“The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” marks the impressive 26th studio album by the renowned American pop and rock band Sparks. Known for their eclectic style and innovative approach to music, Sparks has enjoyed a long and influential career spanning several decades. This overview delves into the album’s release date, provides a glimpse into the band’s history, and highlights their current tour.

“The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” was released on May 26th, 2023. This highly anticipated album showcases Sparks’ signature blend of quirky pop, captivating melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics. Fans and music enthusiasts were thrilled to witness the band’s latest artistic endeavor, which once again pushed boundaries and challenged traditional musical conventions.

In addition to their album release and tour, Sparks garnered significant attention for their collaboration with the esteemed actress Cate Blanchett. The band joined forces with Blanchett to create a visually stunning and thought-provoking music video for one of the tracks from “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte.” Brothers Ron and Russell Mael co-directed the video with Richie Starzec. The video seamlessly combines Sparks’ distinct musical style with Blanchett’s captivating presence and versatility as an actress. The collaboration between Sparks and Blanchett showcases their shared commitment to pushing artistic boundaries, resulting in a captivating audiovisual experience that further solidifies their reputation as innovative and boundary-pushing artists in both the music and film industries.

Sparks, formed in 1967, consists of the talented brothers Ron and Russell Mael. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the duo quickly gained recognition for their unique sound and stage presence. Throughout their career, Sparks has experimented with various genres, incorporating elements of glam rock, new wave, and electronic music. Their breakthrough came in the 1970s with hits like “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us” and “The Number One Song in Heaven,” solidifying their status as pioneers in the music industry.

To celebrate the release of “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte,” Sparks embarked on an exhilarating world tour. The tour kicked off earlier this year and has been met with immense excitement and anticipation from fans across the globe. Known for their captivating live performances, Sparks is renowned for their theatricality and engaging stage presence. Audiences can expect a dynamic and visually stunning show, featuring both new tracks and beloved classics from their extensive discography.

Sparks’ 26th album, “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte,” showcases the band’s continued dedication to pushing creative boundaries and captivating audiences with their distinct musical style. With a rich history spanning several decades, Sparks has consistently delivered innovative and memorable music. Their current tour promises to be a thrilling experience for fans, as they blend new material with beloved hits. As they continue to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide, Sparks reaffirms their status as one of the most influential and enduring bands in the music industry.

For Sparks’ tour dates and other information, please visit allsparks.com

In addition to Apple Silicon support, Pro Tools 2023.3 includes several new features that make it easier and more efficient to create high-quality audio productions. For example, the software now includes an enhanced score editor that provides users with a more intuitive and flexible way to edit and view musical notation. This feature is particularly helpful for users who work with orchestral and choral music.

Another new feature in Pro Tools 2023.3 is the inclusion of the Avid Video Engine. This engine provides users with an easy way to import and edit video files directly within Pro Tools, eliminating the need to switch between multiple applications. This feature is especially helpful for users who work on audio for film, television, or video game production.

Pro Tools 2023.3 also includes improvements to the user interface and workflow. The software now includes a redesigned mixer interface that makes it easier to access and control various parameters, such as EQ, dynamics, and sends. Additionally, the software now includes a customizable menu bar that allows users to access their favorite features and commands quickly.

Overall, Pro Tools 2023.3 is a significant update that delivers several new features and improvements. With native support for Apple Silicon, an enhanced score editor, Avid Video Engine, and improved user interface and workflow, this release is sure to be a hit among audio professionals who rely on Pro Tools to create their best work.

Built to Spill, led by frontman Doug Martsch, released their album “When the Wind Forgets Your Name” in 2022, marking their eighth studio album to date. The album features Martsch’s signature guitar-driven sound, combining elements of indie rock, psychedelia, and classic rock. The album’s title track, “When the Wind Forgets Your Name,” is a standout with its hauntingly beautiful melody and poignant lyrics. Martsch’s emotive vocals and intricate guitar work shine throughout the album, making it a must-listen for fans of the band and indie rock enthusiasts alike.

Fans of Built to Spill will be excited to know that the band has announced a tour in support of their latest album. The tour will kick off in the spring of 2023, with dates across the United States and Europe. Fans can expect to hear tracks from “When the Wind Forgets Your Name” as well as classic Built to Spill hits. The band’s live shows are known for their high energy and dynamic performances, and this tour is sure to be no exception.

Throughout their career, Doug Martsch has been the driving force behind Built to Spill’s success. Martsch’s songwriting is introspective and poetic, often touching on themes of love, loss, and personal growth. On “When the Wind Forgets Your Name,” Martsch’s lyrics are particularly introspective, reflecting on the passage of time and the complexities of human relationships. His guitar work is also a standout, with intricate riffs and soaring solos that complement the album’s melodic hooks.

Built to Spill’s influence on the indie rock scene cannot be overstated. Since forming in 1992, the band has released a string of critically acclaimed albums and has become known for their innovative approach to songwriting and performance. With “When the Wind Forgets Your Name,” Built to Spill proves once again why they are one of the most important bands in indie rock history.

As the tour dates for Built to Spill’s upcoming tour are announced, fans will undoubtedly be clamoring for tickets. This is a rare opportunity to see one of indie rock’s most iconic bands perform live, and fans should act fast to secure their spot. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the band’s music, Built to Spill’s “When the Wind Forgets Your Name” and their upcoming tour are not to be missed.

More info at builttospill.com

We just started a new Facebook group for the MBOX Studio from Avid. The MBOX Studio User Group is a great place to ask questions and share your experiences with others who use the interface. This group is intended for users of the MBOX Studio and associated DAWs. We hope you’ll join us and share your knowledge with others!

You can sign up here: www.facebook.com/groups/mboxstudio

From Avid: Bring professional recording power to your personal studio. Powered by Pro Tools Studio, the MBOX Studio USB audio interface provides everything you need to make music and more. From finding inspiration and composing ideas to recording, monitoring, and mixing the next big hit, its intuitive design puts pure creative power at your fingertips, reducing your time to fun.

LonelyTwin is Stockholm singer, songwriter, player, and producer Madelene Eliasson. While the name evokes longing, the project arrives fully formed: a genre-blurring combination of inventive trip-hop, smart indie pop, and evocative electronic folk that subtly slides between blue mood and hard-earned joy. Eliasson’s songs are spectral yet heavy with emotion, and she has the voice to match—a rich but airy coo that coasts through a soundscape of strummed guitar, programmed drums, and intuitively arranged odds and ends. Meanwhile, her lyrics aim for an honesty that’s elusive in real life—like confessions whispered in the dark to the twin sister you never had.

Though LonelyTwin is new, it builds on Eliasson’s past lives in music: working for others as half of the pop songwriting/production team MAD FUN (Le Youth, SHY Martin); and teaming up with Jonathan Olofsson as Jo&Me, whose cover of Drake’s “Too Good” racked up blogosphere love in 2017. She doesn’t rule out collaboration for the far more personal LonelyTwin, but every song begins and ends with Eliasson, alone, in the studio. That approach harkens back to her youth in the wooded Swedish suburbs. As the youngest child, she was given space to get lost in her own world, and she’d often bring with her one of the many instruments scattered around the home.

LonelyTwin’s first release, “I Should Have Told You,” is a perfect introduction to the sound and feel of the musical world Eliasson has carved out for herself. A warbly guitar loop accompanies her breathy apology to an estranged lover: “I’m sorry that I’ve been paper thin, I know it’s hard to lean on.” But her melancholy lifts with the low-key breakbeat that comes next, doubt melts into hope, sorrow becomes healing, and we’re left feeling like everything’s going to be all right, even if that means stomaching a little loneliness. That sense of finding comfort and beauty in unlikely places is a LonelyTwin specialty. Sometimes a missing piece is what actually completes you.

When I first received this track from Camphor and it listed similar artists such as Sparklehorse, Elbow and Andrew Bird, I knew I had to check it out. Camphor is Max Avery Lichtenstein, working in frequent collaboration with producer/engineer D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, Kaki King, Kevin Morby, Bonny Light Horsemen). Today we are featuring The Long Dark from the album “Here Where The Light Falls” which was released on October 2nd, 2020.

The song starts with just an acoustic guitar and slowly builds with ghost-like background vocals followed by Liechtenstein’s own atmospheric voice. Sparse drums eventually fill the track with subtle power that brings to mind the early Velvet Underground. To accent The Long Dark, Lichtenstein has directed and assembled this haunting animated video that we are now featuring.

From the artist:

“Here Where The Light Falls” offers a raw look at the emotional struggles we face when the world drops out from below our feet (something many people can relate to in these times of uncertainty and upheaval).

Informed by film composer Max Avery Lichtenstein’s experiences after a life-altering medical diagnosis, this moody-but-ear-catching collection of songs and instrumentals brings the listener on an intimate journey through desire, unexpected loss, depression, and perseverance. Although the themes are dark, a lightness shines across the song cycle thanks to Max’s sweet voice and stirring production techniques.

More information at camphor.net

Deep Water is delivered with the similar subtle vocal power of K.D. Lang or Loquat’s Kylee Swenson and becomes much more than your usual indie-folk song building with both vocals and instrumentation. Croft is also a clever wordsmith who often rhymes words with themselves during this optimistic conversation. The late-summer vibe of this track will keep the season alive as the days get shorter and new relationships emerge.

More info at rachelcroftmusic.com

No Cause For Concern tells of a misguided struggle – a quarter life crisis most people find all too familiar. The loss of a job, a long distance relationship, and seemingly no clear path in life drove songwriter Bobby Danzi into despair, only to realize that there is nothing to do but to lean into the discomfort and trudge ahead. All in all, it is no cause for concern.

I had always wanted to add a female vocalist to “Loneliness” as a re-release. I thought with the right artist, the song would be really special as a duet. Then I was listening to the Spotify playlist “Lorem” one day and this song “Calvaire” by spill tab came on. I immediately loved it and thought the artist’s voice was incredible – so I reached out to see if she would be interested. I’m honored that she was and then when I finally heard what she had written I was blown away. Her vocals are so beautiful and haunting and in my opinion add a really unique perspective/ vibe to one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.

The track starts off with an almost Beach House vibe but quickly takes on its own emotive slow build that gently pulls you in and holds your attention. While sparse in instrumentation, the production is full and fills the sound spectrum satisfying your audio pallet. It’s hard not to pause for a moment after the song ends to contemplate what you just heard.

The Only Human In The Room by Empress Carnelian is out worldwide on Blanket Fort.