New Singles
Brandi Carlile and Elton John Encourage You to 'Swing for the Fences'
Although there are many forces actively aiming to destroy the spirit of the LGBTQ community, the two performers created an anthem meant to inspire gay youth.
In times like these, we could all use a little more joy in our lives. Luckily, music superstars Brandi Carlile and Elton John have joined forces to debut a song that reminds listeners to "Swing for the Fences."
Although there are many forces actively aiming to destroy the spirit of the LGBTQ community, the two performers created an anthem meant to inspire gay youth. As people who've achieved their wildest dreams, Carlile and John want them to believe that it's still OK to dream and that anything is STILL possible.
According to Carlile, "'Swing For The Fences’ was a little gem I took into the studio with me: I’m a gay woman, Elton’s a gay man and we both have families, and our dreams have come true. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be cool to write an anthem for young gay kids out there that calls them into a bigger, more elegant, more fabulous life. Just like ‘go, go! don’t let anything hold you back!’”
The opening of the song states, "Go on and swing for the fences! Take a shot at the moon! A dandelion that dances takes chances and fancies every little light in the room."
"Swing for the Fences" is pure rock-and-roll. It's loud, contains an impactful message, and is just plain fun. The song was co-written by Grammy-nominated Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin. Carlile and John were also joined in the studio by Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on percussion, Josh Klingoffer (Pearl Jam, Beck) on keyboard and synthesizer, and Pino Palladino (John Mayer Trio, Tears for Fears) on bass.
The new single was produced by Watt, who has recently worked with acts such as Pearl Jam, the Rolling Stones, and Iggy Pop.
"Swing for the Fences" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of March 5th.
The song will be included on the duo's upcoming album, Who Believes in Angels?, set to release on April 4th. Pre-order the album here.
Brittany Davis's 'Stand Up' Is the Official Anthem of the Seattle Reign
Approached by the team itself, Davis was tasked with creating an anthem ahead of Reign's 2025 season.
"Stand up is what you do after you rise. It's that 'I'm here' energy. It's show up energy, powerhouse energy, champion energy... You can't buy this in a store!"
If anyone in the city of Seattle can create a feel-good anthem, it's self-proclaimed vessel of sound Brittany Davis. With songs such as "I Choose to Live," "Sepricon," and "So Fly," that succeed in uplifting listeners' spirits (and making them dance in the process), Davis is in familiar territory.
Davis's new song "Stand Up" has been designated as the official anthem of the Seattle Reign women's soccer team. Approached by the team itself after a difficult year, Davis was tasked with creating an anthem ahead of Reign's 2025 season with the National Women's Soccer League. As a result, Davis created a song that is an homage to community, triumphing over obstacles, and standing in your power.
Soulful and high energy, "Stand Up" was directly inspired by Andra Day's "Rise Up," which Davis covered in Reign's past season at the jersey retirement of Megan Rapinoe. The anthem also includes backing vocals from members of Reign and the Reign Academy players, in addition to support from The Royal Guard fan organization, Reign City Riot band, and the Sound Wave band.
In celebration of the new anthem, Davis and the Seattle Reign Football Club released a short film documenting Davis' creative process. In the documentary, Davis also discusses her connection to Seattle, how she creates as a blind person, and how the camaraderie of the Reign fanbase inspired her. The film was directed by Jason Bergh, who has previously worked with talents such as Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Migos, and Michelle Obama.
Whether or not you're a sports fanatic, "Stand Up" is the song to listen to when you need those big winner vibes.
"Stand Up" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of March 4th. The song will also be played before every Reign game.
Townsend's Solitaire Is 'Glad to Be Alive' With New Single
"Glad to Be Alive" is a song that captures the struggle of keeping it together while everything is falling apart. The recurring theme of "Glad to Be Alive" is resilience.
What does happiness mean? It's a loaded concept that has a fluid definition. When everything around you seems to be falling apart, at what point can you say whether you're happy or not? It's a really tough set of questions that begets more questions. The answer can vary during any stage of life or even vary depending on the time of day in some cases.
There is still a stigma that surrounds the topics of grief and suicidal ideation—and even the definition of happiness, but Bobby Odle is tackling them head-on through his work with Townsend's Solitaire, a Seattle-based chamber folk band.
Odle's songs, largely inspired by various events in his life, are raw and honest. Pulling no punches, Townsend's Solitaire often chooses unfiltered storytelling with little use of metaphor. It's a level of honesty that is refreshing to hear.
Colored largely by the passing of his older brother Chris when he was a child, Oldle uses his platform to make sense of the more recent losses of his childhood best friend Tanner, his uncle, and a romantic relationship. Odle also speaks openly about mental health and the journey of working as an artist in Seattle. Channeling his life experiences through music, Odle has woven a series of songs for the band's first full-length album.
Leading up to the debut album, Townsend's Solitaire unveiled the first single, "Glad to Be Alive," which is also the name of the album set to come out this summer. The album was recorded at Sage Arts Studios under the production of Jordan Cunningham and then mastered by Rachel Field at Resonant Mastering. Olde also takes an unfiltered approach to the rest of the musical process, as Glad to Be Alive was produced, engineered, and recorded live to two-inch 16-track tape and mixed to half-inch, two-track tape, which means that all band members were present at all times in studio.
"Glad to Be Alive" sets the album tone, and celebrates being alive while life undergoes a series of curveballs. While some of the lyrics are heavy, the composition is whimsical and optimistic, utilizing guitar, piano, cello, violin, flute, and clarinet.
"Glad to Be Alive" is a song that captures the struggle of keeping it together while everything is falling apart. The recurring theme of "Glad to Be Alive" is resilience. As someone who has attempted to figure out how to navigate life in Seattle after trauma, the lyrics, "I've been holding on to hope... Letting myself love what I love most... Even if I'm not happy, I can still be glad to be alive," resonate. It is a reminder to Odle himself (and all of us) to keep going.
I am looking forward to hearing what the rest of Glad to Be Alive has in store.
"Glad to Be Alive" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of April 19th.
The album of the same name, Glad to Be Alive will be available on Spotify and vinyl on June 28th. Additionally, Townsend's Solitaire will be holding an album release party at Woodland Hall in Seattle with local indie-folk artist Ollella.