsari, and Michael R. Zumaya), which visually channels the same fusion of elegance and edge.

Where most artists might double down on the slick darkwave and goth-pop that brought them initial fame, Mareux pivots with his upcoming sophomore album, Nonstop Romance, due out June 27. The new project is messy in all the right ways—drunk in love, feverish with emotion, and unafraid to stumble. Picture a frilly valentine dragged through city grit: gushing, fractured, but completely transparent in its longing.

Throughout Nonstop Romance, Mareux sets his songs like Venus fly traps—irresistibly romantic and danceable, but tinged with a sinister red glow. It’s a record that revels in pleasure while hinting at danger, a balance central to its ethos.

“I’m trying to make something that’s reflective of me getting older,” Mareux shares. But rather than quiet introspection, his version of maturity centers on joy: “Could you put it on in your house with people around and not bring the mood down?” That guiding question helped shape the sound and energy of the album.

Written and recorded in Mareux’s Lincoln Heights bedroom throughout 2024, Nonstop Romance draws cinematic inspiration from a muted old CRT TV playing everything from Tarkovsky and Jodorowsky to Hype Williams’ Belly. The result? Smudged tape-residue synths woven into readymade club anthems.

Though Mareux favors vibe over precision, longtime fans won’t feel lost. Whether you discovered him through his viral platinum-certified cover of The Cure’s “The Perfect Girl” or the noir heartache of 2023’s Lovers from the Past, there’s plenty to swoon over. Nonstop Romance is exactly what it promises: emotionally raw, sonically rich, and obsessed with love.

“I only care about one thing,” Mareux says. “And that’s being in love.”

📀 Pre-Order / Save Nonstop Romance

🎤 Upcoming Performances

  • Friday, December 12 – Fox Theater, Pomona
  • Saturday, December 13 – The Novo, Los Angeles

Tickets are on sale now. Stay tuned for more tour announcements!

Nonstop Romance tracklist:
1 – Blackmail
2 – Radio Club
3 – Nonstop Romance
4 – Wild at Heart
5 – Ébène Fumé Ft. Riki
6 – Prodigy
7 – Blue
8 – Laugh Now Cry Later
9 – Snake Eyes

Photo: Cameron McCool, used with permission.

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A Quiet Summer in Japan: Masashi Matsuie’s ‘The Summer House’

‘The Summer House: A Novel’ by Masashi Matsuie. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

📚Book Spotlight: “The Summer House” by Masashi Matsuie
Release Date: June 17, 2025

Japanese author Masashi Matsuie makes a powerful debut with “The Summer House: A Novel,” a richly atmospheric and deeply observant story set in the world of architecture. This award-winning novel offers a unique window into modern Japan, told through the eyes of a young architect navigating personal and professional transformation. (Other Press, 2025)

At the heart of the novel is Tōru Sakanishi, a recent university graduate who joins the prestigious Murai Office—a boutique Tokyo architecture firm founded by a former student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Sakanishi’s keen, introspective voice captures the artistry and care that defines the firm’s ethos.

As the oppressive Tokyo summer approaches, the Murai Office decamps to Kita-Asama, a faded artists’ colony in the mountains. There, the team—Sakanishi, his enigmatic boss Murai, and two intriguing women who stir Sakanishi’s affections—embark on a high-stakes design competition: creating the new National Library of Modern Literature, while contending with a rival firm dominating government commissions.

Elegantly translated by Margaret Mitsutani, National Book Award winner, “The Summer House” is a quiet yet compelling exploration of creativity, tradition, and longing. Matsuie’s prose evokes the serene beauty of Japan’s natural world while probing the tension between modern ambition and enduring heritage.

This character-driven novel is ideal for fans of Mitsutani’s acclaimed translations and for readers interested in Japanese literature, architecture, and coming-of-age stories with artistic depth.

👩‍💻About the Author
Masashi Matsuie began his career as a fiction editor at Shinchosha Publishing Company, where he worked with literary icons including Yoko Ogawa, Banana Yoshimoto, and Haruki Murakami. He also helped launch Shincho Crest Books, a translation-focused imprint. “The Summer House” is his debut novel and winner of the prestigious Yomiuri Prize for Literature, an honor rarely given to first-time authors.

👩‍💻About the Translator
Margaret Mitsutani is a renowned translator of Japanese literature, known for her work with Yoko Tawada and Nobel laureate Kenzaburō Ōe. She was a finalist for the National Book Award for “Scattered All Over the Earth” and won the award for her translation of The Emissary.

Advance Praise for Masashi Matsuie (“The Summer House”):

“Elegantly understated novel of a tenuous love affair in modern Japan…Matsuie, renowned as an editor (of Haruki Murakami, among other writers) before becoming an author, delivers a simple but graceful tale that’s full of intriguing asides on architecture, which Sensei insists is “function, pure and simple.” A novel packed with ideas about art, life, and love.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS

“The more I read, the more I fell in love with this beautiful novel…Its foremost charm is the fluent, clean-cut use of words. Nothing in Matsuie’s descriptions is superfluous, nor is anything missing, and the refreshing vitality of his prose is impressive…The birth of such a writer is cause for celebration.”
—Hiromi Kawakami, author of Strange Weather in Tokyo and The Nakano Thrift Shop

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‘The Isolate’ Explores Inner Turmoil in Demons My Friends’ Latest Heavy Release

Demons My Friends share new single and video for The Isolate. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Demons My Friends Drop New Single “The Isolate” Ahead of Sophomore Album

Last month, Demons My Friends, the heavy-hitting trio from Mexico City and Austin, unveiled their latest single, “The Isolate,” marking their debut release with acclaimed heavy music label Ripple Music. (US/THEM Group, 2025)

A Sonic Reflection on Teenage Anxiety

“The Isolate” is a deeply personal track, capturing the intense anxiety the band members experienced during their socially awkward teenage years. The song lays the thematic groundwork for their upcoming sophomore album, soon to be officially announced.

“Demons My Friends continues to be a therapeutic effort for all of us,” says guitarist/vocalist Pablo Anton. “With this new song we wanted to shine a light on our teen years… so much of the drama in our lives is invented by our own minds, by our own demons.”

Behind the Music

  • Music by: Demons My Friends
  • Lyrics by: Pablo Anton and Luis Salinas
  • Recorded at: One Pot Mexico (Querétaro, Mexico) and Red Nova Ranch (Austin, TX)
  • Produced & Mixed by: Jeff Henson (Red Nova Ranch)
  • Mastered by: Alberto de Icaza

Band Members:

  • Pablo Anton – Guitars and vocals
  • Lu Salinas – Bass and vocals
  • Tarro Martinez – Drums

From SXSW to Sonic Catharsis

Formed during an impromptu session at SXSW 2022, Demons My Friends brings together members of Fellowcraft (Washington, DC) and Mexican rock veterans QBO. What began as a spontaneous collaboration quickly evolved into a fully-formed musical identity.

Their concept is clear: confront inner demons—anxiety, depression, rage—and transform them into creative fuel.

Debut Album Demons Seem To Gather (Out Now)

Their 2023 debut Demons Seem To Gather (via Gravitoyd Heavy Music) showcases a powerful blend of drop-tuned grunge riffs, doom-laden structures, psychedelic harmonies, and groove-heavy rhythms. Fans of Monolord, King Buffalo, All Them Witches, Soundgarden, and Baroness will feel right at home.

“The Austin/Mexico City groove unit applies their sonic dominance toward deftly-written, clever songs… climactic hooks shake up their luxuriously groovy pacing.” — Invisible Oranges

Available now on LP, CD, and streaming platforms.

Demons Seem To Gather tracklist
1.The Tower Falls
2.Bring The Night
3.Inner Slay
4.Ghosts Of You
5.Make Them Pay
6.Fire Mountain
7.Your Bones
8.We Are The Resistance

Stay tuned for more from Demons My Friends as they gear up for their next chapter—haunting melodies, introspective themes, and thunderous grooves included.